Sytravious: The Lost Warlock Of Moruz (The Oathbreaker Book 1) (30 page)

              “How can it be that you are not hurt after a High Priests’ spell hit you?”

              Sytravious glared at the now unconscious Vienken as he rubbed his chest.  “I owe you one, Bryce.”

              “Yeah, well, I could not let him attack the priestess, now could I?  It was proper protocol to stop him, right?”  Bryce asked, looking to Raiven for validation.

              “You did what you felt was best, just as Master Vienken thought he was doing what was best.  I am sure he will understand in time, but I am not staying here to find out,” she said.

Raiven knew her instructor had acted out of concern for her well-being, but she was still disappointed that he had attacked Sytravious.  She got up and retrieved the bag she had packed for him, and noticed Sytravious had already brought hers along.

“Wait a moment, what is going on?  Are you two actually leaving?”  Bryce asked.

              Sytravious took his bag from Raiven and threw it over his shoulder.  He grasped Raiven’s hand and looked at Bryce with remorse.  “Sorry, old friend, but I cannot stay here anymore.  There are bigger things going on right now.  All I ask is that you let us pass, I do not want to fight you.”

              She clung to Sytravious, and gave her guardian the best pout she could manage.  Bryce looked as if he was thinking the situation through.  He stared at Vienken, then back to Raiven. 

              “I am sorry, but I cannot let you two just waltz out of here,” he said.

              Sytravious sighed, and Raiven frowned while shaking her head.  Then she noticed a wide grin spread across Bryce’s face. 

              “You cannot waltz out of here
until
you give me a few minutes to pack my bag, because I am going with you.  I vowed to protect the priestess no matter what.  Besides, who would I have a drink with if my best friend leaves?  Boring ol’ Elric?  I do not think so.”  He chuckled.  “Wherever you are going, I will stay by your side.”

Chapter 25

Battle In Havencrest

D
aegon was the most ruthless and unforgiving king in the history of Moruz.  Once he set his sights on an enemy, there was no escaping his wrath.  Generations after his death, memories of the VanDrake king’s terror remained.  Even the mention of his name still sent chills down the bravest soldier’s spine.  Therefore, naming his favorite sword Daegon’s Rage seemed appropriate.  The legendary weapon lived up to its name, inflicting the destruction and fury Daegon had intended for it, making the wielder a fearsome opponent in the field of battle, and Hellios was no exception.

Nyxseous had lit the blade for him before they had gotten separated, allowing him to slice and stab the flaming sword at each assassin who dared engage him in the hectic streets of Havencrest.  Blood spurted in every direction as body after body fell to the ground when Hellios slashed through a horde of legionnaires.  It seemed like an endless battle as a new assassin emerged from the shadows just as another went down.  He needed to make a break for the south gate, where he hoped to meet up with his comrades, Nysight and Nyxseous.  Creating such a commotion in town had surely alerted the guard, which meant the window of time to slip away was closing fast.

He split from the fight and sprinted south as fast as he could.  Over the sounds of his own heavy breaths, he kept hearing a soft childlike giggle echoing around him.  Hellios ignored the laughter and dashed through the city where he saw townsfolk barricading their windows and doors.  They wanted no part of the bloodshed outside, and he could not blame them.  He felt the same way, but unfortunately, he had no choice in the matter.  He had to defend himself.

  Once he turned the corner, he could make out the southern gate.  Just ahead, Nysight was hacking away at his enemies with blades in each hand.  Hellios sighed and was relieved to see the general had survived this long, then rushed to join him in battle.  He fought his way through the henchman, until he stood back to back with Nysight as assassins surrounded them.

“Where is Nyxseous?”  Nysight shouted over his shoulder.  He blocked a sword, and cut an enemy down.

“I thought she was with you,” Hellios replied, and then beheaded a man with a strong slash.  “I have not seen her since we got separated.”

