Bladvaneer

by Dennis Purves

  “But—” Tul protested.

  “Enough. After Krot gave you so much power, you should be honored to be able to use it to help restore him. And now it will begin.” Grallen said, and began speaking in a strange tongue.

  “Fascinating,” Tarquin repeated.

  The barriers surrounding the Elite Guard were no longer invisible, but instead began to glow with a pulsing red light. A similar light shot up from the floor surrounding Grallen. As he was bathed in its energy, he felt himself becoming stronger.

  “Don’t leave,” he instructed Tarquin. “You’ll be the first to experience the raw power I will soon possess.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to kill you, but I held out, wanting to get you to this moment. Allow you to stand next to me and know that your power is nothing compared to mine. You can’t even begin to imagine the pain that awaits you.”

  “I’m looking forward to it, actually.”

  Grallen knew Tarquin was putting on a brave face, for all the good it would do him. Right to the end that wizard wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he indeed was superior. He would show him soon enough.

  Beams of energy traveled from the four corners into the center of the room. As the Elemental Warriors got weaker, the beams became stronger. Grallen’s entire body was becoming surrounded by a white glow. He thought it was an interesting contrast to the red light surrounding the circle. He also began to feel cold. He assumed it was a part of the power transference. He soon began to doubt that, however.

  “Problem?” Tarquin asked, smirking.

  “No, not at all!” Grallen lied. He found it difficult to speak.

  He watched as ice crystals formed around his feet, thickening as they traveled up his legs. He tried to shake them off but found that he couldn’t move his arms.

  “What have you done to me?”

  “I’d think that would be obvious,” Tarquin answered, holding out his hand. One of his guards placed his sword in it.

  Grallen stared at Tarquin, not because he wanted the wizard to be his last sight, but because he couldn’t move his head or close his eyes. It was somewhat merciful when the ice completely obscured his vision.

  Tarquin approached the shimmering light, touching it ever so slightly. He prodded it with the sword, checking to see if there would be any resistance. Finding none he swung it, and Grallen’s frozen body shattered. He tossed the weapon back to his guard.

  “Now let us out!” Jord commanded. His voice wasn’t quite as bold as it had been before.

  Tarquin laughed. “But why would I do that?” he asked, and stepped into the circle.

  Outside, Klavin and Maurya found themselves pinned against the temple wall. Both were holding what was left of their broken weapons. P’tnz and Frotrude paced back and forth in front of them, waiting for one to make a move. The entrance was on another side of the building. It seemed very unlikely either of them could get to it without being caught, although that didn’t stop them from considering it.

  “One of us could try to reach the entrance. The other could lead them away,” Klavin suggested.

  “That might work if there were only one lion.”

  “Well, we have to do something. I say we both run for it. One of us might make it.”

  “Actually, I think they’ve only been playing with us this whole time. Trust me, they’re not going to let us get anywhere near that entrance.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not sure. Look.”

  The lions had stopped their pacing, and seemed to be frozen in mid-pose. Klavin reached out to one.

  “Don’t!” Maurya warned.

  “You just said they were going to kill us no matter what, so what do I have to lose?”

  He touched the cold stone. There was no reaction. Whatever had been animating the lions had apparently stopped.

  “Let’s go,” he said, heading toward the entrance.

  “It could be a trap.”

  “I’d be more surprised if it wasn’t.”

  They entered the temple and found Tarquin standing in the middle. His guards, looking strangely apprehensive, stood by his side. The floor was littered with pieces of melting ice. They noticed candleholders in the four corners, each with a pile of dust next to it.

  “It certainly took you long enough to get here,” the wizard said, a strange echo to his voice.

  “What’s going on? Where’s everyone else?” Klavin asked.

  “They have served their purpose and are no longer needed.”

  Klavin stepped forward but Maurya grabbed his arm.

  “What?”

  “There’s something wrong here.”

