Fire in the Heart : The Princess and the Bandit (9781629020112) (36 page)

The roar of the chimera’s bloody body was met with another swipe of Kun’s blade, but that didn’t stop his flailing claws. Kun dodged and dove for a fallen spear. He readied his position and released the weapon with all his might. It sailed through the air, and shattered the lion’s skull in between the eyes. The chimera staggered, wobbling to stay upright. Three crusaders rushed over and hashed at the beast repeatedly! Its roar filled the air, beckoning Voran. The enraged man thrust his powerful weapon at Kun who immediately jumped out of the way. Voran’s blade embedded itself in the stones. Without warning, an acrobat sailed through the air and onto Voran’s back, stabbing him with his short blades. Voran grabbed the man’s leg from behind, and slammed him down onto the ground. He thrust his sword through him. Kun immediately took to the air and jammed his small dagger through Voran’s neck. Voran reached up and then stared at his blood-soaked hands and arms. He faltered as blood began pouring out of his mouth. Seconds later, his bloody heap lay sprawled beside the dead chimera.

Aiken lifted his gaze toward Karam just as a burst of sunlight flashed from his dagger. A second later, he turned and headed toward the princess!

Chapter 48

K
aram lowered his
head and peered at Natalia through narrowed eyes. His black hair flailed in the breeze as he made his way to the weeping princess. His two blades, caked red, hung across his back, swinging with each step. He tossed the curved dagger from hand to hand as he eyed the tear-stained woman crying out for help.

Karam screamed. “You! How did you do it! How dare you go behind my back! You would get crusaders to help you!? You witch!” he said as his hand slammed into her face. “I hate you! I hate you!”

Her scream could barely be heard. “Leave me alone! I didn’t do it. I promise!”

A feeble voice rose from beside her. “Leave her alone!” yelled the sultan.

Karam lunged sideways and backhanded the sultan. He sent his fist flying, directly into the overweight man’s stomach. “Be quiet, you fool! Where did you get the help? How did you conspire against me? How?” he ranted.

The sultan gasped. “You had us prisoners the entire time! There was no way we…,” he yelled.

But he was cut short by Karam’s flying backhand.

Karam’s eyes bulged. “You won’t tell me! So be it! What if …,” he said and then walked up to the princess and pressed his blade against her neck. “What if I kill her right now? What if I kill her in front of you?”

The sultan cried out. “
No
! Please don’t! Stop!”

“Why are you doing this? Why?” screamed Natalia crying even harder.

The crazed man reached over and backhanded her again. “Silence!” he screamed and brought his hand down again. “Silence, you witch! You did this! You ruined this day for me! This day, I was to be sultan! I hate you!” He grabbed her head and slammed it against the back of the pole.

Blood started oozing from her cheek as her tears ran freely.

Karam lifted his blade and circled it around her face. “I am going to enjoy cutting you piece by piece! You will suffer like you have never suffered before!” he screamed.

Natalia felt her life flash by. She tried to lift her head to look across the street at where Elijah and she used to meet, but darkness swept in. She could barely stand as the ropes cut into her arms.

Karam slammed her head on the back of the pole again, grinning wildly. He grabbed her hair and slammed it until her blood ran down the pole.

Her sobbing slowed. She felt a sharp pain shoot through her head as her mind started to go blank. Something caught her attention, but she couldn’t focus. Noises rose from a distance, voices, yelling, shouting. But her head hung still.

Karam screamed again. “Now, my sweet little princess. It’s time to die! He said, raising his blade high into the air.

Someone yelled out, “It’s Elijah!”

A split second later, Elijah swung his blade. Karam dropped his and tried to block the attack, but Elijah slammed against him and took him to the floor. Elijah flipped on top and began to pound Karam’s face without stopping. Hit after hit, slamming the man’s face back and forth against the hard surface. Karam shot his fists toward Elijah, knocking him to the side.

