by Brian Davis
Sir Vladimir swung his blade downward, chopping Arkyn’s hand that gripped the handle of the axe. Arkyn screamed while stumbling backwards with his hand cut off. Sir Vladimir spun around while raising his arming sword up and performing a powerful downward vertically cut, splitting Arkyn’s face down to his chest. His large massive body instantly fell on his back motionless with blood pouring out from his body. Sir Vladimir now focused his gaze out onto the sea where his eyes widen in sheer horror. His mouth dropped, tasting the bitter rain that fell from the grays skies. Sheena’s sailors caught the horror that now rose up from the sea… a large sea creature that lifted up from a distance, towering fifty-feet in the skies.
The sea creature crashed down into the sea, forcing the tides to rise and threaten to crush the ship as if it was a hand. The loud deaf threating roars from the sea creature echoed and carried within the wind.
“Oh my God!” Sheena cried out.
Sir Vladimir quickly looked around as he noticed that Vikings’ warriors were defeated. He turned to her sailors and pointed his sword at them.
“Quickly, grab the bows and arrows, and light them in flames!”
“We cannot light them in this cursed rain!” Calvin shouted.
“With oil the arrows can burn! Do as I say now!”
“Grab the barrels of oil!” Sheena shouted as the sea creature rose up again and crushed down into the sea. The creature swamped closer from a short distance to the ship.
The sailors rushed down to the lower deck where the barrels of oil were positioned. The sailors quickly carried the barrels up to the upper deck.
“Open the barrels!” Sir Vladimir demanded with soaked hair.
The sailors quickly opened the barrels.
“Dip the arrows into the oil and light them! Also, toss the barrels onto the Vikings’ ship!” Sir Vladimir’s voice strained.
“It’s not going to work!” Sheena cried. “That sea monster is approaching closer! We don’t have much time! It’s going to crush our ship!”
“We have time! Toss the barrels! Toss them now!” He screamed.
The sailors desperately in the rain grabbed the barrels and tossed them onto the Vikings’ ship, smashing the barrels where the oil poured out onto the deck.
“Now light the arrows in flames!” Sir Vladimir shouted.
The sailors lit the tip of the arrows that were covered in cloth and oil.
“Now set the ship to the torch!”
The sailors fired the flaming arrows on the Vikings’ ship.
“Lower the sails now!” Sir Vladimir screamed.
The sailors were lowered on the mast.
“Continue to torch the ship!”
The sailors continued to fire the flaming arrows at the ship and soon, the ship engulfed in flames, creating a circle of fire in the ocean. The sea creature paused in front of the Vikings’ ship as flames continued to grow around the ship. The wind continued to blow harshly, pushing Sheena’s ship quickly away from the sea creature and the burning Vikings’ ship. The sailors lifted their weapons up in praise.
“Take dead and toss them over the deck for to sharks to feed!” Sheena demanded.
The sailors quickly tossed the dead Vikings, along with their fallen comrades over the deck, and watched their bodies float in the sea that was polluted in blood. Calvin drew his attention to Sir Vladimir.
“Men… he is still our prisoner! Surround him!”
The sailors paused and turned and faced Sir Vladimir. Sir Vladimir quickly twirled his arming sword around and slid it back in its sheath. He unfastened his belt that was connected to his sheath, and held the sheath in his hand. He now looked at Sheena, who remained motionless, staring at him in silence. He tossed his sheath arming sword at her feet, and held both of his hands out.
“As promised… I am your prisoner. Do as you will with me.” He said while his eyes never left hers.
Sheena reached and picked up his sheath sword. She stared at it as the sailors waited for her commands. She now lifted her head up and met Sir Vladimir’s gaze, as he waited for her to give orders to her sailors. A decision was made, he knew before she spoke it. She tossed the sword up at him, and Sir Vladimir instantly caught it in mid-air.
“Sailors!” She addressed. “He is now one of us! He has joined the brotherhood! He is amongst us now! Lift not one hand on his hair!”