  The wizard laughed. The sound took on a horrific quality that reverberated in everyone’s head long after he had stopped.

  “What’s going on here, Tarquin?” Klavin demanded, his broken sword held in front of him.

  “Do I really have to spell this out for you? Tarquin is gone. I am far beyond anything he ever could have hoped to be. However, if it’s any consolation, I can tell you that he very seriously regrets his decision to donate his body to my cause.”

  “Krot?”

  Krot rolled his eyes. “And you were the one who was supposed to defeat me?”

  He held out his arm and mentally commanded the familiar to come to him. The eagle hesitated. This man looked like his master. He even smelled like his master. Yet he most certainly was not his master. However, as he had witnessed what had happened to just about everyone else in the room, he wasn’t about to challenge him. He flew down and perched on the outstretched arm.

  “I still will,” Klavin claimed.

  “Doubtful. However, I have made the mistake of underestimating mortals before, and I wound up regretting it. I do not plan to make the same mistake again. I also do not see the need to dirty my own hands for this. Guards, dispatch them.”

  The warriors drew their swords and headed for the two intruders. Klavin and Maurya clutched their weapons, knowing they’d be of little use. As they got close, one of the men realized his proximity to the exit, threw down his weapon, and ran for it.

  “And why does it not surprise me that one of you tried this?” Krot said with a sigh.

  As the man ran, blood trickled out of a small gash in his forehead. With each step the gash traveled downward, eventually running the entire length of his body. Mere feet from escape, his torso simply split in two and collapsed to the floor. The other guard looked at Krot, terror filling his eyes.

  “I might as well get this over with. I have little doubt that you would have tried the same thing sooner or later,” Krot said.

  A line appeared on the right side of the second warrior’s forehead and drew itself across to the other side. An identical line appeared about an inch below, and did the same thing. Every few seconds these parallel lines appeared. The man seemed to be in no pain, yet tried to stand perfectly still. Krot waved his hand and a gust of wind startled the guard. As his weight shifted, his entire body fell to pieces. The demon smiled.

  “And to think, I did not even hate them. Just imagine what I’m going to do to you.”

  Klavin and Maurya both eyed the fallen warriors’ swords, which were still intact.

  “Oh yes, please reach for those weapons. They will do so much more against me than the ones you already have.”

  “Even if we can’t stop you, someone will. Someone will find a way!” Klavin promised.

  “Actually, I have to admit I am quite insulted that you were the best that could be sent against me. The last time I faced seasoned adventurers, not children. And they were properly equipped for the challenge. I am afraid that neither of you stand a chance against me, although I believe you both already realize that.”

  “Listen—“ Klavin began.

  Maurya fell to her knees, buckled over in pain. A moment later she was curled into a fetal position, screaming
in agony. Deep inside, she wondered why she always had to be the one to be tortured.

  “What are you doing to her?”

  Krot smiled. “I am simply willing her to experience pain. You could stop it, of course. All you have to do is … no, I suppose I should not lie to you. There really is nothing you can do to stop it. All you can do is watch her suffer and know that you are next.”

  Klavin grabbed one of the swords and charged at Krot. Before he had taken a dozen steps the blade had turned to water and run through his fingers. He turned and saw that Maurya was still being tortured. Words came out of her mouth, but he couldn’t make them out. He rushed back to her. Krot made no attempt to stop him.

  “What did you say?”

  “Please … kill me …” she begged.

  “Krot, if you’re going to kill us, just do it. There’s no need to do this.”

  Krot laughed. “Of course there is. I want to see you suffer. What more reason do I need?”

  Just then Simko ran into the room, the wounds that had once been evident on him long gone. His familiar stood by his side. His lips moved, but no sound was heard. Krot noticed him and smirked.

  “Ah, another one for me to enjoy,” he said. He noticed his familiar’s reaction and added, “And someone you would like to enjoy as well, I see. Well, I suppose it would be wrong for me to be the only one having fun here.”

