No Requiem for the Shadows

Just a little longer…

Sairalinde’s rapier barely managed to catch her opponent’s magically enhanced short sword, leaving a bright score mark upon the blade’s basket hilt. The silver-tressed elven woman, danced forward, for a quick riposte with her dagger and sent the rapier flying in at her ebony haired rival’s chest. Her opponent’s twin swords blurred as they moved through the air, denying the strike. The feint would have worked, should have worked, but those enhanced short swords blocked Sairalinde’s and forced the elven bladeswoman to go back on guard.

Where is he?

Sairalinde cursed softly under her breath. The short swords came across too quickly for Sairalinde to follow, inflicting another series of minor cuts upon her already battered body. The wounds stung but Sairalinde had no choice but to fight on. She worked her rapier and dagger furiously, driving her rival back into the alleyway. The cacophony of screeching metal echoed upon the mildew streaked walls, combining with the heavy breathing and cursing of both elven women to create the music of their duel. Dueling in the back alleyways of Carthas wasn't exactly the best of way to get in the good graces of the guards. The last thing she needed was to be arrested, let alone killed by Vadania’s blades.

Vadania…she tasted bile at the mere thought of her enemy’s name. Gods, she hated this woman, the one who violated everything she believed in, a servant of a dark goddess who killed all that she touched. How long had it been since they first raised a blade to one another? Twenty years?

In the lifespan of two elves, a twenty-year duel was just the beginning of a lifetime of hatred. A lifetime of vengeance.

Sairalinde’s rapier came in suddenly, thrusting through a gap in her opponent’s guard and scored her first strike of the evening. The slender blade plunged through Vadania’s thigh, causing her opponent to curse viciously. Sairalinde gave the blade a twist and pulled it out, leaving a streak of crimson in the air as her dagger just managed to block a savage strike from Vadania’s blades. The ebony haired woman glared at her opponent and spun her swords downward in a spiral, forcing Sairalinde to retreat once again. The moonlight pierced the shadowy gloom of the alley for a scant moment as it peeked out from under a cloud, illuminating the infuriated Vadania in its silvery light.

“You bitch… is that the best you can do? I would think after all these years you would have learned my style a bit better…” Vadania sneered, deftly deflecting an oncoming rapier strike. The moon’s rays were once again shrouded by the clouds, plunging the alleyway back into shadow.

The shadows were also growing stronger in Sairalinde’s heart. The light of hope was fading.

Sairalinde parried desperately, her mind focused on keeping her own sword arm moving to deflect the onslaught of Vadania’s blows. She could feel her blood slowly seeping from a dozen minor wounds, slowly but surely draining her of much needed strength. She wished she could hold out long enough to vanquish her foe…or at least until Phoenix arrived...

Come on, Phoenix!

Where was he? Phoenix, her prince and friend, had always come to her aid when she needed it. Why wasn’t he answering now? The illusionist was flighty, always light-hearted and carefree, unlike the serious manner in which she chose to address the needs of life. Had he indeed run off, finally fed up with her recklessness and furious anger towards Vadania? She prayed she had not disappointed him, for she needed him now more than ever.

Her mind screamed out in panic. She was going to die here if she didn’t do something.

Something that may very well end up killing her.

Sairalinde worked her rapier through a quick series of strikes and counterstrikes, bringing her within dagger range of Vadania. Vadania, not expecting the sudden onslaught, tried to match her opponent blow for blow. Sairalinde dropped her defensive guard and charged straight into her opponent. She drove her rapier in low, leading with a one, two feint and stabbed forward with her dagger. She prayed to Corellon that the move would work and not impale her on the ends of her rival’s wicked blades.

The feint worked.

Sairalinde smiled in grim satisfaction as she buried her dagger up to the hilt in Vadania’s shoulder. A cry of genuine pain escaped her lips as one of her short swords clattered to the ground. Sairalinde fell back, pulling her bloodied dagger out of Vadania’s shoulder. Vadania’s azure eyes narrowed and she raised her remaining short sword, shouting out in fury and rage. She ran forward, her blade suddenly flaring up with a sickly purple light.

Sairalinde raised her rapier in defense, brandishing the blade high to intercept her rival’s descending sword. Vadania’s short sword struck Sairalinde’s rapier and the slender elven blade shattered, showering both combatants with razor sharp fragments of silvery metal.

Sairalinde stumbled backwards, stunned, as her ancestral weapon broke apart in her hands. Vadania then slammed the hilt of her short sword into Sairalinde’s stomach, causing the elf to double over and fall down upon the ground. Sairalinde lost her grasp on her dagger as she fell upon the cold flagstones and it landed just out of her reach. Vadania laughed coldly, bringing her glowing sword to her fallen opponent’s throat.

