Waldrom sensed the presence of magic and glanced behind him.
Rupert and Lukan stood at his back. He grabbed Lilia and pulled her close,
placing his short sword at her throat. “I suggest you stop, or I will cut her
throat,” he warned Brandan. To emphasize his point, he pressed the sword
against her skin puncturing her flesh.
Brandan, took another step.
“I wouldn’t do that, unless you want your mother's corpse on
your hands.”
Joachim wanted to run to Lilia, but his head whirled. Stars
floated in front of his eyes, their motion making him sick with dizziness. He
stepped up to stand beside Brandan. “Waldrom, I’m afraid you’re mistaken.
First, you’re outnumbered. Second, what makes you think you can use Mother to
blackmail us? Let her go, and we’ll discuss your surrender. I don’t want to
kill you.”
Brandan pushed Joachim aside. “You may not, brother, but I
do. He’ll stop at nothing to destroy me. I can’t let that happen.”
A group of Brandan's personal guard came charging down the
hall. Waldrom pushed the sword point a little further into Lilia's throat. “I
see you boys still don’t agree on anything. I suggest you stop the group of
soldiers from attacking me. Rupert, I know you’re back there, trying to form a
spell to stop me. That wouldn’t be a good idea either.”
The tableau unfolded before Joachim's eyes. Waldrom, in the
center of the circle holding Lilia with a short sword slicing her throat and
Brandan, his long sword drawn, advancing on Waldrom. Rupert and Lukan with
sword drawn, stood motionless behind Waldrom. Conflicting voices rang in Joa's
head. “Kill them all. You don’t need
them.” Other voices calling, “Joachim
save them.”
Lukan yelled, “Sire, watch out behind you.”
Joachim started and turned as a Mantion rushed him. He
pulled his short sword from his scabbard. The attacker reached him. The king
swung his weapon cutting and angering the Mantion. The foe sliced Joachim's
knees with his knife, leaving a gash in his thigh. Joachim doubled over in pain.
The Mantion leapt on his back and pummeled the king. The weight of the attacker
lifted from his back. Joachim fearfully turned his head, expecting to see the
Mantion standing over him ready to deliver the kill stroke. Instead, Brandan
stood with the Mantion dead at his feet and Waldrom frozen behind him.
“What happened? I felt sure I was dead. And what happened to
Waldrom?”
Brandan offered a hand to help Joachim to his feet. “I
couldn’t let that Mantion kill you. I skewered him and cast a freezing spell.
Let’s clean up this mess and get Waldrom and his pets locked in the dungeon
until we can figure out what to do with him.”
“Think again young wizard.” Waldrom’s voice echoed down the
long hall. “I believe your magic has failed. Then again, we shouldn’t be
surprised. You always struggled with your spells.”
Brandan turned slowly to face Waldrom. Joachim could not
support his own weight and slumped to the floor again.
“See, you haven’t even helped your brother. You foolish boy.
You are useless, and I think it is time to rid the world of your worthless
life. But first, let me get rid of everyone you treasure and failed. I’ll
finish off your weak excuse of a brother. Then you can watch your mother die,
and finally…I will put you out of your misery.” Waldrom pointed a bony finger
at Joachim.
Joachim screamed as pain rolled over his body. Blood spurted
from his ears and the scar on his neck. “Asha help me!” he prayed.
Fighting the waves of agony, he stood and drew his long
sword. “You won’t hurt anyone in ever again. End this now! Surrender. Release Mother
and I will see that you are treated mercifully.”
Brandan blocked Joachim's path. “This isn’t your battle. Let
me finish this.”
“No. We must stand as
one to defeat this evil.” Joachim winced when he stepped forward, and blood
spurted from the wound in his leg. “We must do this together. It’s the only way
we can defeat him, as one with Asha.”
Waldrom laughed. Pulling Lilia closer, he pushed the sword
deeper into her throat.
Joachim's scar tingled at the memory of his own injury.
Waldrom had started it, Brandan finished it. “You can’t trust Brandan. Leave him and stand with me. I am your only
hope.” Joachim shook his head. “I am
here for you my son. Stand with Brandan.” The voices argued in his mind.
Joachim glanced down the hallway. Lukan was back, leading a
group of Joachim’s personal guard toward Waldrom. Soon, Lukan stood directly
behind Waldrom with a sword to his back.
“Let go of the queen and submit peacefully,” Lukan ordered.
Waldrom laughed. “You think your silly little soldiers will
stop me from getting what I came for.”
Joachim took a step toward him. “Waldrom, you’re surrounded.
Don’t you see how hopeless this is?”
“How quickly you pathetic boys forget. I’m Sidramah's
Anointed One. With that comes great power.” Waldrom waved his free hand, and
Lukan fell to his knees.
“You think you can take me captive and not use magic to do
it? Of course, we have already seen that Brandan's magic is powerless. Joachim,
you‘ve some silly notion you shouldn’t use your magic against me. So, it seems
as if I’m the one with control here, not you.”
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