Episode 22: The Order Begins

Before I get to the epic finale of Tales of the Scarlet Knight volume 0, today is also my day on Briane Pagel's holiday blogathon (of doom).  One random commenter will get a copy of my novel A Hero's Journey, so you can read Volume 1 after Volume 0.  Hooray!
I wracked my brain to try and find a way to tie this and the holidays together.  I really can't because Christmas is a Christian holiday and Merlin, Marlin, Isis, and company are not Christians for the obvious reason this is about 2000 years before the first Christmas.  I could probably tie this better to Easter because Christ was resurrected after three days.  For Merlin it might take a bit longer--or did it?  Hurm.

Even someone as powerful as Merlin can’t recover from an epic battle like that in a day.   After waiting months for his return, I finally concede to myself that my master has died.  He had given his life to stop Isis.

On the first anniversary of his death, I’m sitting out in the hut Merlin and I shared for a short time.  It seems appropriate.  Beaux offered to come with me, as did Artr, but I refused.  This is a day I should remember on my own.

As I roast a squirrel over the fire, there’s a flash of white light.  “Master?”

“I’m afraid not,” a girl’s voice says.  It’s the same girl who visited us before, Anybl.  She invites herself to sit by the fire.

“To what do I owe this honor?” I ask.

“I wanted you to know, we’ve searched everywhere for him.  There’s no sign of Merlin.”

I nod to the girl.  “Thank you.”

She clears her throat and then adds, “There’s no sign of Isis either.  Or the Demon.  He did it.  He killed her.”

A shiver runs through me, though it’s not cold by the fire.  “No, I don’t think he killed her,” I say.  “Maybe I’m just paranoid in my old age, but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her.  She is a god, after all.”

“Then what are we to do?”

“What he would want us to do.  We remain vigilant.  We snuff out the darkness wherever we find it.  We spread the light.”

She nods.  “I’ll tell my sisters.  What of the boy?”

“I’ll keep an eye on him.”  I motion to the squirrel on its spit.  “Now that we’ve settled that, would you care for a bite?”

“No, thank you.”

But before she vanishes, she turns the squirrel into a plump chicken, just as he did the first time he visited me.  Show-off.

***

Nine more years go by.  Under my tutelage, Artr is a good and decent chieftain.  The boy even takes a wife named Gwniver.  She’s not the brightest girl in the village, but she makes a rabbit stew to die for. 

At this point you might wonder if she is faithful to him.  From what Beaux tells me, she is.  They are fairly close; they go out into the forest to hunt rabbits together, leaving Artr and I to train for the Demon’s return, or any other dark threats to the village.

Beaux and Gwniver are out hunting rabbits one day when an old man walks into the village.  I’m the first to see him as Artr and I work on his spearcraft on the tournament grounds.  The man limps towards us, leaning on a gnarled stick.

“Ho there, friends,” the old man says.  “May a weary traveler partake of your hospitality?”

“Of course.  I am Artr, chief of this village.  You are welcome to stay the night with me and my wife.”

“That’s very generous of you, my lord.  Thank you.”

Artr shows the man into the village.  He doesn’t suspect anything.  Neither do I until the old man turns to me and winks.  Then I know my master has returned at last.

It’s tempting to run over and embrace him.  I manage to restrain myself.  If the master wants Artr and the rest of the village to know he is here, he would have said so. 

I keep his secret the rest of the day.  To the other villagers he’s just an old man who’s wandered into our village.  Most don’t pay attention to him.  Artr is courteous, as he is to anyone who shows up in the village in need of lodging and a meal.

After a dinner of rabbit stew, the old man gets up.  “Thank you for such a wonderful meal, my lady,” he says.  “If you will forgive this old man for leaving so abruptly, I have business to attend to.”

He hobbles off, presumably to piss.  I wait a few minutes before I excuse myself as well.  I find Merlin out on the tournament grounds.  He’s no longer wearing the old man disguise; he looks just as he did the first time we met.

This time I do embrace him.  “You’re back!  I had feared—”

“I did not die, but I’m afraid I can’t stay here long.”

“Why not?  You know the village would be honored to have you here, especially Artr and I.”

“I know you would, my friend, but I’m afraid the time has come for me to leave this world.”

“You came here to kill yourself?  Master—”

“No, my friend.  I am not going to kill myself.  But I must leave this world for another.  It’s not safe here.”  He explains to me about the battle with Isis and the destruction left in its wake. 

“It wasn’t your fault.  You didn’t know—”

“Regardless, I have always sought the light.  I have sought to protect people, not destroy them.  Yet this power of mine makes me a danger to this world.  That’s why I must go.”

“But what are we supposed to do without you?”

“As you’ve been doing:  you, Artr, Anybl, and her sisters.  You must continue to carry on in my stead.”

“What if we can’t?  What if Isis returns?”

He closes his eyes.  “There will be a final reckoning to come.  On that day, when the darkness is too strong for any others, then I will return.  In the meantime, I will leave this place and slumber until needed.”

“No, you can’t.  You can’t abandon us!”

