PURE OF HEART (23 page)

“Thank you.” Kala pushed the weapon back. “But you keep it. You can use it better than I, and I need a slightly bigger weapon.” He grinned.

Kala leapt to his feet and cast his bonds aside. He ripped the collar from his neck and roared. The soldiers stopped in their tracks, paralyzed with fear as Kala picked up the long wooden bench. With a crackling of wood, the bench slammed into two soldiers and smashed them across the room.

Two other soldiers turned to run outside but stopped as several more ran in, including the soldier Dean had outbid.

The companions readied their weapons and moved back against the wall as they prepared for the onslaught. Kala tossed the broken bench aside and snapped a thick leg off the table.

“Go. I can hold them off.” Kala grimly smiled.

“We go together.” Dean drew his sword.

Han pulled on the handle of the back door, but it wouldn’t budge. “This door’s locked. The only other one is past them,” Han pointed out. “If only Carimus were here,” Han said. “He’d have some spell with smoke and fire.”

Dean thrust his hand in his pocket. The soldiers cautiously approached again. His fingers clasped around the lighter. He pulled the lighter out and held it above his head. He waved his hands in the air. Everyone stopped moving as they watched him. Trying his best to sound ominous, Dean shouted:

“Yabba-dabba-do

I curse you.

May this Bic do the trick

And your mothers all get sick.

May this spell fry your tails

And turn you all into snails!”

He lit the lighter and turned up the flame.

“It’s a wizard!” one soldier shrieked.

The rest of the soldiers screamed in horror, turned, and trampled one another as they fled through the door.

“Move!” Kala exclaimed.

He turned and kicked the door. Wood and splinters flew into the air. The door flew off its hinges, opening to an alley. The companions dashed out the back door. They raced down alleys that twisted and turned until they were well away from the tavern.

As they slowed to a stop, Han turned to Oieda and with a grin from pointed ear to pointed ear, he panted, “I told you he’s from the Heavens.”

“I’ll go with you to stop Volsur,” Kala announced as they stood in the shadows of the alley. “I know a safe way into the castle. It’s through a service courtyard. We’ll have to get through the main gates, though.”

“How do you know the way?” Dean asked.

“I guarded the castle before it fell. I know every inch,” Kala said.

“Thank you, Kala,” Dean said, “but I can’t let you.”

“What?” Han’s hands shot up. “The big guy could be helpful.”

“You still don’t trust me?” Kala asked.

“We could use—” Bravic started to say, but Dean held up his hands to cut him off.

“Hold on,” Dean said. “We don’t think we’re going to be coming back out of there. I can’t ask you to die.”

Kala’s large eyes stared at each of the companions in turn. After a minute, he rolled his huge shoulders and straightened up. “Volsur must be stopped. As I said, it was my job to guard the castle, and I failed. I have to try.”

Dean looked down at the ground and clenched his jaw.

Han slid up next to Dean. “We could use him, and he said he wants to go,” he loudly whispered.

Oieda grabbed Dean’s arm and dragged him around the corner of the alley. She spun him about and got right in his face. “He knows the way. He knows the risk. The only debate is your fear.”

“You’re not helping,” Dean muttered. “I’m no leader. It feels like yesterday that I was sleeping under a bridge and praying for a hamburger. Now I’m trying to figure out how to stop a wizard, and I could get you all killed. I don’t know what to do.”

Dean’s eyes searched hers. She squared her shoulders and set her jaw. As he continued to look to her for some words of advice, her dimple appeared.

“Suck it up, buttercup,” she smirked.

Now it was Dean’s turn to glare.

She put her hand on his shoulder. “Sometimes you need to dig deep. You can’t bear everyone’s pain. A warrior knows when they need help. Use your tools. Don’t throw us away. This is your time. Be a leader. Seize the moment.”

Dean grabbed her around the waist and kissed her. Her arms went out and her eyes flew wide. He held her until he felt her relax. She kissed him back, and his chest swelled.

Dean pulled away and quickly said, “Don’t hit me. I had to do that.”

Oieda swallowed and nodded. “When I told you to seize the moment, that wasn’t what I meant.”

“I know. I—”

“Hello?” Han stepped around the corner and tossed his hands up. “This is supposed to be a group discussion.”

Oieda held up a hand. “One minute.”

Han’s lips mashed together, and he stomped away.

Oieda turned back to Dean, and he held his hands up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just grabbed you and—”

She grabbed Dean’s leather jacket and yanked him against her. Dean inhaled as he crashed against her body. Oieda’s left hand wrapped around his waist and her right ran up his back and through his hair. Her lips pressed hard against his.

