Gabriel started swinging, favoring strikes on Sagaroth’s left as the general did his best to defend against him. Blood flew everywhere as he reeled, trying to fend off Gabriel’s ferocious attacks. He was pressed hard and was forced to fight not on instinct as he usually did, but to rely on his training. For the first time in as long as he could remember, Sagaroth felt fear in battle.
Dameus stood up. Sagaroth was sporting a huge open gash above his left eye. He wouldn’t last much longer. A direct attack was out of the question. He looked around the room and spotted several items of furniture. Time for a new tactic. Mustering his unholy energy, he focused on a small stool. He caused it to levitate then flung it across the room at Gabriel. It hit the Holy Defender squarely in the back of the head, which caused him to jump to his left, so as to keep both Sagaroth and Dameus in view.
Sagaroth grinned. Time to finish this. He wiped his forehead with his tunic and moved towards Gabriel.
Dameus focused on a large dresser, probably still filled with clothes, that was behind Gabriel. He willed it forward and it hit the Gabriel in the back hard, causing the knight to fall forward, stunned, on the ground.
Sagaroth relaxed and stepped back.
Dameus focused on the ceiling, intent on bringing it down. Maybe if he was lucky it would take Sagaroth too. He began to will it down. Dust started to fall as the ancient stone began to buckle. Just a little more.
From behind the necromancer, David stepped out of the shadows. He grabbed Dameus across the mouth and dragged his father’s dagger across his throat, hitting the two arteries as Edge had taught him.
Dameus’ eyes went wide. Blood was pouring from him. He turned to see his attacker and as a death curse he called forth a huge blast of energy. The wave hit David square in the chest, lifting him off the ground into the wall behind him. His head smacked hard and he fell to the ground, limp.
Gabriel looked up. All he could see was his brother lying in a pool of blood. He grabbed his sword and stared at Sagaroth with rage in his eyes.
The world was a blur as Gabriel saw red. His beloved sister and his young brother, finally reunited, gone. The only one left to feel his wrath stood before him. He began to rain down blows, screaming with rage.
Sagaroth deflected as best he could. He could hardly see, and the young knight was incredibly skillful. A boot hit him hard in the stomach and he was knocked across the room. Panic seized him. His wound was far too much a hindrance, and the Holy Defender was too skilled and enraged. He was going to die today, unless…
Sagaroth pointed his hellfire blade and called forth the fires of hell itself, which engulfed the young Defender. The smell of sulfur filled the room and the anguished cries of the damned made him sick to his very soul. ‘What have I done?’ Sagaroth thought.
From inside the fire, he saw Gabriel walking towards him unharmed, a glowing angelic being behind him, wrapping him in his wings, protecting him. Sagaroth’s heart was shattered at the contrast of such vileness against such purity and goodness. He willed the fires to recede, which they did.
Tears flowed from Sagaroth’s eyes, his spirit broken. It was all a lie. He was nothing. He had gained nothing. What was power in this world compared to the fires he had seen? He rose to his knees. “Gabriel, I am so sorry for what has transpired.”
“You murdered my family,” Gabriel said, still enraged.
“Please, your order compels you to show mercy when it is asked. I am asking. Please, show mercy. Spare my wretched life.”
“Did you show my father mercy? My mother? My sister? Either of my two brothers? No, general, you didn’t. May you rot in the fires that you called forth!”
He raised his sword and swung. Sagaroth shouted “FORGIVE ME!” before Gabriel’s blade removed his head from his shoulders.
Gabriel knelt sobbing as the rage was replaced by grief. He was alone.
“Ugh, who farted?” David said as he got sat up, dazed.
Gabriel’s heart was filled with excitement. He dashed over to his brother and helped him up. “David!” He grabbed his brother and embraced him.
“I’m okay, Brother. How did we do?”
Gabriel hung his head. “We were too late.”
“Why am I covered in blood?” Eleenia said weakly.
Both brothers darted to her side. “El, you’re alive!” Gabriel screamed.
She looked around confused. “Are we in mother and father’s bedroom?”
“Yes, we are,” David said. “It’s a long story.”
El gasped at the sight of the three dead bodies in the room. “Who are those?”
David smiled and put his hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “El, our family is avenged. Before you lie the lifeless corpses of General Sagaroth and the necromancer Dameus, slain by the most excellent Holy Defender to earn the blue for generations.”
Gabriel laughed. “Actually, it was David who slew the necromancer. I never saw that coming.”
“Neither did he,” David said. “I finally got you, you filthy bastard.” He spat on the necromancer’s corpse. He glanced at the headless figure, quizzically. He walked over to Sagaroth’s still kneeling body. “That’s odd.”
“What?” El asked.
“He’s still kneeling. Gabriel, what happened?”
Gabriel suddenly went silent. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
David shrugged. “Regardless, I want to piss down his neck.”
El laughed. “Oh, David. You’re such a rogue! Can we go back to Avonshire now?”
“They brought our gear with us. It’s downstairs,” Gabriel said. “Yes, let’s go home. First I want to stop at the hunting lodge. We’ve got a surprise for you, David.”
* * * * * *
On the island of the necromancers in the city of the dead, Tolinar walked through the halls towards Kadeus’ chambers. He walked briskly, as what he had seen in the seer’s pool had been quite disturbing. Was this young defender destined to become the hero the enemy would raise up? Seeing him walking through the fires of hell, protected by an angel, caused a worried shiver to go down his spine. He arrived at Kadeus’ chambers. A quick knock brought his pudgy master to the door.
“Yes, apprentice, what is it?” Kadeus asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“Sir, we have a serious problem.”
Epilogue
The trip home was uneventful. They first stopped at The Happy Basset where David was reunited with his former nanny and master Drake. It was a joyous occasion. Jake was thrilled to see them all again. David explained his plans to get set up near Avonshire and start a land-based trading business. He told them when he was set up, he would send for his family’s belongings, and if they were willing, they could sell the inn and come work in his household, which Jolina and Drake readily accepted.
Jake accompanied them home. David paid for first class inns the entire way back. He and Eleenia never stopped talking. They discussed his adventures at sea, her years at the University, and their childhood memories. Gabriel, however, was unusually withdrawn and contemplative. This didn’t bother them too badly. He would talk at meals and at night. The Ki Kalendeen family was whole once again.
The hellfire blade was a problem, though. The horses wouldn’t allow it to be placed on them. Eleenia had the idea of tying a piece of rope to it and attaching the rope to a saddle, thus dragging the putrid blade. It worked, but where it touched the ground, grass never grew again.
Coming soon: Fall Of The Righteous - Book 2 of The Ki Kalendeen Chronicles
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Blood Of The Righteous Page 44