“I’m sorry, my friend.  I wish things could be different, but the danger is too great.”  He pats my shoulder.  “Fear not.  You’ll see me again.  When it’s your time to leave this place, we’ll meet again.”

With that, he disappears.  I do see him again, much sooner than I’d have liked.  But that’s another story.

THE END

Of course if you want more, you can always buy Volume 1!  Or if you're a lucky commenter you can get it for free!
 At some point I'll probably collect this into eBook form.  In the meantime, you can always click the link on the right that says "Volume 0" or go to the Special Features tab.  A lot of what you read in this series is a spoiler for Volumes 3 and 8 of the Tales of the Scarlet Knight series, so just pretend to be surprised whenever those are released and you can read them.

Monday we get back to normal with an out of this world Phony Photos...

Episode 21: The Duel

First, a big announcement!  You probably didn't bother to read the many flash fiction pieces me, Neil Vogler, and Sean Craven wrote that were posted this month (you can still read them free today but tomorrow they vanish).  As I've noticed here, apparently it's much too hard for people to go to a blog everyday and read something that's less than 1000 words.  (cough, cough)  But never fear, because now you can get over 65 short stories all in one handy dandy ebook called We Are Now.  Here are the links for all except B&N (sorry Offutt) which should be available soon.

Amazon (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AECW0BG

Amazon (US): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AECW0BG

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/we-are-now/id575138400?ls=1

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/We-Are-Now/book-VjxtWwrWFUSC0D-Ui2wXbQ/page1.html

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Neil_Vogler_We_Are_Now?id=SlivUbbxhm4C&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImJvb2stU2xpdlViYnhobTRDIl0.

And now for the penultimate chapter of Dark Origins:  Tales of the Scarlet Knight Volume 0 as we get to the final throwdown between Merlin and Isis.  Who will win?  Who will survive?  You'll find out in less than 1000 words!

From afar, a war of magic looks like a thunderstorm.  At least that’s what the nearest people to the Hunting Grounds think.  Except instead of only white flashes, those of green, blue, purple, and other colors light up the sky.  There are booms like thunder while other times loud screeches like someone screaming.

The reason my master insisted on facing Isis in the Hunting Grounds was because a war of magic is also terribly destructive.  Not so much to those with the magic; it’s the landscape and those who happen to be nearby who suffer the most.  Stray bolts of energy evaporate whole stands of trees in an instant.  A pool of water turns to ash in a heartbeat.

Anyone stupid enough to be close to ground zero wouldn’t see Merlin or Isis.  At best they would see two vague shapes glowing with light.  The figure made of white light would be Merlin while the dark smear with red eyes would be Isis.

Bolts of energy erupt from the two figures.  They absorb these before generating new ones.  When a bolt misses, the ground shakes and a good chunk of it disappears.  On it goes for hours and then days.

Merlin is losing.  While for now he’s managed to hold his own against Isis’ power, he knows he can’t last much longer.  She might have usurped her god powers, but they are still the powers of a god.  His own are more limited. 

When another bolt strikes him, he feels the pain.  His glow fades a bit.  A few more hits like that and he’ll be dead.  Isis senses her advantage and presses the attack.  It’s as if Merlin is at the center of an electrical storm from all the bolts of lightning raining down on him.

He does the smartest thing:  he flees.  He zips away at supersonic speed, into a mountain.  He merges his molecules with those of a vein of crystal while he gathers his strength.  Isis will probably find him in a few minutes, but at least it will give him some time.

Back in the village, I’m sleeping next to Beaux when I see my master.  He looks sadder than I’ve ever seen him.  “I’ve failed you,” he says.

“That’s impossible,” I say.  “You can’t fail.”

“Her power is too great, even for my own.”

“Bollocks,” I say.  I put a hand on his shoulder.  Though it’s a dream, it feels real enough.  “You’ve always told me the real power doesn’t come from Anubis or any of them blokes.  It comes from the heart.  There’s no one I know with a stronger, purer heart than you.  Look at all you’ve done here for me, Artr, and the whole village.  If not for you that brute Elgar would have taken over.  But now we have Artr.  That boy is really going to be something, you wait and see.”

Merlin nods to me.  “You speak wisely, my friend.”  He pats my shoulder.  “If I don’t see you again, know that you’ve been a great apprentice and an even better friend.”

“Thank you, my master.”

“Farewell.”

Then he’s gone.  I wake up, but all I see is the hut Beaux and I share.  She groans and then sits up.  “What was that?”

“Nothing,” I say and then go back to sleep, unsure if I’ll ever see him again.

***

Spurred by my words, Merlin leaves the mountain.  He finds Isis waiting for him outside.  She probably knew he was there; she just wanted to give him more time to suffer.  “Are you ready to finish this?” she rumbles.

He doesn’t give her the satisfaction of a reply.  Instead, he zips right into her.  I know a certain young scientist who could explain the chemical reaction of positive and negative charges.  All I know is when Merlin merges with Isis, it generates an explosion greater than anything the planet has seen since that big asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs.

Merlin had chosen the Hunting Grounds because of its distance away from any population centers.  That didn’t prove to be enough distance.  The explosion of white light eradicates first the Hunting Grounds and then spreads across much of northern Africa.  Thousands of people, their homes, possessions, and livestock disintegrate in moments.  There’s no trace left of them.

