by Matthew Wolf
Maris grabbed him. “These events are far over your head, Gray. Leave it be,” he said in a cold whisper.
He shrugged the Ronin’s grip off and strode forward. “Call me young, but I’m smart enough to see a fool’s trap. By fighting amongst one another you’re playing into the Kage’s hand.”
“You know not—”
“Quiet, Seth. Let him speak,” said Omni.
Gray swallowed his trepidation and raised his voice, “This is what the enemy wants. If you destroy yourselves then their job is already done.”
“Then what do you propose?” Aurelious asked.
Gray searched for the words, but the truth was he didn’t have an answer. “I’m not sure…”
“Perfect,” Aurelious said. “This is what we get for listening to a boy’s plans for salvation.”
“And do you have a better idea, brother?” Aundevoriä asked.
Aurelious growled and a chorus of shouts erupted as the Ronin fought once again.
“Silence!” Baro boomed.
The Ronin quieted and Baro stepped back, Omni taking the big man’s place. “We must face the simple truth,” he announced, “If we continue on this course our death is sealed.”
“Then what are we doing here?” Seth questioned. “We’ve saved them, but we can do no more. They are slowing us down. At this rate, the Kage will catch us. The enemy will not stop. Shall their death be ours as well?” he asked, pointing to the fearful men and women.
A silence descended over the crowds.
“It is true,” Hiron said suddenly. Omni looked surprised by his words. “I’m sorry Omni, but for once I agree with Seth. We returned from the realm of the dead for one thing. That one item was and always has been our main goal. You said it yourself, all else is trivial by comparison.” Hiron turned to look at Gray. “We came for the sword and we found it.”
All eyes fell on him. Gray stepped back. All of a sudden, he was not ready to hand over the blade. It was strange… though part of him loathed Morrowil, something felt wrong about giving it up.
“I made a promise to these people,” Omni replied.
“A fool’s promise,” Seth sneered.
“Watch your words, cur,” Baro snapped, baring the bright steel of his giant sword, Iridal.
Hiron spoke, “As usual, Seth does not know his place, but he is also right. A promise is no good if you’re not alive to keep it, Omni.”
“I hate to admit it, but the fire-head has a point,” Dared said, breaking his silence.
“Then what are we waiting for?” Aurelious asked roughly, moving towards Gray.
Gray tensed, reaching for Morrowil.
“Stop, Aurelious!” Omni ordered, but Aurelious didn’t slow. Omni flung his hand and a blinding beam of light shot from it. Its light encircled Aurelious like a rope of gold and tied him to the ground.
“Let me go!” Aurelious raged, trying and failing to reach for his sword.
“The blade is out of our hands now, Aurelious,” Omni said, “Let it go!”
Aurelious seethed against the golden bonds, “That is not your decision!” he shouted. Luckily, he seemed restrained. Gray sagged with relief until he saw Seth approach out of the corner of his eye. He gripped the sword in his hands.
Aundevoriä stepped between him and Seth.
“Back away from the boy, Aun, or I will make you,” Seth said with cold fury.
“The blade is not yours to take!” Aundevoriä said and a giant earthen hand rose from the ground. Huge rock fingers curled around Seth. The Ronin sliced, but more shot up in their place. With an angry shout, Seth plunged Heartgard into the ground. The hand of earth dissolved in a bout of flame and Gray shielded his eyes from the blast, and then ran to help Aundevoriä.
Maris grabbed his arm, holding him back.
“Let go! They are fighting over the sword! I can end this!” he tried to pull away, but the man held him tightly.
“It’s not your fight,” Maris said.
“What then? Shall I do nothing while others fight and die for something I hold?”
“I will not let you risk yourself. The sword and you are more important than any one of us.”
“Take it!” Gray said, offering the blade, “If you take it, they will stop.”
Temptation glittered in Maris’ eyes. “I can’t…” he replied. “Morrowil is yours.”
