By the Sword Page 23

  Talya was gifted with a sword, but she was no knife fighter. It occurred to her then that she had no idea what kind of a knight she was going to be now that she felt guilty about killing.

  The barbarians were right on her heels, roaring at the top of their lungs like animals. She was going to have to finish them off, most likely.

  “Lord, I could use some help right about now. Jalarn needs me. My people need me.”

  A bow and a quiver full of arrows near a woodpile caught her attention. She leaped for it. Grabbing the bow, she nocked an arrow and pulled at the string. She shot it at the tallest knight’s chest. It didn’t quite hit her intended target. It pierced his lung instead of his heart. He stopped with a gasp for air and sank to his knees. That would do.

  His friend was really close. Talya aimed at his heart, but instead shot him clear through the shoulder. He ignored the pain and kept coming, clearly bent on running her through.

  Tanel would laugh at me if he could see this.

  Again, she drew back the bowstring. The arrow hit Talya’s enemy near his heart. He fell with a grunt and then lay still.

  Three firedrakes were tied to a post near General Edandir’s tent. Talya assessed them, trying to decide which one would be the fastest. She chose a long, lean beast and saddled him up. It would take her roughly an hour to get there, judging by the wind.

  As she hopped on the dragon’s saddle and kicked its sides into flight, her stomach churned at the fact that she had just killed three lost men. Even though she did so in self-defense, it gnawed at her. The mission that God had sent her on had changed her forever.

  *****

  At Tanel’s side, Timlin and Pori fought another wave of Malinorians. The twins recited one of Tanel’s favorite psalms in unison.

  “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.”

  After what seemed like hours, the three of them stood among their fallen foes. It seemed like they had been fighting for days.

  Pori patted Tanel on the back.

  “Not bad, archer,” he grinned.

  “Well, twenty more of our enemies are dead,” said Timlin.

  Only four thousand more to go.

  Endil joined them.

  “Come on, lads. We can’t stop to rest now,” said Endil.

  Pori nodded and pointed to their left.

  “I see that a lady needs our help.”

  Tanel followed his gaze.

  Talya!

  Tanel’s mouth dropped open as a mixture of relief and horror hit him. His friend was fighting against Ittonifer.

  How in the world did she get here?

  The four of them raced toward her and Ittonifer. Suddenly, Endil gripped Tanel’s arm and yanked him backward. A Malinorian knight had nearly lopped off his head.

  Endil slew the man with one swing of his broad sword.

  “I’d be more careful next time,” the large man said.

  Tanel let out whoosh of breath. That one had been way too close.

  They started toward Talya again, but another onslaught of Malinorians obstructed their path.

  *****

  Talya allowed Ittonifer to approach her. Now that her body was healed, it would be a fair fight.

  Ittonifer shook his head.

  Talya grinned, despite the seriousness of the moment.

  “It appears that I should have sent more men to kill you. Nevertheless, I now have the pleasure of ensuring your demise. I won’t fail this time.”

  “What happened to Jalarn?” demanded Talya.

  He only answered Talya with a hollow laugh and a forceful kick to her stomach. It sent her stumbling backward, but she regained her footing.

  He ran at her and their swords clanged together. She spun around him and managed a gash along his side. With an angry growl, he quickly swept his sword down on her shoulder. The thick armor there had saved her from a deep wound, but the impact sent a jolt through her body.

  I had better be more careful. I might lose an arm next time.

  Ittonifer came at her again with a powerful swing. Demoniac hate radiated from his dark gaze. She barely blocked the blow with her sword, telling herself not to look into his eyes anymore.

  She attempted a low slash at his thigh, but he blocked it.

  “It looks like you are about to lose some of your friends. Two against twelve is quite unlikely to turn into victory.”

  Talya resisted the urge to look back, but her pulse quickened. She had to help them. And she still had to find out where Jalarn was. Somehow, she had to defeat the hateful monster that stood before her before she could accomplish that.

  “You know it’s a lost cause, Talya. You should have joined me when you had the chance.”

  Talya leaped toward him with her sword straight ahead of her, but he dodged her.

  His agility was maddening.

  Talya took a deep breath.

  “The Lord is my strength and my shield,” she said.

  “Shut up!” Ittonifer shouted.

  She blocked another one of Ittonifer’s strong swings and then jabbed her sword into his thigh. The blade sliced through his lightweight armor this time.

  Ittonifer growled.

  “Is Jalarn still alive?” she asked.

  Ittonifer’s onyx eyes met hers once again before he spun around and blocked an attack from behind. Talya gaped when she saw that it was the dark-haired girl from Malinor.

  She’s on our side now!

  “I owe you my life for what you did for me back in the city,” said the girl.

  Ittonifer eyed the two of them before taking a run at Talya.

  Talya eyed the hand that he held his sword with. She feigned an attack to his torso and then turned to hit his armored hand with of all her might. He dropped his sword from the forceful impact. She now held both swords.

  “What was it that you were saying about killing me?” asked Talya.

  “I will take it from here,” said the other girl.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. He is my father.”

  Talya’s eyes widened. She had no idea that Ittonifer had any children. But there was no time to dwell on that.

