Voices filled the caverns as Asher bolted awake. The leathers he had haphazardly sewn together to form his armor shifted with the movement, hugging tightly to his ever-expanding frame. He silently drew the longsword and mace that had once seemed large to him. Now they looked like children's toys in his massive hands.
The voices continued to move closer as Asher stealthily moved behind a massive stalagmite. He could easily make out the language of the drew as they spoke.
Closer and closer they moved, clearly afraid of nothing within these caverns.
"We come to chat with you, young beast. Assuming of course you know how to chat?" Those words echoed across the cavern in the common tongue.
"Come out from your hiding place, we know your there, we have been tracking you for days." Replied the same voice.
Asher cautiously crept from his hiding place and into the light. Carefully observing the five drew that he now towered above. The four in the back looked much as the others that had attacked him, but the drew in the front was somewhat different. Between his calm and calculating demeanor and the silken bright blue and orange clothing he wore; none could confuse him with common drew. Yet even his clothing did not stand out as much as the bejeweled crown he wore upon his brow. It glowed with a blinding brilliance and shimmered and shined as the gems caught the light from its many obvious enchantments casting colored light upon the walls all around him.
As Asher became fully visible the drew gasped in awe of young Asher. He had grown to a height of 305 cm (10 feet) tall and weighed 250 kg. (550 lbs.) his legs were as big around as most of the drew presents waists. He wore an assortment of hides that he had gathered from the creatures of the caves. The belts and weapons of many of those that had fallen to his blades now resided on his legs and arms among these lie the enchanted dagger that had taken his mothers life. Around his waist he still carried the longsword and mace his mother had gifted him. Though now the weapons looked more like toys than the tools of war when held by Asher.
The drew could not imagine a more savage and fearsome creature.
Asher patiently waited a clearer understanding of what these creatures desired.
"I am known as Pharod. Do you have a name?" the same voice inquired, its tone revealing nothing of its intentions.
Asher opened his mouth to reply, his voice cracking from lack of use. "Asher."
"Good, you understand what I am saying. That will make things far easier. Where did you learn to speak?" replied Pharod, with pleasure emanating from his voice.
"Mother." Stated Asher.
"A man of few words. I like that. Normally we would surround you, subdue and enslave you, and force you to fight in the gladiatorial games. However, your reputation proceeds you. We have gone through quite a bit of trouble and coin tracking you, and yet here you are, right on our doorstep. I am going to request that you work for me. I need a midnight beast to fight in the tournaments and create a sensation. You need that as well, as it is the only way your species stops being slain. You will be fairly compensated for your battles. What do you say?" proposed Pharod.
"I don't know that word. Compensated?" replied Asher, enjoying the feeling of speaking to others again.
"It means, you do something for me, and I will give you things in return, money, weapons, armor, women, whatever you desire. You name it, and it can be yours." Replied Pharod.
"I kill for you, and you gift me things? I have no need of new things, I have all I need already, but mother spoke of weapons masters and tests for magical prowess from her homeland. Find me a weapons master. Test me, and I will do as you ask." proposed Asher.
This news was far beyond Pharod's expectations, not only did Asher understand common, but he wanted to learn. He would already have hired trainers for Asher as he could not afford for him to be slain in the arena. With Asher desiring training, however, not only would he learn faster, but he would stay longer. Asher could truly grow to become a profitable investment. Pharod concentrated on hiding his pleasure from his face and voice before he replied.
"You drive a hard bargain young Asher. We will train you, and we will pay you. Put your weapons away and follow me. If we are to work together, you're going to have to learn to trust me." Replied Pharod sternly, seeming as though he was displeased by Asher's request.
When he finished speaking Pharod turned and began walking the way they had come in.
Asher cautiously followed behind.
As Asher began to follow, he realized a score of drew were joining in behind him. Pharod had truly been prepared to take Asher by any means necessary.
Pharod walked a short distance before he placed his hand upon a rather bland looking wall. As he touched the wall a cracking sound rumbled through the cavern as the wall began to descend into the stone.
As the wall descended, the pungent smell of stinking unwashed bodies assaulted Asher's senses. The smell quickly became so overpowering that Asher could taste the musky, salty filth that covered the bodies within the cave. He quickly covered his nose with his furs to prevent himself from retching.
Sensing Asher's state of discomfort, Pharod chuckled as he spoke. "This entrance is the closest to your camp. You won't need to come through here again, as you're not one of the common slaves. In fact, young Asher, you will be taken to the private training grounds on my estate and will train with my personal guard per your training request. This will have a cost of course, and I will add it to your tab, but you need not worry about such things. I will manage your tab and you can leave when its completely paid off."
Asher knew nothing of money. So Pharod's comments meant little to him.
