Master of the Sword (Part 10)

Chapter 71

Xaun was at the door to my cell, cold fingers upon the metal when a voice interrupted him. “Xaun, what are you doing here?” I recognized the voice. The day I had first saw Deston, he had been the Assad who had known me, known my name and what I had done. He had asked me why I had done it, not knowing that I didn’t know what I had done.2

“Von?!” J.R. exclaimed.3

“J.R?” Von turned his gaze to J.R. He shook his head sadly. “I wish neither of you had been caught.” He looked at me and then looked back to Xaun. “Why are you here?” He repeated.4

“I’m here to take care of some business.” Xaun smiled wickedly.5

“I know why you are here and I cannot let you go into that cell.” Von said.6

“Oh come on Von.” The sorcerer laughed.7

“I must do my duty.”8

“Which is what?” Xaun snapped.9

“To give the prisoners a fair trial and execute if necessary.” Von replied. 10

“Well, we all know how those “fair” trials are. We wait for the king and his counsel to say guilty and then we execute the prisoner. Seems so fair.” He chided.11

“Don’t push me. Leave now.” Von ordered and Xaun laughed. He raised his hands and Von dove out of the way as a burst of magical fire shot his way. Von scrambled to his feet and attempted to exit through the door when a coiled rope wrapped around his feet. “Xaun, stop this!”12

“No.” Xaun stared with crazy eyes and flipped his hand. With the flip of his hand, the coiled rope jerked Von off his feet, making his head hit the floor hard. “Now sleep.” Xaun said and the Assad was instantly unconscious. Xaun finally turned back to me, but as he turned, I was right at the edge of the gate to surprise him. My fist smacked him right in the nose and before he could fall backwards, I grabbed his tunic and beat on him some more. When I released my surprised victim, he collapsed and I reached through the bars to search his pockets for a key. I found them and was about to pull my hand back through when Xaun moved and grabbed a hold on me.13

“Agh!” I lurched back but he had me firmly. I could hear Deston and Carver yelling but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Xaun put his cold hands around my throat and I felt the circulation get cut off.14

“You think you can do that and get away with it?! I’ll make you pay.” He hissed. I reached my opposite hand through the bars and wrapped my own hand around his throat. I saw his eyes bug out a little as his air supply was cut off as well. 15

“Let’s see how well you play without air.” I grumbled, slowly pulling away from his hold. He tried to take a deep breath, but couldn’t, so he leaned closer to the cell and tightened his grip on me. His face was already changing to a purplish color but I knew that mine was, too. Thinking quickly, I remembered the keys still in my other hand. With as much force as I could muster, I slung them into his temple. He loosened his grip enough in the surge of pain for me to get another breath and then I tossed the keys to Deston. I now had more air than Xaun, but if Deston didn’t hurry we’d both be dead.16

As I watched, Xaun’s eyes slowly turned white. Magic was thrumming through him and I knew this was going to be bad. When the magic reached its peak, I heard the hum stop for a second and then something lit into me like a bolt of lightning. I couldn’t even scream with the intense shock of electricity as I collapsed to the floor. I convulsed a few times and then felt a new wave of shock as Xaun aimed his hands at me. It felt like everything in my body was burning and boiling and cold as ice all at the same time.17

Somewhere in the little consciousness that I had left, I heard the squeak of a door being opened and then I heard Deston. The shock disappeared but the pain remained. I rolled over as if that might help me, but it didn’t and I saw Deston at that moment. She had attacked Xaun, leaping upon his back Xaun wheeled and tried to throw her off, but she stepped off before he could and faced him. Xaun lifted his hand, that familiar white look in his eyes as he prepared to use the electricity once more.18

“No!” I coughed but it was too late. Deston fell to her knees, but her hands were lifted in front of her face as if protecting it. It seemed to work and she slowly struggled to her feet. That’s when I remembered her telling me that sorcerers fear Seraphim because their good counteracts the sorcerer’s bad. Xaun began to sweat as his power ate uselessly at Deston. Her power was holding the evil at bay. Then, with a mighty burst of heavenly light, Xaun shrunk to the ground, his power thwarted, for the time being. Deston stood up straight and tall and Xaun shrank before her in fear.19

