by Mikkell Khan
“You are right,” she stepped out of her hiding spot and lit up a wigar nonchalantly. Meriaus had to admit this woman had nerves of steel.
“I didn’t mean for you to get comfortable. I meant you should leg it down the mountain before he shows up.”
“Meriaus, stop pestering me. I am not going anywhere and you are aggravating me. What’s the point in arguing? Focus on the task at hand. Did you get it?” she asked quietly with excitement.
Meriaus opened his coat to reveal the dagger waiting in its place patiently.
“Interesting…” she whispered.
“Someone’s coming! Hide!” he hissed and pulled her behind a big rock formation.
It was the Lord. They both could feel their hearts beating like crazy as they watched him enter the cave slowly and look around. He didn’t notice them and Meriaus felt that had something to do with Paldek’s help. The Lord went further into the cave towards the back.
Tenaria whispered to Meriaus,
“What are you waiting for? Stick the dagger in the bastard’s neck while his back is turned.”
“Shut up and get out of here!”
“Give it to me, I will do it!” she grabbed the dagger from Meriaus’ pocket, gripped it tightly and walked quietly after Gudrunn who was hunched over the counterfeit egg. He was completely engulfed in the moment.
“No, wait, Tenaria,” Meriaus tried to whisper and shout at the same time. He crept up and grabbed her firmly by the arm. “You’ll get us killed!” he chided through clenched teeth.
“We’ll miss our chance!” she pulled away with all her force and with a few more steps she was standing over Gudrunn holding the dagger with both hands above his neck. Just as Meriaus was about to grab her she sunk the blade in the Lord’s flesh as hard as she could.
The Lord screamed in pain and slowly stood up. Tenaria and Meriaus backed away. Blood was running down his back and shoulders dressing him in a crimson mantle. He was breathing slowly and deeply. His head was down and his back was still turned to his assailant. It made for an absolutely terrifying scene. The sound of him breathing was accompanied by a distinct growl which seemed to get louder and more furious.
“Tenaria, what have you done!”
“Are you mad?! I did what needed to be done? Why are you acting crazy?”
“Run!” Meriaus shouted as he pulled her towards the exit.
They bolted and made it out of the cave. But there was nowhere to go. Even if they weren’t miles above sea level there would still be nowhere to hide from the impending fury which was bubbling away in the cave.
“The dagger has to be used while he is doing magic! Otherwise- nothing!”
“Oh my god…”
Suddenly, an enormous burst of bright green flames filled the entire opening of the cave. A figure walked through the flames and out on the ridge. In front of the pair’s eyes, Gudrunn’s body grew twice as huge. His hands morphed into claws with ten inch long nails on each finger. He raised his head and they saw his pupils were gone- the eyes were milky white. With no other option, Tenaria and Meriaus drew their swords.
Gudrunn reached for the dagger and pulled it out of his neck. Without looking at it, blinded by his fury, he flung it to the side and the weapon bounced around on the stones falling a couple of feet beneath where he was standing.
“Get the dagger, I’ll distract him!” Meriaus said to Tenaria.
She started climbing down to retrieve the weapon.
“How exactly am I going to do that, is the question,” Meriaus grabbed his sword with both hands and braced himself.
Gudrunn held out a hand and send a green beam of incinerating energy at Meriaus.
The man managed to jump to the side in the nick of time but lost his footing and rolled down the hill a couple of feet before managing to stand again.
“Well, well, well,” Gudrunn’s voice sounded otherworldly. “I am so very pleased to see you, my trusted advisor. I have been looking for you all over the kingdom! You have caused some problems. It is about time for you to get what you deserve,” Gudrunn said with a sinister smile. He held out his other hand and Meriaus was picked up by an invisible force and brought close to Gudrunn as if he was a rag doll. “I am going to enjoy killing you. So I shall take my time.”
Gudrunn held out his free hand and a long thin shape started to materialize in it- little by little becoming clearer. In a few seconds, he was holding a sword. Meriaus was struggling to get free. He was holding his neck as Gudrunn magic was squeezing and choking him.
The sword moved swiftly and sunk deep into Meriaus’ shoulder coming out of his back. The skin around the wound turned green as if poison was running through his blood vessels. Meriaus screamed and squirmed.
“Yes….Yes… suffer!” Gudrunn was enjoying the torturous moment.
Out of nowhere a big stone flew at Gudrunn and hit him directly in the back of the head. He dropped Meriaus to the ground and turned around to see two persons on the top of a ridge. It was David and Randor.
Randor held a makeshift slingshot firing projectiles of rubble at the Lord. David was supplying him with ammunition as his supply diminished.
Meriaus was saved for only a few moments. He knew the duo that assisted him would now be in harm’s way. Randor fired another shot which the Sorceror stopped in mid air and allowed it to fall on the floor. Randor lowered his slingshot cursing under his breath. David nudged his son in disapproval of the vulgar language.
