The Order of the Black Diamond: The Price of Blood Part One

Outside of a monastery in the cold, northern reaches of China, a giant f a man swathed in bandaged and a mask walks with a small girl up a rocky path. As they reach a wide open platform, an armored warrior steps out from behind an outcropping. He draws a sword and stares the two down.

“Halt!” He bellows. “State your name and business here!”

He looks at the pair again, appraising the potential for violence from the two. His gaze lingers on the large man before flitting over to look at the young woman. His eyes spark with recognition.

“Shatis? Mis Shatis? Why have you come to the Black Diamond?”

Mis Shatis stands in front of the bandaged giant as if guarding him. “Ishan. We are here to seek sanctuary from the machinations of Sikarin Tsooth. I was freed from his thumb years ago and I just stole this warrior from him. He is called Mentor and he is a Pilang-ta master. He can trade his knowledge in exchange for allowing us to stay.”

Ishan Goldenfire eyes the bandaged giant called Mentor again, this time with a look of disdain.

“I am a master of Pilang-ta.” He boasts. “Taught by Bloodbath, who invented the art. This man can teach me nothing.”

Mis Shatis doesn't look, but can feel Mentor stirring behind her. “Mentor doesn't speak often, but he can demonstrate his mastery if that's what you prefer.”

Ishan's face splits into a wide grin. “I prefer. Let the mummified one come face me.”

Ishan gets into a fighting stance as Mis Shatis steps out of the way, but is shocked as Mentor moves with a speed far beyond what a giant of a man would normally move. He strikes Ishan's sword with a punch, sending the flat of the blade into Ishan's face. He palm's Ishan's shoulder as he drops the blade, knees him in the gut, lifts him up, and tosses him nearly twenty feet much like a rag doll. Ishan is quickly to his feet, tearing away broken armor as he stands.

Mentor remains still, speaking with a voice that's ragged and weak as if he had spent time swallowing acid and razor blades. “More?”

Ishan grins, wiping blood from his face. “You surprised me. More.”

Mentor nods. “Good.”

Ishan Goldenfire launches an attack with several shots to Mentor's midsection before dropping down and bringing an elbow to the back of Mentor's left knee then slipping up behind him as he falls to catch him to drop him on the rocky ground with a back suplex. He's on the downed masked warrior in a flash with an elbow to the face that he grinds in to apply pressure to vital arteries.

“Give up,” Ishan growls. “Admit that you are inferior.”

A single palm placed on Ishan's chest reveals that there is still fight in his opponent. Mentor presses with his palm to toss Ishan five feet away. As Ishan jumps back to his feet, he is met by a roundhouse kick that sends him back to the ground with enough force that the ground beneath him cracks open. Mentor drives an elbow into Ishan's midsection, driving the air out of his chest.

“Done?”

Mentor speaks the one word as if it pained him more than any damage inflicted by Ishan.

Ishan lays on the ground, holding his chest and working to get his air back. Finally, he responds.

“Done.”

Ishan works to stand, accepting a helping hand from Mentor to get up. He frowns.

“Bloodbath invented Pilang-ta and only taught a few students. How is it that I have never heard of you?”

There is a moment of silence as Ishan awaits an answer from Mentor. Before this happens, Mis Shatis steps up to stand next to Mentor with a slight smile.

“Mentor was Bloodbath's greatest student. His first. He can show you arts thought to have died with Bloodbath, but it pains him to speak. He has taught me some of what he knows so that I can at least explain his words. I am his voice and he is power.”

Ishan nods slowly, still in pain. “This is fine. I will bring you both before the Elder. Only he can decide should you stay or leave. Come.”

Mentor and Mis Shatis slowly follow as Ishan Goldenfire leads them up the mountain path to the monastery.

****************

In the meditation chamber of the Elder, Ishan Goldenfire enters with bowed head as Mis Shatis and Mentor follow. They too keep their heads bowed in respect to the Elder of the Black Diamond. They wait in silence until the Elder raises his head, eyes still closed.

“What is it, Ishan? Do we have company?”

Ishan nods. “Yes, Elder. We have Mis Shatis, known as Wyld Storm of the Celestial Dragon, and Mentor. They seek sanctuary from the darkest soul of the Warhammer Corporation. Mentor represents a deeper source of Pilang-ta than even I can provide the Order.”

