The Ivory Star

Chapter 29

The Ivory Star gleamed brightly before him. Eric stared, mesmerized by its alien beauty, its shimmering blade. The Key glowed within through a small, diamond-shaped window at the intersection of the quillion and grip. Then the light began to dim.

Capian said, in the deepening darkness, "Let us hurry! Uhr may yet be about! We could catch him!"

Eric said, "No. He is gone. Somehow, I can now feel if he is nearby, but ... he is not here. He has fled."

"Then let's give chase!" Darius exclaimed. The exhilaration of having Uhr on the run was sweeping through them all.

Eric smiled. "Aye!"

Down the spiraling steps they raced with the little light the Ivory Star now gave. Soon it dimmed altogether, and forced them to feel their way blindly. Then they burst into Uhr's chamber from behind the throne. One glance told them the glowing red stone was gone.

Through the chamber they dashed, down the hallway, and into the great hall, where they skidded to a halt. Fully a score of warriors surrounded them, closing the circle behind them, weapons of every sort gleaming in black-gauntleted fists.

Eric slid the Ivory Star into his belt, and whipped out Sordus's blade. Darius dropped into a crouch with a talon-blade in one hand, sword in the other. Capian waited in a defensive stance, sword ready.

The Slayers did not move. These were armed similar to the one in the dungeon. They wore chain mail coats, instead of the bulky suits of black, spiked plate. Their heads sported plain black heaumes, with none of the gruesome adornments, over chain mail coifs. Padded cuir-boulli protected their legs. These men wore nothing but the bare essentials of armor and weapons, implying a more deadly threat.

Darius flung his talon-blade. With an almost imperceptible motion, a Slayer deflected it away with the haft of his battle-axe. It echoed loudly in the deathly silent hall. They very air was taut as a drawn bowstring.

The Knights watched and waited, back to back like cornered panthers. Eric glanced at Capian and made a small gesture toward the nearest open door, just beyond the circle of enemies. Capian loosed a wild cry and bolted toward the line of Slayers. They set their weapons to meet him. A mere pace out of their reach, he leaped high into the air, somersaulted over their heads, landed behind. Eric and Darius followed him a split second later, meeting the warriors rushing toward them. Up, over, behind.

Now, all three Knights barreled for that closest door and escape. With break-neck speed they raced down that corridor. The Slayers came hot on their heels, baying as they came like devil dogs on a hot scent. The corridor ended at a single wooden door. Capian flung it open, waited for his companions to follow, then slammed it shut and threw the bolt. They spun and surveyed the dimly lit room.

A huge man leaped out of the canopied bed, naked and excited, snatched his sheathed bastard sword from where it lay nearby, ripped it from its scabbard, and threw the scabbard away. His thick muscles writhed like serpents under his scarred flesh, blood-shot eyes glared at them with pure hatred from under thick black-tufted brows.

His voice grated like gravel on old leather. "You yet live!" He advanced, his battle-notched sword brandished. "It seems General Stakkarr must kill you himself!" His scarred face twisted with fury. Here was a merciless beast of a man.

Darius leaped forward, smooth and quick.

With speed that belied his tremendous size, Stakkarr met him. Their swords crashed, and Darius's blade shattered like glass. Stakkarr's blade crunched deep into Darius's body. The Eagle Knight sank to the floor without a sound.