Protector's Curse

by Keith Walsh

  “Atheles, follow them,” said Kalen, whipping his hand out in the direction the riders had gone. “What of you? I am sworn to protect you,” Atheles said. Kalen laughed wickedly as he slid the hood of his cloak back and then untied it, letting it slip to the flooded earth. A flash of lightning lit up the sky as he did so and for the first time since their meeting, Jasper glimpsed the eyes of the man standing against them. His blood ran cold as if he had seen the devil itself. Thunder sounded. “I do not need your protection right now Atheles. I need your obedience. Now follow those riders,” he said, his excitement growing as the prospect of taking on five men alone raced through him.

  Ever since he had witnessed Dallious kill four of his handpicked best, Kalen had wanted to test himself against similar odds and now he had his chance. And no way would he let Atheles take any of the glory. His instructors had always told him, “Never underestimate your opponents” but underestimation could only happen if you were estimating in the first place and Kalen did no such thing. He already knew these men were no match for him. Their nervous demeanour, stances and weapon grip all gave evidence to the fact. But more than that, their eyes showed fear and no competent fighter would give away such a thing even if they felt it.

  “Very well,” replied Atheles, turning his horse in the direction he needed to go. “But let me just add, if we intend to stay here until the morning, killing the locals is probably not the best way to go about getting a good night’s sleep.” He could see that his council fell on deaf ears, however, and so he kicked his horse into a gallop. If he dies, all you have endured to fulfil your oath will have been for naught, he thought as he raced away. “Ha, those men will be dead before the next flash of lightning,” he said out loud and normally he would be aggrieved by such a thing but they did draw weapons first, not to mention threatening to steal their coin.

  “You fool,” said Jasper eyeing Kalen, bolstered by the fact his giant companion had been sent away and knowing it was now five against one. He took a step forward. “But I am not honourable,” said Kalen. Jasper paused, confusion etched on his face. “…because honour is for fools,” continued Kalen. “And so you are not a fool…” replied Jasper. “You catch on quick,” said Kalen with a mocking grin. “I might have liked you, if it were not for the fact you wanted to rob me.”

  “Enough of this arsehole,” sounded another voice and it was the last sound that person would ever make as one of Kalen’s daggers buried itself in the man’s head. Another dropped almost simultaneously, his demise caused in exactly the same way. Jasper rushed forward aiming a blow for Kalen’s abdomen but he parried it easily before sidestepping and kicking the failing attacker on the backside, sending him flying to his knees with a splash.

  Then he spun quickly just in time to block a slash aimed at his back. Holding his attacker’s blade high with his own he drew another of his daggers and stabbed the man in his unprotected gut. His victim fell back, dropping his sword in the puddles at his feet. Only two left. Already! thought Kalen, smiling slyly. The last of the remaining men seemed reluctant to advance, choosing instead to back off. One of the two glanced briefly at the recovering Jasper and Kalen followed his look. He allowed the man to fully recover and move to the side of his companion before placing a hand to his mouth and yawning.

  Jasper’s companion seemed to think this was the best opportunity to strike and he launched a vicious cut at Kalen’s head. A simple duck and riposte was all it took to see the man’s heart cease to beat, his lifeless body causing quite a splash as it collapsed. “Oh God,” came a voice from the ground. It was the man Kalen had stabbed in the gut. “What did you get us into Jasper?” he added, his hand clutching at the dagger in his stomach as he strained to look at it.

  “Hush now,” said Kalen, fully recovered from his lethal defence but a moment earlier and directing his words at the downed man. “Your friend does not have long left to live I’m afraid,” he said, now focussing on the ashen-faced Jasper. He didn’t say anything as he looked at Kalen. None of this had been the plan. They were supposed to be ambushing Callis’ giant friend. Not dead and dying on a flooded street only feet from their homes.

