The Awakening (The Stones of Revenge)

by Sargeant, Justin

  “A while back there was a fight in here. A man was killed, and Lord Malchus came down hard on me. Ever since, people have stopped coming in.”

  “I am sorry for your hard luck. Here is the gold you asked for. I thank you for your generosity,” Landon said as he handed over the money.

  “It is of no consequence. The stables are behind the building as is your room. Here is a key.”

  Landon bowed and left the sad man at his bar to retrieve Aquila. He was glad he had not been recognized. He led the horse over to her stable and shut the door. Aquila immediately found a soft spot and lay down to sleep. Landon thought it to be a good idea. He found the stairs to his room and climbed them while watching the orange sky fade into purple. He entered his room which was nothing more than a bed and four walls and dropped his effects on the floor. He found his bed and relaxed into it. He knew that tomorrow was the day he had long awaited. And as he closed his eyes, he turned his thoughts to the events of the day which had transpired. The dullness of it brought him to a deep sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  A Dish Served Cold

  The morning dawned sooner than Landon hoped. The first light was awakening Landon’s senses to the new day. As his thoughts came into focus he suddenly remembered why he had come. The looming battle could no longer be ignored. He felt a sense of dread, urgency, and nostalgia. This day had lingered in his mind for so long it felt familiar to him. It also did not seem like reality. He stretched on his bed and begged the rest of his body to wake. The bed he had rented was quite comfortable, but he wanted to take care of his business as soon as possible.

  He rose from his position and threw the cloak back over his clothes. He drew the hood over his brown hair to once again conceal his face. He didn’t want anything to happen before he was ready for it. Landon strapped his sword to his side and gathered his effects. He wanted to keep all of his items with Aquila in case there was a need to speedily exit town. He trudged down the wooden stairs and found his old friend. She too was just waking.

  Landon unlocked the stable doors and whistled softly to his horse. She rose and walked over to her master. A steady silence filled the place as an acknowledgement to what lay before him. He strapped his pack to her back then rubbed her nose. Slowly, he closed the gate.

  “Wait here.”

  He left her in the stables and started his walk across town to the castle. His plan was to somehow get passed the guards, hopefully with a silver tongue then find Gavin within the castle. He knew the setting of the fight would not be to his advantage, but he could think of no other option. As he made his way through Camsbury, Landon noticed no one about. It was early, but there were usually merchants setting their wares up by now. The deserted streets gave an eerie calm to the place. Landon worried that it did not bode well for him, but he continued on his way to the courtyard outside the castle.

  Landon walked into the courtyard expecting to see guards standing at their posts. Instead he found a large gathering of people chatting excitedly. Before them stood a large wooden construction with steps leading up to a platform. Rising from the platform was a long L-shaped beam from which was suspended a rope. Below the rope sat a box. Everyone was clearly eager for a public execution. Landon wondered about the criminal.

  From the entrance to the courtyard he could see Lord Malchus suspended on a balcony overlooking the scene. He was dressed in his very finest livery displaying jewels from head to toe, but he wore a dark hood which hid his face. The only discernable feature was a gleaming crimson stone upon his left hand. Dread filled Landon as did a small ball of rage. It replaced all fear. The only focus on his mind now was justice. But before he could have it, Landon needed to lure Gavin from his position if he still lived. Knowing that pride was his greatest weakness, he decided a public challenge was something Gavin would not be able to ignore. Landon just needed to make his way between the crowd and the balcony.

  He moved forward into the crowd and became suddenly lost in the shuffle. Few people moved making it difficult to cut through. One man in the middle of the crowd struck up a conversation with him.

  “I am so pleased they finally got him! I’ve been waiting my whole life for this day!” the man said with joy. Landon was saddened at the exuberance of someone’s death. Though he understood the need for capital punishment, he did not rejoice in it.

  “Who is the guilty man?” Landon asked.

  “Daxis, the Terror of Camsbury.”

