Ghosts of Sherwood

by T. S. Maynard

  Even without armor-plated boots, Lloyd’s chances were almost zero. Now, there wasn’t even hope. Lloyd glanced back at the walls of Camelot and considered retreating, but he shook off the impulse. If he could put up a good fight, maybe Achilles would spare all the people of Camelot, including Alex and Sean. He let out a battle cry, charged Achilles, and swung his heavy sword in every direction.

  Achilles snickered as he hopped from side-to-side, avoiding the telegraphed strikes, until he grew bored and delivered a ferocious backhand that floored Lloyd and sent his sword sailing through the air. It landed in a ditch fifteen feet away. Lloyd scrambled to his feet and dashed towards the weapon, but Achilles gave chase. Sensing his enemy upon him, Lloyd turned and braced his shield. Achilles swung down with a powerful strike that smashed against the shield, sending Lloyd tumbling into the ditch. When he stopped rolling, he didn’t move. He was knocked out or dead.

  Alex shrieked in horror. “No!” Fueled by rage, he aimed his bow and launched a shot that tagged Achilles between the shoulder blades.

  The mighty giant dropped to one knee. Alex and all of Camelot’s soldiers held their collective breath. Achilles plucked the arrow from his back and discarded it like a toothpick. He turned and glared up at Alex, who trembled upon making eye contact.

  Achilles bellowed, “Now you all will face my wrath. Not one of you will be spared.” He ripped off his jersey, revealing his massive frame and hulking muscles. “Attack!” he yelled, and pointed at the castle.

  The horde of Greek soldiers let out a blood-curdling battle cry and charged in thunderous unison. Achilles eyed Lloyd’s motionless body before hopping aboard a chariot to direct his troops.

  Atop the wall, Camelot’s archers stood ready. Arthur, dressed in full armor, raised his arm to signal the archers to aim. “Let not a single arrow go to waste.”

  The archers lifted their bows and took aim into the sky.

  Alex looked down at Sean. “Time to get inside.”

  Sean shook his head. “I’m not leaving my dad.”

  Alex didn’t have time to argue and raised his bow with the others. Arthur dropped his arm, and the archers filled the sky with arrows that rained down onto the Greek ranks. Upon finding their targets, the advancing soldiers crumbled to the ground in a pile of rubble and dust—like a statue being crushed. The archers reloaded and launched the next round with similar results, but the horde of attackers seemed endless. They kept charging despite massive casualties.

  In the ditch, Lloyd cracked his eyes open. He crawled up and witnessed the mayhem on the battlefield. He stayed low, out of harm’s way, but Alex spotted him from atop the wall.

  “Dad’s alive! I have to go after him.” Alex moved down the line towards the stairs, but Arthur blocked him.

  “Your father was willing to die for Camelot. He’d want you here.”

  “I can’t leave him out there,” Alex said.

  “They’ll be upon us soon.” Arthur motioned to the endless column of Greeks. “I need my best knight, Sir Alex.”

  Conflicted, Alex re-took his place along the wall.

  The Greeks edged closer, with some carrying ladders. When they placed them along the wall, Camelot’s defenders pushed most away, but there were too many. Arthur and the knights drew their swords and prepared for battle. As the first Greeks scaled the ladders, they met the blades of Camelot’s finest and turned to dust, showering back down to the ground below.

  The Sheriff of Nottingham was among those blocking the Greeks from cresting the wall. He scurried back and forth between two ladders, knocking soldiers off while declaring, “Trespassing is illegal.”

  On another ladder, a Greek invader reached the top. The floodgates of invaders were about to burst open when Lancelot flew in with a somersaulting stab that reduced the Greek to sand. He shoved the ladder off the wall.

  King Arthur beamed with pride. “How’s the elbow, Lance?”

  Lancelot gave him a wink and a thumbs up. “A little exercise is all I needed.”

  The victory was short-lived as the mass of soldiers soon overwhelmed the outer wall. Archers continued launching arrows into the Greek horde that looked like swarming insects. On both ends of the castle, the attackers gained a foothold and poured in. The archers and knights retreated to the middle of the rampart.

  With the inevitable upon them, Alex pulled Sean close. He squeezed him tight, then closed his eyes and whispered something into his son’s ear.

