Curse of The Seventh Sword: The Gauntlet of Feona (20 page)

They both turned their gaze to see that it was
Baximus coming up to them. He had a plate of meat, which he handed to Davydd.  It was then Davydd realized how hungry he was. 

“Thank you Father.” 
Davydd said.  Suddenly he wore a sad expression on his face as he remembered their last conversation, and the events that ensued thereafter.  “I am…”

“I have neither quarrel nor ill fillings towards you son.”  He looked at Lynda. 

“I’ll leave you two for a while.”  He said as he turned to go.

When he was out of earshot, the lady laughed.

“Rikard was right. You do ask a lot of questions.  Just like me.”

“
Rikard?  My fa…”  Davydd stopped himself realizing what he was about to say.  The lady laughed and gestured to Davydd’s plate of food. 

“You should eat before it gets cold.”

Davydd took a bite into the meat and chewed and then took another bite.  He felt like a child again and he was in so much shock he couldn’t put together a rational thought.  Hence he just ate and ate until there was nothing left on his plate but a few pieces of bone.  Davydd licked his fingers.  He caught sight of the lady looking at him. 

“Don’t stare… it’s embarrassing.”

“Why?  You were just hungry.  Your body needed to recover.”

“What happened to
me?”

“Your godly essence became agitated.  It had never been in the presence of another so s
imilar so it was drawn to it, more so when that essence is that of its mother… your mother.”

“So… I’m part god… from you.”

The lady nodded.  “You are what we refer to as a halfing.”

“I’m not the first then?”

“No.  My brothers have seeded children in the past.  Most of them living and dying without knowing who they really are.  We gods tend not to stay after our human seeds have been born.”

“Why?”

“We would become mortal and die.”

“Is that why you left?”
  Davydd asked as a bit of anger seeped into his voice.

“Oh no… My twin sister does not scare me.”

“Your twin… death… Feona… You… Then you must be Lady Lynda. You are the goddess of life and the mother of the earth.”

Lynda nodded.

“So… I’m your son?”  Davydd laughed as if the thought itself was ridiculous.  He lifted up his hands and looked at them as though all of a sudden, they were not his.

“The son of the god of life.”  He muttered to himself.

Lynda nodded when he looked at her.

Davydd
looked at her.  He knew it was true.  Everything leading up to this moment – the guiding voice, the tug in his heart, the eruption of pain when she first arrived and her soothing him – gave credence to what he knew now.  If there was any lingering doubt, their question game had erased it completely. 

“If not the fear of death, then why?”

“The fear of losing you.  My presence put you in too much danger, and at the time I was powerless to protect you.  I had stayed on Terrianus too long.  Baximus was being searched for by Sidion and…”

“And a bronze skinned woman would have drawn too much attention.”

“Not at all.”  Lynda said as her glow and skin began to slowly lose its luster and shimmer.  She now looked brown skinned and her golden hair was a light shade of black.  Her brown eyes remained and she looked fairly the same. 

“I see… no one else knew you were you then.” 
Davydd said

“Only Matilom and your father knew.  But not knowing did not sway favor our way.  I could still be recognized as the queen of Angweleth. I was as close to being mortal as I could ever be, when I birthed you.  After that, your father left… for the last time
.  My leaving you was part of an intricate lie concocted by Matilom.  As you well know, he is of a secretive and wily nature.  He does not trust easily either and his patience rivals ours immensely.  He did not trust Baximus because for a moment, Baximus had been swayed by Silas.  Therefore, after leaving you in his care he fabricated a story about sending me off to faraway lands that Sidion Vror could not reach.”

“If Matilom did not trust
Baximus, why leave me in his care?”

“It was the one reasonable way to hide you without rousing Sidion’s curiosity.  I’m sure you understand.  Besides, he had cast a spell of protection on you, should
Baximus decide to take your life and I was back in the realm of the gods watching over you… as I always have.”

Davydd looked down and nodded his head.

“Son…”

Davydd looked away. 

“Why couldn’t you reveal yourself to me?  Why couldn’t you show up all these years even once?  Why?” 

