A Choice of Blades: The Blade Remnant, Book One

by D. N. Woodward

  While Dirk was still pondering the stone on his sword and the revelation Leon had just leveled, Leon took the opportunity to toss four more of its companions into his face. Dirk only had time to flinch before the first amber stone struck him.

  Each stone lost its color as it bounced off the bridge of his nose and fell to the ground. At first, Leon felt a chill of doubt like he had been wrong about the stones all along and now he might die from some foolish assumptions. But when Dirk continued to remain still and unblinking, even after Leon took a step to the side, he knew something significant had happened to his estranged cousin.

  Leon limped around behind him, noticing the glowing amber and purple lines working their way through veins and capillaries as they crisscrossed his face and crawled down the back of his neck. The tainted coloring flowed out into his arms, down to the tips of his fingers. When Leon came to a stop directly behind him and the man still hadn’t moved, Leon whispered in his ear, more for himself than for his cousin. He was doubtful Dirk could still hear him.

  “For what it’s worth, you were never my enemy, cousin. I forgive you for what you’ve tried to do to me, but I can’t allow you to do what you have planned for others. Hope you end up in a better place…but I doubt you’ll be back to tell me about it anytime soon.”

  He then reached around and snatched up the last stone, still balanced on the edge of Dirk’s sword, before he gave the frozen body of his cousin a gentle shove forward. He tumbled into the void and was immediately sucked into its inky blackness. Leon didn’t spare him a second thought.

  Only two giants were still on their feet in the battle back near the center of camp. Win or lose, Leon suspected more giants in the valley below would be coming to check on them all sooner than later. He and all his friends were living on borrowed time. But he could only control what was in front of him. He had to make certain the tree was out of commission before Ben's backup came to call.

  He glanced back and glanced at Kyra while he puzzled over the problem of the open path to his world. She seemed torn between watching over him and her brother, her head was on a constant swivel between him and the battle on the other side of the camp.

  Chocum did his best to comfort and encourage those around him. The selfless noble gestures and smiles of the tough savage-looking young man brought back memories from his childhood. He thought of the stories Gus used to share. His Blade pulsed at the same moment as more of those memories surfaced in his mind and Leon remembered a particular story Gus had told him years ago, the pertinent part involved the way in which Native Americans used to clear trees from wooded forest areas.

  That thought then melded in with his memory of Ethan's Blade when it effortlessly sliced into the Royal back at home. Together, they gave him a rough idea for something a little out there.

  Why not? It's worth a shot!

  He took his Blade and drove it in at the base of the tree, just below the open portal. It sank in like a hot knife through butter. Leon stepped forward, easily slicing a line in the bark parallel to the ground. He slowly worked his way around the tree's trunk, never allowing the Blade to skip a patch. Twice, his injured leg gave out, and he fell, but he never removed the Blade.

  The whole time, he worked he prepared himself for the inevitable, waiting for a mass of men to come pouring through the void. Only they never came. Once he made it all the way around and sliced through the last inch of bark, the void disappeared like it was never there. In its place was a charred spot of yellow wood, stripped bare of bark.

  He closed his eyes and released a deep breath. It carried equal parts anguish and relief. His leg threatened to give out again, and he leaned forward to brace himself against the tree. Heedless of the charred wood, he lowered his head to rest against its marred surface. It was rough against his skin when he whispered an apology for his broken promise to his grandfather.

  Chapter 32

  Leon turned his back to the tree and sank to a knee on his good leg. He stretched his injured leg out before him. It throbbed. The exhaustion of the fight had finally caught up with him.

  Dimples and Daz teamed up to take out the last giant. Grumpy was down, not moving. Merle moved with a limp, nursing a wound on a front leg. Ahab was nowhere in sight. Only Westley continued to swoop in and out of the fight around the giant's head like some angry feathered hornet.

  He had just about decided to risk the pain of hobbling over to Kyra when the soft rustling of footsteps on the forest floor alerted him of someone’s approach.

  “You look like you could use a hand,” Reed said quietly as he came gingerly stepping up from Leon’s left, holding his right arm as if it was wounded.

