Curse of The Seventh Sword: The Gauntlet of Feona (21 page)

“You are so peaceful.”  She whispered.  “I hope you stay like this for a
while.”  She stepped outside of the room where Baximus was waiting for her. 

“Follow me.  King Vitalis should be on his way back with Obin and Matilom.  I have a shelter we can stay in till the storm passes, and then I will find Matilom by morning.  Let u
s depart.”

In the shelter, Baximus sat down and kept eyes on Lady Lynda, known as Queen Liliana to him, and her baby son, Davydd.  The news had spread like wild fire.  The dragol had managed to kill one of the kings of Terrianus.  This was not just any king.  This was King Rikard Miljorn, whom many considered to be the best of them all.  However, King Rikard had not gone down without a fight.  Three principals were dead, along with thousands of other dragol by his and his army’s hands.  The dragol had at least been forced to retreat to their dimension, though no one knew if this was for the last time.  All of this he could piece together from the murmurings and conversations of passersby.  The night felt long and the storm continued to rage.

“The gods must be grieving.” 
Baximus said.

Lynda did not respond.  She cradled
Davydd as tears flowed freely from her eyes.  There was a knock on the door.  Baximus reached for his sword and hurried silently to the side of the door.  Lynda sat up, wiping her eyes and cheeks.  She cradled Davydd as she scooted back on the creaky bed in the corner of the room. 

“Who is it?” 
Baximus asked coldly, the tip of his blade pointed in the general direction of where the heart of a man would be once he entered the room. 

“Matilom.”

Baximus looked at Lynda.  “Matilom knows not where we are.”

Lynda shrugged.  “He’s a wizard.  I wouldn’t underestimate him.”

Baximus turned his gaze back to the door and slowly pushed back the wooden latch.  He opened the door as a cloaked figure slowly stepped inside.  He put down his hood to reveal his face.  It was Matilom.  He nodded at Baximus and turned to Lynda.  His eyes were reddened and his face was stricken with grief.  Matilom walked towards her and she got up to embrace him.  He pulled back and looked at Davydd. 

“He’s fine” Lynda said “and oblivious to all that goes on around him.”

“We need to leave Beathaleth now.”

“How
do you propose we do that?”  Asked Baximus.  “Sidion Vror is expecting me to deliver two bodies to him.”

“We will think of something.  Right now, Sidion knows I am a foe to him.  He has asked Nistam to crown him king.  Let us get to Angweleth.  There you c
an say you had to leave for fear of being discovered by King Darius Vitalis.  It will give us enough time to fool him.”

“I can get us to the ports
before dawn if we move now.”

“
Baximus… can you keep us unseen for that long?  Your powers are waning.”

“I am
well aware.  Somewhere in Angweleth is my heir.  But I still have enough left.  Just stay close to me.”

Matilom turned to Lynda.  “Queen Liliana,
get everything you need.”

Lynda picked
Davydd up and turned to Matilom.  “I have all I need.”

The carriage raced through the cobblestoned paths of Alvo.  The soldier at the front urged the horses to go faster.  Inside the carriage were Matilom, Baximus, Lynda and her child.  Baximus played with his fingers nervously.

“You must be eager to see them
… your wife and child.”  Matilom said.

“That I am.  I am one of the lucky ones… to come back alive.”

“Yes.”  Matilom agreed.  “Cherish these times.  War always has a way of coming back around.”

“I will cherish them even in war, for I will not be participati
ng in anymore bloodshed.  No more wars for me.”

“You think the dragol are gone for good?”

“I don’t know what his majesty did, but they retreated.  Three principals are dead.”

Matilom closed his eyes, saying nothing. 

The carriage was slowing down and then finally came to a halt. 

Baximus jumped out as an elderly woman came out through the front door of his home. 

“Oh Baximus.”  She said as they embraced.

“Mother Rachel.  I am sorry I could not come back in time.  How are they?”

“Baximus…”  Rachel’s voice cracked.

“What happened?” 
Baximus was anxious now.  “What happened?!”

Baximus ran inside. 

“Merith!”  He yelled.  He looked left towards the bed and saw his wife laying still.  The sheets were soaked red. 

“Merith!!!”
  He rushed towards her and was held back by an older man who was there.  He turned to the man trembling.  “What happened?  Where’s my child?!!”

“
Baximus she lost a lot of blood.  The baby… the baby never took breath.”

“And you couldn’t save them?!!!” 
Baximus rushed at the old man and clasped his left hand around his neck. 

“You couldn’t save them??!!!!!!!!”  His voice thundered
.

“Ba…B
axi….arrrrggghhh”. 

“
Baximus!!!”  Matilom yelled.  “Let go of him.” 

Baximus
looked at Merith’s lifeless body again.  His vice like grip slowly loosened.  He let go and fell to his knees as his body trembled uncontrollably.  Then he let out a primal scream of anguish.  He hunched over and gnashed his teeth in an attempt to regain control.  A pair of arms wrapped around him consolingly.  He looked up to see it was Queen Liliana. 

“They’re… they’re dead…”
  Baximus said in disbelief.

She hugged him tighter until his trembling stopped. 

“How can you be so strong?”  He asked

“Because I know, death is never the end.  You will be
re-united with them.  I promise.”

Baximus nodded slowly as his body went limp.  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.  When his eyes opened up, he turned his gaze towards his wife again. 

“I won’t let their deaths be in vain.”  Baximus got up and walked to the elderly man who cowered in fear.  Baximus stopped just before him and dropped down to one knee, bowing his head.

“Forgive me.  I was… overcome.”

