The Darkest Sword

by Samantha Kroese

  Soryn was startled awake in mid-snore. He almost fell out of bed, as he clutched his head with a groan. His cheeks darkened when he saw where they were. He hastily started to dress.

  "Embarrassed? Your first time with so many? Enjoy the benefits of being a hero, my friend." Ashiyn laughed at him, then picked his blade up from the ground as the women around them started to stir. He pulled away from a few that tried to convince him to stay and walked over to pick up the dark-haired beauty's clothes. He tossed them at her as she opened her eyes. "Come. You will join me at my castle."

  She looked at him with wide eyes while the women around her glared. Then she obeyed and dressed.

  "My Lord, a humble suggestion?" Soryn asked as Ashiyn walked up to him.

  "What?" Ashiyn frowned at him.

  "It might come across a little better if you were to ask her if she wants to join you,” Soryn suggested as they both glanced back at the woman.

  "Do you not wish to come with me?" Ashiyn asked the woman.

  "I would be honored to come with you, my Lord," she replied, her voice as sweet as honey.

  "See?" Ashiyn smirked at Soryn. “Just because one foolish woman did not realize what I offer, does not mean they all will be that way.”

  “It would be a foolish woman indeed who denied you, great King,” the woman said as she latched onto Ashiyn’s arm.

  “Will you at least ask her name?” Soryn implored with a sigh. Clearly, he had more to say, but did not dare voice it in such a public place.

  Ashiyn turned his gaze to the woman as they started out into the town together. “Do you have a name? Or shall I call you goddess?”

  The woman blushed and giggled, “I am Seraphine, if it pleases you.”

  As they made their way through the town, the townspeople bowed low to Ashiyn and cheered for him. Ashiyn glanced to Soryn as he spoke, "I rather like this. It's different than having them cower, but not entirely a bad thing."

  "We will make you a hero in no time," Soryn quipped, then ducked his head at Ashiyn's sharp look. "I mean make them think you are, my King."

  Ashiyn still gave him a suspicious look. "Take the woman on the back of your bird. I would hate for something so lovely to fall from my obnoxious steed's back."

  The woman looked horrified at the idea and gave the winged equine a wide berth as they came up to where the animals were resting.

  Illusion let out a loud, terrible snort and made quite the show of prancing and pawing as Ashiyn got onto his back.

  "This way," Soryn indicated the griffin who perked up at their approach and watched them with its emerald eyes. He helped Seraphine onto the griffin’s back, then joined her.

  Ashiyn watched Seraphine, entranced by her. Women didn't usually have this power over him. He frowned, considering it. Was she some sort of enchantress? He discreetly used his magic to try to detect any in her. While Soryn glowed to his magic-gifted sight now, there was nothing but empty space for the woman was. She appeared ordinary with no magic he could sense. As they rose into the sky to return to the castle, Ashiyn pondered this.

  It was night again by the time they returned to the castle. Seraphine seemed a little put off by the Nthir when Ashiyn had them show her to his chambers. He watched her follow them, then turned his gaze to Soryn expectantly. “You have something you wish to say?”

  Soryn seemed hesitant and shook his head. “I would not question you, my King.”

  “Are you jealous?” Ashiyn asked with a frown. “I do enjoy you, Soryn, but I enjoy women far more. You know that. If you are to be with me, you must share.”

  “It is not that, Master,” Soryn mumbled. “I do not want to see you hurt again like the last one tried. It stirred up a wound that has festered for far too long.”

  “That is why I need another woman now. To help me momentarily forget the one that I can never purge from my nightmares,” Ashiyn grumbled. “Don’t worry. I do not get attached to them. Marista just caught me off guard with her little display of defiance. This one seems much more willing to please me.”

  “Does she please you?” Soryn asked with a raised brow.

  Ashiyn grinned just a little at him, pressing Soryn up against the wall. “Oh yes. Would you like to share her? I’m sure she could please you as well. If she does not, I know that I would.”

  “Let’s not scare her away on the first night, my King,” Soryn winked at him and slipped away down the hall. “I’m quite sore actually. I would enjoy a night of rest. Go and make her feel comfortable.”

  Ashiyn watched Soryn walk down the hall, then made his way to his chambers. Seraphine turned out to be quite a feisty woman. Once they were alone, she was neither shy nor afraid of him like the other had been. Though she treated him with respect, she didn't act like a scared mouse whenever he touched her.

  All in all, he fell asleep quite satisfied that night with a beautiful woman in his arms.

  When the sunlight poking through his windows finally woke him, though, he found he felt a little empty. He rose and took a nice long bath, then dressed in his armor.

  Sihtaar lay in its glass case. Today it looked like nothing more than a very elaborate blade. No sparks crossed over it, and he didn't hear it whispering in his mind. It did not make sense, considering the blade had sucked Rhadamanthus dry a few days ago and feasted on the blood of powerful monsters. It should have been more active than ever. Perhaps it felt as sated as he did.

  Seraphine stirred in the bed and rolled over to look at him. "Is something wrong, my King?"

