“What do we have here?” Walerius said, taking a slow step forward. He unsheathed his sword and whirled it with his wrists. “Who knew you would be the one that would bring so much trouble to us. You…” He pointed the sword at her. “I should have taught you a lesson when I could.”

“You!” Alana said, blinking and swallowing the fear. She unsheathed the dragon blade, ready to give her best.

“You took me for a fool,” Walerius said with a frown, anger flashing in his eyes. “Now I will make sure you get punished. You and your gang of harlots.”

Walerius lunged at her with a diagonal cut. She parried. The man’s strength was greater, and it made her step back and almost lose her balance. Then, he attacked again. Alana arched her back and managed to block, but the sword flew out of her hands.

“You’re dead!” the soldier said, and Alana staggered back as she saw that glance again.

“Stop!” The wounded Felix lunged at Walerius. The soldier turned, surprised, and he instinctively drove the sword into Felix’s chest. Felix opened his mouth, gasping for air, and his eyebrows twitched.

“You disgusting traitor,” Walerius frowned and spat in the floor.

“No!” Alana said, as Felix collapsed to the ground in a pool of blood.

“Do… Domi...” he muttered, his eyes opening wide in a last spasm.

“You killed him! You... You will pay,” Alana said, but the sword was still many feet away.

The sound of steps by her right side surprised her. She turned and saw Raxana and Kassara wielding butcher knives that reflected the snow’s white glow. Kassara lunged forward and attacked the unsuspecting soldier, hitting his ribs. The man frantically waved his sword, but he was not quick enough to block both.

He fought desperately. Alana remained still.

When Walerius had been taken down, they took Walerius’ coat and boots and rushed Alana back into the woods. She couldn’t help but stare at both fallen bodies. Two soldiers. Maybe they would be interred with honour. Even Felix, as no one could know what his true allegiance had been.

Alana turned to the forest and ran with all her might. Soon, they left behind the streets and sunk into the white forest, where no light could guide them but the pale snow.

“Sisters! Sisters!” Alana said, as the shivering women gathered around her. Alana shook her head when she saw their wounded bare feet. Especially Tor, who stood proud even after weeks in captivity.

“I am sorry to take you out into the cold,” Alana said. “Now follow me. We have found a cavern where we can hide. It is hidden below the ground, and none can find it. You may rest there. There is but a little food, but with your help we will find more.”

“There is nothing to be sorry about,” Gitara muttered, as she covered her bare shoulders and shivered. “Nothing is as precious as freedom.”

“Now, let’s get moving!” Alana said.

“Whoever needs boots, please put this on,” Gitara said.

Lashka, one of the old matrons who had been imprisoned, wore the boots, then they ran into the dark forest, until they reached the broken menhir.

They descended one by one, starting with the oldest matron, and soon they gathered around a cozy fire, being welcomed with a modest feast of fish prepared by Irema, and warm water to heat their cold feet.

***

“They will send all their strength today, no doubt,” Alana said solemnly, as they sat cross legged around the fire. “But...” She cleared her throat. “Please have faith in Kassius. He will find it, no doubt. Excuse me one minute,” she said, standing up.

She left the group and called Tor to the side. His expression had changed, he had grown too fast, and had gone through more pain that she had in her entire life.

“I am so glad you’re back. Sorry, I’m sorry to have left you like that...” she said.

Tor put his hand on his own chest.

Alana took a deep breath.

“I promise we will not let you suffer any more,” she whispered. “I promise… I can’t believe what you have been through for my fault.”

Tor shook his head.

“Please...” She sighed. Then swallowed. “I need you to do me a favour. I wish I could let you rest until you feel well, but we really need this for today. We… We are forging the sword again.”

Tor raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, the sword. I...” She reached for her bag and removed the blade and the blueprints Kassius had drawn. She had already fitted the wood on the iron, but it was still round and had no shape. “We only have a few hours. I need you to carve a crucible. It does not need to be beautiful. I just need it to have an exact proportion and this stave.”

