“Ah, but that too is untrue. You have the magic in you; you always have. I knew it when we were shield mates those many years hence. I did not tell you, as I knew not your destiny. Now it is plain. Those supernatural powers that lie dormant within you will be the task of the Mystic Wind to bring forth. Trust your instincts my friend. You will see great power unleashed at your command. I will teach you certain spells and incantations; the rest you will learn at the saber’s urgings.”
“Then this I vow to you sister. My sword arm is still yours. Likewise, to Dian and Gareth, I now hold a stronger blood bond.
They all clap Truk on the back.
“You know Maiden; I do feel stronger. My aches and misery of aging seem to have left me. I feel like I could fight a hundred Druids.”
“That is the power the sword generates.” She says. “Nonetheless, remember it also draws energy from the elements for you. You can master the winds and conjure up storms when you call upon the Mystic Wind. Rain and hail will do your bidding.
While the others look at, but do not touch the new addition to their weaponry, Natsha pulls Amari aside.
“Why did the saber stop above me for a brief moment and turn red? It did choose my brother, but it almost seemed to pause at me.”
“I do not know sister. The Kcaj comes from a different world than ours. I do not profess to know all the sword mysteries. We may know the meaning sometime in the future, or we may never know. For now, we can rejoice that we, not the evil ones hold a greater power. Not even Urel Irgini with the Fire Sword can match our combined strength. Pyrestorm will not fight against its brother sabers. It may even turn against the evil one that holds it. Who is to know of these mystic blades actions?”
Mimna suddenly remembers. “Did not Tarris speak of three witches and a beast which protects this saber? What of them?”
“My senses tell me only we are in this place. The serpent Dian slew may have been the beast he spoke. Of the witches—I do not know. Lanz talked of ages ago when he lost the Wind Sword. The evil sorceresses may have passed on to the underworld where all those who follow the dark resides after death. I can tell you this. They are not within my reaching.”
Truk speaks up again. “This task on our quest is fulfilled, what be the next?”
“We go back to our world aboveground.” Amari says.
“Back the way we came?” Dian asks.
The Maiden looks about the great cavern. “No, there may be another way from here. Let us search out each tunnel and passage. I believe we tempt fate by going back to the other chamber via the underwater route.”
After an hour of looking, it is Fin, who finds what they seek. “Here, behind this bush is an opening.” He is low to the ground and saw through the branches, where the others being tall only saw large bushes up against the rock wall.
Gareth grabs at the thick stems of the bush and rips it from the soil. Another tunnel entrance is revealed.
Again, the magic light orbs are dispatched ahead with the ghost doubles Holl-tu has created. This time they come to a central chamber with a stone altar. Several other tunnels branching off like spokes of a wheel.
Amari bends over with her hand against the wall, as she looks into the darkness of one of the passages. “I hate for us to separate, but we need to search for the way out. It will save us much time if we go as teams of two down each passage. One warrior will go with each Kcaj Saber holder. I will send an orb before each group. Rejoin us here in one hour with either a way out or a dead end.”
The teams unite naturally without one warrior voicing to go with another. They leave the central room. Amari and Natsha are together. Their passage ends within a few dozen meters. They go back and wait for the others to return.
Almost as the hour ends, Dian and Mimna come out of their passage. “No exit, but we did find something you have to see!”
“What?” Amari asks. Her interest peaked.
“It is a great storehouse of ancient weapons. The edges of the swords and spears are well preserved and sharp,” Mimna says while sucking on a cut finger.
“Let’s wait for the others and we can all see this place you speak of together.” The Maiden says.
When the rest returned and reported only ending at a stone wall, Dian tells of their discovery.
Eager to see, they follow the Water Sword Master and the Black Angel. They come up to many side rooms off the main passage. The light globes show vast rooms of swords, shields, crossbows and long bows, armor, spears, knives and battle axes.
“These have been here a long time; see the undisturbed dust that has collected on them.” Mimna points out. “This must have been stocked for some war that never came. I have not seen swords such as these for many years. The owners must be long gone by now. We may be the only ones who know of its existence. What is a mystery is the lack of decay and rust. See, even the long bow’s unstrung horse hair bowstrings are still supple and waxed. The dry air here must keep the dampness out.”
Truk picks up a battle axe and swings the heavy weapon as if it were a small wood chopping axe. He wipes the blade on his shoulder to remove the dust and exams the edge. “Not dull; nor rust has touched this axe.” He picks up another one. “These do I claim for my own.”
No one can fault him for taking the plunder.
Natsha and Gareth as well, pack their quivers with more crossbow bolts and take another full quiver each for extra measure.
Even Fin replaces his elfish sword for one with a jeweled hilt and sharper blade. He slings the new blade and scabbard across his shoulder and down his back. In the room containing body armor, he finds a small helmet that fits his head.
Everyone except Amari fetches something from this vast storehouse.
Holl-tu along with the sword taken from the encounter with the Shadow Clan retrieves a long bow and a large quiver of silver arrows.
