Prince Michael and The Dragon

by John Orndorff

CHAPTER 7

  ESCAPE FROM DIABOLOS’ CASTLE

  Michael and his companions quickly realized that though they were free of their dungeon cells, they were not out of danger. To make their escape complete they had to make their way out of the castle itself and find their way to wherever the dragon might be.

  After a brief discussion of their situation, they all agreed they must be in the castle of Diabolos. In the midst of trying to determine the best way to escape from the castle, Zachary suddenly said in an unusually serious tone, “Before we do anything, I would like some food and drink.”

  “Yes!” Michael and Aaron agreed in unison.

  “We must have been in these cells for at least three days,” Michael went on.

  “I suspect Diabolos, or whoever is holding us here, intended for us to be in the weakest possible state before bringing us out,” commented Aaron.

  “That makes sense,” Michael said. “Otherwise they would have killed us before now. However, we must take care not to be captured again. Gather swords for yourselves, I fear we will likely meet more of Diabolos’ men.”

  So Aaron and Zachary picked up the swords used by two of the guards Michael subdued, and the three went off to find some food and their way out of the castle.

  They were soon surprised to find out how long the winding hallway was. It seemed to twist and turn like a maze. Sometimes it seemed to be an incline, as if going up to the ground level, then other times it would suddenly go down.

  On two occasions they met soldiers of Diabolos and each time Michael, Zachary and Aaron were more than a match for Diabolos’ men. On one such occasion, they encountered twelve armed soldiers, but quickly overcame them all, so that none of them escaped.

  Finally, they came to an area with a guardroom and ascending steps. Not only did it appear as if they had found their way out, they also noticed a basket of bread and a bucket of cold water. Each of them broke a piece of bread from the loaf and began to eat.

  Though the bread was obviously old and a bit stale, they each commented on how good it tasted and each seemed to think it had a rather sweet taste as if made with honey. Like the bread, the water seemed to have a slight taste to it as if it were a fine wine.

  After they had consumed what to them was a feast, each looked at the other with a hint of satisfaction in their eyes and a slightly mischievous look as they considered what they might do to trouble the household of Diabolos.

  “Now I wonder what is at the top of these stairs?” Michael said with a smirk, as he looked at the door at the top.

  “The only way we’ll find out is to go have a look,” Zachary said with wide eyes and a smile as he twirled the sword in his hand.

  “Yes,” said Aaron, “but what lies beyond could be a blessing or a curse. We should probably consider how we will account for ourselves once we reach the top.”

  “We’ll move up quietly,” Michael began, “then I will go through the door as if by myself. If I need help, Zachary, you come to my aid. If we need more help Aaron, you consider the chances of survival. If you can help, do so. If not, consider when you can make good your own escape. At any rate, I will make sure it is safe.”

  “Fair enough,” agreed Zachary and Aaron nodding their heads.

  “Then let’s go,” Michael said. He began the ascent while Zachary and Aaron followed closely behind.

  Cautiously they crept up the stairs to the door at the top. Michael carefully opened the door to avoid unnecessary notice, and looked about the area. Through the halls he could hear voices, as if a court were in session, but he could see no one.

  “Let’s go,” Michael said motioning with his sword.

  The three companions moved quietly into the large room toward the voices, trying to avoid any soldiers who might come near them. Then they came to two huge wooden doors, which were partially open, leading to a large chamber, almost the size of the great hall of King Christian’s castle.

  As they peered into the chamber they saw Diabolos holding his court.

  Diabolos was the most evil looking man Michael had ever seen. He was tall, nearly seven feet, and very thin. He had dark, oily hair and a dark beard. He was dressed in black, which was a striking contrast to his pale white skin. All three of the companions could not help but notice Diabolos’ piercing dark eyes and the expression on his face. His expression seemed to indicate he took pleasure in seeing others suffer.

  As Michael began to wonder about what he should do, a band of about fifty soldiers suddenly came upon them.

  Michael and his companions resisted fiercely by putting their backs together to form a sort of human triangle, preventing anyone’s back from being exposed to danger.

  It seemed that as soon as a group of the fifty would lunge at the three, each of the soldiers would find one of the three swords stuck in his ribs.

  As they fought, Michael thought of his own sword, Avenger, and wished for it. But Michael was a fine swordsman, with any sword, and bested all who came at him as Zachary and Aaron did, also.

