Maiden's Saber

by Marion Faith St. James

  “How dreadfully awful for you Dian,” Holl-tu says with a look of awe for his friend and ally. “It must have been dire to be in there. At least, you had the presence of mind to bring your magic saber to bear.”

  Dian smiles at the wizard and catches the eyes of the others. “You will be surprised to hear this is not the first time I have been inside one of those serpents.”

  Gareth shakes his head. “Why do I feel you are not jesting?”

  “Tis true my large brother. Remember my past life imprisoned to the oceans as a Nix. Until I learned where these beasts hunted and how to evade their mouths; this be the third time I have been at such a dining.”

  They all laugh at this discovery.

  “Imagine,” Natsha says. “This one-time Nix was a formable warrior in the salt.”

  Still cleaning parts of the serpent’s insides from her hair, Dian says. “One must do what one must have to in order to survive.

  “Come sister, we need to clean you up.” Mimna says while taking Dian by the hand. “I have soap in my bag.” She leads Dian out to where the river is shallow and away from the dead beast.

  Dian drops down into the liquid and undresses while Mimna gets the soap from her bag. On her way back, she sees the men staring out into the river…pretending to be looking to the other shore. “You males really need to turn your backs to the water. Give the poor dear some privacy.”

  Gareth, Holl-tu, Truk and even Fin sits down with their backs to where Dian is washing.

  Natsha joins Mimna and Dian in the water. Natsha comes out carrying Dian’s clothes. She rinses them out in the water and lays them upon a large boulder near the wall. Amari casts a fire spell nearby to dry them.

  Dian with a cloak about her leaves the water with Mimna and joins the others at the fire.

  While sitting around the fire Natsha takes a small leather binding with parchment inside from her bag. Using a falcon’s feather for a writing quill, she dips the end into a small stoppered jar of ink. She quickly writes in her native language. Her hand flies across the page as words and sentences take form.

  Fin sits on one side of her and Holl-tu the other. The elf asks. “What is that scratching you do?”

  She looks at the little warrior. “I have been chronicling our adventures since we freed Amari from her tomb. I will add this to my father’s library when the quest is fulfilled. I want to make sure this is recorded and passed on to our ancestors. Those who come after us can relive these adventures for centuries.”

  “Why is it? I have not seen you doing this before Natsha?” The wizard asks peering over her arm at the writings.

  “I usually wait until the early morn hours when it is quiet.”

  He goes on. “Why now then?”

  She stops writing for a moment to answer. “Who knows what is waiting for us under the earth? If I do not put to parchment while fresh in my mind, it may become lost or distorted.”

  “Do you name us all in those scripts?” Holl-tu asks.

  “Yes, else it would not be a true accounting.”

  Gareth leans closer to Natsha. “How am I so named? If it eludes you, I want to be Gareth the Mighty.”

  “Too late my brother what is written cannot be unwritten. I have penned you Gareth the Eater.”

  Everyone breaks out in laughter, except Gareth. He just glares into the fire.

  “Silly oaf,” says Natsha. “Would I be so cruel to pin that title on you for all eternity?”

  “What say you then?” He asks searching her eyes.

  “This is what I have written as it pertains to you. “You are called Gareth, the Strong Arm of the Kcaj; a Brother Warrior and Shield Mate to the Maiden and those who stand with her. You are the Banisher of the Shade and the Slayer of Thousands who seek to darken the light.”

  Gareth beams. “You forgot, Mate to Natsha!”

  “Fool—you have spoiled the last chapter.”

  He looks into her eyes, then to his brother and sister warriors about him. “See, I told you she liked me.”

  “Yes,” says Amari. “There is hope for you yet. However, we do not have time for courting or mating. We need to keep our minds clear to the tasks before us.”

  A rumbling in several of their stomachs bring to mind, they have not eaten in days.

  Truk looks to Dian. “Is any part of the fish serpent editable?”

