Here Shines the Sun (55 page)

Blake came at it from the side but the beast whipped its head and his horse crumpled into pieces, throwing Blake a good ten-feet. The mule’s head rose, black-red eyes staring down in contempt at Callad. And then a barrage of bolt-throwers from Rook’s soldiers opened up on it. Their thunderous roar echoed through the valley as chunks of meat were taken from its neck. Another dozen soldiers scrambled on top of it, plunging their swords into it over and over again. But then the beast kicked its hind leg, tearing up the earth as it shot forward, its entire body rising into the air. The men on its back were all thrown off. Callad wheeled his horse around, urging it away as an enormous shadow came over him and the other soldiers. Bolt-throwers were raised, patches of brown fur on the beast’s belly exploded in bloody chunks. And then the creature crashed down on them all. Armor crunched and men screamed. Blood gushed from both sides of its body, spraying the field.

As its neck hit the ground it snapped its long maw and the rear-end of Callad’s horse was caught. The steed squealed in pain as it was lifted up. Callad fell from its side, but his boot got caught up in the stirrup and he was left dangling as he and his horse were hoisted into the air. Callad’s face went pale as he looked down into the black pit of the mule’s throat. He dropped his sword and struggled to free his boot, but the giant beast flicked its head and tossed him into the air. It opened its mouth, awaiting its meal.

And then there was a golden streak of light as Saint Ertrael leapt across the field. In a single bound he caught Callad just before blunt, ivory teeth crushed him. Ertrael landed on his feet, rolling to ease the weight of Callad’s bulk. The creature whipped its neck toward them and Ertrael stood up, his body aglow with Caliber energy. He caught the beast by the chin, struggling with all his might as it thrashed, its teeth chattering as it tried to nab him.

More bolt-throwers fired. Bloody rain fell as a few dozen holes blew open the flesh on top of its head, exposing a slimy skull beneath. The creature tried to turn away, but Ertrael held it, his face red and twisted in agony against the thing’s strength. Blake was up now and came at the thing with his sword out. He plunged it through the beast’s cheek, making it scream hot breath over Ertrael.

In a fit of rage the mule freed itself from the Saint’s clutches and turned to face Blake. It chomped at him and Blake leapt backward, then jabbed forward with his sword, piercing its eye. The thing’s red tongue rolled from its mouth as it shrieked, catching Blake’s legs. Blake fell and the mule lunged.

Ertrael shot in and rolled, picking up Blake and tossing him away as he came up on his feet. The creature’s teeth snapped down just inches from Ertrael’s face. Before it could withdraw, Ertrael whipped his sword across the ivory wall in front of him, and the teeth shattered like glass.

But now a shadow consumed Rook, shaking him from his daze and the fight he had been watching. He looked up and saw nothing but that giant, wooden club above him. He dove just as it crashed down. Earth and stone flew over him and he rolled onto his back.

“
I thought you a prince, boy
!” boomed the Ogre-King, hoisting his foot above Rook. It was a giant thing, clothed in burlap. “
I thought you one of us! But you are false!”

Rook had an idea about what the King meant, though he didn’t have time to contemplate. He rolled as the ogre’s foot smashed down. He got up to his feet just in time to see the club swinging for him. There was no way he could leap from something that large, so with his right hand he raised Starbreaker and with his left he held out his forearm. His sword buzzed briefly and his shield crackled to life. His body exploded in pain as he was tossed off his feet. He landed on his side and tumbled across the ground, how far he had no idea. He rolled onto his back, just in time to see that foot above him again.

“Goodbye false prince! I snuff out your promise before it can bear its fruit!
”

The ogre’s foot blocked out the sun, consuming Rook in shadows as it came crashing down on him. Rook closed his eyes and raised his arms, ready to be smashed like an insect. And then the King roared, his foot turning away and smashing down somewhere to the side of Rook.

Rook opened his eyes. Saint Cabiel and Saint Loganiel were on the Ogre-King. Cabiel tore his sword across the ogre’s ankle but his blade couldn’t penetrate the leathery skin. Loganiel leapt in the air, his sword slicing across the ogre’s huge belly but leaving nothing more than a thin, white line of scratched skin. The King boomed and stomped, swinging his club wildly, swatting at them like flies.

Rook charged forward. Cabiel and Loganiel both leapt at the King in opposite directions, their swords cutting across sinewy mountains of muscle on his arms but leaving little more than scratches. As they landed, Rook came upon a towering leg and sliced his sword up. The ogre howled as Starbreaker shaved skin and muscle away, leaving a horrific, bloody flap dangling behind the King’s calf.

