The Duke of Tremont II - Bloodspell

Chapter 38
 

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Kipton dispersed the shield he had erected over all of them. They wheeled their horses around to go back and meet Mahala.

"Justin!" Jonathan called out.

Justin halted his horse and turned. "Yes, Highness?"

Jonathan met his eyes. "You'll be careful?"

Justin smiled at the look of concern in Brian's brother's eyes. "Yes, brother," he answered as he dipped his head in deference to his king. If things go awry be ready to run, he added into Jonathan's mind. He cut off the link so he could not hear the king's reply, needing to keep his focus on what he was about to do.

When he caught up to the mage, Kipton spoke softly. "You seem close to the king."

"Aye, I am," Justin answered. "He and his whole family have treated me as one of their own."

"You and the duke are lucky men." Kipton glanced at Justin and then turned his gaze straight ahead. "If only my own fam..." he started, but did not finish what he was going to say. He looked back to his young companion again." Do you remember fighting me back in the dungeon?"

Justin shook his head and grimaced a bit. "Only a very little. Father Ryan says a stone fell from the wall and hit my head. It took me a long time to remember any of my ordeal."

Kipton grimaced as well. "Well, you seemed to hold your own very nicely that day." He raised his hook in a small salute. "The fairies taught you well. I suspect this fight will be much like that battle, but you and I will be linked together so we can share power and work together."

"Brian was with me when I defeated you," Justin answered solemnly, his gaze trained on his lover as they rode closer to the enemy. "I don't know if I can do this without him."

Kipton's gaze followed Justin's and landed where Mahala was still speaking with Brian, who was managing to look terrified and angry at the same time. "We can do this, Justin. I know it." Kipton tried to sound more confident than he was. He knew Mahala had almost trapped them both, and that it was Brian that had pulled them out of her mind.

"We have to," Justin replied, not tearing his eyes away from Brian, who had caught sight of his lover as they moved closer, and locked eyes with him.

'Please don't do this', Brian mouthed to his lover silently with a pleading look in his eyes.

'I love you,' Justin answered in the same way, touching his right fist briefly to his heart. Brian looked away, unable to contain his emotions.

Finally they arrived at the same spot where Mahala had first challenged them. The adept broke away from her prisoner and rode to meet them with Duke James following closely behind. "So you have come to a decision?" she asked haughtily.

"We have decided to accept your challenge," Kipton answered her tone. "And since we agree to your terms, we demand that you release Prince Brian back into the custody of his brother at once."

Mahala laughed out loud. "Surely, you don't take me for that big of a fool? Duke Brian will remain where he is until this little party is over and decided. I can't take the chance that he may help you through his little toy there." She gestured to Justin, who bristled at the insult.

Justin fought to remain calm and shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Fine. Have it your way and keep Prince Brian, but we have one other demand if we are to accept this challenge."

"And what is that?" Mahala looked skeptical.

"We will erect a shield that will protect the innocents from stray magic."

"No one is innocent in war, young Justin," Mahala scoffed. "But so be it. I accept your demand." She turned back to her own army. "Adept Mages Kipton of Maynor and Justin of Pennington have agreed to a magical duel with myself." She obviously was using magic to enhance the range of her voice. "It will be a duel to the death, and none of you are to interfere, no matter what you see."

Her men bowed their promise as rumbles of disquiet rolled through the Pennington/Maynor armies.

King Jonathan rode forward to face his own army with King Tristan at his side. "We have agreed to the terms of this battle as well," he spoke loudly. "As Lady Mahala has said, none of you are to interfere." There was still grumbling but the troops nodded their agreement as well.

"Well, that's settled then," Mahala said brightly. "Shall we begin?" She dismounted her horse and moved to a wide open space.

Kipton and Justin shared a look and shrugged. "No time like the present, I suppose," Kipton cracked, sliding off of his mount.

"Apparently," Justin replied dryly as he dismounted his own horse and followed the older man.

Stay with me, Justin. Kipton switched to mind speech. You have the strongest personal shields I've ever seen, so don't let her come between us. You know she'll try, but it's imperative that we stay together on this.

