Demon Hunter
Chapter 2
Ogres? You Didn’t say Anything About Ogres!
By Lord Chaos (Josh Miller)

Sabin rode a ways in front of Kalthor. The priest was being more company than the hunter desired. They had been traveling for two days through the forest and the priest had insisted on singing and telling stories and trying to entertain Sabin the whole way.

"Excuse me, Kalthor."

The priest speed up his horse a bit to catch up with the hunter. "Yes sir? Is there something I can do for you?" asked the priest anxious to win the favor of Sabin as a traveling partner. "Another song perhaps?

"No, no please. Actually I was wondering, since you insist on talking incessantly, if you could enlighten me on the area."

"Sir?"

"I am looking for a man, could you tell me about any towns in the area? Maybe a castle? What kind of creatures are around."

"Oh certainly. I have traveled around this area before. I’m sorry to say there’s not much else in the area besides the town we came from. I believe there may be an old tower in the mountains farther east of here. There’s nothing living here besides the regular forest wild life, birds, deer, rabbits."

"What a dull area. Why would he come here," said Sabin quietly to himself.

"What was that sir?" asked Kalthor.

"Oh, nothing. Let’s make camp here for the night."

"Oh let’s are you implying we’re traveling partners now?"

Sabin stepped down from his horse. "Would you keep going if I stopped?"

"Well, I might but it would seem more logical to camp near each other. It would save us the effort of building two fires and.."

Sabin cut him off, "Save it. I’ve heard the story already."

Kalthor was down now and picking up a few sticks from the side of the path. "Do you want to take first watch or should I?"

"Don’t bother. You said there’s nothing dangerous in this forest, we should just get some rest."

Later that evening Sabin and Kalthor were sitting by a small fire. Sabin was polishing his katana and Kalthor was paging through a book.

"What is it that’s bothering you sir?" asked Kalthor.

"Nothing."

"Come on, who is this person you’re searching for so desperately?"

Sabin paused for a moment, staring into the fire.

"I’m sorry sir, I didn’t mean to intrude, your business is your business," said Kalthor.

"He’s a summoner. One who can control the evil spirits of the netherworld. That crystal you found is what he used to hold the spirit. Then he uses his magic to give the spirit a form," said Sabin finally.

"I see. Pardon me again sir, I realize you are a demon hunter and this man is a summoner but there seems to be something else driving you."

Sabin stared at the fire again. "He destroyed my home town. Every one I knew, their families," Sabin paused again, "My family. my parents, my brother………my love."

"I’m sorry, sir," said Kalthor.

"No, I don’t need your pity. I was gone at the time. I had gone away with my mentor to train. The summoner raided the village. His minions took everything of value and burned it to the ground. Everyone was killed. Their bodies were just left there, some of them had had the flesh stripped from their bodies," Sabin paused. "If only we had been there. They would have had a chance. My mentor was the only real warrior in the village." Sabin stabbed his sword into the ground.

Kalthor started to say something but stopped. They both sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Kalthor?" started Sabin.

"Yes sir?"

"Why is it you always call me sir?" asked Sabin.

"It just seems appropriate for someone of your skill. I mean you are a demon hunter, a professional warrior and I am only a priest who can cast a few white magic spells."

Sabin lay down on the ground and closed his eyes. "Kalthor?"

"Yes sir?"

"Why don’t you sing me a tune to help me get to sleep."

"Oh sure. I would be glad to. Something quiet would seem to be appropriate…." Kalthor stopped talking when Sabin jumped up and grabbed his sword. "What is it? Another demon?"

"No, something else." There was the sound of a twig snapping from the darkness. Sabin then dropped his sword to the ground and pulled out his dagger and threw it down. "and we’re surrounded and outnumbered."

"By what?" asked Kalthor who was also on his feet now.

"Ogres," said Sabin as several of the huge green humanoids stepped from the forest. "You didn’t say anything about ogres living in this forest."

"I’m sorry sir, they must have moved into the area since the last time I was here."

Sabin and Kalthor both raided their hands to the sky as a dozen ogres held spears towards them.

Later Sabin and Kalthor were locked in a cage in the ogre encampment. It was still dark outside. The two guards were playing with the captive’s equipment nearby. One had Sabin’s sword the other was thumbing through Kalthor’s spell book trying to make sense of the ruins inscribed on its pages. The rest of the ogre band was gathered around a huge fire. Two hunks of meat were slowly turning over the blaze.

