“It would seem I took just a bit too long wizard.” The man said, looking at Matilom.
“You did take your time Ergol.” Matilom replied, while managing a wry smile.
“I’ve gathered the bravest men in Wind Haven, just as you asked. They are my most loyal, and have been instructed to lend all of their strength to your fight as they would to mine.”
“The words are comforting Ergol. And you have arrived not a moment too soon.” The wizard gestured his head towards Sidion and his men.
“Soldiers!” Sidion yelled. “Kill anyone who puts up resistance, but that boy” He pointed to Davydd “and that man,” He pointed to Ovar “belong to me.” The soldiers fanned out, as did the Windhaven warriors Ergol had gathered, along with Matilom’s group. Both groups clashed violently, seeking to end the other’s lives as quickly as possible. The Angwelethean soldiers showed their battle prowess and mastery of the blade in the way they effortlessly cut down the less proficient but brave Windhaven warriors. It was an initial lesson in combat tactics as the shield and sword were used in a deadly combination of defense and fatal offense. Soon the Windhaven warriors realized that their best chance at taking on the Angwelethean soldiers, especially those with five skulls on their shoulder plates, was to team up against them. The strategy worked and the tide of the battle was beginning to turn.
“Are you ready son?” Baximus asked Davydd as he glared at Sidion.
“Yes.” Davydd said without much conviction. This was not lost on Baximus, but there was no time to address that.
“You remember what I’ve taught you thus far?”
“Yes.” Davydd nodded. Baximus tossed him a sword without taking his eyes off of Sidion. Davydd caught the sheathed sword and stared at it for a little while. It was much heavier than the wooden version he’d used for practice. He unsheathed his sword and looked at Sidion, who had been staring at him.
“It seems you only bear a physical resemblance to your father. Your heart is not the same.” As he said this he began to jog towards Baximus and Davydd, putting his helmet on.
“Follow my lead.” Baximus said as he began to move towards Sidion as well. For a brief moment, Davydd stood in shock. This was really happening. If they lost this battle, they would die. But that wasn’t what really bothered him. He wasn’t sure if Ovar had noticed it, but he sounded different. He sounded cold. Gone was the kind-hearted blacksmith he had called ‘Father’ for all of his life. Was this the ruthless warrior, called Baximus, in some distance past? Davydd heard the clash of swords, and snapped out of his thoughts. He ran to Sidion’s side and swung but he was too slow. Sidion, who had been engaging Baximus, saw Davydd out of the corner of his eye and lashed out with his right leg, which caught Davydd square in the chest. Davydd was knocked off balance and fell to the floor. He scrambled to get to his sword, which had fallen out of his hand during the fall. Sidion side stepped an attack by Baximus, pivoting on his left foot and swinging in with his right hand. Baximus switched from a forward thrust into a sideways slash, only to meet Sidion’s shield, which he had dropped behind him in the pivot, with his left hand. Sidion completed his swing, but Baximus ducked underneath, and rolled out of harm’s way. Sidion kept up the attack swinging upwards to catch Baximus at the base of his jaw with the sword tip, but the former reaper class soldier parried with his sheath and swept Sidion’s feet from under him. Sidion fell with a thud to the ground and Baximus went in for the attack. However Sidion fell into an immediate roll and blocked Baximus’s attacks by alternating between sword and shield as he rolled. Suddenly he swiped up at Baximus. The blade barely caught Baximus’s abdomen but was enough to rip open a non-fatal gash. Baximus had barely stepped back in time. He clutched at his wound and staggered back as Sidion rolled to his knees, pivoted towards Baximus and lunged forward, thrusting his sword. A blade came in swinging at Sidion’s mid-section and only the current king of Angweleth’s reflexes with the shield, prevented him from being severed from the waist down. The force however knocked him off course and he fell a little distance from where Baximus had been standing. Sidion turned to see that it was Davydd who had attacked him. A trio of death class soldiers formed a human barrier between Sidion and the duo of Davydd and Baximus, thus preventing any chance of them taking advantage of his temporary defenseless state. Sidion got to his feet quickly, sword still in hand.
