Augury Answered

by Phillip Murrell

  “Here, have some,” David said tossing Maria some cooked meat.

  “This is great,” Maria commented.

  “Sure is,” added the now awakened Dorris.

  David fed Dawayne the best he could and sent Maria out to get more berries the next morning. As Maria walked through the forest, she spotted a wagon and an old man talking to a scavenger.

  “But I don’t have any more money. You took it all!” the old man complained.

  “Well then, I guess you’ll have to be a slave. HA HA HA!” roared the scavenger.

  The scavenger hit the man as Maria fitted her only arrow.

  “I mustn’t miss again,” she said to herself.

  She aimed and fired the arrow. With great accuracy, she hit the scavenger in the neck.

  “Ah!” screamed the scavenger as he dropped down dead.

  The old man wasted no time by running inside his wagon. Maria walked over to the scavenger and pulled out her arrow and cleaned it off. She then knocked on the wagon door. The door slammed into her face and the old man jumped out with a cooking knife. He looked at her and then let her up.

  “You’re not a scavenger,” the man said. “My name is Gulture and I’m a magician.”

  “My name is Maria.”

  “Maria is a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. I would like to thank you for saving me,” said Gulture.

  Maria blushed and asked, “Why was that scavenger bothering you?”

  “He said that I owe Krag money.”

  “Some friends and I are forming an army to defeat Krag. There are only three of us right now, so we could use a wizard with your skill.”

  “Yes, I would love to help. I also have supplies and can use magic to create food,” said Gulture.

  “We could use those supplies,” Maria said.

  “Well, take me to your friends. I am eager to meet them.”

  “Where are the berries?” David asked as he saw Maria.

  “Don’t worry about it. I got us a magician named Gulture,” stated Maria.

  “I also have a wagon full of supplies,” said Gulture.

  “Could you heal my friend Dawayne and my hand as well?” David asked.

  “Most certainly. I’ll heal you first,” said Gulture as he retrieved a staff mounted with an emerald from his wagon. “Step forward.”

  “My name is David,” he informed. “And my friend’s name is Dawayne.”

  “And I’m Dorris,” Dorris said.

  “Pleased to meet you all,” Gulture said smiling at Dorris.

  David stepped forward and held out his hand as Gulture said,

  “Razzle Hast,

  Let Me Cast,

  A Spell on Land,

  Repair His Hand.”

  David’s hand was instantly healed and he could move it again.

  “Now for your friend,” said Gulture,

  “Razzle Hast,

  Let Me Cast

  Life and Spirit,

  Now Heal It.”

  At the last line, Dawayne blinked his eyes and stood up.

  “What happened? Is the crick dead? Who’s he?” Dawayne asked obviously confused.

  “You were sick from poison and Gulture here healed you,” informed David.

  Gulture got to know everyone and the cast two spells. The first one made the travelers’ horses come back, and the second retrieved David’s sword from the lake. After that, the five at until they could eat no more, especially Dorris. They went to bed and awoke as the sun began to rise. Then the five set out once again for Gatesville.

  “Have you ever heard of the Power Sword?” David asked Gulture.

  “Yes, it is very powerful. However, nobody has ever been able to pass the test. You should try to claim it,” said Gulture.

  “I am and I shall pass the test,” David said.

  “That’s what they all say,” said Gulture.

  The five stopped and rested when they needed to until they finally arrived at Gatesville. Krag and his scavengers were attacking the city.

  “We’ve got to help,” David said.

  “I’m not fighting yet,” Dawayne said.

  “Neither are we,” said Maria.

  “It’s not worth fighting now and not making it to Krag,” said Gulture.

  “Don’t fight yet, David, please,” added Dorris.

  “Look! Both Krag and Tor are down there.” (Tor is Krag’s best scavenger). “I’m fighting.”

  David charged down the hill and he knew he would probably die. A scavenger turned and David’s sword entered its neck. David dismounted and noticed his friends fighting also. David killed another scavenger and saw the castle in flames. he was about to kill another scavenger when there was a flash of light and all the scavengers were gone. The castle exploded with Lalindra and plenty of her people inside it. When the smoke cleared, David saw the castle completely destroyed. All but thirty-nine knights were dead. They searched and found Lalindra alive, but unconscious. Gulture healed her and she stood up. Everyone bowed.

  “Thank you for aiding my kingdom,” Lalindra addressed David.

  “Your majesty, please, we need your help to attack Krag and to find the Power Sword,” said David.

  “We will help with both. You must drink a potion before taking the test on an island in Death Pond,” said Lalindra.

  “I will pass the test and then we will have peace!!!”

  Everyone cheered at that and said it over and over.

  Chapter 3

  Barbarians

  To get to the Power Sword, the small army had to go through “The Forest of the Lost.”

  “This is the forest where Krag used to dwell so be careful. It is filled with great danger,” Lalindra said as they entered the forest. “Death Pond is somewhere in the center of the forest. I have a good estimate of where this location is at.”

  “I heard tales of Death Pond being in a troll’s cave and watched over by a giant sea scorpion,” said David.