Nysight grunted, and kicked his next opponent in the chest.  The shattering sound of the man’s ribcage followed.  The enemy fell to the ground as he choked on his own thick blood that spattered out of his mouth. 

With the pair combatting the best they could, the assassins began falling much quicker.  Through the cluster of fighters, Hellios could finally make out a young witch as the source of the eerie laughter.  A look of malice formed on her childlike face as she contorted her fingers in a strange pattern and created more assassins out of the shadows around them.  Hellios gasped when he realized he had been fighting lethal phantoms all along.  He knew they had to eliminate her in order to escape the deadly trap she had set.

“We need to do something about that girl. Her little game with the shadow puppets will be our demise.  I cannot keep this up all night,” Nysight warned.

Hellios glowered at the witch.  “I am going to kill that little monster.  Try to watch my back, alright?”

Nysight nodded, and then swung his blades around to block the next wave of attacks on them, giving Hellios a chance to end the girl’s terror on them.  However, she preempted his move, and vanished.  She reappeared nearby, and he swore under his breath.  He pointed Daegon’s Rage at her, inciting a challenge.  The girl smiled and then let a long serpent slide out of her sleeve.  The snake came to a stiff point, forming a black blade in her hand.  Her sorcery worried him.  What else did the witch have up her sleeve?  He held his sword up in a defensive position, waiting for her next move.

She bounded toward him and lunged with her serpent blade.  He smacked it aside with his sword, and found himself having to roll away from a wave of striking snakes that emerged from her sleeve.  The witch was proving to be a deadly foe.  He countered with a flaming slash, aimed at her neck, but the young girl was too agile.  She jumped inside his guard and gashed her sharp nails across his cheek, drawing blood.  Hellios leapt back and was shocked by the stinging pain that ensued, but his attention was drawn towards Nysight’s sudden cry.

He realized the situation was about to take a drastic turn when he saw a squadron of soldiers racing down the streets, each armed with scimitars.  The general and his apprentice were out front, leading the elite guard and hacking their way through shadow assassins.  When he snapped back to his current opponent, Hellios noticed the witch had disappeared.  He groaned, and then rejoined his friend to help him destroy the foes. 

“Nysight, we need to evacuate right now!  The elite guard will not take the time to figure out whose side we are on.”  He watched as the knights demonstrated their proficiency with each enemy they took down.

“I will not leave without my wife, even if I need to battle my way through the entire elite guard!”

“It would be suicide to face the entire brigade!  Just think, would Nyxseous make such a foolish choice?  No!  She would not stay, but instead flee to the woods, which is where we need to go
now
.”

Nysight was frustrated.  He growled, squeezed the hilts of his swords, and glared at the approaching militia.  “Then come on, let us get to the woods, but we will go no further until we make contact with my wife
and
son.”

“Of course, you have my word.”

They ran with haste as the sounds of armored boots drew nearer.  Hellios knew the knights would catch up to them well before they could reach the exit.  When the pair got to the south gate, they spotted another group of soldiers blocking the large oak doors.  Hellios and Nysight nodded in agreement, and readied their weapons, knowing they had to drive on.

“Who is taking the general?”  Hellios asked while they slowed down to a jog.

“Since I have two swords, holding off the gate guards will be easier for me.  You can keep General Kenshiro and his men at bay.  We do not want to kill them and have to deal with the wrath of the kingdom on our way out.”

Hellios spun around with his sword pointed in Kenshiro’s direction, ready to receive whatever onslaught the general would bring.  Kenshiro’s dual scimitars crashed into Daegon’s Rage with a high-pitched chime.  Their blades clanged against the other as each man twisted and ducked each other’s attacks and Hellios realized his flaming sword had little effect against Kenshiro’s weapons.

“Your cursed sword means nothing in this bout, foreigner.  These are blessed blades, fabled in their own right.  You chose the wrong city for your stupid battle.  Now, suffer the consequences!”

“It is amazing how seriously you take yourself.”  Hellios muttered and blocked a series of strikes from Kenshiro and managed to catch glimpses of Nysight as he continued to fend off the general.

