Slaves to the Sword

by Jack Cage

  ***

  Singletary made his way back to King Phillip’s chambers and found he and Stuart were eating. “Ah, Captain Singletary! What of our enormous Moors?” the king asked.

  The captain had a bewildered look on his face.

  “Singletary?” Stuart said.

  “Speak sir!” King Phillip commanded.

  “Madness, Your Majesty,” Singletary finally replied. “Utter madness, Sire.” He asked permission to sit with his hand hovering over a chair.

  King Phillip nodded “yes” and the captain sat with his hands covering his face. “The savagery of those men is something I have never seen before,” Singletary said. “Pieces of flesh and bone littered the entire cell. It was like we let loose a hundred dogs on those two criminals.”

  He looked up and noticed the king and prince were eating their dinner. “My apologies, Sire.” King Phillip took a large bite from a turkey leg, indicating his hunger was not quelled by Singletary’s reporting.

  “So, you think those men were going to sell the Moors to Carpenter?” Stuart asked.

  “Yes. Considering their abilities are barbaric at best, with proper training they would have been formidable soldiers to fight against on the battlefield,” Singletary replied.

  “What shall we do with them, Father?” Stuart asked.

  “We may need to take the good captain’s advice, and give them proper training. Perhaps they could become my personal guard,” King Phillip said. “For now, let them be where they are, and tomorrow, take them to the stables to be with their father. Ensure they are properly shackled, as I do not want them to have the opportunity to harm anyone.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Singletary said. He stood and walked out of the king’s chambers.

  24

  T he next day, five guards came to the Sefu brother’s cell. They were shackled and asked to come out of the cell. Once they realized what was being asked of them the brothers walked out of the cell slowly. Apparently, they were not moving fast enough for one of the guards; he delivered a strong blow to Endesha’s back with his shield, causing him to stumble to the dirt floor of the dungeon. Amri helped his brother onto his feet, and shot a menacing glare at the guard. “Don’t look at me you bloody monster!” the guard said as he punched Amri’s face with his armored glove, snapping his head to the right, and sending a spray of blood flying onto the nearby wall. The Sefu warrior turned his head back toward the guard and presented a bloody-toothed smile. The other four guards did not dare strike the Moor.

  “I will have my turn to deliver a blow to your face. We will see who has the stronger arm,” Amri said in his Sefu language—the demonic bloody smile still on his face. Endesha grabbed his brother’s arm and turned him around as the group continued walking down the hallway, up several series of stairs, and through many, many corridors.

  Eventually, they were led to the stables and taken to the overhead area where their father was located.

  The guards wrapped the Sefu brother’s chains around a large wooden beam, giving them enough slack to move in a limited manner within the small space overtop of the stables.

  “If you try to hurt any of us, we will kill you and feed you to the dogs you bloody monsters!” yelled a guard, before turning to leave. The four remaining guards continued to watch Amri as they waited their turn to go down to the lower level of the stables. No one wanted to be alone with the Sefu men.

  “Father, you are well?” asked Endesha as he hugged Zuberi.

  “Yes, my son. I am well,” he replied. Zuberi noticed the blood on Amri’s face.

  “Are you well, Amri?”

  “Yes, Father, I am fine.”

  “Did those men hurt you?” Endesha asked.

  “No. They took me here and gave me much food. I slept very well here.”

  “What is this place? Where they are keeping us, Father?” Amri asked.

  “This is where they keep those large beasts that brought us here,”

  Endesha stood and looked around at his new surroundings. “This is a long way from our village, Father,” he said.

  “Yes, Son, this place is where I believe both of your destinies will be fulfilled,” said Zuberi.

  “I hate the smell of this place.” Amri scowled. “I hate that ever since we were taken from the Kuno land, we have had other men telling us what to do. I am growing impatient with all of this.”

  “There is nothing we can do about it, Brother,” Endesha replied. “We are in this place with no allies, no weapons, and no knowledge of the land we are on.”

