by P D Atkerson
He opened his eyes, Shon was gone! His heart skipped a beat and he fought the urge to call out to his father. Where'd he go? Aroron wondered, glancing around.
He quickened his pace. The darkness grew darker as he thought of what would happen to him without his father.
Thunder rolled in the distance, followed by the sound of light rain hitting the roof above his head.
Where did he go?! He wondered again, fear clawing at him. His gaze darted from one side of the hallway to the other. Suddenly a hand reached out of the darkness and grabbed around his arm. The next thing Aroron knew, he was being yanked through a door, hidden behind a red curtain.
Ripped from the warmth of the hallway, into the cold air of winter outside.
He stumbled and nearly fell into his father.
Catching himself, he grabbed the wall. The door had led them onto one of the castle's walls.
The ground was made of uneven black stones, built to form the wall standing in front of him. Arrow slits were cut into it, in case of an attack.
Aroron glanced through one of the holes, towards the dark gray valley surrounding the castle, bordered by the trees of the Dubh-Woods and the looming mountain sides.
His gaze moved up towards the sky. The moon had slid behind the clouds, leaving behind a ghostly gray light. Oddly enough, for a second, Aroron was sure he'd seen two moons and not just one. That's stupid! It must have been the lack of sleep already getting to him.
A chilling wind blew through Aroron's cloak causing his fingers to go numb.
"We're going to one of the towers." Shon whispered to him.
The wind blew again, and bit at the tip of Aroron's nose, turning it red.
The air feels cold and evil tonight, Aroron thought.
It's as if a cloud of darkness has settled over this place. He shivered, as a chill crept up his back. He hadn't felt this way since his mother died, and he didn't like the feeling. His hand wrapped around the handle of his sword. He knew it was going to snow, he could feel it in his bones. But he could feel something else too. Something much colder than snow.
"Something's not right," Aroron whispered, as he moved towards Shon. "This is too easy. If King Munay is after us, he wouldn't let us get this far without having a reason."
Shon nodded. "I was thinking the same thing," he whispered back. "We haven't come across a single guard, and normally they pass this place a couple times in an hour." Shon bit his lip. "It just doesn't feel right." As he said this, a light rain started to fall on them. "Get your sword out, just to be on the safe side," Shon ordered Aroron, drawing his sword as he slowed his pace and edged towards the corner.
Before Aroron could remove his sword from its scabbard, they reached the corner of the wall.
Around the corner stood a man, blocking their way to the tower's door. But it wasn't that he stood in their way which made Aroron hesitate, it was the look of hate he gave Shon the second he saw him. It boiled up in his eyes and poured out of his veins.
The man wore a black cloak, identical to Shon's, down to the red lining. As he took a step towards them, it brushed against the ground. His icy blue eyes burned into Shon. His jaw was set as he tightened his grip around the sword.
The tower stood menacingly behind him, blackness outlined by moonlight.
The tower's shadow fell over the three of them, and Aroron could barely make out the door leading into the tower. Lightning flashed nearby, lighting the tower and the wall for a second, then everything fell back into darkness.
Kant Geoff, that was the man's name.
Loyal Guard of King Munay. He was once Shon's best friend, before either of them had moved into the Dark Castle. Kant stepped towards Aroron and his father. An evil smile on his face. He drew his sword, scraping against its scabbard, causing the metal to ring out.
Kant tossed his sword from one hand to the other and back again. His nostrils flaring as he glared at Shon. He gritted his teeth and sneered at Shon.
"Isn't it a bit late for a stroll around the castle, Shon?" Kant asked, as he spun his sword around in the air. "You of all people should know nothing good ever happens at this hour of night. And I do believe you have a meeting with the king."
Shon muttered something sharply under his breath and glanced over at Aroron. "If I don't make it out of this, get as far away from Karlay as you can." Shon whispered.
Aroron ran a hand through his hair and narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about, father?" he asked. "What's going on?"
