CHAPTER 8 - HOME AGAIN - Part 2

Using the Daoine Sidhe horses, Cullen and some of his friends rode towards the coast. With him were his three brothers, Deep and the Kingsguard, Anton, Grimm and the Dreamweaver. They were a large group and heavily armed.
The elves and Dwarves would stay behind and meet them later near the castle Holdfast, when Cullen was ready to confront the Bishop. In the meantime, they rode quickly on tireless horses while the Asrai ran alongside swiftly.
Tik and Sonia were riding beside each other, arguing about the coming months. Tik tried to keep his voice calm but he felt strongly that he should fight with Cullen against the Rathians.
“Cullen needs the power of the second sword Sonia,” he said quietly as they rode.
“Cullen has the Asrai, the Daoine Sidhe, the Dwarves, the Kingsguard and soon he’ll have the Selkies and Merrows as well! He doesn’t need anymore help!” Sonia protested.
“He saved us back in the desert and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him fight this battle without me!” Tik countered. “You should stay in Holdfast and take care of the Orphanage, but I’m going to fight!”
Sonia put her head down, realizing that she wasn’t going to convince Tik otherwise. She feared the sword itself was influencing Tik, but she wouldn’t come right out and say that because she feared it would cause a serious rift between them.
So they all rode on, over the sloping hills, past the small villages, crossing the countryside. They rode for a day without problems, camping after dark and rising before the sun, to use as much time as they could.
The Kingsguard were nervous about the Fae horses, strange animals that needed no tethering at night, since they just waited calmly to be ridden the following day. They were tall with thin legs and sleekly muscled bodies and they seemed to have greater intelligence than regular horses.
Besides Tik and Sonia speaking about the coming battle, most of the rest of the group stayed silent, spending their energy riding, trying to go as fast as they could. Nicu wouldn’t wait for them and he could already know they were coming.
On the second day, they went through a small forest and the road became twisted and they slowed to a walk to navigate the trail through. They were riding two abreast and easily when Tris’tan came running back with his brothers.
“I think there’s an ambush up ahead,” he warned. “There are signs of a group waiting, but we didn’t search for them. What do you want to do?”
“We ride on. Any group stupid enough to stop us, I think we can deal with,” Cullen decided.
Tik rode up to the front of the line with Cullen and together they rode on through the forest. As they came to a particularly bent part of the road, Cullen saw two trees fallen in their path.
As they group slowed to a stop a group of Rathians stepped out of the forest and into the road, on the other side of the trees.
“Well, this looks like a wealthy group, coming through our little forest!” one man said, seemingly the leader.
“I’m going to tell you once man, clear the road and make no trouble for people coming through here or there will be consequences,” Cullen responded.
“There may be a lot of you, but I’ve got men with bows in the forest all around you. What can you do but pay us and hope we don’t want more?”
Before Cullen could answer, Tik released his sword and sent an arc of fire and force towards the small group of men. All four of them were cut in half and died almost instantly.
“Tik!” Cullen cried. “You’ve gone too far! We were speaking!”
All around them, men came out of the forest with hands held high in the air, surrendering to Cullen and his group.
“It solved the problem rather quickly, don’t you think?” Tik asked, a slight smile on his face. Cullen watched him carefully and saw a hint of a shadow cross his eyes.
“I would rather not kill men if we can avoid it Tik,” Cullen said sadly. “Next time wait for my command.”
“As you wish,” Tik answered with a small bow. Sonia watched him closely and worried for him. That attack was unlike Tik, who cherished life and wouldn’t take it so easily.
Cullen commanded the Kingsguard to take charge of the Rathians that surrendered and they dug graves for the dead men. Then they cleared the road and continued on, slower now because of prisoners.
It took the rest of the day to reach the coastal town of Land’s End. They rode into the town slowly, seeing the people of the village coming out of the houses and shops to look at them. Some of them smiled but others looked fearful. Cullen wondered at that until he saw the large group of men waiting for them in the village square.
“Stop right there!” a tall bearded man commanded. “Release the Rathians you have there and leave this village!”
“I cannot do that I’m afraid,” Cullen called back. “I’m afraid that I’ll have to detain you as well if you insist that this village is under your rule.”