  “Daxis is alive?” he asked more to himself than the man. He felt a weight drop in his soul. He had long assumed Daxis to be alive in the dungeon still. But if he was to be hanged, saving him would prove to be more difficult than he thought. However, he couldn’t risk it before confronting Gavin. It was still possible that Gavin knew how to wield the ring’s power, and if so, would do so with any chance he got. Landon looked over the crowd. They hadn’t brought out Daxis yet which meant there was still time. Perhaps if he challenged Gavin now, it would delay the execution just long enough for Landon to help. He stood up tall, threw back his hood, and at the top of his lungs yelled, “GAVIN!”

  The people around him stopped talking, and the crowd began to back away from him. As they did so, more and more people became silent. Eventually, there was a large divide in the midst of the crowd with Landon in the center. Malchus drew his cardinal sword and pointed it directly at the balcony.

  “You are a thief and a coward. I have come to reclaim what is mine!”

  A loud gasp trickled through the people. They were amazed anyone could be so brazen. The guards started moving towards Landon to seize him. Malchus then stood and did something he did not expect. He placed his hand on the railing and vaulted himself to the ground amazingly with no effort. Immediately, he waved off the guards who returned to their posts.

  “I accept,” he said coldly throwing his hood back. The sight made Landon recoil. It was not Malchus but Gavin. Gasps and horror swept through the crowd. His entire face was disfigured. He had obviously been burned severely and was now barely recognizable. The two men stood between them face to face a few paces apart.

  “Time has made you a man it seems,” he taunted. Landon didn’t flinch. “It seems as though you have more life in you than I expected. I am impressed.”

  “I have come for what is mine and to bring justice upon you,” Landon said flatly.

  “Justice it is that you seek? I suppose it is only fitting though I think I have already paid my debt thanks to you,” he said angrily drawing his sword. Landon moved into a ready stance reminiscent of Aratus’ the first time they had fought.

  He looked at Gavin’s horrific face and thought back to the last time he had seen him. Then he remembered that just before he blacked out, the room had become extremely bright. Gavin had attacked him to take the ring. Landon, filled with rage, must have used his power to consume the cabin in an enormous conflagration. The expense of energy coupled with his drowsiness from being hit in the head made him pass out. In the meantime, Gavin was able to take the ring but was not able to kill him because the fire must have become so intense it forced him to flee.

  “I expect this shan’t take long. I doubt I’ll even need to use your ring,” Gavin taunted again snatching Landon from his thoughts. It was in that moment that Landon saw something in Gavin. He wasn’t sure what it was but there was a pause, a hesitation, an uncertainty hanging in the air. Landon did not respond but chose to wait for a moment of weakness. Gavin sensed he was getting nowhere and ceased his mocking.

  “Let this be the end!” he roared. As he finished speaking, Gavin lunged at Landon with the full fury of his hate. His large sword came directly for Landon’s heart as he fell upon him. Landon recognized the attack as one Aratus consistently used. He swiped the sword away and rotated to his right. But it was not an easy block. Gavin contained more strength than he believed. Perhaps this is unwise, he thought.

  Gavin struck again this time slicing across Landon’s body on his strong side. Landon parried and rotate
d once again looking for a flaw in Gavin’s technique. The crowd, which until now had remained still, fled for cover as the two swords crashed together.

  Gavin again stepped forward and smashed his sword down upon Landon’s head. Once again he blocked it with much effort. It seemed as though Gavin was testing Landon’s weakness and discipline. Until now Landon had only displayed defense. He understood the gravity of this fight and wanted to wait until the perfect moment to attack. He was obviously confusing Gavin.

  “It appears as though you have been learning, I wonder who was your teacher. Was it Barric?” he asked as he swung his sword. Landon narrowly escaped a hit. “Perhaps Aratus?” Another lunge, and Landon dodged his advance once more. “Or could it be Preston?” A feint from Gavin made Landon flinch. “Whoever he was, he has apparently taught you well in the discipline of defense. You are truly a mighty Ox are you not?”

