The Rusted Sword

“Here they made their last stand,” I said to the Slayer.

She picked up a rusted sword from the stone courtyard.

“The gate of the keep is open. We can have a look,” said the girl in mail.

We walked across the courtyard to the open gate. The floor was covered with bones, rusted weapons and armor. I drew my sword, and walked inside. There were more bones and debris of battle scattered inside. At the rear of the room was a throne. It held a skeleton.

We walked over to the dais. The throne contained a skull, and jumbled bones. On the skull was a diadem. I picked up the circlet, there was a large ruby in the centre. I looked at the red gem. As I gazed at it, the room was filled with a faint red glow for an instant.

“Welcome, my friends.” The voice seemed to come from behind the large throne. I raised my sword. From behind the throne, a woman in a black robe appeared.  

“I have not had a visitor for a long time. Why come you hence?”

“We were chased into this valley by our king. He was unhappy that we had served one that he saw as a pretender,” explained the Slayer.

“Indeed. I will permit you to enter my own guard. I would raise a new legion, but as you can see, my ranks are...depleted.”

I looked at the Slayer. “I am called Hunter. We cannot accept your noble offer, Lady. We are bound outward. But we thank you.”

The Lady stepped forward. “I wish you good fortune, Hunter. May I have my crown?”

I bowed. “Yes, My Lady.” I gave her the diadem. She reached for it and placed it on her head. She then extended her hand for me to kiss. I took her hand and bowed. The Lady smiled.

“You must do me a service before you leave. My foemen left a warrior to keep me prisoner here. He always waits outside. You must vanquish him in order to depart.”

“Very well. If our way is disputed, then we must fight,” replied the Slayer.

The Lady nodded. We both turned and walked to the gate of the tower. We stepped into the courtyard and found a small body of warriors waiting for us. A tall man with a silver helm stepped forward.

“This place is forbidden. None may leave to tell the tale of the Ruby Queen. You must both die, or join our number.”  

I glanced at the men behind him. They all wore armor and garments of different antique types. One of the men was dark of skin. Another had blood hair, like mine. Others appeared to be of the Far East, still others from some forgotten realm.

“We shall leave. Stand aside,” I replied.  

The warrior advanced towards me, his war axe at the ready. I stepped forward, and we circled warily. He sprang forward with a yell. I stepped to the side and came up under his guard. I jabbed upwards with my short sword, into his visor.

The man called out and fell backward. He covered his visor with his hands   

One of the other warriors stepped forward.  “You have freed us from our enchantment. No longer must we stand guard here, in this empty fortress.” The man seemed to stagger, then he fell to his knees. The other warriors also began to fall to the stone cobbles. Soon, they were all lying on the ground, motionless.

I turned to look back at the gate. The Lady in black stood at the entrance. “You have done me a great service. I would give you a reward.”  The Lady held up a sword with a hilt of gold. The hilt and pommel was encrusted with rubies. I returned to her and reached for the blade.

“They say that the warrior who carries the sword will conquer many cities. They also say that he will in time return to this place. They also say that he will come to rule at my side.”

“I accept the sword, Lady. We are all in the hands of the Fates, and they will decide if we will return.” I bowed, and turned to the Slayer.

“Come, my Prince. For now, a peasant girl will be your only love.” She grasped my arm, and pulled me towards the ramparts – and the world of the living.