Death Or Fortune

by James Chesney

  "I am Darmot Kromwell. I came to Arcadia not long ago. In the time I have been here I have seen how great this country can be. This land is rich, the city is strong and it isn't because of any lord or king. It is because of you, the people of Arcadia that makes this land what it is. Today we face a grave threat in the form of a tyrant. His message was sent to us loud and clear. We all saw it written in blood on the walls of the king’s castle. This man seeks to enslave each and every one of us. We fight today not for the land, the city or even for the king. We fight today for our very lives. The lives of every son and daughter of Arcadia. For every mother and every good husband who wants for nothing more than to be rewarded for a hard day’s work. I am Darmot Kromwell and I am proud to fight with you my Arcadian brothers. On this day we will tell this tyrant that we will not be broken, that we will not surrender the one thing we value the most. Our lives."

  The roar that issued forth from the ranks was nearly enough to knock me from the horse. I looked to Hetaron and told him to make ready. The enemy was now in sight and marching on us fast. It would not be long. I walked with Hetaron and Pare back to my tent where we stored the oil barrels. Ten of them all together, eight of them were sitting on Hetarons carpet, two were set off to the side. As Hetaron pulled out his scroll I asked Pare one last time if he wanted to do this. "I have been waiting for this my entire life Darmot!" The smile on his face was like nothing I had ever seen. Hetaron opened the scroll and began to chant. I like to think that on the day I die I won't be forced to answer the gods as to why I thought it was a good idea to turn a halfling into a dragon. Even if it was only for just for a short time. He wasn't the biggest dragon I have ever seen but he was for sure the happiest. I then looked to Hetaron. "Take no more risk than you have to. Wait until they are all in the field of view. Rejoin me as soon as it is finished." He just looked at me and rolled his eyes.

  I watched in awe as he started to take off with his flying carpet, "I will do my part Darmot, try not to get killed before I finish. You and this entire city will owe me before the day is done. All will tremble before my power." Pare the dragon took the last two barrels in his now massive hands and took off after Hetaron into the sky. I then rejoined Hans and Michaels at the front of the ranks. I stood there and watched them come. I felt a bit like a mouse watching the snake coming to feed. My men stood behind me in silence. I looked to Hans one last time and gave him a nod. From out of his armor came his holy medallion. A blazing sun etched into silver, the symbol of his god Solarth. He asked the good god for his blessing and prayed for our victory.

  I looked out at the field and saw them getting oh so much closer. They would soon be in range of the archers. I kept thinking, now damn it now when I saw Pare break the clouds. Diving at the approaching army with break neck speed he let out a roar and dropped his barrels while flying over the top of them. All eyes were on the dragon as he soared overhead. No one but Hans and I saw the crazy mage on his flying carpet until the other oil barrels started raining down on them. By then, it was too late. Turk told me days later he could see the smoke. Hetaron cast a single fireball spell, which damaging on its own, was enough to ignite all the oil we dumped on the field. "Hans!" was all I had to say. Thousands of burning bodies littered the field, some were still walking around as lightning bolts were being called down from the sky.

  A second fireball rained down from the sky as Hetaron began his retreat. I drew forth my sword and ordered the charge. The results were well more than I could have asked for. We were outnumbered two to one that day. By the time it was done, eight thousand men laid near death or dying. More than half my men were injured or killed while we destroyed them to a man. If not for Hans we would have lost Michaels that day. I myself do not know how many of them I killed. I just kept fighting until there was no one attacking me anymore. I ordered Michaels, who could barely stand on his own, to gather the injured men and to start checking for any who were down and still living. Hans, Hetaron and I standing on his flying carpet led the remainder of the men to fight with the king. I did not see Pare until later in the day when the spell had worn off. He was with us when the chase began. He was with us when it was clear victory was ours. We had seen him on the field, Nikle the traitor and a band of his loyal men. We saw them trying to escape. We saw them abandon the field of battle at the end of the fighting, I would not let that traitor get away. I gathered my friends and we cut a path across the field of dead. Five of us gave chase that day, four of us would return in the pouring rain.

  18. Honor, Duty and Justice

  Both the north and south flanks held and crushed all who came against us as a wave breaks on the sea wall. Not without losses but we held. I am told the man who commanded the southern flank was killed in battle, his second gathered what was left of his people and did the same thing as I. Rallied to the king’s standard. I was by Roderick's side when we made the final outward push and completely crushed the remainder of the S.O.M.A. army. When Arturo reported that Nikle the traitor had been seen I asked the King if I could take him. My friends and I all gathered what horses we could when a voice, hard as steel called to me. "You will wait for me, it is my duty to deal with Nikle." It was Arturo, I could not have told him no.

  We rode hard to catch up with Nikle and his men. I tried to tell Arturo to stay with the king but he would not listen. "Nikle assumed my post boy, he dishonored both the post and me. Above all, he dishonored the King and for that I will not stand by and do nothing." After that, I knew there was nothing I could say to make him change his mind. I was on one side of him, Hans and Pare on the other. Hetaron was behind us, on that carpet trying to read a spell book. He at last gave up and snapped the book closed. He had a grim look on his face. I could not tell what was on his mind, his face was so distorted by the light of his staff. I asked him if he was going to be ok and he only said something about not questioning his power.

