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Posts: 848
Join Date: Jan 2008
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The Baron of Carrion looked out the turret window of his tower and admired the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. Ethan McKnight was at peace here behind the thick rock walls of his ancestral castle. The Rookery still held mysteries for him to solve deep within its bowels. But he had more pressing matters as well. The task that Archangel Michael had given him was foremost in his mind. He had to find the rightful wielder of the angelic sword known as Chrysaor.
The blade along with his own sword Claiomh Solais, were currently locked away in the castle’s armory. Ethan prayed they would remain safe there while he searched for its new master. He had already had half the town over for dinner in his great hall so that he could appraise their worthiness but the sword had thus far remained silent. He would have to extend his search to the outlying regions. Ethan only hoped that he wouldn’t have to change his focus to another country.
The chimes ringing faintly from his ground floor brought Ethan back to this moment in time. Someone was at his front door. He went over and activated a secret panel hidden in the rock wall. Placing his palm flat on the scanner activated a screen which was hidden behind a 13th century painting of the Rookery with a full contingent of knights upon its walls and battlements.
“Interesting” Ethan mused as the security camera zoomed in on his uninvited guest.
A tall man, whose features were hidden by a dark blue fedora and matching long coat, stood outside the door. He looked up into the camera and smiled showing off his yellow crooked teeth. Ethan pressed another button and watched as the door swung open to admit the stranger.
“Thank you for seeing me Baron” the man said shaking hands with Ethan “my name is Marcus Deimus and I come on behalf of a third party who wishes to remain anonymous.”
“Let us move on to the study before discussing this business further” Ethan McKnight, the Baron of Carrion, said motioning his guest into the next room.
“Let me get right to the point Baron” Marcus began “my employer is a collector of rare artifacts and as such has discovered through various channels that you have come into possession of a mystical weapon of great importance.”
“What weapon, am I supposed to have acquired?” Ethan asked the man not wanting to give anything away.
“Why the Sword of Justice of course, it is one of the three sacred swords that form the Trinity of Light.”
“Ah yes I’ve heard the tales before” the Baron said scratching his chin “but I have never lain my eyes upon anyone of them. I am sorry but your employer is sadly mistaken.”
Ethan stands up from his armchair and motions the tall man back toward his front door “please tell your employer that I cannot help him.”
“Is that really how you are going to play this Baron? My employer will not be pleased by this answer. It may end badly for you” Marcus Deimus replied before exiting the castle.
“I hope that is not a threat…for your sake” Ethan said slamming the door behind him.
Outside the Rookery, Marcus Deimus pulls a cell phone out of his pocket and dials the number he had been given by his mysterious employer “it’s me. Yeah he’s definitely hiding something. He promptly denied the rumors and sent me packing before I even got comfortable.”
“Good enough Mr. Deimus. I will make arrangements to have the sword lifted in the near future.”
“Do you want me to assassinate the Baron?”
“No need to resort to any violence.”
The call ended leaving Marcus Deimus, otherwise known simply as the Greek, to go on about his own business and wait for the next call. He turned left at the sidewalk and walked away with his hands in his pockets.
The employer on the other end of the line replaced the receiver back into its cradle before turning toward his companion “it is up to you now my dear.”
“Of course I will go get my gear ready” the woman in the green leather jumpsuit said patting him on the shoulder.
Later that very night the Jade Scorpion made her way to Carrion Castle. She hid amongst the shadows to stay clear of the security cameras. Using her scorpion pincher gauntlet she broke the lock on the gate and slipped inside the grounds. There were no lights on in the castle. Luck seemed to be on her side.
Once she was at the door she slipped out a lock picking kit she kept tucked away in her bra. She slid the picks in the keyhole and finagled the tumblers until they were all locked in the up position. The door creaked open slowly and she held her breath. But as she stepped over the threshold she let it out in relief. The Count must be out for the evening.
The Jade Scorpion found the door that led to the basement and from there made her way to the armory. It was strange that the castle had no staff about but she had heard the Count was new to money and preferred to do things himself. So it was no surprise really that the building was devoid of life. It seemed as though she would get in and back out again with very little trouble.
“This is the easiest job I’ve ever been hired to do” she thought as she unlocked the armory door.
The room was pitch-black and it contained no electrical switches of any kind. Jade Scorpion slipped her night vision goggles in place and waited as the room flared green and the weapon racks came into view. The armory was empty! All of the fabled contents had been moved!
A bright light filled the room momentarily blinding the Jade Scorpion. She quickly removed the goggles and rubbed her eyes. When they focused again she saw a knight in full armor wielding a golden sword. The sword was emitting the blinding light. She slipped on her sunglasses to help block some of the light. Then she brought out a small scorpion stinger shaped blade with a sharp point.
“Why don’t you just drop your gear and surrender?” the knight asked.
She smiled and stabbed with the stinger blade “I don’t think so!”
The blade glanced off the knight’s armor and her smile faded “oh $#!@.”
“You should have surrendered when you had the chance.”
With her pincher gauntlets locked into place she took a swing. The large claw struck the knight’s armor in the chest and made him stagger backwards. Then she pushed passed him and disappeared through the door. Angry he followed but her small lithe form helped her stay two steps ahead of his bulkier weight as he raced up the stairs after her.
Once outside the castle she found her way amongst the shadows. He used his sword to light up the grounds but she had managed to get away. Anger swelled with him as he sheathed his sword. Then he removed his helmet to reveal the face of the Count of Carrion.
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