Curse of The Seventh Sword: The Gauntlet of Feona (26 page)

“No.  These are wraiths of
all the kingdoms.  Could these be souls of those who perished during the Dragol War?”

“They are.  I recognize some.”  Matilom looked away before he
could make eye contact with one of them.  “Be careful.”  He said.

“Father?”  Segmiatus said looking at
one wraith that had passed close to them.  He began walking towards the figure.  A hand shot out and grabbed him by the shoulder.  It was that of Sam. 

“What are you doing?
  You will get us killed.”

“That is my father over there.”

“Get a hold of yourself.  That is no longer your father, and if you go there, you will most definitely be killed.”

“I cannot sit idly and let this happen.  Feona has neglected her duties.  Father!”

The wraith that was Segmiatus’s father turned towards the group.  It fixed its gaze on Segmiatus, freezing him still.  Segmiatus struggled to move but he had lost control of his muscles.  They locked on him the harder he struggled to move them.  It was as though they had a will of theirs.  The wraith slowly made its way towards him.  It unsheathed its sword and got into a swinging stance.

“Father…”  Segmiatus barely got the w
ord out. 

The wraith swung
towards Segmiatus’s waist.  There was a clang of metal.  The clang was followed by a blow to Segmiatus’s head.  Segmiatus looked down to see Balek’s sword blocking his wraith father’s sword.  His gaze shifted upwards and met Davydd’s enraged glare.

“What have you done?” 
Davydd asked.  Segmiatus looked on in silence, realizing much to his self disgust that his uncontrolled emotions had endangered everyone.  Vannera was watching the events unfold, when she heard the voice of Lynda.

Run

“Davydd.”  She called.  “We can save the blames for later.  We have to go now.”

Davydd looked around him.  The wraiths were all closing in on their position. 

“Come Segmiatus.”  Davydd dragged him away from his father’s wraith.  “We have to make haste.”  They ran back to the group.  Davydd went to Max and Vannera, while Segmiatus ran to Sam and Matilom.

“You fool!” 
Sam bellowed.

“Not now
Sam.”  Davydd said.  “Go!”

S
am placed his hands on Segmiatus’s and Matilom’s backs simultaneously.  “You will feel a bit of a tinge.  Do not panic and trust me.”  And with that, all three of them were gone like a beam of light is gone after momentarily flashing through the sky. 

“Are
you ready?”  Max said as he clasped both Vannera’s and Davydd’s hands. 

“Let us go.” 
Davydd said.

A huge portal opened up and enveloped all three of them.  It opened up
a few paces ahead and then enveloped them once more.  All the while, the wraiths gave chase as quickly as they could, and they were quick.  Up ahead, Sam came to a stop.  His hands were still on Matilom’s and Segmiatus’s back, but this time he was leaning on them for support.  Segmiatus looked back at Sam to see he was sweating heavily. 

“Fatigue has set in.”  Segmiatus said.  “You must catch your breath.” 

“No time.”  Sam looked up to see a wraith coming down on them with a great sword.  “We must move.”  He pressed on their backs and they were gone just as the wraith swung through where they had been.  In the distance, portals opened up and closed up at different parts of the field.  Max, Davydd and Vannera fell through another portal and before long, a swarm of wraiths descended upon them. 

Max grimaced in pain and clutched his leg.

“Davydd.  The wraiths.”  Vannera said.

“Don’t overdo it
Max.”

Davydd
unsheathed his two swords and swung at the wraiths, blocking their attacks and cutting a few of them.  They withdrew to a safe distance and waited for their wounds to close up, before swarming in again.  Max grabbed Davydd and Vannera and pulled them into another portal just in time.  When they emerged, Max was panting heavily.  Davydd observed him for a while. 

“Moving rapidly with two people through portals, takes its toll I see.”

“That… and… the distance covered.  I have maybe two or three more in me.”

“And then what happens?”

“I do not know.  I have never been so close to my limits before.  For one thing, there will be no more portals.  But it is not me I am most worried about.”

“Who then?”

“Leo.  Staying unseen for long periods causes his body to burn… as well as those he extends his powers to.”  Davydd sighed and closed his eyes momentarily.

Mother, I know you said you won’t interfere unless in dire circumstances.  These are dire circumstances. 

There was no response.  Davydd bent down low and pulled Vannera down with him. 

“The wraiths have not found us yet.”  He looked up to see the figures that were now flying this way and that.  They passed through each other, their shapes being momentarily distorted when they did. 

“Let us stay here a while and you can regain your strength Max.”  Max nodded.  His panting was beginning to subside. 

Lady Lynda stormed into lady Feona’s dark chambers. 

“For one so greedy for human souls, you seem to have neglected a good number.”

Feona turned around and smiled at Lynda.

“You have never been good at greetings my dear sister.  However, it is a rare and pleasurable to sight to see you so… enraged.”

“It is your duty as queen of souls to judge them, and aid them as they cross into the eternal life.  Why have you deserted those who fell in battle?”

“Because they fell in battle.  Those are the souls of the cowards, those who would choose to run and hide for they thought it would save them from death at the hands of the dragol.  Those are even sou
ls of those who could not stand by Rikard Miljorn.  Why should I want such souls?  Oblivion is what they deserve.  Besides, it is not them that concerns you now is it?”

“He is my son.”

“Then save him yourself.”

“There is a war coming.  Every time I come to
his aid, my powers will drain.  You know this.  I am trying to preserve myself.”

“As am I.”

“There is no consequence for you in this.  You would merely be doing your duty.

“Indeed… but I do not have the desire.”

