Curse of The Seventh Sword: The Gauntlet of Feona (31 page)

“Son…”

“I’m not losing you.”  Davydd’s voice cracked.  “Not you…”

“Son…  Do you… have it?”

Davydd nodded and showed Baximus the gauntlet.

“Then… my work here… is done.   It is… a trade it is…”

“No!”  Davydd glared at Feona.  “You let him go!”

“
Davydd.”  Baximus called.  “Don’t you worry… about me…  We will be re-united soon… all of us… I have people waiting for me…  Now you know… what it means to be… king.”

“Father…” 
Davydd held on to his hand and both gripped each other as hard as they could.  “I will make you proud… I… ” Davydd could barely talk.

Baximus managed a smile.

“You already have… son.”  His eyes turned towards Vannera who was also kneeling by him, her mouth covered.  “Take… care of… Take care of him will you?”  Vannera nodded. 

“Leo?” 
Baximus asked.

“In Sangwa.” 
Sam responded. 

“Always the unseen… then it is
a fitting… farewell.”

Baximus expelled his last breath and
Davydd watched as Feona pulled his soul from his body, head first.  His eyes were still shut as she pulled it from his lifeless body and opened up a shimmering tear.  The wash of light fell on Davydd and the others, even though Davydd and Vannera were the only ones who could see what was going on.  Baximus got up and slowly opened his eyes.  He looked at Davydd, smiled and nodded.  Davydd nodded as well and forced a wry smile.  Baximus flashed Vannera a kind look, before turning around and walking through the doorway with Feona.  It closed behind them and the light was gone. 

Davydd knelt down and kept still for a long time.  The rain beat down on him and the others, but he did not care.  His eyes w
ere fixed on Baximus’s lifeless body.  He was dead?  Yes, he was dead.  He just saw Feona take his soul.  Davydd’s tears mixed in with the rain so that they were one and the same.

“
Davydd…”  Sidion called.  “Davydd…”

Davydd
slowly lifted up his head and looked at Sidion.

“Put on the gauntlet… and end the fighting in Sangwa.  You’ve won this battle…”

Davydd slowly looked down at the gauntlet of Feona.  How he despised it.  How he despised her. 

“At what price… did this victo
ry come?”  He asked.

“When you strive for a goal, people will desert you and sometimes you will lose love
d ones along the way.  It is in those times one questions the worth of what they are trying to accomplish.  But the great Baximus Bastien was willing to lay down his life for you, for he believed in what you are capable of doing.  You use that, and never stop believing.  Never forget what he meant to you.  Never let his sacrifice, be in vain.”

Davydd grunted.

“You speak as though you have known such a loss.”

“I speak because I
have
known such a loss.”  Sidion Vror said while looking at Vannera.

Davydd nodded and slowly reached his hand in the gauntlet.  Flashes of lightning shot through the sky and the thunder that followed them, crackled as he did.  As D
avydd’s left hand went into the gauntlet, the finger pieces began to uncoil and release the dried out heart they grasped.  One by one, each finger piece shot open and conformed to Davydd’s fingers until he was completely wearing the gauntlet.  Davydd picked up the heart, observed it and threw it into the open waters.

Above them, a huge flash of lighting shot across the sky and it seemingly tore open an invisible veil which revealed the sky behind the sky.  It was exactly the
same but they could still see what seemed like a cloth like fabric fall away into the horizon.

“
Rikard’s spell is finally broken.”  Sidion observed.

“We need to get back to shore.” 
Davydd said. 

“I can steer the ship.”  Farok said.

“Segmiatus follow him and make sure he does as planned.  Max restrict Sidion and make sure to never let him out of your sight.  Sam , Matilom we need to move my father away from here.”

They all nodded and began performing their assigned duties.
  Finally Davydd turned to Vannera.  “I will leave you two be.  I am sure you have questions that deserve answers.”  And with that, Davydd walked off.

“
Davydd…”  Vannera called but he did not respond. 

“Leave him be.”  Sidion said.  “He is grieving.  Now is the time for him to gather
his thoughts.”

Vannera laughed.  “Suddenly you are human aren’t you?”

“Was I something else?”

