By the Sword Read online

  “That’s absurd, Talya.”

  “It’s the truth.”

  Jalarn paced back and forth.

  “Your God turned the black ink on the scroll into red for that one verse so I could see it. He wanted to get my attention.”

  “That is amazing. He wants you to see how much He loves you. He wants you to love Him, too, Jalarn.”

  “I will lose too much.”

  “You will gain everything. You will find peace like never before. Just ask Him—”

  “I can’t do it!”

  Talya backed away from him as the empty glare in his eyes returned.

  “No!” Talya cried.

  “If you weren’t such a fool, you would be out of this cage and preparing to fight… with me. Victory is ours for the taking, but instead you are allowing yourself to become some kind of a martyr.”

  His words cut through her heart like a dagger.

  Lord, please!

  Jalarn turned away and bolted the door shut. He turned to pick something up from off the stool just outside. It was her sword.

  Talya didn’t want it.

  “I want you to have this for when my uncle comes back. He expects me to finish you, but I can’t harm you. Keep it hidden until they unlock your cell. At least you can die as the warrior that you are.”

  He stared at her for a moment.

  “Jalarn…”

  “I wish things could be different. Fight well, Talya.”

  Talya took her sword from him through the bars, and he turned to leave. She couldn’t bear to see him leave now, not with him being so close so trusting in Jesus. It hurt her more than the beatings.

  “Wait, Jalarn.”

  But he was gone.

  *****

  General Edandir awoke with a start. He was in a tent lying down on a strange bed.

  When did I fall asleep? The battle!

  He sat up, immediately placing a hand on his throbbing temple. There was a thick bandage on his head. He remembered the Malinorian from the night before. The general got up and stepped outside, glancing at the sky. It was nearly dawn.

  “Hold it right there, General. I didn’t say that you could leave yet.”

  It was Seline – the camp surgeon. He had emerged from another tent.

  “I lead this army come sunup. I have to be fine.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that. I was brewing you a strong pot of my famous pain-killing tea, but go back inside first, and I’ll check your wound.”

  Edandir sat impatiently as the surgeon changed the bandage.

  “It will heal up nicely, provided that no one else hits you in the same place,” the surgeon said with a wry grin.

  Edandir shrugged.

  He walked with Seline to the fire pit and poured himself a cup of the herbal tea.

  “So, I take it that someone found me before that snake finished me off,” said Edandir.

  “Tanel found you. He scared that Malinorian off with a well-placed arrow.”

  Edandir took a sip of the bitter liquid.

  “I will have to thank him. I can’t believe that I lost my footing.”

  “Even generals can have close calls.”

  “This one can’t afford to. I have a daughter to save.”

  Tanel and Chrissa walked up to them.

  “You will be fine then, General?” asked Tanel.

  “I’ve always been fine. But I owe you my life, Tanel. Seline told me what you did. Thank you.”

  The lad nodded and Chrissa smiled. She seemed to be in much better spirits than last night.

  The sun’s first rays pierced the navy horizon. The day had begun.

  Edandir guzzled down the rest of his tea and stretched. He watched the spectacular sunrise. It could very well be the last one that he would ever see. By God’s grace and power, today was the day that Ittonifer’s rule over the continent would be broken forever. Freedom would resume.

  His headache had begun to numb.

  “You sure know your remedies, Doc. Thanks. I’m good as new.”

  “Well, not quite,” Seline muttered.

  Edandir went to grab a slab of salted pork for breakfast. The soldiers and knights were already emerging out of their tents. In mere hours, they would all be in battle.

  Despite his desire to take out as many enemy combatants as possible, he had to first make sure that Talya was back on the right side. His highest priority was to get her out of that cursed castle alive.

  *****

  Jalarn joined Ittonifer on his balcony. They watched in silence as their army assembled.

  “A marvelous sight,” said Ittonifer.

  “Indeed, my lord. I shall take pleasure in finishing off those weak-minded fools from Sanctus.”

