Curse of The Seventh Sword: The Gauntlet of Feona (29 page)

“Shall we move?”  Matilom said. 

“No I’m fine.”  Vannera responded.  “This is the best area to keep watch over them.  If I am to move, then it is to help them.”  She looked at Matilom.

“We stay here then.  I will protect you as best I can, while
you maintain your prayers to Lady Lynda.  Where is Davydd now?”

“On Ivan’s ship.” 
Vannera said.  Her eyes were fixed on Davydd’s aura as he navigated his way through the ship.  She could see it swirl and move whenever he was drawn into a fight.  So far, she had no cause to worry.

“
Vannera…”  Matilom called out.  She looked behind him and saw that he was struggling to prevent his neck from being slit by an Angwelethean soldier.  She recognized him.  He was the one who had punched Davydd in the misty forest.  Matilom had his hand held out in front of Farok’s blade.  It seemed as though a force was preventing Farok from moving the blade any further.  However, the soldier was immensely strong, and his sheer physical strength was slowly but surely over powering Matilom’s magic. 

“Soldier… what
are you doing?”  Vannera said calmly. 

“I have orders from your father to take you with me.”  Farok responded as he co
ntinued to slowly push the blade forward. 

“Then you do not need to kill him.  I will come with you.”

“It is a nice gesture.  But he is still dangerous.”

“Why are you doing this?” 
Vannera looked at Matilom whose left hand was slowly beginning to glow, as it dropped low facing Farok’s left thigh.

“Has my father corrupted you so?”

“Your father is a good man Vannera.  And he wishes to reason with you.”

“He wishes… to reason with me?  Like this?  By visiting death upon those I love.  I would rather him kill me too.” 

At that moment, Matilom placed his hand on Farok’s thigh.  The searing heat caused Farok to lose his concentration and Matilom grabbed the soldier’s sword pointing it at him. 

“Now then.”  Said the wizard.  “You heard the princess’s reply.  She does not want to return.”

“Your father wishes to stop the invasion of the dragol on the human world.  If Davydd Miljorn takes possession of the gauntlet, he will unleash the dragol from the chains that bind them now.  Chains laid by his own father.  You have no idea what destruction they can and will cause.”

“Oh I know all too well.” 
Vannera’s thoughts shifted to Jaynea.  “I have witnessed firsthand, the cruelty of the dragol… in this realm.  The chains were never a final answer.  They were there to give us time.  A time that has come now and my father, you and all misguided souls who follow in his wake will send us all to oblivion.  You say my father is a good man.  Is he?  Are you?  If you are, then do the right thing.  I am on my way to help Davydd.”

Vannera began walking towards the steps that led up to the roof, but Farok caught her by her neck. 

“You will come with us.”

A dagger sliced down at Farok’s hand but he let go of
Vannera’s neck just in time.  Farok kicked his sword out of Matilom’s hand just as Max pulled the wizard and the princess into his portal.  They re-emerged on a different rooftop. 

“Are you alright?” 
Max asked the two.

“Thanks to you.”  Matilom responded.  “Once again.”

Max smiled.  “I am going back.”

“Make him taste concrete
Max.  Make him taste concrete.”  Vannera said.

“As commanded.” 
Max was gone again.

Farok was picking up his sword when he barel
y dodged a dagger aimed for his neck.  “You again.”  He said as Max emerged.  “Three times you have attempted to take me unawares.  A coward’s move would never work against me.”

“I am no coward.” 
Max said smiling.  “I merely seek to end my disputes in time so I can return to enjoying my life.  Life
is
short as you know.”

“Indeed.  Then the time for words has passed us.  Let us begin this long awaited duel.” 
Max smirked and broke into a dash towards Farok.  Both men clashed with their weapons, dodging and countering each other without giving any ground.  Farok bent low under Max’s one, two jabs and swiped at Max’s mid section.  He hit nothing but air, as Max was already behind him.  Farok used his shield to block against the attempted stab in his back.  He whirled around from right to left, his sword in hand swinging towards Max.  Max used the dagger in his left hand to parry the blow and took advantage of the soldier’s strength by lifting himself up on his left hand.  His right leg lashed out in a kick that caught Farok in the left cheek.  Farok’s head cocked to the right under the force and he staggered back.  Max landed on his feet and bolted forward, thrusting out his right hand.  Farok caught his intended dagger blow.  He then caught Max’s left hand as well, so that the Angwelethean guardian was completely open.  Farok kicked him in the mid-section causing Max to buckle over.  Farok then raised up his knee catching Max with a jaw shattering blow that sent his face shooting upwards as blood spewed from his nose.  Max twisted his wrists so that he now grabbed Farok’s hands just behind the wrist as well.  Using this leverage, Max lifted both his feet up and kicked Farok in the chest.  The force sent Farok stumbling back and he regained his balance just in time to prevent himself from falling to his death.  He bolted forward, sword and shield in hand and swung at Max who using his portals evaded each blow easily.  Max reemerged behind Farok and cut him behind his right knee.  Farok let out a scream of pain and swung at Max, who was already on his left side, and had already cut him down on his left knee.  Max quickly cut Farok under either armpit, causing his arms to slump to his sides.  Farok still held his sword.  He shot Max a defiant look and willed himself to get back up to his feet.  There was a pool of blood forming underneath him. 

