Sword of Spirit (Salvation of Solandeus)

by David J. VanBergen Jr.

  “I’ve heard of java,” Persephonie said, “but I have never tried it. I was never allowed to try it because it was said you could become addicted to it.”

  “It does seem to have a quality that people crave once they start drinking it regularly,” Phillip said.

  “I guess it’s fortunate that I don’t drink it very often then,” Michael said.

  “If you don’t mind,” Persephonie said, “I would like to try a cup.”

  “Of course, mistress,” Phillip replied as he poured her some.

  Persephonie took the cup and sipped it. As she tasted it, a grimace came over her face, but she quickly hid it and continued to drink the java. “It does have a unique taste, but I think I like it. It must be my sophisticated palate,” she said as she smiled playfully at Mat.

  “Before you two joined us,” Michael said, “Phillip and I were going over the reports he has been gathering since the last time I was here a couple months ago. We have been tracking a man named Anton who has been uniting the Great Northern Kingdom. He has proclaimed himself Maharaja and is forcing neighboring regions to join him or be annihilated. Some are calling him Anton the Annihilator.

  “Do you think this is the man I will have to defeat?” Mat asked.

  “I don’t know,” Michael said, “but, according to the prophecies, the time is right for an invasion.”

  “We have to do something,” Mat said.

  “We are,” Persephonie interjected. “We are helping you reassemble the Armor of God so you can fight back.”

  “We will also send word to the King,” Michael said, “but I don’t know if he will listen. There has been peace for so long that most people think it will last forever.”

  “Well, he certainly wouldn’t listen to me,” Mat said. “I wasn’t important enough to even be a squire in the King’s court.”

  As the first rays of the rising sun appeared on the horizon, Michael stopped talking and looked out over the ocean. Everyone else did the same. It was the most magnificent sunrise Mat or Persephonie had ever seen. All four of them watched in silence as the new day slowly dawned over the vast Ocean of Kalor.

  Eventually, Michael broke the silence by saying, “Every time I see the sunrise over God’s vast creation, I am reminded of my purpose. I know that I have a key part to play in God’s plan for the Kingdom, but I also know that the sun will continue to rise each morning regardless of the actions I take. It is inspiring and humbling at the same time.”

  With the silence broken, Michael explained his plan for continuing the quest. The legends said that the Helmet of Salvation was hidden in a cave in the northwest mountains of the Great Divide. Mat’s Gitano friends seemed like the best potential sources for more information, so they were going to seek them out. If anybody knew where to find that cave, it might be the Gitanos so Phillip went to consult with his contacts to find out if the Gitanos were still in the city.

  Chapter 18

  Mat, Michael, and Persephonie spent the morning relaxing in the Lighthouse Inn’s luxurious bathhouse. When they returned to the suite, they found that all their clothes had been washed. While they were putting their freshly laundered clothes back on, Philip returned with news that he had located the Gitano group they were seeking. After eating a quick lunch, the group headed out into the city to meet up with the Gitanos.

  “When we talk with the Gitanos,” Michael said as they walked into the city, “we need to be careful that we don’t share too much information.”

  “We have to tell them we are on a quest,” Mat said. “How can we ask them for help finding something if we aren’t going to tell them what we are looking for?”

  “I agree with Michael,” Persephonie interjected. “We have to be careful with what we share with people. There are those who would try to profit from the Armor of God.”

  “I understand,” Mat concurred, “I trust the Gitanos, at least the ones I know well like their leader, Arajin, but I guess it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

  When they found the Gitano camp, Mat was amazed at how busy everyone was. He knew they moved from city to city doing odd jobs and repairing almost anything, but he had never seen them this busy when they visited Rolling Rock. After a few minutes, he found the group’s leader, Arijin, sharpening a farmer’s sickle.

  Arijin noticed Mat and the group approach but continued to work on the sickle until it was finished. After finishing the job and returning the tool to the waiting farmer, he turned to greet Mat and the group, “Good to see you again, Mat. I see you have a couple friends with you now. You haven’t decided to get married to this pretty young lady without telling your parents, have you?”

  Both Mat and Persephonie blushed furiously. This appeared to be the reaction Arajin was hoping for, because he broke out in riotous laughter.

  Michael joined in the laughter and said, “I think we are going to get along well.”

  After the laughter died down, Mat introduced Arajin to Michael and Persephonie and told him they needed some information.

  “Is there somewhere we can go where we can talk privately?” Mat asked.

  “Yeah, sure,” Arajin said. “I trust everybody in my camp, but I can keep a secret when needed.”

  Arajin led the group over to a wagon separated from the rest. Sitting on the back steps was a large, muscular man who stood as they approached. Arajin briefly signaled to the man with his hands then led them into the wagon.

  “That was Lucas,” Arajin said once they were inside the wagon. “He will keep watch to make sure nobody comes close enough to overhear what we are talking about. He is deaf so he won’t be able to overhear us either. Some of the people who bring things to us have secrets they want to keep, so he is a perfect guard.”

  “How do you communicate with him?” Mat asked.

