Metal and Magic: A Fantasy Journey

by Steve Windsor

  “How many of your men are still alive?”

  They both coughed violently as the smoke from the fire thickened in the air around them.

  “I don’t know. It’s been horrible. All I hear are screams. Sometimes I know who it is... sometimes I don’t. I’ve killed and killed. Yet they come.”

  “We are near the shore my friend. Do not give up.”

  “And when we get to the shore, what do we do?”

  “We fight, we survive, and we live. But we do not give up.”

  The man nodded his head frantically.

  “Come. The whirling has stopped. Let us move.”

  They darted through the forest once more, and soon the vegetation began to thin out. As they neared a clearing, they could see that it was the sea shore covered in white sand. They could also see that the other members of the group had made it there safely, including a few of Ergol’s men and Ergol himself. Davydd took a quick look at them and noticed the absence of Max, Matilom and Vannera. He wondered where they were and if they were safe and began to slow down.

  “What’s the matter?” The man of Windhaven asked.

  “Nothing. Go ahead. I have to look for some others.”

  Ergol’s man ran ahead into the clearing as Davydd began to turn around.

  “Davydd!!!!”

  Davydd did not think. He didn’t have time to. All he knew was he had heard Vannera’s voice and he had barely evaded the powerful swing of the principal whose aim had been to cleave his head off his shoulders. The sword had missed, and Davydd had rolled behind the dragol, only to get caught in the mid-section by his powerful tail. It sent him careening across the forest floor and into the clearing that was part of the long expanse of the sea shore.

  “Davydd!!!” He could hear her footsteps as she ran towards him. Davydd rolled to his left side with great effort as he struggled to get up. Vannera reached him and embraced him as a mother embraces a child she wants to protect.

  “No! No! Do not get up.” She pleaded. “Max, Leo and Sam will fight him.”

  “He wants me Vannera. I can’t ask anyone else to fight my battles for me.”

  “We are fighting with you!”

  “Vannera...” Davydd said holding her firmly around her shoulders.

  “What did you tell me to be?”

  “...A leader...”

  “Yes... So... let me lead.”

  Davydd struggled to his feet, helped by Vannera, who still held on to him tightly. Davydd caught sight of Balek who was standing in front of Leo, Sam and Max. The trio had their weapons drawn, and had formed a defensive wall in front of Davydd, to keep Balek at bay.

  “Take everyone to the ship. Make sure they are safe.”

  “But Davydd...”

  “Vannera... please...”

  Vannera nodded and fell back with Max, Leo and Sam, while Davydd stepped forward towards Balek. Balek stood still trying to regain every ounce of his energy, but also because he was caught off guard by Davydd’s striking resemblance to Rikard Miljorn.

  “Incredible.” He finally said.

  “You are just like your father... brave and foolish.” He stepped forward.

  “You must think you have a chance because you see my injuries. Make no mistake human, I Balek, principal of the dragol, will destroy you despite my waning strength.”

  Davydd stood still and did not utter a word.

  “Did you really think you would succeed where he failed?” Balek continued.

  “He was more worthy an adversary than you ever will be. You...”

  “Balek wasn’t it?” Davydd said interrupting the dragol.

  “Remember the name human. You...”

  “Shut up.” Davydd said calmly as he broke into a slow jog towards the Dragol.

  “Do something!” Vannera whispered to Baximus.

  Her wide eyes betrayed her terror. Baximus put his hands on her shoulder and squeezed them reassuringly.

  “Have faith princess. Have faith. This is his fight now.” Baximus looked down again at his chest and massaged it. It still hurt and he wondered why. It was a mild throbbing pain. He reflected on the kick once more.

  Did it really have that much force?

  He made up his mind to ask Matilom later.

