Tyler leaned against a weathered wooden post, mending a fishing net, his fingers weaving the frayed strands back together. The dull ache in his side, a constant reminder of Zharan's cruelty, throbbed with every movement. Despite the healer's efforts, the wound Zharan had inflicted still ached. He gritted his teeth against the pain, his focus fixed on the task at hand.
The sky was overcast. The distant cry of gulls added a melancholic backdrop to Tyler’s solitude. He tried to lose himself in the rhythm of his work, each knot a temporary distraction.
As he concentrated on his task, a young boy from the village came barreling towards him. "Tyler! Tyler!" the boy gasped, clutching his side as he struggled to catch his breath. "You gotta come quick!"
Tyler looked up. "What is it? What's happened?"
The boy took a moment to catch his breath, then blurted out, "Zharan! The Dragonkin Marauder! He's calling for you, and he has a girl named Ellie."
At the mention of Ellie's name, Tyler felt a jolt of alarm. He dropped the net, the tangles of rope falling forgotten at his feet, and straightened up, wincing as pain shot through his side. "Where is she?"
"In the village square," the boy replied, pointing in the direction of the village.
Tyler grabbed his sword and scabbard, attaching it to his belt. "Stay here," he told the boy. Then he made his way toward the village, keeping to the shadows and avoiding the main paths.
As he neared the village square, he crouched behind a row of barrels, his eyes scanning the area. He spotted Ellie, her hands bound, standing in the center of a group of marauders. Zharan stood nearby, barking orders. "Stack the wood over by those rocks. We'll make sure the Oceanrider knows we're serious."
Tyler's stomach churned as he realized their intent: they planned to burn Ellie at the stake, to use her as bait to draw him out. Anger surged through him at the sight. He watched as the marauders began to pile wood near the rocks. Zharan was calling out for him, his voice echoing through the village. "Tyler Green, Oceanrider! Show yourself, or your friend will suffer the consequences!"
Tyler's grip tightened on his sword. He knew he had to act quickly, but he couldn't afford to be reckless. Just as he was about to step out of his hiding spot, one of the marauders spotted him. "There he is!" the man shouted, pointing in Tyler's direction.
Zharan turned, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Ah, there you are. Come out and join us, Oceanrider, or your girlfriend will pay the price."
Tyler walked into the open, his grip tightening on the leather-wrapped hilt of his sword. He could feel every eye on him as he approached the village square. "Let her go, Zharan. Your fight is with me."
Zharan chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I intend to, but only after we've had our fun."
Tyler watched Ellie struggle against her captor's grip. "Tyler, be careful!"
"Quiet, girl," Zharan snapped. "This is between me and the Oceanrider."
Tyler took a step forward, his eyes never leaving Zharan's. "You want me? Here I am. But let Ellie go, completely. She has nothing to do with this."
Zharan raised his sword. "Very well. Release her, but make sure she stays put."
The marauder holding Ellie loosened her bonds but kept a firm grip on her arm, his fingers digging into her flesh. Tyler could see the terror in Ellie's eyes, but he forced himself to focus on Zharan.
The two men circled each other, swords drawn, the tension building with each passing second. The other marauders watched, cheering for their leader, their voices rising in a chorus of jeers and taunts.
Zharan struck first, his sword a blur of silver as it sliced through the air, aiming for Tyler's throat. Tyler parried the blow, the force of it sending a jolt of pain through his injured side. He groaned, fighting through the agony as he countered with a strike of his own, his blade clashing against Zharan's with a ringing clang.
The fight was on, the clash of metal ringing out across the square as their swords met again and again, sparks flying with each impact. Tyler's movements were slower than usual, his injury hindering his ability to fight at full strength, each step sending a fresh wave of pain through his body. Zharan, sensing his weakness, pressed his advantage, his attacks becoming more aggressive and relentless.
"Tyler, watch out!" Ellie shouted, her voice breaking through the din of battle.
Zharan laughed. "Listen to her, Oceanrider. She knows you're no match for me. You're weak, broken. You should have stayed dead when you had the chance."
Fueled by bloodlust and a thirst for vengeance, Zharan redoubled his efforts, his sword a whirlwind of death as he drove Tyler back step by step, forcing him to give ground. "Give up, Oceanrider. You're nothing but a pathetic worm."
But Tyler refused to yield. He ducked under a wild swing, the blade whistling past his ear, then countered with a thrust of his own, his sword grazing Zharan's arm, drawing a thin line of blood.
Zharan's overconfidence, however, was his downfall. In his eagerness to deliver the final blow, he stepped carelessly onto a log, his foot slipping out from under him. He stumbled, his balance lost, and his head struck a nearby rock with a sickening crack.
Tyler saw his chance and rushed forward, his sword poised to strike, ready to end Zharan's reign of terror once and for all. But as he stood over the fallen marauder, his blade hovering inches from Zharan's throat, he hesitated, something staying his hand.
The marauders fell silent, their jeers and taunts dying away as they watched with shock and disbelief.
Suddenly, the tavern door burst open with a crash, and Tobias, Jack, and Ana rushed out, ready for battle. They stopped short, taking in the scene before them, their eyes darting from Tyler to Zharan and back again. Seeing that Tyler had the situation under control, they stood watch, prepared to intervene if necessary.
Tyler stood over Zharan, his sword raised. This was his chance, his opportunity to end Zharan's reign of terror once and for all, to avenge his fallen crew and protect Ellie from further harm. He could bring peace to the Dragonspine Reaches, rid the world of a monster who had caused so much pain and suffering.
Zharan looked up at him, his eyes filled with hatred. "Do it," he spat. "Finish it."
Tyler's hand trembled on the hilt of his sword, the weight of the moment pressing down on him like a physical force. Everyone was waiting to see what he would do.
