The young Prince marched forward; he stopped dead in front of Tolwein. The elf remained still. Gripping a fist-full of his uniform in his hands he lifted Tolwein off the ground and held him there. His arms were shaking with the immense power that flowed through him. The Dark Elf that had snatched Arweyn pulled out a knife and held it close to her throat. Kainan turned and looked at him; watching as he poised the blade over her exposed neck. He looked up at Tolwein.
“Let her go now Tolwein, unharmed and I might not kill you. If you do not, you will die by my hand!” Kainan seethed, shaking him.
Tolwein laughed sarcastically as his body shook with fear.
“You’ll do what? Take a look around you Kainan, you are beaten!” he screamed.
The Elf slid the knife harder along her throat; blood began seeping from the wound. Arweyn’s eyes freely flowing with tears looked at Kainan with desperation.
Kainan turned to her and as his eyes met hers his heart ached with wrenching agony. He let his arm drop; he would not risk her life. They had her and it was his fault. He released Tolwein, knocking him sprawling on his back
“Let her go Tolwein, you have got what you wanted. You do not need to hurt her,” he demanded.
Picking himself up off the ground Tolwein smirked.
“Oh I have no intention of hurting her Prince Kainan if you do exactly what I want. Now throw down your sword and kneel down before me,” he ordered, pointing to the ground in front of his feet. Kainan glared at him, sweat ran off his face and muscles tense as his hand gripped his sword.
Tolwein raised his hand, and from the side an Elf drew two daggers, throwing them at Kainan, they hit him precisely, deep in the back of each thigh. The young Prince cried out in pain as he dropped to the floor. Tolwein smiled, and bending down he picked up Kainan’s sword. Looking it over in his hand he smiled.
“Now that’s much better my Prince.” He crowed as he put a boot on the back of Kainan’s neck pushing his face down into the dirt. Laughing, he placed an elbow on his knee. Then taking a fistful of Kainan’s hair he jerked his head around to look in his eyes. Kainan glared as Tolwein leaned over; the boot on his neck sending a shared of pain through his shoulder’s. He grimaced against the pain.
“Now on your knees!” he spat releasing him and standing back.
Kainan gripped his fingers into the dirt as he tried to push himself back up. Wiping the dirt from his mouth he gritted his teeth against the pain in his thighs as the daggers pressed in harder.
“Soon your entire race will be kneeling down before us and the Gorzars, as our slaves.” Tolwein sneered at him, while the other Elves jibed, cheering loudly.
“NEVER!” Kainan shouted, looking up at him, his eyes glaring as he shook with rage. “Not while there is still life in me.”
“KILL HIM!” the Elves yelled in unison. Tolwein laughed throwing his head back triumphantly.
“On your knees I said,” Tolwein ordered. Kainan hesitated. The dark Elf holding Arweyn pushed the knife harder to her throat.
“Okay, don’t hurt her,” Kainan begged, raising his hand for him to stop. Struggling he pulled himself up onto his knees, grimacing with the pain from the daggers grinding into his legs. Taking Kainan’s sword, Tolwein raised it above his head, displaying it to the rest of the Elves. They cheered triumphantly.
“How long I have waited for this! Every day I had to watch you and restrain myself from slitting your throat,” he crowed, waving the point of the sword at Kainan.
“Why?” Kainan asked looking up at him. “Why wait until now?”
“For Arweyn of course, the Gorzars should have got her but they messed it up.”
“Why do you want her?”
He sauntered around Kainan, mocking him, jabbing the point of his sword into him. “Oh she is of great importance Kainan, you have no idea. When you said we were going to the Faerling city,” he shook his head and laughed. “I had to call the Gorzars off, that was too much of a bonus to waste. Now we know where the Faerling city is, we will find a way to get to them too.” He looked over to Arweyn and grinned, then flashed his eyes back to Kainan. “My Lord wants her for himself, as a mate.” He laughed at the young prince’s desperate face. Walking over to Arweyn his ran his hand across her cheek.
“He wants you all to himself.” Arweyn flinched at his touch, as his hand ran down her. Kainan’s breathing became heavy and he glared furiously at him. Tolwein smiled at her before turning sharply, and walking back to Kainan.
