Immortality can be a bitch.

Strange of me to say. Who wouldn't want to be immortal? Life everlasting. The Angel of Death unable to take one's soul because the sands of time no longer effect that individual. A King could rule over his kingdom for eons, never worrying about his throne being threatened by common folk or devious dukes. I say immortality can burn from what ever fires it came from. Nothing ever good came from becoming an immortal. This coming from an assassin who brings death where ever he goes. Oh sure one can live forever. But at what cost? To see loved ones and family grow up, grow old, wither and finally die in your hands. Or struck down by disease, famine or worse me. Can one imagine how that would effect the mind?

I'm trailing a little off topic here. What does killing an immortal being on my resume have to do with all of this? Well, no one is really born an immortal. At least not from what I've read or heard of during my travels. There was one human being who became an immortal through a series of events. Unfortunately it was short lived, just like his coup against the world.

King Markus. Also known as Markus the Mad. A tragic tale really and I am involved in history of his downfall.

Where do I start?

To the far north deep within the cold mountains, there was once a kingdom. The kingdom of Stone Hammer. It was ruled by a benevolent king. King Markus. Otherwise known as Markus the Magnificent, Markus the Just, and Markus of the Hammer. All these titles spoke the truth. He was grand in his own way, fair in judgement when applying the laws and master at wielding a great hammer that was said to shatter the very mountain his castle stood upon. He had a beautiful queen, Queen Tarnia of the Snow, known for her pale white skin. He had a son and daughter as well, Prince Kyle and Princess Serene. The king and his family were as one would say a fairy tale come true. Even though the cold north challenged his people, they were a hardy sturdy group much like what little vegetation that grew in the mild summers in defiance of the cold.

As with all fairy tales there can not be one without a villain right? The villain was no plotting advisor or decorated war hero robbed his just dues. This villain came in the form of an illness. An illness that to this day had no explanation of how it arrived. It started late that spring. The villages surrounding the kingdom had made harvest for that year. The supply loads were made ready for the journey to the storage vaults back in the castle, the extra stored away for emergency rations in case winter was harsh that coming year. Some where along the path between the villages and the storage vaults, the grains were tainted. By rats or some disease common among grains it was never verified. What followed was a series of sudden sickness befalling the citizens. They would come under a horrible cough, followed by wracking body aches and a high fever. Despite the medics and physicians living in Storm Hammer, those taken ill would die after a few weeks while growing weaker over the course.

King Markus was troubled by these turn of events and in seeking aide from his council, sent out for the best mages and wizards in hopes of combating this growing epidemic. While word was sent out, prince Kyle volunteered along with a few strong men to travel to the nearest town on the outskirts of the kingdom for more supplies. Supplies that were dwindling as the people continued to collapse where they stand or in their beds where they would eventually succumb. Thus the first of tragedies struck. Four days had passed and not word of Kyle's progress was ever brought to Markus. There was no forecast that horrible weather was on the way, so why was there no word on the supply run? News would not come until late that night and it was ill news indeed.

Kyle and the party whom he went with were ambushed on the road out of the blue. Bandits it was said attacked and there were no survivors. Kyle's body was retrieved at the scene, a grisly one where rumors made mention it looked more of a gruesome mauling by the frost bears then an ambush of bandits. Either way Markus was devastated at the news of his son's death. The heir to the throne cut down before his time. Kyle was buried with his fore fathers and ancestors in the crypts below. Yet still no word of the mages and wizards coming to help. Markus started to grow angry and impatient. His kingdom was being eaten from the inside by this sickness and no word. More messages were sent out demanding help.

Then the worst. Queen Tarnia of the Snow had taken ill. Barely three weeks after the burial of their son, Tarnia was bed ridden with the illness showing no signs of improving. Markus could not bear the thought of losing his beloved wife and tried everything within his power in hopes that she would recover. Alas like the grim touch of Death, Tarnia succumbed two weeks later. King Markus was distraught at the queen's funeral procession. The people of Stone Hammer watched as their once beloved king descend into depression and grief. First prince Kyle to an ambush and now Tarnia to the illness.

