Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) (42 page)

Philip and Zorbin stood across the field from where Sirus and Garret began their fight. Zorbin hefted his giant battle hammer in his hands knowing that with this weapon, any blow that landed true would end the match quickly. Philip stood opposite the dwarf and drew from his belt a pair of matching narrow short swords. Barely longer than a dagger, the entire weapons from point to pommel were only as long as the man’s forearm and hand. They looked dainty in comparison to the dwarf’s stout hammer. So much so that Zorbin actually grinned at his opponent’s choice of weapon. The truth was, however, that both of them held an advantage and Zorbin knew it. Though the dwarf could probably end the fight with a single, good blow from his hammer, it was an unwieldy weapon, cumbersome in its size and fairly easy to anticipate. Philip’s blades were indeed short, requiring him to get dangerously close to his opponent to land a blow, but they were light and he was agile.

“Ready for a bit of fun, Zorbin?” Philip asked.

“Let us battle, you and I,” Zorbin replied.

Zorbin raised his large hammer until the head of the great weapon was over his shoulder. Lunging forward at his opponent, the dwarf swung the massive weapon down to crush his opponent’s chest. Only his opponent was no longer where he had been just a fraction of a second before.

Dancing nimbly aside, Philip stepped out of harm’s way and darted directly behind the dwarf. Zorbin recalled that Philip liked to play games with his opponents and, felt the very next instant as his opponent pushed the tip of one of his small blades through a ring in his armor, pricking his back ever so slightly. Spinning immediately, Zorbin swung the massive hammer as he turned, building up dangerous bone-crushing momentum. Philip barely had time to leap back out of the path of the large weapon as Zorbin brought it to bare. So close did the blow come, in fact, it so nearly hit Philip that Zorbin watched his hair move from the whoosh of wind that followed the weapon’s track through the air.

The battle continued with Zorbin swinging and missing Philip who nimbly danced just out of reach with each new attack, annoying Zorbin to no end. The massive hammer made the his recovery slow, giving Philip plenty of time to retaliate after each swing with a strike of his own. Each time the hammer’s head swung past, Philip darted in. Shoving his pointed blades through the rings of the armor he would not only cut his Zorbin, but shear small sections of mail off with each blow. They fought on for a great while in this fashion and before long the mail that Zorbin once wore lay in tatters over his shoulders and he bled from dozens of shallow wounds. He knew he was losing.

Needing to change his style of fighting or lose a prolonged battle, Zorbin quickly formulated a plan and waited for his opportunity, which came quickly enough as Philip was growing bolder with every strike Zorbin missed.

Swinging his huge hammer horizontally to drive Philip back and away from him, Zorbin watched as his weapon once again missed its mark. But this time Zorbin was waiting for the strike to come. As Philip danced in behind Zorbin’s passing hammer to strike yet again, the dwarf released the grip of his weapon with one hand and, making a fist, used all his might and the momentum gained with the swinging hammer to drive the punch straight into his opponent’s sternum. The blow landed with a bone-crunching thud and Philip staggered back several paces to recover with the shock of the blow written clearly upon his face.

It was apparent that Philip was not used to actually getting hit as he staggered, still reeling from the blow. Zorbin thought to make use of the opportunity, but it became apparent quickly that though stunned, Philip was far from out of the fight. Swinging his huge battle hammer again, Zorbin missed as his opponent ducked beneath his swing driving one of his blades into the dwarf's side, burying it all the way to the hilt.

Releasing a deep, thundering yell of pain as the blade slid into his flesh and then back out again, Zorbin cried out in anger and pain, but he wasn’t the only one yelling. Another painful cry, echoing his own, came from halfway across the field in a deep menacing howl that penetrated the air like wind gusting through tall trees. Zorbin looked past his opponent who stood between him and the other source of the sound. His opponent, Philip was focused on the battle, the rest of the world was lost to him and he did not even hear the cry from behind him. If he did, Zorbin thought briefly, he probably mistakenly thought it to be an echo of the dwarf’s cry bouncing back to them from the buildings beyond, but he was sadly mistaken.