“So it finally ends. I knew that you would die by my hand but it is so satisfying to know that Phoenix never came to your rescue. You know why, don’t you? He fell to my blade… I killed him. I shall enjoy the reward for killing you. I know Lolth is going to enjoy this offering…”


Vadania pressed her blade closer to Sairalinde’s throat, drawing forth a bit of blood. The moon elf smiled sadistically at this, enjoying the pain that was making itself evident on Sairalinde’s face. Vadania used her free hand to bring a satchel from her side and dropped it in front of Sairalinde. Vadania used her foot to open satchel and out rolled something that destroyed the last bit of hope within Sairalinde’s heart.

It was Phoenix’s severed head, a look of horror frozen upon his dead features, no longer handsome, no longer alive.

Sairalinde’s eyes flooded with tears, tears that she did not shed immediately. An eternity of realization passed before she cried forth a wail of pure anguish and grief. It was a scream that echoed all her failures; all her shortcomings. Her prince, her beloved friend, had fallen to the very blade that would now claim her life? It mustn’t be true. The dead look in his eyes shattered her hope of rescue. Sadness finally claimed her last shard of hope and she wept. There was no reason to live anymore with Phoenix dead. So many things she wanted to tell him, so many memories she wanted to create with him. But now…
Vadania grinned victoriously as she leaned forward, her blade poised for the final strike. She closed her eyes as she offered a prayer to her goddess, Lolth, the goddess she had come to venerate after turning her back on her own people. Vadania laughed darkly as she finished intoning the ritualistic chant.

“Die and greet the darkness, for it now owns your soul.”

“You first.”

A lightning bolt flashed across the shadowy alleyway, dancing along Vadania’s body before sending her crashing into the far wall. Her dark-cloaked form crumpled amongst the refuse that littered the alley, her body smoking and hissing from the aftermath of the spell. Sairalinde looked up through tear-filled eyes at the approaching savior and cried out in relief and stunned realization.

“Phoenix…”

Pushing his cloak hood back, he smiled and extended a gloved hand. Sairalinde graciously accepted and pulled herself to her feet, wiping the tears of sorrow and disbelief from her eyes. Phoenix shook his head with amusement and a slight smile fell upon his lips.

“You know I would never desert you. A prince never deserts his people when they need him the most. I merely arrived fashionably late, as any noble with class does.”

“She said she had killed you… she said…”

He chuckled softly and ruffled his friend’s silvery hair. Sairalinde only stared at her rescuer with astonishment and took him by the shoulders, making sure that he was real and not conjuration of her imagination.

“How?” she whispered hoarsely, pointing to the head that lay upon the ground.

Phoenix picked the severed head, his head, off the ground and snickered. He waved his hand through the arcane motions of a spell and the head disappeared into nothingness.

“I would think you would remember I am an illusionist… I merely tricked her into thinking she had killed me. Do you honestly think I can be so easily felled? My dear Sairalinde...I am such the impervious gentleman!”

Sairalinde could only embrace him and kiss his cheeks repeatedly. He was alive! She had not failed him. Relief washed over her, a feeling of wordless tranquility. Sairalinde nearly barreled him over as she buried him in a bear hug. Phoenix could only chuckle and hold onto her all the more tightly.

She cursed softly as she realized just how wounded she truly was.

She winced as her wounds reopened and she fell into his arms, her strength threatening to fade away once again.

“I think you might care to drink this.” Phoenix handed her a small vial and she eagerly drank the potion of healing Phoenix offered her. Her wounds were mended as the healing potion worked its magic. With the flow of blood staunched and the majority of her cuts healed, Sairalinde turned her attention to the fallen form of her enemy, Vadania.

She was gone.

Sairalinde looked about for the elven assassin. The thought of Vadania bearing down on them with her deadly blade readied to strike flashed in her mind and made the search all the more frantic.

But Vadania was nowhere to be seen.

“Come out of hiding, you damned wretch and face me! Let’s end this!” Sairalinde shouted into the shadows but no one came forth.

No response, no shriek of vengeance save her own.

Vadania had escaped.

Phoenix sighed as he placed a hand upon his friend’s willowy shoulders. He squeezed softly and whispered in her ear.

“Another time, my dear. She must’ve teleported away…You will defeat her in time but for now, you have to heal. Come… let’s get you back home.”

Sairalinde looked up into her prince’s eyes and nodded. Phoenix was right. There would always be another time for vengeance, but, for now, it was time to heal. There would be no requiem for the shadows tonight.