Sword

by Byron Kings

  “I don’t know…”

  As I peered over the edge, I saw a dozen lights zooming up.

  “Shit!” I shouted. “Someone’s coming! Get a defensive position!”

  “Look alive!” Harper screamed as she tore down a hallway.

  We holed up in Alondra’s quarters. If threatened, we could climb out the windows and drop to the swamp below, but I hoped to take a stand and claim the land as my own.

  “Give up!” a shrill man shouted. “King Gregor has ordered us to take you alive. Don’t make that difficult. Come out now, and we won’t rough you up.”

  I heard a scream in the room below. An explosion followed. The entire boat rocked. Another litany of screams filled the air. Looking out the door, I saw smoke quickly filling the hallway.

  “Fuck, we’ve got to get out of here,” I said, looking around.

  I ran to the window and opened it.

  “That’s too far,” Harper said. “I’m not jumping.”

  “We don’t have a choice. Jump or die.”

  “They said they’re taking us alive,” Harper said. “We should just go with them.”

  “Give up? Are you fucking nuts?” I shook my head.

  “She’s stressed,” Morgana said. “We all are.”

  “No shit!” I snapped.

  Another explosion rocked the boat.

  “There they are!” someone shouted from the hallway.

  “Rope!” Morgana exclaimed, picking it up.

  I tossed one end out the window as she wrapped the other around the leg of the desk.

  “Go!” I pushed Harper toward the window. “Now!”

  “Incoming!” Morgana shouted.

  She yelled and drew her sword as two armored men rushed into the room. I pulled the horn sword out and stepped forward as she plunged her sword into the neck of the first man.

  “Get out! I’ll cover you!” I shouted.

  She retreated as I clashed swords with the remaining soldier. I could see fear in his eyes which gave me a distinct advantage in the battle. While Morgana climbed out the window, I toyed with the man, parrying his blows before moving in for the kill. He screamed as he fell to the floor, clutching the wound in his neck. I glanced up and saw several more men in the hall.

  After slamming the door shut and locking it, I retreated to the other side of the room. They reached the door and banged on it as I nimbly climbed down the lopsided whorehouse. At the bottom, I saw Harper and Morgana along with seven of the original twenty-four men we’d brought with us. Had Newton told them we would come back?

  “What are we doing?” Harper asked.

  Above us on the boat, the battle raged on.

  “They’re going to take the boat back,” I said. “We should go.”

  “And leave our men?” one of the warriors asked.

  “It’s suicide to go back in there now,” I said. “We’re outnumbered.”

  “Suicide isn’t a bad solution,” the man said.

  He turned to the other men in his unit.

  “Who’s with me? This mission...needs…to…”

  That’s strange. He’s talking so slow. I’m sleepy. Why am I falling asleep?

  Fight it! No!

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  CHAPTER 19

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  Doing the Fucking Research

  I woke up in the virtual world between the game and reality. They must have cast a sleep spell on us. How long would it last? I sat down at the virtual terminal in the endless white room and emailed a hacker I knew. A little real-world information on King Gregor would go a long way in helping me negotiate with him. No way I was going to give him my horn sword.

  The sleep spell must have been powerful, because I had enough time to get a reply from Dmitri Kashnolkov. In the real world, King Gregor was an insanely rich Russian kid with ties to the oil mafia. He had paid his way to a position of power in the game but was unable to leverage the perks into membership with the League of Twelve city states. I could use that information against him if necessary.

  << You are waking. >>

  << Returning to Battle Empire. >>

  << Enjoy your fun. >>

  I took a deep breath as I opened my eyes inside the game. Morgana stood above me, looking down. Relief washed over her face.

  “He’s waking up,” she said.

  “What happened?” I asked, sitting up.

  “Sleep spell,” Harper said.

  I glanced around, noticing we were in a cell different from the one before.

  “Where are we?” I stood up. “Are you two okay?”

  “They’re fine,” King Gregor said from outside the bars.

  I turned and saw him flanked by four spellcasters. One of them held my horn sword with gauntlets. I walked over and put my hands on the bars.

  “Let us out of here,” I said.

  “Why would I do that?” he asked. “You’re so silly.”

  “I know you,” I said.

  He laughed.

  “Everyone knows me,” he said. “Your plan with Xin Jang is foiled. The horn swords are part of the spoils of war.”

  “You killed him?” I asked.

  “Not yet, but we will soon,” King Gregor continued. “I see the new horn sword is already bonded with you. All I need to do is stop you from using it for the next twenty-four hours, and it’ll release itself from you. I’ll wait to pick up a second horn sword.”

  “Let us out of here,” I said again.

  “Or what?” King Gregor laughed and turned to leave.

  After he walked away with his mages, an armored guard stepped out of the shadows. I took my hands off the bars and turned around. Harper and Morgana stood next to each other.

  “I’ve got a plan,” Harper said. “I’ve got enough sex energy saved up to pull it off.”

  Morgana looked into my eyes and shrugged as Harper stripped off her clothes. Once naked, she pressed against the bars, calling out to the guard. Something about her voice sounded different from normal, a little huskier maybe. I stepped back as she played with herself in front of the bars. The guard walked over, eyes locked on her pussy and hands.

