Children of the Cursed

by A E Stanfill

  Micha took the parchment paper from William and handed it over to Gawain, “Look this over, I have no idea how to read blueprints. I'm a warrior not a scholar.”

  “Being a warrior is more than just fighting an enemy, Micha,” he said, unrolling the parchment paper. Gawain walked over to the campfire and knelt down to use the flames as his source of light. He studied the paper for several minutes before standing back up.

  “Are they truly the blueprints in question?” Micha inquired.

  Gawain rolled the paper back up before placing it in the pouch on the side of his belt. “Those were truly the blueprints.”

  “But you do not look pleased.”

  “I'm not pleased with all.”

  “Why not?” Micha asked. “You have the blueprints, and this proves that William is not a traitor.”

  “None of this adds up.”

  “I think I might be able to help you understand the situation,” William interrupted.

  “Go on,” Gawain said.

  William tugged at his graying beard as he stared straight ahead with his stern eyes, “King Peregrine forgets that there were two others involved. His late father Cedric the King before him, along with the blacksmith Hinz, and myself.”

  “I do not know of a man named Hinz,” Micha said.

  “That is because this was before you were born, and even Peregrine himself was very young in age,” William answered.

  “Did my father know of this?”

  “Yes, though we only shared a little knowledge with him.”

  “That is why my father refused to listen.”

  “Angmar was always the stubborn one.”

  “My father did things his way, and his way only.” Micha swallowed back his true emotions.

  “Sorry to interrupt such a touching moment,” Gawain said. “We do have to get back and let King Peregrine know that the blueprints are still in your care.”

  “True, we need to hurry back to Wespington.”

  “Then let's not keep the good King waiting.” William smiled, but for some reason his words sounded cold and bitter.

  Back at the castle, King Peregrine was getting ready to send out his knights in search of Gawain and Micha, and also William. “Listen to me, my loyal knights. As you may know, Micha and Sir Gawain are on the hunt for William and have yet to return.

  The lands surrounding Wespington are filled with hidden dangers as many of you know. I need a few of my knights to go out and search the-” Before King Peregrine could finish his sentence, Gawain, Micha, and William came walking inside the room. Peregrine clapped his hands out of joy, “Thank the gods that you have returned.”

  “Don't thank the gods just yet,” Gawain said. “We may have William and the blueprints, but there is still a traitor among your ranks.”

  “Give me a minute to clear the room so we can talk in private,” King Peregrine said before turning to walk away. When the King returned it was all business from that point on. “William, please explain yourself.”

  “Forgive me King Peregrine, I haven't the slightest idea of what you are talking about,” William replied.

  “Tell me why you fled the city with the blueprints,” King Peregrine hissed.

  “I did not flee your majesty,” William said. “I was merely hunting, and wherever I go so do the blueprints.”

  “Why did you not destroy the blueprints like I asked of you so many years ago?” He stared impatiently waiting for a response from William. “Well?”

  He tugged at his beard nervously when he talked, as it was a way of keeping his himself calm, “Do you not realize that those blueprints tell of a way to make the weapon useless?”

  “That knowledge had eluded me,” King Peregrine said. “But that does not explain why you have kept them for all these years.”

  William took in a breath, “I knew these blueprints would one day be the key to our survival. But unless we weed out the traitor, another weapon will just be built over and over again.”

  “What do you suggest then?” King Peregrine questioned. “If you have not betrayed us then you must know who did.”

  “Your father has long since passed, and I am loyal to you and the people of Wespington,” William explained. “There is only one person it could be.”

  “Tell me who and I will have him thrown in the dungeons for treason against the crown!” King Peregrine fumed.

  “It won't be as simple as that,” William informed. “Blacksmith Hinz disappeared ages ago, and there is no knowledge to his whereabouts.”

  “Who is Hinz?” You could see the look of concern on the Kings face.

  “If I may speak,” Gawain interrupted.

  “You may.” Nodded Peregrine.

  Gawain pulled out his pipe and filled it with tobacco, “I know someone who can find this Hinz person if he truly exists.” He placed the bit of the pipe between his lips, using a flint this time to lite the chamber. “If you demand this done King Peregrine, then so shall it be,” Gawain said, blowing smoke from his mouth.

  “I demand this done right away!” King Peregrine commanded.

  “This will cost of course,” Gawain said, again blowing smoke from his mouth. “This person is very thorough and expects compensation for their efforts.”

  “Of course. Nothing in this world is free, so tell your friend they shall have whatever they wish if they succeed in their task.”

  “Good, that will surely make things go smoother for us. Now if you will excuse me, I shall take my leave.” He emptied the pipe and put it back in his pouch before leaving the throne room.

  “Is this such a good idea, Your Majesty?” William nervously asked, as if a dark secret would be brought to light.

  “I've known Sir Gawain for many years, William. The man has many demons to deal with. But I trust him with my life, and the life of my people, who at this very moment are depending on my protection.”

  “I also trust in Sir Gawain,” Micha said. “If not for him I wouldn't be standing before you.”

  “I truly hope you both are right in placing all your trust in that man,” William muttered.

