A. Searle - The King's sword

“Stay back, Arien,” Ronan commanded.

“Yes, I had heard that you joined the Johran tribe to acquire safe passage through the hills.” Thestian crossed his arms. “And you even struck a deal with the Dragols. What now, blacksmith?”

“Where is Robusk?” Ronan repeated.

“Soon he will be in the Great Sea of Death. Perhaps you’d like to meet him there?” Thestian’s eyes glittered. “The game is over. Give me my sword.”

No. Robusk used Ahearn to speak thoughts to Ronan.

Thestian clicked his tongue. “Robusk, that was a very weak attempt. Save your energy old man. It is over.”

Ronan drew the sword from his sheath and held it out threateningly. “Yes, it is over. Where is he?”

Thestian laughed maniacally. “You are going to use the fake sword on me?” Ronan frowned and looked back at Keegan.

“The sword.”

Keegan tossed it in the air and Ronan caught it. He faced Thestian again. Slowly SleaganSleagan smiled and pulled open his shirt, exposing his pale chest.

“Do it, blacksmith. The result is the same either way.”

Ronan didn’t blink. “Robusk, what wizard do you name as the next King of Merisgale before you die?” Ronan Culley. Ronan smiled as Thestian’s eyes widened. The blade of the sword began to glow and Thestian danced backward.

“Ula,” Ronan called but she didn’t answer. “Ula.” Still she was silent. Ronan did not want to take his eyes off of Thestian so he glanced to his left. His heart stopped.

“No.” Ronan felt tears brim in his eyes. “No, not you. It can’t be you.”

“Of course it is me. Did you think SleaganSleagan would have gone to so much trouble to be named and not send someone to stop you in case you caught on to what he was doing?”

Ronan’s eyes dropped to the dagger, Diato’s dagger, pressed to Ula’s throat. “I am no fool. You may have feelings for the Serpentine but it is this one you are willing to die for.”

“I…I trusted you.” Emotion welled in Ronan’s chest as Keegan started to circle around.

“Because you are a foolish man. Tell that killer to stay back or I will slit her throat.” The blade pressed firmly and tears welled in Ula’s eyes. She wasn’t using her magic to save herself, Ronan realized. She couldn’t. Not against Arien.

“I’m warning you.” Ronan said.

“Warning me?” Arien laughed. “I’ve seen you use your magic, Wihr. You can do nothing to me. Now give that sword to Thestian or I will cut out her throat.” Ronan’s hand trembled.

“No, Ronan,” Ula croaked. Ronan cursed loudly, but threw the sword to the ground. Arien smiled and glanced at Thestian when he hurried to pick it up.

“I told you. He is weak.”

“Finish them,” Thestian ground out.

Ronan turned as SleaganSleagan started back inside the gates.

“Which one first?” Arien’s face twisted in a sneer that made him unrecognizable to Ronan. “I think I’ll start with Ula Baen. I’ve put enough poison into Fiona’s arm that she will be dead in a few hours anyway.”

“Nooooooooo!” A shadow at the gates crouched, snarling, and leapt through the air onto Arien’s back. Ronan watched Arien cry out and twist as the claws of the small creature dug in and drew blood. Ula ducked but not quick enough and Arien’s blade dragged across her throat as she freed herself from his grip. A red line appeared on Ula’s neck but she shook her head, pressing her fingers against it.

“It’s not deep,” she whispered.

“What is that thing?” Keegan stepped to Ronan’s side but Ronan shook his head. It looked like a large rat but the claws and teeth resembled that of a wildcat. And it moved so quickly that Arien could not catch it. It scratched, bit, and then scurried to a new point of attack.

Arien finally grabbed the small beast by its leg and slung it away from his body. It hit the stone wall of the keep with a yelp and in an instant transformed into a man, one that Ronan was surprised to recognize as Mikel the Hort.

Ronan started forward as Arien spun, raised his dagger, the blade creating an arch over Fiona’s limp body. “Monty!” Ronan bellowed and as if waiting for that moment, in a rush of wind the wizard swooped down, knocking Arien away from Fiona and to the ground. The dagger hit the wall of the keep.

“Give me your sword!” Ronan shouted and Keegan handed him the sword. He bent down and picked up Arien’s dagger, turned it in his hand.

“Nice blade. Make it yourself?” Keegan struck quickly, thrusting the dagger into Arien’s stomach.

“Ula, help me.” The boy’s eyes rounded. Ula turned her head and wept as she backed away.

“Monty, can you get me over that wall?” Ronan called, shrugging away his own sorrow. He’d never suspected Arien. Monty plucked Ronan from the ground and in seconds was dropping him to the other side of the wall.

“Bust out that door,” Ronan told him before heading toward the castle doors. He slipped inside and closed his eyes. I call to the high council of wizards. Thestian is Sleagan. He has imprisoned King Robusk and is attempting to take over Merisgale. Arm yourselves!

“What?” Someone called aloud and Ronan opened his eyes.

“Thestian is no wizard. He is Sleagan,” Ronan answered. “We have to stop him and save Robusk!” Others had appeared and Ronan realized they were each wizards of the high council, past kings of Merisgale.

“Where is he? Where is Thestian now?” One of them asked.

“Somewhere in the castle. I’m certain of it.” Ronan gripped his sword.

“And Robusk?”

“I…I don’t know. It looks like a dungeon with no windows. He’s very weak.” Ronan had no time for this! He headed for the stairs.

“You are Ronan Culley,” One of them called. “You are the wizard we heard Robusk name as next King.”

Ronan didn’t hesitate in his stride, taking the steps two at a time.

He found himself in a great hallway. He entered every room and then halted when he opened a door to a chamber filled with swords. It was a huge room with enormous swords along the back wall. Normal sized swords were showcased in velvet-lined pedestals. The chamber of swords.

A maid screamed when he turned down a corridor. “Where is Thestian?” Ronan demanded and she pointed frantically toward the other end of the corridor. Ronan ran past her. So much for loyalty to the named king, he thought smugly.

“Blacksmith!” Thestian’s scream echoed from the room to his right moments before the door opened. “This is not the King’s Sword!”

“No.” Ronan shook his head and swung the sword he held with all his might but Thestian brought the fake sword up quickly and blocked the strike.

“Give me the sword!” He screeched.

“Get your own. This one is mine.” Ronan swung again and then again. Each time Thestian blocked the strike. Thestian’s eyes darkened and Ronan felt the stone floors began to shake.

“Give…me…the…sword!” Thestian lifted a hand and a blast of heat hit Ronan in the chest sending him backward into the stone wall. Ronan struggled to catch his breath when he fell to the floor. He pulled himself to his feet.

“You are no match for me, blacksmith. Your magic is weak and your mind is weaker.” SleaganSleagan snarled as darkness swept up the corridor. “Give me the sword.”

“He was going to kill Fiona.” Ula’s voice found his ears and he turned to find her pushing her way through the crowd of wizards and castle servants. Some of the King’s court had gathered with them.

Ronan looked back at Thestian’s wild eyes. “He sent Arien to betray us and Diato to kill you and Fiona. He means to kill you, Ronan!”

“I’m not strong enough,” Ronan called back and Thestian smiled as he nodded.