Beaufort stood frozen in place, staring at Black with a shocked expression. Black stood casually, his weight on one foot, wearing a slight smirk at Beaufort’s expression. John stood aside, glancing between the two, unsure of how he was supposed to respond. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZXQLKt4Lz
After a moment, Beaufort seemed to shake himself out of the daze he had been in, and his eyes travelled from Black’s face to the weapon he had drawn. “You’re not of the Fraternity, are you?” he said coolly. A strange fire burnt in his brown eyes.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4gWnJBEFG
“I doubt I would kill you if I were,” Black replied.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA2ZtFmbn7
Beaufort put his hand on his own weapon. “How did you know the correct reply earlier? The brothers are loyal to their cause; they would rather have died then reveal the secret.” He scowled. “Or perhaps you yourself are a traitor to the cause; tell me, were you ever a member?”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzbGFeYjeJ
“For someone as experienced in lies and secrets as you,” Black remarked, “You place a lot of trust in those fools following you. Do you really think they are all so devoted to the cause? A threat to their own life, or that of a loved one, can shake the conviction of the strongest man among you.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8zd6ghCWv
At this, Beaufort pulled out his sword, pointing it towards Black. “You may say that,” he snarled, “but I can prove to you by my actions tonight that I fear not for my own life so much as to betray the cause. In fact, I am rather pleased more than unsettled that you revealed yourself tonight -- the sooner I can beat this arrogance out of you.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx7AmFrV5D
If Black had any reaction to the sword pointed towards him, he certainly did not show it. “Beware of overestimating your own abilities, Lord Beaufort, and pay mind to your imperfections when you seek to avert the certain blow of Fate. Once I begin, there will be no escape. I suggest you retreat now, before it is too late.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NJXR9m9Yz
“What would be the point of that?” Said Beaufort. “Were I to flee, it would not do anything to change your mind, would it? It would be nothing if not dishonorable. And I hold no fear of you and your clumsy stick, sir -- my skills in the art of swordplay are far from lacking.” But despite his words, he gripped his sword tighter. Through gritted teeth he addressed John. “You’d best leave, Glass. It would be a shame for you to get hurt before you had a chance to progress our cause. Pray take a horse, and ride to the nearest Fraternity house. There you can inform them of this wolf in sheep’s clothing. When you return, you can help me dispose of his useless corpse.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k6NNAEp45
“Do you not fear to be left alone?” Black asked, taunting him. “Surely the odds would be better for you if he remained to help in your intentions of defeating me.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwiUmEelB9
“You must think low of our order indeed,” replied Beaufort, “if you think I will not try to keep others out of harm’s way.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5nvoUMa04
“That is exactly why your cause is so weak -- your order so low,” Black sneered, “you are too timid to get your hands dirty -- too careful to protect others. We have no use of people such as you in the world we will make!”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXUB7z0uDu
“We?” questioned Beaufort, seizing upon the small amount of information the other had let slip, “Are you, then, from some rival group? I had thought you to be in the king’s service, but this, this is much worse. If we both work for the downfall of the monarchy, why cannot we lay aside our petty differences to work, together, for the same cause?”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlw4G9I3RU
“That, my dear Beaufort, is another reason my kind cannot stand you. You think we will submit to your way of thinking -- to your binding ideals? You sidestep around the work of men, and cringe at the mere mention of bloodshed. Was this country founded by timid men (unfit to be called men!) who ran from battle, and avoided turmoil? No! It was risen by those who had no fear of crushing the weaker ones around them, in order to grow strong upon the blood of their victims.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbK2CGb71N
“Your Fraternity may as well dress its members in white petticoats and face powder, if they continue to skirt around the issues of what must be done to restore this country’s strength. Your respect for the fools of royal blood is idiocy. Blood is blood, be it descended from a legendary hero or no, and it spills just the same in either case. To kill injustice, the enforcers of injustice must die.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGcWg76yUz
Beaufort was distracted by Black’s speech, and when Black took this opportunity to thrust his sword at him, he barely moved in time to block it. He glanced with a fierce look towards John, who was lingering still, listening to their exchange.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6khVQyiXgZ
“Glass!” he spat out. “Leave. Now.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2V8ddFMsP
John hesitated one more moment, then nodded and left through the door, not bothering to shut it as he ran towards the stables where the horses were tied. The rain blew wildly into the tavern, once again wetting the floor and throwing the two men’s hair about. A chair or two toppled over, and the lantern fell off the table, going dark as it smashed on the floor. The only lighting now was the occasional flash of lightning.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKrcJV0Yz9
Beaufort shifted his weight nervously, glancing about in the darkness. A deep tremor shook the building as the splitting sounds of thunder roared in the sky. He could hear nothing -- no footsteps, no breathing, as the sound filled his ears.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxhkn1RZvE
Suddenly a spear of lightning struck from the clouds, and in the space of a second Black’s face appeared in his view. A few swift strokes were given on either end; all were just as quickly parried. The lightning stopped, and all was dark again. Beaufort stepped softly backwards from the place where he had seen Black, as thunder filled the air once again. He did not want to risk being too close when the next stroke was aimed.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpog5aP4lJ
Another flash. Again the clang of swords clashing was heard, though this time, Beaufort gave a cry of pain as his arm was cut. Blackness once more. Again and again it played out; blindness stretched on, and in a sudden moment of light Black’s face appeared, almost inhuman in the strobing light. Sometimes a wound was dealt, sometimes not. On and on the deadly dance continued, until Beaufort stumbled over a chair. 603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k1nwCukD6
Panting, he regained his balance, and stood anticipating his opponent’s next attack. As soon as the next bolt struck, he would --603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2vEbJC44n
“Lord Beaufort,” a laughing voice said from somewhere to his side, you should know why I chose “Black” as my name.” Beaufort slashed out in the direction of a voice, but his sword was blocked. “You could say,” the voice continued, “that is because--” it was cut off as Beaufort waved his sword about desperately in the dark. Not a single thrust hit the desired mark.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yJsnNwumC
“As I was saying,” the voice went on, “It could be because my soul and conscience are so dark.” A laugh. “Or it could be my hair. However, I chose the name for a much better reason than any already mentioned.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHeAJaBLQm
Beaufort started as something knocked against his sword with such force that it went flying out of his hand. As lightning shot from the clouds once more, he saw Black standing inches from him, a cool smirk on his face, and a shadow thrown across his eyes. Darkness resumed, and the earth seemed to shake. But it was not thunder that shook Beaufort’s heart as Black attacked from his left, throwing him against the ground, and pinning him there.603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHtIy6offQ
“I chose the name,” Black said, “because I work best in the darkness.”603Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna2lKH4H9t
And he plunged the sword into Beaufort’s heart.