“I am sorry Davydd.  I was…  I was afraid…  I was too afraid to a
ct.  I knew that if I came, your life would change forever.  I stayed away till the last possible hour.”

“I see.  When you dropped from the sky unexpectedly?”

“No Davydd.  It was when you almost shot me with an arrow.”

Davydd looked at her perplexed. 

“I never… What do you mean?”

Lady Lynda smiled at him.

“Think Davydd.  What were you doing before all of this started.  What was the last normal thing you did before saving the princess?”

Davydd shook his head as he struggled to remember.

“It was four moons ago.  A lot has happened.   I was… I was hunting…  I had spotted a deer.”

“And you were about to shoot it.”

“Yes I was… I was but it took off.  It couldn’t have heard me.  I remember thinking about that.  How…”

Davydd looked at her.  His eyes widened as the
realization set in.

“You were the deer?”

Lady Lynda nodded. 

“Why then?  Why did you pick that day?”

“The dragol were beginning to regain full strength.  Their attack on princess Vannera had been the second attack on a human since the end of the Great War.  The first was on Vannera’s mother.  As one of the seven gods I cannot directly steer the fate of any mortal, including yours.”

She flashed a wry smile.

“But there are many ways to do so indirectly.”

Dav
ydd stared at her before speaking.

“Tell me everyt
hing.  I want to know everything, about you, my father… our… family.”

Lynda nodded.

“We will have time to talk about everything.  But right now, I can tell you the events that transpired after I brought you into this world, to give you a clearer understanding of what needs to be done.”

It was
Davydd’s turn to nod in agreement.  Lynda began but then stopped…  She looked at Davydd, as he looked back at her.  He was still in shock, though he tried to mask it.  She could also see his pain even as he tried to put on a brave face.  A tear fell down her cheek and she wiped it.

“You are so strong.  I’m proud of you.  I’m so sorry.”  The rivulet had become a stream now.

“I’m so sorry.”

She felt his arms wrap around her in
a warm embrace.  Davydd had his head rested on her bosom.  She pulled him close and rocked him gently. 

“I have sea
rched for you… my whole life.”

“I know.  I know.  I’m here now.  I’m here.  I’ve always been with you, and I love you so much.” 

Mother and son stayed locked in their silent embrace, both absorbing the moment and cherishing it, wondering if this would be the first and last time.

A fairly large group of men could be seen walking across the barren and rocky terrain, towards an encampment situated haphazardly across the land.  The terrain was not level and so the tents were elevated to different heights as the slabs of rocks, the rises and the crests of the terrain would allow.  Men could be seen going about their respective tasks in the encampment.  They all wore ragged clothing such that the very unkempt nature of the attires became a uniform of sorts.  The large group of men stuck together as they entered the encampment.  They made their way past on-lookers, who would occasionally nod their heads in greeting and acknowledgement.  Wafts of steam floated away from the meals people cooked and ate in the encampment.  In the middle of the encampment, there was a tent much larger than the others around it.  At its four corners were four men who stood at attention, with varying weapons in their hands, guarding the tent.  The group of men stopped just short of the entrance and a few feet in front of the guards.  They all lowered their heads and bent down as a man walked out of the tent’s entrance.  At that moment, the two guards who stood at the tent’s front corners raised their weapons up and in unison proclaimed:

All hail Ivan the terrible!

The man towered above the guards by at least another foot.  He had an imposing muscular and heavy set figure.  He carried a large war hammer which a shiny engraved steel bladed head.  His hair was long and unkempt and had more than a few gray strands interlocked with its original brown color.  He wore a white shirt underneath a black coat.  The shirt was unbuttoned at the top which revealed a rather shocking crop of hair on his chest.  The leather strap that bound his axe to his back, cut diagonally across his chest and wrapped around to the back, just above his grey and roomy pants. He wore black leather skin boots to complete his outfit.  The man gestured for the guards to lower their weapons.  He walked up to the kneeling group and scanned their numbers.  His eyes settled on the elderly man who had ordered the group’s retreat at Lady Lynda’s offer. 

“H
orius where’s Kazan?”

“
My lord Kazan acted brashly and was taken by the Angwelethean group.”

“What?”  The giant Ivan stepped forward.  “
How did this happen? Horius?”