Nysight had handled the gate guards and was now giving Kaspar and the knights of the elite guard all they could handle, careful to injure rather than kill.  As the clash continued in the streets, the guards on the other side of the gate slammed the doors shut.  Hellios tried to think of another plan to escape. 

His arms ached from fighting for so long against such a large amount of foes, but he pushed through the pain, and continued to parry Kenshiro’s blades.  The general must have sensed his weariness, because he came at him with a barrage of blows that had Hellios backing up against a building.  He was about to parry another attack when Nysight’s two swords slapped Kenshiro’s scimitars aside, causing the general to stumble sideways. 

“It looks like we should trade off,” Nysight suggested.

Hellios glanced at Kaspar and his remaining men.  They looked hesitant to rush in for a fresh attack, which was a different reaction in comparison to the brave intentions they had a few moments ago.  It was impressive to see the storied General Nysight in action for the first time.  Even in his old age he was a terror in battle, and worthy of his status among the Fifth Legion legends.  Hellios was glad to switch off with Nysight, and brought the fight to Kaspar and his men, backing them up with his flamed blade.

Nysight examined his opponent.  Kenshiro regained his composure and spun the scimitars in his hands.  The two men sized each other up.

“I do not know who you are, nor do I care, but you do not belong in my city.  You have disturbed the peace, destroyed city property, and killed men in the open streets.  Now you have added assaulting the knights of the elite guard to the list of offenses, so I will not let you leave this place alive,” Kenshiro said.

“You state I do not belong here, yet you will not let me leave?  Which is it, General?  I have done nothing wrong tonight, unless defending myself against the assault of assassins and the blind justice of your knights are considered crimes!  You would do well to let us go.  We do not have a quarrel with you and your men, but if it is a fight you want, it is not I who should be worried,” Nysight responded.

“Those are big words for an old man.  I will give you one last chance, surrender or I will take you down.”

“If you believed me to be just an old man, you would have attacked by now.  This is
your
last chance.  Let us go.”  Nysight held up his swords.

Kenshiro’s reply was instantaneous.  He showed he was done with words when he soared into the air while spinning.  His blades twisted around him while he landed.  Nysight was forced to smack each sword aside.  As he did, he could feel the strong power of Kenshiro’s attack vibrating through his own weapons.  Nysight responded with a multiple hit combination and whipped his blades at the young general with speed.

Kenshiro moved from side to side, dodging Nysight’s steel blade by inches while blocking with his weapons.  As he went to attack, Kenshiro slashed at him and carved a fresh wound on his shoulder.  Nysight ignored the pain and countered with an equally swift cut to Kenshiro’s jaw.  His chest was burning, and shoulder throbbing with pain, but he was determined to complete the fight.  He shifted his glance to Hellios and saw the legionnaire appeared to have the remaining soldiers occupied well enough.  Hellios had even managed to knock out Kaspar, who was lying unconscious on the floor.  It was something Kenshiro also noticed.

“These men will not escape!  Send for another squadron, and double the guard at the gate!”  Kenshiro ordered.

Nysight cursed aloud, knowing any increase in soldiers would doom their already slim chances of escaping the city.  Hellios must have had the same thought because he made a run for the gate.  Kenshiro went to stop him, but Nysight cut him off and unleashed a fresh bombardment of attacks and combinations.  His blades slammed with force against the general’s armor several times, reengaging him in their scuffle.

Hellios wanted to assist Nysight, but he knew he had to do something about the closed gate.  As skilled as Nysight and himself were, they could not last through another wave of soldiers.  He spotted a knight rushing for the gate and tackled him to the ground.  The knight fell on his back, and his face was greeted by Hellios’ boot.  The legionnaire stumbled towards the gate and came to a halt in front of the closed oak barrier.  He noticed there were no other guards around, but he could make out the sounds of a heated battle on the other side of the doors.