Death Or Fortune (8 page)

     In the
days before the battle, I had the same dream over and over again.  At some
point in the battle I met and was killed by Nikle.  It became so clear
that I could see it when I was awake. Yet there was something wrong with it. It
was me, this much I know yet at the same time it wasn't. The armor was not
mine. I could not see my own face but the armor was clear, I didn't know who it
belonged to. Not until later. Were the gods trying to tell me something, I
don't know.  I sometimes wonder if things would have been different had I
told him about my dreams.  Had I told him to stay away and to let me
fight.  I doubt it would have changed his mind about anything to come.
 I doubt he would have done anything different.
     At noon the next day, Michaels had the men in ranks
and in some semblance of order.  Most of the men had armor that would last
them as long as they lived and weapons that would hold together as long as they
needed.  I thought of breaking the men down into units but in the end, I
figured they would do the most damage as one massive force. We were going to be
outnumbered but I had plans for that.  Hans and Pare had returned with
every barrel of oil they could find.  If nothing else we were going to put
on a hell of a light show.  Yet I knew we needed more.  So I went to
the one man who I thought might be able to help with weapons and armor.
     Boris the dwarven black smith. Finest black smith in
all of Arcadia was in front of his shop when the three of us stopped the wagon
in front of his shop.  He was clad in his own armor with an axe as tall as
his body slung over his shoulder.  
"I fought off the foul rioters,
I will fight off anyone that comes near my shop"
he told me as I
looked at him from above.  As I jumped down I told him that I needed a
favor.  I told him about the army and how we had more than a few men who
needed good weapons and armor.  Any he could spare.  He looked at me
with one eye open and rubbed his fingers together, I promised him that he would
be paid for everything he could give us.  Before the day was done we had
emptied out most of his shop and had him going back to our staging area to help
fit the farmers into armor and pass out weapons.  He spent most of the
night there as well helping our own smiths get things rolling.  After the
war, he could have retired on what he was paid yet his shop is still there
today.  He gets more business today though as some of those men remember
him being there that day.  While he could not outfit every man who needed,
there were several men who lived that day because of his armor.
     When Arturo came to me that night he was pleased with
all that we had been doing.  
"Ride with me for a while boy
."
 We rode side by side, in silence back to his home.  I did not
question him or what he wanted from me.  I could hear him speaking yet the
words did not take hold until he led me into his den.  In that moment the
world came into sharp focus.  There on a stand near the wall was the armor
from my dream.  
"Now I am only going to offer you this because I
believe in you and you have yet to let me down.  I see great things coming
for you Darmot.  It would do me a great honor if you would wear my armor
into battle."
 I could feel every blow Nikle gave me in that
dream.  I could feel my life blood running down my leg.  I could feel
my guts spilling out of my body and falling to the ground below.
     I approached the armor and laid a single hand on the
breast plate.  It was beautiful and I felt like I had known it my whole
life.  When I told him I could not accept it, it was as if I had struck
him in the face with all of my strength.  I hated seeing that look of
disapproval on his face.  In some ways I wish I could have taken it and
avoided the fate that my dream showed me.  I knew in my heart the moment I
put that armor on, death was coming for me.  Arturo did not look at me the
same after that.  Of all the pain I suffered in the war, that look is the
one thing that has never healed.  I will carry that pain with me until the
end of my days.  All my life I had wondered what it was like to have a
father that loved and cared for you.  A father that would tell you that he
was proud of all you have done.  I had met a man who started to feel like
a father to me and now I let him down.  I might as well have spit in his
face.
     I should have told him about my dream.  I should
have told him my fear.  He would have told me that it was just that, a
dream and that fear should be faced head on.  That I was being foolish and
to take the field with honor.  If I knew what was to come could have been
avoided, I would have taken his words to heart, worn his armor and died with
honor.  None of what I have today would have been possible without Arturo
and when he asked this one thing of me, I refused.  It pains me that I
damaged the bond we had before the war.  Yet, on that day, at that moment
I would not have put on that armor for all the gold in Arcadia.
     I did not sleep that night, there was too much to do.
The army had to be ready. Our fate was marching towards us, in less than a day
they would be on our door step. People were counting on me to lead these men.
 Men I did not know, men who were about to die at my command.  Yet we
all had the same desire, to be free.

