Swords of Wisdom

Twelve

Arden

🔯

“You people need to leave,” said Maria.

“Why?” asked Mr Samoa.

“They are planning on burning down your village.”

“Unless you give them something they want. Which is?” Crystal and the others looked at him.

Mr Samoa turned to Matthew and Jason. “Go tell everyone to get their stuff; we’ll be leaving tomorrow night.” Matthew and Jason nodded and walked out. Mr Samoa stood up and turned his back on the four people.

“Mr Samoa, we need to know what they want,” said Kristoff. “You and your people are in danger, if you don’t tell us what Arden wants from you people then we don’t know how to help you.”

Mr Samoa sighed. “They want something that’s been hidden for thousands of years.”

“What do they want?” asked Merida.

“They want the Olra Medallion.”

“What’s that?” asked Maria.

“It’s a Compelling Medallion made by the Darkest Fairy, Lora,” said Crystal. “But is been lost, why would they think you have it?”

“I don’t but I have a clue of where it might be,” said Mr Samoa. “I did some research in the Great Library.”

“What’s so important about this medallion anyway?” asked Merida.

“It’s a powerful medallion that compels people; in other words, controls them even…gods.” They all (except Crystal) gasped. “It was created by a fairy named Lora. She wanted to get revenge on men-kind. Her sister, Kelsey stopped her along with two other men; I’m not familiar with their names. The Medallion was lost. Many people were looking for it around the world, and they still are but no one could find it....yet”

“So Arden wants to get his hands on the medallion,” said Kristoff.

“He can not because only fairies or witches can touch the medallion,” said Crystal.

“Then why the hell would he want to get it when it won’t work on him?” asked Maria.

“He might give it to a witch,” said Merida.

“It doesn’t matter; we need to get everyone out of here,” said Kristoff.

“Why can’t we just go and beat the crap out of him?” asked Merida.

“We’ll get ourselves killed,” said Kristoff.

“You wonderful people have done too much for us,” smiled Mr Samoa. “Is there any way we could repay you?”

“That won’t be necessary; we came here looking for our friend.”

“Can you describe him? We might be able to help.”

“He is tall, has blue eyes, white hair-he is not an old guy if that’s what you’re thinking,” said Maria.

“I don’t think I’ve seen him before.”

“Wait!” they all looked at Carl. “I’ve overheard a man at the campsite talking about a white-haired guy.”

“What did you hear?” asked Maria, her eyes filled with hope.

“Um…they said to bring him to Arden,” said Carl. “If it is him, he is at Arden’s place.”

“Okay then let’s go!” Maria quickly stood up.

“Now?” asked Georgia.

“We really need to find him, who knows what Arden might do to him.”

“But we’re not sure if he’s really Jack,” said Merida.

Maria shot her a glare. “He is the only one with whitish hair and handsome looks.”

“I don’t think so,” Merida shook her head.

“It is him-“

“You know what? Let’s just go see for ourselves,” said Crystal.

They walked out of the house. 

“Take care!” exclaimed Georgia.

Kristoff pulled up his hood. “Let’s hope that’s Jack.  We get him and we go home.” They all held on Crystal as she teleported them To Arden’s place.

****

2 kilometres away from the village was Arden’s place. It was a castle near the sea. A big bridge was connected with the island and the castle.

“Really?” asked Maria as they were studying the castle. “Is he a king or something?”

“Let’s find out,” said Merida, walking to the bridge.

“Wait,” said Crystal, holding her hand. “We can’t just walk in, they might see us.”

“Then you should have teleported us inside not outside,” said Merida, rolling her eyes.

“Oh whatever,” said Crystal, ignoring her. They touched Crystal again as she teleported them inside.

They appeared inside the gates. Guards were walking around, not noticing them. They quickly went to the side to hide.

“What do we do now?” asked Merida.

“We split up and look for Jack,” said Maria. They all nodded and split up.

Maria was going through a door at the corner while Kristoff, Merida and Crystal were at the other side, trying to climb up the wall to get to the window.

“Okay, I’ll go first and tie the rope so you both can climb up.” Crystal rapped the rope around her waist and tried to climb the wall.

“Why can’t you just teleport up?” asked Kristoff with a raised eyebrow.

“Because it’s too close,” said Crystal. “I can only teleport to far places.” She began climbing up.

****

Maria made it up the brick steps and to the corridor. She walked slowly down the corridor, trying not to make any noise. A couple of men were coming from the other side. Maria quickly opened a door next to her and went in.

****

Crystal came in through the window. She looked around and realized that it was a room, belonging to someone. She put the hook down and threw the rope down to Kristoff and Merida.

“I’ll go first,” said Kristoff, catching the rope.

The door of the room opened. Crystal panicked and hid behind the curtains.

Two men walked in, she noticed. She moved the curtain a few inch away from her eyes so she could see. Two men were there. One was sitting behind the table while the other was standing.
She noticed that the one sitting down was smartly dressed in white shirt and black long jacket and pants. He had black hair and dark eyes.

“Arden, everything’s ready for tonight,” said the man standing.

“Good,” said Arden, leaning on his chair. “But we’ll have to ask him first but if he refuse again, then let’s just burn them down.”

“But what about Lord V?” asked the man.

“I’ll explain to him; I’m sure his witch has other options.”

“And the boy?” asked the man.

“He’ll be leaving tonight. Considering he’s the chosen one, Lord V has other plans for him.”

They’re talking about Jack, thought Crystal.

