A. Searle - The King's sword

“He would if he wanted the sword brought back to him,” Ronan argued.

“Did you think of this yourself? You are just a blacksmith, Ronan Culley. All you have is that sword and you aren’t going to use it. You know what will happen if you do.” Diato laughed mockingly. “If you don’t, you are more stupid than I thought.”

“Nine King’s guards were killed. I managed to get this far alive. Perhaps on my stupidity,” Ronan snapped.

“Go back to your cottage with your boy apprentice. Stick with what you know best, making weapons. It doesn’t require much thought or magic. Do it now before you kill anyone else.” Diato ground out. “Like you did your mother.”

“I just want to take the sword to Merisgale…” Ronan Culley began but Diato laughed again.

“With the killer and the sorceress?” He shook his head. “Doane Vaughn killed eighteen people. Did you know that? Well, twenty-two if you count the guards he bled today. One of those he killed before was his own brother. I’d wager he didn’t tell you that bit.”

“I’m thinking of going for twenty-three,” Keegan Yore warned. “My brother was the only one out of those I murdered who deserved it.”

“And your little sorceress in her clever disguise. You wouldn’t even think about Fiona if you saw her real face. And that’s all it’s about, isn’t it, blacksmith?” Diato lowered his voice. “It’s about a pretty face.”

“Thestian is Sleagan. And I don’t believe you are of his dark forces.” The blacksmith spoke. He’d obviously gotten a grasp on the anger that had caused the sword’s blade to shake.

“For you to even say those words is an offense,” Diato snapped. “I am the captain of the King’s Guards.”

“What King? Merisgale is currently without king. Do you know why?” Ronan Culley’s eyes glittered darkly. “Because he is locked in a windowless cell where he withers away as we speak.”

Diato’s eyes narrowed. “Where?”

“I don’t know. He won’t tell me. Something about a code of wizard’s he said.” The blacksmith frowned, shaking his head. “He calls to me in my dreams and tells me that Merisgale is in trouble.”

“You lie.” Diato had an urge to strike the blacksmith. He speaks the truth. Diato’s gaze widened and the blacksmith glanced back at the horses. Diato did not miss the chance and lunged, knocking the sword from Ronan Culley’s hand. Diato drew back his fist and hit the blacksmith hard.

“Where is the wizard Robusk?” Diato drew back his fist again but the blacksmith’s heavy paw caught his jaw and sent him from atop of him. “I heard his voice. He is here. What have you done with him?”

“He is not here!” Ronan yelled back, rubbing at the side of his head where Diato had made his strike. “I tell you he is locked away somewhere and is being starved to death!”

“How would you know he was starving unless you had seen him?” Diato didn’t move from the ground and neither did the blacksmith.

“I have seen him in my dreams and I would know he is starving to death because that is how my mother died!” Ronan pushed himself up from the ground. Then reached down and swiped up the sword. He speaks the truth.

Diato knew Robusk’s voice, probably better than anyone. “If what you say is true why do I hear him speaking to me now?”

Ronan blinked, then turned to look at Ahearn. Diato could hear Ahearn’s thoughts? And thought it was Robusk’s voice that communicated to him? Ronan shook his head. Yes.

“The wizard Robusk is using Ahearn to communicate with me,” Ronan said aloud. Yes .

Keegan blew out a breath. “For that I am thankful. I was beginning to wonder what kind of damned horses I was raising.”

“This is some kind of trick and one that will have you facing a prison sentence.” Diato spat but he was ignored.

“Merisgale is only a day’s ride away. You can make it there before dusk if you head out now.” Bryan gave one of the guards a soft kick when he started to rise. “Unless you want to end up like your friends, I’d suggest you stay put.” The guard immediately dropped back down.

“What of the guards?” Keegan shook his head. “If we release them, that one may try to stop us again.”

“Leave them here with me,” Bryan suggested. “You all go on. I’ll keep them here.”

Ronan glanced at the centaur, then his eyes dropped to Ula. She gave him a quick nod.

“Alright.” Ronan grabbed Diato by the back of his collar and hauled him roughly to his feet. Diato was clearly not expecting the punch to his face. Ronan hesitated and then hit him again before he could shake himself from the first blow.

“Come near her again and I will kill you.” Ronan warned and released him roughly next to the other two guards who knelt shaking with fear. Ronan turned to Arien who’d hefted Fiona across his horse. She wasn’t moving but he could see the slight rise and fall of her breast. She lived.

“Take them to Johran if I don’t return soon,” Ronan told Bryan who nodded.

“Let’s go,” Ronan called and swung onto Sorcha’s back. “We have no time to waste if we are going to find Robusk and stop Thestian.” He kicked his horse forward, leaving Bryan, Diato and two very scared looking guards behind.

Merisgale rose from the horizon like a giant of grey stone. Ronan swallowed loudly when he saw it. It was massive. The castle stood like a tower to the Gods, surrounded by a wall that made even the dragon Montecu look small.

Ronan glanced behind them. The dragon had not traveled with them but Ronan knew he was there, just beyond sight. He’d felt him during the entire rescue and afterward when they traveled across the moors.

“How is Fiona?” Ronan glanced over at Arien.

“The same. No better but no worse either,” the boy answered.

“She won’t die,” Ula reassured Ronan and he sent her a small smile. “I swear it to you.”

“When we get inside, Arien, you take Fiona somewhere safe where Ula can tend to her.” Ronan commanded and though both the apprentice and sorceress looked as if neither liked his decision, neither argued.

“Keegan, you will stay with me?” Ronan looked at the horseman, thankful when he nodded.

“I don’t think that’s going to work,” Arien said suddenly and pointed to the gates of Merisgale. Ahead Thestian stood, waiting for them.

“Dragon’s blood,” Ronan cursed then glanced behind him. “Sorry, Monty.” Keegan rode alongside Ronan’s right side.

“Give me the sword,” Ronan barely heard Keegan’s words.

“What?”

“Give it to me and take this one.” For a moment Ronan didn’t move. Could he trust that Keegan was not the one who betrayed him? Sensing his hesitation, the horseman turned and met his gaze.

“If I were the one I would have killed you the moment I met you,” He murmured. “Now give it to me before it’s too late.”

“Ronan Culley,” Thestian called in greeting and lifted a hand in a half wave as Ronan rode ahead of the others.

“Wizard Thestian.” Ronan dismounted and bowed low as if the wizard was already king.

“You have not failed me.” Thestian spoke after Ronan rose to his feet again. “Come. You must be weary.”

“I am but I have much more to do before I can rest.” Ronan met Thestian’s gaze. “Where is King Robusk?”

Thestian’s face saddened. “He is missing.”

“Where is he?” Ronan repeated and for a moment Thestian only stared at him.

Slowly a smile slid across his fair face. He shook a finger at Ronan. “You are a clever man to be a blacksmith.” Thestian clicked his tongue. “Almost too clever.”

“He is the Stone Wizard Ronan of Johran,” Arien corrected from his horse. Ronan did not look but could hear Arien scrambling down from Ahearn’s back.