The sailors lifted their weapons up and saluted. Calvin’s jaws clenched as a short grim grew on his face…
Chapter 11
Lower deck…
Sir Vladimir stood inside where the candles continued to burn. Sheena stepped out of her bunker and approached him with a set of clothes. She tossed the clothes to him.
“Here are some clean clothes for you. Put them on.”
“Aye. Tell me something, why the change of heart?” He asked.
He watched her lips twisted into a short smile as she placed both of her hands on her curved hips.
“And have you slaughter my sailors like hogs? Their skills are unmatched to yours. Tell me something outlander, where did you learn your skills from?”
“I was taught very young. I am more than just an outlander.”
“Who are you?”
“Vladimir… Sir Vladimir.”
“Sir Vladimir?” Her eyes stretched into shock.
“Aye. I am a knight.”
“Then that explains on how your skills are unmatched! The way you fight… it is as if you are gifted by the saints!”
“No saints… nothing more but rigors training as a child. I am with the Oracles Knights… commander of them.”
Her mouth dropped as she slowly lowered her eyes, still in shock.
“Do not be alarmed… I will wage no vengeance upon you.”
“Join me.” She quickly made the offer.
“I cannot. My place is with the Oracles. The knights will search for me, and they will not rest until they find me.”
“Than my life is in danger.”
“Nay. They will not harm you or your sailors on my command.”
She reached out to him. There was something in her hand, he noticed with his eyes… a folded map. The map that gave directions to the Abaddon. He retrieved the map from her.
“The map?” He seemed shocked.
“Yes.”
“You have no desire for the Abaddon?” He asked.
“Join me. I can use someone like you… until your knights find you… you are with me. We can raid the cities and ships. Raid them from their riches.”
“And give them to the poor?”
“Ha! Sir Vladimir… we are the poor. Aide me, and I shall aide you on your quest. I no longer have the desire for this Abaddon. Even if I wanted it, with your skills, I am no match for you, nor or the sailors that accompany me. You are on my ship now… you are amongst us until you reunite with the Oracles Knights.”
“Have you heard of the Oracles Kingdom?”
“Yes; mercenaries that terrorize the lands, but it matters to me not, for my land is the seas.”
Adam now sat in the throne of the Great Chambers. His servants and knights stood around. Adam now wore the king’s crown on his head. He looked down at the two servants who lowered to one knee.
“Where is Sir Franklin?” Adam asked.
“He has set out for his journey in finding the ambulant, your Majesty.”
“Make arrangements for the Catholic Church to be built on this territory that is now mine. All the towns’ people and peasants shall submit to Catholicism. None other religion should be practice amongst the people! If any shell be caught practicing any other religion, including Christianity, arrest them and have them crucify! Burn the women and children at the stake! Behead the fathers of the children who refuse to submit to Catholicism!”
“Yes your Majesty.”
“Also, prepare the Pope… Luis the Fifth shall be appointed as the Pope of the Catholic Church, as granted.”
“Yes your Majesty!” The servants stood and walked away.
“You there!” He pointed at a knight. “Search for any fleeing peasants. Hunt them down and crucify them! Make an example out of them. None should flee from my father’s name and nor from my presences! If any of the mothers are pregnant, cut their unborn child out from their bellies and burn them at will!”
Sir Alexander and the Castilians Knights traveled through the large forest. Fay walked beside him as the rest of the knights followed. Fay instantly stuck out her hand and touched Sir Alexander’s right shoulder, forcing him to pause.
“Hold.” She said.
The knights paused.
“What is it?” Sir Alexander asked.
She remained silent while her eyes were focused ahead. The knights scanned the area of the large forest. Sir Alexander’s eyebrows frowned as he tried to pierce through the massive bushes with his gaze.
“Fay…? What is it?” He whispered.
“Slowly, proceed forward…” She mumbled.
Sir Alexander waved his hand forward in crouched while advancing. The knights mimicked his actions. She now stuck out her hand to her side, forcing Alexander and the rest of the knights to pause.