  “That is true. The troll and the scorpion are to be defeated as part of your test. You must be physically strong to defeat them as well as intelligent to notice and avoid other traps. Remember that the troll’s cave is in the most dangerous area of the forest,” Lalindra said.

  “Then we should send some scouts ahead,” suggested Gulture.

  “Krag keeps his most secret magic in his home. Scavengers will be all over the place. Unfortunately we don’t have enough people to send out scouts,” Lalindra stated.

  “We better keep some people up tonight on guard duty,” said David.

  “I’ll volunteer,” said Gulture.

  “As will we,” one of Lalindra’s guards said as he and three others stepped forward.

  The group traveled further until they came upon a sunny plain.

  “I did not know of a place like this in the forest,” said Lalindra.

  “Aw!!” came a loud scream as six hundred barbarians jumped out of the trees and surrounded the group.

  “We do not wish to fight you,” stated David. “However, we will if it comes down to it.”

  “Thanks for the warning,” a man with a spear and shield said, “but I think it was you, my friend, who attacked us.”

  “We just wandered in this place and did not know of you. So please let us join forces and attack Krag,” David said spying a chance to largely increase his army’s size.

  “Fight Krag? You’re crazy! What would be in it for us?” the man asked.

  “After we defeat Krag, all will get some of his treasure as a reward,” answered David.

  When this was said, there was a yell of joy among the barbarians.

  “What do you say?” the man asked his troops. “Should we help them?”

  All the barbarians cheered and answered, “Yes!!”

  “I am Borin,” said the man with the spear. “And this is one of my best troops, Crusher.”

  Crusher was a big, muscular man who shook hands with David.

  At Krag’s Castle

  “I almost had L
alindra under my control and then I was forced to retreat!” exclaimed Krag. “Who was that man who attacked me?”

  “His name is David and he is raising an army to defeat you. He also wishes to claim the Power Sword. It would be wise to attack his army while it is still weak and small at the testing sight,” finished Tor.

  “Yes, they will be so excited about claiming the Power Sword that we will easily take them. Tell my scavengers in the forest to stay low. I will take four regiments (1,000 troops per regiment) to the forest to defeat them,” said Krag.

  “I will prepare your troops,” Tor said as he bowed and left.

  In the Forest

  “When do you think we will make it to the testing site?” David asked Lalindra.

  “We will reach it in about two days, if all is well,” she answered.

  The small army danced and partied in the forest that night, forgetting about the scavengers.

  “David, would you teach me how to fight better?” asked Maria.

  “Sure,” said David.

  He started to show Maria different attacks. He would slash at imaginary enemies and then flip backwards, dodging imaginary attacks. Maria watched as she saw David gracefully execute these moves. A crowd started to form as they watched David demonstrate defenses to Maria.

  “E’s a bloody acrobat, that’s what e is,” somebody commented.

  David finally finished and gestured for Maria to repeat what he had just done. She tried an easy sidekick and then attempted to jump and kick, but fell on her back.

  The two practiced all night until David was satisfied with the results he saw. Then, they slept until everyone else woke up.

  “You did good last night,” David said to Maria.

  “Thanks,” Maria said.

  The army began to journey once again. Borin was up front talking with David. The two rode side by side as they talked about war and women. Then, Borin shouted for another barbarian to come up front.

  “David, this is Tricks, my best soldier. He is a silent warrior,” said Borin.

  “I noticed you showing that woman Silent Warrior Karate. You are very skilled at it,” said Tricks.

  At Krag’s Castle

  “Tor, are my scavengers ready? They should be at the testing site by now,” said Krag.

  “Yes, my lord, everyone is ready to attack,” replied Tor.

  “Excellent. They have just arrived at the testing site. All scavengers will teleport on my command,” Krag said.

  In the Forest

  The army looked around and saw a thin stonewall.

  “This can’t be the testing site. Nobody could go into this,” said Dawayne when they arrived at the testing site.

  “You forget that this is a magical test. David, drink this,” Lalindra said as she handed him a thick, blue liquid.

  David drank it and gave his sword and dagger to Borin. He then looked at the wall and walked through and into it. As soon as he did this, the scavengers appeared and surrounded the army who quickly surrendered.

  “Hmm, first I need some light,” David said while standing in the pitch black.

  David felt his hands along the wall until he found a torch. He took it and it transformed into a snake and wrapped around his hand.

  “This is just a trick,” David said. “I know that you are a torch.”

  As he said this, the snake vanished and the entire room filled with light. David looked around and saw an island with the Power Sword on a rock. There was a bubbling green moat surrounding the island. David looked to the left just in time to dodge a mace. He looked up and saw an ugly troll brandishing the weapon. Since David had no weapons, he jumped to the island. Unfortunately the island was further out than it appeared. David fell into the moat with a great big SPLASH! He started to choke and did not know what was happening to him. Something told him to keep his eyes closed and he obeyed. He felt a sea scorpion pinch him and hold his neck. David could not bear the pain and opened his eyes. This was a big mistake. He instantly became blind. David felt around his neck until he grabbed the scorpion’s claw and pulled. The claw came loose in David’s hands and he realized that he had ripped it off. There was a rush of bubbles around him as he swam up on the island. When he got up there, he felt a sting in his back and was lifted off the ground. He could hear his ribs cracking as the sea scorpion squeezed him with its other claw. The pain in his back became less as he was dropped to the ground. David jumped up and grabbed the scorpion’s tail by using blind fighting skills he received during silent warrior training. The troll made it over to the island and David thrust the scorpion’s tail into it. As soon as this happened, both the troll and the scorpion disappeared. All of David’s wounds were healed and he could see again.

