The Blade of Rebellion

by Ian Carter

  "I do, yes. Now, what would the prince of Orilia's bodyguard be doing all the way here in Tipana? I guess your master let you off your leash long enough to grab a drink and a whore by the looks of it." The room of patrons turned to look at Mason, and their previous looks of admiration had vanished, replaced by expressions of confusion and anger.

  "I am doing no such thing," Mason rejected the notion. "Not like some low-end recruiter would know what I'm doing anyway."

  "Oh, that's right. Where are my manners? I haven't introduced myself!" The man placed his right hand over his left breast and gave a short bow. "My name is Jordan. I am the right-hand man of Terrell Braga, the man who leads the resistance that governs this region. It is a great pleasure to meet you in person, Mason. You have a grand reputation, even if you are a lap dog of the kingdom."

  "Unfortunately, I can't say the same for you," Mason joked. "But I noticed that Silver Blade on your hip. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you can use it properly."

  "I'd like to think so. You will be pleased to know that one of my Stones is a Quick Draw Stone. Your head will be cleaved clean off your head before you take the second step in any direction that I do not tell you to go."

  Mason quickly scanned the room and took in the situation. Two men with Bronze Blades stood at attention by the door and seemed to be well trained by their posture and the air about them. Another Silver Blade stood watch by the door into the kitchen. Without his Gold Blade, he would be at a disadvantage against them. The gamble had backfired, and he was on his own.

  "Can I ask you a question, Jordan?"

  "By all means, I have all the time in the world for you," he replied respectfully.

  "Can I assume that you know where the prince is?"

  "My, you give us a lot of credit. I'm taking a fondness for you, Mason. Yes, we have a large number of Blades surrounding The Hanged Royal as we speak. That Hayleigh is quite the Blade, and the prince is no slouch with that unique Blade of his as well, so we don't want to take any chances. As an additional precaution, we have also affixed the same explosives we used in our attack on the Empyrean Festival all around the Inn. My men have orders to blow the explosives immediately if I am not the first person out of this building with a smile on my face." As prophesied, a gigantic grin appeared on his face.

  "You have me by the balls then," Mason admitted.

  "You are correct, I have you by the balls," Jordan confirmed. "I have orders to bring you in to see Mr. Braga, so consider yourself lucky as we are doing the hard part of your job for you. I wouldn't worry about your friends. My men will inform them of the situation. They will have the choice to come willingly or be blown to smithereens. If they have any sense of preservation, they will abide by the terms just like you will. Unless, of course, you wish to experience the fireworks yourself?"

  "So you're going to lead us straight to Terrell? Should I thank you for making our job easy

  for us?"

  "Oh, I'm not worried. Now then, may I ask

  that you come with me, sir?"

  "I have no choice, I will come with you," Mason said stoically.

  "I know why the king got you to protect Kai. I like the energy that radiates off you, almost like everything will be okay. But before we go, I need to show you that everything will not be all right. I have one more important piece of business to settle first."

  Jordan raised his hand and snapped his fingers. At his command, the Silver Blade by the kitchen door disappeared behind them. The Blade soon returned with Bridgette, pulling her by her hair. He took two steps into the room before throwing her forcefully onto the floor. A sickening thud reached Mason's ears as his eyes fell upon her.

  "Little girl," Jordan began as he began a slow, creeping walk towards where she laid on the ground. "We had a deal, did we not? You were to get the information out of Mason here with him being none the wiser, yet you couldn't even do that. We could have hired some of the best mercenaries in the kingdom for the amount we were going to pay you. Instead, at our great leader's direction, we picked the path of least resistance. To use a lovely maiden that would snuggle close and capture his secrets."

  His steps continued towards her.

  "But you ... failed. Didn't you?"

  "I'm s ... so sorry," Bridgette cried. "I tried m... my best, and I almost got the inform—" Jordan quick-drew his Blade and held it outwards, the tip of his Blade resting at the top of her throat. He raised her face with the cold metal beneath her chin to look at his own.

  "Such a beautiful girl. I imagine you are quite popular here. Such a pity."

  Jordan thrust his Blade clean through Bridgette's throat. Her limbs wildly flailed as she reacted to the sudden attack and went to grip the Blade, but she went limp instead. As he withdrew his Blade from her flesh, it allowed her body to collapse to the floor and spurt blood like a fountain across the floor. Several of the Inn's patrons immediately began to vomit at the sight of the grisly murder. Jordan wiped most of the blood from his Blade onto Bridgette's blouse, ignoring the struggles of the people around him before he sheathed his Blade.

  "Well, shall we go?" Jordan's question rang in Mason's ears as he stared at Bridgette's corpse and the continuously growing pool of blood that surrounded it.

  "I have a piece of my own business to do before we leave, do you mind?" Mason proposed, still staring at her lifeless body.

  "It is amusing that you believe that I would allow you any sort of leeway. Do as you please, but be cautioned that it doesn't displease me," Jordan said, giving permission.

