... " Come with me." That was all he said, then he turned and walked off into shadow again. Besai had risen, bruised and dirty, and followed. Up through the forest, and away from all he had ever known. Deep into the shadows of the Wraithwoods. He followed blindly behind this strange red knight, without question, because in following, he clung to life. To remain where he was, that was to submit to deaths embrace. His guide through the increasing darkness was barely visible. A flash of red here, a moving shadow there. The boy followed more by the metallic clinking of the knights blood red armour, the creaking of leather straps, than by sight. " Vengeance." he had promised Besai, "The spirit of vengeance will chase the fear from thy heart. The trembling from thy flesh. The paralysis from thy mind. If thee so embrace it." The knight turned and stared deep within Besai. His trembling subsided, the clenching around his heart lessened and heat seemed to spread out from within. Almost as if someone had lit a fire deep inside him. "Wha...?" "Will thee embrace me as thy master?" the knight asked him as he drew his longsword from its sheath. "If so, I shall fashion of thee a weapon. A weapon to vanquish the power of the Three Lords of the Chalukai. A weapon of Vengeance!" The very woods around them seemed to pulse to the beat of his words, the shadows between the trees moved to the timbre of his voice. "What say thee?" Besai reached out and took hold of the sword the knight offered him. He raised his eyes to meet the Red Knights own, and a fire roared to life within him. It seared throught the bands of fear wrapped around his heart, crippiling him no more. The fire burned strong within him now. The fire of Vengeance... This is the second installment of an ongoing story I've just been compelled to do.Ha! You all know how it is, bursting with creativity. And the best part is that it's all been comming so friggin easy. Writing and the images!! How often does that happen? Really? LOL. Well I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed doing it. Stay tuned. -cheers-