“You fight without honor, Knight!” the final nobleman accused hotly, waving his sword in Ashe’s direction.
“Whoever said I was a knight?” Ashe leapt down from the table and executed an overhead downward slash of his sword. The noble instinctively raised his sword horizontally to block the attack. That’s when Ashe’s sword sliced right through the sword’s blade causing it to shatter.
The nobleman’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped at the sight of his sword shattering, and he was unable to react as Ashe’s sword sliced into his chest. Ashe mercifully pulled his sword back so that the wound wouldn’t be too deep. He didn’t really want to kill anyone. That put a bounty on his head, and would be more trouble than it was worth. Also, if his sadistic stepfather found out about this…he shuddered, just thinking about what Lord Christian Tremaine would do to him then.
Ashe turned to face the casino guards next. They released the girl’s arms, unsheathed their rapiers, and pointed them Ashe’s way. As the guards charged forward they let out a yell before swinging their rapiers at Ashe.
The young lady watched Ashe fighting the two casino guards simultaneously and began to clap due to his prowess. “Ooo. Well done, Swordsman. You’re quite skilled.”
She’s…clapping. Ashe thought in disbelief, and felt a tinge of irritation that caused his left eye to twitch. This isn’t a performance! This is a life or death situation that she pulled me into! The nerve of this girl!
With a twist of his wrist Ashe disarmed one of the guards and punched him hard across the face, knocking him out cold. Ashe concentrated on disarming the final guard, and once he had he sent a powerful punch to the man’s solar plexus.
Ashe sheathed his cane sword and held his right hand out to the strange girl in an expectant manner. “Come, girl. Take my hand. We need to leave.”
The young lady hesitated a moment before placing her hand in Ashe’s. “My hero,” she murmured dreamily to herself.
Ashe tugged the girl along with him out of the room, and down the hall. Once they’d reached the velvet curtain, Ashe pulled it aside and ushered the girl into the main gaming area. Ashe immediately realized that everyone’s eyes were on them as they started to pass the game tables. The casino’s patrons had reprimanding looks on their faces, and Ashe swore inwardly at the fact that the sound of his fight against the poker players and guards had obviously drawn unwanted attention.
Ashe recognized the owner of the casino, who upon spotting them immediately pointed a trembling finger their way. “Don’t let them escape!” The casino owner’s face had turned bright red in his anger. “No one breaks my casino’s rules and gets away with it!”
Ten casino guards unsheathed their rapiers and started to approach Ashe and the young lady. Ashe took off running, heading for the front door while tugging the girl along with him. As he nimbly weaved his way around game tables and avoided the casino’s patrons Ashe was surprised that the girl was able to keep up with him while running in those glass slippers of hers.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ashe noted that the human patrons appeared to be appalled by his uncouth behavior while the magical beings appeared to be amused. When two guards moved to stand in Ashe’s path between him and the front door, Ashe quickly unsheathed his cane sword, and fought off the guards that stood in their way.
The sound of heavy, approaching footsteps had Ashe turning to regard a knight dressed in full medieval armor and wielding a broadsword. “Shit! A knight.” Ashe quickly sheathed his cane sword and bolted for the exit. His cane sword wasn’t strong enough to block a blow from a broadsword, and would be broken instantly.
As soon as Ashe and the young woman managed to make it outside Ashe began to look around for a horse they could steal, er, borrow. That’s when the girl pointed at a magnificent black stallion that was wearing a bridle that had a golden horn attached to it and which made the horse look like a unicorn, at first glance. “Take my horse Nero.”
“Your horse? You do realize a horse that magnificent would have settled your gambling debt in a heartbeat, right?” Ashe had to curb the desire to rub his temples with his index fingers since he could feel a headache coming on.
“No. I did not know that, but…I could never give up Nero. He’s my only friend in the whole world,” the girl said in an emotional voice that made Ashe want to roll his eyes.