  “Will you?” asked Ittonifer.

  His uncle was glaring at him now.

  “You kept the scroll.”

  “I wanted to taunt Talya with it.”

  “I don’t believe you. Aterun found it in your room early this morning – after you’d had a rather heartfelt conversation with the sword maiden. You did not kill her as I asked.”

  “He was out of line to spy on me and to trespass on my private quarters. I ought to kill him.”

  “As correct as that may be, you have been quite an unfaithful Malinorian yourself. I had no idea you could be so easily swayed. After everything I have done for you and given you.”

  “My full allegiance is to you and to the prince!” Jalarn shouted.

  Ittonifer’s mouth curved into a wicked grin.

  “Prove it,” he said.

  “I will!”

  “Then follow me, boy.”

  Jalarn decided that the old warlock would have to be eliminated after the war. He would arrange for some of his men to do the dirty work. Ittonifer put way too much faith in Aterun. The magician could not be trusted. Jalarn hated sneaky rats like him the most.

  When they entered Jalarn’s wing, Aterun was there waiting for them. The magician scowled at Jalarn.

  Jalarn ignored him.

  The scroll was still unraveled on his bed.

  Angry with Talya for her stubbornness, he had tossed it there. He hadn’t been able to bring himself to burn it just yet.

  Why is that?

  Ittonifer’s glare pierced into Jalarn as Aterun began to chant. Where it had seemed beautiful and deep to Jalarn before, a darkness had now been cast over it. It was different this time.

  Jalarn tried to shake off the feeling and tried to see it as he had originally.

  The familiar plume of fog emerged around them. This time it showed Jalarn. He was bent on the floor reading Talya’s scroll in the library.

  Jalarn bristled.

  Aterun was trying to ruin everything for him by twisting what had actually happened.

  The image switched to Jalarn speaking with Talya back in the prison cell. It was when she had placed her hand on his arm.

  Jalarn swallowed. His uncle was going to kill him. Literally, perhaps.

  “How touching,” scoffed Ittonifer.

  Jalarn shook his head and closed his eyes. It was too painful just to think about Talya.

  But I’m not supposed to feel pain. What’s happened to me?

  He had to forget about her. He had given in to emotions that he never even knew existed, but in the end, he had done the right thing. He had turned his back on her for Malinor. For the prince. He had chosen the right way. His uncle had to see that.

  The image faded away, leaving Jalarn with the judgmental stares of Ittonifer and Aterun.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “My lord,” said Jalarn. “You know how important the prince is to me. I was just curious about why the God followers believe what they do. I wanted to win the girl’s trust so that it would be easier to sway her allegiance.”

  “I don’t buy it. Your recent actions have led me to mistrust you, Jalarn. I should have known better than to allow a child to lead my army.”

  “Did you not see me out there training the men this morn
ing, ready to lead my – your army? That is exactly what I intend to do.”

  “Maybe. I will have to decide if I believe you, but not today. I am going to strip you of your rank for now. Naeshi will take your place as general. I am very disappointed in you, Jalarn.”

  “No!” Jalarn shouted.

  Jalarn lunged at Aterun, but an invisible hand clenched his neck. Jalarn angrily fought with both of his hands, but the grip did not lessen. He couldn’t breathe.

  Help me, prince!

  The prince was allowing it to happen. Jalarn was being punished for dabbling in an absurd belief. Jalarn glared hatefully at the warlock that had betrayed him.

  “Enough,” said Ittonifer.

  Aterun withdrew his magical strangle.

  Jalarn caught his breath.

  “I want you to prove to me that you haven’t joined the side of the weak,” said Ittonifer.

  “I would never join them! I was working with your warlock to create a spell on their general, remember?” Jalarn shouted.

  “You can start to regain my trust by burning that worthless piece of parchment, and maybe I will consider giving you back your old commander position in time for the war.”