“My lord he went ahead of us and mounted an attack alone.  By the time we emerged,
he had been taken by them.”

“And why Horius, haven’t you taken him back?”

“We were going to but…”

“You were going to?”

“My lord!” Horius said as Ivan’s towering figure bared down on him.  “My lord, Lady Lynda appeared.  She came to their aid just as one of them was struck with… an illness it seems.”

“The gods never interfere with human issues… at least not so easily.”
  Ivan paced around a bit. 

“The one struck with an illnes
s...  Can you tell me more about him?”

“All I
know is, he was… different.  He was not among them when we first attacked.  However, he arrived soon after.  He jumped from a cliff down to where we battled… and lived.”

“A
cliff you say.”

“
Yes my lord.  It was too high for any mortal to survive.”

“But he was… mortal.” Ivan said as if
thinking out loud.  “Horius when did his
illness
start?”

“Right after th
e goddess Lynda appeared.  Why my lord?”

“We need to head back to sea.”  Ivan said as he turned back towards
his tent.

“My lord?”

“Horius you disappoint me greatly by letting my son fall into their hands.  If those are the same people who Kazan spotted asking about that accursed gauntlet in Sangwa, they will be coming for us soon.”

“Kazan would never talk.”

“It would be in his best interest if he did.  And I pray he does.  Lady Lynda is with them.  You understand don’t you Horius?”

“Yes my lord.”

“Good.  We depart immediately.”

“How do you feel Lynda?”

“Exhausted.  But I’m fine.  You are here.”  Rikard Miljorn grabbed her hand and squeezed it affectionately.  They both looked at the little baby sleeping in a cot beside the bed. 

“He looks so peaceful.” 
Rikard finally said. 

“Ah yes.  He calms your heart so.  I c
an see it.”

Rikard smiled at her as she pulled their clasped hands to her cheek.  He leaned in and kissed her softly.  She responded just as passionately until he slow
ly pulled back and smiled again.

“Tell me.  I’m listening.”  Lynda said looking directly
at him.

“
You know me so well.”  Rikard said nodding.  “The dragol’s forces are depleted and we have them trapped in Beathaleth.  They will try to advance past the field of brave souls.  Lynda if we can stop them there…”

“Then this is finally over.”

“Yes.  This is finally over.”

“Oh
Rikard how I long for…”  Rikard placed a finger on her lips.

“When I return.” He smiled as Lynda nodded.  Then, her eyebrows creased together.

“If they are trapped near the fields, all principals might be there.  This is a last stand after all.” 

“I am well aware.  Sidion has a plan.”

“Sidion?  Rikard, are you sure it’s okay to involve him so deeply?”

“It is a good plan.  Besides, I will also have King Vitalis and King Armrok aiding me.”

“And if they don’t get there in time?”

“They will.”

Lynda sat up and stared silently at her husband. 

“I wish you didn’t have to go.”

“You know I do.  I have to end this.  I am… out of time.”

Lynda shook her head.  “If anyone can do it, it’s you.  I believe in you.”

King Rikard nodded, got up and walked over to his son’s cot. 

“
Davydd.  I have to leave you for a little while.”  He nuzzled Davydd’s little nose and the baby chuckled, lifting his tiny arms to grasp his father’s face.  Rikard laughed. 

“Take care of your mother fo
r me.”  He played with Davydd for a little while before lifting his tall frame back up.  When he got up, Lynda was standing at the edge of the bed.  Her robe fell loosely over her frame and its translucent nature revealed facets of her figure.  Rikard looked at her for a while.

“
Is this one final effort to make me reconsider?”

“Is it working?”  Lynda said with a smile.

“Yes.”  He said as he walked up to her.

“But you are still going.”

“Yes.”

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him sensuously.

“Will you be home when I wake up in the morning?” She whispered in his ear.

“Always.”  He whispered back.

They embraced in silence for a while before letting go.  Rikard looked at her and the baby.  He nodded to her and she responded.  With that, he was gone.

