Gareth glares at the thief. “Do not use nautical terms like wake Merek. It does not roll off your tongue well.”
Merek does not answer Gareth, but continues. “As we were a good distance from you, it took a measure of time to come down out of hiding. By then you were gone into the wood. It took only a short time to locate your trail. With Gareth’s heavy foot disturbing the grass, it was a track even a child could find—so we followed.”
Merek quickly scans the area about them, looking at packs and blanket rolls. “Natsha, you were carrying something wrapped in cloth. What treasure did you acquire? Is it enough to share with us?”
“What I carried is nothing which would benefit the likes of you Merek. It is best for you and your men to leave here. Forget what you have seen, or thought you seen. My wish is you leaving here will extend your life. That is if you go soon!”
“Tell me true Natsha. Are you placing a threat on me and mine?”
“Nay my old friend and ally from our days of thievery. However, those of evil that learn the Maiden has life again will take vengeance on those who have helped her. It is true the old Blood Priests and Druids may be dust now, but their magic persists.
I have heard tales of several inhabitants who have ventured too near the dark woods. They have never returned. It is said around the cook fires…those who once followed the ways of the Druids are gathering. Their minions are still about and are obeying the commands last given.”
“We fear no warlock, druid or witch, but we will heed the warnings my thief sister. We will be gone on the morrow.”
Gareth throws more wood on the fire. The increase of heat is warming to those gathered around. The dancing flames and the crackling of the fire, lulls everyone asleep…except the big man. He takes a watch position just outside where the fire will not cloud his night vision. He remains immobile, staring out into the night.
The four thieves true to their word were up and out before the dawn. Gareth was the only one awake to see them go. The Maiden and I fell asleep sometime during the night. I rose when Gareth tapped my foot.
“Time to greet another day my old friend; the sky is awake—and adventure is calling!”
Chapter 4 - The Hidden Legend
Gareth told us Merek and his men left at first light. They did not want to disturb our sleep, so they stole away silently.
My sword brother seeing I was up and moving about left the cave, but only to find us nourishment for our bodies.
Using some of the liquid from the water vessel, I wash the webs of slumber from my eyes. While drying my face and eyes on my tunic sleeve, I see the Maiden watching me.
I say to her. “Good day, my lady. How do you faire this morn?”
“I do well sword sister. Although my reckoning is still chaotic and shrouded in mists, my strength has returned in abundance. Where are thy mate and the others of your clan?”
Using my fingers like a comb, I untangle my hair and proceed to braid it while answering the White Witch. “We are not coupled Maiden. We travel only as sword mates…nothing more!”
“You may think it is thus Natsha, but I see men’s desires and thoughts. That big one looks at you more than just a traveling companion. His eyes tell me he wants you sworn to him as a life mate. One does not need magic to see this.”
I rub the smooth leather arm guard Gareth gave me last winter. I cannot deny I have often thought the same of him. I do not affirm those musings with the Maiden. Instead, I just say. “Gareth went looking for game to fill our bellies. He told me he would try to find berries and what the earth has provided that grows on the bush or dug from the soil. He will try to spear those that swim beneath the water if it pleases you Maiden?”
“The smooth scaled travelers of the water will I partake. My pact with the animals and birds of the air is not to consume their flesh. Of the fish, I have no such agreement.”
Suddenly, the Maiden is standing with the enchanted saber which magically appeared in her hand. “Stand and defend sword sister—trouble approaches.”
Strapping on my sword belt, I grab my bow and quiver of steel tipped bolts. “What comes that I did not hear or see?”
“I sense many footfalls of men running. It is as if hunters are chasing a deer. They pursue Gareth as his largeness is tramping the grasses and twigs of the wood. There,” as she points to the edge of the forest across the open span of swaying grass.
Charging the cross bow, I notch one of my longer distance arrows and aim where the Maiden directed my eye. Tense moments pass, then I see Gareth on a quick run coming toward us. The shaft of an arrow protrudes from his back. He turns without stopping and fires one of his own arrows behind him. He is several paces into the open land when a score of men on the run attempt to overtake him.