The Elder nods and looks at Shatis and Mentor for the first time. He motions to Mis Shatis with a kind grin. “Come forward, my dear. Sit.”

Mis Shatis glances at Mentor before sitting down before the Elder. He stares deep into her eyes, his expression impassive Shatis looks away after a few seconds, blushing furiously. The Elder looks concerned.

“You have seen much pain in your life, my dear. Trust me when I say that it will be better here. Sikarin Tsooth has no sway here.”

There is a brief flash of pain on Shatis' face as the name “Sikarin Tsooth” is mentioned. She stands up and turns away before the Elder can say more. He motions to Mentor.

“Come, my child. Sit.”Eventually, the Elder cracks a grin and laughs, ending the contest.

“By the ancestors...you are strong! You hide much, Mentor, but by knowing where you were saved from...I can only guess and shudder at the harm that must have been visited upon you.”

As Mentor stands up and joins Mis Shatis, the Elder looks to Ishan Goldenfire with a wide grin. “You have done well to bring these two to me! F only we could do more to grant aid to victims of...Warhammer's dark heart. I think the Eastern world would be a much different place.”

Ishan nods, his expression grim for he knows of many within Warhammer who have suffered at the dark attentions of Sikarin Tsooth. “We could end this forever with his death...”

The Elder shakes his head. “He has so many allies and servants that to fight him directly could bring about the end of our entire Order. I'm not even certain that if we struck the fatal blow that his body would even perish. His spirit is a demon that has haunted us since even I was young. I have never known why such a soul would be treasured for none who live do not know and fear his name.”

Ishan bows in respect to the Elder's thoughts, though it is clear that he was not satisfied by the answer.

The Elder smiles though. “Mis Shatis and Mentor here is a victory. As you are aware, any victory against him is to be counted as good. Take them to their rooms so they can cleanse themselves and rest before the evening meal. They must be tired for to journey to us is not easy.”

Ishan bows again. “Yes, Elder.”

As Ishan leads Shatis and Mentor down the hallway to where the rooms are, Shatis walks alongside him.

“So what is the Order of the Black Diamond's relationship with the Warhammer Corporation?” She asks.

Ishan gauges his response before answering. “While it is true that I am an employee of the Warhammer Corporation, the Order stands in an alliance only. Jingkai and I along with Hiroshima and Muta have joined to better ourselves. We serve Warhammer best by increasing our fighting capability.”

Mis Shatis shudders and hugs herself tight. “I hope that's something that saves s from His wrath. He was most angry with losing a valuable servant such as Mentor.”

Ishan grins as he puts his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. “We will deal with him if it comes to that. Despite the spirit of dark power that surrounds him, he is only mortal. The Order of the Black Diamond would be his end.”

Shatis sighs in relief. “Good. Thank you. You don't know how much this means to us.”

Arriving at the rooms, Ishan opens a door and motions for Mentor to enter.

“Shatis, yours will be the next room. I'll get the door.”

Mis Shatis smiles, entering her room. “Thank you for everything, Ishan.”

Ishan nods. “It is my honor to be able to help.”

As Mis Shatis closes the door, Ishan walks down the hallway with a new fire in his eyes.

“Let Sikarin come...he will meet his death here.”

****************

Days later...Mentor s standing in the middle f a stone circle with Ishan Goldenfire in front of him. Both men are in fighting stances with a crowd of people around them. Ishan has a grin as he regards his opponent.

“You've been getting faster and stronger since being here, but I've got you figured out now.”

Mentor stands still while waiting for Ishan to strike. His glare is like a strike of its own.

“Never.”

As Ishan rushes in to strike Mentor in the knee, he is grabbed by the wrist and flung ten feet away. Ishan lands on his feet and crouches down. Before he can launch himself again, the voice of Mis Shatis can be heard echoing through the grounds in a long, piercing scream. Mentor and Ishan lead the charge to find her and when they do, Mis Shatis is standing next to the body of an Order member. The body looks to have been torn open with bloody splatter everywhere. Shatis is pale as she looks down at the body.

“Sikarin Tsooth...he's found us!”