The bridge before them was a beautiful sight. With the sun shining directly on it every detail could be seen. It was magnificently carved with inscriptions of soaring stone dragons covering the sides. Dragons with riders covered in plate battled them with lances and others with greatswords held in hand. The bridge looked well traveled with obvious wear and tear from wagon wheels coating its surface. It was a perfect arched bridge made of cleverly placed flagstones and blocks to make a sturdy and ageless bridge.

Despite the marvelous sight of the bridge before them, which looked as if it could fit five wagons side by side, there was an off feeling to it. Ragh harkened to Aster´s word and stayed safely behind the sturdy stone building.

He did this because of the massive amount of bones covering the surface of the bridge. Some large skeletons the size of goliaths, some humanoid, some like snakes. The amount of bones on the bridge was hard to comprehend. It was a graveyard to say the least.

¨I have been watching this bridge for months. It is the only way leading to the Dragon Dregs.¨ Aster reached into his pocket pulling out a small locket. The locket was very simple in design and made of brass. It had a chain that hung down from where it was connected to the locket. Aster flipped it open revealing a clock forever stopped in time. Pinned to the lid of the locket was a reflective mirror.

¨Are you using that to look around the corner?¨ Ragh kept an eye out and was tempted to peep around the building but withheld his urge. He kneeled down next to Aster who was fiddling with the locket.

¨Smart cookie, aren't you.¨ Aster was completely focused on angling the locket. He set it down on the ground before turning it so that the open lid was facing the street. Ragh was tempted to ask what was behind the corner but didn't want to interrupt Aster´s focus. So he simply stared at Aster as he worked his magic.

Aster held his breath as he ever so slowly pushed the locket out into the street. It remained there, allowing the two to look into the mirror of the locket. Barely visible in the reflection was the form of the bridge and past that, buildings.

¨Damn, I need to angle it just a little more.¨ Aster mumbled. He pushed the locket just an inch then withdrew his hand slowly.

Suddenly the locket exploded into shrapnel as an arrow obliterated into it. Brass was easily punctured and cogs within the clock were scattered all over the cobbles. The arrow itself splintered into millions of wooden fragments, all that was left was a single steel arrowhead. Ragh was shocked into silence as Aster swore and backed further behind the building again.

¨An arrow?¨ Ragh asked. He was a little dumbfounded at the sudden appearance but quickly readied his weapon.

¨Don't bother, she cant reach us behind this wall.¨ Aster plucked splinters out of his gloves and sighed when looking back at his locket.

¨Sire, would you tell me what we are up against here?¨ Ragh grew a tad irritated at being left in the dark. Such was a common feeling for the amnesic knight.

¨Fine, fine. I wanted you to have a look yourself but since she shot my locket...¨ Aster trailed off as he stared mournfully at the scattered remains. He snapped back to attention after a second.

¨What we face here today is a Platinum Eye Archer. This one in particular is dead, or in undeath if you would. As you probably don't know, undead still retain a semblance of their previous lives. This means that this archer is a kill-shot from any distance that her bow can fire.¨ Aster explained.

¨So, you are saying that if we try to run across we won't make it.¨ Ragh trusted in the strength of his armor but if this archer was such an expert shot that she could hit him anywhere, it wouldn't matter.

¨We would not even make it halfway across, if even ten strides toward the bridge.¨ Aster´s voice told him that he was confident that they wouldn't make it. ¨The accuracy of a platinum eye archer is legendary. They are fabled to never miss a shot.¨

¨What will we do then?¨ Ragh gestured to the bridge. ¨It seems as if it's impossible to get across if what you tell me is true.¨

¨Well, that's what it seems like isn't it?¨ Aster rubbed his chin in thought. ¨There is a Snake-man who comes every sundown to challenge the archer to a duel. We might be able to use their duel to try and sneak across.¨

¨Are you sure there is no other way?¨ Ragh asked wearily. He wasn't looking forward to facing off against an accomplished archer. He would be at a massive disadvantage.

