Sixty-year-old Kapano was the first wizard out of the ground, followed by Aewyn and then Asher. When the owl’s feather had touched Marcus it lit up their chamber with a blue flash, informing them that the spell had been successful, but as they approached they saw the wizard was surrounded by knights that were giving off a strange energy. And as the sorcerers got closer all the golden knights turned their attention toward them.
Kapano launched small silver daggers with wavy blades, and although they stuck into several of the golden knights they had no effect. The wizards then levitated themselves into the air at least three times their height; Kadyn launched a dagger of her own and Asher barely managed to maneuver out of its way. The dagger went through his red cloak, much too close to be cosy making his heart skip a beat, because even when death or a serious wound was avoided it taxed the mind with what could have been.
“Are these magical knights?” said Aewyn.
Kapano nodded. “They have to be. I don’t know if we can kill them or not.”
Asher went a little higher as he examined the knights, and all had pulled their swords. “How will we get to the boy?”
Kapano hurled a black rock at one knight and when it hit him he was surrounded by a black glowing crust and unable to move, frozen the knight slowly toppled over, but as he continued to watch the enchanted knight broke free of the shell that had bound him and the sorcerer was flabbergasted at its ability to break his enchantment. It had taken powerful oomph to accomplish it. “Did you see that? No one has ever broken out of such a binding spell.”
Aewyn thought that if the boy’s knights were this formidable then perhaps even all three were no match for the young sorcerer. “I’d sure like to know how he created those knights.”
As Asher moved to his left Kadyn caught him with a dagger in his left shoulder, the blade protruding through the bone on the other side; he screamed as the blood ran down his arm dripping on the ground. Because they had mixed their magical properties for some time when one was seriously injured it weakened all of them. Aewyn and Kapano helped to get Asher away from the knights as they slowly made their way back to the safety of the tunnels.
Back into the safety of their lair Kapano could see the extent of the damage; the blade had gone through the acromion, the top part of the shoulder blade, when removed the flat part of the blade had two pieces of bone on it. Asher was in a lot of pain and so Kapano waved his hand over him mumbling a spell that put him into a deep sleep. All three had secrets that they didn’t want to share with one another, enchantments that were made after much trial and tribulation.
Kapano went into another chamber and lined up five reddish-brown clay bowls that had been infused with his own blood years ago and started to add ingredients to each bowl, eagle eyes, ground dragon scales, bat ears, dragonfly wings and a shark’s dorsal fin. He squashed the eagle eyes in its own bowl, making sure that it picked up residue from the bowl itself. After chopping the bat ears into small pieces and getting a small amount of juice out of them, he placed the ears in with the eyes and pounded the mixture with a heavy rock the size of his hand.
Aewyn watched as Kapano crushed the dragonfly wings into dust, waved his hand over it and imbued it with a small amount of energy from the air surrounding him. He stirred the dorsal fin, being sure that it was crushed into small particles and then carefully added the dragon scale dust. He combined all the ingredients into a doughy lump, smashing the lump with all his might and watching to see it change. It had to transform to a bright luminescent white color, otherwise he had done something wrong and there was no telling what it would do to Asher. He pounded it several times and waited for it to change color. It went from grey to black and then from black to purple. He gave the compound another mighty wallop and watched it turn yellow. It was a disappointing result to say the least.
Kapano stared at his creation and realized that he was only allowed to hit it once more because hitting it again after that would nullify all the ingredients, so many things to remember with magic. He picked up the rounded rock and smashed it with all his might, smashing the clay bowl in the process but the compound only changed to a mustard-yellow not the white that he so desired.
Aewyn could tell by the look on Kapano’s face that it was a failure but he asked nonetheless. “It didn’t work?”
“No it didn’t.”
“Will Asher survive?”
Kapano shrugged. “Don’t know for sure and it will take some time for him to recover which weakens all of us.”
“Kapano look!”
The doughy mass was now white. “That’s it!” He grabbed it and ran to Asher, noticing that he was still losing blood. Aewyn soaked up some of the blood and placed it into a small beaker sorcerers blood was a key component in many enchantments. Kapano placed the white medicine on his wound, spreading it flat and watched as it was completely absorbed.
Asher’s head shook and then the vibration went through his entire body like the flow of an ocean wave, down to the tips of his toes and when he opened his eyes and sat up, his health was completely restored except for his big toe. “What happened?”
“You took a dagger in your shoulder from one of those damn knights. Lucky to have survived.” Aewyn was happy to see him sitting up.
Kapano scratched his head, disturbing a louse from feeding. “I have an elixir that I know will work on those miscreant knights; I’ve had it for several decades and it cannot ever be replaced but I suppose its time.”
Asher stood up and rubbed his shoulder and it felt good, though a little weak from blood loss. “Will it work on those conjured beasts?”