  Landon felt it again, that feeling which hung over them moments ago. Gavin was timid. He was guessing to draw a reaction out of him. He believed Landon’s skill lay in the style of the Ox. He had inadvertently tricked his enemy. Gavin had last spoken of using his ring the last time Landon felt this insecurity. He guessed it meant that Gavin had not uncovered the secret to the ring. Suddenly, Landon developed a plan. As long as Gavin believed it, he would use strictly defense. He was only trained minimally in this skill as the Eagle was a balance between both elements of fighting, but he hoped it would tire Gavin until he could choose the perfect movement to use.

  Gavin stepped to his right and Landon countered. His goal was now to mimic his every move in deception. Gavin moved left and again he countered. Having become certain of Landon’s game, he attacked. The full strength of Gavin came at Landon. He struck at his right, then his left, back to the right. Landon blocked each as he stepped backwards to play the part. Gavin came overhead and spun quick as lightning. He was fast, but Landon had a faster teacher. He blocked those attacks as well. The stalemate was beginning to bore Landon, and he now understood his old master’s admonition. However, he knew he needed to keep going.

  Gavin moved in to make a jab at his opponent’s midsection but feinted towards the legs. Landon moved to block, but Gavin, becoming ever faster it seemed, feinted again and got a clean hit. It was Landon’s first mistake. Blood trickled down Landon’s weak arm. It wasn’t a deep cut, but it was enough. Landon knew his defensive game wasn’t good enough.

  “Looks like you missed a lesson or two,” a smile of near victory swept across Gavin’s face.

  Landon remained silent. He was hurt, but he needed to stay focused. He was reminded of the ascent up the mountain. Every step up was full of pain, but Landon had to focus or die. It was in this moment that he finally understood the meaning of the test. This was exactly the same. Without focus Landon would lose this fight and die. The executioner, however, did not make it easy.

  All of a sudden, drums began to beat. Loud boos rang out from the crowd as a large wooden carriage began moving into the sunlight. The people tossed rotten food upon the man inside the cage. Landon didn’t know what to do. His plan was failing. He could not both fight Gavin and save Daxis. Unless. Unless, he had his ring.

  Gavin seized upon his distraction and attacked again. Lost in his thought, Landon was unprepared and received a strong wakeup call in his legs. It was his second mistake. Gavin had pierced him. Once again the wound was not fatal, but it slowed him down. Landon began to wonder if he was being toyed with as a cat does a mouse. He decided he could no longer play a game. He needed his ring, and he was getting weaker. He thought about his movements and Gavin’s style and pride. He chose the twenty-ninth movement.

  Immediately, Landon stepped forward into his first move. The pain in his leg rang through his body but Landon just focused more on his attack. He pushed forward through the steps pressing his attack upon Gavin. He did well at defending, but within a few steps, his enemy was on the complete defense. The roles had been reversed. As Landon moved quicker into his motions two things happened. First, he saw that Gavin was not used to being on this side of a fight and was struggling to keep up. Second, instead of getting lost in the steps, the drums and the procession of Daxis to the gallows kept him from reaching that state of mental clarity.

  He could see from the corner of his eyes the executioner, draped all in black, push him up the wooden steps. Daxis looked beaten and worn down almost as though he welcomed death. Malchus had obviously done a number on him. Landon became more anxious to end the fight, but just when he was about to get a solid hit, Gavin pushed back and gained some ground.

  At his first opening, Gavin ran from the fight, out of the courtyard. This was an opportunity for Landon to switch movements. He decided to go with thirty-five. He chased his enemy into the streets and could no longer see Daxis.

  Boom.

  Boom.

  Boom.

  He hoped he would have the opportunity to make good on his word.

  The fight renewed as Landon fell upon Gavin. At the first hint of a break, however, he continued to remove himself and run. Landon wondered if he was being lured into a trap somewhere. Eventually, they wound up in the town center, and Gavin had nowhere else to run. Landon knew he had him trapped and hoped not to make a third mistake. He could see in his enemy’s eyes that Landon was more than a match for him.

  “Hand it over. The fight is won.”

  “Fool, you could never defeat me!”

  Gavin’s arrogance would not allow him to concede. His eyes grew hot as he unleashed everything he had at Landon. Gavin moved left, right, behind, over. But it was finally in the quiet of the city center with the drums so distant that Landon was able to gain clarity.

