The Sphere
© Dan Shelton

Cam headed home after a long day at work, back to his little village and the small wooden construction he called his home. He passed the green and yellow fields, their vivid colours reminiscent of his childhood years.

Heading up the path to his house, his neighbour’s door was flung open and Lolei came running out, her beautiful golden hair streaming behind her. There was an anxious expression on her pale face.

“Cam! Thank the heavens you're back.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Earlier today these two men were here looking for you – very persistent they were too. I said you weren’t here but they wouldn’t believe me. They went into your house too, I couldn’t stop them, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Lolei. But who were they, what did they want?”

She shook her head. “They wouldn’t say. They were mean-looking, brutish I’d say. They scared me. I would not trust them. Have you any idea who they were?”

Cam shook his head, looking over to his house so she would not see his eyes. Yes, he knew who they were - he'd been dreading this day would come for years. “No. I’ve no idea.” He hated speaking such untruths to her; the only truth he ever wanted to tell her what how he felt for her, but he dare not speak those words.

“Thanks for telling me. I’ll check they haven’t stolen anything.”

He went inside. The house was a mess; no corner looked to have been untouched by their searching hands. How little they knew, Cam thought to himself, how little they knew that what they were after was so close to them, but very well hidden.

In the bedroom, he unwrapped the sphere from its hiding place, marvelling at it, turning it over in his hands, feeling its warmth, its yellow glow against his face. They must never get this, he vowed.

***

During the night, Cam crept into the nearby woods. His intent was to bury the sphere, but only temporarily, to keep it safe from those who would use it for evil.

Returning from the woods, he heard sounds from the village. He reached the edge of the woods and hunkered down, eyeing the scene before him with alarm.

Lolei had been dragged from her house – she was still dressed in her long nightgown – and was being forced onto the back of a horse. Her abductors were five big, mean-looking men – Lolei didn’t know them, but Cam recognised them for what they were: Malgani.

Lolei kicked and screamed against her abductors. She's a feisty one, Cam knew, but against her muscular foes he knew she would not prevail. But she continued her protestations and shouted, shouted out his name, shouted out the name of the one who loved her in secret.

He carefully surveyed the scene; five horses, big, black and strong; the golsian breed, one of the hardiest of horses; five Malgani, dressed in tough leather armour – by appearance they were human, but by psychology there were monstrous, without mercy and ruthless to their last breath.

Cam's felt as if his heart was being ripped from him. But what could he do? Against these men, he was powerless.

Having finished tying Lolei to a horse, they looked around, looking for him. But it was night, the light was poor and hidden here at the forest edge Cam was near invisible.

One of the Malgani stepped forward then, looking about, eyes narrowed. “I am Klor-do. I know you can hear me, Cam, son on Berni! You have what we want! We will have this female in return for the item!”

Cam wanted to act but kept himself in place, with the damp and earthy smell of the woods for company. Damn you, he thought. And damn that sphere too.

He saw fire next. They had lit a brazier and tossed it into his house. The little wooden structure began to smoke. The men laughed and laughed as the fire took hold and all that he had in the world was burnt to cinders.

***

Cam rapped on the door of his best friend Nor with an urgency rarely seen. Nor came to the door and opened it ajar.

“What on earth is it at this hour – oh, Cam, it's you! What is it, what time is it?”

He opened the door to let Cam in. Cam swept in, an earnest countenance on his face.

Nor rubbed at his sleepy eyes. “You look... agitated. What's happened?”

“Forgive this intrusion at such an ungodly hour, but something has happened and... I must confess to you something which I have not told another living soul.”

“Need you be so melodramatic, friend?” Nor asked, half in jest. “Couldn't this sudden confession wait until at least dawn had broken?”

“If only that were true, dear friend. But time is not on our side, I require your help and I must unburden a secret I have kept for so many long years.”

Nor rubbed his chin. “This is serious, my friend, for you speak like I haven’t heard you speak before. Sit. I shall make us coffee.”

Nor went to brew them both a pot of coffee. Cam meanwhile sat, then stood, then sat, then stood, unable to decide which he wanted to do. Inside he was restless, nervous for what might be happening to Lolei.

At length, Nor emerged with two hot, steaming mugs of brown liquid. Cam gulped half his down in one go, wiping his mouth on the sleeve of his coat. Nor savoured his drink.

“So,” said Nor, “you are bursting to tell, so spill the beans.”

Cam finished his coffee in a second long swig and put his mug down with a satisfying clunk. “My friend,” he began, “listen well, for you may find what I have to say fantastical.”

Nor leant in a little closer.

“When I was a child my father told me the story of the four spheres. It is said that many years ago, in a time long forgotten, a great wizard created four spheres. One for the north, south, east and west. This wizard wanted power over the whole world, and he conjured demons and serpents from the underworld to help him. Imbued with his power and that of the underworld, the spheres were created. But the people realised what the wizard might do with such unlimited power, and they killed him.

