~~~~
A Stranger
Part 6: A Duel Under The Sun
~~~~
Years had passed since
the Stranger's failed execution. The event itself was a distant memory, but the
Stranger's presence never truly faded. While she never performed such a
theatrical act again, she continued to wander unabated. A trail of incredible fortune
and horrific misfortune followed in her wake. At the same time, she continuously slipped from the fingers of
authority. The people's open fear and silent reverence of the woman grew in
turn. Galatine watched these events unfold from afar. Even as he furthered his
own career he never let the Stranger's actions escape his awareness.
The
judge found great success for himself after the riot which had emerged from the
Stranger's survival. He had saved the Judge Magistrate Hrunting from the fury of
the crowd and earned his superior's trust. Yet, that was only the start of his
illustrious career. Having regained the good graces
of the council Galatine went on a string of successful missions and campaigns. Innumerable villains were
thwarted,
countless tragedies were averted and countless battles were won. The judge climbed the ranks
faster than any before him. Before long he was but a step below the council in
authority.
~--~
"Galatine my
friend," Hrunting welcomed him into the council room. The two men were
alone in the room, surrounded by the vacant seats of the council. "Tell me
how has this day treated you?"
"Excellently, Lord Magistrate,"
Galatine bowed to his superior.
"And how is your
former apprentice?" Hrunting inquired, "I hear he received yet
another promotion recently."
"That is correct,
Lord Magistrate," Galatine confirmed. "It was in acknowledgment for
his most recent victory. The eastern border has never been safer thanks to him.
I couldn't be prouder of my apprentice, Lord Magistrate."
"Please, there is
no need to be so formal," the magistrate replied, "not anymore at
least."
"Do you mean to
imply...?" The judge looked to the other with shock.
"Yes,
I've called you here today to inform you of the council's decision,"
Hrunting placed his hand on Galatine's shoulder. "They have considered it,
and believe you are an ideal choice to be the next member.
"I'm honored, Lord
Magistrate," the blonde man thanked him, "but there is a condition
isn't there?"
"You're a sharp one
Galatine," the magistrate laughed. "If it was up to me you'd be
sitting in one of those chairs right now. However, as per custom, you must
undergo one final quest to earn your place on the council."
"Then may I assume
you had one in mind, Lord Magistrate?" The judge guessed.
"You know me too
well," Hrunting affirmed. "We have all suffered failure at one point
or another, but I know yours still haunts you deeply. That is why we shall give you a chance to redeem yourself."
"You don't
mean?" Galatine was taken aback.
"The Stranger
continues to be a rogue element in these lands," the magistrate stated.
"The people's view of her is mixed, to say the least, but
her power is without question. My friend, I ask that you bring the woman into
our fold, she would make an incredible ally."
"And if she
refuses?" Galatine asked.
"Then do what must be
done,"
Hrunting exclaimed.
"I understand, Lord
Magistrate," the judge bowed.
"Again with the
formality Galatine," the magistrate chuckled. "Please save the
pleasantries for your ceremony." The two men shared a laugh before they
went their separate ways. Galatine returned to his personal quarters. If his
duty was to find the Stranger, he already had all the resources he needed there.
~--~
As Galatine entered his room he was
greeted by a series of familiar sights. A cabinet loaded with awards and
accolades. An enlarged bookshelf which contained countless volumes on the
subjects of history, politics, and philosophy. The tomes were accompanied by
several atlases. As well as a dozen personal journals and a few bundles of
loose papers. The room was topped off with a simple bed, a large mahogany desk
and a stand which held a large, silver sword.
The judge traversed the room and
retrieved a couple of the journals, an atlas and the bundles of paper from the
bookshelf. He sat down at the desk and laid out his acquired knowledge in a
neat formation. At the center was a journal labeled, "The Acts of the
Stranger." Galatine flipped open its pages and observed his own
handwritten notes.
