A. Searle - The King's sword

“I’d like to get moving. The farther I am from the swamp the happier I’ll be,” Ronan announced.

“Come on, little fellow.” Bryan plucked Mikel from Sorcha’s back with one hand and dropped the wide-eyed changeling onto his own back. “Let’s give the blacksmith a little room to breathe.” He chuckled at his own joke when Ronan slanted a gaze at him.

“Funny.” Ronan swung onto his horse. “Let’s go.” He looked back at the others as they mounted and started forward. His band was getting larger. They’d started out as just four. Now there were seven.

Ronan studied Ula as she rubbed her ointment into his shoulders. Her leathered face was one he’d grown to know well. He recalled the younger version of herself he’d seen when she fought the Sledgers and wondered why she didn’t use her magic to make herself appear like that always. But perhaps she had nothing she felt she needed to hide.

“You are wondering if I am the one who undid your magic.” Ula did not look up from her hands. Her fingers dug deep, relieving his muscles of their tension as she applied the medicinal ointment.

“It’s crossed my mind.” Ronan glanced across the campfire at the others. His eyes found Fiona’s. She was gazing at his bared torso with hunger in her eyes. He forced himself to look away from her. He could not take the chance. Not when he did not know who the betrayer was.

“I am a sorceress. I haven’t the magic to change a wizard’s spell, even one who has no training like you.” She dipped her fingers into the salve and then placed the cool of it against his arm. The ball of her hands kneaded into him and he grunted at the deep pleasure it brought to his arm.

“Then who was it?” Ronan asked but she shook her head.

“I don’t know. It is as much a puzzle to me as it is you.”

“Fiona?” Ronan asked, lowering his voice. Her black eyes finally lifted reflecting two tiny campfires in each.

“Fiona is not of the dark forces. She has spent her life trying to keep from being as weak as her grandmother had. This is not the first time she’s taken a sword to a wizard.” Ula massaged her healing concoction into his skin. “The liar will show himself soon enough I would imagine.”

“I don’t know who to trust,” Ronan admitted and frowned.

“Trust yourself.”

Ronan nodded but she didn’t look up at him. Hers were wise words and the only course of action to follow. He shrugged away from her hands and she reluctantly moved away from him. He lay down on his blankets, hand resting protectively on the hilt of the King’s Sword. The betrayer would be a fool to try to take the sword when surrounded by so many suspicious persons. Ronan closed his eyes.

Robusk huddled in the corner of the dark place. There had been no light to open the darkness for him for two weeks. He’d been given only one meal since he was thrown down here and shackled. One meal of molded bread and a tin cup of dirty water.

Shivering, Robusk looked up as the door of his prison unlocked and swung open revealing his captor. “It’s almost over, old man.”

“Indeed it is.” Robusk’s voice sounded weak to his own ears. “The wizard blacksmith is not as stupid as you thought he was.” He tried to summon his power but lack of nourishment, the cold, and a protective shield of magic prevented him from doing his will.

“No but those he travels with are. Except for one, of course.” A smirk moved closer and Robusk tried again to hurl magic at the man. “You are only wasting your energy, you know. I am more powerful than you.”

“If that is true, why am I locked away and deprived food and water?” Robusk met those cold eyes with a smug smile. “Because you aren’t nearly as powerful as I am, Sleagan.”

SleaganSleagan clicked his tongue. “Stupid old man. Don’t you know? You killed my father. In doing so, you gave me the throne over the dark forces. That is the only reason I have not delivered you to death already.” SleaganSleagan knelt in front of Robusk. “But you did kill him. So I’ve decided to watch you die. It’s a small fascination of mine. Death, that is.”

“You will not get away with this,” Robusk warned and the man before him laughed wildly.

“I’m already getting away with it. But it is to be expected. The first stage of dying is denial. It is interesting but I particularly enjoy the following stages. Pleading. Teetering on the brink of madness. And finally acceptance.” SleaganSleagan sighed heavily, shaking his head. “You grow thinner now, you are fading fast. I’d hoped you wouldn’t and allow me a few days extra of toying. But I cannot control the effects of age. If you were younger, it would bring me more satisfaction.”

“Sorry to disappoint you.” Robusk spat in his face. A slender hand lifted and wiped the saliva from his eyes but his expression did not change.

“Is that all the fight you have left? You are supposed to be the great high wizard Robusk. I expected more from you.” SleaganSleagan rose and stared down at Robusk for a few moments before turning and heading back toward the door.

“I’ll come for another visit tomorrow, to see how you fair,” he called before closing the door firmly. Robusk heard the lock turn and looked down at his hands. Chained where he was with dark magical shackles. There was no escape for him.

Hurry, Ronan. He thought past the walls of his prison in desperation. The safety of Meris depends upon you.

–

Ronan had expected the hills of Johran to be as breathtaking as those of Jobi but he’d been wrong. Scowling, he gazed out at the brown grasses and gray rocks. The trees did not grow tall and lush, the foliage was sparse, and there was dryness in the air that made Ronan’s mouth water.

“This is the ugliest place I’ve ever seen,” Arien said as he glanced around them and Ronan nodded with agreement. “It is no wonder they are cannibals. Nothing grows here to be used for food.”

“Which brings up a fine point.” Ula looked at Ronan. “How are we going to get past this tribe of flesh eaters?”

Ronan kept his eyes straight ahead. “They do not eat their own. So I will become one of their tribe.”

“What?” Ula reached out and touched his arm causing him to look at her. Her black eyes were rounded as she stared at him and her lips formed the word ‘no’.

“It is the only way.” Ronan kicked his horse forward so she had to release his arm. “And I’ll not hear any arguing about it. I’ve made my decision. It is the only way to save us from becoming someone’s breakfast.”

“It sounds of madness.” Of course Keegan would not keep quiet just because Ronan bid it of them. “Even if you do convince them to make you one of their tribe, you realize you will be expected to eat with them. As you say, they do not eat one of their own. That means one of us will be part of your meal. ”

Ronan swallowed but did not look at the horseman. “I have already thought of that.”

“And?” Keegan demanded.

“I will convince them that none of you can be killed because of the mission we are on. The outcome of this journey does affect the way of life of their tribe as much as anyone else’s. They will have to listen to my reason.”

“You should start talking now.” Mikel pointed from Bryan’s back to the three men who stood on the hilltop ahead of them, each holding a spear that was longer than any of them.

“Fall back,” Ronan ordered and for once, no one argued. They all obeyed allowing him to ride ahead. Hold your hands out so they see you have no weapon aimed at them. Ahearn thought from behind him and Ronan did as he suggested. The others followed suit.

The men did not move, even as Ronan’s horse approached then stopped directly in front of them. “I wish to speak to the leader of your tribe,” Ronan said to the man who stood in the middle but it was the one to the left who responded.