by A E Stanfill
“I care about food,” Henry snapped, ignoring all else that Jeffery had said. “A person has to eat you know.”
“Are you coming or not?” Jeffery sighed.
“Feed me and I will follow you to the ends of the earth,” Henry laughed.
“It's settled then,” Allora clapped her hands together. “This is a new beginning, a new batch of heroes that will rise to once again take on the darkness.”
“I assure you Allora, this is nothing like the tales of old,” Gawain said.
“That is where you are wrong, Gawain. In time even you will see that you cannot escape one's destiny,” Allora replied. “Kallen, bring the horses,” she shouted. “You will find that your saddlebags have been stocked well. It should be enough to last you until you reach Desheustan. There Aurelius will take care of the rest.” Allora walked over to Leon and whispered something in his ear before walking away.
When Kallen brought the horses over to them, Aurelius was quick to mount his horse first. “Be quick,” he demanded of the others. “We have a long road ahead before we get to Desheustan, and the way I hear it, time is of the essence.” He spurred the horse and off he went.
“Do not fall behind,” Gawain warned. “Aurelius is not one for going back to search for someone,” he smirked and spurred his horse on, followed by Leon, then Lady Catherine, who seemed to enjoy the challenge given. Jeffery made sure to keep up the best he could, for riding a horse was not one of his strongest of skills. Last was Henry, as his horse seemed to be going the slowest, it was unclear if he was just that bad of a rider or the fact that Henry's horse didn't care much for him.
The road to Desheustan was a long one, and the warriors had to cross some of the roughest terrains in all the lands, full of monstrous beasts and man-eating plants. And if that wasn't enough to deal with, bandits and slave traders scoured the badlands. But that wasn't the worst of it; magical creatures that had been sealed away by the gods for eons had found a way to break free of their bonds.
It wasn't easy but the warriors found a way to keep themselves alive. While they traveled onward, the snow-covered ground started to melt as the weather began to warm, and what was once a frozen tundra had green grass growing beneath the melting snow. Soon it would be warm enough that wearing the furs for warmth would no longer be needed.
Along the way, Henry managed to find himself in a dangerous situation. If not for his friends, he would not have made it out alive. The slave traders somehow managed to capture Henry, and they had plans on selling him and a few others for a pretty penny. But in the end he was rescued along with others, who swore loyalty to Aurelius and Gawain for rescuing them from the clutches of evil and promised to give aid in their long quest. But that is a story for another time.
The warriors made loyal friends along the way and the fiercest of enemies. With a fierce and unwavering resolve, they finally made it to Desheustan. “Finally we have made it,” Aurelius exclaimed. “Welcome to Desheustan.” The great city was vast, and it had a variety of different colored huts. Even the stone that lined the streets had many colors as well; the townspeople wore odd clothing that reminded Leon of the annoying Jester that entertained King Edward at Drasal Castle. The smell of fish being sold at the market place filled the air, which made sense as the city was close to the sea. Some would refer to Desheustan as a port town but they could not let the townspeople hear them say such things. “Gawain, take your friends and get us a room at the inn,” Aurelius said.
“What will you do?” Gawain questioned.
“I'm going to see an old friend,” Aurelius replied. “When done, I shall meet everyone back at the inn.”
“Okay, we shall see you then,” Gawain nodded.
That night Gawain and Leon awaited Aurelius’ return. It was becoming late, and Gawain was getting impatient. He was at the point that in the back of his mind he wondered if something bad had happened to his friend. However, before Gawain could make his way towards the door, Aurelius entered. “Were you about to go somewhere?” Aurelius looked at Gawain and asked.
“I was about to go and search for you,” Gawain snarled.
“Why?” Aurelius questioned. “I told you that I would return.”
“It was getting late, I thought that you may have been in-” Gawain stopped mid-sentence. “No matter. Are the preparations complete?”
“Gawain, you were worried about me,” Aurelius laughed.