  Davydd ducked under a sideways swipe from Balek, rolled to his right, and pushed up to get behind the principal. He swung forward with his right hand from left to right with his sword, attempting to strike Balek’s back. However Balek was quicker, as he struck Davydd in the side with his tail. The blow sent Davydd straight to the ground once more. He rolled and tumbled across the sand before coming to a halt in the wet sand, where the foamy sea waters repeatedly soaked the shore. Davydd pushed himself up with his hands. It was a slow labored effort. He had only been struck twice, but he felt as though his whole body had been flattened by a boulder. Blood trickled from his lips to the sand as he struggled to his knees and feet. There was a ringing in his ears. The sound was muffled but he heard it still. It was the whooshing sound of something heavy coming down fast on him. Davydd arched and twisted his torso out of the way as Balek’s tail slammed down on the sands. The dust flew up in the air and caused Davydd to shield himself briefly. However, he still had the presence of mind to evade a forward thrust aimed at his head from Balek’s blade. Davydd whirled around and slammed his sword into Balek’s, causing the dragol’s arm to move up and out of the way, leaving the dragol open. Davydd moved in for the fatal blow, but had to block Balek’s tail once more, with his sword sheath. Balek moved in for a counter attack and Davydd blocked and parried equally with both sword and sheath. He ducked in and out of Balek’s blows and made to slash Balek with his sword. Balek prepared for a counter but was caught in the rib section by Davydd’s sheath. Davydd spun his sword in his hand, by its handle and switched to a downward slash. Balek was again open, but brought his tail to block the blow. However, Davydd’s swing was more powerful this time and the sword left a gash in the dragol’s tail. Balek let out a loud groan of pain as Davydd ran to his left side and leaped in the air. His right hand came down hard on the dragol’s face, knocking him to the ground. As Balek fell, he swept Davydd’s feet from under him with his tail, causing him to fall as well. The dragol spun on the ground, his tail a whip lash slamming down hard at where Davydd was. The tail struck its target, but Davydd had long removed himself from harm’s way. The dragol’s back was open. Davydd leaped in the air, his sword strong and steady, his intent unwavering. He came down on Balek with the tip of his sword aimed at Balek’s heart. Balek desperately swung his mighty wavy sword at Davydd’s sword, deflecting it just enough to miss and hit the ground near him. Davydd retrieved his sword and retreated just in time to evade another whiplash like strike from Balek’s tail.

  It was a dance with death. Davydd knew that one more direct strike from that massive tail could shatter every bone in his body. However, he could also tell that Balek’s speed was decreasing with every passing moment, and the blow he had delivered to his tail had taken off some of the power it possessed. The other wounds the Dragol had sustained in his fight with Feona were also beginning to take their toll. Balek was up to his feet now and he was breathing heavily.

  In the distance, Matilom and the rest watched the battle unfold. Ergol walked up to Matilom.

  “Is this the same man I saw fight with fear and hesitation in Windhaven? Wizard... I know he is the son of Rikard Miljorn, but Rikard was a trained warrior and tactician, who honed his skills in combat from the very moment he could walk. A moon ago, Davydd didn’t know how to swing a sword. Yet I see him here fighting, seemingly on equal strength with a dragol who has centuries of experience.”

  “The dragol is badly wounded Ergol.” Matilom replied.

  “Don’t play with me Matilom!” Ergol said angrily.

  “That is a principal. Even wounded he has the power to wipe out portions of an entire army. Yet I see this Davydd strike a blow hard enough to take him off his feet with his bare hand Matilom!”

&n
bsp; “Ergol.” Matilom called in a tone that bordered on menacing.

  “I implore you to keep your words and thoughts to yourself. Right now, all we can do is to give him the strength of our prayers.”

  All the while they were talking, Baximus massaged his chest but not because of the pain. It was fast receding. He massaged unconsciously and deep in thought, absorbing the words of his friends and comrades. He was not alone in this. Vannera was also in her own world, her eyes fixed on the man after her heart. The man who in one moon had been her savior, protector and lover. Who was he really? She understood that the fault was not Davydd’s. He barely knew who he was himself. Her gaze shifted to Matilom. His face was plain, though his eye brows were squeezed together in concentration. His aged face betrayed no other emotions and yet she knew that in that mind of his lay buried all the secrets of Davydd Miljorn and she was determined to get to them. She turned back to Davydd and watched him as he dueled on with Balek, and fell back into her own little world of thoughts.