  Death was near.

  Chapter 15

  Father and son held each other tight and braced for the end when a small light in the sky above—like a twinkling star—caught Sean’s attention. “What’s that, Dad?”

  Alex looked at the twinkling light. “Make a wish, son.”

  Sean shut his eyes tight and concentrated on his wish.

  The small light erupted into a brilliant flash, and the weapons of the Greek soldiers on and near the wall instantly vanished. This reprieve gave the knights a chance to regroup and fight back.

  The tiny limp body of Tinker Nell dropped from the sky next to Alex. He hurried over and picked her up. “Tinker Nell, are you all right?”

  Tinker Nell’s light dimmed, and she lifted her heavy eyes. “Guess there was a little magic left. Did we get them all?”

  Alex scanned the battlefield. The immediate threat was gone, but a large contingent of soldiers regrouped. And there was Achilles himself, who bristled at the sight of his decimated front lines.

  “Send in the battering ram,” Achilles ordered.

  From behind the ranks, dozens of men pushed a wagon forward that contained one item—a massive log with a sharp steel tip. The heavy siege weapon rolled forward toward the castle.

  From the walls, Alex and Arthur watched with dread. If the Greeks breached the main gate, Camelot was doomed.

  “Archers, give it a proper welcome,” Arthur said.

  The archers and Alex peppered the giant war machine with arrows, but most bounced off, and each time a Greek soldier crumbled to dust, a new one took his place. The ram gathered steam as it approached the gate.

  “Brace yourselves,” Arthur shouted.

  On impact, the entire castle shook, and the front gate buckled. The Greeks backed up the ram and prepared for another run.

  “It won’t withstand another hit like that,” Alex said.

  Arthur pointed to the knights and other soldiers. “Position yourselves by the main gate.”

  Alex lifted Tinker Nell so she could see the ram. “Do you have any magic left?”

  Tinker Nell’s eyes dropped, and she shook her head.

  Alex put her back down and racked his brain for a way to stop the ram. “Wait! I have some magic.” He searched his pockets and pulled out Jack’s remaining beans. Next, Alex ripped a small strip of cloth from his shirt, created a small pouch, and affixed the beans just behind the arrowhead.

  The ram approached at full speed.

  Alex grabbed his bow, took a deep breath, and aimed. Time for only one shot. He exhaled and let the arrow fly. It struck deep in the ground a good fifteen yards in front of the oncoming ram.

  Achilles chortled from his chariot. “Terrible shot.”

  A sprout appeared next to the arrow. It grew slowly at first, then sped up. Just as the ram pushed over the small plant, it exploded from the ground. The massive stalk sent the weapon fluttering skyward until it smashed back to earth.

  Achilles shook his fist. “Nooooo!”

  The wall of archers burst into cheers and patted Alex on the back. The joy was short-lived. Achilles roared, “Full assault!”

  The remaining soldiers charged. The Camelot archers opened fire, but the Greeks were soon upon the castle.

  “Support the gate!” Arthur commanded.

  The bulk of Camelot’s forces rushed to brace the main gate while Alex stayed up top with Sean and continued raining arrows into the Greek ranks.

  The attackers targeted the breach in the gate, but the crack only allowed a few Greeks thr
ough at a time. The waiting knights dispatched them with little effort, but the sheer weight of Achilles’ army pushing caused the gate to buckle further.

  “Pull back. Prepare for close combat,” Arthur commanded.

  From the battlefield, Achilles watched with satisfaction as his men stormed the castle. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Lloyd hiding in the ditch. “Time to finish Camelot’s hero.” He hopped down from his chariot and strode towards Lloyd. This was going to be an easy kill.

  Alex watched with fear as Achilles headed toward his father. He handed Sean his bow. “Ever use one of these?”

  Sean’s eyes lit up.

  “Just keep shooting into the crowd.”

  “Where are you going?” Sean asked.

  “To finish the story of Achilles.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Sean said.

  “Not this time. I’ll be back soon.” Alex grabbed a sword and took off down the stairs. He rushed into the stable and found Silver. “Time for one last ride, old friend.” Alex unlocked a secret iron gate on the back wall that led outside. From the exterior, bushes concealed the gate. Alex emerged in a flurry of dust and drove Silver towards the battlefield.

