Knights of the Wizard (of Knights and Wizards Book 2) (11 page)

IT WAS A DARK ATMOSPHERE outside the castle walls; the area was lit by seven torches that were stuck in the ground, the sound of their flames dancing in the light breeze was pleasant enough, the scent of the smoke they were producing not as pleasant. The crescent moon hung low in the sky with billions of stars for company. An owl that had been sitting on one of the towers scanning the area for rodents suddenly flew off, hearing movement that it didn’t like. The Dwagord sidled along the wall, their weapons ready to dish out servings of death, quietly moving forward. They had stumbled upon a castle that seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere, had observed it for days and realized that they could probably take it.

They came like ghosts in the night, running with silent footsteps. Patrick and Hadrian were the knights standing guard outside the castle and were quickly overwhelmed by thirteen of the Dwagord, both chopped to death by their battle axes but the ruckus brought out other knights to defend. Darkford and Percy ran out and fought valiantly, beating several of the enemy back with ferocious swords, the clash of metal against metal making its way through the night, killing three of the enemy but were subsequently surrounded and killed.

Grunts and swords cut through the air, battle axes penetrated armour creating fatal wounds that could never be healed. The battle was short and furious, and with all the knights vanquished the Dwagord made their way through the castle to see what they could find.

MARCUS AND RAINA MADE IT BACK TO THE CASTLE only to discover all his knights were dead, along with about seven of the Dwagord and they cried at the horrible sight. Six of the enemy remained inside the castle; one stuck his head outside the window high above and looked down, seeing Marcus, Raina and the golden knight he shouted commands for them to be killed as well, waking some of his comrades as they slept.

“They’re still here!” Raina screamed.

One of the Dwagord warriors ran out of the castle like a manic out of the bowels of hell, his double edged sword over his head but was met by Brother’s sword. The fellows head ended up rolling across the ground, coming to a halt near Raina who kicked it away. Another of the enemy that only had a single eye, the other eye having been lost in battle, exited and Raina put an arrow through his good eye, killing him.

“Brother,” said Marcus. “Kill them all!”

Brother entered the castle killing one of the Dwagord that ran at him with a halberd, the knight running his sword through his stomach. Marcus and Raina hurried up the stairs and watched as one was tossed out the window screaming until death took him when he hit the ground. Raina prepared her white bow with an arrow just in case one got out, and sure enough a large brute ran at her with his battle axe and she caught him in the throat and then in the chest, killing him. She considered that being around the wizard was even more dangerous than she had anticipated but she wasn’t about to give up on him, a sorcerer was the most powerful ally that a person could have.

The all made their way outside to get away from the stench that they had brought into the castle. The knight pushed his bloody sword into the ground, standing with his arms crossed and then nodded to the boy. All the Dwagord were now deceased but it didn’t help any of his dead knights, all their families would receive the terrible news soon enough. Raina pointed and Marcus could see his sister in the distance along with four other knights with a donkey being pulled behind them, and they were forced to move at the donkey’s pace. He guessed the donkey might be Abbey, which wasn’t good news for Marcus but how was she still in donkey form outside of his chamber?

When Alexa finally reached Marcus she dismounted from her horse and ran towards her brother when Brother got in her way, she kicked the golden knight hard but only managed to hurt her foot. “Marcus what the hell happened here? Are all your guards dead?”

“Those bastards killed all my knights.” He had tears streaming down his face. Marcus looked at Darkford’s corpse and then had to turn away. King Darius would make sure he took care of their families but there was no way to replace a loved one, lives would be forever changed. He also knew that some people would blame him, after all they had been dispatched to protect him, and some might even start rumors that an errant enchantment had killed them.

“Marcus, Abbey’s a donkey, she’s out of your chamber and she’s still a donkey! You better fix this! Now!”

“I don’t know how.” It was getting to be too much for Marcus to deal with; this business of being a wizard was nothing but trouble.

As Alexa tried to grab Marcus, Brother stepped in and stopped her. “Who the hell is this idiot?”

“I conjured him.”

“You actually conjured something?” Alexa stared up at Brother.

