Chapter 5
Old Enemies and New Friends

Time, in this world, has changed.  Seasons have come and seasons have gone.
Too numerous are the times that the tide has ebbed and flowed. It has been six years
since that dark night when Mathias died.  Six years since Samus learned of his heritage
and changed his name to Hearoh, forever taking on the responsibilities of a dead warrior
race.  Six years since Cerant set off to find a man he had never met before with two men
that shrouded themselves in mysteries.  Six years since a Janus lost his body to the
overwhelming powers of the newly born Sword Dancer.  Six years...

***

Jess was bored.  It was an ordinary day in her city, and she spent it as she did
almost every other day, in the countryside, looking at the clouds roll across the blue sky.
It was just an ordinary day.  She thought she saw a heart shaped cloud, and then a horse,
but she wasn�t really paying that much attention anymore.  She drifted along, laying on
her back, letting the cool spring breeze ease her to sleep.  Finally sleep came and she
dozed off.
An hour passed before she woke up again, she could have slept longer, but a song
bird woke her up.  She sat up, a little dazed,  and looked out over the rolling hills that
covered her fathers land.  The deep green grass waved in the breeze making the fields
look like oceans of emerald.  She stood and stretched, and that�s when she saw
something.  Well, she thought she saw something.  She had a problem with letting her
imagination get the best of her.  She began to walk down towards whatever it was and
then decided to take a more stealthy approach and hid in some bushes and watched.
There was a boy, in his late teens maybe, laying in the field, napping as she was just
moments before.  He stood and looked around.  She was about to stand and yell out to
him, but he called out first.
�Spying on someone?�  He hailed to her.
She wanted to answer, but before she could he just disappeared.
�You�ll have to be better than that.�  
She turn to her left, where the voice came from, but no one was there.
�Stand up, and I�ll show myself.�
So she did, but there was no one.
�Here I am,� the voice said from behind her.
She turned and saw him.  A boy, a few years older than her, stood smiling at her.
His hair was stark white, but his skin was tanned dark.  There were no blemishes on his
skin, but he still looked weathered.
�Who are you?�  She asked, curious as to who could trick her so deftly.
�My name is Hearoh, what is yours?�  His voice was kind and soft, it sounded like
a song when he spoke.
�Jess.  Why are you on my fathers land?�
�I�m sorry, I didn�t know that this land was owned.�  Hearoh replied genuinely.
�Yes, that is why I was �spying� on you, because you are a trespasser.�
�Again, I apologize, I just saw a beautiful field and I thought I might take a rest,
I�ll be getting home now.�  Hearoh turned and began to walk away.  Jess noticed duel
broad swords crossing his back, and that he carried a small staff, although he didn�t walk
with a limp.
Jess was intrigued with the stranger, �Do you live in town?� she asked.  �I could
walk you two your house.�
�No.�  She should have realized this by the fact that he wasn�t walking in the
direction of town, he was headed to the woods.
�Where then, it can be easy to get lost out here with no land markings to guide
yourself by.�  She was desperate now, wanting to know more of who he was, something
to ease the boredom of the day.
�If you are that curious, I live in the forest, would you like come along?�  Hearoh
answered.
Jess hadn�t expected that, but it didn�t stop her, �Yes, please, I always like to
meet new people.�
�Then follow me.�

***

For six years Cerant had led two men around, never knowing where exactly to go,
and not having any idea how much longer it would be before he found the man he was
looking for, Hearoh.  That was the name that Jarib and Karib had given him.  He had
never met this man, nor even heard of him.  He was truly lost.  Six years of his life spent
roaming the earth, until now, finally they were getting somewhere.  For the last two
weeks they had been following someone calling himself Hearoh, always a step behind,
but now it seemed he would finally stop and call a place home, at least long enough for
them to catch up.  The town of March was the last place they had seen him, and a few
townsfolk said that he was questioning the ownership of the forest outside of town.
Cerant stopped in the bar while Jarib and Karib searched the town more.  They
long ago gave up the thought of passiveness in this quest.  They were now active
participants, questioning people hoping to get on with their lives soon.  They never told
him who they were working for or why they were looking for Hearoh, they were very
secretive about anything having to do with themselves.  The only thing that Cerant really
knew about them, besides their names, was that they were excellent swordsmen.  They
had pulled him out of many scraps with drunks and jerks.  And on the other hand he had
become a much better fighter as well.
Now it seemed that they might finally be at the end of their journey.  They might
actually find this Hearoh guy and be able to move on from this task.  The two walked into
the bar as calm as they always are.  
Walking up to Cerant they began to speak, �His is definitely living in the forest.
We should head there immediately,� Jarib said.
�Yes, the sooner the better,� Karib piped up.
�Agreed, I am getting tired of being around you two,� Cerant was brutally honest
now, he no longer cared what they thought of him, he was sick of having the follow him.
They set off from the bar as soon as Cerant was finished with his ale.

***

It had been six years since Jarroh sent a lower demon after what was left of Janus�
corpse when he caught wind of his protege�s death.  He brought him back to the Tower of
the Beast where he was reprimanded again and this time stripped, temporarily, of his
powers.  For six years he had been alone, in the pit at the bottom of his masters tower.
But today he was promised release, he was given a second chance.
�Are you ready to be released Jarroh?�  A sinister voice came from above.  It was
the Beast.
�Yes, master, please forgive me.�
The fiend whispered a few ancient words and then walked away.  Almost
instantly Jarroh felt power return to his body.  His magical energy had been restored.  He
levitated to the top of his cell where the only way out was.  Through the door he finally
was able to breath fresh air and see the natural light of day, although it was masked by
clouds of sulfur.
�I have released you on one condition today, do you remember what that is,
Jarroh?�  The beast asked him.
�Yes, you have an opponent for me.  If I defeat him, I regain my freedom, if I
don�t I loose my life.�  Jarroh was rusty with his powers, but he was confidant that he
could defeat anyone who stood in his way.
�Very good, I would like you to meet him.�  The beast motioned to the shadows
where a black figure stepped out of the darkness.  All that could be seen was a coat
moving across the floor.
�Hello, Jarroh, a pleasure,� the voice of the cloak hissed.
�The same to you,� Jarroh was curious to see who it was underneath the guise.
�You may begin,� the beast spoke as he sat down in his thrown.
�Good, let�s first see who is underneath that robe.�  Jarroh said as he summoned a
wind that blew the cloak from the man.  What he saw as shocking.  A jagged shadow,
barely resembling a human.  Then it did something very unexpected.  As if it were hurt,
in unimaginable pain, it screamed a blood curdling howl that filled the tower.  Jarroh fell
to the ground.  Dead.
The shadow walked over to the body and leaned down.  It opened a hole that
could have been a mouth and began to inhale air.  Very soon a black cloud came from
Jarroh�s body and entered the shadow.  He stood and turned to the beast.
�Very good, thief of souls, I give you the choice,� the beast started, �Your old
body or his.�
�Why would I choose the body of one so weak?�
�Very well, here is your old figure,� a blanketed body appeared on the floor.  The
shadow walked over to it and flew into it through the sheet.  It stood and turned with a
smile.  Janus was reborn.
�But, I have always liked this cloak,� Janus said as he took the cloak from
Jarroh�s body.

