The Peacekeeper

  He retched for several seconds. Ator shook his head and neck as if trying to get his bearings. Several large creatures flew overhead screeching loudly. Devil demons rushed them. The one in front tall, lithe, with crazy lizard yellow eyes. “Ahhh, fressshhh meeeat.” It drawled, its long pointy tongue flickering in and out. It lunged for Ian.

  “Not today.” He drew his sword. The creature and its followers laughed.

  His sword warmed in his hand and sent tingles through his body. He raised the glowing white sword in his hands and started for them.

  The one in front backed away. Fear etched the creatures faces. “The Goooodslaaaaayer,” said the one in front. “Run!”

  Ator shook his head again. “I don’t think they liked that sword of yours.”

  He stared at the sword and smiled. “I think this is a very handy tool.”

  “Come, mount up we must go.”

  Once in the air a fire tornado headed straight for them. “Is this a hallucination?” he asked Ator.

  “I don’t think so,” and the dragon quickly ascended over the top of it.

  Creatures with red dragon like bodies, pointed tails, and dinosaur jaws came toward them. He lifted the sword to strike and it once again glowed. The creatures screeched and turned around.

  “I like this sword. It seems tae have a mind of its own. I hope it does that to Juppar. We should hurry. Head to the top of the mountain.”

  As Ator flew up, he saw all his dead dragon friends heading for them, distorted faces, and snarls.

  His bond allowed him to see the same vision, he quickly reminded him, “Ator, it’s a hallucination. Fly through them. He was suddenly assaulted with the faces of the people he had killed came in to view flashing in front of him, large, with iniquitous laughter.

  “Go, Ator, keep going up!” He closed his eyes and when he opened them the aberrations were gone. They landed not far from the top for a brief respite, as Merlin had warned them to do.

  As they stared toward the top, he could see the castle, appearing very small. They had a way to go yet. He leaned back closing his eyes for a moment, sweat pouring off him. The ground started to shake and rumble beneath them. “Hurry,” said Ator, “lava tubes!”

  Ator soared up as the lava tubes erupted a hundred feet in the air. They continued to climb high in the air until they reached the top. They landed near the castle. After letting him down, the dragon said, “I can go in from here, but not without breaking down the walls, and I don’t know where the babies are located. I’ll wait right here for you. If you need anything let me know.”

  “Thanks, Ator, now I’m goin’ tae kill the bastard.” He went through the big double doors and shouted, “Juppar Heiwynn! You have my bairns. Show them tae me, now!” He continued searching until he came to what appeared to be a library. There he found the bairns tucked against a corner on the floor. He picked his still son up and kissed him then did the same to his daughter. Then he heard the clapping.

  “How touching. Now I have you where I want you. You can watch the infants die, then I’m going to kill you. You will no longer be the Peacekeeper. I’m going to send you back to the one who made you.”

  “I think not, Juppar,” he said as he pulled his sword. He expected the same warmth and light he’d been accustomed to with the sword, but it didn’t appear. He didn’t have the time to wonder why. No matter, he would wield it just the same.

  He charged Juppar. Juppar flung out his hand and a force threw him backward against a wall and he crumbled, sliding down the wall. Shaking his head, he jumped up and charged him again. This time Juppar threw out his hand and froze him, then laughed.

  “I tire of your games, you can’t win. Now watch as I eat these infants for lunch. You know their blood is very sweet at this age.”

  He was enraged. His anger was so intense he began to glow green. Frozen to the spot in mid step, sword held up, he tried to move, and couldn’t. He called to the power of the sword.

  He felt the sword trying to show him something. Something important that he needed to know or do. As Juppar walked toward his children he tried to calm his mind. He pictured himself and the sword as one.

  He felt the energy travel from the sword to his hand and up his arm.

  Slowly the sword heated all of him, he felt as if he were melting, when in reality, he was becoming unfrozen. He understood then, the sword had secrets, special secrets. It seemed to have a mind of its own, showing him things in increments. He knew this time it was using more power, sending more energy through him. It didn’t happen at first because too much energy could have killed him. It was feeding him and he was learning to take more. He felt the energy in his blood, he felt invincible, truly alive, more than ever before in his life. He was ready, he was filled, he had power, deadly power, power enough to kill a Devil God. He spoke in a dead calm. “Now you die.”

