Kingdom's Edge by Chuck Black Page A

to die with us. There was no worse enemy than this, and we all knew it.
    â€œKill them!” Lucius shouted.
    We took our stance and prepared for the onslaught, but they still held back.
    â€œThey were trained by the Prince,” one of the Shadow Warriors said over his shoulder. He did not take his eyes off of us.
    Lucius moved forward with his sword drawn. “Attack or I will kill you myself!” he yelled to his men as he lunged toward me.
    The Shadow Warriors followed … each one to one of us.
    The battle began.
    The rage on Lucius’s face matched the fury of his sword. It was a duel to the death, and I knew I must rely on the Prince’s training. Lucius was quick and cunning. Our swords met in a ferocious volley of thrusts, cuts, and slices.
    The Prince had prepared me for this battle. I saw Him in every motion of my sword. My muscles had memorized the moves, and my sword seemed to know exactly what to do. I felt the Prince in my arms and hands. I gave control to Him. My sword flew to match each cut and thrust of this beast. The sword of the Prince would protect me … deliver me. My confidence during the battle was surreal; all fear was gone. I had been trained by the Master Himself—the Master of the Sword!
    The close quarters of the alleyway forced the four separatesword fights to spread out. The clashing swords echoed off the walls, which added to the intensity of the battle. I saw Rob take a cut across his shoulder, but it was not deep. He, William, and Barrett fought like the valiant warriors they were trained to be. The Shadow Warriors were huge, but we were fast and knew their tricks. The battle raged on.
    Lucius thrust. I parried and countered, but he caught my cut with the flat of his sword. He quickly countered with a cut across my chest.
Whoosh!
I leaped back to miss his blade and lost my balance. I fell to my knees. Lucius pounced toward me with a vertical cut that I caught with my sword just above my head. I threw my left leg in a circular motion to trip him, and his legs flew out from under him. I seized the opportunity to scramble to my feet. Lucius recovered quickly, and we engaged our swords again.
    I saw William counter a cut with a quick thrust that found its mark. The Shadow Warrior dropped his sword and clutched his chest as he fell to the ground.
    William was closest to Barrett and joined him against his foe.
    The fight quickly turned in our favor, and I saw the exasperation on Lucius’s face grow more vivid with each passing moment. He backed off quickly as Barrett’s opponent fell from a fatal wound. The last Shadow Warrior turned and ran up the alley. Lucius quickly mounted his stallion and galloped away.
    â€œI will be back to kill all of you!” he screamed.
    â€œPraise to the King and His Son, the Prince!” we shouted in return.
    The battle was over; the Knights of the Prince had prevailed. We breathed a temporary sigh of relief.
    â€œThank you, gentlemen,” I said to Rob and Barrett. “You came not a moment too soon.”
    â€œI was worried when you didn’t show at Barrett’s, so we decided to come for you,” Rob said as Barrett bandaged his arm.
    â€œAnd I’m glad you did,” William said.
    He looked a mess because of the blood from his initial head wound. The bleeding had nearly stopped, and I washed the cut with clean water.
    â€œI don’t know about you, gentlemen, but I’m ready to go home,” I said.
    The rush of the fight was leaving my body. I was tired … bone tired.
    On our journey back south, we moved carefully, avoiding all possible contact with people.
    I thought about the dark shadow that now hung over Arrethtrae. Lucius’s power was going to grow with each passing day. These were becoming dark days indeed.
    My Prince, when will You return?
I thought … I yearned.

TAKEN!
    â€œAwake, Cedric!”
    The words sounded hollow and distant. I tried to