Nine: The Battle

Ethan wakes up to begin the fight.

The shout of an unfamiliar voice would stir anyone to full attention, and it worked for Ethan. His eyes snapped open as the shriek of anger thundered around him. His face was against the dirt, and he felt like his skin was on fire. He launched himself up, and braced his footing to face whomever it was screaming at him. He felt his heart sink into his stomach as his eyes finally made contact with the being.

"HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET IN HERE?!" The cloaked figure screamed. 

"I have no idea, Rider," Ethan responded honestly. 

Indeed, before Ethan stood the man that attacked him on the road. Yet, it was increasingly clear that it was now he who was infringing on this man’s privacy. He looked around quickly, hoping to get some sort of idea of what was happening.

The tent was a decent size, enough to house a bed, a large table, and a continuous wardrobe of black cloaks. The room itself was dimly lit by different torches, glowing in various shades of oranges and yellows. Everything around him seemed… loud. The walls of the tent were shaking, surely from some wind storm. He could hear shouts in the distance, and thought for a moment he must be in a camp.

“Where have you been? Everyone assumed you had found a way to go home,” the man said, turning to a table covered in an array of maps and scrolls.

“What do you mean?” Ethan asked.

“Abraham took you to the tree, and you disappeared. What did you find, child?” The man said, shuffling through the paperwork.

Ethan thought for a moment. His memory seemed to have stopped once he touched the sword. Where was the sword? He had no idea how he got here, and what happened to the weapon. Before he could think, everything changed.

Rider spun around with a sword of his own in his hand. He rushed Ethan with it raised above him and swung it down hard. Instinctually, Ethan raised his hand up to attempt to block the blow. He was instead shocked to find his sword stop the movement of Riders hit, and a feeling of understanding wash through him.

Beyond understanding, it was… power. He knew this sword, and he knew how to use it. Rider and Ethan leaned into the force of the two weapons crushed together. Rider's face was twisted in shock and anger, while Ethan grit his teeth in determination. He pushed back against Rider, forcing him away from them.