     The day of
the battle started out with a flurry of activity. S.O.M.A. was marching and
they were splitting off as we expected, three columns would be met by three. We
were ordered to hold the ground we stood on and were to only fall back in
death. Not that we had anywhere to fall back to.  We were the only thing
between a mad man’s army and the city.  My friend Turk was with the King
as was his duty, Arturo stood with him as well. While I had all my friends and
Michaels with me, I felt alone.  I stood and watched the dark clouds roll
in, rain was coming but Hetaron told me it would hold off long enough.
 The dark clouds would work to our advantage he said.  I still could
not believe he was going along with my plan.  To be honest, he was looking
forward to it.  Once his part was complete he would rejoin me on the
field.  I looked to each of my friends, Hans, Pare and then Hetaron.
 Each of them gave me the strength to do what I had to do next.
     I shouted out the order to form ranks.  Michaels
went to work making sure all were ready.  I mounted my horse and stood
watching the men make ready.  I looked down and saw a boy; a boy who could
have been me a hundred years ago. No more than half my age, he was there sword
in hand.  His eyes held no fear.  His gaze was strong as was his
hand.  Sword and shield held high as was proper.  I pointed to him
and called him to me.
"You will carry our standard, run and fetch it
no; you will be by my side this day."
I could see the pride on his
face, he almost took on a glow.  I watched as he carried the standard from
my tent to the front of the ranks.  As other saw it, silence over took the
ranks.  I could hear no sound but the wind.  I was about to speak
when I felt Hetarons hand on my leg.  I looked down and he was holding up
a gem to me.
"Hold this in your hand Kromwell, all will hear your
words."
I did not question him, I just took the gem into my hand and
began.
    
"I am Darmot Kromwell. I came to Arcadia not long
ago. In the time I have been here I have seen how great this country can be.
This land is rich, the city is strong and it isn't because of any lord or king.
It is because of you, the people of Arcadia that makes this land what it is.
Today we face a grave threat in the form of a tyrant. His message was sent to
us loud and clear.  We all saw it written in blood on the walls of the
king’s castle. This man seeks to enslave each and every one of us. We fight
today not for the land, the city or even for the king. We fight today for our
very lives. The lives of every son and daughter of Arcadia. For every mother
and every good husband who wants for nothing more than to be rewarded for a
hard day’s work. I am Darmot Kromwell and I am proud to fight with you my
Arcadian brothers. On this day we will tell this tyrant that we will not be
broken, that we will not surrender the one thing we value the most. Our
 lives."

     The roar
that issued forth from the ranks was nearly enough to knock me from the horse.
I looked to Hetaron and told him to make ready.  The enemy was now in
sight and marching on us fast.  It would not be long. I walked with
Hetaron and Pare back to my tent where we stored the oil barrels. Ten of them
all together, eight of them were sitting on Hetarons carpet, two were set off
to the side. As Hetaron pulled out his scroll I asked Pare one last time if he
wanted to do this. "
I have been waiting for this my entire life Darmot!
"
The smile on his face was like nothing I had ever seen. Hetaron opened the
scroll and began to chant.  I like to think that on the day I die I won't
be forced to answer the gods as to why I thought it was a good idea to turn a
halfling into a dragon.  Even if it was only for just for a short time.
 He wasn't the biggest dragon I have ever seen but he was for sure the
happiest.  I then looked to Hetaron. "
Take no more risk than you
have to. Wait until they are all in the field of view. Rejoin me as soon as it
is finished."
He just looked at me and rolled his eyes.
     I watched in awe as he started to take off with his
flying carpet, "
I will do my part Darmot, try not to get killed before
I finish. You and this entire city will owe me before the day is done. All will
tremble before my power.
" Pare the dragon took the last two barrels in
his now massive hands and took off after Hetaron into the sky.  I then
rejoined Hans and Michaels at the front of the ranks. I stood there and watched
them come.  I felt a bit like a mouse watching the snake coming to feed.
 My men stood behind me in silence.  I looked to Hans one last time
and gave him a nod.  From out of his armor came his holy medallion.
 A blazing sun etched into silver, the symbol of his god Solarth.  He
asked the good god for his blessing and prayed for our victory.
     I looked out at the field and saw them getting oh so
much closer. They would soon be in range of the archers.  I kept thinking,
now damn it now when I saw Pare break the clouds.  Diving at the
approaching army with break neck speed he let out a roar and dropped his
barrels while flying over the top of them.  All eyes were on the dragon as
he soared overhead.  No one but Hans and I saw the crazy mage on his
flying carpet until the other oil barrels started raining down on them. By
then, it was too late. Turk told me days later he could see the smoke.
 Hetaron cast a single fireball spell, which damaging on its own, was
enough to ignite all the oil we dumped on the field. "
Hans
!"
was all I had to say. Thousands of burning bodies littered the field, some were
still walking around as lightning bolts were being called down from the sky.
     A second fireball rained down from the sky as Hetaron
began his retreat. I drew forth my sword and ordered the charge. The results
were well more than I could have asked for.  We were outnumbered two to
one that day. By the time it was done, eight thousand men laid near death or
dying.  More than half my men were injured or killed while we destroyed
them to a man.  If not for Hans we would have lost Michaels that day.
 I myself do not know how many of them I killed.  I just kept
fighting until there was no one attacking me anymore.  I ordered Michaels,
who could barely stand on his own, to gather the injured men and to start
checking for any who were down and still living.  Hans, Hetaron and I
standing on his flying carpet led the remainder of the men to fight with the
king.  I did not see Pare until later in the day when the spell had worn
off.  He was with us when the chase began.  He was with us when it
was clear victory was ours. We had seen him on the field, Nikle the traitor and
a band of his loyal men. We saw them trying to escape.  We saw them
abandon the field of battle at the end of the fighting, I would not let that
traitor get away.  I gathered my friends and we cut a path across the
field of dead.  Five of us gave chase that day, four of us would return in
the pouring rain.