Arden shivered a little. “Lark, closed the window.”

Crystal panicked as Lark made his way to the window. He might see her; she pushed the window shut with her leg. The window chopped the rope, breaking it. Kristoff winched when he fell down and landed on his back.

“What happened?” asked Merida, kneeling down to him.

“The rope broke,” Kristoff said with a ground. “Now what?” he asked while turning around and lay on his stomach.

“We surrender and let them take us in,” said Merida.

Kristoff furrowed his eyebrows, trying not to laugh. “What? That’s the stupidest idea I have ever hear-oh shoot.” He
frowned, seeing six guards in front of him. 

Lark stopped walking when he saw the window was already shut. “Hmm strange,” he muttered.

“I’ll be going now,” he said, turning to look at Arden. Arden nodded. Once Lark was gone, Arden stood up. He went inside a room that was behind the bookshelf.

Crystal let out a sigh in relief, glad that they were gone. All of a sudden, a hand grabbed her arm pulling her out of the curtain, She gasp when she saw those dark eyes. Arden stared hard at her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked her, gripping her arm tightly. Crystal wanted to scream but she found no voice.

****

Maria came threw the curtains and saw a king sized bed. Her eyes widen when she saw Jack sleeping there, motionless. She ran over to him and capped both of his cheeks.

“Jack,” she said. “Jack, wake up!”

His eyes snapped open, revealing those snowflake blue eyes. Maria beamed and hugged him tightly. “I thought we lost you.”

Jack pushed her away, making her fall down to the floor.

Jack’s face was filled with fright. “Who are you?!”

Maria stood up, looking confused. “Jack, it’s me!”

Maria’s head began to hurt, so did Jack’s. Jack fell back to the bed. Maria fell down to the floor, her eyes slowly closing. The last thing she remembered is hearing someone saying these words, Wer ni shi ra

****

Maria’s eyes opened to see darkness. She looked to her right and saw Kristoff.

“You alright?” he asked.

“Yeah,” said Maria, massaging her forehead. “What happened?”

“Things didn’t go as planned,” said Merida, sitting besides the wall.

“Where’s Crystal?”

“We don’t know,” said Kristoff.

“Guys, I found Jack.”

“You have?”  Kristoff looked surprised. “Where is he?”

“He was in a room, but when he woke up he didn’t recognized me at all.”

“Do you think is memory loss?” said Merida.

“Maybe, but we have to find him; I have a feeling they’re going to do something to him.”

“What happened in there?”

“I don’t know, it all happened so quickly,” said Maria, trying to remember. “I suddenly got a headache, so did Jack. We both fainted; but I heard someone saying….what was the words? Wer ni shi ra, I think.”

“What sort of words are those?” asked Kristoff.

“I think they might be spells.

“Hold up, are you saying there was a witch in there with you?” said Merida with a terrified look.

“I think so. How are we going to get out?”

“Well it’s going to be hard, considering we have this on us,” Merida showed her the mystic chains on her hands.

The door opened and five men walked inside. They took them and brought them out of the castle. Many guards were there. Crystal was in the centre, on her knees. A man was putting the sword on her neck.

“Crystal!” called Merida, looking terrified as Kristoff and Maria.

“I don’t like it when people are trespassing,” said Arden, coming behind them.

“Where’s my brother?!” said Maria, trying to break free.
Arden ignored her and stood in front of them. Lark was standing beside him, studying Crystal. “We’ll start with her.”
The man nodded and brought his sword up, ready to strike, Crystal.

“What no!” exclaimed Merida and Maria.

“Don’t do it!” exclaimed Kristoff.

Crystal closed her eyes, ready for her death.

But then, Derek jumped down, swinging his sword, chopping the man’s head off. The guards tensed, just looking at him.

Crystal looked up with a surprised look. “Which side are you on?”

Derek glanced at her before kneeling down to her height but he was still taller. “I’m on your side.”

He stood up and looked at Arden. Arden remained calm with an expressionless face. Lark took out his sword.

“Don’t,” said Arden. “You’re looking at Derek Strong, the most powerful striker; one strike with his sword and you’ll be chopped into pieces.”

Lark let go of his sword and took a step back.

Everyone was dead silent, no one made a move. Arden and Derek were still staring at each other, who would dared to look away first? Arden sped straight to Derek with two swords. Derek was already prepared. He took his sword and blocked Arden’s impact. Derek pushed him away; he turned his sword and broke the chain on Crystal’s hands. Arden attacked Derek again and they both began fighting to see who would be able to kill the other first.

Crystal dodged each guard and broke the chains on Kristoff’s hands. Kristoff handled all the guards that were coming their way. After Crystal had broken the chains off of Merida and Maria’s chain they all battled with everyone else.

“Crystal, we need to get Jack,” said Maria, taking Crystal’s hand.

“Got it,” said Crystal, before she teleported her and Maria to Jack’s room.

When they arrive, no one was there.

“I don’t understand,” said Maria with a frown on her face. “Where is he?”

“Maria he’s not here,” said Crystal. “We need to go!”

“But-“Crystal teleported them out of the room and back to the battle field.

Everyone was down except for Arden. He was on his knees while Derek was holding his sword high.   

Maria came over and took hold of his shirt. “Where is Jack?”

Arden did not say anything, he just smirked. A black figure appeared out of nowhere and disappeared with Arden after kicking Maria off of him.

“It’s her,” said Kristoff as Merida looked at him.

“No!” screamed Maria. “We came here to look for Jack but now he’s gone…again.”