Commander Braghaman Larethian

Attacking the Homestead

(Collaborative writing with Niviene)

It took several minutes before silence finally reigned in the Larethian household. Having finished their nightly story, Banagan and Korissa were picked up and carried to their respective beds. Soon after, Braghaman came down the stairs and walked back into the living room where Niviene was still sitting on the couch. Placing his hands on the back of the couch, the paladin leaned forward and kissed the priestess lightly on the cheek.

“The kids have been tucked into bed,” Braghaman said triumphantly with a grin.

She smiled up at him, her fingers unconsciously going to the braid that hung down at the side of his head, “You always were better at that than me. They’re glad you’re home. I’m glad you’re home. Everything is back to normal now and Light willing it will stay that way.”

“I’m going to get a drink. Did you want anything?” he asked as he stood up slowly and turned towards the kitchen.

“No thanks.” Niviene replied, pausing with her head canted to the side then she shuddered, rubbing her arms briskly, “Did you feel that? It felt like…” she turned to look at Bragh, her eyes widening slightly, “I think there’s someone out there.”

Braghaman stopped and looked to the priestess before turning his attentions towards the door.  “Outside?” he asked as he slowly stepped to the front of the room. Next to the door sat his warhammer. The paladin moved to it, taking hold of the weapon and lifting it carefully off the ground. Shifting its weight, he let the shaft slide through his grip until the head of the weapon rested against his fist.

Niviene cast a quick glance up, as if she could see through the floor and confirm the children’s safety then she rose from the sofa, reaching for her staff that stood near the kitchen table, moving to stand slightly behind Bragh and to his left. She marveled briefly that she’d fallen into position so easily; it had been ages since she and Bragh had fought together but the movement was like breathing, taking no conscious thought at all. Giving herself a mental shake she turned her gaze on the paladin and gave a decisive nod.

Glancing over his shoulder to be sure of where Niviene was, Bragh took a step towards the door. Cautiously, he took hold of the latch. Holding his hammer at the ready, he pulled the door open. Just beyond the threshold stood someone covered in dark armor. The helm had been scanning the exterior of the house when the door opened. Its head swiveled towards the movement, two glowing eyes locking on the paladin standing before him.

The figure raised its left hand and pointed at Braghaman. The paladin gave a shudder, as if ice water had been splashed over him. He gripped his hammer and started to bring it around when he felt the tug. Somehow he was being pulled through the door. The movement was slow, and he fought against it, but Bragh could feel his boots sliding against the floor as he was being pulled forward.

Niviene gasped, calling out to the paladin then quickly cast a protective barrier around him. Before the shield had finished forming she stepped forward, raising her staff to call down Light’s wrath upon the intruder. She wanted to rage at him, to demand his name and why he attacked her husband, at the same time she wanted to rush to Braghaman’s side, to assure herself of his well being, and yet another part of her longed to rush up the stairs to defend the children who depended on her for security and safety but all she could do was seeth in silent rage as she  brought penance down upon the attacker’s head.

Braghaman brought his left arm up to shield his eyes from the flash as Niviene’s attack struck. The armored figured raised his arm as well, mirroring the paladin as it tried to protect itself from the onslaught of Light. At that moment, the force that was pulling the paladin forward disappeared and Bragh had to momentarily regain his balance. Feeling himself freed, he brought his war hammer up and jabbed it at the figure, striking his arm. Metal rang against metal as the hammer knocked the attacker off balance. Braghaman twisted his war hammer around and stabbed the end of the shaft into the stomach of the armored attacker, causing him to bend over. Braghaman stepped back and prepared for his next attack when he heard the voice. 

“Dad?”

His eyes wide, Braghaman looked back and saw Banagan and Korissa standing in the hallway.

Hearing the boy’s voice on the stairs, Niviene whirled around, her concentration on the attacker broken. She rushed over to them, a hand on the shoulder of each of the children, “It’s alright, remember what I taught you. Banny, take your sister and go to the spot. Wait until either daddy or I come. Don’t come out for anyone else. Do you hear me?” she asked, not waiting for an answer. She bent and pressed a quick kiss on each brow, giving them a quick yet fierce hug, “Now go. Do as I say.”

Banagan stood for a moment, his gaze going from his father to the intruder at the door. Korissa tugged sharply on his hand, “Come on banny, mom said.” He looked at the girl at his side then back at his father before finally turning to take Korissa’s hand and lead her back up the stairs.

Seeing the children heading to the stairs, Braghaman turned back to the armored attacker. The paladin stepped out of the house and shifted the weight of his warhammer between both of his hands. As soon as he passed the threshold of the house, he felt an ice cold chill wash over him. Bragh watched as the armored figure began to stand upright and immediately understood: a death knight.

The death knight started drawing a sword from the scabbard at its side, but before the weapon could clear Braghaman was swinging his hammer again. Aiming low, the hammer struck the death knight along the calf of its leg. The death knight’s leg swept across into his other leg, knocking both from underneath it and causing the armored attacker to fall to the ground.

Niviene watched until the children disappeared up the stairs before turning back in time to see Bragh step over the threshold and out the door. She raised her hand to cast a protective barrier around the paladin once more but saw that her efforts were not needed. This time. She stood, her gaze locked on the two men locked in combat until her attention was caught by a scraping sound behind her.

Opening her mouth, ready to scold the children for not adhering to her instructions, she blinked in confusion when she was met by an empty room. Niviene glanced around, her eyes darting through the shadows, a shiver running unconsciously up her spine. There was no one in the room behind her and yet she could not dismiss the feeling that there was someone there.

