By the Sword Page 5

  Edandir scanned the area for Ittonifer. The man often personally trained his knights, but today there was no sign of him.

  An alarming shofar’s cry pierced the air. It had come from the inner city.

  All of the Malinorian soldiers sheathed their swords and marched toward the city.

  Edandir jogged over to one of them.

  “Why is everyone quitting so early?”

  “Where have you been? Everyone’s to be at the coliseum this afternoon. Ittonifer’s got something special planned.”

  I’ll bet.

  Edandir and his spies followed the hundreds of soldiers to a grand amphitheater in the center of the city.

  “Stay close to me, everyone. If we get separated somehow, then we will meet back in the forest. Go there as soon as this meeting is over,” said Edandir.

  They all walked inside.

  Edandir had never been on the inside of the great structure before. He remembered back when it was first being built. It was larger than he had imagined it would be.

  Thousands of people already sat on stone benches. The Malinorian knights were seated at the bottom rows of the circular building.

  Edandir and his small clan sat down side by side. He was relieved they hadn’t been scattered by the crowds.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it!” Talya exclaimed.

  She was sitting next to him, but anyone within earshot could have heard her unmistakably feminine voice.

  “Please don’t speak until we leave this place,” Edandir hissed.

  He was about to continue the lecture, but a series of horns interrupted him. The audience instantly fell silent.

  The orchestra began to play a soft, mournful piece of music.

  Edandir had heard that song once before. He had nearly forgotten. The intoxicating tune took him back to a time over twenty years ago. He didn’t want to go there again.

  Ittonifer stepped onto the field wearing his armor and battle helmet.

  The crowd cheered, drowning out the song and its enchantment.

  The Malinorian ruler looked imposing as always with his prominent stature and powerful build. He had barely aged.

  Ittonifer stopped once he reached the middle of the field. The music ceased. Another tall, fully armored man approached Ittonifer and then bowed at his feet.

  It was Jalarn.

  *****

  Talya watched the warrior that had nearly killed her bow at his uncle’s feet. She balled her fists.

  One day I will kill you. Then we will see which one of us is truly alone.

  His hollow voice still echoed in her mind.

  “Commander Jalarn,” began Ittonifer in a loud voice, “you have proven to be my most worthy commander. You cleverly gained King Seraphim’s trust, took all of his wealth, and now you have fully submitted yourself to the prince.”

  Talya gritted her teeth. She wanted to drive her blade right through Jalarn. He had killed Cardamon’s king – her king!

  Her gut knotted at the thought of him entering into eternity after denying God.

  Then again, what about me? I haven’t stepped foot inside a church for years, let alone prayed. What if I had died back in the forest?

  Ittonifer tapped the flat part of his sword on his nephew’s left shoulder.

  Then, Jalarn stood.

  “Malinor, behold your General. My left-hand man!”

  The auditorium roared with thunderous applause and loud cheers.

  Several ladies threw flowers and jewelry onto the field. Ittonifer’s guards gathered up the items.

  A line of cloaked men entered the stadium and bowed once they reached Ittonifer.

  Once again, the people stilled and silence settled in.

  “They’re sorcerers,” whispered Edandir.

  Talya rolled her eyes.

  What kind of a ruler would be naive enough to believe that magic is real? I thought Ittonifer was clever.

  “Aterun, high priest of Malinor, please step forward,” said Ittonifer.

  A shriveled elderly man stepped out from the line of warlocks and hobbled over to the ruler. He knelt.

  “Citizens of Malinor,” said Ittonifer, “I bring you our lord’s devoted servants. Through their devotion to the dark arts, we will conquer Sanctus! We will send thousands to their deaths by our lord’s power. He will give us what is rightfully ours!”

  The crowd cheered.

  “Aterun will lead us all in a chant. Together, we will curse the rebel nation and their warriors. Their destruction will begin today.”

  Edandir turned to Talya and leaned close.

  “Guard your heart, Talya. Pray,” he said.

  “Why?”

  She couldn’t remember her father ever talking about prayer. Sure, Sanctus was a God-serving nation, but a lot of the military people didn’t really practice it. He had apparently changed a lot since she moved to Cardamon.

  “This is a matter of life and death, Talya. Trust me. Pray.”

  The strange music started to play again. A chill ran down Talya’s spine.

  Life and death. What is he talking about?

  On her other side, Tanel shifted in his seat.

  “We shouldn’t be here,” he said.

  Maybe there was more to this magic stuff than she had thought.

  “But magic isn’t real, right?” Talya whispered, feeling childish.

  “Magic is just a fancy word for devil worship. It is powerless against God, but it can deceive and conquer humans,” said Tanel.

  “Well, then. I guess we had better pray,” said Talya.

  His eyes bore into hers for a moment before he closed them.

  Talya started to cover her ears as she tried to focus on saying something to God, but the music was… beautiful.

  The sorcerers began to chant in perfect harmony to the song.

  Beyond the music, beyond the noise, Talya thought she heard a thick, soothing voice whispering to her. She moved her hands away from her ears.