  “I was lucky that time,” he said.

  David went over to the Power Sword.

  “Ha ha. You fools! Did you really think that you could beat me? Look at you. Look around you. You don’t even have a complete regiment to defeat my whole army. I must admit, you are brave, but you are also very foolish. I wonder, what is keeping your brave leader? You, drink this and find out what is keeping David,” Krag said to a scavenger while handing him a blue liquid.

  The guard drank the potion and walked into the wall instantly exploding. Krag, as well as the other scavengers, was bewildered. Seeing the perfect opportunity, Borin grabbed his weapons off of the ground and ran. The rest of the army did the same. A scavenger threw a spear into a fleeing barbarian’s back, dropping him to the ground, dead.

  “No, I want prisoners!!” Krag shouted.

  The scavengers started to shoot magical energy chains, which wrapped up the army as it ran. Only a handful escaped.

  “I will take these prisoners back to Castle Doom. You five stay here and wait for David. Everyone else, come with me,” said Krag as he, the scavengers, and his prisoners teleported away.

  David reached for the Power Sword. When he touched it, he was turned and pushed backwards.

  “Well, a little water will cool you off,” he said.

  David cupped his hands and filled them with water and then poured it over the sword. Smoke rose from it and David could hear it sizzle. He repeated this procedure a few more times. The smoke cleared and this time nothing happened. David sheathed the Power Sword and turned to face a floating spirit.

  “Don’t let anyone touch the Power Sword or they will be burned far worse than you were,” the spirit said before it vanished.

  “Wait . . . he’s gone. Now how do I get back to my friends?” David wondered.

  He looked up and saw some vines.

  “I would never be able to reach those. I wonder how the troll got across to the island?”

  David looked to his right and saw a bridge.

  “So that’s how he got across.”

  David ran across the bridge.

  “Now that I’m across, how do I get out?”

  He felt the wall where he came in and all he could feel was cold stone.

  “Well, I guess that isn’t the way out.”

  David tried the wall a second time and then remembered that he had the Power Sword.

  “I know! I’ll just use flames to burn the wall down.”

  David drew his sword and aimed it at the wall, but nothing seemed to happen.

  “I guess that I have to say something to make it shoot flames.”

  David said many different things and they all failed. He then got discouraged and began to chop at the wall. The five scavengers were talking outside and the one leaning against the wall said:

  “I know why Krag left us. It was because we . . . AHH!!” screamed the scavenger.

  The scavenger fell to the ground dead. The other four scavengers looked at the wall and saw a bloody blade cutting along it. One scavenger was bold enough to touch the point. When he did this, the wall collapsed and the scavenger was crushed to death. The other three scavengers drew their swords as David stepped forward.

  “Kill him and get the Power Sword!” a scavenger shoute
d.

  David held his sword firmly as the three scavengers surrounded him. One scavenger charged and swung. David ducked and swept his attacker to the ground. He then swung his sword around just in time to block a blow from another scavenger’s axe. The third scavenger charged David from behind. David moved to the side, but left his sword in the way. The scavenger’s momentum was too great to allow the scavenger to stop and he ran into the blade. He shrieked while grasping his stomach, which was seriously bleeding. The scavenger had also stabbed the other scavenger that was standing in the face. The two scavengers fell over dead. The first one looked at David and then at his fallen comrades.

  “Just you and me now,” said David. “How lucky do you feel?”

  “I’m not lucky, I’m skilled,” replied the scavenger.

  David slashed at the scavenger who easily dodged the attack. The two walked in circles and not once did either take his eyes off of the other. David parried a blow sent by the scavenger. The two exchanged attacks for a long time until the scavenger was finally able to knock the Power Sword out of David’s hand.

  “I told you I was skilled,” the scavenger said.

  Suddenly, a spear went in and halfway out of the scavenger’s body.

  “Nope, just lucky,” Borin said charging in as the scavenger fell.

  “Borin, what happened?” David asked.

  “When you went in, the scavengers surrounded us. Krag was going to bargain our lives for the Power Sword,” Borin answered.

  “Yes, but continue. How did you escape?” asked David.

  “The scavengers captured us and when you took so long, Krag sent a scavenger in to get you. However, he neglected to tell him to leave his weapons and we tried to escape. Lalindra and Crusher were captured along with some others. I haven’t found anyone except you, but I know others also escaped,” Borin said.

  “Well we better find the others,” said David.

  As Borin was telling the story, the last scavenger pulled out the spear and regained some strength. When Borin finished talking, it charged. The scavenger used laser chains to wrap up Borin. David drew his sword and aimed it.

  “Flame . . . burn . . . oh come on I want some fire,” he said.