“You would really die for another man’s cause?” 
Max asked. 

“Are you… not willing to give your life… for
Davydd’s cause?”

“Ah.  That I am.
”

Farok laughed. 

“You are near the point of death, and you still find humor.”

“King Sidion… commanded me to lead the Angwelethean army… should he fall.  I was… to lead until
Davydd was… ready.”

“He commanded that?”

Farok nodded as he fell to one knee.  “Indeed.  His intention… was never to bring about destruction to humanity.  Has greed driven… him before?  Yes.  It still does…”

“Then why?”

“Because he has come… this far.  He wishes to test his beliefs… against those of Davydd’s.  And I was to obey the victor… the true king of Angweleth.  In my armor… there is a note I have written with King Sidion’s seal… on it.  No Angwelethean soldier will defy his will… should he fall… after me.”

Max
observed Farok for a while. 

“Hurry up and give me a proper death
, guardian.”

Max rushed forward and knocked the death class soldier unconscious.

He lifted him up above his soldiers. 

“Not today.”  He said.  “There is still use for you if what you say is true.”

He opened up a portal that led to Matilom and Vannera.

Back at the main street leading up to the port, Baximus, Leo and Obin were still battling the Angwelethean soldiers and pirates, alongside the Beathalethean soldiers.  Baximus broke through and began making his way to one of the boats the Angwelethean soldiers had used.  He faced off against two soldiers who made to block his path, and easily defeated them.  Baximus untied one of the boats and boarded it.  He began paddling towards Ivan’s ship.  He knew it would not go very far, as Sidion’s ships had cornered it at sea. 

Hold on son.  I’m coming.  Just you hold on.

Davydd made his way through the living quarters of Ivan’s ship, going from one cabin to the other.  There was no sign of Ivan, Kazan or Horius. However, he had run into numerous pirates seeking to end his life.  Wherever those three were, they had made him a target and until he found them, this search would continue to endanger him.  Davydd reached the end of a door way and went down the steps which led to the storage area where supplies for the ship’s crew were kept.  The area was dark, and the only source of light came from another doorway at the other end of the large and roomy expanse.  Davydd made his way through the large room slowly, cautiously, and quietly.  His every sense was on alert, picking up on the slightest of movements, the slightest of sounds.  It was just as well, for Davydd heard the faintest of sounds as he moved past two large crates.  The sounds he heard took him back to a life long forgotten.  One that he’d left behind on that fateful morning when he saved a princess instead of taking down a deer for dinner.  It was the sound of an arrow being pulled back on a bow’s string and it was right beside Davydd.  Davydd arched his head back as the arrow shot right past his face.  He turned to see who the shooter was, and discovered that it was none other than Kazan himself.  Davydd leapt back to put some distance between himself and Ivan’s son.  Even though he knew that putting distance between himself and an archer was the worst thing he could possibly do, he also knew that Kazan preferred poisoned arrows.  If Kazan hand-stabbed him with one of those arrows or even so much as scratched him, he would be in serious trouble.  Davydd had barely recovered from his leap, when he instinctively rolled forward, dodging a slash which would have decapitated him.  He whirled around, unsheathing Balek’s sword from his back with his left hand simultaneously, and blocked the follow up attack from Horius.  Horius moved back into the shadows and Davydd turned around to face Kazan but he was gone as well.  Davydd bent low into a semi-crouch and moved along the room in the direction of the doorway needing to the next area.  His eyes darted this way and that.  His ears would have perked up to any sound if they could.  His skin was sensitive to even the slightest movement or trickle of sweat oozing from his pores.  It happened again. The sound of a string being pulled taut and the
thwock
sound that accompanied it.  Davydd dived out of the way and saw the flash of Horius’s pirate blade coming down menacingly on him.  He brought up Balek’s sword and blocked the downward slash.  Davydd kicked up his right leg, catching Horius in the face.  As Davydd leapt back up, he felt a warm searing pain in his abdomen.  Davydd looked down and saw an arrow embedded in the right side of his lower abdomen.  It didn’t take long for him to feel his strength wane a bit.  But the moment had his blood pumping, which was a good thing for it kept him alert.  However, he knew he needed to stay calm or the venom would spread.  Horius, who had been knocked down to the ground by Davydd’s kick slashed at Davydd’s waist but Davydd reacted fast enough to block his attack and push his way past him.  He needed to get to the doorway and out of the storage room fast.  His enemies had the advantage here.  As Davydd sprinted for the doorway, he broke of a part of the arrow’s stem jutting out from his abdomen.  He staggered as he ran, and he had begun sweating more profusely.  Davydd ran past the doorway and staggered down a flight of steps.  He lost his footing and fell into a roll, grunting and groaning as he did.  When Davydd looked up, he found himself in a lower room much like the storage room above it, but better lit.  There in the center of the room was an ornamental chest that was rooted to the base of the ship by a thick metal bar.  Davydd noticed that it was open.  He got up and slowly made his way towards it.  His eyes, which were beginning to blur, were just beginning to make out what was inside, when he heard another sound.  The sound was distorted but his now well-honed warrior’s instinct recognized it.  Davydd somehow managed to move out of the way of the slash.  Horius’s sword slammed down on the metallic steps.  Davydd stomped his foot on the blade and landed a series of punches on Horius’s face.  The older man was surprisingly strong, and using his body weight, rammed his left shoulder into Davydd’s abdomen, pushing the arrow deeper inside.  Davydd fell down the rest of the steps.  He coughed out a few drops of blood unto the wooden floor and writhed in pain.  His whole body went into a series of spasms and his muscles cramped and tightened on him.  The poison was really beginning to take effect.  However, Davydd struggled up to his hands and knees coughing violently as he did.  Horius and Kazan had made it down from the rest of the steps as well.  They encircled him like wolves stalking their wounded prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.  Horius rushed in first of all and attempted to kick Davydd in the rib, but Davydd caught his leg and yanked at it, causing Horius to fall down.  He slammed down with Balek’s sword at Horius, but the pirate was able to parry the blow with his sword just in time.  However, the force of the swing knocked Horius’s sword out of his hand and Davydd still struck with a shallow blow, lacerating the right side of Horius, from shoulder down to his chest.  Horius let out a cry of agony.  Davydd lifted up his sword again but felt his flesh pierced in his lower right back by a sharp metallic object.  He was certain it was one of Kazan’s arrows.  Davydd could no longer control his body, as he slumped over beside Horius, who was still screaming.  Kazan pulled the wounded pirate away from Davydd.  Davydd crawled to the chest slowly and agonizingly.  His vision blurred even more, and he was short of breath. 

