Her voice cried out, "Meet my champion, Jason, for on a field of battle he will slay you and all others in my way!" Jason's eyes were drawn from the spectre of his brother Brian, dressed as a warrior bathed in fire, up to the dragon who had spawned him. The chain he had severed, was around the dragon's neck. His mother's voice crackled with laughter, "I am not without a heart for my own son Jason, I have receded the flood. Call an army to you, for in a month and a day we shall fight!"
Jason felt sick and dizzy as he was propelled back to his father's castle. There sitting on the throne was Edward, his advisors berating him. Guards surrounded him, swords drawn, "Edward!" he called out. Edward looked up and motioned the guards away, rushing over he asked, "Jason where were you, you disappeared from here two weeks ago. I supposed she had killed you too. Brian is missing, the guards say the shackles were still locked and were left hanging there empty."
Jason was angry for the two weeks his mother stole from him. He was now left with only two weeks and a day, maybe two. How would he be able to get everything prepared in time? He was about to tell Edward all, when someone rushed in. The servant ran up to Edward and whispered in his ear. "Not there either!" Edward roared. "How will I be able to rule without the medallion to show them that I am the one father wanted for his heir?"
Fingering the cold metallic lump under his tunic, Jason realized with cold dread what it was. He almost took it out and gave it to Edward, but thought better of it. He wanted to see how Edward was going to react to the situation. Jason continued telling Edward all about the upcoming battle with Brian and the dragon.
"I don't see what this has to do with me!" Edward said. "It is you that the dragon wants and as far as I am concerned she can have you. I have no wish for threats, to my inheriting the throne." Jason couldn't believe his own brother was disowning him, "But don't you understand, she means to have this kingdom. When she is done with me, do you think she will leave you in peace? Only together, do we have any chance of defeating her and Brian!"
Edward thought a moment and then said, "Very well, you may have whatever of my men will follow you. Perhaps, if you can defeat this menace, I may allow you to serve me in some capacity." Privately, Edward thought that it was very unlikely that Jason would survive. "Perhaps fortune will smile greatly on me and Brian and Jason will kill each other." He thought coldly. "I imagine I can make some kind of deal with Lady Marta in any eventuality. After all, she said she loved me best."
Jason strode out of the throne room, angry at Edward and concerned about the situation. "I guess this is all up to me." He thought, "At least, I didn't give the pompous fool the medallion." As Jason walked down the stairs, a cloaked figure approached him. Jason stopped and put his hand to the hilt of his sword. "You'll have no need of that, young master." The shadowy figure said. "I am a friend and perhaps I may be able to help."
"Who are you?" Jason asked cautiously. The figure answered, "I am Thebos, keeper of the King's armoury. I have been watching you, these long months, and I think, perhaps, you could use a friend." "I could, indeed!" Jason replied, "but I don't see how you can help me. You look as if you were quite a warrior in your day. But, you will forgive me, if I say, you do look a bit past your prime." The man laughed heartily. "A bit long in the tooth, eh!" He chuckled. "No master, my days of fighting are passed. Now, I just equip those who would do battle and, in that, I think you could use some help."
The man beckoned for Jason to follow and led him down a long dark stairway. At the bottom were many passages that wound and twisted, crossed and re-crossed, in a bewildering maze. "No one knows all of these passages but me. Only Thebos knows the secrets of the keep." Said the old man. "Even good King Harold knew only a portion." They soon came to a broad wooden door of sturdy oak planks. Thebos retrieved a large curious key from his robes and unlocked the heavy door. Jason stepped inside just behind him.
Upon the walls, on the floor, hung from the ceiling, were rows and rows of armour and weapons. Silver and gold, iron and steel glimmered in the half light as the torches reflected from helms and hauberks, swords and mail. Jason was astonished, "There's enough armour and arms here for a great host of men!" "Indeed, young man, Indeed!" replied Thebos. "But I have brought you here to equip you, young man, because you have no host. How many men, do you think, will you be able to take against Brian?" "I'm not sure," replied Jason, dejectedly, "maybe two thousand, maybe less. Not many will follow me without the King's orders." "You mean without Edward's orders!" Thebos snorted, "He's a snivelling coward and has no business on the throne."
