Fire And Steel (The Merryweather Chronicles Book 2) (39 page)

      Shock numbed Weaver's lips. He didn't need to see the words on the paper to know that Karde spoke true. He could tell by the worn folds and the color of the heavy vellum paper. He'd reread those orders hundreds, if not thousands, of times during the long march. More than 2 years. He knew the words contained in that folded paper by heart. "Treason."

      Karde's face twisted with anger. "You dare accuse me of treason?" He crumpled the paper in his fist and tossed it at Weaver. The wadded paper bounced off his chest and landed on the ground at his feet. Karde said. "You, who swore your oaths of service on the Phoenix, itself, accuse me of treason? I was just a boy when my father fell, fighting the Usurper, but even I knew what sort of monster that pig was. You betrayed your rightful king and everything you stood for, and for what? To die in a barren waste that you helped to create."

      "You don't have to like your king to serve him, boy." Weaver said, his anger overflowing. He drew his sword from its scabbard. "I was a captain when the King fell, as you are now, and I knew how to follow orders. Just like I'm doing now."

      "You could join us, Weaver." Karde said, freeing his own sword. The other two soldiers freed their swords, as well. Rygar drew his short sword and looked over at Weaver. His face was almost sad as he turned and faced him, joining the others. Karde said. "How could you still serve the Emperor, after he sent you out here to die? Help us. A General of your stature could lend considerable strength to our cause."

      Weaver took a step back, putting himself close enough to turn and put his sword into the unconscious man, if he was forced to. "You're a fool, Karde. You all are, if you think that I'll allow this to happen."

      The blade sliding under his ribs so shocked him that, for a moment, Weaver wasn't sure what had happened. Then the boy, Jory, whispered into his ear. "I'm sorry, my lord. But you just wouldn't listen." He yanked the blade free, dripping deep, dark blood, and plunged it in again.

      Weaver twisted as he fell, sword falling from his suddenly nerveless fingers, and hit the ground with a gasp. From where he lay, he could see Rygar and the boy facing the other 3 men, swords still in hand. Gray crept in around the edge of his vision, making everything a blur.

      "A shame." Karde was saying. His voice sounded like it was came from a 1,000 miles away. He told off the two soldiers. "Let's load up our prize. Now that I think about it, bindings might not be such a bad idea. For the knight's own safety."

      But Rygar refused to move from the soldier's path. Sword in his fist, the scout growled. "I think you and your men should head back to the camp, Karde. Jory and I will take care of Lord Gerrick."

      Karde's face hardened. "I was going to put forth that we were waylaid by nomads. I suppose a few more casualties wont hurt." Yanking his sword free, he said. "Kill them both." And charged.

      Rygar met the attack with a face made of stone. The world went from gray to black, but Weaver could still hear the ring of steel on steel, loud in his dying ears. The voices of the fighting men were muffled, sounding alike, and Weaver couldn't tell who was speaking. Men bellowed as they fought and died. Soon, the sound of battle dwindled until only the voices remained.

      "Hold the boy down, you fools!"

      "Argh!"

      "Kill the bastard! Kill him now!"

      "Watch out, the knight's awakening! He's up, you fools!"

      "He has a sword! Akk!"

      "Flee! Flee, for your lives!"

      "It hurts! Gods, it hurts!"

      The voices dwindled, becoming a muted buzzing, before vanishing altogether. A wind seemed to rise in the shadows of Weaver's dying mind, scouring away his fear and the burning pain from his death wound. The wind was hot, a wind of flame and death, and Weaver's last thought before dying was that he'd failed in his duty. He'd failed his Emperor.

      The time of the Reclaimer was upon them, and the Gods would have no mercy on their souls.

AFTERWARD

      First of all, I(the writer) thank you(the reader)for giving your time to Brandon and his friends and for joining them on this adventure! You guys are the reason we do it; this writing thing, I mean, and I know how valuable any spare time at all can be. I hope you’ve enjoyed your time in Matheson, exploring its nooks and crannies, and I hope you will come back and visit again! There are more adventures to come and this isn’t the last time you will see Brandon Merryweather. He will return in..

BLOOD AND ASHES