***

Hearoh and Jess walked through the lush forest the covered the edge of her
father�s land.  There was a life about the forest that she always loved.  It was so vibrant
and it seemed to teem with an aura of peace and tranquillity.  The light from the sun shot
through the branches in a race to reach the forest floor.  The sounds of the animals of the
forest sounded like a symphony, reaching into the skies to rejoice that they were chosen
to see another day.  Exposed roots and small plants covered the woodland floor, giving
no indication of a path to wherever they were going.
�How can you tell where you are going?  There isn�t a path here,� Jess wondered
aloud
�I can�t explain it, I just walk, and I always seem to find my way back here.�
�Oh, that�s strange.  You must have the blood of the Messenger Bird in your
blood,� she smiled as she said it.
�Maybe.� Hearoh said, not really giving much thought to the ramblings of a
stranger.
They crossed a small stream and came to an clear path.  It led them both to a
small hut.
�We are here.  It isn�t much, but if you would like to come in you are welcome.�
Hearoh said, he turned to Jess and waited for a response.
�I would love to,� she said.  Maybe her day wouldn�t be so ordinary after all.
As she spoke Hearoh saw a shadow from the forest moved above them, then
another followed.  Behind him, someone stepped out of his house.
�You are Hearoh, I presume?� The shape from the house spoke.
�I am.  May I have your name, stranger?�
�I am Karib.�
�And your friends in the forest?�
�You needn�t worry with them.  I will kill you before you have an opportunity to
meet them.�  Karib drew his scimitars and entered an offensive stance.
�Your words are heavy, as are your swords.  Are you sure one of your age can
carry with them the power and skill to back them up?�
�You will have to wait and see.�
Hearoh silently handed his staff to Jess and pointed to an area for her to hide in
while he fought.  She obeyed.  He drew his broad swords and let the fall to the ground in
a switch hold.  He walked closer to Karib, letting his swords drag the ground behind him.  
Karib dashed at him both swords arched and poised to strike.  Hearoh flipped one
of his around in his hand and brought it up to block.  As the swords clashed he swung the
other at the midsection of his assailant.  Karib jumped back from the attack and readied
again for another.  First he showed off his mastery by spinning his blades around faster
than could be seen.  The whir of the metal slicing the air was all that said that the blades
were even there.  Karib started to spin and flip moving closer to Hearoh.  The blades
never stopped turning, the whirring never ceasing.
�Now you see what a true sword dancer is capable of.  Speed is only one part of
it, you must have the skill to accompany it,� Karib gloated.
�That is all well and good, but you cannot attack that which you cannot catch.�
With those words Hearoh slammed the blades of both of his swords into the ground.  He
walked towards Karib, the blades began to spin faster, creating a high pitched whistle.
The suddenly they stopped.  Karib was stunned at what came next.  Looking at the blades
he saw that Hearoh had grabbed both of them from the blunt edge and held them.  Then
in a display of raw power he snatched them from Karib and threw them into the air.
They both landed at Hearoh�s side.
�So, you are truly the successor of Mathias,� Karib said in reverence.
�Who?� Hearoh asked.  He had never heard that name before.
�So, it is also true that you remember nothing.  That is good.�  He nodded to
someone behind Hearoh.  There was a whistle and then an arrow passed right by Jess.  It
flew towards Hearoh but it just passed through him.  Karib caught it millimeters from his
face.
�Your arrows cannot hurt me, you should know that.�
�Very well, Jarib, Cerant, come, we shall kill him together.�
The two men came from the forest with weapons drawn.  Hearoh picked up his
two broad swords again and left the scimitars for Karib.  All three men attacked at once.
Suddenly the forest was filled with the sound of metal striking metal.  Sparks flew from
their weapons as blows were parried left and right.  Hearoh was able to escape most of
the attacks, but it was beginning taking its toll on him.  Just as he felt ready to give in
help came.
A huge lumbering man came from behind the house.  �Hearoh, are you OK?  I
heard something that sounded like fighting, so I came as fast as I could.�  The man spoke.
