Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 10:08:43 EST From: Bwstories8@aol.com Subject: Sword of Kings - chapter 20 Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Don't read this story if: **You're not 18 or over, **If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, **Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance with this chapter. If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section. E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com. * * * * * * * * The Sword of Kings-by BW (Fantasy/Sci Fi). Copyright 2000 by billwstories Chapter 20 - The end is near. November 2001 Stunned momentarily by all that had just transpired, the companions stood frozen in disbelief. They knew that they must do something, but they did not know whether they should run to Hadwin's assistance first, or if they should move forward to make sure that Srejan was truly dead. Kieren, who had just released the awesome power of the Golden Medallion, was the first to regain his senses and he staggered over to his injured protector. Still drained by the use of magic, the prince was somewhat confused and unsure about what he should do to help his friend. "Are you all right?" he asked the Nardian. "My arm was pierced by that beast and there is considerable pain emanating from it," he responded, grimacing with every word he spoke. "I believe the bone is also broken and that arm will not be of much service to me for a while, but I will survive." "Do you want us to bandage it for you?" "Yes, it would probably be a wise precaution to cover this puncture wound, or I might leave a blood trail that could be followed." Kieren turned to locate Alaric and noticed the elf had gone over to examine their fallen opponent. Moving away from the injured knight, Kieren walked over to where Alaric crouched, inspecting the carcass. "Alaric, do you have any more bandages to put on Hadwin's wounds?" the prince asked him. "I do believe I have something that will serve the purpose. Just a second and I'll rummage through my pack to find them." While Alaric was pawing through his pack, Kieren made another suggestion. "Do you also have something to ease his pain? I think he's fighting hard to keep us from knowing how badly he's hurt." The elf nodded his head and continued to dig for the desired articles, and then he moved over to Hadwin, carrying the retrieved items with him. While Kieren and Alaric were helping Hadwin and the others were investigating the felled beast or checking to make sure no other threat was presenting itself, Garreth finally had regained his composure and discovered he needed to have a question answered. "What happened to that thing? And what was that light and where did it come from?" "That, Master Garreth, was the long dormant power of the royal medallion," Rhys informed him. "Your friend was wise enough to unleash it, for our protection. Think back to the meeting held at Leander, when we witnessed Beraut giving him that medal. Obviously he advised the prince of its potential when we were not around, and we were unaware that there was more to this trinket than just its being an insignia of royal authority. I'm not sure what he did to get it to do that, but I'm glad that he deemed it necessary to use it at that moment. I just can't figure out WHEN Beraut would have been able to get him alone and explain to him the tremendous force that it held." "Wow, I've never seen anything like that before. It was awesome." "And you may never see anything like that again," Rhys added. "Man, and to think my friend did that." Garreth looked at his boyhood friend with great admiration at this point, studying him as he helped Hadwin. Finally he decided to address him directly. "Kieren, did it hurt you at all when you did that?" Kieren must have been too absorbed in assisting Alaric as he tended to their stricken comrade, and he failed to respond. Garreth wasn't bothered by this, however, but merely got up and strolled over to where his friend was, and place a hand on his shoulder. Kieren looked up and smiled at the young elf, when he saw him standing there, and Garreth repeated his question. This time Kieren responded. "No, I didn't feel a thing, but Beraut warned me, when he told me about the secrets of the Golden Medallion, that other magical beings within range could sense the release of its powers when used. I'm worried now that Madumda might be aware of our presence within his home. He might even be searching for me as I speak. I suggest we hurry if we want to locate the Sword before he finds us. Qaim, would you please lead us out of this place." Qaim quickly acknowledged his friend's request and scampered about, checking out the first few feet of every tunnel that led from the chamber in which they now stood. He sniffed for signs of life, looked for signs of usage, such as the build-up of residue upon the surface, and he scanned for signs of wear, trying to determine the appropriate shaft to take. The hairy little creature continued his harried inspection until he determined which passage to take, then he urged the others to follow him. "We go this way. Follow Qaim. Qaim take you to bad wizard's home now. Quick, follow Qaim." Without hesitation, the companions scurried down the tunnel, following the aignx, watching Qaim as he quickly surveyed side tunnels before passing them by. They continued on like this for many minutes, passing many other possible routes as they went, but the party emphatically trusted their guide's instincts. Finally they rounded a slight bend in the corridor, only to spot a closed wooden door. "Well, I wonder what lies beyond that portal?" remarked Rhys. "I be not certain, but methinks we must be wary," advised the giant Mitikuan. "Other unknown dangers may lurk beyond, and our liege must not be placed in any more danger." "Well urged," countered Quintain. "I think it best if we all have our weapons at the ready and approach the door with extreme caution. I will volunteer to lead the way." The dwarf drew his sword and crept forward, inching his way closer to the door, constantly checking for signs of light and shadows which might be filtering from the small gaps around it. Slowly he placed his ear to the wood and listened for any sounds that might be coming from the other side. After several minutes of intense monitoring, he signaled Qaim to come forward, to check and make sure that the door wasn't protected by any magical devices. After a thorough inspection, Qaim indicated that it was safe, but locked. Now the hairy guide looked to the dwarf and asked, "Do you want Qaim to open?" "Yes, please," Quintain responded. The aignx moved to the door, his back blocking the others from seeing what he was doing, but soon there was a very slight 'click' and then the door opened a crack. The warriors all stood with their weapons at the ready, not knowing what might be awaiting them on the other side. Quintain had blocked the aignx from opening it further, until he peered through the small opening and scanned the area beyond. The dwarf saw nothing to cause him alarm, so he pulled it open even further, until the gap was large enough for him to stick his head and shoulders through. Slowly he bent forward and began to check the area on the other side, looking first straight ahead, and then to his left and right, but he saw no movements or anything that would cause him alarm. Now he moved completely through the door, to complete his examination of the area beyond and, finding nothing, he went back to retrieve the others. Upon seeing the dwarf's signal, the others hurried through the opening and then the door was closed behind them. They were now only a few feet away from where they had previously waited, but they felt they had made a giant leap toward their objective. Now that door stood ominously behind them and the unknown lay ahead. "Does anyone have any idea where we are?" asked Kieren. "I'm not certain," responded Sedain, "but my guess is that we are now in the fortress itself. I suspect we are on one of the lower levels, somewhere above the dungeons, but still below the main floors." "What do we do next?" Garreth wanted to know. "The same as we have been doing," suggested Alaric, "and follow our amazing little guide. He has brought us this far and I believe that he's the only one who can lead us to where we need to go." "Though he did a fantastic job getting us this far," Sedain countered, "I believe that he has done his part. The wizard said that he was to get us INTO Treblanc, but he said nothing beyond that. I believe it is now OUR duty to help Kieren locate the Sword of Kings." "I don't agree," Hadwin responded. "Qaim's special ability is to locate magical devices, and