Chapter 12 One Dead, Two Reborn

Chapter 12
One Dead, Two Reborn

 

    The figure walks closer to the group. He watches as they look to him, shielding there eye’s. The winds pick put making the cloak blow and whip. Still it remains concealing him. The man watches as Cole signals to the figure with a reflection from his armor. No reaction. Cole tries again attempting to get some kind of reaction. Still the figure does nothing. Cole brings up his crossbow, readying it. First shot a warning shot. It soars at the figure missing by only inches. One more reflection and again no reaction from him. Cole fires a second shot at him, this time the speed triples and impacts the target. The figure continues walking, unfazed. Another bolt flies at the figure, then another. Soon a volley of them are soaring at him all hitting target, tearing at the cloak. But no effect, the figure keeps approaching them.

 

“Alessandra, what are we to do? It won’t stop, nothing stops it.”

 

“Cole stop shooting it then, I don’t know what to do. Jorn any ideas?”

 

“I’d rather not interfere.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“I’d rather not tell.”

 

“What? Why?”

 

“Because he can sense the power emitting from it. It matches that of his. But it’s not him.”

 

“Sarwar, what is it?”

 

“I’ve no idea.”

 

“I think I know…”

 

    They turn around to see Ricardo standing there in his noble clothes. The bellowing cape makes him seem angelic. He walks to Alessandra and pulls her in to his arms, squeezing her to him. Her armor returns to the bracer. She starts to cry in his arms, gasping and wailing as he unbuckles his sword from her.

 

“Ricardo, dear lord almighty where have you been. I’ve missed you so much it felt sick without you.”

 

“It’s ok Alessandra I’m here. Don’t worry; I’m right here for you.”

 

“Where have you been my love…?”

 

“By your side.”

 

    He gestures to his sword as he puts it on.  The leather buckles melts in to his belt merging and becoming one sealing its connection to him once again.

 

“Wait? You’ve been in the sword all along?”

 

“Yes I have, that’s why you where able to fight all those men off.”

 

“Why where you in the blade, and didn’t you tell us anything?”

 

“It was not me who wished it… When I jump off that day, it was my armor that did it not me. I was going to die. My gift turned the ground in to blades and wanted to kill me… to free the demon within the armor. In natural reaction I removed my heart from my body and my sword accepted it. My body hit the blades and was immediately engulfed in the flames of the demon. Only this sword lay there, the sword then found its way to you, my love.”

 

“So why did you wait until now to come out?”

 

“Well I didn’t have a choice; the sword demanded blood before it would release me.”

 

“Why blood?”

 

“To create me a body.”

 

“You have a new one…?”

 

“No, there bodies were traded to remake mine.”

 

“I’m so confused.”

 

    Ricardo goes to laugh only to have Cole jump back as a shot of fire impacts the floor where he once stood. He looks to see the figure only several feet away. Jorn sends a return shot at the cloak and manages to engulf it in flames. The cloak burns off to reveal an armored man still walking to them. Alessandra gasps as she notices its Ricardo’s armor. The gauntlet rises and fires a blast of fire to all of them. The flames part as Ricardo’s blade shines in the light. The armor sends another blast that ends the same way. A grin spreads across Ricardo’s face as she starts to run to the armor. Another blast only this time it’s lightning, black lightning. Ricardo ducks and rolls away as it obliterates the ground behind him. Alessandra starts to run at the armor, pulling Cole’s dagger out its sheath as she runs. Another shot this time at her. Ricardo jumps in to her pushing her away and the lightning clashes in to the sword. It grips and rips at the sword working against the magic within it. He swings the blade sending the lightning back. The armor throws us a barrier to stop it. The impact bellows smoke and sand everywhere, by the time the armor can see again Ricardo is falling down slashing at him. He hits cutting in to the shoulder. An empty howl echoes as the helm falls off. There’s nothing, the armor itself is alive. Ricardo kicks making the armor roll back, as he lands.

 

“Run.”

 

    His sword returns home as he turns around and blots; he lifts Alessandra in to his arms and runs off. Sarwar, Cole, and Jorn all look at him then join. All five of them run as the armor tries to return its toppled helm.

 

    Several hours later Ricardo is still runs holding her in his arms. Jorn is a few feet behind with Sarwar and Cole both a barely keeping up. Ricardo falls to his knees and she rolls out of his arms. She gets up as he finishes his fall. His body is covered in sweat, and his legs twitch with pain. She takes him in to her arms and sooths him as he sleeps. Jorn stops and removes his bag, attempting to make some type of camp. Sarwar and Cole both collapse and pant.

 

“How… far… have… we… gone…?”

 

    Sarwar looks back to the castle then up at the mountain that towers above them. The castle is in flames as the ocean engulfs it. Rebels try to escape from the southern gates only to meet the second force. Death is guaranteed for them all.

 

“About a four hours of travel”

 

“That’s it? We ran for about six hours.”

 

“I didn’t finish, four hours of travel… by dragon.”

 

“What…”

 

“It’s probably best no to ask. Let’s wait until he’s rested to hear the rest.”

 

The three of them start to build a camp for the night while she nurses her love. He sleeps in her arms, the sun starts to fall. And for the first time in days, she looks up to see the stars again.

 

 

Chapter 1: Touch of the heart        Chapter 2: Kissed with problems      Chapter 3: Alessandra

Chapter 4: Burdan of my gift       Chapter 5: Hidden truths    Chapter 6: Cole, Cole Dalflorion, to be correct
Chapter 7: Blade's mistress       Chapter 8: Mask of their Hope       Chapter 9: Connection

Chapter 10: Untold pasts, burden of love      Chapter 11: Broken Family