  Leon grimaced. “I could say the same for you.”

  “Too bad I can’t heal myself. I can help you, though. Hold still a minute.” Reed crouched down and placed his good arm over Leon’s wound.

  The sharp pain followed by the relief that came flooding in behind helped to clear his head. Though he might still nurse a limp for the next day or so, the gouge in his thigh was reduced to little more than a nasty bone bruise. He let out a deep sigh of relief and gave his thanks.

  “Ferschall’s gone, Reed.” Leon choked back tears. “He took a blow intended for me. It was over before I could even think to help!”

  Reed didn’t say anything for a while, then he sighed. “Don't go blaming yourself. I did that for a while after me and Haddie were captured. It didn't do me any good then, and it won't do you any good now. Ferschall was a good friend to all of us, and he cared about you most of all. Still, I think he would have done the same for any of us.”

  “Yeah, but still hurts. Where’s Fane and your friends?” Leon tried to change the subject.

  Reed’s mouth puckered. “They didn’t make it either. One of Shay’s guards slipped away while we were waiting on you all. He must have been with that Prince's faction the whole time. Anyhow, it wasn’t long before the attack came. Shay went down fighting like a madwoman from what I saw, so I doubt she’s to blame. But Fane, Liesel, and Hume were all struck in the head with imbued stones. They were gone before the fight even started.”

  Leon turned to look at Kyra once more. She was too far away to hear their conversation, but she must have seen the horror in his eyes. She turned to watch Daz as he checked his downed opponents.

  It wasn’t until that moment he noticed the tear streaks on her cheeks. How much more pain and loss would she have to endure? He struggled to his feet to go and comfort her.

  Reed grabbed his arm before he could move. “There’s more. I managed to get away with only a glancing blow to my shoulder, and though it slowed me down, they didn't seem too interested in pursuing me at the time. The long walk here gave me a chance to snag a good view of the valley below. There are torches from campfires for miles…and there were torches moving up the path this way, too, from way down at the bottom of the trail.”

  “That must have been why Slade set off that flare. How long?”

  “Two, maybe three hours?” Reed shrugged. “I’m guessing they move pretty fast.”

  Leon’s awareness of his surroundings came more clearly into focus. What he noticed landing on his arm wasn't water, not anymore at least. He looked up into the dark sky and saw thousands of small fluffy snowflakes drifting down from above.

  “We’ve got to free everyone and get out of here.”

  Reed looked around. “Where? We’re up against the side of a mountain that, a few hours ago, looked to be impossibly steep the further up you go. We could climb up higher, but they’d just flush us out in the morning.”

  “I don’t know, but let’s find the keys and free everyone.”

  One thing at a time, Leon. Just focus on what you can do, not what lies beyond!

  Reed helped him up but stayed back near the tree as Leon limped to the center of the camp where everyone else was gathered. He checked on Merle, relieved the big happy mutt was only nursing a nasty flesh wound. He sent the hound back to Reed.

  Grump
y, on the other hand, would not be getting up. He had gone toe to toe with a handful of giants and took one too many blows from those mighty clubs. But he didn't go down alone. There were three big blue corpses lying nearby.

  Ahab came trotting out of the woods a few minutes later, practically prancing at the praise he received from both Leon and Rezz, despite the arrow injury to his wing. Rezz explained how the griffin had helped to distract the one-eyed Vin long enough for him to score a hit with his bow. Apparently, he and the Vin Ranger he called the captain had been working to settle an old score.

  "I definitely wounded him, but I know better than to chase a wounded predator into cover. I just wish we had the time to flush him out. That man is evil and dangerous!" Rezz was more unsettled over the appearance of his Captain than he seemed to be over the dozen giant corpses scattered around them. It made Leon realize just how lucky he was that Grumpy and the gang came to his rescue when they did.

  The griffin cub, too, had saved more than one of their companion's lives that night. Leon sent him back to Reed to get patched up.

