The Dragon Blade

by P D Atkerson

That was what had been off about this man.

  He reminded Aroron of Kant and King Munay. Quickly drawing his sword, Aroron blocked one of the man's cuts, then brought his foot up and slammed it into the man's stomach.

  The man moaned as he stumbled back against a tree. "You think you can kill me? You're just a child!" The man said, laughing.

  Aroron growled and went after him.

  But as he brought his sword around, towards the Aliter's head, the man ducked down. The sword slammed into the tree just inches above his head.

  There was a loud snap and the tree began to fall. They both jumped back, just in time too.

  The tree slammed into the ground between them, throwing up dirt and branches.

  The man smiled, then he bent his head back and screamed.

  But there was nothing human to the sound. His eyes flashed red, as he turned back towards Aroron.

  "One way or another, I will have your gift!" He hissed. "Just as I've taken the gifts of a dozen other Odditys, much stronger and smarter than the likes of you!" The man laughed. "And I'm not the only Aliter here!"

  Aroron wasn't sure what he meant.

  There was a sound of snapping branches, as half a dozen men appeared around the corner of the cabin.

  "Give up now, and I won't kill you," the man said, as his 'friends' moved forwards.

  Aroron snorted. "You don't think I'd actually believe you, do you?"

  The man shrugged and smirked. "It was worth a try," he said, motioning to the other Aliters. "Don't kill him, we still want his gift!"

  The Aliters drew their swords and stepped towards Aroron.

  He could tell they were as blood thirsty as the first Aliter, their eyes glowed red. They were all servants of the Destroyer. Just like King Munay.

  The first one pounced on him.

  Aroron blocked the cut, twisted his sword around and shoved forwards.

  Metal met metal once again, as Aroron moved to face the next Aliter, who quickly moved in on him. He had one advantage. They wanted him alive.

  Aroron on the other hand, didn't care one bit if these worthless thieves lived. They were killers who helped King Munay kill his enemies, no matter who they were, they were no good.

  Aroron fought the Aliters, as he slowly retreated.

  He knew they were trying to corner him. He had no choice but to play right into their hands. In a matter of minutes, he found himself pressed up against the wall of the cabin, with the Aliters blocking his way from all sides.

  Aroron knew he was surrounded, but he wasn't about to give up that easily. He'd been taught by his father, that as long as he still had breath in his lungs, he had a chance.

  "Being an Oddity isn't the only gift I have," Aroron said, a smile spreading across his face. "I'm the son of an assassin."

  With that Aroron tossed his sword into the air, rolling under the two Aliters' swords and came up on the other side. His hand shot into the air and caught his sword.

  Quickly, he blocked another Aliter who'd come upon him.

  Luckily, Brody was more experienced with the sword than Aroron would have thought. He didn't look like the type.

  But Aroron was glad he didn't have to worry about Brody getting himself killed. He found his own fight more of a challenge than he'd expected, he didn't need to add to that.

  Almost as soon as he'd started, the wound across his chest began to act up and started to burn. Aroron had no choice but to push through it and fight on.

  Aroron doubted they'd be able to continue to hold their own against the Aliters, though. They all had the powers of Odditys in them, but Brody's wasn't that useful, Aroron didn't know how to use his yet.

  Their enemies weren't using their gifts yet, but it was only a matter of time.

  Add to that the fact that Aroron's whole body trembled as he fought, their hope of surviving wasn't looking too good. If they didn't find a way out of there soon, they were never leaving.

  Just as Aroron blocked a cut from the Aliter to his left, he quickly spotted an opening with one of the other Aliters. He had to take them down.

  He spun around and kicked the Aliter's legs out from under him.

  Then Aroron moved forwards and was on top of him in a second. Without letting himself hesitate or think about what he was about to do, Aroron brought his sword slamming down into the center of the Aliter's chest.

  But instead of dying, the man started to laugh. No blood appeared on his tunic or any other part of his body. Aroron didn't understand. He'd struck a mortal blow!

  The Aliter was still laughing, as Aroron yanked his blade back out. The only difference he could see, was the cut in the man's tunic, there was none on the man himself.

