Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li: The Morcyth Saga Book Three (61 page)

Then an idea begins to form in his mind, one
he doesn’t care too much for, but there may not be another way, “I
have a proposition for you.”

“What is it?” Abula-Mazki asks.

“I propose we each chose a champion to
decide the outcome,” explains James. “If yours wins, I go with you
willingly. If mine wins, you allow us to continue, unhindered.”

A smile spreads across his face as
Abula-Mazki listens to him. “Swear upon the Star, Priest of
Morcyth, and I’ll agree to your proposal.”

Holding the Star high, James says, “I swear
to go with the warrior priest Abula-Mazki should his champion
win.”

“Very well, priest,” he says. “I agree.”

“Give us a few minutes to prepare, and our
champion will return here to this spot,” James says.

“You have ten minutes, no more,” he warns
him.

Nodding, James replies, “That is
agreeable.”

Both parties turn around and return to the
others waiting for them.

When James, Illan and Jiron arrive, Uther
says, “I know how they knew to be here.”

Every eye turns to him as James asks,
“How?”

Gesturing to the group of riders in the
pass, he says, “If you look, you’ll see the man who was outside our
door just before we left.”

They all turn and sure enough, the man who
they’d chased out from in front of their door back at the inn in
Seastar is among them. “Damn!” Illan exclaims. “I thought he was
working for Councilman Rillian.”

“So did we all,” Jiron adds.

“Maybe he was,” Yern suggests. “What he’d
heard could’ve been relayed from Councilman Rillian to them.”

“True,” agrees Illan. “They must’ve almost
killed their horses to get here so fast.”

“So what happened?” Fifer asks.

James fills them in on what was said and the
deal he’d made. At hearing that, Jiron says, “James, there’s no way
I can win a fight with my shoulder the way it is.”

“Besides,” Illan says, “there’s only one
person he’s going to select as champion, and that will be himself.
The warrior priests are terrible foes, I don’t believe I’ve ever
heard of one being beaten by another living mortal. Who among us
could even hope of defeating a warrior priest of Dmon-Li?”

He glances around at the faces looking to
him until he settles on one, “Another warrior priest of
Dmon-Li.”

Staring back into James’ eyes, Miko takes a
sudden intake of breath. “What? Are you crazy?” He glances around
at the others assembled there and says, “I’m no warrior, let alone
a match for someone like Abula-Mazki.”

Illan glances from Miko, to James, then back
to Miko. His head begins to nod slowly as he says, “Perhaps.”

Miko turns his attention to Illan as he
says, “You can’t be serious!”

“I’ve seen you fight,” he tells him. He
gestures at the rest of those gathered there before continuing,
“None of us can even hope to match what you do. You’re the only
choice.”

“James,” Jiron says to him. “We can’t take
that chance, not with…”

“I know,” he replies. “But that’s just what
I’m counting on. With it, Miko has a chance to beat him.”

The others look confused, not understanding
what they’re talking about. James turns to Hinney and says, “Give
your armor to Miko. I think you’re about the same size.” As he
begins removing his armor, James comes over to Miko and says, “You
can do this. There really is no one else.”

Miko’s eyes show the fear and doubt that
he’s feeling inside. James leans closer and whispers so only he
will hear, “The Fire will aid you. It already has in every battle
you’ve fought.”

Coming back to look him in the eye, he says,
“I believe you can do it.”

“But, what if I lose myself for good?” he
asks. “It’s been harder each time to come back out of it.”

“I won’t let that happen,” James assures
him. “I promise.”

Jorry and Uther come over and begin to help
him in putting on Hinney’s armor. “Let me have your sword,” James
says.

“What’re you going to do?” Miko asks as he
hands it over to him. A pile begins to form at his feet from all
the excess equipment they are removing from him in order to make
room for the armor. The only pouch he retains is the one containing
the Fire.

“Make it stronger, better able to withstand
whatever he may do,” he replies. He holds the sword out before him
and begins concentrating as he readies the magic. Hoping he
remembers enough from the shows on television he’d seen about
metallurgy and sword making, he lets the magic begin to flow as he
works on removing the impurities and strengthening the iron into
steel.

