Metal and Magic: A Fantasy Journey

by Steve Windsor

  “Davydd is dying. This is not an idea Max. As princess of Angweleth, this is an order.”

  Max looked at her for a moment. Gone were the days when she would break down sobbing in situations like this. Her distress was apparent, but so was her control over it. Like Davydd, she had come a long way. They all had. Was it far enough though?

  “As you wish, princess.” Max said as they continued running. Up ahead, they ran into a group of Angwelethean soldiers who promptly turned towards them upon sighting them. Max stepped ahead of the rest and prepared to engage them, when they all began dropping to the ground. A figure, which moved so quickly so as to appear a blur, cut them down ruthlessly and the rest met their end at the edge of Segmiatus’s blade. Sam and Segmiatus stepped forward towards Max and the rest.

  “It is good to meet you alive!” Max exclaimed.

  “Why are you here?” Segmiatus said addressing all of them. “If we were a moment later, we may have met you all dead.”

  “We are on our way to aid Davydd.” Princess Vannera said.

  “Princess, you would not be aiding him by throwing yourself in dang...”

  “He’s dying.” Princess Vannera said, cutting Segmiatus off. “Your closest friend is very near death. My heart is very near death. We are boarding Ivan’s ship. You can come with me or stay. Either way, I do not wish to waste any more time bantering words.” And with that she stepped through the two, who promptly joined them in their rush towards the port. At that moment, Farok stirred slowly.

  “Why do you have him?” Segmiatus asked.

  “He is our pathway to Davydd.” Max responded.

  They ran into another group of Angwelethean soldiers.

  “Halt!” One of the soldiers yelled.

  “You... halt...” Farok said weakly.

  “Commander!” The soldier yelled. “Release him!” He barked at Vannera and the others.

  “I said halt!!” Farok yelled and then coughed and hacked. He motioned to Max, who pulled out the sealed order which King Sidion had written.

  Max flashed it in front of the soldier, who cautiously came forward and read it.

  “Is the king dead?” The soldier asked.

  “If you do not let us pass... both of them will be... and you will answer to me. Do you understand?” Farok warned.

  Fear slowly encroached on the soldier’s heart and he nodded agreeably. He turned to the other soldiers in his command.

  “We will assist commander Farok and these people in getting to the port. Form a shield around them you and you and you three. The rest of you disperse and spread word of King Sidion’s wishes and of Farok’s command. Let us move.”

  “Sir!” The soldiers responded in unison and immediately formed around Vannera and the rest.

  “Ready! Move!” And with that they charged through the chaotic streets towards the port.

  Vannera looked at Farok.

  “You were not lying about his orders.” She said in surprise.

  “It is... as I said. Your father’s... a good man, even if... he’s not the best of Kings.”

  Davydd lay on the floor unconscious. His breathing was very shallow and his body twitched every now and then. Ivan studied him for a while and raised his hammer. It was such a shame. Here was another other young life gone to waste, chasing unrealistic ideals. Ivan made to swing down with his hammer when he heard a roar behind Kazan. He looked up to see Baximus swinging at Kazan’s neck. Ivan instinctively ran forward to protect his son and Baximus used the opportunity to attack the pirate king. Sword and hammer clashed ferociously and the two older men glared at each other.

  “You dare make an attempt on my son’s life?!” Ivan bellowed.

  “As you have made an attempt on mine’s.” Responded Baximus calmly.

  “I suppose we are both guilty of the same crime then. Only, yours is retaliation.”

  “Retaliation?” Baximus said as he evaded another one of Ivan’s monstrous swings and easily side stepped an arrow shot at him by Kazan from behind.