Gray broke free of Maris’ grip when roots sprung from the ground. The thick tubers wrapped around his legs, pinning him. Aundevoriä loosed another cry, a behemoth hand of rock shuddered from the earth. The ground swayed, but the vines held him in place. Villagers cried out and ran. Seth growled and a fire bolt shot from his hand. It hit Aundevoriä and created a cloud of dust. Gray held his breath until Aundevoriä rose from the smoke, clothes smoldering. He gripped a marble shield in one hand and a stone sword in the other.
“Stop this madness!” Omni shouted, and another beam of golden light shot forth, racing towards Seth and Aundevoriä. Yet Baro spurred his huge mount, leaping before the beam. The two collided and the big Ronin grunted as the light hit his broad back, wrapping around him like a huge snake. Baro raised his massive arms and the gold band burst.
Seth was almost to Gray, though Maris stood between them.
Gray gripped the blade tighter, readying himself when suddenly his hands grew hot. The hilt seared until he felt his flesh being fused to the sword’s grip. He gasped, at last letting go. In a burst of flame, Seth disappeared then reappeared, swiftly reaching for the blade. Wrist-thick roots sprung from the ground and snatched Seth’s arm.
“Back away from the blade,” Maris said. “We are your brothers—this is not right!”
“Don’t speak to me of bonds! You betray us all! The sword is everything, yet you let a boy hold it!” Seth bellowed.
“He is more than just a boy, can’t you see that?” Maris replied.
Seth raised his arm. “If he is more than simple fire will not hurt him.”
Gray pulled at the vines harder, trying to flee.
“Stop now, Seth, before you get someone killed!” Maris shouted.
“And what is one life compared to thousands?” Seth growled. “We will all die if the blade falls into the hands of the Kage!”
“Listen to reason. You cannot hold the blade!”
A blast of fire shriveled the roots holding Seth’s arm. More roots sprung up, even bigger, trying to pin the angry Ronin, but more fire met it and Gray shielded his eyes. Suddenly too powerful to contain, the fire shot into the crowds. Pandemonium erupted. Ayva was blown back by a blast, falling to the ground. He shouted her name, but still the vines held him, Morrowil trapped against his body. He clawed at the thick tubers with his free hand, but it was no use. Heat washed over him as fire rained down upon Maris, the man now shrouded in an emerald aura. A ball of fire ricocheted off and raced towards Ayva. Darius leapt from his horse, diving before the fireball. The rogue’s cloak erupted in flames, and Darius flung it from his back as more fire rained down.
Gray watched, his anger rising. It surged, building like a tempest. “No more,” he seethed, rising to his full height and the roots sloughed from his arms and legs, falling to the ground. “Enough!” He bellowed and a gust of wind sent all to the ground. All but Maris and Seth. Striding forward, Gray grabbed Seth by the throat, holding him in midair. The fire and roots stopped in a rush. Gray’s fist tightened, limbs shaking.
Seth choked, glaring with hatred. Fire wreathed the Ronin’s body, growing and he lifted a burning fist.
Gray gripped the man’s fist and a gust of wind snuffed the fire. “No more,” he breathed and dropped the Ronin, falling to his own knees, dropping Morrowil. The wind that swirled around him was too much to hold. Exhausted, he let it go and it dissipated into thin air. Gaining his senses, he looked up slowly. All around the Ronin wore looks of shock.
“The boy holds the power of wind…” Dared announced.
“Miraculous,” Hiron breathed.
“And more than tha
t,” Baro rumbled, “He is a natural—the Banished Element is not easy to hold.”
Aundevoriä tapped his stone sword to his marble shield and the two melded as if one. “At last, another wielder of the flow,” he said and thrust the now metal blade into the earth, bending to one knee.
Dared knelt beside him, and Hiron did the same.
“Please, don’t,” he pleaded uncomfortably, ushering them to their feet.
Aurelious rubbed his shoulder and knelt. He pressed a fist to his heart. Gray forced himself not to shirk under his scrutiny.
Seth rose to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “Have you all gone mad? What is this?”
“Perhaps we were wrong, Seth,” Aurelious said. “Kail’s powers and Kail’s sword. It seems only right… The boy was meant for the blade.”
