LLM Chapter 37 Part III

37.

Lance stood at the assigned circle while Tonto was in the other circle and Samael took the middle circle. He looked down at the ripples of hands reaching for the surface. They were like the arms of the desperate. He looked to the lost spirits that were there before and assisted him. None was available then but Lance looked around. He studied the chamber and the designs. His search went from the flooring and then upwards. His view of the high ceiling surprised him.

It was a mural of the final battle of the Angels War where Michael had his sword at the Dragon’s chest.  The sword was a broadsword with the ‘T’ wide hilt but the blade on the sword was engulfed with the burning flame. The flame streaked from the blade and formed a hold over the dragon’s chest.

“Is that the sword?” Lance asked. “Michael’s sword?”

Samael glanced up and then shook his head.

“Looks like it but it can’t be.” Samael replied and then Lance retorted back.

“I was referring to the mural. Is that sword real?”

“Oh, no.  No…” Samael replied hastily. “That mural is not right. Michael had not placed his sword on the dragon….”

“Kemo-Sabe, the sword is real.” Tonto added in. He was to move towards Lance when Samael stopped him.

“Do not move.” Samael cautioned the other. “Do not move from the circle.”

Tonto stopped in his track and then moved back to his previous position. Samael then looked at the sword.

“There were many famous swords in the hands of the mortal. Joyeuse was the name of the sword once owned by Charlemagne. Excalibur was with King Arthur after the sword was gifted to him by the Lady in the Lake. Gram the sword wielded by Odin to slay Fafnir the Dragon.” Samael sighed. “Mortal tales told of the sword. What about Tizona; once wield by Ed Cid or Durendal once wielded by Roland, one of the paladins that rode with Charlemagne.”

“All those swords have a name but not this one.” Samael pointed to the sword in the mural. “That sword held no name of its own but of its master. It was named Michael’s sword. And never any name was it given. It recognizes no other except its true master.”

Samael facial expression turned grim and then he looked away.

“The sword is cursed.” They were interrupted by the arrival of Vlad with Hawkins.

“The heroic Long Ranger and his friends are here.” Vlad greeted the trio while he swung the curved scimitar held in his right hand. Hawkins stood to the right side holding the halberd with both his hands.

“May I suggest that we end this nicely? We have just killed each other friends and followers. So please step aside so we can avoid more killings.” Vlad laughed out loud and he saw Lance. The later flexed his muscles and then drew out his guns.

“Hold on. We can be civilized. I won’t fight you with uneven odds.” Vlad continued on. “Hawkins, take care of the other.”

On the other circle, Tonto had also called up his own weapon. His face stretched out and his face bones expanded to form a snort. His limbs felt like it was pulled out and the fingers extended. His spine curved out and his chest expanded. He then left off a growl and then a long howl. In the place of Tonto, a monster had taken his identity. Hawkins approached Tonto with his halberd leveled as if he was trying to coral a beast into a pen. He feigned thrust on the right and then the left while Tonto stood there watching the approaching prey. Hawkins stepped into the circle and for a second glanced at the urging hands below the design. He had seen them before and avoided those hands.

Tonto rushed out towards Hawkins when he saw the opening but was turned back by the swinging halbred. Tonto slinked backwards while Hawkins closed in on him. Tonto did a sudden change and charged again at the guards. His upper limbs with the talons on the fingers slashed into Hawkins’ left hand but Tonto was slashed by the counter blow on the back. The cut was not deep for the werewolf’s hide was tough but the pain coursed through the skin into the mind. Tonto howled in pain and retreated from Hawkins. Tonto looked to his wound. The cut was not deep but the wound will take time to heal. The furs there were matted with the flowing blood.

“I used to hunt the werewolves in the woods.” Hawkins smiled. “After I wounded them, I will remove their heads as trophy.”

Tonto then leaned down to pick up the discarded tomahawk.

“The wolf had taken to the weapon of Man’s.” Hawkins smiled. “You are not truly one of them.”

It was then from the dark corners, a fleeting of shadows was seen and leaped at Hawkins.