The Broadsword gleamed its smooth metallic display of death. It was terrifying. As the Knight pulled it from his back it left Loldirr scampering in retreat quickly.

She could try to run but the fields where green for miles and there was simply nowhere to hide, it was either fight or die. Pulling her bow off her back she quickly raised an arrow at his forehead and released knowing the shot was pure.

The ting she heard as it ricocheted of his helmet and fell harmlessly to the ground was the most devastating noise she could have heard.

Raising another arrow she released it knowing that armour, despite its incredible quality, still had its weaknesses. As it penetrated deep into the Knight's neck she let out a whelp of relief.

A noise escaped his terrifying helmet, a noise that sounded like a chuckle. With his broadsword in hand, he seemed to stride forward gathering speed into a steady trot and then it quickly turned into a sprint.

Loldirr released two more arrows, both finding the target, but he didn't slow down one bit.

Charging straight into Loldirr, he pushed her with great force off the floor making the archer smash and slide along the dusty ground in agony.

Loldirr held her chest tightly and struggled to grasp any air. She was completely unaware of where her enemy was now standing. Eventually, she managed to watch as the knight was circling around her, broadsword still in hand.

Coughing up blood, she was now regaining her breath. Her bow was nowhere to be seen and all she could do was frown at the towering menacing figure circling her.

He was toying with her!

With the frightening unexpected speed, the Knight sprinted up to Loldirr. He could have easily cut her down but it was obvious that he wanted to enjoy this kill.

To her side was the satchel and cloak, within the cloak was the sword. She grabbed it and pushed herself to her feet.

Swinging the broadsword at Loldirr's side and then the head, Loldirr ducked and dived out of the way before lifting the sword to block the next blow. She almost lost her footing as the blow came in. He hit like a sledgehammer and was blatantly much stronger than she was.

Loldirr was constantly on the defensive, avoiding the blows before blocking a couple and staggering back to try and maintain her footing. He was ruthlessly quick for his size and didn't seem to be slowing down any time soon.

She thought back to the sword training that Edric gave her. "If you continuously defend you can never win unless you are fitter than your opponent. Tire them if you can and be patient, look for a weakness and strike true." He had also said that she showed promise but was certainly not the best swordsman he'd met. Not exactly an endearing form of praise and not really a thought that was helpful at this time.

She looked around to find something to gain an advantage especially as she could feel herself struggle to maintain this onslaught she was receiving.

Manoeuvring around, Loldirr made sure the sun was on her back. Using the glare she tried to press an attack. For one brief moment she managed to push forward almost getting a swipe at his torso but once again his movement was extraordinary, his footwork managed to get him to avoid the blow, twist away from the glaring sun, and performing a thundering kick which made Loldirr tumble backward.

He was above her in a flash towering over her like a bear ready to take his final pounce.

Waiting for him to drop his sword through her gut she just looked at him wiping the blood dripping from her mouth. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing fear in her last moments.

Instead, he grabbed hold of her throat and lifted her high off the floor, holding her just inches from his face. Loldirr tried to fight her way out of the situation. Kicking, clawing but nothing could get her out of his grasp.

She almost wretched from the smell of death that emanated from him, it was overpowering and as his lifeless eyes stared at her through his visor, Loldirr could feel something strange happening.

Initially, she was feeling weak and tired, breaths were becoming harder and her muscles were starting to ache, but then it became something more. She could gradually feel the very essence of her life being drawn out of her. As it felt like her soul was being ripped away she wanted to scream but it was no use. He body was now screaming in agony but she had no power or strength to express the shooting pain coursing through her.

'This was a horrible way to die.' She thought to herself wanting to cry but being completely unable to do so.

Suddenly, as she was just about to embrace her last moments, Loldirr was propelled through the air and landed a few metres away completely incapable of moving. As she looked around trying to regain her breath the Knight could not be seen, as she tried to look harder, he too had been propelled from his original position.

As her hearing gradually returned she heard the sound of a horse just beside her. Looking up the Manticore Hunter was pulling himself down unsheathing the two short swords placed on his back. He didn't look down at her but towards the Knight who was starting to pick himself off the floor.

"Sir Wendon Pykeston, I thought I had killed you at the battle of Ragardforn! Let's dance you and I" The Manticore Hunter taunted.

