A/N: This is the first in a series of short vignette fics, ranging
from 500-1000 words, that are meant to stand alone. I'm primarily doing
these to experiment with narrative technique, and to fulfill my desire to
write fanfic without cutting into the time for my other writing.
The Black Knight glared across the carnage, focused on a tiny figure across the field. Only he remained, in the sea of carcasses. The boy held his gaze, eyes bright with hatred. He held a short blade in his hands, a middling weapon, really. More a toy than an implement of war.
"Run away," he commanded.
The boy said nothing.
"I've killed children before," the Knight warned. "I will do so again."
Still nothing.
The boy answered by charging across the field, sword at the ready. The Black Knight stepped to one side and tripped him as he passed. The boy fell to the ground in a heap.
"Pathetic. You show no more skill than the rest of your ilk. Show me something more!"
The boy rose to his feet, sword at his side. He took only one step, then swung the blade with all his might. The blow bounced off the Black Knight's armor, prompting a chuckle.
"Wonderful! Give me your anger!"
The boy swung again, this time causing a scuff on the armor.
"More! MORE!"
Another attack still did nothing more than mar the appearance of the armor. The next strike, the Black Knight caught in one gauntlet. He squeezed, and the blade shattered. He pushed the boy to the ground, pointed one blade at him.
"You wish to kill me?"
Nothing, only the boy's unrelenting stare. Not a hint of fear, only hatred.
The Black Knight pushed the tip into the boy's throat, just short of piercing the skin. "Answer me! Do you want to kill me, whelp?"
The boy didn't flinch. "Yes."
"A challenge, then." He pulled the sword back, then offered one of his own blades. "This will suffice. Land one blow, and I spare your life."
The boy took the sword. "I will kill you this time."
"Then try."
He swung the blade again, and the Black Knight blocked with his own sword. Another strike, and he dodged, the blade burying into the ground beside him. The boy strained to free the sword.
"I still breathe." The Black Knight sneered. "Try again."
Finally, the blade pulled free, and he tried another wild swing. The Black Knight jumped back, chuckling. He parried the next few swings, almost knocking his opponent off balance. Still, the boy refused to back down, aiming new attacks with each failed attempt.
Then it happened. As he jumped back, he felt the edge of the blade rake across his cheek, leaving a thin red line behind. He grinned. With one hard strike, he forced the blade from the boy's hands, then kicked him to the ground.
"Kill me, coward." He spat on the Knight's sword.
"I vowed not to," he whispered. "I have not seen such spirit in many years. Perhaps, in time, you might fulfill your promise."
"I will hunt you down, like the beast you are, and I will take your life."
"An intriguing offer. But I'm afraid I must give you something to remember that vow."
The boy screamed at last, as the sword's tip plunged into his eye. He writhed in pain and the Black Knight smirked, picking up his missing sword.
"Stand up, boy." The boy held one hand over the wound, still on his knees. The Black Knight's smirk disappeared into a fierce scowl. "I said, stand up!"
The boy slowly rose to his feet, crimson staining his long blonde hair.
The Black Knight walked over to him, and held out the sword. "Learn to use this blade before we next meet. Many ages have passed since I experienced a challenge. Perhaps you can provide that. But, before I go, I will have your name."
The boy took the sword, his remaining eye not leaving his opponent as he gave his answer.
"Yuber."
The Black Knight glared across the carnage, focused on a tiny figure across the field. Only he remained, in the sea of carcasses. The boy held his gaze, eyes bright with hatred. He held a short blade in his hands, a middling weapon, really. More a toy than an implement of war.
"Run away," he commanded.
The boy said nothing.
"I've killed children before," the Knight warned. "I will do so again."
Still nothing.
The boy answered by charging across the field, sword at the ready. The Black Knight stepped to one side and tripped him as he passed. The boy fell to the ground in a heap.
"Pathetic. You show no more skill than the rest of your ilk. Show me something more!"
The boy rose to his feet, sword at his side. He took only one step, then swung the blade with all his might. The blow bounced off the Black Knight's armor, prompting a chuckle.
"Wonderful! Give me your anger!"
The boy swung again, this time causing a scuff on the armor.
"More! MORE!"
Another attack still did nothing more than mar the appearance of the armor. The next strike, the Black Knight caught in one gauntlet. He squeezed, and the blade shattered. He pushed the boy to the ground, pointed one blade at him.
"You wish to kill me?"
Nothing, only the boy's unrelenting stare. Not a hint of fear, only hatred.
The Black Knight pushed the tip into the boy's throat, just short of piercing the skin. "Answer me! Do you want to kill me, whelp?"
The boy didn't flinch. "Yes."
"A challenge, then." He pulled the sword back, then offered one of his own blades. "This will suffice. Land one blow, and I spare your life."
The boy took the sword. "I will kill you this time."
"Then try."
He swung the blade again, and the Black Knight blocked with his own sword. Another strike, and he dodged, the blade burying into the ground beside him. The boy strained to free the sword.
"I still breathe." The Black Knight sneered. "Try again."
Finally, the blade pulled free, and he tried another wild swing. The Black Knight jumped back, chuckling. He parried the next few swings, almost knocking his opponent off balance. Still, the boy refused to back down, aiming new attacks with each failed attempt.
Then it happened. As he jumped back, he felt the edge of the blade rake across his cheek, leaving a thin red line behind. He grinned. With one hard strike, he forced the blade from the boy's hands, then kicked him to the ground.
"Kill me, coward." He spat on the Knight's sword.
"I vowed not to," he whispered. "I have not seen such spirit in many years. Perhaps, in time, you might fulfill your promise."
"I will hunt you down, like the beast you are, and I will take your life."
"An intriguing offer. But I'm afraid I must give you something to remember that vow."
The boy screamed at last, as the sword's tip plunged into his eye. He writhed in pain and the Black Knight smirked, picking up his missing sword.
"Stand up, boy." The boy held one hand over the wound, still on his knees. The Black Knight's smirk disappeared into a fierce scowl. "I said, stand up!"
The boy slowly rose to his feet, crimson staining his long blonde hair.
The Black Knight walked over to him, and held out the sword. "Learn to use this blade before we next meet. Many ages have passed since I experienced a challenge. Perhaps you can provide that. But, before I go, I will have your name."
The boy took the sword, his remaining eye not leaving his opponent as he gave his answer.
"Yuber."