  At the front of the castle, the Greeks continued to pressure the main entrance. Arthur stood at the ready beside his men. When the gate yielded, the sound was deafening. Wood cracked and splintered in every direction. Seconds later, Greek soldiers spilled into the courtyard.

  As the dust settled, Arthur pointed his sword at the attackers. “Charge!”

  The king’s men rushed forward, and reduced the first wave of Greeks to rubble in seconds, but more took their place. As the parade of invaders continued, fatigue weighed on the knights. One parried a sword attack, but a punch to the face rendered him unconscious. Another Greek struck a knight with his shield, knocking him out cold. Arthur surveyed the scene with dismay. The castle’s defenses were overwhelmed.

  Outside the walls, Alex pushed Silver to the limit and raced to Lloyd’s aid. When he drew near, the massive form of Achilles took his breath away. How do you beat a giant?

  Achilles reached the ditch. Lloyd grabbed his sword and shield and prepared to go down fighting.

  “I admire your determination, old man. I’ll make this quick.”

  “It doesn’t matter what you do to me. You won’t win.”

  Achilles laughed. “Look around you.”

  “I have. The magic is returning.”

  “There’s no magic, old man.” Achilles raised his sword to end Lloyd.

  “Achilles!” Alex shouted.

  The gigantic warrior turned to find Alex approaching on Silver. Alex hopped off and marched forward with his sword at the ready.

  “What do we have here? The boy who couldn’t even read about me.” Achilles puffed out his chest, trying to look as big as possible.

  Alex’s knees shook, but the pride in Lloyd’s eyes calmed him. “I’m not afraid of you anymore.”

  “We’ll see how you feel after I kill your father.” Achilles swung his massive sword at Lloyd.

  Chapter 16

  Lloyd brought his shield up just in time, but the force of Achille’s blow sent him flying.

  Alex charged to defend his father, but Achilles swung his sword backward. Alex blocked it, but he too was sent tumbling. Too fast and far too strong, Achilles had Alex and Lloyd outmatched.

  The attackers continued to flood and overrun the castle. Most knights fought on, but the tide had turned. Greek soldiers surrounded several knights and left them with no choice but to lay down arms and surrender.

  Lancelot found himself cut off and cornered. He kept fighting, reducing as many Greeks as he could to dust. The Sheriff fought while retreating until he backed up against a wall. Exhausted, he poked at several soldiers to hold them at bay. A Greek swordsman disarmed Arthur, forcing him to retreat up the steps to the lookout wall, but three Greeks approaching from the other direction trapped him.

  Death was at hand.

  Then, an eerie fog rolled into the central courtyard and enveloped most of the castle. A calm set in for the briefest of moments as both forces stopped fighting to marvel at the strange spectacle. Arthur squinted into the fog. A dark figure swooped into the fray. It was Robin Hood in his classic green outfit, his bow drawn with three arrows. The projectiles zipped out and tagged the Greek soldiers surrounding Arthur, turning them to dust.

  Sean pumped his fist as he watched from the opposite wall. “Yes! I knew he’d come.”

  Robin reached into his large bag and produced a sword—the real Excalibur! Even in the foggy mist, the blade glowed almost magically.

  Robin hurled it up to Arthur, who caught it and admired the glistening blade. Rejuvenated, Arthur plowed through Greek soldiers on his way down the steps. The other knights rallied behind their king.

  Robin fired four more arrows in rapid succession at the Greeks fighting the Sheriff. In seconds, the Sheriff stood unscathed in a pile of rubble. A horse appeared in the mist behind Robin. “I believe this is yours.”

  “Lucy, my baby!” the Sheriff squealed with joy.

  Robin removed a bulky sack from the saddle of the horse and tossed it on the ground. He fired three more arrows, taking out all of Lancelot’s tormentors. Lancelot tipped his helmet in appreciation. Robin reached into his sack and threw an armored chest plate to Lancelot. A huge smile spread over Lance’s face as he slipped it on. “This makes my pecs look huge!”

  Atop the wall, Sean watched the action unfold. The unnatural mist crept out of the forest behind the Greek army. From within the fog, a green-clad cavalry, led by Little John, stormed the Greeks from the rear. Though small in stature, John fought with the heart of a giant, and the motley army from Sherwood mowed through the unprepared soldiers with precision arrow shots.

