In the distance, a storm gathers but few notice. Dark clouds and a low, distant, rolling thunder is heard on the darkening horizon. Onto the arena of death, leaps a wererat. It hesitates, then takes a clumsy, swinging lunge at the white horse’s flanks.
Sebastian Wolfram grabs the Red Wizard’s shoulder and points. “Do something quick! This could change the whole outcome of the struggle.”
Aden Ferrum raises his staff, takes aim, and releases two solidified flame arrows toward the wererat. Both score devastating hits and burst into flame upon contact. With its fur ablaze, the foul creature collapses to the ground. Unconcerned with his fallen subordinate, the Nefarious Knight charges his opponent again, trampling the hapless creature beneath sharpened hooves. Sir Rusel repels the attack.
The Paladin’s encompassing flame starts to dwindle but his sword stays aglow. Sir Rusel alters his tactics and rushes his opponent, but at the last moment directs his horse to swerve to the right. At the last instant, he scores a hit on his opponent’s helmet then continues to ride away. He repeats this attack several times and each time his enemy fails in his attempts to retaliate. The Shadowy Knight starts to show frustration and, worse, his mount cannot match Snow’s speed.
Sir Rusel continues this onslaught strategy: strike and ride. The foul Knight is expending much effort with little effect. But on the next charge, he anticipates correctly, and the ebony stallion slams into the side of the white mare. She is stunned and struggles to maintain her footing. Her hind legs buckle for just a moment, causing the Paladin to fall heavily to the ground. He rolls, gathers his wits, and stands, readying himself for the next charge. The Black Knight circles his downed opponent and senses the tide has turned in his favor. He brutally boots his stallion, charges, and pummels the Paladin’s shield with his massive double-bladed axe. The sound is shrill and agonizing.
He turns and brings his deadly weapon down with merciless force, but again, the shield holds. Sir Rusel feels these blows deep within him and his arm grows weary. He swings his sword, but to no avail. The dim stallion rides past unscathed. The Ebony Knight again circles, his aura of fear strong and expanding. Even his own minions are affected and start to shy away.
Sister Aurum and Mikal Novastar conjure enchantments against the growing dread. The Dark Deadly Knight holds his weapons high as vapor billows from his stallion’s nostrils. He intends to trample his seemingly defeated opponent under menacing, heavy hooves.
Sir Rusel plants his feet and readies himself for the onslaught. At the last instant, his magnificent mare charges and crashes into the side of the horse and rider. Both collapse to the rocky ground. Sir Rusel’s foe uses his sword as a crutch to lift himself up. The Paladin seizes the moment and bashes his glowing weapon into the barbed-tipped blade of his opponent which holds but for a moment then breaks in two. The Shadow Knight loses his balance and falls to one knee, but manages to swing his axe in sweeping arc.
Sir Rusel steps back to evade its blow. This gives the Shadowy Knight the opportunity to rise to his feet. He drops his broken sword and grips his battle-axe with two massive hands. The black stallion regains its footing, as the two exhausted Knights pause and take the measure of the other once again. Their mounts circle in a deadly ballet, black and white, white and black.
The axe-wielding Knight rushes the Paladin and swings with lethal force. Exerting great effort, Sir Rusel raises his shield and sidesteps the attack. The Paladin continues to strike his dangerous opponent’s helmet low, next to the right shoulder. The first drops of rain create a hissing sound as they land on Sir Rusel’s glowing, red sword. The Ebony Knight presses his attack and pummels the Paladin’s shield knowing he would be defenseless without it.
The Paladin's left arm is battered and bruised and his shield lowers slightly. He counters, and scores two more hits, low on the helm. The blows leave red scorch marks on his opponent's armor. The Paladin can feel the heat from his blade as it filters through his gauntlet and burns.
***
The two war horses rear and the shadow stallion kicks the white mare on the forelegs but her stony enchantment deflects the sharp hooves. The dark horse continues his attack and, with two quick strides, tears at the left hip of the snow-white horse. The wound draws blood but the white mare will not be outdone. She turns and bites the back hip of her opponent. The crimson blood glistens off his ebony coat.
