Knight Rising

by T. Mikita

  Then Sharon threw her arms around him and Jules, hugging them both close. “I think we all need a cup of tea after that,” she said.

  Asher’s dad nodded “Tea would be great, Shar.”

  “Did you know,” Asher asked Sharon as he looked around the room at the dead and melting creatures. “Did you know about all of this?”

  “Of course,” Sharon said as she ushered them all into the living room and brought teacups. “Your father and I have no secrets from each other.”

  “And I should have no secrets from you either, son,” Michael said. He held Arthur’s sword in a hand that was still bloodied, but the blade held no sign of ichor. Asher’s father held it out to Asher, flat on the palms of his hands. It was beautiful, shining with an odd blue light. “Asher Pendragon, I gift to you this day, the sword Excalibur,” Michael said, but when Asher reached to take the blade, it was suddenly not there, and the whole room changed. Everything was suddenly how it had really been that day. Reality dropped upon him with the weight of grief.

  His parents were dead. The hot oppressive blood scent of the room closed in on him. He saw them again, lying bloodied and broken. Asher was left kneeling on the bedroom floor, with his father’s blood beneath his knees. He could feel the cool liquid soaking into his jeans. He was suddenly hot, so hot, he felt light-headed.

  He had to get out! Out of the room. Out of the house. Just out. Asher started to run.

  He was up and out of the bedroom, halfway down the hall before he was stopped as if he had run into a brick wall. He turned; hands splayed out in front of him as if that did any good at all. He beat on air suddenly gone solid. What could he do? He had no sword. He needed the sword. “I don’t have the sword,” he shouted.

  Someone reached out and steadied him, a rough hand on his forearm. Asher woke instantly and jerked away. The hand that touched him was hardened with scar tissue across the palm. Sir Merrick Niles glared at him, his scarred face twisted in an ugly grimace. “What are you doing here?” Asher snapped.

  “I could ask you the same question,” Niles sneered. “It’s one in the morning. It’s well past curfew. What are you doing out of bed?”

  Asher realized he was standing at the top of the dormitory stairs wearing only his pajama bottoms. He lifted his chin a little refusing to be embarrassed.

  “Get back to bed,” Niles snarled.

  “Whatever,” Asher snapped as he started back to his room.

  “And stay there!” Niles yelled. His booming voice echoed in the empty hall loud enough to wake half the dorm.

  Asher’s shoulders tensed. He half-expected the man to throw a knife at his back, but he didn’t. Once he was back in his room, he sat on the bed. Wasn’t Stellanovich’s talisman supposed to help him sleep?

  He had never been prone to sleepwalking before, but it was obvious that he was now. Sleepwalking along with nightmares. Was it just because he was still freaked out over his parents’ death, and worried about Jules? Possibly. Asher withdrew the talisman from his bedside table, and calm came over him as he touched the warm metal coin. Maybe he needed to keep it with him, even when he slept. He lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling, the coin held in his hand. He turned it over and over, trying to chase the memories from his mind and the thought came to him, why was Niles lurking outside of his dorm-room? What was that man up to? And why hadn’t his father given him the sword? The sorcerer was still out there and he needed the sword.

  Asher finally fell back asleep, but when Joel knocked on his door asking if he wanted to go down to the practice field early, he was glad to have a reason to get up. Joel and Kenny were anxious to go over some of the moves that Ken was still having trouble executing, or at least Joel was anxious to try to help Kenny catch up. Asher wasn’t sure what Ken thought of the whole deal.

  As Joel caught Ken out and put him on the ground for the tenth time, Asher sighed. It was like Ken wasn’t even trying.

  “Stop,” Kenny wheezed. “I’m done. I’m going to be so bruised before class even starts that I’m going to not be able to move.” He lay there, catching his breath.

  “That’s right,” called another voice. “Stick a fork in him. The piggy’s done.”

  “Lacey,” Asher said. “What are you doing here?”

  “We have class in about ten minutes,” Lacey said. “And here, I thought you knew how to tell time, Pen-dick.”