Zorbin stood witness as Xanth rose from the ground and, digging his long talon-like claws into the soil, he lunged forward into a dead run. Zorbin was watching Xanth’s approach which caused him to again get struck with Philip’s sharp blades, this time a quick thrust to his gut. The pain was immense, and pinpricks of light exploded in Zorbin’s vision as he struggled to remain in the fight. He couldn’t allow himself to lose focus again.

Half doubling over in pain, he heard a deep snarl crack through the air. An image of Xanth upon Philip’s back flashed in Zorbin’s mind which, with the agony of his most recent injury, he could not help but think the image a welcome sight. He opened his eyes, fighting to stand erect once again, and turned to face his opponent. No more than had he located Philip again, who nimbly danced away moving as if to leap back in with another attack, he saw a black shape hurl itself through the air towards the man.

Sinking his claws deep into the flesh upon Philip’s back, Xanth drove the man to the ground. The wolf was bigger and heavier than the knight and they came down in a bone-shattering crunch that sent both man and beast rolling across the blood stained and ring mail littered earth. Zorbin watched as Xanth regained his feet first and again lunged at the man who had harmed his master. Philip rolled onto his back in time to see the giant wolf lunge at him again, but it did him little good. Xanth came down, a fury of muscle, fur, and claws upon the knight who squirmed to break free of the giant beast, invoking his blessing as he struggled. With speed unlike any other living thing, Philip pummeled the animal that had him pinned to the ground with blurred fists to little avail. With the wolf upon him, snapping his jaws at Philip, it was evident that speed alone would not be enough to save him.

Zorbin stood like a statue watching the event play out, unable to react to what he was seeing. He knew he should call Xanth off Philip but could not find his voice. He had never in his life seen Xanth act as violently as he was at this moment. He watched Philip wriggle beneath the great wolf, and watched still as the man tried to fight the beast, his friend, off with his fists. It appeared for a moment that Philip had given in. and stopping his assault on the animal, Xanth began to remove one of his huge paws from the man’s chest.

Rolling to the side Philip attempted to crawl out from under the beast, but the wolf would not let him gain his feet. Bloodied and angered, Zorbin watched as Philip struggled in a rage to be free, and clawing at the ground to pull himself from beneath the beast, his fingertips brushed one of his lost blades. Stretching as far as his body would allow, the knight took up the razor sharp blade before rolling onto his back to again face Xanth. Philip drew back his arm, preparing to strike as Zorbin stood frozen, watching the battle play out before him.

“Release me!” Philip yelled in anger at the beast.

Xanth spotted the weapon and baring his razor sharp teeth he growled a deep menacing growl. But his growl was cut short, quite literally, by Philip’s blade as it plunged into his flesh. What was a growl turned into a yelp of pain as Philip drove his blade up into the unprotected belly of the animal on top of him again and again.

Xanth took his paw from the man’s chest and stepped back a pace, al anger having fled from the animal’s eyes. The blade had likely pierced more than one of his organs. Xanth whined like a kicked dog as he shrank to the ground, blood dripping from his fur like a bucket filled with holes.

Zorbin the dwarf watched as Philip plunged his dagger into Xanth’s underside and something inside him snapped with Xanth’s cry of pain. Power flowed through his body and his ability to move was restored. Fear for his lupine companion guided his actions and his mind and he strode forward toward his opponent. Whispering a few words silently into the daytime air, Zorbin was engulfed with light momentarily followed by a deep concussive boom in which the dwarf exploded, doubling his size, quadrupling his strength. When the light faded something clicked inside his mind as if a door had been unlocked and opened, and it were as if a whole new world was revealed to him.

Two things happened then simultaneously then to the dwarven knight to be. He first felt the immense rush of power of Gorandor as it flowed through him like a torrent without bounds. It not only allowed him to sustain the blessing given to him by the god, but also took away much of his pain and relieved his drained body. Second he felt a presence in his head, a familiar presence and he knew by instinct whom the presence was as visions of images flashed passed his eyes.