Natalia slowly lifted her head, squinting, barely able to make out the commotion at her feet, when suddenly, she tried to shout, “Elijah! Elijah!” Tears poured. Her heart swelled within her at the sight of her hero, her love, her everything. Elijah flew to his feet as Karam tried to slither away. He dove on top of him and started pounding Karam’s back and head. He grabbed at Karam’s head and forced it against the stone floor, over and over again. Karam’s elbow shot backward into Elijah’s face, forcing Elijah off to the side once again. Karam staggered to his feet, but Elijah effortlessly sprung up and back to Karam. Karam turned his bloody face, but Elijah was one step ahead and blasted him with all of his might. Karam’s face and head flew backward, causing him to spin around and stagger out of control. Karam wobbled back around and reached for his two blades. Elijah lifted his and waited while Karam raged across the short distance, swinging wildly. Elijah barely moved, deflecting every assault. Karam swung low, but collided with the floor. His other blade sliced toward Elijah’s midsection, but fell short. Elijah’s blade clashed with Karam’s, over and over, back and forth. Karam stood taller and then jumped into the air, with both blades spinning. Elijah stumbled, but quickly stabilized, slicing upward through the narrowing space. He connected and dislodged one of Karam’s blades. With both hands, single blade cutting wildly through the air, Karam advanced. The dodges and blocks continued until Karam lunged. Elijah twisted completely around, centering his elbow into Karam’s face. Blood flew everywhere, rendering Karam’s face unrecognizable. But he wouldn’t stop, forcing Elijah left and right, step by step. All of a sudden, Karam took a step back and roared with laughter.

Natalia looked behind Elijah and spotted dozens of bandits, arrows cocked, and swords and spears ready. Zeke stepped out, snarling, sword raised. Elijah quickly followed Karam’s stare. He then turned back to face Karam.

Still laughing, Karam shouted, “You will pay for what you did to my face! You will die here with your whore!”

B

Aiken shouted, “Now!”

Sam slammed the flint stones against the rock, and the tip of the arrow burst into flames. Aiken took aim at the barrel down below the wall.

“Be with me, God!” he prayed as a resounding ‘twang’ filled the air.

B

Elijah felt his knees shake. He thought that he was falling, injured, until the wall erupted in an explosion. Several bandits immediately flew through the air, then down onto the street below. Elijah sprawled forward; Karam backward. Another explosion shook the structure, forcing more bandits to an early death. Elijah raised his head and made out Edward and his empty bow.

“Elijah!” shouted Natalia.

Elijah stared at Karam in disbelief. Karam scowled back. “It’s just you and me now,” said Elijah smiling.

Karam swallowed hard.

Chapter 49

T
he growling wind
scattered the dark smoke in a thousand directions as Elijah stared into Karam’s eyes. Cowering, Karam quivered ever so slightly. Elijah heard stones falling to the ground and quickly turned around. Zeke met his glare as he rose from the blast. Their eyes locked as Zeke leaned over to retrieve a fallen spear. Two more bandits staggered to their feet, holding their heads.

Karim and Firas scaled up the shattered wall and reached the top. “Not so fast!” shouted Karim.

“You…You dare come into my palace and destroy everything that I have worked toward! I may die today, Elijah. But I promise, so will you!” snarled Karam, sword outstretched.

Elijah threw his head back in laughter. “Give it your best shot, Karam!”

Karam lifted his arms and shouted. “Prepare yourself!” He instantly took off in a full run, slashing the air with his blade. Their blades slammed violently, back and forth in perfect rhythm. Elijah countered every move but was jolted back by the force. Zeke turned toward him, spear in hand. Karam swung, hard right, forcing Elijah to stumble left, and crossed his blade back again, making Elijah quickly shuffle to stay upright. Karam advanced, blow by blow, forcing Elijah closer and closer to the awaiting Zeke.

Natalia suddenly shouted out. “Watch out, Elijah!”

Elijah quickly glanced back and saw Zeke’s awaiting spear.

The sultan lifted his head. “Come on. You can do it!” he said.

Behind Elijah, a sudden clatter marked the end of two bandits when Karim and Firas closed in for the kill.

Natalia shouted out again, “Elijah!”

Zeke thrust his spear at Elijah, but he jerked back just in time as the spear sailed past. Zeke scrambled to find another spear and joined Karam again as Elijah swung his sword, back and forth, in a desperate attempt to survive. Elijah spun back around, thwarting Karam’s advances, time and time again. Zeke jousted his spear, slamming the wooden part into Elijah’s stomach. The force of the impact sent Elijah flying to the ground. Karam raised his blade, and brought it down hard over Elijah’s head. Elijah rolled with his blade outstretched, deflecting the descending metal. Zeke lunged in an attempt to thrust his spear through Elijah’s side, but a quick twist took the downed man out of the way. Sparks flew as the blade shattered a stone block. Elijah kicked Karam’s leg, forcing him back and giving Elijah the moment he needed to jump back on his feet. It was just in time, too, as Zeke’s spear sailed harmlessly through the air. Elijah leaped forward, sword extended toward Zeke, while Karam’s blade barely missed his neck. Elijah gasped for air as his heart pounded nearly out of control. He wondered how much longer he could battle these two skilled fighters.