Shon looked at Aroron, a distant look in his eyes. He glanced down at the ground and shuffled his feet. "There are things about yourself, not even you know, Aroron." He whispered. "But now is not the time to discuss it. You'll find out the truth soon enough."
With those words Shon turned to Kant and stood up tall. "You're wrong, Kant," Shon said, his own sword drawn. Shon rolled his shoulders and let out a deep breath. "You're the one with the meeting tonight, and it's with death!" As Shon said this, he grabbed the torch hanging on the left side of the wall and threw it into the moat below. He quickly did the same to the one on the right.
At the same time, the moon moved behind a dark cloud.
They were instantly engulfed in darkness. For a minute, Aroron couldn't see anything. Then he heard his father yelling. Then of metal hitting metal, as Shon and Kant's swords met. The two assassins faced each other, and it was not for the first time either, but it was different this time.
They were no longer pretending to be friends.
"You are a dead man walking, Shon," Kant yelled. "I'm so glad the King asked me to do this. My only wish is being allowed to kill you myself!" he said, their swords meeting again. "I'm only here to make sure you don't make it out of the castle alive." Again, the sound of metal hitting metal rang out. "If you lose a limb in the process, well... that's your problem and not mine," Kant said, through gritted teeth. "You're a traitor and you will die as one soon enough."
"I'm not a traitor," Shon said. "I believed King Munay's deception for too long!"
Aroron could hear them talking, but all he could see, was a vague outline of the two men as they fought. It was enough to paint a picture of a deadly battle between two master swordsmen, who didn't care if the other one died by their hand.
Back and forth they went on the wall, to one side and back again, as they fought.
Aroron glanced down at the floor of the castle wall. Around Shon and Kant's feet licked gray fog. His heart skipped a beat and he took a step back.
There shouldn't be fog this high in the air. He thought to himself. What is going on? As he thought this, the clouds above him unleashed heavy rain upon them. It pounded down against his body and plastered his hair to his head. He shuttered, as a trickle of cold rain ran down his back.
The fog continued to swirl around Shon and Kant's ankles. As they moved, it flickered blue, as lightening once again lit the outer edge of the castle.
Aroron looked up just in time to see Kant slam his shoulder into Shon.
Shon stumbled back and slipped on the wet ground. Letting out a groan, as he slammed into the stone.
It knocked the wind out of him, and was sure to bruise his shoulder, if not worse.
As this happened, another man came running out of the door Aroron and his father had used. He wore the armor of a castle guard.
When he noticed Kant and Shon with their swords drawn, his hand flew to his side, where his own sword hung. In his other hand, he held a torch. He moved towards them, but Kant waved him off.
"He's mine!" Kant hissed, as he quickly wiped the rain off his forehead. "You take care of him." Kant order, pointing to Aroron, turning to face Shon again.
Kant lifted his sword once again and ran it along the stone wall. It rang out, like a small bell. "You know Shon, it's been fun. But now it's time for you to go see the king!" He yelled over the thunder, as he moved closer to Shon. He smiled and looked almost giddy, if not for the hatred radiating from him. He gritted his teeth and lunged towards Shon.
>
Shon quickly moved his arm up, and was able to block the cut, just barely. How long could he last like this? On his back, as rain poured into his eyes? Not long.
That was the last Aroron saw of their fight at that moment. For by now, the guard was upon him, and he didn't hesitate to bring his sword down towards Aroron's head. Aroron yanked his sword out of its scabbard and brought it up just in time to block the cut, the blades meeting just inches above his head.
The guard moved around quickly and slammed his knee into Aroron's midsection.
The force of the blow pushed him backwards. He tripped over part of the stone floor sticking out of the ground and fell back. He hit the middle of his back into the wall, and nearly flipped over the top of it.
Quickly, he grabbed the edge of the wall and held himself there.
The moat water was a swiftly moving murky blackness below him, it looked cold. Ice had started to form on the outer edge of the water.
