Chosen: The Legend of Saqui

BOOK I CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VI - MEETING THE ENEMY

As the boat pulled into the dock, they could hear the sounds of swords clanging. Before Rimac could stop her, Peyeche used the power of the sixxyk to get to the battle as quickly as possible.

"Wait. You are not ready to face Amaru," he pleaded. His plea went unheard.

Inalef went running after her as fast as he could, but he was hardly a match for her speed.

When she reached the palace, she transitioned to armor mode. She pulled her dagger and joined the fight. She began slashing away at anything that came in her direction.

Minutes later, Inalef joined the fight. He pulled his sword and searched for Peyeche. Rimac followed. He knew they were in over their head, and he wanted to pull them out before anything happened to them.

Peyeche found a break in the battle. She used her newest gift to seek out Amaru. She looked around the village until she was able to find him. He was just outside the palace, letting his soldiers do his dirty work.

Knowing the seriousness of the situation, she summoned the power of the mageeac. She pulled her sword and shield and walked toward him. She called out to him.

"Amaru! Amaru! Show yourself!"

He appeared out of the shadows.

"That is King Amaru to you, child." He looked her over from head to toe. "So, you are the Chosen One. I am unimpressed."

"Well then, let me impress you," she retorted.

She swung her sword. He blocked her attack. He raised his sword and brought it down. She countered with her shield.

Back and forth they went, attacking and countering. Peyeche felt it was time for a different strategy. While protecting herself with her shield, she put away her sword and pulled out her dagger. She summoned her speed to run circles around him.

"I am slightly impressed. You have been trained well, but you still have much to learn."

As she ran around him, he stuck out his leg and tripped her. He laughed as he stood over her.

"Now, little girl, time to kill the legend of the Saqui. Only one can reign over all, and that is me."

He was about to stab her through the heart with his sword. Just before the blade penetrated her, she changed the skin on her chest to armor. The sword deflected. Still, it lacerated her left arm.

She armored her right arm and hit him behind his left knee. He crumbled to the ground, screaming in pain. She recovered and rose to her feet. Again, she summoned the power of the mageeac and pulled her sword.

"Now, 'Your Highness', it is time to end your reign of tyranny."

As she was about to bring the blade down upon him, a voice cried out, "Stop!"

She looked to her left. Standing there was Inalef. Also with him was Rumi with a knife to his throat.

"Let him go, or your friend dies," Rumi commanded.

"Do not let him live," Inalef shouted. "Worry not about me. Amaru must be stopped."

She pondered her options. Either she would kill Amaru and lose her friend or she would let him go and her friend would live. Reluctantly, she chose the latter.

"Smart move, child." She was really getting tired of being called 'child'.

Amaru stood, still favoring his left knee. Cunac approached him.

"My Lord, we have found the Quesmi."

"Excellent. One to go." He walked to Rumi. "You have done well. You have made up for your incompetence in Nielol. For that, I shall let you live."

He pulled out his sword and walked behind Inalef. "You, however, are not so lucky." He thrust the blade into his back through his heart.

"No!" Peyeche ran to her friend as Amaru slithered away like the snake that he was.

"You must go after him," Inalef whispered.

"No. I will not leave you."

"There is nothing you can do to save me. Finish the quest. Kill that monster."

Those were the last words Inalef would say. He died in her arms.

"Listen to your friend," a voice told her. She turned to see Rimac. "You were not ready. You must finish your training. Only then will you be able to defeat the dark king."

She could not stop crying. "I do not think I can."

"You must. You are the only hope to stop him."

They decided to wait until morning to bring her before Kijika the tribe elder for her next skill.