Posted by The Black Knight on October 14, 2001 at 20:19:45:
Chapter 6
Lavia Milos sat in the corner of the cell watching Lorta Nei-shon sleeping peacefully. She drew her sword as she heard the jailor let out a cry. Lavia drew her sword and tapped the blade on Lorta's ribs.
"Wake up rebel. It is your time." Lavia said as Lorta began to awaken.
Lorta wiped the sleep from her eyes and suddenly smiled.
"Do you think so, my lady?" Lorta asked.
Shan Mi-yär walked down the corridor and the jailor followed. He was held straight by a dagger at his throat. Yasin Man-yin followed the jailor closely with his sword at the jailor's back. Lavia lay the tip
of her sword above Lorta's belt.
"Release him, or I'll gut her where she lays." Lavia said.
"You seem to have backed yourself into a corner this time Lavia." Shan said as she opened the cell door.
Shan grabbed a handful of the jailor's hair and slammed his nose into the iron bars. The small man slumped to the floor with a dazed look on his face. Lavia held her sword toward Shan.
"You know what this is Shan. Even if that blade is the hardest crystal, the Swords of Kierna will break it." Lavia said.
"Not this one Lavia." Shan said.
"You know she may be right, it is said that the twin swords can shatter even the hardest steel." Yasin said.
"Oh now that's encouraging." Shan said as she held her sword up.
Lavia smiled as she turned her head away from Lorta. Lorta drew the dagger out of her boot. She rolled between Lavia and Shan. Before Lavia could react Lorta drove the dagger into her waist. Lavia's
brown eyes widened as she stumbled back. Lavia screamed as Lorta pulled the dagger out. As Lavia fell on her side and curled up in pain the lights flashed red and an alarm bell sounded. Se-le-na ran
down the corridor.
"Lady Milos." Se-le-na gasped.
"Unless she is found shortly she will bleed to death there." Yasin said.
"Come on you've got to get out of here. They haven't reached the dungeon gates yet. I have three horses saddled and waiting." Se-le-na said.
"You don't miss much do you?" Shan asked.
"Not if I can help it." Se-le-na said.
The four of them ran down the hall as a garrison of guards marched down the steps.
"I didn't finish the job." Lorta said.
"Later, if you live through this night." Yasin said.
Suddenly there was a sick tearing sound and Se-le-na stopped short. She hung limply on a crystalline sword blade that had pierced her chest. The Tal-sha-dor threw her off the sword into the wall.
"I've known about this little piece of garbage for a long time. I have just been waiting for her to expose herself." the Tal-sha-dor said.
"It's been a long time Kai." Yasin said as he stepped between the two women and the Tal-sha-dor.
"The deputy magistrate." Lorta said as she started to move toward Se-le-na.
"There's nothing you can do for her now." Shan said.
"Get her out of here." Yasin said.
"I can't leave you here alone." Shan said.
"You can and you will." Yasin said.
"Yes, go girl. Your uncle and I have some unfinished business to work out, then I'll send him to your father in a box." the Tal-sha-dor said.
"A little confident aren't you old friend?" Yasin said as held his sword up.
When he spoke Yasin was reminded of the day that he had met Kai Shaduk, and the day that Kai Shaduk betrayed him:
Yasin and Sheirdra stood looking down at two graves. One was the grave of Atla Bre-yan and the other of Yosh Man-yin, Yasin's second child and only son. The general walked up behind them.
"I know this may be too early son, but the Ko-värs are set to move on the Mi-yärs at any time." the general said.
"It was the Ko-värs that killed Atla and Yosh I am sure of that." Yasin said.
"According to my sources in the palace it was Ramin Ko-vär himself." the general said.
"What of Can-ler?" Yasin asked.
"He cannot bring under control what is permitted by law and custom." the general said.
"If law and custom permit the slaughter of innocent women and children it is time for them to be changed." Yasin said.
"Perhaps, but not in our life time son. I have arranged for you to meet Hovär Mi-yär in Calladin in two days." the general said.
Two days later Yasin and Sheirdra stood outside a small house with a small young man with wavy blond hair.
"This is my lieutenant, Sheirdra Har-shon." Yasin said.
A young woman walked out of the door of the house. She held a baby in her arms. Her name was Cela Man-yin.
"I'm sure you know my wife, Cela, and this is our daughter, Shan." Hovär Mi-yär said.
A young man in armor rode up on a big black stallion. He took off his helmet to show the face of Kai Shaduk.
"This is my lieutenant, Kai Shaduk." Hovär said.
"Colonel Mi-yär the Ko-värs are advancing on the north side of Calladin." Kai Shaduk said.
The Tal-sha-dor swung his sword toward Yasin's head, but Yasin easily ducked out of the way.
"You know we almost died that day outside of Calladin." Yasin said.
"I can correct that mistake here tonight." the Tal-sha-dor said.
Yasin blocked another strike aimed at his shoulder and kicked the Tal-sha-dor in the chest. The Tal-sha-dor fell back trying to catch himself on the wall.
"Get her out of here now." Yasin said.
Shan looked down at the sword hilt in her hand. Engraved in handle of the sword was the word VENUS. Shan lay her thumb on the S, and the sword blade faded into the hilt.
"That's a neat trick." Lorta said.
"Then you're going to love this one." Shan said as she put her arm around Lorta's waist.
Before Lorta could open her mouth, Shan lifted both of them off the floor and flew down the hall.
"You do of course realize that I'm the only person here who can follow them." the Tal-sha-dor said as he stood looking down at his sword.
Yasin could just barely read the word APOLLO on the hilt of the sword. Yasin spun and in one stroke severed the Tal-sha-dor's head from his body.
"I don't think so Kai." Yasin said as he lay his finger on the Y on his own sword.
He picked up the Tal-sha-dor's sword and lay his finger over the O. As soon as the blade was gone he tucked the hilt under his belt. Yasin knelt beside Se-le-na and closed her big green eyes.
"Maybe you can rest a little better now, my friend." Yasin said as he stood.
He flew down the hall so fast that he was a blur. He landed beside Shan and Lorta as they mounted two of the horses.
"How did you get here so fast?" Shan asked.
"Speed is my specialty, remember." Yasin said as he swung up into the saddle.
"One of the benefits of having the MERCURY sword?" Shan asked.
Yasin nodded as the spurred their horses.
"What about the Tal-sha-dor?" Lorta asked.
"He is dead." Yasin said as he rode ahead of them.