�Yeah, I�m OK Dmitri, but if you wanted to lend a hand I wouldn�t refuse.�
�No problem.�  The brute kneeled to the ground and covered his face.  A black
orb covered him and then expanded all the while the fighting had stopped as the men al
looked towards the display.  When the sphere dissipated a snarling dragon stood in it�s
place.
�Hmm, your a dragon, huh?�  Hearoh said while blocking, he was pleasantly
suprised.
�Yes, I would have told you earlier, but it�s such a hard topic to bring up.�
Dmitri�s voice was inside of Hearoh�s head.
�Well, at least your aren�t a newt, or some other useless creature.�  Hearoh
snickered between blows.
�Yes, I knew a newt once, very rude creatures, didn�t invite me in for dinner.�
Dmitri said again inside of Hearoh�s head.
�You�ll have to tell about them sometime.�  Hearoh continued to dodge and roll.
The three attackers stopped and backed off.  �We can�t take a dragon and a sword
dancer, we should retreat,� Karib said.
�Yes master, a retreat is needed.�  As he said that they turned and began to walk
back through the forest, to regroup.
�And what about me, what am I to do?�  Cerant called to the men.
They whispered among themselves for a minute and then turned.  �Oh yes, you,�
Jarib said.
�You can�t be allowed to live, you are too valuable to the Other,� Karib finished.
They both turned and began to spin their swords in crossing arches.
Yelling as they ran they both leapt into the air and fell towards Cerant.  Blades
outstretched, they aimed to kill.  There was a blur, a clanging of steel, and then it was all
over.  Four scimitars lay in pieces on the ground and Hearoh stood between Cerant and
his two assailants with broadswords crossed at his chest.  Cerant fell back, not from fatal
wounds but from sheer shock.  Jarib and Karib�s eyes both widened and their jaws
dropped.  Several back-flips later they were out of Hearoh�s view, fallen back to
reorganize.
A few seconds passed and Jess stood up from the brush where she had been
sitting watching the whole event.  She walked over to Hearoh, but Cerant was the first to
speak.
�First, I thank you.  I owe you my life.  But why did you save me?  I led them here
to kill you.�  Cerant was confused, they only people that had ever shown him love were
his men.  
�No one deserves to be stabbed in the back, besides, it was two against one, those
are terrible odds.�
�Again, I thank you.  I hope to repay the favor one day.�
�Don�t be in a rush to jump in front of swords for me, I am not worth it.�
�A man�s worth isn�t measured by himself, but those surrounding him.�
�I�ll tell you what.  I am on a quest, join me and consider your debt repaid.�
Hearoh offered his hand out to Cerant.
�Ha!  Another quest.  Well, anything�s better than having those jerks following
you around.  Consider me in.�  Cerant took his hand, sealing the pact.
�What are you looking for Hearoh?�  Jess asked.
�I�m looking for answers to my past.  I can�t remember anything past a few weeks
ago.  The only reason I have a name and a place to stay is because of Dmitri here.�  He
pointed back to the man leaning against the house.  �He found me unconscious out in a
field a week�s walk east from here.�
�Well, you fight with great strength, no one has taken on Jarib and Karib and
survived to my knowledge.�  Cerant said.
�I don�t think they were using all the power they could have.�
�Regardless, you are very skilled.  Have you thought of enlisting?�  Jess
questioned, hoping she would pique his interest.
�Enlisting?�  It worked.
�Yeah, in The People�s Army of Liberation, March Chapter.�
�That�s a bit too much for me, I have enough of my own problems, the last thing I
need is a political war.�
�That�s too bad, but would you at least come to town tonight for the Feast and
Meeting, maybe it will change your mind.  You will be my honored guest.  Dmitri and
Cerant, you can come too.�
�I don�t see any harm in free food Hearoh, I haven�t had a decent meal in several
years,� Cerant chimed in.
�Yes, we are running short of supplies here, Hearoh, we need to go to town,
anyway,� The voice of reason, Dmitri, said.
�Well, it�s two to one, I guess I�m in too,� Hearoh conceded.
�Then it�s settled, do want to follow me there, or come later,� Jess said, with a
pleased grin on her face.
�Well, if Dmitri says that we need supplies we might as well go now, while it is
still daylight,�  Hearoh said.  �Lead the way.�
The newly formed group set out for the village of March.