'She has no pattern for her
travels,' Galatine recited. 'The only patterns are she always moves towards a
new location, a place she has yet to visit. Then if they treated her well they
experience no shortage of good fortune. However, if they treated her poorly
they'll suffer greatly.' The judge began to pull out the loose documents, each
labeled with the name of a town or city and a date.
'The first village she visited is
now just shy of a city. It is nothing short of an economic center for its
region,' the blonde man paraphrased his notes. 'Where there was once farmers
who struggled to make ends meet are now comfortably wealthy merchants. A
similar effect has occurred to other villages and towns she has traveled
through. This also applies to a few merchants she has traveled with.'
'However, the city where she was nearly
executed has fallen on hard times,' Galatine continued through his notes. 'The
riot which followed the failed execution was only the beginning. The city
suffered increased bandit attacks, economic upheaval, civil unrest, and disjointed
leadership. The minor lord responsible for the execution has also undergone
drastic shifts in his life quality, albeit by his own choice. He has forsaken
his title and nobility and now lives humbly as a priest in a remote village.'
'Others who have been directly
aggressive to the Stranger have faced similar fates. With one notable
exception,' Galatine reached the end of his notes. 'Jonathon and I have seen
nothing but success since our duel with the Stranger. Despite our threats and
intentions. I have theories as to why this is the case, but I'd rather learn
straight from the source.' The judge closed his journal and moved onto the
atlas. The maps had several red lines drawn throughout its maps of the local
areas. At the end of the red lines were several blue lines, each of which
passed through location the red did not. Galatine traced his finger along these
blue lines, 'she has traveled long and far these past few years. If my
reasoning is correct there are only a few places that she may travel to left.'
A smile formed on the man's face.
~--~
Galatine wasted no time in his
search for the Stranger and set out alone within a few days. Jonathon was still
tied up on the eastern front so Galatine would be alone in his quest, but he
didn't mind. In fact, he wanted to face her alone this time. It was a personal affair.
The blonde man traveled simply. He
carried only his sword, armor and a large pack filled with his research and the
bare necessities. He took no personal steed, and simply rented or hitched a
ride wherever he could. When that wasn't an option he'd simply travel on foot
in full armor, even under the full strength of the sun. To most, this would be
hazardous and lead to quick exhaustion. Yet, the judge only felt greater
strength as the sun tried to beat him down.
His journey took over a month as he
traveled from town to town in the Stranger's wake. However, unlike before where
he felt like he did nothing more than chase a shadow. Galatine had a specific
destination in mind from the start. He felt no need to try and get ahead of the
foreign woman this time. He knew deep down they would cross paths sooner rather
than later. All he needed to do was move in the right direction.
~--~
It was mid-morning on a partly
cloudy day that Galatine finally located his target. He had taken a detour
through a meadow when an incredible sight caught his eye. It was her, the Stranger
was seated on a rock in the middle of the meadow. She basked in the sunlight
while her head faced towards the heavens. It was then the judge finally saw her
face. Her hair was still a tangled mess, but the long strands had fallen to the
side. Galatine could see her deep blue eyes, and the soft features of her face.
Her outfit had changed. The ragged
and worn clothes were replaced with a simple shirt and trousers, topped with a
light coat. The outfit looked scrapped together, as each piece was in a different
state of disrepair. The coat was the worst off, ripped in numerous places and a
clear victim of dry rot. The shirt and trousers were in a better state. Yet,
still showed wear and tear from her long travels, mostly mud and small tears.
Galatine felt his gaze linger on the
enigmatic woman's form but he quickly righted himself. He strode forward and
approached the Stranger. The redhead finally turned to acknowledge his
presence. A neutral expression ran along her face. She did not stand up, but
her gaze remained fixed on the man.
"Do you know why I am
here?" Galatine asked.
"I have a few theories,"
the Stranger replied with the same eloquence she had addressed the duo with so
many years ago. "You are an enforcer of the established order, and I'm a
threat to said order."
