TWO HEADS TWO SPIKES (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga)

by Jason Paul Rice

  Sweat dripped down his face, off his chin, and onto the horse’s saddle. Suddenly a twang vibrated through the air. Six guards fell from their horses. Faceless men lurked in the trees, loosing arrows at the Colbert group. The wounded men fought the good fight for a few moments before succumbing to the Gods’ will.

  “AMBUSH, AMBUSH,” screamed Jon Colbert as he jumped down from his horse. He calmed the horse to stop it from bolting and tried to use it as a shield against the hidden archers.

  He grabbed Sir Herman, “Go tell Brehan to get my daughter out of here, NOW. If he cannot do it, you will, alright?”

  “Yes, my Duke,” said Sir Herman as he took off for the back of the group.

  Jon Colbert held his hand in the air to block the sun so he could see the approaching foes. Through the bright golden rays he saw about thirty armored knights marching toward them. They didn’t have flags or banners that identified them. It was obvious the Fox Chapel knights didn’t want the Mattingly men to know they were coming. As the Fox Chapel knights got closer, he could see the surcoats of the enemy. He recognized the emblem of two foxes protecting the crown that represented the Wamhoff family of Fox Chapel. The exposed silver armor shone in the sun’s rays as they quickly marched toward Jon. The opposing knights wore the full metal helm covering their entire heads with gold accents around the eyes and straight down the center of the mask to make a cross. The archers stopped when the Fox Chapel ground crew approached. A few of the Mattingly knights stayed on their horses, but most jumped down.

  The Fox Chapel knights screamed for Mattingly to surrender. “In the name of King Ali-Stanley Wamhoff of Donegal, I order you to lay down your arms.”

  “NEVER,” bellowed Jon Colbert and his contingent rushed the enemy.

  A tornado of violence erupted. Extreme metal rang through the hot, dry air right along the Royal Road. The conveniently located woods on either side of the road prompted several Mattingly guards to run into it, trying to lure the Fox Chapel men in.

  Jon was already in a battle for his life with a man who looked as big as a giant. Jon and the giant traded blows only to repel each other time and again. It was a fight of contrasting styles, the giant moved slowly and powerfully but Jon was lightning-quick without any armor to slow him down. As they jousted for position, Jon was identifying the compromising gaps in the giant’s armor. He blocked an overhand swing with his huge sword and backed away. Jon used a long sword that stood almost as tall as he. It had a green tinted blade referred to as Dragon-Steel. The cross-guard was silver as well as the rounded pommel with spikes coming out to resemble a mace. The grip had been constructed of black leather with a golden diamond pattern. He had received his father’s sword when he was eleven, but the Dragon-Steel was much stronger and sharper. He called it Green-Fury.

  He came back with a quick jab to the giant’s knee and the big man started to drop. Jon swung his sword upward as the behemoth was falling and he slid his sword right under the giant’s helm, through his chin and out the top of his enormous head. It popped the defeated knight’s helm off as the Dragon-Steel broke through the giant’s skull. He struggled to pull the blade from the resistant bone and spun around to see at least fifteen Fox Chapel knights lying dead on the scene. One lay still on the road with a spiked mace stuck through his metal helm that ultimately rested deep inside the knight’s head. Unfortunately, he saw many of his own fallen men as well. He knew they were still badly outnumbered, but they were starting to close the gap. Mother earth kicked up dry dust around the battleground creating a lingering smoke effect. She greedily drank the spilled blood of the men and seemed to demand more. The clanking of swords and death defying primal screams sent a warning to others to stay far away.

  Jon took another Fox Chapel knight’s head clean off and saw Sir Gunnar sneak under another man’s armor and put him to eternal rest. The clanging of weapons and the screams of dying men continued to cut through the sultry late-spring air. Then Jon Colbert took a great swing and Green-Fury bit hard, breaking through his opponent’s armor. It hit the knight in the arm but easily cut through the armor. His sword lodged in the man’s arm until Jon quickly pulled it away. He reached back and landed a mighty swing of the sword through the knight’s skull. His sword broke right through the helm, jamming halfway into the man’s head.