“The mighty ‘
Davydd Miljorn, son of King Rikard Miljorn and the goddess Lady Lynda, heir to the throne of Angweleth and rightful wielder of the gauntlet and sword of Feona’, reduced to a crawling waste before my presence.”

Davydd glared at Ivan the terrible. 

“Ah…”  The pirate king observed.  “It seems you still have some life in you.”  Ivan stepped on Davydd’s left hand, causing him to release his grip on Balek’s sword.  Davydd screamed in agony and then his head slumped down to the floor.  Ivan kicked the sword away and brought out a black metallic gauntlet with engraved patterns on the wrist and palm areas.  The gauntlet glistened under the wash of light coming from the torches that lit the room.  Ivan lowered it in front of Davydd’s face so he could see it. 

“This is what you’ve been searching for this whole time.
  To come so close, only to have it ripped from your grasp.  You have met your end young Miljorn.”

Vannera, Matilom, and Max who lent support to the wounded Farok, ran through the streets of Sangwa, in the direction of the ports. 

“Princess, we are heading into the heat of battle.  Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Davydd is dying.  This is not an idea Max.  As princess of Angweleth, this is an order.”

Max looked at her for a moment.  Gone were the days when she would break down sobbing in situations like this.  Her distress was apparent, but so was her control over it.  Like
Davydd, she had come a long way.  They all had.  Was it far enough though? 

“As you wish, princess.” 
Max said as they continued running.  Up ahead, they ran into a group of Angwelethean soldiers who promptly turned towards them upon sighting them.  Max stepped ahead of the rest and prepared to engage them, when they all began dropping to the ground.  A figure, which moved so quickly so as to appear a blur, cut them down ruthlessly and the rest met their end at the edge of Segmiatus’s blade.  Sam and Segmiatus stepped forward towards Max and the rest. 

“It is good to meet you alive!” 
Max exclaimed.

“Why are you here?”  Segmiatus said addressing all of them.  “If we were a moment later, we may have met you all dead.”

“We are on our way to aid Davydd.”  Princess Vannera said. 

“Princess, you
would not be aiding him by throwing yourself in dang…”

“He’s dying.”  Princess
Vannera said, cutting Segmiatus off.  “Your closest friend is very near death.  My heart is very near death.  We are boarding Ivan’s ship.  You can come with me or stay.  Either way, I do not wish to waste anymore time bantering words.”  And with that she stepped through the two, who promptly joined them in their rush towards the port.  At that moment, Farok stirred slowly. 