"Normally you would be
correct," the judge admitted, "however, I am here not to arrest but
to offer."
"What could you possibly offer
me?" The foreign woman questioned his intentions.
"The Judge's Council has
decided you would make a better ally than an enemy," Galatine revealed.
"I am here to offer you a position in our order."
"I am most gracious for your
offer, your honor," the Stranger bowed. "However, I have no interest
in aligning myself with anyone, I apologize."
"I figured as much," the
blonde man sighed, "then you know what must happen next?"
"Yes, and I'll tell you the
same I did all the others," the enigmatic woman stated. "I do not
wish to fight you, but if you choose to start a fight I will finish it."
"Then let me revise my
offer," Galatine drew his sword, "how about a deal?"
"I make no guarantee I'll
accept, but I will at least humor you," the Stranger admitted.
"I shall challenge you to a
duel," the judge leveled his sword at the woman. "We will fight until
one of us cannot continue or surrenders. If I win you must follow me without
question, if you win I will accept the penalty for failure. How does that
sound?"
"Your wording concerns me, but
I will agree to your terms," the foreign woman accepted the offer.
"Besides, I will not lose so it does not affect me either way."
"I will give you fair warning
dear Stranger," Galatine exclaimed. "On a day like today where the
sun shines high above, I am invincible."
"That is a shame," the
Stranger retorted, "for it shall be overcast for the duration of our
duel." As the two individual squared off in the meadow as if on cue, a
bank of clouds rolled in. The once sunshine filled meadow was consumed by
overcast. The two combatants waited with bated breath for the other to make
their first move.
~--~
The fight began in an instant,
Galatine charged forward sword in hand and swung. The Stranger nimbly dodged to
the side and practically spun as she slid behind the armored man. The judge turned
on his heel with a follow-up slash, but the woman continued to run circles
around him. Galatine feinted his next swing and turned to elbow the Stranger. However,
she had already evaded backward.
As the foreign woman retreated the
blonde man caught a glimpse of her hands. The "marbles" that had
given him so much trouble before had appeared between her fingers. Galatine
wasted no time and channeled his magic through his sword. A fireball formed at
the tip which he quickly released in the Stranger's direction. The woman
released one of her marbles at the same time and the two projectile collided in
the air and exploded.
The Stranger immediately threw three
more "marbles" towards the judge. They spiraled through the air in a
uniform pattern. 'I will not fall into that trap again,' Galatine declared internally.
He swept his sword in front of himself and a wall of flame gushed out. The
projectiles were intercepted and unable to reach their target exploded. As the
smoke cleared Galatine realized he lost sight of the Stranger.
"You shouldn't have taken your
eyes off me," the redhead whispered in the judge's ear. Galatine tried to
turn and face her. Unfortunately, he only caught a glimpse of her crush a
"marble" in her hand before she clocked him in the face with an
explosive punch. The blonde man flew several meters away and skidded along the
ground before he crashed into a lone tree.
'Clever girl,' Galatine spat some
blood from his mouth. He discarded his dented helmet and stood to face his foe.
Despite a broken cheek and bruised pride, his resolve had yet to waver. "I
did not think I would need to reveal my trump card so soon," the judge
brandished his blade.
"Whatever trick you attempt to
fell me with," the Stranger approached, while she nursed her hand. "I
promise you someone else has already tried and failed."
"This is no simple trick,"
the judge squeezed his blade tightly, "what I said at the beginning of our
clash was no boast. My magic is not simply control of flame, it is magic of the
sun. I draw my power from sunlight."
"What I said is true as
well," the foreign woman replied. "It will remain overcast for the
duration of our bout, that I can guarantee."
"I know, I've studied your
endeavors thoroughly," Galatine admitted. "You are a blessed sort,
the environment and situation always seem to work in your favor. I prepared for
this day with that in mind."