  “Several ways actually,” Arajin replied. “He can watch your lips as you talk and understand what you say. This is a very useful skill because he can tell what people are saying much further away than a normal person can hear. We also communicate using hand signals and by writing.”

  The group told Arajin about their quest for an artifact that was supposedly hidden in the western mountains of the Great Divide. They shared details from the legends, but didn’t mention the Armor of God. Arajin knew they weren’t telling him the whole story, but he told them he trusted there was a good reason and they would tell him more if or when the time was right.

  “I have traveled quite a bit in the mountains,” Arajin said, “but I am not familiar with the caves. Lucas grew up in that region and may know something. We also have a man in our group, Dimitri, who fled from the Northern Kingdom four or five years ago and came through the western mountains. He may know something too. We could talk to them to see if they can tell you anything.”

  Both Lucas and Dimitri confirmed that there were many caves in the mountains and that there were many stories of treasures being hidden in some of those caves. Unfortunately, neither had any specific knowledge and indicated that there were so many caves that it would take years to search them all; that assumed that you could even find them all.

  As Michael, Mat, and Persephonie returned to the Lighthouse Inn, they were both encouraged and discouraged by the information they had gathered. They decided that it was a good start and planned to spend the next few days searching for more information while they enjoyed the hospitality of the Lighthouse Inn.

  Chapter 19

  The following morning, Mat, Michael, and Persephonie woke early to watch the sun rise over the ocean from the balcony. The reality of the difficult search ahead had sunk in overnight, but the overwhelming beauty of the sunrise inspired the group and motivated them. They were eager to get back to searching for clues that would help them find the Helmet of Salvation.

  While they were enjoying breakfast on the balcony, Philip appeared and announced, “There is a large, bald man here to see you. He says he needs to continue your conversation from yesterday.”

  “That must be Arajin,
” Mat said. “Maybe he has more information.”

  “Send him up,” Michael directed.

  Several minutes later, Philip reappeared with Arajin behind him and asked, “Do you need anything else from me?”

  “No, thank you,” Michael replied to Phillip then asked Arajin, “Do you have more information for us?”

  “Unfortunately, no,” Arajin replied. “We did talk about your quest after you left, though, and we think we can help you.”

  “If you don’t know where the artifact is, how can you help us?” Persephonie asked.

  “Well, our group has traveled more extensively than almost any other in the Kingdom,” he said. “Lucas grew up in the area, and Dimitri crossed those mountains when he fled the Northern Kingdom. They are two of the most knowledgeable people about that region you will ever find. If we went with you, it would have to increase your chances of success.”

  “So your whole group is going to help us?” Mat asked.

  “No, not the whole group,” Arajin replied. “The whole group will travel with you as far as Westport where we will set up to do business. From there, Banji, Dimitri, Lucas, and myself will travel with you into the mountains and help you on your quest.”

  “Arajin, we cannot ask you come with us,” Michael said. “You have no idea what you are getting involved with, and we really can’t tell you more right now.”

  “For now, we don’t need to know more.” Arajin said. “All I need to know is that my friend needs help, and we can help. We are going to travel that way anyway, so it makes sense for us to travel together.”

  “It does make sense to travel together,” Mat said, “and if you decide not to go into the mountains with us once we get to Westport, we will understand.”

  “When will you be ready to leave?” Michael asked.

  “We will finish all the jobs that we have already taken by the end of today.” Arajin replied. “We should be able to leave tomorrow morning.”

  “I, for one, don’t mind staying another night here at the Lighthouse Inn,” Persephonie said. “In fact, I think I hear the bathhouse calling my name right now.”

  “I wouldn’t mind another visit either,” Mat added.

  “While you each splash around in the bath, I will help Arajin prepare for the trip to Westport,” Michael said as both he and Arajin got a chuckle at the expense of Mat and Persephonie.

  Chapter 20

  The first day out of Port Ludenberg went smoothly, but the group stopped much earlier than Mat expected. He was used to traveling long past sunset so when the caravan stopped by a stream before the sun went down, he thought they were just stopping to quickly water the horses. It soon became apparent they were setting up camp for the night, though, so he dismounted and took care of Spirit.

  After a couple days in Port Ludenberg and an easy day of travel, Mat was starting to get anxious. He decided the best thing to do would be to find a secluded place to work off some of his pent-up energy. He had not had much chance to practice with the Sword of Spirit, and he thought that might be the best thing for him right now.

  Mat took his sword and followed the stream until he found a quiet place where he wouldn’t be disturbed. He could hear camp being set up in the distance so he wasn’t too far away, but he thought he was far enough away that he would get some privacy.

  Before he started practicing with his new sword, he took a few minutes to stretch and warm up his muscles. He had learned long ago that this few minutes of preparation would allow him to move smoothly and avoid muscle strains. Once he was warmed up and his muscles were loose, he started moving through basic sword forms.

  His practice routine started with basic, controlled movements. He sliced through potential opponents, blocked imaginary thrusts, and ducked under phantom blows. His feet moved in concert with his sword, and he spun, jumped, and side-stepped in graceful, fluid motions. The moves that started out slow and controlled became quick and lethal. Through it all, he remained balanced and in complete control.