  "You should have seen your face!" The Aliter said, laughing. "You really thought you could kill me, didn't you?" Aroron didn't answer. "Well, you can't. You're out numbered, boy. Give up while you still can!"

  "Never!" Aroron hissed, jumping to his feet.

  Aroron looked up, just as one of the other Aliters moved towards him. The man's eyes turned solid green and he knelt.

  The Aliter closed his eyes and placed his hands on the ground. The earth around him began to vibrate, sending small rocks a few inches off the ground. Then, as the Aliter stood, out of the ground, roots began to sprout.

  They were thick and looked more like rough green ropes, than roots, and in a way that's what they were.

  The roots whipped around in the air, flying towards Aroron.

  They quickly wrapped themselves around his ankles, yanked him off balance and he lost his footing. His back had barely touched the ground before he was being dragged towards the Aliter. Rocks and sticks dug into his back.

  Aroron was half way to the Aliter, when someone stepped between them.

  He looked up and instantly recognized Hunter. What the heck is he doing all the way out here? Aroron wondered, but didn't have time to ask, as he slid towards him.

  Hunter drew his sword and brought it down towards the ground, quickly slicing through the roots.

  The second he was free, Aroron scrambled to his feet and stumbled back from the Aliter.

  "What the heck are you doing all the way out here?" Hunter asked, as he glanced around. "You're supposed to be back at the cabin!"

  "What are you doing here?" Aroron asked.

  Hunter glared at him, but didn't answer, as he lifted his sword again. "Duck!" He yelled, as he swung his sword around.

  Aroron dropped to the ground, just as another root swung into the air. Hunter quickly jumped forwards, fell to a knee and slashed the root in half.

  Then, faster than Aroron could watch, Hunter drew a knife and threw it.

  The hilt of the blade stuck out of the Aliter's chest. The man blinked, crumpled to the ground and was still.

  The Aliter Aroron had tried to kill, earlier, screamed as he lunged towards Hunter, sword still in hand.

  "Watch out! You can't kill him!" Aroron warned, as the Aliter moved toward Hunter.

  "Go!" Hunter ordered, shoving the Aliter back and quickly blocked his sword. He glanced towards Aroron, who still stood there, not sure what to do. "Run!" He snapped. "Get out of here!"

  Aroron hesitated. Then he nodded, turned around and ran towards Brody, who was fighting hard against the man from the cabin. He was barely holding his own against him. The man was pushing hard against Brody, and Brody was slowly inching his way towards the cabin.

  Aroron knew Brody wasn't going to be able to hold out much longer.

  He dashed forwards and pushed Brody out of the way of the man's next attack.

  Quickly, Aroron brought his sword up just in time to block another cut from the man, then he twisted his sword around sharply.

  The man yelped, as he lost his grip on his blade and the sword tumbled to the ground.

  Before the man could react, Aroron spun around, grabbed the back of the man's neck, bringing him to the ground, and slammed his head into one of the rocks scattered around them.

  Aroron wasn't goin
g to take the chance of trying to kill him, just in case he was like the other Aliter.

  The man didn't even so much as moan, as he fell limply to the ground.

  Aroron jumped up and grabbed Brody's arm.

  Then, stumbling, he yanked Brody back towards the woods.

  Neither of them stopped running until they were deep inside the forest and were sure no one had been able to follow them.

  When they did stop, they found themselves in a clearing, with a steep cliff to one side. The valley below looked out over miles of forest. Aroron hadn't seen the cliff or the valley when they'd come earlier. With a sinking feeling, he hoped they weren't lost.

  Sweat dripped down Aroron's back as he bent forwards and tried to catch his breath. He hadn't felt this out of shape in a long time!

  It made him feel like an old man. He wondered if he'd ever be back to the swordsman he was before his encounter with the Panthers back in the Dubh-Woods. He doubted it. The claw marks burned across his chest, a constant reminder of how close he'd been to death and how close he might come again.

  "He doesn't help people with their gifts, he steals them!" Aroron said, between gasps of breath. "He's an Aliter and he takes the gifts from Odditys and uses them for King Munay." He glanced up towards Brody. "But you already knew that didn't you?"

  Brody didn't answer, but simply kicked at a rock.