  Through all the smoke and hullabaloo, Jon Colbert spotted the King of Donegal.

  He was screeching, “Kill everyone. Kill the girl. Kill them all.”

  Jon recognized his opportunity. He climbed over several bodies in the direction of Ali-Stanley. The King stood next to a black stallion, watching his ambush from a safe distance. Jon Colbert now ran at top speed as the King tried to get on his horse. When he got about fifteen feet from the King, Jon felt a strange pain in his shoulder. Looking down, he saw an arrow sticking out of his left side. It staggered Jon. He gathered himself and stumbled forward as the clumsy King continued to fumble with his foot in the stirrup. Jon saw the fear of the Gods in the King’s eyes as he stared directly at him. Jon stopped in his tracks when another arrow planted itself into his right thigh. Still determined, he took one more step until a third arrow burrowed into his other thigh, dropping him to his knees.

  I must get back up. Please Gods, for my father.

  The blood leaking from Jon Colbert’s body seemed to absorb all the dust in the air as the smoke cleared. A knight with blond curly hair spilling from his falcon-head helm approached rapidly. The man turned his sword around and the last thing Jon Colbert saw was the pommel. It was a golden pyramid that crushed Jon right between the eyes. The world went black for Jonathan Colbert. Strangely, he didn’t feel an oncoming headache. All of his stress and problems escaped in the dark red blood that spurted from his forehead.

  “HE’S DEAD,” yelled the knight to the King after he checked Jon Colbert’s pulse.

  BREHAN

  Brehan strapped the leather sack around Mariah’s neck. They were off into the woods, away from the violence that had just erupted.

  He spotted a huge bush and said, “Mariah, get behind this, over here on this side. I need to go back and get your father.”

  “No, you cannot leave me alone,” Mariah said with concern.

  “I took an oath to your father to protect him. I will be right back before you can even get scared.”

  Brehan took off before Mariah could object again. On his way back to the road he thought about how he was supposed to see Elisa.

  Maybe the King found out about us. Is this all my fault?

  He saw the carriages and rushed toward the road in rage. Just up ahead heavy grunts and songs of aggressive metal on metal engulfed his senses. Everything slowed down for Brehan Castaway as it always did during violent conflict.

  Brehan easily saw that they were heavily outnumbered right now, but Mattingly refused to surrender. He drew his long sword and engaged with a knight he knew to be Thomas Maron. He had a nice sword but Brehan came equipped with Dragon-Bite. Jon Colbert gave him the sword after he had knighted Brehan. Sir Thomas was a skilled knight, but not as quick as Brehan. He caught Maron a couple of times under both arms and the crimson tide trickled out. An attempted block by Sir Thomas only guided Brehan’s sword directly into his helm, knocking him silly and the helmet from his head. Seizing the opportunity he sliced his razor sharp blade through Sir Thomas Maron’s head. It went in on one side right above the ear and shredded its way out the bottom of the other side. The top half of the head hit the road and the rest of Sir Thomas dropped. Blood sprayed all over Sir Brehan’s face and the fighting suddenly died down.

  He heard Sir Gunnar yell to Sir Ryan, “Duke Colbert is dead.”

  Those words resonated and chilled Brehan’s soul on this sweaty day. His one oath was to protect the Colberts and he had failed. He went back to find Mariah with his heart in his boots. For the first time in his life he could feel tears forming.

  I must take solace in protecting his family now.

  He finally got back to the spot where Mar
iah should have been.

  Where is she?

  Brehan scanned the area looking for a clue. He saw nothing in every direction so he blindly walked one way.

  There were still no signs of Mariah after about two hours of searching. With nightfall imminent, he approached a farm. He now believed he would never see Mariah or Elisa ever again.

  I have failed again.

  Brehan remembered the Colbert table where he had boasted that he would keep everyone safe. Everyone had looked reassured. Now he had just let them all down. Tears started again as he tried to figure out how to get back to Mattingly.