“And who might you be to tell us what to do?” the man asked.
“I am Cullen, son of High King Remus the First and I have come to take back the Realm!” Cullen spoke in a commanding voice, full of power.
The waiting Rathians looked worried them and began to talk to each other. Cullen looked over at Tik and nodded, motioning for him to wait.
Tik unsheathed his sword and attacked again, a wave of fire and force ripping the man’s head off in seconds.
“Tik! Damn it I said wait!” Cullen shouted angrily.
“I thought you nodded the command,” Tik said with a short smile. “I assumed you wanted him dead.”
“Tik, unless you hear me tell you to kill a man, don’t harm them! I will not tell you again! I will take that sword away from you if you don’t follow my orders!”
Tik stopped smiling and looked angrily back at his friend. Something in him wanted to challenge Cullen right there for command of the group, but a small voice inside him stopped him.
Cullen was his friend, why would he want command? Where did that feeling come from? He looked away, worried now about his own thinking. He saw Sonia staring at him and he tried to smile to ease her fear as well.
“Take the rest of these fools into custody,” Cullen commanded the Kingsguard. Deep immediately took charge of the men.
Cullen commanded another man, a villager that was standing nearby to go tell the local Baron, Loredana that Cullen had come and had need of a boat to visit the island. The man hurried up the hill to the large farm where the Baron lived.
Soon enough Cullen was aboard the man’s vessel and headed toward the island. It was sunset when they arrived in a small dingy that just a few of them rode in. Cullen raised his Horn to his lips and sounded the Call.
The surf rose up with activity and Merrow warriors greeted Cullen and the others with him. They stepped onto the island and made their way to the center to use the spiral staircase that led into the undersea palace.
Seithenin met them in the meeting hall and greeted Cullen and the others, including Idylls. She seemed hesitant but said that Manawyddan was waiting for them and she ushered them into his room that opened up to the sea.
Manawyddan chose a humanoid form to meet with them this time, a man that was colored sea green with long blue hair and bright silver eyes. He was sitting on the wall that surrounded his pool.
“YOU HAVE COME AGAIN CHOSEN ONE,” he said in a voice that sounded like the crashing sea. “YOU HAVE NEED OF MY PEOPLE AGAIN.”
“It’s as you say Sea Lord,” Cullen agreed. “The human Kingdom has lost its leader and I must take up the mantle for my fallen father.”
“WE HEAR YOUR CALL AND WE WILL STAND WITH YOU. BUT YOU MUST RETURN AND TELL US OF YOUR TRAVELS. YOU WENT FAR AND HAVE RETURNED WITH AN INTERESTING WOMAN.”
“Yes, this is Idylls, she is one of the Host but has renounced their ways and seeks to have a new life without the strife of the old one,” Cullen introduced the young woman, who smiled faintly. She was nervous again meeting such a legend.
“I LOOK FORWARD TO KNOWING YOU LITTLE ONE,” the Sea God said warmly. “TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED FROM MY WARRIORS CULLEN AND IT SHALL BE DONE.”

***

The Dreamweaver had suggested Cullen walk into Holdfast as the King he now was. If he went in acting as though it was exactly what he should be doing, it was quite possible they would get in bloodlessly.
The Godsmen who guarded the gate to the city were surprised when the fog off the sea lifted and a mile away from the walls stood an amassed army of hundreds. The Daoine Sidhe in their shining armor, mounted on white horses, along with the hundreds of Dwarves was intimidating to say the least.
Cullen, with the Kingsguard Captains and Deep’s team walked with Grimm and the Dreamweaver. Anton walked beside Cullen so the Godsmen would see them both first and the Asrai, a dozen of them walked beside Cullen in their giant wolf forms.
The Guards at the gate put up their weapons and waited, clearly nervous and shaking. Cullen walked up to the gate until he was standing before the small group of men. He stepped forward from the large group.
“You men know me. I am Cullen, the son of High King Remus the First. I know that the Bishop had you men stand down during the attack. I’m asking you to step aside and let me in. I will speak to the Bishop about the Realm. We would rather not fight.”
The Godsmen looked at each other and then at Anton. Anton nodded to each of them as he was well known in the Church by all the soldiers. Finally they stepped aside and opened the gate doors.