Now it was Dean’s turn for his hands to flop awkwardly at his sides. He had kissed girls before but none had ever come close to the ferocity Oieda kissed him with. His heart raced. Oieda pinned him against the wall, and her mouth claimed his.

When she finally broke away, Dean stood blinking with his mouth open.

Oieda spun on her heels and walked to the corner.

Dean exhaled; he thought she looked even more beautiful.

“Let’s go, buttercup.” She grinned.

Dean rolled his eyes but hurried after her. They walked back to the companions. Dean went over to Kala and held out his hand. Kala clasped Dean’s wrist in his large hand. Dean hesitated for a second before he grabbed Kala’s wrist, and they shook.

“What can you tell us about the castle?” Dean asked.

They sat behind large crates in the alley for hours as they planned and waited for darkness. The stench from the garbage made the wait seem all the longer. Kala explained the route they would take over and over and described every turn in detail.

Finally, night came. The five walked toward the castle. It stood even blacker than the sky, its towers silhouetted against the starless heavens. They approached the gates from the shadows; only two guards sat against the wall. Their heads rested on their chests. Bravic motioned to Kala, and the two crept into the shadows. Bravic and Kala swooped forward, and the guards slumped to the ground.

Bravic stood and motioned for the others. They snuck by the enormous gates into the large courtyard and moved along the wall in the shadows, staring at the buildings that loomed before them. Kala led them along the wall until they were almost at the far corner. The sound of footsteps from the ramparts above brought them to a halt. As the footsteps echoed away, they moved toward a narrow wooden door.

The latch clicked in Kala’s hand. They slipped silently into the doorway and closed it quietly behind them. Kala moved to the far door, and they all stopped, straining to hear something, hoping to hear nothing. Kala opened the door a crack. The only thing greeting them was silence and the dim light from a torch down a stone hallway.

They passed closed wooden doors on both sides of the passageway but continued until a large staircase rose on the left. The stairway led to a huge hall; its immense doors were opened and pale torches illuminated the furniture.

Dean cautiously peered inside. “Are you sure this is the fastest way to go?”

Kala nodded. “We go through the hall and out to the king’s courtyard. Just past that is the King’s Hall. Volsur will be there.”

“So far, the way he’s taking us has made this easy,” Han whispered.

Bravic poked him. “You don’t talk.”

Han scowled but Bravic winked.

“It’s way too easy,” Dean muttered.

Kala slipped into the room, and the others followed. When they reached the middle of the hall, Oieda held up a hand. All five drew their weapons and scanned the silent room. Nothing moved except the flicker of the flames from the torches. Dean looked across the hall once more before they continued toward the double doors at the end of the hall.

Crack!

“Dean!” Bravic screamed in warning, a barbed arrowhead bursting through his armor just below his shoulder. Bravic stumbled and fell onto one knee.

Oieda leaped in front of the Dwarf as the others turned around. At the top of the staircase, a Tearog was mounted on top a Ravinulk with a long bow in his hand. A dozen armored Krulgs poured through the door and ran to stand at its side. Their curved swords flashed in the torchlight.

The Tearog fired again.

Bravic’s shield flew open, and the arrow shattered against it. With a groan, Bravic snapped the barbed head of the arrow off, and, growling in pain, pulled the shaft out. “Run for the hallway,” he growled, his face now ashen and twisted in pain.

Oieda moved toward Bravic, but the Dwarf pushed her aside and staggered for the double doors.

The Krulgs howled in glee when the Tearog raised his bony hand, and they surged forward.

The companions stopped at the double doors. Kala grabbed the crossbeam that kept them closed and swung it open. Kala and Han rushed through the doors, but Bravic and Oieda did not. Dean stopped in the doorway.

“Go on,” Bravic gasped, “I’ll hold them off here. I’ll stay for this battle, Han.” A faint smile crossed his pained lips, and he hefted his massive battle-axe in one hand.

Dean shook his head. “No—”

“Dean,” Bravic cut him off, his voice strangely soft, “get going. I’ll catch up.”

Dean’s hand tightened around his sword, and he nodded. Dean and Oieda stood in the doorway. Oieda kissed Dean quickly. “Remember the spear.” She shoved him backward through the doorway.

“NO,” Dean screamed.

Oieda slammed the door closed, and he heard the crossbar fall into place.

Dean slammed into the door. “NO,” he screamed again.

Kala grabbed his arm. “We’ll never get back in.”

Dean’s fist pounded the door. He tore his eyes away. Then Han, Kala, and Dean ran down the hallway. They didn’t look back as they reached the corner, the sounds of steel upon steel ringing out from behind the door.

