Varheiman Myths: The Dragon And Her Fire

The Two Knights.

Rhineas stood rigid behind the door, struck with fear when he saw a towering gaunt figure in a shiny golden armour staring at Alistair, with his hand around his sword's hilt, ready to draw at a moment's suspicion.

‘I haven’t seen you around Sir.’ The Knight said grimly. ‘Would you please do the courtesy to introduce yourself and the motive you are here on the ship?’

‘I am Sir Alistair of Bustia, the former commander of Queen's regiment.’ Rhineas scoffed in amusement of how unbelievably he updated his lies considering the situation.

‘Are you Sir, Alistair?’ The Knight drew his sword, Rhineas deduced by the sharp sound of metal blade swishing against the scabbard. ‘Sir Aehiest of the City guard stands against you, and I’m afraid I haven’t heard anyone of your name from Queen's regiment.’

‘Good sir, we are the Knights of the same banners, we shall not cross the swords. Why don’t we take this to Sir Sarylet.’ Alistair suggested against a fight.

‘No, I don’t think so, whoever you are, you aren’t supposed to be here sir. I haven’t seen you in the council of Queen’s regiment for this voyage either.’ The Knight  threw his attack on Alistair, he ducked around and drew his sword and hit the Knight with the hilt of his on the bare back of his neck the Knight fell on the ground hit his chin against the wooden floor of the cabin. Rhineas saw the hand of the Knight beside his foot, he stomped on the Knight’s wrist vigorously his grip around the sword loosened. ‘Got the sword, Sir Alistair.’ Rhineas yelped as he picked up the Knight’s sword.

‘Very good my squire.’ Alistair admired he fixed the pointy end of his sword on the Knight’s throat and asked, ‘When were you anointed son?’

‘Autumn of last year, sir.’ His voice broke.

‘Now, remember I was renounced off my title and Knighthood years before you squired, boy.’ Alistair hit him a blow with the back of his hilt sending him to unconscious. ‘Young imbecilic morons are anointed as Knights these day, may God save the Kingdoms.’

‘Nice, blade though.’ Alistair pouted. ‘Let us get you an amour.’

Rhineas squinted down at the fallen Knight. ‘What about his?’

‘Won’t fit you.’

‘I know. What about his pockets? He ought to have few silvers?’ Rhineas pointed.

‘Smart boy, eh.’  Alistair searched the Knight’s pocket and found a little pouch. He  jiggled it, mumbled c*****d sound of coins delighted him and his lips spread wide in smile, his cheeks wrinkled and the laugh lines on his face highlighted.

The stomping above their heads dwindled the brief joy upon their faces.

‘How could you let them pass, you fools.’ A angry voice growled.

‘He said he was a ordered by the her majesty, herself.’ A shuddered voice responded.

‘Quick hide.’ Alistair whispered.

They dragged the Knight back inside his cabin and closed the door. ‘They will go and check the diamonds first.’ Alistair assured. ‘We hear them down in the storage that’s when we move, understand, boy?’

Rhineas nodded. A chunk of fear in his throat choked him, he was perturbed shaken up by the lingering anxiety in the humid air of the wooden walls quaking slightly on the wobbling water surface. He swallowed the hard chunk of fear, they both stayed quiet not making even the slightest sound. The footstep mustered, there must've been a dozen of men outside. In a passing moment the footsteps faded beneath them.

‘Now, let us move.’ Alistair swept across the cabin and Rhineas tailed him.

They strode through the narrow passage ascending the staircase where Alistair peered to check the way and Rhineas paced forth.

‘May I remind you, you are no more a Sir, Alistair.’ A crispy voice grabbed them from behind.

Alistair heeled around. ‘Nice to see people addressing you with my former title Sarylet.’

‘In the name of our King I ask you and your little companion to drop your weapons and surrender.’ Sarylet threatened. He was almost as old as Alistair.

‘You mean your King? Nah, I not bound in the service to your King no more, Sarylet.’ He scoffed.

‘Seize them and bring them to court.’ Sarylet ordered his soldiers in a thick dominant voice.

Alistair sighed and in an instant drew his sword and slashed through the soldiers. Rhineas followed the lead he clutched his sword tenaciously, edgy pang constantly pricking his inner soul. A soldier charged at him with a spear, he dodged and the clanking of weapons shrilled in the narrow passage of the deck. Alistair fought elegantly with an ease evading and flinging, blowing and swinging. While Rhineas struggled with every move jolting and retreating from the spearman, the soldier arched his spear, Rhineas lurched backward and crouched down rapidly, he compassed his feet against the soldier's. The soldier fell on his back grunted in pain Rhineas put the edge of his sword on his face.

‘Yield?’ Rhineas smiled in triumphant, it was the first time he had defeated a royal soldier and he was proud.

Alistair's combatant was swift, as splendid and prowess as himself. Sarylet ditched every of Alistair's counter blows, Alistair hit his sword against Sarylet's shoulders the armour saved him, then Alistair punched him in the face, the blood trickled out of his nose. Sarylet groaned furiously and charged on Alistair blinded by rage swinging fiercely, Alistair swaying swiftly from side to side fending every Sarylet's mad blow with his sword.

