Sword of Light (41 page)

“Still, you should not have taken the chance.”  Moshanna said.  “We could have met after the duel, when what he wants no longer matters.”

“And if he wins, Moshanna?”  Sharin asked, tears coming unbidden to her eyes.  “I could not bear to be this close and not see you.  Especially if things go wrong tomorrow.”

“I am not afraid, Sharin.”  Moshanna said, taking her hand.  “Seeing you reminds me of what I am fighting for.”

“Do not take him lightly, Moshanna.”  Sharin said, covering his hand with her other one.  “He is a deadly swordsman.”

“So am I, Sharin.”  Moshanna stated, resting his other hand on hers.  “And I will be fighting for love.”

She smiled at that and their conversation stopped.  Dominic leaned back against the wall, watching as they simply sat there, holding hands, lost in each other’s eyes, until Anatan returned.

…

Down by the docks, Darrius made his way into the drainage tunnels, his followers close behind.  He held his torch high, lighting his path, moving forward and trying to ignore the dripping water and slippery stones.  After a few minutes of walking, they came into the large opening where several of the tunnels came together.

“So, are we ready?”  An inhuman voice said, echoing against the hard stone.  Darrius watched as a demon stepped away from the crowd of men who were filling the opening.  The demon approached Darrius, who tried to remain calm, despite the creeping fear.

“There is a change in plans.”  Darrius said.  “It is something that can work to our advantage.”

The demon listened as Darrius spoke, a smile playing on its lips, as it liked what it was hearing.

…

“You are requested at the queen’s box, my lord.”  The servant told Dominic, pointing up the stairs of the arena.

“I will be ready in a moment.”  He replied, turning back to his check of Moshanna’s armor.  Satisfied that everything was in place, he pulled Moshanna close.  “Remember to stay focused.  You cannot afford to think of anything but the moment.”

“I know, Dominic.”  Moshanna said grimly, looking across the dirt floor of the arena at Darrius, who was lazily twirling his sword, a smile on his face.  “If I fall, tell Tomaris that I am sorry I failed him.”

“I would rather not make the trip to the Keep, Moshanna, so do not fall.”  Dominic said.  He extended his hand.  “Luck be with you.”

Moshanna shook his hand.  “It has been my honor to be your companion, Dominic Demonhunter.”

Dominic nodded.  “And it has been mine to know you, Moshanna Deepwood, Captain of Tomaris’ Guard.”

With that, he went over to the stairs that led off the arena floor.  As he climbed out, servants placed wooden barriers over the stairs, ensuring that the combatants could not flee.

He went over to the box where the queen was sitting.  It was raised above the nearby seats, ensuring a clear view of the arena floor, and covered, providing shade.  A large stone chair was in the center of the box, the other seating, stone benches.  The queen was in the chair, talking with Farrious, who was standing directly behind the chair.

“Join me, Lord Dominic.”  She said, pointing to the bench next to the chair.  He saw Lord Bacus on the other side of the chair.  “In single combat amongst nobles, the seconds sit with the queen to ensure that they remain out of the fight.”

Dominic took his seat, looking out over the arena.  He saw that the arena was full, mostly nobles, with Queen’s Guard stationed throughout.  There were clerics sitting here and there, interacting with the people near them.  Sister Anatan and Sharin were in the queen’s box, sitting below Bacus.  Taric and Halana were sitting together just below the queen’s box.

The queen stood and a trumpeter sounded his horn.  Once quiet fell on the arena, she gestured to Farrious.  He stepped forward and shouted, his voice carrying across the arena.  “This is a duel between Lord Darrius Oceansong and Moshanna Deepwood.  It is sanctioned by the queen, so none may interfere, under the penalty of death.  There will be no quarter asked or given.  The contest is over when one of the combatants is dead.”

Farrious stepped back and the queen stepped forward, raising her hand.  Moshanna and Darrius watched her until she dropped her hand, and then moved towards each other, swords at the ready.

Dominic watched as they closed, Darrius saying something to Moshanna, who ignored it.  In a sudden clash, they engaged, swords flashing as they moved.  After a flurry of blows, they separated, a deadly focus on both of their faces.

Moshanna feinted, then charged.  His sword went low, the blade moving at a blur, Darrius barely turning the blow.  Moshanna threw himself back as Darrius’ sword curled around from his defense, counter-attacking, the blade going high.