“Yes.  A monster.”

“Vane…”

“
Davydd talked about questions.  I have one for you.”  Vannera leaned in.  “Why isn’t it you who is dead instead?”  She whispered in his ear.  And with that, she walked off, leaving Sidion alone on the deck.  In the distance she saw Davydd lying still on the deck as the torrents mercilessly beat down on him.

“Davydd!!!!!”

Omni stood on one of the rectangular surfaces that jutted out
beneath the window like openings of spire like structures that he and all the other members of the higher echelon of the dragol lived in.  He observed the army and all its members.  They were tense and ready to go.  As Omni stood and watched, he felt a sensation in his heart.  It felt as though a tight grip had been loosened and then further loosened until it was not there anymore.  For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Omni felt the full force of his inner power flow through him and it was invigorating.  He stretched out his hands as far as he could, spread his wings as wide as they could get and let out a large roar.  The army beneath him responded in one voice with their roar, and the earth beneath them shook and trembled.  Viritania came up to him. 

“It is time.”  Omni said.

“Our siblings are ready as well.”

“Then let us remind the humans who have forgotten us that the dragol yet live.  Is it not appropriate that we start with the land of death?”

Omni let out a menacing smile. 

“
Rikard Miljorn’s seed has accomplished far more than we expected though.”

“It will be as far as he goes.  He still has to find Feona’s sword, and he knows not where it is.”

“We do not know where it is either.”

“We do not need to.  Let us go.”

Davydd opened his eyes and slowly the blurred images he saw came into focus.  A pair of the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen stared lovingly at him and her red lips curled upwards into a warm smile. 

“You are back.”  Vannera said with a controlled excitement, though from her face, he could tell she was ready to burst into a yelp.

“
I’m back?”  Davydd asked.  “Where did I go?”

“You fell unconscious
on Ivan’s ship, and as we headed back to the port.  You have been asleep for two days now.”

Davydd slowly got up and stretched.

“Two days?” He looked at Vannera and she nodded and smiled.

“And she has been with you the whole time.” 
Davydd looked up and his eyes met his mother’s.  She smiled at him but he did not return the smile.

“You could
have saved him, if you so wished it.”

“No I could not have.”

“Let me see… because you can’t interfere.”

“Have you ever stopped to think of what it would be like, if we gods meddled in every human action, fate and choice?  If we steered your every direction
, would your life really be your own?”

Davydd looked at her.

“I needed him.  I need him now.  He was everything to me.  He was my family.”

“He will continue to be.  All the love, hopes and dreams of
Baximus Bastien is preserved in your heart.  You carry a lot in there my son.  As I’m sure you have discovered.  You have all you need inside you.”

Davydd slowly nodded and looked at his left hand.  The gauntlet of Feona was still there.  He flexed his left hand, coiling his fingers inwards and outwards.  It fel
t natural and unforced.  Davydd got up and looked down at his abdomen.  His arrow wounds had been seared shut and there seemed to be an ointment rubbed on the bruises he had received.  He looked around him. 

“We are in a tent?”

“Ah yes.  King Darius Vitalis is waiting for you outside.”

Davydd
put on his top and stepped outside of the tent.  What greeted him seemed like the sight of the morning after chaos.  Smoke emanated from buildings still slowly eaten away by dying fires and there was debris everywhere.  Soldiers hurried along in different directions, treating the wounded and carrying the dead along to different areas.  Davydd looked around him to see that there were tents erected in different areas of the town, to provide aid to those who could not be housed in what structures and inns remained intact.  In front of him, stood an aged man with graying black hair and what looked to be the sides of a thick beard.  He turned around as Davydd walked up to him.  The aged man wore a silver armor with a blue and white cape.  On his side was a sheathed sword much similar to the one given to Davydd by his mother. 

“My goodness.”  The aged man said.  “I gaze upon the spitting image of
Rikard Miljorn himself.” 

“Your majesty.” 
Davydd said as he genuflected on one knee and bowed his head low.  “It is my deepest regret to have brought my battles to your kingdom and to your people.  I can never repay the damage I have caused.”

