The man jerked, and slowly opened his eyes

Chapter 2

The man jerked, and slowly opened his eyes. “Ow…” he murmured, “Are you an angel?”

Amelia turned an even more spectacular shade of red.

“I have brought cloth!” Debt whipped Amelia across the head with the cloth.

“Oh. He’s alive.” Said Debt.

“Where am I?” asked the young man.

“Hork.” Murmured Amelia.

“Where in Hork?” the man asked patiently.

“A bit by the town of Fiesten” said Debt.

“Ah, I see.” said the man.

“I guess that means I have time to pass out again.” and he did.

(o)

“Good thing you taught me motion magic yesterday or this would be a lot less fun.” The man was floating about a foot off the ground in front of Debt and Amelia as they walked back towards the hut, when they got there they lowered him on to Amelia’s bed. Though Debt wanted to stuff him in the closet.

“Who is he?” asked Debt.

“How should I know?” Snapped Amelia

“Are you saying you kissed him and you don’t even know who he is?”

This had the effect Debt was hoping for as Amelia turned a spectacular shade of scarlet.

To Amelia’s relief the man groaned and woke up again, “Now am I dead?”

“No,” said Debt, “who are you?”

“I am Nigel the berserker.”

“What does berserger mean?” asked Debt.

“It means he is a warrior.” explained Amelia.

“Where’s his sword then?”

“Berserkers don’t usually use swords,” said Nigel, “we usually use heavier weapons like axes and clubs and the like.”

“Where’s your axe then?” Debt was getting inpatient.

“Had to let it go unfortunately, it was dragging me across the rocks at the bottom of the river.”

“Oh.” said Debt. He was clearly less interested now that weapons were no longer involved.

“And who, if I may be so bold, are you?” asked Nigel.

“I am Debt the mighty sorcerer of Hork. And that’s Amelia.”

Nigel looked toward Amelia, “Thank you for saving me I would be dead if it weren’t for you and your…”

“So why where you in the river?” Amelia asked hurriedly.

“Oh umm.. I happen to be being hunted at the moment by an enemy barbarian tribe… HOLY LORDS!” Nigel sprang from the bed and started limping towards the door.

“Is he trying to run away?” asked Debt.

“I must leave before they can track me here! They will kill you if they find you!”

Amelia walked over to him and led him back to the bed.

“I think we can handle ourselves in a fight.” said Debt with a smirk. Amelia looked deeply into Nigel’s eyes and he fell asleep.

“Why did you do that?” asked Debt.

“I put him in a healing sleep,” murmured Amelia, “he should wake up in an hour or two.” Amelia now had time to look at Nigel properly. Shoulder length blond curly hair was the first thing she noticed, he had a very tan complexion and was wearing a leather vest and a long kilt. Amelia had seen berserkers before and was incredulous that this man’s soft features could contort to the berserkers’ famous rage.

“Why is he wearing a dress?” asked Debt.

“I think it’s a berserker thing…” said Amelia.

“That’s stupid.” said Debt.

“I know.” said Amelia. “Why don’t you go outside and practice your merging?” she suggested.

“Alright!” Debt ran out.

Well that was easy thought Amelia. She put her hands on Nigel’s head and closed her eyes.

What is your story Nigel?.

Debt experimented with his stone staff. It was as heavy as rock yet as flexible as wood. He managed to throw it through a tree with his motion magic, and to his delight it left a small clean hole which began to bleed sap. This amused Debt greatly. He began to look for something else to throw it at.

Amelia removed her hands from Nigel’s head and went to the sink to brew some tea. Well at least he isn’t dangerous to us, thought Amelia as she stirred the tea, I wonder why he w­-

“Amelia!” shouted Debt. “Teach me how to combine things with myself!”

“You realize that if you do it wrong you will explode like that staff, right?” warned Amelia.

“Yeah, yeah I know.” said Debt, “so how do I do it?”

Amelia sighed, “Alright Debt, step outside.”

A few hours later Nigel awoke. “Okay…. Where am I?” he recognized a typical thatched roof, “Hmm alright, I am in a peasant hut of some sort. And also I am still not dead… that’s good I guess…”

“Yes it is.” Said Amelia as she walked in.“How are you feeling?”

Nigel sat up in the bed, flexed his shoulders and cracked his neck. “Much better, thank you, what kind of medicine did you give me?

“No medicine.” said Amelia. “Sometimes sleep can be the best medicine.”

“Not for me!” laughed Nigel, “This is the first time I’ve slept without any nightmares.”