“You have no more power in this kingdom Gudrunn, surrender!” David yelled. He now saw what his son meant. This was the chance for their leader to submit and end this conflict once and for all.
“You insolent fools! I will destroy all of you and leave your world in ruins before I do that.” Gudrunn cursed. With that he shot an incinerating beam of energy at the two.
David acted quickly, he shoved his son out of the way and ended up in the path of destruction.
“Father!” Randor screamed as he witnessed his father incinerated by the blast.
* * *
Teneria felt the boy’s pain.
Losing her own relatives to the monster, her rage intensified as she rushed and slashed at Gudrunn with her sword. She thought she benefited from taking the opportunity while he was occupied.
The lord quickly turned and merely blocked her attacks with his bare hands. It did almost nothing to him. She finally landed a blow to his chest which caused him some discomfort. He was not amused as he suddenly materialized another sword in his hands.
She jumped back as he swung the massive sword at her.
* * *
“Come and get me, you ugly demon!” she mocked.
"That’s Sorcerer King to you weak mortal,” he replied with an evil expression. “Are you that eager to die?” With a few steps of his gigantic legs, he was towering over the woman.
Meriaus was trying to get the sword out of his shoulder during the commotion.
* * *
Without Gudrunn expecting it, Tenaria took the dagger out from behind her back and sunk it into the Lord’s damaged chest. He started laughing at her. Doubt crept into her mind. But just as it seemed the dagger wasn’t working she noticed Gudrunn was shrinking to his original size.
“What is this?!” he screamed. “What have you done to me?” He tried to grow again but it wasn’t working- he was returning to his human form. His eye cleared up and his pupils appeared.
* * *
“Gudrunn!”
The Lord turned around to see Meriaus standing up holding the magical sword having pulled it out of his shoulder. The wound was shimmering green of venom.
“Fight me!” the man challenged his overlord, feeling his life slowly draining from his body.
Gudrunn threw Tenaria out of the way with an invisible magic thrust. He rushed towards Meriaus and the two men crossed swords.
Meriaus was an excellent swordsman whereas Gudrunn had never truly needed to be.
* * *
Until now.
&
nbsp; * * *
He was blocking the attacks well enough but he was getting tired and weakened by the wounds in his chest. Meriaus was also in a deteriorated state from the injuries he received. He needed to end this quickly before he lost consciousness.
* * *
Tenaria was injured from the sudden magical push and knew she would be of no help to Meriaus at this point.
* * *
He had to finish this himself.
* * *
Gudrunn climbed on a rock and stood above Meriaus. With a great scream, he jumped forward at Meriaus with his blade primed to attack. He fell on top of his opponent as they lost balance and rolled down the hill out of sight. Tenaria steadied herself and ran down after them with a clenched heart. The two men were laying on the ground right next to the edge of a deep precipice. Gudrunn was on top of Meriaus and no one was moving.
* * *
Tenaria ran over and rolled the Lord’s lifeless body off of her accomplice. She saw that they were both impaled on each other's sword. But only Meriaus was conscious.
“Is… he… dead?” he asked her.
“I think so,” She carefully leaned in closer to hear if Gudrunn was breathing. “Come on. Get up.”
She pulled the Lord's sword from Meriaus’s side with a quick movement and made a tourniquet.
“It’s not that bad,” she examined the wound.
“Yeah, right,” he smirked. “Where is the child?”
She signaled to the top of the ridge where he saw Randor kneeling and crying over the charred remains of his father. He knew he pushed his father to help him and he knew he would not be alive had his father not saved him from the blast… but he felt an insurmountable level of guilt because of it.
* * *
Meriaus and Tenaria could feel the agony the boy was experiencing just by looking at him.
Meriaus knew the cost he bore, and he decided to make it his duty to make a better life for him, for Tenaria and all the people of the country now.
He broke the silence after a few moments, “Let’s go take him home. It’s over now..”
He leaned on her shoulder and they started towards a path leading up the ridge.
* * *
Suddenly, there was rumbling from behind them. Meriaus turned around and saw Gudrunn standing up with a sword sticking out of his stomach. He looked like a living voodoo doll. Blood was running from his mouth down his chin.
“Stand back,” Meriaus pushed her to the side and raised his sword. He walked carefully towards Gudrunn. The lord pulled the sword out of his stomach and gave him a look of unadulterated hatred and fury.
Meriaus took a swing and Gudrunn blocked it. The Lord raised his sword to hit his opponent but Meriaus was faster- he swung and his blade hit Gudrunn’s neck. This made the king stagger but did very little damage to him.
Meriaus knew that he needed to think fast. The lord was not going down that easily. Suddenly, like the lightning bolt that flashed in his mind, he remembered the dagger that absorbed the lord’s power. Ironically, Gudrunn held onto it strongly - he needed to get it out of his hand and finish the job.
Gudrunn slashed again at Meriaus. This time, Meriaus was ready. He blocked the attack and to the surprise of the lord, he grabbed the sharp end of the dagger with his hand. Meriaus felt the pain seer through his body and he hoped his next calculated move would make sense.
