An Oath Sworn

         Bellemarr coated his blade with the clear ooze he ordered Delen to save for him. He did this task automatically, without thought, his body simply going through a normal routine he had performed many times before. His mind floated in emptiness. He did not brood about his strategy. He did not contemplate the coming battle. He could barely hear the words of his new bride...

         "Bellemarr!" Miittann shouted. "Are you listening to me?"

         He withdrew his mind from the meditation. His mind brought him back to the solar, their bedroom. He sighed audibly. It was a patient sigh, for he already knew what she wanted. It was most likely the same thing they always argued about. No, not argue, it was far to late for arguments.

         He sat on the cold, stone floor, garbed only in black pants sewn from linen. The only illumination in the room came from the full, blue moon at its zenith, and a few candles stationed at the corners of the room. The night chill which seeped in through the small cracks and chinks of Castle Miittann's walls did not touch him. He was beyond such weaknesses now. He pulled his shoulder length hair from his face and acknowledged Miittann.

         His wife sat on the large elaborate bed they shared. The sheer satin drapes outlining the bed were pulled back. After all this time, he still could not stop himself from being captivated by her beauty. Her full lips, auburn hair and brown eyes framed a perfect heart shaped face. The fact that she was with child did little to stop his longing for her.

         "I asked you a question," she commented with her angelic voice. "What is that slime? It's stinks."

         "Fat," he replied as he put the ebony katana back in its scabbard. The sword was his own design. He forged it with his own hands. He serrated the blade flat for the purpose of making every penetration of his blade fatal. Small notches lined the back notch, allowing the blade to serve as a sword breaker. In the hands of a normal warrior, the blade would be useless, but Bellemarr's swordsmanship was unsurpassed. He knew he possessed the speed and skill to make use of his sword's functionality.

         "Fat?" she queried.

         "Yes. Human fat from your sacrifices. I found a use for it." Bellemarr searched his wife's eyes for some sign of disapproval or disgust.She only stared at him. The unasked question was apparent by the expression on her face. I suppose nothing could disgust a vampyre.

         Bellemarr stood and silently walked on bare feet to his armor stand and removed one of his gauntlets. It was another of his creations. Like all his creations, it was designed for the explicit purpose of dispatching his enemies as quickly as possible. It was made of silk, dyed black and lined with a thin sheet of iron. A pocket in between the metal and cloth held the fire powder made famous by the Libaias Empire.

         Bellemarr put the glove on his left hand, he pulled out his blade and quickly ran the jagged edge along his hand. A small explosion, centered around his fist shook the room. His sword erupted in flames as the fat caught fire. "The impact can kill," he explained. "It doesn't always ignite though, which is why I coat the blade."

         Miittann nodded, acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You're ready," she said simply.

         Bellemarr's brow creased in thought, "Perhaps."

         "Who is this knight that frightens you so, my love?"

         "It is not the knights I fear," he replied softly. His queen extended her arms toward him. He joined her on the bed, placing his head gently against her womb, listening to the sounds of his unborn child's heartbeat. Miittann combed his hair with her soft fingers. She playfully nicked his exposed neck with her enlarged canines, sending shivers down Bellemarr's spine.

         "Then what concerns you, love?"

         "I fear I may have overlooked something. And if so then all we have worked for will be lost."

         "But you have faced her before? This...Marrinae.

         "I have."

         "You defeated her?"

         "Easily, but it was not..."

         "Tell me the story," his wife interjected.

         "You know the..."

         "Tell it to our daughter then."

         "How do you know..."

         "She speaks to me. If you had the skill, you could hear her thoughts as well. Now tell us your story."

         "...I was a mercenary in those days. I was new to this side of the world, and killing for money was the only way I could survive. I was working for a goblin shaman named Zxorz. A thief had stolen a book of prophecy from him. I was ordered to track him down, kill him, and return with the book.

         Apparently, this thief was working for the Church of Ma-R. Something happened, maybe the thief asked for more money. It doesn't matter. Consequently, the church never received the book and they dispatched Marrinae to track him down.

         I found him first. Just as I was about to kill him, she intervened. We fought. I defeated her easily, but there was something different about her, I could feel it..."

         "She is strong in spirit, like me. Something happened to her, something traumatic. Something caused her to look within her own soul for strength. Illis is with her, he may have trained her to harness this power."