Cullen marched into the city, walking down the King’s Road towards the castle. As the city folk were starting to open their businesses they saw Cullen and the Kingsguard as well as the giant white wolves.
The people began to whisper to each other and some cheered Cullen on. Boys began to run from house to house, announcing Cullen’s return. Cullen didn’t stop or talk to anyone, they just walked up the long road until they reached the castle gates.
They spoke again to the Godsmen there and were again let through. Then they walked to the church and stepped inside. The wolves spread out among the pews and Anton and Cullen walked down the center aisle.
“What is the meaning of this?” the Bishop shouted as he stepped from his small office into the chamber.
“You know exactly what this is Bishop!” Cullen boldly shouted back. “You let my father be murdered and handed the Realm over to thugs! Did you think I would never return?”
Bishop Constantinus looked ashamed almost immediately but he stood his ground. “What’s done is done Cullen! Would you lead the Realm into war to satisfy your ego? There is a new High King now. And a new Church that has been growing in Rath! That is where my loyalties lie!”
“We are not here to argue with you about what will or won’t happen Bishop,” Cullen said with a deep growl. “I’m telling you that you will step down and Anton will take your place. I will allow the church to grow, even in Rath, but never again will you let murder happen in this or any other city!”
“You can’t make decisions for the Church!” the Bishop argued. “You have no authority here! Who are you to say who directs the Church?”
“I am the man with the army outside the walls. I am the man with the Sword here in this building. I am the man that can burn this building down if I choose. You know I have power Bishop. Don’t make me use it.”
The Bishop shook with nervousness and rage. He spluttered and tried to argue but Cullen stood firm. The Godsmen that had come to witness the exchange didn’t move to protect the Bishop.
“You will always have a home in the Church Constantinus, but you will step down today,” Anton finally said in a firm voice. “You have no choice. You let the needs of the Church outweigh the needs of the Realm and you have embarrassed our Order. It ends today.”
The Bishop finally hung his head and came to terms with what was happening before him. Anton ordered the men to gather outside for new orders and they eagerly ran to obey.
Cullen found the last caretakers in the castle and ordered them to find the castle staff and bring them all back. The Kingsguard went into the city to find the men who once worked as Kingsguard to bring them back into service. The city came alive again and the people were cheering Cullen’s return.
They entered the castle and made themselves at home again. Idylls marveled at the size of the building and stayed by Cullen’s side every minute. Sonia went down into the city to go into the Orphanage and she found them waiting for her to lead them again.
For the next week, the Kingsguard grew again as men came forward asking to fight for the Realm again. They made new banners for Cullen’s army, a red background with three black wolves and the Kingsguard had all new tabards made with his symbol.
Anton gathered the Godsmen and they eagerly asked to join the fight, feeling shame at having left the former High King to be killed, they wanted to fight for Holdfast and the Realm once again.
Soon Cullen had many more men in his army and they were ready to march on Dustan. Cullen, flanked by Tik and Grimm, followed by Deep and the other four Captains, rode at the head of the army towards the swamps.
Cullen was filled with pride in the people of Holdfast. They had come together to support him as High King and they were ready to fight for him. He faced the day refreshed and renewed as he rode towards the small Kingdom of Dustan.

***

The castle in Dustan was relatively small compared to the castle in Holdfast or the palace of Vess. It was made of blue river stone and swamp wood that created a square, four towered building that had a beautiful carved wooden gate that opened into the Inner Bailey of the castle grounds.
Cullen’s army stood outside, massed on the wide road that had been built by Cullen’s father to take the city all those years ago. Cullen could see the Rathians that had taken over the building, lined up along the walls that looked out onto the road.
He knew they also had men waiting on the opposite side of the castle, looking for boats that they assumed Cullen would use to try and attack the rear. Cullen had other plans instead.
He gave the command and the Dwarves of the Everwinter Mountains escorted Deep and Stone to the gates, covering them with tall shields to keep the arrows off of them as they hurried to the door’s base.
At the same time, the Merrows, enchanted to walk on land, leapt out of the water onto the docks in the back of the castle. The fighting was fierce, but Merrows were made for war and they are stronger than humans. In a fight, there’s really no contest.
