by D L Colon
Noryad turns around to face the guy with a shocked expression on his face. He knows that he has no other choice so he takes his hand off the door handle and heads back toward the man. Once he starts walking a set of blue flames light the way, making it easy for him to walk and know where he is heading. He sees the two guardians of the catacombs there and he takes out Nightfall. As he nears the man the two guardians move to attack, but the man says, “That is not necessary you two.”
Noryad puts the sword back in its scabbard and addresses the man before him, “May I know your name?”
“I am First Necromancer Darius, the protector of the Kingdom of Death until its King is named.”
“Okay,” Noryad says, then asks, “but why are you wearing the crown?”
Darius smiles and answers, “This is a sign of being the King in my living years.”
“Why does the door to the Kingdom have my name on it?”
“Because, Noryad King, you are the only King of the Dead to ever be named. All others who were chosen have always died before they could be officially named. You are the only one who hasn’t and I saw this so I created the Kingdom you would need when you come to look for the Sword of Kings.”
“What is in there that I have to protect?”
“Follow me,” Darius says and gets down from the throne. He walks through a set of corridors with Noryad beside him. Darius is telling him that each of these corridors holds a different magical item that only one person will come to claim when the time is right and only that person will be able to enter, but so far all of them hold one name, Noryad King.
“Why me?” Noryad asks.
Darius smiles and answers, “Because it chose you.”
“What choose me?”
Darius looks over his shoulder and smiles, “The Armor of Kings.”
“That’s not true. How can it have chosen me? I don’t know anything about it”
“It’s supposed to be a myth and that’s something I will explain if you follow me.” Noryad takes everything in as he follows Darius. Once they arrive at where they’re going Darius asks, “Ever heard of the Library of Alexandria?”
Noryad nods and answers, “It’s something that was burned down by some unknown cause, losing a lot of records from things that happened throughout history.”
“That was a story created to explain its disappearance, but the truth is different.”
“What is the truth?”
“The truth is, that you are the owner of it.”
Chapter 64
Noryad is shocked by this news and his mind is running wild. He tries to calm himself down by taking deep breaths. As he calms down he looks at Darius and asks, “Why I am the owner of such knowledge?”
Darius smiles sadly as he answers, “Because you must lead this world for it to prosper. If you don’t everything will remain in chaos. The humans that remain will go into a civil war because they feel threatened. If you take the mantle of leadership you will have more than friends willing to serve you. You will become the leader of the Guilds and you will make the city prosper, but you will also be prepared to face some difficulties along the road.”
Noryad shakes his head at all the information he is receiving. “Why me?” He asks, “why not someone else? I don’t want to lead anyone, I just want to take care of the situation at hand and head back home.”
“You abhor the idea of leadership, yet you are leading a castle which was dead until your return, but is full of life again. You now have Behemoth under your covenant, which no other King has ever done. You don’t see anyone as less than you and you saved the life of a little soul that would have suffered a worse fate. You have taken the time to save the life of a city to keep them from harm. You are a man full of many possibilities and that’s why fate choose you and so did the armor. Now you want to win the favor of my two guardians, who protect the sword.”
Darius pauses and takes a breath before he continues, “You have to touch the sword that is in the rock in the middle of the room, it is a replica of the sword you are looking for, to understand its content, to see why they protect the sword and to see why you haven’t been able to defeat them.”
“Does time flow differently here?”
“Yes. It flows faster than the time on the earth and the time on the island.”
Noryad nods, heads to the sword and touches it. As soon as he makes contact with the sword he is assaulted by images and is instantly brought to his knees, sweating and breathing heavily.
Darius grins and says, “Master the sword and the knowledge of the library will be yours in an instant.”
Noryad looks at the sword and with his fingertips close to the hilt, says, “Let’s get started.”
As Darius leaves the library he hears Noryad scream, “AH!!” and he says to himself, “You will return different than you were when you went in, Noryad King. If you retain yourself in the process you will hold a knowledge long forgotten and it will be passed down through the generations. If you return I will give you the mantle of the King and the Crown is waiting on the other side of this corridor.”