         "But you have taken steps to insure she roams my kingdom unchallenged. This potential that you fear is untapped. You are the superior swordsman."

         "You forget, I am hunted by the gods. She is a pagan, love. Anurra or Ba'Al'rishna could lay claim on her and instantly bestow upon her the skill necessary to defeat me. Illis is here, it can only mean that Anurra is with her.

         "And you forget the balance, love. The two gods are like halves of a whole. There are rules which even the divine must follow. Anurra's power is weakest in these lands. Do not fear the Seeker or his god. I will protect you."

         A knock at the door interrupted them. Delen Osmiueie, Miittann's closest advisor, entered without permission. The tale vampyre's metallic, pale skin glistened as the moonlight touched his cheek. He blue eyes regarded the intimate scene with amusement. His thin, blood red lips curled into a sinister smile. He combed a hand lazily through his long white hair. "They are here," he said simply. His voice sounded like a dry whetstone on a dull, rusted blade.

         Bellemarr did not reply. He simply pulled himself from his wife's embrace and walked to his armor stand. His black lacquered armor was simply made from elephant hide, reinforced by small brass plates held together by silk cords. He preferred speed over protection, and his armor felt almost as light as the linen pants he wore underneath.

         "Do you remember our bargain, Lord Bellemarr?" Delen asked with a minor hint of disdain. He bore no love for mortals, Bellemarr especially. They had a troubled history.

         "You may begin the counterattack at your leisure, Delen. Do you remember your end of the arrangement?"

         "Your prey is still unharmed, mortal." Delen stood by the door, looking as if he wanted to say more.

         Bellemarr did not give him the opportunity. "Greet our guests, if you please. They are probably wondering why they have not encountered any opposition yet. I will be waiting for them in the throne room." Delen inclined his head and exited. He was the only being Bellemarr had ever met who could make a gesture of deference look like a command.

         Bellemarr attached his sword to his belt. His Chatt was hooked to his right side. "I'm ready," he said simply. Miittann approached him and they shared an embrace before they entered the throne room.

*          *          *

         The throne room was a long rectangle of simple design. Tall, white columns supported the high ceiling at evened intervals along the sides of the room. The twin thrones were great iron monstrosities which sat upon a three tiered dias. Bellemarr occupied the throne to Miittann's right. As he sat down, his wife lifted her hand. The wooden entrance opened in response. Four men and two women entered. Miittann's lowered hand forced the door to close abruptly behind them.

         He knew only two of them by name. Of course there was the famous Illis Jahanjuy, the Seeker from his home. The enchanter had aged well over the years. He was a tall, dark man with a rather average physique. His black hair showed no sign of graying. It was longer than he remembered from his childhood, almost touching his shoulders.

         "Bellemarr," Marrinae breathed. She looked well. Her light colored hair was cut shorter than he remembered, matching the style of the male knights. Her green eyes held no hint of fear, only readiness.

         "Marrinae," Bellemarr replied in a calm deep voice. He stood up and walked toward the knights, pausing halfway. "Now you have become a Knight of Ma-R. Congratulations." He knew she was a knight from the moment they began their journey, but he needed to stall few more moments in order scout his enemies. He needed to know if the gods would intervene.

         "Thank you," she said simply.

         The knight in front was the eldest among them. He was a hand taller than Bellemarr and had arms as thick as Bellemarr's legs. His jet black hair and beard were groomed to perfection. He gripped a wicked dual bladed battleaxe with the casualness of a seasoned campaigner. His dark eyes never left Bellemarr. He was not a man to be underestimated.

         "I find it fitting that your treacherous emperor rewards those with the same qualities."

         Marrinae was armed with a longsword, possibly the same one she owned during their first encounter. "You stole a goblin ship," she sighed. "Of course we would fire upon you. What did you expect?"

         The knight who stood beside her was armed with a longsword and a tower shield with his family crest painted on it. He was as tall as Illis and as young as Bellemarr. His eyes were constantly searching for more enemies. He did not believe that one man possessed the skill to defeat him. He is the weak link in the chain. Perhaps his youth can give me an advantage. "A lone ship, sailing with no crew?"

         "A lone ship of goblin make," Marrinae replied.

