Danir's Journey: A Wayward Friend's Farewell

Danir and Kristoph silently made their way through the camp.
"Where do you two think you're going?"
The bald head of Gregor was facing their frozen forms; the smile on his face hideously self-gratifying.
"I think I'll wake everyone up," he snickered.
As Gregor opened his mouth to shout, his voice was silenced by Kristoph's dagger piercing his throat.
That smile, still on his face, belied the fear in his eyes, as Gregor gurgled, and stumbled to the ground.
Danir leaned over the body of his former friend. "It should've been my dagger, but either way, justice is served.

Danir's Journey: An Unlikely Companion

Danir's sleep had been disturbed by someone he'd expected, but for a reason that he hadn't.
The dark-skinned face of Kristoph was an inch from his own when Danir's eyes opened.
"Did you mean what you said?" he whispered. "About the Duke using that thing for himself, and not the people?"
Realizing that this was going to be his last conversation, Danir spoke up. "I did."
"Shh," Kristoph implored, his face glistening with fear. "They'll kill us both for this!"
"For what?" Danir's confusion was obvious.
"For this," Kristoph answered, drawing the sigil from the pouch on his belt.

Danir's Journey: Fireside Confession

Firelight illuminated the camp as Danir sat quietly eating his rations.
Nearby, Desmond sat picking his teeth. "Tell me something," he began. "What possessed you to do it?"
The only sound, besides the crackling fire, was Kristoph sharpening his dagger.
"Don't feel like sharing, eh?" That grin again. "You may not wish to tell me, but you will tell Malagrim."
"I did it because he wanted the sigil for his own gain, and not for the good of the land," Danir answered.
The sharpening ceased.
"The good of the land?!" Desmond said, incredulously. "You gave up the Blades for that?!"

Danir's Journey: Meeting The Executioner

The group rode through the hills, making their way back to Malagrim's stronghold, Drechtfell.
Danir rode in the center, his mouth gagged, and his hands tied to the saddle horn.
Desmond, ever the fearless leader, rode at the front. "Kristoph! Scout ahead for a place to stop."
One of the more unstable-looking of Desmond's group rode forward without a word.
Turning to face Danir, Desmond cracked another insufferable grin. "Be glad I sent him," he pointed at Kristoph. "He's the one charged with slitting your throat, should you make any trouble."
Danir remained silent, and vigilant; awaiting his opportunity.

Danir's Journey: Gregor's Price

"Where is Gregor?!"
Desmond looking amused, indicated the far corner of the chamber, where Gregor huddled away from the action.
"You threw in with them?!" Danir spat. "After all we've been through?!"
Gregor came forward, the smile on his face seemed bittersweet. "Malagrim offered me enough wealth and land to give him my mother. Why wouldn't I give him you?"
"Betrayer! You-"
A gloved fist crashed into Danir's face. "That'll be quite enough," said Desmond with a snicker. "You two may sort out this lover's quarrel after the Duke is satisfied. Gag him. We have a long ride back."

Danir's Journey: Desmond

"Danir Maliche," said the voice from the shadows. "Formerly of the Black Blades."
Danir was silent.
A muscular man stepped forward, removing his hood to reveal a mane of red hair.
"Desmond," Danir hissed.
Desmond smiled sardonically. "Surely even you could've known that I'd be sent."
Desmond walked outside the ring of men surrounding Danir.
"Drop your weapons, we are not going to kill you."
When Danir didn't move, Desmond's green eyes flashed to one of his men, and Danir was dropped by a blow to the back of his knees.
"You have business with the Duke," Desmond said, grinning.

Danir's Journey: Discovering The Crypt

The golem lay in a heap outside the cave; its eyes to never glow again.
Danir entered the cave with one solitary thought: Gregor, why?
He made his way to the bottom of the path; Gregor was nowhere to be found.
The torch-lit crypt entrance stood before him.
It was open.
Cautiously, Danir entered the crypt, tensed for what may await him.
He could see nothing!
A bare dais stood at the center of the room; Danir approached it.
"STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" a deep voice called out.
He froze.
A group of cloaked men appeared from the shadows.

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Danir's Journey: Defeating The Golem

The golem assumed an expression of mild interest while examining the dagger wedged next to the sigil.
Danir assumed an expression of frustration.
The creature pawed at the dagger, but its grotesque proportions made it impossible to pull the dagger free.
Sensing that this may be his only opportunity, Danir charged at his massive opponent.
The golem, possibly due to some rudimentary arrogance, didn't take notice of the much smaller man who had leaped in mid-stride.
Danir's extended boot landed squarely on the hilt, his momentum prying the sigil free.
The golem collapsed as Danir victoriously snatched the sigil.

Danir's Journey: Battling Gregor's Golem

Danir braced himself as the monstrous golem began to advance on him in service of its new master.
No matter what, Gregor cannot be allowed to escape! Danir thought, as he studied the sigil, which was nestled neatly in the creature's chest.
With surprising quickness, the golem closed the distance between them, and brought its massive arm down, which Danir dodged cleanly.
It was the second strike that sent him crashing to the ground.
As the golem was raising its mammoth foot to crush its enemy, Danir deftly flung his Black Blade Dagger at the sigil, hoping to dislodge it.