The Knight, Sir Pykeston, has lost his helmet as the Manticore Hunter had ridden through him moments before. As he stood his pale broken face looked full of anger. Maggots could be seen in his twisted entangled beard, or what was left of it, while the other half of his face was just bone. He raised his broadsword and then advanced towards the Manticore Hunter with purpose.

"Fuck me you're ugly!" The Manticore Hunter taunted as he dodged the first series of attacks from Sir Pykeston.

The Manticore Hunter was exceptionally agile and was able to block some blows before managing to engage in a few attacks himself. His light armour allowed him to move with complete ease.

Loldirr watched as the contrasting styles fought. The Manticore Hunter was full of grace and precision while Sir Pykeston was full of strength and brutality but both of them were magnificent swordsmen. Despite his energetic graceful approach, each attack from the Manticore Hunter was being equally blocked and sometimes repelled from the surprisingly quick Sir Pykeston.

"Getting tired yet?" The Manticore Hunter mocked in which Sir Pykeston launched a brutal slice at him so hard that it almost made the Manticore Hunter lose his footing.

"He's dead, he doesn't get tired!" Loldirr corrected as she now had the strength to sit upright.

There was a grunt from the Manticore Hunter as it had dawned on him the stupidity and futility of the fight. He was a fit, strong man but Sir Pykeston was stronger and would never slow down. This had to be ended quickly or it would end poorly.

The Manticore Hunter took a step back making it appear that he wanted to get a quick breather knowing that Sir Pykeston was overconfident. Sir Pykeston took the ruse and advanced. He foolhardy and brashly launched himself at his opponent. With a carefully manoeuvred sidestep twist, blocking with one sword, the Manticore Hunter pushed the attack away exposing Sir Pykeston's back, with the other sword, with one quick slice took Sir Pykeston's head.

The head rolled to the floor but there was no blood. The body slumped to the floor with no movement. For a brief moment all that could be heard was the careful breeze and the ragged breathing of the Manticore Hunter.

Then the breeze changed, as if a voice could be heard speaking a dark incantation flowing with the air, instantly Sir Pykeston's body started to disintegrate and dissolve to dust leaving the two live individuals and the horse alone in the green grass.

"You killed him?" Loldirr asked, still struggling to get to her feet.

The Manticore Hunter helped her to her feet and steadied her footing as she was still very weak from the encounter. "No, the Shadow, Sir Wendon Pykeston, is a Death Wraith. Traitors summoned by a sorcerer who has the ability to manipulate the sphere of death. You can't kill a Death Wraith unless you kill the root that takes hold of it. He'll be back in the void until the sorcerer regains enough strength to return him to the land of the living. Unfortunately I don't think we've seen the last of him."

Loldirr coughed uncontrollably and held her side. Wincing she spat a glob of blood on the floor before standing up straight for the first time.

"You're not very lady like." Laughed the Manticore Hunter.

She just ignored the comment and took steps away from him. "I thank you for your help but please do not expect a reward for I have nothing to give."

He smiled before placing his two swords to his back and straightening his dark jet black hair. Dusting himself down and straightening his armour he just stared at her. "I did not save you for a reward."

"You're a mercenary?" Loldirr asked.

"That I am."

"So why save me if not for a reward."

He looked down towards the sword that Loldirr had so desperately tried to defend herself with. "That is Sir Edric Darke's sword. I knew him once and he was good to me. I am unable to return that goodness to him, but perhaps I can give it to you."

The Manticore Hunter kneeled down in front of Loldirr.

"My name is Ethleston, the Manticore Hunter. My sword is your sword, my life is your life. My service is yours until my death or it is no longer required. This I swear before the Gods." He rose, smiled and then headed towards his horse.

Loldirr looked at him confused. This encounter had been difficult and had taught her much, but most of all it taught her that she could not proceed with her journey alone. He was brash, irritating and arrogant, but he was an exceptionally skilled fighter, something Loldirr couldn't ignore.

He was a mercenary, so whether his show of allegiance was genuine was up for debate but having almost embraced death, it was not a feeling Loldirr wanted to experience again anytime soon.

Looking towards the road and placing her hands on her hips she sighed. White Harbour was a few more hours away and then beyond that was the trip to Gryffinfall, a long trip and arduous for one on their own.

It appeared she had no choice but to accept the Manticore Hunter as her new travel companion.