Years of the Covenant: Part 7

Dark figures made there way from the bar to their tables. Inside the Black Curtain tavern Vannolyn and Darrien sat at a table in the back, watching for the individual they sought. Patrons of the tavern passed by left and right, but they still had not found the one person they were looking for.1

Ever since the attack on the sentry station Silious Roh had suspected there was a betrayer on the inside. The Votaries of Vecna had never made such an outright and bold attack on Covenant territory, especially so close to Nightwatch.2

There had always been dissension and betrayal amongst the ranks of the Covenant. But none had never been so ambitious as to involve the Votaries of Vecna within their plots. Silious had suspected it was one of the other mid-tier leaders within the Drow Houses. Many there did not like his presence, but now they threatened his life. This could not stand.3

Darrien and Vannolyn were sent with a group of assassins from Nightwatch to Shades Grove, a small city behind a forest of black oaks that backed the Obsidian Cliffs. The city itself lay on neutral ground; the Nightshade Covenant, the Votaries of Vecna, and the Tenebrous Cabal did not control or have sway over this land. Secrecy was imperitave if they were to catch this betrayer.4

"There." Darrien said, quietly beneath his breath. Vannolyn turned to see where the other's eyes had averted. And there he was, Lazanon Cordimos. He was a lavishly dressed drow, and wore a rapier at his side. He didn't inspire much intimidation, but Vannolyn knew better than to judge anyone by appearance on the Shadow Plane.5

Cordimos had been responsible for suppressing the Dark Ones' uprising 70 years back. If not for him, the Nightshade Covenant might have folded inward and tore itself apart. He was a formidable opponent, and once considered an honorable man. But now ... now he reduced himself to a betrayer and saboteur. His usefulness had run its course, and he needed to be eliminated.6

Vannolyn was getting ready to stand up when Darrien pulled him back down in his seat.7

"Not yet." Darrien whispered, sipping on his ale, "We need to catch him discretely. Just keep a close eye on him."8

Cordimos sat clear across the tavern at table with several Drugar Shadowsmiths as his personal gaurd. Though these men were all they could see, Vannolyn knew there were more that lie in wait. Women flaunted themselves at him as he ordered drinks at every turn; he was a womanizer. The man would soon be drunk, and it'd be all too easy to dispose of him then.9

Hours passed, and still he did not move. Darrien and Vannolyn finished several more drinks as well as a meal. And when it seemed that they would never leave Cordimos and his personal guard stood up from their table. He paid for his meal and left a sizable tip for those who waited on him.10

As Cordimos and his men made their way towards the door, Vannolyn and Darrien dawned their hooded cloaks and followed at a safe distance. When the doors to the tavern closed behind Cordimos, Darrien waved his hand in a small gesture and two Children of Night halflings appeared by the door to take up watch once they exited.11

The Black Curtain was situated in an alley that opened out onto the bluffs of the Obsidian Cliffs. There were only so many places Cordimos could run. He would not escape.12

The two halfling opened the door and admitted them into the alley and latched the doors closed behind them. Cordimos was walking in a care-free manner, not noticing that the two men followed closely behind.13

"Lazanon Cordimos." Darrien called out in a mild tone. Though drow and his company of drugar kept walking.14

"Lazanon Cordimos!" he yelled this time.15

The drow and his personal guar froze in their steps. The seven of them turned slowly face them. There they saw the cloaked men and stared in confusion.16

"Who are you?!" Cordimos shouted back as Darrien and Vannolyn drew closer.17

They removed their cloaks slowly revealing themselves for the assassin and ninja they were. A bit of surprise mixed with expectation drew across his face. He knew there would come, but he didn't know when.18

"Hoss." He spoke evenly, "I was wondering when you would come. Did Silious Roh appreciate the gesture?"19

"You've crossed the line this time Cordimos." Darrien spat at him, now standing only a few feet away with Vannolyn.20

"Oh really? This is coming from the Covenant's outcasts. You don't even deserve to call yourselves Nightshaders!" Cordimos sneered back.21

"And what does a betrayer know of what it is to be a Nightshader?" Vannolyn chimed in.22

"Ah, young Ildess. I've heard a lot about you. Word is that you far surpass many of the drow in skill. It's a shame you were reeled in by these human inferiors." Cordimos replied.23

"I'd rather be led by Silious Roh than the likes of you. It's you who is shamed; you bring shame upon on all drow!" Vannolyn shouted.24

"This has gone far enough Cordimos, its over." Darrien added.25

"Oh I think not." Cordimos smirked, "I believe its the end for you and young Ildess."26

With a snap of his finger the two drugar nearest them dipped their hands within the darkness and produced war axes made of shadows.27

Before they even had time to act they were struck dead. A pair of throwing stars imbedded themselves in the first drugar from Darrien, and a small dagger sunk into the next from Vannolyn. Their ethereal weapson evaporated as the last of the life drained from their bodies.28

The other four drugar froze for a moment, shocked at the agility of their adversaries. Darrien lifted one hand, beckoning the rest to try if they dare. Dipping their hands into the surrounding shadows they pulled out similar ethereal weapons; two maces, a war axe, and a broad sword.29

Darrien glanced over at Vannolyn, speaking with his eyes through a simple wink. The two broke their position as the drugar moved to surround Darrien, and Vannolyn moved to face Cordimos. Vannolyn didn't worry, it would be nothing for his master to kill those peons.30