  In this state he anticipated the attacks and easily blocked them watching Gavin tire. He knew he needed to end the fight and waited for his opening. Gavin lunged forward and lost his footing in his exhaustion. Landon knew his back would be exposed and easily whirled around him. He expected his adversary to block with a vertical blade so he feinted in that direction, but reversed his hand. He rotated his wrists and instead swung his sword straight through Gavin’s neck. The full strength of Landon’s muscles brought a clean slice and a decapitated body to the ground.

  Landon stood and looked at his defeated foe. The limp body of the man who had for so long haunted Landon’s mind was reduced to nothing in the dust. He pitied Gavin. He was sorry he had to take a life, but his revulsion no longer existed. Gavin had received justice. Now it was time to make sure Daxis did as well. He removed the ring from his opponent’s hand and placed it on his own. Immediately, he felt a transformation. The sun’s strength grew less intense, and he stood taller feeling stronger. The beads of sweat from the heat of the day began to evaporate. The wounds in his arm and leg began to heal. Joy of retrieving what was his enveloped him. But amidst the excitement, Landon realized he no longer heard the drums beating. His senses renewed, and he rushed back to the courtyard.

  His feet skid to a halt as he saw a terrifying sight. A crowd cheered as Daxis’ body hung limply from the gallows. The executioner was preparing to lower his body onto a cart. He was too late. His friend had died, and Landon had failed to keep his promise. Contempt bred in Landon as the executioner became the new focus of his hate. Landon placed a foot forward in the direction of the gallows. He was determined to cast the largest ball of fire at the executioner and destroy the man. But before he could act upon his emotions, the ground rocked beneath everyone.

  Landon rushed out of the courtyard to see what was taking place. A large fire had erupted in the center of town. People were running in all directions from it. He wondered what had caused the rumbling and the inferno, and it didn’t take long to receive an answer. A large flaming ball sailed through the air and slammed against the castle walls. The impact centered on the balcony. Had I caused this with? he wondered. Could my contempt have resulted in an unexpected disaster? He felt remorse for this. He knew the executioner was just doing his job. The temptation to use his ring to kill
was almost too powerful. He did not want innocents to die. He looked around and saw that the conflagration which ensued consumed the entire area including many citizens. His hatred abated. Another loud noise rocked the city as another large fireball slammed into the castle. Loud drums beat echoing off of the town walls. It was louder than those for Daxis’ execution. These drums grew louder and louder surrounding the city and deafening all of the fleeing citizens in the city. Trumpets blared two loud blasts then the drums ceased. Those signals could have only come from one source. Camsbury was under attack.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Journey’s End

  Landon stood in the midst of chaos. The castle walls were aflame, the houses nearest to the western gate were burning, and people were running in all directions looking for cover. Daxis remained suspended from the gallows, and Landon knew he could not leave his friend in that position. He also could not make his way to the platform because the mass of citizens fleeing the scene jammed the only gateway. He closed his eyes to block out the noise around him. Once silence surrounded him, he reached out with his right hand toward the flames along the castle walls.

  He directed his focus on pulling the flames into a steady beam leveled at the rope. In a matter of seconds the rope was alight and Landon had to concentrate to keep the fire from consuming the entire cord and Daxis. It took a few moments but finally the rope snapped letting Daxis’ lifeless body fall to the ground. Finally, the crowd relented and an opening appeared. Landon rushed through to attend to the body. He knew he could do nothing now, but when everything settled, he knew he would need to find a place to bury his friend.

  Bending over, he threw Daxis over his shoulders and with a strong effort stood tall. Then, he made his way towards Aquila and the stables. The easiest part was walking back through the desolate courtyard. Once outside, however, the journey was much more difficult. Not only did Landon have to maneuver through a chaotic crowd, but the invading army with its continuing onslaught heaving massive balls of flame into every corner of the town increased the difficulty. They were bursting all over. Most of the attacks were aimed at the castle and the city walls; though, a few managed to avoid either and land in a large crowd of innocents.