Aroron quickly shoved himself back to his feet. Before he could get his balance back, the guard kicked his feet out from under him and he fell back and slammed into the ground.
Aroron gasped for air, as the guard moved around and brought the tip of his sword down towards his chest. He quickly rolled to the left, as the guard brought his sword down. The sword slammed into the ground next to his shoulder, sending a light breeze of air towards him.
Aroron used the momentum of his rolling to bring himself up onto his knees.
At the same time, he brought his sword up above himself just in time to block another cut. He quickly moved his sword around towards the guard and hit him in the leg.
His sword came up short, but it cut deep into the guard's skin. The guard yelped and jumped back, his hand flying down to the cut, blood trickling down his leg.
Aroron grabbed his opportunity and shoved himself to his feet. He gripped his sword, spun around and shoved the guard back with a kick to the chest. The guard fell back and slammed into the wall, he let out a loud groan, finally letting go of his sword.
Aroron moved towards the guard, placing the sword to his neck.
He hesitated, he could see fear in the guard's eyes. His heart began to pound, and he stepped back. His hands were shaking. He wouldn't do it! He wouldn't kill the man. He wouldn't become a killer like his father, or like King Munay. He wasn't going to kill the man just because he'd gotten in his way!
Aroron glanced up towards Kant and Shon, they were still locked in an unyielding battle for the upper hand. Lit by the blue moon, they moved as if they were in a dance, the fog still moved at their feet. But this dance he knew would only end when one of them surrendered or died.
Kant held his sword hard against Shon's sword, they both gripped onto their swords with both their hands. They were so close, if either of them lets up for a split second before the other did, they'd find a sword in their stomach before they knew what had happened.
"How you got Helen to marry you, I'll never know!" Kant hissed in Shon's face.
Spit hit Shon in the eye, but he didn't try to wipe it away. He couldn't, unless he wanted to die. "She saw something in me I didn't even see in myself," Shon said. "I could be a better man than you could ever have been, even if you wanted. Your heart is as dark as the king's."
"I was a good man to her!" Kant hissed, shoving harder against Shon. "I was good to her, and that is all that matters."
Shon sighed and shook his head. "You're as slow as the river in winter. She didn't want you to just be good to her," Shon said, through gritted teeth. As he pushed against Kant, they quickly jumped back from each other. "You couldn't be kind to her and hate everyone else," Shon said, as he lowered his sword. But in a split second he had it up again, to block Kant's sword.
"Isn't that what you do?" Kant asked, slashing his sword towards Shon. "I guess you just hid it better from her, than I did."
"Please!" Shon snorted. "You sold your soul to the Destroyer and his human counterpart, long ago and she never cared for you after that. You know that, you just won't accept it."
Kant went at Shon with new strength.
"Curse you! You son of a swindling tax collector!" Kant screamed. "She loved me! But somehow you found something which made her say yes to you, and not me!" Kant growled, as he sliced at Shon's arm.
"She loved me, and she pitied you!" Shon parried Kant's cut with his own, and side stepped another.
Kant's sword moved faster and faster, till Aroron could barely make it out. He acted like he didn't even care about himself any more.
Back and forth they went, one cut met with another.
To Aroron's horror, Kant slammed his sword down onto Shon's sword and it went flying from his hand. And with a 'splash' it vanished into the dark water below them.
Chapter 3
The Darkness
Kant's eyes were wide, and glossy. Breathing through his nose, like a bull. His chest moved with every breath. His face burned red as he watched Shon.
"I'm going to tell King Munay I tried not to kill you!" Kant spoke through clenched teeth, gripping his sword till his knuckles turned white. "I'd rather face a hundred days in Noman Desert, than let you get away with taking something from me, again!" Kant screamed. "You will die, like you should have years ago. You took Helen from me and you took my place as King Munay's right hand man!" Kant said, his hands shaking. "Not anymore! I will be his right-hand man from now on, take my place back from you, and when I'm done, I'm going to kill your little brat of a son!" Kant said, lifting his blade into the air, above Shon's chest. "May whatever god lies beyond the gates of death, hate you as much as I hate you."
