The ogre laughed saying, "Already you are defeated little insect. You should have come back tomorrow and at least experienced one more pathetic day of life." Rashan stood up shaking his head somewhat unsteadily, "You surprised me ogre, it won't happen again. And my name is Rashan, not little insect. You should know the name of your slayer." The ogre looked disappointed that Rashan was still alive but he hefted his club and ran at Rashan roaring. He brought the mighty weapon down where Rashan had been standing but he had not only leapt out the way but he had left a deep slash in the ogre's leg with his sword. So first blood was Rashan's.
The battle raged back and forth with the ogre swinging at Rashan with his
club and Rashan leaping out of the way. Rashan left many a scratch on the
ogre's body but it didn't look like the monster was weakening. Finally with
a mighty leap Rashan got high enough to cut the ogre's head off with one
might blow of his sword. The head landed on the ground with a might thud
and Rashan landed beyond the ogre's body waving his sword exulting in his
triumph. He was stopped short when the ogre laughed. Rashan turned around
in disbelief to face his foe and was startled to be addressed by his
opponent. "Fool, you think you have defeated me? Look again for I have
another head." And out popped a second head from the ogre's bloody trunk.
"No matter ogre I still have my sword." And so again battle was engaged.
The ogre flailed again at Rashan, trying to strike him and every time he missed. This was good for if he had struck Rashan that would have been the end of him. Again and again the ogre swung at him and finally Rashan got close enough to strike again. Swish, once more head and ogre parted ways. Rashan stopped to catch his breath and was appalled to see the ogre turn to face him as yet headless. From inside the trunk its voice spoke, "Fool, I have as yet another head." Rashan shook his head, "Let us battle then for I still have my sword." Out popped the ogre's head and again they battled.
A third head was severed, then a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth. So that the floor of the cavern was littered with ogre's heads and blood. Finally as Rashan was reaching the limits of his strength a mighty blow severed the seventh head from the ogre's body. The ogre let out an unnatural wail and both head and body fell to the floor. Rashan stood panting, not letting down his guard, waiting for the beast to stand once more. He waited and managed to catch his breath as the ogre lay there not moving. Finally he cautiously approached the dead beast and poked it with his sword. No reaction, finally the beast was slain. He set to his bloody work of cutting the beast's heart out. As he cut he heard a tiny voice speaking. At first fearing it was the ogre again he leapt back but then after listenting to the voice a while he realized that it was the ogre's heart addressing him. He crept forward and crouched down listenting to the voice. Finally he nodded and resumed his work.
Meanwhile the Spolite Queen paced and fretted. All the court avoided her for fear of losing their lives. her magic had proven useless to observe her son's actions so she was restricted to pacing. Finally a great cry went up from the watchers who had been set and she heard the news that Rashan had been sighted. She awaited him in the great courtyard at the heart of the castle. The great hippogriff swooped in for a landing and her son alit. Her heart sank as she saw him drenched in the ogre's blood. But it leapt up when she saw him smile wearily and lift a small pouch to the sky. "I have the heart," he said. At these words the floor of the courtyard cracked open to the screams of the court. Most of them fled leaving Rashan and the Queen almost alone to face the nameless monstrosity with which Rashan had made his bargain.
Cackling the creature held out its taloned paw for the heart. Rashan walked over and placed the pouch in its hand. The creature roared in triumph, laughing diabolically. "Now power is mine," it said clearly so Rashan could understand. It continued, "With this heart inside me I shall be made near invulnerable. If it does for me what it did for that pathetic ogre I shall rule the world!" The Spolite Queen blanched and cowered wailing. Only Rashan seemed unmoved by the demon's words. He smiled then suddenly leapt towards the demon. With one sudden blow he sliced the demon's hand off and the pouch fell to the ground. The demon roared in pain and shock and made to grab the heart with his other hand. It was quick but Rashan was quicker, he grabbed the bag, took out the heart and quickly swallowed it. "I promised to bring you the heart, monster," he said, "Not to let you keep it."
Suddenly a bright glow could be seen coming from within Rashan and it quickly grew so bright that the demon and the Queen were forced to avert their faces from the light. The demon reared to its full height and pointing its remaining hand at Rashan said, "We shall meet again mortal. You may be sure of that and you shall die then!" With that said there was a thunderclap and the monster disappeared. The glow within Rashan subsided enough so that it no longer pained his mother. He looked at her with pity in his heart and made her promise to let the alchemist go as she had promised. She glanced at him and said, "Why do you make me swear this oath? Will you not be here to see me do so?" He shook his head, "No, mother our paths diverge here. I can no longer shelter in the darkness. From now on I must stand in the light." Saying so he mounted his steed and sent it flying off into the sky.
The Queen kept her word and sent the alchemist on his way burdened down with gold and jewels. And what is it to us if he soon ended his days at the hands of some foul thieves who hadn't even sent after him by the Queen?
The End.
Oliver
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