Death's errant chapter 2.

Shelter from the storm...

"Follow me," I commanded as we saddled our horses. We rode off through the night with our horse's hooves sloshing through the mud and grime as they protested furiously.

"Sir, If you don't mind me asking, what happened back there?" Young Joseph yelled out over the roar of the pouring rain.

"Something most foul." I yelled back. "Damned creatures of the night plague this village. The rumors are true. A zombie most foul ate a town guard right in front of my eyes and a creature from the bowels of hell kidnapped a fair maiden upon whom we ride to rescue at this very hour!"

"Aye, so that is where we are headed." Joseph said more to himself than to me. "I thought the necromancer involved in resurrecting the zombies once before was killed." He spoke aloud.

I did not respond. 'maybe he returned from the dead or another took his place.' I shook my head at the thought.

Twas weather most horrid that night. Lightening danced in rude jesters it would seem, across a black canvas and the thunder roared as if to warn us of such mischievous folly that we currently followed. Still I would not be deterred. I was sent here for a reason, but I am not a man without a heart. A young maiden was running for her life and has been snatched up to be either food, sacrifice or a sexual play thing for some form of evil. Rescuing her may lead us to the mayor's daughter.

"Isabella. Her name Sir Ishmael, is Isabella." The mayor stated sadly. He picked up a small painted portrait of his daughter and traced her visage with his finger. A tear rolled down his fat round cheeks and he quickly flicked it off with one of his fingers.

"Please find her. I will pay a king's ransom for her."He pleaded.

"Is there any reason that you could think of that this man or demon would take Isabella?" I asked as I looked on in compassion.

The mayor turned his head away from me. "No, not that I could think of." He responded after a slight pause.

I detected that he may have been lying, but before I could interject one of his servants knocked on the door to his chambers. He turned around. The sunlight shined through a window and lit up the bald spot on his head like a freshly cleaned mirror.

"Come in." He commanded.

One of his servants opened the door and there stood Joseph and two monks from the order of Jayvon. They all bowed, arms full of my personal armor and gear, brought to me upon my request.

I looked back at the mayor, he looked shamefully away from me.

Something was afoot...

"Sir Ishmael, Look!"Joseph shouted and pointed ahead.

I looked forward as best as I could through the blinding rain, but nothing seemed to stand out.

"I don't see anything young Joseph. What is it?"

"That is the tavern that we first saw when we entered the village."

At first I thought the boy daft, but as I looked, I too saw the tavern. I looked to the right and laid eyes upon the same house next to the alleyway. The same bloodied spot, being washed away by the rain and the indents, proving that the guard had been dragged and the same foot prints of the zombie all were in their places.

"How can this be? We have been riding straight ahead for nearly an hour." I stated out of sheer confusion.

"Sir, may I make a suggestion?" Joseph asked.

I looked into his big brown eyes and nodded as I thought.

"Maybe we should seek shelter. This cold rain shall be the death of us. In the morning, we could continue our search."

The lad was right. To continue would be folly and detrimental to the mission at hand. I nodded.

We kicked in the door to the local Tavern. It was as dark as pitch. Dust flew angrily into our nostrils stealing our precious air as we inhaled. Lightening flashed above the place giving us brief moments of blue light.

"Joseph, a torch." I commanded after our lungs' battle with the cloud of dust caused a fitful cough in us both.

"Yes sir." He responded as he shivered from the cold night air and rain. He produced an oiled torch from a knapsack and lit it with flint and steel. The flames roared brightly illuminating the common room of the inn.

The place was old and dusty. The bar looked fully stocked with bottles of mead, ale and wine covered in grime and cobwebs. The tables and chairs were untouched and vermin, spiders and roaches all scurried away from our torch light.

A creaking sound from up stairs startled us. I looked at Joseph who in turn held the torch higher towards the stairs. We saw nothing.

I unsheathed my sword. "Stay close."I commanded.

Joseph nodded.

We crept as quietly as possible as we climbed the sturdy wooden steps. We were near the very top and I could see barely over the top stair...

"AAAH!" Joseph screamed in terror.

I turned quickly with my sword in hand, ready to swing bloody malice upon the foul attacking creature.

All I saw was Joseph wildly waving his arm like a chicken and swinging the torch here and there close to the stairs.

"Joseph! What is it?" I asked in concern.

He regained composure, placing his hand over his heart and catching his breath.

"It...puff puff... it was the biggest spider I have ever seen." He responded. He looked my way. "I... I am sorry sir."

"Do not be. Spiders can be dangerous creatures. Let us continue." I turned to walk stalwartly up the stairs and it led to a hall way with several doors on either side.

"The bedrooms." I muttered. "Open each door to the left. Look into them. Leave each door open. Do not enter a room without my consent, understood?"

Joseph nodded and began opening the doors to the left as I began opening them to the right. Each room seemed untouched, but clean. No spiders, vermin or the like. The beds all seemed made up. Tables were clean and spotless as if the rooms were recently slept in and refreshed.

"All clear sir." Joseph announced.

"This is most odd." I answered back.

"I've noticed the cleanliness compared to the roughage everywhere else in the tavern as well my lord. Shall we stay the night or no?"

I thought about it for a moment. Then I nodded my head "yes".

"Find a room and sleep. I will stand guard for half the night and then I shall slumber for a while and you can stand watch."

Joseph nodded and quickly took off his wet raiment.

I felt uneasy as I looked around the darkness of the tavern hallway. I felt a presence besides that of Joseph and I. One that was dark and foreboding.

"Goodnight sir." Young Joseph shouted as he jumped underneath the covers of the big bed.

"Goodnight Joseph." I responded as I continued to survey the surroundings. I stared intently into the hallway for as long as I could. I got tired of standing and sat down, leaning against the foot of the bed. Weariness and I fought a fearsome battle as my head nodded here and there.

I awoke, due to the chill in the air. I had fallen asleep and lost track of the time. The torch had burned out and it was nearly pitch black in the room. The storm's fury had quelled down to a lulling tapping upon the roof. I reached for the knapsack and pulled out another torch and lit it. I tuned to wake Joseph from his slumber to stand watch, but he looked so peaceful, even in this perilous place. Besides I had already succumbed to the temptation of sleep. I stood up and saw something near the door out of the corner of my eye.

I quickly turned to face whatever it was that I saw and as I turned the light of the torch towards it, it screamed out in pain.

I jumped back as I saw a giant shadow, not made by the form of myself or that of Joseph, creeping along the wall of our room.

Joseph sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Sir what was that frightful sound?" His eyes saw the shadow as well and he jumped up onto the feathered mattress with nothing more on than a loincloth clutching the pillow in his hand.

"A shade." I answered through gritted teeth as I reached for the symbol of my god, Jayvon!

To be continued...