All that remains are miles and miles of sand.  Later on someone would decide to call it the Sahara.  A desert.  That’s all that’s left of Merlin and Isis’ war.  In time, even the legends of it would fade away, except for me.

And yet in all that desert, a man gets to his feet.  Much of his skin is red and steaming, as if he’s just survived the electric chair.  He staggers around to see what he’s done.  Then he screams.

Hundreds of miles away, there’s another figure in the sand.  This one is of a beautiful woman.  She appears to be carved entirely out of glossy black stone, but the level of detail surpasses anything possible in that time.

She lies there in the sand, in that shell, and waits for her time to come again.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Tomorrow, the series wraps as we learn the fate of Merlin...

Episode 20: The Temptation of Merlin

The Hunting Grounds are reserved only for Isis and her minions.  As you might guess, they don’t hunt rabbit, deer, or even boars there.  Most of the time they hunt that most elusive target:  men.  Other times, Isis conjures some horrific beast for the Black Demon to practice on.

Merlin had witnessed enough of these hunts to realize his master was a psychotic monster.  He had vowed not to return to the Hunting Grounds again.  Yet now he stands on the central plain, surrounded by the scrubby forests and mountains of Isis’ playground.

The woman herself stands in front of him with a haughty grin.  “Welcome back,” she says.

“I won’t be here long.”

“No, of course not.  It won’t take long to destroy you.”  Her grin widens.  “But why bother with such destruction?  Why not rejoin me?  Then we can finish what we began.”

“Enslaving the world?  I have no interest in that.”

“Come now, Merlin, what do you think this will accomplish?  It was a worthy attempt, but we both know you can’t kill a god.”

“You’re not a god.  You’re only a vain woman who sold her soul to satisfy her lust for beauty and power.”

“After all this time you still pine for Nephthys?  How pathetic.”

“She was a beautiful girl, much more so than her mother.  That’s why you had to kill her.  You couldn’t stand the thought she might eclipse you.”

Isis’ eyes narrow.  “That hook-nosed little wretch could never have eclipsed me.  But she did bewitch you, didn’t she?”  Isis’s smirk returns.  “I can bring her back, just the way you remember.  You can be reunited.”

“Whatever you conjure might look like Nephthys, but it will not be her.  It will only be another of your soulless abominations.”

“Perhaps.  But I’m certain if we combine our power, we can bring her back.”

People nowadays especially like to think of my master as this otherworldly person, some kind of demigod.  It’s true he does have the power of a demigod, but his heart is just like any man’s.  He thinks of Nephthys, the beautiful young daughter of Isis.

He remembers when they first met.  He was just a young acolyte of Horus back then.  He heard someone by the entrance to the temple.  He turned and his jaw dropped.

As an acolyte, he had mostly stayed away from women during his adolescence.  So it’s no surprise he just about fainted away at the sight of Nephthys.  She stood in the sun, her smooth skin seeming to glow and her black hair shimmering.  He thought this must be one of the goddesses come to visit him.

She carried a basket in her arms.  He hurried forward to take it from her.  “Are you one of the priests?” she asked in a musical voice.

He was tempted to answer yes so he could be the one to help her.  The penalty for that was a lashing that would leave his back bloody and sore for days.  The pain would be worth it so he could remain close to her.

“I’m the priest,” the actual priest said.  “What brings you here, young one?”

“I’ve come to ask for Horus’ blessing for my father.  He’s very ill.”

“Yes, of course.  This way.”  The priest took the basket from Merlin and guided Nephthys away.

But she hesitated for a moment.  She nodded to Merlin.  “Thank you for your assistance, acolyte.”

“It was no trouble, my lady.”

It was more or less love at first sight.  Nephthys’ father died from a fever, but she still found excuses to come to the temple.  Eventually, she and Merlin started to rendezvous away from prying eyes.  They found a little oasis in the desert where they could be alone.  There, on the grass, next to a pool of water, they made love for the first time.

Fate was cruel to them.  On the day they were going to elope to Thebes, Nephthys disappeared.  My master waited in the marketplace for her for hours, but she never showed up.  He returned to the temple, certain she had rejected him.

He feels her soft touch as she takes his hand.  Her silky hair brushes against his cheek.  “You can bring me back,” she whispers.  “I know you can.  With the strength of you and my mother, you can’t fail.  Then we can be together again.”

Her lips press against his.  They feel real enough, like those he had kissed back in the oasis.  Then he opens his eyes and looks into hers.  But something is wrong; her eyes are black, like those of her mother.

He holds up a hand.  The shape of Nephthys is hurled away.  When it hits the ground, it shatters into black dust.  Isis laughs.  “You are still weak.  Far too weak to face me.”

“Vile temptress!  I will put an end to your evil once and for all.”

And so the battle begins.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Tomorrow, Merlin and Isis face off with the fate of the world at stake!

Episode 19: Angel & Devil, Part 2

With the Demon’s claws about to tear open his throat, young Artr does the only thing he can:  he kicks the Demon.  Not between the legs, which probably wouldn’t have done any good.  No, he kicks the Demon in the left knee. 