“Milady, I didn’t mean any harm.”20

“Would you dare lie to a Seraphim?” She demanded. 21

“No, milady, never!”22

“I think you lie now.” She spat. “I shall let Daeryk decide your fate.” She said. “Carver, let him out.”23

Carver scrambled forward and unlocked my cell. “Thank you; let J.R. out.” I told him. I turned to face Deston who faced me. I was about to speak when Xaun suddenly leapt to his feet.24

“Look out!” A new voice shouted and jumped in front of both Deston and me. Xaun screamed as the power that he had just released upon us turned back to him and lit him from the inside out. I stared in shock at the girl in front of us. She was maybe 16 years old and she was shielding us somehow. Xaun crawled to his feet and ran from the room, bested by two women. 25

I stared at the girl, taking deep breaths. I glanced around and shook my head and looked back at the girl. I remembered something Deston had told me and I knew exactly what this girl was. She was an Amari, an immortal.26

“Run!” She wheeled to look at us. I nodded and grabbed Deston’s arm, pulling her after me. Carver and J.R. followed and we stopped to help Leif to his feet.27

“Come on old friend, you can make it.” Deston whispered in his ear. Carver and I supported him between us and we ran out the door. The Amari girl led us through the same way we had entered, but as we neared the front, I stopped.28

“I need my sword.” I stated.29

“You can buy a new sword, we must go.” The Amari said.30

“No, I must retrieve my sword.” I insisted.31

“Yes, we must get it.” Deston agreed. “We will explain later, but he must-Daeryk where are you going?!”32

“To get my sword; stay here.” I called over my shoulder. They shouted after me, but I didn’t hesitate. I could feel the sword calling to me and I knew it was because of the magical bond. It led me in the right direction and tugged at my heart. I crept to a side door and snuck out of it quietly. I saw the door to the room the captain had been in earlier. I peeked in through a window that had its shutters open.33

The captain was sitting at a desk with his feet propped upon it. His eyes were droopy as he skimmed over the papers he was examining. I saw my sword sitting on his desk. I almost smiled at it and felt relieved to know it was soon to be at my side again. I reached into the room from the window cautiously, but abruptly jerked my arm back at a sudden noise.34

It was just the captain as he began snoring. I sighed and reached in, gripping my sword, which was still in its scabbard attached to my belt. My hand latched onto the hilt and I slowly lifted it into the air. Just then the papers that the captain had been holding slipped out of his hands, as he was no longer holding them for he was asleep. The sound they made as they hit the floor was enough to wake the captain. He stirred and glanced around.35

“What the devil?” He exclaimed and jumped up as he saw me. I yanked my sword out the window and took off running. “The prisoners have escaped!” I heard him bellow repeatedly. I ran back into the room to see the appalled faces of the others.36

“Go!” I ordered and they turned and fled. I followed them out the door and into the crowd of people. Assad soldiers came barreling after us, but we hid in the crowd. “Move!” I urged as one of them spotted us and we mixed ourselves into the crowd again. 37

“Where did J.R. go?” Carver asked.38

Go!” The Amari yelled as two Assad came our way through the crowd. They couldn’t find us, especially with the crowd running wildly from the men with swords. Carver motioned to an alley not far off and we all trampled through the crowd in that direction. Someone ran into me in their fright and it knocked me backwards.39

“Hey wait up!” I called. “Hey-”40

“Calm down, Sword Master.” A familiar male voice said. I glanced up to see J.R. sitting astride a horse. He had five more horses with him. I stared at him and then stood and leapt upon the back of Apple. “Everyone, this way!” I called and they turned to see the horses. They ran back to us and mounted up. We kicked our mounts into a gallop and rode straight out of the town.41

Once again safe from immediate danger, we halted our horses in the middle of the woods. I couldn’t believe the misfortune’s I was having, not to mention the string of constant bad luck. If only I could remember then perhaps I could end this tirade once and for all. I dismounted and loosened the girth on Apple’s saddle so she could rest more easily.42

“Is everyone alright?” I questioned.43

“No.” Deston snapped. I was surprised at her tart words but then I saw Leif, slouched upon the ground. Her one last friend that she knew was still alive was dying. It was obvious by Leif’s pale features and ragged breathing. The trip, the running, the walking without food or water for days and the short stay at the jail and then another run had taken their toll on the old man. He could not go on much longer. I shut my eyes tightly and clenched my teeth. What could I do?44