All right. Justin nodded in agreement. He looked over to Mahala, who was bent over the ground and performing some type of spell. What is she doing? He tapped Kipton on the shoulder.

She's setting wards. Kipton replied as he studied Mahala for a moment and then paced off his own corner. They will make a stronger shield to protect the others, and they can't be broken from the outside until one side of the duel is killed. She'll set up two on her side and we'll set the two for our side and they will mesh in the middle. Watch and listen carefully.

Justin watched and listened as Kipton set the spell for the wards. When he was done a nearly invisible shield of power crackled above them, and Mahala was standing opposite them, waiting patiently under her own shield. "Ready?" she asked Kipton. He nodded and they both raised their arms, causing a loud crash as their shields met each other and fused together.

It will be my pleasure for you to watch your lover die, Brian. Mahala took a moment to send a message to Brian's mind. It is no less than you deserve for killing my cousin.

Your cousin was an evil bastard, Mahala, and I wouldn't count Justin, or Kipton, out so quickly, Brian replied tersely, even as he fixed his gaze on Justin, trying again to break through the spell that Mahala put on him to keep him out of Justin's mind.

We shall see, Mahala replied, cutting off her link with Brian as she quickly raised her arm and flung the first bolt of power at her opponents.

It was not a particularly powerful hit and Justin and Kipton warded it off easily, countering with their own, more powerful blast. Mahala's eyes glittered red as she easily cast off their counter attack. "Now let's really start," she smiled evilly, and began a barrage of power that was literally non-stop.

For the most part it was an even match. Justin and Kipton worked well together and the two were able to fend off most of Mahala's blows, and what did get through caused only minor damage, even as they held their own, launching counter attacks. Justin's mind shields held firm and he was able to keep the woman out of the seamless link he had with Kipton. It was only a long candlemark later, when she began pelting them with rocks of various sizes and one got through their shields, breaking Justin's wrist, that Kipton knew they were outmatched. Justin, we must think of something else.

Justin heard the weariness in Kipton's mind voice, even as he tried to fight through his own pain to reply. I know, but what? I've thrown everything I know at her. Her power is amazing.

I know, but we can't let her win, Justin. You've seen what's in her mind, what she's capable of.

What do we do? Justin raised his hand and fended off another large stone.

Kipton paused a moment before answering. There is a way that I'm certain will work.

He sent an image to Justin's mind and the young mage's stomach clenched in fear. Even as his eyes immediately sought out Brian he knew deep within his heart that Kipton's idea was the only way they were going to defeat the powerful Mahala.

A good sized boulder slipped through their shields and bounced off his shoulder, but all he could think of was figuring out a way to say goodbye to Brian.

Brian watched the battle inside the powerful shields with a growing sense of dread. He could see that Justin and Kipton were both tiring and he winced when he saw the rock break Justin's wrist. He struggled again to free his mind from Mahala so he could help them, but it was no use. She was too strong.

Brian could tell that Kipton and Justin were discussing something mind to mind. They had stopped their attacks on Mahala and were only (just barely) defending themselves from her onslaught. His gift of foresight reared its head, and was one step ahead of them as he saw what the two were planning. His heart nearly shattered when he watched his young lover turn to gaze at him. Another large rock slammed into Justin's shoulder and the younger man didn't even notice it as his sad eyes met Brian's.

Brian wanted to scream, to shout at anyone who would listen to stop them. He wanted to elbow his captor, leap from the horse and slam through that damn barrier, the hell with the consequence. He wanted to take Justin and run far away, where there were no politics, titles, or magic for that matter. He wanted to do all of this, but all he could do was remain silent, knowing that any untoward behavior would alert Mahala to Kipton and Justin's plan, and that would get them all killed.

So he did the only thing he could do, which was watch helplessly the two men behind the shield turn to each other and nod in silent agreement. Even Kipton threw Brian an apologetic look as he reached out his left hand and clasped Justin's right one. Justin mouthed a word to Brian that he refused to acknowledge as his own body shook with tension and fear. Then he couldn't help the agonized cry that escaped his lips as the two turned themselves into angry glowing balls of white hot power and rushed headlong at their enemy, intent on taking her out in a murder-suicide.
 

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