“Not that I blame him of course. She is a fine catch; but I can safely say we do not need you anymore.” He raised Kainan’s sword ready for the execution. Kainan looked frantically at Arweyn, she was desperately trying to fight to get free, but the Elves held her firm. She just could not break the bindings. Her eyes streamed with tears, this could not be it she could not lose him, not now!
Tears ran down Kainan’s cheek, not for himself, but for Arweyn. He should have protected her; there must have been something he could have done to prevent this? He had failed her and left her to face that evil bastard they called their Lord alone. He was terrified for her; for he knew what fate awaited her.
“I love you Arweyn. I’m sorry,” he cried to her. He could not bear it, this was the last time he would ever see her. Never again would he touch her, hold her, love her. He closed his eyes, her face the final vision in his mind. She cried desperately at him.
“Kainan…. NO!” she wrenched herself towards him, sobbing, shaking uncontrollably, she could barely stand. The Elves pulled her back; they would not let her go to him.
“Oh how touching.” Tolwein mocked sarcastically.
“NO TOLWEIN, NO. PLEASE, DO NOT DO THIS!” she screamed, shaking her head, begging him as she desperately pulled at her bindings. “Kainan!” she cried hysterically to him. Tolwein laughed as he looked down at Kainan hunched over on his knees. Kainan’s body was suddenly shaking, almost convulsing, and he was fixed into some kind of a trance. A voice called from deep within him, ‘Trust in your sword Kainan.’ His heart shook with fear. “Deragan, Deragan help me,” he mumbled, begging over and over again.
“Coward!” Tolwein cried, as he raised Kainan’s sword. “Listen to him, worthless, snivelling coward. There is no one who can save you!” He smiled at Arweyn, his eyes wide and excited. Then a satisfying grin crossed his lips. Defiantly he yelled.
“For the Dark Elves and for the Gorzars!” Then with all the strength he could muster he slammed the sword down hard onto Kainan’s neck.
Arweyn let out a bloodcurdling scream, and her legs gave way beneath her. The Elf holding her dragged her back onto her feet. At the same time the sword emanated a fantastic light and refused to strike at Kainan’s neck. Tolwein forced harder, the sword shook, but still it would not strike. It was as if it was hitting solid steel, not the soft flesh of a Groundling’s neck. Fear spread across Tolwein’s face. Kainan looked up, his eyes were glowing red. Raising his eyebrows he smirked. Then seizing his moment he reached for both the daggers embedded into his thighs; and with a cry of pain he pulled them out and then in one swift, sharp movement, with a dagger in each hand, he drove them up hard into Tolwein’s chest, turning and twisting, holding them there fast. Tolwein wailed and dropped the sword to the ground. Kainan released the knives, leaving them still embedded in his chest. Tolwein fell to his knees, glaring at Kainan eye to eye.
“How….?” he gurgled, as blood spewed from his mouth. Reaching out with both his hand, his nose screwing up in disgust, Kainan pushed him backwards, and Tolwein fell dead to the ground.
In an instant Kainan grabbed his sword, he jerked around and spun it towards the Elf holding Arweyn. It flew straight, then twisted mid-air and struck the elf straight through the throat. The force was so strong that it sent him crashing backwards to the ground, nearly decapitating him the elf laid dead. Lifting his hand Kainan cried aloud.
“Deragan!” The sword shook and pulled itself out of the Elf and flew back into Kainan’s hand.
“
Arweyn now is the time to use more of that magic you have learnt,” he urged nodding towards the oncoming Dark Elves. She nodded and spun around. Kainan lifted his sword and as he cut her bindings, it sizzled with magical light. Kainan raised an eyebrow; the bindings obviously held magic; that was why she had not been able to break them.
Arweyn turned and faced the other Elves; they rushed towards them, their swords raised.
“Spondora espalta,” she screamed, raising her hands towards them, and blasted them back with such a force that it killed them instantly.
“Wow!” Kainan yelled. “That’s my girl!” He grabbed the back of her head, his hands grasping at her hair. He pulled her desperately to him and kissed her hard on her lips; they both shook as their energy and powers joined.