what could be more magical than the Sword of Kings? I believe that he would be able to sense its presence and be able to locate it more quickly than we could do." It looked as if this debate might continue, but Turquinine went straight to the heart of the matter. Taking things into his own hands, the giant knight spoke up. "What sayeth thou, Qaim? Canst thou find this Sword?" "Qaim try, but Qaim not sure. Qaim not feel any magic down here." "That may only be because we are not close enough to it for you to be able to sense it," added Alaric. "It is possible that you would be able to feel its magic, once we are closer to it, but none of us would be able to sense its presence." "I'm not sure about that," Kieren reluctantly countered. "I think that Beraut hinted that I'm the one who must find the Sword, though he might have expected Qaim to get me close to it. I'm not sure if the medallion will somehow signal where it is or what, but somehow Beraut gave me the impression that I'm the only one who will be able to discover it." "Think," Hadwin advised him, somewhat annoyed. "The wizard must have given you some clues or advice on how to locate the Sword. We can't have come all this way without you having some idea about how to find it." "Calm down, Hadwin," advised Rhys. "Beraut had the utmost confidence that Kieren would be able to complete his mission, so I'm sure that, when the time comes, he will be able to find the Sword and use it against Madumda." "No, I think Hadwin might be right," Kieren told them, "but I just can't recall the advice Beraut gave me. I need to think about this more, and maybe then I'll remember it." The companions stood silently in the gloom, trying to give Kieren a few minutes to ponder this dilemma. They even tried not to breathe too loudly, for fear this might distract him, but as the time passed, they began to grow impatient with how long this was taking. Almost imperceptibly, and without making so much as a grunt, they turned their bodies to scan the area for signs of danger, worrying they might be discovered while waiting for Kieren to remember the forgotten information. The minutes continued to drag on, until at last Kieren broke the silence. "I'm sorry, but I just can't remember anything. I don't remember Beraut telling me anything specific and I'm not sure how to carry on from here. Maybe the wizard and the rest of you shouldn't have put your trust in me." Kieren turned away and hung his head, thinking that he had let everyone down. Instinctively Rhys moved over to comfort the boy. "You're wrong, Kieren," he told the lad, as he placed his muscular arm around the prince's shoulders. "You will find a way to do this. Beraut is a powerful wizard and he did not place his faith in you lightly, so that is good enough for me. Besides, I've learned to trust in you too. You've come so far, please don't give up now." "Rhys is correct," added Hadwin, "so I beg you to forgive my earlier outburst and the insensitivity of my comments. This fortress is not the most hospitable place I have ever been in, and I think it was just beginning to get on my nerves. Let's keep moving while we try to figure out what to do next. We'll continue to look for the Sword as we go, and Qaim might be able to help with that as well. I don't think it is wise to remain here, as I wouldn't want someone to discover us debating our next move." "A very wise suggestion indeed," responded Alaric. "Come on, Kieren, let's get moving. We all believe you can do this, or we wouldn't have volunteered to come with you in the first place. Qaim, will you take the lead again?" "Yes, Qaim do. Qaim help young master. Qaim help him find what he is looking for." "Yes, yes," urged Doenilio, "but let's be off." Now they began to move down the pathway in front of them, stopping to take a quick listen at every door they passed, and stopping to inspect each intersecting corridor before darting across it. They continued on in this manner, following their furtive little guide, until the aignx signaled them all to stop. Qaim turned and whispered something to Rhys, and the Akiktite slowly moved past him. The tall warrior motioned the others to move tightly against the wall, keeping out of sight as much as possible, while he did the same. Before long, someone turned the corner, emerging from a side tunnel, and walked straight into the corridor in which they were hiding. Before that individual had time to respond, once their presence had been discovered, Rhys had pounced upon the interloper, grasping the person from behind and placing the cold steel blade of his dagger against the person's throat. The others were startled to discover that this intruder was merely a girl, just beginning to blossom into womanhood. Alaric reacted with cat-like quickness, as he moved in front of the girl and began to speak to her in a very calm voice. "If you promise not to scream or run away, no harm will come to you. Just nod your head that you agree and I will get my friend to release you. Do you promise to do as I have asked?" The girl's eyes were wide with fright, but she nodded her head in the affirmative, so Alaric signaled Rhys to release his grip. The warrior hesitantly relaxed his deadly hold on the young maiden, and now she stood between her two captors. "We have no reason to harm you," the elf began. "Who are you and what are you doing down here?" "I am Jana. I am a servant for the Lord Madumda. It is my job to help clean the kitchens." She now studied the two individuals next to her, noting them carefully. After she finished her visual inspection of them, she spoke again. "You are not from here, or allies of my master, so why are you here?" "You are correct, we are not from here, but all I can tell you is that we don't mean you any harm." Kieren looked at Jana as she stood in the dim light, and he guessed that she was not quite as old as he was. He noticed her dirt smeared face and body, and he began to feel pity for her when he noticed the rags she wore as clothes. Her hair was a knotted tangle of greasy strands, which reminded him of how Qaim had looked when they first discovered him in Briarwood, and he could see that she was trembling slightly. "Then you must know your way around the fortress?" Rhys asked forcefully, jarring Kieren from his thoughts. The girl nodded her head, but did not speak, and Rhys continued his questioning. "How did you come to be here?" "The Lord Madumda took my parents captive, before I was born. They were brought here to serve him and do whatever he ordered them to do, so they toiled day and night at his bidding. When I was eight years old, my father decided he wanted me to have a better life and some kind of future, so he made plans with my mother to escape from here. He learned of the tunnels under the fortress, and one night he sneaked my mother and me down here, hoping to slip away. Unfortunately we were caught before we got very far and the guards took us to the master for punishment. That monster ordered my father hanged and my mother beheaded, to keep the others from trying to leave also, but he spared my life because I was too young to have been privy to their plan and he saw more use for me as a servant." Kieren had been watching Jana intently as she told her story, and he noticed that there was a hidden beauty underneath the filth and the scraps of garments. He was deeply touched by what she had told them, imagining what it must be like to lose your parents like that and then be forced to work for the despicable monster who had ordered that done. Once again he felt pity for her, and he wanted to help her or offer her some comfort. "I'm so sorry that you've had to go through all of that," he blurted out. "It must have been very difficult to see your parents murdered and then have to stay in this place besides. I wish that I could have been here to help you in some way, for I would have done anything to ease your pain. Is there anything we can do to help you now?" Jana was taken aback by his comments, and she was genuinely puzzled by his response. "You are not like those who live here and work for the master," she told them bluntly, "for they care about no one but themselves or the Lord Madumda. I have never before met anyone like you, but I have the feeling I can trust you. I thank you for your offer and I hope that you will be able to help me with the one dream I have clung to since my parents were killed. I want someone to kill that animal who ordered my parents executed and then take me away from here." "We might be able to help you," Kieren told her, "but only if you are willing to help us." "Me, help? But what can I do?" "You can be our guide. You know your way around this place and others