  “Endesha, your wisdom reminds me of Coffa. You must have been listening closely to his teachings. It fits you well, Son,” Zuberi said with pride.

  Amri stood and almost hit his head on the wooden beam of the stable attic. He then stretched his muscles until his joints popped. Frustrated, he went to the edge of the attic’s ledge where he could see the armory where the metalsmith was making swords and other weapons. But what was more intriguing to Amri was to his left. From there he could see where the elite soldiers from the Red Guard practiced.

  He had never seen fighting like this before, and as he watched, he noticed the soldier’s movements with their swords were fluid and powerful. Amri also noticed the different types of weapons available to them: longswords, broadswords, and falchions.

  Moments later, Prince Stuart and Singletary entered the practice area. Amri knelt down instinctively, so he would not be detected, but they were not aware, nor did they care if he was gazing upon their actions. “We haven’t had a go in a long time, Your Highness,” said Singletary.

  “Yes, indeed. It has been far too long since we sparred. Fancy a go?” Stuart replied.

  “What sword shall we use?”

  “Let us use the ones we have on us.” Stuart produced his elaborately adorned Arming Sword from its scabbard.

  It was over 100 years old and had been given to him by his royal father when he took control of the Red Guard, and all of the Midland Kingdom’s Armies, after the defeat of Thomas Carpenter.

  The sword had a pearl and iron hilt with a gold cross-guard. It was a magnificent piece of artistic metal craftsmanship of which delivering death was second to its admirable physical beauty.

  Captain Singletary walked casually toward the swords mounted on the wall and selected a longsword. As a skilled swordsman, he knew he needed a longer reach to counter the prince’s smaller size and equal skill with a blade. “No need in allowing me to have an advantage, Captain. I want you to treat me like any other sparring partner,” Stuart said smugly.

  “I never intended on treating you any other way.” Fitzgerald wasted no time, and delivered the first overhand downward strike. Prince Stuart skillfully parried the strike, and reset his footing to deflect Singletary’s quick, but short, diagonal slash.

  As the two men were sparring, Amri watched them in amazement—analyzing their every movement with intense scrutiny. The constant clanging of the iron was captivating to all of the Sefu men, but to Amri, it was a way to satisfy his urge for fighting—his lust for war.

  He wanted to learn how to fight like the men he was watching. He wanted to fight better than the men he was watching. “I like the weapons those men are using down there, Father,” Amri said with new-found enthusiasm.

  “You will be able to defeat those men with their own weapons in time, Son,” Zuberi said.

  “I will be the best to ever fight on this land, Father, and I will free us from this place.”

  “We need to discuss a plan of strategy that will help us survive here,” Zuberi said.

  “I agree. We must have a plan so Amri does not get us all killed,” Endesha said jokingly.

  “Let us talk about what we know, and what we do not know,” Zuberi said. “We know these men are capable of hurting or killing us at any point, so we cannot show them any signs of aggression. This means we cannot harm any of them, Amri.” Amri looked way from his brother and father.

  “We should make ourselves as useful to the
m as possible, and try to appear non-threatening and likeable.”

  “Sons, I know this goes against all of the things you were taught when we were on our land, but this place is different, and in order to survive we must adapt. Endesha, you must focus on learning their language. You are the most intelligent one of us, and we need you to understand what they want from us. Amri, you must channel your anger, and turn it into focusing it on becoming a formidable fighter on this land. Watch these men fight each other, learn their movements and how they can be defeated. This will help you when the time comes.

  “I believe, if we do these things we can survive in this place without constantly wondering if our lives are in jeopardy. Do you boys understand me?” Zuberi asked.

  “Yes, Father,” Amri and Endesha replied.

  “Good. There is some water in a container over there. Use some of it to wash the blood off your face, Amri, and tend to your wounds.” Zuberi said. [DS5]“We are safe here, so you can rest peacefully today.” He placed his hands on his son’s shoulders.