  Hans told me that we were following at least a dozen men and a wagon full of something heavy. I did not question him; I just looked down the road, hoping to catch sight of our prey. When the rain started it did not affect us one bit. We did not slow, we did not waver in the slightest. When Hans called out that we were getting closer I did not question him. When we rode into the clearing and saw those men trying to fix the broken wagon wheel I knew fate was on our side. As we dismounted weapons were drawn on both sides. As always Hans was right, a dozen men including Nikle. I looked back for Hetaron to see if he could do something to even the odds but he was gone. There was no sight of him at all. I cursed his name and the whore that gave birth to him. When I heard his voice in my mind it gave me a chill down my spine. "I am here but hidden. I will strike when the time is right." I wondered to myself if the right time was after we were all dead and in my mind he said "perhaps."

  What happened next will be etched in my mind until the day I die. Arturo put himself between Nikle's men and us. He held up his hand and pointed. "All of you men who serve with Nikle the Traitor are here by exiled by order of King Roderick. Should any of you try to return, you will be killed on sight. However, you Nikle will be taken back to stand trial before the king to answer for your crimes. May the gods have mercy on your soul because you will get none from the King." As he spoke the thunder rolled in the distance, it seemed to agree with him. Arturo was an imposing figure there, illuminated by only the lightning flashes.

  Nikle stood out from his men, he knew he had been seen. He ordered them to put away their weapons. I wish I had known at the time what he had been up to. "Trial!" he said. "There will be no trial, just my head on the chopping block. I have committed no crime, I serve a higher power, one who has blessed me. If I am to stand trial, I demand it happen now. I demand trial by combat. Choose your champion old man." Nikle looked at me when he said this. To this day I do not remember pulling out my sword but it was there in my hand. Arturo stopped me from moving forward.

  "Darmot, put away your weapon. This duty falls to me and only me. Honor demands I answer his challenge. If I f
all he is free to go, you must return to the king and tell him the results of the trial." I was sure the man had lost his mind. "Very well Nikle, I will meet your challenge. Pick up your lance and have your men stand aside." Nikle knew better than to question Arturo’s choice of weapon. It was his right. As the two men lined up I could not believe what was about to happen. I called out to Hetaron who only told me to wait. I looked around to my friends, it would seem that Pare had joined Hetaron, Hans was giving Arturo the blessing of Solarth. The entire thing seemed to be out of control. This was not the way it was supposed to happen. This was not the way of things in my dream.

  I pleaded with Arturo not to do this but he would not even look at me. "One day you will understand son." Arturo gave Nikle a salute which was returned. Both men lowered their lances and began to charge. As I remember it in my mind, the world begins to slow down. Everything happened in slow motion. Every step taking them closer together. The thunder on the ground began to rival the thunder in the sky. I stood with my jaw clenched tight; I could feel Hans next to me, his hand holding on to my sword arm. With a final crash of thunder, the two riders met. Arturo skilled in all forms of combat was able to deflect the lance of Nikle. Nikle however could not. He took what seemed to be a mortal blow that knocked him from his horse. Nikle the traitor crashed to the ground with a section of lance three feet long sticking out of his shoulder. Arturo rode back towards me and dismounted. "Now I shall give him his rest. A man of honor will not allow another to suffer without need." Arturo advanced on the still prone Nikle with sword in hand.

  I then watched in horror as Nikle reached up and pulled the broken lance from his body only to fling it aside. I could not believe my eyes as he once again got to his feet. His right arm appeared to hang there, useless but he was still strong enough to pull free his blade with his left arm. He was more than strong enough to advance to meet Arturo. Soon the sound of steel on steel was the only thing we could hear. "This does not look good. He seems to have some kind of advantage we did not know about." Hetarons words seemed to echo those that were in my heart. For a short time Arturo held his ground. Years of experience seemed to be the only thing keeping him in the fight. Yet he had a look on his face, he was enjoying it. He was taking glory in the fight. Arturo could not see what Hans and I did. Nikle was toying with him. He was stalling until Arturo started to tire. When it became apparent to all of us that Arturo wasn’t making any progress, Nikle shouted.

  "Loyalty" Nikle said as he turned aside a blow and began to attack Arturo in earnest. Each strike he took was knocking away Arturo's blade. "Duty" he said as with one mighty blow knocked the sword from Arturo's hand. It sailed away from him as a sheet of parchment blows in a strong wind. Nikle then reached out with his injured hand to grasp the top of Arturo's breast plate and said "Honor" as he ran his blade into his gut. As I watched Nikles blade exit Arturo's back I fell to my knees. Nikle then ripped the blade free as Arturo fell to the ground. "Look where they have taken you old man." Nikle said as he stood and watched the pool of blood form under Arturo's body. I felt Hans trying to pull me up but I would not. This was what my dream had been telling me. This is what I was supposed to prevent. Nikle had won and I had failed my friend.