“I am not even going to ask how you just did that Kainan,” she gasped as their lips parted. The look in his glowing eyes penetrated her, impaling her with its power, making her breathing quicken. She looked across at Tolwein’s dead body and smiled. She didn’t care how; she was just so relieved he had. He kissed her again, more gently, more passionately and then stared into her deep hazel eyes.
“Good because I have absolutely no idea. Ready?” he yelled above the cries of the oncoming Elves. Breathing in deep and summoning her nerve, Arweyn screamed back.
“Let’s do it!”
Kainan charged towards the Elves his sword poised ready. He swung high and low, the sword emanating with the power surging through his veins; slicing the Elves one by one. He ducked and he dived, twisting and somersaulting and yet more seemed to be coming at them. Arweyn fought hard blasting one after another.
“Kainan there is still too many of them, where are they all coming from?” Arweyn screamed, she was exhausted, the power was too strong and it was beginning to drain her. She blasted bolts of energy from her hands knocking the Elves back; but could no longer kill them.
Suddenly from a distance they could hear the sound of an animal crashing and roaring through the forest.
“What is that?” Arweyn screamed, spinning round to the noise coming from behind them.
“I don’t know.” Kainan yelled, dashing back to her; and pressing his back against hers he faced the oncoming noise, while Arweyn watched the Dark Elves; but the Elves had heard it too and had backed away from them. Waiting, watching. His sword raised poised for an imminent attack Kainan stood firm. Crashing through the trees in front of him appeared Lord Porlock and Freelander on their Runners. The Runners let out a rip roaring roar as they jumped between Arweyn and the Elves.
“Lord Porlock!” Arweyn cried, overwhelmed and surprised to see him.
“Just in time I see my Lady,” he yelled, shooting a glance at the small band of Dark Elves that held back from them. Jumping off Arnickle he skidded to his knees bowing down before Kainan.
“My Lord, First Prince of Malgar, your father King John has sent us.”
“Lord Porlock am I glad to see you!” Kainan cried, shaking his hand as he rose to his feet. Kainan stared at the huge cat like creatures in shock, what the hell were they? The Elves began to descend upon them once again, crying and screaming in rage.
“My Lord, King John…..” Lord Porlock begun.
“Time for talk later Porlock, now it is time for battle. Caspella!” yelled Freelander interrupting him and pulling out his sword at the approaching Elves. The cat like creature roared, baring his sharp canines.
“With pleasure,” he growled, and the muscles in the beast’s powerful hind legs rippled as he stamped his feet, his claws now poised ready to strike. Howling in fury, Caspella launched himself towards the Elves at lightning speed, ripping and biting at them. Bodies flew everywhere. Whilst Freelander swung his blade with a great fury, he may have been small but he was mighty powerful. There were terrifying shrieks and howls coming from the Elves. Arnickle rose onto his back legs, doubling his size. Jumping and twisting he flew towards them, and without pause he sprang into the conflict, avoiding the wielding swords he struck out with his claws and teeth. Kainan and Porlock charged in raising their swords. The young prince’s adrenaline flowed wildly as he hacked and chopped his way through the Elves, killing everyone he came across.
Arweyn had recovered her strength and fought hard, she dived and spun, and using her magic she blasted the Elves back. Then suddenly a Dark Elf took her by surprise, his hand grabbing her from behind, clasped around her throat, choking her. Her hands grabbed hold of his, her eyes rolling as she chanted. Her hands began burning his and the Elf screamed as his hands blackened from the intense heat. Then elbowing him back, she spun around. Her features sharpened into a look of ice and using both hands she drew on her power lifting him into the air, she began spinning him around like a bottle. Then she saw Arnickle bounding towards her, throwing the Elf towards him he snatched him in his mighty jaws. Shaking his head violently, the Runner bit the Elf cleanly in two, propelling his body in two different directions. Arweyn shuddered for a brief moment, and then turning around she continued with the fight.
A pair of hands came from behind Kainan and yanked him back, slamming him hard into the ground, knocking the breath out of him. The Elf spun around jumping on to his chest, his long Elf fingers grasped around the prince’s neck, and raged angrily as he tightened his grip around Kainan’s throat. As the young Prince gasped desperate for air, he groped for his sword, but it was not within reach. Kainan closed his mind to the choking and reached out to his sword.