Seth’s face was a thunderhead. “You all cow to his meager power, but it changes nothing! In the end, even Kail was not worthy of Morrowil, or did you all simply forget that as well? The blade does not belong in the hands of a boy!”
“Then you try to touch it,” Maris retorted quietly.
Seth eyed him as if it were a trick, than slowly, he strode forward. “If it is my duty to do what you all cannot, I will.” Seth knelt and reached for the blade. As he touched its handle, he unleashed an anguished cry. The Ronin fell to his knees, and his eyes rolled in his skull. He threw the blade as if tearing it from his grip and the Ronin’s whole body sagged, hand trembling.
“Don’t you see?” Maris asked with fury in his voice, “None of us can touch it!” he said and kicked Heartgard towards the still sputtering Seth. “Morrowil has chosen the boy, whether you like it or not.”
Roots twined around the blade and lifted it towards him. “Take it, Gray. It’s yours.” Gray grabbed Morrowil, sheathing it firmly upon his back. A shiver coursed through him, glad to have the blade once again.
“That still leaves one thing unsettled,” said Hiron. “What about the Kage?” He sounded as if he was wondering about the weather, not questioning the unstoppable dark horde that bit at their heels. “They are still almost upon us. And even with the boy’s power, assuming he is able to summon it again, we still stand little to no chance against the enemy.”
“That is why we must part ways,” Omni announced. “We must lead the Kage away. Only then, will the blade be truly safe from the enemy’s grasp.”
“And where will we go?” Karil asked, joining in. “What is left that the Kage have not burned to the ground? From what we have seen, Daerval is all but gone.”
“There is still one place that is safe,” Omni answered, “A place hidden amidst the mountains, untainted by time.”
“Are you sure it still exists?” Mura asked.
“What still exists?” Gray said.
“The Shining City,” Karil replied.
Omni whipped out his sword and drew lines in the dirt. “The road leads north, between valleys, and at last to a range of mountains. From there, the road to the Shining City is treacherous. It is icy with steep falls, and much of it has been worn with time, but if you can make it to the mountain’s peak, you may find a safe haven,” he said, stabbing his sword at the summit of the drawing upon the tallest mountain.
“Where will we part?” Mura asked.
Dared, the ever-silent Ronin answered, “Not far ahead, there’s a fork in the road. There we can lead the Kage astray.”
“You can’t leave,” Ayva said suddenly.
Darius shook his head, and lowered his heated voice, “They just nearly killed you! You still want them around?”
Ayva’s fists gripped her split riding skirt. “What will we do without them? You know as well as I, the Ronin are the only thing between us and the Kage.”
“Not the only thing,” Omni answered, looking to him. Gray felt the hot weight of eyes. Luckily Maris spoke, attracting their attention.
“I will stay as well,” Maris said abruptly. Gray watched tremors of surprise pass among the other Ronin’s faces, but most of all he watched Omni. In that moment, a thousand emotions passed between Omni and Maris, far too complex and subtle for Gray to decipher, but then it was gone and Gray wondered if he was seeing things.
“So be it,” Omni said at last. “You will stay and keep them safe, fulfilling my promise, and we will ride to face the Kage, once and for all. “
“That is all I ever asked,” Seth said with a fierce light in his eyes.
“I think it was always meant to come to this,” Baro said, gazing to his brothers.
Dared and the others echoed the sentiment.
“As long as the blade does not meet the hands of the Kage, than we have succeeded in our mission,” Omni declared.
The matter settled, the Ronin mounted their steeds and turned north, and the villagers followed. Gray took his reins from Darius quietly.
“Are you all right?” Darius asked.
Gray merely nodded, too overwhelmed for words.
“What was that you did?” Ayva asked.
“I’m not sure,” he answered truthfully. “I just saw you being hurt, and it happened.”
“Well, whatever it was, thank you,” Ayva said sincerely.
“You’re welcome,” he said with a smile.
“And what about me?” Darius huffed, “I think I might have had some part in—”
Ayva reached up, cutting Darius off. The rogue recoiled as if about to be slapped. Instead, she grabbed his head in both hands and gave his cheek a hard kiss. “Thank you,” she said, pulling away with a coy smile.