Th
e storm raged as lightning flashed across the skies, briefly lighting up the earth below in a bright white flash before it plunged into darkness and grey again.  Lynda stood at the balcony of her room in King Vitalis’s castle.  She peered into the distance in the direction of the field of brave souls as her hands rested above each other on her chest.  She was breathing heavily. 

“How is he?”  She asked as the pale skinned woman in a brown dress
emerged from the shadows. 

“He is dying.  Can’t you see him?”

Lynda gasped and clutched her chest tighter.  “I… can’t.”

“You have lost almost all of your powers.  You need to return.”

“I can’t.  I have a son.”

“Sister
, Sidion Vror betrayed Rikard Miljorn.  He restrained the forces under his command from aiding Rikard in time.  As we speak, Rikard fights for his life against the principals.”

“All ten?”

Feona nodded. 

“How is he faring?”

“Two of them are dead and a third is badly hurt.”

“Take me there.”

“I cannot.”

“Feona…”

“Lynda.  I beseech you to think.  You are all but mortal now.  If you appeared on the battle field, they will kill you.  Furthermore, it is as you say.  You have a son.  Should you go there, your true nature will be revealed and Sidion will know for sure that he is special.  He will come for him with even more ferocity.  Even now, if you stay, you endanger him as well.  There have been whispers.  Twelve years and you have not appeared to age even a little.”

“What would you have me do?”

“Entrust him to the wizard and return.”

Lynda sighed.

“I have to go.  Please be careful.”

“You are going for his soul are you not?”

“That I am.”

“Dearest sister of mine, how could you be so greedy?”

“We all have our nature sister.  This is mine.  His time is almost up.”

Lynda choked back tears. 

“Please… take care of his soul.”

Feona turned around and planted a kiss on her sister’s cheek.

“As if you needed to ask.  Take Davydd while you have what little godly strength there is in you.”

With that,
she vanished into the darkness she came from, behind a bright shimmering light that briefly illuminated Lynda’s figure.  Lynda walked away from the balcony and made her way towards Davydd’s cot.  She picked up the little Davydd who began wailing.

“Shhhh shhhh.  I know.  I sense i
t too.  Everything will be okay.”

She pressed his little face to her cheek as tears rolled down them. 

Lynda!

The voice startled her briefly.  It was
Rikard. 

Lynda I know your powers are waning.  You don’t have to talk.

Rikard!!

Lynda put
Davydd back in the cot.

Rikard
I’m coming to you!

No.  Don’t.  I am sorry… my love.  I will not be able to return as I promised.

It’s okay Rikard.  I… I can bring you home. 

If you come here
Davydd will be orphaned.  Stay.  I have a plan.  I hold in my left hand, one of the principal’s hearts.  I will use that spell you taught me. 

Rikard you sound weak.  If you use it…

I’m not leaving here… alive… Lynda.  I will do my best to give Davydd… time.  Baximus Bastien is on his way to you.  He has been swayed by Sidion… but there is good in him.  Please give him time to make his decision. Now go… take Davydd with you… Omni and his siblings have almost found me.

Rikard…

Lynda?

I will be there when you awake in
Hovan.

Always...

Lynda nodded and wiped her tears.

Lynda turned to
Davydd again. 

“We have to go son.”

“You aren’t going anywhere.”

Lynda stopped in her tracks.
  “Baximus.  Are you here to help me?”

“No Queen Liliana.  I am not.”

Lynda sighed.  “I see.  Your king trusted you.  Do you know this?”

King Vitalis.  I want you to pull back your army immediately.  I shall briefly recollect my sword from you.

“Do not lecture me on trust, especially the one I have with Rikard!”

“So then you know… that what you
are about to do… is wrong.”

Lady Lynda.  We are close to the field of brave souls.  King
Rikard of Angweleth is there.

King
Rikard is dead.  If you go, you will die too.  Hold your position.  I am taking my swords now.  It will only be for a moment. 

As you
wish my lady.

“Prepare yourself queen Liliana.  Out of respect, I will make this quick.”

“You are too kind Baximus.”

