Page 46 of An Unlikely Knight

Chapter Fourteen

Padriag jolted awake and listened intently, unsure if he’d dreamt a loud rumbling sound. Moments later, he sat upright as whatever it was seemed to surge, the sound first distant but then moving closer. It was like a herd of huge animals stampeding over the land.

Apparently, he’d fallen asleep while sitting in front of the fireplace. He considered placing another log on the hearth but changed his mind when, once again, a rumble sounded.

Past the window, there was nothing in sight, the normal snowy ground giving the illusion of peace and quiet as far as he could see. Growing bolder, Padriag opened the front door and peered out. Other than the wind blowing, it was very silent. Most days sounds of small creatures, including birdlike ones, chirped incessantly. At that moment, it was as if every being had gone still, waiting for whatever was headed their way.

Going back inside, Padriag pulled on a hip length, fur-lined coat made of leather, thick boots, straps of daggers. Finally, he retrieved the sword he’d gotten from over the fireplace and inspected it. He’d spent many hours polishing and sharpening the tool until it not only gleamed brightly, but he could easily split either a hair or a man’s skull.

As the rumbling sounds continued, he waited, wondering if perhaps it had nothing to do with him, but was one of those natural things, like earthquakes.

Still, he refused to relax and ignore whatever happened.

It was about half an hour later that the unmistakable sounds of horses approaching made him peer out the window.

On horseback, warriors wearing black armor and swords strapped to their back lined up in a half circle surrounding the front of the home. There were probably as many men around the back half.

Padriag’s blood ran ice-cold. There was only one reason Meliot would send this many. The wizard wanted him captured and brought to him alive. Despite Meliot’s surprisingly reckless decisions at times, the wizard wasn’t stupid. The man had his reasons for whatever would happen next. If Padriag had to guess, it could be that the evil man knew something about the others returning, and he hoped to capture them as well. Or the wizard wished to ensure that he and Liam became trapped in the current realm forever.

Annoyed that he’d been complacent in not constantly strengthening the warding around the house, Padriag lowered the wooden plank to latch the door. Not that wood would keep the enemy out, but it would slow them down. Padriag lifted his hands, power forming in his palms as he began the warding spell.

Magic sparked and a luminescent and clear barrier began forming with wavy walls reminiscent of a water bubble.

Before the ward could fully close, the front door flew open with a burst of light, and moments later warriors poured into the room, swords in hand.

Padriag was just a couple steps from his blade, the only way to reach it without chancing a stab to his back was to use magic. Cupping his hands, he moved them outward forming a fiery shield.

Seeing what he did, the dark warriors surged toward him, and he shot bursts of power at them using both hands. Energy pulses raced from his palms sending several of them tumbling backward.

He scrambled away from them and reached for his sword, considering whether, perhaps, the magic worked better than his blade.

The dark warriors parted, and a tall, muscular one walked into the room. “Meliot sent us to fetch you. He has questions.” The warrior wore a helmet, so Padriag couldn’t see the features. It could be he was human, or someone from that realm. Hard to tell.

“Yeah. No. Tell him I’ve got other plans. Maybe next time.” Padriag sheathed his sword as energy sizzled from his palms.

Through the eyeholes of the helmet, the warrior’s gaze focused on Padriag’s hands. “Do you think your weak magic will win against us? We are fortified with much stronger magic.”

Padriag shrugged. “Have you ever considered that all you exist for is to do some old guy’s bidding? When was the last time you took a self-care day?”

The warrior took a step forward and Padriag blasted him with both hands, sending a combination of energy and fire. Despite taking a couple steps backward, Meliot’s warrior didn’t fall. The fact that the man could withstand what had sent all the others tumbling backwards was troubling.

Once again, Padriag sent energy to his palms.

“If you come willingly, we will not beat you the entire way there,” the warrior said in a bored tone. “It spoils the fun, but I will make that concession.”

“Aren’t you a sweetie,” Padriag said and once again sent energy and flames at the warrior. This time the guy didn’t even flinch.

“Damn it,” Padriag pulled his sword and held it with both hands. “I am not going willingly.”

“So be it,” the warrior unsheathed his own sword and advanced. The odds were fully against Padriag, but he would fight to the death.

The warrior went for an overhead strike and Padriag blocked it and jabbed forward with his own, barely missing the man’s midsection. When the warrior struck again, metal clashed against metal, sending vibrations down Padriag’s arms.

Gritting his teeth, he managed to shove the warrior away. Swords swinging, they moved in a circle, neither getting the best of the other. Thankfully, the other warriors did not intercede, although Padriag had no doubt they would if by some miracle, the larger dark warrior fell.

A hard strike to the back of his head made Padriag see stars. He barely was able to block a strike from his opponent. They would not fight fair, it was a losing battle. Padriag understood, but damn if he was going to just relinquish control.

In one fluid motion, he sliced the air in the direction of his opponent whilst pulling a dagger from the strap across his chest. He whirled and flung the weapon, satisfied when it sunk into the chest of one of the idiots behind him.