The Jake Thomas Trilogy: Book 02 - Sword of Light (28 page)

“I will, Your Majesty.”  Dominic said before Moshanna could speak.

“Lord Dominic, I know you are a man of honor, but you have to understand that, as his second, you will ensure that he arrives at the arena or you will take his place.”  The queen warned.  “As you are a guest, I will allow you to withdraw your statement.”

Dominic looked over at Darrius, eyes cold and a slight smile on his face.  Darrius stared back, though there was a hint of doubt in his eyes. 
Good.
  Dominic thought.  He turned back to the queen.  “I will be his second, Your Majesty.”  He stated again.

“So be it.”  She said.  She looked over at Commander Farrious.  “Please have quarters in the palace set aside for Lord Dominic and Moshanna Deepwood.”

She stood.  “In the morning, this matter will be decided once and for all.”  She stated, and then left the throne room to the bows and curtsies of the assembled nobles.

Darrius glared hatred over at Moshanna and Dominic, then motioned to his followers and stormed out of the hall.

“If you will follow me, you can take your rest.”  Farrious said, gesturing towards a door across the hall.  He leaned close to Dominic as they headed for it.  “Bravely done, my lord, but watch yourself.  Darrius does not forget any slight.”

“You can tell him where I am, if he wishes to discuss it.”  Dominic said with a shrug.

Farrious laughed.  “Now that is something I would love to see.”

…

Dominic leaned against the rail on the balcony, staring out on the city, the moon covering the buildings and streets in a soft silvery light.  The cool ocean breeze gently shifted the long silk curtains that hung inside the balcony door.  He closed his eyes, feeling the air move around him; it was refreshing, with just a hint of the sea.

Moshanna was just inside, sitting on one of the cushioned benches in the main room.  He had his sword out, running a sharpening stone along it.  He was focused on what lay ahead, so Dominic gave him his space.

Dominic opened his eyes when there was a gentle knock on the door.  With Farrious’ warning in his mind, he motioned Moshanna to stay seated as he went to the door.  He cautiously opened the door, his hand on his sword.  Standing in the hall was Sister Anatan and a figure in a hooded cloak.

“Forgive me, Lord Dominic, but I have someone who wishes to see Moshanna Deepwood.”  Anatan said.  “The queen has approved this meeting.”

Dominic frowned, but stepped back, allowing the cleric and other person to enter.  He glanced out into the hall, but no one was visible.  Closing the door, he turned back to see Moshanna rise from the bench, facing Anatan and the clocked figure.

The figure reached up and pushed back the hood.  Dominic saw that it was the woman who had been standing behind Darrius.  He saw Moshanna smile, though he appeared slightly nervous, something Dominic had not seen in him before.

“I will leave now, but will return shortly.”  Anatan said, heading back towards the door.  “You have fifteen minutes.”  Moshanna nodded, though he did not take his eyes off of the woman.

“You must remain here, my lord.”  Anatan whispered to Dominic.  “You are a man of honor, so your presence will allow you to state that nothing improper took place, if this meeting were to become known.”  After Dominic nodded, she left.

Moshanna and the woman had sat down on two of the benches, facing each other.  Moshanna looked over at Dominic.  “This is Sharin, Dominic.”  He said, his voice full of emotion.

“Greetings, my lord.”  Sharin said politely.

“My lady.”  Dominic replied, nodding his head.

“What are you doing here, Sharin?”  Moshanna asked.  “It could be dangerous.  What if Darrius finds out?”

“He is out with his sycophants, as usual.”  She said, a frown on her face.  “He is rarely home, so I am not sure he cares any longer what I do.”

“Still, you should not have taken the chance.”  Moshanna said.  “We could have met after the duel, when what he wants no longer matters.”

“And if he wins, Moshanna?”  Sharin asked, tears coming unbidden to her eyes.  “I could not bear to be this close and not see you.  Especially if things go wrong tomorrow.”

“I am not afraid, Sharin.”  Moshanna said, taking her hand.  “Seeing you
reminds me of what I am fighting for.”

“Do not take him lightly, Moshanna.”  Sharin said, covering his hand with her other one.  “He is a deadly swordsman.”