  Another burst of lightning forked through the sky followed shortly by booming thunder, which caused Jasper to flinch but Kalen stood steady. Unbeknown to him the lightning made a mockery of Atheles’ prediction, although only barely. Four out of five assailants were dead. Well, one was dying but the wound was fatal. “Please don’t kill me,” said Jasper. Kalen just laughed at him. “Look, look, I’ll put my weapon away,” he added, sheathing his sword. “Like you were any threat with it,” Kalen sneered. “There must be some kind of an arrangement we can come to?” said Jasper, desperate for any response other than his death.

  Kalen thought for a moment. The man he heard call himself Jasper was the only one who seemed interested in the two riders that sped past earlier. And although he had sent Atheles after them his curiosity got the better of him. “I tell you what,” he said. Jasper perked up. “Those riders we saw earlier, you seemed to know them…” Jasper looked at him eagerly. “I do, I do,” he said. “I’m sensing a story there,” Kalen said. “Tell me about it and I will let you live.”

  Jasper’s spirits soared as he began his tale.

  Chapter 26

  Callis and Cormac raced towards Matias’ home. He had taken note of the four men with Jasper as they sped past but didn’t concern himself with trying to identify them. His attention was distracted by the two riders also present. Something inside reminded him of Gallant’s warning about being pursued, and strangers in the village were rare. It was one of the reasons why no tavern or lodge existed in Homestead. Knowing his mind not quite right at the moment he made a point of storing the memory of those riders for later consideration.

  As lightning flashed overhead they could see the outline of their destination ahead and within moments they reined their mounts in. Callis leapt from the saddle, wincing as the impact of his landing caused him pain but he put it aside, eager to warn Gallant. He banged furiously on the large wooden doors to Matias’ residence.

  “Someone’s coming,” said Cormac pointing from his saddle and then dismounting. Callis followed the young man’s finger and could see a large figure on horseback heading towards them. He increased his ferocity on the door, choosing to boot at it now. “Yes, yes, I’m coming,” he heard Matias say from inside. With the door barely ajar Callis shoved his way in, nearly knocking his mentor off his feet. “What on Earth is the matt—”

  “Where’s Gallant?” Callis demanded. “I’m here, what’s going on?” said the giant rushing to Callis’ side. “What in God’s name has happened to you?” Callis waved his questions away impatiently. “Don’t worry about me. Your belongings are on your horse. You need to go,” he urged. “He’s almost on us,” said Cormac poking his head through the open door briefly. “Go where?” Matias asked. “The river will be flooded. There is nowhere to go.”

  “Take my horse and leave with them, you’ll think of something Matias,” said Callis pushing the old man out the door. Another flash of lightning, cracking thunder following. “I’m scared Mr Giant,” said Amber as Gallant scooped her up. “It’s okay Princess, Mr Giant will look after you. You know that don’t you?” he replied, rushing her to his horse, ignoring the lashing rain that pelted her little face. She nodded, her hair already starting to soak.

  For the first time in a long time Gallant’s heart raced. He didn’t care about himself but to have learned so much about the gifted during the course of the day and knowing Amber to be one, the magnitude of the situation threatened to overwhelm him. As he pulled himself into the saddle making sure to secure Amber in front of him he heard Matias shout, “Follow me. I’ll lead us to the river.” But as he angled his horse to do exactly that a rider came upon them.

  “Go,” said Callis. “We will hold them,” he added, patting Cormac on the shoulder. The young man responded with a nod and both men drew their swords to approach the strange r
ider. Gallant held for a moment, hoping to get a glimpse of who had come up on them but the rider wore a cloak that hid his face. Then lightning flashed again and Gallant’s eyes opened wide with shock as the strangers face became fleetingly visible. Atheles? thought Gallant as more thunder sounded but no words came from his lips.

  Atheles’ heart soared as the flash of lightning revealed a face he had not seen in an age. He remembered back at the convent how he had lied to Kalen about the name of Gallant meaning nothing to him, but he never for a second expected the person they pursued to be the Gallant he once knew. Could it really be? he thought, completely oblivious to the two men moving towards him and thinking that perhaps the flash of light had played tricks on him. “For the love of God, go!” said Callis, realising Gallant still remained.