  “Talya…”

  She shook her head, but it had already permeated her mind.

  “You want this. You know you do. I’ve been watching you, and I know what it is that you seek. Your so-called God has failed you. His people have held you back. I will make you more powerful than you could ever dream. I can give it all to you. Just submit your life to me.”

  Talya trembled. It was the dark lord. She knew it. But she liked what he had promised, even though it was wrong. She had ignored God for years, but she could never follow the devil. Not for any reason.

  Talya clenched her jaw.

  No!

  Chapter Five

  Jalarn lost himself in the melody of the seductive song. As he chanted along with the warlocks, a warm sensation crawled up his back. He willed it to permeate deep into his soul, as it had in the sorcerer’s lair.

  Jalarn felt energized by the dark presence encircling him, but he wanted so much more.

  A faint mist formed in front of Aterun and grew into a thick cloud that spread across the coliseum’s field.

  Images formed inside. Powerful, winged demons danced and jumped in the fog. Some of them rode on skeletal unicorns. The supernatural riders joined a great marching army – Malinor’s army.

  It is showing us the future.

  The warlocks ceased their chanting and the fog vanished.

  Malinor’s citizens sat in awestruck silence. No one had ever seen anything like it.

  “Men of Malinor,” Ittonifer said. “Through our prince’s guidance, Aterun has found out where ten of the great beasts of old reside. We will use them, along with our superior power, to destroy Sanctus.”

  The crowd cheered.

  The great beasts of old? I wonder what other secrets the prince will soon reveal… to me alone.

  Ittonifer turned to leave the field.

  Jalarn followed closely behind him feeling more dazed than he ever had before.

  At last, after countless hours of blood, pain, and sweat, everything was falling int
o place for him. As the General of Malinor, he would have better opportunities to learn and make use the prince’s spells. He was not alone anymore.

  *****

  Chrissa left the coliseum with her four handmaidens. She had just experienced the most captivating sight of her life, and all she wanted was to be alone to think.

  She trailed behind her servants and then stepped into the great, fast-moving crowd on the street. She brought her lace shawl over her head and picked up her pace, pushing her way through the congested road. She found a less busy street and walked briskly.

  She smiled as the sun’s rays warmed her face. Sunshine, among other things, was far too rare in Malinor.

  Chrissa slowed when she passed by the various merchants. Several of them called out to her, motioning toward their goods.

  “Take a look at my gold bracelet collection, little miss!” cried one of the men.

  “Good day, fair lady. Come take a loaf of my fresh bread before they are all gone,” grinned a pudgy baker.

  “Miss! Have I got a bargain for you,” said another man.

  The aggressive voices started to blend together.

  Chrissa passed them by. The last thing she needed was more useless trinkets. The only thing that she really wanted was her own sword, and her father had denied her that pleasure.

  She finally reached the most beautiful fountain in the city. It had been a long time since she had seen it, because she rarely had a chance to get out of the castle.

  Chrissa sat on the smooth, marble edge and watched the water dance. Just as her mind began to wander, she heard menacing footsteps come up from behind her.

  “It is far too sunny for a fair maiden to be sitting outside.”

  Naeshi!

  Chrissa bit her lip and turned to face the man that was quickly becoming her worst enemy. She had not considered the possibility of him following her there.

  “Good day, Sir Naeshi,” she said, trying to sound casual.

  She stood up, intending to run.

  “Indeed,” he scoffed.

  He clenched her upper arm before she could move away, dragging her down the road. She struggled, but it was pointless.

  “Let go of me, please!”

  “Not until you make up for how you treated me the other night.”

  *****

  Talya and the rest of the spies had to jog in order to keep up with General Edandir’s long strides. She had never been more relieved to be out of a place in her life.

  The devil himself spoke to me back there… and I almost listened to him. I had no idea that Ittonifer was so involved in this black magic. Then again, I had no idea that the stuff was even real.

  Talya realized then that she was alone. She had trailed well behind the others.

  Thanks to this ridiculous armor.

  Her clothes underneath were drenched in sweat. The armor was way too big and the weather was much too hot.

  She picked up her pace to catch up with her group when a muffled cry startled her.

  Talya stopped walking and listened. This time, a scream pierced the air. It seemed to be coming from the other side of the street.

  Talya crossed the road and came to a narrow, dark alley. She unsheathed her sword and stepped quietly.

  In the dimly lit enclosure, a Malinorian guard was holding a wispy, dark-haired girl by the wrists. Talya’s pulse spiked and she gritted her teeth. The maiden was struggling in vain to run away from the brute. She almost broke free, but he quickly caught her by the waist and slammed her into the wall again.

  “Enough!” shouted Talya.

  Both of them froze and stared at her.

  Talya threw off her cumbersome helmet.

  “A woman of Sanctus!” spat the man.

  He unsheathed his sword and stepped away from the girl.

  “I was a Cardamonian woman.”

  “I’ll split you in two!”

  He stalked toward her.

  Talya stifled a laugh and focused on his movements. She blocked his first slash and then quickly swirled around to slice his exposed upper arm.