  The Sefu men slept late into the morning and were just waking up when they noticed a small, curly-headed little boy peeking up at them from the wooden staircase. Harold thought the fact that he could not see the Sefu men meant they could not see him either. However, the boy did not consider the Sefu men could easily see his long, curly, brown locks from where they were sitting. [DS6]

  “Look over there. A child is looking at us,” Endesha whispered to Zuberi.

  “Yes, I see. He is a handsome little one. Maybe he is the son of the chief of this village. Keep your distance boys. We do not want to upset the men that put us here by interacting with this child,” Zuberi warned.

  Moments later, Stuart Miles could be heard approaching and Harold shot down the stairs fast as a farm mouse. The Sefu men peered down toward the bottom of the stairs, Prince Stuart motioned them to come down. Endesha and Amri complied, and at the bottom of the stairs was a small stack of clothing and some food and water. “Take this to your father and put this on when you are finished,” the prince said.

  Amri had a look of bewilderment on his face and turned to Endesha for instruction. “I think he wants us to take these things back to Father.” Endesha said as he nodded to Prince Stuart, grabbed the food and garb, and turned to go back upstairs.

  “Why are these men tending to us so well, Father?” Amri asked skeptically.

  “Because they have not decided on what our purpose is,” Zuberi replied. “I imagine they think you two are valuable to them somehow. If they had no interest in us, we would still be in that dark place with those other men. But because of what those men from the boat did, and the obvious risk they took in getting us here, I believe we may be able to survive here if we go by their rules,” Zuberi warned.

  “Or they could just be fattening us up before they eat us,” Amri said jokingly as he ripped a chunk of bread away with his teeth.

  “I suspect the two of you will be tested very soon. Be prepared to prove yourself,” Zuberi warned.

  “What kind of test, Father?” asked Endesha.

  “A demonstration of your abilities, I would think. I am sure those men told of what Amri did back in the Kuno lands, and they will probably want to see if what they were told he is capable of is true.

  “If they are looking for a test, I welcome the opportunity,” Amri said.

  “Son, do not rush to dig your own grave,” Zuberi warned. “If you two fail, all of us will die. Endesha, Amri is used to fighting, but here in this land you will have to let go of anything you may be holding back. You must allow your true self to come through.”

  “My true self, Father?” Endesha replied.

  “What father is trying to say, Endesha, is to let go of your fears. Your true strength is no different than Father’s or mine,” Amri said.

  “I am not a warrior like the two of you,” Endesha said.

  “Yes, you are,” Zuberi replied with a chuckle. “You are more like your brother than you may think, my son.”

  Nodding his head in agreement Amri said, “Father is right, you are much more of a warrior than you think. Father did not see what you and I did to those men from the water. He did not see the delight I saw in your eyes at making those men pay for what they did to us and our mother.”

  Curious, Zuberi asked Endesha, “What is Amri talking about? Did you enjoy hurting those men from the water?”

  “I’m not sure, Father. I was lost within myself. I don’t know what I was feeling. I was focused more on hurting them than on what I was feeling,” Endesha replied.

  “That is exactly what I feel. No different. Do you see now how we are linked?”

  “I’m not the one with the mark of the lion—you are, Amri. This was just one time. It won’t happen like that again.”

  “Yes, it will. You are denying what is inside you, Brother. The battle is something you cannot run away from. You have to run toward it.”

  “I will not be consumed by the type of rage you have, Amri. I have seen what it does to you. I have seen how it hurts you, and how you struggle to keep it suppressed here in this place.”

  “Yes, the rage consumes me, but it may not affect you in the same way. I am asking you to use whatever is inside you to guide your movements. You need to fight with your mind as your first weapon, and a rock in your hand as your second.” Amri warned.

  “What is your first weapon, Amri?” Zuberi asked curiously.

  “I am the first weapon. No need for the rock,” he replied.

  Endesha stood and walked to the other side of the room. “Why do both of you believe I am a warrior?” he asked.