  After 15 minutes, he was sweating from the exertion but continued to push on. His movements never slowed but instead continued to get faster and smoother. He had always been good with a sword, but he could feel a connection with the Sword of Spirit that guided him from one move to the next. He felt infused with strength and stamina and knew he could keep this up for hours.

  By the time the sun set, his clothes were soaked in sweat, and he slowed his practice forms and began to cool down. When he was finished, he stretched again to make sure his muscles didn’t cramp up. As he was stretching, he sensed there was someone watching him, and he looked towards the camp and noticed Dimitri was leaning against a tree watching him. When he saw that Mat had seen him, he walked into the clearing towards him.

  “I didn’t mean to intrude,” Dimitri said, “but I came out to make sure you were ok. When I saw you practicing, I couldn’t help but marvel at your sword work. I have never seen anybody move so fast, yet under control. It was like the sword was an extension of your arm.”

  “I have trained my whole life,” Mat said, “and I have always had an instinctual ability. I don’t mean to be boastful, but I have not found anybody who can match my skills in the last few years. Fortunately, I almost never have to use my sword outside of the training ring.”

  “I think that is fortunate for anyone you would fight as well,” Dimitri replied.

  “Yeah, I guess so,” Mat said. He had a weird feeling about Dimitri and wasn’t sure where this conversation was going. He made sure to keep his sword ready just in case.

  “That is a very unique sword,” Dimitri said. “I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like it. Would you mind if I tried a few practice forms with it?”

  “Well, actually I would,” Mat said. He could see Dimitri was surprised by his refusal and probably a little upset. “It is a family heirloom that has a lot of sentimental value,” he added. “I have never let anybody else use it.”

  “It wasn’t like I was going to steal it,” Dimitri said with a huff, “but if it’s that important to you, never mind.”

  “Don’t be out here too long or all the food will be gone when you get back to camp,” he added and walked out of the clearing back towards camp.

  As he watched Dimitri leave in a huff, Mat wondered what that was all about. He knew that not allowing Dimitri to try the sword was only going to make him more curious, but he couldn’t let him try to hold it. He would find out it was too heavy for any normal man to even hold, let alone use as a sword, and given his recent feelings, he didn’t want to tell Dimitri anything he didn’t need to know right now.

  By the time he picked up all his gear and headed back towards camp, Mat had pretty much forgotten about his encounter with Dimitri. His thoughts went back to his practice session. He had worked harder, moved faster, and practiced longer than he ever remembered practicing. Despite that, he felt invigorated instead of weary. The only thing he could attribute that to was the Sword of Spirit. He felt like it was already a part of him, like it had been with him forever even though it had only been in his possession for a week.

  - - - - - - - - - -

  As Mat left the clearing to head back to camp, Persephonie stepped into the clearing on the opposite side. She was carrying her bow and had an arrow nocked. She had not intended to follow Mat when she saw him leave the camp, but when she noticed Dimitri sneaking away after him, she decided to follow along and see what happened.

  Mat had not made any efforts to be quiet and neither had Dimitri so they were easy to follow. By the time she caught up with Dimitri, Mat was starting to move through his first sword forms. Dimitri had hidden himself enough that he wouldn’t be seen by a casual glance, but not enough to look suspicious if somebody did happen to see him. He didn’t look like he had any immediate plans for harm so she had moved around to the other side of the clearing to keep an eye on him and Mat.

  She was amazed to see Mat practice. His movements were graceful like a dancer, yet quick and
lethal like a panther. She was mesmerized and couldn’t believe how long he practiced and didn’t seem to tire. He was sweating, but beyond that, he looked as fresh after an hour as he did when he started.

  She didn’t sense any ill intent from Dimitri, but she still didn’t feel quite right about him. When he walked into the clearing after Mat noticed him, she took an arrow from her quiver and nocked it in her bow. She watched the conversation in the middle of the clearing, ready to fire an arrow at a moment’s notice, but, fortunately, never had to draw back and fire. As she watched Dimitri storm back to camp, she decide she definitely needed to keep an eye on him.

  Mat had already been gone for a few minutes before she headed back to camp herself. As she walked, she thought back to Mat’s practice session and continued to be amazed at the skill he possessed. He was one with the sword, and she knew that when the time came to use it, it would be a terrible sight indeed, at least for those that opposed him.

  Chapter 21

  The next three days of the trip from Port Ludenberg to the capital city of Westport passed uneventfully. Because of the wagons, travel moved at a much slower pace than it would have if everyone was on horseback. The leisurely pace gave Mat, Persephonie, and Michael a chance to get to know more about each other as well as the Gitanos they were traveling with.

  For most of the trip, Michael rode with Arajin, the Gitano group’s leader who was close to his age. It was a refreshing change of pace for him after spending the last couple weeks with the teenagers, Mat and Persephonie. The two men found they had a lot in common.

  Arajin, like Michael, had been an orphan who left his adoptive home when he was around 16. He had chosen to travel the world instead of seeking out a place to call home. He had visited almost every part of Solandeus as well as the Great Northern Kingdom. For a time, he had served as a mercenary and had also done a lot of traveling by sea.