Legacy
Chapter 1

It was astorm unlike any storm people in those parts had ever before seen. It seemed less the result of nature and more the result of beingconjured from pure hatred for the land. Rain fell with suchferocity that drops became like needles that stabbed at the tenderflesh of the Earth. And a ferocious wind tore across the valley likea rampaging beast. It snapped limbs off trees and ripped some of theweaker plant life from the soil. So savage was the night that eventhe stars had gone into hiding.

But eventhrough a raging tempest, the sound of metal clashing with metalresonated. The sound was every bit as furious as the elements.

Within acave two combatants engaged in fierce swordplay. A bonfire casttheir shadows upon the wall, tripling their size and making the twoseem almost mythical.

Thewarriors battling so desperately for their lives, neither much olderthan twenty years, were Sir William Hunter, the youngest everappointed general to lead King Lionel’s royal forces, and amysterious young man known only as Sage.

So gruelinghad the battle become that the fighters needed a reprieve just tocatch a few desperate breaths. The expression on William’s faceshowed that the battle was indeed taking its toll, but Sage had astoical, almost calm demeanor to him.

“Thisfight isn’t going to end anytime soon,” said William. “Ourskills are equal. So why not make this easy for the both of us andgive yourself up? I’m sure the council will show mercy if I tellthem you surrendered.”

“Thoseclose to death are always quick to cut a deal,” replied Sage.

With narythe slightest of warnings, Sage went back on the attack. An instantbefore Sage's blade could slash his foe, William blocked it. Soclose were the two now that William and Sage could see theirreflection in the other’s eyes.

“Icommend you on putting up such a valiant effort,” said Sage, tryingto force his blade through William’s defense. “It’s no wonderyou were able to attain such a rank at your age. But I’m growingweary of this, so it’s time to bring an end to this struggle.”

“If yourefuse to surrender, then I will have no choice but to take yourlife,” said William. “For it is my sworn duty to fulfill theorder of my king.”

“Youreally are a fool,” said Sage. “You weren’t sent here for me.”

“What doyou mean?”

“You weresent for me,” said a man’s voice.

It wasn’tthe fact that the mysterious voice had seemingly come from out ofnowhere that frightened William so. It was that the voice soundedmore evil than any voice he had ever heard, making William believe ithad come from the Devil himself.

Doing hisbest to keep Sage at bay, William diverted some of his attention towhere the voice had come. Waiting for him was something Williamnever could have expected. A man dressed as a priest was standingwithin the fire, though the flames could do nothing to harm him. “Itcan’t be,” gasped William.

Using thedistraction to his full advantage, Sage rammed his head intoWilliam’s face, badly dazing his opponent. He then made nohesitation in running his blade through William’s chest. The shellof the once mighty warrior slid off Sage’s blade and fell to thedusty cave floor.

“Yourking would be proud of you,” said Sage.

“Tell me,my loyal Sage,” said the man who had long ago relinquished his realname so that he could be known only as Shadow Kahn. “Now that youhave taken your first life, has your opinion of this changed?”

“You aremy master,” said Sage. "Your will is my will. Whatever you ask ofme I will do. I would walk through the fires of Hell just so I couldstand by your side. I will be with you until the very end.”

“Now,”said Shadow Kahn, “we just have to make everyone elsefeel the exact same way.”

And withthat, the fire extinguished itself, ushering in a cold and emptydarkness.