Without light my chances of killing Rhindle were nil, and my chances of getting killed were almost certain. I hurried back in the direction of town.
I'd never been this deep in the woods before. The cold air stung my lungs, and my chest ached where the lance of Sir Udo had injured me. The trees seemed to take on leathery skin and reach out to touch me. Every mound of moss began to look like the scaled wurm.
Everything started to look the same in the fading light, and an endless parade of trees streamed by me. I maintained my focus and continued toward home.
I made it back relatively quickly. To be accurate, I tore up the miles like a wild buffalo. Soon I could feel the warm embrace of Jornstad and see the dwellings in the distance.
As I reached the edge of town and walked past some of the outlying homes, I hung my head. My body was weak, and my joints ached. I was disgraced and beaten. I'd failed Lord Rothchild and perhaps set the stage for the downfall of Kjeldor.
A great crashing noise from behind jarred me from my thoughts. I heard a terrible splintering and ripping of wood and foliage. It was as though a hundred bolts of lightning had struck the same spot in the same instant.
I spun around to see a medium-sized tree reduced to kindling. Above the debris towered the wicked Rhindle, even more impressive in reality than he had been in all my nightmares. His head was sleek and dragonlike, and his blue scales glistened in the gently falling snow. The massive creature's eyes were pinpoints of fiery orange and spoke volumes about his ferocity. He looked me right in the eye.
The hunter had become the hunted. I dropped the sword and took an instinctive step backward. The beast opened his huge jaws and let loose a roar that shook the firmament. His tail whipped toward me, advancing like a snake tearing through the underbrush and so enormous that it took two full seconds to reach the spot where I stood.
It struck my leg, shattering my right thigh and lifting me off my feet in a short and painful flight. My fall was broken by a dense thicket. Thorns tore at my skin as I hurriedly tried to crawl to safety.
Turning toward the village, I beheld a welcome sight. Alerted by the noise, townsfolk were pouring into the streets, rushing to my aid. Some had swords and bows, but most bore the tools of their trade or whatever else they could turn into a weapon. There were barbers armed with razors, carpenters with shovels, and hunters with harpoons. Some men had picks and shovels, women brought rakes and torches, and all advanced with a fearless determination.
I turned back to regard the beast. I'd put some distance between us, and the creature hadn't moved from the spot where it struck me. It didn't need to. Its long neck extended. The huge jaws descended, and I could feel the creature's hot breath.
One of the townsfolk hurled a short length of firewood at Rhindle, striking it on the nose. The beast instantly closed its mouth and recoiled with a look of incredulity. The log could not possibly have done any damage to such a massive creature, but the beast was stunned that tiny prey such as this would dare to fight back.
Taking advantage of the creature's hesitation, the villagers surrounded the wurm. With each passing moment more people rushed to the scene to help. Town guardsmen fired arrows into the wurm's thick hide. One woman tried to throw salt into its eyes. Children threw stones from a distance.
The creature was confused. Like a spider being swarmed by a thousand ants, there was nothing it could do. It advanced a few yards in one direction, stopped and changed course. The villagers fought more bravely than any well-trained army-they fought like a people defending their home.
The wurm thrashed about, spending more time defending itself than it did advancing on the town. The makeshift battalion continued its frenzied assault until the wurm finally gave up. The creature turned and tore off into the woods, knocking down trees and turning over large rocks in its path.
The brave citizens looked at one another in quiet disbelief. None would have dared believe they could defeat a creature so dangerous. Yet by standing together they'd accomplished what none could do individually.
Some were overcome by relief and awe. Others moved quickly to tend to the injured, who-along with myself-were taken to the healer. Miraculously, no one was killed.
That night a celebration began that lasted five days. Wine flowed freely, and songs were sung to the glory of Kjeldor. Poets composed epic poems commemorating the event. Artisans carved statues and painted life sized frescoes.
The people of Jornstad marveled at the wisdom of Lord Rothchild, who, through confrontation with the wurm, had taught them how to trust in themselves. He was hailed as the hero of the day.
Green
Green is the balance between extremes. Those who favor green are solid people with easy manners. They aren't impulsive, as are those who favor red, or withdrawn like those who favor blue. Those associated with green are socially well-adjusted and organic. They are conventional, yet constantly on the go, and have a taste for the good things in life. Green has, on occasion, been associated with jealousy or inexperience, but those who have a broader understanding know that green is natural, fresh, wise, and comforting, and those characterized by it show a sensitivity to social customs and etiquette. Green provides abundance and resources. It is passive and combative at the same time, and calls to those who want to be grounded in their natural surroundings.
Versipellis
(Circa 4000AR)
Steel rang on steel in the crisp twilight. After a brief struggle, two men flew apart, one making futile slashes at the other. The desperate man was soaked to the skin with sweat. A long, shallow cut, more painful than dangerous, crossed his chest from left shoulder to right ribcage. Blood stained his homespun shirt.
His opponent was unharmed. Elegantly dressed and with not a hair out of place, young Joren stood out of reach, casually resting his blade on his shoulder.
'Had enough, Edgur?' he asked.
The wounded man pressed a hand to his bleeding chest. The sight of his own blood inflamed his anger past the point of sanity. With a howl of rage, Edgur charged Joren, sword outthrust. Joren turned aside on one heel, sending his foe plunging headlong into the tall grass outside the clearing. Edgur stumbled, losing his sword when the tip dug into the earth and tore from his grasp. He outran his own feet and fell facedown in the weeds.
No one laughed. Edgur's seconds hurried to their friend's side. Joren's cronies brought him a cup of wine.
'Are you satisfied?' Joren called out as Edgur was hoisted to his feet.
The latter's response was to begin searching the high grass for his lost sword. When his friends stood idly by watching him, Edgur snarled, 'Don't just stand there- help me find it!'
His guild friend Artulle folded his arms and said, 'No, Edgur. You've had enough. There's no point in going on.'
'I'll decide when I've had enough!'
'He's right, you know.' Joren tossed his slim rapier to his manservant. 'There's no reason to fight on.'
'I am the injured party!'
Joren strode over and seized Edgur by his bloody shirt-front. 'And I'm the better man,' he said coldly. 'I should think that would be painfully obvious by now, even to a blockhead like you. Stay away from me Edgur, and stay away from Riliana. If you don't, next time you won't just need a new shirt-you'll need a shroud!'
Joren, his friends, and his servants returned to their waiting carriages. As they whirled away amid the crack of whips and rumble of hooves, Edgur slowly sank to his knees. Defeated. Disgraced. His life was over.
Artulle and Meckie waited for him join them. The hired wagon was costing them a half-korl an hour, money
