'Why me' .. the small voice intoned, as the hellhounds fiery breath seared the old knight's shield once more ... 'because your a knight' the stern voice of his old recruiter answered back in his mind, almost as an after thought he heard the voice continue in a softer tone 'and because its the right thing to do ...'

This whole task seemed a lot easier in front of knights castle with the clear skies above and the sun glinting off his armour - what could be simpler a few young knights had gone and gotten themselves lost ... they were hurt and confused and would surely perish if they didnt gain assistance soon. All they needed was a rescuer with a steady sword arm and a bit of wisdom. What could be simpler .... indeed ...

The heat was becoming unbearable now and the hellhounds were beinging to gang up on the old knight, hastily he shifted into parrying their attacks - 'thats it ill wear them down' he thought to himself and besides I have to travel awhile yet to reach those young'uns '. Finding that the hounds were unable to get through his parries he felt himself slip into the old rhythm parry,thrust,block,slash that had served him well over the years. He found his mind wandering back to that frosty winter's morning when he was still a fresh faced squire eager to learn the duties and responsibilty of the knighthood. 'Try to hit me ' he heard his recruiter call out ...'but My lord to strike a fellow knight would surely bring dishonor to my name' he replied, 'nonsense lad for I know your heart is not intent on striking in anger' the recruiter responded. Warily he rembered taking up his fighting stance and lunging at his recruiter with a flurry of well aimed but weak blows. He also remebered the smile on his recruiters face as he blocked, parried and dodged every attack he could use on him. 'Now lad would you like to know how I did that ?' the recruiter asked, 'off course my lord I am keen to learn all the wisdom that you wish to impart' he answered. Thus it was that he learned the art of parrying.

Acrid smoke stung the old knights eyes, jolting him back to the present, 'Aye those were good days happy days ...', wiping another tear from his eyes he rembered all those young knights he trained with and fought alongside, some grew weary of their knightly duties, yet more still fell in battle and of late old age has begun to take its terrible toll, 'aye those were good days and great knights'. Steeling himself the knight took a deep breath, 'But thats not why im here ... theres a job to be done and besides these days its the young'uns in the guild that are making names for themeselves'. As suddenly as the hellhounds had joined battle with the knight they began to flee from mighty sowrdplay leaving the torn and mangled bodies of several hellhounds behind.

It was as his old recruiter had tuaght him sometimes its not the strongest that often win battles but those who can endure more, with this thought the old knight turned from this scene and moved out onto a vast lake of lava stretching out before him.

'Which way ... which way did they go' the knight pondered as he stood before the gaping maw of a tunnel leading northwards into the hot volcanic rock. 'No he thought they must have entered the tunnel here ... look there is some blood on a rock here.'. Striding forward the knight entered the tunnel 'what a relief ' he thought 'no more of that blasted heat'. Instead he found himself looking at a well carved tunnel stretching forward into the darkness, with alcoves placed every 20 feet or so.

Something wasnt right here he felt it in his bones. It was too quiet, warily the knight advanced with his sword drawn. Suddenly two armoured figures leapt from nearby alcoves ... caught partially unawares the knight took a step back. Their appearance was revolting as they taunted and leered at the knight but the old knight showed them no fear, for he had been this way many times before in his endless quest to seek out and dispatch evil. One more his old recruiter's voice echoed in his mind. 'time is short sir knight ... use the lessons i taught you well and despatch these foul creatures quickly.'

Sadly the old knight's mind wandered back to that fatefull day when his recruiter had fallen and when the knight had learned the greatest lesson his recruiter could give - how to die with bravery and honor, almost smiling he remembered the dazzling number of thrusts,jabs and slashes made by his recuiter why at one point in the battle he remembered his recruiter striking 5 times without a single blow from his opponent. Many were the number of the twisted undead that he had despatched that day, as were the songs sung in the castle's feasthall afterwards. Almost sub-consciously the knight felt his sword arm swing and bite into these vile creatures, he heard their screams but he did not care, even as the second creature's lifeless body fell onto the ground, he simply stepped over their corpses and moved on always mindfull of the task he was here to complete.

The fighting was getting much harder now and the old knight was beginning to tire and feel the pain of his wounds. He had despatched over 20 of these vile hellspawn and yet each of them showed no fear as they faced his blade. Suddenly and without warning from up ahead he heard a horrible scream prematurely cut off and finishing in a low gurgle. 'One of the young knights I was sent him to rescue has fallen' he thought 'I have failed in my duty'. His mind filled with a terrible rage and rightous fury 'He would die before allowing the body of knight to lie unclaimed on such unholy ground'. All weariness and pain ebbed from him as he struck out at the hellspawn, blood and gore flew everywhere as his sword sought out the creature's black hearts, he turned his mind from the pain once more and focused on an image from his long memory

'The sun was bright that day and he remembered how the knights lances shone and their banners fluttered in the slight breeze, the smell of the horse beneath him was warm an comforting, when the call to charge was sounded he remebered the wind whistling through his visor. However it wasnt the sight of over 100 armoured knights at full charge that has remained the most vivid , instead he remembered the sight of 5 knights standing shoulder to shoulder rending and slashing their foes protecting the body of a fallen comrade. He knew then as he did now that a knight in life or death is truely never alone.'

