by Pedro Urvi
They stopped abruptly and stared at the enemy.
“Let him go!” Kendas demanded.
The sorcerer gave a macabre guffaw.
“Master Isuzeni will be very pleased with Cenem, his humble servant,” he said with a bow. “He ordered me to bring him the King of Rogdon’s head. But today the stars are smiling on Cenem, as I shall be able to present my master with a still greater trophy: two of the Bearers of the medallions of power which the Dark Lady seeks. A glorious day, which will certainly shower me with gold and power.”
“Release the King,” Aliana threatened, “or else the only thing that’ll shower you will be earth when they dig your grave.”
The Sorcerer laughed. “They say Fortune smiles on those who dare. I was going to carry out my mission, kill the King,” ‒ he hit Gerart on the head with the butt of his axe ‒ “and leave this doomed metropolis when I witnessed what you did with that medallion. It takes a great deal of power to overcome my spell. The black well cannot be sealed just like that. Still less by someone who does not understand the ways of magic and has not been trained in them. This medallion is truly Powerful and should not be in your hands, but in those of someone with the necessary knowledge and power. Seeing the chance to seize the medallions for Empress Yuzumi, I could not resist. The temptation was too great.”
“You’ve made a terrible mistake,” Aliana said, “and you’ll pay dearly if you don’t let the King go. Remember, greed can be its own downfall…”
Cenem’s laughter filled the square. He swung the axe above his head.
A sound of footsteps on the rubble made Kendas turn his head. He saw twenty Tiger Warriors coming out from among the ruined buildings where they had been hidden, and were now taking up their positions to close their escape-route.
It was a trap!
Now he understood why the Warriors had fled through the ruined city rather than head for the wall. It was to make their pursuers follow them, then lay an ambush for them. And they had swallowed the bait. A chill ran down his spine.
Kendas pointed his sword at the Sorcerer. There was authority in his voice. “I won’t say it again. Let him go!”
Cenem’s jocular voice came once again from behind his magenta mask.
“This Dark Priest is much more intelligent and cunning than you are. I shall deliver the King’s head and the two medallions hanging from those delicate necks to Master Isuzeni as a gift, and my master will reward me with riches and power.” He made a sign, and the Tiger Warriors lunged into the attack like wild beasts in a lost jungle.
The assault was ruthless. Kendas managed to pierce one of them through the heart with a master–stroke, but two more fell on him at once. Aliana and Asti moved back: their protective spheres activated themselves anew. They tried to avoid the brutal blows that landed on the spheres. The cries of the Rogdonian soldiers fighting against the attackers broke out on all sides. Steel rang on steel with the music of death, and blood soaked the devastated ground. Using his own skill with the sword Kendas managed to inflict a deadly wound on one of the warriors, but the other caught him in the left shoulder. Pain exploded in his mind, and he knew the cut was a deep one. Without cowering, he stepped forward and launched a furious stroke which pierced his opponent in the groin. The enemy sword went straight for his face and Kendas, by pure instinct, dodged it by throwing himself to one side. The Tiger Warrior glanced down at the wound. He knew he was doomed and that he would bleed to death. All the same, he lunged again. Kendas dodged him as best he could until the warrior fell dead. Panting, he looked around. The combat was both desperate and brutal.
“For the King!” Kendas cried.
The soldiers fought with courage, trying to reach their King and free him. But the Tiger Warriors were formidable adversaries. Too formidable. The last of the Rogdonian soldiers fell, four steps away from his king.
Gerart was bleeding from a cut in his head and could barely stay on his knees. “No!” he shouted.
“Keep quiet!” Cenem ordered. He launched a blow at the King’s face and knocked him aside.
Kendas wanted to go and help Gerart. He looked back and saw Asti and Aliana in serious trouble. Both were struggling to hold their own against the Tigers, who were battering their spheres brutally. Aliana had managed to kill two warriors by turning them into rock, but Asti could not manage to conjure anything. Kendas hesitated briefly. He could not leave Asti at the mercy of the Tigers. She was helpless.