         The knights which held the rear guard looked like twin brothers. One armed with a longbow, the other held two short swords. Bellemarr immediately guessed at the knights plan of attack and silently applauded the soundness of it. Perhaps the young one has the typical weakness of a knight.

         His attentions returned to the fabricated argument. He did not care about their betrayal anymore. Their treachery brought him Miittann in the end. "A ship!" Bellemarr shouted with feigned indignation. "A ship allowed to sail close enough to your shores for your precious despot to see that I walked its deck! I, and I alone, saved your pathetic empire from certain invasion by killing the goblin king and this is how I am repaid?"

         "Enough!" his wife commanded. That woman will be the death of me. He had no time to scout the Seeker's intentions. He had to gamble on the knight's code of chivalry.

         "Miittann," Illis said unemotionally. "The vampyre queen." He stepped closer, leaving the protection of the knights. "With child?" he asked. "How can this be?"

         Bellemarr grinned at his old friend's ignorance. He served a god faithfully and the knowledge of how Anurra received his divine power was kept hidden from him. The fact only hardened Bellemarr's resolve to end humanity's enslavement. "There is power within the human soul," he replied. "I have found it, old friend. I have found the key to freedom. No more will men fear the wrath of an uncaring god. No more will the souls of men be used in a war which means nothing to us. I will free us all Illis, even you."

         "Abomination," he whispered. "You must be stopped!"

         Your faith blinds you, old friend. Bellemarr crossed his arms and found it hard to hide his disgust. Illis was one the most powerful beings on Alast, and yet he refused to see that he was being used, his potential wasted in service to a god who would use him until he died. "I find it odd that Anurra would allow you to ally with pagans, old friend. Are things that bad back home?"

         "Will you get on with it, love?" Miittann asked exasperatedly. "You say this battle must take place. So fight and be done with it."

         Bellemarr sighed. The woman just did not understand. "As you wish, love." His arms remained crossed. He played his hand and hoped that one of the knights would fall for the ruse. "So will the honorable Knights of Ma-R fight me man to man, or will it take all you to bring me down?"

         The old man's eyes narrowed slightly. He knows. "Stick with the plan," he ordered.

         "Man to man," the tall young man answered. He charged Bellemarr, alone, shield leading the charge, sword raised high. Bellemarr smiled at his approach.

         Bellemarr fell within himself, searching his soul for the power the gods craved. In his meditative state, time seemed to slow, his perception grew, expanded.He became one with blade by his side, with the air he breathed, with his enemy. He could see the tiny imperfections in the forging of the charging knight's blade. He could smell the knight's perspiration. He could hear the pause in between his enemy's breaths. All in a mere moment in time, stretched out by the power within his soul.

         Time slowed. Bellemarr could hear the faint creak of the knight's pauldron. He instantly knew that the attack was coming. He waited patiently for the downward strike. He stepped back and dodged the predictable blow. He noticed the disbelief in the knight's eyes. Disbelief became determination. Determination turn into a course of action. A moment in time, stretched out by the power within his soul. He was gone before the knight brought his sword around for a second attack.

         Time slowed. Bellemarr decided to end the altercation. He spun around the knight, completely disregarding his next inept attack. He was behind him, arms still crossed. He heard a shout, a battle-cry, it meant nothing. The right pauldron creaked in protest as the knight raised his blade. Bellemarr was gone before the blade began its descent. All in a mere moment in time.

         Time slowed. Bellemarr saw a flaw, a weakness in the blade. He saw the all to familiar attack to his midsection coming even before the knight's own mind commanded him to perform the typical three-step attack. Bellemarr did not move this time. He became one with the flaw in the blade. He focused all of his energy into his right hand. He became one with the knight's blade when he trapped its tip in his hand. "Do not use the same move twice when you face me, Knight of Ma-R. Marrinae should have told you as much."

         Time slowed. Bellemarr could taste the fear emanating from the rash warrior. Again, the knight looked surprised. Surprise became frustration. Frustration turned into resignation. The young man knew he was beaten. Bellemarr smiled, spun in the air and connected the heel of his boot with the man's face, separating knight from sword. All in a mere moment in time.

         He heard a shout from behind. Two more knights charged him, weapons drawn, the intent to kill branded across their faces. The marksman loaded an arrow and fired.