Sighting on the nearest man behind Gareth, I gage the distance and the speed of his stride, and aim a little ahead of his intended path. I do this in the time it takes to endure a breath. Releasing the bolt, I set another arrow and measure the distance and my aim at the next man chasing Gareth.
The Maiden steps outside of the entrance to the Dragon’s Grave lair and raises her sword. It begins to glow the familiar blue…then white of her power. Her long white hair dances about her head from the energy emanating from the mystic sword.
I release my second shaft and grab for another. The first man takes my arrow through the throat. The next willow straight arrow pins what I now see as one of the king’s soldiers in the arm, spinning him around until he falls. The true to the mark arrow cleaved the arm and struck the man in his heart.
As I prepare to send another in flight, those chasing Gareth have slowed and stopped. They are looking about to see where the death of their companions is coming?
Gareth lumbers toward us…his pace slowing. His tread uneven and staggering as the wood lodged in his back may be a death thrust.
I watch the soldiers who have formed a line across the clearing, slowly advancing on our position. Too late, I see a soldier’s arrow speeding toward us. There is no time to be clear of its intended target—me! I pray to the Gods who watch the foolish that my leather girdle will not let it be a killing blow.
There is a bright flash as the Maiden’s sword slashes through the air in front of my body. The arrow meant to bring me down bounces harmlessly off the blade before me. The sound of the steel tip shaft against the unbreakable sword rings painfully in my ears. The arrow’s cast steel point flattens against the Maiden’s Saber like doughy bread. The wooden shaft and feathered flights shatter into oblivion.
By now, Gareth has gained our position. He turns to face our enemy and raises a sword in defiance. His left arm hung limp at his side. The arrow in his shoulder sunk deep into the man’s thick muscles forcing his arm to disobey his need to raise it. His breathing is labored, more than just from running.
“I am sore sorry that I could not lead these guardsmen away from here. They had me surrounded on three sides and were herding me in this direction. It was though they knew where you were. I countered over thirty of them chasing me. I think they found their brethren at the monument and trailed us. The three of us after leaving the cenotaph made no attempt to conceal our travel through the wood or field.”
“It was as Merek said to us last night. It was easy for him to follow us. The soldiers must have a tracker.
Still facing the soldiers, we back into the lair and out of sight of those advancing. Since Gareth cannot use his crossbow with only one arm, I grab his quiver of arrows and send several in the direction of the soldiers in a vain attempt to slow their move forward. Two arrows find their marks as they are thrown backward. The rest duck into the tall grass and offer no clear targets.
The Maiden’s powers are waning again as the brilliance of her sword diminishes.
“I grow weak again,” she says. “My strength is draining rather swiftly. Something evil has lain a curse on me. I do not know what the Druids did to me before I was thrown into the half-sleep of death. Quickly, inside—both of you! I
have a little power left to do what must be done.”
Without asking why, Gareth and I continue to back into the lair defiantly facing our enemy. The Maiden raises her sword to the heavens, then to either side of the entrance; finally striking the ground at her feet…all the while uttering a strange language. A low rumbling comes from deep within the earth and grows louder and nearer.
She joins us at the back of the cavern as the ground rises up and meets the ceiling, closing off the entrance to the outside. Sparks play across the new wall and pinpoints of lights flicker on the surface.
“This is the magic Door of Agoran. None shall pass while it is in place. No mortal tool can penetrate it, so we are safe for a time. Let us tend to our wounded brother.”
At Amari’s urging, Gareth sits on a large flat rock. He sees the looks on both the Maiden and Natsha’s faces. “Do not fret over me my sword sisters. This is but a coward’s attempt to bring me down.”
“What about that extra arm growing from your back, Gareth? It must pain you so?”
“Not to worry Natsha, I have been dealt far worse. Nevertheless, since it is an awkward position for me to reach, I must beg you to remove it. The soldiers use a wicked barbed arrow point that must be cut from the flesh. Pulling it out will only create raw meat that will heal poorly and spoil my form.”