¨Well, unless you can scale a nearly sheer cliff then no, there is no other way.¨ Aster grumbled. ¨We will just have to wait for sunset. That is when the Snake-man archer approaches. If that doesn't work then the cliff might just be our best bet.¨

Ragh approached the building they were holed up against and felt around the wall. He slowly opened a wooden door, double checking to make sure there was no openings exposing him to archer fire. Then he walked cautiously into the building.

¨What are you doing? You are going to get yourself killed.¨ Aster grabbed Ragh by the shoulder and pulled him back and out of the door frame.

¨No worries good sir, I am simply doing a bit of cautious exploring if we are going to wait until sundown.¨ Ragh walked back through the doorway and looked around.

The inside of the building was fairly intact considering it was made of stone. There was a familiar sight of dusty floors and overturned dry furniture. The wall facing the archer was sturdy and there was only one window. The window though was boarded up and had a dresser leaning against it.

Ragh grabbed a chair and sat down. The sun outside was already at its heat apex, baking everything it touched. Begrudgingly Aster moved inside the building as well, escaping from the heat and into the shaded area.

They sat inside the shaded area with the door closed, waiting for sundown. It was quiet and cool which made Ragh´s eyes drowsy despite his lack of need for sleep. It was peaceful. There was no marching of undead boots outside or constant paranoia when traveling.

He barely realized that it was sundown, the only que being the yellow hues of the setting sun crawling beneath the door and through the edges of the window. Ragh was released from his meditative state and looked over to where Aster was lying down. Not wanting to wake him immediately Ragh went over and opened the wooden door.

A warm dry desert wind blew through the stone buildings, rattling a hollow bone on the street. It slipped into the cracks of his armor, warming his body and drying his skin. The temperature was already dropping as the sun went down.

Behind him Aster stirred and put back on his helmet. He grumbled at being awoken but stood nonetheless and joined Ragh near the doorway. ¨Damn bastard broke my locket...¨ He mumbled. ¨Or was it a stopwatch?¨

¨What is our queue?¨” Ragh gestured towards the bridge where the elusive platinum eye archer watched over.

¨We wait for the sound of bows firing...¨ Aster shook his head to try and sober up. ¨Then we run as hard as we can to the other side.¨

The plan was without a doubt very simple.

¨Very well, shall we get ready?¨ Ragh walked closer to the edge of the building and pressed himself up against it. He brought his wooden shield up to his side, getting ready to use it in case he found himself beset by arrows.

¨You're not scared are you?¨ Aster asked as he filed in behind Ragh. ¨For someone who just lost their memory you seem awfully brave.¨ There was a twinge of suspicion in his voice.

¨I am a bit nervous.¨ Ragh admitted. ¨Yet, I have these urges guiding me, these faint feelings telling me what to do. I trust them.¨

¨Well if it makes you feel any better i'm not nervous at all.” Aster chuckled, greatsword in hand. Ragh was tempted to turn around and give him a scalding look but instead remained focused on listening for the twang of bows.

¨I'm not nervous because I know it's my destiny to save the world. I know Yrena is looking down on me now, watching over me. Her light will guide me in dark times.¨ Aster continued to speak confidently. ¨When I was a boy a priest came to me, and told me- When the darkest day dawns on the broken city, you will save the world.¨

There was a noise like thunder. A crack of cordage and a rattle before a answering whoosh of air. A hiss of pain then another resounding crack. Ragh hesitated for a second as Aster ran out from behind him. Then, steeling himself, Ragh sprinted out only seconds after.

Immediately as Ragh rounded the corner he witnessed the full scene before him. Perched on the building across the bridge was a giant green form. It was the snake-man, clad in steel plate armor that covered its face, eyes and mouth in a mask of a hissing serpent. Then hanging down from that mask was a curtain of scale mail, dressing its front before being wrapped around its back. The Snake-man had a human-like torso and a giant snake tail that was trailing behind it. At this distance it was impossible to make out exact details but it was clear that the snake was wielding an enormous bow. The weapon was as tall as Ragh was and had a bowstring as thick as a rope.