Girls. Ashe scrubbed a hand down his face in an exasperated gesture. He mounted Nero, and reached down to offer his hand to the girl. She took his hand, and Ashe was able to swing her up onto the saddle behind him easily. She’s as light as a feather. Ashe mused before shooting a stern glance over his shoulder at the girl. “Hold on tight.” The girl obediently wrapped her arms around Ashe’s torso and held on tightly.
“Hyah!” Ashe squeezed the horse’s sides and they were off, galloping down the street. And not a second too soon.
The front door of the casino burst open and the burly knight from earlier emerged followed by five of the casino guards. The knight mounted a large brown horse and the guards followed suit mounting their own horses. It wasn’t long before the knight and guards were in pursuit of Ashe and the girl.
Ashe glanced over his shoulder and swore like a drunken sailor when he saw that they were actually being pursued. He kicked Nero’s sides again and picked up the pace. The street that Ashe was riding down had glittering, candlelit casinos on either side, but when Ashe abruptly turned onto a side street that area was also filled with gambling establishments.
Glass Kingdom was the wealthiest kingdom in Fantasia because it was a neutral zone where all races were welcome. It was the only place in Fantasia where one could see all the races getting along together, and not trying to kill each other.
In comparison, Apple Kingdom was exclusively for witches and wizards, unless you were a dullard slave. Bones Kingdom was populated by the undead and demons, and they too would enslave any humans foolish enough to wander into their midst. Rose Kingdom was populated by humans, angels, fairies, dwarves and elves. There was no slavery in Rose Kingdom, and because of this some considered it to be a utopia.
The fact that all races were welcome in Glass Kingdom had given rise casinos popping up all over the city. Most of the residents of Glass Kingdom were wealthy, and so to pass the time they either went to the casinos to gamble their money away, or went to the coliseum to bet on duels or on the outcome of tournaments. There was also a racetrack where magical beasts competed against each other. Betting on things was the favorite pastime of those who lived in the prosperous kingdom.
But not everyone here gets to live in the lap of luxury. Ashe thought bitterly as he passed some stately brick townhouses that had colorful flower boxes below each window. Glass Kingdom, just like Apple Kingdom and Bones Kingdom, had slaves.
As Ashe rode hard through the city while trying to lose his pursuers he abruptly realized he had no idea where he was going. “Hey, do you work at the palace, girl?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right,” the girl agreed. “Good guess.”
Ashe took the next right and started to head towards the palace. “What’s your name, girl?”
“Oh, it’s Ju…Julie,” the girl stammered suspiciously. “And you are?”
“Ashe. Are you one of the Princess’s handmaidens?”
“Right again,” Julie agreed easily. “You’re very good at making guesses about people. Maybe you should become a fortune teller!”
“What in blazes were you doing at a casino at this time of night and without an escort?” Ashe growled.
Julie gulped. “I…was curious about the city. I grew up living at the palace and have never left the palace walls. I’d only heard about the city, and its casinos and how you could see all the races of Fantasia in one place. Now that I’ve seen the city with my own eyes I have to admit it’s wonderful. Truly amazing.”
“Wonderful?” Ashe echoed skeptically. “I suppose for some it might be.”
“What do you mean by that?” Julie asked as her lips started to d
ip into a frown behind her mask.
“Well, I’m sure the wealthy enjoy this city, but the poor…they’re usually made slaves when they’re unable to pay off their gambling debts.” Ashe shot a pointed look over his shoulder at Julie. “You were almost made a slave tonight. Do you think you would have enjoyed that, girl?”
“No,” Julie said.
The girl’s unconcerned tone irritated Ashe. She was acting like this had nothing to do with her, and nothing could be further from the truth. “Do you have any idea what would have been done to you by your new Master?” he questioned sternly. “He would have raped you. That’s what.” Julie started to tremble at Ashe’s cruel, frightening words, but he hardly noticed.
“Do you think you would have enjoyed that? Having a stranger between your legs…” A dark shadow fell over Ashe’s face, and he shook his head to clear it of bad memories. “Stealing your innocence and defiling your purity. I can tell that you’re a virgin.”
“How could you know?” Julie asked.
