Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 53
He awoke to the stars shining above him in the black canopy of night. There was no moon, no wind . . . no crew. Standing quickly, he felt the threat again. He began spinning in circles as his weapon hissed forth from its sheath. The runes upon the blade the Knowledge Master had given him shifted slowly, forming a completely different design from what it was when he had been gifted with the blade.
Thick, rolling, blackened fog began to seep through the opening of the railings of the ship at all sides, fingering across the deck as if alive, reaching for him. Then it formed up out of the mists that flowed eerily to encompass the entire surface of the ship. Death!
Sekali sprang to his feet, sword ringing from its sheath as he awoke . . . awoke to the same nightmare . . . gritting his teeth, he spun in circles, waiting for his enemy; the same who took away his beloved Mahkaia. And up out of the blackened shadows it arose, creeping and stretching over the deck of the crewless ship. It wielded a scythe of unspeakable blackness which held the souls of those whom it had slain. Its influence was so terrible that Sekali could not move, nor could he speak. It advanced toward him, floating as if on an unseen wind, its long, shredded, tattered black robes floating out from it like a hundred evil banners of the legions of darkness. Sekali gritted his teeth, hating it; hating it with such an enmity that it gave him energy enough to strike. And he did battle with Death itself, striking out with all his hatred, all his pain, all the darkened energy of his soul. But he could not overcome its defenses, and he cried out in fury and desperation, vainly spitting out curses of death and dreadful oaths against it in frustration. Soon his offenses were turned to defending against it, and he found himself fighting desperately for his life.
Just as he could no longer wield his blade, and had just given himself to the same fate of his beloved Mahkaia, Mabuhi appeared at his side, wielding a white shining staff that shone brighter than the sun in the noonday. She commanded him to fight; to never give in . . . never give up the fight. Sekali’s heart leapt with sudden hope as he saw her fighting along-side him. His strength renewed as he leapt forward, renewed and exhilarated at this sudden and unexpected aid.
They both battled on, Sekali with a renewed fury that turned the tide of Death’s offense to defense. White-lightning bolts of pure energy poured forth from Mabuhi’s staff, striking their enemy down, and his blade cutting down his enemy with every stroke. Soon all that remained were the tattered shreds of darkness, slowly blowing away in that same unearthly breeze that once carried it toward him, falling into the blackness of the darkened mist, from the deck of the ship and over the sides.
Soon the ship was as before; without its crew. Sekali panted heavily, sweat pouring down his entire body. He staggered, leaning heavily upon his knees, struggling for the strength to catch his own breath. Falling to his knees, he dropped his blade upon the deck of the ship. Mabuhi rushed to his side and helped him to the railing where he set his back. She knelt before him quickly and brushed his hair back from his eyes.
“Sekali, you are free now. Now you can sleep.” She began to fade away. “Now you can sleep . . . ”
She vanished, as did his strength. He closed his eyes and painfully lowered his head, falling into a deep, deep sleep . . . peace.