The Andy Smithson Series: Books 1, 2, and 3 (Young Adult Epic Fantasy Bundle) (Andy Smithson Series Boxset): Dragons, Serpents, Unicorns, Pegasus, Pixies, Trolls, Dwarfs, Knights and More!

by L. EE

  He needs to get a life.

  The scene repeated itself several times until Hannah declared, “Castle Staff wins the first game, seven zip. Cavalry, better get going!”

  Cavalry fans started booing. The Castle fans went wild and again took up their chant.

  The first five points of the second game played out uneventfully. Andy found himself under unrelenting attacks by the Cavalry players. Threats, intimidation, it all came flooding out of the green team and their fans.

  “And the score stands at Castle Staff five, Cavalry nothing!” Hannah announced. “Will this be a complete shutout?”

  “Aw, shut it!” several on the green side jeered.

  Andy lined up outside the fallow, waiting for the lurk and bumpers to be thrown. Crazed fans, but no sign of any other trouble. So much for Hannah’s stomach.

  Cadfael threw the lurk. The small white ball bounced erratically before coming to a stop a foot inside the fallow line.

  “Way to go, Cadfael!” several friendly fans cheered. “Just two more points!”

  “And the throw is good!” Hannah confirmed to the crowd. Then, without warning, she screamed, “Andy! Behind you!”

  Andy whirled around in time to see a large black beast charging toward him. Its top half was a cross between a man and a big cat. Onyx fur covered its torso, and it had a cat nose, piercing yellow eyes, large canine teeth, and the hands of a man. The creature’s hindquarters looked like a panther. From its neck dangled a pyramid-shaped pendant, and it grasped a knife in one of its outstretched hands. Instinctively, Andy reached for his pouch. He nearly had Methuselah’s hilt out when the beast flattened him.

  Hannah screamed again. Everyone, both Castle and Cavalry fans, rushed toward the struggle.

  Andy barely had time to turn over and face his adversary before he saw the glint of light off the creature’s knife. He rolled out of the way, just missing the slash. Methuselah extended and Andy scrambled up. He and the creature faced off, eyes locked, weapons extended, circling. Each searched for the other’s weakness.

  Cadfael rushed the beast from behind only to hit an invisible barrier and be tossed backward head over heels. Ox followed suit with the identical result. The creature, continuing its slow circular dance with Andy, extended its free hand. With its palm outstretched, it drew an invisible force field around the two of them. Cavalry warriors rushed all sides of the conflict to no avail. All were thrown back but nonetheless continued their desperate efforts.

  Andy’s focus continued steadfast. At last, seeing an opening, he thrust Methuselah forward. The creature quickly sidestepped and Methuselah’s blade came up empty. The beast took advantage of the split second that it took Andy to recover and slashed at him. Ducking, Andy lost his balance and fell to the ground. The creature lunged.

  Seeing the blade headed for him, Andy rolled, barely evading the knife. The creature fell to the ground and rolled after Andy, making another lunge for him, but not before Andy inserted Methuselah between the two of them. The beast stopped just before touching the tip of Andy’s sword. Methuselah retracted.

  “NO!” Andy screamed. “Don’t fail me now!” Andy shook the hilt, willing it to extend once again. In the split second Andy lost concentration, the creature launched itself at him. Methuselah instantly extended. The beast could not stop itself in time and Methuselah’s shiny blade sliced its shoulder.

  The beast let out an ear-piercing cry, grabbed at its wound, leaped up, and bolted through the crowd. Anyone the creature touched in passing cried out in pain and fell to the ground.

  Andy lay back on the ground, panting. What was that? As he closed his eyes fear overwhelmed him.

  Hans arrived at Andy’s side almost immediately, followed by Alden, Hannah, and the rest of the team.

  “Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Hans quizzed him.

  Andy couldn’t respond. He lay there, unmoving.

  Close by, he overheard Hannah berating herself. “I knew something wasn’t right! I felt it, Father!”

  “It’s okay, Hannah. It’s okay,” came Cadfael’s attempt to reassure his daughter.

  Then Andy heard Hannah begin sobbing.

  He felt Hans examining him.