Rook could almost feel the rage pouring off the King as he turned around to face him. Rook backed a few steps away as the ogre spread wide his arms and pounded his chest, his outcry so dreadful that his army all ducked and cowered where they stood. The King stomped forward, shaking the ground, and Rook was forced to dive out of the way.

Thinking the monster was now occupied with Rook, Cabiel leapt into the air, trying to sink his sword through its soft belly. Before he could land the blow, however, the ogre’s club hit him right across the chest, thunking on his star-metal breastplate. As Cabiel was knocked away, Loganiel’s body exploded with Caliber light as he leapt into the air, whipping his blade around at the beast’s face. The ogre flinched away but Loganiel landed on his cheek and whipped his sword out, opening a small cut in the thick skin beneath the right eye, but not enough to make it bleed. He leapt away but the ogre caught him in mid-air.

“
Traitor! Fool!
” boomed the Ogre-King. Loganiel struggled in the consuming grasp.
“I squash you!”

“Attack! Attack! Knights of Narbereth, attack!” Rook spun to see Sir Rivenal on his horse, waving his sword in the air as if to stir the King’s army. “Attack! Attack now!” Sir Rivenal threw down his sword and hoisted his bolt-thrower. He looked at Rook as the golden barrel of his gun glistened in the evening sun. Rook was certain the man was going to shoot him, but Rivenal turned on his horse and then fired into the air.
JINK-JINK-JINK!

There were popping sounds as the bolts exploded on the ogre’s knuckles and hand. The ogre howled as he dropped Saint Loganiel, flapping his leathery paw in the air. He turned to Rivenal, his ugly face twisting ever further into anger. Rivenal’s horse became a donkey beneath him, his golden bolt-thrower turning to tin as his armor became dull iron. The Ogre-King boomed an angry sound and raised his club.

And then the army charged. Knights screamed as swords were raised. They rushed their former King and he was engulfed by a wave of armor whose gleam faded to the pocked patina of iron. Swords hacked. Bolt-throwers fired. But Rook couldn’t see any blood. Their attacks could not penetrate the Ogre-King’s skin.

With a roar the ogre threw twenty or more men from him. He swung his club back and forth, his booming laughter echoing throughout the valley as knights by the dozen were cast to the wind. More came at him from the back, but the King turned, stomping four into bloody pulp and then smashing another two beneath his club.

Rook knew there was but one chance. He looked around for Saint Ertrael and found him near the King’s left leg. “Ertrael! Saint Ertrael!”

The Saint turned his ruby eyes to him.

“Throw me!” cried Rook. “Toss me to his head!”

Rook saw understanding light up Ertrael’s eyes. The Saint crouched, locking his fingers together. Nearby stood Loganiel and Cabiel and Rook could see Ertrael telling them the plan.

With a deep breath, Rook ran at them with all the speed he could muster. The King began to turn their direction, his club swinging back and forth, sweeping away the swarming knights. Starbreaker hummed in Rook’s grasp as he jumped into Ertrael’s hands. The Saint tossed him into the air. Rook’s legs kicked as he was hurled up past the monster’s waist. Loganiel leapt onto the ogre’s chest and grabbed Rook’s feet, tossing him higher.

The Ogre-King turned and Rook found himself looking him in the eyes as his ascent came to a stall. “You are not our King. The people take back your crown!”

Rook whirled his sword. Starbreaker thrummed as it melted its way through the Ogre’s neck. Blood sprayed like a geyser as the head slid from the stump. Rook landed on the ground hard, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. Blood rained down as the head came crashing to the earth, just feet from him.

Rook looked up. The towering body leaned his direction and then began to topple. He and a handful of knights ran as the body fell toward them, blood still spraying from the neck, wetting the field. One of the knights slipped and fell, and then another. Rook dove to the side. The King’s body trembled the ground, smashing the hapless knights beneath it. It bounced once, and then all was silent.

Ertrael helped Rook to his feet. Down the field he saw Callad and Blake limping toward him. To his side, the Narberian army stood in disarray, surprised by their own actions. Behind him, Cabiel and Loganiel looked around as if suddenly lost. Rook turned to see Sir Rivenal on his horse, his face pale, confused.

Rook looked upon the lost masses before him and shouted, “Knights and Saints of Narbereth, you have freed yourselves!”

