Thomas

The dawn of the end puts Thomas deep in the swamp just outside of the Drunken Angler. Creeping beneath Thomas’s leather boots is a living floor; Snakes, centipedes, insects and lizards gave the forest floor a living cadence. Each creature looking for warmth, food and a home. Thomas trudges on walking his stead, Socrates, through the living floor to the ‘Razor’s Edge’. The volcanic rock and sharp protruding shards of stone, give the ‘Razor’s Edge’ its loving moniker. Not to mention the sheer drop off on either side of this land bridge leading to a pit of jagged rocks and deadly molten lava. The active volcano laying in his path to the ‘Girl’, churns and threatens to erupt and claim Thomas and his stead. Thomas moves on ever forward to his first night’s sleep in a ‘safe zone’ far away from the molten rock and jagged cliffs of ‘Razor’s Edge’. As Thomas lead Socrates through the blistering heat, the ‘Razor’s Edge’ claimed his stead. The Thundering bellows of the gasses churning in the volcano’s core shuttered the floor and sent the stead to tumble. The walls crumbled under the mount’s weight pitching the beast head over feet down the craggy wall. The sharp edges of stone cracking and demolishing Socrates’s bones as he tumbled down. The awaiting molten lava envelopes the poor beast, he melts away into a hot burbling stew. Socrates disappeared leaving Thomas once again abandoned to face death, alone.

The weary Thomas travels alone into the dead forest. Trudging along his head held low as he mourned his only friend. Though his heart is heavy Thomas is relieved from the heat of ‘Razor’s Edge’ as he walked into the forest’s cool and damp umbrella. The dewy clutches of the dead forest wrapped around Thomas’s heart reminding him of his mournful isolation. Thomas’s exhaustion was too overwhelming he fell face first onto the lush forest floor with a quit thud he closed his eyes for a much-needed respite.

When he had regained consciousness, Thomas opens the meager supplies he absconded from his dying stead. He eats the hard bread and salted meat with his bladder of wine made by the matron of the ’Drunken Angler’. This might be Thomas’s last meal so he savors every mouthful, He takes out his last hunk of aged cheddar and smiles as he enjoys the savory treat.

The night in the dead forest was very much alive. The forested floor quaked with the moans of the dead that were lost in these woods. The howls awoke Thomas and shook his old bones. Thomas knew he must leave before the moans he was hearing became his own. The knight collected his belongings and despairingly moved forward. Thomas casts one last look to the tormented and lost souls of the forest as he moves on their cries unanswered, Thomas moves toward the End.

The Dead forest ended and opened to the “Hollow Valley” a solemn place where witches live and serve the town just north. The town of survivors and fearful souls lay quietly ahead. Finally, beyond the town is the Dragon’s Lair the beginning of the Culmination of Thomas’s life.

The town accommodated only one night’s stay in the settlement’s stable, including a hot meal in the local house of ill repute. Luna Sol, served the Knight a platter of beans and hard bread. Best Damned meal he ever had. Thomas hungrily mopped up the last morsels with the bread and swashed it with the pint of Ale. Satisfied he smacks his lips and leaned back into the wooden chair his belly full Thomas opened his satchel of pipe weed and prepared a smoke. Thomas sighed his heart empty he prepares to die before tomorrow sees another dusk.

The sunrises awaking Thomas from his heavy and restful slumber. Thomas sighs a good-bye to comfort and leisure as he readies for battle. He sharpens his sword to gleaming perfection. Thomas kneels and says his decisive battle prayer to his god

“Great God, give me a swift steed and a mighty hand to slay mine enemies.

Great God, give me a warrior’s death in the clutches of my enemy or at his death throws. Grant me freedom and forgiveness, That I may see your face in my departure. Amen.”

His armor is tightly secured and his mind is ready to embrace finality. Thomas took one last look towards the town remembering his old friends and family. Mary his child mother, Annalise his love and friend, Dorin the mentor and father, Deter his stubborn Ass and finally Socrates his courageous battle companion and last friend.