Aroron's face turned white, sweat forming on his face. He knew he had to do something, he couldn't just watch as Kant killed his father! What was there for him to do? He couldn't take Kant on, he was good with the sword, but not good enough, not yet. Maybe there was some way for him to help his father without having to fight Kant himself.
Aroron forced his mind to work, as the rain continued to pour down and the night grew even colder. Three inches of rain water pooled on the tower wall, covering the tops of Aroron's boots in the shallow water.
Aroron could hear the drip, drip, drip, of the water sliding down the wall, into the moat below.
His pounding heart mixed with the sound of the water.
Time slowed, and Aroron closed his eyes. "Drip, drip, drip." He let the sound wash over him. Then an idea came to him.
He glanced down at the guard who lay under him. The guard's face turned white and he blinked rapidly up at Aroron, his chin quivered. The water started to seep into his clothing, his hair soaking wet, plastered to his head. The man splashed around in the water, as he tried in vain to find something to fight with.
Aroron pressed his lips together, and he closed his eyes again. He sighed, he couldn't kill him, he was just doing his job, following orders from Kant.
Kant was the one to blame for all of this. He turned back to the guard. "Good-night." he whispered, as he slammed his boot down on the guard's head.
The guard groaned and fell back unconscious against the stone wall.
Aroron took a deep breath and raised his sword in the air. "Father, catch!" He yelled, as Kant raised his sword up into the air above Shon, ready to strike down upon him.
Aroron tossed his sword into the air towards Shon, the blade flipping end over end.
Shon's right hand shot into the air, just as it passed by and he caught it. In the blink of an eye, he brought the sword around just in time to block the cut from Kant's sword. He quickly brought his knee up, using the force to shove Kant back into the wall behind him.
Kant slammed into the wall and fell to the ground with a thud. He groaned, his eyes flickered closed and his head fell limp against his shoulder.
"Come on!" Shon yelled.
The tower stood before them, like a looming shadow. Aroron knew this place would change his life forever, and the thought sent a shiver down his back. What was really going on here? His father was ke
eping things from him, but he had no idea what they might be.
Aroron's throat stung, as he swallowed and jumped over the guard. He ran as fast as he could through the water, towards where Shon stood waiting.
Aroron grabbed Shon's arm and they both ran towards the tower door.
To Aroron it might as well have been a hundred thousand feet, the distance felt like an eternity. Like they'd never get there.
"Stop..."
Aroron glanced back, Kant had somehow regained consciousness quicker than they'd thought he would. His eyes showed he wasn't all there, and he swayed slightly as he stepped towards them. For a second it looked like he was drunk. He steadied himself with a hand against the wall behind him.
As he stood there, his eyes cleared for the most part and he lunged with his sword pointed towards Shon. He sliced at Shon's side with the tip of his sword. Shon spun around and grabbed the back of Kant's head and threw him against the wall, where he crumpled to the ground and didn't move again.
Aroron turned back towards the tower, just as he slammed hard into it.
A buzzing went through him, but he quickly regained his thoughts and moved back a step.
He grabbed the latch, yanked it up and pulled the door open. He quickly moved inside and held the door as Shon lunged through it. They turned around and slammed the door behind them. The sound it made as it closed, was like a dungeon door echoing around them.
Aroron swiftly pulled the latch back and put the bar across the door, locking it in place. Someone could still get through if they really tried. But at least it would buy them a little time.
Aroron bent over, breathing hard. His side burned from all the running and fighting he'd done, and lack of sleep was catching up to him. He fought to stay awake, even as he stood there.
His whole body ached, begging him to sit down against the wall and closed his eyes, just for a minute!
With a sigh, he shook his head. He knew he couldn't, they had to find a way out of this stupid castle. Sleep. Who knew it would be a fantasy for him right then?