The wind’s velocity increased in pitch until Natalia’s voice could barely be heard. “Elijah!” she screamed.

Zeke threw himself at Elijah, spear forward, but Elijah saw it coming and grabbed it with one hand. As he held on, he swung his leg through the air and landed it in the middle of Zeke’s gut, forcing him to stumble backward. Karam snuck up from behind and slammed his fist into Elijah’s face while his blade sailed from the other direction. Elijah dodged the blade just in time as his face pulsated painfully. He tried to regain his balance when Zeke leaped in the air, spear aimed at Elijah’s leg. Elijah sidestepped to the sound of sparking metal, and raised his sword over Zeke’s head. Zeke tried to shield himself with his spear, and fell backward. The blade cut through the spear, shattering it into two. Elijah swung his foot around and slammed his foot into Zeke’s stomach, once again, gasping, the man dropped to the ground. Karam sprinted toward Elijah, screaming. Elijah deflected the first attack, but Karam caught him off guard with an elbow to the face. Elijah winced as he staggered backward under Karam’s continuous blows to his face. Karam raised his blade from below and uppercut Elijah’s blade, sending it flying over the wall.

Karam’s wicked laughter shattered the silence. “Now you die, fool!”

Elijah worried when he glanced over at Natalia struggling to break free from the ropes. Zeke wobbled against his broken spear as he leaned over and pulled a dagger from his boot.

Karim shouted from across the distance, “Elijah!”

Natalia yelled, “Elijah! No!”

Karam’s non-stop, psychotic laughter filled the wind-swept stage. “Now you die!” he screamed, and then charged Elijah, again, full force. Elijah spun around toward a charging Zeke when time suddenly came to a standstill. He watched Zeke lift his blade for the final blow. In an instant, time returned as an arrow sliced through the air and into Zeke’s neck. The startled man collapsed instantly. Elijah dove over his body, grabbed the broken spear, and arched it forward with all his might. Karam stood only a few feet away, his heaving stomach making a perfect target. In a second, Karam stood motionless as blood poured from his gut.

Natalia shouted again, “Elijah!” Her voice quivered.

Karam’s blood drained down his neck as he fell to his knees, gasping over and over.

Elijah reached for Zeke’s dagger.

Karam searched the sky as his blood continued to flow. Then, his beaten face slowly turned to Natalia and smiled. But, he never said a word.

Without warning, time again began to crawl. Elijah gripped the stealthy blade with both hands and sprinted toward Karam. He surged at the near lifeless man with everything he had. Time returned just as the blade shattered the man’s ribs and sunk into his chest. A groan was all that Karam could muster as he gasped one last time. He teetered on his knees for a second and then fell backward onto the cold stone pavement, dead.

“Elijah! Elijah!” screamed Natalia.

Karim waved his sword in the air. “Whooo!” he howled, as the sun broke through the clouds. The small army of guards, acrobats and crusaders erupted in cheers as Elijah ran toward his princess. He freed her hands with one quick slice, staggering backward when her body collided with his. He felt her warmth surround him as her tears of joy cascaded down their cheeks.

Chapter 50

S
uddenly, the clouds
parted and the winds disappeared, allowing the sun to shed its brilliance. Below on the street, several bandits ran from the palace entrance and disappeared into the alleys. Elijah and Natalia stood, arms intertwined, barely audible.

Still sobbing, Natalia kept trying to talk. “Oh, Elijah! You came back for me! You came back for me!” she cried.

Elijah didn’t move as she struggled with her words. He held her tightly and realized that he was holding on to his life and his dreams. “I told you I would always be there for you,” he said softly.

She gently stroked his hair. “Oh, how I love you,” she whispered.

He pressed his face against hers. “I love you too,” he said.

Elijah suddenly jerked. “Somebody help me!” shouted the sultan.

A smile crossed Elijah’s face as Karim stepped up to the other pole and cut off the man’s ropes.

The sultan quickly walked toward the edge of the wall and peered into the street.