"What are you trying to
say?" The Stranger grew impatient.
"Isn't it obvious?" The
blonde man chuckled, "I could not guarantee the sunlight above me. Thus, I
would need to bring a suitable replacement." The man's silver sword
glowed, the majestic blade began to peel away, as a bright light shined from
within.
"And here I assumed I had seen
everything," the foreign woman immediately backed away. As the Stranger
retreated, Galatine's sword exploded into a burst of light. What remained of
the old blade was only the hilt and hand guard, the rest of the weapon was no
longer physical. The sword shined with a bright, yellow light. It was not a
blade of mere flame, it was pure, crystallized sunlight.
"Let us begin again,"
Galatine breathed in and smiled. The judge dashed forward faster than before.
Even weighed down by his full armor he managed to keep up with the Stranger. He
slashed his sword out, but the Stranger dodged easily. However, as she pulled
away she clutched at her chest in pain and realized she was still burned.
"Then I must fight from
afar," the foreign woman affirmed before she bolted away. The redhead
released another set of three projectile in Galatine's direction. The judge
charged through, he swung and deflected one, but the other two nailed his legs.
The pain was incredible, but the warmth from his blade pushed him through the
discomfort. However, the Stranger bought enough time to put more than a dozen
meters between herself and the judge.
"If you think distance shall
save you this time you are mistaken," Galatine proclaimed as his sword
radiated with energy.
"If you say so," the
Stranger readied another "marble" which began to spin on her
fingertip. Galatine chuckled as his sword shifted into an even brighter glow.
The Stranger noticed this and continued to put distance between herself and the
man. The judge did not move instead he let his sword grow brighter and brighter
until it burst at the seams with energy.
"You shall not escape!"
Galatine roared as he released his sword's power. His previous fireballs were
mere sparks compared to the great flame her created this time. The torrent of
flame shot off like a beam of light straight towards the Stranger. Time slowed
down for both as the fire approached its target.
The foreign woman quickly realized
she would not be able to evade the blast safely on foot. In an act of
desperation, she flung herself away with the force of an explosion created by
her own projectiles. The plan worked and the Stranger managed to dodge. Yet,
the residual force from Galatine's attack still knocked her away and burned
her.
The enigmatic woman tumbled to the
ground. She rolled onto her side as blood dripped from her bruised face. Her
coat was burnt to the point it practically disintegrated off of her. Second-degree
burns ran along her left side. The redhead felt like she had also broken a few
bones, but there was so much pain all around she couldn't tell were. In this
moment of weakness, Galatine closed the distance between himself and the
Stranger and pinned her to the ground.
"The battle is over," the
judge proclaimed.
"I couldn't agree more,"
the foreign woman stated. Galatine remained upon her for mere seconds, but it
felt like hours to the two. The Stranger could feel the heat from his blade
singe her further. However, the blonde man did not perform a final blow. Instead,
he removed himself from the woman.
"I surrender then,"
Galatine declared. "You do not need to hide it anymore, I can see your
last projectile still spinning on your finger." The Stranger struggled to
her own feet but relented to his request. The foreign woman revealed her last
"marble," which spun along her right pinky. "You fought hard,
but this whole time you did not use your trump card, why?"
"If I had used it right then we
both would have been killed," the woman admitted. "Besides I only use
lethal attacks on those I genuinely hate, and I was beginning to enjoy
myself." Galatine laughed at the revelation, and after a moment the
Stranger joined in. The pair continued to share a hearty laugh, even as the
clouds parted and the sunlight shined down upon the destroyed meadow.
~~~~
And that's the second and likely final fight scene in this story. Unlike the first one this one basically stayed the same from start to finish. Although, it is a little shorter than I originally envisioned.With this part we're two-thirds of the way through the story, by chapter count at least. The next few chapters should be shorter, but at time of writing (January 25th) they don't have a hard word count yet.
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
Next Part
No comments:
Post a Comment