Curse of The Seventh Sword: The Gauntlet of Feona (27 page)

“Do you forget who you are?  Not too long ago you spoke proudly to your mother about finally knowing your true self.  Have you so soon forgotten your own words? 
You are a halfing.  What you just saw me do, you can also do.  Mindless wraiths should not even begin to trouble you, and yet they do.”

“I… I…” 
Davydd trailed off.

“
If you truly have mastered yourself, then it is time you stopped fighting like a mortal for your journey will not get any easier.”  Her gaze shifted from Davydd to Max, Leo and Sam. 

“The powers of the guardians of Angweleth all come from me.  But these powers have a will of their own.  I have given the essences of these powers freedom to dwell within the souls of anyone they so deem worthy.  There are but two ways to lose your powers.
  The first way is by death, the other by being found unworthy.  And if you are unworthy of such powers, you will most likely perish, as you almost did now.”

She turned back to
Davydd, whose head hung low.

“I was beginning to take an interest in you.”

“Feona…”

“We will speak again, when you have shown me that you understand exactly who you are.”

Davydd pursed his lips and raised his chin-boss.  He slowly turned towards Vannera. 

“Do you still see Kazan?”

Vannera scanned the area and finally spoke. 

“Yes I
can, though he is aura is fading.”

“Then we must move before he is lost to us.  Segmiatus,
Baximus, aid Sam, Leo and Max.  They have given all that they can.”  He turned to them.  “And I thank you for it.”

Davydd.  I return to you now.

It was his mother’s voice.  Davydd closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

No mother.  I cannot ask you for anymore aid.  This is my fight, our fight, the fight of the humans.

There is no shame in asking for aid my son. 

I am aware.  And yet, there are so
me things I must learn by myself.  I cannot be afforded exalted privileges because of who I am.  Rather, I will earn and achieve them because of who I am. Besides, I would rather you face the dragol as a god than as a mortal. 

I understand.  Do not forget
, I will always be with you and will come if so called.  In the meantime, have this. 

A sword fell from the sky and dropped in front of
Davydd, its blade piercing into the earth. 

My other sword.  It holds less power than that which King Darius Vitalis w
ields, but it should serve you well along with Balek’s. 

Davydd pulled out the sword.  The others watched him as he inspected the hilt and blade.  It was a glorious weapon.  The sword suddenly dissolved into a silver arm band around his right wrist.  A dim bright light pulsated from it, at intervals

The blade will aid you in channeling your godly abilities.  But you must discover them for yourself.  My powers are yours.  Remember that.

I will.

Davydd turned to Feona and nodded quickly without saying a wor
d.  Everyone was up and ready to go.  Segmiatus stayed all the way behind the others and walked with his gaze earthwards.  He looked up at Feona for a brief time before somberly turning back around and walking with the others. 
Your foolishness nearly visited tragedy on all. 
He would be of better use to Davydd if he was not near him.  He made up his mind.  He would wait until they reached Sangwa, once more.  Above them, the dark cloud hanging over the field had cleared.  In the distance, in the direction of Sangwa, another much darker one was forming. 

Leo followed Kazan at a safe distance.  His blue outfit was covered by a grey cloak, though he still wore his hat.  The journey back to Sangwa had taken seven days, as Kazan had taken a longer route through the field of brave souls.  It had been their clos
est encounter with death yet.  But this was their best chance of finding the gauntlet of Feona and despite their strength waning, they had remained steadfast.  Feona’s speech seemed to have galvanized everyone and even Leo found himself practicing his powers again as he once did before he gained mastery of them.  His sharp eyes never once left Kazan even as the pirate prince weaved his way through the multitude of pedestrians that traversed the streets of Sangwa in the day time.  Kazan had only been in Sangwa a couple of hours and yet he had spoken to a few other men, whom Leo deemed to be pirates as well.  He was definitely making arrangements to be picked up.  Leo had on occasion gotten close enough to hear the conversations held.  They were weary of him possibly being followed and for good cause.  He
was
being followed.  Kazan walked into an inn and paid for a room.  Leo was about to follow, when he stopped in his tracks.  There, a few paces in front of him, was the Angwelethean death class soldier who had almost caught him and Baximus as they escaped from the holding cells in the Gor security outpost.  While not in Angwelethean armor, Leo still remembered his face.  Leo looked away and made a mental note of the Inn’s location.  He turned to go but could not avoid making eye contact with Farok.  It was brief, but the moment of recognition had come upon the Angwelethean soldier as well.  Farok began walking quickly through the crowd towards Leo, but a group of people walking in the opposite direction obscured his view for a moment.  When he looked past them, Leo was gone.  Leo quickly made his way unseen through the crowd before following the path of the street his was on until it curved towards the left and thinned in its width.  The human traffic here was considerably less.  Leo waited till he got to a quiet part of the street before fading back into visibility again.  He was getting close to the inn the rest of the group had chosen to stay in.  No sooner had he become visible than he had to dodge the downward vertical slash of a sword.  He rolled to his right and sprang to his feet, unsheathing his sword from its back sheath, just in time to defend against another slash.  For the first time, Leo caught sight of his attacker.  He wore a crimson hat with a black band around it, a black cloak over a crimson tunic and black pants tucked into black leather boots.  His sword was peculiar in shape, widening from base to slanted tip, with 5 holes situated along the center of the blade and seemed to hold some sort of energy within them.  They also made a very slight humming noise that turned into a whizzing sound whenever he swung his blade.   Leo also noticed that when he had swung, the energy holes left behind streaks of light in the wake of the sword. 