The final straw was a message that finally made it to the king's hands. It was not what Markus wanted to read. Mage and wizard alike it had read, deemed that due to the unknown nature of the sickness in his kingdom, no aid would come. Stone Hammer was put under strict quarantine. No one was allowed to leave or enter under penalty of death. The world had condemned Stone Hammer. It was said that Markus flew into a furious rage and ran down the halls screaming the names of those he knew, damning them for not coming to help when he needed it most. In his blind fury he never took notice that princess Serene had fallen ill like her mother.

Just like that, King Markus's mind broke under the strain. As the people in and around the kingdom died to the sickness, Markus shut himself away in his studies. The council could not reach him, his advisors were lost. All the while the world around them continued a blind eye to their plight. It was in his study room that the king found texts supposedly describing bringing loved ones back from beyond.

King Markus turned to necromancy that very night. Around the dying kingdom with the aide of his own few mages who had managed to escape the sickness now turned to necromancers. With the new dark magic his casters learned, he raised the dead to do his work. The work was simple: To lash out and make the rest of the world suffer the loss he had suffered. To extend his anguish and torment across the lands so that the other kingdoms would feel as he felt. Helplessness. Word spread like fire among the other kingdoms. The once dead roamed the lands attacking nearby villages, slaughtering peasant and villager alike. Dragging their dead bodies back to Stone Hammer where more would emerge a short time later. The strange illness that broke the kingdom mysteriously faded. But it had been replaced by a different sickness: Madness. Markus the Mad now stretched his hand forth and sought to cover the world in ash.

Azur and the kingdom of Theldane to the west took the brunt of Markus' hatred. Soldiers, troops, airships and platoons were sent to end the reign of the mad king. It was said Stone Hammer was re-named Gravestone since only the dead resided there. The living and the undead clashed over the cold battlefield that fall beneath the harsh bleak snows. It seemed the troops of Azur and Theldane might succeed. And they almost did. Until the stone golems were sent out. Knowing what the kingdoms had in store, Markus the Mad had a few mages set aside to study in bringing stone constructs to life. These golems became active sentries that would protect Gravestone from any threat. Protect they did as they smashed through the formations, decimating ranks of knights and soldiers alike. Those not slain on the battle ground were dragged screaming to their deaths and eventual eternal servitude to the Mad King.The airships were useless when winter fell that year. Nor could they fly near the walls of Gravestone without being shattered by catapults manned by those same golems.

Here is where I came in.

Azur and Theldane could not take any more casualties. Both Kings learned that Markus the Mad had stumbled across forbidden magic. Magic that would grant him life eternal. Immortality. To live forever. The thought of a king who went mad from grief, raising armies of dead soldiers to blanket the world in death was most grim. Living until the end of time itself? That was the worst case scenario. It was agreed that it should not come to pass. So I, along with five other Reapers were summoned before the two kingdoms. They begged, pleaded, even threw themselves at our feet in hopes we would take the job and help end this travesty. We did. That night while the remaining troops recovered and Markus was in the middle of the ceremony that would grant him immortality, us Reapers infiltrated Castle Gravestone. The battle with undead knights and soldiers was fierce as were any golems we came across. Failure is not in our vocabulary.

We cleaned house. Our targets were the necromancers and golem mages responsible. In the fiasco, three Reapers were killed in the skirmishes. When we finally found and confronted Markus the Mad in his throne room, it was me Runefang, Iris Eagle Eye and Dovar of the Mountain. I'll never forget the look on his face as we appeared. Eyes wild and unfocused. A menacing grin that made him almost look like a living skeleton. He just laughed and ranted how we were too late. That he had achieved his goal of becoming immortal. About how he would sent his army out and kill every living creature on this world. And how he would rule them all. Myself, Iris and Dovar looked at each other. We made one solid complaint against his campaign. It was shown when we attacked.

I can't remember the full detail of the fight that night. The images are still fuzzy to me. All I remember was Markus was exceptionally strong. Wielding the hammer he was given, he and Dovar traded blow for blow. Dovar was a huge man even by Reaper standards. Hence his nickname "The Mountain." Guy could crush bear skulls in his hands like crumbling stone. Yet here he was being pushed back by a man half his size and weight, swinging a two handed hammer smashing empty suites of armor along with shattering tables and chairs in the progress. Managed to tear down a few sections of the walls in the process too. He also managed to keep Iris out of range with his sweeping swings. As for me, I too was out of luck. It all came down to Dovar.

