Sicarius (10 page)

Chapter XIV 

When Ambrose wakes, he is in a bed with bandages wrapped around his torso. The room the bed is in is connected to Oswald’s old castle. The room is full of other bandaged soldiers that were injured during the battle. The room is big and full of light. 

The king of Incontinence appears in the room and walks to Ambrose. “Thank you, Ambrose. If not for you, we would not have ended this fight for years.” One of the guards following the king brings a chair and places it at Ambrose’s bedside. 

Ambrose watches the king sit. “It was my great pleasure.” Ambrose looks around to study his surroundings. “How long have I been in slumber?” 

“Not too long, considering your injuries—about a day. You have a few broken ribs. That king giving you a fight—ha! We all thought of him to be swine. If there is anything I can do to repay you, just ask.” 

A chickadee lands next to a window where Ambrose can see. “There are a few requests.” Ambrose watches it fly off and turns his attention to the king. 

“Ask, and I will see if they are reasonable.” 

“Well, first, a free passage throughout the kingdom.” 

“Well, of course. What else?” 

“The guards that are in charge of the village where Gytha and Aida lived, Michael’s family. They are to be punished for their evil deeds. They did such evil things to them.” 

The king points to his advisor to remember. “So be it. They are all to be hanged next week, and are you to attend?” 

“I have to decline to watch.” Ambrose struggles to sit up. “I trust you to do the deed. I am tired of death, and I must go to give my friends a proper burial.” Ambrose sucks in the pain from his ribs and hold on to his sides. “Lastly, there is one more thing I ask.” He drops his pained facial expression and stops holding his side. Ambrose looks as if he has never been in pain. 

King Cynric gives Ambrose a look of amazement from Ambrose just letting go of the pain and looking as if he is back to his original heath. “Go on. It probably will not be that harsh, considering the last things you asked are not too bad.” 

Ambrose looks at the king with uncertainty. “You said you know of the Sicarius, right?” 

“Correct.” The king seems puzzled and is trying to figure out what Ambrose is going to ask. 

“I am sure you know what makes them so unstoppable.” Ambrose turns to the king with his feet placed on the floor. 

“Yes, that metal from the rock that fell from the sky. I recently found this out because of you telling us.” The king adjusts himself in his seat. “Are you sure you want to stand?” 

Knowing that this king can be reasoned with, Ambrose explains, “Have you killed all of the Sicarius? And don’t worry about me, this is nothing.” 

“Well, if you insist, I will leave you be. And the Sicarius, we are working on killing them. Some fled once they realized we won. I am sure they will show their faces soon and want revenge.” 

“I know they will want vengeance. They no longer have a purpose. Without purpose, who knows what they will do.” Ambrose stands. “Maybe they will come to ask for your approval and help you with your enemies. Without a king to give them orders, they are as harmless as a fly. Do not worry of them.” 

“Are you sure?” 

“I am one. I know how they think. I was once their leader. If they do not come to you, they will soon find me for answers.” 

“So be it. The hunt for them will stop.” The king points to his advisor once more. 

“Well, back to the request. I know it seemed I went off course for a while describing the Sicarius, but there was a reason.” Ambrose points to the black sword. “Do you see that black sword I held in the corner of the room?” 

King Cynric looks to the corner. “Yes, I know this sword. It was once Michael’s. You have my attention. Why do you possess it?” 

“Well, it is made from the metal Sicarius use as defensive weapons.” 

“I thought this could not be sharpened. You told me this is why Sicarius did not have offensive weapons.” 

“I thought this as well, but there is a way—and if sharpened, this is able to cut through anything, even the Sicarius defensive weapons.” 

“I never knew it held such power. I only recruited Michael for his expertise. This sword must be the reason why he was so gifted.” The king places his hands together and becomes happy. “You are to tell me how to sharpen this metal.” 

Ambrose walks to the window to look to the sky. “Do not think the sword made him great. It did not. If I and he were to fight once more and use average weapons, he will win.” Ambrose turns back to the king to see he still sits. “Well, the thing is, the way you sharpen this metal, that is what I ask.” 

“Go on.” The king becomes interested in what his request will be. 