Deep and Stone placed explosive that Fakhri taught them to make at the gate’s base and the Dwarves covered them again as they ran back to wait. The Rathians cheered as they retreated, thinking they had successfully chased them off.
Then the gate exploded in a burst of flame and falling stone. The Dwarves rushed in, followed by mounted Kingsguard and elves, with Asrai warriors running between them.
The Rathians, surrounded by strange creatures from the water on one side, and the entire force of Cullen’s army on the other side, quickly gave up and were captured. The castle had an area for criminals awaiting trial and they were sent there.
Cullen, wearing his new tabard and cloak that showed his sigil of three black wolves on a red field, entered the castle within an hour of storming the gate. A page led him through to wear the King and his family had been kept while the Rathians were in charge of the Kingdom.
King Adrian was standing in front of his family to guard them when the page opened the door. Cullen saw relief flicker across the King’s face when he entered but fear remained obvious.
“We have captured all of the Rathians Sire, you’re safe now,” Cullen announced as he walked into the room.
“You have saved us, but my daughter was taken by Abjorn last night! He ran off with her for the wedding!” the King, distraught, gathered up his wife as she wept.
“Get Tris’tan now!” Cullen demanded of Tik and his friend raced off to find the Asrai. In just a few minutes, Cullen’s brother entered the room.
“The Rathian who led these men took off last night with the good King’s daughter. I want you and some of the others to go after him. Take the Bow with you and find that girl!”
Tris’tan nodded one and was gone, running down the halls to find the twins and another handful of Asrai warriors.
“King Adrian, my brother will find her and bring her back, I promise you,” Cullen swore. “Otherwise the castle is restored to your control.”
“You look like your father Cullen, or should I call you Sire now?” Adrian asked, moving away from his wife and son.
“I prefer to avoid titles if I can. I know my father considered you a friend. I’m hoping we can have a good relationship as well, even if I am to be High King of the Realm.” Cullen chose a chair and sat wearily.
“If you find my daughter and bring her back safe, I will have no hesitation to swear allegiance to you,” the King said in a secure tone.
“My brother can run as fast as a horse and for a longer stretch of time. Trust me King, they will find those men and bring your daughter back alive and well.”
“Your men, or whoever fights with you, must need a rest from marching and fighting. Will you let us have a feast in your name?” the King’s wife asked, her eyes still wet with tears.
“Most of my men will be camped outside the walls, but I would be grateful if you hosted some of my friends tonight,” Cullen said with a smile.
The Queen looked at her husband, who nodded his assent to her, and she disappeared down the hallway to find the servants and prepare a meal.
“Perhaps we can have a drink and you can tell me your plans then, High King Cullen,” Adrian offered.
“That would be fine, but give me cold water, I don’t drink spirits,” Cullen answered with a smile.
The King shook his head and chuckled. “In that, you are unlike your father.”
“No, more like my mother in that way,” Cullen said.
King Adrian walked into a second room and poured himself a strong drink of brandy and got a glass of cool water for Cullen. He walked back to where Cullen sat and offered the glass. Then he took a chair for himself.
“I confess, I don’t know much about you Cullen, except for what the stories are. Is your mother really a Faery?” the King asked once he was settled.
Cullen smiled again and took a drink. He knew that there would be a lot of this in the beginning. Explaining to the men and women who lived in the Realm that yes, those being were real and Cullen could ask them for help.
“Yes, she is of the Daoine Sidhe as a whole and specifically an Asrai Queen. My brother, who you just saw briefly, is of the clan. They are loyal and powerful. Your daughter will be in good hands.”
“And the Faeries do your bidding?” the King asked boldly.
“No,” Cullen chuckled, “But they do follow me in this. And they followed me against the Host during the War. I am called the Chosen One because there are legends about a half blood that would come to lead them. I fit the story.”
King Adrian took another long drink. “I’m not sure I’ll understand all of this, but I’m grateful you came to Dustan to help us. Where are you headed next then?”
Cullen swallowed the rest of his drink. “We will attack Vess and Seawatch at the same time, since they will know we’re coming now. But we have a way into both cities that the Rathians won’t expect.”
“I heard a rather loud sound come from the front gate when the battle started,” the King said hesitantly. “Is there anything left?”