Braghaman looked down at the death knight, both hands holding tight to his weapon. The attacker started to roll to its side, attempting to get up off the ground. Bragh quickly moved around the prone warrior and kicked at its head, causing the death knight to roll onto its back again. Raising his war hammer high, he brought it down with a metallic thud on the chest plate of the death knight, then brought the weapon up and struck a second time.

“Not my home. Not my family,” the paladin growled as he brought the hammer up a third time and swung downward, splitting the breast plate and caving its sharp edges inward. The death knight made a howling sound and shuddered, then stopped moving.

Niviene watched Bragh, her eyes scanning to be sure he had not been injured in the confrontation. So intent was she on her husband she didn’t see the tendrils of shadow that trickled into the room from the cracks around the back door. As the shadow filtered in it grew thicker, threading it’s way around furniture until its tendrils coiled around the priestess’s feet and legs, climbing up her body as they retreated the way they came, pulling her along with them.

Too late to cast a shield of protection around herself, she sought to purify the shadows but she was quickly weakening, her concentration slipping. She struggled against the force pulling her backward, unable to gain control of her own movements, only stopping when her body slammed into the solid wood door. Her head snapped back against the surface hard enough that her vision blurred, as blackness overtook her she was finally able to call out, “Bragh….”

Braghaman heard his name and turned back to inside the house. Not seeing Niviene, he lifted his hammer and bolted into the living room, looking frantically from corner to corner before finally seeing her sliding down the back door. Seeing the black tendrils curling around the priestess, Bragh raised his hand and called out to the Light. A shimmering bubble formed around Niviene, but didn’t seem to have an affect on the dark shadows that were encircling here. The paladin ran to her side, dropping to his knees and sliding the last two feet until he was beside the priestess. Slamming his hammer on the floor, light flashed out across the ground and it seemed as if the darkness was retreating slightly.

Suddenly, from outside there was a deep, rumbling growl which was soon followed by a loud roar. Then there was the sound of metal ringing from outside and the dark tendrils pulled back and flowed around the door, leaving the priestess behind.  Braghaman, unsure of what happened, put his arms under Niviene’s back and legs and picked her up, carrying her away from the door. His gaze shifting between the closed back door and the opened front, the paladin stepped backwards into the living room and deposited the priestess gently on the couch. With Niviene settled, he pushed the far side of the couch so that its back was turned towards both doors.

“Niv?” Bragh asked quietly, taking her arm and feeling for a pulse at her wrist.

Her eyes fluttered for a moment before she opened them completely, bringing a shaking hand to her head. Just as she began to speak there was another crash of metal to stone, the thud shaking the door on its hinges.Niviene nodded her head toward the back of the house, “I’m fine. Go. See what it is and kill it. Don’t let it near our children.” As she spoke she sat up, swinging her feet gingerly to the floor, stopping briefly to allow the spinning room time to catch up to her movements.

Braghaman knelt down and put his hand to Niviene’s cheek, watching as the color was coming back to her face and her eyes were starting to focus. Satisfied that she was okay for the moment, he gave a brief nod and the picked up his war hammer. With a quick stride, the paladin made his way to the back door and then paused to listen. Outside was a metallic sounding groan accompanied by deep growls.

Braghaman flung the door open and raised his war hammer up, ready to strike. Outside, he saw another death knight laying on the ground, missing its right arm and left leg. Scanning the yard, the paladin immediately understood what had happened. At opposite sides of the yard were Niviene’s blue panther and Valiant, each holding a piece of the death knight in their maws.  Frowning, the paladin turned his attention back to the death knight on the ground. Letting out a quick sigh, the paladin stepped next to the fallen attacker and raised his hammer again, bringing it down on the death knight’s helm in three quick strikes. The armor caved in and the death knight stopped moving. Bragh kicked the body with the toe of his boot, satisfied that the enemy was done, before stepping out into the yard to make sure there were no others. Satisfied that there were no further threats, he turned and made his way back to the house.

“Keep an eye out,” the paladin said to the cats as he passed them and stepped back inside.

Niviene had moved to stand just inside the door, making her own assessment of the situation. She glanced up at Bragh then back at the cats who seemed to be toying with the pieces of the death knight. She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed, “I miss out on all the fun.”

“You can take the next one,” Braghaman replied with a grin. “Are you feeling okay?”

She laughed softly and nodded her head, “Yes, I’m just rusty is all. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen fighting like that. They biggest struggle I’ve had lately was delivering the Masterson twins.” she paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping the paladin from head to toe, “What about you? Are you alright?”

“Yeah, no scratches,” Braghaman answered as he moved in front of Niviene and wrapped his free arm around her, pulling her in for a hug and resting his forehead to her’s. For a brief moment, the only sounds were the cats pawing at the severed limbs. “Check on the kids. I’m going to look around and make sure there’s no one else around.”

Niviene leaned up and placed a quick kiss on Bragh’s chin then nodded, turning to mount the stairs, “You be careful out there and if you need me, I’ll be there.”

“I know,” Braghaman answered with a smile. Giving the priestess one more quick hug, Bragh reluctantly let go and turned back to the door. Stepping outside, he shifted the weight of his war hammer in his hand. “Let’s go check things out, Valiant.”  The winged lion let out a huff before dropping the arm it had been toying with and getting up off the ground.  “We’ll be right back,” Bragh said, looking back at Niviene with a calm, positive look on his face, before the paladin and the lion started walking around the house.