Sebastian hurtled towards the closer of the two real guardsmen, sword raised overhead. All of the lessons from the previous month were finally going to be put to the test. Nearing his opponent, Sebastian swung his blade at the man’s unprotected head and was met, steel ringing on steel.
Meanwhile, Tornike charged towards Adelwolf and his fleeing prisoner, followed by the second guard. Seeing Tornike coming, Adelwolf urged the woman to continue her flight and swirled to meet him. “Heinrich Tornike…it’s been a long time since our paths crossed.” Tornike pulled his horse short, dismounting and ordering his guard to chase after the captive.
“You should not have come here old man. This will be the last time you cross me.” The two warriors clashed their swords, battle engaged. They danced back and forth across the clearing, testing each other’s defenses and probing for weaknesses. Tornike had the edge in terms of size and strength, yet was outmatched by Adelwolf’s skill with a blade.
Across the way, Sebastian’s own fight with the guard was not going particularly well. He had managed to keep from getting seriously wounded, but was being hammered by the guard’s blunt force attack. The man was brutally strong and simply kept coming. It was all Sebastian could do to keep his own sword in front of his attacker’s each time the blade came down.
His hands numb from the continuing blows, Sebastian had only a few moments left to turn the course of the fight. Disregarding his own safety on defense, he made a desperate charge forward. With both hands on the hilt, he put all his strength into a blow aimed at the guard’s sword arm, jarring the man’s sword loose for just an instant.
For the guard, that instant proved to be too long. Prepared for the impact, Sebastian held his grip and used the momentum to barrel into the man, dislodging his sword the rest of the way. With no time to think, Sebastian brought his sword around for another blow, cutting deep into the man’s torso. Growing up, Sebastian had helped his uncle slaughter livestock and knew the feel of steel cutting into flesh. Still, that had not prepared him for the feeling of his cold blade slicing through the side of a man or the look in his opponent’s eye. Stunned, he stood there a moment over the dying man.
“Sebastian, RUN! Find the girl!” Adelwolf’s call startled him out of his shocked state. He looked up to see Tornike and Adelwolf circling each other warily. He was starting towards the two when he heard a shout from the forest. The other guard had found her. He stood for an instant longer watching Adelwolf, then bolted into the forest.
#
Crashing through the forest, Sebastian almost tripped over Cenric in his haste to locate the second guard. Cenric held one finger to his lips, motioning him to silence and pointing to their right. “They’re just over there,” he whispered. “Follow me. I can create a fog to cover the man’s sight. You go in and take her to the horses. I’ll slip back around and spook their horses before he can find his way back so they aren’t able to follow.”
Nodding, Sebastian wiped his bloody sword on some nearby moss and sheathed it. If Cenric’s plan worked there would be no need for another fight, which was good because he could already feel the exhaustion from the first battle. He chuckled ruefully at himself at how quickly he had come to accept magic when it suited his purposes. So much for his righteous indignation. They crept forward until the guard and his newly recaptured prisoner were in sight. It was Krystelle Mora! The guard was standing just behind her, binding her hands when Cenric’s spell took effect.
Cenric sped off towards the road to take care of the horses while Sebastian moved forward warily, with his eye on the now blinded guard who was casting about with his arms in panic, crying out for help. Ignoring his shouts, Sebastian took hold of Krystelle’s arm, “Come with me M’ Lady.”
As he pulled her away from the guard she looked back at the man who had been tying her arms a moment before. “I don’t understand…who are you?”
“I’m Sebastian Headley. I’m here to rescue you.”
“Rescue me? You mean you aren’t another of Tornike’s guards?”
Urging her forward he realized that Cenric’s glamour had not worn off. “I’m wearing an illusion. I’m here with Quiren Adelwolf. I’m going to take you to the horses. He’ll meet us there. Now, we must be silent. I don’t know how quickly that guard will regain his sight.”