  “Why yes, most of it. If you can flip it over, the underside is tender and sweet. Of course, I have only taken its flesh raw. I imagine it would be equally good roasted over a fire.

  Dian looks to the Maiden. “Because it is of the sea and considered fish, you may partake as well. You will not break your vow of not eating meat of the land.”

  Amari nods her head.

  Gareth and Truk draw knives and proceed to hack away large portions of the beast’s underbelly after turning it over with great effort.

  Mimna and Natsha find flat stones to lay next to the fire. The fish steaks are set upon the stone. In moments, the meat is sizzling. The cooking smells fill the cavern. Holl-tu turns them over several times, so the cooking is even and the meat from the distant sea is not burned.

  After he deems it ready, he takes his knife and flakes away chunky pieces. “My friends, it is time to feast.”

  They gather around the fire again. After Amari blesses the bounty, the sparing of Dian’s life and using one of her food purification spells just to be sure, they all dig in. With the lack of eating instruments, they have to eat with their hands. Even so, the flavor is no less enticing.

  When the meal is done and what remains is cleaned up and disposed back into the river for the fish, the tired warriors spread out their bedrolls.

  Gareth using his great strength pushes the dead serpent back into the middle of the river and deeper water. The current catches the carcass, and it drops below the surface. “This one will find its way back to the sea.”

  Amari tells the others. “On the morrow we will find the path from this place. It may be from where the river enters this chamber.”

  As before, Holl-tu sets his enchantment to ward off any evils that may venture near. Amari tells the others to rest and sleep while she stands vigilant. She douses all but one illumination orb—that one she turns the brightness down some.

  Even Gareth does not fight her for the first watch, but tells her. “Awaken me if ye tire Maiden.” His head hardly touches the pack used as a pillow, and he is snoring like a great hog.

  With no sunrise to divide the night from day, Amari wakes the others when she senses it is early morn. “Come my friends, rise up and welcome a new day of adventure.”

  Stiff bodies creak and moan as the warriors pick themselves up from the hard ground.

  “How rest ye?” The elf asks of the others.

  The only answer is a thrown shoe from Gareth. It misses the elf completely and splashes into the river. Fin fetches it before it could float away. He brings the water-filled boot back to Gareth and drops it in his lap, sloshing the contents onto the big man’s trousers. “Your shoe my lord,” Fin says laughing and staying just outside of Gareth’s long reach.

  Mimna sits up and notices one of their number is missing. “Where is Dian?”

  Worried, the warriors fan out and search the shore and the tunnel they came out of the previous day. A splashing draws everyone’s attention to the river.

  Amari’s globes appear over the water at her urging spells.

  Wading from the water is Dian carrying a small cord lined with fresh speared fish. “I have brought breakfast my friends and a discovery. I hope you like more bounty from the water after just having it just the night before?”

  The fire is restarted at Amari’s command while Dian deftly cleans and filets the fish. Like the night previous, the fish is left on the rocks to cook.

  Dian motions for her companions to join her at the fire. “Come near to me and hear what I have discovered. While fishing underwater, I ventured to where the river enters this chamber. The current is swift as it
exits from the rock wall, but not as strong when it leaves here through the other rock fissure that caused me to be bait for the serpent.”

  “Dian, that was foolish of you to undertake going out there alone. There could have been another serpent. You cannot always be so lucky and tempt the fates.”

  “Now I know these beasts could penetrate this far inland from the seas, I am forewarned and armed. I brought Hydrosin to life. It was not only for protection. It will generate a bright light at my command. How else do you think I could have speared these finned ones?” She pokes at the roasting fish with a sharp stick.

  “Still foolish of you sister;” Mimna mimics Amari’s concern.

  Dian gives Mimna a gentle touch upon her arm. “You worry too much. Now let me continue. Near the wall where the water enters, I found steel hand holds one would find on a ladder set into the floor of the river. My guess is that it is used to pull oneself upriver and against the flow. I employed those anchors and ventured part way from this cavern.

