Cadmon stalked through the misty forest, fingers curled into tight fists. "How dare that peasant Rowan steal what was rightfully mine! Elia was meant to be mine, her radiance the jewel in my crown. But instead, she doted on that farm boy as if he were some sort of hero." He soon came upon Rowan practicing his swordsmanship alone in a small glade. "Rowan!" Cadmon called out bitterly.
Rowan turned, sword still in hand, and eyed Cadmon warily. "What do you want?"
"What do I want? I want the truth, farmer!" Cadmon spat. "Do you really think you stand a chance against me? I am a true warrior, tested in battle, while you are but a simple village lad. Elia will soon realize her mistake in choosing you over me."
Rowan remained calm but firm. "Elia's choice was made of her own free will. I will not question her judgment."
"Of course you won't, you are a sniveling coward," Cadmon sneered. "You know as well as I that she can do better than you. But I am a patient man. In time, she will come to see your plain face for what it is and come begging at my feet."
Rowan gripped his sword, fighting to maintain control over his mounting anger and frustration with Cadmon's barbed accusations. "Elia is no prize to be won. She chose me for my character, not my status. That is something an arrogant man like yourself cannot understand."
Cadmon let out an ugly laugh. "Character? Don't make me laugh. You are but a boy playing at knighthood, pretending to be something you're not. How long before Elia sees through your feeble act, eh? When that day comes, I'll be waiting to comfort her."
"Cadmon, enough of this," Rowan said sternly yet calmly. "I will not let you goad me into a fight."
But Cadmon was far past the point of listening to reason. He sneered at Rowan's attempt to remain stoic. "What's the matter, farmer? Don't think you can take me? Scared I'll crush you and then steal your darling Elia away?"
Rowan took a slow, deep breath to quell his rising anger. "This quarrel serves no good purpose. I have given you no cause to goad me so."
"Leave? And deny myself the satisfaction of putting you in your place once and for all?" Cadmon drew his sword with a wicked glint in his eyes. "No, I think it's long past time to settle this between us, man to man. Or are you not man enough for the task, little Rowan?"
"Please, see reason, Cadmon." Rowan urged, though he slowly lowered into a defensive stance, seeing Cadmon was intent on fighting. "Let us part ways in peace."
Cadmon let out a harsh bark of laughter. "You still think to order me, peasant? So be it. If it's a duel you want, it's a duel you'll get. But I promise, once I'm through with you, Elia will finally see you for the weakling you are!" The misty glade rang with the sound of steel as Rowan reluctantly drew his own blade. "Very well, Cadmon. It seems I cannot dissuade you from this path of violence. But know that I take no pleasure in what follows."
Cadmon snarled and launched forward without warning, aiming a brutal overhead strike for Rowan's head. Rowan barely raised his blade in time to parry the attack, but the force of it shuddered down his arm. He attempted to reason once more. "Cadmon, stay your hand! Must it end like this between us?"
But Cadmon was deaf to reason, fueled only by his jealous rage. He rained blow after heavy blow upon Rowan, driving him back with brute strength alone. Rowan defended skillfully but knew he could not match Cadmon's power forever. He must find an opening to end this without further bloodshed. But Cadmon fought with a berserker's fury, leaving no openings to be found.
Their blades rang out across the glade as the two warriors traded strikes, the air electric with violence. Rowan felt his strength waning under Cadmon's Onslaught. Sooner or later, a blow would find its mark. He prayed it would be over quickly, with no lasting harm to either of them. But Cadmon fought to kill and showed no signs of tiring in his murderous assault. Elia had been gathering herbs nearby when the sounds of battle reached her ears. She ran towards the clashing of steel with rising dread. When she broke through the trees, the sight that greeted her stole breath from her lungs.
There in the glade were Rowan and Cadmon locked in a fierce duel, their faces contorted with rage. Steel danced as they rained merciless blows upon one another. Elia saw with horror that Rowan was tiring under Cadmon's onslaught.
"No! Stop this, please!" Elia cried out in anguish.
Her scream pierced through the red haze of their battle lust. For a moment, both men froze, glancing over at her tear-streaked face. Cadmon's eyes glinted with an inner madness, while Rowan looked stricken at having distressed her so.
Elia rushed forward and placed herself between them, hands outstretched beseechingly. "Have you both gone mad? You would take arms against one another over me? I am not some trophy to be won!" she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "Please, I beg you—put away your blades before one of you is killed. This quarrel is finished, by my command!"