know you belong here. You can lead us to where we need to go, sort of like a guide. You won't arouse as much suspicion if you are seen wandering around the hallways, but we would set off all kinds of alarms." "I might not be noticed down here or around the kitchen and dining areas, but if I were to go anywhere else in this place, I would certainly be noticed. We are not allowed to go into any areas other than the ones where we work." "It's true, you would probably be noticed in those other areas, but the ones who spotted you wouldn't immediately call out a warning or a challenge, only try to detain you to see what you were up to. If they did come up to you to question you as to what you were doing, that would allow us the opportunity to dispense with them before we were also discovered. On the other hand, if someone were to notice us sneaking through the corridors, they would immediately try to alert others as to our presence." She of course saw the logic in Kieren's argument and agreed to be their guide, provided that they promised to try to kill Madumda for her. Seeing that promise was not hard to make, Kieren quickly agreed to it and told her they would do everything possible to eliminate Madumda from this world. Kieren continued his conversation with her, as he enjoyed being near her and he was fascinated by the lovely musical quality to her voice. He also recognized a raw, basic intelligence that had not yet been fully developed, and that went along well with her other qualities. Suddenly he remembered his mission, and he knew he must get back to the matter at hand. "Jana, we came here looking for something special, something that would help us destroy Madumda. Have you ever seen or heard about a very special sword that he is said to possess?" "No! As far as I know, the only weapons allowed into Treblanc are those carried by his guards. I have never seen any others." "Well," Kieren continued, "is there a special room or place where Madumda keeps the things he prizes most?" "Well, I've heard that he has several rooms on the upper levels, where he works and sleeps. I have been told that very few people are ever allowed to go in there and that this area is heavily guarded at all times." "Then that must be where the Sword is. Would you be able to take us there or show us how to get to these rooms?" "I know the way, but if we are caught, we will surely be killed." "If you want Madumda dead, then we must take that chance. That sword has the power to destroy him. You just lead us to this place and my warrior friends will protect us and take care of any of the guards we might encounter along the way. Remember, you must be brave, especially if you want this to happen as much as we do." "I do, but I am still frightened. I have seen how Madumda deals with those who displease him." Jana was visibly trembling now, her body shaking like a leaf in a stiff wind. In her mind she was picturing the final moments of all those she had seen tortured or killed on Madumda's orders, picturing herself as each victim when the deed was being done. Suddenly a wave of empathy swept over the prince, as he recognized her anxiety, and he moved closer to her and took her into his arms. He was very gentle, trying to reassure her that everything would be fine, but he soon found that he was enjoying this embrace too. He was considering what to do next, when Hadwin's voice disturbed his thoughts. "Master Kieren, we have stayed in this spot for far too long already. I strongly suggest that we move along, before we are discovered." Kieren released the girl and turned to face his companions. They were giving him looks of respect or admiration for how he had handled the girl, and some even had a mischievous twinkle in their eyes, thinking they were seeing something more here than a concerned friend. Finally Kieren responded to his warning. "Yes, you are correct. Jana, will you please show us how to get to this place?" She nodded her head and then turned to head back down the hallway she had just come from. The companions moved off at a much faster pace, now, as they didn't have to stop and check any of the adjoining corridors before they passed them. They were relying completely upon Jana's judgment, although this might prove to be a fatal mistake, as they had no basis on which to justify such blind trust. For some unknown reason, they had decided to take Jana at face value, never questioning her commitment or willingness to assist them. Now their safety and the success of this mission depended totally upon her loyalty to them, but none of them seemed troubled by this fact. Instead, they continued to follow her down hallways and up staircases, until she signaled them to stop. Now she turned toward them and spoke in a whisper. "There are two guards, playing some sort of card game, in front of the entrance to the master's apartments." "Is it possible for me to see them without being detected?" asked Rhys. "Yes, if you are careful. As I looked around the bend, I could see them, but they didn't seem to notice me. I think they are too preoccupied with their game. I think if you keep near the floor you would be able to see down the hallway and observe that entire area. If they do look up, I think their focus would be about shoulder level, not near the floor." "I agree. The rest of you stay here and I'll try to assess the situation." The warrior walked near the spot where he would be able to observe the two guards, then he got down on his belly, so he could slither forward to check out the area. They were obviously very absorbed in this game of theirs, as they never looked anywhere other than at their cards and each other, and Rhys was able to study them for several minutes. When he was satisfied with what he had discovered, he used his powerful arms to push himself back out of the guards' line of vision, and then he rose and went back to the others. "The girl is correct. There are only two guards and they are very intent on this game of theirs. They are too far away to charge, without them being able to give off some sort of warning to others of their kind, but I do have a plan. Listen closely and I'll explain it to you. "We'll need to utilize the talents of our three dwarf friends and Alaric, taking advantage of their skills as marksmen with their bows. Sedain and Quintain will have to crawl along either side of the corridor, until they are able to view their targets. Doenilio and Alaric will remain standing, but do the same, until they can also target their victim. The two on the left side of the corridor will target the guard on the left, and the two on the right will take aim at the guard on the same side. The two on the floor will target the chest, preferably the heart, and the two standing will focus in on the guard's throats, to prevent them from giving off a warning cry. You will take aim, but wait for me to snap my fingers, and then you will all let your arrows fly at the same time. Turquinine, Hadwin, and I will charge them as soon as the shafts have been released, just in case anyone's aim is off. Any questions?" "What about Kieren and me?" Garreth wanted to know. Once again he felt left out and unnecessary. "You two are to serve as lookouts and make certain that no one slips up on us from behind," Rhys advised him, guessing at how the young man felt. Then the warrior added one more duty for them to do. "Qaim and Jana will also stay with you, and you are to protect them as well." This simple assignment seemed to bolster his self-worth and give him the perception that he had an important role in this part of the mission. After all, not only was he protecting the others from discovery, but Kieren and he were personally responsible for Qaim and Jana's safety too. Kieren grasped Jana's hand and pulled her with him along the one wall, and Garreth told Qaim to stay behind him on the other wall. Now the two teens focused their eyes down the corridor, looking for signs of movement, their short-swords drawn and ready to defend their comrades. Qaim had followed the young elf, after he was told to do so, but it was obvious that he would have preferred to stay near the young prince. He seemed to want to cross the corridor, to be with the other two, but Garreth had reached behind and placed his arm against the aignx's chest, pushing his body against the cold stone of the wall, in a protective manner. By this time the dwarfs and Alaric had readied their bows and gotten into position. They were only awaiting Rhys' signal to fire. When the Akiktite snapped his fingers, which was barely audible to those close to him, they let their shafts fly. The strings of the crossbows and Alaric's bow twanged, as each projectile flew true and lodged