A Heroine of Greyhawk - Chapter 2

Chapter II : Enslaved

In my twenty-seven years, I have seen many incredible things. I have seen many lands. I have met many legendary people. I have touched my share of magical items and creations. I have fought mystic monsters. But the most incredible thing that I have ever experienced happened the next day.

I woke up.

My face was wet. I blinked the water from my eyes. I felt like someone had beaten on me, but I was able to prop myself up on my elbows while my vision cleared.

It took me a few minutes I think before I even realized where I even was. When I did, I jerked myself up and looked around.

The early morning sun was dawning over the damaged keep walls. The courtyard and cobblestones were wet. I guess it had rained during the night, but everything else looked so much the same. My Father was still lying there dead, still in his armor, and still with his eyes open and staring in death.

I won't bore you with the angst and sadness. I am beyond that now. After I got my head together again, I looked around for someone else alive. All I saw was mangled bodies. Everyone was dead.

Suddenly I heard the beating of hooves. Fear shot through me. I was paralyzed. I stumbled over the web cobblestones to my Father's sword. I took the iron handle in my hands and lifted, but I could only get the one end off the ground. I was such a weakling that I could not even defend myself using my own Father's bastard sword. I stared at the main gate, it's doors smashed by the ogres and hill giants that had destroyed my village. The hoof beats got louder and louder and my heart pounded faster and faster. I tried to lift the sword, to do anything to defend myself this time, but I was a pathetic weakling. That was how I was raised, to be a bride and give birth to more nobles some day. I was not meant to use a sword. Ever.

I backed up dragging the tip of the bloodstained sword with me. I was so stunned with paralyzing fear that I stumbled and fell, dropping the sword in my lap. I could not breathe, all I could do was sit there and stare at the open gate. The hoof beats got louder and louder and closer and closer. When I knew it was about to enter the gate, I stopped breathing altogether.

It was a mule.

The injured animal charged straight ahead until it hit an overturned wagon. Thrashing from whatever had attacked it wherever it had come from, the mule was blinded with pain. It flailed on the ground, now with a broken leg to add to its misery.

I sat on my ass and watched it die. I was stunned. Everything was happening too fast for me. I was so innocent and naive. Pathetic too.

I decided there and then that I would never feel so helpless. Even if I got killed I would fight. Getting to my feet I strained to pick up Father's bastard sword. I struggled with all my weakling might. I bent down put the handle over one shoulder. I tried and tried. Finally I put the blade across my forearms and picked it up that way. It was unbalanced, but I wobbled into the keep with it.

The rest of that quiet fall day I spent finding my family. My Mother and Father were lying not far from where I had awoken. I knew how Mother had died. Although I did not look then I knew later that Father had been killed by a crushing blow, probably from a hill giant. My older brother was in the keep. I found him dead in the foyer of our tower home. He had been stabbed through the sword arm and the chest.

It took me an hour of walking through Melanon village to find my other brother. He was the middle child, older than me. I followed the smell of burning flesh to a strange black altar that had been placed in the main square of the village. Bodies were heaped to one side. In the bodies I found my brother, his heart cut out. He had been one of the sacrifices to Iuz.

I spent the rest of the day burying my family. I did not feel much hunger for revenge only anger at myself for being such a weakling. It was the way I had been raised but there was no way I was ever going to be like that again.

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For the rest of the winter I remained in Melanon. The raiding army had burned some of the village down but they had left most of the food behind. They took all the animals they could but left behind the grain that was to feed the entire village during the winter. I learned later that the humanoids did not want the grains. They preferred flesh.

I would hide when I heard more raiders coming through towards our village. Orcs, ogres, hill giants, and worse would pass through Melanon. They might destroy some buildings on a whim or look around for loot. I had a hiding place though.

Our family had been here for many generations, since our lands had been part of the Great Kingdom. Under the keep were the vaults in which my family's dead had been put to rest for all those years. When I heard the raiders coming I could run to the secret door that lead to the tombs and hide away in there. None of the humanoids were ever smart enough to find it, but they did keep destroying more and more of the village.

When I was not hiding from marauding humanoids I read my Father's books about combat and practiced with his sword. I had learned a hard lesson, that in these days everyone is a warrior. I could not stay in Melanon forever. It was my home but I did not want to just roll over and die here. To make it somewhere to freedom would mean I would have to know how to fight.

I practiced with Father's sword every day I could. Many nights my arms were too sore for me to lift over my head. So I would take candles into the tombs and read his books. I learned about wielding a sword and how to use it in combat. I even learned how to fire a bow, but firing it was enough for now. I found my Mother's dagger and used it in my left hand. Father's books recommended a shield but I was not strong enough to carry both his sword and shield.