  13

  Alistair's True Intentions

  King Edward had been locked away in the war room for days, barely coming out to eat or drink, unless it was his favorite wine offered to him. He had been desperately trying to figure out a way to defend the city of Drasal from the Dark Knights if they decided to descend upon them. His blade’s power returning still wasn't enough to protect his kingdom.

  His sickness had finally caught up to him, and he found himself ailing further and getting weaker by the day. With his chamberlain clamoring for more power, he felt as though the only person he could trust was his First Knight Alistair. That would prove to be King Edward’s most fatal mistake in not realizing how much his First Knight had changed.

  “King Edward,” a voice called out, then there was a knock at the door. Whoever this person was, they surely weren't going to give up. “Are you in there?”

  “Who dares to disturb me after I have given strict orders to leave me be?” King Edward barked.

  “It is I, Lord Alistair. There are some pressing matters that need to be discussed.”

  King Edward barely had the strength to stand, but still he had to show a strong front even if it was Alistair. “You may enter.” Edward stood to greet his knight when he walked into the room.

  “King Edward,” Alistair knelt down to show the King respect, even though he didn't mean it. He watched with a faint smile on his face as King Edward stumbled his way over to him. ‘Edward is weaker than ever, my time to act is drawing near.’

  “None of that.” King Edward gave a weak smile. “Let's skip the formalities. Please explain what is so important that you had to interrupt me.”

  “I have something to show you at the Academy,” Alistair answered as he stood back up. “It concerns the Dark Knights.” He knew that anything involving the Dark Knights would draw the Kings ire, which in turn would make him follow Alist
air to the ends of the earth if needs be.

  King Edward’s eyes burned with rage, and he felt some of the energy of old returning. “Lead the way.”

  “As you wish.” Alistair smirked.

  Alistair leads King Edward into the Academy, “What is it that you wanted to show me, Lord Alistair?” King Edward inquired.

  “You shall see soon enough, your Majesty.” Alistair hid his faint chuckle. He led King Edward into the meeting room where the Headmaster and others would usually meet to discuss what missions students should go on with their masters.

  Alistair and Caine had been using the room for other purposes. Ever since Caine had taken over as the new Headmaster of the Academy nothing had been the same. “Do you recognize what these are?” Alistair pointed to a large table at the center of the room.

  King Edward walked over and saw two pieces of a broken blade and a hilt laying on top. “I do not understand,” King Edward said. “What does this have to do with the Dark Knights?”

  “Why don't you take a closer look at what is before you.” Alistair laughed.

  King Edward looked closer at the hilt of the broken blade, and he gasped at seeing the symbol of a serpent coiled around it. “It cannot be!”

  “Oh, but it is.” Alistair's eyes grew wide, “And I only need two more pieces to complete it.”

  “How could you have found them? Better yet, how could you get past the trials?”

  “There are skilled warriors here at this Academy,” Alistair answered. “I have no need to tell you any more than that.”

  “I am still your King, or have you forgotten that?”

  Alistair chuckled, “You are but a weak and feeble old man, not even fit to be called a leader of men, or King for that matter.” He loathed the man that stood before him. “Do not worry though, once you are gone I shall lead the kingdom of Drasal. And show the other cities what true power really is. Thus a new world shall be born.”

  “With you as King.”

  “Exactly.”

  “When did my First Knight become such a tyrant?”

  “Tyrant?” Alistair smirked. “You have me all wrong, for I am a man of vision.”

  “You crave nothing more than power!” King Edward snarled. “The Alistair I know would never succumb to such greed, nor would he place his ego above all else.”

  “The Alistair you knew has gone.” He devilishly smiled. “And soon you will be at peace and rejoin your fallen comrades in the afterlife.” Alistair unsheathed the newly acquired blade that he had gotten from Baird's lifeless corpse.

  “Baird's blade,” Edward gasped. “He would rather die than let another touch that sword!”

  Alistair looked at the blade gleefully, “Baird did put up quite the fight.” He smiled, “In the end though I showed him mercy by ending his pathetic existence.”

  “How could you?” King Edward bellowed. “Baird treated you like a son.”

  “I grow tired of this conversation; let's say we finish this shall we?” Alistair said. “The time of preparation draws near, you see it won't be long before I have the last remaining pieces of the Reaper Blade. Too bad you won't be here to see it complete again.”

  King Edward had a look of sadness upon his face, “You intend to use the Reaper Blade to control the Dark Knights. And you need the King’s Defender to make those plans a reality.” He unsheathed his blade, glaring a hole through Alistair. “It saddens me that it has come to this.” King Edward looked away, ashamed of the man that stood in front of him. “I have no choice but to end you before you can unleash such evil into this world.” The king lunged at Alistair, trying to end the fight before it could even start.

  Alistair dodged the oncoming attack with ease, not even trying to attempt a counter-attack of his own. “Why don't you just give up and die with grace,” he smiled. “We shall give you a hero's funeral of the grandest scale; you will be able to keep your honor intact.”

  “There is no honor in lying down like a dog for scum like you,” King Edward said with pride swinging his blade through the air, barely missing Alistair's head.