in its target. Doenilio's quarrel hit his victim squarely in the throat, just under the vocal chords, while Alaric's arrow went through the side of the neck of his guard. At the same instant, the two prone dwarfs had also loosed their shafts, with Sedain's small shaft lodging in the chest of the one guard, while Quintain's quarrel slammed between the ribs of the second victim. The three knights then raced down the corridor, to finish off these guards, but it was unnecessary, as both men had fallen to the floor dead. Neither one of the guards knew what hit them and their deaths were mercifully swift. While all this was going on, Alaric went back to retrieve the others, as they wanted everyone safely inside Madumda's apartments while they searched there. Turquinine and Rhys dragged the limp bodies of the two guards through the doorway and placed them against the inner wall, thinking people would be less suspicious seeing them missing than finding them dead. At the same time, Hadwin was busy checking out the area to make sure there were no other guards around and to see that no unusual activity was taking place. After all this was completed and they were safely inside the Dark Lord's chamber, they closed the door and began their inspection of the various rooms. There was a massive window that covered the entire wall across from where they entered the chamber, and sunlight streamed into the expanse, momentarily blinding them. They had spent a great deal of time roaming through the dark corridors beneath Treblanc and this sudden brightness took a few minutes to adjust to. Once their eyes had adjusted to the brightness, they began to look around and they discovered they were standing in some sort of library. The two walls on either side of the window were lined with cases that overflowed with books and other materials. There was also a door strategically placed among the shelves on each side, obviously leading to another room or rooms beyond. "Turquinine and Alaric," Rhys began, "why don't you two check the door out on the left side and Hadwin and I will see what's behind the one on the right. The rest of you stand guard on this side of the door we just entered, just in case some curious passerby decides to check and see if the guards are in here." Everyone nodded that they understood, and then the big Mitikuan and the elf went over and listened at the entranceway that led to the area they were to check out. Sensing no activity on the other side, they carefully opened the door, only to discover another large room. This one had more windows covering the exterior wall, but this one seemed to be the Dark Lord's sleeping quarters. They hastily inspected the large canopy bed that filled much of the floor space, but the bed was empty, and so was the area beneath it. They also lifted the mattress, to see if anything of importance had been hidden under it, and then they scanned the rest of the room, noting the other furnishings contained within. Next they inspected the interior of the large wardrobe that stood against the left wall, making sure no one was hiding within, and then they checked out the bureau, to see if the Sword or any other useful items were hidden there. Finding nothing of interest, and seeing there was nothing else to investigate, they returned to the library to report to the others. Hadwin and Rhys had taken similar precautions before they entered the door on the right, but soon they had also deemed it safe to enter. The door opened up on what appeared to be Madumda's laboratory, and their interest was immediately piqued by what they saw. In the center of the room was a large table, buried under mounds of scattered papers and a collection of books. The far wall was lined with a series of shelved cases, each covered with jars, jugs, and an assortment of other objects, and they decided they would need to investigate this further. As they began to inspect the contents of the containers, they discovered bones, animal organs, herbs and other plant life, and then there were things contained in some that they couldn't recognize. On the wall to their right were located work surfaces, which were equally cluttered, and below them were an accumulation of drawers. On the left wall, there was a fairly large window, letting light in from its central location, and to its left hung a large map of Tarolia and the surrounding kingdoms. To the right of the window stood a huge opaque orb, supported on a wooden cross-frame, but no one had any idea about what that was for. The pair continued to scurry about the room, conducting their hasty inspection, and then Rhys went back out into the library to speak with the others. Everyone was now there, including Turquinine and Alaric. "This room will require all of us to inspect it fully. There are many objects all about the room and many drawers containing who knows what. I ask that all of you come in there to help search for any clues that will help us find what we seek. The more of us that are doing the searching will help to reduce the time it will take us to complete the task." "What are you looking for?" asked a puzzled Jana. "We're looking for that very special sword that I mentioned earlier," Kieren told her. "I understand that it is exquisite in workmanship and unmatched by any other sword in existence. It should be easy to identify, once it is discovered." "Oh, it sounds positively lovely," Jana responded. "I will be happy to help you find it, but why would we be looking in drawers for such a thing?" "We are also looking for anything else that might help us," Sedain advised her, "like notes about it, copies of Madumda's battle plans, or anything else that we might be able to use." Jana nodded in understanding, though she wasn't quite sure what they meant by it. The others all followed Rhys back into that room, and the warrior assigned each of them a specific area to search. Once the others had begun their inspection, Rhys asked Turquinine and Alaric about what they might have discovered while searching the other room. When the pair finished explaining that it was merely the necromancer's bedroom and they found nothing of importance in there, Rhys seemed content with their response and they joined the others exploring the contents of the laboratory. "What is this thing?" Garreth asked, pointing at the huge orb, which looked as if it were made out of some type of milky glass. "I have no idea, but we don't have time to ponder about such things," Rhys pointed out. "We'll consider those types of things later, after we have located the Sword." They carried out their search quite quickly, though they were careful with the way they handled the items they could not positively identify, as they feared they might have some magical potential. They pawed over every item in the room and searched every nook and cranny, looking for any piece of information that would aid them, but nothing seemed to give them any clues. When they had finished going over everything in the entire room, they looked at each other bewildered, not believing that they had been unable to discover anything to help them. "Nothing! I don't understand it," sputtered Hadwin. "I was positive that we'd discover the Sword in here." "There could only be two explanations for this," offered Doenilio, "and that is that we have either overlooked its hiding place or Madumda is keeping it somewhere else." Everyone took a minute to consider the dwarf's logic, trying to determine which was the case. "Jana, are there any other places in the fortress that are guarded?" Alaric asked her, in an effort to gain further insight. "Are there any places where the Dark Lord might be hiding this Sword?" "No, my lord elf. Only the entrances to these rooms are guarded." "Then it must be here," Hadwin insisted. "We must look around here once more then, and this time we cannot leave any possible hiding place left unsearched." "But we did search everyplace," Garreth whined. "Then we must search them all again," Rhys told him. "The Sword must be here someplace." "I think you are right," Quintain responded. "We must search these chambers once more, but this time we must also look for hidden compartments or for signs of anything that seems out of the ordinary." They all concurred and moved to their search area. Once more the various individuals moved about the room, searching every inch of their designated areas and each prayed to be the one who would locate the Sword. While everyone was busy with his or her investigation, Qaim stood uneasily in the middle of the room. At first no one seemed to notice, but that was only until he spoke up. "Qaim no like this ball. It give Qaim bad feelings." "What do you mean, Qaim?" Kieren wanted