  All mortals have a blue-white aura as the color of their life force. That is what Matilom had told her. That is what he had said. If that was true, then why did Davydd have a golden aura instead?

  Davydd blocked Balek’s attempt to cleave his head off and made contact with his sheath, slamming it across the dragol’s face. Balek staggered back and took in a massive amount of air. Davydd saw the fumes seep from Balek’s clenched teeth and immediately ducked when the Dragol opened his mouth. A ball of fire shot out, lighting up the vicinity briefly. Even though his body was pressed completely to the ground, Davydd’s could still feel the searing heat of the fireball prickle his skin. Davydd got back up to his feet as Balek took in another deep breath. As the dragol prepared to bellow once more, Davydd broke into a dash towards him. Balek was caught off guard. He had expected Davydd to run and avoid getting burned rather than charge into the heart of danger. He unleashed his fireball, but it was less powerful than the first one. Davydd dodged it easily and plunged his blade into the Balek’s chest, right below the gaping hole left in the wake of his battle with Feona. The dragol looked at Davydd as he continued to plunge his sword deeper, until it pierced through the other side. Balek slowly fell to his knees. He tried to move his hands but they would not move. He tried to whip his tail at Davydd but it merely shuddered. He was dying. It was a death dealt to him at the hands of a human.

  “Unbelievable.” He said as he looked at Davydd, his fast fading consciousness recalling Feona’s words. As far as you know, right you are.

  Balek laughed as his eyelids flickered.

  “That... Rikard... he definitely left... behind... a relic...” He chuckled some more.

  “Your words hold no meaning.” Davydd responded.

  “Ah... I know... Shame... you do not know who... who... you are... what you are.” Balek looked up at the sky.

  “Well played... Feona.”

  His eyes, weary, fell back on Davydd.

  “You... should... have... that.” His eyes fell to his sword.

  “A trophy?”

  “And... proof... that you are... the slayer of Balek... one of the ten principals.”

  Balek smiled.

  “Omni... will avenge me and reclaim my sword. For now... use it... well.”

  The dragol’s head dropped and he was finally silent and still. Davydd slowly withdrew the sword from Balek’s chest. The dragol’s body remained in a kneeling position. Davydd slowly closed Balek’s eyelids and picked up the principal’s sword. He staggered back up to his feet, taking deep breaths as he did. His entire body throbbed in pain. He was so lost in thought that he barely heard the chants all around him. Davydd slowly and wearily turned around to face the men screaming and cheering. They had placed their trust in him so completely, in the direst of circumstances. Davydd stood in awe at his men, taking it all in as they continued to chant his name.

  Daaavydd!!! Daaavydd!!!Daaaavydd!!!Daaaavydd!!!!

  In the air above, the goddess Feona and Jaynea watched on.

  “Finally... his legend is born.” Feona said.

  “Was all this for that? To make sure Davydd killed Balek in front of everyone present?”

  The goddess of death nodded slowly.

  “I must admit, it was not the original plan.” She explained.

  “I see... if they didn’t believe in him before, now they will follow him to the ends of Terrianus.”

  “Yes... and this feat will spread like wild fire. It should inspire.” Feona added.

  “You are terrifying.”

  “I know.” Feona said, smiling.

  Down below, Segmiatus heaved a sigh of relief and looked up at the sky. Though he could not see them, he happened to be looking in the direction of Feona and Jaynea.

  “Can he...?”

  “He shouldn’t be able to.” Feona Interjected. They both watched Segmiatus’s lips form the words...

  Oh Feona, thank you.

  Feona threw her hands up in exasperation.

  “Shall we go Jaynea?” She said amidst chuckles from Jaynea.