As they raced on, they could see a light at the far end. The light was not from torches, though. The hallway opened into a colossal courtyard. A stone-covered path led to a massive stone in the center. Dean’s eyes went wide. He’d seen the stone before. It was the same as the one in Panadur’s field: a Middle Stone.

They continued past it and headed for a pitch-black gateway on the other side. Small paths twisted and branched off, crisscrossing to lead to small buildings on both sides. The stones crunched underfoot as they ran forward.

Han suddenly howled a suffering cry as enormous taloned claws gripped his shoulders. A gigantic wing knocked Dean to the ground. He looked up to see Han in the clutches of a flying beast well over nine feet tall, with the body of a rat and leathery bat-like wings. As the creature flew above the path with Han struggling in its grip, Kala sped after it. With a mighty leap, Kala sprang into the air and grasped Han by his legs.

“Release him, Daehtar,” Kala snarled as they rose higher.

“Let go Kala! Leave me. Help Dean,” Han screamed as the creature rose with a powerful beating of its gargantuan wings.

Dean rushed after them, but they disappeared over the roof of the building. He stopped and stared into the night where his friends had just been. Tears burned in his eyes and fire swept through his heart. He screamed at the sky as burning hate spread through his body. He looked toward the end of the walkway. The opening was a void, completely devoid of light. He knew that through that opening, he’d find the one responsible for all this pain—Volsur.

Dean glared at the void and gritted his teeth. He stormed through the opening and plunged into complete darkness. Blinded, he stumbled forward, feeling with his feet as he rhythmically swung his sword ahead of him. The void slowly lightened. Soon he could make out massive pillars towering above him and rising out of sight. Distant walls appeared, and the spacious hall was bathed in a kind of twilight. At the end of the hall, he saw a golden flicker. Dean moved toward it, and the room filled with light. Torches burned all around.

A golden armored figure stepped from the shadows.

“Norouk?” Dean said in disbelief.

****

Bravic and Oieda lowered their weapons as the Krulgs raced toward them. Bravic groaned and raised his shield, pain flaring through his body. Oieda ran the first Krulg through with her spear while Bravic’s axe crashed into the neck of another. They fought side by side: Oieda on the left, Bravic on the right. Spear and axe cut down the Krulgs who lashed at them, and the bodies fell at their feet. The Krulgs backed up to regroup, leaving half their number behind, dead on the stone floor. Bravic leaned heavily on his axe, never taking his eyes from the foe. Oieda’s spear was covered in thick, dark blood. The two moved back toward the double doors to get out of the slippery pool of blood.

“They come again, Bravic.” Oieda had a worried frown as she looked at Bravic’s pain-gripped face.

The Tearog had regrouped the Krulgs, and they rushed forward to attack. Six Krulgs surged in like a wave to sweep over the two who stood before them. Two launched themselves into the air, snarling as they sprang. Bravic raised his shield. His arm felt as if it was being torn from his body when the Krulg landed against the shield.

Bravic flung the creature sideways into the wall, and his axe cleaved it in two.

Oieda thrust at the other leaping Krulg, and her spear ran the creature through. The weight of the Krulg slamming into her drove Oieda back, and she fell to the blood-soaked floor. Bravic moved in front of her as the four others sprang forward. His axe crashed into one’s head and sent it screaming backward. Another grabbed his shield in its clawed hands and pulled. Pain seared through Bravic’s shoulder. As he tried to yank his shield free from its grasp, a large Krulg with a black sword sliced upward at his unprotected side. The Dwarf’s armor split, and the Krulg’s sword cut deeply into his flesh. Bravic stumbled backward; his axe tumbled from his hand.

Oieda rolled the Krulg from atop her and saw Bravic drop to his knees. The Elf jumped to her feet. A sword ripped into Oieda’s thigh as she impaled another Krulg with her spear. Oieda tried to grab the wall for support, but her leg was unable to bear her weight.

The two Krulgs raised their weapons. Oieda lunged with her spear. It drove into the Krulg’s chest. The other Krulg started to swing for Bravic’s head. Oieda’s hand snapped out, and her dagger sank to the hilt in the Krulg’s throat.

Bravic slowly turned his head. His face was pale. “Nice throw.”

She winked.

The Tearog pulled the reins, and its beast reared up on its hind legs. The Tearog raised a massive ivory sword. The Ravinulk roared a guttural howl and surged forward.

Oieda limped before Bravic. Blood splattered her armor. Her heart raced. She looked down at the leather band around her arm, and an image of her father’s kind face flashed in her mind. She gipped her spear tighter. She cast one quick look over her shoulder at the barred door. “We have to buy them time.”