chapter 4 - in conclusion
31
DEC/21
For everyone else it seemed like as soon as they grasped each other the tattoos on Walder came to life. But that was for everyone else, for David and Walder seconds seemed like hours.
They didn’t speak for a while, just looked at each other. The obvious question was never asked, somehow it wasn’t necessary. At a certain level both of them knew that they couldn’t be in Dragon’s Bane at the same time.
Eventually Walder spoke. “So, that’s it, I’m out? I wasted two wishes to get here and now I’m gone? That seems kind of lame.”
“Well, we don’t normally get raised from the dead, kind of special circumstances. Sorry about that, but…”
“What if I don’t want out? What if I say it’s you who are out?” Walder said menacingly.
They stared at each other very seriously for a moment. In each of their minds the same vision of this ending played itself out. Walder was fast, oh so fast. His rapier drawn with his free hand and stabbing toward David faster than a cat’s paw, too fast to see. Every ability, every feat, every talent made for this exact moment. In a nanosecond David would have 2 feet of thin steel poking through his chest and out his back, piercing his heart along the way. But it wasn’t enough. “You may be fast Walder, but I’m still way ahead of you.” David spoke calmly, mercilessly as his eyes turned from blue to all black and his psionic powers raged. The tip of the rapier was the first thing effected. Instead of piercing David’s skin it instead flowed directly into David, turning into an almost liquid type substance as it spread across David’s chest and was absorbed into his skin. The more Walder pushed the blade toward David the more the blade dispersed. In a moment it was gone, followed by Walder’s hand, then arm. Walder’s entire body was pulled into David as he was assimilated. “Resistance, as they say, is futile.” David laughed a little and then glanced at his back. He smiled in satisfaction.
And then the vision was gone and the two men were still standing face to face, right hands still clasped together.
Walder was shaken by the vision. His knees trembled and he looked down in defeat. He saw the tattoos move from himself to David. He looked at David who surprisingly had an expression of sympathy. “It does suck though, about those wishes. May the gods be kind to you Walder, goodbye.”
Walder tried to respond but nothing came. Everything seemed to fade away except green and blue light.
“Am I dying?” He wondered.
And then….vomit, oh so much vomit. Walder had fallen from his seat at the bar and was on his knees, expelling the alcohol so recently consumed. Nalla came from around the counter and knelt next to him.
“Oh my goodness,” she exclaimed. She recoiled from the sight and stench.
Walder looked up at Nalla, vomit dripping down his chin.
“Gross!” One of the patrons exclaimed. “Clean yourself.” He said as he threw a balled piece of fabric at Walder. He tried to grab it out of the air but missed and it fell at his feet. As it did so it opened a little and Walder could see writing on it. He picked it up and opened it fully. It was a short sleeved shirt, pull over with no buttons. He glanced at the writing.
I used 2 wishes, time travelled, jumped story lines and all I got was this lousy T- Shirt.