The last thing Darius hears as the corridor door closes is Noryad screaming in pain.
Chapter 65
Noryad is assaulted by images of a battle that happened long ago. It was one in which Merlin took part. The King in that battle died before they could save him, but before he died he made Merlin promise to retain his memories and pass them on to his reincarnated self. Noryad learns that the next to retain the knowledge is called Tyrone and he was the first son to take the throne and make his Kingdom prosper.
As the memories keep pouring from the sword, Noryad falls to his knees sweating and pain is running through his body. He has gained the knowledge of the battle, and of Tyrone, but now he must go through three trials and he will be tested to his fullest.
He gets to his feet and hears Darius say from behind him, “Pick up the sword, Noryad. Your test starts now.”
Noryad takes a deep breath, puts his hand on the hilt of the sword and he attempts to lift the sword from where it is resting, but he is unable to. He tries again, using both hands and putting all his human and Behemoth strength into it, he pulls the sword and pain radiates through his constricted muscles.
Darius is watching Noryad struggle with the sword and after a few minutes he says, “Your first trial is a trial of pain and will. Your body will sustain large amounts of pain and your will to carry on despite the pain will be tested. If you survive by the end of the trial you will be given one day to rest. If by the second day you aren’t able to lift the sword then your will is weak and your trial ends here.”
Noryad is looking defiantly at Darius, his eyes indicating that he will lift the sword and will prove his will to the sword. Darius smiles and thinks to himself; that’s it, Noryad. Prove yourself to me and the sword. After watching Noryad struggle for a few more minutes, Darius leaves him and heads to the Throne Room.
Hours later
After what appears to be an eternity passes, Noryad doesn’t feel any pain coming from the sword and his body is starting to relax, but the residue of pain has his system crazy and he can’t move without experiencing an intense pain. He knows that this is when his will is being tested. He releases the sword and starts walking toward where Darius is sitting on the throne. Even with the pain continuing to surge through his body, he walks toward the throne.
Darius sees him and says, “Ah Noryad, it seems you have passed the first half of the first trial and it’s time for rest. Follow me and I will lead you to your room.”
Noryad flinches as Darius puts his hand on his shoulder and Darius gives him a stern look as he says, “You are doing well so far,” and walks toward Noryad’s room.
Noryad, with a pained look on his face, continues walking and once Darius leads him to his room he collapses on the bed and loses consciousness.
Chapter 66
The next day
Noryad wakes up and his body is not completely rested. He f
eels stiff all over and can’t help but groan as his body complains when he gets off the bed. He stretches himself as much as his body lets him, but he flinches in pain when he stretches too much. He heads toward the Throne Room. When he arrives Darius is looking at a screen and Noryad sees some pages passing by really fast.
He clears his throat and Darius looks to his left side and sees Noryad standing there. “Morning, Noryad.”
“Morning, Darius. Can I ask what are you reading?”
Darius points at the screen and says, “Ah that? That’s ancient magic, one that was lost long ago, but I managed to save one spell and it’s the one that costs most. I will tell you when you are ready for it and that will be before you leave this place.”
“Got it,” Noryad says and heads for the room the sword is in. When he enters the room he sees the sword is on the floor and he looks at Darius, “Was is necessary to make me bend down to get the sword? Couldn’t you have come up with another mean joke for me to do instead of this one?”
Darius looks at Noryad with a deadly serious expression and says, “I think you should watch your tone, young King. I didn’t do this and if you pay attention to what’s happening in the room you would have noticed why the sword is on the floor.”
Noryad shuts up and looks at the scenery in the room. He sees that what was keeping the sword in place broke down and the sword fell. Darius looks at him and says, “I will leave the rest to you. The second trial starts now.”
Noryad goes to the lift the sword and he feels a rush of healing power running through him. He notices that his body no longer feels stiff and a rush of power is running through him. Not wasting any time, he decides to lift the sword and he can’t. The sword feels as heavy as if it has the weight of the world on it. Noryad continues to use his strength to lift the sword because, for some reason, he knows that using his power is not going to work.