“You.” He pointed his sword at Davydd and stepped forward as the soldiers parted to make way for him. “You interest me greatly. Why do you fight? Can you give me a good reason for you to join this madness?”
Davydd was temporarily caught off guard by the question. He tried to regain his composure.
“I fight... I fight for the future of... Terrianus.”
Sidion burst out into laughter.
“You don’t even sound convinced of that statement. Not too long ago, you were living the life of a hunter and a thief.” The king smiled at Davydd’s growing shock. The fighting was also beginning to subside at this time as the warriors turned their attention to Davydd, Baximus and king Sidion.
“Yes Davydd” Sidion continued, “You are actually quite notorious in Gor. You are willing to throw your life away for a cause you don’t believe in? A man who has no cause to fight is bound to lose that fight. See, you have no skill in wielding your sword and yet you are blessed with the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest swordsmen in all of Terrianus. You have no will to be a part of this.” Sidion nodded his head but it seemed to be to no one in particular. Davydd wore a distant look on his face. He was lost in his own thoughts but more importantly he felt a growing anger at himself because he actually agreed with king Sidion. What was he really doing here? For all he knew, what his father, Ovar – or was it Baximus? – had told him could have all been a lie. Even if it was the truth, how come his mother hadn’t bothered to show up at least once in twenty-three years? While lost in his thoughts, Davydd did not notice the sword swinging in ferociously behind him. Just then, his body was shoved out of the way by Segmiatus, who had come rushing over. The sword slammed into Segmiatus’s upper back, causing a deep gash. Were it not for Segmiatus’s own forward motion and the jump, he would have been decapitated. Segmiatus and Davydd both fell to the ground. The soldier made to attack, but was impaled by an unseen force. Leo emerged out of invisibility, his sword piercing the soldier’s heart. A distant look, and then a backward roll of his eyes, revealing the white, followed the soldier’s last expression of shock. He fell to the ground dead. Segmiatus writhed in pain as Davydd scrambled up to examine him.
“Segmiatus! Segmiatus!!”
“Remember... Davydd.”
“Se...”
“It’s okay... Davydd... ” Segmiatus laughed through his pain and when he saw Davydd’s confused look, he continued.
“It seems the gods have sent a fight your way... and now you know what support is... to fight for something... other than yourself... to live for an idea... Davydd... a belief and dream, you... you have to... fight.”
The words and the memories they evoked, struck a new found resolve in Davydd. Max opened up a portal to Segmiatus and emerging half way, lifted the wounded soldier up.
“I’ll tend to his wounds in a safe place.” He said giving Davydd a reassuring look and with that, both he and Segmiatus were gone. Davydd turned his gaze to Sidion and for a brief second Sidion flinched. The gaze was eerily familiar.
Baximus stepped forward to where Davydd was, as Davydd got up.
“Are you ready?” He asked.
“Indeed.” There was no lack of conviction in the word. Baximus couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Follow my lead then.”
“With my life, I will.” And with those words, the surviving warriors of the two sides clashed one more time. Davydd and Baximus headed for Sidion but were intercepted by two undertaker class soldiers. Baximus dispatched of his easily. Davydd evaded his attacker’s first downward swipe, his sword ready to block the change in direction to a sideways swipe. It c
ame as he had expected and he parried it.
Calm yourself. Davydd stopped his backward motion with his right foot, landing softly.
Keep your balance.