“Perhaps if we find him some water, he will be okay?” I suggested.45

“Daeryk, how ridiculous can you be? It’s too late for that!” Deston snubbed. She glared at me angrily. “This is your fault! You should have fought to get us out of this mess. If you had we never would have been captured and this wouldn’t be happening!”46

“MY fault?! It’s not my fault! If you hadn’t insisted on going to find him, he’d still be safe at home.” I retorted.47

“So now you’re blaming me?!” She gasped. 48

I opened my mouth to respond when I was interrupted. “ENOUGH!” Carver’s voice rang out. “This is nobody’s fault except for the bounty hunters. If they had fed us and gave us water, he might still be okay but you two arguing isn’t going to help him. He needs us and we need to be here for him.” Carver turned back to Leif, lying on the ground. Deston bit at her lip and faced Leif, crouching down beside him. I sighed, angry at myself for arguing with her and losing my temper yet again.49

It was quiet for a few moments when a new voice suddenly spoke up. “If I may, I believe I can help your friend.” I glanced at the Amari girl. She wore a blue dress with loose sleeves. Her eyes were a pale green and she had easy brown hair, light but not so light as to be blonde. She was slim and beautiful, but I only had interests in one woman.50

“How might that be?” J.R. broke in.51

“Because,” I said, “She’s an Amari.”52

Everyone wheeled to face her and she gaped at me. “H-h-how did you know that?” She stuttered. In all truth, I wasn’t sure how I knew that. I felt it had something to do with my life before my memory was lost, but I couldn’t possibly remember now. 53

“I just do.” I said simply. “What can you do to help him?”54

“I, um,” She was still taken aback that I had known what she was. “I must give him some of my blood…my immortality will temporarily reside in his veins, healing him and making him stronger. When it dissipates he will be good as new.”55

“Then do it.” Deston told her, sensing the truth and good of the Amari’s words. She nodded and stepped forward, s she came near me, I grabbed her arm.56

“What is your name?” I asked.57

“Rivka.”She stated and continued onto help Leif. Leif said no words as she approached him. She pulled out a dagger from the folds of her dress.58

“What are you going to do?” Deston asked.59

“Feed it to him.”60

“What?! That is against the law of God!” Deston exclaimed.61

“This is a matter of life and death.” Rivka said.62

“Could you do it another way?” Deston plead.63

“Well…”Rivka thought about it. “I could but it would cause him more pain. I would have to cut him and then let my blood fall into his wound.”64

“Then do that.” Leif spoke up, making the decision for himself. Rivka looked at him and nodded. She took his hand gently and put the blade against his skin. Leif took a deep breath and turned his head. In one quick movement, Rivka sliced open his forearm and then sliced open hers as well. Leif grunted but made no other sound as she held her arm above his so that the blood dripped into his wound.65

“There, now he must rest. It may take awhile for it to get into his veins and circulated throughout his body.” Rivka said.66

“Fine, but we can’t stay long.” I said. “The Assad will be tracking us.” I heard something behind me and turned to see J.R. mounting up onto his horse. “Where are you going?”67

“Well I’m not staying here.” J.R. muttered.68

“What?”69

“I helped you out when I should have left you to the Assad, you should be grateful.” J.R. spat. I felt confused, at times J.R. seemed perfectly fine and then he would abruptly be rude and furious with me…or with himself.70

“But I need you to help me. Can’t you help me remember who I am? Give me more answers?” I asked.71

“Find your own answers.” He said curtly.72

“So that’s it, then?” I said as he began trotting off. “You just leave; what if we never see each other again?”73

“I can’t say that would be a bad thing.” He replied, “Though I doubt we will manage to stay out of each other’s way.” He stopped his horse and glanced over his shoulder at me with his deep brown eyes. “I am not your friend Daeryk. I am your enemy and you would do good to remember that.” With those last words, he was gone. I sighed in frustration and kicked at the dirt. When I turned back around, everyone was staring at me.74

“WHAT?!” I demanded and they all looked away. I huffed loudly and walked off into the woods without a word. My fury boiled in my soul and it felt like my legs couldn’t carry me fast enough. J.R. was gone, so now I had no answers; Deston and I had argued and Leif might not live. With a grunt I hit my fist into a tree. “OW!” I bellowed and looked at my knuckles, now bloody. That made me even more mad and so I kicked the tree. That did not seem to do any good so I abruptly unsheathed my sword and wacked the tree. 75