“They tried to destroy the spheres but could not – their magic was too strong. Instead they had to be separated and taken to the farthest corners of the planet. If they were ever to come together again they would be immensely powerful. On their own they are useless, nothing more than coloured balls – but when joined with another, they become powerful.

“And so it was, that they were scatted across the planet. And over time the truth of the spheres became rumour, then myth, then merely a whisper on the wind.

“That is the tale my father told me when I was ten. He also showed me the sphere he had, and when he died I took over responsibility for keeping it safe.”

Nor sat back in his chair. He shook his head. “This is a lot to take in,” he said at last.

“I know.”

“Why tell me this now, what has prompted this?”

Cam shook his head in sadness, turned his gaze to the floor. “Something terrible has happened. A race called the Malgani – a secret sect whose purpose is to unite the spheres and bring about a new Dark Age – knows that I have a sphere; they have also kidnapped Lolei. She must be rescued, and my sphere must be moved and hidden anew, far beyond their sight.”

“My friend,” Nor said at length, “this is indeed worrying news. I feel for you, that you have had to carry the tremendous burden alone. Whatever help you require, I will assist.”

“You must know,” Cam warned, “that our chances of success may be slight. The Malgani are ruthless and cruel – they will think nothing of torturing a man for their own twisted pleasure.”

“Then I shan’t fear their barbarism. Tell me, do you have a plan?”

“I do.”

***

The golsian horses favoured by the Malgani leave tell-tale droppings behind them; unlike other horses, their droppings have a distinctive smell. Over two days, Cam and Nor tracked them via the droppings until they found the Malgani at a small camp in the forest.

Cam surveyed their enemy. The camp of small tents was arranged around a central fire, which burnt brightly in the darkness of the night. There were seven Malgani in total here, and a dozen horses; and there, tied to a tree, was Lolei. My poor, beautiful Lolei, Cam thought. Lolei was subdued and submissive – perhaps she had already resigned herself to her fate, Cam wondered.

“Two against seven,” said Nor. “I don't like those odds. My sword can only strike one at a time and so can yours. We have the element of surprise but little else.”

“We are outnumbered, but we are better than they are. We are not monsters in human form. We are right.”

“Being right will not make my sword arm any more effective,” Nor fretted.

“Have faith. We'll wait until they have all gone to sleep then rescue Lolei. If we can get away without engaging them in combat, that is better than nothing.”

They waited in silence. The night grew colder, the moon a dull grey disk in the sky.

“So, where is your sphere now?” Nor asked.

“It is safe. They will not find it without me.”

“If they know that, that gives us an advantage, they won't want to kill you, if we have to fight.”

“That had occurred to me,” Cam said. “But they have ways and means beyond your imagination. I would rather not consider any possibility except victory, for any other is too horrific to give thought to.”

***

The camp fire had gone out and the Malgani were all asleep within an hour. The last tendrils of smoke from the fire were spiralling into the air as Cam and Nor crept into the camp. Nor had his sword drawn and ready. The chilly night air made his skin prickle but sharpened his senses to the danger.

Dagger drawn, Cam crept to the tree to which Lolei had been tied. He knelt down beside her slumped form, watching for a moment the slow rise and fall of her body as she slept. He ran a finger down her cheek – her skin was soft and cool to his touch.

With care he shook her. She murmured. Her eyes fluttered open, “What-”

“Shhhhhhh.”

Her eyes found him – she breathed in a mouthful of air, shock and surprise on her face.

Cam put a finger to his lips.

With his dagger he cut her bonds. She rubbed at her sore wrists with relief. Her eyes found his again. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Half-shadowed by the poor light, he could still see the sparkle in her blue eyes, her thin red lips which he so much wanted to caress with his own...

Cam smiled. “I... you're welcome.”

An unexpected sound then startled the pair of them. They both turned and saw by the light of the moon that they were surrounded by all seven Malgani. Nor, too, was among their ranks. The Malgani leader, Klor-do, stood in the centre of them, was clapping, but doing so sarcastically. He had a dark grin on his face.

“Awwww, how touching,” he mocked. “The big hero and his princess. Isn't this romantic? “

Cam urged Lolei to stand behind him and drew his sword. “You will never get the sphere. Never, do you hear!”

“Tough words,” Klor-do smirked. “But not even you can defeat all of us. Face it, Cam, son of Berni, you will tell us what we want to know – the odds are against you, you are surrounded – even your friend has deserted you.” He indicated Nor, stood at his side.
Cam couldn't help but feel the sting of betrayal in his mouth. “I trusted you!” he shouted at Nor, his voice laden with indignation.
Nor shrugged, almost apologetically. “My friend, why live your life as an ordinary person when the power of the spheres can be within your grasp – they promised me power if I helped them, so I did. The spheres can give me power like I've never imagined!”