  “Pendrick,” Asher said. He didn’t like the guy, but he supposed he couldn’t fault him for showing up for class early. He wondered where his minions were. Lacey was rarely seen without Teague or Blake.

  “Whatever,” Lacey waved a hand brushing away the correction. “Although why I bother at all with this barbarism, is beyond me,” Lacey continued. “The Otherworlders will always win a physical fight. You need magic to beat them.”

  “That’s not so,” Asher protested thinking of the fight at the convention center. He didn’t have any magic, but he had held his own. A bit of magic would have been helpful, he had to admit at least to himself, even if he didn’t want to admit it to Lacey. “The Otherworlders might be stronger than human, but…”

  Asher was interrupted by Lacey’s sharp laugh. “You’re worried about their strength? And you are supposed to be Avalon’s finest? You are as stupid as the blockhead here.” Lacey gestured to Joel. “You don’t need to worry about their strength, Pen-dick. You need to worry about their magic, and without magic, how can you fight them? How many have powers where a touch can incapacitate you or a single glance can turn you to stone?”

  “I don’t know,” Asher admitted.

  “Well, you don’t know much, do you? You may be the next Pendragon, but it’s not like you really know anything about Avalon. You wouldn’t last five minutes against a real otherworldly foe. A greater denizen from beyond the Gate would destroy you.”

  Asher did remember how fast he was knocked out by the basilisk venom at the convention center. Magic would have been helpful. The ability to call a magical sword would have been even more helpful.

  “Luckily, I know several potions and enchantments to protect against such things,” Lacey continued in a superior manner.

  “You do not,” interjected Joel. “We haven’t even gotten to enchantments yet. You are just mouthing off as usual.”

  “I didn’t learn about them here, stupid. This school is such shit,” Lacey said shaking his head. “All this rolling around in the dirt like a bunch of mundanes instead of actually learning magic. Not at all like what they teach in Britain. Of course, they are far more selective about who they admit.”

  “Then I doubt they would let you in,” said Kenny as he picked himself up from the dirt.

  “Try the Abracadabra School for Special Students,” Joel added and Kenny laughed.

  Lacey turned to Kenny and for a moment Asher thought he was going to take out Joel’s teasing on the easier target. Asher tensed for a fight.

  “You wouldn’t even fit in their uniforms, porker,” Lacey spat at him, eyes narrowed.

  Kenny looked from one to the other, but didn’t move to defend himself. Asher could see that he was hurt though. “The uniforms are spelled to conform in size,” Kenny said bravely. “And you don’t know everything, Lacey. Not all Otherworlders even have magic.”

  “I thought I heard something,” Lacey said. He made squealing pig sounds.

  “You’re an ass,” Asher said turning away.

  “Still better than you, Pen-dick.”

  “Why don’t you transfer back to Europe if you love it there so much?” Joel said. “You Mordred morons don’t belong here, anyway. Spawn of the destroyer. Take your thugs with you, too, Lacey.”

  “Mordred was no destroyer. He was a king. The rightly named King of England,” Lacey said.

  “Only after he murdered Arthur for the crown,” Asher added.

  “Arthur was weak,” Lacey said. “Just like you, Pen-dick.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at Asher.

  “You think I’m weak? Let’s go then.
” Asher said gesturing. He wanted to pound this little shit for his continuous bullying of Kenny anyway.

  Without another word, Lacey swung.

  Asher ducked and pivoted landing a glancing punch on Lacey’s jaw, but before Asher could finish him, the ground was suddenly not where he expected it to be, and he stumbled, his vision blurring before he even landed a second punch. What the hell?

  Lacey hit him low in the gut. Before Asher could react, he was caught from behind by one of Lacey’s hangers on. Apparently, he arrived just in time to save his lord and master. Teague pinned his arms. Lacey got in a swift punch to Asher’s stomach before Galina arrived.

  Asher thought she would kick Lacey in the teeth. He had seen her in practice. Galina’s kicks were something to be seen. Instead, she simply laid a hand on his minion’s arm. “Let him go, Teague,” she said softly and Asher was suddenly loose. He clocked Lacey, causing him to stagger back and then with a quick thanks to Galina, he turned to Teague just as the teacher arrived. Teague backed away with hands up, so Asher let him go.

