ranks, went up to the officer, and slid his dagger into the man’s belly. Walking away from the dying man, Mancer drew his sword and made his way to the farmhouse.
“He just stood there as everyone watched, shaking with suppressed rage and tears flowing from his eyes. Then, a huge man called Ogre, who was the flagbearer, made his way to stand beside Mancer. Silently, Ogre looked down at Mancer and unfurled the company flag and planted it firmly in the ground.
“Next, his Sergeant - Sergeant McKenzie - walked up to him and asked ‘Why?’. Mancer silently turned his head and stared at his sergeant with a deep burning rage in his eyes and tears streaming down his face. He turned his gaze once more to the road leading to the farm. Sergeant McKenzie then informed Mancer that, if he survived this battle, he would be on latrine duty for two months; then he stood next to him.
“One by one the rest of the company formed up around Mancer, so instead of retreating down the road and leaving the women and children to fend for themselves, the Fifth Company of the Third Lowland Regiment of the kingdom of Zarekland formed a defensive line and prepared to defend the farm.
“It was not long until the enemy appeared and formed up into a battleline. Upon seeing the enemy, Mancer took a step forward, gave them the finger, and shouted out, ‘Come on, you fat bastards!’
“The battle was hard fought and, over the period of the day, more and more elements of the Third Lowland Regiment arrived to reinforce the farmhouse defenders. In the end, the Zarekland forces were victorious. A few days later, the new captain for the Fifth Company arrived. That man’s name was Captain Nathanial West, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“You have given us a lot to ponder,” said Peter.
“Yes, a lot to ponder,” agreed Andrew.
“Don’t ponder too long. Hubert Mancer was simply the man he was. It’s not his fault that people have pinned their hopes and fears on him. It’s not his fault that people try and make him something he is not.”
“We know,” agreed Peter and Andrew.
“Now keep your end of the deal.”
“Yes, of course,” smiled Andrew. “Please, wait here.” With that, Andrew made his way through the garden and into the main building.
Peter looked around. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Shadow Killer looked at the hard frost glistening in the light of the full moon. “It is.”
Silence reigned.
It was about ten minutes later when Andrew Moore returned and silently handed over a rolled up scroll to Shadow Killer. Shadow Killer, keeping his one hand by his side, looked quizzically at Moore.
“Oh, sorry,” muttered Andrew as he unwrapped the scroll and held it out for Shadow Killer to read.
As he read the words for a second time, a mocking smile appeared on his face and a light laugh escaped his lips. “I now understand the smile, old friend.”
“Eh, sorry?” said Peter Hazelgrove.
“It’s nothing,” dismissed Shadow Killer with a shake of his head. “An old friend of mine used to wear this really annoying mocking smile. You could never know if he mocking you, himself, the world, or all three.”
“That would be annoying,” commented Peter.
“You have no idea.” Shadow Killer grinned before looking serious. “However, now that I have read the full Mancer Prophecy, I understand his smile.”
“So why the smile, Shadow Killer?” asked Peter Hazelgrove.
“The sheer number of paradoxes.”
“What... what do you mean? It is fairly straightforward, is it not?” asked Andrew. “The Midnight Man will return. There will be some fighting and, when it is at its bleakest, a man of low standing will save the day.”
“That is a truly simplified version,” said Shadow Killer.
“I know; however those of the military branch of our cult search for this mysterious man.”
“Sorry, they what?” interrupted Shadow
“He just stood there as everyone watched, shaking with suppressed rage and tears flowing from his eyes. Then, a huge man called Ogre, who was the flagbearer, made his way to stand beside Mancer. Silently, Ogre looked down at Mancer and unfurled the company flag and planted it firmly in the ground.
“Next, his Sergeant - Sergeant McKenzie - walked up to him and asked ‘Why?’. Mancer silently turned his head and stared at his sergeant with a deep burning rage in his eyes and tears streaming down his face. He turned his gaze once more to the road leading to the farm. Sergeant McKenzie then informed Mancer that, if he survived this battle, he would be on latrine duty for two months; then he stood next to him.
“One by one the rest of the company formed up around Mancer, so instead of retreating down the road and leaving the women and children to fend for themselves, the Fifth Company of the Third Lowland Regiment of the kingdom of Zarekland formed a defensive line and prepared to defend the farm.
“It was not long until the enemy appeared and formed up into a battleline. Upon seeing the enemy, Mancer took a step forward, gave them the finger, and shouted out, ‘Come on, you fat bastards!’
“The battle was hard fought and, over the period of the day, more and more elements of the Third Lowland Regiment arrived to reinforce the farmhouse defenders. In the end, the Zarekland forces were victorious. A few days later, the new captain for the Fifth Company arrived. That man’s name was Captain Nathanial West, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“You have given us a lot to ponder,” said Peter.
“Yes, a lot to ponder,” agreed Andrew.
“Don’t ponder too long. Hubert Mancer was simply the man he was. It’s not his fault that people have pinned their hopes and fears on him. It’s not his fault that people try and make him something he is not.”
“We know,” agreed Peter and Andrew.
“Now keep your end of the deal.”
“Yes, of course,” smiled Andrew. “Please, wait here.” With that, Andrew made his way through the garden and into the main building.
Peter looked around. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Shadow Killer looked at the hard frost glistening in the light of the full moon. “It is.”
Silence reigned.
It was about ten minutes later when Andrew Moore returned and silently handed over a rolled up scroll to Shadow Killer. Shadow Killer, keeping his one hand by his side, looked quizzically at Moore.
“Oh, sorry,” muttered Andrew as he unwrapped the scroll and held it out for Shadow Killer to read.
As he read the words for a second time, a mocking smile appeared on his face and a light laugh escaped his lips. “I now understand the smile, old friend.”
“Eh, sorry?” said Peter Hazelgrove.
“It’s nothing,” dismissed Shadow Killer with a shake of his head. “An old friend of mine used to wear this really annoying mocking smile. You could never know if he mocking you, himself, the world, or all three.”
“That would be annoying,” commented Peter.
“You have no idea.” Shadow Killer grinned before looking serious. “However, now that I have read the full Mancer Prophecy, I understand his smile.”
“So why the smile, Shadow Killer?” asked Peter Hazelgrove.
“The sheer number of paradoxes.”
“What... what do you mean? It is fairly straightforward, is it not?” asked Andrew. “The Midnight Man will return. There will be some fighting and, when it is at its bleakest, a man of low standing will save the day.”
“That is a truly simplified version,” said Shadow Killer.
“I know; however those of the military branch of our cult search for this mysterious man.”
“Sorry, they what?” interrupted Shadow
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