The King's sword

closer.

“Oh, yes, I can use it.” Ronan smiled as he heard hooves clomping quickly up the stairs. Bryan looked behind him and Ronan lifted the blade and brought it flat against the centaur’s head.

“No bloodshed.” Ronan nodded approvingly at his blow as the centaur slumped heavily against the wall. “Now everyone can be happy.” He turned to the woman, grabbed her hand.

“Come. You don’t want to be here when he shakes off the pain.” Ronan gave her hand a pull, smile widening when Ahearn halted in the corridor, Keegan’s sleeve gripped in his teeth.

“Damn you, Culley! What is this about?” Keegan snatched his arm from the horse’s mouth.

“Culley?” The woman repeated with surprise in her voice,

“No time for explanations. We need to get moving.” Ronan heard Bryan groan from the room. “Quickly.”

“No, wait. If you are Ronan Culley, I can handle this situation.” The woman argued but Ronan gave her arm a rough jerk.

“He will use you against me,” Ronan ground out when she jerked back.

“I am no one’s weapon. I am Fiona Magle of the Serpentine Warriors. The wizard Thestian sent me here to meet you and escort you to Merisgale.” She put her arm out, pushing the blacksmith behind her when the centaur stumbled from the room holding his head.

“No,” Ronan commanded.

“No?” She echoed.

“No,” Ronan repeated, this time stepping between the woman and the centaur. “Serpentine Warriors can kill easily. I may be ignorant but I do know this much. And I’ll not have this centaur killed.”

“He’s crazed,” Keegan whispered. Ahearn neighed, shaking his head. The horse pushed past them and stood at Ronan’s side.

“Well you can’t chance striking him again with that thing. You could have cut his head open. You have no idea what that would have meant for you and Meris.” Fiona looked past the blacksmith at the centaur as he glared down at Ronan’s head. “I would get out of the way if I were you. He doesn’t look too happy.”

“Don’t make me use it, Bryan.” Ronan did not turn. “I will if I must.”

“You told that lie once before. Give me the sword,” Bryan bellowed and slowly Ronan turned. The centaur towered over him.

“Do it not and I will run everyone of you down and take it,” He added.

Ronan sighed, bowing his head. “Culley, no.” Keegan warned but Ahearn tossed his head, as if to attract the horseman’s attention. Ronan lifted the sword and let the edge fall, turning the hilt out for the centaur to take.

“I’m tired, Yore. At least this way, it isn’t in anyone’s hands that would use it to destroy us.” Ronan bowed his head. For a moment the centaur did not move.

“You will let us go?” Ronan asked, momentarily tightening his grip.

“I will.” Bryan nodded and reached forward. Ronan gave the sword to him.

“You fool!” Fiona hissed but Ronan turned and hauled her onto Ahearn’s back, then swung up behind her.

“Go, Yore! On your horse now. Let’s get out of here before he changes his mind.” Yore hesitated and Ahearn gave the man a nudge. Moments later the horse followed the horseman from the tavern.

“Let me go! I have to get that sword back!” Fiona twisted, attempting to wrestle free from Ronan’s grasp. Keegan swung atop his horse and they both kicked their beasts forward.

“Idiot! Release me!” Ronan’s eyes widened when the woman’s skin color began to change. A forked tongue snaked out her mouth and flicked him sharply on the cheek but he did not release her.

“Keep still,” Ronan growled, tightening his grip around her but her body moved as if it suddenly had no bones and she nearly slipped from his grasp. “I said be still! I have the damned sword!” Fiona grew still and did not struggle again. They did not stop until they were far from Fullerk and rode upon a confused boy with two nervous horses.

“Where is she?” Ronan looked at Sorcha. The horse bowed her head.

She couldn’t find her. Ahearn answered for her.

“Dragon’s Blood!” Ronan nearly threw Fiona to the ground. I’ll go back for her. Stay here. Ahearn flexed his muscles and Ronan sighed, swinging down. He didn’t like it but he couldn’t risk losing the real sword to the centaur. He removed the leather wrapped sword from Ahearn’s back.

“Go then. But if you do not return within the hour I am coming back for you both.” Ronan warned. The horse neighed and then started off in a full gallop back the way he came.

“We should push on,” Keegan advised but Ronan shook his head.

“I will not leave her.”

I’ll bring her back. Go as he says. Ronan kicked at the dirt. He had to trust the horse. He’d not led him wrong yet.

“Fine! Let’s go.” Ronan reached for the woman’s arm but she drew herself up.

“I demand an explanation.”

“I made a second sword. It’s not a very good replica but one that would fool someone at first glance.” Ronan said with impatience. “It won’t take the centaur long to realize the trick.” Fiona stared at him with surprise for a moment.

“Why did you lie to me about who you were?” She didn’t move.

“I didn’t lie, though I did attempt to mislead you. I have people trying to kill me, rivers trying to suck me in, and dark forces trying to take me over. A beautiful woman seems an obvious threat.” Ronan nodded when Keegan grunted with agreement. “Especially one looking for a particular blacksmith that she knows is going to be traveling through Fullerk.”

“Thestian said you had a beard,” Fiona argued.

“He shaved it off to impress you.” Keegan grinned down at Ronan when the man shot him a glare.

“To impress me?”

“I told you I had seen you before. Now, let’s go. Ahearn can be a mule if I don’t follow his advice.” Ronan grasped her arm this time and pulled her along with him. “We can talk as we put distance between the sword and the centaur.”

“Why didn’t you want me to kill the centaur?” Fiona matched his stride easily. Ronan noticed with some admiration.

“Because he doesn’t deserve it,” Ronan answered. “He’s only doing what he thinks is right for his kind. He doesn’t mean to use the sword, just to keep it from continuing to kill his family.”

Fiona grew silent for a moment, and then said quietly, “I thought you were going to be a stupid man.”

“It would be easier if he was,” Keegan mumbled.

“On both of us. You have no idea how stupid I can be if Ahearn doesn’t bring that woman back to me.” Ronan ran a hand over his face, started to scratch at his beard before remembering it was no longer there.

“I could go back for her,” Arien finally spoke. “I’m not afraid of that centaur.”

Ronan smiled wearily at the boy. “I doubt you are afraid of very much at all, Arien. You already bested him once, didn’t you?” Ronan saw the boy’s chest puff out as he nodded.

“I did.”

“But I need you here, with me. I need your eyes. Mine have gotten a bit old over the years.” Ronan glanced over his shoulder. “I need you to keep an eye out for any sign of Ahearn. I have to know if the centaur is following him or not. Can you do that?”

“Yes, easily, Sir Culley.” Arien nodded, eager to be of some use. He made Dermot fall back behind the others so he could turn and look over his shoulder.

“You’ve ruined my horses. They let anyone climb onto their backs,” Keegan said watching the boy.

“You trained them,” Ronan reminded for the second time and Keegan fell silent.

“I don’t know why I was sent. You seem to have everything under control,” Fiona spoke again.

“And exactly why were you sent?” Ronan glanced at her.

“Thestian thought it wise that you have someone watching over you. I believe he is grateful that you took up the responsibility of delivering the sword to him.” She smiled. “It was a very brave thing to do.”

“It wasn’t.” Ronan shook his head. “It was dropped in my lap. There was nothing I could do to get out of it.” Her smile widened at his honesty.