Fiction, Funnies, and Songs:

Ferdinand de La Reina del Mar, former corporal in the army of Castille, feinted left, then right, then thrust his sword true into the side of the creature that was crushing the life from Baronet Vlad.  The big broadsword felt heavy and sluggish in his hands, testimony to the extent of his wounds.  A tiny observer in the back of his mind marveled that he was still able to stand after the punishment he had received, but most of his mind knew only pleasure as the creature arched its back in silent agony.  Once again his ability to strike deep blows to his adversaries had shown itself.  He smiled through bloody lips, remembering the nickname his ability had won him in the army – "Ferdinand the Victorious."  Always he had succeeded, often against great odds, and a blow from his sword had ended the career and life of many a Montaigne.

Now he had to do it again.

He heard the sickening crunch of bone, at once so horrifying and so familiar, and saw the creature drop the limp form of the boar that was Baronet Vlad when his magic took him.  Another one lost...

"Ferdinand!"  the cry was desperate.  Ferdinand turned to see Don Juan Orduño bending over the limp form of the young musician girl, the one who played so beautifully.  The one who had summoned this nightmare.  In Don Orduño's hand was a box - a strange sort of box with a purple gem on the top.  Don Orduño's eyes glowed in triumph.  They still looked thus when one of the creature's claws smashed down on the side of his head, knocking him sideways to lie very still in the dirt and muck and blood on the floor.  Ferdinand leaped to his friend's defense too late to do more than watch as the creature turned and charged Doña Melisandre.  As it darted past him, Ferdinand saw the glint of the metal collar around its neck.  There was a depression there he saw.

A depression that exactly matched the gem on the top of the box which Don Orduño had held.

Ferdinand bent and scooped up the box, then measured the distance.  The creature was fast, the leap would have to be perfectly timed.

In his heart, he knew he wasn't up to it.

Nearby Don Lucas Aldana spun and cut at the creature as it raked Doña Melisandre, desperately trying to distract the creature.  As Doña Melisandre turned and fled, an idea borne of pure desperation came to Ferdinand.  He could not make the leap.  But perhaps Don Aldana could, if given the opportunity.

"The box!" he screamed at Don Aldana, tossing it to him, "Put it in the collar!"  Don Aldana glanced upwards, and comprehension dawned in his eyes.  He gathered himself up to leap.

And Ferdinand lunged, striking the creature once again - making himself a target so that it would not see Don Aldana until it was too late.

There was a shattering blow to the side of his head - Ferdinand heard his jawbone break - and the room spun wildly about him.  The last thing he saw before all vision was lost was his body falling in a spray of blood, as Don Aldana made his leap.  His last conscious, horrible thought was the realization that the falling body no longer had a head.

Ferdinand awoke as if from a horrible dream.  No longer was he in a stinking Freiburg sewer surrounded by the dead and dying.  Now he is...  he is...  he wasn't particularly sure.  He was sure that there was a man near him though.  A young man, perhaps a bit older than himself.  A man dressed in armor.  A man with a lance.

A soldier.

"Who are you?" asked Ferdinand, sitting up.  But before the words were finished he knew what the other would say.

"I am Gregor of Eisen," the man replied in Thean.

Gregor.

Saint Gregor.

The Drachenslayer.

"Thou hast fought well and true, Ferdinand de La Reina del Mar, and hast aided in the slaying of a great foe - one which has lain in slumber in that room since before Theus created man.  For this reason I have sought thee out, as I have sought other brave men and women throughout the years to grant my favor to.  I have interceded for thee, and thou shalt not die as would otherwise have happened."

"I...  I'm dead?" Ferdinand asked.

Saint Gregor nodded solemnly.

"Thou art a brave soldier Ferdinand de La Reina del Mar and so thou shalt return to Thea.  But much shall be different."  Saint Gregor waved his hand and Ferdinand saw himself on the battlefield, fighting the Montaigne.  Again and again he struck telling, brutal blows which fell his opponents.  It was in this battle that Ferdinand first earned his nickname.

"Thou hast learned the meaning of victory, and hast learned it well Ferdinand de La Reina del Mar.  But always thou hast fought for thyself.  Thou hast claimed that thy cause was thy country or for thy church, but in truth it was for thine own aggrandizement, for the acclaim of thy fellow soldiers, that thou fought."

Ferdinand bowed his head, knowing it was true.

"Such it shall no longer be," continued Saint Gregor, "Thy battles shall be more difficult than before - no longer shalt thou be blessed in battle above other men.  This is part of the price thou shalt pay for thy blessing."

The image shifts.  Ferdinand saw Doña Melisandre.  She looked tired and battered, and the wounds from the creature were still fresh upon her face and arms.  She was tending to Ferdinand's dog, attempting to comfort him.

"And this one - thou hast wronged her." Saint Gregor continued.

"I sought only to do as I had seen Don Orduño and Don Lucas do, for they play at sport with the Doña frequently," said Ferdinand.

"Thou hast misunderstood the nature of their game, Ferdinand de La Reina del Mar," said Saint Gregor.  "The two play at sport with each other, with the lady being only convenient pennant for their battle.  They would as soon contend over any other convenient prize.  In any event it is the lady herself that thou hast wronged, for it was she who - in kindness and generosity - aided thee in purchasing that which thou sought.  Then didst thou wrong her by using her very generosity against her."

"I was wrong," said Ferdinand, bowing his head once more.

The vision of Melisandre was replaced by that of Don Aldana, and another of Baronet Vlad, and another of Don Juan.

"And from these three thou sought to steal in order to pay for thy heart's desires.  From two thou hast taken money that thou hast no means to repay.  These too thou hast wronged."

The vision ends, but Saint Gregor continues.

"Thou hast made promises to the Mother Church which thou hast not honored as well.  This is most egregious."

"I ask forgiveness for my sins," said Ferdinand.  Saint Gregor's countenance softened slightly.

"This then I task thee with, Ferdinand de La Reina del Mar.  That thou shouldst be loyal to thy companions even unto death.  That thou shalt pay off thy debts to others - debts of money and debts of friendship both the same - and that thou shalt live as a pauper until such is accomplished.  That thou shalt honor Theus and the Holy Vaticine Church in fact and in spirit, not merely as a gesture.  And that thou shouldst honor all promises made, and make none without that thou shalt keep it.  That thou shalt keep holy my feast day, and that thou shalt undo the wrongs that thou hast committed in thought, word, and deed, against those who are close to thee."

"I shall, Saint Gregor, in Theus' name I swear it" replied Ferdinand.

"Then I shall place upon the a mark, which will remind thee of thy covenant to myself and in the presence of Theus and his Prophets.  And woe be unto thee if thou shalt break thy oath Ferdinand de La Reina del Mar, for shouldst thou stray, then thy soul shalt be in great peril!"

"Then go now, and remember the covenant that thou keepest with me and with Theus!"  Saint Gregor said, and once again vision faded.

Ferdinand awoke to find himself lying on a table.  His limbs straight, his arms clasped over his chest, his sword held in his hands.

The position of one laid out in state.

His clothes were still ripped, bloody, and filthy, but his body no longer ached.  He worked his jaw once, twice - it was no longer broken.  When he tried to sit up, to stand, his body responded without pain.

Ferdinand smiled.  Kneeling, he offered a prayer of thanks to Theus and Saint Gregor, before he buckled his sword back on and began climbing the stairs to Don Orduño's room.

There was much to do....

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