Kapano nodded. “It’ll kill anything. We’ll have to hit the boy with a protective spell before I throw it. And then we’ll be able to get Marcus back here and get on with it.” He went to a corner stone in the wall pushed on the edge of it, and it swung open, the first time the others had seen the hiding place, and of course now he would need to find another. Kapano removed a solid sphere that was a swirl of black and green shades, unscrewed the two sides revealing the contents, inside the sphere was a small grey pot that was unglazed, the top was impossible to remove, only breaking it would release the deadly gas.
Aewyn wondered what other things might be hidden from him, and when he was able to he would search for other hidden compartments. “Let’s get going before they head back with the boy.”
Marcus remained asleep and now was actually snoring. The knights were heading back with Brother carrying the wizard but they had only commenced the journey when the three troublemakers showed up again, floating high enough to be out of range of their weapons, at least they hoped so. Asher didn’t hesitate, hitting the boy with a protective bubble before Kapano tossed the small container amongst the golden knights, and watched as all the knights collapsed.
Once the poisonous gas had been cleared by the wind they landed and started to push the bubble back towards their den. Marcus slid around inside the clear sphere as they pushed it and continued to snore.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ALEXA AWOKE TO THE SOUND OF GRUNTING. Obed was up and trying his best to remove the sword but it wouldn’t budge, not even a little, not even after he jumped up and held his full weight upon it. Must be some trick to its removal but of what form he knew not. How long would the princess make them stay here if they couldn’t get the sword removed from the tree? They had been there too long in his opinion but that mattered little, though he did prefer to leave with the sword lest all that effort be for naught. He supposed she would make that decision in her own good time. Royalty could not be denied.
“Won’t budge?”
Obed grunted and shook his head. “It might take Marcus to get the stupid thing out.”
Alexa really didn’t like to consider it but he just might be correct, and her little brother was so busy these days it could be a lost cause, besides the sword was supposed to be from her and not from Marcus. Alexa would rather pull out her own toenails than admit defeat but it seemed that
no other option existed. She gave the sword the sternest look that she could manage, but unfortunately things could not be manipulated as easy as people.
Merrill continued to snore loudly and when Obed nudged him with his foot he said “Knightshade!” as he was startled awake. And when he did so there was a musical tone, like a small bell being rung. He had been dreaming that he had removed the sword and was standing triumphantly with it over his head.
Alexa turned and looked at the sword as the sound appeared to have originated from it. “Knightshade!” Again a bell sounded but this time she was looking directly at the sword and it lit up a pretty sky blue. “That’s it! Knightshade!” When it lit up again she pulled it. “I have it!”
Obed was ecstatic to see the sword in Alexa’s hand. “Let’s get back to Leeander so we can get some good food.” A knight suddenly appeared from out of nothing startling everyone.
The knight was holding a halberd and both shoulders had nasty looking spikes protruding from them, the tips were incredibly sharp. He wore no helmet and was a rugged looking fellow with a broad face and square jaw, ruggedly handsome, with wavy dirty blond hair. “I am Pierce, knight protector of the sword.”
Merrill almost laughed as he had already pulled his sword at the sight of him, too close for arrows. “Why the hell would a sword need protecting? It’s a sword.”
Obed smiled at Alexa. “Is this knight going to be Stone’s gift as well my lady?”
Alexa shook her head at Obed and grunted. “The both of you need to be quiet.”
Merrill thought about what Pierce had said. “So if the sword is engaged in battle will you jump in front of it to protect it?”
The knight did not respond, simply stared off at nothing in particular.
“I am Princess Alexa. The sword belongs to me now. It shall be a gift to my husband. There’s no need for you to protect it.”
“Nevertheless,” said Pierce.
“I’m taking the weapon back to Leeander so you can be on your way.”
“I go where the sword goes,” said Pierce in his deep voice.
Merrill smiled. “I guess he’s part of the enchantment. Stone will not accept this knight following him around.” He had been tempted to say that the quest had been for naught but didn’t dare.
They mounted their horses and headed back toward Leeander, with Pierce following them on his own horse; how he had procured it was unknown.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
THE NIIWU HAD STARTED TO BUILD a new settlement in the forest, out of view of the humans and almost a hundred of them were hard at work. A cloud of magical energy on the wind had changed them somewhat, made them evolve faster, however their viciousness had not been altered. Some were aware that they had changed and it was both bewildering and disturbing to them.
A hunter and explorer from Kaday caught the scent of the niiwu as he approached from the east, making his way across a sparkling brook to get a closer look. He had heard of the niiwu but had never actually see one, but now from a distance he observed one on the outskirts of the soon to be village, digging up dirt with its bare hands, one head staring down but the other seemingly puzzled as if it had smelled something. The dirt was to be used in the fabrication of their huts, turned into mud to solidify their dwellings and behind the creature were as many as ten dwellings being constructed simultaneously, some were lapping water from a bucket.
A gust of wind took the stench of the niiwu directly to Fern and it was one of the most putrid things that he had ever smelled, like rotting vomit under the hot sun, almost made him drop his crossbow. He deemed it best to slowly back away before he was noticed; he would report to Leeander of their proximity to their kingdom and let them handle it. Anything that could dig a hole with its bare hands like that was not to be trifled with.
