by M K Drake
Atticus looks back at his fellow Majjai and General Crawford. “Nine versus six isn’t too bad,” he says while winking.
Kukulkan snaps forward angrily. “Your overconfidence, your arrogance. It is offensive,” he says with a hiss. “The challenge, is just for two of you. And you, dearest Atticus, must be included.”
Atticus frowns, he knows he himself needs to temper his words and actions, but he also knows right now, he has a fight to win. “We’ll need our powers back!”
Kukulkan nods. “I never really took them away, the crystals, they no longer exist due to the Horseman’s misuse, allowing a hybrid Egyptian demigod access to their powers. No, I merely tricked you into thinking you could not use them. Your minds need strengthening. Now, enough talk, choose your battle partner, before I choose for you.”
Atticus needs to think quickly, he knows he needs to pick the most skilled in combat, and someone strong. He already knows who that person is, but is concerned on whether or not he is truly recovered. He looks straight at Khan, trying to ignore Ju Long who is jumping up and down with his hand in the air. “Are you sure you’re okay now?”
Khan smiles. “For a fight? I am always okay brother.”
Atticus nods. “Okay, so, how do we...”
Before Atticus can finish his sentence, he is struck from behind by a fireball and sent crashing to the ground.
Khan rushes forward and punches the Dark Mage that attacked without warning. “That is for cheating.” He helps Atticus to his feet, making sure his friend is okay. “We do not like those who fight without honour.” Khan storms forward, striking accurate blows towards the Dark Mages, swiftly dodging their counter attacks. He sweeps the smallest two in one combined movement, before knocking out a third with his fists.
Atticus shakes his head to regain his composure and joins the fight, intercepting the largest of the Dark Mages as he attempts to attack Khan. Atticus throws a blue shield forward, deflecting the powerful being’s path towards him, and follows up with a fireball in an attempt to take him down. But this one is strong, stronger than the others. The fireball just slows him down for a moment. He charges towards Atticus, who rolls out of the way, dodging not only the large Dark Mage, but also the one who attacked him from behind. The large one piles straight into his own soldier, sending them both crashing to the ground.
Khan is distracted momentarily by the noise, allowing the other four to recover and surround him. They hold him hard and fast, stopping him in his tracks.
Atticus can see Khan struggle. Either these four combined are stronger than they appear, or Khan is still sick. Atticus wonders why he would lie, was the truth to be cured not enough? He runs to aid Khan, but the large Dark Mage has already recovered and grabs Atticus, throwing him into the air like a rag doll. The other Dark Mage flies into the air and scissor kicks Atticus back towards the ground.
Atticus is conscious enough to use his own power of flight to slow his descent, but not enough to halt it completely. He crashes into the ground, hard enough to almost break his arm. He stands slowly, grasping the area which is in pain.
“Come on Atticus, Khan! You can do this!” shouts Joyce, eager to join the fight, as are the others.
“Move faster for the big one!” shouts General Crawford. “He can’t keep up with your speed!”
Atticus acknowledges the advice with a quick tilt of his head; he then looks towards Khan to check he is okay.
Khan raises an eyebrow, before smiling coyly, and with an almighty roar, sums up enough strength to throw his would-be aggressors towards the large Dark Mage.
Atticus moves quickly with his super speed to position himself behind the target and stops him from getting out of the way by punching him back to where Khan wants him.
The Dark Mages all collide together, as Atticus flies high to catch the one still in the air, throwing him back down on top of the pile of the others.
Khan is about to send a fireball to finish the fight, but before he can, Atticus stops him.
“Let’s try something, different.”
Khan looks quizzically at his leader, wondering what he is thinking.
Atticus smiles, before turning towards the Dark Mages, and walking towards them. He sees them struggle to get up, and approaches them slowly, without threat. He waits for them to stand, hoping that they have had enough. The large Dark Mage is about to run towards him, but Atticus merely raises his hand. “Stop.” He turns his hand, holding it out in an offer to shake.