  “You know you want me,” Harper cooed. “Let me see you. I need to taste you.”

  She must have used up all her sex energy points at once. Between her natural talent to turn men on and the in-game help, I couldn’t see any straight man refusing her. The guard glanced to the left then right before undoing his belt and lowering his pants. What’s her end game? Is she going to…Oh, no!

  “Fuck!” the man screamed. “You bit it off, bitch!”

  “Get the keys!” Harper shouted as she grabbed the surprised guard.

  I rushed over and slipped a hand through the bars, reaching for his belt. Blood continued squirting out from between his legs as he struggled to get away.

  “Got them,” I said.

  Harper pushed the guard over as he continued screaming. I fumbled with the key in the lock a moment before the gate swung open. Harper slipped on her robes as Morgana walked out of our cell and into a larger room. I followed her, grabbing the guard’s sword.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Harper said. “I have just enough mana to make us all invisible for a short time. That’ll enable us to get out of here.”

  “We’re not leaving yet,” I said, shaking my head. “That sword’s mine, and I’m getting it.”

  Morgana smiled as Harper sighed. I wondered briefly if I’d fallen in love with the wrong woman.

  “How long will your invisibility last?” I asked.

  “No longer than an hour at the most,” she said. “I got some mana back after we slept, but not the full amount. We also might need some of my offensive spells.”

  “Okay, we’re doing this the old-fashioned way,” I said. “You two follow me. I’ll scout ahead and try to get my bearings. We were out a while, so they could’ve taken us anywhere.”

  “I recognize the architect
ure,” Morgana said. “We’re in King Gregor’s castle.”

  “That’s good to know,” I said, smiling.

  “If you two are done flirting, we should go,” Harper snapped.

  “Are you okay?” I asked. “Thanks for seducing him.”

  “Just playing my part,” she quipped.

  “Come on,” Morgana said, grabbing my arm. “We should go.”

  “Follow me at a safe distance and watch behind you,” I said.

  Morgana nodded. I turned and headed out of the room. After listening at the door, I opened it and went through. The hallway on the other side looked empty enough. I crept forward. As I reached a corner, a guard came strolling around it. While he fumbled for his sword, I ran at him. My sword stuck in his gut. I twisted it around, burying it hilt deep until he stopped struggling.

  Harper and Morgana came up as I lowered him to the stone floor stained with blood. Morgana grabbed his weapon. I peered around the corner, not seeing anyone else coming.

  “There should be a stairwell coming up,” Morgana said. “I’m pretty sure we’re in the dungeon below King Gregor’s castle. Once we’re above ground, we’ll have to get across the courtyard and find a way out of the gate.”

  “Not without my horn sword,” I said.

  Harper sighed.

  “Can’t you come back for it?” she asked.

  “I can’t risk it. You and Morgana can leave if you want.”

  “No, I’m staying with you,” Morgana said. “Til the end.”

  I tilted my head as I stared at her. How did she know that phrase meant something to me?

  “Someone’s coming,” Harper said.

  I pushed them back and stood pressed against the wall right before the corner. As another guard came around the corner, not paying attention, I stuck my sword in his throat. Unable to scream, he gurgled a bit of blood then flopped lifelessly to the floor. I stepped over him and rushed to the end of the hallway where I saw a set of stairs leading up.

  “Come on,” I said, motioning for the others to follow.

  I took the steps two at a time, ready for anything to appear before me. We reached a small room at the top with a single wooden door. I listened at it a moment then cracked it open to look. The door opened to the courtyard on the back side of the castle. We would need to go all the way around to the front and then make a run for the gate.

  “Well?” Morgana asked. “How’s it look?”

  “Not good,” I said. “We need to find another way into the castle.”

  I heard a commotion outside in the courtyard. Peeking out, I saw a group of men running around from the front of the castle. They lined up in a semicircle around us.

  “What is it?” Morgana asked, struggling to see around me.

  “They know something,” I said. “They must have magic to watch the dungeon or something.”

  “Come out!” a soldier yelled.

  “There’s only a dozen,” I said. “We can take them.”

  “Fuck it, let’s do it,” Harper said. “I wanted to start a new character anyway.”

  The fact you could respawn took some urgency out of the game, but starting over from scratch would suck, especially with no new horn swords spawning in the foreseeable future. I’d timed my full-time entrance into the game around one thing — getting the horn sword.

  Harper kicked the door open then cast her chain lightning spell. As it hit the first man and spread to the others, Morgana and I ran forward to mop up any who survived. Three men fell, but the others ran forward, weapons drawn. Morgana and I met them head on, each of us skillfully swinging our blades. They got a few hits in, but nothing too serious.

  As the last man fell to the ground, no longer moving, I smiled. The expression faded as I looked up and saw another two-dozen men running toward us from each direction.

  “Harper? Pull a rabbit out of that hat of yours?”

  “I’ve got nothing,” she replied.

  We bunched up together with them facing one group and me facing the other. Two mages appeared behind the warriors in my direction. I took a deep breath. Might as well go out fighting.

  “Ready, ladies?” I asked.