Darius cleared his throat. “Of course, I mean… it was nothing.” Gray felt a sting of jealousy. Mostly though his mind was consumed with thoughts of what he had just done.
Fael’wyn’s reins twisted in his hand. He wasn’t sure what to think. He had seen the looks of the Ronin. They had looked to him as if he was one of them. The thought was too much to handle and he shoved it aside. After a stretch of riding, they came before the two paths Dared had mentioned.
Gray slowed Fael’wyn to a halt and looked down both as far as he could. One path veered left, into small thickets of vinewoods and nettlebranches. The other path veered right, towards the Shining Mountains where the frozen blue caps never melted. Mura had told Gray that one of the Great Kingdoms still lurked in those mountains, but other rumors said that the Shining City had fallen long ago. Between the two paths, Death’s Gate loomed in the distance—huge stone gates nestled between the giant Burai Mountains.
“So, a hidden city is in those mountains?” Darius asked skeptically.
“That’s what they said,” Ayva said, still sounding afraid.
The rogue laughed sardonically. “Well, let’s just hope the Ronin are the only ones who know about this hidden kingdom.”
“And if the Kage do know about it?” she asked.
“They will finish what they started,” Gray answered morbidly. “They’ll destroy the rest of Daerval and us along with it.”
“Dice, way to lighten the mood,” Darius grumbled.
“Then we flee to Farhaven,” Ayva said, looking up hopefully.
“And how do we get through the Gates?” he replied as he clutched the pendant beneath his shirt. It was strangely warm against his chest once again.
“I don’t know,” she said, then insisted, “But there has to be a way.”
Suddenly the sound of voices drew his attention. He rode to the head of the train and Ayva and Darius followed. As he approached, he saw a circle had formed.
“What’s going on?” Ayva whispered.
Gray shrugged, and saw the Ronin sat upon their mounts in an arc, while the villagers, Karil and the others completed the other half. Omni dismounted suddenly, and strode forth. He stopped in the center of the large circle and beckoned to Gray. Curious, he obeyed. Ayva shot him a curious look, but he ignored it and approached.
Omni stood patiently, his cloak with its symbol of a golden sun wavering.
He stopped before Omni, feeling the pressure of ey
es.
“This is where we part ways,” the Ronin said in a voice just loud enough that only he could hear.
“Why are you telling me?” he said uncertainly.
“Because you are now their leader.”
“Me?” he questioned, until Omni’s stare made him swallow. “No offense, but there must be a mistake. What about Karil?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at her. She sat regally upon her white mare beside Rydel. He looked back, “Even Mura is a better choice than me.”
Omni shook his head, “None of them hold the sword. The blade chose you, and you alone.”
“But I don’t even know why I was chosen.”
“Nor I, but Morrowil does. Trust the sword. More importantly, trust yourself Gray. You were born to lead. They will all listen to you. However, you must believe it first, or no one else will.”
“What if I don’t want to lead? What if I say no?” he asked hesitantly.
“We cannot deny our fate or our destiny. And yours is to lead. From here on, you are on your own until you make it to the Shining City.”
“And even if this hidden city does exist, what then?” he asked. “The Kage will just return—if they can’t be stopped now, no one will ever be safe.”
Omni placed a hand upon his shoulder. “You are wise to question the future. Sometimes, however, we must do what we can, until we can do what we must.”
He shook his head. He didn’t know a thing about leading, and somehow he was expected to guide the villagers to safety?
I will help, a voice said.
He froze. Kirin. Turning, he closed his eyes. Get out of my head, he ordered. I am no longer you.
Ah, but I am you.
Gray felt his mind tearing, fear rising from the voice’s sudden intrusion. You will not decide my fate.
I can help…
I don’t want your help!
We can lead them, Kirin insisted.
“No!” he shouted, silencing the voice at last.
He was afraid of losing himself to the voice… afraid to be overtaken and then be nothing more. Just as Kirin was lost to himself, couldn’t the reverse happen? He shivered and looked back to Omni. Luckily, it all had happened in a moment, but the Ronin looked confused by the sudden outburst.