  Without hesitating, Jalarn walked over to his bed and grabbed the lethal document. The words telling of God’s love were still in red. They had nearly cost him the life that he had worked so hard to have. He had been a complete fool. Like Talya.

  Jalarn rolled up the scroll and tossed it into the fire. The flames licked at Talya’s beloved story. There was no room in his life for idealistic musings. The only thing that they had done for Talya was cause her an unnecessary death.

  *****

  Talya paced back and forth, sword in hand, ignoring the dull aches and pains that throbbed all over her body. She had never felt so helpless in all her life. Jalarn had chosen the devil over Jesus, leaving her at the mercy of her enemy.

  I have failed Jalarn. There must have been something else I could have said.

  The thought of Jalarn dying and going into an eternity of sorrow and pain made her feel sick.

  Talya collapsed onto the cold, hard floor and buried her face in her hands. She thought of the countless other men that she had sent to hell. Waltez was one of them. Her father had allowed him to go free. Maybe he would have changed his ways, but Talya had made sure that he died before he had a chance to.

  Then there had been hundreds more. Her stomach knotted and she vomited.

  Oh Lord, I can never make up for what I did. Never.

  Footsteps walked slowly toward her cell. Talya gripped her sword as her pulse quickened. It wasn’t even worth fighting anymore. She would be dead soon anyway, and perhaps the guards who slew her would have a chance to one day come to know God if she spared their lives.

  I really am beginning to think more like Mother. Like Jesus.

  The prison door opened and Ittonifer walked in. A shriveled old man hobbled in behind him, leering at Talya.

  Talya set her sword down. A stream of light came from the elderly man’s hand.

  “We have not come just to kill you,” said Ittonifer. “You will suffer much for refusing to submit to me.”

  “Do your worst then.”

  Despite Talya’s brave façade, she thought her knees would buckle.

  More pain is sure to come. Not more pain.

  Her body was still very tender from the previous abuse. And she felt so tired.

  Lord, please give me the strength to bear it!

  Ittonifer glanced at Aterun.

  “Cast the spell!” he barked.

  Talya tried to think of what it would be like when she, at last, would behold her Redeemer. Jesus. She would know no more pain or sorrow caused by living in the world.

  But what about Jalarn?

  Talya choked back a sob.

  The old man reached out. He opened the palms of his hands as he began a low, solemn chant.

  Talya backed into the wall of her prison as unspeakable pain permeated through her entire body. It hit her with such force that she could barely breathe, much less scream.

  “Submit to our lord and you will be spared!” shouted Ittonifer.

  “N-nooo!” she cried.

  Her entire body convulsed. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to hold in the cries that wanted to burst forth from her mouth. Every inch of her body felt like it was being burned with searing liquid fire.

  It was too much.

  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

  “Jesus, help me!”

  *****

  Naeshi grinned as he rode his winged mare to the front of Malinor’s army. Ittonifer had given him the honor of leading it. Thanks to Jalarn’s predictable immaturity. It took more than skill to lead soldiers and knights.

  The God followers and the giants wouldn’t know what hit them when flaming boulders and thrashing monsters greeted their arrival. Naeshi could barely wait to lay his eyes on the beasts tearing apart thousands of his enemies. He wouldn’t let Ittonifer down like Jalarn had. Perhaps one day, his bravery would be recognized and Ittonifer would promote him to general. Regardless, he would prove to be a much better leader than that disillusioned whelp.

  Naeshi still could not believe that the empire’s most powerful warrior had fallen prey to the wiles of an enemy female knight. General Edandir’s daughter would die that day because of misplaced belief.

  What a fool. Ittonifer himself was going to make her a commander, and she refused.

  It was just as well. Malinor did not need a woman in its army. Females were made for a different purpose. And General Edandir deserved to lose his child. He had refused to give Chrissa back.

  Images of the delicate, pale damsel crossed his mind. Naeshi would go searching for her once every man from Sanctus was slain. There were only so many places to hide in a military camp. He would burn the entire thing down if he had to. He would find her.