  Talya nodded to the other girl and turned to leave. It was time to find Jalarn.

  *****

  The heat had become unbearable as the demon dragged Jalarn closer to a tall, black gate. But it was the tormented screams that cut deep into the core of his soul, searing it with agony. Soon, his voice would join with their helpless cries as his soul burned along with theirs.

  “Jesus!” screamed Jalarn.

  A pinhole of white light cracked through the thick darkness. Jalarn reached for it. The demon withdrew its slimy hand as the light grew. It snarled and shrieked.

  Jalarn watched the light, his soul yearning to be carried away.

  In a heartbeat, the darkness receded. Jalarn had to shut his eyes from the blinding light.

  He was no longer in hell. Had it been a dream, or had God spared him?

  Thank You, Jesus!

  Trembling with relief, Jalarn looked around. He was standing in a white room with windows on four walls. A pale man in a long white coat looked in from the other side.

  Where am I?

  Jalarn went over to the window where the man stood. When his gaze met the stranger’s, he knew that he was not looking at another person at all. Pupil-less, green eyes stared back at him. He was in another trap.

  Jalarn’s ears started to ring as his vision blurred. His surroundings faded away and suddenly Jalarn found himself on the battlefield in Malinor. The fighting soldiers and knights went through him as he stood there. He was definitely dreaming now.

  But hell had felt so real. That couldn’t have been a dream.

  Jalarn watched in awe as hellish winged forms loomed above the Malinorians. They were demons, like the one that had tried to drag him through hell’s gate. It unnerved him that he had been on the dem
ons’ side all of that time without even knowing what his decision really meant. How could God ever forgive him after all of that time? He had become one with a demon. He had been possessed.

  A puce-skinned demon with rotting flesh and mad yellow eyes was staring at Jalarn from across the field. Its body contorted grotesquely as it laughed. Then, it made its way toward Jalarn.

  Watching the demon closely, Jalarn unsheathed his sword. Then, he remembered that there was no way that he could defeat the evil spirit with his own power. He was no match for it on his own.

  “I am here, Jalarn. I died for you. I love you. Let Me in.”

  Jalarn sank to his knees and stared at the sky.

  “Would You forgive me, Jesus?”

  His heart was screaming to be filled with the Savior, to be restored. To be set free.

  The grotesque demon clawed at the earth as he inched closer to Jalarn on all fours. Its blackened teeth gnashed.

  “You are coming with me. Back where you belong,” the demon hissed.

  Jalarn wept.

  “Forgive me, Jesus. Please, forgive me for all of the evil I have done! For all of the lives I have taken. I will never serve the devil again. Come into my heart. I believe in You.”

  Immediately, peace filled Jalarn’s soul. Jesus had forgiven him. As Talya and Edandir had said He would.

  The demon stopped in his tracks, opening his mouth into a blood-curdling scream. He cowered and took off into the air with his spindly wings.

  Jalarn stood, feeling as though the weight of a mountain had been lifted from his soul.

  “Thank you, Jesus. You have saved me.”

  Jalarn drifted back into unconsciousness. But this time, he knew that he was not alone. He would never be alone again.

  *****

  Three Malinorians encircled Tanel, driving him further away from Endil. He tried to ignore the pain in his overused arm muscles. He managed to block three of their blows, but barely.

  “Die, runt!” shouted the largest of his enemies.

  Tanel deflected the forceful blow.

  A high-pitched war cry came from behind the three men. They all turned to face Talya.

  She regarded them with that wild glare she normally wore when she was ready to attack.

  While she went for the largest of the three, Tanel drove his sword through another one’s back. He finished off the third by slashing his throat and brought his attention back to Talya.

  She had stabbed the Malinorian in the shoulder. Weakened, he now lay at her feet, but she backed away.

  Tanel ran over to Talya, and they embraced for a moment.

  “Thank God you’re all right,” he said.

  Talya just clung to him for a moment and then looked at him with watery eyes. Tanel didn’t know what she had been through on her mission, but she was different.

  “I was so afraid that I would never see you again,” she said. “Look, I’m sorry for what I did back in Malinor City. We all could have died because of me.”

  “Don’t think about that anymore, Talya. I should be sorry. It was never your fault. You are my best friend. I should have never treated you like that. I missed you very much.”

  “I am happy we are back to normal.”

  Tanel nodded, but he had a feeling that nothing would be as it had been. So many things had changed. They had changed.

  Talya looked over to the field of battling soldiers.

  “Have you seen Jalarn?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “He saved my life. He has changed so much.”

  “Wow. That must be why Ittonifer wanted to kill him.”

  “What happened?” cried Talya.

  Her eyes and countenance told of how she felt for Jalarn. Tanel had never seen her like that before. He wanted to ask her what happened, but they did not have the time.

  “Ittonifer was going to kill Jalarn in front of everyone… along with your father. But then the warlocks defied the devil, and I haven’t seen him since. I am sorry.”

  Wide-eyed, Talya searched the battlefield.

  “I have to find him.”

  Tanel unsheathed his sword.

  “I will help you. I owe him that much.”

  Talya eyed Tanel’s newfound sword.

