by Laura Lond
“Come, Ellar,” Jarvi interfered, “that is not right, spirits don’t die, so —”
“That’s the only way he can understand.”
***
I left the castle through the side gate, smaller and rarely used. I rode hard at first, hoping to catch up with the kidnappers, but they were too far ahead, and besides, I did not know what route they took. They could be using some magical help to move faster, too. When I realized that, I slowed down, giving my horse a break.
Jarvi’s sword weighed on my left side. I had put it in the sheath, replacing my own, and it fit perfectly, having instantly adjusted to the size. With only the hilt visible, it looked no different than any other blade. Once in a while I couldn’t resist pulling it out a bit to see the glow. I was still overwhelmed with what Jarvi did for me. My orange pest proved to be a true friend…
The shortest way to Graywing was an old, abandoned road, barely visible through the weeds that grew all over it. I met no one on the way, which was no wonder. Who’d want to travel to an old dilapidated fortress full of bats and rumored to be haunted?
I made it there on the next day. Two skeletons stood at the gateway, holding swords in their bony hands. Both turned to me as I approached, and nodded, obviously letting me know that I could pass. I wondered how many of these Shabriak packed the place with.
The gate itself had long since rotted away, so there was nothing to unlock. The yard was filled with old broken junk. Two more skeletons guarded the entrance to the fortress itself.
“Where is your master?” I asked.
They pointed inside. It appeared that they couldn’t talk; I figured it made sense since they had no tongues. On the other hand, they had no eyes yet they saw me, no ears yet they heard what I said. Very strange.
I dismounted and tied the horse to a large wooden cart without a wheel.
“Come near my horse and I’ll break every bone you are made of,” I warned. “Got it?”
They nodded.
I entered the damp hallway with moss-covered walls. Glimpses of fire from the other end suggested there was a more suitable room over there, where Shabriak must have taken residence. I headed that way.
I was right: I saw a spacious hall lit with a bright burning hearth. Shabriak was sitting next to the fire on a chair, feet up on a large table, perusing a scroll.
“Ah! You have arrived,” he greeted me, rising. “Sooner than I thought.”
“Where is the prince?”
“Right here, safe and sound.”
He snapped his fingers, and a skeleton walked in, leading Philip. One bony hand was clutching the boy’s shoulder, the other held a dagger to his neck. The prince was pale, but other than that, he looked remarkably composed. His eyes brightened as he saw me.
I could barely hold my anger.
“Shabriak, how dare you! Let him go at once!”
“One wrong move, and Mr. Bones here will have his throat slit. Don’t worry though, I do intend to let him go, that’s why I called you to negotiate.”
“What do you want?”
“I think you can easily guess. That sparkling of yours.”
“Jarvi? He is not even here! Didn’t you tell me yourself in your note to come without him?”
Shabriak gave a curt smile.
“Yes, of course I did. I would not have an upper hand if he came, would I? He does not need to be here to have it arranged.” He handed me the scroll. “Just sign this. Jarvi will be mine, and Prince Philip goes home.”
I took the document.
I hereby transfer whatever rights I have on the sparkling named Jarvi to Shabriak, wizard of Galla. Jarvi is now bound to him as he was bound to me.
“Release the prince first.”
“And then you tear up the paper? No. Sign it and give it to me.”
Another skeleton offered me a quill. I had little choice. My hope was that the deal wouldn’t last: when Jarvi finds out that he has been “given away,” he could appeal to Faradin and be released. I would lose him as well, of course. And his protection from the monster.
Oh well. I lived without him before.
I signed the scroll and handed it back to Shabriak.
He looked at me with a rather surprised expression, as if he didn’t expect it.
“You really do care for the Ulkarian prince, don’t you?...”
At that moment the door swung open and Prince Kellemar burst in, sword bare.
“Release His Highness Prince Philip or die like a dog!!”
Shabriak frowned.
“Did I not tell you to come alone?”
I wanted to strangle the unfortunate hero wannabe.
“Darn it, Kellemar! Why did you have to show up?! You will ruin everything!”
He glared at me in triumph.
“Yes, of course I will ruin whatever evil plans you’ve got!”
“Sir Lakeland Knight came here to save me!” Philip cried out.
“Sure he did! Two villains striking a deal, signing papers, as I see! By the way, has his real name yet transpired?”
I just realized it myself that it hadn’t…
“No? In that case I will tell you! He is called Lord Arkus! Yes, the very same I thought I had killed!”
Prince Philip stared at us, wide-eyed, waiting for me to deny it. Kellemar must have expected the same. I said nothing.
“It is not true!!” shouted Philip.
“Oh, but it is. Ask the other villain here, I’m sure they know each other. He will confirm.”
Philip’s eyes turned to Shabriak.
“I don’t understand what kind of show is going on here,” the latter said, “but for the record, yes, I know this man as Lord Arkus. Now, Arkus, I thought I had made myself very clear about you coming here alone. I’m afraid I must call the deal off.”
“Wait, Shabriak! Listen. We’re not together, don’t you see?! I had no idea he would show up, he came on his own accord!” I looked at Kellemar. “Tell him so!”