  “What’s wrong with him?” an onlooker called. The crowd’s nervous murmuring grew louder.

  “Andy, say something!” Hans ordered.

  “Andy!” Alden called. “Come on, wake up!” he begged.

  A full minute elapsed and still Andy did not respond.

  “I wonder… Let’s try something,” Alden said in a hushed voice and reached for the pouch still around Andy’s neck.

  “What are you doing?” inquired Hans.

  “You’ll see.”

  Andy felt Alden rummage in the pouch.

  Curious murmurs went up from onlookers.

  “Wake up, Andy. Wake up!” he pleaded.

  No sooner had the words passed Alden’s lips than Andy roused, as if coming out of a trance. A collective sigh went up.

  “Wh-what’s g-going on?” he questioned aloud. “Alden, what are you doing?”

  Alden smiled. “Just waking you up.”

  “He’s gonna be fine!” yelled someone nearby.

  “I’ve no idea what you just did, Alden, but good job,” encouraged Hans.

  They hoisted Andy up. Still holding the golden key, Alden collected Methuselah’s hilt that lay on the ground nearby, and the group helped Andy into the castle. As soon as they entered the back door, the King and Mermin joined the procession.

  “Thank goodness he’s okay. I was wowwied sick,” Mermin remarked.

  The King did not offer comments, but his expression spoke volumes to anyone watching.

  Hannah rushed in, catching up with the party as they ascended the stairs.

  They reached Andy’s room and had just gotten him in bed when Mermin reached for his head and said, “I’m not feeling well, not at all,” and collapsed.

  “Me neither,” added the King, involuntarily joining Mermin on the floor.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The Stone of Athanasia

  Andy bolted upright, willing his terror away.

  “Andy, you need to rest,” Hannah objected.

  “I’m fine,” he growled, leaping toward the King and Mermin.

  “Hans, what happened?” Andy demanded, panicked. He looked to Alden for reassurance but found none.

  Hans did not reply. He examined his patients for several minutes, giving no hint as to what might be ailing them. Just as he opened his mouth to pronounce his findings, a servant bounded in the door and cried, “The Stone of Athanasia is gone! Stolen!”

  Mermin moaned.

  “What?” Andy exclaimed, remembering his dream. “No!”

  Alden glanced over. “The what?”

  Ignoring Alden’s query, he asked, “Where was it?”

  “In a grove of trees near where the kappas sun themselves,” Hans replied.

  The King motioned weakly for Andy to come near. Andy got down on the floor next to him and brought his ear near the King’s mouth, trying to hear his labored speech. “The last time I felt this bad was the day the curse fell on the land.”

  “Your Majesty, please, you need to rest,” encouraged Hans.

  Ignoring the admonition, the King began, “Mermin, and I were traveling north that morning with our entourage headed to the city of Oops! We rounded the west side of the Ooozy Bog and were about to cross the Crystal River when I started feeling sick. We stopped the horses and I went into the woods to relieve myself. As I retched, a pyramid-shaped crystal appeared next to me. Such beauty I had never seen; it was absolutely clear and it shimmered in the sun. I reached over and picked it up, and it immediately started glowing, radiating light all around. An intense burning sensation surged through my body. I was in agony and fell over in pain.” The King paused and coughed again.

  “Please, sir, you must rest,” Hans insisted. “Let’s get both of them into bed.”

  With the servant’s he
lp they managed the task, and several minutes later both the King and Mermin were resting in their respective rooms. Razen joined the group as they were moving the King and his wizard. As soon as they were settled, he commanded everyone except Hans to leave.

  “No, Razen,” the King resisted, waving his arm weakly. “Andy stays. He must know what happened. I don’t know how long I have.”

  The truth of that simple statement hit Andy. He resisted the urge to cry out and tell the King he was wrong. For he knew the King had been cursed to live forever. Why would he say that? Andy wondered as panic coursed through his veins. Why is this so important that he has to tell me now? Alone?

  Everyone looked at Andy, but they obediently filed out of the room. Razen sternly warned them not to share anything they had witnessed.

  Alden handed Andy the gold key as he left.