I remember Dovar going in for a full body check. Markus the Mad took the blow full on as Dovar pinned him against the wall. Or so we thought. Then the mad laugh again. A hand wrapping around Dovar's neck, crushing his throat as he was physically lifted. My attempt to free Dovar only to be caught by a hard backfisted blow. Dizzy and disoriented, I don't even remember being lifted at well. Then the pain. Sheer agonizing pain erupting in my left shoulder. Gazing down to find myself impaled on a dragon lance. Vision shifting from sharp to blurry. Watching as Markus the mad literally tore Dovar in two. Iris's scream of anger blotted out by that horrid laugh again. Blacking out. That laugh that horrid, ugly laugh echoing in my head. Why wont he shut the hell up?! Gripping one of my krises. Uttering an incantation. The pain of removing myself from the lance. The look of shock in one man's face. Followed by a sword engulfed in searing fire. A head severed from the neck bouncing off the stone floor before rolling to a stop. That grin slowly melting into stunned shock and awe. Vision fading once again. Cleaving a body in two. Then darkness.

I awoke to find myself in a seedy inn alone swathed in gauze and bandages. Dovar was no where to be seen. Just a note on a near by night stand from Iris. It was short. It read that she dragged both me and Dovar out of the castle even as Azur and Theldane soldiers took over. Left us at the inn before finishing the job. Azur was given Markus's severed body, Theldane the head. Another note this time from Dovar. It read that he was retiring from Reaper service. Being torn in two, he lacked legs to be able to work efficiently. While he may have found a mage that might create golem legs for him, trying to move with stealth as stones ground against each other was not the best choice. My only guess is Iris went back and rummaged through the golem mage notes on how to create them before the soldiers set fire to the kingdom. I could only hope Dovar's gamble at this would pay off. Along with the notes was a pouch. Payment for our service to Azur and Theldane.

Six Reapers. Skilled assassins. The elite in this world. Six went in to end Markus the Mad. Two and a half emerged victorious. It was a hollow victory. So much death and tragedy. All because of the arrogance of the mages and wizards refusing to help when it was needed most. It would be another four months before I was able to fully use my left arm again. To this day I bear a horrid scar over my left pectoral. A reminder of tangling with an immortal. Barely surviving the encounter and coming away alive. It made for a restless night of sleep. After the incident I swore off ever taking another job from a wizard or mage. My disgust over their judgement of Stone Mountain was forever etched in my mind.

Morning found me emerging from my makeshift tree camp in the forest. The combination of the storm last night and my encounter left me tired. So rather then trudge through damp undergrowth and wet ground, I opted to wait and sleep it out in the forest. The wild untamed forest where no one who entered survived. By the gods, I need to think more clearly then pulling a move like this again. I returned to the cathedral ruins, once again entering through the hole in the wall that would place me in the main room. It was partially cloudy today, the sunlight making a brief appearance from time to time before the clouds swallowed its warmth. The bodies of the three thieves were no where to be found. I recalled seeing what looked to be drag marks in the mud outside. No doubt the night hunters had found food.

I whirled at the sound of buzzing and chittering, nearly taking out the strange creature again with a thrown dagger. The thing ducked and nearly crashed were it not able to balance itself and make for a rough landing.

"Mussst you do that?!" it hissed in anger.

We assassins have the right to be on alert. No telling who might be dumb enough to leap out of the shadows and attempt to kill us. I gesture to the fallen columns that would provide as make shift seats and waited for it to approach. The creature muttered and cursed in a language I could not make out before taking a seat near my right. For a while neither of us spoke. The only sounds were that of the insects buzzing about inside, the occasional bird call from the outside. I finally decided to break the ice and made a gesture with my hand, motioning for a scroll or piece of parchment that would contain this contract it spoke about last night.

"Ahh, yess. My mistress wishess to give it to you in perssson."

I grunt slightly annoyed that it did not have it on itself right then and there.