  His familiar looked back and forth between Krot and the cat on the floor. He still wasn’t sure what was happening, nor exactly whose arm he was currently perched on, but if he was being given the blessing to kill a weaker familiar, he wasn’t going to question it. He took flight and headed for his prey.

  Simko finished speaking and his familiar was bathed in a blinding glow. As everyone watched the small cat’s body expanded, his face lengthened and his claws grew. As the glow dissipated the weak familiar was now replaced by a vicious panther.

  The eagle wanted to retreat but had no time. He managed to avoid the feline’s furious swipe and flew upwards to safety. The jungle animal circled below, knowing that sooner or later the bird would have to descend. Indeed it did, again narrowly avoiding an attack and rushing down the exit tunnel, the panther in fast pursuit.

  Krot looked annoyed at this turn of events, but it didn’t concern him. Nor did it cause him to cease Maurya’s torture.

  “I probably would have destroyed that eagle sooner or later anyway. All you did was save me the trouble.” Krot shook his head in false sympathy. “You poor, poor excuse for a wizard. Did you really make this journey just so your familiar could get revenge against Tarquin’s?”

  “Actually, no, that’s not the only reason,” Simko said, smirking as he drew a sword from a sheath on his back.

  “No …” Krot whispered, his eyes locked on the blade.

  Simko threw Bladvaneer to Klavin. At the top of its arc Krot waved a hand, stopping it in midair. He laughed.

  “How very sad it must be to come so close. That sword might have defeated me, but it will not do you a lot of good if you cannot use it, will it?”

  Klavin stared at the sword, hanging painfully close yet still out of reach. He wanted to will it down to him.

  And to the disbelief of both him and Krot, the sword began to waver. Krot attempted to increase his hold over the weapon. Maurya’s suffering suddenly stopped, as with Krot’s attention diverted he was no longer willing pain on her.

  Krot seemed to have won the battle of wills, as the sword stopped its movement. The demon grinned at Klavin, and then looked up just in time to see Bladvaneer continue its descent and fall into the librarian’s hand.

  “You still won’t be able to stop me,” Krot said, not sounding quite as confident as he had earlier.

  “I think you’re wrong,” Klavin responded, and headed in his direction.

  A massive fireball appeared in front of Krot. He allowed everyone a moment to take in its beauty and power and then he launched it. Klavin swung his sword down and impossibly chopped the fireball in two, sending the pieces crashing into the far walls. As he continued his approach Krot moved backwards, leaving an icy wind behind him. Klavin found himself surrouned by the crystals, and in a few moments he was frozen.

  “So much for him,” Krot gloated.

  Bladvaneer began glowing, and the ice instantly turned to steam and dissipated. Klavin continued his approach and Krot continued his slow retreat, managing to throw a lighting bolt behind him. It should have been extremely effective when used on a metal weapon, but somehow it simply bounced off and struck right at the demon’s feet. Backed up against a wall, he realized there was nowhere left to retreat. He forced a smile.

  “It doesn’t have to be like this. What are you going to do next? Go back to your plain old life? There’s no need. You have earned my respect and admiration. Very few have managed to do that. You can be my new Elemental Warriors. Each of you can be given the power of your choice. That … odd cat could even be the fourth if you would like. What do you say?”

  Klavin stared at the insincere smile and drove Bladvaneer up into his chest. The demon winced in pain, although he quickly seemed to recover.

  Krot looked down at the sword and laughed. “You still do not understand. I cannot be killed. Far better warriors than yourself have tried and failed. The most your hero Kriger and his friends could do was to bind me and send me elsewhere. You lack even the power to do that much.”

  Bladvaneer was suddenly surrounded with a black glow. The light seemed to radiate from the center of the blade and expanded outward through Krot’s body.

  “It … it cannot be,” Krot whispered.

  The black glow completely surrounded Krot, who began to fade in and out of sight. Klavin, who obviously wasn’t expecting any of this, could only watch.