“You don’t act the way most women do around me,” Ashe explained. “Your new Master would have stolen your virginity tonight if I hadn’t been there to save you, and all because you were foolish enough to go to a casino in Glass City alone without money, and without an escort. Do you understand how idiotic you were to come here, you silly girl?” Ashe snarled angrily.
Julie covered her ears with her hands and shook her head. “Please, stop. I can’t bear to hear anymore. I understand. You’re right. I was foolish. I’m a silly, naïve little girl.”
Ashe was about to open his mouth to say more when he realized that the girl’s hands were trembling, and suddenly felt bad. Perhaps, he’d gone a bit too far. “Yes, you are. Just…don’t do something stupid like that again.”
“Are you a hero of Fantasia?” Julie asked tentatively. “A member of the Heroes’ Guild?”
The girl’s surprising question caught Ashe off guard and he barked out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. “Me? A hero of Fantasia? I’m no noble hero. I’m…no one.”
“Hm,” Julie let out a thoughtful hum. “You remind me of someone from my past. Someone who rescued me. Someone who was a hero.”
“Oh?” Ashe raised an eyebrow. “And what happened to him?”
“He’s dead,” Julie replied in a chill tone.
They were nearing the palace gates when Ashe realized that the knight and casino guards were hot on their heels. They’d never make it to the gates in time and would end up having to fight their pursuers first. Ashe had the gut feeling Julie would be useless in a fight, and decided to turn Nero onto another side street.
“Uh, the palace is the other way.” Julie felt the need to point out.
“I know that,” Ashe huffed. “We’re going someplace safe where we can lie low until those guards give up on trying to find us and leave this area. I can’t fight a knight armed with only my cane sword.”
They headed towards the coliseum that was situated directly next to the palace. Ashe rode around the circular outer wall of the coliseum and suddenly pulled back on the reins once they’d reached a tower. Ashe dismounted Nero and held his hand up to Julie to help her down.
“The towers are no longer in use,” Julie remarked.
Ashe grinned up at her slyly. “Exactly.” Julie let Ashe help her get down. Even once her feet had touched the ground he didn’t let go of Julie’s hand. While Ashe pulled her along with him Julie couldn’t help but notice that Ashe’s hand was rough and covered with calluses. This was strange for a nobleman.
Ashe pushed a cascade of ivy aside to reveal a hidden door, which he opened. He ushered Julie inside the tower, and the duo climbed a spiral staircase until they reached a circular room. Julie saw that on the other side of the room was a balcony. A cascade of ivy was partially blocking the view of what lay beyond the balcony, but as the sound of raucous cheers reached their ears Julie knew without a doubt that the balcony overlooked the coliseum’s arena. Ashe led Julie across the room and they both peered past the ivy.
“These towers used to be used by the judges,” Julie said absentmindedly.
“Indeed,” Ashe agreed. “Now the judges have a special sitting area in the stands to watch the duels from instead.”
A match was currently being fought inside of the arena. A witch was facing off against a knight dressed in full medieval armor. The witch was wearing a purple, wide-brimmed hat over a bob of black hair. Her dress was a matching purple color with belled sleeves. The knight was wielding a broadsword while the witch was wielding a scepter that had a ball of amethyst decorating its apex.
The witch slammed her scepter on the ground and summoned her magic power. All around the witch thorny vines shot up and out of the earth and attacked the knight.
Ashe watched the match with rapt attention. “Earth magic.” How would the human knight counter this attack? Ashe wondered.
The knight fearlessly hacked away at the vines that were attacking him with his sword. Unfortunately, the amount of vines the witch could conjure seemed to be limitless, and more vines kept springing up out of the earth to attack the knight, until-
The blade of the knight’s sword suddenly caught on fire. With his fiery sword in hand the knight attacked the vines with renewed vigor. As the vines were sliced into pieces they caught on fire. An inhuman shriek filled the air that could only be coming from the vines that were burning. The vines appeared to be writhing in pain and they abruptly retreated back into the earth as if afraid of the knight and his fire sword.
A cocky smirk curled the knight’s lips and he pointed his sword at the exhausted looking witch. “Do you yield, Witch?”
