The Chapel or Judge Eternity - Chapter 19 A

Anthon led the two horses into the cave mouth noting the broken mortar and stone which had sealed the place. A great stone had been set like a table over a pit that dropped into a crack in the living stone. The giant hobbled the horses far enough from the entrance to be out of the way, but clear of the yawning depths.

"Everything I've been taught is a lie isn't it?" Martin Luther asked.
"No not everything. Actually most things are true, there are just omissions. Even Aeratu couldn't weave such a tale as to have it accepted by everyone. And he doesn't have to. The Blood hides itself, we pretend to be what we are not because mankind is terrified of us, with good cause."

"When the blood first takes us it is impossible to resist the urge to kill and feed. With time some of us learn to suppress that urge, most choose not to, others have no hope. The stronger of us hunt down those who won't or can't control themselves.

"How do you get it? The Blood?"
"Some are born with it, some receive it from another. No one except maybe Aeratu really understands it. He can pass it on like he did with Wennal. Many find they are of the Blood when they are in the grave, those are the worse. They wake from death with a craving for flesh and blood."

"How did you overcome it?"
"I don't know, maybe when I slaughtered the Romans. Maybe I got my fill."
Anthon became quiet and stared out of the caves opening into the rain.
One of the horses nickered and sidled further away from the opening.
"They're coming aren't they?"
"Yes. I can see three on the tree line. They'll have to cross the open ground to get here."
"Can you defeat them?"
"I'm not sure. If they rushed in I would say 'Yes', but they are waiting together and that means that they are planning together, which worries me."

Martin Luther checked the crossbow. The drawstring seemed tight, but, it was wet so it may have lost it's pull.
Anthon looked sideways at Martin Luther, "Don't rely on that, use the katzbalger."
The young monk drew the short sword. "I don't know how to use this, I've never been trained."
"You'll do fine, you did fine before, just cut at the head that's all you need to know."
Martin Luther didn't feel the confidence he heard in the knights voice.
"What if they come in low?"
"Then cut low."

The young man waited for more instruction and when it didn't come he asked "What if they rush in fast?"
"Then cut them fast."
"You're not helping!"
Anton turned sideways so he could dived his attention between the shadowy figures in the tree line and Martin Luther who sounded as if he was about to bolt, his fear was spreading to the horses.

"Look Martin there are no answers for your questions, there is nothing that I can tell you that will help you except cut with the sword. If I were training you I would have you practice specific cuts over and over until your movements became sure and smooth."

One of the figures in the rain moved into the open and Anthon snapped his head around to stair at it, it faded back under the trees.
"Just cut at your target until it can't move, that's all you need to know. There is no retreat, there is no surrender. There's nowhere to go and if you surrender you will be eaten."
From Martin Luther's wide stare Anton knew he had pushed too far.

"You beat two before, and without my advice, the only thing you are doing now is confusing yourself."
The terror in the monks heart suddenly became centered, "I'm not as brave as you."
"I'm not brave boy; I'm pushed into a corner by fate. I would run if I could, but I would only come to an end somewhere else."

Anthons words were deep and slow, "I could say the same about myself." Martin Luther observed.
"We can all say that, from the moment we're born we are hunted by our death, some are found in their bed, some in the plowed field, some on the war field. The only thing I can tell you is that when you fight you have a chance. Let me see that crossbow."
Martin Luther handed Anthon the loaded crossbow. The giant gentled his horse and laid the stock across its back.

"There's one out there that is a little too brave, I doubt this will kill it, but one never knows." Anthon breathed out slow and then squeezed the trigger lever. There was a slap as the string picked up the bolt followed by a deep bass thrum as the string vibrated on the prod. A moment later there was a howl of rage and pain from far closer to the cave then Martin Luther liked.
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Arloch who had shuffled forward silently froze as he heard the cross bow being quickly cocked and returned to the mortal. His moment would come but it was not yet time. He must wait for the others to strike and then while the giant immortal was distracted he would take the boy, when the others struck and after they were all weakened he would devour them all.