As he struggles he hears a voice in his head: If you seek to lift me from here, your will must be strong enough to carry your people’s wishes as your own. If you have what is needed then you will lift me.
Noryad thinks of the words carefully. If he wishes to continue he knows that in the end he will have to lead and that’s something he doesn’t want to do. Noryad takes a deep breath, knowing that he has to erase any doubt from his mind. He tries to lift the sword again, but fails again.
“MIERDA!!” he yells in frustration, but his hands never leave the sword because he knows that the moment he releases the sword the trial ends and he has failed. Leaving empty handed is not something he will risk happening.
With his hands still on the sword he searches deep within himself for the answers he seeks and the answers the sword seeks from him. After a while he smiles and says, “I found it!” and proceeds to lift the sword.
Chapter 67
Noryad starts lifting the sword and it seems to be working until he starts to feel the weight of it increase and he is forced to the ground with it. He thought he had found it, but no, he failed himself again. Looking up at the ceiling Noryad asks, “Why me? I never wanted to lead. All I wanted was to get the sword then go back and live a life where I wouldn’t be looked at differently. Instead people are looking at me with admiration. All I want is friendship, love, respect and trust, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
Suddenly an ethereal form appears in front of him and starts to speak. “You have been chosen, Noryad King, because you are a born leader. You cannot deny the feelings of defeat every time you went to war and had to follow someone else’s orders, especially the ones you knew were wrong.”
“You are right. I do still feel that way.”
“Then prove to the sword that you are a King who will lead his friends, family, and everyone else in your Kingdom and that you will protect those who live in the night, even the vampires.
“Those long tooth bloodsuckers, ugh! I will, whoever you are, thanks for the advice.”
The form slowly starts to disappear and Noryad says in a voice loud enough for Darius to hear, “I, Noryad King, swear that when the need arises I will embrace my fate to lead humanity and give everyone the life they have fought hard to protect. I will protect the souls of the dead and I will send them to rest when the time is right. I will protect Behemoth and I will protect the Vampires, giving this world the leader it needs and bringing them closer to the life we all deserve”
Noryad lifts the sword, but the moment it leaves the floor he is mentally transported to a battlefield. In front of him is an enemy he has always known and he has over a thousand destroyers with him. Noryad looks to his side and everyone on his side has a scared expression on their face. He knows that this is when his leadership is being tested. He smiles and says to himself, “Finally.”
Chapter 68
Noryad sees the expression of fear on his men’s faces and he says loud enough for everyone to hear him, “HEAR ME, MY COMRADES. DO YOU THINK THEY AREN’T SCARED OF US? THAT THEY ARE THE SUPERIOR RACE?” He sees everyone start to nod and he shakes his head. He looks around and asks, “WHERE ARE WE, EVERYONE?”
One of the warriors answers, “We are on earth, milord.”
Noryad smiles at his response and continues saying, “DO YOU THINK THEY CARE ABOUT US? DO YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE THEY WILL NOT GO TO THE CITY AND KILL YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN?” Everyone seems to start understanding what he is saying because they are lowering their heads. Noryad smiles and continues, “I DIDN’T HEAR YOUR ANSWER. ARE YOU GOING TO SACRIFICE THE LOVED ONES YOU LEFT BEHIND?”
Everyone yells, “NO!” and Noryad starts to see the determination on the warriors’ faces’.
He smiles again and continues, “THEN DON’T FEAR THEM. THEY BLEED LIKE US. THEY DIE LIKE US. REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE HERE, WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE TO THIS BATTLEFIELD TODAY. I WILL TELL YOU WHY I AM HERE. I AM HERE TO LEAD MY COMRADES TO VICTORY SO THEY CAN GO HOME TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES AGAIN AND SO I CAN GO SEE THE WIFE I HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND. DO YOU THINK I WANTED TO COME HERE? NO, I DIDN’T, I WANTED TO STAY IN MY CASTLE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT MY DUTY IS TO PROTECT MY PEOPLE AND I WILL BE THE KING THIS WORLD NEEDS. SO, MY COMRADES, LETS SHOW THEM NO MERCY BECAUSE WE WONT RECEIVE ANY FROM THEM. THINK OF YOUR LOVED ONES AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IF WE FALL HERE TONIGHT. SO, EVERYONE, ARE YOU READY?”