"Oh, how terrible. It’s bad enough they took out horses," began Kalthor, "But do they have to cook them up like that?! Right in front of us too. I’m terribly sorry sir. I suppose this is partly my fault."

"Don’t worry, it’s not you’re fault. Ogres tend to move around a lot," said Sabin. "Besides we wouldn’t have been able to take the horses into the mountains."

"Yes but no creature deserves to be eaten by ogres."

"Do you eat chicken?"

"What? I don’t understand?"

"It’s simple, do you eat chicken, or deer, or beef?"

"Well of course, most places serve those foods, I am actually quite fond of duck." Replied Kalthor.

"It’s the same thing then. These ogres need food just like us."

"Horses are different though, you don’t eat horses."

"Ogres do," said Sabin, gesturing to the fire and the group surrounding it, "Besides, it could be worse."

"How so sir?"

"That could be us on those skewers."

"Oh, well who’s to say it won’t be. I don’t see anyway to get out of here. We can’t defeat all of them and if we escape they’ll surely be able to hunt us down again, especially since we don’t have our horses."

"Don’t worry, I’m working on it," assured Sabin.

They were interrupted by a loud gong. Then a voice could be heard saying, "Bring forth the prisoners1"

"It’s worse," commented Kalthor.

Four of the hulking creatures walked over and picked up the cage. They carried it through the party of ogres, several dozen at least, to the foot of a platform on which sat the leader of the ogres.

The leader spoke, "I am the great Oolag! My followers, tonight’s feast brings us a special treat. For tonight we have two challengers for the contest!"

The crowd gave a loud grunting cheer.

"Excuse me O great Oolag," called out Kalthor from the cage.

"Yes what is it human?" bellowed the ogre leader.

"I was just wondering if perhaps I could withdraw from this contest. I’m not very good at games."

Oolag let out a deep laugh, "Hah! Hey boys, the human wants out of the contest!"

The crowd burst out laughing.

"Maybe he would rather join his horse? Eh boys?"

"O-o-oh no please, the contest will be fine, I’m sure it’ll be … fun," stammered Kalthor, trying not to think of himself, hanging over a fire surrounded by a bunch of ogres.

"What is this contest anyway?" asked Sabin.

"Now that’s the spirit! Alright bring out Gorak!" ordered Oolag.

There was a lot of commotion and roaring from the far side of the group before they could hear the thump of the approaching footsteps of Gorak. The crowd’s cheering got louder and louder as a troll, at least twice as tall as the largest ogre in the group, approached. The troll was being led, more like held at bay, by two large ogres.

"I do hope you can take care of something that large," whispered Kalthor to Sabin.

"I’m not sure, I’ve never faced a troll before," whispered Sabin back.

"Do the contestants wish to use weapons in the fight?" asked Oolag.

"Of course, how could we possibly fight such a creature without them?" replied Kalthor.

"Very well, the combatant’s will take their weapons!" ordered Oolag from his throne.

By now the group of ogres had formed a ring around the cage and the Troll with the throne at one end. One of the ogres who had been guarding the cage before emerged from the ring and handed Sabin his sword and Kalthor his staff through the bars of the cage. A second ogre opened the cage and motioned for the pair to step out. Once they were out the cage was quickly carried away.

"Gorak, will now choose his weapon!" commanded Oolag.

The troll walked over through the ring of ogres and pulled a large tree on the edge of the clearing from the ground. The troll them proceeded to tear the roots off and remove the branches. When the club was satisfactory the troll returned to the ring. The troll pounded the ground once and gave a great roar to signal it was ready.

"Let the contest begin!" cried out Oolag.

Sabin held his sword up ready to fight while Kalthor stood back ready to assist if needed.

"The first one on one battle will be between Gorak and the smart mouthed human!" called out Oolag.

Two guards quickly came out into the area and pulled Sabin back to the sidelines.

"WHAT?!?!" exclaimed Kalthor. The priest turned to the ogre leader, "Surly you don’t expect ME to fight THAT?! I’m not a warrior."

"It’ll be fine, just use your magic," encouraged Sabin. He didn’t care much for the priest sometimes but he sure didn’t want to see the poor guy get slaughtered.

"But, sir, I don’t know any offensive spells. I couldn’t possibly hurt it."

"Begin the fight!" bellowed Oolag.