Danir's Journey: A Friendship Ends

Gregor's trail proved to be taking him back to the Cave of Tears as he'd expected, and that worried him.
Within a few hundred yards of the cave entrance, Danir pulled Yuri to a halt, dismounted, and drew his sword.
His keen hearing picked up Gregor's maniacal laughter.
Warily, Danir moved on through the brush.
The entrance came into view, and before it, stood Gregor, and his golem.
"Stay back!" Gregor called. "He will kill you without hesitation."
"What do you care? You've already damned yourself!"
The diminutive, cloak-clad Gregor cackled derisively. "Goodbye, Danir!"
Gregor disappeared into the cave.

Danir's Journey: The Black Blade Rides

His heart cringed at the thought that Gregor had escaped, and had already used the sigil on the golem in the cave.
"If he has," he said aloud. "Then, I'll have to kill him and the golem!"
There was no savoring the idea of killing a man who'd, up until recently, had been his best friend, but the sigil could not be allowed to be used in such a manner.
Tracks began appearing, and he didn't know whether to rejoice, or bemoan his luck.
Gregor, he thought. Please do not prove yourself as stupid as I fear you have been.

Danir's Journey: A Fool And His Sigil

Awakening with the sun the next morning, Danir rubbed his gray eyes, and yawned.
Accompanying consciousness, were the echoes of Gregor's laughter from the prior night's dream.
Clumsily, he opened his bag to find that the sigil was gone.
"That son of a whore!" he cursed as he hastily put on his gear, and mounted Yuri.
"Fool!" he cursed himself for not recognizing the grip that the cave had had on Gregor's mind. "Stupid fool!"
Yuri hadn't been ready at first to run all-out, but he came around as his master spurred him back the way they had come.

Danir's Journey: Dreams

Normally uneventful, Danir's sleep was inundated with the image of the sigil.
Its ankh-like shape popped up everywhere his dreams took him; from his mother's embroidery, to his uncle's training yard, where a young Danir was failing at landing combination strikes with sigil in-hand.
Worst of all, were the images of the sigil stuck into the chest of the golem by Gregor, who would rub his bony hands together with relish at the treasure that poured from the creature's innards, as the Duke, himself, looked on with vindictive approval..
That is what woke him up, Gregor's maniacal laughter.

Danir's Journey: Reflection At Sunset

Danir sat, resting his bruised body as the sun went down, his displeasure with Gregor filled his head.
He took the sigil from his pack, and examined it
How could something so small, cause so much trouble?
It was as though Gregor changed after only seeing it; so determined to get to the bottom of that cave, even protecting a sigil was worthless to him.
The cave, and Gregor, were far behind him, and he had to ensure that the sigil was placed back into the hands of the High Priest of the Temple; he needed to get some sleep.

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Danir's Journey: Friends At Odds

Danir stood staring at Gregor, his raven hair hanging with perspiration. Gregor returned the look with one of defiance.
"That thing is a sigil of the Great Temple," Danir said through gritted teeth.
"It could gain us unimaginable treasure!" Gregor spat.
A look of disgust cracked Danir's stony face.
"You don't wish to become wealthy, and powerful?!" Gregor asked.
Without reply, Danir turned and walked back to where Yuri waited patiently.
"Where are you going?!"
"To return it to the temple," Danir replied, resettling his gear. "That's my mission."
He mounted, wordlessly resuming his quest.
Incredulous, Gregor watched him go.

Danir's Journey: Disagreement Outside The Cave

Gregor said nothing until they were out of sight of the entrance.
"You know that thing you showed me before, that the Duke wants?" he asked, as they sat to collect themselves.
"What about it?"
"The shape!" Gregor exclaimed, his dark eyes alight.
Danir took out the item, and looked at it dumbly.
Exasperated, Gregor shook his head. "The golem has a hole in its chest that matches it!"
"So?"
"So, we use it to control the golem!"
"How do-"
"I just know, okay?"
Danir stepped back. "No. You'll tell me NOW."
Gregor's face flushed with anger and frustration.

Danir's Journey: A Reprieve From Death

Danir lay sprawled on the ground, feebly holding up his sword in defense, as the golem closed in, raising its massive arms for the kill.
"Hey! Over here!" shouted Gregor. He'd crept to the edge of the path; the darkness behind him promising a fair fall to the floor below.
The creature turned, and lunged at Gregor, who deftly dodged it.
With a roar of anger, the huge golem somersaulted, and fell out of sight.
"Let's get out of here. He won't follow us outside," Gregor hissed, as he helped Danir to his feet.
"I've got an idea," he whispered.

Danir's Journey: Engaging The Guardian

There was nowhere to hide, but Gregor did his damnedest; slipping behind a small boulder as the Guardian lunged at them.
"It's a golem!" he shrieked.
Danir rolled aside as the creature's fist crashed into the ground where he'd been. His blade glanced off its statuesque arm.
The Guardian's eyes glowed green, as it grabbed Danir's leg, tossing him down the incline, charging once again.
With a quickness that can only come from adrenaline, Danir sprung to his feet, and ran with the gigantic beast following.
Twenty feet ahead, lay the rock that would trip him up.
Thundering steps approached.