The sorcerer nodded. “Well I was sleep walking when I did it, so I don’t know how I did it but I did. Fights like a demon and has already saved us twice. And it turns out I’m a wizard that needs a wand.”

“A what?”

“That’s what I said. It’s like a stick that you use to point with and cast spells. Like a brook molds the water a wand will let me shape and control my power or so I was told.” Marcus watched as the other knights examined the Dwagord warriors. “Berhtram kept bringing me branches so I think he might have been telling me I needed a wand but don’t ask me how he knew.”

“Bertram’s missing and father fears the worst. He went out after a crow and never came back.”

“Father went out after a crow?” Marcus asked.

“Berhtram went after a crow you idiot and never came back.” Alexa sized up Raina. She had to calm down but her daughter now a donkey made it difficult. “And who
is this?”

“This is Raina. She helped me figure out that I need a wand.” Marcus scanned the sky for Ryxa; she had flown off to get some food.

“I’m from Linyth and--”

“Save your breath Raina, if you’re hanging around with Marcus you’re not gonna be from anywhere soon.” Alexa turned her attention back to Marcus. “I need you to fix Abbey now or I’m gonna send Stone after you!”

“Stone won’t come after me and I don’t know how! If it weren’t for bad luck we wouldn’t have any luck at all, one thing after another after another.” Marcus shook his head. What if Abbey remained a donkey forever?

Brother bent over and whispered into Marcus’s ear, the voice was faint but perceptible. “Ask the donkey if she can turn back into a baby.”

Marcus was surprised. “So you can talk. Abbey come here.” He was tapping his hands on his thighs as if she was a dog.

The colt ran over to Marcus because she liked to have her ears scratched and was happy to see him again. “Abbey, you like being a donkey don’t you?”

The donkey nodded.

“You can’t change back into a girl can you?” asked Marcus. “I don’t think you can.”

The donkey nodded again.

Marcus smiled. “Oh I don’t believe you. Let me see.”

And just like that Abbey was once again a little girl clapping her little hands. Alexa picked her up and hugged and kissed her. “So she can change whenever she wants to change? She’s only a donkey when she wants to be?”

Marcus nodded. “Looks that way. Raina, I’ve been thinking, we’ll have to take some provisions with us if we are going to seek out that wand. After these brave knights are buried I’ll be back and then we’ll head out. I think it might be best if you go home for a while. You might want to think about how dangerous it is being around me.”

“Marcus, when do you think you’ll be back?” Raina asked.

“Less than a week I imagine.”

“You should get Brother to bury the other one’s before you leave.”

Marcus nodded.

Alexa mounted her horse. “We’ll send a cart and a legion of knights back for the bodies.”

Marcus imagined that a thousand knights would be an impressive sight.

ACKLEY FINISHED CHOPPING HIS ASH FIREWOOD and stared at a blister on his right hand and then at his mother who was tending to the chickens; he had an idea what she was going to say and wondered if he could sneak off and go hunting before she said it. His sling was just inside the door and if she was sufficiently preoccupied he might be able to grab it and get going before she noticed but while attempting to enter the hut she turned and saw him.

“Ackley, try to feed the raven, if he still won’t eat bring him out here and end his suffering. I think it’s time.” She stood akimbo, knowing that he had been caught trying to sneak away, trying to give the bird one more day. “Poor thing.”

Ackley looked at his mother, her hair a little bushier than usual, knowing that this was it. He knew she was probably right but still. He had been hoping that the raven would perk up but he envisioned that he wouldn’t be happy either if he was a bird that couldn’t fly. “Why don’t we just give him one more day?”

She tossed another handful of feed at the chickens. “This is the more merciful way.”

“Yes mother.”

“And bring the bird out here I don’t want you telling me he ate when he didn’t.”

“Yes Mother.” Ackley sighed and slowly made his way in to get the raven.

Berhtram remained in a basket on the floor, not yet dead but not that far from the other side either. Some of the dried mud had fallen off the birds wings, making them a little lighter. Ackley looked down at the bird knowing that a single bite would save him at least for another day, but he looked no better, indeed he looked worse. It didn’t look as though he had any fight left in him. The place was quiet now except for the sound of the chickens, his older brothers had already departed; they didn’t want him hanging around because once he had snapped a branch frightening off a deer, since that time he’s been forced to hunt alone.