“Shut up,” Gawain snapped.
Aurelius laughed again, “Do not worry Gawain, everything is a go for the morning.”
“Good,” Gawain snarled. “Now maybe I can get some rest.” he laid on the mattress made of feathers, not even bothering to remove his clothing or boots, and drifted off to sleep. Morning came quicker than usual, the rays of light shined through the cracks of the wooden window. Aurelius was the first to wake and straightaway he left to make some more preparations for their departure. Gawain and Leon stayed behind helping the others gather their things for the long voyage at sea. Again they waited for Aurelius to show and when he finally returned, they departed and headed for the port.
“Is the vessel ready to leave?” Gawain asked, walking beside Aurelius.
“No, not yet,” Aurelius answered. “The captain and his men are still loading supplies.”
“So it is a trade ship then?” Gawain questioned.
“You could say that,” Aurelius replied.
“Then what kind of ship is it?” Gawain said.
“The captain and his men deal in arms,” Aurelius mumbled, before walking on ahead.
“They deal in smuggling goods, don't they?” Gawain grumbled, keeping pace with Aurelius.
“Something like that,” Aurelius muttered under his breath.
“What did you offer them to take us out to sea?” Gawain snapped.
“That doesn't matter,” Aurelius snapped back.
While they made their way to the port Leon stayed a ways back from Aurelius and Gawain, listening to them argue with each other the whole way there. That is until Jeffery broke the silence, “Those men by the ship do not look like sailors to me. What do you think, Leon?” Jeffery whispered.
Leon studied the men's movements, he felt uneasy watching how they took care of the ship and also how they glared at them as they approached. “Something doesn't feel right about this.” Every muscle in his body became tense.
“What is wrong with the two of you?” Lady Catherine asked.
“Those men are not sailors,” Leon gasped. But it was too late as when he looked for a way to escape five or more men followed behind them. And even more men started walking out of the ally way to the left of them holding blades in their hands. “Gawain?” Leon nervously swallowed. Gawain didn't respond back the first time because he was still arguing with Aurelius. “Gawain!” Leon shouted, this time getting the attention of both Aurelius and Gawain.
Both men were about to shout at Leon for interrupting them, until they realized why he was shouting in the first place. “What is the meaning of this?” Gawain asked. “Why are we being followed?”
“I haven't the slightest,” Aurelius responded. “But I do know these men are not a part of the captain's crew.”
“To the docks. Quickly!” Gawain shouted. They ran for the docks with the men behind them and to the left of them chasing after them. Their hearts raced, the sound of many footsteps could be heard catching up to them.
“We're not going to make it!” Lady Catherine nervously shouted, feeling the men giving chase gaining on them.
The docks were now within sight, “Don't give up. We are almost there,” Aurelius assured them. “Move out of the way, let us board the ship!” He shouted, motioning for the men standing at the docks to move. However something was amiss, as instead of moving out of their way, the men drew their blades and stood fast.
“Stop at once,” one of the men hissed. “Don't make us hurt you.”
Gawain did as he was told, “What are you doing, Gawain?” Aurelius shouted.
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“Look around you, Aurelius.” Gawain pointed, “If we don't stop, we die.” He flung his hands up in the air, “What have you got us in the middle of?”
“This is not my doing,” Aurelius snarled. “But I will find out the meaning of this.” He turned and faced the men at the docks, “Where is your captain?” Aurelius demanded. “He is a good friend of mine, how dare you treat us like this? I will make sure to have your heads.”
“Shut the hell up,” another grumbled. “You will find out soon enough.”
“What did you say to me, you scum?” Aurelius went to draw his blade, but Gawain stopped him. “Let me go Gawain, I will not let them talk to me in such a manner.”
“You do that we're all dead,” Gawain warned him, as by that time the men that were chasing them had surrounded the warriors, with their blades drawn upon them. “Keep calm everyone,” Gawain said. “All we need to do is figure out what these men want with us.”