Cullen shook his head, “I’m afraid not. We used explosives to open the gate and the Captain may have used too much. We’re still learning how to use them.”
“Explosives?” King Adrian asked, puzzled by the word.
“We learned how to make them when we were in Durza, the land on the other side of the Everwinter Mountains,” Cullen explained.
“You really crossed the Mountains?” Adrian asked, shocked.
“Yes, and unfortunately that’s why I wasn’t here when my father needed me,” Cullen said sadly.
“Ah, I’m sorry to bring it up son,” Adrian apologized. “Your father was a good man, and I think he was proud of your accomplishments, including crossing the Mountains.”
“Thank you Sire, that means something to me. We did the right thing by helping the people we found there, but I was too late in returning to save my father. But I will save the Realm.”
“Dustan is behind you then High King. Why don’t we go back downstairs and you can introduce me to your men?”
Cullen and the King walked out of the room together, one step closer to having the Realm safely brought back together. Cullen found that he liked this King and he hoped that the others were this forward and supportive.
Entering the Bailey, he looked for Idylls who had been helping the wounded. He hoped that King Adrian could accept the idea of a Faery as his partner. He chuckled to himself. The world would be different with him as High King.

***

Tris’tan and the twins ran on into the night, following tracks of racing horses ahead of them. After a few miles, realizing they would never catch up this way, they stopped, shed their clothes, put everything in their packs and transformed into the massive wolves they felt more comfortable as. And as a small pack they raced off into the night.
Snow began to fall, but they had the scent now and wouldn’t lose their traces even if it was a heavy snowfall. They followed the few tracks they saw, but mostly ran on instinct, guessing that the Rathian would head for Vess to get the other daughter.
They ran through forests and over hill, swam two rivers and continued to run through the night and into the next day. Six of them startled animals and villagers alike as they ran across the countryside looking for their prey.
As they ran, the twins communicated their worry through images and scents, telling their older brother, Tris’tan that they were worried about Tik and Cullen.
It was clear to the Asrai that something was building in Tik and it was likely the sword’s influence. The twins wondered if Cullen saw it too, or if his friendship blinded him to the possibility.
Tris’tan assured them that Cullen was perceptive, even when it came to his closest friend. Things had changed between the three friends, with Sonia changing mates as the Asrai saw it, but Cullen had found Idylls and they were exploring something between them.
Tris’tan believed that Cullen could see what they saw and would deal with Tik when he had to. Tris’tan hoped it wouldn’t come to blows, but if it did, he trusted Cullen to manage the situation.
He reminded his brothers that they had been sent to find a Princess that had been kidnapped. That was their sole task at the moment and they should just worry about that task instead of things they couldn’t affect in any case.
Cullen was strong, and wise Tris’tan said, delivering images of Cullen standing strong over his enemies through the pack sense. Trust in him he told his brothers, and run swiftly now so that we may do his bidding well.

***

Captain Ion had been sent ahead of the army to travel to the different villages and townships that the Knights of Seawatch lorded over. Ion was to find each surviving Knight and bring them to battle outside of the Seawatch castle by dawn in one week.
Cullen pushed a rough march for his army, sending the Dwarves into Vess’s Everwinter Mountains to use their tunnels to attack through Vess’s mines, while half the Kingsguard and the elves attacked the front gate.
Cullen sent Grim and the Dreamweaver to Vess to handle that attack, with half of Deep’s elite team and Captain Oana who had been stationed there.
Cullen, took the other half of the team and Tik with the second half of the army to meet Ion and the Knights at Seawatch. They managed to get there by dawn on the seventh day.
Cullen, backed by a couple hundred elves, the remaining Asrai and some two hundred Kingsguard, rode up to the massed Knights that waited on the field before the castle on the cliffs.
Ion rode away from the Knights and met Cullen part way, to explain who each Knight was. Cullen saw eight men assembled with many more armored men behind them, gathered in straight lines of individual armies.
Ion introduced the Knights one at a time as Cullen rode across the front of the assembly. Afastr the Bull in red armor with horns jutting from his chest stood to the far right with a hundred more men all flying his banner.