  “You forget, Son, Coffa and I were both warriors when we were young like you and Amri,” Zuberi said. “You cannot deny what is in your blood.

  “You must embrace the fact that you have abilities you have yet to understand, Endesha,” Amri said. “I believe that if you are pushed you could be more dangerous than me.”

  Prince Stuart returned to the stables with several guards. As the group of men made their way up to the attic space Zuberi said, “This may already be the test I spoke of.”

  “My Father would like to see you again. This time he would like to see what the Carpenter would have had if those men delivered you to them,” Stuart said. He pointed toward the stairs with his unsheathed sword.

  Prince Stuart did not shackle the Sefu men as they were led down into the practice area adjacent to the stables, and as the two Sefu brothers made their way into the room, they noticed it was filled with many well-dressed individuals. Their jackets had shiny buttons, their shoes were clean, and their hair was neatly coiffed.

  The building anticipation in the room made it very warm, which the Sefu men did not mind.

  Once everyone was in the room an announcement was made, “Presenting His Royal Majesty King Phillip Miles!” The room clapped a muted applause as King Phillip glided into the space with his heavily adorned crimson and gold robe. He wore a modest golden crown over his silvering hair, and as he walked in a stately stride, he produced a well-rehearsed smile he had delivered more times than he could recall.

  “Today is a special day. We are fortunate to witness a gift that was not intended for us to receive, but was in fact intended for Thomas Carpenter. Two nights ago, we found these Moors shackled in the back of a carriage. Their captors were en route to Tawny, and if they had completed their journey, would have ended up in the hands of Carpenter as human weapons,” said King Phillip. “We have been informed, by the now deceased men who brought these Moors into my Midland Kingdom, that they are very dangerous and worthy of the risk taken to transport them.

  “We are here today to see if those men were correct in their judgements of the Moors abilities, and if they stand to be impressive, we shall retain them here at Harkstead Castle and use their abilities to the benefit of the Midland Kingdom!” The room broke into loud applause.

  The Sefu brothers stood motionless during the king’s speech, not understanding the lan
guage of the Midlanders, but knowing this man spoke of them. “Prepare yourself, Brother,” Amri whispered.

  “We will start with the smaller one,” King Phillip commanded as the room opened and a circle was formed. Within the circle stood a bearded man significantly smaller than Endesha.

  Stuart, using two hands, pushed Endesha into the center of the circle causing him to stumble. He turned around to look behind him and saw Amri towering over everyone. Amri nodded to his brother in approval, and Endesha nodded back in return.

  The man raised his fists to a fighting position while Endesha stood still, looking at him. Suddenly, the man threw a right-hand punch to the Sefu man’s face, causing Endesha to stumble sideways. Believing the Moor was vulnerable, the pale, bearded fighter struck Endesha again, this time with his left hand. Then another blow from his right fist finally drew blood that cascaded down Endesha’s nose. “This Moor is not a warrior!” shouted the fighter as the crowd applauded.

  Endesha gathered his thoughts as he wiped his face and saw his blood on his fingers. Instead of being enraged, he took notice of his surroundings—he saw the hay they were fighting on. He also noticed the man was barefoot, like he was.

  The pale fighter turned toward Endesha to attack again, but before he could step into his next swing, Endesha bent quickly to gather a handful of hay and slung it into the man’s face. Then Endesha took both of his legs and pulled them up behind his knees making him fall down onto his back.[DS7]

  Endesha quickly moved on top of the fighter’s chest to straddle his upper body while using his knees to restrain his opponent’s arms. Lastly, Endesha punched the fighter several times with his right fist, then began to shove large amounts of hay into the man’s mouth.

  Endesha continued to force the hay into the man’s mouth, and the once-pale fighter began to turn bright red.

  Just as he was about to lose consciousness, a group of Red Guardsman pulled Endesha off of his opponent and threw him toward his cautiously amused brother, Amri.