The sounds of the guard thrashing about dwindled behind them as they made their way through the dense forest. They were not quite back to where their horses had been tethered when the glamour finally wore off. Getting a look at him for the first time, she pulled up short. “You? But I know you. You’re the one I met by the river outside of Taleros. The one I gave the message to!”
“I am m’lady.”
“How did you come to be here, with Quiren Adelwolf? How did you find me?”
“I was taking your message to him when he found me. He was taking me back to my uncle’s farm, but Gerlach Pwyll tracked me from the river,” the anger rose in his voice. “He killed my family for helping you. My aunt, uncle, and even my little niece. I still don’t know how he knew.”
“Sebastian…I’m so sorry. I would never have involved you…”
He cut her off, “You had no choice. Had you not, you would have been captured and there would have been no one to carry your message.” His voice turned cold, “Do not fear, I will make Gerlach Pwyll pay for their deaths.”
Cenric was waiting when they finally broke into the dell where the horses were hidden. He was practically dancing back and forth on his feet and the horses whickered, picking up on his energy. “We need to go! We need to go now!”
“Not without Adelwolf,” declared Sebastian. “The two of you wait here, I’m going back to help him. If we’re not back in quarter of an hour, head for the Dazhberg without us.”
Bursting back into the roadside clearing, Sebastian took stock of the ongoing fight. Across the small battlefield, Tornike rained a series of savage blows down on the old knight. Stumbling backward, Adelwolf lost his footing, falling backward in the road. Tornike kicked the man’s sword away and set his blade against his neck. “Your strength is failing you old man. I’m going to be the man who finally cuts down the great Quiren Adelwolf!”
“Your arrogance will be your downfall, Tornike. Killing me will avail you nothing.”
“Your words are empty old man!” Raising the sword for one final blow, he noticed Sebastian barreling toward him. He managed to intercept Sebastian’s first strike, barely. Beginning a new dance, Tornike and Sebastian circled, testing. Sebastian could feel his own weariness from his earlier fight, but was counting on Tornike being even more tired from the protracted battle with Adelwolf.
“You’re the boy aren’t you?” Tornike taunted. “I was there with Gerlach Pwyll when he gave the order to execute your family. It was your fishing rod that led us to them, you know. You should never have left it there by the shore. The little girl squealed when I stuck her!”
A desperate rage bubbled up within Sebastian that dispelled his fatigue. He drew upon every lesson Adelwolf had poured into him, and every ounce of skill. His sword was like a living creature; attacking, slicing, probing. Locking swords, he came face to face with the mercenary. Tornike drew in and spit into Sebastian’s eye as he pushed off, causing the boy to stagger back.
Feet skidding in the dirt, Sebastian fought to regain his footing. Bracing himself, he threw himself forward once again. Tornike knocked his sword away, fist smashing into his jaw, sending him reeling. Roaring after him, Tornike hauled back his boot and pounded it into Sebastian’s side. Heaving himself off the ground, he stretched one arm towards his sword. Tornike planted the heel of his foot into Sebastian’s shoulder and pushed off, sending the boy crashing back to the ground. Squinting up at his tormentor, Sebastian grimaced with the agony of each blow. This was it, all his dreams of vengeance on Gerlach Pwyll were going to end here in the middle of the wilderness at the hand of Heinrick Tornike. Sebastian closed his eyes, waiting for the final blow to fall. When it did not come,
he opened his eyes again to look about him.
Having regained his strength, Adelwolf had re-engaged, stopping the onslaught. He attacked Tornike with renewed vigor as Sebastian watched, fighting to regain his breath.Tornike backed towards his dark gray horse, fending off Adelwolf’s attack. Pressing his temporary advantage, the old Knight crashed through Tornike’s defenses, landing a glancing blow on his shield arm. Tornike staggered back against his mount.
Sebastian managed to haul himself back to his feet and grabbed his sword with one hand, the other pressed to his aching side. Limping forward, he fell into Adelwolf, momentarily distracting the old knight. Seeing an opening, Tornike clambered into his saddle. Adelwolf watched in frustration as the man rode off and rounded on Sebastian, “What are you thinking, boy? Why would you distract me like that?”