  Ashiyn shook his head. "Not at all. I think all is finally right. Get dressed. I will go see if Soryn has cooked us breakfast."

  Seraphine nodded, then rose to get dressed.

  He lingered just long enough to watch the clothes hide her curvy body. Then he turned and wandered into the halls. He could smell fresh food and, by the time he made it to the dining hall, Soryn was placing it on the table.

  "Good morning,” Soryn grinned at him as he set a plate down with a flourish. "I took it upon myself to ask your wonderful Nthir if they could retrieve for us some wild ostrich eggs and a fine boar. They were a little confused and got dragon eggs instead, but the eggs still cooked delightfully. Quite the treat I think."

  Ashiyn grunted as he sat down at the head of the table. "I hope the dragons who laid the eggs don’t find out. Although, it might be fun to fight a dragon, I haven’t had the pleasure since I was very young. They're too intelligent to fight me now."

  "Well, anyone intelligent would avoid fighting you, my King," Soryn pointed out. Then he bowed to Seraphine as she entered. "I trust Lady Seraphine is well this morning?"

  "Are those dragon eggs? My very favorite! I used to hunt dragons as a child." Seraphine clapped her hands, delighted, before sitting down next to Ashiyn.

  Ashiyn watched her. Her eyes were a very strange purple color, and he kept getting lost in them. Her giggle brought him back to reality, and he started to eat his food. "Join us, Soryn."

  "If you insist," Soryn bowed again, then slid into the chair on Ashiyn's other side and dug into the breakfast with quite the appetite.

  Halfway through the meal and the pleasant small talk, Ashiyn felt it again. That strange empty feeling. The loss of his Master? But surely, he would only feel good about that? He had wanted to kill Rhadamanthus since his first death at the monster’s hands.

  "What will you do next, my King?" Soryn asked as he finally finished his breakfast and rose to clear the plates.

  Ashiyn leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. He hadn't planned that far ahead yet. Killing his Master had seemed impossible and that task had consumed him for so long.

  It really had been too easy. He'd tried to kill his master many times over the years and always failed miserably and ended up dead. It had barely been a challenge with Soryn and Sihtaar. Though, as he thought about it, Soryn had only destroyed Rhadamanthus’s sanctuary. Had Sihtaar been holding back for millennia? Why would it do that? What about now had changed its mind? The only t
hing different this time was Soryn’s arrival. Ashiyn remembered the weeping celestials when he had freed the blade.

  "I think I will go to the library," Ashiyn said and rose. He did not give them an explanation, even when they both looked at him as though he had grown another head.

  Now that his master was dealt with, it was time to find out more about Sihtaar and what kind of bargain he had truly made with the magical sword. Anything that powerful came with a heavy price. It was time to visit Sia.

  Ashiyn stalked down the halls to his library, and once the heavy door shut behind him, he looked around. Dusty tomes scattered the room. He could not remember the last time he had been in this room. Sia did not inhabit the library; he still lived in the cave library to which Ashiyn had freed him when he stole the chronicler from Rurik. Ashiyn could, of course, summon him to this place when needed. He took a deep breath and focused his magic to call the ghost.

  Sia appeared in the room with an audible pop, and then glared over his ghostly spectacles at Ashiyn. “Rude. Don’t start acting like Rurik. You could at least ask if I am available.”

  “You’re a ghost. Why would you not be available? Did you find some ghostly women to entertain you?” Ashiyn snorted as he leaned against a desk and picked up a tome to flip through.

  Sia sputtered and flickered in and out of sight in his embarrassment. “For your information I prefer men!” He used his magic to slam the book in Ashiyn’s hands and snatched it away. “I told you before not to man-handle my tomes. What do you want?”

  Ashiyn blinked at the ghost at the admission. “You prefer men?”

  “My preferences are not why you called me here, are they? I’m very busy. Tell me what you need,” Sia grumbled at him as he floated around righting books back onto shelves and dusting them off. “And get a servant to take care of these books! This place is in shambles!”

  Ashiyn rolled his eyes. “Have you found anything more about Sihtaar? You’ve only had three thousand years.”

  “I was very much enjoying my vacation from demanding villains,” Sia gestured and a stack of books appeared next to Ashiyn on the desk. “That is every relevant tome in this gods-forsaken world about that horrendous sword you’ve decided to make your best friend.”

  “Sia!” Soryn exclaimed with a smile as he entered the room.

  “Oh, Master Soryn,” Sia immediately seemed more agreeable. “It is good to see you’re still intact. Especially since Ashiyn wields a blade that enjoys feasting on celestials.”

  Soryn just gave Sia a wry smile as he walked up to join Ashiyn. “Yes, I know.”

  “I won’t let it harm Soryn,” Ashiyn grumbled, offended by the notion, as he picked up one of the books. “Any way you can summarize for me? I do have eternity to read, but there are a lot more entertaining things I could do with the time.”

  “It is a terrible demi-god that you keep making stronger by feeding it. It wants to destroy our lovely friend here and then break free to devour the rest of the world like a jar of candy. Anything else you need to know?” Sia said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

  Ashiyn narrowed his eyes. “So, letting it devour Rhadmanthus was likely not the wisest thing?”