As Fern retreated from the two-headed beasts he heard a branch crack somewhere behind him but when he looked he wasn’t able to see anything or anyone. He stood for a time looking over the area but wasn’t able to pick up anything. Hopefully it had been some sort of docile animal that had passed and not one of the niiwu, or perhaps a rotted branch had cracked and fell to the forest floor. But before he could make it out of the forest he sensed something and when he turned he could see the niiwu standing and staring at him, both heads smiling a malevolent smile that would haunt him in his dreams if he survived the encounter. The niiwu commenced to run toward him and he caught it in the right bicep making it scream but it didn’t break off its attack, it ran faster as he cranked to hopefully get another arrow on the hemp string in order to get another arrow onto it, trying hard not to panic. Even a knight would sometimes panic when facing almost certain death.
The niiwu launched itself just as he shot the bolt, going through the beasts left head and left eye; the right head looked surprised and then the life drained out of it as well as it fell over dead. Fern ran for his life as he escaped the forest; his chances of surviving another would be slim. He ran faster than he had ever run.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
DAGANTH WADDLED INTO THE COURTYARD, not many were happy to see yet another dragon in their midst, even a baby dragon could roast humans with a single burst of fire and it was never easy to kill them. After the dragon’s nap he appeared to be feeling worse instead of better; he had walked a long way to get to Leeander, had expended a lot of energy and his broken wing was aching and now part of his chest felt numb. The hollow bone in his wing had sustained a devastating break, the little guy felt as if his life might actually be in danger.
He was no longer able to pick up Marcus’s scent, not because the smell wasn’t there but due to his ill health, his body was in the process of shutting down. Daganth made it to the pear trees that the sorcerer had produced while sleepwalking and collapsed in between them; he looked terrible, as if his soul might just abandon his injured body at any moment. The king was summoned and Stone also went out to see the poor dragon. Stone was on the mend but still a little on the weak side from having lost so much blood and the king still refused to let him go out with the other knights. Darius approached the dragon and saw that he looked much worse than he appeared earlier and watched as Stone stared at the dragon’s broken wing which was now somewhat swollen.
“Your majesty it looks as if the dragon might be bleeding inside his wing, see that purple area there; blood gathers inside I think.” Stone bent to have a closer look and his opinion was that the dragon would not survive.
Darius nodded. “What can be done to help the poor creature?”
Stone shrugged. “I would say that Marcus is its only hope. Just think of the hole that we’ll have to dig to bury it.” He felt sorry for the baby dragon but it was beyond his range of knowledge. If there was such a thing as a dragon healer he surely needed one.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” said the king, thinking of the pit that would be necessary. “But of course you are right.”
Daganth took in an unexpected deep breath and then let it out noisily. A crowd had started to gather to see the injured baby and most had backed up at the thought of it rising. Stone and the king looked at one another both wondering if the dragon had just died; the knight climbed up on the dragon and listened for its heartbeat.
“Is it dead?” asked Darius.
Stone shook his head. “Not yet but its heartbeat is all over the place; I believe it is dying your majesty.”
The raven flew onto to king’s shoulder carrying a crust of bread, cocked his head at the dragon and then Berhtram flew back toward the castle. “That is too bad but life is unpredictable and no one gets out alive. I wish we could do more.”
Stone scratched his head. “Your majesty if we cut its wing open and let some of the blood out do you think it would help?”
“I have no idea but if it is going to die anyway it can’t hurt to try.”
Stone cut open a small section of the dragon’s wing and he ended up being covered in its blood, there was a spasm in its tail and when it flicked it sent Stone flying, fortuna
tely he got up and hadn’t sustained any injury. The king commanded the crowd to move back just in case as some were getting a bit too close for comfort but it was difficult to resist the little dragon.
Daganth’s head fell to the side and his tongue fell out of his mouth.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Cyrus managed to crawl out and into the next chamber. The bear stuck its head through the hole sniffing vigorously but it was too big to get its body through, licked at a spot of blood that was on the stone and then snuffed. The animal got some dust in its nose and sneezed, pulling its head out of the cavity it scratched itself. It was satisfied that the barrel was safe, which was its only reason for being.
Once out of the chamber Cyrus’s leg grew back as if it had never been torn off by the black bear, the memory of the excruciating pain would never leave him and he knew he was lucky to be alive, thinking that the magic that protected the barrel must be self-contained within the chamber. He wondered if he was foolish enough to go back in after the barrel would his leg be gone once again? There must certainly be something wonderful inside there but unfortunately there was no way to safely get at it.
The bear snorted indignantly, as if to say try that again and see what happens to you. The animal pushed the barrel over and rolled it back against the wall out of the human’s reach and then went and sat beside it. After some time had passed the animal curled up and went back to sleep.
Cyrus stuck his head inside the chamber just to have a look and suddenly his leg was as it had been, torn off by the bear and he pulled his head back in and screamed. But once back in his leg returned. He would not try that again.
Knight of the Sword (of Knights and Wizards Book 3) Page 15