Seeking out this new entity in his mind to make a connection, Zorbin located the consciousness of his friend Xanth who lay injured upon the ground only a few feet away. Linking himself to the beast mentally, images began to flood even faster through his mind of all the beast's memories and thoughts.

Unable to stop the gushing river of images, Zorbin gave himself into the flow and allowed himself and his thoughts to be caught up in it. Feeling, Tasting, and smelling the memories, it was as if the memories granted to him by Xanth were his own. When at last the two had melded together mentally, another flash of light exploded just paces away from Zorbin followed by yet another blast of sound. Xanth regained his feet. If he had been huge in comparison to other breeds of wolf before the transformation, he was a giant of a beast now. His newfound strength seemingly allowed him to ignore the pain of his injuries and rise again to protect his master.

As Xanth envisioned himself again pouncing upon Philip, this time a resounding “No” was heard within his head. The wolf turned his intelligent eyes upon his master who stood shaking his head. Xanth relaxed his muscles knowing well his master’s meaning.

Zorbin Ironfist turned to Philip who stood shaking his head with a look of mixed fright and excitement. The fight was over, of that he was sure. The human didn’t stand a chance against both the Xanth and himself, especially now that they had been blessed. It was apparent that Philip didn’t know what to think of it. Zorbin had never heard of an animal being blessed by a god before, and presumed that this was Philip’s thoughts as well.

Watching as his opponent attempted to regain his composure, he saw Philip look across the field to where their commander was supposed to be sparring with Garret. Following the knight’s gaze, Zorbin was surprised to see both Sirus and Garret upon the ground and Daniella working her blessing upon them. Looking himself over, Zorbin hoped Daniella was able to conserve some strength as Philip had cut some deep gouges over a good portion of his body. Philip needed attention too. Not only was his sternum crushed, but he had several broken ribs and bloodied gashed torn open by Xanth. Turning his attention to his wolven brother, Zorbin inspected Xanth’s wounds. They were several, and some deep, but nothing that looked immediately fatal.

Still in his blessed form, Zorbin watched Philip’s approach through images granted to him by Xanth’s eyes. The man approached out of concern, not aggression and so the dwarf made no move to oppose him.

“Are we finished here, Master Philip?” Zorbin asked in a deeper voice than was usual.

“Indeed we are, Zorbin. I am sorry for hurting Xanth but I panicked and saw no other way to free myself. Our sparring has concluded so you may return to your normal form,” Philip said, his voice filled with concern.

“I am afraid I do not know how to turn it off,” Zorbin stated simply.

“Hmm, let’s see if I can find a proper way to explain it to you. Try if you can to find the source of Gorandor’s power within your mind. When you locate it, focus on stopping it. Try to imagine yourself shutting it behind a door. That’s what I do. Then when I require my blessing again, I simply pray and open the door,” Philip explained.

With the excitement of battle gone, Zorbin’s pain from the dozens of injuries he had sustained returned. As his pulse and breathing returned to normal he was finally able to focus and do exactly as Philip had told him. He located the source of the power without much trouble and imagining himself closing it behind a door he willed it to stay its flow, at least for the time being. As the mental door was secured in place, both he and Xanth shimmered briefly, then with a sharp snap like the coals in a fire crackling, they returned to their unblessed forms. Zorbin could hardly believe how easily it came to him. Controlling the power felt natural, as if it had always been there. Now that it was locked away, however, he missed the sensation it brought with it. He couldn’t wait to feel it again.

Looking across the field, Philip watched Daniella rise to her feet seemingly finished healing Sirus and Garret. As she crossed the field towards them he also saw both Garret and Sirus lift themselves into seated positions facing one another. Daniella arrived promptly with a big smile on her face.

“You guys sure put on a show today. There must have been a hundred children watching through the east gate.” Daniella stated her smile never leaving her face. “Any of you require healing?” She looked at the few remnants of Zorbin’s armor and the many puncture holes in his body.

“If it wouldn’t be too much to ask, I could use getting my sternum repaired,” Philip began with a gasp. “Zorbin there has several wounds that will need tending. Also, if you are familiar with animal anatomy, Xanth has a series of wounds in his belly that will need tending as well.”