“Chosokabes will be safe.” Nobukazu said the same thing he had said to those cut-throats, “His family lives in an impregnable house which he can move from one place to another. And impossible to find.”
“Wernh’An thinks otherwise. He can locate Chosokabes from the very moment Wutke starts showing its presence. Ancient lore says so.”
Nobukazu was done from hearing strange tales. “Don’t you have a play to be in?” he changed the conversation.
“Oh. I almost forgot about it.” Braden turned his back at him.
“And the pouch.” Nobukazu put his hand on his shoulder.
“Ahh!” Braden scoffed, “Forgot to give it to you. What is in here anyways?”
“Death Pollen. It was your luck you didn’t open it.” Nobukazu said.
When Braden was about to give him the pouch, he shivered. Nobukazu could tell why. The wind around them was cooler all of a sudden and the cold was increasing with time. Nobukazu breathed and vapor flew out from his lips.
Braden looked at Nobukazu with hopeful eyes, wanting Nobukazu to end the sorcery. But Nobukazu gave him a glance which denied all of his made up accusations. Soon came a time when both fixed their eyes on the same spot.
Snowflakes began appearing in the air on the top of stairway but it was not the case with everywhere else. Tiny flakes fused to bigger chunks till the upper portion of stairs was covered in thin layer of snow.
Bits of snow floating in air didn’t fall on ground and took shape of a small snow hurricane. Nobukazu was equally confused like Braden when the whirlwind grew wider. But other than snow, it caused no movement anywhere.
Through the whirlwind, a man came out with his staff. The whirlwind stopped and snow dissolved in air the moment he walked out of the mini-hurricane. The strange man looked around with his red eyes.
He blinked several times but did not blink his eyes once they fell upon Nobukazu. Even his eyes colour turned grey after spotting Nobukazu.
“Chosokabe.” He let cold breath pass through his lips.
“Wernh’An of Hilcastle!” Braden’s jaw fell apart.
Nobukazu pulled his greatsword out of the rusting sheath. Wernh’An waited for Nobukazu to run towards him. When he took few steps towards him then Wernh’An turned the staff face towards him. A beam of light erupted from it and collided on Nobukazu’s chest. Nobukazu couldn’t take the blow well.
Braden took a quick flee as Nobukazu got grounded.
“You are weaker than I had thought.” Wernh’An said emitting a stronger wave of energy from the tip of his staff.
The blinding luminosity paralyzed Nobukazu from head to toe.
“I wondered if it were you or Gervase. Glad I chose Pryeg.” Wernh’An increased the beam which made Nobukazu scream in agony, “Why would anyone leave a house impossible to infiltrate?” his calm voice reached to Nobukazu’s ear amidst of unbearable brightness.
Wernh’An stopped the torment, “You still are tough to kill.”
“Don’t even think of touching my family.” Nobukazu grinded his teeth.
“I will not be present there to see them getting torn apart.” Wernh’An said by picking Nobukazu’s sword, “But I can witness it from you.”
Wernh’An planted the sword’s blade inside Nobukazu’s abdomen.
“Ah! You are still alive?” Wernh’An said in polite tone.
He clutched the hilt tight and began twisting the sword. Wernh’An watched Nobukazu’s eyes reddening when he pulled pushed the sword upwards.
Nobukazu took a long gasp and held his breath.
“Still alive.” Wernh’An pulled the sword towards his lower abdomen.
Looking at Nobukazu’s inflated cheeks, Wernh’An realized he was smiling.
Wernh’An got blinded in a second. Someone had covered his head from a pouch. As he took a breath inside the bag, his muscles loosened. But Wernh’An didn’t stop struggling to free himself. But being suffocated by the bag caught up with him. Wernh’An saw grounded Nobukazu through the black cloth.
Braden kept on holding the pouch tight over Wernh’An’s head. He kept on doing so till Wernh’An slid to the floor. After ensuring Wernh’An was passed out, he sprinted towards Nobukazu.
“You okay?” Braden said, pulling the sword out of Nobukazu’s body.
“Such blows won’t kill me.” said Nobukazu, getting on his feet.
“You are Nobukazu Chosokabe!” Braden was laughing stock.
“Wernh’An.” Chosokabe whispered.
“OVER HERE!” Nobukazu heard people gathering at the top of stairs.
His army? Nobukazu thought by glancing at his foe which lay motionless with the bag over his head.
Nobukazu caught Braden’s shoulder. He swung the end of his bloodied cloak to cover both of them. Both disappeared before those men could arrive, leaving droplets of blood behind.
Coliseum,
Play Master was tired of not finding Braden anywhere.
Braden ran with costume. Play Master couldn’t hold his anger.
He went to his room and began filling the mug with booze.
Before he could get to second round of drinking, someone came inside his room without knocking.
The same jealous actor.
“Looks like your man was shy.” He mocked the play master, “Play is about to start. What do you think?”
“But you are not dressed as Wernh’An.” Play Master burped.
“He never dresses like that.”
“Can you convince the crowd?” Play Master stood up.
“Yes.”
“Then get on the stage.”