Cenem pointed to Gerart. “Cut him,” he told the leader of the Tigers.
The massive Tiger Warrior went up to Gerart and cut him in the thigh with a sure stroke. The King clenched his jaw and muffled a grunt of pain. Kendas knew then that the King was lost. The Sorcerer was amusing himself with Gerart, but he would kill him very soon. Like a bolt of lightning he lunged at the two last warriors who were blocking his way to the King.
“You two, finish off the Lancer,” Cenem ordered. “The others, kill both the women.”
Kendas managed to land a blow in the side of the first Tiger. The warrior turned and launched a fierce backstroke, so that Kendas stepped back a couple of paces. Pain burst out again and he nearly lost his sword. The Tiger delivered a two-handed stroke with a savage grunt. Kendas knew he would not be able to block it. He rolled to one side and the sword whistled by his shoulder, missing him by a finger’s-breadth. He got up and with a quick backstroke cut his enemy’s legs. The man howled with pain and fell to his knees. Kendas swerved just in time to see the second warrior launch a thrust to his stomach. He deflected it at the last instant, but not quickly enough. The sword cut him above the knee and he lost his footing.
Three warriors were battering Aliana’s sphere. She was on her knees, terrified and exhausted. Her protection was weakening, cracking under the pressure, with bits and pieces falling to the ground, so that she felt each blow more intensely on her body. She would soon collapse. But she could not make her medallion obey her. She was too tired, and with the blows on her sphere her mind could not focus. She felt as if she were being beaten with thorny clubs on her mind as well as her body. Her eyes sought Asti, whose situation was little better. A huge Tiger was raining vicious blows on her sphere like one possessed.
Kendas rolled on the ground and evaded the sword. The Warrior roared in fury and gave him a tremendous kick which left him dizzy. The sword rose above him. He tried to block it but could not react swiftly enough. I’m done for. This is the end.
Asti’s desperate shout was heard throughout the plaza. “Kendas, no!”
The Warrior glanced at her. There was a sinister laugh and the sword began its descent.
Suddenly Asti’s hand burst into flame from sheer impotence.
“No” she yelled and reached out in a vain attempt to prevent Kendas’ death. As she did so, a ball of fire shot out of her burning hand. It sped at the Tiger Warrior and struck him in the chest, then exploded and consumed his head and torso in scorching flames. The Tiger fell backwards, dead almost in the same moment.
Kendas could not believe it, Asti had cast a spell! She had saved him!
Aliana looked at her friend, she needed help so desperately. She was on her knees and could no longer resist.
“I can,” Asti said. She clasped her amulet with both hands and closed her eyes. Suddenly a huge fiery sphere issued from her chest and sped against the three Warriors on top of Aliana. At the sight of it the three of them tried to step back, but it was useless. The sphere reached them and hovered before them. For an instant nothing happened. The Tigers watched the strange ball, unsure what to do. One of them stepped back. And the sphere exploded silently. Scorching flames enveloped the three Warriors, who were instantly burnt to ashes by the intensity of the explosion.
Kendas got to his feet. Limping, bleeding, his strength exhausted, he went to his King. He would save him. Even if it was the last thing he ever did.
The Sorcerer pointed with his silver axe. “Impressive display of courage. Truly impressive. I think it will be best if
I put an end to this display of useless heroism.” He swirled the axe and cast a spell.
Aliana was beginning to recover by now. “No!” she shouted.
Gerart looked down at his stomach and Kendas knew that a curse had fallen on him. A shadow appeared on the King’s cuirass, like a black spider with a hairy, translucent body, and began to penetrate it. Gerart moaned and bent forward. In terrible agony he twisted and fell to the ground.
“Gerart!” Aliana cried. She would not let them kill him. She could not, not as long as she lived. She stood up and pulled herself together. Her heart was full of fresh vigor, and she touched the medallion, fully intending to cast a spell on the enemy. She had come to save the King, and nothing would stop her. She took a deep breath and was absolutely calm. Today she was not Aliana the Healer. Today she was Aliana the Earth Mage, and she would put an end to this accursed Sorcerer.