to know. "What is there about it that bothers you?" "Qaim not sure. It kind of like when wizard put cloth over our eyes and things in our ears." "Do you mean when Beraut prepared us to cross the Valley of the Dead?" "Yes, like then. It makes Qaim's skin crawl. Qaim feel funny all over." "Why would that thing affect Qaim so?" wondered Sedain aloud. "Methinks it is part of Madumda's evil magic," answered Turquinine. "Yes, but what part?" Alaric continued. "Everything in this room is part of his magic, so why does this thing affect Qaim more than anything else?" Jana stood searching her memory for any tidbit of information she had heard in the kitchen one day, but she couldn't quite recall what it was, other than it had something to do with a large hollow orb. "Could it have anything to do with the Sword?" Garreth wondered. "I don't believe so," Rhys advised him. "I think that would be a positive magic, something that would reassure an innocent like Qaim. It might have a negative affect on Madumda, or others dealing in black magic, but not an aignx. The Sword was made to harm only Madumda, so it shouldn't bother Qaim in that fashion." "Could it have anything to do with the Condors or that thing that chased us after we killed the troll?" asked the prince, trying to come up for some explanation for its air of foreboding. "Well, I suppose that could be a possibility," Rhys responded, "but there is no way for us to know the truth. The only way we could be certain would be to destroy it, and see what, if anything, Madumda has lost control over. The only problem with that would be that the Dark Lord would know we were here and what we had done." "Will it harm us?" Garreth wanted to know. "I don't think so," Alaric told him. "We have been here for a considerable amount of time so far, and it has not harmed us in any way yet." "A point well taken," added Turquinine. "Let's not dwell on this any longer," Quintain suggested. "We must find the Sword before Madumda is victorious or before our trespass and attempt at larceny is detected. We're not even sure that the Dark Lord won't return here at any time." The thought of Madumda's presence was enough to stop them from tarrying any longer and was enough to urge them to redouble their efforts to locate the Sword. Qaim moved purposefully away from the sphere, still not comfortable with being in close proximity to it, and he now searched the opposite corner of this room. There Qaim became interested in a support beam, which stood in the corner and seemed to be one of the interior trusses that helped to support the weight of the building. As he was looking at this more closely, Jana spoke suddenly. "Wait," she said loud enough to startle the others, "I just remembered what it was that I heard. One day while working in the kitchen, one of the guards came down to see the cook. He plied his charm to get a little more to eat and to set up a rendezvous with the cook for later that evening, so he began to tell her secrets to gain her trust and acceptance. He told her about many different things that had happened within the fortress, but it was the one he told her about these rooms which stuck with me the most. These rooms are dangerous and we shouldn't be here." "Why? What did he tell her about this area?" Kieren demanded to know. "He told her that whenever prisoners were brought to the fortress, he would have to take them up to Maudmda to be questioned. When they brought them in that first time, many would fight and struggle, not wanting to meet with the Dark Lord. Everyone had heard that he would use any means necessary to get the information he wanted. Well, after they delivered the prisoners to Madumda's quarters, they would strap them into chairs. When they returned to get them later, those people would be mindless shells of their former selves, no spirit or fight left in them. He said it was as if their minds were dead but their bodies still lived. He told how strange it felt to deal with those people from that point on, as they just did whatever they were told, without question or struggle. He said some of the soldiers thought they had been hypnotized, but others claimed the Dark Lord stole their minds or their souls, and then kept them somewhere within these rooms. I believe that story, for I have seen those who fit that description, and they move like the dead walking. This is an evil place and the magic here is very powerful and very evil. We must leave here before something like that happens to us." Jana was visibly trembling now, convinced that what she had reported was the truth, and she made a movement toward the door. Alaric grabbed her and prevented her from leaving, talking to her as he did so, to calm her down. "If something like that were going to happen, it would have happened by now," he said reassuringly. "I don't think it can happen without Madumda present to cast his spells or whatever, so we have nothing to fear as long as we finish before he arrives." "And what if he does return?" Jana questioned. "Well, if he should return, that would place us in a great deal of danger, unless we have the Sword in our possession by then," Hadwin informed her. "Therefore, it would be to our advantage to continue the search and locate the Sword before he does show up. That is the only way we'd have to defend ourselves from him." They all agreed with his logic and soon went back to searching, though Jana spent more time scanning the doorway than the room. They had been busily looking at everything within the room once more, when Qaim's voice caused them all to come to a halt. "Qaim find a secret door," the aignx announced, quite blandly. "Where?" Doenilio wanted to know. "Right here, in this corner," Qaim told his diminutive companion. "Well, open it," Garreth said, almost breathlessly. "No, not yet. There is much magic here. Qaim couldn't feel the magic until he real close, but the magic is very strong. Qaim no hurry. Qaim be careful and then he open door." "You take your time," Rhys advised him. "We don't want you to set off any traps or inadvertently signal the Dark Lord about our presence in his chambers." Qaim nodded and then set about investigating the area further. First he used his eyes and his nose, looking and smelling for anything that would give him an advantage. Next he used his ears and deft little fingers, to feel about for catches and listening for them to release. The others stood, holding their breath, watching as he went about doing what he alone could do. As he went about his business, the others thought back on Beraut's words, advising them about the aignx's talents. Even though the wizard had told them how valuable their hairy little guide might be, none of them really fathomed how irreplaceable he would be, until they reached that secret backdoor. They had been astounded by how he instinctively seemed to know where the door would be, and then how he set about neutralizing the traps so they could enter. After that, they were ever so grateful as he harmlessly set off the various traps, noting that any one of them could have killed most of them, if not all of them at any one time. Then they watched in awe as he guided them through that maze of intersecting corridors, until they discovered Jana and she led them the rest of the way. Now the aignx was once more impressing them with his talents, but it was obvious that this one was even more complex than any of his other previous challenges. None of the companions dared to move or speak, as Qaim noiselessly went about his duties, and they nearly jumped out of their skin when a loud click signaled the final latch had been released. "Qaim open door now," he dryly announced. "Qaim do as you asked." "Excellent job," Rhys praised him, though he couldn't tell what sort of reaction the aignx made in response to his words. "You have certainly proved to be an invaluable asset on this journey and you have definitely proved all of Beraut's claims about your ability." "I agree that the aignx has proved his usefulness," Quintain suggested, "but please allow me to check this out further, before we go rushing to conclusions. I believe there is still a need for caution and I suggest I be allowed to go carefully to discover what is contained within. I feel there might possibly be other dangers or other devices to protect the contents, especially if this is the hiding place of the Sword. I am expendable and therefore volunteer for this task." "You are far from expendable, as you have proven several times already," Rhys corrected him, "but I believe your suggestion is wise. If you wish this job, then you have earned the right. Do what you think you need to do, but don't be afraid to ask any of us for