The Inner Gambit of Darkness - Continued (Part 2)

(If you don't mind Robo, I'll play the part of the guards)

The chainmail jingled through the hall as the guards ran to the armoury. They had heard an intruder had infiltrated the palace, he had nearly killed one of the guards patrolling the garden. It was possible that the intruder might be there to assassinate the King. If that were the case, the guards needed to get to the armoury and arm up.

(You know, he wasn't going to steal the glory. He just wanted to study it)

Brenz slowly ducked into a hiding place. Years hunting the woods had taught him how to keep quiet, and predict his opponents moves. He still had a few tricks up his sleeve.

(I know, but Dane is also a paranoid ass. Not to mention you did kinda word it to imply that Brenz was in this all for himself.)

The guards ran inside and started arming themselves for whoever had breached their defenses. One of the guards came only a few feet away from Brenz, though he was not aware of it.

Gwene felt around the empty bed in her sleep, looking for Konbei. But she didn't stir.

(He was. But he did say, "I just want to look at it".)

Brenz stayed very still, and then crept around the shelf of weapons, knowing the guard would see him if he took another step forward.

(He did. But I'll say it again: Dane's a paranoid ass. XD He doesn't believe Brenz's words are genuine, because if he were to say them he wouldn't mean it.)

The guard closest to Brenz turned around and noticed a shadow move out of the corner of his eye.

"I think there's a rat in here or something." the guard said to the others.

"So? Don't tell me you're scared of a rat."

"I'm not, it's just...don't they spread disease or something?"

"Don't be an idiot!"

(...but Brenz did mean it)

Brenz looked up. There was a window he could escape out of, but the guards we see him.

...unless they were all looking away at the same time.

Brenz looked around for something small.

The guards continued their pointless prattle as they put on their armour.

Brenz found a small chip of slate from the floor, and threw it across the room. It flew soundlessly through the air and hit one of helmets hanging up.

"What the Hell was that?!" the guard closest to Brenz yelped.

The other guards laughed and looked at the helmet. "What made it ping like that?"

One of the guards found the chip and picked it up. "One of you guys throw this?"

"Nope. Wasn't me."

"Wasn't me either."

"Then who did it?"

In a flash, Brenz jumped up, dived through the window...

And went plummeting down towards the moat.

"OH SHI-" Was all he managed to get out before he went under the water and was washed away.

The guards shouted behind him as he fell into the moat.

"...Should we follow him?"

"I can't swim."

"What do you mean you can't swim? Who the Hell can't swim?"

"People in heavy armor can't swim!"

"Well then they'd just have to take the armor off and go swimming."

"But I don't wanna take the armor off, I just put it on!"

As they continued with their pointless conversation Brenz was swimming far out of their reach.

Konbei sighed and stared into the night. He was emotionally drained and needed to find a way to pick himself up and find his strength again.

The same dark energy that had been bugging him washed around him again. It was so familar...

That was the one good thing about the Dark Sword; Inside Konbei's mind, he felt like he could do anything, all his senses were hightened and he felt everything in a much stronger way. But back then he didn't realise it's power, but he felt like he understood it better now, like he had a handle on it and could control it if he let it help him.

Brenz, eventually, pulled himself out of the water, coughing.

"...I'm...gonna...kill him..." he wheezed between his coughs.

Dane paced back and forth in the room Brenz had rented at the inn. It was the only place he could go to, even though he didn't want to even look at the selfish man.

A blank piece of parchment sat on the table along with the seal, a quill and ink pool, and some red wax. He had everything he needed to secure his freedom.

So why couldn't he write anything?

Someone kicked the door open. It was Brenz, and he was still soaking wet.

"YOU!" he roared with blistering rage you might reserve for your worst enemy.

Dane didn't want to look at Brenz, but his pride wouldn't let him look away like a whimpering pup.

"Why are you all wet?" he said when he noticed Brenz's clothes and hair.

"Because I had to jump off the top of the fucking castle to avoid in the guards in armoury where the fucking weapon should of been, but SOMEBODY must of decided it would be fucking hilarious to lie about it!" Brenz shouted, grabbing him by the collar. " Well HA DE FUCKING HA! I was laughing my arse off all the way fucking down!"

As Konbei's thoughts progressed, the dark feeling surrounding him seemed to intensify, like it was encouraging him. He recognised it now. It had driven him to do bad things in the past and now it was back from the Evil Realm, but it lacked one thing; a physical form.

He looked back at Gwene sleeping. Surely it wouldn't hurt... he knew how to deal with it now, he wouldn't let it get as bad as it did the last time. He was just going to use it to give him a boost...

The darkness from the sword that once had a hold on Konbei flared vicously at this thought and he winced slightly from the head ache it gave him as it took refuge in his mind. Everything fell still and he felt clam and relaxed, and strong again.

"I never promised it would be there." Dane replied coldly, still being held by Brenz. "You just thought it would be and left me for your own selfish reasons. You brought this all on yourself."

Gwene turned and lay on her back, part of her top was undone and exposed her chest, showing the area where she had been stabbed previously.

Brenz stared at him, and then dropped him.

"Listen, buddy. I helped you get in there. Hell, I've just helped you clear your name. It would nice to have a little payment." he said.

"So what do you want? Money?"

"A look at that weapon..." Brenz said.

"And why would you want to do that?"