The Fight At The Inn

By

Addition to the story Sword Of Ages

By Yoseph

(Characters copyrighted to Yoseph)

(Regulas copyrighted to )

Helam glanced around the room. The bartender told him that someone was waiting for him. He didn't recognize anyone inside this inn—or even this part of the kingdom. A cloaked person was looking in his direction. A large sword lay next to beside him.

“Excuse me,” a man said, behind Helam. “Can I buy you something?”

The man looked like he was in his mid-twenties. His hair, however, was a dull white, but not gray. He held a full helmet under his arm; black horse hair flowed down the crown of the helmet. His eyes were a pale blue color that almost made you feel safe.

“Sure,” Helam nodded, moving over for the mysterious man. ”I'm—”

“Helam,” the man interrupted, finishing Helam’s sentence. “I know. I'm Danen, former captain for the Minon. But I left, due to bad leadership from my superiors.”

The bartender brought over two mugs, filled with some kind of drink. Danen grabbed the handle of his mug and gulped it down.

“What about you Helam?” he asked.

Helam sipped his drink, it made him feel warm inside. “What is this?” he asked, looking down at the caramel colored foam.

“Don't worry. It's fine.”

Helam took a swig of the mysterious drink. “Well, I was assigned to retrieve an artifact. I now am returning from my mission.”

Danen looked like he thought about it. “What is this artifact?” he asked, sounding interested.

“The Amulet of Lochmar,' Helam said without a second thought. He finished his drink, and the bartender filled it back up. “Now I can't wait to return home to Malil.”

“Malil?”

“My best friend; she's watching over my sword Authelion.” Helam could not not help himself by answering Danen’s questions. It was like he was in a trance. He took another drink.

“Hmm,” Danen nodded, stood as he dropped several coins on the table. “Well, I must be going, Helam. I have business to attend to.” He turned and when out of the door.

As soon as Danen was gone, the cloaked person came up to Helam. Helam reached for his knife, but the person was too quick. They pulled a curved blade from behind their back, backhanded, while deftly catching his hand that reached for his knife—a technique used by someone Helam knew.

Danen raced across the marketplace towards the stables. As he walked in he drew his sword, parrying as someone swung at him. “It's me, Zanibar,” Danen said, sliding his sword back into the sheath. “The boy is in the inn. Position your men around the building. Kill him if you must, but I want the amulet.”

“It shall be done, Danen.”

Zanibar left the stable with half a dozen men. Danen crossed to Helam's horse. The saddle was still mounted on his back.

“The boy expected another attempt, and was planning to escape,” Danen said to himself as he loosed the harness. “You planned your escape well, Helam.”

Malil took her hood off. “Helam, you're in grave danger. I was attacked by two men this morning. One of them was that man you were just talking to.”

“Danen?” Helam said in surprise. “He told me he used to be a captain for the Minons.”

“We must go quickly. Here is Authelion,” she handed him the long sword she was carrying. “Where is the amulet of Lochmar?”

Just then a fire arrow shot through a window in the inn, setting a table on fire.

“Go!” Malil shouted, pushing Helam out of his seat.

The two of them raced up to his room on the second story.

“Here is the amulet,” he said, reaching into his pack, retrieving a golden framed azure-stoned amulet.

“Hand it to me,” Malil ordered. Helam did so, and she put the chain around her neck. It surprised Helam how much she sounded like she was in command. “As far as they know, you're alone—”

A crash came from below, followed by some shouting.

“We'll meet up at the stony brook, by the old windmill.” She reached behind her cloak, withdrawing a bow, aimed out the window and fired. “Now, go. Ride swiftly, Helam.”

He nodded, gripping Authelion. “By thy side,” he said.

Something pounded on the door. She nodded back, smiled. “By thy side.”

Helam took the rod that Malil handed him, and slid down the rope. He landed on top of the stable roof, and looked behind him, just as Malil disappeared, right before someone looked out the window.

“He's escap—” the man started shouting, just before Malil reappeared, slitting his throat.

“Go Helam!” she shouted.

He leapt down the roof, ran into the stable. He stumbled over something. He looked back, and saw that it was a stable hand. His eyes were wide, his throat opened wider. Blood had flowed onto the straw covered ground. Helam swallowed, turned around, and mounted his horse. He started at a fast gallop out of the stable, past the burning inn; which, by the way, was set on fire.

He hadn't gone far when he started slipping off his horse. He hit the ground—hard. His horse kept going for several yards before stopping. Helam stood, shaking in pain. The bounty hunters were cleverer than he thought. Three men stepped out of the shadows, each one raised a crossbow. A fourth stepped forward. “Give us the amulet, and your death will be quick and painless,” he said.

“And if I don't?”

“Then your friend's won't.” Danen said behind Helam.

Helam spun around, saw Danen holding Malil in an arm lock, a dagger held at her throat. “Give us the amulet of Lochmar, now.” Danen said forcefully. “Five seconds, then she's dead, with you following quickly behind.”

“Don't Helam!” Malil cried, struggling to get free from Danen's strong grip.

“One!” Danen shouted.

Helam looked around, there was no escape. Both he and Malil would die.

Danen put the blade closer to her neck. “Two!”

Helam reached into his pack.

“Three!” Danen’s blade slowly pierced her throat, a drop of blood appeared on his blade.

Helam’s fingers gripped something, as he started to slowly withdraw his hand. Malil stopped struggling; both of them knew she had it.

“Four!” Blood seeped down the blade.

At that moment, several things happened. First, Helam drew two shurikens. He threw one at the man who was closest, the other at another crossbowman. Second, Malil broke free of Danen's grip. She reached down her clothes, holding the amulet. She tossed it to Helam, as she sprinted away.

Helam dove for the amulet, which hit the ground a couple of feet away. The other two crossbowmen fired bolts from their crossbows. One struck his cloak, pinning him effectively to the dirt. The second hit his right arm, right below the elbow.

As Helam cried out in pain, he fell to the ground, as a furry black paw scooped up the amulet. Helam looked up at a Panthera which stood directly on top of him. He was clad in heavy dark muscle armor. “I thank you for the amulet,” the panthera growled. “It saved me the time to search your bloodied body.”

“Good job, Regulas,” Danen said, walking towards them. “Hand me the amulet now.”

Helam cried in horror as the dark panthera reached out to hand the amulet to Danen.

“No!” he shouted, trying to stand as he held his bleeding arm. “Don't give it to him! It'll cause destruction if used inappropriately. Give it back to me, and let me destroy it.”

The panthera held the amulet's chain, glanced at Helam, then back at the amulet; and smiled.

“Regulas,” Danen warned. “Give me the amulet; or you will die.”

Regulas withdrew his paw. “I think not,” he smiled. “I believe the Emperor will be pleased with me.”

Danen widened his eyes as he drew his sword, just as a horse whinnied. Malil came riding out of the fog, towards the threesome. Malil grabbed Helam by the cloak, ripping it as the bolt tore it up. This also gave Regulas the time to escape from the hunters.

“STOP THEM!” Danen shouted at the crossbowmen, who prepared their crossbows.

Helam glanced back at the town they were leaving behind.

“Malil stop!” he shouted. “That panthera has the amulet, we must get it!”

“No, he doesn't.”

“What?! You saw them, he had it!”

“No, I do.” She withdrew the amulet from her belt pouch. “Whatever he has, is a fake stone.”

Helam laughed, as she slipped the amulet back into the pouch. He then flinched in pain when the bolt that was in his right arm was moved.

Malil looked at the bloodied arm and grimaced. “Now, let us find a place to get that bolt out of your arm.”