He stands there for five minutes as he works
on the sword. When he at last feels it’s complete, he stops the
spell and hands the sword to Illan. “Tell me what you think.”

Taking the sword, he tests it for balance
and weight, all the while nodding his head approvingly. Then he
checks the edge by running his thumb along it. The barest of
pressure cuts through the skin and a drop of blood begins to
form.

He holds the sword out and then turns to
Fifer, “Take out your sword and strike it.”

Fifer removes his sword and while Illan
holds the sword in a blocking position, strikes it hard. When his
sword strikes Miko’s, it rings out and Illan says, “Again!”

Strike! Strike! Strike!

Three more times Fifer hits Miko’s sword,
after the third strike, Illan nods his head and gestures for Fifer
to halt. Turning to where Miko stands, now dressed in armor, he
says, “This sword is better than any other I’ve ever seen.” Handing
it to him hilt first, he continues, “It will serve you well.”

“Thank you,” he says, taking it. Placing it
within the scabbard, he glances to James. “I’m scared.”

“I know,” he says. Then a horn sounds from
those within the pass and they turn to see Abula-Mazki returning on
foot with the clan chiefs. “It’s time,” he tells Miko.

James, Illan and Jiron accompany Miko out to
where the duel will take place. With dread, Miko advances toward
the spot where he will meet Abula-Mazki in combat.
I can’t do
this!

When the two groups meet, Abula-Mazki says,
“So, who plans to die today?”

“None of us, actually,” James says. He
gestures to Miko as he continues, “Miko here will meet your
champion.” Looking around at those with Abula-Mazki, he adds, “And
which one of you will be brave enough to meet him?”

The clan chiefs break out into a gruff laugh
as Abula-Mazki says, “I had thought this to be a serious
match.”

“It is,” James assures him. “He is far
better than you’d imagine.”

Looking upon Miko, Abula-Mazki’s expression
shows he seriously doubts his abilities. “Okay,” he says, “so be
it. I will be my own champion for there is no other better than
I.”

“Just one thing before we begin,” James
says.

“What?” he asks.

“Should we win,” he replies and then points
to the clan chiefs, “I want your word they will not attack us. Nor
will they try to seek any sort of vengeance against us.”

With an amused smile upon his face at the
very thought, Abula-Mazki says, “You have it.”

“Very well then,” says James.

The clan chiefs back away from Abula-Mazki
as he draws his sword.

James can feel the prickling as he calls the
magic. He puts his hands on Miko’s shoulders and looks him in the
eye. Miko looks back with naked fear at the thought of facing him
in battle. “You can do this!” asserts James. Then in a hushed
whisper, adds, “The Fire will protect you.”

“How can you be sure?” Miko asks.

“I am,” James replies. “Trust me.” He
continues gazing at Miko until he gives him a barely perceptible
nod.

Miko turns to face the warrior priest.
Drawing his sword, he steps forward as James and the others step
back.

He watches as Miko closes with Abula-Mazki
and begins to notice how his movements are slowly changing,
becoming more streamlined and relaxed.
The Fire is beginning to
take control.

With sword at the ready, Miko waits for
Abula-Mazki’s attack. When it comes, it’s so incredibly fast that
no one even realized he’d even attacked before Miko’s sword moves
and blocks it.

The ringing of the clash of swords slowly
dies away, and the clan chiefs begin murmuring among themselves.
They cast looks from Abula-Mazki and then over to where James waits
with the others.

As he watches Miko and Abula-Mazki begin to
circle each other, Illan says, “He might be able to win.”

“Let’s hope so,” James says.

“If he does,” says Jiron as he points to the
clan chiefs, “do you think they’ll abide by Abula-Mazki’s
word?”

“I doubt it,” replies James. “But let’s
worry about that after Miko wins.” He looks to Jiron who gives him
a nod.

Clang! Clang!

Their swords move at speeds so fast, the
eyes of the onlookers aren’t capable of following. Then suddenly,
Abula-Mazki disengages and backs up. He looks at Miko with a new
found respect. This isn’t any ordinary foe, he realizes.