He regarded me with utter contempt.
“Of course I came by myself. I have no connection with this man!”
Shabriak shook his head.
“Sorry, you haven’t convinced me. I keep the sparkling—and the prince.”
Here I smiled. I thought he wanted to cancel the whole deal, but if he wished to turn it this way, I had a surprise for him.
“I don’t think you can do it, Shabriak. Take care to examine the document you are holding.”
He shot at me a suspicious glance and quickly unrolled the scroll. His eyes narrowed as he read what I’d added.
“Takes force upon Prince Philip’s release, huh? Very smart…” Shabriak turned to Kellemar. “My apology, Your Highness, but it appears that he has outsmarted us. I know that you would like to take credit for the prince’s release, but with this line put in here, it makes no sense for me to keep holding him.” He snapped his fingers at the skeleton. “Let the boy go.”
Now I saw it all.
“So that’s what is going on here! You two are in it together. Of course. Now I see where you got your information, Shabriak.”
Philip, released by the skeleton, ran up to me.
“That I can readily believe!” he declared, glaring at Kellemar. “You are desperate to become a hero, you’ll do anything for it!”
Shabriak smirked.
“Sorry I had to spill the beans, Prince Kellemar.”
Kellemar was dark red with fury.
“He is lying!! You are lying, you wicked grave robber!”
He snatched his sword and threw himself at the wizard. Four skeletons immediately jumped in, blocking his way. Kellemar began showering them with blows, which they parried well.
Shabriak snapped his fingers again, calling more skeletons.
“Kick him out, he is pathetic.”
I took Prince Philip by the shoulder.
“Let’s go, Your Highness. Let them sort it out between themselves.”
We headed to the door, but we did not ma
ke it there.
“Not you, Arkus,” I heard Shabriak say as no less than a dozen skeletons ran up and stood in our way, swords ready. “Prince Philip may go, in fact if he stays I will have him thrown out as well. But you—I still need to have a word with you.”
I looked at the prince.
“Go, Philip.”
“I will not leave without you, Sir Lakeland Knight.”
So he still called me that, poor boy…
“You must. My horse is in the yard. Take it and ride home.”
“But what about you? He wants to harm you, I see it!”
“I can defend myself.”
“Trust me, Arkus: you can’t! Not against that!” snapped Kellemar, on the way to the door—being dragged by the skeletons who had at last overpowered and disarmed him.
“Shut him up, will you?!” Shabriak yelled, irritated. “I won’t have him ruining my surprises! Now, Philip—get out. Help him out!”
A skeleton wanted to grab the boy, but I struck him so hard that he fell apart.
“Don’t you dare touch him! His Highness is leaving. Go, Philip.” I lowered my voice. “My hands are tied while you are here. I cannot fight.”
That convinced him. Before he left, he shot a sharp look at the wizard.
“I will return with my father’s army, and I promise you, Shabriak, you will be sorry you were ever born!”
Brave little fellow. He was positively making me proud.
“Royal brat,” Shabriak commented. “He is lucky you added that line in the contract.”
I scanned the hall. Ten skeletons plus the wizard. I should be able to handle that, unless he starts using magic. And even then, Jarvi’s sword should help.
“Well, Shabriak, I am at your service. What do you have to say?”
He stepped up to me.
“You have insulted me, Arkus. I had made you a generous offer, and you refused it. I don’t like that. I don’t like being outsmarted, either.”
I smirked.
“Well, you are not the only one disappointed. I told you Ulkaria was under my protection, yet you did what you did. Not to mention the sparkling. Shall we settle all this with a duel?”
“A duel? No. I am no fool to pick up a fight when I have someone else to do it for me. And I do have someone else. An old friend of yours, dying to see you.”
Once again, he motioned to his bony lackeys. Six of them rushed to a side corridor; I heard clinking of chains—and the growl.
At first, the monster did not want to come, the skeletons were pulling on the chains, dragging him. That changed as soon as he saw me. Now they had to hold the chains and even pull back, hard, trying to restrain him.
I suppose some of that hero stuff rubbed off on me—I didn’t run, although the monster had not become any less frightening than before. I stood and looked at him, clutching the hilt of Jarvi’s sword.
“What a touching reunion,” Shabriak went on, very pleased with himself. “You know, I had no idea that you’ve got such a buddy. Kellemar told me. I figured it would be smart to have him around, in case you refuse to sign the paper and start causing trouble. Things did not go as planned, but I still wouldn’t deny you two the pleasure of seeing each other again.”
He paused, watching for my reaction, waiting for a response. I said nothing.
“Perhaps you are not aware, but he was under a peculiar spell, too complicated to explain. It slowed him down when he’d try to get you. I removed it, to make it more fun. Enjoy.”
Shabriak gestured to the skeletons, and they dropped the chains. The beast flew at me, fangs bare.
I never thought he was that slow before. Now he seemed to move like lightning, crossing the hall in a split second. I snatched the sword and met him with a good blow. He felt it; I could see the surprise on his ugly mug as he jumped back—only to attack again, with increased fury.
The beast was not the only one surprised. Shabriak saw the shining sword in my hand as well.