“Why do you have him?”  Segmiatus asked. 

“He is our pathway to Davydd.”  Max responded. 

They ran into another group of Angwelethean soldiers. 

“Halt!”  One of the soldiers yelled.

“You… halt…”  Farok said weakly. 

“Commander!”  The soldier yelled.  “Release him!”  He barked at Vannera and the others.

“I
said halt!!”  Farok yelled and then coughed and hacked.  He motioned to Max, who pulled out the sealed order which King Sidion had written. 

Max flashed it in front of the soldier, who cautiously came forward and read it. 

“Is the king dead?” The soldier asked.

“If you do not let us pass… both of them will be… and you will answer to me.  Do you understand?”

Fear slowly encroached on the soldier’s heart and he nodded agreeably.  He turned to the other soldiers in his command. 

“We will assist commander F
arok and these people in getting to the port.  Form a shield around them you and you and you three.  The rest of you disperse and spread word of King Sidion’s wishes and of Farok’s command.  Let us move.”

“Sir!”
  The soldiers responded in unison and immediately formed around Vannera and the rest. 

“Ready! Move!”  And with that they charged through the chaotic streets towards the port. 

Vannera looked at Farok.

“You were not lying about his orders.”  She said in
surprise.

“It is… as I said.  Your father’s… a good man, even if… he’s not the best of Kings.”

Davydd lay on the floor unconscious.  His breathing was very shallow and his body twitched every now and then.  Ivan studied him for a while and raised his ham
mer.  It was such a shame.  Here was another other young life gone to waste, chasing unrealistic ideals.  Ivan made to swing down with his hammer when he heard a roar behind Kazan. He looked up to see Baximus swinging at Kazan’s neck. Ivan instinctively ran forward to protect his son and Baximus used the opportunity to attack the pirate king.  Sword and hammer clashed ferociously and the two older men glared at each other.

“You dare make an attempt on my son’s life?!”  Ivan bellowed.

“As you have made an attempt on mine’s.”  Responded Baximus calmly.

“I suppose we are both guilty of the
same crime then.  Only, yours is retaliation.”

“Retaliation?” 
Baximus said as he evaded another one of Ivan’s monstrous swings and easily side stepped an arrow shot at him by Kazan from behind. 

“If this were about retaliation,
your son would be dead by now.  I have merely come for your life and the gauntlet.”  Baximus evaded another one of Kazan’s arrows.  “If your son dies tonight, it is because he has picked a battle he cannot win.”  Baximus clashed weapons with Ivan once more.  He evaded another downward swipe.  The pirate king was predictable.   Too predictable even.  Baximus tested his theory by moving in for the
opening
presented by Ivan’s careless slash.  He was right.  Ivan effortlessly shifted trajectories and slashed sideways at Baximus’s neck.  However Baximus had bent low to avoid the anticipated move.  His slashed his sword at Ivan’s abdomen, but the pirate was able to break Baximus’s attack by slamming his elbow down on Baximus’s swinging arms.  Baximus turned the blade of his sword downwards, so that the handle was pointing upwards towards Ivan’s jaw.  He slammed the handle into its target, forcing Ivan’s head to snap backwards and the huge man to fall back first on the ground.  He evaded yet another arrow, before rushing towards Kazan and slicing his bow in half.  Kazan scrambled for his bag of arrows but was struck by a brutal kick to the ribs.  He fell coughing and trying to regain the breath that had been forced out of his lungs. 

“You are a troublesome little runt.  You stay still.” 
Baximus turned around only to meet with Ivan’s hammer slamming down on his right shoulder.  Baximus wore an empty shocked look as the blade of the hammer ripped through his skin and bone before stopping short of completely dismembering his right arm.  Ivan pulled back his hammer and Baximus slumped to the floor. 

“You should have killed Kazan when you
had the chance.  Your honor has not served you well today.  That is what honor brings; death.  Come Kazan.  You may as yet be a useful son of mine.”  Ivan grabbed the gauntlet, and Kazan helped Horius up.  All three made their way towards the steps Davydd had fallen down from, leaving him and Baximus laying there, seemingly lifeless. 

Davydd could barely see anything.  All around him was darkness.  He thought he’d heard his father’s voice.  He thought he’d heard the clash of weapons.  Suddenly, it had all
gone quiet once again and he’d heard the voice of Ivan soon after.  The pirate king loved to boast.  His mind was willing his body to move, but he couldn’t.  He could not even tell if he was breathing or not. 

“Here lies
Davydd Miljorn, a king who cannot win his battles.”  The voice stirred Davydd even though he did not recognize it. 

“I am not yet king…” 
Davydd responded.