  There was an incredible flash of darkness, rendering everyone blind for the moment. When Klavin’s sight returned he saw his sword sticking into the wall, but Krot seemed to be nowhere. He pulled out the blade and turned to his friends.

  “Quickly, we have to go after him!” he commanded.

  “I wouldn’t worry about that,” Simko responded.

  “Oh? And why’s that?”

  “I’m pretty sure we’re not going to find him anywhere around here.”

  “If you know what happened to him, just tell us,” Maurya said. She wasn’t unhappy at the idea of Krot being gone, but was sorry she might not be able to get any revenge.

  “Well, I’m pretty sure that what we just saw was Tresegama’s Eternal Agony.”

  “Did you cast it?” Klavin asked.

  “I wouldn’t even know how to start casting that spell.”

  “Then how?”

  Simko nodded toward the sword.

  “Bladvaneer? It can cast spells?” Klavin asked incredulously.

  Simko shook his head. “I don’t think it can really cast spells. But it did seem to absorb that spell when Tarquin tried to use it on you earlier. Maybe it just released the same energy.”

  Klavin looked at his weapon with a new sense of admiration, and many new questions in his mind.

  “But how did any of this happen? Last we saw Talb he was nearly dead, and couldn’t become Bladvaneer. For that matter, what happened to you? You weren’t in much better shape than he was,” Maurya asked.

  “Well, it’s hard to explain. I’m not quite sure of everything myself. But I wound up back on Lakron Island. The wizard who created that spell was there, and helped reverse it. And Gareth helped restore Talb to health.”

  “Gareth! We’ll need to go back and tell him how things went!” Klavin exclaimed happily.

  Simko’s head sunk. “We can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Gareth isn’t …” Simko started, but let his voice trail off.

  “Wait a minute. What’s going on? Tell me exactly what happened!”

  Simko sighed. “Gareth was so happy to see that Bladvaneer really existed, but so upset to see what had happened to him. He decided to heal him. Talb�
�s injuries were beyond what Gareth was capable of healing, but he wouldn’t stop.”

  “He gave his life for Talb?”

  “He did, but it still wasn’t enough. You know the condition those people were in. So they all gave a little, bringing Talb closer and closer to health. Even holding back like this, some of them still didn’t survive. They did the same to me.”

  “And you let them?” Maurya asked.

  “They didn’t give me much choice. We were all in bad shape, but they outnumbered me. Once they knew what was at stake they didn’t hesitate to restore both of us.

  “Once we were healed, we went back through the cave and a Phantom Steed got us back as quickly as it could. I didn’t think we were going to make it.

  “And I kept sharing Talb’s feelings. Anger for the people who had done all this. Concern for you. It was … interesting.”

  Klavin looked around at the remains of the temple. He put the sword back into the sheath on his back.

  “I suggest we leave here before anything else happens. It would seem that Krot is no longer tied to this place, and his Elemental Warriors no longer exist, but I still don’t think we should take any chances. We find a way to bury this place, and then we go home.”

  Klavin, Simko, and Maurya headed for the exit. However, Klavin’s sheath started shaking and his sword jumped out, turning back into Talb as it hit the floor.

  “Talb, what’s going on?” Klavin asked.

  They only looked at each other, seemingly lost in each other’s thoughts.

  “Klavin, what’s happening? Is something wrong?” Maurya asked.

  He hesitated before answering, “Talb wants to stay here.”

  “What? Why?” Simko asked.

  “He seems to feel that he’s completed his destiny, and has no further purpose. He doesn’t want to be a burden.”

  “You can’t just leave him here!” Simko said.

  “I know that.” To Talb, Klavin continued, “Talb, we still need you. Sure, you were created for one purpose, but there’s so much more good you can do. That we can do. But we can’t do it without you.

  “None of us were meant to do this. We just did. It was our choice. We made our own destiny. Now it’s time for you to do the same.”