Tor nodded and immediately got to work. Soon, the sword was ready, still coarse and dull; it looked empty with the black solar symbol and the two empty spaces prepared for the gems, but Alana prayed that the moment would come, when they would find them and access the power of the gods.

Then, she heard a noise overhead, and she ran, her heart pounding fast.

“Kasha! Kasha!” she said, expectantly. “Did you find it?”

Kassius’ expression was stiff, but he immediately lifted his hand, and she caught the glimpse of a green light, like an emerald fire.

“Amazing!” she yelled in excitement. It was real, she could feel its power. With that magical sword, justice would surely be served. Victory was near.

“And I’ve found two friends. But I need you to come and help me with them, maybe they won’t really like it down there.”

The bear-cub came down tied to Kassius’ back. After coming and going, he was exhausted. But there was no rest, at least that day. Arcturus refused to go inside the tunnel, instead, preferred to rest in an old weasel’s nest outside.

Tor finished the work, and although it needed to be polished, Kassius decided that it was time.

“No one else can come. Just Alana and me,” Kassius had declared, as he took his instruments and walked up with her into the forest. The sun was already coming out, melting the snow. Kassius guided Alana into a small clearing where an older menhir, or a group of them, rather, had once stood.

“Now…” He cleared his throat. “I need you to follow my instructions carefully.”

“Alright,” she said, as her stomach turned inside her. She felt there was something wrong. It was what she needed to do, she thought, but the uneasiness of what would happen next overwhelmed her. What if the sword didn’t work? No, impossible. All those coincidences had to lead somewhere. If not, that would be a cruel joke by the gods. It could not be.

Or what if the power was too great for them to handle? What if they were not worthy?

“Ala…” he said, kneeling and carving a circle with the future Sword of Ares. “This is the place. Now, take off your coat and bring that thing over.”

“Bring what?”

“The thing that’s in the bag.”

She reached for his leather bag and extracted an old bronze chalice.

“This? Where did this come from?”

“Yes. Now, keep it with you.”

He swallowed and blindfolded himself. He stood up, feeling the lines he had carved in the snow, and sat at the other side of the circle.

“Come, and bring the chalice to me,” Kassius said, palms up.

“Alright,” she muttered.

She reached for it.

“Take your boots off,” Kassius said.

“But...”

“Do it.”

She cleared her throat.

“Kassius, that is a bad idea, my feet may...”

“You must.”

“Alright,” she said, reluctantly. She stepped on the snow and yelped at the biting cold on her soles. The few steps toward the circle seemed eternal. The sigil on the ground was startling. The circle had been guarded by runes she had never seen, and the image in the center, besides interlocked triangles, had circles going through orbits. She thought they represented the planets.

“Give me the chalice,” he said, receiving it in hand, and then placing it in the middle of the hexagram. “Now your hand,” he commanded.

“Right or left?”

“Right.”

She extended her bare arm.

“Now cut your finger?”

“Excuse me?”

“I need your blood. Just a drop.”

“Alright,” she muttered, extending her index. “Kasha… Are you seeing anything?”

He shook his head, as if confused.

At the same time, Alana had pierced the skin of her index finger, and a drop of blood was escaping. She obeyed Kassius’ instructions and let it drip over the rim of the chalice.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

But Kassius kept shaking his head.

“Is there something wrong?” Alana asked.

“Shouldn’t be,” he said. “But...”

“Are you feeling something strange?”

“I’m seeing…” Kassius said, extending both hands forward, his expression changed into one of astonishment.

“What are you seeing?”

He cleared his throat. “Let’s concentrate.”

“Do an X on your finger?” he muttered.

“Pardon?”

“An X. Like, two interlocked lines.”

“Kassius, this hurts, by the way?”

“I’m really sorry about that, Alana, but really think of this as something bigger than ourselves”

“Alright, anything for the cause,” she said, thinking of the power of the thunderbolt and how it would save her people, and then cut it again. The blood poured freely. Much more blood than she had thought. The cut was quite bad and painful. She would need to wrap it tightly later.