  Truthfully, Asher felt like he was going to throw up after Lacey’s gut punch. He looked around. He realized Joel didn’t come out of the fight unscathed, and Kenny was laid out, back on the ground again. What the hell had happened? Asher blinked, trying to clear his vision.

  “Enough! You will all have plenty of time to work out your aggression,” Sir Erlene said in a bored voice as she took roll. “Line up. Now!”

  “That’s what magic can do,” Lacey muttered as he brushed imaginary dirt from his sleeve. He hadn’t even hit the ground, Asher thought. But he would. Soon. Asher promised himself. He would make Lacey eat it.

  Joel wiped blood from a split lip off his chin and got in line, staring daggers at Blake.

  “What’d I miss,” said Phoenix as she joined them dragging Connor along, their fingers intertwined. Dorren as usual slipped into line just as the teacher began to take roll.

  “If you keep pushing it,” Joel said to Dorren. “You are going to get detention for being late.”

  “I’m not late,” Dorren said. “A wizard arrives precisely when he should, and I am precisely on time. Actually, I have a minute and a half to spare.”

  “Anyway,” Phoenix added. “They are not going to expel their star pupil.” She frowned at Joel. “What happened to you?” she asked noting his once again split lip. Asher’s aching gut was not apparent.

  “Lacey,” Joel said as he licked the blood off of his lip.

  “In that case, I hope we get paired against him and his thugs,” Phoenix said flexing her muscles which bobbed the head of the Phoenix tattoo on her arm. Joel nodded agreeing with her.

  “I hope we don’t,” said Kenny rubbing his head.

  “Are you okay?” Asher asked glancing at Kenny and then Galina. She looked a little pale even though she had not even thrown a punch. She had done magic though. Asher was pretty sure of that, but he wasn’t sure how that affected a person.

  “Yeah, just really tired.” Galina answered.

  “Well, thanks for… whatever you did.”

  She smiled at him.

  22

  The Dare

  As it turned out, Sir Erlene apparently didn’t want them to actually kill one another, and she kept their teams together. “I want you to anticipate each other’s movements,” she said. “Become used to working as a team. When you are fighting together, you need to know where your partners are as well as your opponents,” she said. “You need to know your allies’ strengths intimately.”

  Asher threw Galina a look and she bit her lip nervously. He felt his face heat.

  “Now, begin,” said Sir Erlene called.

  Asher pivoted to face Joel and Kenny. Asher and Galina tag-teamed mostly on Joel until Galina felled Kenny with a well-placed kick to the temple or perhaps Kenny just gave it up. Asher moved back to allow Joel a moment to recover. After all, these were his friends, not some Otherworlders.

  Asher launched into a rapid attack that had Joel backing up. He cursed as Joel ducked the first blow, blocked the second and was struck by the third. Joel dropped and Asher looked at his own fist, wondering at the power in his punch. He had not expected Joel to go down so easily. He turned to see Galina held in a lock by the much larger Dorren. He moved to help her.

  “Weapons out,” Yelled Sir Erlene.

  “Isn’t that a little risky?” Asher asked his hand hesitating above the blessed dagger his aunt had given him. They had not yet done free sparing with weapons. Only set combinations. He looked around to notice that his aunt and Niles had come to watch.

  Brilliant, he thought. Just brilliant.

  His aunt shrugged as she watched the demonstration. “We have a healer standing by,” Sir Erlene said. Niles crossed his arms, scowling at everyone as usual.

  “I should have guessed he would have something to do with this,” Asher muttered.

  Before Asher could help Galina, however, she managed to pull her a knife from her boot and slice Dorren’s forearm. With a hiss he released her and she immediately leveled a kick to his head. Dorren went down hard. He yelped and ended up on his back

  “Never let yourself be distracted,” Galina said.

  In the next second, Dorren defected Galina’s next kick and twisted her foot knocking her off balance.

  “Never stop to gloat,” he said as they both hit the ground.