  “If this were about retaliation, your son would be dead by now. I have merely come for your life and the gauntlet.” Baximus evaded another one of Kazan’s arrows. “If your son dies tonight, it is because he has picked a battle he cannot win.” Baximus clashed weapons with Ivan once more. He evaded another downward swipe. The pirate king was predictable. Too predictable even. Baximus tested his theory by moving in for the opening presented by Ivan’s careless slash. He was right. Ivan effortlessly shifted trajectories and slashed sideways at Baximus’s neck. However Baximus had bent low to avoid the anticipated move. His slashed his sword at Ivan’s abdomen, but the pirate was able to break Baximus’s attack by slamming his elbow down on Baximus’s swinging arms. Baximus turned the blade of his sword downwards, so that the handle was pointing upwards towards Ivan’s jaw. He slammed the handle into its target, forcing Ivan’s head to snap backwards and the huge man to fall back first on the ground. He evaded yet another arrow, before rushing towards Kazan and slicing his bow in half. Kazan scrambled for his bag of arrows but was struck by a brutal kick to the ribs. He fell coughing and trying to regain the breath that had been forced out of his lungs.

  “You are a troublesome little runt. You stay still.” Baximus turned around only to meet with Ivan’s hammer slamming down on his right shoulder. Baximus wore an empty shocked look as the blade of the hammer ripped through his skin and bone before stopping short of completely dismembering his right arm. Ivan pulled back his hammer and Baximus slumped to the floor.

  “You should have killed Kazan when you had the chance. Your honor has not served you well today. That is what honor brings; death. Come Kazan. You may as yet be a useful son of mine.” Ivan grabbed the gauntlet, and Kazan helped Horius up. All three made their way towards the steps Davydd had fallen down from, leaving him and Baximus laying there, seemingly lifeless.

  Davydd could barely see anything. All around him was darkness. He thought he’d heard his father’s voice. He thought he’d heard the clash of weapons. Suddenly, it had all gone quiet once again and he’d heard the voice of Ivan soon after. The pirate king loved to boast. His mind was willing his body to move, but he couldn’t. He could not even tell if he was breathing or not.

  “Here lies Davydd Miljorn, a king who cannot win his battles.” The voice stirred Davydd even though he did not recognize it.

  “I am not yet king...” Davydd responded.

  “Is that your excuse for failure?” The voice asked.

  “Who are you?” Davydd asked.

  “Me? I am simply a monument of the past.” The voice responded.

  “That doesn’t tell me anything.”

  “I know. Who I am is irrelevant. Do you know why a king should not lose his battles Davydd?”

  “Why?”

  “Because when he does, he is not the only one who loses and is lost. His ideas, ideals, dreams, hopes, goals and the people who he holds dear to his heart lose and are lost as well.”

  A searing pain enveloped Davydd’s stomach and he went into a spasm before his eyes shot open. He coughed and coughed until he coughed out some blood from his mouth and started breathing heavily. When his blurred vision came to, he was sitting down by the side of the room and leaning on the walls. He looked up to see in front of him, a hooded man dressed in ragged clothes. Davydd could barely make out his face, but he noticed his distinct deep-sea blue eyes.

  “Who... are you?” Davydd asked.

  “Davydd. You have to wake up.” The man said.

  “I am awake.”

  “Davydd. You have to wake up.” The man said again and placed his finger on Davydd’s heart. “Right... there.”

  Right there.

  Someone else had said that. Feona!

  “Feona?” Davydd asked perplexed.

  “Win your battles Davydd. And if you happen to be close to death trying to do so, win it enough for those coming after you to complete the task.”

  The man began to withdraw from Davydd and se
emed to be dispersing into thin air.

  “No... wait Father. Wait...”

  “Wake up Davydd!” The voice said.

  “I am awake!”

  “Davydd, wake up please!”

  Davydd lurched forward and in front of him was a badly wounded Baximus.

  “Father!!!” Davydd screamed. “What happened?” He carefully grabbed Baximus by the sides and placed him on the wall. Davydd tore of a piece of his own top and used it to fasten Baximus’s right arm to his shoulder. He could see the bone and inner tissue. Baximus had lost a lot of blood. It was really bad.

  “It... doesn’t matter what happened. I don’t know who you were talking to either... what matters, is you are still alive.”

  “That was not you?”

  “No... I had just gotten to you when you said ‘father’. Who... did you... see?”

  “I... I don’t know...”

  Baximus nodded.

  So you were here your majesty.

  “Hurry Davydd. Ivan is getting away. I will... be fine. Go. Go now.”