    
Both the north and south flanks held and crushed all who came against us as a
wave breaks on the sea wall.  Not without losses but we held.  I am
told the man who commanded the southern flank was killed in battle, his second
gathered what was left of his people and did the same thing as I.  Rallied
to the king’s standard.  I was by Roderick's side when we made the final
outward push and completely crushed the remainder of the S.O.M.A. army. When
Arturo reported that Nikle the traitor had been seen I asked the King if I
could take him.  My friends and I all gathered what horses we could when a
voice, hard as steel called to me. "
You will wait for me, it is my duty
to deal with Nikle."
It was Arturo, I could not have told him no.

    
We rode hard to catch up with Nikle and his men.  I tried to tell Arturo
to stay with the king but he would not listen.
"Nikle assumed my post
boy, he dishonored both the post and me. Above all, he dishonored the King and
for that I will not stand by and do nothing."
After that, I knew there
was nothing I could say to make him change his mind.  I was on one side of
him, Hans and Pare on the other.  Hetaron was behind us, on that carpet
trying to read a spell book.  He at last gave up and snapped the book
closed.  He had a grim look on his face.  I could not tell what was
on his mind, his face was so distorted by the light of his staff.  I asked
him if he was going to be ok and he only said something about not questioning
his power.

    
Hans told me that we were following at least a dozen men and a wagon full of
something heavy.  I did not question him; I just looked down the road,
hoping to catch sight of our prey. When the rain started it did not affect us
one bit.  We did not slow, we did not waver in the slightest.  When
Hans called out that we were getting closer I did not question him. When we
rode into the clearing and saw those men trying to fix the broken wagon wheel I
knew fate was on our side.  As we dismounted weapons were drawn on both
sides.  As always Hans was right, a dozen men including Nikle.  I
looked back for Hetaron to see if he could do something to even the odds but he
was gone.  There was no sight of him at all.  I cursed his name and
the whore that gave birth to him.  When I heard his voice in my mind it
gave me a chill down my spine.
"I am here but hidden. I will strike
when the time is right."
I wondered to myself if the right time was
after we were all dead and in my mind he said
"perhaps."
     What happened next will be etched in my mind until the
day I die.  Arturo put himself between Nikle's men and us.  He held
up his hand and pointed.
"All of you men who serve with Nikle the
Traitor are here by exiled by order of King Roderick. Should any of you try to
return, you will be killed on sight.  However, you Nikle will be taken
back to stand trial before the king to answer for your crimes. May the gods
have mercy on your soul because you will get none from the King."
As
he spoke the thunder rolled in the distance, it seemed to agree with him.
 Arturo was an imposing figure there, illuminated by only the lightning
flashes.