“So am I, Sharin.”  Moshanna stated, resting his other hand on hers.  “And I will be fighting for love.”

She smiled at that and their conversation stopped.  Dominic leaned back against the wall, watching as they simply sat there, holding hands, lost in each other’s eyes, until Anatan returned.

…

Down by the docks, Darrius made his way into the drainage tunnels, his followers close behind.  He held his torch high, lighting his path, moving forward and trying to ignore the dripping water and slippery stones.  After a few minutes of walking, they came into the large opening where several of the tunnels came together.

“So, are we ready?”  An inhuman voice said, echoing against the hard stone.  Darrius watched as a demon stepped away from the crowd of men who were filling the opening.  The demon approached Darrius, who tried to remain calm, despite the creeping fear.

“There is a change in plans.”  Darrius said.  “It is something that can work to our advantage.”

The demon listened as Darrius spoke, a smile playing on its lips, as it liked what it was hearing.

…

“You are requested at the queen’s box, my lord.”  The servant told Dominic, pointing up the stairs of the arena.

“I will be ready in a moment.”  He replied, turning back to his check of Moshanna’s armor.  Satisfied that everything was in place, he pulled Moshanna close.  “Remember to stay focused.  You cannot afford to think of anything but the moment.”

“I know, Dominic.”  Moshanna said grimly, looking across the dirt floor of the arena at Darrius, who was lazily twirling his sword, a smile on his face.  “If I fall, tell Tomaris that I am sorry I failed him.”

“I would rather not make the trip to the Keep, Moshanna, so do not fall.”  Dominic said.  He extended his hand.  “Luck
be with you.”

Moshanna shook his hand.  “It has been my honor to be your companion, Dominic Demonhunter.”

Dominic nodded.  “And it has been mine to know you, Moshanna Deepwood, Captain of Tomaris’ Guard.”

With that, he went over to the stairs that led off the arena floor.  As he climbed out, servants placed wooden barriers over the stairs, ensuring that the combatants could not flee.

He went over to the box where the queen was sitting.  It was raised above the nearby seats, ensuring a clear view of the arena floor, and covered, providing shade.  A large stone chair was in the center of the box, the other seating, stone benches.  The queen was in the chair, talking with Farrious, who was standing directly behind the chair.

“Join me, Lord Dominic.”  She said, pointing to the bench next to the chair.  He saw Lord Bacus on the other side of the chair.  “In single combat amongst nobles, the seconds sit with the queen to ensure that they remain out of the fight.”

Dominic took his seat, looking out over the arena.  He saw that the arena was full, mostly nobles, with Queen’s Guard stationed throughout.  There were clerics sitting here and there, interacting with the people near them.  Sister Anatan and Sharin were in the queen’s box, sitting below Bacus.  Taric and Halana were sitting together just below the queen’s box.

The queen stood and a trumpeter sounded his horn.  Once quiet fell on the arena, she gestured to Farrious.  He stepped forward and shouted, his voice carrying across the arena.  “This is a duel between Lord Darrius Oceansong and Moshanna Deepwood. 
It is sanctioned by the queen, so none may interfere, under the penalty of death.  There will be no quarter asked or given.  The contest is over when one of the combatants is dead.”

Farrious stepped back and the queen stepped forward, raising her hand.  Moshanna and Darrius watched her until she dropped her hand, and then moved towards each other, swords at the ready.

Dominic watched as they closed, Darrius saying something to Moshanna, who ignored it.  In a sudden clash, they engaged, swords flashing as they moved.  After a flurry of blows, they separated, a deadly focus on both of their faces.

Moshanna feinted, then charged.  His sword went low, the blade moving at a blur, Darrius barely turning the blow.  Moshanna threw himself back as Darrius’ sword curled around from his defense, counter-attacking, the blade going high.

They circled each other, probing each other’s defense, attacking when they could.  In a sudden clash, they slammed into each other, and then spun away.  Dominic could see blood on Moshanna’s arm, while Darrius was favoring his right leg.

As Moshanna began to close again, Darrius suddenly shouted.  “NOW!”