  "Why? Why would you do that to me?" Aroron yelled. "I thought you were trying to help me, but you were just tricking me into giving that Aliter my gift! What kind of sick joke are you trying to pull?!"

  "It wasn't like that!" Brody said, his head snapping back up. "I wasn't... I wasn't trying to use you. It's just... I saw how strong your gift is and I knew I couldn't take you on as easily as I thought."

  "Why would you 'take' me on?" Aroron asked.

  "I was sent to take you out," Brody whispered. "All we knew about you, was what Hunter told us and that wasn't much. But ever since you showed up, Hunter has been acting strange and not doing everything he normally does."

  "Why would you think I was behind that?"

  "Because you're working for King Munay.

  "What?! You think I work for that... that, foul creature?!" Aroron asked.

  "You'd be the last person to work for King Munay, wouldn't you, Aroron?"

  Both Brody and Aroron jumped and spun around towards the speaker.

  "Fank? What are you doing here?" Brody asked, taking a step back. "I thought you had to be somewhere."

  "So, did I, but I hadn't been on my own more than an hour, when I started to think about what had happened," Fank said, eyeing Brody. "What happened with the Karlien guards started to seem a little strange, and it just wasn't adding up. So, I went back and spoke with a few of my contacts," he said, glancing towards Aroron. "It would seem, Brody here, has turned traitor. He wasn't sent out here to kill you by the Elders."

  "Me?! I'm not a traitor!" Brody cried. "I am as much of a loyal Rebel as you are! I was given those orders by a letter sealed with Elders' crest!"

  "And you still have this letter?" Fank asked.

  "No... I was told to burn it once I was done reading it," Brody whispered. "But that means nothing! I'm not a traitor!"

  "Give me your sword, Aroron, I'll take care of this cursed traitor!"

  "What?" Aroron said, his hand going to the hilt of his sword which he held tightly. "Don't you have your own sword?"

  "Give me the sword, Aroron Normel and I will take care of him!" Fank spat, his eyes flashing red. "Give it to me, now!"

  "How do you know my name?!" Aroron hissed, stepping back, as he did, he had a flash of memory, back at the Karlien tents. There wasn't any blood. "You didn't kill those guards," he whispered. "Because you're working for King Munay too!"

  Fank laughed. "You're smart, but you're also slow," he said, then he lunged forwards and grabbed Brody, quickly drawing a knife, he held it against his throat. "Give me the sword or the Rebel dies!"

  "You just said he wasn't a Rebel!" Aroron snapped. "Stop playing games with me, both of you!"

  "Aroron, please..." Brody pleaded.

  "Shut up!" Aroron snapped. "I'm not listening to anymore lies! From either of you!"

  There was a snap of a branch and another person stepped out of the trees. It was Hunter. Aroron's body tensed and he scooted back from him. "Is everyone just going to pop in?!" Aroron hissed.

  "Hunter, please help me!" Brody cried, as Fank tightened his grip on the knife held against his throat. "I'm not a traitor! I didn't do anything against orders!"

  "I know, but your orders weren't from the Elders, Brody," Hunter said. "They were from a mole in our group. You would know about that, wouldn't you, Fank? You're the one who sent him the letter after all," he said. "But at the time you didn't know who he was, did you? That's why you came yourself, just to make sure it was all squared away before you told your master."

  "Very good!" Fank said. "Anything else you want to add, before I kill the boy?"

  "Yes. Now!" Hunter yelled. Another warrior came running up behind Fank.

  Fank snarled, shoved Brody forwards and quickly drew his sword. Bringing it up just in time to block his attacker's blade. The two swords flew, slamming again and again into each other. Finally, the other man got the upper hand and yanked Fank's sword out of his hand.

  Fank jumped back and held up his hand. "Alright! Just wait a second," he said. "You're not going to kill an unarmed man, are you?" He asked, glancing towards Hunter.

  "Leave, Fank!" Hunter hissed. "Now! Or I will kill you myself, with or without a sword.

  Fank nodded, slowly stepping back. "You will not be able to control the boy, Hunter," he hissed. "Heed my warning and hand him over to me! I will take care of him."

  "Do you think I'm an idiot?" Hunter asked. "I know who he is."