“Deragan!” he called out with his mind, his fingers still grasping for his sword. The Elf tightened his grip further; suddenly the sword flew across the ground into Kainan’s hand. Grabbing the hilt he slammed it into the Elf’s face sending him backwards. Kicking his feet outwards Kainan jumped up, coughing as he gasped for breath, he rubbed his throat. The Elf lay stunned on the ground, raising his sword Kainan brought it down hard into the Elf’s chest, and instantly withdrawing it he whipped it around, striking at the Elf’s neck and severing his head from his body. Kainan quickly looked around him and realised they were finally winning. The few Elves that remained had now run for their lives. Caspella gave chase, along with Arnickle. They would ensure there would be no survivors.
Kainan closed his eyes and collapsing to his knees he sat back on his heels. His head hung low as he panted with exhaustion, gripping his sword with both hands in front of him, his body shook. Arweyn walked over to him and touched him, gently, on his shoulder, at her touch his head instantly snapped up and the sword whipped around towards her, stopping inches from her face. She jumped back with surprise. Kainan’s eyes where burning with fury.
“Kainan,” she said startled. “It’s okay, it’s over.” Kainan relaxed and allowed the sword to drop to the floor.
“Sorry honey,” he managed, still trying to catch his breath. “I thought
you were one of them.”
“Are you okay?” she asked, kneeling down beside him. She looked around at what she had done; at the bodies that lay strewn across the woodland floor. She looked at her hands taking in a deep breath. She could not believe how much she had changed in a week. She had grown up, she had made love, she had killed, not just one, but many. Arweyn swallowed hard. It was only a few days ago that she had grimaced at Kainan killing a rabbit and now look at her, she had killed dozens of people. She took another deep breath. Not that they didn’t deserve it of course. It was not her fault; it was not like she set out this morning to murder people. This was self-defence, self-preservation, her conscience was clear. She looked at Kainan, and he smiled at her, and then looked across at Drew being lifted out of the cage by Pernash. Drew raised his hand to him; thankfully he was alive.
“I am now,” he replied, raising his hand back to him and giving him a nod.
“How about you?” he asked back, gently wiping away Elf blood from her cheek with his sleeve. She nodded back at him.
“Me?” She waved her hand casually at him. “I’m fine, just tired that’s all,” she sighed rubbing her eye.
&nb
sp; “Mmm me too.” Grimacing he held the backs of his thighs.
“Here let me have a look at that.” She shifted forward to get a better look. Kainan leaned forward onto his hands as she ripped his trousers at each thigh to get a better look.
“Hey steady on, these are my best trousers,” he complained, then gave her one of his melting smiles. She smacked him playfully.
“You will live,” she said, turning and undoing her bag; she took out her pouch of herbs. “They are clean wounds; I should be able to heal them. Take your trousers off, it will be easier.”
Kainan raised his eyebrow at her. “What in front of everyone!” he teased.
“Will you behave!” she laughed, as she mixed some herbs together in her small bowl. “Anyway I thought you were tired?” Kainan shook his head at her and grinned.
“Never too tired for you honey,” she blushed, glancing over her shoulder to be sure no-one had heard him. Lying back on the grass he slipped off his trousers, sighing to himself. He watched her as she rummaged in her bag; she was so incredible, totally unfazed by everything. She was beautiful, strong, enchanting, she was everything and he gave a heavy sigh of relief that they were both still alive.
“My Lord.” Pernash called, walking over to him. “I am handy with a thread, would you like me to mend them for you?” he offered, holding out his hand.
“Yes thank you Pernash.” Kainan replied, looking up, taking him out of his own thoughts. He gratefully handed him his trousers. Rolling over and laying down frontward onto the grass he rested on his elbows.
“Ouch!” he moaned, spinning his head around as Arweyn rubbed the ointment into his wounds. She shook her head at him.
“What a baby,” she mumbled looking at him.
“What did you say?” Kainan quizzed jokingly, poking at her.
Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan Page 47