It’s just enough to throw the Demon’s aim off.  The claws meant for Artr’s throat hit the dirt instead.  The Demon crashes down to the ground beside Artr.  The Scarlet Warrior punches him in the side of the head.  The Demon rolls a couple feet away.

Artr scrambles to grab the spear.  He’s able to grab it by the head, not caring if it cuts his hand.  As the Demon regains his feet, Artr sits up.  He jabs at the Demon with the Spear of Justice.

The Black Demon screams as the spear rams through his midsection.  As Artr gets to his feet, he transfers more of his weight onto the spear to press it in farther.  It finally comes out the other side of the Demon.  The monster drops to his knees.

He takes one last swipe at Artr with his claws.  The boy blocks the Demon with one arm and then delivers a solid punch with his other.  The Demon collapses to the ground, where he bleeds to death like any normal man.

Artr yanks the Spear of Justice free with some effort.  He stares down at the Demon in shock.  It’s not the first time he’s killed a man, but this was no ordinary man.  The realization of what Artr’s accomplished begins to dawn on him.

With the butt of the spear, he pushes off the Demon’s headdress.  The face isn’t as ugly as Artr had imagined.  There are no scars or boils or birthmarks.  It’s the face of a normal man, not a monster.  Artr shakes his head at the thought of an ordinary person unleashing such horror.

Behind him, someone applauds.  “Very good, child.  Merlin chose well.”

Artr turns around and it’s a good thing his loincloth isn’t too snug as the woman is gorgeous.  She has dark copper skin with glossy black hair down to waist.  Her svelte, well-endowed body is clad in only a thin linen dress.  Around her neck she wears a silver amulet with a symbol like a stick figure with its arms curving down.  Her eyes are the most unnatural part of her, the irises so black they seem to pull in the light.

Since he’s only sixteen and never bedded a woman before, Artr finds himself tongue-tied.  “W-who are y-you?” he stammers.

“I am Isis.”

She takes a step forward to put a hand on Artr’s shoulder.  She gently massages his muscles there.  “Such a strapping lad.  You most certainly are the mightiest warrior in all the land, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Don’t be so modest.  No ordinary man could kill the Black Demon.”

“I-I guess so.”

“Now that you’ve killed him, this world is yours for the taking.  None can stand against you, not even the gods themselves.”  She leans forward to whisper into his ear, “Not even Merlin.”

“What?  B-but Merlin is my friend.”

Isis’ laugh chills Artr to his marrow.  “Friend?  That schemer has no friends, only pawns he commands.  Don’t let yourself be another of them.”

“I don’t understand.”

“He made you kill the Black Demon.  Then he will tell you to kill me.  What do you suppose he’ll do next?”

“I don’t know.”

“Merlin talks to you of darkness and light, but he confuses one with the other.  I am the light, not him.”

“B-but the D-demon?”

“I sent him to bring Merlin back to me to stand trial for his crimes.  Instead, the coward fled so he could recruit you to stop me.”

“No.  Your Demon killed my father.  He made my brother a monster.”

“Did he?  None of this would have happened if Merlin had not come to your village with that toady of his.”

“You’re lying.”  Artr finally tightens his grasp on the spear.  He’s going to ram it through Isis, but she’s no longer there.

Her laughter comes from a few yards away.  “You fool.  You can’t kill a god!”

The ground around Artr begins to shake.  He has to use the Spear of Justice to steady himself as the ground heaves.  Isis hovers in the air, her eyes burning red.  “Now you will pay for your impudence.”

There’s a flash of light between Isis and Artr.  “Isis!” Merlin roars.  “Leave the boy alone.”

The ground stops shaking.  Isis’ eyes return to their normal black.  She laughs again.  “Tired of letting others fight for you?”

“No one else will die because of our war,” Merlin says.  “Let us finish it.”

“Very well.  Let us finish it.”

“Not here.  We will go to the Hunting Grounds.  No harm will come to anyone there.”

Isis glares at Artr.  “I will dispose of your master and then I will return for you.”  She disappears without even a flash of light.

“Who was that?” Artr asks.

“She is the woman of darkness,” Merlin says.

“And you’re going to fight her?”

“There’s no choice.  I can either go there or she’ll fight me here.  It will be far safer on the Hunting Grounds.”  Merlin puts a hand on Artr’s shoulder.  “You’ve fought well, Artr.  If I do not survive, use your wisdom and strength to guide your people.  Make sure they stay in the light.”

“I will.”

Beaux and I are outside the camp with the rest of the villagers.  Merlin appears before me in a flash.  “It’s time for me to go and face Isis.”

“By yourself?  Let me go with you—”

“This isn’t your fight, Marlin.  You’re needed here.  Help Artr.  He’s still young.”

“I will, my master.”

He smiles at Beaux.  “Make sure Marlin doesn’t run into any trouble.”

“I’m the only one he needs to worry about,” Beaux says, but she smiles.

“Farewell, my friends.”

Then he’s gone.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Tomorrow, Merlin faces the ultimate temptation.  Can he resist or will he fall prey to Isis?