“I have no q
uarrel with you.”  Leo said. 

“Now you have put me in
an awkward situation.” Obin replied.

“And how is that?”

“I have to kill one who won’t put up a true fight.”  Obin reached back and swung again from right to left.  Leo blocked with his sword, using his left hand to provide extra support in absorbing the force of Obin’s powerful swing.  Leo immediately pushed back on Obin’s sword, causing the powerful man to fall back and lose his stance momentarily.  Leo moved in to take advantage of the opening swinging his sword vertically from low to high, attempting to split Obin’s face in half.  Obin kept moving backwards and finally arched his head just out of reach of Leo’s blade.  The blade whizzed by in a menacing arc right in front of Obin’s nose.  Leo came back down with his blade this time in a downward arc.  Obin regained his stance, planting his right foot behind him for support.  He blocked Leo’s downward slash with his own sword perpendicular to Leo’s.  No sooner had Obin blocked the blow, than did he release the force of his resistance, thereby letting Leo’s own momentum carry him through.  Leo fell forward and Obin moved behind Leo and swung at the now open back.  However, he met Leo’s sword, which the Angwelethean guardian had brought behind him to block the blow.  Leo kicked backwards with his right foot and slammed it into Obin’s mid-section.  Obin staggered backwards as Leo pivoted around to face him.  Leo moved forward, his head bent low in anticipation of Obin’s horizontal slash with his sword as he fell backwards.  It did come and whizzed over Leo’s head.  As such, Leo was still moving forward and Obin was now open.  Leo swung with his sword at Obin’s mid-section once more.  He had him.  However, Obin brought his blade quickly back but this time, the flat side of the blade was facing Leo, so that the magical holes were facing him to.  The light inside them brightened and shot forward at Leo.  He brought his sword to block and the impact caused a bright explosion that knocked both men in opposite directions.  Obin fell on his back, but went into a roll and quickly got back on his feet.  Leo was nowhere to be seen.  Obin stood still, his eyes scanning the street, his ears listening for any sound and his muscles recoiled like a spring, ready to uncoil again if need be.  Despite his predicament, his breathing remained calm and his heart beat was steady.  He had to be.  Panic would not suffice at this moment.  There it was: the slight whooshing sound of a sword that only a trained ear could pick up.  Had he been any other person, the sword swing would have decapitated his head.  Instead it missed when Obin bent low and swirled around.  His hat was however, gone revealing his medium length black hair.  Obin still could not see Leo but he heard a counter attack coming and barely blocked that.  He heard another one and a gash opened up in his thigh.  Obin staggered back and waited until he heard the very quiet sound of a cautious footstep.  He sent an energy blast from his sword to the ground.  It broke part of the street concrete, and sent some dust flying up in the air.  Obin observed the dust particles reveal an outline, as they swirled.  He was just in time as it also revealed Leo’s blade coming through to him in a forward thrust.  Obin side stepped the blade and grabbed Leo’s neck, forcing them down to the ground with a thud.  The blow caused Leo to cough out as the back of his head impacted the ground and Obin pressed his sword blade on Leo’s neck. 

“Any last words Angwelethean spy?”

Leo coughed and wheezed.  “I should… be asking… you the same.”  Leo faded into visibility.  It was then Obin noticed that Leo’s blade was actually in his left hand and pointed at his neck.  What the dust particles had revealed was actually Leo’s sheath, which he had used as a decoy.

“And I am no spy.”  Leo continued.  “Again, you have me mistaken.”

“You switched blade hands.  Your skill is impressive.”

“Did you not hear me?”

“I heard you well.  Drop your blade.”

“And surrender my only chance at survival?”

“I will not kill you.  You have my word.”

“My apologies if I take them lightly at this time.”

“We are at a standstill then.”

“Not
exactly.  You may want to drop
your
sword.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I’ll slice you in half faster than Lynda herself can put you back together.”  It was the voice of Max. He pressed the tip of his dagger on Obin’s back. “Stand up and let the man go.”  Max continued.  Obin slowly let go of Leo who massaged his neck as he got up to his feet.  He then reached out and pointed his blade at Obin’s heart.

“What happens now?”  Obin asked. 