Ambrose takes a breath. “With this metal sharpened, the devastation will be crucial. I am sure a king of your intelligence can figure out what will happen. You might have the knowledge of this secret, but what if it leaks out and some other land get this? No matter how small, they will be a challenge.” Ambrose walks back to his bed and takes his robe. “I am sure there is more of this rock that makes this metal. If you had this sword under your nose all along, who knows where else it could be located.” He places his robe back on and notices the stitching that Aida did. It is located on the bottom part. Ambrose feels it to remember the girls for a split second and lets go. He watches his robe drop the rest of the way to fit his body. He then looks up to the king. “This is what I ask. Give me all this metal. I know the only way to destroy this metal. There is more out there. I will find the rest of this metal and destroy it all.” 

“I must think upon this.” A long pause is made as King Cynric sits deep in thought. 

Ambrose knows King Cynric will never let a chance to have more power go so easily. While he thinks, Ambrose has no choice but to convince the king. If he does not, Ambrose will have to defy the king and use this time to kill Cynric. While the men scramble and try to figure what has happened, Ambrose will take all the metal with stealth and leave—but only if the king does not listen to reason. 

While bracing to kill the king, Ambrose uses the last thing he could say to convince the king. “Your land is even mightier after your victory, do you not think? No one will ever be able to defy you with the power and land you have. With this power, you will be able to gain more, easily, without this metal. There is no reason for this metal to be a part of our world. I know this is a way to gain more power, but it is also a risk to lose your power. Something so small, I am sure you will not consider such a risk.” 

“You are right. This metal should be destroyed. Who better to do this than the mighty Ambrose?” King Cynric smiles. “He is the man who took down a whole kingdom by himself, after all. This is what the men say anyways. Go forth and destroy it all. You have my power and men at your disposal, but only to destroy this metal. You are a good man, and I trust you. I will grant you this request, but only if you will be at my disposal. I do not need you now, so do not worry. Go forth and fulfill what you please, but soon, I will ask of you.” 

Ambrose stops looking at his sword to murder the king. “Thank you. I will leave soon. I am sure I will ask of your men one of these days in my journeys, but no need for them just yet.” 

“You can find all the armor in a wagon by the entrance. I took the armor from the men we killed back at my castle and brought it as well. It is all in that wagon. All the men know your face. They will not question you. Just take it. You are a hero to them.” 

Ambrose grins at the thought of being a hero. “Is Oswald’s armor in this wagon as well?” 

“Yes.” 

Ambrose looks around the room. “Where is my armor? I have only my robe.” 

“Oh, yes.” The king claps his hands together twice, and a man comes into the room. The king stands and walks to this man. “Go and get Ambrose’s armor. It is in the strange courtyard’s armory. Hurry.” 

The man bows to the king. “Right away, sir.” He runs out the room. 

Ambrose sees the differences in the ruling of the two kings. “Your generosity is remarkable. A king of your status shall rule forever.” 

“Forgive me.” The king places his hand over his heart. “I am a king, and it is rare for me to thank someone.” 

“I do not expect you to.” Ambrose walks to the sword to pick it up. “I will like to roam the halls of this castle once more before I leave. Is this fine?” 

“Of course. Do as you please.” 

“I will meet the man you sent out by the courtyard. I am heading that way anyways.” 

“We will talk soon.” 

“Yes. I will come to you once I leave. I am sure you have much to do here before you leave back for your home.” 

“Indeed.” 

Ambrose nods his head and heads out the doors. As he makes his way to the courtyard, the soldiers cheer his name. Ambrose still grins at the thought of his friends dying for him to become a hero. 

When Ambrose is done remembering his past thoughts, he leaves. The king provides Ambrose a horse and carriage and sends him on his way. Before Ambrose begins his journey to destroy all the metal, he will travel back to Pacem. He will do all his traveling with the wagon of metal for all to see. He is convinced no one will know what this is and will show no interest. Even so, Ambrose is wearing armor from this metal, which he took from the wagon, and will never let his guard down again. 

Chapter XV 

After days of travel, he finally makes it to the farm where King Oswald killed the girls. He tells people of the war and how they are free. This causes a rebellion against King Oswald’s men that are still stationed there. They are all shortly killed. 