  "Excellent." Mason took one step away from Jordan and faced Robbie. In one quick motion, he drew his sword and smacked the flat side of his sword against Robbie's face. He fell back from the devastating impact and cracked his head on the wall. His body fell to the ground as Mason walked over to him and placed two of his fingers on Robbie's neck. He felt a pulse, nodded, and dusted his hands before noticing that Jordan had broken into a small chuckle.

  "That was for getting the girl killed. Now, lead the way," Mason instructed.

  ◆◆◆

  "But really, how are you feeling?"

  The lack of entertainment had begun to drive Hayleigh a little crazy as they waited for Mason to complete his mission gathering information. They had each taken turns having a nap and now struggled to find things to do. It was then that they both realized that Mason was the driving force behind a lot of the conversation during the trip. Mason had a spectacular ability to make uncomfortable moments less so as long as he wasn't in one of his moods. However, with him away, Kai and Hayleigh were left alone with their thoughts and feelings without any guidance.

  "You don't have to keep asking. I'm not nervous," Kai insisted.

  "You're so close to your goal, though! We'll be done soon. We'll either be dead or on the road back home victorious! We either win, or it's suddenly not our problem anymore!"

  "That's ... an optimistic way to look at things," Kai said, feeling startled. "But I do kind of dread going back. After we finish with Terrell, I'll have to deal with the senators that are keeping my father in the dark. It's pretty much out of the cauldron and into the fire."

  "There's no use worrying about something that is so far away. We need to focus on the situation at hand," Hayleigh comforted him. "Just let Mason and I take care of the information and getting to Terrell. You can focus on being the best you that you can be when we eventually meet him."

  Kai smiled. He got up from the bed he had been laying on and walked over to the couch that Hayleigh sat on. He lowered himself onto the sofa beside her and reached out and grabbed her hand. Hayleigh immediately shifted in her seat and stared at his hand on hers, but he didn't remove it.

  "Thank you, Hayleigh. I owe you a lot for what you do for me. Mason as well. I would have never made it this far, and your words of kindness always help me smooth out my nerves a little. What I mean is ... I appreciate you and what you do for me."

  Hayleigh immediately began to blush and
rotated her hand so that their hands firmly held the other's hand. She looked into Kai's eyes, and he was surprised and a little intimidated by the purpose and sincerity that they held.

  "I never properly thanked you for the kind words you gave to me after what happened in Erkau. To be honest, I felt alone and isolated because I didn't have anyone anymore. But when you kneeled beside me and comforted me, you reminded me that I had both of you guys as my family. Mason as my reliable, amazing big brother, and you—"

  A hand rasped against the outside of the door to their room. Hayleigh and Kai opened their eyes wide and turned to face the entryway.

  "Hayleigh ... that wasn't Mason's knock," Kai whispered.

  "You're right. Stay here." Hayleigh rose from the couch and, with her best efforts, drew her Blade as silently as she could. She crept a few footsteps towards the door and gripped her hilt tightly.

  "John?" Hayleigh called out, hoping that Mason had simply forgotten the knock.

  The wooden door broke down from the force of a blow from the intruder's feet. Hayleigh quickly activated her Super Heat Stone and cleaved through the first intruder's Bronze Blade. Before the man could react, she cycled her Blade above her head and came down on the man's neck and lopped his head off.

  She quickly stepped back as a second intruder charged in and stumbled over a leg of the first intruder's corpse. Hayleigh twisted her Blade 90 degrees and struck its flat side against the second intruder's Bronze Blade, which caused it to go flying across the room. Hayleigh leveraged her arm upwards and quickly sliced the intruder's body vertically from his groin to his neck. Blood and guts poured from the cauterized cut the length of his torso. The new cadaver fell in a heap to the floor.

  Hayleigh retreated to Kai as three more intruders slowly and cautiously entered the room. As one of the Bronze Blades approached her slowly, the other two quickly grabbed the corpses and dragged them out of the room before returning to the room and pointing their Blades at her. She had dispatched two of their cohorts in mere seconds, yet the new threats did not yield. A worried look splashed across Hayleigh's face.

  "Kai, draw your Blade and get behind me," Hayleigh barked.

  "Even better. Let's go with Plan B," Kai casually replied.

  "I was hoping you'd say that," Hayleigh smiled. "Invisibility!"

  Hayleigh disappeared, and Kai immediately began to stamp his feet on the ground and bang Initiation against a nearby metal table, creating a cacophony of awful sound. After a few seconds of confusion and annoyance, the intruders charged at Kai, realizing this was their chance to capture him. They were five feet away from Kai before the glowing orange Blade of Hayleigh appeared behind them and cleaved clean through each of their necks with one sweeping stroke of her Blade.

  The three bodies had barely enough time to drop to the floor before Hayleigh had already turned to face the room's doorway. However, no more intruders appeared.

  "Kai, we're going to get the bodies outside the room and drag them in here. Then we are going directly back to our carriage as we discussed in our worst-case scenario."