So the winter passed. Snow covered the land but I was able by day to move food from the village into the tomb to keep it from being destroyed. I could not bear to stay in my old bedroom so I read on the landing, huddled in blankets. When I saw something moving on the sheet of snow, I would still have plenty of time to go down into the tomb to hide.

By reading his notes, I learned that Father's sword had a mithril edge to it, making it capable of cutting through many things without ever dulling. I knew nothing about Mother's dagger but it had to be special, I just knew it.

It was late Fireseek, about the coldest part of the winter, when I made my first kill. From a room in the keep I could see three creatures come wandering through the village. Half the village by now had been burned down and the other half was in shambles. I had watched many of the humanoid invaders come through town. I figured these would be like the others. They would maybe burn something to keep warm and pick around the village or keep for loot. I had enough places to hide in the keep so I would not have to worry about them. I kept Father's sword handy just in case. I could wield it now. My muscles had developed enough to let me practice with the sword for about an hour a day. I knew it would be a matter of time and discipline before I could wield it as long as a true warrior would.

The creatures were taller than me by about a half foot from what I could tell. They had dark red hair all over their bodies, with red-orange faces, and dark blue noses. They were wearing dirty black leather armor with an odd plate of armor here and there, like on a shoulder or thigh. My first hobgoblins.

I saw one of the ugly hobgoblins come towards the keep while the other two went into the leatherworkers. I knew the keep enough that I could move around inside and avoid a single hobgoblin, so I snuck down the stairs. I peered around the corner of the circular staircase, holding my sword tightly.

The hobgoblin was in the main foyer of the keep poking his club into piles of garbage that a group of gnolls had left here about a month earlier. I did not clean it up since I wanted to place to look abandoned. The ugly, furry hobgoblin was rummaging around without a care in the world. He was snorting. I guess that meant he was talking to himself. He worked through the crap the gnolls had left then went over to tear down the last pieces of one of my Father's tapestries.

I had spent the entire winter dodging all the humanoids that had come through here. Orcs, gnolls, orogs, and now hobgoblins had each in their turn destroyed a little bit more of my home. The other two hobgoblins were nowhere in sight. This was my chance to get even.

I snuck down the steps. My soft riding boots made little sound. My hands were clammy on the pommel of my Father's sword but I was determined. I reached the bottom of the stone steps with the hobgoblin busy looking through a pile of trash the gnolls had thrown against the far wall.

The flagstones of the main hall were cold on the bottom of my feet. I stepped over the bones of some poor animal that had been eaten and moved closer to the hobgoblin's back.

I stepped up behind him and pulled back the sword. I think the hobgoblin heard me at the last moment, because he started to turn around. Not having any time for doubt, I stabbed the bastard sword into him. Being a novice, I was very lucky to stick the blade between his ribs rather than having it stick. The sharp blade jabbed through the leather armor and past his furry hide. As he turned more I kept a tight grip on the sword and held it in place. It tore through him when he spun around, almost yanking the sword out of my hand.

Quickly I pulled the sword out of him letting thick, dark red blood spurt out from the gashing wound. I was so new to the world of violence and battle that I gaped at the wound I had caused. I stared at it for a moment too long, because the hobgoblin was not dead.

"UNNGHH!!" The hobgoblin's ham fist smashed into the side of my face. My long blonde braids flailed outwards while I twisted around in a circle. I fell to the floor, but I kept a tight grip on the bastard sword. I was a little dazed but I scurried back on my butt to get some space like the manuals had said to do when in trouble.

Putting a hand to my lip and feeling the blood, I looked up at the hobgoblin. He was enraged. His sword was already in his hand and he came stomping at me. I was not very strong but I was still pretty quick. I jumped up to my feet and kept my sword low like I had learned.

I was not afraid, not this time. If he killed me, well, I did not care. I would be with my family at least. I would rather kill him, I thought, if someone had to die here.

He charged at me, yelling some goblin obscenity. I guess he did not think me much of a threat even after I had cut his side open. I faked to the left, and then ducked right. The mithril blade of the sword sliced through the leather armor like a knife through butter and cut open his belly. The hobgoblin swung back and smashed the hilt of his sword into my back.

"NNghh!" I groaned as I tumbled forward with my back arched. I put out a hand as I fell against the wall. Spinning around, I had only a moment to react. The hobgoblin was charging again, this time not giving me time to make a maneuver. His sword was over his head, ready to drive through my heart.

I moved forward, under his hands, and drove the bastard sword into his belly. His whole weight came crashing down on me, burying me under his smelling, furry body. Blood spurted onto my sword.

He thrashed for a few moments. My sword was completely through his body and I was trapped under him, but I did not feel any fear. I guess when you do not fear death, combat is easier. When he quit wiggling, I put a hand under his chin and lifted my knees, pushing him off of me.