With a painful leap, the stallion starts to run in an orbital path around the two combating Knights, closely pursued by the white mare. The ground is becoming soft and wet. The rain hisses as it pelts the combatants’ armor. Unexpectedly, the dark, pernicious horse skids to a halt, raises its haunches, and delivers a powerful double kick to his pursuer. The mare takes two blows to her chest. Again, her stony enchantment prevents serious injury, but it knocks her off balance and she collapses to the ground.
The indomitable steed rushes his downed opponent, leaps, and kicks with his forelegs. The mare rolls and gains her footing, but not before sustaining two more wounds to her right hip. She gallops to gain distance between her and her tormentor. She then pivots, eyes her pursuer, flares her nostrils, and charges headlong into the dark steed. The two equines collide again. Snow’s rocky exterior slices into the flesh of the Ebony Knight’s horse. Both creatures lose balance and crash heavily to the ground. The mare is first to regain her footing. She presses her advantage, rears, and tears deep lacerations into one of the forelegs of the sable horse. The crackle of lightening and the sound of thunder scream with the coal black equine.
***
To the Shadow Knight, this battle he wages is a test of strength, which he knows is to his advantage. His opponent’s defenses are weakening and will soon collapse. He is convinced that victory is inevitable. To the Paladin, it is a test of will and determination. Advantage: Sir Rusel.
“I cannot and will not succumb to my adversary,” Rusel says through clenched teeth.
After several deep breaths, the grinning, confident, axe-wielding Knight advances. The Paladin struggles to hold his shield high. Again the massive double-bladed axe crashes down upon it. Sir Rusel staggers for just a moment, but retaliates with two quick strikes to the helmet.
It glows red.
Sir Rusel winces in pain as his sword flares to cobalt blue. The sizzling of the rain upon his weapon imitates a multitude of angry, hissing serpents. The Paladin steps back, hesitates, then valiantly attacks and scores two more striking, burning hits, then deftly steps away. The huge Knight swings his axe to no avail. Sir Rusel again engages and brings his glowing, blue sword down upon the dark helmet, causing it to glow more brightly. The Knight delivers only a glancing blow off the Paladin’s shield. Sir Rusel keeps moving in a slow ring around his opponent. The Paladin attempts a feint but the Evil Knight does not respond.
Thunder fills the air for all to hear, save the two Knights. The Ebony One roars diabolically and charges and before Sir Rusel can bring his shield high, he swings his double-bladed axe and scores a deep, devastating blow into the Paladin’s left shoulder. Sir Rusel continues to block out his pain. He counter-attacks, swinging his sword to his enemy’s helmet, and continues to bear down against his opponent’s armor. The Paladin cries out as his sword flares to an intense white-hot and slices through the searing metal armor of his opponent. The smell of burning flesh fills the air.
The Black Knight panics and releases his grip on his weapon. It remains embedded in Sir Rusel’s shoulder. Reacting to the burning pain in his neck, the Dark Herald tries to remove the white-hot sword protruding from his flesh. His gauntlets and hands melt around the intense, flaming sword. With a look of utter disbelief, the Ebony Knight sinks to his knees, jarring the burning weapon from Sir Rusel’s blistered grasp.
Chapter 46
Everything stops. Only rain whispers through the silence.
Not far from the battle, the Stone Mage lowers himself to the ground and slams his left, stone arm deep into the earth. He hesitates, and then stands tall.
He hurri
edly addresses Mikal. “Wizard, move our people back now. The rocks and stones are going to open, scream, and rend.”
The White Wizard hesitates. Majam meows a warning. Mikal feels a slight vibration under his feet and he understands. Just before the storm’s full fury hits, he gives the command for the others to retreat.
He turns with his cat and runs toward Sir Rusel. He is followed by Ebon Usher and Aden Ferrum. Before they can reach the mortally wounded Paladin, the earth starts to tremble. Many stumble. The Stone Mage grabs Mikal as the Red Wizard falls. The vibrations lessen and the three continue. Mikal is the first to reach the now kneeling Sir Rusel. Blood gushes from around the axe that is deep inside him. His charred right hand hangs loosely from his arm.
The White Wizard puts his arms around the grievously wounded Paladin and lightly kisses his cheek. In a panic, he starts to recite a healing spell.