  Juppar looked around at him. “Ah you think the Godslayer will stop me? Yes, I know about it. I didn’t know you had it, but no bother, by the time you reach me one of your infants will be dead. Now let’s see which one first? The girl or the boy?”

  Ian started for him. “You will kill neither. You never threaten this mon, you never threaten my wife, you never threaten peace, but most of all you never threaten a mon’s bairns!”

  He wasn’t sure what he was doing, but instinct took over and he threw the sword in the air with one command. “Heart!” In an instantaneous blur, the sword shot across the room and in through the back of Juppar as he reached for the sleeping infant. It pierced his heart dead on. He said, “return,” and it flew back to his hand. He sheathed it and ran toward the twins. Juppar’s body went up in flames. He picked up his sleeping children, not knowing how he was going to wake them.

  “Excellent!” came a booming voice as the God of Light appeared next to Ian. “I hate coming here. The God of Dark will know. We don’t normally visit each other’s realms. It’ll make him angry and he will just create another son. You won’t see the last of things like this. But for now, the infants need to wake and you all need to go back to Wesladus, Ator included. I will send you back. Come Ator awaits.”

  “Why dinna you just stop this afore Juppar took the bairns? Why do you wait for someone less strong than you tae do the dirty work?”

  “I’m already in trouble from the One True God. I could get demoted. He says I interfere too much in the great dance of life, especially after bringing your father and brother back to life. Besides this was for you. You had to see it, feel it, know it. You had to become you again.

  “I don’t know what will happen to me for all of my interference, but the balance was too far in the dark sides favor, I felt the need to help, and to warn you of more to come. You may not see me for a while, but I help when I can. I push when I can. Now let’s get you all out of here.”

  ****

  Wesladus at Pendragon Castle

  In front of the fireplace in the sitting area off the great room at Pendragon Castle all the McGregors gathered. They had finished one of the best dinners Ian had ever eaten. Conversation and laughter arose all around. Merlin and Arthur argued over who was going to hold Domnall. Merlin being the winner, was bouncing him up and down, while Arthur leaned over him making faces. Lachlan and Moira laughed over Donella’s antics. He chuckled watching his family, while his arm hung loosely around his wife.

  He was home, where he needed to be. He was happy and he knew Elspeth was too. His life wasn’t so bad, in fact it was quite wonderful. He’d face the coming evil head on with his sword blazing. When it reared its ugly head, he would have no compunction about dealing with it all. He and Elspeth had moved back into Pendragon in the Wesladus Veil, and he picked up where he left off. It was as if he’d never left.

  ****

  The God of Light hung in the air above them, invisibly. He smiled to himself, watching the happy family. The whole happy family. He did love a good ending. Well to this part anyway. The McGregors weren’t finished by a long shot. He had faith in them, and
he’d watch over them. He’d help when necessary. He sighed. “Everything is as it should be,” then disappeared.

  Elspeth smiled up at Ian and whispered in his ear, “Do you think we can trust these people tae watch the bairns?”

  “Why, what are you thinkin’, Elspeth?”

  “I think it’s later, later,” she huskily whispered, grinning.

  He looked in her eyes and grinned wide. “I ken it’s later, later,” he said picking her off her feet. He carried the squealing Elspeth through the great room and up the stairs and didn’t let go until he dropped her on their bed, where he showed her just how happy he was with his life, with her, with his family, and to finally, be home.

  A word from the author…

  I was born and raised in a small mill town in the Midwest where the river, lakes, woods, and nature were my playground, and my horse my best friend. My father spent winter months turning out lights and lighting the fireplace, where we cuddled around in blankets to listen to stories. I continued the tradition.

  I grew up as an artist, as a photographer my specialty was taking black and white photos of old ghost towns and hand tinting them. I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for fourteen years indulging in my artwork.

  I’ve always enjoyed storytelling and now I write. Certainly, a dream come true. I currently reside in Indiana.

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