         Time slowed. Bellemarr fell deeper into himself, further than he had ever been before. He saw the world through the eyes of the gods and almost gasped in wonder, the power of the sensation. He saw all the oceans of Alast, vast expanses of perfect, clear water filled with all manner of life. He saw the trees, and instantly knew the gods had a name for each one. He saw the sea of humanity, an intelligent race desperately trying to discover a purpose behind their existence. All in a mere moment in time. In a mere moment, he had understood the gods. Yes, this power is worth fighting for. He understood the gods, and hated them all the more.

         Time slowed. Bellemarr became one with the axe approaching his left knee, the left blade poised the slice open his right shoulder, the right blade about to pierce his chest, the arrow aimed for his heart. He moved like the wind. His left leg lifted, the axe missed its target. He pivoted in a tight circle, rolling toward the dual weilding knight. The left sword sliced harmlessly in the air, the arrow, infused with his life force from moment he touched it, became one with his left hand, the right sword was parried by the arrow. All in a mere moment in time.

         Time slowed. Bellemarr found the knights' coordination wanting. This is the best you could do Illis? This is the best the Libaias Empire has to offer? He toyed with them, deflecting the younger knight's blades with his newly acquired arrow, countering the older knight's sluggish axe chops with his newly acquired sword. This is pathetic. The third male joined the futile attack, trying in vain to box the faster Bellemarr in.

         "End this foolishness," his wife commanded from behind.

         Very well. He buried the arrow deep into dual wielding knight's neck. At the same moment he sliced open the axe wieder's throat. He turned slightly and faced his first opponent, armed only with a shield. He raised the longsword and struck. At the same time he reached for his Chatt, the mystical quarterstaff was still only a span in length. A deft twist of the wrist engaged the weapon, expanding it to thrice its size. The end of the weapon became one with the knight's throat.

         Bellemarr pulled himself out of the trance. The normal, mundane world of mortals returned to his vision. To Bellemarr, it felt like dieing. Perhaps this is what the gods fear. To return to this realm, this mortal, ordinary realm with the knowledge there is something more just beyond the edge of sight.

         His contemplations were interrupted by a scream. He looked into Marrinae's green eyes and saw the unbridled rage within them. Clever Illis, very clever.He knew this was real battle. He raised the longsword. He fell within himself, searching his soul...

         Bellemarr felt rather than saw the arrow as the fifth knight fired. His concentration slipped for a moment, but he did not require a heightened sense of awareness in order to dodge the attack. He bent over backward, back parallel to the floor. The arrow flew by his chest. He turned his head, following the arrows path. No! The arrow plunged into Marrinae's womb. She fell back and landed hard on the stone steps of the dias.

         Bellemarr screamed and ran to his fallen beloved. His body was by her side in an instant but his mind was elsewhere. He knew what was happening and fought against it. The effort proved futile, the memories came, unbidden and unwanted. Time slowed...

         ...he was the little boy again. He stood in the shelter of Illis' magic. The city was under attack by hideous beats. His mother was outside the walls. He watched his mother be torn to shreds by demons. He was to weak to save her.

         Time slowed...

         ...he was gagged. His arms and legs bound to a log. He was in front of the gates to the city, a city he fought to save. The enemy used him as bait. Either they would open the gates and attempt to save the foreign hero, or they would let him die. It did not take the long to decide. He saw the arrow fly from the battlement. He felt its bite as it pierced his flesh. He was to weak to save himself.

         He fought the meditation, returned to the present. He distantly noticed the tears in his eyes, on his face. He sliced open his wrist with the longsword. He willingly poured his lifeblood into his wife's wound, into her mouth. She did not respond. Her body did not respond. He was to weak to save them. They were gone. His arrogance had killed the only two things he still loved in this world. The gods could not kill him so they broke him instead.

         Time slowed. He closed his eyes. He felt something inside him snap, break. No. I will not let it end like this. There were no oceans or trees or men in this place within him, no peace, no joy, only a white blinding rage. He stood up. He regarded the remaining knights and his former ally. It was not their fault this happened, but their deaths would be a good start. He tossed the pathetic longsword aside and unsheathed his own blade. He calmly walked toward his enemies. "I am going to crush you," he stated softly,"and toss your bones to the wind!" He charged, katana held high above his head.