  Sia gave Ashiyn an exasperated look. “No. It was not. Enjoy your apocalypse. You know where I’ll be.” Then with another audible pop sound, the ghost was gone.

  Soryn raised a brow at Ashiyn. “We’re already in an apocalypse. How much worse could it get?”

  “I don’t really want to find out. If it means the blade has to harm you to release the creature inside, we won’t have to worry about it. I won’t allow it. I’m still the master of the sword,” Ashiyn promised as he set the book back down. Still the ghost’s words bothered him.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Master. I thirst.

  Ashiyn jolted awake at the sword’s demanding voice, and nearly dropped the heavy tome from his lap. He must have fallen asleep in his chair reading this last one. He scowled and closed the book with a cloud of dust and set it on the table next to his comfortable chair. Then he stretched slowly. How long had he slept? Soryn was nowhere to be seen.

  He rose and walked into his bedroom. Seraphine was not in his bed. A glance out the window revealed it was late afternoon. He stalked over to the glass case where the blade rested and leaned on the glass. He folded his arms and looked in at it. "Do you?" he asked arrogantly.

  It is the price of my power. You must let me drink of blood and chaos. I feast on death. This is the agreement you made. You have no problem with paying it. Pick me up and let us go.

  Ashiyn watched the black lightning flicker over the deep obsidian of the blade. Even after all these years, the craftsmanship of the blade was ethereal. He had seen many sentient swords, but none like this. "What are you, Sihtaar, who makes the heavens weep?"

  Clearly, I am a sword. You are neither blind nor stupid. You can see that.

  Ashiyn stared for a moment at that response, then narrowed his eyes. "You are an incredible smartass for a weapon."

  Intelligent, yes. I lack an ass though.

  Ashiyn rolled his eyes. "Remember that I am your Master and speak to me accordingly. I asked you a question."

  I gave you an answer. Are we going to kill now or are you going to stand there staring at me? I am well-crafted, but I do not need a master that will just admire me. I chose you because you are a man of action.

  "I just fed you an ancient lich full of magic and an entire town full of monsters. How thirsty could you possibly be?" Ashiyn stood up and slid the glass open to retrieve the blade.

  Absorbing magic is different. Your Master was a dry husk. Monster blood does not satisfy me as long. I want fresh blood to drink.

  Ashiyn slid the sword's scabbard over his back then slid the blade into it slowly. He adjusted it until the blade lay just right, then he started out of the fortress. "I feel like I have a pet I must feed!"

  He felt the blade's displeasure wash over his mind. Do not compare me to a beast.

  "Why not? I care far more for my beast, Illusion, than I do for most people." Ashiyn stopped as he heard Soryn and Seraphine's voices from one of the rooms. He stopped to watch them. They sat together sharing a pot of tea and discussing a book. He watched, trying to decide whether he should be jealous.

  Decide later. Action now.

  Ashiyn started when the blade gave him a jolt to get his attention. He glared over his shoulder at it and continued down the hall. "Don't start with me. You saw the end that my master achieved for himself by getting on my bad side."

  A goal you could only achieve with my help.

  Ashiyn felt his skin crawl at the tone the blade used. It was not worried. Rarely had Ashiyn met anything with arrogance to match his own besides his Master. He frowned but continued outside to get Illusion. Once he was on the winged equine, he guided his mount to a nearby village.

  Sej was so tiny that it barely counted as a village. It contained one ancient family of humans that had bred with each other until there were a few hundred of them. Filthy people. Personal hygiene was not their strong point. They carried plague and disease to other towns around them any time they traveled. The only reason he hadn't wiped them from the face of the planet before this was that he was hoping to feed them to an appropriately disgusting monster.

  As he drew his blade, he decided that he had found a good enough monster. The blade sang with excitement in his hands as they approached the town.

  They had no defense against him. They fought like ants swarming the foot of a great elephant. He picked them off like the insects they were. As he rounded up the last few survivors, he came to the edge of the town.

  Somehow the trio of villagers there had completely missed what had just happened to their extended family. The grotesque man of the family was laughing as he dangled a cat in the air, held by its neck.

  The little girl was screeching about the cat and fighting like a hellion, as her mother tried to hold her back.

  Ashiyn tilted his head
. The man was spouting threats of torture for the cat, as he carried it to a table full of knives. They didn't even see Ashiyn approach, until he knocked the man down and freed the cat.

  The cat darted back to the girl with a terrified yowl, and she bent to scoop it up. Before the man could even register what had happened, Ashiyn crossed over, cut the mother's head from her shoulders with a swift strike, then buried the blade in her body as she fell. He let the blade drink its fill of her as he turned back to the man.

  The man screamed and charged at him with a dagger.

  Ashiyn rolled his eyes. Even in his heavy armor, he was much faster and more agile than this idiot oaf. He sidestepped, grabbed the man's hand, then yanked it back behind his back and pulled the stinking man close. "Enjoy torturing things, do you? So do I."