Amelia began to blush and was about to speak when suddenly hoof beats sounded. Four horseman rode up to the hut. As Debt watched them he was fascinated by their strange clothing. Each man had a skull on his shoulders. Debt recognized a bull skull on the big bald fat one with scars all over him, a wolf skull on the tall skinny unshaven one with short greasy hair, a bear skull on the big muscular one with nothing but a ponytail and animal tattoos on him, and a human skull on the dark one with small animal bones and beads in his dread locks. They each had markings on their face and each wore a leather vest like the berserger’s. And to Debt’s delight each one carried a spear.

“NIGEL!” Shouted the one with the human skull. “COME OUT OR WE’LL TORCH THE HUT!”

The one with the wolf skull sniggered, “Why ya telling ‘em Bane? We gonna do it enywayz right?”

“Shut yer stink hole, Mort.” Murmured the one with the bear skull.

“Bite me, Verdugo.” snarled Mort. The one with the bull skull began to growl.

“Now see what ya done!” snapped Bane. “You’re buggin’ Crunch.”

Amelia stepped out of the hut, “Please leave, there is no one here by the name of Nigel.” she stated.

“Dibs on the girl.” whispered Mort.

“Listen ‘ere lass, we can smell ‘em from ‘ere!” laughed Bane, “Grab ‘er, Mort.”

“Yes sir!” exclaimed Mort and dismounted. He carried his spear across his shoulder as he walked up to Amelia. She smiled at him. This made Mort hesitate for a second; Amelia took advantage of this and flung her hands forward. Mort was lifted of the ground and slammed into a tree.

“WITCH!” shouted Bane and threw his spear at her. She ducked as the spear whizzed inches from her head.

“Get her Verdugo.” Commanded Bane. Verfugo dismounted and ran toward Amelia with his spear pointed at her, Amelia put her hands to the damp grass, and merged with the water. Verdugo ran right through her. Amelia fell to the ground, stunned and turned back to normal. Debt decided now would be a good time to intervene, he stepped out of the large stone he was merged with and walked towards Verdugo. “Oy fungus face, come here!”

Verdugo roared and plunged towards Debt. Debt smiled and revealed the pebble he was holding in his hand. He closed his fist around the pebble and turned his whol arm to stone. Verdugo’s spear snapped as it hit the small solid stone hand. Debt stepped forward and punched Verdugo in the stomach. Verdugo fell to the ground groaning. Dept giggled, and picked up the broken spear point. And held it to Verdugo’s throat. Unfortunately for Debt Crunch took this opportunity to pick Debt up be the scruff of his shirt.

“LET GO OF ME.! LET GO OF ME!” shouted Debt at the top of his lungs. Crunch chuckled; a deep throaty sound, and clenched his fist around Debt’s throat. Verdugo groaned and got to his feet. He limped towards Amelia who was still stunned from being run through. A roar sounded from the hut and Nigel burst out wielding Bane’s thrown spear. He slammed into Verdugo and knocked him off his feet. He flung the spear and it went right through Crunch’s forehead, Crunch didn’t seem to notice the spear sticking out of his head till a trickle of blood got in his eye, Debt fell to the ground gasping for breath. Crunch slowly toppled of his horse and hit the ground with a loud Thud. Nigel then stomped on Verdugo’s throat as he tried to get back up. Verdugo made a gurgling sound and fell back down, blood spilling from his mouth. Bane began to turn his horse around but Nigel ran up and yanked him out of the saddle, throwing him to the ground. Bane struggled to get up but Nigel punched him in the face and dragged him by his dread locks, “IT BELONGS TO ME!” shouted Bane at the top of his lungs. Nigel dragged Bane to a tree, where he began to slam Bane’s head repetitively against the bark. With each slam Nigel shouted “YOU!” Slam. “WONT!” Slam. “LIVE!” Slam. “TO!” Slam. “SEE!” Slam. “IT!” Nigel roared again and slammed Bane’s head against the tree one last time. Bane’s head made a crunch sound as it hit the tree, and he slowly slid down, leaving a streak of blood. Nigel was out of breath “Whe- huh… where is..” Nigel clutched his chest trying to regain his breath, “Where is the fourth?”

Debt came running up to him, “That was amazing!” he exclaimed, “I didn’t know you cou-“

But Nigel interrupted him, “Where is the one with the wolf skull?”

Debt was frowned and pointed over Nigel’s shoulder. Mort was riding away.

“DAMN!” Shouted Nigel, and he punched the ground. “We have to get out of here…. Where is Amelia?”

Amelia was trying to stand but her legs shook and she sat back down, “I need to work more on achieving water form,” she said in a strained voice. “it felt like he tore me in half…” She walked up to Verdugo who was twitching on the ground, “Take Debt somewhere safe, I’ll catch up.”

Nigel recognized the voice of a leader and obeyed. He picked up Debt, put him on his shoulders and started to run.

“Wheeeee!” shouted Debt as Nigel ran down the path.

Amelia bent down next to the dying barbarian. She put her hands on his forehead, leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Zap!”