  The man swung his sword at her head.

  Talya ducked and then lifted her sword to meet his.

  He spun around and then swung at her midsection. Talya leaped out of the way, but her forearm did not escape from the swift blow. Her stolen armor prevented the blade from breaking her skin, but dull pain throbbed down her arm.

  Angered, Talya leaped for him and swung her sword at his neck. She missed, hitting the side of his helmet. He removed it and threw it to the side. He was at least thirty. Much older than Talya and the girl.

  He lunged for Talya again, but tripped.

  Talya kicked him in the back of the head as he stood up.

  He growled, but the impact from her foot didn’t seem to daze him too much.

  Talya came at him with a series of slashes.

  He lost his footing again and then fell head first into the wall, collapsing on the street like a sack of bricks.

  The damsel’s haunting blue eyes pierced into Talya’s as she backed away.

  “Don’t be afraid,” said Talya.

  “I’m not.”

  “Is this where you want to live? Where men are allowed to treat women this way?” Talya asked.

  “You’ve only made things worse,” said the girl.

  “You don’t have to stay here. Come back with me.”

  As the female enemy knight got out of the cumbersome armor, Chrissa stared at the most unusual looking girl that she had ever seen. The girl had a shameful combination of sun-bleached hair, cut just above her shoulders like a man’s, and skin bronzed and freckled from the sun.

  Although she was quite slender, obvious muscles could be seen through her sleeves and leggings. She was clearly a true warrior.

  “There, now I can move properly again,” said the young woman from Sanctus.

  “I can’t go back with you,” said Chrissa.

  “Don’t be scared. My country will take you in as one of our own. You will be safe there,” she said.

  “Scared?” Chrissa spat.

  Perhaps yesterday I would have gone with you, but everything is different now. I have seen the prince’s power with my own eyes. If I seek him, surely he will grant me the desires of my heart.

  Still, the warmth that flickered from the other girl’s deep brown eyes was so strange. She had risked her life not only for a stranger, but for an enemy.

  “Why did you help me? No one helps anyone here.”

  “I could never allow an animal like him to have his way with an innocent person. I heard you scream, and I wasn’t going to just walk by.”

  “You did not come here alone, did you?” asked Chrissa.

  Talya eyed her for a moment and then nodded.

  Maybe it did make sense. Her action was just a ploy of their God to turn me away from the power that our lord the prince could award me.

  Chrissa walked over to Naeshi’s fallen form and retrieved his sword. She pointed it at the other maiden.

  “I am better with a sword than you can imagine. Leave me before I turn you in to my father,” said Chrissa.

  “I mean you no harm,” said Talya.

  “Then go.”

  The girl stared at her for a moment. Then Talya turned and left the alley.

  Chrissa dropped the sword and ran back to the castle. She was anxious to be in the safety of her bedchamber again. It was the only place that she could truly be away from Naeshi.

  That oaf has stolen away my first kiss.

  Chrissa had always dreamed of being in love with the man that would take such a liberty, but the reality was that a Malinorian woman could not even have that luxury.

  True love didn’t exist.

  *****

  Jalarn stood over two lads that had fallen from exhaustion during their training that morning. Commander Waltez had been at his wits’ end with the weaklings, so Jalarn had decided to break them in himself. He had been younger than they when he had begun
the grueling process of becoming a Malinorian warrior. Exceptions would not be made for them or anyone else.

  “Get up!” he yelled.

  They both looked at him with pained expressions, but neither one moved.

  “If you don’t get up, I’ll be forced to beat you senseless. Is that what you want to happen?”

  The smaller of the two staggered to his feet, but the other one just glared back at him.

  Jalarn eyed the sickly little one who stood an entire head shorter than he. The boy was ill. The army could not afford the spread of sickness so close to the war.

  “Return to your quarters for the day. If you cannot perform your training tomorrow, then you will be eliminated.”

  The youth nodded wearily and left.

  Jalarn eyed the boy that was still sitting on the ground. His spunk was amusing, but anarchy would not be tolerated in his army.

  The defiant lad’s eyes widened when Jalarn unsheathed his sword.

  “What did you expect?” Jalarn asked.

  “My lord!” called one of his other commanders.

  Annoyed at the interruption, Jalarn sheathed his weapon and glared at his subordinate.

  “I thought that I ordered you not to distract me today.”

  “Ittonifer wishes to see you, General.”

  Jalarn eyed the young soldier that he had nearly killed.

  He was standing now.

  “Forgive me, General,” said the boy. “This won’t happen again!”

  “For some unknown reason, the devil was merciful to you today. Return to your commander. I leave it up to him to decide your fate.”

  Jalarn turned and stalked over to the castle where Ittonifer awaited. His uncle’s face looked even more wretched than it normally did.

  “What is it, my lord?” Jalarn asked.

  “Aterun has consulted the prince who revealed to him an image of seven knights from Sanctus landing on Noir Peak and putting on our armor. They were also present at the ceremony in the coliseum.”

  “Then they know everything!”

  “Yes. You must kill them before they reach the forest. Their dragons are secured there.”