Her words cut through the fog of their fury, but whether they would heed her plea remained to be seen. Both panted with exhaustion and bloodlust, their eyes locked ominously over Elia's pleading form. Elia looked between the two men with vehement pleading in her red-rimmed eyes. "Please, I beg of you both. Sheathe your blades. This quarrel will only end in bloodshed."
Something in her tone cut through the battle rage clouding their minds. Rowan was the first to lower his sword, his shoulders slumping with quiet exhaustion. After a long moment, Cadmon growled and reluctantly followed suit. But his eyes remained wild and untamed as a caged animal's.
A tense silence fell over the glade as the two men continued to glare at one another. Both knew this quarrel was far from over, but neither could find the will to resume while Elia stood vigil between them. Rowan tore his gaze from Cadmon with notable effort, his expression softening as he turned to Elia.
"Forgive me. I never wished to distress you so." His voice, though weary, was gentle.
Cadmon sheathed his weapon with an ill-suppressed snarl. "This isn't over, farmer. Mark my words, you've not seen the last of me." With that dire vow, he stormed from the glade, leaving an air of unease in his wake. The tense silence in the glade was shattered by an unearthly sound that froze the blood in their veins. A deep, guttural roar ripped through the mist-shrouded trees, shaking the very earth beneath their feet.
Rowan and Elia stumbled into each other's arms, momentarily forgetting their quarrel in the face of this new, primal terror. Rowan turned slowly, sword still clutched in hand, scanning the tree line warily.
"What in the name of all that is holy was that?" Elia whispered, her face pale with dread.
Another roar answered, closer this time. Leaves and branches were torn aside as something massive crashed through the undergrowth towards them. Rowan pushed Elia behind him, raising his blade threateningly despite his waning strength.
Whatever was coming, it was large – larger than any beast they had ever seen or heard of. The trees shuddered under their approaching footfalls. Then, as it broke into the tiny glade, they saw it and stood paralyzed with horror. Emerging like some creature spawned from the abyss itself was a colossal, nightmarish form more monster than man. Foul magic seemed to warp its misshapen body and two pinpricks of malice burned in its eyes. It let out a third bellow that shook the very soul. The threat of a dark new terror had found them, promising only certain death. The creature loomed at the edge of the grove, its misshapen body nearly filling the small space. Over fifteen feet tall it stood, arms like tree trunks dangling from its hunched shoulders. Its skin was grey and patched with growths that pulsed with an unholy essence. Two pinprick eyes regarded them from amidst a mass of puckered flesh.
Rowan swallowed, keeping himself between the monster and Elia. His blade suddenly seemed no more than a toothpick against such a towering foe.
A deep, guttural sound rumbled in the creature's throat as saliva dripped in ropes from its slavering jaws. Yellow talons the size of daggers flexed experimentally. Then it took a ponderous step forward, the ground quaking under its weight.
Rowan steeled himself. "Stay behind me," he said to Elia in a tight voice. She clutched at his sleeve, terror coursing through her, yet trusting in her protector.
The creature gave another rumbling growl and lurched towards them with shocking speed, longer legs propelling its bulk. Rowan braced himself, knowing one swipe from those talons could tear him apart. Their deaths were but heartbeats away unless a miracle saved them from this fallen champion of darkness. The colossal beast bore down upon them with shocking speed. Rowan braced himself for its assault, knowing his blade alone could not stand against such a monster.
But before it could reach them, a flash of steel arced through the gloom. Cadmon emerged from the mist with spear raised, a visceral battle cry upon his lips. He threw himself at the creature with berserker fury, jabbing the spear deep into a hamstring.
The beast howled, wheeling upon this new threat. Cadmon danced back, yanking his spear free in a spray of black ichor. For a moment, his eyes met Rowan's across the glade. There was no trace of madness or jealousy there now - only steely resolve against a common enemy.
Rowan understood. Their quarrel would have to wait until this graver threat was dealt with. He nodded to Cadmon and turned to Elia, pressing his blade into her hands. "Find cover," he said fiercely. "We will handle this beast."
With that, he launched himself at the monster alongside Cadmon. Their gripes were forgotten in the face of a much deadlier foe. As one, the former rivals rained blows upon corrupted flesh, buying time for Elia to flee to safety. For now, they fought together - the last line of defense against a nightmare given flesh.