  “We should surrender,” Harper said. “I don’t want to respawn.”

  “Shut-up,” Morgana snapped, not acting so submissive as when I’d first met her.

  An explosion on the other side of the castle got all our attention.

  What now?

  Most of the men facing us down turned around and ran.

  “Attack!” I shouted and ran forward.

  The remaining men moved to protect their mage as I reached them, swinging violently. Steel clanged against steel as I fought my way closer to the spell caster. He waved his arms and sent energy bolts at me. Between that and the damage I’d taken earlier, I felt weak. Morgana fought at my side, killing two men easily.

  “Protect the gate” the mage shouted. “Retreat and hold the gate!”

  What the hell is happening? I wondered as all the soldiers and mages surrounding us turned and ran toward the front of the castle.

  “Come on,” I said, running after them. “We have to see what’s going on.”

  I turned the corner and couldn’t believe my eyes.

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  CHAPTER 20

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  Fuck that Cuerno-Shit, It’s Mine!

  “Fucking Newton,” I muttered as I rounded the corner.

  He rode atop a leathery bull with Alondra sitting behind him. Dozens of other horn-women, all naked, streamed into the courtyard, shooting flames from their hands. Had King Gregor’s plan to teach the natives magic backfired on him? I grinned as I surveyed the battlefield chaos.

  “Fucking Newton,” Morgana parroted.

  I turned, grabbed her face, and kissed her full on the lips.

  “We’ve got this,” I said. “We’ll sneak in the castle and get the horn sword while they’re distracted. Are you ready?”

  Harper’s eyes widened as she pointed at the sky. Something huge blocked the sun, darkening the entire courtyard. I followed her finger and saw an immense gray dragon circling. It swooped down and landed with a thud. The massive wings of the beast kicked up dust clouds. King Gregor’s men scattered, some of them leaving and others retreating to the castle.

  I gripped the shitty sword I’d stolen from one of King Gregor’s men and watched as a fat man in black leather pants with no shirt climbed off the foul dragon. The sun glistened off his bald, sweating head as he strode forward.

  “He’s an emissary from Gristle,” Morgana said.

  I nodded, not taking my eyes off him.

  “Who’s in charge here?” he asked, looking around. “Where’s King Gregor?”

  “I’m here!” the king shouted from the entrance of his castle.

  Oh, shit. I turned to see him with a dozen armed men in front of him.

  “This battle and whatever pissant war you’re fighting is over,” the emissary said. “Where’s the man who found the new horn sword?”

  “I’m here,” I said, stepping forward.

  “Great,” the emissary said. “Come with me.”

  He walked toward King Gregor’s castle. The dragon belched flames into the air. I followed him with Harper and Morgana behind me. Newton had gotten off his bull and joined us with Alondra at his side.

  “Sorry about all that nonsense,” he said as he walked up.

  “Don’t worry about,” I said. “We can talk about you joining me again later, if you want.”

  “Maybe,” Newton said, smiling. “I’ve got good news on the outside. They got the cancer. I’m not going to die.”

  “Nice,” I said as we slowed near the entrance of the castle.

  King Gregor and his men had retreated inside before the emissary from the lowest city state reached the tall, thick wooden door. We followed him into the castle, walking straight to the throne room on the first floor. I saw Xin
Jang standing near the middle of the room. He looked up as we walked in, a scowl on his face.

  “Good, we’re all here,” the fat, sweaty emissary said. “This war is over. If you don’t stop fighting among yourselves, we’re going to sweep in and kill every one of you worthless buggers. Do you understand?”

  “But…” King Gregor said.

  “Shut up,” the emissary interrupted. “The wars are disrupting the amount of natural resources and finished goods you’re sending us. If you’ll recall, we allow the two kingdoms to survive in the badlands if they provide us with our taxes every month. You both are behind.”

  “This fuck attacked me first,” Xin Jang said, pointing a finger at King Gregor.

  “Fuck you back,” the king said, adjusting his fur-lined overcoat. “You deserve to die.”

  “Enough!” the emissary shouted. “Where’s the new horn sword?”

  “I have it, and I claim it,” King Gregor said. “I stole it fair and square.”

  “Who found it originally?” the emissary asked. “Has anyone bonded to it yet?”

  “I found it,” I said, nodding my head. “The sword’s been bound to me for one day.”

  “You can’t give it to him,” King Gregor whined. “It’s mine!”

  “I can do whatever the fuck I want,” the emissary snapped. “You’d be wise to remember who you’re talking to right now. I can bring down the wrath of the League of Twelve on this puss mark on the ass of Gardonia.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “You shut the fuck up too,” he said. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You three will fight in the Gristle arena for the sword. The last team standing wins the weapon and their own kingdom in the badlands, a single kingdom to cut down on all the fucking infighting.”

  “I can’t fight anymore,” the king said.

  “You can create whatever team you want,” the emissary said. “The three teams of four will battle it out for the pleasure of the people of Gristle. After the games, the victor will rule the badlands with the blessing of the League of Twelve.”

  I started going through a thousand possibilities in my mind.

  “Any questions?” the emissary asked. “If not, I need a piece of ass for the night. Someone more experienced if you don’t mind.”