Cam spat on the floor. “You're a fool to trust these men. They will betray you as you have betrayed me!”

“You lie!” Nor retorted.

“I-”

“Silence!” yelled Klor-do. He pointed his sword towards Lolei, trembling and half-hidden behind Cam. “Seize her!”

One of the Malgani on the left lunged for her. Cam sliced at him with his sword, causing a long gash in his body armour and cutting through into the flesh underneath. He let out a scream as blood began to squirt out.

“Run!!!”

Lolei did as instructed and fled as fast as she could manage. The forest was thick, the light poor, her dress long and prone to getting tangled on branches, but she ran with all the determination she could gather.

The injured Malgani reached for his sword, determined to fight back. But Cam was too quick for him, thrusting his sword into his belly, splitting his armour. He withdrew his sword with a horrid squelching sound. The Malgani fell to the ground, coughing blood.

“Get her!” screamed Klor-do. Three Malgani broke off from group and sped off after the fleeing Lolei. He instructed two other Malgani to attack Cam. They approached him at ten and two, each with their long swords drawn.

They won't kill me, Cam knew. At most they'll injure me, but they won't kill me, they need me alive.

They began to circle him. He backed off, keeping them at a distance, his own sword ready to strike at any mistake they made. But his mind was only half-concentrating – he kept thinking about Lolei. Had she escaped, or had the pursuing Malgani captured her?

Distracted by these thoughts, one of the men lunged at him. The sword struck his abdomen, but glanced off, leaving only torn clothing and a small wound. Still, it stung him and blood was starting to seep out.

He backed off a little more, circling around until his back was to a line of trees. He'd backed himself into a corner. Klor-do and Nor watched as the two Malgani closed in. Cam gulped, his throat dry.

The two Malgani closed in, taunting him.

“Stop!” Klor-do said.

They all turned and saw Lolei being dragged back into the camp. She'd been caught. A coarse rope was about her hands once again. Her dress was muddied and torn, her face streaked with dirt.

“We found the bitch,” one of the Malgani said. The shoved her forward. She fell at Klor-do's feet. He knelt down, grabbed her by the throat and hauled her up.

He turned to Cam. “We have your little prize, Cam. Now tell us where the sphere is, or she will die.”

“Never.”

Klor-do took a small dagger with a curved handle from his belt. He put it to her throat, piercing the skin, sending blood dribbling down her neck. She let out a shriek of pain. Cam could see the fear in her eyes. He could feel the fear rising in him too.

“Tell me!” Klor-do's voice was now angry and frustrated.

Cam held his ground. He licked his wet lips and opened his mouth. “I have only one thing to say,” he said. “Lolei, I love you.” He could see tears welling in her eyes. She spoke softly, calmly.

“I know.”

Keeping the dagger at her throat, he turned to Nor; his tone was accusational. “You said he would tell us where the sphere was! I don't tolerate failure.”

“But-”

In one swift move, he took the dagger from Lolei's throat and thrust it into Nor's chest. Nor fell to his knees, mouth agape, eyes full of surprise. He slumped to the ground face down.

Cam smiled to himself; he’d successfully called his bluff.

All eyes were now on the fallen man; their defences were down. Cam sensed his moment to strike was now or never.

He raised his sword high and with a battle cry launched himself at the assembled Malgani. The two nearest him were downed in two swift blows; their bodies crumpling to the ground. Barely had they breathed their last when Cam was slicing through the three who came at him – the three who had apprehended Lolei.

He sliced and cut and thrust with a ferocity he had never known he possessed until now. Death was not in his nature but he knew at that moment that it was his only answer to their threat.

There remained just him, Klor-do and Lolei. Cam took a step towards him, squaring up to him. Klor-do's earlier bravado and cockiness had now gone, replaced with genuine fear. Lolei ran to Cam's side, protectively grabbing his arm.

“Are you ok?” he asked.

She nodded. “I'm fine, thanks to you.”

Cam turned his attention to Klor-do. Cam's confidence was now supreme and he knew he could take on this foe.

“I told you, you would never get the sphere.”

“This battle isn't over,” Klor-do said, then began to run. Cam moved as to chase after him; Lolei held him back. “Don't, let him go, there's been too much bloodshed tonight already.”

“Coward,” Cam shouted. He re-sheathed his sword and turned to Lolei.

“It isn't safe for us here anymore. We'll have to go away, very far away, and hide the sphere once again. Life won't be the same.”

She smiled up at him. “I don't mind. If we're together, then nothing can touch us.”

“I hope you're right,” he murmured to himself.