  Davydd was nodding and immediately sprinted up the stairs in the direction Ivan, Kazan and Horius went. Baximus sat back and panted rapidly. He observed his injury and noted how much blood he’d lost. He didn’t have much time to get help. All he could do now was sit still and hope Davydd came back in time. Baximus lay his head back against the wall of the room and tilted his neck to his left. His eyes came upon Feona who was sitting next to him in silence. She was not looking at him, but into the emptiness of the room. Her red eyes glimmered.

  “So you have come for me haven’t you?”

  “I merely wait to observe what fate has dealt you.”

  “I see. Was it you then? Was it you who brought Davydd back from the brink of death... of you?”

  “You know it was not. I was waiting for him as well. It seems fate had other plans.”

  “Ah... she always does it seems.”

  Feona chuckled. “Mortals like you will never grasp her reasoning.”

  Baximus nodded. “How much time do I have?”

  “As we are, this is the closest I can come to you right now.” Baximus observed the distance between where they sat. It was still far enough that if she reached over to him with her hand fully extended, she could come almost close enough to touching him.

  “When I can come close enough so as to embrace you fully, your time is up.”

  “And we wait...” Baximus said. The two sat in silence.

  Vannera sat at the front of the boat, while Max and Sam paddled furiously towards Ivan’s ship. They were getting close enough to board. Vannera used her sight to survey the ship and what she saw made her heart thump in joy and sink in sadness at the same time. She let out a soft expulsion of air.

  “What is it?” Segmiatus asked.

  “Davydd seems to be...alright but... Baximus... he is in trouble.” Max and Sam paddled faster upon hearing her words. Vannera looked up at the ship. She could see the side of the deck and at that moment her eyes caught a very familiar figure moving swiftly by.

  “Be careful. He’s here.”

  “Who is?”

  “My father.”

  Sidion Vror jumped in front of Ivan, Kazan and Horius. They had been making their way to a boat tied to the side of the ship. It was at least twice the size of the others used by the pirate crew.

  “You must be in a hurry.” Sidion said sarcastically. “I’ll let you go as soon as you hand over the gauntlet of Feona.”

  “The traitor of Angweleth shows himself. If you want the gauntlet of Feona, you will have to take it from my corpse.” Ivan bellowed.

  “That is all? Well then, let us begin the process of making you a corpse.”

  Ivan, Kazan and Horius whirled around to see Davydd standing behind them. His eyes glared at them with a burning rage unseen before.

  “You... you should be dead.” Kazan said as beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

  “To be killed by your cowardly tactics?” Davydd asked as he began walking forward. “You severely underestimated me.” Davydd unsheathed Balek’s sword with his left hand and as he walked, the silver band on his right wrist slowly reformed into a gauntlet and shimmering silver sword in his right hand. The energy from it pulsated periodically and menacingly.

  “Come prince and king of pirates. Come and answer for your choice and actions.”

  The look on Ivan’s face was that of contempt.

  “Kill him.” Ivan said calmly.

  Kazan and Horius ran towards Davydd. Kazan had picked up a replacement bow and he crouched behind Horius and took aim. Davydd reached back with Balek’s sword and the blade began to glow a burning red. When he swung, a line of fire shot forward from it. Horius, Ivan and Sidion were able to crouch in time to evade being caught by the searing flames, but Kazan was not so lucky. He screamed as the flames began to eat away at his flesh, peeling them away from his bones.

  “Kazan!!!” Ivan screamed. “You imbecile!!!!” He yelled at Davydd as he rushed forward in anger, along with Horius. Davydd took stance with Balek’s sword pointed towards Horius and Ivan, and his silver sword, pointed backwards. Ivan got to Davydd first and swung down with his mighty hammer. Davydd blocked with Balek’s sword. The swing stopped dead in its arch as though Ivan had struck a rock made of diamond. Horius moved to Davydd’s side and attacked but Davydd blocked his slashes with just his right sword, while still clashed with Kazan’s hammer. Horius moved to Davydd’s back, but was caught with a blow from Balek’s sword, straight to his chest. Davydd had pivoted and slashed Ivan from the belly upwards and thus placed Balek’s sword in the perfect place to catch Horius off guard. The two pirates fell back and clutched their injuries. Horius glared at Davydd in anger and attacked first, screaming. Ivan joined in and again, Davydd easily countered their attacks, pivoting, twisting and moving swiftly in and out of slashes while maintaining a seemingly unbreakable stance and balance. He blocked a sideways swing by Ivan with his right blade, so that his right hand was across his body when he did so. Davydd then pivoted around so that his back was facing Ivan, and he reached back with his elbow, slamming it into Ivan’s nose. Horius moved to attack but was countered yet again. Both men fell back and tried to regain their stance. When they looked at Davydd, he was twirling both swords in opposite directions while waiting for them.

