Fable II: The Quest of Redemption (Book 2)

Chapter 11: Who Said Anything About a Sword

I gasped at the sight of Jennifer's dead body on the ground. I immediately glared at Anthony, as did the others.

"How in the hell did you know?" I yelled.

Anthony stood, brushing the dirt off of his clothes "That bastard Ripper took my gun. He said he was going to shoot one of you and beat me up. I tried to get here, to warn you all, but I guess I was too late."

"Too late?" Giles spoke quietly "You were too late?"

Giles walked towards Imogen, giving her Rupert, and slowly approached Anthony.

"My wife is dead. My poor boy will grow up without a mother. My entire life as I know it is gone. And it's all because you were too late?"

"I'm sorry." Anthony sighed.

"You're apology won't bring Jennifer back." Giles spat and smacked Anthony.

He hit the ground and Giles kicked him in the stomach 5 or 6 times, causing Anthony to cough up more and more blood.

"Giles, stop." I said calmly.

Giles ignored me and continued kicking Anthony.

"I'm not going to warn you again. Stop this now."

By this point, Imogen was inside with Rupert. Walter looked at me in confusion as I glared at Giles.

"I'm sorry, Giles. You left me no choice . . ."

I walked up to him and spun him around. His eyes were filled with a terrible rage. He wanted to beat Anthony until he was nothing more than a pile of bones and blood. He wanted Anthony and all of the other bandits dead, but I wasn't having it. I clenched my fist and punched him. He hit the ground, groaning.

"Lyllianna!" Walter gasped.

"Help me get him up." I demanded and began lifting up Anthony.

After Walter and I carried Anthony to the porch of Giles' small cabin, Imogen stepped out and Giles came towards us.

"You need to leave." Giles sighed.

"Uncle Giles—"

"Now, Walter. I don't want to see any of you again."

"What about Ripper?" Imogen asked.

"I'll find someone else. Now all of you leave, except for her." Giles pointed at Imogen "We need to talk."

Anthony managed to stand up and we walked away from Giles farm. After a few minutes of waiting eagerly for Imogen's return, she reappeared with a crossbow and a mace. After briefly observing Imogen, we began making our way back through Brightwood.

By now, it was day again and we'd stopped by a small pond to clean Anthony up. Word had spread around about the woman and her beloved dog whom I'd observed when I awoke. They'd begun their journey of taking Lucien down, and planned on heading towards Oakfield to do so. Apparently, the Abbot at the Temple of Light has been murdered and the woman hasn't been spotted since. We'd finished up in Brightwood and we're now entering the Bandit Coast. We approached the first armed bandit patrol post and Anthony stopped us.

"Stand back. I think I can get us through." Anthony bit his lip.

He walked up to one of the bandits and began talking to him. A few minutes later, he came back grinning.

"So what's going on, Anthony?"

"Well, we made a deal. In order to pass, they require a fee of 5,000 gold."

"What?" Walter gasped "I only have about 500 on me."

"I have nothing!" Imogen cried.

"I have about 1,000. Is there anything else we can trade?"

"Well, usually, we take something else." Anthony looked at Imogen "They usually accept beautiful women as a safe passage through."

"You can't be serious!" Imogen crossed her arms.

"They aren't taking Imogen. I won't allow it." I added.

"Then there's only one way through." Walter smirked "We have to kill them."

Walter took out his long sword and I grabbed my katana.

"What about me? Ripper took all of my weapons."

"Use this." Imogen handed him her crossbow "I don't know how to use it anyway."

"Let's go." I commanded "Imogen, stay close to me."

Imogen nodded as we stormed towards the gate. Anthony aimed his cross bow at the gate guard and shot him. Walter killed the two guards on our side of the gate and Imogen stood in shock.

"Now what?" Anthony asked "We're trapped on the wrong side of the gate. Also, Imogen seems to be disturbed.

"Sorry! I'm not really use to the concept of . . . death."

"Me either," Water sighed "But I'm getting there."

"You'll learn in time." I assured "But first, allow me to take care of this gate."

"You're sword won't work on that, lass."

"Who said anything about a sword?" I smirked "Back up."

As the others back away from me, I approached the large gate and began concentrating. I began to conjure a ball of magic. As it grew, it went from white to black. Dark marks swirled through my body and the ground began to burn around me. I screamed, releasing the energy and I fell to the ground unconscious.