They circled each other, probing each other’s defense, attacking when they could.  In a sudden clash, they slammed into each other, and then spun away.  Dominic could see blood on Moshanna’s arm, while Darrius was favoring his right leg.

As Moshanna began to close again, Darrius suddenly shouted.  “NOW!”

Chaos erupted in the arena as Darrius’ men suddenly rose up and attacked the Queen’s Guardsmen, catching them by surprise.  Out of the corner of his eye, Dominic saw Bacus move.  Reacting, he leapt in front of the queen, reaching out and stopping Bacus’ dagger inches for her chest.  Straining against Bacus to keep the dagger away, Dominic kicked him low, driving him back a bit.  Before he could do anything else, Farrious’ war hammer whistled past his head, catching Bacus in the chest and ripping him from Dominic’s hands as he flew back.  He tumbled onto the arena seats, chest crushed.

“Protect the queen!”  Farrious bellowed, hammer at the ready.  Nearby Queen’s Guardsmen reacted, racing to the queen’s box.

Dominic drew his sword and surveyed the bedlam.  People were fleeing, clogging the exits, while Darrius’ men were attacking the clerics and Queen’s Guard.  Below him, he saw one of the men spin after killing a Guardsman, charging towards Taric and Halana.  Dominic leapt over the two, his sword ready.  Ducking under the man’s swing, he took the man’s legs.  Screaming, the man fell and Dominic finished him with a single thrust to the chest.

“Up near the queen!”  He tersely ordered Taric and Halana as he saw demons and their followers suddenly flow in from the openings around the base of the arena, attacking anyone that got too close.

He glanced down and saw several of Darrius’ men drop into the arena and advance on Moshanna.

“Go, Dominic!”  The queen called to him.  He glanced back to see Farrious organizing the queen’s defense, Sharin safely next to the queen, Anatan, Halana and Taric all glowing in power as the herald blew a distress call on his horn.

Sprinting ahead, he charged into the half-men that appeared, blocking his way to the arena floor.  Moving hard and fast, his sword a blur, he slammed into them, blocking blows with his armor as he struck his sword home.  The two half-men went down.

He started to move forward when he caught sight of an Imp to his right, surrounded in its dark power.  He threw himself to the ground as a bolt of demons’ fire tore past, narrowly missing him.  He rolled and got his feet under him.  The Imp was moving, leveling another blast when a stream of cleric’s fire hit it, driving it back.  He looked up to see the three clerics advancing, striking at the demons and half-men.

Freed from defending against the demon, he leapt onto the arena floor.  He saw that Moshanna was retreating as Darrius and his three men were advancing.  Dominic sprinted over to him.  Darrius was taken aback by his appearance, but then told his men.  “Kill the Demonhunter, but Deepwood is mine.”

Dominic split off from Moshanna, drawing the men away, while Moshanna closed with Darrius.  Dominic ducked under the first man’s blow, moving away as he drew his dagger.  He worked to keep the men to his front.

With a cry, the three charged him.  His mind calm, Dominic waited, moving at the last minute.  He twisted his body as he slipped between two of the men, feeling a blade slide along his breastplate as he drove his dagger into the man’s throat.  Ripping it free, he spun, facing the remaining two men as the other man fell to his knees, hands pressed against his throat.  The other men were more cautious as they split apart, trying to come at Dominic from opposite sides.  Dominic choose the man to his left, meeting his attack, parrying the blow then driving his sword into the man’s shoulder.  He spun away, but could not completely block the other man’s attack.  He felt a line of fire across his arm as the man’s blade caught him.  Ignoring the pain, Dominic charged into the attack, slamming his forearm into the man’s face.  As the man fell back, Dominic’s sword flashed.  The man collapsed as the blow took him in the head.  Dominic jumped over the body and brought his sword down on the remaining man.  Once his last opponent was finished, he turned to find Moshanna.

Moshanna and Darrius were still engaged, their swords moving.  Dominic could see blood on both men, but Darrius looked the worse of the two.  Moshanna moved like a snake, his blade flashing as it caught the light, but Darrius was quick as well.

So caught up in their duel, they did not notice Dominic’s approach.  He came from Darrius’ blind side and brought his sword down.