  "We will see each other again, Aroron. I promise you that," Fank said, bowing. "Goodbye." With that, he fled toward the woods and was gone.

  "Are you alright?" Hunter asked, helping Brody back to his feet.

  Brody nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. But I'm not sure he is," he said, motioning towards Aroron, who still held tightly to his sword.

  "You can put your sword away, Aroron," Hunter said, turning towards him. "You're safe now."

  "Stay away from me!" Aroron snapped. "Why should I trust either of you? For all I know, you're working with Fank and Munay to get my sword and kill me!"

  "Aroron..." Hunter said, slowly dropping his sword to the ground. "I am your friend, just like I was your father's friend before you."

  "You didn't know my father!" Aroron said. "You're lying!"

  "Your father was King Ozony of Karlay," Hunter said, taking a step towards Aroron. "I was his advisor."

  "Stop your lies!" Aroron said. "Now!"

  "I'm not lying to you, Aroron." Hunter closed his eyes. "You have a necklace around your neck. It is made of a very rare gem, only found in Karlay and do you know how I know that? Because, everyone in the castle knew about it when King Ozony Strangeheart gave it to his wife, Queen Lacey, your mother. He gave it to her when they found out they were having you. Their son and heir to the throne."

  "Shon and Helen Normel were my parents!" Aroron yelled, fighting back tears. "Not two fallen nobles I have never met!"

  "Do not speak of them like that!" Hunter snapped. "They were the greatest leaders Karlay has ever known!"

  "Then why are they dead?!" Aroron snapped back.

  "They fought to the very end, but Munay was too powerful and too deeply entrenched inside the castle." Hunter said, his voice catching.

  "No! King Munay took the throne because Ozony killed himself and had no heir and Munay's wife was a distant relative."

  "You would rather believe the lies Munay has fed you, over the truth?" Hunter asked. "Your parents loved you. Don't you even remember them?! You were six, when they died."

  "Just leave me alone!" Aroron screamed. "I'm sick of your lies!"

  Hunter was thrown back and hit the ground. He g
rimaced and clutched his shoulder, as he slowly stood up. Pain carved in his face.

  "I didn't mean for you to get hurt, but it was your own fault," Aroron whispered, stepping back. "Just leave me alone."

  Still clutching his sword, Aroron bolted away from them. His head spinning, as he pushed past the strange feeling running through him

  "No matter where you go, no matter where you run," Hunter yelled after him, "Munay will find you and he will try to kill you! You're the Dragon King. Please, Aroron...!"

  * * *

  Chapter 23

  In the Shadows

  In the middle of the night, Enrick woke up. His body tense, heart pounding in his chest. His whole body chilled to the bone.

  He thought he heard movement outside his door, but the longer he sat there, the less likely it became. What was wrong with him? He was starting to wonder if he was losing it, when he saw the shadowy figure hanging above him.

  He lay there, frozen. Not daring to move, not even a muscle.

  What is that thing?! He'd never seen anything like it before in his life! The dark, yet transparent figure had no face or visible bones. But in the center, where its face should have been, two bright embers of red light, looked down at him. That's when the shadow dropped down towards Enrick.

  Quicker than he'd thought he could move, Enrick rolled over and dropped off the edge of the bed, hitting the stone ground with a loud 'thud!'.

  The creature hissed, as it moved towards him again.

  Enrick wrapped his hand around the hilt of his sword, lying next to him. He brought it up and jabbed at the shadow, but it did no good. He needed a different weapon. Whatever it was, couldn't be hurt by a sword.

  It's a shadow!

  The thought gave Enrick an idea. He grabbed the candle off the table next to him and slashed out at the shadowy figure with it. The shadow hissed sharply, twisted around and fled for the door. It traveled through the wall and was gone.

  What the heck is that thing? Enrick wondered, scrambling to his feet.

  He moved forwards and flung his chamber door open. He stepped out into the hallway and bumped right into one of the guards.

  "Are you alright, your majesty?" The guard asked.

  "Didn't you see the shadowy figure leaving my room?!" Enrick spat, his gaze darting around him. The hallway was too dark to see the creature if it was there. Stupid! It had gotten away.