Red Blood and Black Steel -Jeff Long Chapter 3 A blade flashed through the air, and the ringing sound of steel on steel filled the room. His blue and red cape swirling dramatically, Gane Yness pulled back his first sword just enough for his second to slip toward his opponent's chest. Grunting from the exertion, Delkar Irkada stepped back quickly, and the taller man's sword fell short of his chest by half an inch. Wielding his gleaming broad-sword in a two-handed grip, the stubble faced man brought it around in a quick arc, only to hear the clash of steel as it met one of Gane's swords. Face calm and impassive, the blond-haired man twirled his sword to keep Delkar's blade off to the side and stabbed straight in with his second weapon. At the last minute, Delkar threw himself to the side and rolled to his knees, his sword coming up in front of him just in time to block another of Gane's lightning fast blades. Grunting once again, Delkar pushed back with his sword, throwing his broad-shouldered opponent off-balance. Leaping to his feet, the hard-faced man brought his sword across in several slashes but each one met with empty air as Gane Yness danced back and forth, never once using his blades. Though his sword was starting to feel as though it were made of lead, Delkar kept up the attack. With his final strike, he reversed the direction of his blade in mid-swing, bringing it up to slash across the tall man's face. Once again, steel rang on steel as Gane raised his sword to block the blow. The blond man's right eyebrow went up sharply as he backed up a pace. A half-smile crossed Delkar's face, knowing that was the biggest reaction he would get out of his opponent. The smile disappeared abruptly as Gane attacked in a flurry of whirling blades. It seemed to the beleaguered Delkar that the man must have been holding five swords instead of just two. Steel rang through the room repeatedly as Delkar shifted his blade desperately in an attempt to block the death that swirled around him. The thought of counter-attacking never even crossed his mind. Just as the stubbly-faced man felt he could no longer raise his blade for another pass, the door crashed open and the scarlet form of Kay Reese burst into the room. Gane, who had just been about to lunge at his opponent, froze in mid-thrust. Ortheid Borosso's hand was reaching for his belt-dagger, and Elmira rose to her feet in concern. Villenev Heiguer's hand went to his chin thoughtfully, and Shad Vultes stood up straight from where he had been leaning against the wall. Hurriedly, Delkar got to his feet and put down his sword. "Burn you, Kay, I almost had him! Why'd you have to come bursting in here like your boots were on fire?" said Delkar, trying to feign irritation. Gane shot the hard-faced man a strange look, then sheathed his twin swords across his back. No one seemed to notice as Serin Swandred stepped in behind the red-haired man. "Someone tried to kill me," Kay said simply, too out-of breath for one of his normal speeches. Ortheid Borosso laughed harshly. "What did you do, sleep with his wife?" Kay Reese looked the lanky woodsman straight in the eye, his own face suddenly sharp and deadly. Serin almost gasped aloud. The expression seemed so out-of-place on the man, yet almost appropriate as well. "Guess what I found sewn into the cuff of his sleave?" the handsome man said in a voice colder than ice and harder than steel. "Kriostrada," breathed Delkar uneasily. Elmira's eyes widened in shock, and even Shad Vultes raised an eyebrow. Kay Reese just nodded grimly. "Kriostrada?" echoed Elmira. "But that means . . ." "Yes," Kay said in a deadly voice. "Blaidin Thone is alive." All humor gone from his face, Delkar turned to address the Bloodrunners. "If Thone is truly alive, we must inform the Captain at once. Coming, Kay?" The tall man's voice more than matched Kay Reese's for deadliness. Kay nodded grimly and the two walked over to the door to Rale Jaiss' office. With a loud slam, they were gone from the room. Silence followed the slam of the door. Swirling his blue and red cape, Gane Yness started pacing up and down across the room. Villenev Heiguer scratched at his chin, his dark eyes glittering dangerously. Ortheid Borosso poured himself some more ale from the pitcher on the table. Elmira Selmine ran a hand through her lush hair anxiously. Shad Vultes' dark face was as impassive as ever, but there was something to his stance that suggested anxiety. Somewhat irritated that no one had even acknowledged her presence yet, Serin stalked over to the head of the table to glare at everyone sitting around it. "Alright, just what is going on here? What's this kriostrada thing got to with anything? And who in the Dark Land is Blaidin Thone?" The anger in the short woman's voice could almost have matched the steel in the voices of Delkar and Kay. Elmira looked up sharply, hostility brimming in her eyes. Ortheid almost coughed on his ale, and Villenev Heiguer's eyes weighed her once again. Her answer came from perhaps the most unexpected source. "Kriostrada . . . a word from the ancient tongue. It means something to the effect of ‘Allegiance beyond death'," said the quiet voice of Shad Vultes, who was suddenly standing just behind Serin's shoulder. Serin whirled around in surprise, but the man with the slick, black hair seemed hardly to notice. ‘It is a symbol now used almost exclusively by Thone's Messengers." "A messenger? You call a dagger in the back a message?" Serin asked incredulously. Ortheid slammed his mug down on the table with a loud thud. "They are indeed messengers. The message they carry is death." The woodsman's voice was rough and harsh, but the short-haired woman almost thought she could hear anxiety - or even fear - as well. "So they're a bunch of assassins. There's something new. Now who is this Thone guy whose name you keep whispering?" Slowly, Gane Yness turned around to face Serin. Towering a full foot and a half over the blond woman, the corner of the tall man's mouth almost twisted into a sneer as he spoke. "You have never before heard the name Blaidin Thone, girl? Then as a member of the Bloodrunners, it is a name you should remember, and remember well." Serin hardened her face, trying not to appear impressed by the big man's cryptic references. Gane stared her straight in the eye and a tight smile crossed his face. "Even we know little enough of Thone. The man shrouds himself in no small amount of