Episode 18: Angel & Devil, Part 1

Artr and I get to our feet at the same time.  Since he has on the magic armor, he gets to the Demon’s camp much quicker.  He shoves aside any of the ruffians who try challenge him.  Once he’s reached the center of the camp, he shouts, “Show yourself, Demon!  I’ve come for your head!”

I stop at the edge of the camp, having no wish to get my throat slit along with Artr.  I have my doubts that even the Scarlet Warrior can take on twenty warriors plus the Black Demon.  Merlin puts a hand on my shoulder.  “Everything will be fine,” Merlin says.  “The boy knows what he’s doing.”

“It doesn’t look like it.”

“Watch and see.”

The Demon’s minions have gathered around Artr, but none are brave enough to come forward.  Then I see a large, dark shape emerge from a tent.  It’s the Black Demon.  He doesn’t have Beaux with him.  Did he already cut her throat?

The Demon barks a command and his henchmen fall back.  The Demon steps through their ranks.  “You would challenge me, boy?”  The Demon brandishes his claws.  “I’ve killed many times your number, men much bigger than you.”

“Then you have nothing to fear by fighting me.”

“Very well, boy.  If you wish to die then I will help you.”

The Demon makes as if to attack.  Artr puts up a hand.  “Not here.  I wouldn’t want you to trip on this fire pit or these tents.  We’ll go to the top of the ridge.”

“As you wish.”  The Demon turns to his minions.  “Stay and guard the prisoners.  I will not be gone long.”

Merlin motions for the two of us to hide behind a tree as the Demon and Artr climb up towards the hill.  “You see now?”

“See what?”

“The boy has lured the Demon away.  Now we can rescue the others.”

“You forget there’s still twenty of them.  Or are you going to wave your hand and make them disappear?”

“Nothing so drastic.”

I’m about to ask what he is going to do when I see the mist roll in.  It’s no ordinary mist; it’s a fog the color of egg yolks.  It smells worse than a couple of dozen rotten eggs too.  I can hear the ruffians cough, but I can’t see them.

Merlin starts to walk into the fog.  “Go and find Beaux.  The mist won’t harm you.”

I want to argue, but it is Merlin we’re talking about.  So I walk into the fog.  The mist might not kill me, but the smell of it is enough to make my eyes water.  I have to continually wipe them as I stumble into the camp.

I trip over something.  I look down and see a ruffian on the ground.  I can’t tell if he’s dead or not; at this point I’m not much concerned either way.

I try to remember which tent the Demon had appeared from.  But with the fog it’s impossible to tell.  So I try a more aggressive approach.  “Beaux?  Where are you, woman?”

“I’m over here, you daft fool!” she shouts back.

“Keep shouting, love.  I’ll find you.”

“You couldn’t find your arse if it were sewn to your face.”

She goes on like that until I locate the tent.  I open the flap and there she is, unharmed.  I take advantage of her being tied up to kiss her on the lips.  “Now let’s get you out of here.”

***

Artr makes it to the top of the ridge first.  He hefts the Spear of Justice.  “There’s still time to surrender,” he says, full of heroic bluster.

“You talk much.  Let’s see how you fight.”

The Demon breaks into a run.  He has both sets of claws up to slice Artr to ribbons.  For his part, the boy isn’t stupid.  He ducks and rolls away.  While still on his knees, he brings the spear around to smack the Demon on the back of the leg.

The Demon tumbles forward onto the ground.  For his part, the Demon isn’t stupid enough to wait for Artr to run him through with the spear.  He does his own roll to end up on his knees.  “That was clever, boy, but it will not be enough to save you.”

Artr breaks into a run.  He uses the augmented strength and speed of the armor to jump over the Demon.  Or rather, he tries to; he doesn’t quite get enough height, so that the Demon rakes his claws across Artr’s left thigh.

The boy lands hard on the ground, blood streaming from the wound.  He rolls onto his back.  The Demon stands over him with claws ready to strike.  Artr tries to stab the Demon in the gut with the spear, but the Demon swats it away.  He tries to pick it up with one hand, but the spear begins to glow; the Demon hisses with pain and then drops the spear.

“One of the conjurer’s tricks,” the Demon growls.  “They cannot save you.  Now you will die.”

The Demon strikes.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Does the Scarlet Warrior survive?  Find out tomorrow!

Episode 17: The Pursuit

Between the three of us, I have the hardest time with our pursuit of the Black Demon.  Artr has the Scarlet Warrior’s armor and Merlin has magic to keep him from getting too tired.  By contrast I’m just an out-of-shape, elderly—for that time period—conjurer’s assistant.  If it weren’t for Beaux, I’d have probably dropped over a long time ago.

“I could carry you on my back,” Artr suggests.

“Oh, how lovely,” I grumble.  “Carry me around like a pelt.”

“It was just a thought.”

“Don’t start thinking now.”

Merlin pats my shoulder.  “There’s no need to worry.  Beaux is safe.”

“How do you know that?”

“I have some assistance,” Merlin says.  He points up at the sky.

“A god is helping us?”

“Not a god.  A bird.  An owl to be exact.  I can see with his eyes.  For now Beaux and the others are safe.”