When I looked up, there were the other two hobgoblins clomping in through the main doors. I put a foot on the dead hobgoblin's chest and pulled out the bloody sword and backed away. I kept the bastard sword low and waved it at them like a warning.

They did not take the warning well I guess, because they pulled out their swords and came at me. I was angry and ready to either kill them or die trying. They were here in my home, and now that I knew I could kill on hobgoblin, I did not see why I could not kill two.

That is how wrong I was. They saw their dead friend, and these two were not going to blindly charge at me like him. I have learned that a dead body will sober people up, and the first hobgoblin did not have a body to tell him to be wary. The hobgoblins spread out wide and moved slowly to surround me so I could not face them both.

I had read in my Father's manuals that in this situation a warrior should back up against a wall. For some reason, being trapped did not do much for me. I stood there with my sword ready until they were on either side of me. Then I took off running for all I was worth towards the door.

Hobgoblins are slower than humans I learned. I figured from their bulk that I could outrun them. I rushed out the destroyed main doors and across the inner courtyard. I could hear chasing over me from the sounds of their heavy black boots.

I ran through the gates of the keep and turned like I was going to keep running. Instead I ducked behind a piece of the gate that had been thrown against the outer wall. Then I waited.

It took the hobgoblins about half a minute to catch up to where I had been. Then made the turn out the gate like they were right behind me. I waited until the first one ran by, then leaped up. My sword flashed in a wide arc. With both hands holding onto the pommel, I swung with all my strength.

The blade chopped into the trailing hobgoblin's neck. The weight of his body kept him moving forward even as his throat was neatly cut open. The wound was fatal, but his momentum kept him going and pulled the sword right out of my hands.

"Noo!!" I yelled grabbing at the sword. His partner had stopped and was already coming back. If I tried to get my sword now, the hobgoblin would cut me down. With no way of hurting him, I took off running again, this time into the devastated village.

My gold braids trailed after me as I ran. The cold wind that blew from the north made the snowflakes on the streets swirl around the few buildings left. I was looking around for something to use, anything that I could use to clonk that damn hobgoblin over the head, when I met him.

Standing in the town square was an entire patrol of hobgoblins. There were at least twenty of them. Also in the group were two humans. One was an older man, in his thirties, with a dark scowl on his face and dark, hateful black eyes. Shorter than me with thinning black and gray hair, he had an air of death about him. He was holding a scythe in his right hand. Black robes were over his pudgy body, and a symbol of Iuz, a leering skull, was embroidered in bloodstained white over the heart of the robe.

It was the other one that drew my attention. He was a little taller than me, with long black hair held back in a ponytail. Light gray eyes gazed at me in amusement and a smirk creased his lips. With a face that was angular and vicious looking, the man's lips pursed as he looked my tall, pale body over. He was wearing a dark blue blouse that hung loosely over his shoulders, tucked into a pair of loose lighter blue pantaloons. A pair of brown, lambskin boots were on his feet. I noticed the sunlight glint off a ring on his finger, and a silver medallion swung from a platinum chain around his neck. Around his waist were a leather belt and a matching pouch hung from his hip.

"Look what we have here!" he said with a short laugh.

I was not in the mood to be laughed at, but he really had me outnumbered. I flipped one of my three foot long braids over my back with a glance at the hobgoblin chasing me. I just glared at the laughing man.

"Stop!" he said to the hobgoblin coming up behind me. The ugly thing had my sword and was ready to run me through with it. When he heard the man speak, he stopped as fast as he could. The hobgoblin wanted to rip my head off, but one word from the man made the monster obey. I did not need much experience to know this guy was someone serious.

After another look over my shoulder, I turned back to the man that had spoke. "Who are you?" I demanded, trying to sound serious. I am sure I did not make for an intimidating appearance. With my long braids, pale skin, and dirty dress, he probably thought I was some lost waif.

"Oh, no one of importance, I can assure you!" He stepped forward and the hobgoblins moved out of his way quickly. I could see they feared this man. To me he looked like that slimy merchant from Urnst that no one trusted. "But who might you be, little girl?"

I hated that patronizing tone and it really set me off. "I am Baroness Tania of Melanon, and you are on my lands," I said in a calm but angry tone. The lands were mine. I was the only family member and I figured I had legally inherited the title. Still, I now realize how pathetic I looked. If someone looking like I had then had said that to me, I would laugh.

"Do tell," he replied in that mocking, grinning, patronizing tone. Oh how I wanted to get my sword into him! "Milady, is that your sword my friend holds?"

I glared at him with all the anger I could muster. My pale cheeks were a bright red and my blue eyes shot hate. I refused to answer him. No warrior would be caught like this, with her own sword in another's hand, and it humiliated me.

He knew it was mine since I did not answer, or so I thought. It really was the fact that the sword had hobgoblin blood and he had been chasing me, but I was not thinking all that clearly.