  And make her pay a high price for leaving me.

  Several magicians had taken Aterun’s place in subduing the beasts. They stood around the large metal pens that held the animals.

  The ground shook and everyone’s attention shifted to the hill afar off. Sanctus’ general emerged over the hill. He was riding a sleek firedrake. It was pitiful in comparison to the beasts that Malinor would soon set free.

  I would have killed him last night if it weren’t for that pansy archer.

  Naeshi’s moment had come. He was about to lead the army of the Malinorian Empire into the most important battle in its history. The battle that Malinor would win. He had stolen the glory from Jalarn. At last.

  The army of Sanctus was very close. The banging from their drums could be heard now. Jalarn studied his men. He had whipped them into finer shape than anyone else could have. Even the young lads that he had to break in days before stood in rigid determination, ready to fight. They would not fall easily.

  Jalarn was proud of his decision to have lightweight armor designed for all of the men. Ittonifer had approved of his idea. The soldiers would move much faster than before, and they would not tire as quickly. With the beasts and magic spells in addition to Jalarn’s skilled army, the Sanctus warriors did not stand a chance this time.

  Then again, it is not my army anymore. Thanks to a warlock that is going to be dead very soon.

  Jalarn’s throat was bruised where the magical grip had nearly strangled him to death. Despite the fact that he was alive, Jalarn bristled at the thought of having to bear the humiliation of being back among the commanders. Ittonifer most likely just wanted to teach him a lesson. It was one he would never forget.

  Jalarn’s men eyed him strangely when he approached them without his scarlet cape, but none dared to ask why he was not wearing it. It pleased Jalarn that they still feared and respected him. In reality, he was still their general. He would work his way back into Ittonifer’s favor soon. He would never, ever beco
me so enthralled in something other than the prince.

  He caught sight of Naeshi sitting atop the Pegasus mare. Ittonifer couldn’t have chosen a more incompetent fool to lead the army. Though undeniably strong and skilled with the sword, the man had a pea brain.

  Jalarn remembered the day many years ago that he had first become a Malinorian soldier. Still just a young boy then, he had been hopeless and afraid. He had been so weak and pathetic. Ittonifer had seen to it that Jalarn and his mother starved, because of her lowly birth status. He had never approved of his younger brother’s marriage to a peasant. After Ittonifer’s brother had died, Jalarn and his mother were forced out of the castle. Jalarn’s parents had cared deeply for one another – a rare occurrence in Malinor. On their own, Jalarn and his mother had lived a pathetic, destitute life until she finally died from starvation. Jalarn would have died, too, had Ittonifer not noticed his strength the day that he had won the fatal fight against the other boys. When Ittonifer caught wind of Jalarn’s mother’s death, he brought Jalarn to the barracks for training.

  As Jalarn’s skill deepened, Ittonifer had granted him the entire west wing of the castle. Jalarn had worked himself nearly to death on more than one occasion to get there. The years passed on until every last ounce of empathy had been driven from his soul. He had become exactly like Ittonifer. Jalarn had hated everyone and everything all the way up until a few nights ago when Talya had spared his life. He had been so confused then as to why she would do such an unnatural thing. His confusion had turned into an obsession.

  As the strange sword maiden from Sanctus occupied his mind, something had been stirred inside of him. Something that was probably similar to what his father had felt for his mother. There was not a moment that Jalarn hadn’t thought of Talya. Thankfully, in the end, he had come to his senses. Where would he have gone if he had turned his back on Malinor and the prince?

  I would have been a nobody in the world’s eyes, but maybe I would have been everything in Talya’s eyes.

  Jalarn shook his head. It was disturbing that, even now, with a raging battle nearly in his grasp, all he could think about was her. She really had infiltrated his mind, working her way into a heart that he had been barely aware of. He had to forget about her and move on while there was still a chance to regain Ittonifer’s favor.