  Down on the ground, amidst the cheers, Baximus had taken Matilom aside.

  “Certain things weigh heavy on my mind wizard.”

  “What things?” Matilom asked, knowing the answer to his question.

  “It’s about Davydd.”

  “Ask away Baximus...”

  “No lies. I deserve to know.”

  The wizard nodded and Baximus returned the gesture.

  “I’ll begin by asking this. Where is Davydd’s mother?”

  CHAPTER NINE: Seeds

  The guard walked up a flight of stairs wide enough for two lines of alternating human traffic to walk through. The walls on either side were aligned with torches to illuminate the way. Once the guard had reached the top of the stairs, he waited for another guard to walk up to him. They both made eye contact and acknowledged each other. The second guard continued on his way, patrolling the upper level of the castle. The first guard waited till he was sure the second was out of sight before continuing along the walkway, turning right unto another walkway that led up to two large doors at its end. There was no other guard on this pathway. The guard broke out into a run, eventually leaping off the side of the walkway, through one of the spaces between the pillars in the walkway, and unto the wall that encompassed the outer castle layer. Suddenly, the guard’s body began to transform and disfigure until it assumed the shape of a lizard like creature; a blender. The transformation ripped most of the attire to shreds and twisted the metallic plates of the armor off. The dragol pulled itself up quietly to the window of the room with the huge doors and peeked inside. The room was dark, save for the wash of moonlight that illuminated an area of the floor near the window the dragol hung from. However, the light was enough to partially reveal the figure of a man lying on the bed, with his back to the window. He was covered in bed sheets and part of his exposed gray locks of hair fell on the bed, behind him. The dragol silently slithered its way inside the room, and swiftly meandered its way on all fours to the man’s bedside. The dragol got up on its hind legs and stared at the man for a brief moment. Then it struck, using its claws to rip through the figure halfway. The bed splintered and broke under the force of the blow and wood scattered everywhere. There was no blood, no torn flesh or broken bones. For a moment, the dragol stood still.

  “Oh yes.” A voice said from the corner of the room to the right of the window.

  “That’s how the king of Beathaleth dies. Is it not the way it was meant to be?” The figure who owned the voice, stepped into the wash of moonlight and it revealed his face. He was an aged man who looked to be in his early sixties, judging by his wrinkles. His face still conveyed the boisterous strength of his former youth and his brown eyes gleamed with excitement and intensity. He had a short beard which started as a moustache lining his upper lip and then connecting with his lower jaw beard around his mouth area. The beard was black with a few streaks of gray here and there. His hair on the other hand, had
more than a few streaks of gray. His bushy eyebrows completed his grumpy look, further accentuated by the scowl which was currently across his face.

  “...dragol”. The king of Beathaleth completed.

  The king smiled at the dragol’s increasing horror. The dragol made to run but stopped as a sword was brandished in front of its face.

  “You can’t leave so soon distinguished guest.” The wielder of the sword said. “You just got here.”

  The wielder pivoted his sword so that the tip was facing the dragol’s neck. He wore a crimson red hat with a black band around it and black feather. Just as well, a black cloak covered the upper part of his torso. Underneath that, he wore a crimson buttoned jacket, and black pants that were tucked into black leather boots.

  “And to pay king Darius Vitalis a visit nonetheless.” He continued mockingly. “So you see, there is so much you must tell us before you go... or rather, before we let you leave.”

  Other guards emerged from the darkness in the room with swords and spears pointed at the dragol whose eyes were frantically darting from figure to figure, constantly coming to rest on king Vitalis.

  “Make up your mind beast.” The sword wielder said. His blade tip threatened to end the dragol’s life. Suddenly the dragol whirled around; using its tail to knock the sword out of the wielder’s hand, simultaneously pushing him to the ground. It leaped towards king Vitalis, but was impaled in the shoulder by one of the spear wielding guards. The dragol howled loudly and leapt out the window it had come in from, bolting its way through the palace compound.