He pushed the handle of the dagger out of Gudrunn’s hand, grazing it with an edge end of the blade. So strong was the weapon’s capability, it made Gudrunn scream in pain as more power seeped from his body.
* * *
Meriaus knew it was now or never. He quickly flipped the dagger and changed his grip. With one quick motion, he swung again at Gudrunn’s neck.
It severed the lord’s head clear off his shoulders. It hit the ground with a revolting thud and rolled away with an expression of pure disbelief. It was most likely the final moments of Gudrunn felt as he was decapitated. The body staggered a few steps backward and walked right off the edge and down the deep precipice.
* * *
Gudrunn, The Sorcerer King, was no more.
* * *
“Oh my god... are you alright?” Tenaria asked.
“Of course,” Meriaus answered with a raspy voice. “Now, it’s over,” he sighed. “Take the head and let’s get the boy.”
“What? Why do you want that disgusting thing?”
”As proof,” He panted, “That even a spellcaster can be killed.”
Chapter 8
Several months had passed since the fall of the old hierarchy and the new order established itself in the kingdom. It had been a very turbulent time. However, on this special day, differences were going to be set aside for a momentous occasion in the palace. One which would hopefully bring the balance back.
* * *
Meriaus walked through the corridors of the castle. He pondered on how everything changed as they walked out of that cave months ago. Tenaria would be his trusted council and part of his security. Randor, the young boy, would train in his kingsguard. A ranger no less, he had the aim of a sniper and the sneak of a thief. He would excel greatly there.
* * *
There was a difference in the air knowing that peace would come, at a price, but it eventually it would.
* * *
He thought about how Gudrunn felt walking down these hallways every day, feeling a sense of power and control since he took over the land all those years ago. Whatever it was he was after and what he wanted the sacred egg for died with him. Through interrogation it was learnt he did not divulge any secrets to his followers on those personal conquests. All that was known was he held an ancient relic called The Enixar underneath the castle that no one understood.
In his first decree as unofficial leader, Meriaus decided that it was better for the people to stop the practice of magic, and with that, entertaining anything magical. With this, the Enixar was locked away and under stringent security by the castle guards.
He remembered Randor’s pain, like so many others, losing their family and friends to the evil of the old lord. He would ensure that would never happen again under his rule.
She walked down the corridors of the castle, thinking how could this happen? She was prepared for it but months later she could not understand how the tide changed so quickly. But she knew the moment the usurper came out of that cave, and all the guard’s loyal to the lord surrendered, it was over. Her grandfather had perished, and she was now the only one with the bloodline… and the connection to the architects.
* * *
Amadalia knew she had power beyond anyone in the kingdom, but she had to play it smart. Meriaus clearly had some skill or ability that cut Gudrunn down to size, and he would not hesitate to use it against her if needed. She would have to play the innocent victim of his cruel game and get close to the supposed new ruler.
* * *
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks; it was the first time she was seeing him. He was walking in the corridor as well, with a proud demeanour as though well deserved. To think this traitor served her grandfather. Now this undeserving fool was hoisting his ass around everywhere as though everyone had to kiss it.
* * *
Her first notion was spit upon him. She reconsidered, smiled and curtsied, “Your Highness.”
* * *
He laid eyes on her; she was beautiful, a delicate flower blossomed into a young lady, “Not yet my lady. But soon, yes.”
* * *
She had her trump card. And she would play it well. She laughed heartily at the notion, “Of course, Sir Meriaus. I believe we shall make it official soon enough.”
* * *
She thought for a bit and continued, “However, I think its bad luck for the future King to see the future Queen before the wedding… I hope that’s not the case,” She searched him for his emotions; he was unfazed. “What do you think?”
* * *
Meriaus chuckled thinking back on his past
experiences. Admittedly, this woman would hold some resentment for him, but over time this would fade, and it’s undoubtedly nothing he couldn’t handle. “I think with my luck so far, it’s going to be an interesting journey.”
* * *
She continued walking and smiling and passed Meriaus she gave him time to appreciate her slender frame. As he was observing her, she turned her head, caught his glimpse and whispered, “I think that’s one thing we both can agree on.”
* * *
She nodded again in a curtsey, “Good day Sir Meriaus, I shall see you again very soon.”
* * *
She turned back and continued her stride in the corridor. This time, with a satisfying smile on her face.
* * *
She had him.
Meriaus closed the door behind him and locked it. He walked over to the back of the room where a heavy velvet curtain hung. He drew it aside with one quick movement and revealed a glass container with a big egg standing upright inside.
He leaned in closer to look at it. Suddenly, there was a tap from inside the egg. The tapping became louder and more impatient. The egg started rocking in its place and a crack appeared on the top. The animal inside pushed harder, the crack widened and in a minute, a tiny claw came out of the top and grabbed onto its shell.