Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Lathanos's Great Journey ❯ Viscone and the Demon-Slaying Sword ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2

Viscone and the Demon-Slaying Sword

 

“Wow,” muttered Romona.

“Well, shall we continue?” said Lathanos, wiping the blood from his sword and sheathing it. She simply nodded and then they entered the village.

“I have to find someone. I'll head to the tavern when I'm finished,” said Lathanos. He then ran off to find the man called Viscone, whom the mysterious voice from his dream had told him of.

“Ok,” said Romona simply, even though he was out of earshot.

Suddenly, someone placed their hand upon Romona's shoulder. She gasped and spun around to look into the stunning, blue eyes of a fellow Elven. “Oh, it is only you, Espin. Don't scare me like that!” she said, breathing a sigh of relief.

“I am terribly sorry, My Princess! I did not mean to frighten you,” said Espin, bowing.

“No need to apologize, Espin,” replied Romona. “Knowing you, you probably meant me no harm,”

“Of course!” he said, grinning smugly and straightening up. He took her hand and kissed it, blushing. Romona blushed as well. “It has been three years since last I saw you. Care for a walk?"

“Why yes, that would be lovely,” said Romona with a smile. She took his arm and they started slowly down the road. “I must visit the monastery here, so I shall see you off there,” He nodded as they walked. “I need to pay a quick visit to the tavern first though,”

“Will do, Romona. The tavern and then the monastery… I shall accompany you along the way,”

“That would be lovely, Espin,” Romona smiled warmly.

When they arrived at the tavern, Romona said, “Wait here,”

“Of course, My Princess,” Espin replied, smiling.

Romona entered the tavern casually and made her way to the front desk. “How may I help ya?” asked the tavern owner. She was a short, slightly chubby, old woman with short, gray hair held in a tight bun. She wore glasses over her pale blue eyes.

“I would like you to deliver a message to man named Lathanos,” she said. “I am sure he hasn't arrived here as of yet. When he arrives, give him this note, ok?” She then placed a note written upon a simple piece of parchment on the desk.

“I shall deliver this note to Lathanos, Dear,”

“Thank you for your kindness, Ma'am,” Romona replied, taking her leave.

“Any time, Dear,” the tavern owner called after her.

“Well,” said Romona when she was outside again, “shall we make for the monastery then?”

“Good idea,” agreed Espin. She once again took his arm and they started for the monastery on the other side of the village.

When they arrived at the monastery, they stopped at the top of the stairs outside the entrance. Romona released Espin's arm. They turned to face each other and Espin took Romona's hands in his. “I now take my leave from you,” he said, looking into her eyes. “I want you to know that I still love you, even after all these years! Until we meet again, My Love,” He moved in to kiss her, her hands still entwined in his.

Before he could kiss her, however, Romona placed her middle and index fingers to his lips. “I am sorry, Espin. You know as well as I do that I could never love you,” she said.

A tear trickling its way down his cheak, he released her hands and turned away from her. “I am sorry too,” he said. He then ran as fast as he could toward the village exit.

Romona looked on for a few more moments. She then turned and headed inside the monastery.

Meanwhile, back at the tavern, Lathanos entered, a look of disappointment on his face. “Damn, where the hell is he?!” he mumbled. He casually made his way up to the front desk. “One room, please,” he said dully.

“How long will ya be stayin', Dear?” asked the tavern owner.

“Just tonight,”

“Ok, that'll be seventy-two sycles,” Lathanos laid some silver coins on the table, a look of pure boredom on his face. “Thank ya,” The owner paused a moment. “Be ye the man called Lathanos?”

“Yes, I am called Lathanos,” he replied. “May I ask how you know my name?”

“A young Elven came here earlier and said to deliver a note to ya,” she said, holding out a piece of parchment.

“Just deliver it to my room later, as I am tired and in need rest,” he said. “Now, where is my room located?”

“Very well. The room ya paid fer is just down the hall, second on yer left,” she replied, pointing to a hall to the left of her desk.

“Thank you,” he said as the owner passed him his room key. He then made for his room. Upon entering, he lied down on his bed and fell fast asleep.

 

The next morning…

 

Lathanos, still half asleep, groggily made his way to a wooden table by the window. A coffee mug sat before him, still steaming. `That was nice of her,' he thought, taking a drink of his coffee…and burning his tongue in the process. He instantly yelped in pain.

The owner immediately rushed into his room. “Be ya alright?” she asked worriedly.

“I just burned my tongue on the coffee. It's no big deal,” Lathanos replied reassuringly.

The owner shook her head slightly, smiling. “My coffee's hot, so ya best be careful,” she said, snickering.

“I will have to remember that next time,” Lathanos replied, smiling innocently and rubbing the back of his neck as if nothing had happened.

“By the way, my name is Caitlin. If you ever need me help, I will always be here at the tavern,”

“Thank you, Caitlin,” Lathanos said, smiling.

“Any time,” She then went about her business at the tavern.

Lathanos then noticed the piece of parchment on the table. It read:

 

Dear Lathanos,

 

Please meet me at the monastery in the village. I would like you to meet a dear friend of mine. I'll be waiting for you. Please hurry as soon as you can!

 

Your friend,

Romona

 

`The monastery, huh? Well, if that's what she wants…” he thought. He quickly left the tavern and made for the monastery.

Upon arrival, he saw Romona waiting for him outside the entrance. “Hey, Lathanos. I see you have arrived,” she said, smiling and waving at him. “Took you long enough,” she said with a sheepish grin when he got up to her.

“Yeah, yeah, let's make this quick. I have yet to find the person I am looking for and still need to find him,” he replied.

“Oh…ok, please come inside,” she said, going into the monastery. Lathanos hurried in after her. An old man with silvery white hair and almost white eyes was standing at the other end of the monastery. He was wearing brown and white robes. “I would like you to meet Viscone,” she said, pointing to the man.

“Viscone?!” Lathanos blurted out.

“Yes, and you must be Lathanos. I knew you would come,” said Viscone.

“You…know each other?” asked Romona.

“Yeah, sort of,” Lathanos replied.

“Now, to get to the point,” Viscone began, “you are to head to Sentino Village. There, you will meet a man by the name of Fintomo Kazaka. He will provide you with a tool you might find useful in your upcoming battles with Etheros and his forces,” He then grabbed a sheathed katana with a black hilt. It was sheathed in a black scabbard encrusted with red rubies. “Take this. You shall need it!”

“Thank you, Viscone-sama!” said Lathanos, taking the sword. “Let's be on our way, Romona. Thank you for introducing me to him,”

Romona looked between the two of them slowly before nodding. Viscone smiled gently at them, saying, “Goodbye, My Princess,” Upon closer inspection, Viscone had a pair of Elven ears protruding from his long hair.

As Viscone knelt before her, Romona blushed and ran forward. “Please, not here,” she said feverishly, shaking her head.

Viscone stood up, still smiling. “May peace be with you,” he said. His smile was the last thing to be seen.

Once outside, Romona looked around, avoiding Lathanos's eyes carefully. She looked toward the edge of the village. Slowly, her eyes narrowed. Looking back at Lathanos, she said, “We should get out of here, and now!”

Romona whistled softly, her eyes shining brightly as the sound of galloping horses pierced the air. Two beautiful Arabian horses suddenly came through the clearing. One was like fire, its mane black as night. Its black eyes appeared to be more intellegent than they should've been. The other horse was black, the tips of its mane and tail seeming to have been dipped in white paint. Its eyes were just as intelegent as the first one's, if not more so. The first one moved to Romona. “Hello, Firebolt, my beautiful friend,” she murmured.

 

To be continued…