The troll roared again and swung its club at Kalthor. The priest raised his staff and cast a barrier spell to deflect the blow. The troll was engaged at this and stepped toward Kalthor, the ground shook as the creature walked. The troll tried to roundhouse Kalthor with its club this time but the priest managed to jump to the ground at the last moment.

On the side Sabin struggled to get free and received a fist in his face from one of the guards for his efforts. The hunter kicked the guard who had punched him and then followed that with a right hook of his own. He didn’t expect the ogre’s skull to be so hard though. Sabin grabbed his hand from the pain, it felt as if he ha just punched a stone wall. The guard laughed and punched Sabin again upside the head. The demon hunter fell back onto the ground and several of the ogres who were now watching the struggle gave a cheer. This new fight was much more exiting than the battle between the priest and the troll, which had become quite repetitious.

Kalthor had been able to hold his ground well so far against the troll but the creature was starting to wear him down. Kalthor was beginning to think that being cooked and eaten didn’t sound so bad after all. The troll, who was now in a complete state of rage at having to work to hard to kill his opponent swung its club high over its head and brought it down on Kalthor. The priest prepared to defend but tripped in a divot from the troll’s club. Kalthor closed his eyes at the sight of the impending doom. However just before the troll crushed Kalthor once and for all, the air was split by a bolt of lightning originating from a tree on the edge of the ogre camp. The bolt struck the troll in the chest and sent the creature backwards streaks of electricity arcing throughout it’s body.

"It’s that damn ninja again!" cried Oolag, "Find her! Kill her!"

The mob dispersed immediately as the ogres charged off into the forest. Sabin, who was lying on the ground with blood running out of his nose, sat up to see the ogre who had attacked him was gone. He also noticed several ogres coming right at him. He rolled to one side as the group charged by and into the forest. Sabin jumped to his feet and picked up his sword. He saw Kalthor still standing before the fallen troll about ten meters away.

Kalthor was still shocked that he had been saved. He just stood watching as the lightning continued to surge through the troll’s body. He jumped when Sabin grabbed his shoulder.

"Come on Kalthor, this is our chance to escape," said Sabin pulling the priest through the rushing crowd of ogres.

Oolag, who was still watching everything from his throne saw the prisoners as they made their escape. "Looks like I’m going to have to deal with those two myself."

Sabin and Kalthor were on the far side of the ogre camp now. They stopped as a figure jumped down in front of them. It was a young girl wearing black shorts with a white tank top. She had long black hair, and pointed ears. In her right hand she carried a forked staff and slung over her shoulder in her left hand she held a brown sack.

The ninja girl dropped her staff and held up a crystal in her hand and called out, "Return!" The lightning surrounding the dead troll gathered together and flew to her hand and into the crystal. She placed the red crystal into a pouch on her belt. She picked up her staff and turned toward the pair of fleeing warriors, "We don’t have much time, come with me."

"Who are you?" asked Sabin.

"I’m the one who’s saving you from those ogres. We don’t have time for this."

They were interrupted by Oolag, who was now carrying a huge curved scimitar. "Don’t think you’re going to get away that easily."

"Come on Oolag, let them go," said the girl.

"It’s you! I’ll kill you. You’ve caused so much trouble for my soldiers, always stealing our supplies."

The ninja stepped closer to the ogre. "Oolag, tell me, how many times have you and I fought each other?"

"Several, probably ten or twenty," replied the ogre leader.

"Close enough, now, how many times have I beaten you I a fight?"

"Uh.. well, every time, but this time it’ll be different."

"No, it won’t now why don’t we just save time and effort and you just let us go?"

"No! I will win," snarled Oolag, stepping back and bringing his sword up ready to fight.

The sound of cheers from the mob of ogres at the far side of the camp suddenly changed to sounds of terror. Loud snarling could also be heard.

"Oh damn, hellhounds. You three come on!" ordered the ninja to Sabin, Kalthor and Oolag.

"You want him to come too?" asked Sabin pointing to Oolag.

"He’s a pain but I’d hate to see him killed," said the girl.

"So how do I know I can trust you?" asked Sabin.

"You don’t but I know the way, and the area."

Several of the black beasts burst through the crowd of ogres and started rushing toward the four. "They’re coming this way, what do we do?" cried Kalthor interrupting Sabin and the Ninja.

"Run, into the forest," said the girl, "As fast as you can...."