Olvir Strong Bear in dark gray armor was next, as tout man with a long mustache. Beside him was Balkr the Seawolf with two fighting wolves on his chestpiece that Cullen marveled over. Balkr nodded when he saw Cullen’s banner with three black wolves.
Bjorn the Stag, also with horns jutting off his helmet waited with his hand and a half sword sticking up over his shoulder. Eyarr the Destroyer sat on his massive horse with flames painted armor and holding a giant hammer that looked too heavy to lift.
The last Knights were Gedda, the Lion of the Cliff in golden armor and golden hair, shining and smiling in the dawn light. Next to him were the two greatest Knights in the Realm, the terrible and dangerous Jokull the Nightlands in black armor and Dagr Starlight in black armor with stars painted across his chest and arms.
Cullen stopped before the three men, having nodded to all the others. He made eyes contact with each of them and saw that with these men he would have to be relentless and bold to prove that he was worthy of the High King’s position.
“I am glad to see your men gathered on the field,” Cullen started, “It’s a mighty host you have assembled.”
The Nightlands didn’t speak or take off his helm, he just stared at Cullen with dead eyes. Starlight seemed to be thinking about what to say when Gedda spoke up.
“You are the High King? You’re little more than a boy still! You’re going to lead us in?” The golden man almost sneered as he asked.
Cullen took a deep breath before he spoke. “I am Cullen, the son of High King Remus the First. There is no doubt of whom I am or my intentions. I have asked you to gather your men to take back the castle of King Cosmin.”
“But I will not lead you into the gate,” he continued. “We have a different plan. I ask you to wait here until the gates are opened. Then you can charge in and help us fight the Rathians who have taken your Kingdom.”
Gedda laughed at the idea, but Starlight looked interested. “You say you’ll open the gates? How will you accomplish this?” Starlight asked in a deep voice.
“Just wait and see. And come when the gate opens, that’s when we’ll need you. Ion, let’s go!” Cullen commanded.
The Knights looked perplexed or watched him in disbelief as Cullen and his army marched away from the field and away from the castle. Cullen led his smaller army out of sight and then brought them to the nearby cliffs.
“Show us the way Captain,” Cullen said. Ion showed them where to picket their horses and then led them down the cliff face on a small path that was hidden from view until one was right on top of it.
Ion brought then to the beach below and Cullen watched Idylls look in wonder at the sea up close. She smiled in the cold mist that seemed to hover over the edge of shore as the waves came crashing in.
Tik grinned, eager to get to fighting and walking quickly to be one of the first inside. He stayed behind Cullen but he was almost shaking with excitement. He didn’t take the time to look at the ocean, he just watched Ion for where he led them, fixated on getting inside to fight.
Ion led the force down the beach until he reached a small cave. Inside the cave he pressed a particular stone that he kept hidden from even Cullen. The stone opened a door on a clever counterweight and Ion looked in the passage to see if anyone else had come through.
Ion found only his last footprints in the dust and he knew that his escape hadn’t been detected. Their path inside the castle was clear. Ion led them inside the dark passage and Cullen had Feather light a torch. The elves carried their own lights, a special stick that glowed and all of them marched inside.
“Tik, I want you to open the gate for the Knights,” Cullen said softly as they crept inside. “That’s your task.” Tik grumbled his assent and continued through the tunnel behind Cullen and Idylls.
Ion brought them out into the dungeon and they paraded past the empty cells in the dark bowels of the castle. Ion led them to the stairs that would bring them up and into the courtyard where they would have to fight to get the gate opened.
They walked up slowly and gathered by the exit, quickly taking a glance outside. The Rathians were gathered on the walls, watching the Knights, but many of them were still in the courtyard and within the castle.
Cullen gave the signal and they rushed outside to attack. They swarmed out silently and they were already killing men when the Rathians realized they were under attack. Cullen stayed near the wall and took on the enemy one by one, not using his vast power to fight simple soldiers.
Idylls stayed in the entrance to the dungeons, waiting for the end of the fighting. She still had a small globe but the magic was of a dark sort and Cullen preferred she didn’t use it. She also wouldn’t leave his side, so he brought into battle.
Tik ran out of the entrance and attacked the first man he saw. He looked beyond the fighting men and saw that the gate was operated by a series of winches that would take a handful of men to operate successfully.