“Oh you can, and you will.”  King Darius Vitalis responded. 
“But, first of all, rise and stand.  You are naïve.  One king does not bow down to another, no matter how wrong you are.  Your humility may be mistaken as a sign of weakness to those within and outside your rule.  Remember that.”

Davydd
got up, suddenly embarrassed.  King Darius observed him for a moment and noted the gauntlet of Feona which he wore. 

“I see you have found it.”

“Yes I have.”  Davydd said.  At that moment, Segmiatus was walking by and when he saw Davydd, he ran towards him and embraced him.

“My friend.” 
Davydd said.  “It is good to see you well.”

“And it is good to see you awake.”  Segmiatus said laughing.  His countenance suddenly turned somber.  “I am sorry…
Davydd.  We all mourn Baximus.”

“It is well.”
Davydd responded.  “I will see to it that his passing is honored thoroughly.  How did we make it safely back though?”

“Your prisoner aided you in that.”  King Vitalis said.  “What did you do to steer Sidion Vror’s heart so?”

“I did nothing more than make him a promise.”

“What was that promi
se?”

“That I would not fail.”

“Ah.  That will be a difficult promise to keep.”  King Vitalis observed.  “What would you have with him?”

“I would like to have him as an adviser to me, strictly on matters concerning combating the dragol.”

“And what makes you believe myself and the other kings cannot do the same?”

“Because it is as you said.  A king does not bow down
to another king.  You have your advisers and I will have mine.  Besides, Sidion has had more close dealings with the dragol than any other human in Terrianus.  His knowledge and insight would be invaluable to our cause.”

“You would have him live?” 
Vannera asked as she walked up to Davydd, alongside Lynda.

At the sight of Lynda, every soldier, Beathalethean or Angwelethean, and other
men, women and children around the area dropped to their knees and bowed down.  It was then Davydd noticed that she was in her radiant godly form.  He had become so accustomed to it, that he had paid it no attention.

“I see you are doing nothing to hide who you are.”

Lynda leaned in and whispered.  “Haven’t you noticed?  The secret is out.”  Lynda motioned for everyone to rise and they did so, going about their activities once more. 

King Vitalis rose to his feet as well. 

“Why do you let him live?”  Vannera continued.

“I have no reason to take his life
Vannera.”

“He would not have hesitated to take yours.”

“And that is where he and I are different.  There is always good in someone, if you can find it.  You just have to give it the chance to bloom.”

“You think there is
good in that man?  He did what he did to save his own skin.”

“You yourself once said that your father fears nothing.  And if there was no good in him, you would be dead.”

“He did send the dragol to kill me.”

“That is your anger speaking for you.  Do you r
eally believe he sent them even now?  You are skilled with the sword.  Yes.  But we both know a reaper class soldier had more than one option while you held a sword behind him on Ivan’s ship.”

Vannera motioned to speak but fell silent. 

“There are wounds I cannot heal Vannera.  Just… hear him out, while you still have him in this world.  Take it from me.  It’s worth it.”

Vannera bent her head low, and slowly nodded.

Davydd turned to Lady Lynda. 

“I have the gauntlet.  How do I find the sword?”

Lady Lynda smiled.  “Here is the interesting part.  You ask it.  It will only respond to you.”

“I ask it.  Really
?”

“The weapons forged by the gods have personalities unto themselves.
”  King Vitalis said.  “They are an extension or a facet of the gods personalities more times than not.  And sometimes, they can even take on human form.”

Davydd looked at King Vitalis in surprise. 

“So… my gauntlet can take on a human form?”

“There is only one way to find out.  Tell it.  Like so.”  King Vitalis pulled out the sword of
Lynda which he possessed and brought it to his lips. 

“Obin, assume your human form.”

The sword flew out of King Vitalis’s hand and landed on the ground.  It began to shake and tremble, as its blade melted but instead of melting downwards, melted upwards towards the handle.  The liquid metal moved past the handle and began to expand, contort and reform, until Obin’s figure was formed in metal.  In place of the original sword, the metallic hand of Obin held his usual blade.  When Obin was completely formed, the metallic nature receded and his human like form was completely unveiled along with his regular crimson attire.  He slowly got up and cracked his neck this way and that before turning to king Vitalis. 