  Suddenly, they both were on the floor rolling and somehow Galina took the advantage.

  “Yes!” Asher hissed in celebration.

  Asher realized that he was watching instead of fighting and Sir Erlene had not called an end to the bout when a sharp blow struck his knee. It caught him by surprise and dropped him to the mat. Before he could recover, a kick knocked the wind from his chest and he was down. A sudden weight was on his back and pain flared, rendering him momentarily speechless. Phoenix grasped Asher’s arm preventing him from going for the sheath on his wrist, with her knee on his back he could not reach it.

  “Call it,” Phoenix said straddling him and wrenching his arm upwards behind him.

  “Okay. You win,” he groaned and wondered how he had overlooked her. Maybe he was still fuzzy from whatever Lacey had done to him.

  Phoenix had entered the arena with the rest of them but faded to the background as Asher and Galina had confronted Joel, Dorren and Kenny. Somehow, Asher had forgotten her. It would be the last time, he swore. He felt her weight leave his back and rolled over. He glanced over at the others as he gained his feet. Dorren had Galina pinned, a knife at her throat. He was grinning madly. Obviously, he looked to have gotten the better of the fight.

  The teacher signaled the end of the bout.

  Asher looked to his aunt, but she was already walking away with Niles.

  “Good fight,” Phoenix told Asher as she offered him a hand up.

  Asher took Phoenix’s hand and grunted in pain as she hauled him to his feet. She blushed.

  “Sorry. You’re gonna have to get a healer to look at that shoulder.”

  “You don’t know your own strength,” Asher quipped and Phoenix gave him a cheeky smile.

  “I do,” she said. “You didn’t. Now you do.”

  A hoot of laughter issued from the sidelines. Joel stood, a purplish bruise was beginning to color his cheek. “How did you forget Phoenix? Do you see anything at all, Asher?” he asked. They both had been on the receiving end of Phoenix’s kicks. It wasn’t pretty.

  “Stars,” Asher agreed shaking his head. “Only stars. Where’s Kenny?” He asked.

  “Stitches,” Joel answered.

  “Again?” said Asher.

  “Shall we go up to medical and cheer him up?” Dorren asked as he waited for one of the healers to wrap a bandage around his own arm. “Thanks Tom,” he said.

  “You just want your own stitches,” Galina teased.

  “Damn right,” Dorren agreed flexing his arm as the little group made their way from the arena.

  Asher glanced over his should
er to see his aunt and Niles deep in conversation. He really didn’t like that she was so chummy with Niles. The man was seriously crazy.

  “I wonder what’s for lunch,” said Joel.

  “I hope it’s veal parmesan,” replied Ken.

  “Ew,” said Galina. “Baby cows?”

  “You know, I used to think this two-hour lunch period was ridiculously long,” Asher said rubbing his shoulder. “Now, I wish it was three hours.”

  “That would be helpful,” Phoenix said. “Did you finish the crystal properties homework?”

  Asher groaned. “Yeah, but it’s probably wrong.” He wished for Jules’ famous memory right about now. He missed her, but his aunt was still adamant about her not coming to the school.

  With Dorren’s help, Asher had sent Jules a silver blade to go with the silver ammunition, but he still worried, and he was no closer to convincing his aunt to admit her. But maybe the reason Jules was attacked was because she was with him. Maybe she was safer where she was. The thought bothered him.

  Lacey interrupted Asher’s musing. His goons followed him. He had gained several more, all male. Asher supposed that it was his fighting team, like those around Asher were his. “This isn’t over, Pen-dick,” he said.

  “Any time, Lacey,” Asher replied.

  “Tonight, at the Gate,” said Lacey. “Midnight. Bring your little friends. We’ll kick all your asses.” He gestured to his group.

  “No,” said Asher. “This is between you and me, Lacey. You’ve had a problem with me since I got here. It’s time we settled it.”

  “Fine. You and me. Midnight. Don’t be late.”

  As Lacey and his gang walked away, Joel said, “I don’t understand why those Mordred morons are even allowed at the school.” Anger filled his voice. “I will be happy to just go pound them on principle.”