"You are to come with me and meet her at our hive."

"And this hive?" I asked.

The creature hopped off where it sat and motioned for me to follow. Sighing I rose and trailed the thing. Not like I have anything else better to do here. We exit the ruins and follow a broken stone path, where nature was reclaiming it for its own once more. The courtyard or what was left of it came into view as we turned left. An archway in the center stood before us, the empty space revealing the end of the courtyard where great trees now replaced the once stone wall. The thing approached the steps leading to the arch and motioned.

"We shall travel together to sssee her."

"Theldane? Caravos? The southern reaches of the Desert Plains?" I asked.

"None. Where we are going... few of your folk have ever ssset foot on."

Hooo boy, I think I know where this is going,"You want me to break one of the Three Laws?"

The thing stopped and turned. Even beneath its cloak, I could tell it cocked its head to the side, puzzled by my words. An Outsider. How to explain this?

"Your an Outsider not of our world. I guess its only fair to explain what the Three Laws are here."

It nodded, allowing me to continue.

"Law #1: We are not alone. There are countless worlds connected by various methods of travel. We acknowledge their existence and respect the inhabitants way of living."

"Your kind acknowledges uss, yet you were a bit shocked by my presence."

"Stories and rumors, surrounding Law One that I heard as a child growing up. I thought it was the wizards way of cowing us to not do anything stupid or try anything foolish with magic. So you will have to forgive me for realizing the old coots were right."

"If you knew of variousss worldss, then why hesitate?"

Law #2,"Under no circumstances what so ever, is any living human being or individual from various race allowed to attempt to travel and explore said worlds nor be allowed to bring any item, thing or creature back."

"That is a problem how?"

I motioned with my hands,"The wizards and mages were adamant on this law. The worlds out there are at various stages of advancement. Some technological and magically superior then we are. Some that are below us. Imagine having a powerful magical artifact brought back from our world into yours. The devastation unleashed would be catastrophic."

A buzzing snicker,"I think thossse wizards made that up jussst to keep you on a tight leash. Honessstly, you really believe that?"

I grunted again,"My thoughts exactly. Personally I think they do it on purpose, because they're just stuck up, know-it-all withered old assholes."

"Ass...hole?" it buzzed confused again. I pointed to my posterior. If I could see its eyes, they probably would be blinking rapidly.

"A plot hole?" the creature replied.

"Eh?" Now I was the confused one.

The creature waved its appendages covered by the cloak,"Moving on. The Third Law?"

"Law #3: If by un forseen circumstances or powers beyond control and you find yourself in any of these worlds. Don't panic. Keep calm, attempt to contact the mage or wizard whose name you know well and await their response."

"Thatsss it? Wait it out? After what you sssaid about how stuck up thesse wizards are, you are willing to remain sstranded on another world?"

"Fear will keep curious in check."

The creature sputtered and said something I could not make out. Then it straightened itself out and motioned to the archway,"Well, you are not breaking any of the three lawss your silly magic users created. There iss no law that prohibits your kind from being invited by an Outsssider now is there? Besidesss, you are a contracted ssstealthy killer for hire. There are lawsss againssst murder, yet that has not stopped you has it?"

I can't argue with that. Add to my displeasure of working for wizards in the past, this would make for a pleasant trip. A jolly gesture to those robed old men in towers by telling them where they can take their laws and where they can shove it. I could use a bit of change for once too. I checked, double checked, even triple checked my gear and what little belongings I had on me to make sure everything was secure and in place. I followed my new guide to a new world as we both approached the archway. I could feel the light buzzing of magic emanating from the empty space between the stones. Much like a mirror the portal was ready to accept its travelers. The creature went in first, its body disappearing in a rippling wave of nothing. The surface stilled like the face of a lake settling after a stone throw. My turn. I took one last look around me, at the wild forest of my home, place of residence and means of employment. I then took a deep breath and stepped through the portal, exiting my world to enter a completely different and new one.

Author's Note

Wizards, mages and golems, oh my! What is the difference between the two? I think of wizards as those old men in robes hats and beards the highest ranking magic users. Mages are lower ranking but still should be respected. Mostly.