Chapter 30
Gewey found the trail just south of the city wall. The trees were sparse and thin, but the light of the full moon offered ample shadows in which to hide. He unsheathed his sword and made his way south, keeping a few yards off the trail. He tried to stretch out his senses, but the roar of the nearby city drowned everything out. The trail itself provided little help; it was too frequently traveled for him to make out any distinct tracks. As he approached the clearing, he could see the light of several torches burning brightly. ‘No way to approach unseen,’ he thought. ‘Whoever this is either knows I’ve been trained, or they got lucky.’
The clearing was about one hundred feet in diameter, and torches had been placed at its edge in six-foot intervals. In the center, he saw Kaylia, gagged and on her knees, bound at the wrists and ankles. Lady Fritzina stood next to her with a vicious-looking dagger in her hand.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Gewey yelled, stepping into the clearing. Kaylia looked unhurt, though anger burned in her eyes.
“So fierce,” Fritzina laughed. “No wonder the master wants you… taken care of.”
“Release her and I will let you live,” he offered, taking a step forward, with his sword still drawn.
“Stop there, my handsome peasant,” she warned, holding her dagger close to Kaylia’s throat. “Or I might just have to bleed this… elf.” She looked down at Kaylia with contempt. “She loves you, you know.”
“What is it you want?” Gewey asked through his teeth.
“Don’t you want to tell her you love her too?” Fritzina replied, ignoring Gewey’s question. “Just once, before you watch her die?”
“If you hurt her, I swear you’ll beg me to kill you,” he roared. “You don’t think you can run from me, do you?”
“Run?” she repeated, amused. “It is you who should have run.” She pressed the blade against Kaylia’s throat. Gewey saw a trickle of blood fall down her neck.
“Wait,” Gewey cried. “Just tell me what you want.”
“Lady Fritzina,” came a voice from just beyond the clearing. “Enough.”
Gewey turned toward the voice. “You?” he said, his voice a mixture of confusion and rage.
Harlondo stepped from the shadows. His voice was now deep and menacing, rather than high and feminine, and he held a curved saber on his hand.
“Take the elf just outside the clearing,” he commanded Lady Fritzina. “Do nothing until this is over. Then,” he said, waving his hand carelessly, “you may do whatever you like with her.”
Lady Fritzina grinned fiendishly. She grabbed Kaylia by her hair and pulled her across the clearing to its edge. Gewey jumped forward in response, but the dagger in the woman’s hand held him at bay. He wouldn’t risk it-at least, not yet.
“I see you’re every bit as stupid as I’d hoped,” Harlondo said. “It’s a marvel you’ve made it this far, even with that idiot Starfinder helping you.”
“Why are you doing this?” Gewey asked. Gripping his sword tightly, he could feel it coming alive in his hand, drawing in the power of the earth around him.
“Why?” he replied scornfully. “Because you weren’t wise enough to join the master when you had a chance- not that I ever thought it was a good idea to let you in the first place.”
“Let Kaylia go, and I’ll come with you.”
Harlondo laughed. “It’s far too late for that. Besides, I’d rather you were dead; the last thing I want is more competition. We don’t need your help to win. The master is nearly at his full strength, and with you gone, there will be no one nearly powerful enough to challenge us.”
“If you hurt her, I swear you’ll pay with your life,” Gewey warned, his tone dark. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
“She will not be harmed until after I’ve killed you,” Harlondo promised. “Actually, you have Lady Fritzina to thank for that. She wants her to watch you die.”
Gewey grinned wickedly as he allowed the power of the earth to flow through him. “I look forward to gutting you. Then her. Then Lord Ganflin, just for good measure.”
“Ganflin?” He chuckled. “That fool knows nothing about this. We have agents in key positions everywhere, even in your beloved Sharpstone. Ganflin provides access for me, nothing more; he’s too damned thick to serve the master. In fact, I think I may make him my slave as a reward for killing you.”
He stepped forward menacingly.
“Speaking of which,” Harlondo’s left hand shot out. Gewey barely had time to react as a small knife whizzed by his head.
“Not bad,” Harlondo said with approval. “I was afraid this would be too easy to be proud of.”
Gewey let the pulse of the earth flow through him even more until it was like a raging river. Time began to slow, just as it had when he had fought the soldiers. He leapt forward, slashing down at Harlondo’s head, but the man moved easily away. Gewey stared at him in shock for a moment, then attacked again. Over and over, his sword found empty air as Harlondo countered with virtually no effort. Gewey had seen only one man move like that.
“You’re a…”
“Yes,” Harlondo interrupted, smiling. “You didn’t think Lee Starfinder was the only one, did you? But it’s worse than that, boy. The master has empowered me with energy from the Sword of Truth itself.”
Gewey felt his confidence drain.
“Don’t feel too bad, you’re not the first to underestimate me. Once I’m finished with you, I’ll find the rest of your friends and make sure you’re not the last.”
Gewey filled with rage at the thought of his friends falling to this demon. He ran headlong at Harlondo and thrust his sword at his belly, but Harlondo twisted and stepped away, bringing his own sword down. Gewey felt searing pain as the blade cut deep across the back of his shoulder. He spun around, sword extended, Harlondo ducked and again his blade found Gewey’s flesh, this time slashing open his upper thigh. Gewey backed away as Harlondo pressed the attack. He tried to block the onslaught, but Harlondo was too fast. Again and again, Harlondo’s sword cut deep, opening new wounds. Blood soaked Gewey’s clothes, and the wounds on his arms and shoulder made his sword feel heavy and awkward. His legs throbbed and shook with pain. He felt weak with blood loss, and could hardly hold onto his sword, as Harlondo came in for another attack. This time, Gewey was barely able to duck in time to keep his head on his shoulders. The blade sliced the top of his scalp, sending him tumbling to the ground. He rolled back, then stumbled to his feet.
“Why prolong the inevitable?” Harlondo asked. “You have fought well. Let me end your pain.”
Gewey glared at Harlondo and squared his shoulders. He looked to the edge of the clearing and saw Kaylia, tears streaming down her face. ‘I’m sorry,’ he thought. Kaylia eyes filled with sadness as though she had heard him.
“Still some fight in you, eh?” Harlondo laughed. “Good.”
In a flash, he was on Gewey again. This time Gewey was able to fend off the blade, but Harlondo closed in and smashed the hilt into the side of Gewey’s head. Gewey fell to the ground, dazed, blood pouring into his eyes and mouth. His surroundings began to feel dull and distant, and he wondered if this could really be the end. He attempted to stand up, but Harlondo merely laughed and kicked him back to the ground.
Harlondo stood over him with a satisfied smile. “And so ends the only child of heaven,” he mocked. “I’ll send your regards to your friends, starting with that one over there.”
‘Don’t give up.’ Gewey could suddenly hear Kaylia’s voice, clear as day, in his mind. ‘Don’t make me watch you die.’
Pain and desperation filled Gewey’s heart, as Harlondo raised his sword for the final stroke. Suddenly, the earth erupted and the ground shook violently. Harlondo’s eyes shot wide as the ground exploded, sending both men flying.
The last thing Gewey saw, before darkness took him, was the ravaged body of his enemy lying next to him. 'This is a good death,' he thought as the world around him faded to black. Gewey smiled with relief and let himself