“I hope you are better with that one then with a crossbow,” Jests Gareth. “I have never seen anyone put a full quiver of bolts into the air and only hit a few targets.”
“Gareth, leave him be,” comes the voice of Natsha, as she enters from another room. “The wizard is getting better. With a little practice—he will hold his own. We all had to start somewhere.”
Dian has a women’s breast plate made from a dull gray metal. The ornate designs are of sea creatures. That is probably why she claimed it. She also carries a long spear with a double blade head. It is useless in these tunnels, but highly effective in the open land against man or those who ride a war horse.”
Gareth watches her spin the trident around her back and to the front. She bangs the end on the hard rock floor and stands there in a formable pose. “You look like Neptune’s daughter.” He says with a new respect.
Mimna adds another sword to the one she already has.
“Everyone has outfitted themselves.” The Maiden says. “Then let’s be about finding the way to the upper world.”
Going back to the center hub of the tunnels, they search the last two passages…each ending at a stone wall.
Dian says. “Our way above may be out near the river. Perhaps another hidden passage among the foliage waits.
Heeding her advice, the warriors return to the river and search every wall, and behind every bush and tree. Dian even goes into the water and searches there. Nothing!
The companions gather and plan their route back underwater to the other chamber, and the passage out.
Mimna gestures to the elf warrior near the waterfall. “What is our little friend doing?”
Gareth yells to him. “Fin, join us. There is no way out over there. I have already looked.”
The elf holds his hand up to silence Gareth as he leans over looking into the pool. He inadvertently discovers a way out, quite by accident.
While trying to peer behind the cascade of water, he leans too far and falls into the waterfall that feeds a good-sized pool. He was momentary distracted while looking at some silvery fish swimming and took a misstep.
He
went under quickly because of the weight of his new helmet and sword. The Elf did not resurface. Instead was drawn up inside the water cascading down. The others watch as he was seen inside the waterfall shooting up where it enters from the ceiling.
“How is that possible?” Holl-tu mouths with bewilderment in his voice. “The waterfall flows both ways?”
“It would appear so,” says Amari as she reaches out with her mind in an attempt find the small elf. Before she can see anything, there is a scream as Fin comes tumbling back down. This time the journey is on the outside of the waterfall. He hits the water with a great splash…even for his size.
Without hesitating, Gareth jumps into the pool, but stays clear of the cascading water. He gathers the elf in his arms before he can be swept away with the current. He wades back to the land with the coughing Fin in his arms.
The little elf is spitting and sputtering trying to clear the water from his mouth and lungs. Finally, he says. “Our way out is up there.” He points to where the flow of water comes from the ceiling. I felt like I was being sucked up as I surfaced into a shallow pool that overflowed from a small island of green and back into a wide lake.
When I stepped back into the water near the edge of the island to swim to the shore, I was immediately sucked back down. Going up was a fright, coming back down is a nightmare. Once on the island, we need to find a way to the bank without getting back into the water.”
“We can figure that out when we are all out into the sunshine.” Amari says. “You know Fin; the Gods must have sent you to be with us. I doubt your stumbling into the waterfall is just a happenstance.
One by one, they wade into the pool; hold their breaths and enter the waterfall. It only takes a moment to be whisked to the open sky above.
Gareth is the last to join them. As he tries to wring out the water from his tunic, he asks and gestures. “Now how do we get way over there?”
Before anyone can answer, Gareth is lifted into the air and is flown to the neared shore. He touches down gentle. He smiles and raises both arms and yells across. “It figures you would have a way Amari.”
For the next few hours, she sends the rest across in the same manner. She must rest in-between, as the distance is great and this particular magic expends a great amount of energy.
Mimna convinces the Maiden after some rest to transport herself before Mimna. “You will have the protection of the warriors and not on this island alone. We could not get to you if something happened. Take your rest Amari and bring me over when you are able.”
It is but a few hours later that Mimna’s feet touch down near the others.
After a short rest, Amari speaks. “We need to keep what we found down there our hole-and-corner. If word spread of a vast weapons storehouse, then every thief, or worse, the king’s soldiers would plunder it much more than we ever could. They do not need any more weapons then they already have. Do we have an agreement and set a pact?”
They all swear on their swords to carry the location to the afterworld.
“Maybe in the future we will have need for those weapons, but for now, it must remain a secret. This is not by chance we discovered it—but something in our combined destinies. Only the passing of time will tell us.”
“Well Maiden sister?” Natsha asks. “Where is our path now?”
“Let us find a safe place to rest and dwell on our next adventure.”
Chapter 18 – The Message of Fire
The old abandoned farmhouse they found a short time later was home for the warriors the past several days, while Amari, Gareth, Dian and Truk consulted. They all agreed that the magic swords lying across their laps gave forth a longing. The blades felt incomplete until the Fire Sword was with them. That feeling and desire was also felt with their masters who held the sabers.
“I am not used to this blade across my knees having feelings,” says Gareth. “It is a blade worthy of battle not longing for another.”