  “I offer you a hero's death and this is how you thank me?” He was

  getting agitated with King Edward at that point. “You are no longer deserving of holding such power in your grasp,” he said looking at the King's Defender that Edward held tight in his hands.

  “I will show you why this blade chose me as its master.” King Edward used the King's Defender’s powers one last time. That choice meant giving his own life, but that was a sacrifice he was willing to make for his kingdom and for the world of Todrain. King Edward lifted the blade high above his head and started to chant, and as he did so the King’s Defender started to glow a bright blue.

  “May the gods have mercy on your dark soul.” He brought the blade down towards Alistair, but before he could finish the attack King Edward felt something cold pierce his back. The pain was so unbearable that it caused him to drop his sword. He felt the urge to keep fighting but his strength was leaving him.

  Caine walked up with his bow in hand, kicking King Edward to the floor from behind, “Shall I finish him off, Lord Alistair?”

  “Not yet,” he said. “I want him to realize that he has failed before he dies.” He knelt and retrieved the King's Defender for his own. Now he was standing looking down at King Edward. “You look surprised and yet confused all at the same time.” He grinned from ear to ear.

  “Did you already poison Caine's mind as well?”

  “Nobody poisoned my mind,” Caine answered. “I chose my path a long time ago.”

  “Does that not hurt to know that Caine chose me over his King?” Alistair laughed.

  “Can we just finish this already,” Caine hissed. “I have some important matters to attend to.”

  “Kill me if you wish.” King Edward started to laugh, “Your fates shall be worse than my own.

  Alistair swung the blade down, not once, not twice, but three times, cutting King Edward’s head from his shoulders, “His words were getting old to me.” He shrugged, turning his attention back to Caine. Alistair showed no emotion for killing the man he had once called friend and King. “Do you have any word as of yet on Gawain and his students?”

  “There was news that they were in the same area that a powerful weapon was used in between two warring kingdoms.”

  “Did they survive?”

  “Not sure,” Caine shrugged. “That's all the scouts know as of now.”

  “What kind of weapon?” Alistair asked, sheathing the King's Defender as his own like he had done with Baird's sword.

  “It was the Reaper Cannon.”

  “Seems King Adan finally got his hands on the weapon he desired most.”

  “So it would seem,” Caine said.

  “Send a messenger to Odrela. I would like a word with King Adan.”

  “As you wish my lord.” Caine bowed. He looked down at the headless body of King Edward. “What do we do with him?”

  “Feed the body to the war dogs.”

  “What about the hero's funeral?” Caine laughed.

  “Is that not a grand funeral for such a weak and feeble man?”

  “The dogs are especially hungry today, it won't take them long to devour the corpse.”

  “Good. I shall leave you to it then.” Alistair smirked. “Before I go, I would like for you to have this.” He reached out to hand over Baird's sword to Caine. “Now that I am going to be King, I need a First Knight of my own. That position now belongs to you.”

  Caine humbly accepted Alistair's gift. “Thank you, King Alistair. It is an honor to serve you.” He smiled in return. “One last thing though, what shall we do about the Academy? Now that I am your First Knight, we will need a new Headmaster.”

  “Hmm.” Alistair rubbed his chin as he thought deeply about the situation. “Let us not act until the others return with the last pieces of the Reaper Blade, then shall we decide the fate of the Academy.”

  Caine sheathed his new trophy an
d smiled happily; he was now a knight and a first knight at that. “I shall take care of what is before me first and foremost. Just let me know when the time to act is near, and remember I am always at your disposal, King Alistair.”

  Before Alistair walked off he had one more job for Caine to take care of, “Lord Caine, announce to the people of Drasal that a new King will be crowned tomorrow night,” he said. “Tell them all are invited to the crowning.”

  “That sounds delightful.” Caine bowed before his new King.

  14

  Time To Destroy The Reaper Cannon

  King Peregrine was sitting at the head of the table in the war room, and joining him were Gawain, Micha, and William. Unlike last time, Ellyn, Leon, and Ulrich were there as well. “Seeing how everyone is here, let the meeting on how to deal with the Reaper Cannon begin.” King Peregrine announced. “Who would like to speak first? Speak freely and be honest with your thoughts.”

  “If I may, Your Majesty,” Micha said. King Peregrine nodded his approval for Micha to speak, “I believe we should assemble the Knights Of Wespington and storm the city of Odrela. When we make it inside, and we will, we can destroy the enemies’ weapon for good then deal with King Adan in the process.”

  “I'm afraid that such a feat cannot be accomplished,” King Peregrine informed.

  “Why is that, Your Majesty?”

  “I've lost over half my knights on the battlefield,” King Peregrine said. “If I send out the rest of them to storm a city, then there will be none here to protect the people of Wespington.”

  “Damn,” Micha muttered.

  “I believe I may have a suggestion,” Gawain interrupted.

  “Go on,” King Peregrine responded.

  “I say we sneak into the city of Odrela and destroy the cannon ourselves,” Gawain proposed. “King Adan would never expect such a brazen move.”

  “Would that not be suicide?” Micha grumbled.

  “Could be,” Gawain answered. “On the other hand, it could possibly work in our favor.”