  Sir Brehan found a farm and quietly looked around for a horse. He snuck up behind a stable boy and hit him with a big rock. With the boy incapacitated, he found only one horse with a saddle and hopped on. He trotted out of the barn and into pitch darkness. Brehan didn’t know where he was going until he felt the massive pain in his head as he fell off his horse.

  Brehan awakened to a fading fire. His hands were bound and tied to a foundation post in a horse stable. He was naked, but Brehan could see his clothes in a pile just a few feet away. He realized this was the barn that he had tried to steal the horse from.

  A big ox of a man wearing tattered rags entered the barn, “Oh, you finally woke up. Thought you was dead.”

  “What are you doing with me? I am a knight of Mattingly. The Colberts will pay more than anyone for my return.” He felt awkward using the name of the family that he had failed to protect, to bail him out of this situation.

  “Nobody done pays more for Mattingly knights in Fox Chapel than the King,” the farmer said with a cruel smile, “That’s where you goin’ as soon as my father get back in a couple days.”

  The big man’s teeth revealed his gums as he grinned, thinking about the gold he would receive. It looked like Brehan had only a couple of days to figure a way out of this gloomy situation. He could try to outwit the slow countryside man since that looked like the most viable option.

  I cannot even protect myself from being captured by a farmer. And I call myself a knight.

  As the farmer left the stable, Brehan began to think about everyone he had loved and ultimately let down.

  PENROSE

  The fighting finally died down after reinforcement arrived for Fox Chapel and overwhelmed the Mattingly men. Sir Anderley and Sir Oliver led three captured Mattingly knights to see their fallen leader.

  The King of Donegal still screamed, “Kill them all. Even the girl. Kill them all.”

  He kicked his horse and rode off with four knights. Three men came in from behind to thrust their swords down the back of the Mattingly knights’ necks and into their chests, execution style. Blood spattered from Sir Ryan and Sir Gunnar’s mouths as they cursed at the killers.

  “Is that everyone?” asked Penrose.

  “They are either dead, halfway to Riverfront, or dying in the woods somewhere. How many of our men did they take out?” Sir Oliver wondered.

  “Twenty three before backup arrived. Those were some tough bastards,” Sir Anderley answered.

  “Dead bastards,” Sir Oliver reminded him as the three knights headed back to the castle.

  Chaos reigned in the castle. Sir Penrose found the King in his meeting room with family and council.

  “I don’t know, we went to greet the Mattingly men and they just attacked us. So we had to put them down. It is as simple as that,” King Ali-Stanley explained to the bewildered observers.

  Some of the girls looked like they were going to cry.

  “What did you do? What did you do, you murderer?” Ali-Gare screamed at the King as she burst into the room.

  “Settle down my darling. I only did what needed to be done. Besides, I have a surprise for you. I have found a husband for you finally, his name is...”

  The King’s daughter had eye makeup running down her face, aided by the waves of tears. Before King Ali-Stanley could finish, Ali-Gare ran out the door.

  “Penrose, please go after her and bring her back.”

  “Yes, my King,” Penrose responded and took off.

  The Princess was already far ahead of Penrose who was slowed down by his heavy armor, but he noticed that she was heading for the horse stable. Penrose still trailed her as she galloped away from the barn and down the Royal Road. The knight grabbed a horse and followed the trail of dust that hung in the air above the dry, dirt road. About fifteen minutes later, he was back at the site of the scuffle.

  No one even moved the bodies off the road after we left. There were at least ten men here to clean it up.

  There was Ali-Gare, right up ahead. She leaned over Sir Gunnar Pine’s dead body. Anderley had told Penrose that Sir Gunnar used to be a servant in the king’s castle before he went to Mattingly.

  She caressed his bloody face as she bawled, “My love is dead. My heart is dead.”

  Penrose could hear her as he jumped off his horse. Ali-Gare took a tiny bottle hanging from her neck. Penrose tried to run to her as fast as he could, but the armor really prevented that. She pushed her other hand into Sir Gunnar’s boot and pulled out the exact same red, transparent bottle.

  No, no, no. Don’t do it.

  Penrose screamed, “STOP.”