  I thought I saw light a little further ahead, but decided to come back and tell you this may be our way.” I did not use a lot of breath while under. It should be easier for the rest of you to work your way through the underwater passage without becoming short of air.”

  “Well done sister,” Amari says. “Let us eat of Dian’s catch and plan how to use this new discovery.”

  It was decided after the meal, that Dian, Gareth and Natsha would be the first to go. Gareth and Natsha would stand guard on the other side and whatever lies beyond. Dian can come back and get two more of us until we all are there.

  “Fin, you can ride in my bag,” says Holl-tu. I have a length of cord to secure you from being dislodged and pulled away by the river current.

  They all enter the water together and wait at the place where the river enters the chamber.

  Dian takes Gareth arm and drops below the surface to place his hand on the first raised metal rung. He in turn does this with Natsha. It is hard to see in the rushing water, but through feeling, he finds the next rung, then the next.

  The waiting seems endless, but soon Dian returns. “You really have to see the other side. I am not going to try describing, as it will lose its impact. Your turn for the swim Holl-tu and Fin—you too Mimna. You will not need to hold your breath long.”

  The Maiden and Truk are the last two with Dian to break the surface in the new cavern. They wade to shore where the others wait.

  The first thing they behold is a soft light which fills the cavern. A glow from the high rock ceiling illuminates everything below. All manner of vegetation spreads everywhere; in some places, the growth goes right to the water’s edge.

  In the center of the river is a small island. Flourishing growth is there as well. Thorny looking vines with yellowish flowers cover it completely and hang into the water.

  A small strip of sand where they now stand is the only place the greenery does not touch. At the farthest end from where they entered, is a waterfall pouring from the ceiling and splashing on rocks below creating small rainbows.

  “This must be the source of the Golden River.” Holl-tu says. “I wonder what body of water finds its way down here.”

  Everyone is surveying the new surroundings; awed by this world of beauty and peace so far underground.

  Fin is the first to ask. “Without sunlight, how do these plants and flowers grow?”

  Large blooms dot the trees and ground everywhere they look. Moss-covered walls drip with moisture. Rich smells, and fragrance touches the noses of the warriors.

  Mimna feels the petals of a red multi-petal flower next to her. It closes tight as her fingers brushes against the edge. “What is this that evades my touch?”

  “Not uncommon.” Holl-tu answers. “That is a Pallida Orchid. I have seen these in my travels to other lands outside of Aventine. I wonder how all this came to be here. Could nature have found a way to produce this without the aid of a farmer?”

  Amari doing her sensing answers. “No, this is not natural, or dangerous, but it is magic.”

  “Magic,” asks Holl-tu. “Whatever sorcery is this? The creator must have been great for it to continue on after they departed.”

  Amari touches at the air with her fingers as if to feel what is there. “This is not an enchantment or an incantation. It was created by magic, but lives on by its own. I imagine that the light from the ceiling, whatever it is, may be enough to give life to the wood and green.”

  The others watch her hands as little waves seem to appear when her fingers touch the air. It is like when one pokes the water with a finger and rings of turbulence emanate from the liquid contact.

  The Maiden waves her hands to the small island in the center of the river. “Except there. I can feel an ancient and powerful magic still at work.”

  “There,” says Truk. “It is nothing but brambles and vines.

  “Yes Truk it is brambles, vines and what look like jagged rocks. Out of this whole cavern with its greenery and moving water, that little island has more magic about it.

  Remember Lanz said in the middle of the Golden River there lies an island with a stone pedestal. On the plinth sits the Wind Sword. What if those thorn-riddled thick vines mask what we seek?”

  “Amari, you really think the Fourth Saber of the Kcaj is hidden there? And what of the beast that is supposed to guard it…is it hidden waiting to spring upon us?”

  Amari rapidly moves her fingers in small circles. “I sense no beast, or land hunter here. The only life, are the fish which swim about.”

  Gareth rubs his fingers across Helixx’s hilt at his side. “What of our blades Maiden? Would they not be telling us another of the Kcaj is near at hand?”