“Kassius, I’m bleeding a lot.”

“Lay down the sword over the chalice.”

She quietly obeyed. Kassius then held the gem up and drew it closer to the blade.

“Guide my hand and help me place it in.”

Alana grabbed Kassius’ cold fingers and did as he said. The gem clanked inside, thanks to Tor’s efficient carpentry skills.

“It’s time,” he said, proceeding to clear his throat. Then, he recited the hymn:

As ypsothuón kai páli oi gioi tou Ári

afíste tous pa iperischysoun enantión echthrou tous.

Ou gigantas tis geas.

Etsi, amfisvito to aionio kakó.

Immediately, a tremor shook the earth and Alana got up, startled. The earthquake stopped immediately, but a noise was heard in the distance, like rocks crumbling down from a mountain.

“What’s that?” she asked.

Kassius removed his blindfold and looked around with curious green eyes.

“Gods, I hope it worked.” He stared at the sword below him.

“I guess it did. Would you like to try it?” she asked.

“I’m not a swordsman. You are the sword expert here,” Kassius winked one of his wide eyes.

Alana cleared her throat and stared at the enchanted blade. Although the metal was rough and unpolished, even a laughingstock for anyone who had seen a sword before, she felt proud of it. And now, excitement crawled through her spine. She imagined the immense power of the stars and prayed deeply for it to be effective against the enemy.

“Just don’t aim it at me.” Kassius staggered to his feet and stepped away from the circle.

Alana solemnly grabbed the handle tightly with both hands and lifted it above her head. She took a deep breath that whistled through her runny nose.

“By the power of Ares!” she called. “I call on the Thunderbolt of Venus.”

Alana shut her eyes, expecting lightning to come out of the sword, but nothing happened. She looked around, checking if at least the ravens had noticed the magical power that had made the earth shake.

“Try calling Venus’ name,” Kassius suggested, scratching his head.

“Venus,” Alana yelled. “Grant me the power, oh Mother of the Stars!”

Not even the wind answered her pleas.

Kassius’ eyes drifted from side to side.

“What was that spell all about,” Alana asked, shrugging and letting out a shiver.

“Something, something, I challenge the eternal evil. It doesn’t matter, say what you were saying, but do it in the ancient tongue. Repeat after me:”

Agrimpasa, dóse mou to keravnó sou.

Alana repeated the formula, but nothing happened. Her shoulders were starting to ache.

“Am I not saying it right?” Alana asked with an arched eyebrow, lowering the sword.

“What in the world?” Kassius shook his head and jumped around the circle, running to check the sword, gently taking it from Alana’s hands. “What did we do wrong… I mean… Maybe we didn’t channel the power right… I mean, did you feel the ground shake? It was working.” He pressed the jewel into the handle, making sure it was fitted right.

“No idea.” She cleared her throat and dropped to her knees. “Now, if you’ll excuse me,” she said, as she dried her toes with her coat and proceeded to put the boots on.

She stood up, putting on the cloak, and she turned around toward the path. Then, she stepped back, as her heart turned around like a pancake and her mouth dropped.

Six horsemen stood before her. The one in front was riding a white stallion, his hair was brown, and he wore an eyepatch.

“Well, well, well, well, well,” the man with one eye said. “What do we have here?”

“I...”

“You smell like a scoundrel,” he said, sniffing the air.

Alana frowned and stood in a fighting stance.

“What are you holding?” The man mocked her. “Is that a spatula? Do you call that a sword?”

“You!” she said. “It’s you who ordered the death of so many. You are… You will see.”

“What will I see? I will see many interesting things, it seems. What do you say, boys? Hey! I know that guy. That’s the old Iberian slave. I wonder what’s he doing here. Hey, don’t get away, you little rabbit.” The governor turned around and winked at one of the soldiers. The man had long blonde hair and a full beard. He was a barbarian, not an Itruschian. He removed an arrow, the tip was shining bronze, and held it, pulling the arrow and the string, aiming at Kassius’ heart.

