haven’t seen, they could alert the rest, and frankly, I don’t want to face two-dozen men head-on. As it stands, they don’t know we’re here yet.”
“So what’s the plan?” Gewey asked.
Lee scratched his chin in thought. “They’ve set a trap, so we’ll let them think it worked. I’ll sneak up and engage them from the north. The first group will be listening for horses to approach the well, so when I attack they’ll think we saw them and decided on a full frontal attack. Gewey, you and Kaylia will move in behind the bowmen. They’ll hear the fight and think the trap is sprung. Once they’ve let loose their arrows on the first position, take them out. Don’t give them a chance for a second shot. After the first volley, I’ll move to your position and help you finish them off. Any survivors from the first group should be confused and scattered. If any are left, we’ll take care of them last.”
“And what about me?” Dina asked, not wanting to be left out.
“You stay with the horses,” he answered. “If we’re killed or captured, ride back to Gristol and tell Lord Broin what happened.”
“I’ll not stand by like a helpless child while the rest of you go headlong into danger,” she said stubbornly.
“I have no time to argue with you, woman,” Lee snapped. “You are capable, but you are not a warrior. You could get someone killed.”
“How would you know what kind of warrior I am?” she challenged. “My order trains us in weapons. Some of us are among of the best swordsmen that ever lived.”
“Are you one of them?” Lee asked sarcastically. “If so, then by all means, ready your weapon. If not, we face two dozen men, and one weak link could get us all killed.”
Dina glared at Lee for a moment, then threw Gewey his sword.
Satisfied, Lee turned to Gewey. “Listen carefully,” he said. His tone was grave. “I know you’ve never killed before. But you cannot hesitate once the fighting begins. If you don’t kill them, they
Gewey nodded solemnly, “I understand.” He had never really thought about what it would be like to kill a man, but now he was faced with the likelihood that he would have to take another’s life. He steeled his nerves and put on his sword. “But I have a question: When they fire their arrows, where will you be?”
“Hoping not to get hit,” Lee replied. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep the soldiers between me and the bowman. It’s a risk, but one we have to take. If I am hit, don’t stop fighting until they’re all down. Understood?”
Gewey didn’t like it, but he knew Lee was right. It was the only way to make it work.
“Let’s go,” Lee said. “I’ll wait fifteen minutes for you to get into position. Remember; don’t attack until they’ve fired.”
Gewey and Kaylia moved silently around to where the bowmen waited. As soon as they were in position, they drew their weapons. Although more accustomed to fighting with a knife, for some reason the sword felt natural in his hand-maybe because of the bonding that occurred when he first drew it, he thought. He could sense the thumping heartbeat of the earth, and the sword felt warm in his hand. Kaylia pointed to the left, motioning for Gewey to attack there first. She would go right.
A short time later, the night erupted into chaos. He could hear screams from the first group, and orders being barked out in confusion as Lee wreaked havoc upon them. Gewey gritted his teeth, forcing himself to wait, and just as Lee had predicted, he heard the commander order the bowmen to make ready. His muscles tensed and his heart pounded in his ears.
Then, it happened. The bowmen lined up in a single row and notched their arrows.
“Loose!” yelled the commander.
Kaylia burst from their hiding place just as Gewey heard the twang of the bows being fired. He flew out immediately after her, and the soldiers didn’t see them until it was too late. Kaylia slashed two across the throat and gutted a third. Gewey focused on a man standing on the far left end of the row. He swung hard, and the sword passed clean through the man’s leather armor. Gewey heard a scream as the man clutched his chest. A second soldier rushed at Gewey from his right, but Gewey stepped aside and brought his blade down across his attacker’s bare neck, sending his head rolling across the ground. Suddenly, time slowed, and his sword struck home over and over again. The fever of battle overcame him as he sought out new adversaries, and the screams of the dying men went silent. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, or even how many men he had faced. His sword felt alive in his hand.
“Gewey,” a voice called. It sounded distant and faint. “Stop.”
He didn’t want to stop.
“Gewey,” it called again. This time the voice was louder.
He felt the thump, thump of the earth coursing through his veins. He looked for someone to fight, but there was no one.
“Gewey!” This time, the voice broke through. It was Kaylia.
He shook his head as the world crashed in. He expected to see the dead bowmen lying all around him, but he found he wasn’t where he thought he would be. Instead, he stood fifty yards away, among the first group of men. Lee and Kaylia were standing nearby, staring at him in awe.
“They’re all dead,” said Kaylia. She slowly walked over to him and put her hand on his sword arm.
“How did I get here?” Gewey asked, bewildered.
“You don’t remember?” Lee countered.
“Not really,” he replied, trying to make sense of what had just happened. “I mean…I do, but it’s like I see it through someone else’s eyes. What did I do?”
It was then he noticed the carnage around his feet. The dead were scattered everywhere, their limbs severed cleanly, as if cut off by a razor instead of a sword. He heard the sickly squish of blood and earth as he shifted his feet.
“I watched you kill over a dozen men as if they were ants,” Lee said. “Some of them you cut completely in half. I had just finished causing confusion in the first group of men when the arrows began to fall; only one or two of the men were struck, and none of them fatally. I was actually worried that this might not work when I saw you charging in. I didn’t even have a chance to raise my sword again before you took out half of them. In all my days, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Gewey looked down at his sword. It dripped with blood. He couldn’t believe what he had done, nor did he know how to feel about it. In a daze, he reached down, tore some cloth from one of the dead soldiers, and cleaned his sword.
“We should leave,” Kaylia suggested. “I don’t want to see what the dawn brings here.”
“Agreed.” Lee looked at Gewey with concern. “Are you alright?”
“I will be,” he replied. “Eventually.”
“I know how hard it is the first time you are forced to kill,” Lee reassured him. “But you’ll get through it. I’ll help you.”
“That’s just it,” Gewey replied. “It isn’t the killing that bothers me, even though I know it should.”
“What is it then?”
“It’s the feeling,” Gewey said coldly. “It was like something inside me took over…and it felt…good. I never understood what power is until this moment.” He turned his back to Lee. “I don’t think I can wield it. It’s too much- too tempting.”
Lee smiled and put his hand on Gewey’s shoulder. “That’s why you can,” he said softly. “Understanding the danger of power is the only way to wield it wisely and with compassion. I’m sorry you had to learn it this way, but I am pleased that you understand the dangers. That gives me hope…for all of us.”
Gewey looked over his shoulder and nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be fine in a while. It’s just that so much has happened so quickly. It’s a bit overwhelming.”
“I understand,” said Lee. “I really do. But we need to leave now. We’ll talk more when we stop again.”
Dina was waiting with the horses when she saw them approach, covered in blood. The far away stare on Gewey’s face filled her with concern. She wanted to ask if he was all right, but he didn’t even look up at her. He climbed in the saddle and sat there motionless.
“What happened?” Dina asked.
“They’re all dead,” Lee told her. “We should have no more trouble- at least until we get to Althetas.”