  Amari touches her sword as well. “I do feel something, but it is vague and not indicating any direction. I said there was a strong magic upon that spit of land. If the Wind Sword is there, it may be masked from us.”

  “How do we penetrate those nasty-looking thorns to see if this is the true island of the Mystic Wind?” Truk asks.

  “There is a sure way to find out. Gareth and Dian join me with your swords.”

  Gareth comes away from inspecting the rock wall and Dian from wading in the water.

  “Yes Maiden” Dian answers for the both of the warriors as they approach.

  “Join your blades with mine the same way when we defeated the beast below the Black Angels Mountains.”

  Gareth without asking why pulls Helixx from its scabbard and holds it with his arm extended touching the tip of Amari's Katana with the Earth Sword.

  Dian places her hand in the water at her feet and in a blink of an eye retrieves Hydrosin. She also touches the other sword tips with hers.

  Amari repeats the chant she used once before when the swords were joined to defeat a strong enemy.

  Gareth and Dian take a stronger grip as their sabers begin to grow warm and pulsate with energy.

  Little white sparks crackle and plays around the three blades; forming a circle as they spin. With Katana in the middle, Helixx's blade lays upon the top, while Hydrosin becomes the bottom. In this fashion, they appear as one sword, even though Amari, Gareth and Dian still hold the hilts.

  The Maiden is still chanting as a blue light issues from the combined blades and goes forth to the island in the middle of the river. It moves slowly, as if seeking. Eventually, the probing energy reaches the mound of rocks, leafy vines and large nasty looking thorns.

  As the blue-light envelopes the tiny isle, the foliage which covers it flickers and turns to a green mist. Rainbow colors of light shoot from the water surrounding the island. In moments, the mist clears, and the lights disappear. When the mist dissipates, what is left is a shimmering golden pedestal upon the pile of rocks.

  Above the dais and floating in the air is a bright blue sword. It has the same hue that touched the island from the three holders of the Kcaj.

  The fabled Mystic Wind Sword must know the other sabers are its kin as it moves from its position and
floats over the water and comes to hover above their heads; hilt pointing down.

  “Welcome fourth finger of the Kcaj.” Amari says.

  The sword pulsates and turns to a yellow hue.

  The Maiden calls out the names of the other Warriors of the Light. “Natsha, Truk, Mimna, Holl-tu, Fin, come gather with us.”

  Doing what is commanded of them they come and stand in a circle about the three holding their sabers toward the rock ceiling high above their heads. The three in the center unlink their swords and raise them into the air with the others. The color of Katana, Helixx and Hydrosin are blue, while the Wind Sword remains yellow.

  “Even though Truk may be the chosen one for this blade,” so sayeth Fin, “it is the saber that selects.” He goes on. “All of you not already holding one of the Kcaj hold your arm up, palms open.”

  Fin climbs atop Gareth's shoulder to be higher even though he knows that this ancient blade will not be his to hold.

  The saber spins around the extended hands several times as if searching. It stops just above Natsha's hand for a brief moment; it turns red and then does its circling again, changing back to yellow.

  Natsha eyes Amari who shakes her head.

  The ritual of selecting ends as the hilt of the Wind Sword drops into Truk’s open hand. As soon as it touches flesh, sparks fly about. It has chosen and merged with the dwarf. It turns a bright blue like the others.

  “Welcome brother Truk” says the Maiden. “The fourth sword of the Kcaj has chosen you as its master. Use its power wisely and for good.”

  “Maiden, I am unworthy to possess such as this. I am but a lowly dwarf warrior who only wants to fight at your side.”

  “It is just your voicing of unworthiness, which makes you admirable. Your humility, strong heart and willingness to fight for the light, is why the Mystic Wind selected you as worthy one. Remember the Kcaj can see into one’s heart. It has chosen you for the pure and honest blood that courses through your veins.”

  The dwarf shakes his head. “This blade is powerful magic where I possess none. I know no incantations or spells to be called upon.”