The elderly man took a deep breath and nodded.

“I am sorry
Baximus.  I did my best.”

“I would ask
one more favor.”

“Anything.”

“Prepare the bodies of my wife and child for Matilom.”

“What?” 

“Prepare them.  I shall… make their deaths seem violent.”  Baximus choked back tears as he said this.

“Why
Baximus?”  Lynda asked visibly shocked.

“Remember what I said back in Beathaleth.  Sidon Vror expects me to bring him two bodies.
With Matilom’s help, I will deliver that to him.”

“
Baximus you cannot possibly…”

“You and your child will live on as a memory to the sacrifice of my wife and child.
Fate has dealt me a grieving blow.  I intend to take it in stride.  I apologize if her majesty thinks me selfish.”

“No
Baximus… not at all.”

The elderly man had placed the dead baby next to his mother.

Baximus unsheathed his sword.

“Forgive me… Merith.  A
re you ready Matilom?”

“I am.”

“And you can fool Nistam?”

“I taught Nistam everything he knows, but not everything.”

Baximus positioned the blade tip above his dead wife’s heart.

“This is my gift to you, young Miljorn.  Live.”

The sword came down.

“Afterwards Baximus took those same bodies to Sidion.  Both he and Nistam were fooled.  He offered to reward Baximus handsomely but Baximus declined.  It was then that he decided it best to raise you under the guise of Ovar Tardust.  He faked his death and news spread that he had taken his own life due to grief.  While the false news spread, we fled to Gor, a town as far away from Alvo as possible.  I stayed with you as long as I could.  However, at the urgings of my sister, it became clear that leaving was the best thing I could do.  I had to leave.  It was the only way to help Baximus fully blend in without notice… without danger.”

Davydd sa
t with her on the rocks, his head rested on her laps as they looked up at the night sky.  They had spent the whole day there. 

“And so you left.”

“I did not want to.  It was the hardest thing I have ever done.”  Lynda looked down at him and smiled.  “You were a gift of love to us son.  And you are here today through that love, and the belief others like Baximus showed when needed the most.  You are Davydd Miljorn, son of Rikard Miljorn and Lynda, the goddess of life and the true king of Angweleth.  By virtue of being my son, you are the most powerful mortal in Terrianus.”

“I am?”

“Yes you are.”  Came the voice of Baximus as he brought them dinner.  “How are mother and son doing?”

“Very well.”  Lynda and
Davydd looked at each other and smiled.  He felt like a child again. 

“Well then that’s good to know.” 
Baximus said as he set their plates down.

“Father…”

“Yes my boy.”

“Thank you… Thank you so much.”

Baximus smiled.  “You do not need to offer thanks.  You have given me much happiness in my lifetime.  More than I ever could have hoped for.”

“
Baximus seems to have taken well to only learning the entire truth two moons ago.”

Davydd
looked at her.  “That’s right!  Mother was known as Queen Liliana… Father… when did you know the truth?  Who knew the truth?”

“In all of Terrianus it was only
Rikard, Matilom and your mother.  I only began to have my suspicions when this quest began.”

“Wh
y?”

“Oh… many things.  The rapid recovery of Segmiatus from his wound when we fought Sidion and his men, your improvement with the sword and a particular kick to the chest while we trained, and finally there was this fight with a principal in which you sur
vived and dealt blows no ordinary mortal can.  I asked Matilom and he told me… on our way here.  He feared the truth would affect you in an unfavorable way.”

“Segmiatus’s recovery you said.  That was because of me?”

“You are the son of Lady Lynda.  You have an overwhelming life force.  That power must have flowed to Segmiatus in reaction to your concern for him.”

Davydd sat in shock.

“I hate to come between this re-union but we need you Lady Lynda.”

“The prisoner will not talk.  I heard.”  Lady Lynda said.

“As is to be expected of a goddess.”  Baximus bowed.

“Very well.  Eat and recover your strength son.  Join us when you can.”

Lynda got up and walked with Baximus.

“What about you?
  Won’t you eat?” Davydd asked.

Lynda turned back to
Davydd and smiled.

“I require no sustenance from this world my son.  At least… not yet.”

“Not yet?”

“The longer I stay in this realm with you, the more my powers will wane and the more powerful you will become.”

“Then you must return to the realm of the gods.  You have given me everything I need.  I know who I am.”

“I left your side once before son.  I won’t do it again.  Besides, I haven’t given you everything.  I must go now.  You have a visitor who has been dying to see you.”  She smiled at him and turned around just as
Vannera emerged up the rocks.  Davydd smiled at her and she ran towards him.

“Va…” 
Davydd was cut off with a ruthless slap across the face.  He held his stinging left cheek, looking at Vannera in shock.

“What on Terrianus?”

“I understand that we kept the truth from you, and I so badly wanted to tell you Davydd.  But don’t you worry me like that again!  I’m sorry I said nothing.  I thought you would die and I didn’t know what to do.  You looked like you were in so much pain…”

“
Vannera…”

“I know.  I know.  I t
alk mindlessly right now and…”

“
Vannera…”

“Yes
Davydd?”

“I’m sorry I worried you.”

Vannera gasped at Davydd’s smile. 

“You are such a fool! Fool! Fool!”  She beat on his chest and he grabbed her and kissed her.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and attacked his lips. 

“You know?  There was a moment I thought I was going to die too.  I kept thinking, I’d leave this world without telling you the truth.”

“What truth?”  Vannera asked.

“I love you Vannera.  I love you so much.”  Davydd said as he stared into her green eyes.