A Veteran's Time

[DoS Archive]

From: eagleecore@aol.com (EagleEcore)
Date: 23 Jul 1999 22:50:31 EDT

He stood on the boardwalk outside the Red Dragon Inn looking out on the weekend evening of the main central market plaza of RhyDin Towne. His foresty green eyes were a bit mysty as he choked back some emotions. He watched a moment the various couples, familys, and comrades that strolled by in the warm summer night. So many ghosts mingled with them that came from his past. It had gotten to a point where
there were more old ghosts than there were of the present that he knew anymore.

He didn't belong here anymore and the Fates were telling him very clearly these last few weeks. He had lost nine in a row now in the Arena, the worst ever in his career. Coupled with the challenge fiasco and how much he hated the way some of the new schoolers acted, he saw no enjoyment from his time in the basement caverns. He had just given Avery his 100th WoL in his last duel. He remembered Iain's words that once the Welsh Highlander was
considered a prize to gain a victory off of, and now he was just more easy padding for someone else's records. There was no sense in dragging it out and trying to hang on to something he didn't have anymore. His skill was wanning and his desire to rise again extinguished since losing a title he never gained.

With a few muted thuds of his boots her walked down the steps into the plaza. Within moments he melted into the crowd among the gathering of regular populace. After a few more moments he seemed to just fade from view.