“Your majesty, if I may request that you don’t br
ing me so close to your lips to speak to me.  I can hear you from my sheath.”

King Vitalis burst out into a loud laughter and was soon joined by his men. 

“Of course Obin.  I will keep that in mind.”

Davydd stood mouth agape in utter amazement at what he
had just seen.  Obin looked at him and laughed.

“We meet again young king.  What is the matter?  You look like you’ve just seen a blade turn into a man.”

“Well… I…”

The men burst out into laughter once more.

“Go on then.” 

Davydd brought the gauntlet to h
is lips.  He thought better of it, and pulled his left hand away from his face before speaking.

“Gauntlet of Feona
, assume your human form.”

A wind blew in front of him sweeping off the dust and chaff that had caked on the road and drawing an inscription on it. 
Davydd looked down to see what it said.

“This is in the language of the gods.”  King Vitalis said.  “I cannot read it.”  He looked at
Lady Lynda, who looked at Davydd. 

“What?”

“Son?”

“Yes?”

“I know, that you can read it as well.  So… what does it say?”

Davydd sighed.

“It says… ‘I have a name’.”

The men burst out into laughter once more. 
Gauntlet of Feona he says! 
Davydd shook his head but couldn’t help laughing as well.  He felt embarrassed.  He brought the gauntlet to his lips this time.

“What is your name?”

Again, a wind blew by and re-arranged the inscriptions on the ground.  Davydd looked at the inscription and nodded.  He again spoke to the gauntlet.

“Ang, assume your human form.”

Another breeze swept past and left new inscriptions on the ground.  Lynda could not help but laugh out loud.

“What did it say?” 
Vannera asked.

“I am… a
gauntlet.  I have no human form.”  Davydd looked at the gauntlet as everyone burst into laughter once more.  “You have an extremely displeasing personality.”  He said.  “Well then, let me ask you a relevant question.  Where is the sword of Feona?”

At this
question, Davydd’s left hand shot forward and his fingers curled into a claw like form.  Davydd struggled to stop it, but the gauntlet was bending his fingers against his will.  Davydd’s left hand proceeded to draw a circle in mid air.  The lines drawn became visible in a reddish color that seemed to emanate a mist from them.  Inside the circle, Davydd’s gauntlet wearing left hand drew in a thin oval shape, with its angular apex and bottom, making contact with the circle’s circumference at the top and bottom as well.  The entire drawing looked like an eye.  After that, the gauntlet seemed to release control of Davydd’s hand once more. 

“What… is that?”  Segmiatus asked. 

“That is the eye of the dragol.” Matilom said joining them.  The oval shape inside the circle began spinning around slowly and then faster and faster until it was a blur.  Suddenly it began to recede as if heading towards king Vitalis but in reality it seemed to be burrowing a hole in mid air.  The circle began expanding and soon the burrowing stopped and Davydd could see a barren and fiery land on the other side.  The land was parched and carved up in various lines.  Flames shot to the surface, licking it as they did, before falling back down into whatever abyss they shot out from.  The whole land seemed to be alive. 

“I see…”  A shimmering light appeared behind them, and everyone bowed down once more.  “So that is where your
Rikard hid my sword.  He hid it in Teinerus, the land of the dragol.”  Feona said, walking up to them.

“Feona.”
  Lynda said.  “I did not expect to you to come.”

“Why wouldn’t I dearest sister?  It is my sword and my gauntlet we are speaking of is it not?”
  She looked at Davydd and smiled.  “Well done nephew.”  Another gust of wind swept by them and this time a final inscription was written in the sand.  Davydd read it and his heart sank as he said it.

“You may choose… four more.”  He said. 

“So there it is.”  Matilom said.  “What will you do? King Davydd Miljorn.”

Davydd looked at Vannera as reality began to settle
in.

“Have I ever told you… how much I love you?”

Vannera breathed in deeply as she stared directly into his eyes, never breaking her gaze.  “No… no you have shown me how much you love me.”

Davydd smiled and nodded as she did the
same. 

“I am not coming w
ith you… am I?”  She said.