“Let go of your sword slowly.”  Max commanded. 

Obin did so and his sword drop
ped to the ground with a clang.  Max bent down and picked it up, his dagger still pointed at Obin’s back. 

“We introduce you to everyone.” 
Max said as a portal took them away.

The portal opened up in an upper room.  There,
Davydd and the rest sat or stood waiting.  Obin shook his head and tried to regain his orientation. 

“Portal travel will do that to you if you are not accustomed to it.” 
Max said.  “I would be still if I were you.”

“Obin?”  Matilom said.  Obin turned around and saw Matilom walking up
to him.  “Put away your weapons.”  Matilom ordered.  Obin slowly got up and squinted his eyes.  He was still battling with orientation. 

“Matilom…”
  He said.

“You know each other?” 
Davydd asked.

“Obin is the commander of the Beathalethean army and King
Darius Vitalis’s right hand man.”

“A
king that is furious with you wizard.  You sent us warning, moons ago.  A warning we confirmed.  Yet you did not say where in Beathaleth you were going to be.  And it appears you have brought hostile men to our shores through Sangwa.”

“My sincerest apologies Obin.  But seeing as your command
had already been breached once before, I was not sure that I could trust any more word being sent without falling to the enemies eyes.  Besides, the men I used last time are no longer with me.”

“I see.”
Obin looked around him.  “Who is the son of Rikard?”

Davydd walked forward.  “I am.”

Obin surveyed him for a few moments. 

“The spitting image.”
  He finally said. 

“How is it that you were able to find Leo?” 
Davydd asked.

“I didn’t.  Beathaleth is a very large kingdom, king of Angweleth.  Sangwa is but o
ne of many ports, but word has spread of unusual activity here.  The death of a trader, the strange group of outsiders who would disturb residents with questions, and now rumors of Angwelethean soldiers who lurk in ships near the port.”

“Angwelethean ships
?  We only came with one and that one left almost three moons ago.”

“The ships I speak of have been talked about for a moon now.  Soldiers from your kingdom are here.  He knows.”  Obin pointed at Leo.  “It’s how I found him.  I observed the exchange of
stares unseen one and there is only one kingdom I know such powers of camouflage lay in.”

“He’s right.”  Leo added.  “Today, I saw one
of the death class soldiers.  It was the one who nearly prevented my escape with Baximus on the day of the rescue.” 

“Fa
rok is his name.”  Baximus said. 

“Was he following anyone?
” Davydd asked Obin.

“Not anyone in particular.  I was following him however.  He stalks the port daily as if waiting for someone.”

“Most likely us.”  Davydd concluded.

“I am not sure that it is
you he waits for.  He always sets his sights on ships and its passengers or crew and even then, his interest does not include those of the wealthy.”

“He must have gotten wind of the pirates somehow.”

“If he’s here, then it is very likely my father is as well.”  Vannera said, deep in thought.

“You harbor the false King’s daughter?”  Obin asked looking at
Vannera with contempt.

“Watch your words.” 
Davydd said, stepping forward. 

“This is not the time for conflict among us.”
  Baximus said walking forward. 

“Obin.  It has been a while.  I have one questio
n. Did you come here of your own free will, or at the behest of King Vitalis?”

“At his majesty’s orders, I was dispatched here.”

Baximus breathed a sigh of relief.   “Then you are not alone.”

“No… unfortunate
ly.”  Obin looked away.

“Some things never change.” 
Baximus said as he shook his head. 

“Father… We need to lay out plans.” 
Davydd said.  He glanced over and Segmiatus who was sitting away from the group and staring at nothing in particular.  He had been distant ever since their encounter with the wraiths at the field of dead souls.  Davydd had meant to speak to him in private, but had not found the opportunity yet. 

“Very well then.” 
Baximus said.  “Our first task is to ensure we know when Kazan attempts to meet with Ivan.  For that, I believe Max should be equal to the task.”  Baximus looked at Davydd, who nodded his head.

“
Sam and Segmiatus will be in charge of scouting for all Angwelethean soldiers here under the guise of residents.  Segmiatus, you are well versed in the tactics of Angwelethean soldiers, and as such you will take command of this.”

Segmiatus nodded.

“Vannera and Matilom, you two will seek a vantage point on a rooftop where you can see as far and wide as you can in all directions.  You will be our guide and let us know where Kazan is at all times.  Your sight has developed greatly and you can discern individual auras now.” 

Vannera nodded as well.

“I and Leo shall take to the ports in hopes of spotting Sidion’s ships, or Ivan’s.  Davydd, you and Obin shall follow Leo and me.  We will take the path back to where Leo last saw Kazan.  Let us hope he is still there.  Once you spot him, Vannera who will at first have eyes on you, should see him as well.  Obin, have your men lend support to us as best they can.”

“They already are, though they have been instructed not to combat the enemy until ordered to do so.”