assistance. The rest of us will remain alert for signs of danger while you work." The dwarf moved over to the door, which Qaim had opened just a crack, and he studied it for signs of any other hazards. Qaim had listened to the conversation and was puzzled by their concern. Now he watched the dwarf's cautious actions, wondering why they didn't think he would have discovered any other devices that might be present. Now he spoke up, in his own behalf. "No more traps. Qaim take care of all traps. You not need to look for more." "I believe you, Qaim," the dwarf responded. "It's just that I'd rather be safe than sorry." With that said, Quintain returned to his task, and within minutes he was opening the door completely. Almost as one, the companions moved closer to the hidden compartment, straining to see what was contained within. As the sunlight glinted off something inside, there was a collective gasp as they each caught a glimpse of the object of their search. It was more beautiful than any of them could ever suspect, even considering the decades of neglect and concealment it had endured. Now it shimmered in the bright light of day. Quintain turned and scanned the others, to see if they were in as much awe as he was, then he moved back to the compartment to inspect it further, intentionally avoiding any contact with the Sword itself. When he was satisfied that there was nothing dangerous still protecting it, he turned toward Kieren and spoke. "Prince Kieren, this moment belongs to you and your family. It is up to you to reclaim this talisman in their behalf." The dwarf now stepped aside, as they others began to urge Kieren to take the first step in fulfilling his destiny, and they left him a pathway to the Sword's hiding place. Timidly Kieren moved forward, fascinated by the beauty of this meticulously crafted weapon, and then it seemed as if some unseen force lifted his arm and pulled it toward it, until his skin came into contact with the metal. Slowly he moved his hands toward the hilt, not completely sure what he was planning to do next, before he somewhat awkwardly let his fingers wrap around that majestic grip. His heart almost stopped beating as he began to lift it from its hiding place, and he was amazed at how much lighter it was than it actually looked. Slowly he extracted it from the compartment and turned toward his friends, now holding the Sword aloft. They were all beaming with pride at this accomplishment, having sometimes privately doubted that they would even get this far, and they had to stifle the urge to cheer or shout out at that moment. Instead they took a few moments to bask in the warm feelings of success. "I hate to spoil this moment," interrupted Rhys, "but we must still get out of this place before we can confront Madumda. There are still other dangers we must concern ourselves with and we must escape this accursed place before we are discovered. Kieren, cover yourself and the Sword with your cloak, because you must escape, even if the rest of us do not. Jana, would you be so kind as to lead us out of here?" "Yes, I will, but only if you will take me with you." "Of course we will," Kieren stated, quickly and emphatically. "Without you we might not have been able to find the Sword. We owe you much more than just taking you from this dreadful place." The others eventually nodded in agreement, though some were not as convinced as the young prince. Those who were concerned not only worried about her safety, with the things that they still had left to do, while a few were still questioning their 'good fortune' in finding her when they did. She did help them locate the Sword, which she wouldn't have done if she was working for the Dark Lord, so they finally decided that she wasn't a plant of any sort. "Then follow me. I shall show you the way out of here." "Will we encounter any more guards?" questioned Sedain. "Yes, I think so, unless you go back the way you came in, but I don't know that way, so you'd be on your own after I took you back to where I met you." "No, that way isn't an option any more and it would take us too far away from where we need to go," Kieren stated, in a matter-of-fact manner. "I think we'll need to go to the Plains of Asimae, so I can get help from Beraut when I confront Madumda. Is there a way out that's not as well guarded?" "No, there is only the main entrance and some back way I've heard mentioned, but I know nothing about it other than that." Jana looked at the others before she continued. "Though I suspect that is the way you got in." They then nodded in agreement with her statement. "That's certainly not much of a choice," Hadwin remarked, "so I guess we will have to leave by the main entrance then. Let's get going." "Not quite yet," Kieren announced, as he walked across the room to where the orb was located. "There is still something about this sphere and the feeling that Qaim had about it that makes me feel compelled to do something about it before we leave." At this point, the prince reached out and touched the surface of the sphere, letting his palm slide across the surface. "What hast thou in mind?" rumbled the big Mitikuan. "I'm not quite sure, but I feel that I must do something." "No, don't mess with it!" Garreth urged his friend. "It's some sort of magic that might threaten your safety or harm you, if you try to do something to it." "I appreciate your concern, Garreth, but we have been facing many potentiallly dangerous situations this whole mission. I can't back away from it, just because of what it MIGHT do. I don't think this is nearly as risky as some of the other things we've been forced to deal with, but I have the feeling that somehow we could weaken the Dark Lord's power, maybe making it a bit easier to do what I still have left to do." With the exception of possibly Qaim and Jana, everyone else knew that the teen's last reference was in regard to his eventual showdown with the sorcerer. "But that's not a reason to take extra risks," Garreth argued. "No, but it is no reason to run from them either." "Please leave it be," Garreth pleaded. "I can't see any advantage in messing with it." "But I do," Kieren countered. "I think that by destroying this, we will take away some of Madumda's strengths. It may cut his control over his pets or break his link with some other potential threats to our cause. I have to go with my intuition on this one, my dear friend, and with the feelings that Qaim mentioned when he first encountered this. I must take this chance to weaken Madumda's control and overall strength." Once more Kieren began to investigate the frosty looking ball, searching for a clue as to what he should do with it. It appeared to be a solid covering, with no seams or openings visible, with the only other piece being the wooden cross- frame on which it rested. The prince didn't ask for suggestions or help, but merely continued to check out this oddity. He felt it was his decision to do this, so it was his duty alone to determine what to do with this object. After searching every inch of it for a clue as to what it was or for any weakness inherit in it, Kieren stepped back, lifted the Sword above his head, and then he brought it down across the surface of the sphere. There was a thunderous crack as the Sword impacted the orb, followed by a foul smelling torrent of wind that blew everyone backward. Some of them were knocked completely off balance, falling to the floor or being pushed back against a wall, while others merely stumbled, but maintained their footing. There was an eerie sound as this occurred, presumably caused as the wind rushed from within this large ball, adding to the aura which surrounded its shattering. "Kieren, are you all right?" screamed Garreth, as he regained his footing and rushed toward his friend. Kieren was slightly dazed by what had happened, but he looked up and smiled at the young elf. "Yes, I'm fine. I have not been harmed, only knocked off my feet, but thank you for your concern." Garreth smiled back and reached out his hand to help his friend to stand again. Kieren grasped it and pulled himself up, though he nearly pulled Garreth over as he did so. "What was that all about? What just happened when you smashed that thing?" Garreth wanted to know. "I'm not sure, but I think I let more than just the cat out of the bag. I have the feeling that the Dark Lord had been keeping something confined in that orb. I'm not sure what it was, but I have the feeling that it was a living creature or creatures, at least it was alive at one time." While the two boys were looking back at the shattered sphere, someone else posed another question. "What is that smell?" Jana inquired. "I think that is the smell of musty