Chaos erupted in the arena as Darrius’ men suddenly rose up and attacked the Queen’s Guardsmen, catching them by surprise.  Out of the corner of his eye, Dominic saw Bacus move.  Reacting, he leapt in front of the queen, reaching out and stopping Bacus’ dagger inches for her chest.  Straining against Bacus to keep the dagger away, Dominic kicked him low, driving him back a bit.  Before he could do anything else, Farrious’ war hammer whistled past his head, catching Bacus in the chest and ripping him from Dominic’s hands as he flew back.  He tumbled onto the arena seats, chest crushed.

“Protect the queen!”  Farrious bellowed, hammer at the ready.  Nearby Queen’s Guardsmen reacted, racing to the queen’s box.

Dominic drew his sword and surveyed the bedlam.  People were fleeing, clogging the exits, while Darrius’ men were attacking the clerics and Queen’s Guard.  Below him, he saw one of the men spin after killing a Guardsman, charging towards Taric and Halana.  Dominic leapt over the two, his sword ready.  Ducking under the man’s swing, he took the man’s legs.  Screaming, the man fell and Dominic finished him with a single thrust to the chest.

“Up near the queen!”  He tersely ordered Taric and Halana as he saw demons and their followers suddenly flow in from the openings around the base of the arena, attacking anyone that got too close.

He glanced down and saw several of Darrius’ men drop into the arena and advance on Moshanna.

“Go, Dominic!”  The queen called to him.  He glanced back to see Farrious organizing the queen’s defense, Sharin safely next to the queen, Anatan, Halana and Taric all glowing in power as the herald blew a distress call on his horn.

Sprinting ahead, he charged into the half-men that appeared, blocking his way to the arena floor.  Moving hard and fast, his sword a blur, he slammed into them, blocking blows with his armor as he struck his sword home.  The two half-men went down.

He started to move forward when he caught sight of an Imp to his right, surrounded in its dark power.  He threw himself to the ground as a bolt of demons’ fire tore past, narrowly missing him.  He rolled and got his feet under him.  The Imp was moving, leveling another blast when a stream of cleric’s fire hit it, driving it back.  He looked up to see the three clerics advancing, striking at the demons and half-men.

Freed from defending against the demon, he leapt onto the arena floor.  He saw that Moshanna was retreating as Darrius and his three men were advancing.  Dominic sprinted over to him.  Darrius was taken aback by his appearance, but then told his men.  “Kill the Demonhunter, but Deepwood is mine.”

Dominic split off from Moshanna, drawing the men away, while Moshanna closed with Darrius.  Dominic ducked under the first man’s blow, moving away as he drew his dagger.  He worked to keep the men to his front.

With a cry, the three charged him.  His mind calm, Dominic waited, moving at the last minute.  He twisted his body as he slipped between two of the men, feeling a blade slide along his breastplate as he drove his dagger into the man’s throat.  Ripping it free, he spun, facing the remaining two men as the other man fell to his knees, hands pressed against his throat.  The other men were more cautious as they split apart, trying to come at Dominic from opposite sides.  Dominic choose the man to his left, meeting his attack, parrying the blow then driving his sword into the man’s shoulder.  He spun away, but could not completely block the other man’s attack.  He felt a line of fire across his arm as the man’s blade caught him.  Ignoring the pain, Dominic charged into the attack, slamming his forearm into the man’s face.  As the man fell back, Dominic’s sword flashed.  The man collapsed as the blow took him in the head.  Dominic jumped over the body and brought his sword down on the remaining man.  Once his last opponent was finished, he turned to find Moshanna.

Moshanna and Darrius were still engaged, their swords moving.  Dominic could see blood on both men, but Darrius looked the worse of the two.  Moshanna moved like a snake, his blade flashing as it caught the light, but Darrius was quick as well.

So caught up in their duel, they did not notice Dominic’s approach.  He came from Darrius’ blind side and brought his sword down.

Darrius screamed and fell back as Dominic’s blade took off his sword hand.  Moshanna took advantage and drove his sword home, his face tight with rage.  Darrius shuddered as the blade struck deep and went still.

“I would have had him soon enough, Dominic.”  Moshanna said, pulling his sword out.