The Dark Mages stand confused, they look at each other and grunt, and follow that up with noises that Atticus hopes are noises of agreement.
The largest Dark Mage looks back at Atticus and snorts, before raising his own hand, accepting the gesture.
Atticus turns to Khan and then the other Majjai. “Well, I was hoping that would wor...!”
The Dark Mage pulls Atticus close to him and embraces him in a tight hug, muffling the final word he was trying to say.
The others laugh as they join Khan and Atticus. Olof slowly taps the arm of the large Dark Mage, coaxing him to let go of Atticus, who splutters as he regains his breath.
Kukulkan slithers over, almost smiling himself. “Very good Atticus, you have been, proven. Sometimes, winning a fight doesn’t mean you have to use violence.”
“Will you allow us into the temple now?” Atticus asks, while Joyce heals his arm.
“A deal, is a deal. But only the proven may enter,” Kukulkan says, tilting his head towards Khan.
Atticus nods. “So be it. The others will wait here. Khan and I will enter.”
Joyce pulls Atticus to the side, eager to tell him something. “Listen, Pali scanned the temple. That thing is littered with booby traps! You need to be careful. Please.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this guy watching my back, too,” Atticus replies, pointing to Khan.
“Yes, but who will watch his?” Safaya asks. “I saw him, too, Atticus. He’s still not well, not as strong as before. Please, it may be you who needs to watch for him this time.”
Atticus nods as he watches Khan, out of earshot, trying to communicate with a group of Dark Majjai, alongside Ju Long, who is attempting his own form of sign language. “Do not worry, Princess. We will be fine, and when we finish this, we will find a way to cure him fully, I’m sure of it.”
“Now Atticus,” Kukulkan interjects. “You must go now, before I change my mind. Even gods of war need their beauty sleep.”
Atticus waves over to Khan and shouts loudly. “Let’s go find this King shall we?”
Chapter 23
The King’s Torment
“The entrance to this place is a lot higher than it looked from the bottom,” Atticus moans, as he grabs another vine to help haul him upwards. Normally, he would fly himself up, but his concerns for Khan grow, he does not believe his friend is fully healed. If anything, he appears to be getting weaker again with every exertion. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Khan pulls himself up level with Atticus, trying not to appear fatigued. “I do not know yet brother. Much of my strength has returned, but, at times, I still feel weak.”
Atticus helps Khan to the next plateau above them, leveraging himself, and swinging Khan high above him so he lands easily on the flatter surface. He then hovers himself up and lands softly next to his friend. Looking around him, he spies the entrance to the tomb, a large cavern, with a statue to either side of the entrance. One resembles a giant, trident-like staff, the other a massive sword, not too dissimilar in appearance to Atticus’s own Sword of Ages, with its intricate hilt design and sharply contoured blade.
Khan is about to step forward and enter the tomb, but Atticus reaches out his arm to stop him. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asks curtly, but doesn’t push too much more as he spies the annoyance in Khan’s face.
“Yes, for this, yes. For what I feel I must do to fully be healed, maybe not.”
Atticus is perplexed, wondering what Khan could mean. But before he c
an ask, Khan changes the subject swiftly.
“You know brother, I have concerns.”
“Concerns about what?”
“About you. About the yellow sickness. About many things.”
Atticus sighs. “I’m also worried, but I’m hoping this Blade King can help fix things. Luckily, we’ve not yet seen any deaths with the sickness.”
Khan huffs, and shakes his head, as if he has knowledge unbeknownst to Atticus. “I have seen the death from the yellow sickness. I have seen... things. When I was sleeping from the poison, it was as if it was taking me on a journey. I remember bits and pieces. I remember the awakening chamber. There is something about our powers that is wholly dark Atticus. Wherever our abilities have come from, not all is well with them, we use them for good... but, for you, there is more.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s strange, I saw you, then I saw... a different you. You were encased in the white magic, your eyes were red... demonic, and Razakel’s head was beneath your feet.”
