The Swords

Chapter 2

After crossing the street, I stopped to look around. The sidewalk was clear of any pedestrian now, the person I’ve seen earlier being nowhere in sight. He wasn’t far though, he just liked to play games. I kept walking down the sidewalk, until, suddenly, a shadow moved in the corner of my right eye. It was at the far end of a side alley which was opening in that direction. Just as my head turned it disappeared after a block of flats. Grinning, I started following it doing so for several minutes, taking dozens of turns until I was finally lost in the labyrinth of blocks.

“Enough with that, Merizar. Show your face!”

No response even after several minutes of silence. I clenched my fist until I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I stretched my right palm, and my watch dematerialized, taking the shape of a blue sword, having the shape of a katana, but its blade being way slimer. I cut circles in the air with it, being balanced exactly for my needs.

“I said: Show your face!” I thundered, realising a wave of energy which stopped the time in the area for all mortals. It also allowed me to sense any being not affected by it, which allowed me to turn around in time and parry the incoming blow. “Finally!”

Merizar grinned.

“People talk a big game about you, Inquisitor. Why don’t you show me what you’ve got?” a sword just like mine resting in his hand.

“Gladly!”

Charging at him, I took into account all the possible responses he could have to my move. Establishing which one was the most probable was a piece of cake, or at least I thought so. He deflected my blow, making a step to the right and then trying to take advantage of my apparently opened position. Expecting him to do that, I’ve turned around, prepared to end the fight fast, but instead of attacking, he took a step back, making all my calculations fall apart, a big grin on his face. Before being able to regain proper balance, Merizar made his move on me. I’ve managed to parry the first blow, only to end up in an even tighter spot. All I could do was defend myself, while breathing was getting harder and harder. He kept attacking me blow after blow, until something stirred inside me. It was like my body decided that it wouldn’t take this anymore. A quick air spell was all that was needed to blow him away and put some distance between us, on which I followed with several sword blows. My attacks were relentless, and if not for his fighting skill, I think Merizar would have been in serious death peril. Blinded by all the feelings inside me, with every single blow I was taking, it was like I was unleashing all my emotions, consuming them, getting them out of my system until there was nothing left. When that happened, I took a step back and lower my sword, breathing heavily. Merizar saw it as a moment of weakness, so he attacked, without giving me any time to rest. However, I easily parried his move and then with a semi pirouette I got behind him. A well-placed kick was all it took for him to lose balance and allow me to place my sword next to his neck, sign of the battle being over.

“So, was I as worthy as you expected, General?” A few seconds of silence followed my words and then Merizar burst into laughter. He inhaled while still laughing and then said:

“I guess you deserve some credit, Elijah. Let’s take a sit.” he pointed towards a nearby wooden bench. My sword turned back into a watch, while I directed a piercing look towards him. His weapon took the form of a golden ring, being already back on his finger. All of them could do that since they were enchanted to come back to their owner.

“Why don’t you tell me what the Swords want with me? Our agreement clearly states that I have two more weeks to spend with my friends and dedicate to studying.”

“I am not here on their…”

“Behalf?” I cut him short. “Everything you do is on their behalf. As the second most important person in that organisation that is one thing I am sure of.”

He smiled, looking like he was enjoying himself while I was so eager to get this over with.

“I would say you are way too impulsive to be where you are, but that would deny all your accomplishments for the organisation. Fighting you was enjoyable, even though it was just for you to calm down so we can talk.”

“What…”

“Enough games, though.” He cut in, without allowing me to let out my emotions, so a deep breath had to suffice. “As I was saying earlier, I am not here on their behalf. I know you’ve wanted some time away and I am not one to not honour agreements, but I would rather have you consider this as a recommendation. Feel…”

“Merizar get to the goddamn point please. Not in the mood for stories today.”

He narrowed his eyes, him being the one with a severe piercing look this time.

“Alright, Inquisitor. It looks like one has to speak your language in order for you to cooperate. Let’s make a deal. If I can grab your attention with the following sentence you allow me to talk as much as I want.”

I grinned. He knew me well enough to know how hard it is to make an impression on me. He was also bad with words, which meant he gave me the perfect opportunity to weasel my way out of this.

“Very well. You have one sentence.” I was slightly nodding in satisfaction, anticipating all the ways he could react after getting told that his information is not needed.