All eyes turned to him.

“On this day, in this valley, you have spoken in one voice!” cried Rook, turning as he addressed as many men as he could. “You have said that your sons and daughters deserve better! You have said that no justice comes from unjust laws! You have said that in Narbereth we shall not suffer another night of darkness! And you have all done this on your own! Look around and see that there are no kings and no gods among you! You’ve done this by your own will! With your own hands, you have set yourselves free!

“Now I ask that you all might continue to stand with me here! Bring your wives and your children to this valley! Bring all who would come with you!” Here Rook held high his sword. “Together we are the light of a new dawn! Tell all of Narbereth that here shines the sun!”

Sir Rivenal turned on his horse. He looked at the army and fired his bolt-thrower into the sky. “Here shines the sun!”

Cheers erupted through the ranks of knights. Thousands of voices shook the atmosphere. Swords were raised. “Here shines the sun!”

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Nuriel leapt down from the steps of Diotus’s shop, her golden eyes fixed on Hadraniel and Karinael. Kierza backed away as Saint Rael came down the steps toward her. Karinael could see Rael fix Kierza with eyes of milky iridescence as she strode past her. Then Kierza’s gaze fell to the Saint’s bloody sword and she screamed out to her Ma and dashed up the steps into the shop.

“Karin,” warned Hadraniel, his sword out defensively as Nuriel stormed forward, flourishing her large claymore. He grabbed Karinael’s arm and took a step back. “We have to run.”

Karinael’s heart thumped in her chest.
I can do this,
she thought as Nuriel’s hateful eyes burned into hers.
We’re friends, and she’ll listen to me. All I have to do is talk to her.
Karinael stepped forward, pulling her arm from Hadraniel’s grip. “Nuriel!” she cried.

Rael came around Nuriel’s side, pointing her sword at Hadraniel. Karinael could feel the fear building in Hadraniel. Rael and Nuriel were coming in fast.

“We have to run!” barked Hadraniel.

“Let me handle Nuriel.” said Karinael. “I can handle her.” Hadraniel began to protest but she took a step forward. “Nuriel, I need to—” Karinael flinched as Nuriel shot forward, her claymore spinning.

“I warned you!” growled Nuriel ferociously as her sword knocked Hadraniel’s aside. “I warned you not to betray Holy Father!” Karinael screamed as Nuriel’s boot caught her right in the stomach, kicking her down to the ground.

Karinael sat up on the road, clenching her stomach. Dazed, she looked up just in time to see Hadraniel bringing his sword up in a sweeping arc. Without even looking at him Nuriel whirled her sword, casting his aside as she spun and kicked him, landing her boot solidly in the center of his breastplate. Hadraniel flew back, crashing into the side of a building. He peeled himself from the brick wall and shook his head as he got his bearings back. But now Rael was upon him.

“Hadi!” cried Karinael as she struggled up to her knees. A shadow fell over her. She looked up.

“You make me do this! It’s your fault!” growled Nuriel. Karinael screamed as Nuriel grabbed a handful of her hair and dragged her up to her feet. Blood flew from Karinael’s mouth as the back of Nuriel’s hand smacked across her cheek, toppling her back to the ground.

Stunned and laying on the brick road, Karinael grabbed her mouth. She could taste blood and there was a ringing in her ears. Everything was happening so quickly. Why wouldn’t Nuriel let her say anything? Why would Nuriel strike her so hard? Was Nuriel really meaning to fight?

“How could you!?” Nuriel picked Karinael back up by her hair, her voice sounding tinny and distant in Karinael’s buzzing head. Karinael felt unsteady on her feet and her eyes rolled to the side. She saw Hadraniel call out to her, his eyes alternating between his own fight with Rael and her. She heard their swords cracking together. But then Karinael felt Nuriel’s grip wrap around her neck. Nuriel held her by the throat and brought her face to her’s, and all Karinael could see were those fierce, molten, golden eyes.
“How could you do this to me!?”
Nuriel shook Karinael by the throat.

Karinael gasped for breath as she felt herself thrown onto the brick road. She reached for her sword as she rolled, but before she could get back to her feet Nuriel’s boot landed squarely in her chest and she tumbled down the road, her breastplate tearing up the bricks.

“Get up!” roared Nuriel. “Get up and face me!” Blackness and stars filled Karinael’s vision as she felt the cold, unforgiving star-metal of Nuriel’s boot catch her under the chin.