“Wonderful, an owl says they’re safe.  What happens when the owl goes off to eat a mouse?”

“It won’t.”  Merlin gestures ahead of us.  “Come, let’s keep going.”

“Couldn’t you make Marlin faster?  Or lighter?” Artr suggests.

“Shut up,” I snap and muster the strength to run ahead of him for a few paces.

***

We have to keep going all through the night and the next day.  Merlin’s owl continues its vigil, though it should have gone to sleep long ago.  From what the owl indicates, there’s no danger for Beaux or the others.  The greatest danger for Beaux is that she’ll anger the Demon enough he’ll decide to kill her before we can arrive.

“That must be some face you’ve got to keep it beneath that headdress all this time.  How do you eat with that on?”

“I do not require food.  Or sleep.  Or conversation.”  The way he glares at her should tell her to shut her mouth, but Beaux’s always had a problem with that.

“You must be very tough to take a bunch of women and children captive.  You know what will happen when Merlin finds you.”

“I do not fear Merlin.”

“Is that why you’re running?”

“I will face him at a time of my choosing.”

“That’s convenient.”

“If you do not remain silent, I will slice open your throat.”  He brandishes his claws for effect.  Of course Beaux ignores this.

“Some brave warrior you are.  You let half your men get slaughtered while you stood by and did nothing.”  She raises her voice so the rest of the Demon’s minions can hear her.  “He’ll probably let the lot of you die the same way if it suits his purposes.”

“They do not understand you, foolish girl,” the Dragoon growls.

“Girl?  I’ll have you know I gave birth to a child.”  She did many years ago, before she met me.  The child died from a fever shortly after birth.  Since then, Beaux has remained barren.  Modern science would probably have an explanation; I assumed it was through sheer force of will she never got pregnant again to risk losing another child.  Of course that might explain why she prefers to be around those sheep all the time.

“You try my patience.  That will make it all the more glorious when I feed your heart to my master.”

“I’d like to see you try.  If I still had my crook I’d teach you a thing or two.”

“Your puny weapon would not hurt me.”

“We’ll never know, will we?”  Beaux stomps ahead a few paces.  Though she’d never admit it, I’m sure she thinks of me and hopes she'll see me again.

***

Night falls by the time they finally stop.  The owl stops in a tree.  It’s still there when we arrive.  We huddle in the darkness to stare down at the Demon’s camp.  Artr and Merlin can see in the dark while I can only squint and make out a few vague shapes in the light of the Demon’s army’s fires.

“They’re down there,” Merlin says.  “They’re still alive.”

“So let’s go down and rescue them,” I say.

“Have patience.”

“What about the Demon?” Artr asks.

“He will need distracted,” Merlin says.

“I’ll do it,” Artr says without hesitation.  “You and Marlin can rescue the prisoners then.”

“A very sound strategy,” Merlin says.  “First we must locate the Demon.  Once we do and you have his attention, Marlin and I will rescue the prisoners.”

“What about the rest of his soldiers?” I ask.  “They could kill Beaux and the others.”

“I can deal with them,” Merlin says.

With a hoot, the owl in the trees takes off.  It swoops down over the Demon’s camp.  A couple of the ruffians make note of it; one even tries to hit it with a spear.  The owl glides away to search through the camp.

Through its eyes, Merlin locates the Demon.  Though he doesn’t require sleep, the Demon is in a tent.  He has a prisoner in there with him:  Beaux, of course.  She’s tied up at his feet.  “It’s a pity I won’t get the chance to bring you to my master, but I can’t abide any more of your yammering.  The time has come to put an end to it.”

Beaux screams.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Monday is what you've been waiting for:  the battle between the Scarlet Warrior and Black Demon begins!

Episode 16: Aftermath

Though I should trust Merlin—he is my master, after all—I run into the forest to make sure.  Her lean-to is unoccupied.  I find some of the sheep wandering around, untended.  She really must be gone.  What was she doing in the village?

“She wasn’t in the village,” Merlin says.  “He came here on his own to take her.”

“Why?”

“Because he knows you’ll come after her.”

“You’re damned right I will!  I’ll follow her to the underworld itself.”

He puts a hand on my shoulder to steady me.  “That won’t be necessary.  Not if we’re careful.  He’s not going to kill her until he has to.”

“Then let’s go!  Vanish us to wherever he’s keeping her.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Of course you can!  You’re Merlin!  Wave your hand and let’s go!”

He smiles at me like I’m a small child who’s done something amusing.  “I misspoke.  I could vanish us there, but that would be foolish.  We saw only a portion of his army.  The rest are with the prisoners.  If we simply vanish into their midst, things will get bloody.  We must take our time, wait for the right opportunity to strike.”

“That’s all well and good, but it’s not your woman he’s got, is it?”

“That’s very true, which is why you must trust me.  You aren’t thinking clearly.”

“Why shouldn’t I be?  I love her!”  It’s at that point I realize I haven’t said that to Beaux in a long time.  I really ought to have.  “I’m sorry, master.  I’ll do what you ask.”

“Good, my friend.  Gather some supplies.  We will head out after them as soon as possible.”

