It had been many months since Cordal was enslaved into the service of the Archmage Crumena. No, not enslaved in the usual way, for he was not mortal. He was a Dread Knight, and had been for sixty years. The unusual nature of Cordal's enchantments had allowed Crumena to use alteration magic on him, twisting his blood runes to serve his own ends. Cordal had no choice but to obey.
Crumena surprisingly had not used Cordal to protect himself. Instead he had supplied Cordal with an enchanted sword and shield, and given him to Lilith, a Dark Elf. This day, he and Lilith were in Lenniel, with Lilith's friend Battou. Cordal stood silently as always in front of the tree where Lilith was talking with her friend, making an imposing guard. The flaming red orbs inside his helm burned steadily as he assessed all threats within the woodland town. All of a sudden two blackened steel figures emerged from the tree tavern, turning to look up at Lilith. Lilith hurriedly scrambled down the tree, hiding behind Cordal.
Cordal recognized them for what they were, head swiveling to them. They too, were Dread Knights. One stood three feet over his own form, the towering figure of Dread Lord Rawrych. Cordal thought he had escaped his past long ago, but apparently not. The Dread Lord spoke to Lilith, a dark voice of screeching metal.
"Come with us. You are needed."
Cordal spoke then, in his own unemotional voice like gravel.
"You will not take her."
As Cordal uttered this, he knew where his path had taken him. He never intended to befriend Lilith. It should have been impossible for him to feel affection for any living being, and yet he felt such things for Lilith. Even in life, as a member of the White Rose, he never would have thought this would happen. The Dread Knight beside the Dread Lord drew his sword, a shimmering tainted blade. The Dread Knight looked down at Cordal, dwarfing him as he spoke once more.
"You will move aside, knight."
"I will not move aside for you, whelp."
For indeed, Cordal had not been cursed by Rawrych, but Dread Lord Aelor. He was at least a decade further cursed than the Dread Lord. The Dread Lord tilted his head slightly as his companion spoke.
"He is rogue, my lord. Allow me to eliminate him."
The Dread Lord shook his head, motioning for the other Dread Knight to stand back. He drew his massive blade, a six foot long monstrosity of blackened steel. Cordal in turn drew his own blade, the sword bursting into the blackened flames of a shade. A black gem glowed darkly in the center, and Cordal raised his shield.
"Do not interfere, Verin. Kill any that try to stop us."
"Run, Lilith." said Cordal, turning to the dark elf cowering behind him. She hesitated then nodded, dashing into the witch woods.
Without hesitation the Dread Lord swung his sword downwards, straight at the armored form at Cordal. Cordal bring his own sword up, fire and sparks shooting out from their two weapons. The battle had begun.
As their swords clashed, the massive form of the Dread Lord pressed forward, pushing Cordal back. His heels dug furrows in the ground as the ground faltered underneath. In desperation Cordal bashed out with his shield, breaking the link between the two swords. Rawrych stumbled back. Cordal used the opening and dashed forward, smashing his gauntlet into the Dread Lord's helmet with a great uppercut. The Dread Lord roared with fury and raised his sword, his helmet dented now.
Rawrych rushed forward, pointing his sword outwards directly at Cordal. Cordal thinking quickly ducked behind his shield. The impact was incredible, the sword point being driven in with great force. The enchantment on the shield began to screech and wail as it was physically render, a huge dent forming. Cordal shoved back with force, and Rawrych took a step back, then swung his sword down at Cordal, right as his helmet.
Cordal raised his shield again at the last second, but the sword drove onward, splitting the shield open and continuing on, denting Cordal's shoulder plate. However, the sword was now trapped, sealed within the shield. Rawrych released hold of the sword as Cordal bashed at his arm with his own sword. Then unexpectedly Rawrych lurched forward, forcing Cordal to the ground and pinning him. Cordal dropped his sword and the flames extinguished, the dark stone in the hilt losing its glow. The Dread Lord, a much larger figure than Cordal, picked him up and held him fast, throwing him towards a nearby tree. The tree's midsection shattered, splintering into a dozen different pieces of wood as the tree collapsed.
Cordal got up slowly from the felled tree, watching the Dreadlord approach. His gauntleted fist shot forward at the Dread Lords chest plate, caving it in. The Dread Lord in turn dealt a ringing blow to Cordal's helm, denting it severely. Cordal stumbled sideways through a cluster of vines, regaining his composure. Behind he noticed a crowd had gathered, watching the fight. Lilith was being held back from the fight by Gravelord Nimdravur, while the Gravelord's pet Lich watched impassively. Cordal turned back to the fight, watching as Rawrych slashed through the vines. Here Cordal's size was an advantage, as Rawrych became entangled and slashed his way through, unable to see.
As soon as the Dread Lord emerged from the vines, Cordal's gauntleted fist was waiting, and punched once more towards Rawrych's chest plate, and knocked him on the ground. Cordal wasted no time, grabbing the Dread Lord by the ankles and dragging him away from the vines, using centrifugal force to pick the larger figure up. He swung Rawrych around and around, releasing at a critical moment. The Dread Lord sailed through the air, crashing into the tree tavern. An impact crater was smashed into the tree, splinters of wood flying everywhere. Cordal clanked forwards, kicking out at the Dread Lord to try and keep him down.
Suddenly, Rawrych moved to the side, evading Cordal's kick. He got up from his crater, grabbing Cordal by the helmet and beginning to squeeze. In desperation the Dread Knight punched out at Rawrych's chest plate, and it split open, Cordal's fist traveling into the void that was Rawrych's insides. Now Cordal could hear fighting all around him. He felt his helmet crush and it was torn off, rendering him blind. Cordal hung onto the Dread Lord's chest plate, feeling it tear as he was moved upwards. Cordal was slung onto the shoulders of the Dread Lord, unable to see at all, he flailed uselessly with his steel form.
The Dread Lord walked out of the now chaotic town with the Dread Knight on his shoulders, the foolish mortals preoccupied with some other matter now. None followed them except for a poltergeist which nobody payed any heed to. The Dread Lord took him to Old Malinor, now corrupted by the Harbingers, and walked to an outcrop overlooking one of the many lava pits dotting the area.
Cordal heard panting somewhere behind them and heard Lilith's voice, stricken with woe.
"Let him go! Don't take Cordal away from me!"
"I am sorry, Lilith. But I am the Dread Lord, and he has defied me. You will not be harmed."
"It has been good to be your friend, Lilith." said Cordal in a ragged voice, the sound issuing from his ruined armor.
Lilith collapsed on the ground in grief.
"No!"
And with that, Cordal was cast unto the inferno. As the lava slowly melted his armor and the iron ran thick in the molten earth, his life flashed before his eyes. His childhood in Hanseti, his indoctrination into the Bannermen of Lord Winter, and his failure to repay a debt. Even his time in the White Rose was present, the numerous whippings he received and the training he gained. He had lived over a century now, much of it in the service of one man or another. In an odd way, Cordal felt free. He would never answer to any again, and Lilith would be safe. He was at peace.
Peace for a Dread Knight.