  Finally, Westley lighted down on his shoulder and nestled up against his neck, a toasty warm fuzzball of feathers, oblivious to the snow drifting down on them all. His calm presence lessened the ache of loss as he helped Daz check the bodies to make certain there were no further surprises.

  Leon heard a moan coming from near where he slew his first giant. He unsheathed his Blade and crept forward to investigate. When he drew closer, he saw a hand twitch. It was a man-sized hand and when he made it to the body, he saw it belonged to Ben.

  Gently, he rolled the grizzled warrior over. Blood was still running fresh on Ben's chin. The giant's spiked club had pretty much gutted the soldier. His stomach was a mess. Leon at once forgot about his hatred for the man. He yelled for Reed to come help.

  A weak voice spoke up, "No need for hysterics, boy. Can't you see when a man is dying?"

  "Weren't you the one who said we leave no one behind, even me?"

  Ben smiled, coughed and winced, and more blood ran down his chin. Leon went to mop it up with his sleeve, but Ben stopped him,. "You have a good memory, Leon. You'll need it if you can ever hope to beat Slade."

  Leon couldn't help but remark, "I thought I just did?"

  Ben shook his head. "Unless a man's down, he's not beat. Thought I taught you that lesson already."

  "Who is he really? He wasn't just one of your soldiers, was he?"

  "One of mine? No. I recruited him, but now…starting to think it was…the other way around. He was CIA. Said he needed to work with his own kind. Been with me four years…I never saw it coming. I had plans, to transition from our world to this one, gradually. Slade has plans…I think…to plant a foot in both."

  Leon still felt simmering anger towards the dying man, but something about seeing his enemy suffering like that melted his cold resolve, just a tad. He propped up Ben's head up and told him to hold on while Reed made his way over.

  "I'm sorry, boy, I wanted to carve out a fallout spot here in Fayden, a safe spot. Didn't start out…intending to hurt civilians. Slade though. He's a killer."

  Leon had always felt a begrudging respect for the man deep down. He had wanted to beat him senseless on more than one occasion, but Ben was an idealist in the worst possible way, and Leon could identify with that on some level.

  He pulled his Blade out and held it over him, hilt first. "You may not have ever wanted this, but if you're dying, Ben, what have you got to lose?

  "Besides, a soldier-guy I know once told me that if things go south, a man should have a weapon in his hands, even an old guy like you." Ben smiled faintly with recognition of his words to Leon back on the Hootsi border bridge,. "You know the story behind the Blade? What you have to believe when you take it?"

  Ben nodded.

  With wide eyes, the dying man reached up and gently grasped the bone handle. His arm fell back to his chest almost as soon as his fingers closed around the hilt. Leon knew what to expect, but he still gasped in awe when he saw the bone-hilt handle of a second Blade still clutched in his hand.

  Ben's eyes widened even further for several seconds, and he took a deep breath that rattled in his chest. Then he let it out and smiled up at Leon. His eyes held the first genuine look of appreciation Leon had ever seen on the cunning man's face.

  When Leon shifted, Ben's eyes didn't follow. They remained open, gazing off into the snowy darkness beyond.

  Leon felt a cold lump in the pit of his belly. For some reason, deep down, he had believed everything would work out for Ben when he grasped that bone-hilt handle. When they didn't, the last vestige of Leon's innocence flickered and died. Leon yelled again for Reed.

  He moved into position to begin giving chest compressions. Over and over, he pumped. Ben's last smile never faltered as Leon worked to save what was already gone.

  Rezz pulled him off when Reed made it to his side. Reed did what he could for Ben while giving Leon quiet encouragement.

  At last, Reed drew himself up off Ben's chest. He placed a scrap of cloth over his eyes. "He's gone."

  # # #

  Rezz tended to Ben's body, while Leon held Kyra in his arms. She was a strong woman, but the loss of her brother and her bear was tearing her apart. At first, he fought to find the right words to give her comfort, but soon he stopped fighting and just held her tight.

  If there was one thing Leon was thankful for, it was that she and the rest of his group hadn't been bound with manacles. The Fae simply hadn't had time to do more than tie everyone up and march them into camp before the attack occurred. Dimples easily freed them with his Blade while Leon and the others were working on Ben.