"You will have need of a powerful weapon if you are to have any chance against Lady Marta." Thebos mused, "I think I know just the thing." Thebos wandered through the rows of shields and crossbows, stacked like sentinels, ready to be called to battle. He paused in front of a large wooden chest. "Here master. This is the chest." Thebos said. "You want me to look inside?" Jason asked curiously. "No," Thebos chuckled, "I want you to move it. It's too damned heavy for these old bones." Jason smiled grimly at the old man's humor and heaved the chest aside. There, in the stone floor, was an iron ring attached to a trap door. Thebos pulled on the ring and lifted the door. He reached down into the darkness and pulled out a long bundle, wrapped in oily rags, and handed it to Jason.
Jason carefully unwrapped the bundle. The old rags dropped to the floor as Jason drew forth a broadsword. But, what a sword it was! The hilt was covered in gold and silver, the grips wrapped with black shark skin and upon the pommel was a large blue stone. The scabbard was emblazoned with ancient runes of silver wire inlay. The blade itself was jet black in colour and had runes, similar in design as those on the scabbard, etched on its surface. "It's magnificent!" Jason gasped. "But how will this pretty trinket help me against Brian and my mother?" "This is no ordinary sword," Thebos explained. "It was made by Lady Marta's grandfather. A sorcerer whose power is not seen in this world today. Her magic is but simple parlour trickery compared with the power he wielded. But, in the end, even his magic could not conquer death."
"Well what good is this evil thing to me?" Jason asked, as he somewhat apprehensively held the weapon. "Who said it was evil?" shoots back Thebos. "Just because Lady Marta is evil has nothing to do with her grandfather. He was a mighty king and sorcerer, strong and truehearted. This was his sword and can only be wielded by one pure of heart. It captures the wielder's emotions and turns them into great power. Marta wants this kingdom so badly because she wants this sword. She fears it and she desires it. It could destroy her, or make her invincible."
"Well what good is it to Marta, if it has to be used by one pure of heart?" asked Jason. "Well, " Thebos answered, "One's heart may be purely good, or purely evil. Hers is purely evil." "But how can I wield it then, Thebos?" Jason shot back. Thebos looked kindly at Jason. "I saw you turn from your own mother when you saw her intentions were evil. I saw you support your father even though he had spurned you and denied you your birthright. Finally, I saw you keep your tongue and that medallion even though Edward is a pompous, self-effacing idiot! I saw your great-grandfather come alive again in you. I knew it was you who was destined to hold the medallion and the sword." Thebos fell to his knees at Jason's feet. "You are the true king, Master Jason, and I hold you as my liege lord whether you do or not. If by life or death I can serve you, I will." Jason quickly pulled Thebos to his feet. "Enough, if I am to survive this battle, I must get prepared. Kingship means nothing if I die at Brian's hand. You have served me well, Thebos and I shall not forget." Thebos led Jason from the passages back up to the courtyard.
The days passed quickly. Men rallied to Jason, but not in great numbers. Only a scant two thousand of the bravest warriors stood now, with Jason, upon the hillside. Across the small valley, littered with countless bones, Jason could see Lady Marta in her dragon form and her champion. Brian was wreathed in flames and sat astride a jet black stallion whose eyes burned like coals. Brian raised his sword in challenge and the stallion screamed in response. At Jason's command, his men marched forward into battle down the slope into the valley. They reached the bottom, unopposed, and started up the other side. At that moment, Marta spoke words of command in some forgotten tongue and the bones that lay on the valley floor began to move. They knitted back together into a horde of skeleton warriors who sprang upon Jason's startled troops. Jason's men fell back, horrified at their undead foes. Jason pushed to the front to rally his men on. As he did so, the stone in his sword began to glow and the blade changed colour from black to an iridescent blue. His men were given his courage and surged forward to support him. The skeleton warriors were too strong, though, and Jason's troops were soon floundering. Brian sneered and laughed at Jason as he tried to climb the slope. Anger at Brian, at Marta, at his own futility arose in Jason's thoughts. His sword glowed red with the change in his emotion and Jason's troops were strengthened and rallied to overcome their spectral foes.