“Here comes our leader,” another man said. “Now you will know the true meaning of the word pain.” The sea of men that had them surrounded parted, allowing someone that bore a heavy armor that shined brightly in the sun, and a heavy axe that he had sheathed on his back.
Gawain recognized who the armor belonged to, but it couldn't be. “It cannot be,” Gawain gasped. “Do my eyes deceive me? Can that be the King Of Thieves? I thought he was no longer among the living.” Whoever wore the armor stood there staring a hole through Gawain, until the person removed the helmet, revealing his identity. “Kole,” Gawain snarled and went after him. Kole's men were many and grabbed Gawain by the arms, stopping him from getting any closer.
“Look who it is,” Kole laughed. “The Academy man and the bratty kids, minus two I see. No matter, the ones I am truly after stand here before me.”
“What do you want with us?” Gawain hissed.
Kole turned, looking at his band of thieves laughing, before punching Gawain in the stomach, “That's for costing me wealth beyond my wildest dreams.” He struck Gawain again, this time in the face. “And that's just for the hell of it.”
Gawain crumpled over in pain but refused to fall to his knees. He took a deep breath, raised himself straight, and spat blood from his mouth at Kole in defiance, “We no longer have the pieces of the Reaper, so what are you going to do? Kill us?”
“That's the beauty of it,” Kole smirked. “I no longer need the Reaper Blade. I have the ones who have a bounty on their heads for treason against the crown of Drasal. A big purse was promised to any who catch the traitors alive. Looks like you will still pay off for me after all. Who knows, we may even be able to gain favor from the new King.”
“And what of him?” Gawain looked at Aurelius. “He has done nothing to you, just let him go. You have what you want.”
“I will keep him around for a while,” Kole grinned. “Elvish kind fetch a fair amount of coin from the slave traders.”
“I would rather die,” Aurelius spat.
Kole reached out grabbing Aurelius by the hair of his head, yanking him back, “I can make that happen if you wish it,” he warned, holding a knife up to Aurelius’ throat. “But I won't.” He released the grip he had on Aurelius’ hair and shoved him backward. “Take them away,” Kole commanded. “I have to visit with Captain Bosch, and thank him for such a fine gift,” he said before walking away.
Aurelius couldn't believe his ears, Could it be so? Did my friend of many a year turn us over to these bandit swine? Aurelius closed his eyes in disbelief. ‘There is no way to explain it, Bosch sold us out, and he will die by my hand,’ he thought, then he felt the sharp tip of a blade poke at his back. “Move,” one of the bandits ordered. Aurelius sighed and did as he was told, where he and the others were being led only time would tell. It was unclear what would happen next for the warriors.
King Alistair sat in his throne room, with Caine by his side. The sounds of footsteps drummed through the great hall, and it sounded as though a hundred men wearing clad armor were making their way towards them. Alistair never moved from his throne, the only motion he made was the faint smile that curled his lips.
With force the throne room doors burst open, revealing the Dark Knights. These dark and ominous foes wearing black armor flooded the throne room. You could see the nervousness in Caine's eyes, but not Alistair’s. He finally stood from his throne welcoming the new guests, “My loyal soldiers have finally arrived,” Alistair maniacally laughed.
“We are loyal to he who wields the dark power,” the one that led the charge responded, and his voice was dark and inhuman. “Not a puny human like yourself.”
Alistair unsheathed the Reaper Blade and held it up in the air, “I control the dark powers of the Reaper Blade. You will bow down to me, and do my bidding,” he demanded. The Dark Knights had no choice but to do as Alistair commanded, for the one that controlled the Reaper Blade controlled them. Each one of the Dark Knights knelt down before their new Dark Lord.
The End
About the Author
My name is, Allen Stanfill. I’m the author of, The Midnight Killer. What can I say, I love to read and write books. In my spare time I enjoy working out with my wife. Also I like to go fishing, when my two kids aren’t trying to push me into the water.