“You’ve got his sword!” I heard him yell. “Arkus, you are detestable! You sold me a sparkling without a sword?!”
Ah, so that’s what he actually wanted. Good thing he did not put it in the contract.
I had no time to reflect on it though, I had one enraged monster to fight.
“Give it to me, Arkus, and I’ll stop the beast!”
“Not a good time for jokes, Shabriak!”
I was wielding the sword much faster than I thought I ever could. The sword had become incredibly light in my hand and at times seemed to move by itself, as if guiding me in this battle.
“I mean it! I’ll kill the monster and give you anything you want!”
“I heard that before!”
“Here, I’ll prove it!” The wizard called for his skeletons. “Stop the beast! Catch him!”
They tried, but the monster was too intent on his mission. The skeletons kept grabbing the chains he still had wrapped around his neck and torso, but he’d shake them off. Shabriak decided to help, conjuring some sort of a fiery disk and hurling it at the monster. That ticked him off; he left me alone and turned on the wizard.
Shabriak became whiter than his skeletons. He swung his sword, but regular swords did not impress the beast, as you probably remember. Another fiery disk only made matters worse.
“Jarvi, come here!” I heard the wizard shriek. “I order you! Come and defend your new master!”
Nothing happened (not counting the monster, of course, who kept chasing Shabriak around the table). So Jarvi must have already gotten released… unless the paper carried no weight to begin with, because his real name was not Jarvi but Tulip. I had not thought of that before.
“Arkus, what have you done?! Why isn’t it working?!”
“Don’t ask me, I did nothing. I would say it’s your own trickery finally catching up with you.”
Shabriak figured that circling the table was not productive and rushed to the corridor from where the monster was brought in. The beast followed, almost catching him at the entrance and crushing a couple of skeletons on the way.
He would return, of course, but now I had a few minutes. I used them to get out. Only two skeletons were left at the door, and they jumped away from me, fearing the shining sword.
My horse was still in the yard. I stopped, puzzled. Why didn’t Philip take it? Did he not leave? Where was he?
“Did you forget about me, Arkus?”
It was Kellemar. And he had Prince Philip, tied up and gagged.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Are you insane, Kellemar?! What are you doing?!”
“I no longer care what I am doing, but I know this: I will not allow the likes of you being hailed as a hero and walking around with a sparkling’s sword! Give it here!”
“You’ve lost your mind…”
Kellemar pressed his blade to the boy’s neck.
“I said give it to me or I’ll kill him!”
He was crazier than Shabriak…
“Listen, if you think that having the sparkling’s sword will also give you the sparkling, you are mistaken. He will be dead if the sword changes hands, so you can’t benefit from it.”
Kellemar wouldn’t relent.
“I don’t believe a word you say, and secondly, even if it’s true, I don’t care. The sword is good enough by itself. Well? I will count to three. One.”
Jarvi…
I saw Philip wince. Kellemar’s blade was hurting him.
“Two.”
Once again, I had no choice.
“Take it. Let Philip go.”
I handed the sword to Kellemar. He grabbed it, throwing his own blade aside—and struck me in the next second. He aimed for the same spot Sebastian had hit, only on the right side.
Philip’s eyes widened in horror. I staggered, but did not lose ground.
“Hitting an unarmed man, Your Highness? Very heroic indeed.”
Fury twisted Kellemar’s face. I thought he would strike again, and for a moment it looked like h
e was going to, but then he changed his mind.
“I’ll let the beast finish you off. Goodbye, Arkus.”
He turned to leave, dragging the boy with him.
“Release Philip! You promised you would!”
Kellemar stopped, grinning.
“I promised no such thing. I only said I would kill him if you did not give me the sword.”
“What do you want with him?! He has endured enough, let him go!”
“No. He knows too much. I will see whether I’ll be able to convince him to tell the story my way… And if not, I will have to present the king with his son’s body—blaming it on you, of course.”
Philip’s hands were tied, but his legs weren’t. He took a step aside and kicked his captor in the shin. Kellemar gasped, nearly losing his balance.
“Ouch, you little brat!!”
With that, he swung the sword and hit Philip in the head with the hilt. The boy collapsed.
Blinded with rage, I picked up Kellemar’s blade and leapt at him. I do not know what I was hoping for, with a regular blade against a sparkling’s sword, wounded and forced to fight with my left arm. Truth is, I wasn’t thinking at all. I suppose fury doubled my strength, because somehow I overpowered Kellemar and knocked him over. Then the beast once again demonstrated his aggravating habit to show up at the most inopportune moment.
The monster burst out of the fortress with a deafening roar. He saw us, and saw that I no longer had the sword that stung him.
“There you are at last!” exclaimed Kellemar, climbing to his feet and hurrying to step aside. “Don’t mind me, go ahead, do your job.”
The beast was more than willing. He was in the middle of his leap at me when the familiar cracking sound echoed through the air.
Jarvi?!...
No. It was Ellar.
The green sparkling materialized between me and the monster and struck him so hard that he flew all the way to the gate, rolling over a few times.
Kellemar’s mouth dropped.
“Another sparkling?!”