  Soon, after about thirty of their number lay on the floor, wounded or dead, the remainder of the soldiers decided they would need other measures to subdue these three intruders, and appeared to withdraw. As soon as these soldiers were out of sight, another group of soldiers on an overhead balcony threw a net over Michael, Zachary and Aaron, and captured them.

  When the fight broke out, Diabolos was startled and asked who could be attacking his castle, for he did not believe it was possible that anyone could have escaped from his dungeon.

  When a soldier reported to him it was Prince Michael and his companions, Diabolos gave orders that at all costs he wanted them taken alive.

  As soon as the soldiers had subdued the three escapees, they marched them to the front of the chamber to face Diabolos. The evil in Diabolos was ever more noticeable as they drew closer to the front.

  Michael quickly noticed Diabolos held in his hand Michael’s sword, Avenger, and wore around his neck the amulet Princess Mary gave him before he left his father’s castle.

  “So,” said Diabolos, “you escaped! I don’t know what trickery you used against my guards, but I promise you, you’ll never escape again. Those cells are intended to be your graves. As soon as I march on the King of El, he and his family will join you!”

  After speaking these words Diabolos laughed an evil laugh that caused Michael, Zachary and Aaron to have chills down their spines.

  “But don’t worry, my friends,” Diabolos continued with a hideous laugh. “I won’t let you go back to those cells alive. This is such a fine sword and I’m grateful to Prince Michael for bequeathing it to me. The best way to test such a weapon is upon the head of its former master.”

  Diabolos then took Avenger, held it over his head as if he were about to remove it from its sheath.

  Michael thought for a moment about how improper it was that such an evil man should wield Avenger and wear the amulet of healing. He also thought briefly that he was seeing the last sights he would ever see.

  However, at that moment, Michael looked up and saw Diabolos slowly removing Avenger from its sheath. As the blade of the sword slowly appeared from its covering, Michael noticed it seemed to glow, not merely reflecting the light, but to actually glow in a strange way as if the metal of the blade were alive.

  Michael also noticed the diamond in its pommel began to radiate a bright blue light he had never seen. As it radiated the blue light the diamond in the amulet also radiated with the same rhythmic pulse.

  Just as the tip of Avenger’s blade came out of the sheath, still held high above Diabolos’ head, a sort of lightning ran from the amulet to the pommel of Avenger and struck Diabolos causing him to convulse violently and drop Avenger.

  Before Avenger reached the floor, Michael reached out and grabbed it with his right hand, and quickly turned, cutting into three soldiers who were running to their incapacitated lord.

  Following Michael�
��s lead, Zachary and Aaron quickly seized swords for themselves. Again the three formed their impenetrable triangle which the soldiers quickly realized they could not defeat, and so withdrew from the room.

  As the three were catching their breath, Zachary fell to the floor with a deep wound to his side. As Michael and Aaron lifted him up, he said, “Don’t bother with me, the wound is deep and I’ve lost much blood already.”

  “We cannot leave a companion.” Michael and Aaron said in unison as Zachary slipped further into unconsciousness.

  Briefly, Michael felt helpless as he watched his friend die. However, suddenly it was as if someone whispered in his ear, “Mary’s amulet!”

  Turning quickly to Aaron, Michael asked “What did you say?”

  “I said nothing,” Aaron answered.

  Remembering the amulet’s power to heal, he quickly ran to where Diabolos lay, stunned, on the floor staring at the ceiling. He took the amulet from him.

  “This will save him!” Michael said with confidence, yet obviously unsure how to use it.

  “But how can it be used?” Aaron inquired as he saw Michael’s expression.

  “I don’t know!” Michael responded anxiously. Then without a thought, he touched the amulet to Zachary’s wound and looked up, as if to Heaven, and said “Please, save my friend!”

  No sooner had Michael spoken the words than Zachary opened his eyes widely, as he felt where his wound had been, and said in an astonished voice, “I’m not sure what you did, and I’m certainly not sure how you did it. I think I’ll just accept it and say thank you.”

  Aaron and Michael were also astonished as they noticed there was no trace of Zachary’s wound. Even the place where the sword cut through his garment was as whole as new cloth.

  Before the three had a chance to say anything more about this astonishing event, Diabolos suddenly jumped to his feet and fled from the room.

  Aaron was about to pursue him when Michael said, “No, we must wait until later to take care of him. Our first objective must be to slay the dragon he serves.”