  The young man’s pleas snapped the giant back to reality and with one last brief look at the hooded figure, he convinced himself what he had seen was a trick of the light. Turning his horse to follow Matias he urged it into a gallop. As the two riders and the child sped away from Atheles he considered giving chase until he finally realised that armed men blocked his path. He dismounted and slipping his cloak off he let it fall before drawing his large winged battle-axe from its brace on his back. “Do you boys know to face me is to die?” he asked, swinging his axe side to side menacingly.

  “There are two of us and one of you,” said Cormac. Atheles laughed. “So you can count… always good to know I’m dealing with intelligent folk.”

  “Fuck you,” said Callis, feigning an attack. Atheles didn’t even flinch. His experience could easily tell the attack was a ruse. “Let me ask you one thing…” Atheles said, and Callis and Cormac paused. “Why are you so willing to die for those people?” said Atheles pointing his axe in the direction the riders had gone. “I’ll die for him,” said Cormac nodding toward Callis. “And I’d die to protect the giant and the girl,” said Callis. “Although I can only say that now…” he added, remembering how he had failed to hold out earlier.

  “The giant, Gallant,” said Atheles, knowing full well he hoped to trick the answer out of his potential victims. Asking them to name their friend wouldn’t work but letting them know you have the name already might just get the confirmation he desired. Callis nodded before silently berating himself for being so stupid. The action had been instinctive and he had not intended to give away information so carelessly. Atheles smiled as his trickery proved successful. I’ve been around Kalen too long, he thought.

  “Did he ever mention a man called Atheles?” he asked. Callis found this situation most unusual. Did this giant…? Then a thought struck him. It was the first time he saw the stranger facing them as a giant, and only now did he realise he pictured him that way because he resembled Gallant. Not in the face but his build and general demeanour. “I have never known a pending fight to be held up so long due to such questions,” said Callis.

  “Well if it bothers you I welcome your attack at any time. However, I would of course prefer it if you answer my question.” Cormac and Callis eyed each other, neither interested in making the first strike. The calm yet confident nature of the giant obviously unnerved them. “No,” said Callis at last. “I don’t recall him ever mentioning an Atheles.”

  “Someone else is coming,” said Cormac and Atheles instantly knew it to be Kalen. “I have decided not to kill you,” said Atheles, “However, the rider that now bears down on us will not be so forgiving and so I must see to it that neither of you are standing when he gets here.” With surprising speed for a giant Atheles lashed his boot into the groin of the unsuspecting Cormac, the man dropping instantly with a yelp. Callis burst to life, lashing his sword towards Atheles’ right arm but an axe blade blocked the attack. Then in a spiralling motion the giant caused Callis to lose his grip on his sword and sent it flying through the air to land several feet away. The young man now unarmed, Atheles sheathed his axe.

  Callis was taken aback by the action. Sure the giant had said he would let him live but he didn’t really believe him. “You have been loyal to Gallant and loyalty is the most important thing in my family,” said Atheles, remembering how his father had instilled it within him and why his oath meant so much. “Why should my loyalty to Gallant mean anything to you?” said Callis, at the same time wondering why he always seemed to challenge those who controlled his fate.

  “Because he’s my brother,” said Atheles.

  Callis’ eyes went wide in shock moments before a powerful fist caused darkness to take him. Atheles moved to the still downed Cormac and smashed his boot into the young man’s head, also knocking him unconscious. Realising the young men could drown in the flooded street he grabbed each of them by the tunic, and with his mighty arms dragged them to the safety of a stone house. Dumping them inside, he closed the large wooden door behind him just as Kalen arrived.

  “They are here,” said Kalen, seemingly uninterested in what Atheles had been doing. “I know,” he replied, sweeping his soaked cloak from the floodwater and lashing it across his horse before heaving himself into the saddle. There was no point wearing it now. “What are you doing?” said Kalen, dismounting. “They are here,” he said again, snapping his hand out towards the house Atheles had come from. The man Jasper had told him everything right before Kalen killed him. And he knew now, looking at the large stone house, that this was the place described to him.