“I yield,” the witch said with a disappointed pout.
“And the winner is…Sir Blaze!” The Master of Ceremonies called out in a booming voice from his position in the arena.
Ashe’s eyes widened when he caught sight of the current Master of Ceremonies. The male had live green snakes for hair, and yellow eyes with slit pupils. He was wearing gold vambraces, an armored skirt, and armored boots. “I’ve never seen that emcee before.”
“Oh? Haven’t you heard? The last emcee was eaten, so had to be replaced,” Julie said in a blasé tone. “The new emcee is a gorgon who has the ability to turn people and monsters to stone, so he should be able to protect himself if things get hairy in the arena. His name is Viper.”
The spectators began to cheer the knight’s victory, and Ashe noted that money exchanged hands from those who’d placed bets on the outcome of the match. “I envy that knight,” Ashe admitted with a wistful note to his voice.
“Why?” Julie shot him a curious look.
“Sir Blaze possesses an enchanted sword,” Ashe started to explain. “If I had an enchanted sword I wouldn’t have had to run away from that knight like a coward earlier, and I could participate in the matches here at the coliseum. Humans without any magical power must at least have an enchanted weapon if they expect to stand a chance in a fight against a magical being. Fighting here in the coliseum…that’s where the real money is.”
For a fleeting moment Julie thought that Ashe’s gold eyes had turned into gold coins. Her pensive expression turned confused beneath her mask. “If you want an enchanted sword so badly why don’t you just buy one from a witch or wizard blacksmith in Apple Kingdom?”
Ashe let out a bitter laugh. “I wish I had that kind of money. Do you have any idea how much those wizard blacksmiths charge for their work? Only nobles can afford them.”
“Aren’t you a noble?” Julie asked tentatively, her gaze falling upon Ashe’s fine suit.
Ashe stiffened as he felt Julie’s scrutinizing gaze. He thought about lying to her, but in the end he ended up telling her the truth for some odd reason. “I…used to be a noble. A lord, in fact. But not any more. That’s why I need money so badly…to get my old life and title back.”
“I heard that the Blacksmith Rapunzel makes the best enchanted weapons in all of Fantasia,” Julie began in a thoughtful to
ne. “Maybe you could find him and ask him to forge you a sword for free.”
Ashe shot Julie an incredulous look and shook his head. “Blacksmith Rapunzel is indeed rumored to be the best blacksmith in all of Fantasia, but he’s also rumored to be a heartless demon. I doubt he would make me a sword for free.” Ashe let out a defeated sigh. “Besides, he lives somewhere in Bones Kingdom where the demons and undead live. It’s not only a dangerous place to try and traverse, but I have no idea where Rapunzel’s Tower is located to begin with. According to rumors many have traveled through Bones Kingdom in search of Rapunzel’s Tower and only the most powerful mages have made it back alive. Those who did not return…maybe Rapunzel ate them.”
Julie slapped Ashe’s arm in retaliation for his morbid joke. “Oh, stop it! I suppose it would be near impossible to make it to Rapunzel’s Tower unless you knew where it was actually located.” Julie let out a pensive hum. “I know someone who would know.”
“Who?” Ashe asked, leaning forward slightly from his curiosity.
“Prince Snow Flurris of Apple Kingdom,” Julie revealed. “I read an article in the gossip section of the Glass Gazette about how Snow’s mother Queen Isidora commissioned an enchanted sword for him from Blacksmith Rapunzel. All the noblewomen at the palace were so excited about finding out what ability Snow’s sword would have.”
Ashe raised an eyebrow at Julie. “What was the sword’s power?”
Julie put her hands out before her in a helpless gesture. “That’s just it. Apparently, the sword isn’t working for him. Enchanted weapons are supposed to work for everyone - even dullards. If their wielder is a dullard they will simply absorb energy from the sun, moon, or Mother Nature herself to power the sword’s abilities. It’s strange…it’s like there’s a curse on Snow or something because this isn’t the first time there have been rumors about Snow having problems with his magic. As the son of a powerful witch he should possess great magical power.”
Ashe and the Glass Sword Page 2