  “Surprised?” asked Tanel with a grin.

  “Yes. It looks like we have much to catch up on,” said Talya.

  “That is an understatement. I noticed you didn’t kill that Malinorian.”

  Talya looked down at the ground for a moment.

  “Long story. We should go.”

  Then, Talya stopped in her tracks.

  “Atalsa!” she cried.

  Tanel suddenly felt ill. Just ahead of them, Tasar knelt beside the lifeless body of the raven-haired archer.

  “Dear Lord, no,” said Tanel. “I tried to save her, but there were too many. I – I couldn’t keep up,” said Tanel.

  Talya rested her hand on his shoulder.

  Tanel gritted his teeth. He was going to miss Atalsa very much.

  Tasar spotted them. He reluctantly left Atalsa’s side and joined them.

  “I am so sorry, Tasar,” said Talya softly.

  “So am I.”

  “Let’s not let her death be in vain,” said Tanel, nodding toward the raging battle.

  “Let’s finish this,” said Tasar.

  The three of them ran back toward the battle.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  As Talya fought her way through several more enemy knights, her stomach knotted. Her country needed her help, but she could hardly stand the guilt of taking more lives. She spared the ones that she reasonably could, knowing that she would never be the same person after that vision of hell.

  I will never fight in another war. This I promise you, Lord.

  The evening’s cool wind sent a chill over her sweat-ridden body. The battle had progressed close to the sea. Its fresh scent contrasted with the stench of war. There was not much time left before the sun set, but the battle seemed to be far from over. The Malinorian army still outnumbered them.

  Jalarn was nowhere to be seen. She could not stop thinking about him and what could have happened.

  Talya tried not to allow herself any room for doubt. Along with the others, she spoke out every verse that she could remember that had to do with God’s protection. Several of her fellow knights had gathered on a hill, waiting for another influx of Malinorians to charge up it. She raced over and stood at the bottom, since she was one of the stronger fighters.

  She gritted her teeth as she slew one enemy after another, reminding herself that she was protecting her country by doing so.

  Lord, when will this end? I can hardly stand this.

  Loud thunder echoed over the field as a great bolt of lightning struck the earth nearby. Another one followed shortly after.

  A low murmur emerged as the ground trembled. With an echoing crack, the earth split where hundreds of Ittonifer’s men stood. They fell into the deep trench with a great cry.

  Several of the Malinorians stood transfixed for a moment. Talya and Tanel charged ahead with their fellow fighters toward the distracted foes. Vastly outnumbered suddenly, many of Ittonifer’s men went to their knees and laid down their swords.

  They are surrendering!

  “Spare those who surrender!” shouted General Edandir.

  Talya was more than happy to comply with her father’s command.

  “Thank God this is almost over,” said Tanel.

  Talya nodded. All she wanted was to find Jalarn. She would give anything to see him, to tell him how much he meant to her. That he had become much more than just a mission.

  As she helped the rest of the soldiers disarm and group the enemy together, a flash of deep red caught Talya’s eye.

  Crimson smoke suddenly emerged from the fresh chasm and started to creep toward them.

  *****

  Jalarn opened his eyes. A slate grey sky stared down at him. He climbed up the rocky wall and back to ground lev
el. The battle had stopped, but a cloud of red was approaching the soldiers. The spell that he had helped Aterun create was going to wipe out everyone who betrayed Ittonifer on that field. The surrendered Malinorians would go to hell for sure.

  The memory of the terrified screams made Jalarn feel ill.

  What have I done?

  “Jalarn!” cried a familiar, lovely voice.

  Jalarn’s heart raced with relief and excitement at the sight of Talya running toward him. She was so beautiful. He ran to Talya and wrapped his arms around her.

  “How did you make it back here? You’re all better!” he cried.

  “God healed me,” she said.

  They ended the tight embrace, still standing close. Jalarn gazed into her dancing brown eyes. They told of her unspoken feelings.

  “I’ve accepted Jesus,” said Jalarn.

  She smiled then, taking his hands. A tear slipped down her cheek.

  “I have been praying so hard that you would.”

  “I know.”

  It is going to kill me to leave you, Talya. But the spell. Oh God, the spell. They will all die if I don’t go now. It is coming so fast.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Talya.

  He brought his hand to her smooth cheek, swallowing down the lump that had formed in his throat. His past mistakes had been made at a high price.

  “I must go. I am so sorry.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The smoke. It is a spell that I cast over everyone that betrays the empire. I… I had wanted to please Ittonifer again after my failures. Everyone will die here. There is only one way to end it.”

  By the horrified look on her face, it was clear that she knew what that was. He was going to miss her so much.

  “There has to be some other way! We can pray together! Let’s do it now,” she cried.

  Jalarn leaned close to her. Their lips met in one sweet, passionate moment. His sworn enemy had become the best friend he had ever known.

  “I love you, Talya.”

  Talya choked back a sob.

  “And I love you! But don’t go. Let’s gather everyone together. We can all pray.”

  He turned away from her then and ran, tearing himself away from the life that he would never live with her. Tears blurred his vision as he stared at the fatal cloud.