    
Nikle stood out from his men, he knew he had been seen.  He ordered them
to put away their weapons.  I wish I had known at the time what he had
been up to. "
Trial
!" he said. "
There will be no trial,
just my head on the chopping block.  I have committed no crime, I serve a
higher power, one who has blessed me. If I am to stand trial, I demand it
happen now.  I demand trial by combat.  Choose your champion old man
."
Nikle looked at me when he said this. To this day I do not remember pulling out
my sword but it was there in my hand.  Arturo stopped me from moving
forward.
    
"Darmot, put away your weapon. This duty falls
to me and only me. Honor demands I answer his challenge.  If I fall he is
free to go, you must return to the king and tell him the results of the
trial."
I was sure the man had lost his mind.
"Very well
Nikle, I will meet your challenge. Pick up your lance and have your men stand
aside."
Nikle knew better than to question Arturo’s choice of weapon.
 It was his right.  As the two men lined up I could not believe what
was about to happen.  I called out to Hetaron who only told me to wait.
 I looked around to my friends, it would seem that Pare had joined
Hetaron, Hans was giving Arturo the blessing of Solarth.  The entire thing
seemed to be out of control.  This was not the way it was supposed to
happen.  This was not the way of things in my dream.

     I pleaded
with Arturo not to do this but he would not even look at me.
"One day
you will understand son."
Arturo gave Nikle a salute which was
returned.  Both men lowered their lances and began to charge.  As I
remember it in my mind, the world begins to slow down.  Everything
happened in slow motion.  Every step taking them closer together.
 The thunder on the ground began to rival the thunder in the sky.  I
stood with my jaw clenched tight; I could feel Hans next to me, his hand
holding on to my sword arm. With a final crash of thunder, the two riders met.
Arturo skilled in all forms of combat was able to deflect the lance of Nikle.
Nikle however could not.  He took what seemed to be a mortal blow that
knocked him from his horse.  Nikle the traitor crashed to the ground with
a section of lance three feet long sticking out of his shoulder. Arturo rode
back towards me and dismounted.
"Now I shall give him his rest. A man
of honor will not allow another to suffer without need."
Arturo
advanced on the still prone Nikle with sword in hand.

     I then
watched in horror as Nikle reached up and pulled the broken lance from his body
only to fling it aside. I could not believe my eyes as he once again got to his
feet. His right arm appeared to hang there, useless but he was still strong
enough to pull free his blade with his left arm.  He was more than strong
enough to advance to meet Arturo.  Soon the sound of steel on steel was
the only thing we could hear.
"This does not look good. He seems to
have some kind of advantage we did not know about."
 Hetarons
words seemed to echo those that were in my heart. For a short time Arturo held
his ground.  Years of experience seemed to be the only thing keeping him
in the fight.  Yet he had a look on his face, he was enjoying it.  He
was taking glory in the fight. Arturo could not see what Hans and I did.
 Nikle was toying with him.  He was stalling until Arturo started to
tire.  When it became apparent to all of us that Arturo wasn’t making any
progress, Nikle shouted.
    
"Loyalty"
Nikle said as he turned
aside a blow and began to attack Arturo in earnest.  Each strike he took
was knocking away Arturo's blade.  "
Duty
" he said as with
one mighty blow knocked the sword from Arturo's hand.  It sailed away from
him as a sheet of parchment blows in a strong wind.  Nikle then reached
out with his injured hand to grasp the top of Arturo's breast plate and said
"Honor"
as he ran his blade into his gut.  As I watched Nikles blade exit Arturo's
back I fell to my knees.  Nikle then ripped the blade free as Arturo fell
to the ground.
"Look where they have taken you old man."
Nikle
said as he stood and watched the pool of blood form under Arturo's body.
 I felt Hans trying to pull me up but I would not.  This was what my
dream had been telling me.  This is what I was supposed to prevent.
 Nikle had won and I had failed my friend.
     With great pain I once again got on my feet. When I
saw Nikle spit on Arturo rage took hold of me.  Nikle then turned and took
a look at my face.  When he spoke my rage began to overflow. "
Kill
them
." he told his men.  I slowly drew my blade for the final
time that day.  I saw a flash of light from beside me.  Something
Hans did, I could hear Pare screaming off in the distance, Hetaron speaking in
my mind again.  Nothing mattered, nothing would stop me. The first man to
fall to my blade was blinded.  I cared not; he was between Nikle and me.
 I cut him down as a scythe takes the grass.  Out of the corner of my
eye I saw Pare riding the back of another man, stabbing him madly.  I did
not care about any of them.  Magic exploded around me, it only worked to
clear my path.  Nikle would be mine.  A second man came to me and he
fell as fast as the first.  I cut him down without remorse.
    