Lynda glared at Feona.

“What is it you
want?  And please do not stall.  I am well aware that you are twisting my arm.”

“
Davydd has improved greatly.”

“I knew it.  You would not have stopped at
Rikard would you?”

“Those are my terms.  If he comes within mortal danger, I am free to orchestrate as
I see fit.”

“And what about the rest of the mortals?  What about the dragol?”

Feona shrugged.  Before she could finish her action, a sword was resting on her neck.  The white sword blade was enshrouded by a bright light pulsating quickly.

“Careful sister.
”  Feona said.  “You do not want to start another war between us.”

“A war is what you will get if you do not stop those wraiths… for I will take aw
ay the gift of life creation from all mortals.”

“No!  You cannot do that!  If you do…”

“All humans will die. I am well aware.  It is because of me that they live.  It is because of me that you have souls to collect.  I shall rob you of them and even those who scream and groan in hopelessness, trapped forever in the sea of lost souls.”

“Then I will visit upon you
my entire wrath.”

“Feona
, I hope for your sake that when you do, you destroy me.  For wrath is not something I will visit upon you if you do not do as I ask.”

Lynda leaned in, her gaze fierce, her face menacingly calm. 

“It will be something much worse.”  She said in a whisper. 

Feona stared into her sister’s eyes.  She knew Lynda meant every word of what she had said.  “If I do this, what then will you offer me in return?”

“Mercy, and peace of mind, for all the pain you have already inflicted me.”

“Even
if Davydd finds the gauntlet and the sword, there is still the seven year curse that follows it.”

“I do not care about your curse.  He is my son, and your nephew.
  Do not underestimate him… or me.  Now go.”  Lynda glared at Feona one last time before leaving her chambers.  When she was gone, Jaynea who had been standing a fair distance away walked up to Feona. 

“My lady…”

“You will not be accompanying me this time Jaynea.  I cannot have Vannera losing focus.”

“My lady, pardon me but I am confused.  A while ago you sought to help
Davydd.  Now you stay your hand while he faces even more distress.  Why?”

Feona turned to
Jaynea, her red eyes glimmering. 

“My sister and I are always at odds.”  She said as she drew
down a tear in the fabric of all that is and watched it expand. 

“Why?”

“It is in our nature.  I thirst for the end of souls.  I always will.  She thirsts for the birth of souls.”

“You especially thirst it seems, for souls close to her heart.  However it
seems you have taken her threat seriously.”

“Life is cruel.”  Feona turned to
Jaynea again.  “Yes I am sure you have heard that saying before.  It would be unwise to treat her threats lightly.” 

Feona walke
d through the tear.

Baximus and Leo were slowly fading in and out of visibility.  Both their skins burned and they dropped low to the grass.  Leo released the spell and they both became visible again.  They were drenched in sweat. 

“How far do we have to go?”  Leo asked.

“Too far.  I am well aware of the limits of your power.  You cannot keep this up for too much longer without risking death.”

“I am fine.”  Leo said forcing a smile.  “Feona will not have me so easily.”

“I can have you anytime I wish it.”  A voice said.  Leo looked up to see that it was the goddess Feona.  She held two wraiths by the neck on either hand.  Leo watched as both wraiths evaporated into nothingness afterwards.

“My lady Feona.  Why is it you are here?”  He asked.

“To save your pathetic lives.  Seeing as you cannot do so yourselves.  Now come with me.”  She held both their hands and they were gone in a portal, which re- emerged near Davydd, Vannera and Max. 

“You…” 
Davydd said. 

“Yes.  Me.  Now be still and silent while I go fetch the
other idiots and the wizard.”  And with that, she was gone again.  She re-emerged again, in front of Sam, Segmiatus and Matilom, though she could not see him. 

“Oh my Fe…”

“Finish saying that and I will cause the life from your tongue to leave it.  Your foolishness nearly visited tragedy on all.”

Segmiatus fell silent.

“Come with me.”

S
am did not move. 

“I am not here for you wizard, though I’d very much like to be.  Now come before I change my mind.”

Sam grabbed Matilom’s hand. 

“We are ready.”  He said, and
a portal enveloped them as well.  They re-emerged at the same place where she had left Leo and Baximus with Davydd, Max and Vannera.  The group was re-united. 

“What are you going to do now?”

“What you could not do.  Lay on the ground, all of you.  I do not wish for you to be caught in my wake.”  Feona levitated off the ground and a black aura enshrouded her.  Her eyes burned even a brighter red.  She raised her gauntlet hand up in front of her, pulled it back as one does when trying to swing a sword horizontally, and swung from left to right.  A shockwave exploded from her hand and rapidly spread out in front of her.  It also wrapped around her and spread out behind her so that it covered all areas of the field in all directions, expanding from her as the epicenter.  The shockwave created a strong blast of wind, which combined with the wave itself, caused most of the wraiths in the field to dissolve instantly.  The force flattened the grass blades in the field and pressed down on Davydd’s group.  They could feel it push them into the soil, almost as though it were huge hands that depressed them in.  They all watched as Feona decimated the remaining wraiths swiftly.  She seemed to be everywhere at once, laughing as she vanquished wraith after wraith.  Feona slowly descended to the ground once more.  Her armor coagulated together to re-form her dress as she walked towards the group.  Davydd stood up.

“Thank you.”  He said.

“Must everything be handed to you?”  Feona asked angrily.

“I do not… understand.”  A per
plexed Davydd said.

“Do you know how much aid your father received from me?  A sword was all.”

“Yet it was a sword of power.  One I do not have to wield against dragol and wraiths!”