While Rhineas stood snickering at the fallen soldier with his sword in his face the soldier shoved his leg up forcefully it hit Rhineas's back and he fell on his face. The soldier pushed himself back to his feet and got his hands around his spear, swinging it in a circular motion over his head and hurling it at Rhineas. Rhineas rolled from side to side to Evading every of the spear's blows crawling away from the soldier.

Alistair twirled around and shoved Sarylet hard on his back, he stumbled with dark droplets of red dripping down on his shiny armour. Sarylet was unsteady like a drunk man blundering, but yet his swinging was unerring. Alistair wriggled his sword around Sarylet's and slipped it from his grasp unarming him. Alistair clasped his arm around Sarylet and said, ‘I am sorry for this sir Sarylet. You deserve a better death.’ He slit Sarylet’s throat open blood gushing out of it and gurgling up his mouth.

Rhineas writhed on the deck of the ship ditching and eluding from the sharp tip of the spear, he crawled back away from the armed soldier and felt a barrel against his back. No space to move Rhineas was submerged in terror he certainly didn’t hope to die this way. He saw the chill in the soldier's eyes and a snicker on his face, at that moment he regretted not putting a sword through this soldier. Rhineas closed his eyes and let the sigh of defeat out. He heard a groan and opened his eyes, he saw a pointy end of a sword sticking out of the soldier's throat, blood spurting out of it, splattered on Rhineas's face he could smell it, he felt it’s warmth on his pale face went cold by the fear. Alistair drew the sword out of the soldier with a squelching sound, while his body fell next to Rhineas flaccidly.

‘The first thing you should learn about sword is, draw it through your enemy the first chance you get.’ Alistair gawked. He lifted Rhineas by his arm.

‘I fought well.’ Rhineas yelled.

‘Aye, you did. But not brave enough to stick it through his throat.’ He peered at the dead soldier. ‘Which almost got you killed.’

The rangers were flowing through the pier sooner as they knew about the incursion, they hid behind the barrels at the side of the deck while the rangers hunted for the two intruders. There were eight men and more were coming.

‘Now, listen boy.’ Alistair grumbled. ‘We are going to jump down in the sea and swim to the end of the pier. You see those horses their we're going to get those and escape.’

Alistair started to pull of the knots that clung the steel on his body divesting the armour, beneath the armour he wore a leather gambeson with strapped baldric diagonally across his one shoulder. He was lean underneath the steel and gaunt, his arms were long and he looked more taller, but his head looked big with the hooded wavy thick hair.

‘I hope you know how to swim.’ He said fastening his scabbard on his baldric. ‘Your sword?’

Rhineas passed him the sword which he fastened with his waist belt worn prior around his waist above the armour to bear the scabbard for his sword, now he slung it over his shoulder with Rhineas's sword.

‘Jump boy.’ Alistair pushed himself up on his feet and dived from the deck. Rhineas felt a spasm of nervousness, he gasped few breaths and jumped. Splashed into the water, it was cold, which stung his muscles making them twitch at some places. He pulled the mighty sea behind him and surged forth cutting the waves.

‘There they are!’ A soldier bellowed from above. The indistinct shouting of voices reverbed on the waters.

They swam ashore and the soldiers followed them Alistair handed Rhineas his sword back he put the belt around his shoulders and strode behind him towards the horse.

‘Hop on.’ Alistair said hastily.

Rhineas hoped and then Alistair behind him.

‘Alright boy, now listen.’ He said. ‘Hold the rein in your fist and pull your little finger out, then put the rein in the pinch between your first finger and thick finger.’

Alistair drew his sword out and kicked the horse, the horse gaited with a jolt.

‘Now, boy to turn right slightly pull back your right hand do the same with the left side. You understand.’ Alistair yelped as he slashed through few riders.

‘Duck!’ he yelled and swung the sword low injuring the soldier's horse. ‘Understand one thing, you need to move quick alright? Keep on kicking the horse with your heel. Now turn left.’

Rhineas pulled his left hand and the horse changed the direction, in a distance was where Alistair has tethered his horse to a plank of wood where little boats were tied. He arched out as we approached close to the horse and cut it free. ‘Remember to ride, boy.’ He yelled and stood up on the horse to skip over his.

When Alistair's horse matched their pace he jumped over to his horse.

Rhineas gazed back, he saw dozens of riders pursuing them, they were out of the port now.

‘Hey, rangers over there pirates attacked the fleet.’ Alistair roared to the soldier outside the port they all clustered around the port and rode towards the riders who were chasing them. The common people fled around the street scattering everywhere breaking a rampage and blocking the riders way.

‘Keep that, royal morons.’ Alistair screamed triumphantly. And they escaped the port, screaming with elation.

The melee of people caused a big riot behind them, Rhineas felt the exultant breeze brushing his red hair gliding behind him in the rhythm of the horse's gait swaying in the tune of  glee. He'd have won the first combat of his life, if he'd stabbed the soldier, but still he considered it to be a victory. He coped Alistair’s horse, and looked at him with an exuberant smile. Alistair saw the crinkle of fire in his scarlet eyes which he was oblivious to. Alistair wouldn’t bother to tell Rhineas who he really is, because he will know for himself when the time comes and that time would be remembered in the history of Varheim, bards would sing ballads to him, the greatness has begun and Alistair was merely a start to Rhineas’s eminence.

‘How does victory taste boy?’ Alistair roared in his husky voice.

‘sweeter than your ale, sir Alistair of Bustia.’ Rhineas replied chirpily.