Alien Realms (v1.0)

by Unknown Author

  Or courage, said the voice. Perhaps you ought to consider that possibility, Fra Villion.

  ‘I have considered it. The difference between bravery and stupidity is minute. No matter. Tedric will not leave Tavera alive.’

  The voice laughed. Or, as you say, it will be over your dead body? Is that correct, Fra Villion? Well, we shall see. Indeed, we shall see.

  The creature had gone. Tedric was somehow certain of that. He observed Fra Villion. For a considerable time, the vemplar stood without moving in the middle of the room. Whether he was considering the voice’s parting words, Tedric could not tell. Then Villion vanished. Tedric had witnessed this trick before and felt no surprise.

  ‘Weil, what do you think?’ said Lola, after a moment.

  Tedric answered evasively, uncertain how much she knew about the true nature of the adversary. ‘I’m not sure what to think.’

  She sounded irritated. ’Isn’t it obvious? Villion’s gone crazy. He’s out of his mind. You saw him the same as I did! He stands in the middle of a room, talking to himself. Something’s wrong with him. That’s for sure.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Tedric said. ‘Didn’t you hear the voice?’

  ‘I heard Villion but…’

  ‘And not the other? You didn’t hear a voice inside your head?’

  He could feel her looking at him with suspicion even if he couldn’t actually see her expression. ‘You’re playing with me, aren’t you? What’s the joke?’

  ‘You heard nothing?’

  ‘Not a damn thing. Only Villion.’ -Tedric forced a laugh. There was no disputing her sincerity. ‘I’m sorry. I was joking. I shouldn’t have done that.’

  She still sounded suspicious. ‘I brought you here so that you could see that Villion was cracking up, not to have fun at my expense. I thought you’d appreciate my help. If I was mistaken…’

  ‘No, don’t think that.’ He caught her arm in his grip. ‘I’m grateful for what you did. It may turn out to be extremely important. If you could tell the knights exactly what you saw here, then we might…’

  ’Oh, no you don’t,’ she said, jerking away from him. ‘I’m not the one who’s crazy. I’m not telling anybody anything.’ ‘It could possibly save all our lives.’

  ’The life I’m most concerned with is my own. If I go telling tales on Fra Villion, he’ll put my neck under the. executioner’s axe.’

  ‘I thought you wanted to help.’

  ’That doesn’t mean I intend to be stupid about it.’

  He sighed, recognising the futility of trying to argue further with her. ‘All right. If that’s the way you want it, we’d better get back.’

  ‘I’m sorry, but that’s the way it’s got to be,’ she confirmed.

  Again, he let her guide him through the darkness. Soon, the floor slanted upwards beneath his feet and they ascended.

  Eventually, stopping, she said, ‘All right, this is where we started out.’

  ‘I’d better get back to the others.’

  ‘You won’t forget your promise to me? You said, if I helped you, you’d get me out of here.’

  Tedric didn’t recall making any such promise. ‘I’ll do what I can, Lola. With your help…’

  ‘No,’ she said firmly. ‘I won’t talk to anyone.’

  ’Then I can only promise that I won’t leave Tavera without you.’

  ‘I guess that’ll have to be enough.’ She edged closer to him until he could feel her warm body pressing against him. ‘I’ll be in contact,’ she said.

  Sliding away, she touched the wall, activating another of the screens. Through it, Tedric could see the corridor, which was empty. Reaching out, Lola tapped the wall twice. It swung open on its hinges and Tedric stepped through. Turning, he watched her wave in farewell. Standing there, she resembled nothing more than a frail, frightened young girl. He wondered how someone so lovely on the outside could at the same time be so ugly within.

  As he moved down the corridor, Tedric saw Juvi emerge from his room and hurry towards him. Her head was down and she didn’t appear to see him. Reaching out, he caught her arm. She looked up at him and her eyes were filled with tears.

  ‘He’s dead,’ she said. ’There wasn’t a thing we could do to help. He just lay there sleeping and never woke up.’

  He released her and hurried into the room. A Bioman, the physician apparently, crouched beside the bed. As soon as Tedric looked at the face of the man on the bed, he knew Juvi had told the truth.

  Pal Galmain was indeed dead.