The old knight stumbled forward as the tunnel ahead spun and twisted, he felt like stopping and resting, 'surely no man will blame me if I stop now' he thought. The angry voice of his recruiter answered in his mind 'you are not a man you are a knight', the voice softened once more and continued 'lad you are those young knights only hope, I wish I was there by your side as you were by mine for all those years, alas it cannot be so, but surely as night follows day my spirit walks these tunnels with you today.'

Mustering reserves strength and endurance the knight thought he never had, he stood up and walked forward. 'If I am to perish this day then let it be with honor' he said. Up ahead the tunnel opened up into a large area with jewelled walls, . This is the inner sanctium, where i near my goal' the knight thought.

The walls of the sanctum with covered with all manner of gems and interlaced with streams of gold so rich as to tempt even the most humble of men. Spurning all this the knight strode forward and turned a corner. Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw the sight of the body of a young knight lying on he cold stone floor, his hand still grasped his sword which served him so well in life. So intent was the knight on this grim scene that he didnt see a shape detach itself from the ceiling and lurge at the old knight.

The knight screamed in agony as the demons talons sliced through his armour sinking deep into his flesh, the knight felt little pain so intent was he on seeing this young knight buried with honor. Turning in a half circle the knight struck low and hard driving his sword deep into the creatures belly, forcing the beast to stagger backwards. This was all the opportunity the knight needed for with a buring fury and rage he had not felt for a long time he stuck the creature a mighy blow cleaving the creatures head from its shoulders.

Sheathing his sword the knight turned and kneeled before his comrades body and said 'Alas brave Sir knight I do not have the energy to return your body to the castle for burial, I must help the living. Instead I will bury you here where you may goto your rest knowing your death as been avenged and your memory honored'. Quickly the knight gathered his comrades belongings and buried the fallen knight, for time was short and must help the living.

From around the corner he heard the clash of steel and the shouts of battle erupting, the knight arose and staggered towards the sounds. Everything was growing dim to the knight now, he knew he had sustained grevious wounds, time for him was running out but still he pushed on.

Turing the corner he saw a horrific scene 3 knights all of them badly wounded stood here fighting a nightmarish creature, at once the knight's mind raced, he remebered abominations name it was 'Baal', this was a fight that would have sorely tested his skills uninjured, now in his present state he knew it was a hopeless fight ... but one honor and duty compelled him to undertake. Yelling a battle cry the old knight launched himself into the fray, defending his fellow knights from any further damge. He didnt care anymore life, death it meant nothing to him as he fought this creature what mattered to him was the trust these knights and an old knight long dead once held in him - he would not fail them.

Parry thrust block, the demons attacks rained down blow after blow upon the old knight although he staggered and grimmaced he never once cried in pain. Gradually the knights blows began to take its toll on the creature as its attacks began to lose their power. Alas to the knight this was all to late for he felt his wounds numb and his eyes dim, he knew that today death would claim him.

Suddenly one of the young knights, a young lady knight stepped foward and protected the the old knight from Baal's murderous attacks. With just enough energy the knight was able to retire from combat and marshal his last remants of stamina for one last final assault. Steeling their courage from the action of the young lady knight, the 2 other knights yelled war cries in leapt oncemore into the fray.

The voice called out in the knights head once more 'remember what i taught you as a young knight about powerfull foes'. The old knight remembered how his recruiter and few other young knights not yet fully skilled in the ways of honor slew a mighty dragon. How the young knights had attacked the scaley hide of the creature and took it in turns to defend each other from the dragons powerfull blows, whislt the other knights concentrated upon the dragons weak spots. 'Yes thats it' thought the old knight as he hastily defended his comrades from Baal's blows.

This last ploy was too much for the great demon Baal one of the lords of pandemonium, who eventually succumbed to a hail of blows from the young knights. As the beasts body fell to the ground a cheer erupted for all present. Wasting not a single second the old knight said 'please hurry and follow me, for I do not know what manner of foul beasts stand between us and our escape from this accursed place.'As luck would have it, the escape was unhindered, save for a single hellhound that was quickly despatched.

Eventually the old knight led his charges back to the knights castle. The events of this day had tired and saddened the old knight and now all he wanted was to retire for the evening. Before that however he had one last duty to perform, turning to his comrades he said 'my thanks goto you all for without your assistance, Baal would surely have claimed my life, you have my thanks and my gratitude' then after a long formal bow the knight turned and entered the castle.

Just as the he was leaving the young female knight called out to him 'pray tell sir knight what is your name and why did you undertake such a deadly mission to save us, we who are naught but humble knights'. It was too late the knight was gone but lingering on the evening breeze were his final words ... 'my name matters little for I am but one knight amongst many, as for the why well someday when you perform the same service ... then you will know the answer.'