air that has been stagnant for much too long a time," Hadwin offered. "I'm not sure," Garreth countered, "but it smells more like the tanner's shop back at Leander." "I think that is closer to it," Rhys added. "It does have a smell similar to animal hides that have been aged and treated." "Enough!" boomed Turquinine. "Thou hast no time for such prattle. By now Madumda will know of our deeds and our presence. Mistress Jana, will you lead us from this place?" The servant girl nodded her head, somewhat scared by the large knight's domineering attitude. "Our big friend is correct," Rhys continued. "This act probably alerted the Dark Lord of our treachery in his quarters, even though he more than likely knew we were here after Kieren used his medallion. Kieren, secure yourself and the Sword in your cloak. Turquinine and Hadwin will guard the prince as we attempt to get out of this place. Alaric and I will walk beside Jana as she leads us. The dwarfs shall bring up the rear, protecting our backsides and the others. Now, let's get back into the library." Slowly they opened the door between the two rooms and checked to make sure no one else had entered. Soon they exited the laboratory and stood inside that middle chamber, each clutching tightly to their weapon of choice. Alaric walked over to the door that led out into the hallway, and placed his ear against it, listening for sounds from the other side. After picking up no sounds that would alarm him, he carefully opened the door a crack and peered out into the expanse beyond. Qaim shied away from the bodies of the two guards as he passed them, as he was quite uneasy after all that had happened since they arrived in this part of the fortress, and he was anxious to get away from all of this. Soon Alaric was gliding out into the corridor, closely followed by the others. "Where to now?" Rhys asked Jana. "This way," she responded, pointing toward the passageway on their right. Stealthily they moved in that direction, but they didn't have to go very far before they found themselves at the top of a long, wide, elaborate stairway. >From what they could see from the small balcony, it led to a fairly large foyer below. "We must go down the stairs and through that doorway over there," Jana urged, pointing at the entranceway at one end of the foyer. "The door outside is at the end of the corridor that lies beyond that portal, but that will be the difficult part." "Why?" asked Alaric. "How many guards are stationed there?" "Generally six to eight, I believe." "You're not sure?" Garreth asked, amazed. "Well, I never really stopped to count them and you forget that I'm not allowed to go in places like that. I can only guess how many there are from things that the guards have said while eating." "I forgot how badly you'd been treated here," Garreth responded, shyly. "I'm truly sorry if I sounded harsh." "Don't be. I've been treated far worse." Silently they began to painstakingly make their way down the stairs, constantly scanning the area in search of threats to their safety. As they continued inching their way closer to escaping the fortress, just having passed the midpoint of the stairway, the giant doors leading into the room burst open, allowing a very agitated Madumda to enter. Everyone froze in place, though the warriors clung tightly to their weapons, and their minds all raced, thinking about what they should do next. Kieren was immediately struck by the similarity in appearance between the Dark Lord and Beraut. Their physical features were very similar, and Kieren had to catch his breath when he first saw his nemesis. Although he did appear older than Beraut, Kieren began to wonder if he could battle someone who so closely resembled his mentor and surrogate father. While Kieren was internally debating this point, Madumda spotted the group as they lifted their weapons to defend the prince. He hissed his defiance at them and then issued his challenge. "How dare you enter my fortress uninvited? How did you slip past my guards without being detected or destroyed? No matter how you accomplished this, you shall rue your decision to trespass." While he had been speaking, he had been eyeing each individual within the group, noting the odd collection that comprised it. "Before I destroy you, however, I want to know who among you was able to use such powerful magic? It was the use of that power that alerted me that you were here and beckoned me back to deal with you. No one I see here should be able to summon such powers, though the elf would be capable of some minor magic, or are there others I do not see?" The tension was thick as the standoff began, but Kieren now summoned the courage to do what he had been dreading ever since he first learned about his birthright and had been told of this quest. Carefully he reached up and unfastened his cloak, throwing it back and revealing his presence. "There are no others," he announced, "and it was I who used the magic." The others gasped when Kieren exposed his presence, but then they realized that it was his destiny to do so. Now they had to trust in the accuracy of the prophecy. "You used the magic? Who are you? You mean nothing to me. You are but a puny, young halfling. Where could you learn to summon such power?" The halfling comment wounded Kieren more than a sword could have, as it brought back a flood of memories from this youth. It was during that time when he had been taunted by the other children, both elf and human alike, as they all called him a halfling when they were angry with him. Of course Garreth and Romaric had never done that to him, and they often jumped to his defense when others did, pummeling the male tormentors for having done so. Now Kieren fought to regain his composure, having been reminded of all those terrible times, and when he succeeded, he took a deep breath and addressed Madumda once more. "You are certainly a poor judge of character then, and can be easily deceived if you cannot detect my heritage." Kieren said this with a forced haughtiness which was meant to wound the Dark Lord in a similar fashion. It worked, and the sorcerer was infuriated by his brazen retort. "You and your beggarly kin are of no concern of mine, but I am still curious as to how you could wield such magic." "It is because I am an heir of Ethelbert. Flesh of his flesh and the one foretold to destroy you." "Impossible! All the heirs of that blasted upstart have been destroyed." "Not quite. You seemed to have overlooked my family and me." Kieren was really forcing himself to maintain an arrogant attitude, trying to get under the Dark Lord's skin, and he was being very effective with his delivery. "No! That cannot be true." "It is, and the magic that you sensed was from when I used the power of the Golden Medallion, as granted to me as part of my birthright." As he made this pronouncement, Kieren slipped his left hand under his tunic and displayed the Medallion. Madumda's mouth dropped open in disbelief, as he remembered the existence of the long forgotten royal symbol and aid. Seeing the sorcerer so visibly shaken, Kieren decided to push the point further. "The reason I came here, though, was to retrieve something else that belonged to me." Having said that, he brought his right hand from within the folds of his cloak and held up the Sword of Kings, making sure that it was exposed enough for Madumda to see. The blood now drained from the necromancer's face, as he realized the significance of all that had just been revealed to him. He suddenly remembered the words of the prophecy, detailing his demise at the hands of a descendent of Ethelbert, one who would wield that Sword. Now it was his turn to regain his composure and try to once again gain the upper hand from this tall, slender youth. "Yes, you have proven very resourceful to get this far, but now you must deal with my unequalled powers. You are but an inexperienced youth, and no match for me. This time I shall take pleasure in destroying another member of that blasted bloodline." "You will try, but we believe in the truth of the prophecy, which says I will be victorious. Then the throne of Tarolia will revert back to my family and your reign of terror will end." Kieren intentionally mentioned the prophecy, to place at least a little doubt in the sorcerer's mind. He conjectured that maybe that shred of doubt could take away the necromancer's edge and eventually cost him his life. Kieren readily acknowledged that he needed every advantage he could muster, no matter how small, and he wasn't going to pass up this opportunity to try to gain the upper hand. "A big boast for such a weakling," Madumda countered, "but you must also remember that I have destroyed all