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Brian spurred his steed and charged toward Jason. Jason dropped to his knees and swung his sword at the last possible moment. Brian's sword whirred harmlessly through the air over Jason's head as his own sword cut down Brian's stallion. Brian crashed into the ground as his mount fell, but jumped up again in a rage. He charged at Jason and slashed with his sword. Jason parried quickly and returned a stroke. For several minutes their duel continued, each slashing at the other, the other parrying and returning a blow. Then, Jason saw the opening he was looking for. After a particularly vicious thrust by Brian, Jason stabbed straight for Brian's eyes. Brian reacted as Jason had hoped. He threw his head back to avoid the point of Jason's sword. With a quick flick of his wrist, Jason brought his sword point around and down in a quick circle. The razor sharp point of his sword slashed across Brian's exposed throat. Eyes wide with horror, Brian fell back as crimson blood poured over his armour. He crashed to the ground. His sword fell from his hand as he faded silently into oblivion.
Marta was well aware of the fate of her champion and sought to avenge his falling before Jason could react. A slender black dagger with dragon head on the pommel flew through the air toward Jason's back. Jason turned and it would have struck him square in the chest had a soldier not thrown himself in front of it to protect Jason. As the soldier fell mortally wounded, Jason looked down into the face of his rescuer. Thebos lay at his feet. "I am sorry to have failed you master, but I could not let her kill the true king." Thebos gasped. Jason caressed Thebos's grey hair and said sadly, "You have not failed me, brave Thebos, and neither shall I fail you."
Jason rose. The full impact of all the deceit, evil and murder that lady Marta had perpetrated finally struck home. Jason felt a consuming wrath rise up in him that he did not wish to hold back. He strode down the slope toward the dark figure of the dragon. His sword blazed white-hot in response to his anger. Even his own troops fell back from him. His eyes glittered like live coals and he seemed to be wreathed in white fire. Marta snarled at his approach and spat fire. The flames licked the ground and consumed both men and animals all around Jason. Jason walked through the fire unscathed with an imposing and resolute determination. She slashed at him with her huge claw intending to cut him to ribbons, but his sword answered and in a blinding flash her hand lay severed and writhing on the ground. Marta jumped back in pain and surprise, narrowly missing being cut in two by Jason's sword as it cut back across. Instead, it left a deep gash across her midsection and her black blood oozed forth. This was too much. Never before had she known wound or defeat, but she knew she must flee now or die. With a shriek of pain and pure hatred, the dragon leapt to the sky and flew toward the distant mountains.
Jason was carried back to the castle by his troops. He insisted that the body of Thebos be carried back with honour as well. Upon their return, the body of Edward was discovered in his bed chamber. He was lying naked on his face with a black, dragon-hilted dagger stuck into his back. The advisors and nobles did not know what to do. Edward was dead and Jason had certainly proven himself a hero, but could he be a king? Jason dispelled all their anxieties, however, when he drew forth the golden medallion and showed that he was in fact, the rightful heir to the throne. His first order as king was that Thebos should be buried in a tomb beneath the throne. "I have come to this throne due to the kindness and sacrifice of others." Jason said at its dedication, "I lay brave Thebos here, so I will not forget. Nor should anyone who sits here after my time is past."
In a mighty hall of stone a young king sits upon his throne. He looks past the flickering torchlight and into the darkness. His mind is filled with thoughts of how he came to this place and of what the future holds.
In a cavern deep in the mountains, a beautiful maid looks into the darkness. Her eyes blaze with hatred as she nurses her wounds. She stares at her missing hand and stares past it toward the flickering lights of the distant city. She watches and she waits.
THE END