Asti fixed her gentle eyes on the last Tiger, the one who was trying by all means possible to break her sphere of fire and magma.
“I cast spell,” she said menacingly, letting him know he was about to die. The Tiger took a step back in puzzlement. Asti closed her eyes. She clasped the medallion tightly, and the Warrior began to burn with wild flames as if he had made a fiery sacrifice of himself.
Kendas faced the Sorcerer. He had to be stopped. But to his dismay, the leader of the Tigers was in the way.
“It’s useless, Lancer,” Cenem said condescendingly. “Drop your weapon. I promise you will not suffer.”
“I owe myself to my King, to my country. I won’t give myself up. My honor won’t permit me to.”
“Lofty ideals for a simple Lancer. We shall see…” Cenem grabbed Gerart by the hair. He tugged hard, exposing the King’s throat, and pressed the sharp edge of the silver axe against it.
“Try using the medallions. Come on then. I dare you to try, you filthy women.”
Aliana and Asti took a step forward, exchanged glances and stopped.
Kendas looked aside at Asti and shook his head. If she tried to use the medallion, the brute would slit Gerart’s throat.
The last Tiger leader came towards Kendas. He was bigger and stronger than the ones before. There’s nothing I can do against this one. I have no strength left in me, I’m losing too much blood. But I can’t let my King die. If I give up now everything will be lost and it will be the end of them all. I must save him, I must go on fighting. I won’t yield! Never! The Warrior’s sword flew at his neck. Kendas blocked it with both hands, but the impact was brutal and he almost fell. The Warrior launched a circular thrust against his side. Kendas blocked it once again, but this time his strength failed him and he fell in agony. He looked down at his left side and saw it soaked in blood from several wounds. It was a miracle that he was still fighting. Despair began to course through his body, and his spirits began to fail him. The Tiger Warrior stood over him and prepared to finish him off. Kendas struggled to his knees and with his strength almost gone, clasped his sword.
“Nooooooo!” Asti shouted.
“Shut up, savage, and witness the death of the weak!” Cenem said.
The sword rose above the defeated Kendas.
The blade came down and Kendas, instead of blocking the blow as the Warrior expected, dropped to one side. The sword brushed his temple and pierced his shoulder. From the ground he thrust his sword into the Tiger’s groin. A roar of mingled rage and agony filled the air. The Tiger Warrior looked down at his deadly wound and with one hand delivered a ferocious knife-stroke at Kendas’ stomach. It was so forceful the blade came out at his back.
“Noooooooooooo!” Asti cried.
Kendas felt the steel cut through his body: cold, sharp, painful. But nothing mattered except to keep fighting. He could hear Asti’s desperate cries, but as they reached him they were muffled. When he looked at her his sight turned blurred, as in a dream. How he would have liked to be with her, kiss her, hold her, cherish her. Tell her that his heart grew glad every morning when he saw her, and sad every night when they parted. That her mere presence filled his heart with joy… But he was happy, she was no longer so fragile, she was no longer so helpless. She had managed to master the medallion and cast a spell. Asti no longer needed his protection, and he could be at ease. Kendas felt no pain now, only a great exhaustion that was taking over his whole body.
“Asti…” he managed to utter.
Cenem laughed in triumph. “Now there is only us,” he said, seeing the Tiger leader on his knees, bleeding to death.
“You’re going to die for this!” Aliana shouted.
“Shut up, woman! Don’t you dare threaten me.”
“I kill,” Asti assured him. Her eyes were red from rage and tears.
“Hah! No woman will kill Cenem!”
Aliana looked at him with scorn. “Look round this square, Sorcerer. All I see are dead men. But these two women are still standing, and you are the only one left. We’ve come for the King and we’ll leave with him. You have the option of letting him go and saving your life or facing us and ending like all your men. Your choice.”
“No woman threatens me!” Cenem yelled. He threatened Aliana with his silver axe, taking it away from Gerart’s throat.