  Still holding Kyra, Leon took a look around. Clearing the area would be impossible. There were too many bodies to bury them all, and no one even considered touching the giants. Surprisingly, Dimples didn't mind the request from Leon to help bury Ben. He claimed burying Ben was at least repaying him an equal measure of the charity he gave his fallen warriors, the day of their massacre.

  Hootsi honor never ceases to amaze.

  Kyra's remaining brothers, Daz and Chocum were nearby. They reverently stripped the tusker armor and saddle off Grumpy and stacked them gently around him.

  Leon could only look on in muted pain as Dimples and Rezz piled rocks over their one-time nemesis. It was ironic that he felt such pain at the loss of a man who had inflicted such tragedy on them all, but forgiveness is an odd acquaintance.

  While they worked, Shay's one remaining bodyguard found the body of the Vin who held the keys to all the shackles. He worked to free the three hooded prisoners still bound.

  Minutes later, Leon caught the tangy scent of a very familiar cologne. A scratchy old voice spoke his name and Leon froze. He clenched his eyes shut where he stood but he couldn't hold back the tears of joy welling up from within.

  Without moving, he spoke to Kyra, who he still cradled in his arms. “You don’t have to do this with me now, but I think…I think my grandfather, Gus, is here.”

  She drew back, wiping her eyes. “No,” she smiled a sad but beautiful smile, “I want to meet the one who raised the man I am to marry.”

  They turned together to face Gus. The old man was smaller than he remembered, and his hair had traded out more pepper for salt, but for only the second time in his life, Leon saw tear tracks in Gus' face. He stumbled forward and, at long last, gave his adopted father a hug.

  Then he had the surreal experience of introducing Gus to Kyra. Gus couldn't make a sound when he learned she was to be Leon's wife. Despite the language barrier, he gave her a tender hug and a whiskery kiss on her brow.

  "Gus, how did you get here?"

  "Ben brought us over. I guess he knew you all were headed this way. Maybe we were a little added insurance for him?

  "The rest of his men were mobilizing from all over the country. He had them planning to come barreling through that portal at any moment. But listen, we can sort things out later. Is Reed here? O
ne of those big fellas kicked Ethan. He's been bleeding pretty bad. I don't think he has much time left to say goodbye."

  "Of course!" Leon called out. "Reed, get over here, fast as you can! It’s your uncle! He's here, and he's hurt."

  Much to Gus' stunned bewilderment, Reed was able to mend Ethan's injuries, and restore him to a restful sleep. He was also able to mend Shay from a wound where an imbued stone had glanced off her back shoulder and from a head wound from when she fell from the stone's blow and bounced her noggin off a rock. Lucky for her, her leather armor protected her skin from the power of the stone. She was restored to consciousness soon thereafter.

  Once all the introductions were over, and Gus had been brought up to speed on Shana's condition, the whole group moved further up into the dense jumble of ruins, just north of the Royal Tree. They rummaged through the remains of the supplies from Ben's camp and, for some reason, Leon was relieved to see Ferschall’s condensed pack of pottery had somehow made it into camp with the rest of the loot the Fae had hauled in after their attack on his friends. He immediately lashed his smaller pack to Ferschall’s, making a promise to himself that he wouldn't leave without it.

  Dimples and Rezz moved downhill to scout out the torches advancing from the valley below. Kyra fought through her grief and volunteered to help Shay administer some private care to Shana. Leon found himself alone with Gus for the first time.

  “You’ve grown, boy!”

  “Yes, sir, I guess I have.”

  “I don’t just mean you finally sprouted some muscle and gained a couple inches on me. I’ve been watching you. You’ve grown in other ways, too.”

  Leon gave a noncommittal grunt of acknowledgment.

  “What I mean to say is, I’m proud of you, son.” Gus scratched at his long whiskers. “And I’m fairly sure there ain’t no way I would have recognized you when I first seen you if you hadn’t been wearing them company letters on that beat-up cap!” They both chuckled at the old joke.