He followed the road out of town and into the rising sun soon he met his destination. The cave smelled of rotted meat and wet hair. Thomas choked bag the rising bile in his throat as the smell assaulted his delicate nostrils, refusing to give in to his disgust Thomas then stood tall. With his moment of weakness conquered, he marched on. The caves became moist and the temperature rose to unbearable levels. The dragon’s breathing has caused the caves to be an agonizing tomb the hot sulfur scent asphyxiating the knight’s lungs. Thomas’s body began to betray him as the heat weighed him down, each step a heavy thud. Thomas could not stand the rising temperature as he roasted slowly in his metal armor. Little by little the knight peeled off his armor only leaving him in a chain mail shirt, leather breaches, and boots. Sword in hand and helmet thrown to the way side, Thomas freed his view to remain on the path to the ominous journey ahead . Shedding the constraints of armor, Thomas faces his fate, his feet carry him forward.

The moment Thomas saw the beast his blood stopped cold in his veins. Dread and hopelessness loomed over the hero distracting and destroying any possibility of victory. Thomas shook the deterring thoughts from his mind. Focusing his mind Thomas felt his blood run hot and his eyes narrowed as the sound of an approaching assault filled the dark corridors. Thomas barely moved in time to dodge the Dragon’s advances. His swift movements and gentle grace not lost with his advanced age.

Thomas lunged forward to strike the beasts gaping mouth narrowly missing the fearsome jaws closing in around him. The Dragon let out a pained shriek that knocked back Thomas. Stumbling and clutching his head Thomas drops his weapon and it disappears into a crevice hidden in the cave.

Thomas struggles to regain his composure, he notices his weapon is all but lost. Dodging wave after wave of the terrible beast’s tantrum. Tail swinging and wings thrashing Thomas’s only hope was to hide and wait. Thomas hid in the shadows, thwarting his beastly foe. Thomas stumbled back tripping over a carelessly thrown shield when he saw the ‘girl’. Before Thomas stood a ragged youth no older than 11 years. The young maiden’s small frame and innocent face reminded Thomas of another time and the scent of Lilac formed from memory invaded his olfactory glands, he was in shocked. Her white gown and flowing golden locks gave her an ethereal look. The girl was his mission, as this thought invaded the hero’s mind he had to lead her to safety. Thomas’s duty to his quest moved his old bones towards her. She did not seem to see Thomas as he quickly lunged for her, evading the searching dragon. He caught her arm and stumbled down, rolling and tumbling to the dark cave floor.

As Thomas struggled to get to regain his composure after the fall he realized his feet and legs were betraying him. He couldn’t stand , his body felt heavy and useless. Puzzled Thomas look down and realized his core was aching and complaining with each breath. Thomas realized he was covered in blood. He looked at his hands then up at the Girl fearful she might be injured. When his eyes focused upon the girl in the failing light, he was bewildered. The scene before him was something out of a nightmare. The tiny damsel held his sword between slaughter soaked hands, the gore dripped as she stood, she neither swayed or faltered. The look upon her face was calm and collected as Thomas lay dying before her. She slid her tiny bare feet back as Thomas’s life-giving fluid pooled around him, flooding the cave floor. Blood stained her white gown startling Thomas, he sat in disbelief. Thomas’s dead eyes beheld his gore soaking into the silken folds of her dress. His Holy Grail, killed him. He laughed with a gurgle as the blood filled his mouth he thought, ’of all the battles and all the warriors I fought and defeated, an angelic young girl once again pierces my heart,’ this belief was followed with the epiphany that this time it meant death.

The child slowly backed away from Thomas, leaving his view altogether. Her cold eyes never leaving the dying savior as his life drifted away. The girl was nowhere to be found as Thomas struggled to regain his footing. As Thomas righted his stature his looked out of the cave into the approaching dawn. The Dragon took advantage of the Knights distraction and lunged at the Hero. Thomas’s last glimpse of the golden rays shining off the horizon promising a new dawn were interrupted with a gnashing of teeth and a deafening snap as his body broke in half under the weight of the Dragon’s jaws.