         Marrinae met his charge, her longsword poised to meet his. Their blades clashed. All of his pain and sorrow and hate went into the blow. The longsword snapped in two.

         Bellemarr grabbed her by the throat and squeezed. "Burn," Bellemarr whispered as he ran the serrated edge of his sword along his hand. he smiled when the flamed erupted. The impact sent the knight flying across the room. Only the wooden door stopped her journey. It shattered on impact, burying Marrinae's corpse under a pile of wood.

         The last knight had ran to his brother during the battle. The dead knight's head lay cradled against the living knight's breastplate. Bellemarr quickly forgot him. His rage focused on the only other man in the room. "Is this what you wanted, old friend? All of this death, and for what? So you could kill my wife? Murder my innocent child?

         "Bellemarr," Illis said softly. "Why do you..."

         "Did you think to break me?" Bellemarr shouted over him.

         "Why do you fight this war?" The normally soft spoken Illis shouted. "You drank from the Well of Life. You witnessed the power of Anurra first hand. Yet you persist in this mad quest as if all meant nothing, as if Anurra didn't exist."

         "I know he's real, Illis! I know this because he has taken," Bellemarr inhaled deeply, "everything from me!" Everyone I have ever loved, my family, my friends, all gone, all dead, and for what?" He stretched out his hands, prompting Illis to look at the carnage. "Where is your precious god now, Seeker? Where is he?"

         Bellemarr had noticed it before Illis, a small shift in the rubble. He took a small step back.

         Illis smiled and replied, "I am sorry for your loss, Bellemarr. I truly am." Another shift in the rubble, a large plank fell from the pile. "You ask me where is my god? I shall tell you. He is here!" Marrinae exploded from the rubble. Her eyes focused on Bellemarr

         Her eyes. Her iris' were gone. She was in between the realm of life and death. This can not be! She raised her gaze to the heavens and screamed. It was something inhuman, the sound of it shook the walls of the castle. Bellemarr glanced to his right and left. The dead knights were moving. Anurra had brought them back from the dead. Bellemarr took another step back. For the first time this night, he felt fear.

         Then he heard a muffled cry. He dropped his sword to the ground in shock. He turned around, the sound became louder. He ran to his fallen wife. She turned to regard him as he approached. Bellemarr gasped. Both? Alive?

         Bellemarr knelt beside her. He opened his mouth to speak but Miittann touched his lips with her fingers. They felt as cold as the stone beneath him.

         "I do not have much time, love," she whispered weakly. "I come with a message." She placed the baby in his hands. "Anurra wants peace with you." Bellemarr was pole-axed. "Yes, love. He has forgiven me. One can always return from the darkness, no matter how long the road. Even one such as me. You must find a way to make peace with him, as he has made peace with me."

         The baby cried. Bellemarr regarded her for the first time. She had his brown eyes and her mother's timeless beauty. But half her face was ruined. It looked as if the skin had been burned off, leaving the red tendons of her right side exposed. This was no defect caused by his wife's wound. The division between the two halves of his daughter's face was perfect, right down the middle. No, not a wound, this reeked of divine intervention. Bellemarr could hear his teeth grinding.

         "I used every ounce of my power to keep our child alive. This is the best I could do." She removed the small diamond brooch from her gown. "Take this. Remember me my love." She turned her head to the side and was no more.

         Bellemarr looked up and noticed that the throne room was empty. The knights had departed, not wishing to continue the battle. "This was all some elaborate scheme," he told his unnamed daughter. "Something to bring me back to the fold of the ignorant." His revelation only added to his mounting anger.

         He looked up at the heavens. "I am not some game piece in your war," he shouted. "I am a man! I will not be turned by your...mercy.

         He glanced down at his daughter. He kissed her twice, once on each side of her face. "I will make them pay for this. They will know no peace. I will destroy everything they love. They will feel my pain, then they will understand. They will beg me to kill them before I am done, I swear it."



This short story is a future excerpt from my novel, "Invalid Item" . If you have time, then please check out the book.
If you enjoyed this story, then please read its mirror as told from Marrinae's perspective in "The Avatar Awakens" .
If you would like to read some of my other work, then check out "A Matter of Life and Death"  13+: Bellemarr has found the key to freedom, but everything has a price.