  “Never know when you might need it,” Alden added.

  “Thanks.”

  “Razen, you and Hans should go, too,” the King pronounced.

  Razen looked at him quizzically.

  “It’s okay. Thank you,” the King concluded, smiling weakly.

  Andy helped the King with a glass of water and then sat down next to him on the bed.

  The King picked up where he had left off. “I screamed in agony, and Mermin and Emmalee rushed to my aid.” He paused. “Andy, do you remember when I told you I was married?”

  Andy nodded.

  “Emmalee was my wife’s name. She was a servant girl at that point.”

  Unconsciously, Andy raised his eyebrows. Quickly realizing what he had done, Andy was relieved to see the King hadn’t noticed. “My mom’s name is Emily,” he blurted out.

  The King attempted to smile as tears welled up in his eyes and added, “Yes, experiences like that bond people together, no matter their position.”

  He coughed again and finally continued, “Mermin must have touched me first because he fell to the ground writhing in agony. I yelled for Emmalee not to touch me, but too late. She also fell to the ground shrieking. The burning sensation kept on. It was unbearable. Emmalee, she put up such a brave face, but I knew she too was in tremendous pain. When we were finally able to walk, I tried to pick up the stone and bring it with us, but it burned me. Emmalee and Mermin also tried but were burned as well. We had no choice but to leave it. When we emerged from the forest, a dense fog had settled over the land as if it was in mourning. It’s never left.”

  The King sighed. “What came next were some of the darkest days of my life, as it should have been considering what I had done.”

  What could the King possibly have done that was so wrong?

  “We headed for home, abandoning our trip to Oops!, but the closer we got to the castle, the weaker we felt—much like I do today. We were sick for days. Finally, when all attempts to cure us failed, Mermin suggested we return to the stone and see if being closer might help. His hunch was right. The closer we got to it, the stronger we all felt. By the time we saw it, I felt like my old self again.”

  “Wait a minute! Did you say this stone was in a pyramid shape?” Andy interrupted.

  “Yes, why?”

  “Because the creature I fought tonight had a pyramid-shaped pendant hanging around its neck. It looked like a clear crystal. You don’t suppose…”

  “No one has ever been able to pick the stone up. Then again, I don’t know what that creature was that attacked you. It may be the bellicose you heard about in your dream, Andy. You said Abaddon planned to use one to steal the stone, right?”

  Andy’s eyes grew large and a shiver rocked his body even though it was not cold in the room.

  The King paused briefly to catch his breath.

  “I knew I could not return to the home of my youth, the home where I had committed that unspeakable, unforgiveable act. I had been exiled. I knew we would need to build a new home.”

  “What could you possibly have done that would be unforgiveable?” Andy interjected, hoping to lighten the mood.

  “You’ve heard me say before that it was because of my sister, Imogenia, that I brought the curse on the land.”

  Andy nodded.

  “Andy, I have not revealed to you what I did because I know you might never think of me the same way once I do. And while I would deserve your scorn, it would be deeply painful.”

  “Why would you think I couldn’t forgive you?”

  “Andy, I love you as my own son.”

  Andy knew his own feelings for this man ran deep, but he hadn’t realized they were mutual. He didn’t know what to say or do.

  “I was a stupid, arrogant, jealous child,” the King continued. “Power was my weakness. I loved it too much and plotted how I could rule the kingdom, even though my sister was next in line for the throne. I saw my opportunity and seized it. I murdered Imogenia in cold blood. A dagger to the back.”

  Andy gasped, then protested, “No! You couldn’t have!” He didn’t want to believe it. “No, not you,” Andy insisted, his voice quaking. The noble, fatherly image he looked up to began to crumble.

  The King nodded slowly. “Yes, me. I did it.”

  Andy sat back, stunned. The image of the dagger in the trunk at home flashed through his mind. Could that be the weapon he used?

  Andy’s stomach did a flip. He felt nauseous and thought he might hurl.

  The King slowly raised his arm and patted Andy. “I knew this would come as a shock to you,” he whispered, tears trickling down his face. “I did not want to hurt you.”

