Even in the middle of Spring, the winter had struck again. A month had passed since the desctruction of Fort Zar and all the free kingdoms of Jonea were celebrating this new step against the Ulnerax empire. In the tavern of the small village of Piedvert, alcohol was flowing freely for the return of two soldiers, Vyrdein the tavern owner who had been a general for 10 long years and his son Vakyr who joined him 4 years later. They had finally resigned from the army to return to a simple, safe life. Aguertay, Vyrdein's wife, was finally able to see her beloved son and husband again, after all that time looking after the inn and hoping that her two men wouldn't die in battle under the blows of the Ulneraxians' ether guns. But now life was good again.
- It's been so long since I've had a good Piedvert beer." announced Vyrdein. I'd almost forgotten what it tastes like!
- If you say so, old chap." replied another villager.
- For today," announced Aguertay, "free drink for everyone!
- Long live Vyrdein and Vakyr!" exclaimed the villagers all together.
- Thank you for your enthusiasm, all of you." exclaimed Vakyr in return.
- You're welcome, young Vakyr." replied another villager.
The party continued, and then Varyk saw in the distance, in a remote corner of the inn, a black-hooded man with a sword and a package shaped like a sword drinking alone. He told his father, who saw the man.
- Hey, Vazek." asked Vyrdein. Who's that man over there?
Vazek, who was an old friend of Vyrdein's, looked towards where Vyrdein was pointing.
- Him over there? He's an adventurer who arrived here earlier this morning. He's probably just passing through.
- I have a vague impression I've seen him before." Vyrdein finished.
The glasses continued to fill, but Vyrdein kept a close eye on this individual. Some time later, other people arrived, looking less than friendly. They arrived in front of Aguertay and their leader, who was bald and one-eyed, spoke to her:
- Good day ma'am, I've heard that drinking here had become free today. So I'd like to take all these barrels and what's left in your storeroom.
- I could pour you a few drinks, but I'd never give you all the food and drink I've got left, even if you had the money, because I've got to run my business here over the winter, and then....." started to answer Aguertay
- And then what?" asked the one-eyed man angrily.
Vyrdein got up and walked over to the one-eyed man, standing between him and his wife.
- My establishment does not give or sell anything to muggers.
The one-eyed man, not surprised by Vyrdein's retort, burst out laughing and while he was laughing, without Vyrdein seeing it, he gestured in a slang language to the men, who understood the message.
- You're funny, you know, but at least it reassures me to see that it's a man who's in charge of this establishment and not a shrew ( he spat on the floor as he said this word). But you're right, we're muggers to you, and when we come..... we take!
And before Vyrdein could even react, the one-eyed man took a club from his left sleeve and struck his skull. Vyrdein didn't faint, but he was stunned, and just as the other villagers were getting up to meet the one-eyed man and his gang, one of the brigands shouted into the tavern:
- Nobody move from their chairs, or I'll slit this one's throat!
The brigand had taken Vakyr hostage by putting his knife to his throat. Vakyr tried to stick a blow to his jailer's chest, but another brigand picked up his club and hit Vakyr in the ribs with it. Vakyr couldn't move because of the pain. The one-eyed man began to speak again:
- Well, yes, you were right, tavern keeper, we really are bandits and from now on I still want my barrels and my stash, and now that I'm in, I'm taking everyone's money ! Come on, don't be shy, get out your purses, Time to mug you all !
The villagers had no choice but to let themselves be robbed of their money and valuables. Then one of the bandits saw the adventurer continuing to drink his whiskey. The bandit saw the man's sword and armor and raised his dagger:
- Hey you, give me your gold, your armor, your sword and whatever you've got in that package. Guys, I think I've hit the jackpot!
The black-hooded man didn't even turn around, but answered:
- There's no way you're getting your hands on every single one of those items.
- This voice....." began Vyrdein, who was slowly coming to his senses.
The bandit didn't understand why the adventurer had said no to him. He pointed his knife at Vakyr and exclaimed:
- I don't think you understand what's going on, friend. We've got a hostage, if you don't want him to die you'll obey us, so hand over your gear!
The warrior finished his bottle, put it down and answered a second time:
- Nine bodies will fall this lunchtime, and the young man's body won't be one of them.
The thief raised his dagger and brought it down on the man in the black hood, but the blade flew out of his hands before it could reach him. And as the brigand tried to work out how his dagger had gone, he picked up one of the knives from the table and stuck it into the bandit's neck.
- For idiots like you, I don't need a sword to let off steam.
The muggers turned to him and stood to attention. The one-eyed man looked at the black-hooded warrior and said:
- You know that if you don't give in, the young man will die?
- A hostage is useless. Once killed, these villagers will jump on your necks to avenge the young man.... Vakyr, I think.