Everyone looks at him with a mixture of hate, anger and determination in their eyes. They want to kill the ones that will kill their loved ones. Suddenly everyone drops to their knees and shout, “THIS WORLD MAY DESTROY MY BODY, BUT IT WON’T DESTROY MY SOUL. I GIVE MY SOUL TO THE KING OF DEATH SO I SHALL SERVE HIM IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT ONE. OUR WILL SHALL NOT WAVER. OUR SWORDS WILL ATTACK OUR ENEMIES. WE SHALL DEFEND THIS KINGDOM, AS WE ARE DESTINED TO. WE SHALL BECOME THE SOULS OF THE GUARDIANS. WE WILL PROTECT THE KING, HIS FAMILY AND EVERYONE IN THE KINGDOM. IF THE NEED ARRISES WE WILL ANSWER THE CALL. OUR LIVES ARE YOURS, NORYAD KING.”
Noryad is overwhelmed by their reaction. He connects to each one mentally and says: I shall honor your vow, and make my own. No matter the distance, no matter the time, I shall summon the souls of the guardians so they can serve the crown and protect what they fought so hard to defend, and when the time is right I shall grant them their rest. Now everyone, lets fight FOR THE LOST CITY!!”
Everyone yells and starts running, toward where Noryad is leading them. When they clash everything turns black and Noryad sees a reflection of himself, but where he was dressed in his warrior clothes, he is now wearing the clothes of the King. His reflection smiles and says, “It seems you have come to terms with the idea of being the leader now.”
Noryad and his reflection walk toward each other and somehow fuse into one. He is transported back to the room with the sword in his hands. He takes a deep breath and, with the sword in hand, walks to the Throne Room to tell Darius that he is going to rest. Then he heads to his room where he stretches out on the bed, the sword beside him, and drifts into sleep.
Darius is watching from the Throne Room and the moment Noryad falls asleep he says, “L
et the third trial begin.”
Chapter 69
Noryad falls asleep the moment he hits the bed but when he opens his eyes there’s something wrong. He gets up and notices that he is back in the Caribbean, in his body and the Castle is at war. He starts running and sees that he still has the sword from the Kingdom of Death in his hand, so every enemy he encounters he strikes them down. He sees that his Kingdom is being brought down and he screams in anger and goes looking for Coral. He continues running toward the Throne Room, instinct guiding him. When he opens the door his eyes lock on Raphael, who is holding Coral by her throat and every member of Behemoth, and their mates, are on the floor unconscious. Noryad feels like his soul is being drug from his body the moment he sees that Raphael has pierced Coral through her heart with a black dagger. He screams and drops to his knees as he watches the life leave her body. Just as she whispers “I love you, my King,” he awakes from the dream breathing heavily and sweating profusely.
Noryad is still breathing hard from the nightmare he had as he looks to his side and sees the sword is glowing. He touches the sword and gets a glimpse of what’s happened to him and he knows instantly that the third trial is living one’s worst fear. His worst fear is going through the same thing he did on his 4th birthday. That has followed him forever; it’s a scar he can’t easily forget. He takes a deep breath and knows he has to move on. He knows this is just a trial and nothing else.
Noryad hears Darius’ voice fill the room, “You better take it seriously, Noryad, because it could be your reality. Heed this warning. Now finish your trial.” He walks toward Noryad and puts his hand on his shoulder, forcing Noryad to fall asleep again. He grabs the sword and puts it on Noryad’s chest. Noryad grabs the sword by the hilt with both hands, making it looks as if a King has died.