  Chapter 16

  Duel to the Death

  After Pal Galmain’s body had been removed by a vemplar guard, Tedric asked the others to return to their rooms so that he could have time to be alone and think. As the day passed from evening into night - the period of rotation for Tavera appeared to be approximately twenty Earth hours -Tedric remained by himself. A female servant, the first Biowoman Tedric had ever seen, appeared with a tray of food, but he sent her away to tend to the others. Juvi visited him once, but he was in no mood to talk, and she soon left. Somewhat later, Wilson came by but stayed only a short time and did not disturb Tedric’s concentration with what were, as yet, still unanswerable questions.

  As the hours passed, one thing stood out clearly in his mind and that was the fact that Lola Dass had not heard the voice of the adversary. To Tedric, this could have only two possible interpretations. Either he, himself, was possessed of some previously unrecognised special talent that permitted him to hear mental voices or else the adversary had known of his presence and deliberately directed its voice so that Tedric, as well as Villion, could hear. If the latter supposition was correct, it raised a number of interesting possibilities. For one thing, if the adversary was aware of Tedric’s presence, why had it failed to warn Villion?

  Tedric pondered these questions and others as the night progressed and arrived at a number of tentative conclusions. He thought it very likely that the adversaries resembled their enemies, the Scientists, in more ways than Skandos realised and were perhaps not so eager to interfere in Galactic affairs as was sometimes suspected. While the adversaries might favour their agent, Villion, in any confrontation with Tedric - as Skandos would surely favour Tedric - it was very possible that they would not elect to interfere directly to affect the eventual outcome. For Tedric, if true, this was the most promising thing he had discovered since his arrival on Tavera.

  As the first faint rays of dawn came slicing through the window of his room, Tedric heard heavy footsteps in the corridor, and a moment later the door thrust open and a delegation of a dozen or so vemplar were standing at attention on his doorstep. The knight at the head of the group spoke stiffly: ‘We have come to escort the former knight, Pal Galmain, to the assembly of vemplars .’

  Tedric was surprised that the knight was unaware of-Galmain’s death, then realised the truth. He did know. This was merely part of some ritual that had to be played to its final end. Tedric decided to take advantage of this fact.

  ‘Pal Galmain is no longer available,’ he said. ‘He is dead.’ The vemplar showed no particular surprise, a reaction that confirmed Tedric’s judgment. ‘In that event…’

  ‘But, before he died, he asked me to take his place today.’ Tedric came to his feet as he spoke.

  The vemplar looked confused. ‘We were instructed to escort Pal Galmain and only Pal Galmain.’

  ‘And Galmain is dead. Surely, you would not choose to violate his last wishes.’

  The knight seemed unable to decide. He looked at the others but their blank faces offered no assistance.

  Tedric decided to help: ‘Why don’t you take me below and let the assembly decide whether I can stay?’

  The vemplar appeared willing to accept this compromise. He motioned to the others, and Tedric joined them in the hall. The delegation had reached the head of the stairs when Tedric suddenly paused.

  ‘I nearly forgot,’ he told the vemplar. ‘Pal Galmain also wished that the others in my group be pr
esent today. Would you mind sending someone back for them?’.

  Tedric had anticipated considerable resistance, which was the reason he had delayed making the request, but the knight seemed so thoroughly confused by now that he sent one of his men away immediately.

  A short time later, Yod, Juvi, Wilson Ky-shan, and Matthew Carey emerged from their various rooms. Yod and Juvi looked sleepy, Wilson was curious, Ky-shan stoic, and Carey as blank and bemused as ever. The group moved down the stairs.

  In the basement cavern below, the vemplars of Tavera had assembled once more. When the procession entered the room, the knights in the rear turned and stared curiously. Tedric wondered what Villion’s reaction would be, but he was too far away to be seen.

  ‘Stay here,’ Tedric told the knight who had brought him. ‘I’ll go ahead by myself.’

  ’ Without waiting for a reply, he moved into the circle of knights. Chairs slid hastily aside to allow him to pass. When he reached the vacant centre of the assembly, he turned and looked at Fra Villion for the first time. Villion’s rainbow face reflected surprise, puzzlement, anger, hatred, and - Tedric thought - perhaps a small quotient of fear.

