The Curse of Thir

“Run Naveen!” Xylee stood in front of Naveen refusing to give ground and using his forward momentum to fling him to the side. She glanced back at Naveen, her yellow eyes glowed brilliantly in the dusk of the day.

Gavan was back on his feet and aimed his sights on the Princess as she sprinted towards the confused guards on the other side. He appeared uninterested in fighting Xylee as she let loose a low throaty growl to draw his attention. He thrust out his sword but the blade was knocked back by Xylees arm as she easily kept pace with his mad lopping strides towards the fleeing girl. He swung the blade back, the hilt hitting Xylee in the gut and winding her long enough to gain ground on Naveen who had stopped half way between Xylees fight and the guards. Holton the night guards’ man rushed to her side and pulled her back. She stumbled back but held out her hand expecting the weapon.

“I can help her! Give me a sword Holton! I know how to fight.” “NO! We are here to protect you not to throw you into battle.” He turned back and saw Gavan sprinting for her.

“Gavan, stop this madness,” His hand reached for his sword, “Stop now and I won’t have to kill you-” Gavans’ sword fastened itself into Holtons chest; it had been thrust forward with inhuman strength and protruded out the other side. Seeing the only way to the princess was through. The rest of the guards raced forward to surround the princess. She found herself jostled between them with a limited view of her attacker.

“Give me a damned sword!” Naveen shouted between the mass of bodies that surrounded her.

The smooth noise of fine steel on flesh could be heard, with a loud thumping noise as a fast body slammed into the man directly in front of Naveen forcing him to his knees and revealing a frightening sight; Gavan stood only a few steps away from her, his eyes pulsating a sickly blue that had begun to trace the veins around his eyelids. He had made quick work of the men surrounding Naveen, who had been reluctant to kill a comrade in arms till they realised he did not have that problem. Only three of the previous twelve stood protecting her now from this mad man and his sharp blade. Looking to her left she saw Xylee getting up after having been knocked down again in her second attempt to take him down, her eyes burned brighter and her horns shifted and grew.

Steel hit steel as Gavan lunged his sword toward her. One guardsman grabbed Naveen and ran for the door, dragging her by the wrist, whilst the other two parried increasingly desperate blows from Gavan. Xylee took the opportunity as it presented itself and burst forward at a frightening speed, tackling with her shoulders and digging her nails into his armour. They fell together and landed solidly on the grass, his blade flew back into the lake with a splash. Screaming he got up and headed once again for Naveen, the two men still standing slashed and stabbed at his body but he did not go down. Xylee jumped up and rammed her horns deep into his armoured back, piercing his flesh long enough to slow him down and grab his sides. She forced her head violently upwards tearing metal and flesh in one swift movement, and then kicking the back of his legs she drove him down, by pushing the rest of his livid body to ground. Staggering backwards she watched a blade arc down, cleanly removing his neck from his body which in turn jerked, shuddered and finally stopped moving, leaving those that stood about him in shock.

Corpses littered the ground and the air smelt of iron, sweat and fear. Naveen was still being held back by the guard who had pulled her with him, she pushed him aside, easily getting loose and attempted to head towards Xylee, but the guard realising she was no longer in his grasp, reached out and grabbed her again, straining to keep her in his grasp. Everything had happened in less than two minutes and left them reeling in confusion.

A new wave of the kings’ guardsmen and soldiers exploded through the door, surprising them and forcing the guards to wheel about with swords pointing shakily and panic etched in their faces, expecting the fight to continue. Gelnane was amongst the first to arrive and view the disturbing mess. Out of the fourteen guards that had arrived to heed the call of help from the princess only three remained standing. Princess Naveen squirmed and wriggled till she freed herself of the guardsman’s clutch and dashed towards Xylee, who was now sitting down at the edge of the horror that lay before her. Side stepping the head sent shivers up Naveens spine, she wanted to throw up. She’d never seen a body, now she could not even hide from the fresh bleeding corpses.

“Xylee...” She knelt down beside her, blood trickled down Xylees face, her clothes; damp from the water had rips from where Gavans’ sword had barely missed her.

Gelnane marched forward ordering an explanation from any one of the three guards that stood in silent shock. He pointed at Xylee and demanded to know if she was responsible. They collectively shook their heads.

“Princess Naveen, are you at all injured?” He stood beside the decapitated body of Gavan and looked down, he couldn’t seem to care less by the horror, no one noticed as he seemingly forced a tone of concern into his voice. Naveen looked at Gavan shuddered and replied.

“No, Gelnane, I am not injured.”

“Let’s get you away from here then.” She stood up and offered her hand to Xylee who took it and stood up slowly alongside her.

“The creature needs to stay; I need to know of her involvement in this.” His voice pitched from monotone to false unease.

Offended by Gelnanes accusation Naveen, yet unable to observe the lack of feeling behind his words, folded her arms and shook her head.

“She must be interrogated. Can you not see her appearance shifting before your eyes Princess Naveen? She has magic and I hate to admit it, but perhaps your father is right insisting that she be taken away from you. She could be the cause of this.”

“No, you leave her alone, that man” She glanced at the decapitated body, “he was responsible she saved my life.” Noting Xylees neck, where the necklace had almost strangled her, she pointed at it and hissed. “Remove that Elt- Remove that blasted necklace, it almost killed her for nothing.”

“I’m sorry Princess, I cannot remove it without your fathers consent, and I doubt that, that will happen. Now come with me, I shall take you to safety.”

“No, I will not leave without Xylee.”

He reached forward to grab Naveen, but was swatted aside by Xylee who blocked Naveen. Her yellow eyes flared slightly. Although confused by her own reflex, she felt it the right thing to do.

“Princess Naveen. I suggest you call your pet off before I harm her.”

Naveens hand lightly clasped onto Xylees shoulder.

“The only pet I see here is you Gelnane,” She squeezed Xylees shoulder, she held back her flinch, “this here, is hopefully my new friend, Xylee.”

Gelnane bristled at her cheek, finding his emotions again.

“Now if you’ll excuse us, I believe Xylee needs to be tended to for the injuries she obtained whilst protecting me from one of your men.” Walking around him and avoiding the bodies they made their way towards the door. King Tyres exited the door as they reached it and looked about in shock at the bodies.

“Naveen! Are you hurt? Did this thing do this?” His face turned quickly from horror to anger as he saw the blood on Xylees damp clothing.

“No, father. Xylee saved me, along with those three petrified men.” The three men stood beside one another and attempted to recall the events but failed to speak clearly as they saw the bodies of their fellows being checked for signs of life.

“What happened here then?”

“One of Gelnanes men tried to kill me.” She grabbed Xylees hand and gently tugged. “We’re going back to my room to get clean and fix Xylee up. Excuse me father.” With Xylee in tow they walked past the confused king and back into the castle.