  "You got it," Kai confirmed as he sheathed Initiation and went outside the room with Hayleigh. They each took a body, and after the bodies were inside the room, Hayleigh locked the door behind them. They flipped up their hoods and bounded down the stone stairs back to the main floor. They realized the place was empty aside from a man and two escorts as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Hayleigh drew her Blade and positioned herself in front of Kai as the man slowly clapped.

  "Marvellous, marvellous! You are every bit the Bladeswoman you are rumoured to be Miss Knowles," he began. "My name is Jordan, and it is a pleasure to meet you. I must also say that the rumours do not do you justice. You are truly ravishing, Hayleigh."

  "What do you want?" Kai's question erupted before he could take the time to think. The anger that was swelling up in his stomach was a new kind and not a type he had ever felt before.

  "Right to business, Your Highness? I like that. As I said, my name is Jordan, and I am the right hand of Terrell Braga. I have come to escort the three of you to Mr. Braga himself."

  "What do you mean, the three of us?" Hayleigh asked. "There is only the t..."

  "Please do not insult my intelligence with lying, it ruins your beautiful face," Jordan cut her off. "We have already apprehended your accomplice at another Inn after he was involved in quite the raucous. As he currently does not have a Blade or even a sword to defend himself with, I would encourage you to come quietly, or we will simply put him to death. The important one here is the prince. We do not care for you or the other man.

  "Though, I would never kill you myself," he continued. "I could never bear to kill such a beautiful woman. One of my comrades here would have to do it, and I'm afraid they aren't fans of a quick and painless end for their enemies. I'll let you consider that fate, so choose wisely."

  "Hayleigh... I'm not going to let that happen to you or Mason. Stand down."

  "I'm afraid I can't do that. I could never betray you, Kai. Not after what we have experienced. Not when we're so close to getting what we came here for."

  "Hayleigh, we will figure something out. As much as I may not believe in myself, I believe in both of you completely. We'll figure a way out of this, but we need to keep going no matter where that may take us, and he is going to bring us directly to Terrell. We need to follow his instructions."

  "I don't like it ... but I'll trust you, Kai. In the three of us." Hayleigh and Kai nodded to each other before Hayleigh sheathed her Blade.

  "You have made the right choice. We will not even require you to surrender your Blades. Actually, you must have them for what's next. Miss Knowles, Your Highness, can you follow me? We will be on our way to meet with Mr. Braga now."

  Chapter Thirteen

  Alpha and Omega

  The bright sunshine that splashed across Tipana's streets neatly matched the jovial mood of its populace. It was as if a celebration was occurring as Jordan led his captives down the city's main streets. Word spread like wildfire that the prince of Orilia was captured. Schools were closed rapidly, businesses shuttered, and Inns emptied to allow all who wanted to see the prisoners as they walked to their deaths.

  Thousands of people cheered the approach of Jordan and his jailers, who met the adoration with smiles and outstretched hands. Kai, Mason, and Hayleigh followed closely behind him and were met with boos, as well as having rocks and spit hurled at them. To complete the end of the parade, two Silver Blades trailed the group, hands-on their hilts in case of any attempts to flee.

  Kai browsed the faces of the people who lined the streets as the rope around his wrists pulled him forward. It was only weeks ago that the people of Karsdal had positioned themselves in the same manner but with opposite emotions. He couldn't help but be hurt by the ill-will of the people his father had saved. The only reason these people were alive and enjoying the modicum of safety the kingdom provided was because of his father. Their hatred of him was completely undeserved.

  While an uneasiness and resounding confusion filled the pit of Kai's stomach, he wouldn't allow it to turn into hatred. If he did not behave, he would lose what little hope he had to woo them back to his side with his promises and actions. Before that, however, he needed to take action. He needed to prove how he was divergent from how the resistance portrayed him. But how? Mere words wouldn't do the trick, nor was he in a position to perform a great deed or help them. Terrell had already provided them with whatever they needed.

  Jordan did not permit his captives to speak to each other, promising a swift reprisal if disobeyed. While Mason piped up with some comments, which resulted in him being repeatedly struck during the procession, Kai did not want to test his luck. The lack of conversation and the mood of the crowds around him made the journey to their final destination a very lonely and depressing one.

  A sudden turn off the road signalled a departure from the stone roads they had traced for the last forty-five minutes. Jordan led t
hem off in the direction of a rather large, mostly stone structure. The crowds began to condense as the two parallel lines on either side of the march abruptly ended at a large gate opening. City Guards prevented the vociferous masses from breaching the iron gates into the restricted area but were unable to do anything more. As the group passed them, the guards themselves locked eyes with Kai as if to say they were sorry. Terrell was the kingpin of the city, and the most they could do to ensure their survival was to follow his orders. Kai understood this fact and nodded to each of them. It was his war to wage, not theirs. He did not wish to risk a single life more than he needed to.

  Jordan raised his arms to signal the guards to open the gates. The weight of its iron caused the gate to creak on its hinges as two other City Guards pried open the two swinging doors. Jordan led the procession forward until everyone had safely made it across the gate's threshold before giving the signal to close it. As that particular avenue for retreat slammed shut behind them, and all three of the prisoners mentally crossed it off their list of options. They would have to guide their fate another way.