  “No, those riders you had me follow, they warned them. They have gone from here, headed in that direction,” said Atheles, pointing the way while controlling his edgy mount. Kalen stared at his giant companion for a moment, a look of disbelief on his face. Then another streak of lightning and the roll of thunder seemed to shake him from his trance and he vaulted into his saddle. “Quickly!” he said. “Lead the way.”

  Atheles angled his mount in the direction he saw his brother go before kicking the beast to life, encouraging it into a gallop. Kalen followed suit. As they sped on Atheles’ mind raced. He hadn’t seen his brother in years – not since Atheles beat their father and left home. The argument had been coming for a long time. Atheles wanted acclaim and fortune, not to fell trees and live a peaceful life. And his father didn’t want to lose a son, especially after losing his wife.

  The loss of their mother had hit Atheles and Gallant hard. His brother harder perhaps, him being the younger of the two. And their father, although doing his best, cared more about instilling strong morals in his boys rather than showing them love. At least that’s what the boys had thought back then. But Atheles had come to realise over the years that it was just how their father showed his love. Passing on his knowledge and trying to prepare them for the world. If only I could have seen it back then, father.

  A flash of lightning lit up the sky and Atheles could just barely make out some figures in the distance standing next to a massive tree. Thunder followed. He could not yet tell if it was his brother and his companions but thought it most likely.

  Chapter 27

  Matias had been racking his brain to come up with an idea for crossing the river as they raced towards it but nothing came to him, until now. He dismounted next to a massive oak just feet from the raging river, the small wooden bridge they normally used to cross having been destroyed. Gallant moved closer to the river, not realising Matias had stopped but he brought his horse to an abrupt stop upon seeing the violence of the water. “No way can we cross this,” he said turning to address Matias and only then discovering the old man had dismounted further back. He turned his uneasy mount and rode to Matias side before dismounting.

  “What are you doing?” Gallant asked, shielding his face from the pelting rain. “Matias, we need to move on.” The old man ignored him. His eyes were closed and he stood with one hand placed upon the tree trunk, the other on his chest. “I can feel a connection,” he said at last, keeping his eyes closed. Suddenly Gallant felt the earth beneath his feet move, almost causing him to lose balance before he steadied himself. He looked to the ground to see the cause and his eyes op
ened wide in awe as he spotted several large roots moving like tangled snakes toward the river’s edge. As they got closer they started to rise out of the ground in an arching motion but suddenly stopped.

  Gallant switched his attention back to Matias and he could see the old man squeezing his eyes shut even tighter, as if trying to force more concentration out of himself. “I haven’t got the power to complete it,” he said, shaking his head. His eyes flicked open and he moved the hand from his chest to stretch out towards Amber. The roots started to move once more but again they stopped short of the other side of the river.

  “Amber, I need you!” said Matias, opening and closing his outstretched hand at her. Amber slid from Gallant’s mount, her little body soaked to the skin and ran toward the old man. “No!” protested Gallant, making to intercept her but several small roots shot from the ground to wrap themselves around him, binding him in place. “I’m sorry Gallant, but I can’t complete the bridge without her help,” Matias said. Seeing Mr Giant in such distress Amber hesitated just short of the old man’s grip.

  “It’s okay child, I’m not going to hurt him or you,” said Matias stretching his fingertips for all their worth towards her, desperate to finally make the physical contact he so desired. Almost in slow motion Amber’s little fingers reached towards Matias. “You don’t know what will happen when you touch her. Stop Matias, stop!” Gallant shouted, fighting with all his might to free himself but his restraints proved too strong.

  “At last!” came an unrecognisable voice from Matias’ lips as his bond with Amber was complete. Lightning forked through the darkness and Gallant saw Matias’ facial features changed to that of a young man while Amber’s showed signs of aging. Their eyes were gone, replaced by searing yellow circles that glowed like the sun. A deafening boom of thunder rang out, shaking the air. “No!” screamed Gallant, struggling again but again to no avail. “Release her you bastard!”