Sir Rusel’s eyelids flutter open. “Is Snow alive? Mikal, your promise.”
The Stone Mage turns and yells, “Take him away from here at once, or we are all lost.”
Mikal and Aden pick up the fallen Paladin and start to carry him away. They struggle as the entire valley ground convulses violently and the rocky soil in front of Ebon Usher rends open and chaos erupts. He watches as the Ebony Knight’s body tumbles down the newly formed chasm. The long fissure in the ground separates the Stone Mage from the White Mare. She frantically turns her head to the right then left, torn by indecision.
The Dark Herald’s minions are in total panic. The magnificent mare flares her nostrils, takes three strides, and leaps the yawning abyss. She gallops and soon reaches Sir Rusel. Mikal turns and sees the Stone Mage staring transfixed at the jagged opening in the ground. The White Wizard yells, but to no avail. The ground shakes again. The unearthly fracture opens wider, taking in its stony maw all things near. Through Majam’s eyes Mikal sees the legs of the black stallion as they disappear from sight.
Aden Ferrum shouts, “We must remove the axe!”
The White Wizard nods and lowers his staff. Aden struggles to remove the destructive weapon from the Paladin’s ruined shoulder.
Instantly Mikal’s staff flares to life as he places it on the hemorrhaging, gaping wound. It cauterizes the flesh.
“Hurry, now, help me place him on his horse,” Mikal orders. With much effort they succeed.
The White Wizard points. “Take him to Sister Aurum.”
The storm swells but the earthquakes subside. Finding himself alone, Mikal picks up Majam and turns to search for Ebon Usher. He takes only a few steps, and he spies the Dark Herald’s multitude of minions in full stampede coming directly toward him.
Through Majam’s eyes, he is shocked to see wild Dorsi, the large, aggressive, female, buffalo-like animals from the Plains of Peristalsis, charging across the valley floor. Hordes of rats squish beneath the wild Dorsi’s hooves. He hears a ravenous roar from two huge, black bears as they tear into bewildered wererats. Myriad flocks of birds seek shelter from the storm only to plummet to the ground due to the weight of soaked feathers. Mikal places his cat in his traveling cloak.
The White Wizard conjures a protective sphere around them. At first, many of the wild creatures shy from the glowing white light. One obese Dorsi breaks through, however, and clips Mikal’s arm and spins him around. Then another charging wild beast strikes the Wizard and slams him heavily to the ground. The last thing Mikal hears before losing consciousness is the sound of howling wolves.
Chapter 47
Two armored knights from the City of Stonegrove search the Valley of Endorr. The taller of the two holds a torch in one hand and a sword in the other. His brother-in-arms probes the air in front of him with a long, pointed spear.
“Ahh! I slammed my toe on this accursed rock. Lower the torch so I can see where I’m going.”
The taller one observes, “Well, at least it stopped raining, but the thick clouds obscure any light from above. Do you think he still lives?”
“I do not know. Doubtful. He could've fallen in one of the newly formed openings in the earth. He could have been trampled or even eaten by some foul creature.” He takes a tentative step. “Watch where you walk. There are dead birds everywhere.”
“I think he may still be alive. I've heard that wizards are tough to kill.” He cocks his head. “Wait. Did you hear that?”
“Yes, I did. What do you suppose it is?”
“It came from that direction.” He points to his left with his long spear. “Look, something is glowing on the ground.”
The two armored knights approach cautiously. There is a soft, white light steadily pulsating ahead.
They continue toward it. “Is that the wizard we seek lying on the ground?”
“It’s hard to be sure. You said you’ve seen him before in the city?”
“Yes, he walked right by me during the wererat incident. But that was during the day and he was walking. He looks different on the ground and it is so dark.”
“Look. That large, black creature next to the body…is it a rat?”
The creature meows loudly. Mikal's staff of light lies across his body. Its white glow wanes and waxes, matching the wizard’s breathing. Guarding him from further harm stands his large, black cat Majam.
The knights hesitate. “I thought you said he had a white cat. That creature is as black as this night.”
“See if he still lives.”
The knight puts down his spear and, under the watchful eye of the black cat, he places his left hand on the wizard's shoulder.
