Finding Faith (ThomasRHellsing & darkangel76)

[darkangel76]

The sky was darkening overhead as streaks of orange and purple began to stain the sky with shades of twilight. Stars were just starting to twinkle and the wafting breezes marking the end of summer blew through the trees, rustling the leaves creating an eerie stir deep in Alyssa Farris' heart. She was still quite shaken over what had happened, over the events that had transpired throughout the course of the day. To think she'd been safe within the walls of her temple only the day prior... but now? Now, things were different.

What a difference a day could make!

As Alyssa's blue eyes stared at the blood that had been spilled, her heart ached. Yes, a wrong had been righted, her possessions more or less returned. But she wasn't used to such violence. She felt a sob bubble up from within, a chill run along her spine and suddenly she shivered. Her body was still damp from having traipsed through the nearby stream in hopes to conceal her tracks by her pursuers. She hadn't been sure what they were capable of, so she'd thought it best to take precautions just in case. Now, she was paying the price however and paying it doubly as she took in the sight of crimson and dead bodies.

Alyssa trembled and brought her hands up to rub at her bared arms. Goose bumps had formed over the pale flesh, her gauzy gown doing nothing to help stave off the chill that had found its way deep into her bones. Her teeth chattered a little and another breeze bit through only now the scent of death was carried upon the winds.

"They must be buried," Alyssa whispered as she dropped her hands to her sides, her blonde hair, still a bit wet, blowing with the wind. "They can't be left to rot even if they are criminals. No man deserves that, not even those who've wronged another." Tears welled up in her blue eyes and she lifted a hand to wipe at them.

Alyssa's thoughts turned to how different her life had been the day prior when she'd been safe within her temple's keep, within the walls of the Girion Order. Her quarters had been modest, but her bed had been soft and warm, the blankets more than comfortable as she snuggled within them night after night when each day was done. She'd been so excited to embark on her pilgrimage, the journey of wonder and awe that all of her order were expected to take once they came of age. She'd had a slight delay in her own having been needed at her temple for a short time. But the time had finally come for her to set out and see the world, to travel to the sacred city of Girios where she could pay homage to Girion and see the world for what it was.

When Alyssa had woken up that morning, ready to embark on her pilgrimage, she'd had dreams, visions—not uncommon for priests and priestesses ready to take on such a journey. It was said that it was Girion's way of testing them, showing them that he was there at all times to guide them if they would but listen. Some shared their visions and dreams with their mentors, but Alyssa had chosen to keep hers to herself. Perhaps she was now paying the price for her silence? She was uncertain. Girion was mysterious and she had much to learn.

As Alyssa stood there shivering, she glanced to her left and looked over at the man with her. Her pale eyes fixed upon the tattoo he donned. It had burned its way into her memory for it was the very mark she saw in her dream the night before, the one she was told to seek, the one she was told she needed to complete her pilgrimage.

 

[ThomasRHellsing]

Thomas laughed, it was a deep chuckle as cold as the water the foolish girl had decided to swim in. He shook his head, "Their families would handle that, what do you think, should they be buried?"

He grabbed one off the dead women's heads, by her hair. working her mouth he said in a bad copy of her voice, "Nah, it's fine, sot of sad that you try to bring them honor now. Was your statue worth their lives our kids lives, our lives. Thank you and praise the mighty Girion, pssh."

Thomas laughed, he knew he was jaded. The man's Blade had eased the woman's suffering a pen knife driven into her innards. Five women and 8 children had been all that had survived the plague. One of the women, and two of the children had been suffering the living rot.

His Armorwas as black as polished ebony. An eye patch hiding his special eye. His skin was as pale as snow his right eye a dark sapphire blue. His left's covered but the girl had known of it. Part of him hoped they were never in a situation so bad he had to reveal it to her. His eye was as much a curse as a blessing, seeing ones true weaknesses. He'd still trained himself to physical perfection and with his other gifts he tended to be more of a low rent assassin then a serious fighter. Soon what he'd figured would happen did, a half dozen griffins came from the nearby forest devouring the flesh. They were about to take flight when massive arrows pierced them. A half dozen knights rode up. Spears pointed at them, the lead knight spoke, "By order of the Great God Girion, all exposed to the plague must die, now disarm yourself and prepare to embrace your death."

Thomas sighed, "The plague causes the living rot, we aren't effected Now stand aside you morons."

One of the female knights raised her spear Thomas sighed, "Fine, I'll pray, Lord Obraboreon guide these morons to their god's side when I strike them down, for trying to kill me and my client."

All of the knights eyes widened. But Thomas had drawn his blade and blurred forward, his poisoned blade glistening as it cut down a horse causing it to fall on it's rider. The other nights thew spears or knocked and fired arrows, but Thomas used the horse's corpse as cover knocking one of his own black arrows on an ebony bow. The knights dismounted. One took an arrow through the thigh he howled but the arrow had pierced his artery. His horse panic and took off Another two of the knights rushed in, but his blade was keeping them back. A third tried to push him back with a spear He dodges even as his eye patch was taken of Instantly he knew the threes physical weakness mental weakness, and spiritual weakness.

Looking at the spear woman, he said, "Huh, interesting, when was the last time you spied on your commander in the bath Ezuriel?"

The woman's eyes widened a tenth of a second and his blade pieced her throat twisting and yanking it out he kicked the last male knight thrusting backwards His blade pierced a thin spot in the armor, the night had to have it repaired after a battle, and the black smith had missed a seal less then two inches on the inside. But his thrusting sword pierced her lung and out the back of her armor. Yanking it out, he blocked the last man's sword. Slamming the pommel into his head he brought the Templar's own sword up and using it and his own blade to decapitate him. As he looked at the corpses, he realized the sword he'd grabbed was magical it could become a dagger, short sword or normal length sword. Stealing the sheath he put the belt and put the blade in dagger form behind his bacl, the pommel tipped where it would be easy to grab with his right hand. Popping his back he said, "Your god does truly works in mysterious ways, you were cold and the one I stabbed the throat is about your size. Hurry up and strip them, I'll collect the horses, and if you must say some prayer for their souls."

Thomas didn't want her to complain about how people of her sect were supposed to not wear armor so he cut off that train of thought, "I mean the leathers under the armor. Then when your dressed, strip all of them, we can put the weapons and armor in the wagon and sell it when we reach a decent town." Thomas pulled his dagger and slit the four surviving hoses throats. Using a spell a priest of his father had taught him. Soon they were skeletal with black fire manes and sharp teeth and black metal hooves Zombie horses were easier to deal with. They wouldn't get spooked were loyal as hell to him, and most importantly didn't need to eat or sleep. Thomas got them chained to his wagon, then moved the statue an anything else in decent shape of valuable from the Priestess's broken wagon to his. Getting onto it he said, "About ready princess, we should head out soon they might be setting up a blockade, assuming my living rot tipped arrow didn't kill the horseman."

The living rot was a hell of a poison, but it took time to act If the knight was lucky he could take the leg an save himself. He was wearing a thick leather cloak as he relaxed on top of his wagon.