“Can’t you just conjure us up some food?”

“I could, but Artr needs a few moments.  His father is dying.”

“The chief is dying?  Can’t you save him?”

“His soul has already crossed into the underworld.  Only a shell of his body remains.”

“Oh, I see.  I suppose I’ll go gather some supplies then.”

***

Artr takes off his helmet so he can watch his father die with his own eyes.  Though it’s not very warriorly, he starts to cry.  He leans against his mother for support.  “I’m sorry, Father.  I couldn’t save you.”

His mother squeezes his shoulder.  “You did what you could, son.”

“It wasn’t enough.  I should have been here.  I should have protected him.”  Artr looks down at the ground.

“Your father was proud of you.  He knew what a strong and wise ruler you will become.”

“I don’t deserve to be chief.  A man who can’t protect his family shouldn’t rule.”

“There’s no way you could have known what would happen.  You’re not a conjurer—”

“You see!” Greetha shrieks.  She gestures to the fallen bodies with one of her dried bones.  “This is what happens when you consort with outsiders!  See what this Merlin has brought you!  Ruin!”

Artr gets to his feet.  He clutches the Spear of Justice.  “Leave this place, old woman.  You are not welcome here.”

“But she’s right,” Bleeth’s wife says.  She squats beside her dead husband.  “This never would have happened if we hadn’t allowed that outsider here.”

“If we hadn’t, then we all would have died of plague,” Artr says.  “This woman isn’t a conjurer or a healer.  She’s a fraud!”

But more of the villagers join in with Bleeth’s wife and voice support for Greetha.  “The chief was a fool to trust Merlin,” one says.

Artr turns on the woman.  “How dare you speak ill of my father before his body is even cold!  My father was a wise and noble ruler.  He allowed Merlin to stay because he knew this fraud wouldn’t save us.”

“Maybe he caused the plague,” someone else says.  “He brought it here with him from the outside.”

“Nothing like this ever happened before he showed up.”

“You see, Artr, your own people have seen the truth.  They see that we need to return to the old ways.”

Artr tightens his grip on the Spear of Justice.  He holds it inches from Greetha.  The point doesn’t glow the way it did around Elgar.  She’s not evil, just misguided.  With a sigh, he lowers the spear.

“I swear I will return those the Demon has taken captive.  Then, if you wish Merlin and I to leave this place, we will.”

“Son, no!”

“I am sorry, Mother.  Now, I must go.”  Artr stalks out of the village, perhaps for the last time.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Celebrate Black Friday with the search for the Black Demon!

Episode 15: Baptism By Fire

Once Merlin deems Artr ready, he gives the boy the golden spear again.  “This is the Spear of Justice.  With it you can smite your enemies.  Nothing from this world can stand in its way.”

“Including the Demon?”

“Especially the Demon.”  Then Merlin brings out the rest of the outfit:  a tunic, loincloth, and leather helmet all dyed the color of dried blood.  “This is your armor.  I’m afraid not even my power can make it invulnerable to the Demon’s claws.  It will protect you from any mortal weapons.”

“That’s something, I suppose,” Artr mumbles.

“The helmet will also allow you to see the darkness as clear as day.”

Merlin takes out a pair of golden boots, something unheard-of in that day and age.  The boots had belonged to Heph, who wore them while he worked at the forge to avoid burning his feet.  He had an extra pair that along with the tunic and loincloth he could donate to Merlin, who did the enchantments on them.

“These will protect your feet and allow you to walk great distances without discomfort or fatigue.  They will help you move faster and jump farther than any mortal man.”

“They’re beautiful.”

We take the whole outfit into the forest so Artr can practice with it.  He has trouble with the boots; he keeps tripping over them, unused to such footwear.  We stay out one night so he can use the helmet.  “This is amazing!  It really is clear as day.  You have to try this—”

“No!” Merlin says.  “No one else may wear the armor of the Scarlet Warrior.”

“Scarlet Warrior?”

“That is what you will be called,” Merlin says.

“Why scarlet?”

“It was the only color available,” Merlin says and for once he sounds testy.  “Anyone unworthy who tries to wear the armor will forfeit his life.”

“That includes me?” I ask.

“I’m afraid so.  Only Artr may use any part of the armor.”

Artr is practicing with his spear when Merlin closes his eyes.  “Is something wrong, my master?” I ask.

“I fear the Demon has arrived.”

***

Merlin vanishes us to the village, where we find his fears realized.  Except it’s not just the Black Demon; he’s got a whole army of ruffians with him.  They run about, screaming and butchering the men of the village, who were caught unawares.

I barely duck in time to avoid an axe taking off my head.  Artr brings the Spear of Justice around to run it through the man’s midsection.  He collapses to the ground; he won’t be getting up again.

I don’t have a weapon or magic powers, so I crawl into the nearest hut to hide.  I watch as Artr and Merlin dispatch the invaders.  With the Spear of Justice and the augmented strength and quickness from the armor, Artr is more than a match for the ruffians.  Merlin focuses on getting the villagers to safety.

Nowhere do I see the Black Demon.  What is he up to?  Why have his minions attack the village if he’s not here to kill Merlin?  Unless they aren’t his minions.

