To Sharpen the Blade Once More (11)

To Sharpen the Blade Once More (10)

Korv awoke to a cloudy and windy morn in the village. Indeed, Mother Nature sounded fierce this day!

As was his tradition, Korv made his usual brew, and went outdoors to soak in the morning. It moved his spirit and energized him for the day ahead.

There has been a soaking rain the night before, and it had changed to snow, leaving a slight blanket on the ground. Korv sighed a bit, as he knew the last visages of winter would soon be gone until the next season. As if to echo his thoughts, Mother Nature let out a howling cry of lament. He looked toward the horizon and nodded silently in agreement.

He sipped his brew and took in the scene before him. Truly, Mother Nature was a goddess in her own right. Her power matched by few. Her fury, by none.

Today was a very important day for Korv. He was to meet the merchants in need of a sword arm face-to-face. Their representative thought highly of Korv and had arranged a meeting this day. Korv could feel the hunger within him building. “Finally, a chance to enter the fray once again,” he said to himself with a slight smile. He made his way back into the cabin to ready himself for the journey.

Washed, armed and ready for his sojourn, Korv was on his way. He took the winding road out of the village and crossed the bridge over the River West, and picked up the path through Meadow Field, which would bring him to his destination.

The howling winds pierced his skin, but Korv found it invigorating. He felt as if Mother Nature was imbuing him with a bit of her own power, strengthening him for his journey.

As Korv made his way through the field, he started to feel an uneasiness within. He paused and looked around, but there was nothing in the area. Still, Korv moved with caution, lest he be surprised by a bandit horde or some random beast.

As he ventured forward, the uneasiness grew ever more intrusive. Korv could not shake the feeling that he was being followed. Stalked, even. He felt like prey waiting to be attacked by a hunter laying in wait.

“Korv…”

It sounded like a whisper at first.

“Korv…”

The sound was closer now.

“Who are are you?,” Korv shouted. “Show yourself, coward!”

“Korv…”

The noise was louder now, and accompanied by the sound of footfalls, growing ever louder. Korv put his hand on his axe and started to turn. Indeed, someone, or something, was stalking him.

Korv whirled around quickly, and in an instant, a foul, grey demon was standing before him.

“Who are you? Explain yourself, devil! Lest I remove your head! Who are you to block my path?”, Korv demanded.

“Why, barbarian, you know who I am,” the demon replied with a casual grin. “It is I, Shadowlore, the Embodiment of Fear.”

“And why do you choose today to bother me, demon?”, Korv spat with venom.

“You claim you wish to enter the fray once again, barbarian,” Shadowlore replied calmly. “Tell me, why? Why would you wish to reenter the fray after your shameful exile? Is it not clear your time has come and gone?”

Korv became indignant at this slight. “You know not of which you speak, you withered, grey fool! I was born and bred to be a warrior. It is my calling!”

“Perhaps once it was, but is it any longer? Why, you fell in battle last time, and then you were fool enough to insult a very important woman in the wake of it all,” the demon said with a chuckle.

Korv paused and thought for a long moment. “Aye, I made my mistakes, but I had pushed as hard as I could, and fell with honor. I did not run from the battle, nor from the aftermath. And yet, I feel hollow within,” Korv said ruefully.

“Because you know it is not where you belong,” Shadowlore replied quietly. “Go home, barbarian. Go home to your cats, your writings and indulge your appetites. Live out your days fat and happy.”

Korv began to feel that the demon was right. Perhaps the fight was no longer his. Perhaps it was time to retire to home and accept what he had become.

“Indeed, the village is a good place,” Korv said with a slight frown, resigned in shame that perhaps he truly was not worthy to be in battle anymore.

“Yes, yes…Go back to your silly little village and your foolish little friends,” the demon said mockingly.

This angered Korv greatly. “Demon, do not speak ill of the village or the people within it. They are good folk, and they are my friends. I will defend their honor to my last…”

Before Korv could finish his sentence, Shadowlore raised his hand, and in a swift blinding motion, backhanded Korv to the hard, unforgiving ground.

Korv sat stunned upon the deck, his head spinning and a feeling of nausea coming over him. Deep within, he felt a foul sensation.

He felt afraid.

“Barbarian, go home!,” the demon bellowed. “Go home and pray with all the pitiless might you can muster that I do not come and slay you and your fellow cretins!”

Korv felt his hands shaking slightly as he sat upon the ground. A wave of shame started to wash over him. Was he too weak now? Had he truly fallen this far?

“Barbarian, you make me sick,” the demon said with disdain. “Crawl home before I crush you ‘neath my heel.”

“No,” Korv replied with a slight quiver in his voice. “No, demon, I will not crawl away.”

Korv looked to the sky, and his eyes narrowed. He summoned the spirits to give him strength and courage.

“I beg thee, lift me up so I may slay this demon,” Korv implored.

Shadowlore laughed aloud. “No one is going to give you strength, barbarian! Truly, you are damaged goods. You are…”

Suddenly, there was a violent jolt, and lightning crackled across the sky. There was a violent crack of thunder, a flash of light, and then a plume of smoke. It was as if the very earth was about to split in two!

From the smoke, the answer to Korv’s plea emerged.

Indeed, it was Q’Rilla, the embodiment of strength through adversity himself.

“You!,” Shadowlore exclaimed in shock and awe.

“Korv the Barbarian! Rise up!,” Q’Rilla commanded. “Face your fear and conquer it like a true warrior! I imbue you with my strength!”

Q’Rilla pointed his hammer at Korv, and in an instant, waves of crackling, electric energy surged through Korv’s body. Suddenly, he felt alive and more vital than he had in years!

Korv sprang up and gripped his axe. With a guttural howl, he charged forward with fury! His eyes were red with bloodlust as Shadowlore stumbled backward in fear.

“Who is the coward now, demon??”, he shouted as he wound up his axe.

Shadowlore was on his knees, begging for mercy as Korv fell upon him in a rage. The spirit of the gorilla was indeed within him!

“No! Please don’t, I will leave here in peace! I will…!”

And suddenly, the demon’s head was falling to the ground. It landed with a soft thud, and then, silence.

Korv watched in amazement as the demon turned to ash and scattered with the winds. Like they had never existed.

When he turned around to praise Q’Rilla, he found he was alone.

But from above there came a powerful, steady voice. It was Q’Rilla.

“Korv the Barbarian, you performed bravely today. You are a worthy and deserving warrior. Go forth and claim your place once again.”

Korv felt a surge of pride and great emotion throughout his being.

He lowered his head and very quietly said but two words.

“Thank you.”

With a renewed sense of purpose, Korv resumed his journey. He had a very important meeting to attend.

To be continued in To Sharpen the Blade Once More (11.1)