Ackley looked down at the bird in the basket. “Mother, the bird just told me that he’s not in too much pain.”

“Yes well unless he tells me you just mind what I told you.”

“Poor little fella,” said Ackley. “This is it raven; if you don’t eat this bread I’m gonna have to kill you. I know you don’t understand me but I sure wish you did.” Although the boy hoped the raven would eat he knew that life and death were part of the same equation, maybe it really was time to end the bird’s suffering, and facing life’s harsh realities were part of becoming a man he was sure, for life doesn’t suffer fools it makes fools suffer.

Berhtram opened his eyes and looked at the bread, just barely moving his head. Ackley brought the bread up and tapped his beak but there was no reaction. Ackley sighed and brought the basket over to where his mother was standing, got his axe and gave the bird one last chance as he took him out of the basket. Millicent hoped the raven would eat because lord knows they could use the luck.

Ackley placed Berhtram on the ground, giving him one last chance to eat, alas the raven seemed incapable. The boy brought the axe up over his head as his mother looked on.

CHAROX FLEW OVER THE NEW KINGDOM of the Dwagord near the base of the mountain range, watching as Daijulan brought up a complete forge out of nothing, collapsing afterward from all the energy he had used. The smell of magic had caught the dragon’s attention, hovering and watching the humans as a boy might watch a colony of ants. There was now a lot more magic in the world and he could see tiny particles of it floating around, a lot had happened during that long nap.

Nine soldiers were forcing a captive knight to march ahead of them toward a round brick building that Charox could smell even from a thousand feet up; a mixture of blood, sweat, urine and fear permeated the structure, which is why that particular building was away from the others because Kai didn’t want the stench inside his castle. The structure was made especially for torture, with chains and hooks and a forge to heat things up. A rack to stretch people until their joints separated. When the large doors swung open one of the warriors kicked the knight, knocking him inside, the others also went in, disrobed the knight and hung him upside down from his ankles.

“What do we have here?” Charox’s curiosity had been aroused and he had to see what they were going to do to that knight, probably make him scream real loud. Several shutters in a row were opened so it wouldn’t be hard to peek in, the dragon circled around getting lots of attention from the Dwagord, landing a short distance away from the building with a thud that shook the ground. They were on Charox like bees on an intruder, attacking him with swords, axes, halberds and spears.

Charox ignored the attackers as he peeked inside and as the Dwagord continued their furious attack he turned to them and said, “Yah, yah, yah, kill, kill, kill, fight, fight, fight.” Their weapons were having no effect on him whatsoever. Peeking in he could see that they had the knight hanging upside down and the dragon smiled at what he was seeing.

Two of the warriors were discussing what to do to the knight. “Do you want to pull out his fingernails first or cut off his fingers?”

“We could cut his ears off to start? If we rub some salt in it it’ll burn like hellfire.”

“What if we cut the nose off his face and put some salt in that?”

“All right knight, we want to know where the most powerful kingdom is in this strange land. Speak and we shall show you a merciful death.”

One of the warriors stuck his halberd into Charox’s tail and it remained there, giving the dragon an itch; he turned and launched a ball of fire, incinerating dozens of them but as he turned back toward the knight he accidentally burned the building to the ground and everyone in it. “No! See what you what you little bastards made me do! Now I’m gonna kill all of you!”

The wizard Chancailu ran toward the dragon, casting a spell as he went, shooting fiery toxic red arrows at Charox, some were deflected but others did stick in his face and one went inside his left nostril. He was prepared to expel another ball of fire when his eyes commenced to burn and suddenly everything went black. The dragon was blind, couldn’t see anything not even shadows, total blackness. He staggered around screaming, accidentally stepping on people and killing them, although he would have killed them purposely if he could see. The dragon took to the air screaming but of course couldn’t tell where the hell he was going, flying in circles for a time. It was an unpleasant feeling being so utterly frightened. What if he remained blind?