Atticus smiles. “So, that can’t be so bad? Razakel gone.”
“No Atticus, I fear the cost of victory could be dire. Remember what Kazmagus said? He said you were tainted with white magic, not gifted. It was almost like he himself was afraid of it.” Khan places a hand on Atticus’s shoulder. “Did you do any research on this? Have the scrolls revealed any more?”
Atticus shakes his head.
“My brother, we need to be so careful. The balance of winning and losing is so delicate. The white magic was powerful enough to hurl Razakel back to his realm once; whatever gift you have to tap into it, you must control it. He will be prepared for it next time.”
“You’re right Khan. But we may not have any control over what happens. Did you see how Kukulkan was looking at me earlier? He knows much more than he is letting on. And I thought getting here would have been much harder. This was almost too easy.” Atticus looks towards the cavern entrance. “Maybe this is all planned, Hel, Kukulkan. The old gods are not foolish. Maybe they want Razakel out of the way as much as we do. We could just be following the path they have laid out for us.”
“Indeed Atticus, and for what reasons?” Khan starts pacing towards the cavern, looking back towards Atticus shrugging as he does so. “Well, are you coming?”
Atticus runs to catch up. “I have to, Safaya told me to have your back.”
“Ha! It is I who usually has yours!”
Atticus smiles, glad to see that at least Khan’s humour is at full strength, which isn’t really that difficult a level to reach with his usual stoic projection. He looks around carefully as the inside of the cavern lights up with lanterns fixed to the walls. “I’m guessing we need to be careful now, Pali says there are traps littered all over the place. I’m surprised there isn’t one at the entra—aarrggghhh!” Atticus screams as the ground below him gives way. He looks up towards Khan who is quickly disappearing from view above him. Atticus slows his decent and quickly flies back upwards, but it is as if the top of the hole he fell through is getting further away.
“It’s an inverse pit Atticus!” shouts Khan. “You will need to grab the sides and haul yourself up!”
Atticus nods, and directs his flight path to the walls, grabbing them and pushing himself upwards with all his strength. After a few successful jumps, he notices the air around him becoming disturbed frequently as tiny sharp objects fizz past him.
“Careful Atticus!” Khan shouts again. “Shield yourself, the darts are poisoned!” Khan dangles one out of the opening, dripping with some strange green ooze.
Atticus creates a blue shield of light with one of his arms just behind him, right as one of the darts almost strikes his leg. With his other arm, he hauls himself further. And again, until he finally reaches the top. Khan heaves over the edge, just as the entrance to the inverse pit closes.
“Well, you did think things were too easy, Atticus,” Khan says jokingly as he feels something buzzing from inside his robe.
“What is it?” asks Atticus.
Khan pulls out a communications crystal. “Ha! Safaya, she must have hidden this when we were preparing to head up here.” He taps it to activate the crystal’s connection and an image of Safaya and Pali appears above it.
“Look!” Safaya says quickly, but also quietly. “General Crawford, Olof, and Ju Long have the Dark Majjai distracted, Joyce is keeping watch and Kukulkan is speaking with Spitfire. Pali has mapped out the temple, she can direct you so you avoid any traps!”
Atticus laughs. “I wish you had buzzed us just five minutes earlier.”
“Yes, Atticus went like Jack and Jill, without the hill!” Khan says, laughing at his own joke, but soon stops when he realises that no-one else is laughing with him. “Hmm, I shall leave such humour to Ju Long.”
Pali chuckles. “Yes, that might be for the best.”
Safaya nudges Pali with her elbow. “Well, I think Khan can be quite humorous sometimes!”
“Guys,” Atticus interrupts quickly. “The map?”
“Ah, yes,” Pali says as she taps some buttons on her bionic arm. “Be careful at the entrance, an inverse pit lies to the left of it.”
“Yes, that one we know about,” Khan says as he waves the dart he found.