He sprung forward a little bit and then danced around a forward thrust by the soldier. The Angwelethean warrior instantly brought his shield over to his right to protect the expected incoming blow, but Davydd had anticipated that. He swung down low sweeping the soldiers feet off the ground and cutting them at the same time. As the airborne soldier screamed, Davydd came down with his sword stabbing the soldier through the spine and slamming him to the ground. The scream was abruptly cut off, followed by deathly silence from the man. Davydd picked up the soldier’s shield and ran off in the direction of Sidion and Baximus. Baximus and Sidion continued to attack and counter each other, neither landing any blows nor gaining an advantage for too long. As Davydd entered the fray, Sidion attempted to catch him with a kick again, but Davydd easily evaded this time. Sidion twisted his body so that his sword first went in an upward swipe towards Baximus, who dodged, and then into a downward swipe towards Davydd who blocked. The shield came up next towards Baximus, and he was forced to dodge again. Sidion jogged away from and around Davydd and launched into a series of thrusting and sideways slashes. Davydd ducked and weaved around them; similar to the way he had done against Baximus when training.
Calm yourself.
Davydd blocked one of Sidion’s sideways slashes with his shield. Sidion’s sword bounced back and an opening was created. Davydd launched into his own attacks but Sidion’s experience and battle prowess showed, as he recovered and evaded. He ducked as Baximus tried to decapitate him from behind and spun away from both Baximus and Davydd. As he spun he gave up his back to both Davydd and Baximus.
You showed your back to me.
Davydd attacked.
“No Davydd!” Baximus screamed as Farok stepped in and took a swing at Davydd’s mid-section. Davydd barely blocked with the shield and was sent careening into the ground. Sidion had taken the opportunity to survey the battle and realized that his forces were losing, mostly due to the interventions of Matilom, Ergol, Sam and Leo. He looked over to Farok and Trudor, giving them the signal to retreat.
“Pull back! Pull back!” Trudor yelled as the soldiers began to back off. Sidion caught sight of his daughter Vannera, as she ran over to where Davydd had fallen. Baximus prepared to take advantage of the momentary lapse in concentration, but was stopped by Matilom.
“Nistam’s already cast his barrier Baximus. You know the consequences if you make contact.” Baximus sighed and nodded.
“You should have come back to me daughter.” Sidion said.
“But maybe this is for the best. You are safe where you are.”
“You tried to kill me!!!!!” Vannera yelled out, the pain pronounced in her voice.
Sidion wore an expression of anguish on his face.
“Daughter... I know what you are thinking, but everything I have done and am doing is for Angweleth. I’m just happy... you weren’t a casualty the way your mother was.”
He looked at Davydd.
“Why do you fight son of Rikard?”
Davydd sat up glaring at Sidion.
“Every man deserves a right to live in happiness. I’ve grown up under your rule and I see it for what it is. I fight to stop the end of the world. An end you seek to bring.”
Sidion shook his head as his soldiers began to disappear into a trail of light.
“You’re wrong boy. I fight to bring the rebirth of the world.” And with that, Sidion vanished into a trail of light as well.
Davydd grimaced in pain
“You’re hurt.” Vannera said.
“Me?” Davydd managed smile. “Right now I’m not... If you let go... well then...”
Vannera laughed.
“How can you joke at a time like this?”
“People could do with some laughter at a time like this.” Davydd struggled to his feet, while being helped by Vannera. He examined her and noticed that she was unhurt. Though her clothes were stained in blood, they weren’t hers.
“You seem to be fine. I’m glad.”
“Yes... it’s strange. The soldiers wouldn’t attack me, even when I attacked them. They merely defended.” She paused for a bit.
“It’s almost as if they were ordered not to attack me. If father wanted me dead, he could have done it now.”
“Maybe you have mistaken your father?” Davydd said as he began to walk towards Baximus, Matilom and Ergol.
“Have I? I know my father well enough to know he is not without a wicked heart.”
“Maybe, but it would seem your death is not something he wanted nor was your mother’s.”
It was then Vannera recalled what he had just said. It hadn’t struck her then but it did now. You are safe where you are...I’m just happy... you weren’t a casualty the way your mother was. Could the dragol’s attempt to kill her have been an act carried out against her father’s wishes?
“Where is Segmiatus?” Davydd was asking Matilom. “Where did Max take him to?”