When he arrives at his desired location, Gytha’s and Aida’s burnt bodies are still in the cage. The land is burned down, and the smell of their bodies consumes the majority of the island. Ambrose’s rage is released onto the rest of Oswald’s men that are nearby and are not surrendering. 

Ultimately, Oswald’s men are all killed by Ambrose. When finished, they make Ambrose the one in charge of the land. He accepts this reasonably and places a mother and child—who resemble Aida and Gytha—in second of command while he is on his journey. This is to turn their request down but to show them respect. 

The meeting is adjourned, and he makes his way back to the farm to take the bodies of those who owned the land before and bury them behind what is left of their house. He finds a shovel in the ashes of the barn. The house and farm will be rebuilt, and the land will continue as it once was. 

After he buried the two owners, he walks to the cage Aida and Gytha are in. Carefully, he picks the two girls up and takes them to the top of the highest hill in the land. From there, one can see the ocean, the dock, the sunset, and the sunrise. It is the most beautiful scene the island has to offer. 

Ambrose knows this is the perfect place to bury them. After he has made a burial site for the bodies, he places the black sword in the grave with Aida and Gytha. He starts to complete the grave. When the hole is completely filled, Ambrose places three crosses by their single grave. One is for Michael, and the two are for the girls. When he was accompanying the girls, some would call Ambrose “a mysterious type of gentleman.” He finds this feeling once again once he finishes with the completion of the grave. 

Ambrose’s eyes start to become watery. “I cannot hold the sword anymore. I only agreed to hold it because you two were still alive, and I was to come back. With you two gone, this is the only thing that shows Michael’s soul. I will like to think you are all buried together.” Ambrose clasps his hands and bows his head. “I still vow to find all the metal from the meteor and destroy it. I will go to the island that made the black sword and get all of their information. After that, I am sure there will be more metal to destroy. The people of the island will know where more is located. I am certain they will show me more ways to destroy it. I hope they will like me. I do not want to start trouble. I find myself tired of fighting. Well, if they do not embrace me, I will tell them the deeds that I have done for the wife and daughter of Michael White. I am sure they will like me then.” Ambrose pauses to gather himself, and he listens to the seagulls squawk while tightly closing his eyes, trying not to let a tear fall. “I am truly sorry for what I put you two through. I said, before, I will not say sorry ever again because there will be no reason for it. I let you both down. Here I am saying it once more.” A single tear is let out. “You both were the only people that have ever been my friends, and I hope what I have done makes you three forgive me in the afterlife. I never got the chance to thank you, Michael. Without you being next to me the whole time, I would have died. Thank you. I am convinced you were only there because I was the only one who was capable of saving your family, but still, thank you.” Ambrose stops once more, uncertain on how to go about a prayer. 

“Me being a former Sicarius, I never buried anyone and do not know what to say. I only said what I did because it came out so natural. If you two were still here, that is how I would have talked to you. It seems so easy when I see others do it. I guess I can keep speaking to you girls like this.” Ambrose releases his hands to look to the distance into the ocean. “The king of Fraudule is dead. I killed him, and his kingdom will go to King Cynric. From there, the land will become one, and everyone will be free of King Oswald. Now they have to deal with King Cynric—ha!—not knowing who is better because they are both unworthy kings. I am sure King Cynric will do a better job from what I have seen after I obtained his help. Maybe one day, I will step in and take over. God only knows I could take over any land with ease and win to give all a new life. Maybe I will after I destroy all of the metal.” Ambrose kneels down and looks at their grave. “I will continue to visit as I promised, so do not worry, you two. I also will be careful.” A pause is made from the deep thought Ambrose is in. 

“Well, my two ladies, I must be on my way now to seek out more of the metal. Before I go, I do know a prayer. Strange, right? Well, I was taught this in case I found myself at the grave site of King Oswald’s ancestors to show respect. If anything, you three deserve this more than them.” Ambrose stands and places his arms by his side in attention. “Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti.” When finished, Ambrose relaxes. “Once more, I am truly sorry.”  

Ambrose walks to his horse and climbs on. As he is on his horse, he looks to their grave to show sympathy then looks in the direction the horse is facing. He whips the horse’s reins and rides off into the sunrise to start his new journey.