“Mikal Novastar, we have been sent by Baron Stannum and Sister Aurum to find and return you to their care.”
The wizard's eyes painfully open.
“Can you walk?”
Mikal struggles to sit up. “My head…how it aches.” Running his left hand through his red hair, he discovers a sizable lump on the back of his head.
“Here, Master Wizard. Let me help you.” The knight carefully lifts Mikal to his feet.
“The world is swimming about me. There, hand me my staff to steady me.
***
The journey back to the witches’ cavern is slow and includes many stops for rest. It is well past midnight when the three reach the Witches of Endorr's cave. At its entrance stands Sister Aurum and Baron Stannum.
“We were all so worried,” says the young witch, her brow furrowing.
“My head is throbbing and my stomach is uneasy. How fares Sir Rusel? Tell me true.”
“First you must sit,” directs Sister Aurum. “Let me look at that head of yours. I shall have tea for you presently. It will alleviate your pain and stomach distress.” She gently probes the pulsating lump on the back of Mikal's head. The wizard winces even with her gentle touch. She starts to softly hum and then recites a healing spell specially designed for head injuries. An even younger witch enters, carrying a tray upon which rests a cup of steaming tea.
“You have yet to speak of Sir Rusel,” Mikal persists.
“We will take you to him presently. But for now, at least taste the tea, please.” After taking his second sip, the wizard identifies a strong mint flavor. There is a second taste which he does not recognize.
Mikal, a bit impatiently, declares, “I am pleased to say that my stomach feels better and my head pain has lessened. Now, will you take me to see Sir Rusel?”
With his staff in his left hand, a cup of tea in his right, he is escorted to one of the healing chambers.
“I must prepare you, Mikal. His condition is grave. We have done as much as is possible for him. He drifts in and out of consciousness. He asks about Snow often. We explain to him that she is being treated and should fully recover, and it does seem to bring him some comfort. At times he is delirious and talks to people who are not there.”
“Oh, really? Perchance, has he mentioned names?”
Sister Aurum hesitates. “I believe he spoke of a Sir Thoren and, what was the other? I believe it was Sir Balin.”
“Curious.” Mikal takes
another sip of his tea. “I believe those two names are associated with the Paladins from the Wizard Wars of long ago.”
Baron Stannum adds, “Yes, I believe you are right. I knew I had heard those names before.”
Sister Aurum lightly knocks on a large, green door and opens it. The White Wizard follows his cat inside. In the center of a large room lies Sir Rusel on a featherbed. Placed in front of the footboard is his enchanted rock-encrusted, iron shield. Majam leaps to the foot of the bed. Mikal stares at the unmoving Paladin. A white, linen sheet is draped over him and two healing sisters attend him. One focuses on his mangled shoulder while the other wipes his brow with a cool towel. Two splendidly arrayed knights stand at the head and the foot of the wooden bed.
“These are Honor Guards. It is the least I can do for this brave warrior,” explains the Baron. Mikal notices Aden Ferrum and Kairn also in attendance, but set back. The White Wizard puts down his cup of tea and hands his staff to Sister Aurum.
He approaches Sir Rusel, kneels at his side, and whispers close to the Paladin’s ear, “Sir Rusel, it is I, Mikal Novastar.”
Moments pass. The Paladin’s eyes flutter open and focus on the wizard. He tries to smile through broken teeth. “Remember your promise.”
Mikal nods. “It will be fulfilled, I swear.”
“I wish I had my sword, but my hands do not seem to work well.”
Mikal smiles. “You left your sword where it belongs, on the battlefield in your enemy’s neck. You have brought honor to yourself, to all Paladins, and to the Land. We are in your debt. I thank you, my friend.”
Sir Rusel’s eyes roll back and he slips into unconsciousness once again.
The White Wizard stands and asks “Is there nothing we can do for him?”
The Red Wizard steps forward. “Look at him. Even if somehow you could save him, with that ruined shoulder, you would have to take his arm. Look at his hand. There's nothing left of it but a charred husk. A warrior who cannot wield a sword is not a warrior who would wish to live.”
The Warrior and the Wandering Wizard (The Way of the Wandering Wizard Series Book 2) Page 26