Baximus unsheathed his sword and bolted towards Lynda.  She stood still for a moment and then bent down.  She placed her hands on the groun
d and two swords materialized in her hands.  Baximus swung just as Lynda pivoted around with her left hand and blocked his swing.  She twisted her body from left to right, swinging with her right hand, her sword steady.  Baximus pulled back and parried her blow, instantly switching to parry her left sword which was coming in.  Lynda leaped off the ground into the air, swinging her right sword as she twisted her body in mid air.  Baximus blocked as the downward force pushed him down to his knees.  Using the force of resistance as a basis, Lynda pushed herself off Baximus’s blade with her hands and flipped, landing with her knees on Baximus’s cranium.  Baximus, dazed fell to the ground.  As he rolled to his back, Lynda’s two swords were pointed at him. 

“Who
taught you to fight like that?”  He whispered.

Lynda crouched and leaned
in towards him.  “My husband is the left hand Feona.”  She whispered back.  “Call the guards.  This should be convincing enough.”

“Guards!!” 
Baximus yelled in mock distress.  Five guards came running in, and rushed towards Lynda.  She stood up and using her two swords blocked simultaneous attacks aimed at her in quick succession.  She spun around on her feet, her hands wielding the swords like bladed wings, and ripped open the abdomens of two of the guards instantly.  Lynda blocked blows from two of the remaining three guards, who had flanked her on either side.  She pointed the tips of her swords downwards till they just touched the concrete floor, and pushed herself off the ground with them, just in time to avoid a direct head long attack from the third guard.  Forward flipping over him, Lynda landed on her two feet behind him and reached back with her left hand slicing him in the back from the neck downwards.  The guard fell forwards just as Lynda pivoted around to block the guard now to her right with her right sword.  She let the force of her swing follow through until she connected in the chest of the guard to her left.  She swung her right sword back around to meet with the sword of the now recovered guard to her right.  Her left hand followed through, cleaving off the head of the now kneeling guard to her left, and followed through until it stabbed through the abdomen of the guard to her right.  She was now facing him with both swords pointed at him.  Using the window of opportunity presented as he screamed in pain, she let her right hand push forward stabbing him in the chest right where his heart lay.  The guard looked at her as blood oozed from his gaping mouth. 

“Oh… my… Feona… you… you…”

“I am sorry.”  Lynda said and pushed both swords in deeper.  The guard was dead.  She pulled both swords out and let the limp body slump to the ground.  She turned to face Baximus who was standing there looking at her in shock.

“H
is highness taught you all that?”

“I’ve known him for twelve years.  He taught me a lot of things.  Are those all the guards King Sidion sent?” 

“Yes.  Did he also leave you these swords?”

“He did.  I prefer using two…”

Baximus stared at her silently. 

“Thank you for choosing not to betray him.”

“You have no need to offer me thanks.  The act was necessary to fool them.”  He gestured with his head towards the dead guards.  “Though I suspect if I had chosen otherwise, I might have regretted it.”

“If you please, give me time to get my child ready.”

“Of course my lady.  Don’t take too long.  We have to go before Sidion gets back.” 

“I won’t.” 

Baximus walked out of the room.

King Vitalis.  My sword should be back in your sheath.

It is.  I am at the field of brave souls.  It is as you say, King Miljorn is dead.  There are no dragols around it seems.

Lynda shut her eyes tightly and breathed in heavily.

You have the sword
s.  Search and make sure all remaining dragol forces are truly gone.  My brothers and sisters will tell the other kings to do the same.

As you wish.  However, without King Miljorn, we cannot seal the dragol for good.  I hear queen Liliana brought a child, a son into this world.

She did.  But he is a child.  He won’t be ready for a long time.

We don’t have time.

Yes we do.  King Rikard made sure of that.  Is his gauntlet with him?

There was a brief pause.

No.  The wizard Matilom is with the body.  I do not see the gauntlet of Lady Feona. 

Then
Rikard has done all he can.  Return to your castle.  See to it that his wife is safe.

Of course my…

She couldn’t hear the last part.  She was sure it was ‘lady’.  But she hadn’t heard it.  She fell to her knees panting heavily.  Summoning her strength, she got up, walked over to Davydd’s cot and wrapped him in thick clothes.  Outside, the rain was pouring from the heavens and the thunder and lightning were incessant.  She looked at Davydd.  He was asleep.