“I wanted to be the one to take his head, for my family’s sake!”
“Take his head? Who made you his judge and executioner? We had an opportunity here today and you’ve managed to squander it away. This is exactly the kind of thing I warned you about. You must learn to control your impulses. I’ve half a mind to send you on your way here and now, but something tells me your part is not yet done.”
Sheathing his sword, Adelwolf turned away from Sebastian and strode off into the forest. Sebastian scrambled to catch up to him and the two walked in silence to the clearing where their companions waited. Coming into the dell, Adelwolf’s face broke into a smile, “Krystelle, it is good to see you safe. I had not thought to find you Tornike’s prisoner.”
Rushing over to hug the old knight, she frowned at his wounds. “You’re wounded!”
“Mostly just my pride. We need to move quickly. Tornike will be riding directly to his master and Cinaeth.” She helped Adelwolf into the saddle and made to mount up behind him. “Ride with Cenric, he is light and his horse should be able to carry two.” Sebastian watched as she walked over to the young wizard, feeling a sudden pang of jealousy as she wrapped her arms around the boy.
With a harsh glare at Sebastian, Adelwolf informed her of their plans as they rode. “Tornike escaped with the Sunstone. I had hoped to recover it while it was relatively undefended.”
“Why would Gerlach Pwyll move the Stone under so light a guard?”
“I can only guess as to his intentions. Either he did not believe that there was any threat, or he felt that a small party would be able to pass through to his fortress at Cinaeth unnoticed. He could not risk having it or you remain at Aldmoor any longer.”
“Do you still have the maps that I sent you?” Adelwolf nodded. “Then there may yet be a way. My agent was able to infiltrate the keep there and spent many months mapping out the structure. At the last he located a passageway leading past the outer wall. The entrance is well hidden, but it should provide us a way in.”
“Then that is our path. It is a three day ride to Cinaeth by road. We must move quickly!”
#
Adelwolf set a hard pace that day, pressing the horses as far as he dared. Doubling up with Cenric and Krystelle Mora on the same horse would slow them, while Tornike would be traveling light and fast and would reach Cinaeth ahead of them. Adelwolf did not want to give Gerlach Pwyll time to prepare, assuming the dark wizard realized they were coming for the Sunstone.
As the landscape rushed past, Sebastian stewed over what had happened with Tornike, and Adelwolf’s displeasure. He knew he had let the man bait him and allowed his anger to take control. In that moment, he had not been thinking of the consequences, only his revenge. It felt like a dark cancer on his heart and he feared what would happen if he let it consume him. Resolving to do better, he decided to ask Adelwolf to continue his sword training at the first opportunity.
The opportunity did not come that day, as Adelwolf kept them moving well past dusk, and the time when there would still be light enough to practice. They made a cold dinner and retreated to their blankets, only to awaken with the first light of day. Mid-morning they happened upon a farmstead and Adelwolf managed to barter a horse from the farmer, giving Krystelle Mora her own mount.
As it turned out, Sebastian did not even need to ask for his training to continue. With the sun high, they paused at luncheon to rest the horses in a sunny clearing next to the swiftly flowing river and Adelwolf broached the subject himself after they finished their meal. “Sebastian, your sword-work yesterday had a hint of desperation to it. There is much for you to learn, and our time is running short. The Krenon are laying siege to the Dazhberg and we must recover the Sunstone and return it there before they manage to breech her walls.” He turned to Krystelle Mora, “Would you spar with Sebastian? There is something I must show Cenric there.”
She gave Sebastian an appraising look, “Does he have any training to speak of?”
“He knows the basic forms.”
“Well, that is a start,” she beckoned to Sebastian.
“But, Lord Adelwolf, I thought you would continue to train me,” he protested.
“Are you questioning my skill?” asked Krystelle.
“No, it’s just…”
“Enough,” said Adelwolf. “Krystelle is an able sword-master and you can learn much from her. He needs to learn to control his sword. Start there.” He waved Sebastian towards her and turned to Cenric, “Come lad, there’s something you and I need to discuss.”