“Good,” Pali replies. “those things can be tricky. You think you can just fly out, but try that and you will just get sucked back down.” She hovers her hand over the holographic projection over her arm. “Okay, you should see three tunnels ahead of you. Take the right one. Keep to the left for forty paces, then crawl over to the right, and head straight about thirty metres. And keep your heads down!”
“Why?” asks Atticus.
“Well, if you don’t, you won’t have any heads to keep down any more!”
Atticus decides not to question any more of Pali’s directions, and both he and Khan follow her instructions to the letter.
After about fifteen minutes of safe travel, the pair reach a large wooden door. Next to it is a lock with a hand print, not dissimilar to the one found at Kazmagus’s tomb back at Wysardian Manor.
Khan looks right at Atticus. “Try it.”
Atticus nods and presses his palm to the imprint. The door begins to glow a bright blue, then swings inwards fast and hard, unleashing a mass of old, stale air into the outer cavern corridor, blowing out all of the lanterns and leaving them in darkness, save for the glow from the communications crystal. Atticus uses a small fireball to light the nearest lantern takes it off the wall. He points to the now open doorway and walks towards it.
“Okay, Atticus, Khan, this room is like a black hole for me. My scans can’t see…”
Before Pali is able to complete her sentence, the communications crystal fizzes, then goes blank.
“Well, guess we are on our own now,” Khan says as he puts away the crystal.
Atticus walks cautiously towards the centre of the room they are now in. The light from the lantern does not venture too far, so he beckons to Khan to follow him closely as they find their way in the darkness. It doesn’t take long for them to reach a large granite coffin, seated on a bed of rocks. Atticus dusts off a tablet situated on a stone plinth next to it, trying not to inhale the plume of finely eroded stone he has just created.
Khan takes a look at the inscription and then looks at Atticus. “Hmm, it appears to be that new language you like so much.”
Atticus looks at the hieroglyphics and nods in agreement. “It is ancient Sumerian. It says only a touch from the blade of a sword of power can wake the spirit of the Blade King.” Atticus unsheathes the Sword of Ages and taps the top of the coffin. As soon as he does so the entire chamber is filled with a bright golden light, with a large pillar of it shooting upwards from the section that Atticus touched.
“I sense the presence of Proven. The presence of two swordsmen. Are you worthy?”
A voice rings out through the chamber, almost deafening in volume.
Atticus holds his sword high above his head and shouts
loudly. “My name is Atticus. I hold the Sword of Ages, and seek the Blade King!”
The voice rings out again. “Are you worthy, Atticus? And you, Khan?”
Khan looks at Atticus, shrugs his shoulders and indicates to Atticus to answer.
“Yes! We are worthy!”
“Very well!” The voice replies. “Then you must prove it!”
“I’m getting really tired of this ‘proven’ word,” Atticus sighs.
“As am I Atticus, as am I!” Khan draws his own sword, sensing the need for it is clear.
The pillar of light focuses itself into a concentrated ball of light and launches itself at Atticus, who defends himself with the sword.
The light then soars towards Khan, who rolls out of the way, and strikes the ball with his own blade.
The ball of light then transforms into a golden knight, with a mace in one hand, and a giant sabre in the other. It runs towards the two Majjai, swinging its blade and mace, attacking them fast and hard.
Atticus and Khan battle hard, dodging the attacks with swift movements and striking back when they can. The knight is powerful, and very skilled. Countering the moves of the Majjai, intuitively finding a way to return a reply to every question. But both Atticus and Khan are also skilled, and for several minutes the battle remains deadlocked.
Atticus incorporates his Majjai abilities to try and gain a foothold, soaring into the air, attempting to fight this being from above, while Khan keeps to the ground.
The Arabian Majjai tears massive chunks of rock from the walls, trying to distract their foe, following up with strikes of his blade.
Atticus sends a barrage of fireballs downwards, and flies blade first towards the Knight striking its sabre hard, shattering it into thousands of shards of light.
