Evil within the Ice
Hello True Believers here on Minds, Animeman73 here. It’s time for another edition of the #IBASwordtember challenge.
I can’t state often enough how much I love Inessa Burnell's challenge. It helps light the fire of my writing skills. And today’s word/subject: Cold, is no exception.
Let’s take a trip into a realm of fantasy and magic. Let the vignette begin.
The cold mountain winds of the blizzard whipped through the town of Walker’s Pass. The small fortified town was quiet tonight due to the bad weather. Many had already gone home or were heading towards the eastern end of town.
Two wool clad town guards strolled towards the East end. One was Gavin Merick. While only of twenty seasons, he had already shown himself a capable town guard since his arrival a year ago. With him was his partner and mentor Benson Malloy.
“Gods,” Gavin commented. “It’s cold enough to take one’s breath away.”
“Aye, but you know we’d never miss stew night at the inn. Especially not on a cold night as this.” Benson joked.
The two headed up the street. “Well, the one good thing about this blizzard, it means the local rabble rousers won’t be up to their usual mischief.” Gavin noted.
“A small blessing for us.” Benson retorted.
Up ahead, stood a large three-story building that was the Snowpeak Inn, and relief from the cold. “Tis a good thing our duties ended an hour ago.” Benson noted.
But as they approached the Inn, Gavin stopped. A strange tingling sensation he’d been feeling all day started to grow stronger.
Benson did not fail to notice. “What’s the matter lad, I thought you’d be eager for the Morristhat’s cooking."
Gavin looked around. “Benson, I’m having that odd feeling again, that tingling sensation.”
“Some of those strange abilities you inherited because of your mom being a sorceress?” the older guard asked.
Gavin nodded. The older guard thought for a moment. “We should investigate to be safe. The last time you felt that, we ended up finding that magical artifact. Those guys from the Mages Academy in Varsheth sure wanted it.”
Gavin shivered. “I don’t know why, but something feels different about this sensation.”
“How do you mean?” The older guard inquired.
“Well, I realize this will sound foreboding, but I’m getting a sensation colder than any blizzard chill.”
“That does sound ominous.” The guard observed. “Still, we need to look into this, even if we are off duty."
Gavin nodded as the two drew their swords. Their slow dash took them to the back of the Inn.
At first all they saw were the oak fencing for the inn, and the rock.
That strange rock had been there since the Inn’s construction. And Gavin had always felt a creepy feeling around it. Tonight, that eerie feeling was very strong.
Gavin gasped as he covered his eyes. A blinding white-hot burst of pain exploded in his mind. “Gavin are you all ri…” Benson began.
The young guard cleared his eyes and saw what Benson did.
The rock transformed right in front of them from stone to ice.
What caught them even more was the sword that protruded from the rock. The blade glowed with an eerie white light.
There's something evil about that sword, The younger guard thought.
Indeed, something about this sword made him want to run, run as far away from here as he could get.
“I have a very bad feeling about this sword.” Gavin managed to mutter; his voice shaky
“I agree,” Benson added. “Jerrod and Clarissa will be needing to answer some questions."
“Let’s head inside, the stew will have to wait.” Gavin noted.
“Agreed.” Benson added.
Swordtember story #3