  Behind them, Sidion stood and observed the fight. Those two were as good as dead. Davydd was combating them in a style only the gods were known to use. To be able to wield a sword with such proficiency was a rare thing. To be able to wield two swords that well was something he never thought possible. Sidion fixated on the two swords Davydd wielded. The one on the left was definitely a principal’s weapon. It contained great power, but it was not what bothered him. It was the sword on the right that gave him the greatest concern, for that was one of Lady Lynda’s swords. For him to wield the sword of the patron goddess of Beathaleth, without being king of Beathaleth, he would have to be of the same lineage as she was. It was then that it dawned on him exactly what Davydd was. He was a halfing. Finally there was the twirling of each sword between moves and attacks. Sidion had not seen the sight in years.

  You are definitely your father’s son.

  Sidion thought as he remembered his dream back in Castle Alvo.

  Someone greater than I ever was...

  “I see what you meant Rikard.” Sidion said as he picked up the gauntlet of Feona.

  “Drop it.”

  Sidion froze.

  “I said drop it.”

  Sidion slowly bent down and placed the gauntlet back on the floor of the ship deck. “It has been a long time... daughter.”

  “Go find Baximus.” Vannera said to Matilom, Max and Sam. “I will handle things here.”

  They nodded and went off, heading below deck. Segmiatus headed in the direction of Davydd, who was still dueling Ivan and Horius.

  Ivan tried to lift his hammer above his head for an attack on Davydd, but buckled under its weight.
He fell to his knee and Horius staggered in front of him. Davydd slowly began walking towards them. His blades dripped with their blood, which had been spilled from their wounds. The pirates’ resilience was remarkable. But they were at their end. Horius began to tremble as Davydd walked up to them. He let out a primal cry and bolted towards Davydd, but was caught with a blow to the neck, from Segmiatus’s sword. Horius fell to the deck, dead. His eyes were open and facing the grey night sky, but seeing nothing at all. Davydd walked up to Ivan who made to attack him but was swiftly cut down by Davydd’s silver sword. Ivan fell to the ground and let go of his hammer. He lay there looking at Davydd who stepped on his open wound. Ivan let out a yell of anguish.

  “This is what standing by your ideals of greed and a lust for power, brings. It brings death with it.” Davydd said mockingly.

  “Well then... Do it... Finish me off... like you killed my son.”

  “You both had your chances.” Davydd responded and delivered the final blow.

  Davydd looked up at Vannera who still had Sidion kneeling and at the edge of her sword. He began walking towards them. The heavens had opened up on them and the torrents drenched and bathed all at shore and at sea with rain and salty sea water. Davydd walked up to them and looked at Sidion. The gauntlet of Feona lay in front of him. Davydd slowly crouched down and looked at the gauntlet. This was what they had been fighting for all this time. It was so simple and small and yet, its value could not be understated. Davydd reached out to pick up the gauntlet, but Sidion caught his hand.

  “If you do this... There is no telling what the future holds...”

  “There already is no telling what the future holds. But I can’t sit by and let the fear of the unknown stop me from doing the right thing. You know it is the right thing. It was the right thing two decades and three years ago. It is the right thing now.”

  Sidion bowed his head for a moment. After a brief silence, he finally spoke.

  “This... will be my last duty as king of Angweleth. Davydd Miljorn, I appoint you... to be king and ruler, overseer and protector of all of Angweleth... in my stead and in your father’s stead before me. You will assume your title as soon as I vacate the throne... and I vacate the throne... now.” He looked up at Davydd.