Alana turned quickly, yelling in despair.

“Stop!”

Larius giggled.

“Before that little rabbit gets out, come on Jürgn, shoot that little rabbit.”

“No! No!” Alana’s sword gripping hand shook.

The barbarian shot, and the arrow pierced Kassius in the chest. He gasped and fell back, as another arrow shot into his body.

The governor chuckled and licked his fingers.

“Well done, Jürgn. You people can go hunt some more. The rest of the pack must not be very far. Let me have some good times with torchead, will ya?”

The hunters nodded and dispersed.

“What do we have here...” he said, dismounting.

“I,” she proudly said. “And I will be the last thing you see.” She held the sword in both hands and quickly pointed the blade at him, visualizing a green thunderbolt coming out of it.

But nothing happened.

She prayed in silence, but no magic came out.

She sighed and solemnly placed the sword on the ground, then she unsheathed the dragon blade that hung behind her cloak. On her left, she held the black Parzhian dagger.

“I am ready,” she said with a frown.

Larius laughed and kept walking with his head up, unconcerned.

“Want to play a bit? I was looking for a blonde, but… Maybe I’m not good at judging hair colour. Are you the one I’m looking for?”

Alana didn’t answer. She frowned and lunged at him with both blades.

Larius parried both hands easily and kicked her in the shin, making her fall on her elbow and feeling the biting snow on her arm. Alana got up, preparing to fight back. She let out a war cry that only made Larius laugh more. She tried to smite him with two alternating blows, but he blocked easily and sent her dragon blade flying. As usual, her grip was not strong enough.

She kept attacking with the black dagger, but Larius was playing around, blocking every blow. He yawned as he did, stepping back and giving Alana a chance to attack.

But Alana smiled as something jumped behind him. Larius turned in time, as the old Arcturus jumped him and bit him in the leg.

“Miserable beast!” Larius yelled.

He waved his blade at the dog and blood sprinkled about. Arcturus moaned like a lost puppy, and Alana opened her eyes in terror as the dog was cast out with the blow.

“You damn animal. You ruined my boots.” Larius strode furiously, smiting the dog again. And again.

Alana swallowed, then ran toward Larius with the knife in hand. The man was quick to catch her left hand. He squeezed it, forcing her to open it and drop the dagger. He pulled her closer, without looking at her, and struck his blade at Arcturus’s neck again.

She could not believe it. The poor dog lay agonizing on the side, and Larius turned and pushed her back into the woods. Soon, she had her back against a tree.

“You did put up a fight. Well, you’ve been doing it for a while, I’ll give you that,” he said.

Alana spat on his face.

“You bitch,” he said, licking the saliva that had splattered on his cheeks. Then, he held his sword forward, grabbed Alana’s hair up and stuck the blade in the trunk, directly above her. He removed it, then cut her hair with a slash.

“I’ll have fun. And… Yes… Bit by bit. I’ll cut you little by little, so you remember. So you feel and don’t forget.”

Alana was paralysed. She put down her hands. Now she was disarmed, her back against a tree and at the mercy of the man who had destroyed her people. Larius’ moves were superior and faster than anything she could try.

“I hope you don’t have any more toys in there. You know what happens when you misbehave,” he spat.

But there was something else she could try.

“No, no,” she said, calmly. “I will hit you in the face. I can break your teeth. I could even knock you out with one slap.”

Larius raised an eyebrow and then laughed at the suggestion, treating it like the innocent threat of a young girl.

She reached for her pocket, she felt cold iron and rust. But that was no sword, it was something small, almost insignificant.

“Oh, now that you asked. Come on, little one, hit me. Give me your best, I’ll enjoy it, I’m sure.”

Larius shut his only eye and leaned forward, presenting his cheek as if asking for a caress and at the same time, grasping her hair tight, not letting her go.

Alana slid her hand back, then pushed the old rusty nail into the governor’s eye.