The snake-man used its massive tail to wrap around the bowstring then nocked an arrow that seemed more like a spear onto it. It began to pull the string back, muscles rippling before hissing in pain as an arrow stuck into a gap in its scale-mail, sticking into its side.

Firing from across the way was a marksman. She wore heavy plate armor that shined brightly in the setting sun. Her helmet was slit across the eyes and had a vivid long red plume coming out the back. The helmet itself was much like a hoplite helmet but covered the entire face. Over her platinum plate armor she had a dark blue tabard which blew in the wind. On its front, the form of a dragon claw clutching onto a blade was embroidered in white thread. In her hands was an elegant longbow made of the same platinum material.

She was strapped to the saddle of a dragon. The dragon was clearly dead, its bloody corpse hung across the rooftop like a tarp. Its weight had crushed in the roof it had died on creating shattered shingles that littered the area. The scales of the dragon clearly used to be silver but had lost their shine due to age and death, leaving nothing but a muted pale gray. Quivers of arrows hung from its sides, all centering around the archer.

The platinum eye archer turned in her saddle, the black leather straps that held her to it still strong. Ragh nearly stopped in his tracks as her gaze landed on him. Her left eye was not human. Hidden behind the helmet, glowing a fiery orange glow was a dragon's eye. It was stunning in its beauty but within it held a inferno of emotions. Pain, hatred, duty, all of these emotions radiated from the eye.

She knocked two arrows on her bow and aimed at Aster and Ragh. Immediately Ragh brought up his shield to cover his visor as he ran, blocking the way ahead from sight. There was a solid smack of an arrow on wood. The old arrow exploded against his shield, scattering splinters across the bridge.

The snake-man let loose another steel-piercing shot at the platinum eye archer. She twisted unnaturally in the saddle to avoid the shot, cleanly evading it. The arrow skidded across the stone wall before disappearing into another building. Her attention turned back to the snakeman as she knocked another arrow in a powerful fluid motion.

Ragh raced forward, now having reached the field of bones. Aster was clutching his arm where an arrow had slipped through the chainmail rings. Either an expert shot or an extremely lucky one.

¨This was a terrible idea.¨ Aster growled as he ran, trying not to drop his greatsword which hung over his shoulder. He gasped for breath as the arrow twisted at his sudden movements but soldiered on nonetheless. He was resolute and kept an eye on the archer above.

The platinum eye archer swiftly loaded another volley of arrows on her bow. As Ragh got closer he had a moment of awe as he noticed that there were three wire-thin bowstrings, each holding an arrow. The bow itself had three different arc's as if it was an amalgamation of three bows. This quickly turned into panic as she strafed the bridge then released the last arrow at the snake-man.

Once again Ragh raised his shield to block the arrow but nothing hit it. Instead the arrow slightly curved around the edge of his shield, sticking harmlessly into the shoulders of his plate armor.

Aster brought up his sword and held it tightly. The arrow, destined for the gap between the visor of his helmet was knocked off course and instead hit the plate on his chest. The arrow went flying away as it impacted the armor.

¨We are almost there!¨ Aster renewed his efforts, his chainmail clanging and greatsword brought back over his shoulder. Blood dripped from his arm as he weaved between the bones. Ragh ran close behind, the platinum eye archer engaged in battling the snake-man.

The platinum eye archer loaded another three arrows before aiming directly at the snake-man. She fired one arrow before aiming up and waiting. The snake-man lowered his head to protect himself from the first arrow then cautiously looked back up. Instead of being able to fire back he instead found two arrows slipping into his eyes. The snake-man had no time to react, the projectiles punching through the soft membrane killing it instantly. Its body fell back, its tail slipping over the side of the building it was perched on.

Just as the snake-man died Aster made it past the shadow of the platinum eye archer. Ragh was close behind, ducking his head and holding up his shield like an umbrella as five impacts smashed into his shield and the back of his armored neck and shoulders. Ragh huffed as the arrows stuck into his armor, sticking out haphazardly. With adrenaline racing through his veins, Ragh slipped out of sight of the platinum eye archer.