I hear a scream and then see the chief’s wife fly out of his hut.  A moment later, Elgar stomps out of the hut, dragging his father behind him.  The chief has already been beaten senseless, his face and chest stained with blood.

Artr kicks aside another of the ruffians and then turns to his brother.  “What are you doing, Brother?” he shouts.

“I have come for my revenge.  You will not stop me.”

“I must.  It is my duty to protect these people.  I am the Scarlet Warrior.”

“You are a fool.  The conjurer saved you the first time, but this time I will destroy you.  Though I will make sure you live long enough to watch me cut out our father’s heart.”

Artr lunges forward.  Elgar manages to bat aside the Spear of Justice and then hit Artr with a haymaker.  It hurts Elgar more than Artr.  The Scarlet Warrior brings the spear back around to whack Elgar in the side.  He tumbles to the ground.  As in the tournament, he levels the spear at his brother’s neck.  The point of it begins to glow.

“The glow means his heart is evil,” Merlin explains.

“Is there no hope for my brother?”

“That is for you to decide, Artr.  The responsibility is yours.”

Artr looks down at his brother and then over at his parents.  His mother has crawled over to his father to cradle his broken body.  “I’m sorry, Mother.  I must deprive you of a son.” 

He jams the spear through Elgar’s neck. 

From the top of a hill, we hear the sound of laughter.  Even without a magic helmet, I can see the glow of the Demon’s eyes.  “This is only the beginning, Merlin.  If you want the rest of the villagers alive, you will have to return to your master.”

We do an inventory of the villagers and find seventeen missing—all women and children.  Merlin pats my arm and then adds, “I’m afraid Beaux is among them."

 TO BE CONTINUED...

   
For Thanksgiving (and my birthday) be thankful the countdown to the epic clash between the Scarlet Warrior & Black Demon begins!

Episode 14: Demon Army

In those days there wasn’t much in the way of roads.  The Romans wouldn’t come along to start paving things for nearly two thousand years.  Since there wasn’t much in the way of trade between villages, there weren’t even dirt paths to follow.  The closest thing to roads were paths carved by wild animals during their migration.

Elgar had become another wild animal.  When his father had banished him, he had been allowed to take his spear, his club, and a pelt for warmth.  That was more than he allowed me to take, I might add. 

For weeks Elgar wandered the countryside and plotted his revenge.  He knew he couldn’t simply charge back into the village.  He might be able to sneak in at night, but that wasn’t how he wanted to do things.  He didn’t want to obtain power by crawling into the village on his hands and knees in the darkness.  He wanted everyone to see him seize power.

To do that, he would need an army.  In order to find such an army, he needed to locate another village.  That was easier said than done.

He survived by drinking what water he could find in creeks, streams, and rivers and killing any game that crossed his path.  It should be no surprise that for an exile, Elgar lived pretty high off the hog.  He didn’t have to dine on squirrels he scavenged from the ground.  Though my tiny cave was better than sleeping on the ground, especially when it rained.

As luck would have it, he didn’t need to find a village.  One evening as he sought a place to rest, he saw a group of fires.  Elgar wasn’t stupid enough to run over and introduce himself.  He crept up on the camp and watched it from afar.

There were about forty men, most of them as big as Elgar.  They all had the hairy, scarred look of ruffians, just the sort Elgar would gravitate to.  He couldn’t understand what they said around their fire, but he did recognize the one in the dog-shaped headdress.  From what I had told him, he knew this was the Black Demon.  You remember that expression, “An enemy of my enemy is my friend?”

Elgar decided to announce his presence in dramatic fashion.  He crept up behind one of the ruffians and then seized him by the shoulders.  Before anyone could react, Elgar snapped the man’s neck.  Then he tossed the man aside and stared at the Demon.  “I know you,” Elgar said.  “I also know who it is you seek.”

The Demon’s eyes blazed red.  “Indeed?  Who are you?”

“I am Elgar, son of Uthr.  I know you seek Merlin.  I can take you to him.”

“Why do you think I need your help to find him?  Long have I traveled at my master’s bidding.  Many are the men I’ve slain along the way.  Perhaps I will add you to their number,” the Demon said.  He flexed his hands so Elgar could see the bear claws.

“Merlin is preparing for you.  I can tell you his plan.”

“He is a feeble creature.  His plans do not concern me.”

“He has fashioned a weapon to kill you.  A spear.  I know the man—the boy—who will carry it against you.”

“You still have not told me why I should let you live.”

“I want revenge on the village, on my brother, and on Merlin.  If you will have me, I know I can have all three.”

“And what do you want in return?”

“I ask nothing but the chance to cut out my father’s heart and show it to him while he still lives.”

The Demon stared at Elgar for a moment.  Then he nodded.  “You may join us.  You will lead me to Merlin and then you will have your vengeance.  And I will have my prize.”

Elgar took his place at the fire.  The other men glared at him, but they said nothing.  Now that he had the Demon’s favor, none would dare to cross him.  With a smile, Elgar envisioned his revenge.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Finally, tomorrow the Scarlet Warrior springs into action!  But will his first outing be his last?