Pharod smiled a bright and devious smile as he uttered his next words. "Asher, you must have been lonely out there, would you like me to bring you a companion? I have a rather unique drew that I think you would love. Though admittedly, she is one of a kind and would cost a fortune. I can add that to your tab too… While she is prepared for you, we can evaluate your combat prowess. Let's see if you know how to use those weapons you possess." As he finished, he whispered to one of the drew beside him. As he finished, the drew ran ahead to do Pharod's bidding.
Asher smiled and nodded at Pharod's words. He had been rather lonely these past years. It would be nice to have a friend.
Pharod continued to lead Asher to the training ground in silence.
The group soon arrived at the training ground. As they arrived, Asher saw a great many creatures he did not recognize fighting with the drew that were present.
Soon he was placed along the line and a drew moved across from him, drew his weapon, and charged at Asher.
Asher quickly unsheathed his long sword and grabbed the mace from his side.
As Asher swung his weapon at the charging drew, the drew dove to the side, clearly shaken by the speed at which Asher had managed to react.
The drew quickly moved from a dive into a roll and lunged into the air behind Asher.
Asher swiftly swung his sword behind him with all his might, soundlessly cleaving the inferior metal of the drew's blade in half.
The drew flipped backward, narrowly missing being cleaved in half from Asher's mighty swing.
Pharod's jaw dropped as he realized the implications of that swing. He quickly put a stop to the training and motioned for 2 drew to escort Asher to his chambers while he contemplated how to train young Asher.
Asher's escorts quickly escorted him to a large wing of rooms near the center of the palace. Drew guards opened the doors for Asher to proceed inside.
Asher had never lived in a building. He carefully examined each piece of furniture in each room before he proceeded to the next. Most of the things he examined were foreign, and he had no clue as to their uses.
After many hours of exploration, Asher happened upon his bedchamber. Once he opened the door, a voice emitted from his bed.
"Pharod has gifted me to a wild beast. I doubt you can understand me, but I will offer me fair warning, if you do what we both know you came in here to do, your flesh will rot, and your appendage will fall away. The reeking smell of putrid flesh will venture with you for the rest of your days as you regret the decision you made by coming to me."
Asher immediately looked toward the voice, as he did so he covered his eyes for tied up on his bed lay a lovely white drew with pure white hair and red eyes. Her clothing was no where to be seen.
Asher spoke, "I am sorry madam. I did not mean to disturb you. I can leave the room until you dress."
To this the drew laughed hysterically. "An innocent gentleman of a beast? Clearly your no drew. Untie me, and I will gladly dress, if you can produce something for me to wear. I have not had the feeling of fabric in quite some time. With whom do I now have the honor of speaking?"
Asher removed his bag and pulled a large hide from it as he moved toward the bed and cut loose the drew's bindings. He carefully covered the drew as she rose and stretched her aching arms and legs. Once she had time to arrange herself comfortably, Asher replied. "I am Asher." He then pulled out the enchanted dagger that had slain his mother as he continued, "You have the power to make flesh wither and die? Then you must know something of the magic of this dagger. Where is it from?"
The drew gasped in disbelief as she admired the bone hilt with flames emblazoned on the side of the dagger and attempted to find her voice for a reply. "Where did you get that dagger?"
Asher told the drew the story of how he managed to acquire the dagger. When he finished, she again spoke rather uncertainly.
"My name is Neve. Though most know me as the white witch. As you clearly see, I am no ordinary drew. I am what is known as an albino. That dagger is the weapon of a white walker. The Dowager of House Baenfall's personal guard. If it is as you say and you slew the one that carried it, you may return it to her for a reward. To wield it causally as you do however is near to suicide, as they are specially trained albino assassins. It has always been my dream to join them."
Neve's words meant little to Asher. He simply returned the dagger to its sheathe and responded. "Is the dagger's enchantment the same as your magical powers?"
Neve sat in silence clearly having an internal struggle before responding. "Does it truly matter? Rotting away hasn't been worth the risk to any creature that has been sent to be with me. Dare you take that risk?"
Asher shrugged his shoulders, and he began to look through his bag. Eventually he found his mother's clothing and armor. He casually pulled them from the bag as he again spoke. "You're going to need some real clothing Neve. I only have one set for a female, but it is rather special. If I loan it to you until we can get Pharod to send more in, will you return it?"
Neve chuckled and prepared to agree as she moved her eyes toward the clothing that Asher retrieved. As she looked upon the masterfully crafted ebony chainmail, the blue crossed short sword and dagger insignia upon the armor came into view, Neve's eyes bulged out of her head as she shrieked. "Asher id be better off walking naked into the arena than wearing that armor. That has the crest of the Silent Legion. I don't even want to know how you came across such a thing."
Asher creased his brows as her replied. "It was mothers."
Neve was stunned as she found her breathe to speak. "Asher what was your mother's name?"
"Nadra Olear." Replied Asher.