mystery. Blaidin Thone is the leader of a secret organization, or network, which seems to be loyal to him and him only. From what we have been able to gather, his resources and manpower are almost limitless. The rumors on the street give even sketchier information. There are those who say that Thone is little more than the leader of a rag-tag group of mercenaries, and there are those who say that he has more power and influence than the King of Targaea himself. All we know for sure is that he bears some kind of personal grudge against the Bloodrunners. We have crossed his path numerous times in the past." Growling under his breath, Ortheid Borosso spoke up. "And we know that his most loyal servants, mainly the Messengers, carry the symbol of Kriostrada." "I wouldn't be so sure," came the oily voice of Villenev Heiguer. "We were all convinced that Thone died at Gilvamesh. I wouldn't take anything for granted." Borosso grunted and nodded solemnly. Serin looked around at the members of the Bloodrunners. It seemed to her that despite their years of experience, these men were overlooking the obvious. "Look, isn't it possible that this Thone character really is dead and it's just someone else running the organization now?" she suggested in as rough a voice as she could manage. Ortheid Borosso's jaw fell open, and Gane Yness looked at the blond woman as though she had just suggested that the sky was really pink. Elmira Selmine just stared incredulously, and even the unreadable Villenev raised an eye-brow. Just then, the door on the other side of the room opened, and out walked Rale Jaiss, followed quickly by Kay and Delkar. His one eye examining the faces of the group, the leader of the Bloodrunners grimly set his jaw and addressed the company. "There is no doubt now. Blaidin Thone is alive. How he survived the Battle of Gilvamesh I don't know, but I intend to find out. Suffice to say that for now, none of us leave this inn unless they're accompanied by someone else. Is that clear?" The man's tone was grim and blunt, and his one steel-grey eye stared around the group in almost a menacing manner. After a moment of silence, the Bloodrunner Captain turned on his heel and strode back into his office, motioning for Kay to follow him. "I think I need a drink," Serin muttered under her breath. Wordlessly, Ortheid Borosso handed her the pitcher of ale, and a mug that apparently was kept beneath the table. Pouring herself some of the now luke-warm liquid, Serin slumped down in an unoccupied chair. To her surprise, the tall Delkar sat down next to her. The man's rough face was even somewhat sympathetic. "Quite a confusing turn of events for your first day on the job," the man said to her, scratching at his three-day stubble. "I should tell you now that it won't matter to Thone that you have only just joined the Bloodrunners. Just the fact that you are one of us seems to be reason enough for him." The blond woman shot Delkar a sharp look. "Are you trying to intimidate me or something?" The tall man shrugged. "A warning, that's all. And a reminder: if you decide to go out, make sure to take one of us with you." Looking around to see if anyone was listening, Delkar lowered his voice. "Remember that some of us may be more . . . trustworthy companions than others." With that, the dark-haired man rose to his feet, and hefted his broadsword from where he had left it. "And now, Gane," he called out loudly. "How about finishing that little match? I still say I almost had you there." A tight smile crossed Gane Yness' face. "Very well, Delkar, if you insist." With an ominous hiss, the big man's slender swords came out of their sheathes on his back. Delkar scratched at his stubble one more time, and the two men restarted their sparring with renewed vigor. Sitting in her chair next to the table, Serin scowled and took a sip of her ale. Messengers of Death. Kriostrada. Gilvamesh. Blaidin Thone. All of this was starting to make her head hurt. "Are things always this interesting around here?" she asked Ortheid Borosso. Once again, the lanky woodsman flashed her that wolfish grin. "Oh, usually. But you'll get used to it, lass. Trust me, you will." Gulping down yet another mug of ale, the man's eyes turned to the two figures that danced back and forth across the center of the room. Sighing, Serin sank back into her chair. Her eyes travelled across the room, searching the faces of each of her new companions. Ortheid Borosso appeared to be engrossed in the battle between Gane and Delkar, but every now and then his gaze would flicker to Serin and the beginnings of a smile would twist his lips. Elmira Selmine's face was a mixture of anxiety and hostile sulkiness. Serin didn't know quite what she had done to offend the woman, but it was obvious that the brown-haired Elmira bore her some sort of grudge. Villenev Heiguer sat back in his chair, his glittering black eyes appearing to watch everything at once. He had on a thoughtful expression, and the hint of a smile tugged at his face. The short woman's gaze then fell upon the face of Gane Yness. The swordsmaster's face was utterly calm, as if while fighting he had found some inner tranquillity. He seemed to notice nothing except the blades in front of him, appearing as one with the long, slender swords in his hands. Delkar's rough face, covered as it was with his stubble, showed plainly his thoughts on the battle. Sweat beaded the dark-haired man's forehead, and his mouth twisted into a grimace every time Gane almost slipped the tip of a sword through his defences. Yet there was something about Delkar's angular face that suggested an inner strength and confidence. Watching the quick movements of the man's gleaming broad-sword, Serin wondered whether she could do as well against the fluid strikes of Gane Yness. Her eyes finishing their circuit of the room, Serin suddenly noticed an empty spot by the door to Rale Jaiss' office. Quickly looking around the room, she saw only the faces she had already searched. The blond-haired woman almost ground her teeth in frustration. Where in the Blasted Lands was the man who called himself Shad Vultes? She was sure she hadn't seen him leave the room, but was just as sure that he had been here earlier. Muttering angrily to herself, Serin noticed that her mug was empty. Pouring herself another cup from the pitcher, she slumped down in her chair and tried not to think about what a long night it was going to be.