At that moment, seeing his chance, the King threw himself forward with all his might, using his knees. Cenem was left with a tuft of Gerart’s hair in his hand. The Sorcerer’s axe sought to end the King’s life, and its savage sweep grazed the nape of his neck. Gerart lay flat on the ground.
“Kill him now!” he shouted at his companions.
The Sorcerer, now left unprotected, spoke a word. A black sphere enveloped him.
“Die, you bastard!” Aliana cried. A dozen long missiles of stone flew towards Cenem. With a dull thud they buried themselves in the Sorcerer’s protective sphere.
“Damn you!” cried Cenem, and conjured quickly. A huge black viper issued from his axe and coiled around Aliana’s barrier. The head of the snake tried to drill into it as its body pressed hard behind it. Aliana realized that the snake was trying to make its way into her chest. Using her own energy, she ordered the medallion to strengthen the protective sphere.
“I kill!” said Asti, and suddenly, under the Sorcerer, the ground turned hot, as if a river of magma were forming. A volcano burst out. The thunderous explosion was followed by flames, magma and lava, which struck the Sorcerer’s defenses and weakened them.
“Noooooo!” Cenem yelled in a paroxysm of fury, and cast a spell.
Asti saw a well of death forming under her feet, dark and abysmal. But she did not shrink. The medallion flashed and another sphere, this time one of pure energy, surrounded her to defend her from the enemy magic. She went on intensifying the volcano’s power on the Sorcerer, releasing explosions which were increasingly lethal.
Aliana managed to strengthen her barrier and helped Asti to create and project a huge stalagmite against the Sorcerer’s barrier.
Asti felt the well of death trying to drag her inside it, but her anti-magic barrier was holding up.
Under the combined attack of the two women, Cenem’s defensive barrier began to give way.
“Damn you!” he cried as he tried to maintain his sphere with the power of his Gift.
But the Sorcerer was no rival for the two Bearers. Asti’s Gift combined with Aliana’s, feeding the all-powerful medallions, turned them into Goddesses of Justice. There was no way out for Cenem. The attacks on his defenses intensified, obeying the will of the two young women, who were now managing to transfer their will to the medallions more and more easily.
Cenem’s sphere was destroyed, “Noooooo!” he shouted an instant before a lethal flame engulfed him in fire. The Sorcerer fell to the ground screaming.
Aliana and Asti, two demigoddesses of death, watched Cenem die amid convulsions and a stench of burning flesh.
A few paces away Gerart tried to stand up, but fell to one side instead. Aliana hastened to help him.
Asti ran to Kendas.
“Not die! N
o!” the Usik wept inconsolably. Her face was awash with tears as she cradled him in her arms.
Kendas smiled into her eyes. She was safe, she was not fragile any more, she no longer needed his protection… She would get over him, she would survive. And filled with pure joy, he released his last breath.
“Nooooooo!” Asti cried to the heavens, revealing all the despair and sorrow she felt. The Usik raised her arms to the sky. Staring upward, she uttered a shrill lament from her soul for that noble–hearted man, and for what could have been and now would never be.
And she wept an ocean of tears.
Friend
Haradin kept his gaze firmly fixed on his powerful enemy. From no more than a hundred and fifty paces away, completely surrounded by burnt soldiers, the slant-eyed foreigner stared at him defiantly in his turn. Haradin had punished that Sorcerer of dark magical arts of death with all the force of his fire magic, yet even though he had wreaked devastating havoc among the Black Army the Sorcerer remained firm and unhurt. He was a man of some age, and he radiated power. This worried Haradin. I’m facing a man who isn’t just powerful, but also intelligent and very experienced. I don’t like this at all.
The shouts of the men at his feet beneath the great gate forced him to turn his attention briefly to the fierce fighting. They were beginning to lose the battle. The enemy pressure was incessant, the Norriel lines were beginning to break, and they were now fighting desperately. I must do something or else we’re doomed. I have to take the risk. I must help them. Ignoring the openly lethal danger the Sorcerer presented, Haradin began to cast a powerful spell, exposing himself momentarily to his rival.