"So you think you're a match for me?" Cordimos sneered at Vannolyn.31

"I'm much more than that." Vannolyn smirked back.32

Vannolyn was Cordimos's physical suprerior by far, but the power that eminated from him suggested that his mastery of shadow magic was more than considerable. Vannolyn stepped forward lightly on his feet, lifting the broadsword from the sheath on his back. Cordimos followed suit by unsheathing the rapier upon his waist.33

Cordimos carried himself with disciplined form. The two circled each other a moment, both watching for the perfect moment to strike. With a flitter of his fingers, and a small muttering under his breath, Vannolyn casted an eary noise somewhere in the shadows behind his enemy. The other flinched a moment, and Vannolyn jumped on the opportunity. He swung with great strength, but the attack was not quick enough. Cordimos side stepped the attack and countered with his own ... drawing first blood.34

He gritted his teeth and struck at the arrogant aristocrat again. Blow for blow, parry for parry, lunge for lunge ... Vannolyn was matched at every turn by the smaller drow's incredible finesse. But his arrogance hindered is sword finesse, for Cordimos grew too confident and fought carelessly. Cordimos lunged forward and missed ... Vannolyn exploited it for all it was worth. He threw a strong left hook, breaking Cordimos's nose, followed by a hard impact to the back of the head. Cordimos was down and not moving.35

Vannolyn turned to see how his master was doing. Two dead and two still left fighting; it was good, but Darrien had done better. Darrien swung his katana diagonally, splitting the drugar's chest wide open.36

Removing the dagger from one of the two first drugar, Vannolyn sent it careening, blood and all, into its next victim. And as quickly as the battle had begun, it was already drawing to a close. All six of Cordimos's personal guard were strewn lifeless along the alley.37

Darrien nodded in gratitude, a little winded from his four-on-one skirmish. "Vannolyn, turn around!" He suddenly yelled.38

The two of them stared as Cordimos rose to his feet, covered in dirt and blood spilling from his nostrils. He looked weak and enraged; a very unstable and deadly combination for anyone who wields shadow magic. He raised his hands in a summoning gesture and, shadows began to gather and take form as his eyes, hands, and boots began to glow a pale shade of violet.39

"You two sould never have come here!" Cordimos spat at them, "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into!"40

Steadily the shadows that gathered in front of Cordimos began to morph and shape into something different, something ethereal ... something almost sentient. Darrien and Vannolyn almost couldn't believe what there were seeing ... Cordimos was a Master of Shadow.41

Perhaps he was right, for neither of them had ever dared to challenge a Master of Shadow. Its but one of the many forms that people can assume and wield shadow magic, but by far one of the most complex and disciplined ever practiced.42

With a large sweep of Cordimos's left arm, the giant shadow familiar left arm moved in the same direction; just as a master and a puppet. Vannolyn leapt and tumbled out of the way, but Darrien was caught by the shoulder and sent careening into a stack of crates.43

The situation had gotten a lot worse than they had expected. Vannolyn fucked behind a wall. He replaced his broadswoard, took out his bow, and strung an arrow. Leaning around the corner, he aimed and fired. And as the arrrow neared its target, it shattered by some invisible shield; probably erected during the summoning.44

Darrien was up again, ducking and dodging desperately trying to reach Cordimos. This wasn't going to work long, but it was the perfect diversion. Vannolyn spoke a few incantations under his breath, and suddenly a shadowy version of himself detached reformed next to him. He cast another spell, and suddenly the nearby shadows gathered together and spread across all of Vannolyn's and his shadow's body. To the naked eye, in battle, no one would be able to tell which was real.45

As he peered around the corner, Vannolyn drew forth the black, rune-carved blade. His shadow followed suit, drawing a sword with some similar resemblance. At the same time the assassin and his shade darted towards Cordimos and his shadow familiar. Weaving and twisting, the other drow couldn't tell which was which. The two of them moved so swiftly, it was like one dark blur.46

This helped Darrien considerably; Vannolyn and his shade distracted Cordimos long enough so his master could stumble about the familiar's reach. Cordimos's eyes fixed on one of the shadow-armored silouettes.47

"Ha! You think you can hide behind your cheap tricks!" Cordimos gloated. 48

With a smirk on his face he clamped his glowing hands together, and the familiar followed suit, trapping one of the shadow-armored pair ... and squeezed.49

"And to think you could stop me!" Cordimos sneered. Suddenly the dark-clad figure burst into dispersed shadows, dust, and air. Cordimos couldn't believe his eyes.50

"Not him ... Me", someone whispered into his ear, and just as quickly he was stuck with a black sword through back, up to the hilt. The other dark-clad figure ripped the blade from Cordimos's body.51

The shadow familiar screeched and flailed in agony. The sillouette with the black sword vaulted skyward and slammed the blade, tip first, into the back of the familiar. The sword turned turned ice-cold on impact; it took all the strength of the assailant to keep letting go. Then suddenly the blade started warming up, until it was almost seering hot. All the while it brightened with each moment, until suddenly the familiar exploded into a wash of while light and flames.52

The surge of power and light from the blade dispersed the shadow armor that concealed Vannolyn's identity, and slammed him into the nearest wall. Darrien dashed to where he'd fallen, and helped him to his feet.53

"Some how, some way, you have go to figure out a way to kill someone without almost killing yourself." Darrien smiled and shook his head.54

"Well noted." Vannolyn said, spitting out blood. "But next time lets try to kill 'em before we leave the bar.55

They disposed of Lazanon Cordimos's body by tossing it over the edge of the Obsidian Cliffs. No one would find his body down there. After gathering the rest of their assassins they left Shades Grove and returned to Nightwatch.