Danir's Journey: The Cave Guardian

Danir kept close to Gregor's back as they inched further into the darkness.
Escape had been impossible; they'd gone too far.
An able thief, Gregor seemed up to the task of finding their way in the dark, as their torches would no longer ignite; the air had become saturated with mist.
The shuffling sounds were growing in volume, and Danir readied his sword for whatever awaited them.
A greenish glow began pulsing with the sounds of movement ahead.
An unholy roar pierced their ears, as the pulsing light brightened, revealing a large, inhuman form.
It charged them, bellowing with rage.

Danir's Journey: Trapped In The Dark

The dank air of the cave didn't improve Danir's mood as they moved further along its serpentine innards, crushing the discarded skeletons of small animals.
"What's been eating in here?" Danir asked.
Gregor barely took notice; he was enchanted by his fantasy of bountiful treasure. "Wolves, maybe. We're heading down, now."
Danir couldn't shake the bad feeling that had gripped him not long after entering the mine. "I think we should-"
They both froze.
There was a shuffling sound coming from somewhere ahead of them.
"-probably turn back," Danir finished.
A gust of moldy air extinguished their torches.

Danir's Journey: The Cave Of Tears

The Cave of Tears, as the mine had been known ages ago, was rumored to house a veritable trove of Old Kingdom relics.
Danir wasn’t sure that strolling through its confines was wise when they had pressing business to the north.
Gregor’s excitement at the discovery was contagious, so they entered.
“You’ll see,” Gregor bubbled. “It’ll be worth it!”
“It better be. We’re wasting valuable time, here.”
“This’ll fund our whole journey, and then some. Trust me.”
They entered, torches in hand, and were greeted by foul air, and pitch dark.
If they’d known they’d been observed, it didn’t show.

Danir's Journey: An Unwelcome Diversion

The hill country offered little in the way of distraction to them as they made their way north.
Gregor had been singing a song about barmaids of ill-repute, plugging his name into the more bawdy verses.
Danir shrugged; it passed the time.
A week out from Henbury, they’d begun to lament the lack civilization; trail rations weren’t the tastiest fare.
Danir’s thoughts of creature comforts were interrupted when he realized that Gregor was no longer singing.
He turned and saw Gregor, halted, and staring to their right.
The dark entrance to a forgotten mine lay just off the path.

Danir's Journey: The Travelers Rest

“So, that’s what he’s after?” Gregor sounded doubtful.
Nodding, Danir placed the item back into his satchel. “He’ll bring the fires of Hell upon any that try to keep it from him.”
Gregor had had too much drink in Henbury, and it showed. “Bah! Tell’im to see me!” he raised his bony fist. “I’ll send’im packin’!”
“Shush, you fool!”
Gregor waved him off, but had obeyed.
Dropping to his bedroll, Danir wondered if Gregor had been the right choice of companion; either way, it was too late now.
“Get some rest,” he whispered.
Gregor, already passed out, farted in reply.

Danir's Journey: Meeting An Old Friend

Humor had never been one of Danir’s strong points, but he’d chuckled at Gregor’s jokes anyway.
“It isn’t that he’s stupid,” said Gregor. “He’s grown complacent like a frog in a pot of water.”
While t’was true that there was an element of complacency to how the Duke handled insurgents, Danir wouldn’t discount the wiliness of the man.
“Beware that attitude, my friend,” he replied.
Gregor spat. “Will you have me, or no?”
A good sneak-thief would come in handy, and Danir had known Gregor for years.
“Okay, but my word must be law.”
“Then, it’s decided,” Gregor smiled.

Danir's Journey: On The Way To Henbury

With the forest behind him, Danir had taken rest in a glade just south of Henbury village. He had business there, and he wanted to be alert.
Though he hadn’t visited in some years, rumor was his old friend was still occasionally seen skulking about.
“No doubt drowning his sorrows in a pint as often as not,” he confided as he brushed Yuri. “But, he’ll be most useful.”
As long as his old chum hadn’t taken up with the wrong sort, he could be relied on.
He swallowed water from his skin, remembering Henbury’s legendary mead.
“Small sips,” he mused.

Danir's Journey: The Beginning

The sun was setting in the distance as a mounted figure came to a rest on the hill.
His steely gaze surveyed his surroundings; this was going to be a long trip.
When his hand found the bulge in his satchel, he exhaled with a nervous relief. As long as he still possessed it, this adventure would have purpose.
“At least those highwaymen hadn’t gotten this,” he said to his horse. “That would have been bad.”
Though his muscles ached with the fatigue of battle, he knew there’d be no sleep tonight.
Danir spurred Yuri on; time was growing short.

Introduction To 'Danir's Journey'

'Danir's Journey' is a series of drabbles (100 word flash fiction) intended to tell the story of Danir Maliche, as he makes his way through a world fraught with danger, betrayal, monsters, and intrigue.
These flash fiction stories are a sort of precursor to the longer version of Danir’s story that I’m currently working on.