your ancestors, including those who were much more powerful than yourself. You are insignificant compared to them. You are but an ant, while they were more like deer, but I am the lion who will destroy you all." It seemed as if Madumda was trying to gain a similar advantage. While this conversation had been going on, Kieren had moved down the stairway, passing his friends who had been ahead of him as they tried to depart. He had almost passed them all when Turquinine grabbed him by the shoulder and stopped him from going farther. Kieren turned to his giant protector and spoke softly to him. "I appreciate your concern, but I must do this. It is my destiny and the reason for our mission. I can't stop now. I'll try to make you all proud of me." The Mitikuan nodded in understanding and released his grip. Kieren winked at him before he continued on, letting the knight know he appreciated his concern. The prince now lifted the Sword of Kings in front of his body, as he approached the final step, and he turned to be ready to defend himself. Madumda backed away slightly, although he continued to block the door they planned to exit through and through which he had entered. His movements were very smooth for one of his age and stature, but Kieren saw him holding no weapon. Kieren continue to move out away from the stairway, but he was confused, at least until the Dark Lord spoke. "I'm sorry, but you seem to have me at a disadvantage," the sorcerer stated, "as I am weaponless. I do have my magic to use, but as you have probably been informed, I cannot use it against you as long as you wear the Medallion." Kieren was somewhat surprised by that statement. Was this true? Did the Golden Medallion keep Madumda from using his magical powers against him? Kieren thought that possibly this was just one of the Dark Lord's ploys, to encourage him to let down his guard or give him a false sense of security. Beraut had made no mention of this fact, but maybe he had just forgotten to tell him, seeing he had so much other information to disclose. The prince had no way of knowing whether this information was true or not, but he could sense the necromancer's hesitation at using his powers. With this minor distraction, and with everyone else staring at Kieren, Madumda had glided across the room and was standing next to the interior wall. Now he turned quickly toward it and retrieved a mighty sword that had been hanging there as decoration, and now he examined it closely. "Yes, this will do fine," he said aloud, with a sneer forming on his lips. "The time for deciding our destinies has arrived, and there will be no turning back now. This day will forever change the history of this land, and the outcome of this duel will determine if you or I shall rule the kingdom. It is up to us to determine which course history will follow." Kieren had been listening and watching the Dark Lord, but he had spent most of that time recalling the pointers he had received during his sword lessons in Wildoness. He tried desperately to recall all the fine points he had learned during those times, knowing he would have to use every skill he had ever mastered. He now dredged up the mental notes and warnings his instructors had given him, and he had nearly finished when he noticed Madumda's rapid movement toward the wall. Now the Dark Lord was charging in his direction and the teen instinctively raised his sword to ward off this first blow. It was a powerful stroke and it made him stagger backward, and Madumda took a few more steps toward him and delivered a second and third powerful swipe. One again the prince was able to parry these maneuvers, but it looked as if he was in some trouble. Some of the companions moved as though they were going to help him, but then they remembered that he had to do this on his own. Now they stood transfixed, praying that their young friend would be able to fend for himself, and they felt helpless, not being able to defend him as they had in the past. Now Madumda delivered another flurry of blows, and once again Kieren struggled to defend against them and maintain his footing. He was forced to take a totally defensive posture, just concentrating on surviving, and Madumda flashed him a wicked grin. Blow after blow ricocheted off the Sword of Kings, as the prince moved it from side to side or up and down to counter the necromancer's potentially deadly strokes. After nearly falling victim to one particularly masterful thrust, the prince regained his composure enough to continue the battle and he was now trying to study the sorcerer's every move. He was searching for a weakness and waiting for an opportunity to exploit it. Just then Madumda's delivered a particularly powerful blow, which knocked the teen backwards, slamming him into a wall and knocking the wind from his lungs. The prince was momentarily dazed and defenseless, as he fought to catch his breath, and Madumda advanced rapidly, preparing to deliver the final blow. Kieren recovered enough to dive to his right, allowing Madumda's blade to clatter harmlessly off the stone wall, but the blow reverberated through the sword and stung the Dark Lord's hands. By this time Kieren had done a complete roll and had come back up on his hands and knees, just as the sorcerer wheeled to pounce upon the boy again. Kieren used his arms to push himself partially upright, and he was able to lift his sword to fend off the evil wizard's next series of blows. He had anticipated this move, as the Dark Lord slid over to confront him, but the next blow jarred the Sword out of the prince's hands and it went clanking across the floor. The terrified teen leapt to retrieve it, knowing he had to reclaim it or die, but Madumda proved exceptionally quick and he kicked the boy in the ribs as he made his move. This blow from the Dark Lord's foot sent Kieren sprawling on the cold stone floor, near where the Sword now lay, but not quite close enough to grasp it. The sorcerer sprang to the boy's side, between the teen and the Sword, and he placed one of his feet on the prince's chest, preventing him from reaching his talisman. Now Madumda raised his sword and prepared to deliver the final blow. There was a collective response by the companions, as they witnessed Kieren's plight, and they all made a move to assist him. Sensing this reaction, the Dark Lord muttered the words of some magical spell, and that prevented any of them from getting any closer. During this minor distraction, Kieren stretched out the arm and fingers of his left hand toward the Sword, his fingers scratching at the stone in an effort to reach that elusive weapon. Now the necromancer focused his attention back on Kieren and he prepared once again to administer the deadly blow. The prince never stopped struggling to reach the Sword, and now his fingers barely touched the handle. "It was a noble attempt, my young rival, but now you had better prepare to join your ancestors. It will do you no good to struggle further, so just accept your fate. Make peace with your Gods, but the kingdom will now be mine." Madumda raised his sword again, both hands gripping the hilt and in position to make a downward thrust, so he could pierce the young prince through the heart. Just as he was about to drive the blade through the young man's chest, he snapped his head around and gazed at the doors leading from the foyer. "NO! This cannot be," he screamed. "It's impossible. You are all dead and no longer exist!" This distraction was long enough to allow Kieren to shift his weight slightly toward the Sword, allowing his fingers to drag the hilt toward him. Now he managed to get it close enough to him to wrap his fingers around it, but Madumda snapped his attention back to the prone boy before he could do more. "What sort of a trick are you playing? Give it up! You are about to die and no illusion will save you now. At last Tarolia will be mine." Kieren continued to pull the blade toward him and it was now nearly at his side. The entire retrieval of the Sword had gone virtually undetected by the Dark Lord, as something else seemed to be distracting his thoughts. Once more Madumda composed himself and prepared to deliver the deathblow, but Kieren was struggling to lift the Sword to defend himself. As he pulled it closer to his body, the handle brushed lightly against the sorcerer's ankle. Suddenly there was an explosion of a brilliant white light, which totally engulfed the room and temporarily blinded everyone within. When the prince was finally able to focus again, Madumda had disappeared completely. * * * * * * * * If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section. E-mails may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com