“I believe that one of your friends will be dead by the end of the day, unless you do something about it.”

I blinked repeatedly a couple of seconds; my right hand started trembling from all the emotions conflicting me after hearing that. Opening my mouth, I realized I had nothing to say, so I closed it back. This gave the General the opportunity to adopt the same look I had a few seconds ago, as well as making him understand his deal was in place. After the momentarily shock was over, I’ve managed to say, still stuttering:

“What do you mean?”

“All I know is that an assassin is right now in your school, his orders being to make any one of your close friends disappear by the end of the day.”

“How…?” I felt a vein pulsing in my hand.

“Not important how I know, the important thing is that you have to figure out who it is and who he will be targeting.”

My wheels started turning, my brain making all possible connections it could, using everything I knew.

“Do the Swords know about this? A swordsman mercenary targeting innocents is within our jurisdiction.”

“No, they don’t. This information came from one of my direct sources just a couple of minutes ago. Being in the area, I thought it would be fit to inform you.” I calmed down, my breath getting back to normal. After a few seconds I’ve said:

“Well, then we are going to inform the Swords about this. With their help we can save my friends and keep this quiet.”

The general looked at like if he had some dire news to share with me.

“What is it, Merizar?” a feeling of emptiness took over my stomach.

“With all due respect, High Inquisitor, but I don’t think you can count on the order for this.”

“And why not? The Patriarch would definitely agree to help me.”

“I have no doubt that he would, but you know better than me that the Swords can’t move that fast. It would take you a couple of hours just to reach them.”

“I can simply contact them and request backup.”

“Normally, you could. But I believe the part of their agreement which states that you don’t want any responsibility during this time, applies both ways.”

“I am sure that if I explain the situation, the Patriarch will authorize it.”

“You would have to see him in person for that and you can’t afford it.” He paused, looking at me, looking for my reaction, which never came, so he continued “I am afraid that you will have to do this on your own, High Inquisitor. Sadly, this is all I can do for you. I cannot get into a fight on behalf of the Swords without authorization.”

“Why did you bring this to me then?” it might have gotten out a bit harsher than intended. Merizar didn’t seem to mind, though. “You knew this will involve a fight, you knew it would get messy, you knew the Swords couldn’t get here in time, you knew I had to fight this alone and yet, you still brought it to me. Why?”

He simply smiled, giving me conflicting feelings.

“I guess you were right, after all.”

“Hm? About what?”

“I might be here on behalf of the Swords after all.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

He smiled again.

“Let’s just say I wanted to show you that loyalty and dedication goes both ways, High Inquisitor.”

This time I was the one who smiled. The general and I don’t have a history full of friendship, but it might be possible that I have misjudged him all this time.

“One more thing, Merizar.”

“What is it?”

“How many of them?”

“No idea, I just know that the threat exists.”

Silence followed, since I’ve started to think about ways to get out of this and how to be sure which of my friends was in danger.

“Any ideas?” Merizar asked me, after he stood there in silence for several minutes.

“Some. But no matter which one I think of, there is going to be a mess. There is one thing I am definitely sure of.”

“And what is that?” he asked, his eyes gleaming.

“This will be Gandar all over again.”

He looked at me and smiled while nodding slightly.

“May I ask you something, Inquisitor?” he said as I was standing up.

“I guess you’ve earned it. Go ahead.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Huh?”

“Gandar, I mean. Why?”

“I think you know why, general.”

“If I did, I wouldn’t have asked.” He said sincerely.

“Because it was my duty.”

He looked at me, not believing it.

“Not even the Patriarch would do something like that, though.”

I shrugged.

“Then call me crazy.”

Probably it was the way I’ve said it that finally made Merizar realize that he delivered the answer to his question before even asking it.

“You are a very interesting person...” he muttered louder than he intended, so I went along, pretending to not have heard anything.

“Thank you, general. I will not forget this. And give Rose my regards, sadly, this Gandar will be without her.”

“Don’t forget the first rule of the Swords, Inquisitor. I believe you will be tempted to break it.”

Being already a few steps away from him, I simply waved him goodbye over the shoulder, knowing that what he’d just said was self-evident. This only made me wonder why he would remind me of it, but that was a problem for another time. First of all, I had to figure out how to save my friends and thank Zara for gathering all of them in the same place.