“Follow me.” Matilom said as they began to walk through the houses and elevated huts in Windhaven. The destruction in the aftermath of the battle was glaringly apparent. Some houses were riddled with arrows, while others burned as the fires ate away at the wooden structures. There were bodies strewn everywhere. A sword had cut some down, while arrows had impaled others. The soldiers in their wake had cut down men, women and children. As they walked through the destroyed town, they could hear the cries and wails of the survivors. Ergol clenched his fist in anger.
“Matilom... aiding you has cost me dearly...”
Matilom made to speak but was quickly cut off.
“Do not say anything.” He looked over at Davydd.
“This is the boy you’ve spoken of for years? He is hardly ready!”
The group stopped at the bottom of a house that stood on wooden supports and was only accessible by a ladder at the bottom. As Ergol made to climb, he turned back and looked at Davydd and Matilom.
“I will help you still. But in exchange you must promise me that you will fulfill the task at hand and while at it, plunge a sword deep into the heart of that tyrant!!!” With that said, he began to climb up the ladder, as the others followed silently. They got to the top and walked to the inner building through a bridge with high railings on each side. From this vantage point, they could see all of Windhaven. It was a breathtaking sight of different shades of brown. The wooden structures came in different shapes and sizes and heights. The people of Wind Haven were excellent wood crafters and there was no more apparent example of their ingenuity than in their town itself. As they walked in to the room, Davydd caught sight of Segmiatus laying on a bed, with Max watching over him. Davydd ran over to his side and was about to speak but Max motioned for him to be quiet.
“He’s asleep and it’s best to leave him be.” Max said in a tone barely louder than a whisper.
He read Davydd’s expression and offered a reassuring smile.
“He will pull through. He was very lucky to not have suffered a deeper cut. I suggest leaving him behind as we continue on our journey. We don’t know when we might be attacked again and he won’t be ready for a fight in a number of days. I’m sorry Davydd.”
Leo tapped Davydd’s shoulder.
“We do what we must.”
Davydd nodded somberly. “How long will he be like this?”
“I cannot say with certainty.” Max replied. “Only he can determine this. He lost a lot of blood. I cleaned and dressed the wound so he should be safe from infection. But it needs time to heal.”
“So there is...”
“Davydd...” Matilom stepped in front of him. “Max has a point. If we take him along with us like this, then there’s every chance that he will die in the journey. You must think about that.”
Davydd closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I am thinking about it... but you are only th
inking about this quest.”
“The quest is bigger than any one man!”
“That... man is the reason why you still have your key stone in this quest!!! That key stone happens to be me.” Davydd looked around at everyone. “All this time, since the beginning of this... this madness, I have had to go through shock after shock and in only a matter of days my life has very nearly been snatched from me on a number of occasions.” He turned to look at Ergol. “I am sorry about those you have lost today, but I am not a tool for the victory of mankind. If I really am the rightful heir to the throne of Angweleth, these are my people too.” He turned to look at Segmiatus. “And so is he. I will not leave him behind. I have always longed to change things and bring happiness to the people around me. You don’t have to push me to do it. I will... with or without your help. He comes with us.” Davydd walked up to Ergol and stared directly into the town leader’s eyes. “And if you too should get a chance, then plunge a sword into the hearts of any that would try to take away your freedom.” With that, he began to walk away towards the ladder. Baximus followed him and climbed down after him.
“Davydd...”
“Was Ovar Tardust also a lie?”
“Yes it was. But it was a necessary one. My name is Baximus Bastien.”
“Who was Ovar Tardust?”
“He was a young soldier under my command during the great war. Taking his name, moving to Gor, it was all in order to protect you.”
Davydd nodded slowly and looked away, before looking back at Baximus.
“I want you to train me.”
“I already am son...”
“No. I want you to train me as you would any other soldier. Train both Segmiatus and myself. I never want to see those I hold dearly to heart get hurt on my account again.”
Baximus sighed and nodded.
“Alright” He finally said. “I only hope you are truly ready for this.”
Metal and Magic: A Fantasy Journey Page 69