The one-eyed man turned to his men and said:
- I want his equipment, and his head!
They all attacked him at once. He threw a chair at them. Some took it straight in the face, but the other five charged at him. They tried to stab him repeatedly, but he grabbed two of them by the hands, broke their arms and took their knives to stab them in the head. He grabbed another, beat him up and then picked up a bottle and proceeded to smash his skull with it but:
- A beer from Valseros, brewed with water from Lake Lusseria in the year 128 of the Jonean calendar, still full and unopened? Na, I'm saving it for later.
He put the bottle down, picked up another empty one and plunged it into the bandit's skull. After that, he saw one of the one-eyed man's men try to open his pack and take his sword. He grabbed his head, gouged out his eyes and twisted his neck. The two who had been strucked by the chair stood up, picked up their clubs and formed up with the other. The man in black grabbed one of the brigands' daggers and took up a fighting stance. The muggers surrounded him and, after a brief moment, leapt at him, but before their weapons could reach him, the daggers flew up and crashed into the ceiling and their clubs clattered to the floor. The adventurer had cut their hands and throats. Their bodies fell to the floor and he began to turn around
- So, are these guys the best you've got , one-eyed man...
Before he'd even finished his sentence, a detonation sounded and he found himself thrown back against the wall. The one-eyed man had an ether pistol:
- Ah ha ha ha, nobody keeps what I want. That wasn't a piece of junk that you can find on the black market. Ulneraxian technology is really powerful. Gutojk ! Keeps the kid, I'm going to get the guy's gear.
- Aye, aye, sir!" said Gutojk, holding Vakyr's throat.
Bresktar the one-eyed advanced towards the adventurer's body, then as he was about to inspect the armor, he realized that there was a sword coursing his body, held by the warrior in black. The warrior in black stood up, lifted Bresktar's lifeless body and threw it away. He looked at Gutojk, who was terrified.
- Comm.... How can you.... be aliv.... it was an ether bullet..... nobody can survive that !
- Well, it helps to have etheriast* armor. replied the adventurer. But didn't I say that "nine" bodies would fall? I've only got eight to my name right now.
Gutojk shuddered, then tightened his grip on Vakyr's neck and shouted:
- Come no closer! Or I'll slit his throat! You stay where you are (he said, pointing at the adventurer)! I'll go, drop him and leave you in peace. Good deal, isn't it?
- No, it's not a good deal." replied the adventurer.
- Why?!?
- Because I said nine bodies and I've only got eight
He created a dart of flame and threw it at Gutojk, which went through his head and the wall behind him, and the dart fell and disappeared in the snow, which melted on contact.
The villagers ran out screaming in terror:
- A Rune-Blade....!
- A Demon! He killed them all! A Demon!
The villagers all ran for their lives. Vyrdein, who had completely regained his senses, drew his sword from under his desk and stood on guard:
- Etheriast armor.... an extraordinary fighting ability... this sword and this voice..... how?..... the King has you..... you're Dead!
- Yes, I'm dead (he took Valseros' bottle of beer)." replied the warrior in black. But I'm alive and I don't know why.
It took Vakyr some time to understand who the adventurer was. He was the invincible Black Rune-Blade whom the Jonean forces had fought at Fort Zar. But he was dead, the King's spear through his body. But as he could see, one of the most powerful men in the world was standing before him. What's more, this man is almost as powerful as the King of Jonea.
- Don't worry, I have nothing more to do with Ulnerax, so I'm not plotting anything against your kingdoms, in case you were thinking such a thing." exclaimed the Rune-Blade. By the way, I'd just like to buy you a room so I can get some rest. Regaining control of this.... body is somewhat catastrophic.
-If you say so." replied Aguertay before her husband could say anything. What is your name, sire?
- Ah yes, my name! Well, now that I think about it, I didn't tell him my name, but I'll tell him another time. My name is Al'zaïghul and oh wait ! I need a nickname now hmm... how about the "Revenant"
He pulled back his hood and they were terrified by what they saw. He had no skin, no flesh and no eyeball. Only bones. His skull and hair attached to it. He had become an undead skelleton.
- Sorry about my appearance. The decomposition of my body took place before my resurrection. So, what's your room number, Ma'am ?" asked Al'zaïghul.
It took Aguertay, Vyrdein and Vakyr some time to understand what they were seeing, and Aguertay a few seconds longer to realize that Al'zaïghul had asked her a question.
- uh,.... well, the third door... upstairs... on your right." she replied, shivering.
-Thank you madam." replied Al'zaïghul.
*etheriast : a metal infused in ether energy. The actual reason of Ulnerax's technology improvement compared to the other countries are because of their almost infinite supplies of etheriast and their power to extract the ether from it.