“Up ahead…” She mumbled.
Sir Alexander focused his gaze up ahead and saw a unicorn next to a tree, eating the plants.
“A unicorn…?” He mumbled.
“Yes.” She replied with a mumble. “Do not startle it. If the enemy is out there, they will know you are here because of the startled unicorn.”
The knights waited quietly with their grips tightening around the handles of their weapons. Sir Alexander watched in silence as the unicorn continued to eat. Now, the unicorn lifted its head as if it sensed danger. Quickly it turned and darted away from the tree. Fay slowly stood with Alexander.
“It is gone. You may proceed now.” She suggested.
Alexander turned and faced the knights.
“Let us proceed.”
“My lord, why did we stop in the first place?” One of the knights asked.
“Up ahead was a unicorn.”
“A unicorn?! We were alert over a bloody unicorn?!” The knight frowned.
“Save your tongue!” Sir Godfrey scolded. “If you know what’s best for you.”
“We move forward!” Alexander said.
Sir Alexander and the knights proceeded forward through the long trail of the forest. They now reached the exit of the forest where the plains stretched across. Up ahead were hills and soon, smoke from a distance danced up in the air. Sir Alexander frowned over the smoke. Sir Godfrey approached next to him.
“What do you make out of it?” Sir Alexander asked.
“This landscape… I am aware of it… up ahead is the village of the Bozhevil’ni.”
“The Bozhevil’ni?” Sir Alexander frowned.
“Aye… Bozhevil’ni… which means… crazies.”
Sir Alexander mouth slightly dropped as he moved his eyes away from Sir Godfrey and fixed his eyes at the trail of black smoke.
“We have to go through the village to cross the other side of this land. The village is shaped somewhat like a castle. It has a drawbridge that is always up, to prevent the crazies from luring out. When one is mad, they are bought here to the village. They are known as outcast to the rest of civilization.”
“Let’s take a closer look.” Sir Alexander advised.
The knights marched forward until they approached a large hill. They stood up on the hill where the village was now seen up ahead.
“The drawbridge is up. There is no other way to cross, except through the village.”
“Is there a way to get inside the village?” Sir Alexander asked.
“Aye… on the right side is a small entrance that will lead you inside the village. We can’t send an army through there… it will attract the crazies and an all-out war will start. I can simply send the scouts up ahead and sneak inside to lower the drawbridge, hopefully, this doesn’t startle the crazies.” Sir Godfrey said.
“Nay. I’ll be the one to sneak inside and lower the drawbridge.”
“My lord…?”
“The decision has already been made.”
“Then I will aide you.” Fay added.
“We will sneak inside the village and lower the drawbridge. Once the drawbridge is lowered, prepare the knights to move forward in haste.” Sir Alexander added.
“My lord, remember where you will be… you will be surrounded by crazies. They will attack if they see you.”
“I am aware.”
Sir Alexander looked at Fay and nodded. They both raced down the hill and towards the village-like castle. They approached a tree that was positioned in an angle in front of the castle. They hid behind the tree. Sir Alexander moved his eyes directly at the right side of the brick walls that surrounded the village.
“There!” He pointed. “This must be what Sir Godfrey was speaking about; the small entrance where the stream runs out from.”
“We can crawl in from the small tunnel and enter the village.”
Sir Alexander and Fay quickly sprinted from behind the tree to the side of the village’s walls. They approached the stream where the small opening of a tunnel was connected to the right side of the wall. Sir Alexander stepped into the stream and crawled on his knees along with Fay who crawled behind him into the tunnel. The stream was icy cold through his armor that his hands and knees felt. He continued through the dark tunnel and finally reached the exit of the tunnel. They crawled out onto the land of the village.
He scanned the area… where he saw haystacks and smoke from a furnace in the middle of the village. There were puddles in the village. No one was standing around, he took note.
“So far there’s no one out.” He mumbled. “Stay alert. We must find the chains to the drawbridge and lower it.”