He laughed at the idea and ran ahead to get closer. He killed men left and right, laughing the whole while. He reached the far side of the courtyard when an arrow from above flashed before him.
He lifted his sword and slashed it through the air towards the wall. An arc of fire and force leapt ahead and swept away the men on the wall. Their screams were loud and terrible as they burning or were cut in half.
Tik gathered his energy, building his spiritual pressure as he had seen Cullen do. He blocked out the sounds of battle around him and he didn’t hear Cullen shouting his name.
Then he looked at the gate, huge doors made of metal and wood. He unleashed his power on them, with a huge blast of fire and force he shattered the doors into splinters of material that flew out to the field beyond.
Tik was laughing maniacally as he turned his sword on the remaining Rathians. The Knights came riding in, attacking men to either side and Tik just kept swinging, knocking knights off their horses in his zeal to kill the enemy.
He was still swinging and laughing when something knocked him down and he rolled away across the field to hit the side of a building. He shook his head to clear it and looked up to find Cullen walking purposefully towards him.
He understood then that it had been Cullen that knocked him down. In front of all their allies, Cullen had disciplined him! He was jealous of Tik’s power and control and now he was coming to scold him! Well, he thought, I will have none of that!
Tik scrambled to his feet, gave Cullen a look and slashed his sword at his friend. Cullen shouted, “No!” and lifted his Shield to block the fire and force that came screaming out at him.
“Tik! Stop! You must put down the sword!” Cullen cried over his gleaming Shield. The fighting all around them had stopped and all eyes were on the two men as they faced each other across the courtyard.
“You are jealous of my power! You don’t want anyone else to have what you have! This Kingdom isn’t enough, you need two swords!” Tik screamed and attacked again.
The blast of force and fire lifted Cullen off his feet and threw him back. He rolled and caught himself as he saw the Kingsguard coming to his side.
“Stay back!” he shouted at them. “Tik! The sword is changing you! It’s dangerous! Please trust me! I’m your friend. Just put down the sword!”
Cullen moved forward again, looking at his friend whose eyes were totally black now and his hands were coal colored too. He looked insane with anger as she shouted back.
“You’re jealous of anyone with power! You’re jealous that I got Sonia! You want what I have!”
Cullen stopped yelling and he stared at his friend. That last bit hit him hard, and his chest felt tight. Anger grew in him, blooming within his soul and he tried to tap it down and not fall into it.
“Stop now Tik! Don’t say anymore! Put down the sword!” Cullen tried again.
“You were left as a baby and my family took you in! But that’s not enough for you, you have to be special! The Chosen One they say! High King now! Big man you turned out to be, but she left you and came to me, so what does that tell you?”
Tik’s face was contorted by the pressures from the sword. He was screaming hatful words with as much force as he could muster and the armies around him were stunned by his behavior. The Kingsguard watched as Cullen’s head dropped.
Cullen gathered his spiritual energy and he tried to put away the angry feeling that were coming because of Tik’s shouting. He tried to see his friend inside this creature that was before him screaming.
He slashed with his Sword and Tik cut with his and the force and energy from the two swords knocked the surrounding men to the floor. Tik continued to scream and shout, becoming worse as the minutes passed.
Cullen closed his eyes and gathered the energy one last time. He said a prayer to himself and whispered, “I don’t do this because I’m angry. I do it because I must. I have to save my friend.”
Tik fired another blast at Cullen and Cullen shifted out of the way and slashed his Sword one more time. The force from his weapon was small and cut right through Tik’s attack.
Like a surgical blade the force whipped through the air and severed Tik’s hand from his arm, knocking the sword out of his reach. Cullen was already running at Tik when he screamed in pain and fell to the ground clutching his arm.
Cullen shouted for help and Ion shoved his sword into the flames of a burning brazier. Cullen grabbed his friend and wrapped the arm up with torn fabric from his cloak and he held his friend down while Ion brought the white hot sword to him.
They cauterized the wound and Tik screamed again and passed out. Cullen had tears running down his face as he held his friend tightly and wept. The fighting had stopped and the Knights gathered the surviving Rathians in a group.
The Kingsguard started working to gather the men and settle things while Cullen knelt in the blood and the grass, holding his friend silently.