  With great pain I once again got on my feet. When I saw Nikle spit on Arturo rage took hold of me. Nikle then turned and took a look at my face. When he spoke my rage began to overflow. "Kill them." he told his men. I slowly drew my blade for the final time that day. I saw a flash of light from beside me. Something Hans did, I could hear Pare screaming off in the distance, Hetaron speaking in my mind again. Nothing mattered, nothing would stop me. The first man to fall to my blade was blinded. I cared not; he was between Nikle and me. I cut him down as a scythe takes the grass. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Pare riding the back of another man, stabbing him madly. I did not care about any of them. Magic exploded around me, it only worked to clear my path. Nikle would be mine. A second man came to me and he fell as fast as the first. I cut him down without remorse.

  "Yes, come to me Kromwell. You little pathetic little runt. You have stood in my way for the final time. Tonight you will die." Nikle was so sure of himself, so sure he would kill me and get away even as his men were being killed around him. Like so many others on this day, he forgot about something. He forgot that I was not alone. He lunged at me with an overhead strike. I raised my shield to block it and I was nearly hammered to the ground. Then his second blow managed to do what the first did not. As if he was a giant hitting me with a massive club he sent me flying. If he was any faster he would have been on me before I could get to my feet. I kept telling myself to dodge and strike. I had to take him down. I managed to side step his next blow and struck out at him driving my blade deep into his leg.

  It only seemed to slow him down for a moment. That moment was all that I needed. I lunged out and struck home. Cutting into his armor I struck flesh and bone. Nikle let out a roar of rage and pushed me away. "You can't beat me, don't you see that? Before this night is done I will feast on your heart." I started to close with him again when it happened. I never saw it coming. A bolt of lightning flew past my shield and hit Nikle in the chest. His armor could not take the blast. Bits of it flew past me in the explosion. I looked down and saw him, charred and smoking. I looked back and saw Hetaron, down on one knee. "I have nothing left." He said to me in my mind. I was angry with him at first. I wanted to kill Nikle. When his body that should have been dead sat up again I could not take much more. I still do not know what magic kept him going that day. He took blow after blow that would have killed any other man. While part of me wanted to know, I was not going to bother asking him.

  Six steps I took towards the man. Each step I counted, each step I thought of all that this monster had done. He had framed an innocent man and stood by while that man was hung for a crime he did not commit. He killed countless people in the name of this so called Messiah. The blood that stained the walls of the king’s castle was from his evil works. The family at the farm who I could not save died by his order. The riots that destroyed part of the city and nearly killed the father of the woman I loved. Part of me wanted to see him rot in jail for the crimes that he had done. As I watched his still smoldering body reach out for his sword I knew justice must be done. With one swing of my sword, Nikle the traitor was no more. His hand was still reaching out to grasp the hilt of his blade when his head hit the ground.

  I turned then to look at my friends. Pare was doing his best to help Hetaron stand. Hans was on his knees in the mud next to the body of my friend. I started towards him when Hans stood up. "He is still alive but there is nothing more I can do. He doesn't have long." Tears filled his eyes as they did mine. I went to Arturo and knelt by his side, taking his hand in mine. He looked at me but his eyes would not focus. "Is it done?" he asked me as the blood poured from his mouth. I could only nod my head, the words failed me. He leaned back and closed his eyes. "Take me home son" were his last words to me. I held his hand as he took his last breath.

  "Let the cleric do his work for the dead Kromwell, come to me." Hetaron spoke out loud. I was so used to hearing him in my head I did not think it was real. I saw Hans once again at the side of my friend, giving him one final prayer. I was in no mood for whatever it was that Hetaron wanted but honestly I needed the distraction. "Look, in the wagon” was all he said to me. I had seen chest like these before. Like the one we found before, each was filled with coins of gold. There were three chests in all. They were filled with blood money from the Messiah to the mercenaries who died for him that day. Nikle thought to run away with it. We decided then take these chests and put the money to good use. We also found a belt around the waist of Nikle, Hetaron told me to keep it as he had a feeling he knew what it was.

  Hans had taken the body of Arturo and placed him over the back of his own horse for the return home. As they made ready I had one last thing to do. I found the rest of Arturo's lance and drove the broken end into the wet, rain soaked ground. I then too
k the head of Nikle the traitor and rammed it on the other end and left it there as a warning. As warning to all those who would dare betray the people of Arcadia.

  19. Lordship

  With the gold chest we found stuffed into Hetarons magic bag we began our long journey home. Pare and Hans rode together, the body of Arturo was tied to his horse and Hetaron rode with me. He did not have the energy to use his carpet, in truth I am shocked he had the strength to hold on to me the entire way home. Hans had his hands full with Pare. While the day was a grand adventure for the little halfling, the death of Arturo took its toll on him. As it did all of us, Pare also cried enough for all of us on the way home.

  The closer to Arcadia we got, the harder the rain fell from the sky. By the time we returned to the staging area and reported back to the king, we could not see three feet past our face. To this day, having to tell Turk about the death of his old friend is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Each word that left my mouth was like a small dagger slashing though my soul. The only thing that gave anyone any comfort was the news that Nikle was in fact dead. Later that night Turk and I took our friends body home to his son Augustus. He took it about as well as I could have expected.