Fay held her bow with an arrow placed on it. Sir Alexander proceeded forward while she followed behind him. The area seemed eerie quiet. They walked past goats that were tied to a wooden gate. From a distance, they heard the barking of dogs. Were they approaching? They now approached a well the stench of mold from the water made Sir Alexander and Fay frown in disgust. They continued on and suddenly paused when Sir Alexander noticed a middle aged woman standing nude with only a white cloak on. He frowned as the woman stared at them. She slowly approached with her hands held out as if she was begging. She moaned while slowly approaching. Fay raised her bow and arrow at her. Sir Alexander held his hand out for her to halt her actions.
“Hold.”
Fay slowly lowered the bow and arrow. The woman continued to approach them. Sir Alexander slowly stepped backwards from the woman, as the woman continued to proceed closer to him.
“Step away woman!” He announced.
The woman ignored as she continued to approach closer to him. She touched his arm, as if she was rubbing her own child. Fay frowned. Sir Alexander quickly brushed her hand away from his arm that was covered in armor.
“Away from me; woman, I know not who you are!”
The woman moaned and howled in a low voice as if she was a wolf. Suddenly, she quickly reached for the handle of his arming sword. She grabbed it, trying desperately to pull his arming sword out from its sheath. Sir Alexander quickly with his fist delivered a sharp blow to the inside of her forearm, numbing her fingers. He quickly shoved her forward to the ground.
“Get away from me!” He snarled.
The woman quivered into a fetal position as if she was being harmed. Sir Alexander was frozen in shock over her bizarre actions.
“Alexander, look out!” Fay instantly warned.
Sir Alexander quickly turned around and saw a large man with an axe in his hand charging from behind. Sir Alexander quickly ducked and swiftly moved to his right as the man swung his large axe downward, where the blade of the axe struck the brick edge of the well. Fay quickly aimed her bow and arrow and fired an arrow. The arrow instantly struck in the inside of the man’s wri
st that held the battle axe. The man reached and snatched the arrow out from his wrist. Blood oozed out from the wound.
Out of crazed-rage, the man turned while swinging his axe at Sir Alexander. Sir Alexander ducked and performed a front roll away from the madman. Fay quickly fired two arrows at him. The arrows penetrated through the massive shoulders of the madman. The madman snatched one of the arrows out from his shoulders with his opposite hand. Fay shot another arrow at the man. The arrow traveled, penetrating through the kneecap of the large, stout-built frame of the madman. Her eyes widen in fear. The arrows have no effect of the charging rage of the madman. The madman snarled like a raging bull. Eyes were bloodshot as he continued to swing his heavy axe at Sir Alexander.
Sir Alexander dodged the axe wielding madman’s attacks. He now pulled out his arming sword as the madman charge at him again with the axe raised above his head. Sir Alexander lifted his sword upward and sideways above his head where the blade from the axe met the blade of the arming sword. Sir Alexander quickly parried the axe downward while thrusting the tip of the blade from his arming sword forward, stabbing the madman directly in the side of his massive neck. Sir Alexander performed a front thrust kick, kicking the axe out from the madman’s grip. Sir Alexander instantly pulled the sword back while slicing the madman’s bicep. Sir Alexander quickly stepped to the side of the madman while raising his arming sword up and swinging the sword downward on the back of the madman’s head, slicing his head off from the stump of his neck.
He watched the large massive headless body stumbled forward and fell motionless to the ground. Sir Alexander blinked his eyes in shock. Fay quickly aimed her bow and arrow forward at Sir Alexander and released the bowstring. The arrow traveled quickly past Sir Alexander’s head, only finding its mark into the chest of another crazed villager who charged forward with a hayfork. The villager fell dead on the ground. Another crazed villager charged with a curved sword in his hand. She instantly shot another arrow at him, shooting the crazed villager in the center of his forehead. His body dropped promptly to the ground. Sir Alexander turned towards the loud sound of barking from the wild dogs.