  Near the ditch, Alex scrambled back to his feet. Achilles swung, but Alex dove out of the way. Lloyd attacked from behind and delivered a blow to the back of Achilles that had no effect. Achilles kicked Lloyd in the gut for his efforts, sending him stumbling backward and gasping for air. Alex leaped forward and delivered a shot to Achilles’s jaw with his shield. Achilles shook it off with a smile.

  As King Arthur battled on, he ended up fighting side-by-side with Robin Hood. “Lady Guinevere? Where is she?”

  “Safe,” Robin replied.

  Arthur nodded in appreciation, but the relief was fleeting as Greek soldiers continued to invade.

  “Your men need you,” Robin said.

  Arthur surveyed the yard. The continual assault left his beleaguered army on the verge of giving up. Arthur dashed back up the steps to the rampart. He patted Sean on the head as he passed by and moved to the center. His voice boomed over the courtyard. “Knights of the Round Table! It is time to stop defending the castle.”

  The faces of the knights deflated.

  “Because it is time to go on the attack!” King Arthur pointed Excalibur to the sky.

  Hope filled the eyes of the knights and Sean upon seeing the legendary sword.

  “Robin has brought our weapons back. Let us never again forget what it feels like to wield them in battle. A second front has weakened our enemy.”

  Sean looked out at the battlefield. Little John and his men continued to flank the Greeks. The enemy army was mired in confusion, causing some to retreat into the forest.

  “The time to strike is now!” Arthur shouted.

  Tinker Nell’s light burned brighter with each word, and age vanished from her face. The knights raised their weapons and cheered. Lancelot rode into the courtyard with several horses that the knights began mounting. The Sheriff hopped onto Lucy, who neighed with delight. Arthur started down the steps to join them in the courtyard, but Sean tugged at his arm.

  “You have to help my dad. He’s fighting Achilles.”

  “Where?” Arthur asked. “He can’t defeat Achilles without Excalibur.”

  Sean pointed out to the battlefield where Alex faced Achilles head-on while Lloyd took ineffe
ctive shots from behind. Each blow that Alex parried almost bowled him over. Achilles faked a swing with his sword, then put his boot in Alex’s chest, knocking him to the ground and the sword from his hand. Lloyd charged, but Achilles turned, grasped him by the throat, and tossed him like a rag doll.

  Sean watched in horror, and King Arthur did the only thing he could. He pulled Sean tight and covered his eyes. “We’ll never make it in time.”

  With her light restored, Tinker Nell hovered up to see as tears streamed from Sean’s eyes.

  Achilles stood over Alex and raised his sword for the final blow.

  Chapter 17

  Tinker Nell snatched the unwieldy Excalibur from Arthur’s hand and flew as fast as her wings would carry her.

  Sprawled out on his back, Alex stared up at the massive blade Achilles held above his head. About to close his eyes and accept his fate, Alex turned his head to find a strange sight. Excalibur floated his way.

  Tinker Nell struggled under the weight of the enormous sword, but she pressed on and dropped it right beside Alex.

  Achilles swung down with all his might. Alex rolled to the side just in time and avoided Achilles’s blade. He seized Excalibur and carried all his momentum into a spinning strike that connected with Achilles’ heel. Sparks flew as the metal armor exploded into a thousand shards. A moment of strange quiet followed, and Achilles stood frozen like a statue. Then a small crack appeared on Achilles’s heel. It inched up his calf and then branched off into thousands of tiny cracks throughout his massive frame until Achilles’s entire body crumbled to the ground in a pile of dust.

  From the rampart, King Arthur cheered. “He did it! Sir Alex did it!”

  Sean opened his eyes and looked out. His tears gave way to an enormous smile. He hugged Arthur, who surveyed the battlefield where his knights and Robin’s men thrashed the Greek army on both fronts. The remaining soldiers beat a fast retreat.

  “Everything’s going to be all right, Sean,” Arthur said before noticing Lady Guinevere emerge from the forest behind Robin Hood’s men. “Let’s go.” Arthur scooped Sean up and took him down to the courtyard, where they mounted his white stallion.