"Yes, come to me Kromwell. You little pathetic
little runt. You have stood in my way for the final time. Tonight you will
die."
Nikle was so sure of himself, so sure he would kill me and get
away even as his men were being killed around him.  Like so many others on
this day, he forgot about something.  He forgot that I was not alone.
 He lunged at me with an overhead strike.  I raised my shield to
block it and I was nearly hammered to the ground.  Then his second blow
managed to do what the first did not.  As if he was a giant hitting me
with a massive club he sent me flying.  If he was any faster he would have
been on me before I could get to my feet. I kept telling myself to dodge and
strike.  I had to take him down.  I managed to side step his next
blow and struck out at him driving my blade deep into his leg.
     It only seemed to slow him down for a moment. That
moment was all that I needed.  I lunged out and struck home.  Cutting
into his armor I struck flesh and bone. Nikle let out a roar of rage and pushed
me away. "
You can't beat me, don't you see that? Before this night is
done I will feast on your heart."
I started to close with him again
when it happened.  I never saw it coming.  A bolt of lightning flew past
my shield and hit Nikle in the chest.  His armor could not take the blast.
 Bits of it flew past me in the explosion.  I looked down and saw
him, charred and smoking.  I looked back and saw Hetaron, down on one
knee.
"I have nothing left."
He said to me in my mind.  I
was angry with him at first.  I wanted to kill Nikle.  When his body
that should have been dead sat up again I could not take much more.  I
still do not know what magic kept him going that day.  He took blow after
blow that would have killed any other man. While part of me wanted to know, I
was not going to bother asking him.

     Six steps
I took towards the man.  Each step I counted, each step I thought of all
that this monster had done.  He had framed an innocent man and stood by
while that man was hung for a crime he did not commit.  He killed
countless people in the name of this so called Messiah. The blood that stained
the walls of the king’s castle was from his evil works.  The family at the
farm who I could not save died by his order.  The riots that destroyed
part of the city and nearly killed the father of the woman I loved.  Part
of me wanted to see him rot in jail for the crimes that he had done.  As I
watched his still smoldering body reach out for his sword I knew justice must be
done.  With one swing of my sword, Nikle the traitor was no more.
 His hand was still reaching out to grasp the hilt of his blade when his
head hit the ground.

     I turned
then to look at my friends.  Pare was doing his best to help Hetaron
stand.  Hans was on his knees in the mud next to the body of my friend.
 I started towards him when Hans stood up. "
He is still alive but
there is nothing more I can do.  He doesn't have long.
" Tears
filled his eyes as they did mine.  I went to Arturo and knelt by his side,
taking his hand in mine.  He looked at me but his eyes would not focus.
"
Is it done
?" he asked me as the blood poured from his mouth.
 I could only nod my head, the words failed me.  He leaned back and
closed his eyes. "
Take me home son
" were his last words to me.
 I held his hand as he took his last breath.

     "
Let
the cleric do his work for the dead Kromwell, come to me
." Hetaron
spoke out loud.  I was so used to hearing him in my head I did not think
it was real.  I saw Hans once again at the side of my friend, giving him
one final prayer.  I was in no mood for whatever it was that Hetaron
wanted but honestly I needed the distraction. "
Look, in the wagon”
was
all he said to me
.
  I had seen chest like these before.  Like
the one we found before, each was filled with coins of gold.  There were
three chests in all.  They were filled with blood money from the Messiah
to the mercenaries who died for him that day.  Nikle thought to run away
with it.  We decided then take these chests and put the money to good use.
 We also found a belt around the waist of Nikle, Hetaron told me to keep
it as he had a feeling he knew what it was.

     Hans had
taken the body of Arturo and placed him over the back of his own horse for the
return home.  As they made ready I had one last thing to do.  I found
the rest of Arturo's lance and drove the broken end into the wet, rain soaked
ground.  I then took the head of Nikle the traitor and rammed it on the
other end and left it there as a warning.  As warning to all those who
would dare betray the people of Arcadia.