  Ali-Gare Wamhoff drank both potions as Penrose came within three feet of preventing her. He stopped just short to see the Princess slump down on top of the only man she had ever loved.

  How am I to explain this to the King? This is quite ironic. It was the King who just ordered the death of his enemy’s daughter.

  Her face already turned an odd shade of green that made Penrose realize he didn’t have to check for breathing. The sound of a man coughing startled the knight.

  He turned around to see the blood-covered face of Jon Colbert as he sat up on the edge of the Royal Road.

  I thought surely he was dead. Luckily he didn’t get away or the King would really have my head.

  Penrose hurried over to Jon and drew his sword. Jon just sat there unable to defend himself.

  The King ordered me to kill everyone and so shall it be.

  Penrose readied himself to take off Jon Colbert’s head and return it to the King.

  THE ISLAND

  EDBURGH

  Ed paced up and down the docks, wondering if they were ever going to arrive. The King’s goons were back at the house, so Ed waited alone. It seemed well past midnight, but he had to keep a constant watch. The ship should have been here yesterday, but the sea can change travel plans quickly. A full moon bloomed above, but Ed had no interest in its beauty. He was still barely sleeping.

  The sex he had with the unknowing Queen was supposed to stop the sleeplessness. It did not.

  The King agreeing to move forward with his plan was supposed to end this weary cycle. It did not.

  His deceased bride still haunted him every night. He even tried to sleep during the day, but he couldn’t do it. Edburgh thought he had known exhaustion when he served military duty, but this was hard to deal with. Ed had now started hallucinating, seeing people who weren’t actually there and someone could talk directly to him for minutes but he wouldn’t remember anything. All he did now was drink until he couldn’t stand up straight in hopes of erasing the bad memories that haunted his thoughts.

  The King had promised the hand of Ali-Gare to Edburgh and thinking of her kept him motivated. He remembered her radiance from the wedding and often envisioned his prospective life in the king’s castle, Ali-Gare Wamhoff constantly by his side. Whenever he wanted to abandon the job and go home, he took refuge in his dreams of this life. He really hoped that when he completed the plan and returned a hero that the nightmares would finally dissipate. A ship pulled up, bobbing along the dark waters.

  He stood about one hundred feet away at the end of the docks. All the passengers would need to pass by Ed to get to the island. It was a small vessel and Edburgh only saw about a dozen men disembark. Luckily it was a bright night so he could identify the men easily. He was pretty sure he recognized t
hem as they approached.

  “Edburgh, is that you?” a tall, skinny man asked as he approached.

  “Yes, it is me.”

  “What are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in what, six years has it been?” the young man asked.

  “Sounds about right, I am just passing through, doing some bidding for my father,” Ed said.

  “That’s strange, that is the same thing we are doing,” the tall man chuckled.

  “That is strange indeed,” repeated Ed, forcing a laugh.

  Ed started sweating and had trouble keeping everything together. Three big men stood behind the two boys like they were protecting them.

  “Hey, it has been a long time. I have something back at the place I am staying at on the island that you guys should see,” said Ed casually.

  “What is it?” the young man wondered.

  “It is right up this road at the place I am staying. You really have to see it. But it’s a surprise. Have your friends head down to the tavern and we will join them shortly.”

  Ed could feel his hands starting to shake as he put them behind his back and smiled nervously.

  “Alright, I suppose we have some time to spare. Are you coming too?” he said to the other young man, who agreed.

  The two gave their bags to their associates and proceeded with Edburgh.

  “So how is your wife?”

  It sliced straight into his heart, applying pressure. His eyes shot open as vengeful blood again rushed through his veins. His pulse jumped and he perspired even more.

  “Oh, I suppose you haven’t heard. She is the surprise. She has asked to see you,” Ed said.

  “Asked to see me? Why, I barely knew the girl from only a few visits to Elkridge,” the man said.

  “That is strange indeed,” said Ed.

  They chattered back and forth during the five-minute walk. He drifted out as retribution burned at the core of Edburgh Etburn. He focused on his goal again, without the aid of sleep.