Interlude

Rheinald

Pieces of wood fell onto the floor as Rheinald kicked in the shabby window and jumped through. An already startled family of three watched him run through their small hovel and through their open window on the other side.

A ladder nearly hit him in the face as he left. The one he was pursuing kicked it down after climbing up. Putting it back up would be a waste of time, so he kicked off of the parallel wall and grabbed onto the edge of the rooftop. He pulled himself up and continued pursuing his enemy over the clay tiles.

He slid down the slope of the roof and onto a balcony. The chase continued down in the narrow and crowded streets.

Through careful manoeuvring, he avoided the startled denizens of Belrod with ease. His target would be within arms reach in any moment.

That moment happened quicker than anticipated once the running man hit his head against a sign after jumping over a barrel. Rheinald slowed down, caught his breath, and stomped on the man’s chest.

“You have exactly-“

“S-sorry, sorry!” The man tossed a sheathed dagger towards Rheinald. The Key.

“Thanks.” He smiled and removed his foot from the person’s breasts. Then, he turned around and walked back whence he came.

The meeting place was an empty storehouse not far from where he caught the culprit. The Key was all that mattered, so he did not bother dragging the man here. Besides, the Lord of Belrod would be convinced that it was this very man who stole his weapon, and not Rheinald and the Gala.

He entered the storehouse through the second-floor window. That was the exact spot they had planned to wait. Rheinald was the second one there.

“Oh, back already? Alas, I had given up once I lost track of the man, but fortune is on our side as always!” Kyran clapped and walked forward. “Now, all we must do is await our compatriots.”

Rheinald nodded. A smile spread across his face. He was very grateful that the two of them were alone here. “Just one thing – you use a sword in both hands, correct?”

“Why yes, yes I do! It is, after all, the ancient-“

“And do you know a man called Kothren?” he interrupted the Gala.

“What a peculiar name. But no, I am afraid I do not-“ Kyran narrowly avoided an axe flying next to his head.

“Stop flaunting.” Rheinald imagined two axes in each hand, and then they were there. “I’m looking for a man who fights with two swords. You are the only one I’ve met in years.”

“Ahah, I am quite certain there are more people who fight with two blades, I assure you…” He dodged out of the way of another axe.

“Take your swords out. Your guards aren’t here.”

“Oh, truly, you are quite demanding.” Kyran unsheathed his long twin-blades. He had a strange, flowing stance. His movements were fluid, unpredictable. Unfamiliar to Rheinald. He could not be the one he was looking for.

Regardless, Rheinald attacked. This time, Kyran parried the thrown axe. What Kyran did not know, however, was that Rheinald’s axes were a very strong blunt force that threw one sword out of Kyran’s hand.

While the Gala was still startled, Rheinald rushed in and swung the dull part of the axe towards him. He avoided and swung back. Rheinald imagined a shield and blocked the sword, then bashed him back and threw a kick that barely grazed him.

Kyran smiled. He took the sword that fell to the ground and dashed forward. Rheinald raised his shield to block, but Kyran jumped on top of the shield and tried to stomp Rheinald’s head. He threw the shield with Kyran on top of it to the distance, and Kyran slid on it as if he was on ice.

The shield disappeared and Kyran was racing headfirst towards a table which he rolled over. Rheinald wasted no moment and almost blinked towards him, smashing the table in half with a hammer.

Kyran jumped back as the splinters flew throughout the room. He leaped forward and swung with one sword, which was parried, and then the other. A newly created steel glove grabbed the other blade, and Kyran backed off, attempting a pirouette.

Rheinald swept his legs and aimed a spear at his throat.

“It’s over,” he said.

“Ahahah! But my sword, you see, the tip almost reached your most precious possession!”

“I’m… well aware.” Rheinald sighed. The spear disappeared and he sat down on the floor. “So, know any other swordsmen with two swords?”

Kyran laughed and sat up, sheathed his weapons. “All of them are Gala that never left Galewood, I am afraid. I believe I am one of the first to actually set foot outside in centuries, if I am being wholly honest.”

“Figures.” He wiped the sweat off his brow.

“But I must thank you. This was most fun, indeed. I do not believe I have enjoyed a fight like this in quite a while.” He gave a toothy grin. “So, tell me, who is this Kothren? You have asked the prince of Dammrias if he knew him, as well. An important man. Your father, I presume?”

“That’s right. A dual-wielding swordsman killed him, so I’m looking for one.”

“Hmhm, a classic tale of revenge, I see. Have you planned a speech for the person you are planning to confront? If not, I am most adept at preparing final speeches before deadly duels!”

“Er… no, I haven’t prepared anything. I just want to know who it was, and why he killed him. Fighting him is secondary.” A lie he told Kyran and himself. He did not know if he would be able to see reason once he met the real person behind his father’s murder.

“I have no doubt you will find him. After all, all that is sought is found eventually!” As he said that, he heard a door open down the stairs. Though open might not have been the right word for it. More like battered?

The door upstairs was knocked down as well. A number of rapid footsteps preceded it. Seven guardsmen entered. Looked like they did not believe the man from before was the thief.

“Return the Lord’s weapon and your sentence shall be meek!” the man at the front, a heavily armoured man with three horns on his helmet, yelled out. Two behind him had polearms out. The four others were aiming their guns at them.

Kyran and Rheinald still sat on the floor. “The appropriate word for this situation would be fuck, would it not?” Kyran spoke and let out a nervous chuckle.

“I’d add a few more words to that.”

“Stand and present the artefact you have stolen!” the guard yelled once more.

A fortunate twist of events led towards the roof being collapsed on the seven guardsmen and an armed woman in a hood on top of the rubble. Ayyleacht stood there and looked at Kyran.

“Brilliant, my dear, simply brilliant!” He stood up and clapped. “Tuyle awaits outside, I presume?”

“Yes,” she said and jumped back up through the hole in the roof. Kyran followed, helping Rheinald jump up. Why they could jump so high was a mystery to Rheinald.

And, once more, he began running across the rooftops.