Now I could see the damage I had done and it was good. Lifting my sword I berated the tree, swing after swing, and strike after strike. I hit it as hard as I possibly could and pieces of bark flew into the air, soaring past my head and in all other directions as well. “Take that!” I shouted, not really talking to anyone or anything, just letting my anger loose. Finally, I held my blade out horizontally from the tree and rammed it right through the tree with a burst of magical energy.76

I took a step back and examined my handiwork. My limbs suddenly felt very heavy after all that work chopping at the wood. The tree looked like it could barely stand. I walked around the tree, observing how the blade had gone in and came out the other side. I hoped it came out of the tree as easily as it had gone in, I thought to myself as I gripped the hilt. Taking a deep breath, I pulled but nothing happened. “Darn.” I grumbled, taking a tighter grip. I yanked on the hilt, trying to pull the blade from the tree with grunts and groans.77

“Do you need some help?” I wheeled at the sound of someone speaking.78

I relaxed when I saw who it was but I crossed my arms. “What are you doing here?” I questioned Deston.79

“I-I came to find you.” She said. “I wanted to apologize for earlier. I shouldn’t have blamed you, it’s not your fault and I know that.” Her head drooped a little.80

“Apology accepted.” I said gruffly. She looked up at me.81

“You don’t sound like you mean it.” She told me. In truth, I wanted to mean it but I was just too mad to think about what I was doing. “Daeryk…talk to me.”82

“Just go back to camp.” I muttered.83

“No.” Deston said more boldly. “I don’t want to fight anymore so we are going to talk this out right now.” Why did women always want to talk things out? 84

“Well, start talking.” I grumbled and turned back to my sword. I began pulling on it once again. I heard Deston release a puff of angry air and then her feet crunching on leaves as she came to stand behind me. 85

“Daeryk.” She said with that tone that women get when they are mad at you. I glanced over my shoulder to see her standing squarely with her hands on her hips. That actually lightened my mood a little; she looked cute like that. “Daeryk!” She yelled as I was giving another yank on the sword. Suddenly it came free and I was stumbling backwards. I heard Deston yelp in surprise and then I stumbled into her which caused our feet to become entangled, then we were falling and I landed on top of her.86

“Oof!” The breath rushed out of her. I rolled off of her, being careful not to cut either of us with my sword.87

“Deston are you okay?!” I gasped from beside her.88

She stared at me with a red face, but then she suddenly started laughing. I sighed and leaned my head on her shoulder, glad she was okay and next thing I knew, I was laughing too. I set my sword to the side and laid back in the leaves of the forest floor. When our laughter finally died down, I sighed and sat up.89

“I’m sorry, too.” I told Deston, leaning over her to look into her eyes.90

“For what?” She asked.91

“I shouldn’t have argued with you and I should not have hinted that it was your fault rather than mine when in truth it was nobody’s fault.” I apologized. 92

“So you accept my apology?” She said, looking up at me.93

“Of course; I could never stay mad at you.” I conceded. “You’re-” I shut my mouth. She frowned and sat up a little, but I still hovered over her, my chest above hers.94

“I’m what?” She asked.95

“I-uh…” I bit my lip and closed my eyes for a second. I couldn’t stay in the dark forever. Finally, I opened my eyes with resolved determination and…I kissed her. Deston’s eyes widened in surprise but then half closed in pleasure. I pulled my hand up to place gently on her cheek, the kiss still going, deep and strong. My heart was beating fast but I felt like I was on top of the highest horse ever bred. Stars were in my head and I didn’t want to let this moment go, but I didn’t want to be overzealous, so with a sigh I pulled away.96

Deston kept her eyes closed for a few seconds after I broke the kiss. When she finally opened them, her blue eyes seemed to sparkle with a new light. When she looked at me, she blushed a little and smiled shyly. I smiled back, feeling on top of the world now. Slowly, I stood to my feet and then offered her a hand up. She took it and I pulled her to her feet and then picked up my sword, sheathing it in its scabbard.97

“Come on, let’s go back to camp.” I told her and she nodded. She began walking and I stood still, watching her. Silently, I raised a fist in the air, wishing I could holler and shout as well, but then I had to run to quickly catch up to her and we walked side by side back to our campsite.98