Amari and I both laugh at his attempt to make light of the wound that came close to ending his adventures. A little deeper and it would have pierced his brave heart.
I make him lie on his stomach. Taking my short blade, I work a larger hole in his tunic that surrounds the wound. Stoking the fire and adding more wood, I place my knife blade into the coals. “Stand ready brother, this will hurt. You must not move about, as I may cut not where I intend.
Amari draws nearer to us and leans over the prone Gareth. I have a spell that will help sister. Brother will you allow me to cast this upon you?”
“I do not need magic to endure the taking of a coward’s shaft from my back. Pity the man who would not face me, but suffered as a weakling and came up to my blind.”
“As you wish,” I tell him. Amari, can you hold him from moving too much while I cut this out.”
The Maiden grasps his forearms from the front and exerts what little strength she has left. Taking the hot blade from the fire, I make the first cut into his flesh and muscle.”
“Ow! Tread easy woman. You are taking too much pleasure in holding me under your blade. I have changed my mind. Natsha is no surgeon. Amari, please work your magic.”
Natsha points at the incision she just made. “You act that of a young girl who has bruised her knee. The cut is so small that I would need the eyes of a hawk to see it!”
Amari releases his arms and places her hands on his head. She closes her eyes and chants words that were not understood by either Gareth or I. In moments, their brother is snoring.
Looking to Natsha, I say. “He will sleep thus for many cycles of the sand glass. His body will not jump or twitch, so do your work well sister.”
The Maiden notices Natsha looking sideways at the barrier every few moments. “There is no need to stand guard as none may pass my magic which protects us.”
It takes much time to slice into Gareth’s back. Even though the blade is sharp as my mother’s tongue, this mountain of a man has thick muscles like knotted lines that held his ship fast to the pier during a storm.
Amari watches me as I work to remove the arrow and save our friend. I look at her and say. “I have cut away many of my shafts from wild boars, but indeed, I cared not for my cuts as the animal was dead and about to be meat at our table.”
Giving a gentle tug, the arrow finally pulls free. Gareth gives a sigh as he lays there. Even in magic slumber, he can feel it taken away from his back. I pour healing herbs pulled from my pack into his wound, and apply a large clean cloth for protection. Using a length of vine fiber, I lash it over the cloth and around his chest. It is good that it is long, as his stoutness almost stops the ends from coming together in a knot.
I wash his blood from my hands and sit next to the fire. I never realized the demand for precision when cutting on something which is still alive. My thanks go forth to those that work the magic of medicine.
“Your touch and medical knowledge of wounds serve you well.” Amari says with pride in Natsha’s skill.
“This is not the first time I had to attend a wounded man. Many a times I stitched up my father and brother’s cuts. Our village was too small to have an Apothecary or a wise woman who tended the sick or hurt. I did what I could, but by no means am I a healer.”
The pounding continues from the barrier the Maiden has put between us, and those who wish to do harm. With each reverberating sound, the sparks upon the wall dance and jump. “Amari, are they trying to win through your magic?”
“They may try sister, but mere mortals do not have the means nor the power that I possess. Their insistent rapping against it is causing my magic door to quiver at times. Only a more powerful magic can breach that barricade.”
Amari puts her hands against the wall and runs her fingers up and down across the rough surface. “I am sensing someone who I have not felt in decades. It may be somebody who could possibly bring the barrier down; Urel Irgini!”
“Amari—who be thou you have named?”
“She is another Maiden…one of evil and hatred. Ages ago, her wish was to have me turned to the dust at her feet. She is powerful and can work great spells, but she is no match for me while I hold Katana. She is possibly the one that has cast a spell upon my strength. I can feel my energy and vigor begin to ebb. We must get far from here. Only time and distance can weaken her hold.