Suddenly, the tingling James has been
feeling since the beginning of the match spikes. He tries to call
the magic forth to help Miko but is too late. A ball of fire flies
the short distance from Abula-Mazki to Miko, and explodes in a
giant fireball.

When the smoke clears, Miko is still
standing there, untouched. James can faintly see a reddish shell
begin to dissipate from around him. He glances to the warrior
priest and sees the look of utter amazement upon his face. Smiling
in satisfaction, James hollers, “Go Miko!”

Miko doesn’t acknowledge his support,
instead, he strides forth and begins attacking. With incredible
speed, he launches into a series of attacks that Abula-Mazki
successfully blocks. But instead of pausing, he keeps on attacking
and actually succeeds in making him back up two steps before ending
the series of blows.

Enraged at the temerity of this boy,
Abula-Mazki lashes out with his magic again and watches as the
bolts of energy are deflected by the red tinged barrier. Using an
attack combining both magic and sword he goes on the offensive. The
magic is countered while Miko’s sword blocks the attacks.

At this time, Fifer and the others have come
and joined James’ group. “Incredible,” he says to James as he
stands next to him.

“Glad I’m not in there,” admits Yern.

A jubilant cry from Abula-Mazki and they
watch as Miko’s sword goes sailing through the air and lands point
first into the dirt ten feet away.

“Miko!” cries James.

Then suddenly, the sword is no longer in the
ground, but once again in Miko’s hand as he goes on the offensive
again. A series of blows has Abula-Mazki giving ground and in
disbelief, everyone watches as Miko’s sword rips through his
armored leggings and slices the thigh beneath.

Miko has drawn first blood!

Abula-Mazki takes a few steps back to gather
himself, a strange expression now upon his face. He glances down at
the blood beginning to drip from the cut on his thigh. It’s not
deep and will hardly even slow him down. But to score on a warrior
priest, inconceivable! Never has such happened to Abula-Mazki.

He looks at his opponent and sees the glazed
look in his eyes, eyes that look as if they see nothing, yet do.
His senses tell him that there’s nothing magical about this boy,
but yet he has managed to counter everything he’s thrown at him.
For the first time in Abula-Mazki’s very long life, he begins to
believe he may have met his match.

During the brief pause in the fighting,
James takes a look around at the riders who’ve surrounded them.
Relieved to find them still in their original position, he turns
his attention to the clan chiefs. The expressions on their faces
show the fight is not going as they had anticipated. They had
thought it would be quick and decisive, now they have doubts as to
whether Abula-Mazki will even win. He sees them huddled together
talking while at the same time keeping their attention fixed on the
fighting.

“I think they’re planning something,” James
says to the others.

“Would they go against the agreement made?”
asks Hinney.

“Wouldn’t put it past them,” he says. “From
the little I’ve been around them, I haven’t known them to be all
that honorable.”

“What should we do?” asks Uther.

“If Miko falls, I’ll go with them and hope
Abula-Mazki will hold to his word,” he explains. “Should Miko
prevail, we better be prepared to fight.”

“I believe you are correct,” agrees
Illan.

The clash of swords brings their attention
back to the fighting. Abula-Mazki has launched another series of
blows which Miko is blocking successfully. A line opens up on
Miko’s forearm where Abula-Mazki’s sword scored. Not very deep, but
they can see a small amount of blood beginning to run down his arm.
Miko doesn’t even act as if he knows he has been struck.

That small victory gives Abula-Mazki an
impetus to win the fight. Launching into a series of blinding
attacks, he actually manages to push Miko back several steps.

But Miko doesn’t move back very far before
he begins to go on the offensive once again. In disbelief,
Abula-Mazki is beginning to almost not be able to block the blows
raining down upon him.
How can he move so fast?
Blow after
blow he successfully blocks, but each time he has been almost a
fraction of a second too late.

Not stopping, the blows keep coming, and as
unbelievable as it sounds, they’re increasing in speed. He gasps
when he sees twin fires in Miko’s eyes, flames of unholy light.
Light that is familiar somehow.

Then suddenly, he recognizes the truth. The
Fire! It’s no longer hidden and is in the hands of this infidel.
Once he realizes that, he understands that he cannot win this
battle. But there is one more act he must perform for his god
before the end comes.