The Fated Swords (Mystics of V'nairia #1) (17 page)

Introducing

If you enjoyed THE FATED SWORDS

Look out for

The Crusader King

Book two of the Mystics of V’nairia series

By J.C. Ritchie

 
       
The ice covered the High Court’s chambers; the doors had also been frozen shut so there was no escape. Zander could hear the explosions and screams coming from outside the building. He couldn’t think about that now, not with his enemy in front of him. His attacker ran towards him with his blade crafted from pure ice, Zander quickly blocked the strike with Ivory and pushed back his opponent. The man had short silver colored hair and piercing blue eyes. He was much older and taller than Zander had been but he had the energy of someone Zander’s age.

“Who the hell are you?” Zander asked. The man lowered his weapon and loosened up his stance,

“I am Mikhail, a messenger sent by God to acquire the holy sword for my master.” The man said.

Zander chuckled, “You’re kidding right?” he asked. The man’s expression changed, he had become offended.

“You mock God before me?” he asked. “How very foolish of you.”

 
         Zander looked down at his sword and then back at the man across the room, “Why does your master need my sword?” Zander asked.

“That is none of your concern, besides it is not your sword to claim.” Mikhail said.

“The sword is bound to me.” Zander said.

He didn’t know who this stranger was or what his real reason for being in the capital, but Zander knew he had to stop him before he could do anymore damage. “It may be bound to you now, but you aren’t the original owner.” Mikhail said.

Zander was starting to get frustrated by his many riddles, “Then who was the original owner of the holy sword?” Zander questioned him.

“My master the crusader king had that sword crafted for him by the almighty God himself.” Mikhail said excitedly.

Zander raised his sword level with that of Mikhail’s face, “I don’t have time for your God talk, I have a kingdom to protect.” He said.

Mikhail gazed into Zander’s eyes, “I shall allow my savior to pass judgment on your wretched soul.” He said as he ran towards him once more.

          Mikhail lunged at Zander with his blade of ice; meanwhile Zander went to block the attack again. Mikhail had planned to fake the attack all along; instead he leapt over Zander’s head and turned in mid-air. “Ice Art: Frozen Spire!” the man said as a pointed spike made of ice came up from the chamber floor.

Zander had performed a backflip just in time to safely dodge the spell. Zander watched as Mikhail gracefully landed on the ground again. “I never knew ice was a type of elemental magick.” He said.

“Normally it isn’t but when you combine water and wind magick you get ice.” Mikhail explained.

Zander knew he couldn’t keep this up, the fight was getting nowhere. He had to get out of the room and find Vallus; he turned his attention toward the double doors
of the chamber that were frozen shut. “Flame Art: Fire Stream.” He said concentrating the fire spell on the door.

He had quickly begun to notice that the flames were not melting the ice. “Nice try, but I infused the ice on the door with a greater amount of magick energy.” Mikhail explained. “Your flames can’t touch it.”

          The silver haired man had proved to be quite the opponent, he had thought ahead and blocked Zander’s only exit out of the room. The window wasn’t an option either; the chamber was too far up in the building to jump. Zander was going to have to defeat him in order to leave. “Wind Art: Slicing Gale!” Zander said using Ivory to project his wind spell.

The blades of wind surrounded Mikhail, Zander quickly used his fire stream spell to combine his fire and wind magick engulfing Mikhail in the flames. When the flames subsided Zander saw Mikhail encased in a block of ice. The ice began to crack and then shattered. Mikhail dusted himself off and looked over at his already tired opponent. “How did you do that?” Zander asked.

“That was my ice barrier technique; I had to strengthen it to overcome the power of your combination spell.” Mikhail explained. It was as if this man had studied Zander and his abilities before they even met each other, he was definitely good.

 
         “I can block your every move; I know everything there is to know about you Zander.” The man said.

“That’s impossible.” Zander said.

Mikhail began to laugh, “God has shown me your strength and weaknesses; there is no defeating me.” He said.

“You’ll just have to kill me; you’re not getting this sword.” Zander said angrily.

“That has been God’s plan all along; he has sent me to be your angel of death.” Mikhail said. Zander was getting annoyed with how poetic and religious this man was, he had to think of something quickly.

Mikhail raised his blade of ice once more, “Looks like this is the end for you.” He said. Zander stood frozen in fear, he had no options and no time left. His life was about to end.