I must tell you, there are five swords that claim allegiance to each other; the Maiden's Saber, Katana that I possess, which shares the powers of the others. There is Dith Vat-Tir's Dragon Templar also known as Helixx; Hydrosin, the Water Sword; The Mystic Wind, so named the Wind Sword. These chosen sabers are formed from the elements of our mother earth. The final part of the Pentadiene is Pyrestorm the Fire Sword…wielded by the hand of Urel Irgini, my sister.”
“Wait? Did you just say the name of the witch outside this very mountain and guiding the soldiers to our undoing is your kin?”
“I must confess it is so. She has been led by the dark ones to ruin. I cannot count her as my blood any longer. She would dispatch me without thought or remorse.”
“Maiden, we are trapped within the Dragon’s Grave with only rock and stone all about. Do we pretend to be rodents and dig through the earth below our feet to escape? What of Gareth? He still sleeps under your spell. He may be unable to raise sword and shield with us.”
Amari does not answer, but instead she sits upon the cave floor and places the blade of the sword upon her forehead. Her eyes go blank as her mighty Katana glows not blue or white this time, but dark, as it did for Gareth. The banging on the earthen door continues. Pieces of stone crumble from the wall and land at my feet.
“I have a way Natsha,” the Maiden says to me. “My vision saw beyond this chamber and to the other side of my enchanted wall. The soldiers are not alone. Urel does indeed stand with them. Her saber raised at my magic; so no escape for us that way.
However, at the rear of this cavern is where the dragon sleeps in death after the warrior stilled its life. That valiant knight lies there as well. We must win through where the rock overhead has fallen and sealed it shut. For that I need Gareth and his great strength.”
Amari places her hand on Gareth’s head. He opens his eyes and winces in pain. His bulk rises to sitting. He stares at the floor as if trying to stop the dancing of his eyes. He sees the soldier’s arrow lying on the ground at his feet. “Well done Natsha. My praise to you for ridding me of that piece of coward’s wood. My back feels on fire, but my arm is no longer weak.”
“My brother; are you able to move? The men on the other side of this barrier mean to win through and have our heads.” Natsha says while gaging Gareth’s eyes.<
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Using his sword as a crutch, Gareth rises to his full height. “I stand ready sword sisters. Many will die before breaching my position.”
The Maiden speaks softly and touches Gareth’s broad back. “You will not need to stand and defend. It is wise to retreat and fight another day when the favor of victory is with us.”
Gareth flexes his arms, as if trying to find the pain that now appears gone. “What have you done to me witch? I have no pain or its memory to recount.”
“It is an enchantment I conveyed upon you my friend. The wound is still there upon your back…healed closed. It will still ooze blood for a time. I have tempered the pain so you will not feel or succumb to it. We must go quickly. Natsha, bring a torch to light our way!”
Natsha grabs a burning stick from the fire. She goes ahead where Amari points. Traveling down the back side of the rise, they come upon a stone wall and the end of the cavern. There is evidence where a past cave in has closed an opening.
“Here my friends, this is our way.” She runs her hands over the pile of stones trying to see beyond with her keen inner senses.
She takes my sword and hands me hers. “Gareth, I do not have the strength for this. You must master the stones to command them to part and allow us to pass. You can demand the earth and stones to do your bidding.”
“Maiden, I am not skilled in witchery. What must I do?”
“My massive friend, you need not know spells and magic to do what you will. You direct Katana at the earth and rock; simply think of what you wish to be done. If you desire, even speak it aloud. She will do your bidding, and the earth will move. You just have to empty your mind of other thoughts and concentrate.”
“Not hard for him.” Natsha says. “His mind is already empty.”
I look to Natsha and smile. I know she jests to lessen our anxiety. “Tell me again Maidens, which one is the witch?”
Amari and I laugh at this big oaf.
As the two women stand aside, I aim the glowing enchanted sword at the rock wall. Drawing upon my inner will; I visualize the earth and rock moving apart. The earth rumbles beneath our feet and the barrier before us begins to fall away.
Maiden's Saber Page 5