  Under Tedric’s gaze, Villion sprang to his feet. ‘What is the meaning of this?’ he cried, addressing the entire assembly. ‘A delegation was sent to bring Pal Galmain to face his former comrades. What is this human doing here?’

  ‘Galmain is dead,’ Tedric said.

  Villion spun on him. ‘We know that. It fails to explain your presence.’

  ‘I’ll be glad to do that.’ Tedric gazed past the heads of the seated vemplars and saw the members of his crew standing against the wall nearest the door. ‘Before his death, Pal Galmain spoke to me in confidence and requested that I fulfil his outstanding obligations. I made that promise to a man who had been my friend and I do intend to keep it. As a result, I have come here this morning to keep an appointment. You and I, Fra Villion, are scheduled to engage in a duel to the death.’

  Villnian looked furious. He struggled to emit a laugh. ’That is absolutely absurd,’ he said smugly. ‘Pal Galmain was once a vemplar. He can issue such a challenge. You cannot.’

  ‘I am not challenging you. Galmain already has. As I explained, I am here only to fulfil his commitment. It’s as simple as that, Fra Villion.’

  ‘And as ridiculous.*

  Tedric decided it was his turn to address the gathering. He spoke forcefully. ‘What is the problem with you, Fra Villion? Do I detect a certain hesitancy from you? You and I have locked whipswords in the past. Is it possible you are afraid to grant me a rematch?’

  The suggestion of cowardice on Villion’s part seemed to send a wave of shock rebounding through the room. Villion again tried to laugh, but there was nothing amused in his expression. ‘When we met before, Tedric, you were afforded’ certain advantages. This time, since it is a duel to the death among vemplars, I could grant you nothing.’

  ‘If you’re talking about your ability to leap through space,

  I am aware of that and have no particular; fear. Fight your battle as you wish and I shall fight mine in the same way.’ He let his eyes roam the room quickly. ‘If these chairs could be cleared aside, we might begin now.’

  Villion looked frantic. ‘You are a fool. You are begging to be killed.’

  ‘Since my neck is already intended for the executioner’s axe, it would appear that I have little to lose.’

  As he spoke, Tedric observed Villion’s face carefully. The reference to the executioner’s’axe sent a flutter of concern across his face. Plainly, Villion was wondering exactly how Tedric had come to know that.

  ’Either fight me now, Fra Villion,’ said Tedric, ’or else surrender your chair among the knights. By the blood oath of your ancient code, you have no other choice.’

  Villion’s eyes went cold. ’Then we shall fight, Tedric, and you shall die.’ He removed the whipsword from around his waist and waved the handle in the air. ‘Move these chairs,’ he commanded. ’The duel will be fought here and fought now.’

  Tedric waited patiently while the knights cleared the floor. The vemplar who had brought him here approached diffidently and offered Tedric the use of his sword. The weapon, which Tedric had used only once before - against Villion - possessed a long, extremely thin blade, like a piece of taut wire, that was capable of sheering off a man’s head with a single flick of the wrist. Tedric pressed a button in the wooden handle of the sword and let the blade wave freely. He shook his wrist and listened as the sword whistled shrilly through the air.

  Tedric nodded in satisfaction, closed the sword, and thanked the knight for the gift. He then went over to where the others in his group were standing and said, ‘I don’t want you to attempt to interfere in this. No matter what happens, stay where you are and hope for the best.’ He grinned in a sudden show of confidence. ’Once Villion is dead, we can all go home.’

  Yod Cartwright looked awed, Juvi worried, Wilson admiring, Ky-shan stoic, and Matthew Carey insensible. Tedric placed a hand on Carey’s shoulder. ‘Stay close to the others, Matthew. No matter what happens to me, they’ll take care of you. They’re your friends. Do you understand?’

  As wide-eyed as a child, Carey looked up and nodded. ‘Yes, Tedric, I do.’

  So at least Carey had recognised him, which was definitely a sign of improvement. Tedric turned. His whipsword out and ready, Fra Villion stood waiting in the middle of the room. The other vemplars now crowded around the walls to watch. Tedric came forward. He clicked the button in the sword handle and unleashed the blade.