Sebastian watched the two of them walk away and then turned towards Krystelle Mora. “Where do we begin?” he said, drawing his sword.
Pulling her own blade from her scabbard, Krystelle gave him a wry grin. “A simple sparring match, I think.” He grinned in anticipation. “But we move at no more than one quarter speed. I would not want you to cut yourself…or me for that matter!” Sebastian’s grin melted away as she brought her sword across in attack. He moved to parry as her blade inched toward him, straining to control the speed of his own sword. He did not get there in time and she landed a blow to his side.
It was her turn to grin, “Harder than it looks, is it not? Again.”
She pressed her advantage and landed two more blows in sequence before Sebastian managed his first block and turned to the offensive. He jabbed at her with a sharp cut, which she parried easily and they continued back and forth for a quarter of an hour. Sweat poured down Sebastian’s face from the effort of keeping the speed of his blade low. She managed two more touches before he was able to get past her guard and land a single blow.
At last, she broke off the attack. “You have some talent,” she said.
“Thank you for noticing.”
“That was not praise, merely an observation. Talent will only take you so far and you obviously have a lot to learn. Full speed this time!” She came at him, her blade moving like quicksilver. Sword-arm tired from their previous sparring, Sebastian struggled to keep pace. She landed two quick blows on his torso, forcing him to redouble his own efforts. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that they were near the cut-bank of the river and saw an opportunity.
Pressing forward with a concerted attack he edged her towards the bank, intending to corner her there. They locked blades for a moment before she could push him away and he charged back, sword raised and hoping to push her into the water. She stepped deftly aside while his momentum carried him forward. Trying to stop himself, Sebastian swayed on the edge of the bank. She slapped him on the rear with the side of her blade, disrupting what was left of his balance and he toppled face-first into the river with a huge splash.
Fuming, he pulled himself over to find Krystelle standing over him laughing, sword point down at rest. Before he could think better of it, Sebastian lunged for her and, wrapping his wet arms around her, pulled her down into the river with him. Wrenching herself free, Krystelle pulled herself into a sitting position, spluttering with the river water filling her mouth. He sat up next to her and was about to speak when the slap exploded across his face, leaving his ears ringing.
It was Sebastian’s turn to splutter as he sat there in the water, face smarti
ng from the blow, looking at Krystelle. The drenching had plastered her auburn hair to her head; giving her a youthful, innocent look that captivated him. They stared at each other for a moment before Sebastian broke off and grabbed their swords to scramble out of the river. Setting the blades down, he turned back and offered Krystelle his hand. Pulling her up and out of the water, his foot slipped on a wet stone and back down they went. Coughing as they sat up out of the water, Sebastian and Krystelle both started laughing. This time, they helped one another up and stumbled out of the river, arms around each other for support and continuing to laugh.
“Ahem…” Adelwolf had returned with Cenric. Seeing him, Krystelle pulled away, her face flushed. Adelwolf cocked one bushy eyebrow and turned to where Cenric waited with their horses. “Mount up. You’ll have to dry off those clothes while we ride. Sebastian scurried to grab his sword, not looking at Krystelle. Wiping it on a saddle-cloth before sheathing it, he clambered into the saddle and urged his horse after Adelwolf and Cenric.
Within an hour of setting back out on the road, Sebastian was miserable. Soaked to the bone, his leggings refused to dry and the insides of his thighs began to chafe from the motion of his horse. He supposed that Krystelle was having similar difficulties; but as long as she did not complain, he refused to also.
They rode a little while longer when Adelwolf called a halt and Sebastian climbed down from his horse in relief. “We’ll take a short break and let the horses graze,” said Adelwolf. “I suspect Sebastian would very much like to finish drying out.”
“I expect so,” said Krystelle, leading her horse past Sebastian and looking very dry and comfortable.
He gaped as she pulled a bundle of wet clothes from her saddle bags after hobbling him and setting him to graze. “You changed clothes!”
Eligium- The Complete Series Page 6