“It is true Gareth,” the Maiden says while touching her own enchanted saber. “These Kcaj were forged together and live in a realm we can only imagine. To say they feel is right and just. I think their sadness is the Fire Sword is held by the one who follows evil ways. In the hands of one of the shade slaves, the Kcaj Saber’s full magical potential is never realized. My kin knows this. That is why she has been trying to find the other blades of the Kcaj. She must know by now we possess the four of the enchanted sabers and the next quest is to relieve her of Pyrestorm.”
Natsha studies the others before responding. “I know we said that our quest was to reunite the Pentadiene. Four-fifths of that task is now complete. Our force; if it can be called that has increased with Mimna; and Fin.
Amari nods her head. “Together with this ultimate power, we were to rid the lands of Aventine of the evil and darkness that lurks here; starting with the Druids, which we now know are back and wish to take control again and spread their evil.”
“It is written in the ancient scrolls, as well what you told us Amari. They wish to make slaves of the common folk and join with King Borin and his soldiers.”
“Yes sister; that is our united and rightful quest. Until those tasks are complete, we cannot stop or give quarter. As the enemy will doth do the same to us.”
“Maiden, to complete the joining of the Kcaj,” Gareth says without looking up from staring at his boots. “We must relieve your sister of the Fire Sword. To do that, she must be slain. Are you ready to face her in battle and kill your own blood kin?”
“It is not what I want to do Gareth, but it is what I must do. With the dark priests as her alliance, the evil spreads like locusts; devouring light wherever it swells. I once thought that I could pull her from the darkness and put her skills and blade for good. Sadly, that was never meant to be. It was she with the Druids who destroyed the villages at Ramskee and made slaves of the people not slain outright. It was she, who betrayed me to the Druids and where to find my warriors and me.
Gareth takes both her hands in his. “Sister, then it should be me who faces her, not you. I have no tie and named kin. I promise the strike will be quick and clean.”
“You are a true warrior to defend me in battle and confront my evil side, but it is my battle. Besides, even if she did not possess Fire Sword, her magic is formable. It will take all my fighting spells and enchantments. That may not be enough. It will come down to who is the better sword wielder. Remember, Katana fights for the light. She could never destroy the Fire sword, but for the evil that holds Pyrestorm, Katana will not hold back.
“Can we not bring this evil witch down using the combined power of the four Kcaj we hold? Dian asks.
“No,” says Amari. “The Kcaj will not fight against each other. It is certain they shalt clash ancient metal against ancient metal, but neither will mar the other, nor wax the stronger.”
“Then how is one to defeat the evil sister to you Maiden?” Bids Dian.
“That my dear sister is a truth that will be evident when we clash. Until then, we must seek her out.”
“And how do we go about finding her?” the former Nix asks.
Truk adds his voice to the conversation. “It is not we seeking Urel…rather it is she, who will seek us out. Is that not true Maiden?”
“Yes Truk. We need to be visible and stop hiding from those that always seem to be on our trail. We must journey back to the King’s castle. I have some personal items the monarch thinks trophies, which hang upon walls in a great hall. It is there we can lure her into a trap of our own devising.”
“What?” Counters Natsha. She had been listening to the beginnings of their plans. “You mean to go back into that pit and retrieve your Targe Shield and Sallet battle helmet? We barely escaped that fortress the first time. Do you think it is wise to storm the castle in search of your battle armor?”
“It is not the helmet to protect my head or the shield that deflects blade and arrow I truly seek, but the turmoil we will bring about that will catch the ear of Urel. She will
know it is I by the soldiers we will let live to tell the tale.”
“We are going against a large force of heavily armed and trained soldiers are we not?” Dian says and shakes her head.
“One would think so sister, but consider this. Many soldiers have left their stronghold and are searching for us throughout Aventine. The King’s palace defenses are weakened. Gareth holds the Earth Saber. The fortress walls will not stand against his poundings. Once we breach, we only need to chase out those soldiers who remain. My spells will protect us from arrows fired from the parapets above.”
The four Kcaj holders bring the rest into the discussion and planning. They all agree the plan is sound, but may contain some unforeseen dangers; the garrison is at full capacity or Urel is already there.
It’s Gareth, who is most for proceeding with this objective. He taps the hilt of Helixx at his side. “I am going to topple those walls with a single blow!”
“Do not get ahead of yourself large one,” Amari voices. “Wait until we are there and have gathered knowledge of their strength and defenses. It is not good to think yourself as indestructible or above others. Remember that kind of pondering leads one to dwell in the shade without the thinker even knowing. Once you cross over, it will be the devil’s own time for us to bring you back to where the light warms your spirit again.
He nods and smiles at his companions. “When do we leave?”
“We depart on the morrow Gareth. Be patient; your blade will have its share of mêlée.”
It turns out to be another two full days before they sally forth for the castle.
Amari creates an enchantment of a miniature castle drawn from the memories of the others who escaped. It is complete with the surrounding countryside right down to trees and bushes. It is all laid out on the ground before them. The warriors act out several scenarios of attack and breach. The fortress sits near the edge of a cliff. The same cliff they used to repel down the rope Roarken hung from the armory window.
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