  Villion advanced. Tedric advanced.

  Villion swung first. The thrust was a tentative one, and Tedric, ducking quickly, accepted it as such. Standing upright, he replied in kind, but before his sword blade even came close to reaching Fra Villion, there was only empty space in front of him. Villion had vanished.

  Tedric concentrated. He dropped to his knees. The whistling in his ears was painful in its intensity. Villion’s blade cut a horizontal path through the air a bare inch above the top of Tedric’s skull. Using the same power he had discovered in space while eluding the vemplar ships, Tedric had known in advance exactly where Viliion would reappear and how he would swing his blade.

  Tedric spun on his heels and lashed out at Viliion, but again, before the blade reached its target, the black knight vanished. This time, he reappeared a few yards behind where he had previously stood.

  Grinning at Tedric, Viliion said, ‘Do you wish to surrender and accept your fate?’

  Tedric shook his head stubbornly. ‘I thought this was a duel to the death.’

  ‘Your death, you mean.’

  ’Time will answer that.’

  In spite of his apparent confidence, Tedric had indeed been taken by surprise by the intensity of Villion’s initial assault. Still, with his ability to know Villion’s moves in advance, he felt few doubts about his own chances. He could win this duel - and he would.

  Cautiously, Tedric came to his feet. He wanted to give the appearance of someone in a state of numbed shock. He concentrated on Pal Galmain’s whispered revelation of Villion’s one major weakness: It’s the unorthodox, Tedric, the dying knight had revealed. If you do what you’re supposed to do, no matter how well, Viliion will win. You have to do what you’re not supposed to do and catch him by surprise.

  So Tedric jumped. It was the most unorthodox manoeuvre he could think of at the time. Holding his sword over his head, he dove feet first through the air. Pal Galmain was proved right. Villion’s face reflected his disbelief. Tedric’s boots struck him solidly in the chest and sent him tumbling to the floor. Villion’s head hit hard.

  Tedric came to his feet and unleashed a hard swing. Viliion, recovering just in time, held up his hand and caught Tedric’s blade with the handle of his own sword. The blade whipped around the handle, but Tedric jerked quickly and the sword flew out of Villion’s hand. It sailed over Tedric’s head and far across the room, striking the opposite wall.


  Fra Villion was disarmed. Tedric advanced. Villion laughed. Then vanished.

  Tedric spun at once. Villion stood on the opposite side of the room, reclaiming his weapon. Again, the two men advanced slowly. Villion broke into a run. It wasn’t strictly an unorthodox move but it nonetheless surprised Tedric. Villion swung his sword vertically so that Tedric could neither stoop nor leap to evade the blade.

  With death staring him in the face, Tedric threw back his sword arm. He let go of the handle and let it fly through the air. The hard wooden handle caught Fra Villion squarely on the chin and stopped his forward motion. Tedric darted swiftly around the stunned vemplar and retrieved his own weapon. Standing tensely, waiting for Villion to move, he gasped for breath.

  Fra Villion stood up. There was blood on his chin - bluish red and thick. Tedric discovered a matching stain on the handle of his sword.

  ‘You fight like a madman,’ said Villion admiringly.

  ‘I fight to win,’ said Tedric. But he knew that a few tricks would not be enough to vanquish a swordsman as deft as Fra Villion. If he wanted to win, he would have to close with his opponent and match strength against strength. He jerked his wrist. Fra Villion responded in kind.

  Standing far apart, the two men clashed swords. The blades met, touched, struck sparks. The action was so fast and the blades such blurs of motion that it was nearly impossible for the eye to follow. Tedric felt the sweat streaming down his face. This dance of parry-and-thrust was orthodox but essential. He had to prove to Fra Villion that he was his equal in the art of swordsmanship, but one slip, one occasion when his blade failed to meet Villion’s, and he would die.

  A thundering noise threatened to break his concentration. It took Tedric a moment to identify the sound. Applause.

  The knights of Tavera were expressing their genuine admiration for what they were watching.

  Villion smiled grimly, and then he disappeared. Ignoring the applause, Tedric concentrated. He turned. As orthodox in his strategy as ever, Villion had materialised behind him. Tedric leaped in the air as Villion’s blade swept under his feet.