"Give her the sword back," he said still grinning at me.

My eyes popped open. He was giving my sword back to me??

The hobgoblin behind me set the sword on the ground just like he was told. I looked over my shoulder watching him put it on the wet cobblestones then kick it to me.

I leaned down warily picking up my bastard sword in both hands. I turned back to the commanding, grinning man. "What do you want?" I asked for some reason. He was toying with me and it made me worry.

The man came closer to me. He tossed his staff to one of the foremost hobgoblins and walked up to me unarmed. "Milady, what do we all want? What do you want?" he asked cryptically. That grin was driving me crazy.

"I want you off my lands," I said. My sword was low and I was on my toes like the manuals had said. This man had to be dangerous. He could not be a fool, since these hobgoblins would not be afraid of a fool.

He got within about a foot of the point of my sword. "Do you know that your forbearers stole this land from Flan tribesmen? Shouldn't you get off the land and find a nice Flan family to give it back?"

I stared at him. What was he doing, playing games with me? That was what it seemed like. "You have five seconds, mister, before I run you through."

Another grin was the result. "Five," he said without those gray eyes every leaving my angry blue eyes. "Four." He took his time, and never moved. "Three." I had dreams about killing humanoids like the ones that had killed my parents, or priests of Iuz, but never just any human. "Two." But this guy was about to get it.

"One." I thrust the sword forward, aiming it right at his heart. As the blade moved, he suddenly disappeared in a flash of light!

I was stumbled forward having expected to feel some resistance. The hobgoblins laughed while I fell to my knees. Putting one hand down I jumped back up and swung around.

The man was now behind me, next to the hobgoblin that seemed as surprised as me.

"How....?" I started to say. Clamping my mouth, I refused to let the grinning asshole laugh at me again. "Fight me, you pathetic piece of hobgoblin shit!"

That made the smile disappear. "As you wish, Baroness, if that is truly who you are."

He held up a hand and muttered some strange words. I knew a spell casting when I heard it, and charged hoping to get to him before he finished.

Suddenly a glowing, pale green beam shot from the palm of his hand. I did not have a chance to dodge since it moved at the speed of light. The beam sank into my chest, right between my small, underdeveloped breasts.

The tip of my sword clattered to the cobblestones. It felt like a thousand pounds! I could not hold up the pommel and the rest of the sword went down. Quickly I knelt down on one knee but the sword...

Then it hit me. I felt weak. The sword did not get heavier, I got weaker. I pried my fingers under the pommel, and then noticed a pair of brown boots.

"BLLLUNNGHHH!!!" I cried out when his boot kicked me under the chin making me flip backwards onto the street. I was dazed but still fought to get to my feet.

As I rose up, the man grabbed me by the chin. His other hand moved and he muttered some mystic words. The street was still spinning from the kick and my arms were like iron weights.

He finished his spell. I could feel the magic working on me. This man had such a cynical, evil look to him...but...there was something...he also seemed kind...

I tried to shake my head but his hand on my chin kept me looking at him. I was slipping away and I knew it. "No...please..." I pleaded. My innocent blue eyes welled up with tears. "No..."

A blue aura sparkled in my vision. When it faded, I saw a wonderful face. He had strong, chiseled features and shining, pleasant gray eyes. "Hi," I said simply. I gave him my most dazzling smile.

This man was my friend. There was no doubt about that. I would do most anything for him and he would do the same for me. I had complete trust in him. Now why did I not know his name?

The man released my chin. "Hello Tania," he said, his voice full of love and trust. At least to my charmed mind that is what his voice sounded like. "How do you feel?" he said tilting my head to the side for some reason.

"Very good," I beamed at him. When he turned my head I noticed the hobgoblin behind him and gave the ugly furball a narrow glare.

"Tania, how did that bruise on your cheek heal already?"

My hand went up to the place where the first hobgoblin had slugged me when I had stabbed him. It felt fine. There was not a bit of tenderness. I looked up at the man with confusion written across my face. "I...I do not know..."

He looked at me closely, and then nodded. "Tania, my name is Sarek. I want to be your friend. I want to learn more about you."

I nodded but still wondered about my cheek. How did that heal so fast?

He released my chin and put an arm around my shoulders. "Come along, we have many things to do. You see Tania, this is going to be my new home. From here I will rule over this province of land. My master, the Arch-Mage Vayne, has commanded me here. I will need your help."

I had mixed feelings. The fact that Sarek was going to rule my lands did not bother me even a little bit. I trusted him and knew he would be a fine leader. I would do anything he asked me to do to help him. But who was Vayne?

"Yes Sarek, I will do whatever I can to help," I said cheerfully to the slightly taller man.

"Good, now come with me, there is much to do..."

Continued in Chapter 3

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