Darrius screamed and fell back as Dominic’s blade took off his sword hand.  Moshanna took advantage and drove his sword home, his face tight with rage.  Darrius shuddered as the blade struck deep and went still.

“I would have had him soon enough, Dominic.”  Moshanna said, pulling his sword out.

“I know, but now is not the time for polite niceties.”  Dominic said, shaking the blood from his sword.  He pointed to the battle in the stands.  “We have work to do.”

Moshanna nodded and followed Dominic as they raced back towards the queen’s box where the fighting was raging.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
F
OUR

Jake gripped his cloak tighter around him, his breath making a pale mist as he climbed the rocky trail.  He held Dontas’ reins, keeping an eye on Hailyn leading her horse ahead of him.  With a light snow on the ground, the horses were having trouble keeping their footing on the slippery rocks.  They were making their way towards what looked like a ruined castle, perched in the mountains above, its dark towers in stark contrast to the white dusting of snow that hung to them.

As they reached the top of the incline, Hailyn moved forward enough for Jake and the horses to press in next to her.  The lion slipped under the horses, its presence familiar now, and crouched next to Hailyn.  Jake saw her reach out and gently stroke its head while she surveyed the narrow pass that ran up towards the ruins.

“I don’t think the horses can go any further, Jake.”  She said as she turned towards him, snow covering her hood.  “The path is too steep.”

Jake considered the ravine and agreed with her assessment.  Looking around, he saw a small area nearby with a rocky overhang, partially sheltered from the weather.  “We can leave the horses there.”  He replied, pointing.

She nodded, leading her horse over to the area.  Jake followed, with Dontas and the packhorse behind him.  After they had laid out some feed for the horses, they did a quick check of their equipment and supplies.  Jake pulled out his helm and put it on, the metal cold against his head.  When he finished checking his armor and weapons, he slung a small bag of food and water over his shoulder.  He waited until Hailyn indicated that she was ready.

As they started for the pass, the lion followed them.  “No, Daca.”  Hailyn told the cat.  “Stay here.”  The lion regarded her with those large yellow eyes, not moving.  She made a shooing motion with her hand, but the lion simply waited.  She tried to pull the animal back towards the horses, but it drew away from her grasp.  She leaned down and tried to push it back, but it simply licked her face when she was close.

Jake smiled slightly as he watched them.  Over the five days it took them to cross that cold desert valley, Hailyn had been feeding the lion strips of the salted fish that Turlic had supplied them with and now the lion stayed close to her.  Jake was fine with that, since he knew of her love for animals and the fact that he couldn’t stomach the fish.  It had seemed like forever before he was able to get that taste out of his mouth after he tried it.

It was on the second day when Hailyn had decided to name the lion.  They had set up camp, angling a blanket between two rocks the block the wind, and were sitting and talking when the cat came over.  It lay down next to her, its purring a constant rumble.

“Daca.”  She said, gently stroking the lion’s head.

“What?”  Jake asked.

“I was just thinking back on a dog I had when I was a little girl.”  She said with a smile, her eyes far away.  “It was a wonderful dog, friendly and obedient.  The dog’s name was Daca.”  She looked down fondly at the cat.  “I think I will call him Daca.”  Jake had just smiled and shook his head, amused.

The trip itself had not been amusing.  It had been rough going, with seemingly permanent gray clouds blocking the sun and a constant icy wind blowing down from the mountains.  The wind stirred and swirled the fine dirt that coated the valley floor, getting it into everything.  Despite the hardships and Jake’s misgivings, Hailyn was confident that they were getting closer.

“I can feel it, Jake.”  She told him confidently one night, rubbing the bracelet.  “It is growing stronger.”

The constant pulling had led to the mountains and then into the rocky crags where they found themselves.  It was only this morning, when the gray clouds retreated up the mountains just far enough, that they saw the ruins.  They were large, made of a dark stone, built against the side of the mountain.  The wall was falling down in places, but looked to be mostly intact.  They could not see any entrances, so they would have to climb to it and find a way in.

“I think he plans to stay with you, Hailyn.”  Jake said, moving over and wrapping an arm around her.  He could see that she was unhappy, but she finally nodded.

“It will be dangerous for him.”  She said worriedly.  “But since I can’t force him to move, I guess I will just have to watch out for him.”