  “Hurt me?” Andy responded, his voice regaining its volume. “You wait until you’re, you’re—” Andy’s thoughts screamed, Nearly dead, but instead he said, “—like this to tell me?” Words escaped him and tears streamed down his face.

  After several minutes the King spoke. “Judge me as you will, for I deserve your scorn. What I did was unforgivable. I know this deeply.” He coughed again before continuing. “For all these years I have lived with regret that I can do nothing to resolve. You don’t know how many times, after I had matured and realized how heinous my actions were, that I wished I had been exiled from the land or executed for my crime, but I was not. My mother and father, in their all-consuming grief and sorrow, could not act. The only consequence I received was being banished from the castle; my parents acted as if I was dead and refused all contact with me. But it was not enough to satisfy the guilt that rose in me as I came to my senses. My mother died a few years later and my father shortly after her, leaving me the throne I once coveted. But I now felt unworthy to rule. I hold myself responsible not only for my sister’s death, but also for the deaths of my parents. I was a fool but could not see it.”

  The King paused briefly, clearly weary, then pressed on as if he stopped he might never finish. “If I could go back and change the past, I would. Imogenia deserved to rule, but I robbed her of that. She was kind and generous to all. She didn’t deserve to die.”

  Really? You could’ve fooled me! Andy thought, half listening. But murder. That dagger. No, not him. How could he?

  Andy finally refocused.

  “I deserve Imogenia’s wrath. I don’t know if she can ever forgive me. Her actions tell me she’s not open to an apology.”

  Andy sat quietly, letting what he heard sink in. The King murdered his sister. He murdered her. In cold blood. Out of jealousy. Because he wanted power. How could anyone do that? I thought I knew him. I look up to him.

  Andy reached up and wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his tunic.

  Yet, there’s genuine sadness for his crime, Andy continued, working through his hurt. He remembered how he had felt last year when he nearly destroyed the castle. He remembered the torment he endured before he told the King what he’d done. The King has changed a lot since then. He’s not a cold, calculating, jealous boy anymore, but a loving, caring man. And I love him, more than even my father. Who am I to judge? Andy sat thinking for several more minutes. I’ve done plenty of bad things. Of course, nothing that bad.

  Andy b
ent over and gave the King a hug. “It’s not my place to judge you, sir.”

  The King gave a weak smile. “Thank you, Andy. I am relieved you feel that way. I didn’t want to lose you.” Another tear trickled down his face.

  They sat quietly, both soaking in the moment.

  Finally, the King coughed and asked, “Shall I continue?”

  Andy nodded.

  “When I told everyone what had happened with the stone, virtually all the servants fled out of fear. The few servants who remained retrieved what they could from the old castle, but we had to build a new home nearer to where the stone rested.”

  A smile briefly caught the man’s lips. “I’ll never forget the construction. As we were trying to design a way to protect the new castle from invasion, Da Vinci unexpectedly showed up and helped figure out a way to dig a trench around it so we could create an island. He also engineered a way to divert water while the men dug. Brilliant mind he had. He stayed on for several years, inventing, painting, and sculpting. Mermin has several of his notebooks up in his library.”

  His face again grew sad.

  “With the coming of the fog, a severe famine fell on the land. The crops we grew at the time needed more sunlight than the fog allowed. There were massive uprisings among the people. Many left for other lands like Cromlech and Carta. The people who stayed had to adopt new ways of farming. Mermin devoted his full energies to finding grains that could be grown in lower light conditions. The situation was desperate.”

  He coughed.

  “The uprisings finally quieted down when the people realized I was in a worse situation than they since I didn’t even have a home. We all banded together and helped each other. During this time I got to know Emmalee more and we fell in love. Two years later, as Castle Avalon was completed, we wed.” A smile crossed his face. “I’ll have to tell you more about our courtship some other time.”

  The King wheezed a long breath before continuing.

  “Three or four months after our marriage, the truth emerged that I had killed my sister to gain the throne. I vehemently denied it since I wasn’t about to abdicate what I cherished. The people were furious. I had never seen them so upset. They felt betrayed, and rightly so. They had stuck with me but now they saw this was how I repaid their loyalty.” He paused.