He let go, his face contorted, he opened his mouth in agony and let out a heart wrenching shriek. The ravens flew away, shaking the branches overhead. He stumbled back, touching his face, but remained standing.

“My eye, my eye, not my eye!” His voice had morphed into what Hades must sound like.

Alana had three choices.

The dragon blade, the black Parzhian Dagger, or the Sword of Ares.

For Father, she thought.

She grabbed the dragon blade and quickly thrust it in his abdomen. She stabbed him again, and he lost the strength of his limbs and fell on his back. As he was still holding onto his face, shaking his arms and legs in dolorous spasms, Alana smote his head. The cries faded, as his neck split opened. A pool of blood stained the white snow. The colour of Ares, her Father.

She grabbed him by the hair, struck again, and severed his head. She dragged it by the hair and tied the brown locks to a low branch. It hung deformed, with the blood still descending from the grotesque nail, quickly freezing. That would be a warning to the ones who murdered the innocent and tried to take away their freedoms.

As she regained her senses, she said her husband’s name and ran to his bloodied body. He breathed still and opened his eyes softly and sweetly.

He muttered her name, but the sound did not come out.

“Kassius, my love,” she said, looking at both the arrows.

“You…” he struggled to speak. “You can…”

“Hold on,” she said, reaching for his hand and grasping it tightly. It was cold.

“Take them out!” he said.

“Me?” She looked at the arrows that stuck out from his body like flowery ornaments.

“Do it! Please,” he pleaded. “It doesn’t matter if I scream.”

She nodded, then proceeded to tear them. He yelled and then tilted his head back in silence.

“Are you okay, Kasha? Kasha… Don’t leave me, please.” She reached for his hand again.

“I… I love you, Alana,” he said, with droplets forming on the rims of his eyes.

“Me too,” she said, staring into his deep pupils. His face was paler than ever, and shadows took shape under his eyes, but he was hers, and she belonged only to him.

“Ala… Please...” Kassius stuttered.

“What, Kasha? What?”

“Now… You can give me a real kiss. It’s all done.”

“Yes,” she said, as her eyes watered. She reached forth and kissed his dry lips, as if she were devouring a loaf of bread after a famine. Like a thirsty traveller drinking from a desert well. Their mouths slowly opened.

Alana felt as if the whole world pulsated around her. It vibrated, like an earthquake.

But the earth was also shaking.

And yet, she did not stop. Their tongues touched softly.

He softly grabbed her shoulders and tilted her back.

“Ala,” he said, as a thread of saliva drifted from their mouths. He looked behind her, and she followed his eyes.

The earth was indeed shaking, as well as the trees. The ravens flew away as if possessed.

“The sword!” He pointed with his trembling fingers. She looked back. The emerald of Venus shone like a small moon of green light.

“What?” she said, standing up. “What is going on?”

“I don’t know...” He said. “Please help… I’m bleeding. Stop the bleeding… And kiss me again.”

“Let’s go,” she said, narrowing her eyes.

Alana bandaged him with Larius’ cape, then helped him up and walked with him toward the clearing. The hunters could be anywhere. They had to be careful.

But she saw figures through the white foliage, all bathed in red.

“Do you want to take a closer look?” he asked. “To see if it’s safe?”

“Sure,” she said, and quietly left Kassius sitting against a tree. Then, she peered through the leaves, and dropped the blade in amazement.

“Kasha…” she stuttered. “They’re all dead.”

“How dead? Do you...” He smiled. “Do you think the girls got them?”

“I don’t think so… Unless, the girls decided to tear them limb from limb and take the time to hang their legs from the trees. And… Stain the trees with blood.”

“What?”

“And… Well, it’s as if someone had a big spoon, he cut and stirred. And… Oh…”

“What is it, Alana?”

“K-k-kasha…”

“What?”

The footprints before her sunk deeper than a yard.

“I’m not sure if you want to see this. But… Remember the book?”

“What about the book?”

“Remember the part about the giants?”