Miro saw Gorain himself.
A space had opened around the pirate king of Nexos. The revenant in his black and white garb held a sliver of purple light, an enchanted blade, as long as a zenblade and wielded with precise skill. Opposing him, a tall man in shining green silk whirled to meet every strike, his own blade crashing against his enemy’s with each darting parry, every feint and thrust.
The two swordsmen circled each other, stepping in and out like trained dancers, carving the air between them in a deadly flurry of blows. They moved so quickly Miro couldn’t see any opening for either warrior to take. This was swordsmanship of the highest order.
Only when the tall man in green blocked a strong overhead blow and grimaced as his muscles strained with effort, did Miro see the gray hair and scarred face.
The warrior in shining armorsilk was Rogan Jarvish.
A steady song came from Rogan’s lips, the zenblade seething with energy as he darted forward and leapt back, spun on his heel and thrust before ducking and cutting at Gorain’s legs. Rogan’s blade found an opening and smashed into his opponent’s side, but the runes on the revenant’s skin warded off the blow with a sound like a lightning strike.
Desperately trying to find his own opening as he drew in, Miro watched as Gorain launched a counterattack, a series of slashing blows aimed at Rogan’s head and torso. Rogan grimaced as he met each attack with a flashing parry, giving ground as he drew back, and now Gorain’s back was to Miro.
Miro saw his chance. Thrusting his darkened zenblade at the pirate king’s exposed back, Miro’s eyes widened with shock as Gorain was suddenly there to meet him, moving incredibly fast to knock Miro’s blade to the side and spear his purple blade into Miro.
The purple fire met the armorsilk and tore through the runes, breaking the lore and splitting the fabric. Miro screamed as he felt the steel penetrate his abdomen, but he rolled his chest away even as the blade came forward.
Rogan saw Miro’s plight, and the old blademaster threw himself at Gorain, slicing and slashing, striking twice at the revenant’s body. Still the runes warded off the blows.
Miro felt at his chest and looked at his hand, dripping red. Rogan feinted at Gorain’s face, and as the revenant drew back, cut once more. Rogan’s zenblade sliced through the pirate king’s left arm at the shoulder, sending the limb flying through the air.
Rogan coughed and choked, and Miro saw the older man’s breathing was labored, his face gray.
Snarling with rage and pain, Gorain spun into Rogan’s overextended frame and made a reverse thrust into Rogan’s chest.
The pirate king of Nexos roared in triumph as his purple blade penetrated through the armorsilk and continued through the center of Rogan’s torso. Miro cried out as steel emerged from Rogan’s back.
The light in Rogan Jarvish’s eyes darkened, and the strength left his legs. He collapsed to the ground as blood spurted from the deep wound.
Miro felt rage fire his blood. He charged into the pirate king, smashing his shoulder into the revenant. He crashed his blade again and again into Gorain’s sword, and when the pirate king expected another overhead swing, he fell to one knee and thrust with every bit of strength he possessed into the revenant’s stomach. His zenblade met the resistance of the runes.
Miro’s zenblade shattered.
But Miro had positioned his body as he’d intended. He dropped his broken sword and grabbed the hilt of Rogan’s zenblade, still hissing and blazing with power. From one knee, Miro thrust Rogan’s sword directly upward.
The point hit the underside of the pirate king’s chin and continued, thrusting toward the brain. Miro grunted with effort as he pushed, his muscles straining as the zenblade fought the protective power of the revenant’s runes.
Rogan’s zenblade won.
Gorain’s head exploded. As the last of the pirate kings died its final death, the light faded from Rogan’s sword.
Miro moved to stand over Rogan. He was an island in the chaos as enemies came at him one after the other, and each time Miro fought better than he ever had to cut them down with Rogan’s darkened blade. Blood dripped down Miro’s chest, his arms felt like lead, but he fought on.
No enemy was going to make him move from this place.
No one.
62
High above Seranthia, waves of terrible energy cascaded across the sky as the two Evermen fought a battle that would only end with one of their deaths.
Killian dove under an assault of blue lightning and sent his own flurry of fire from his hands, chanting constantly as he launched coiled yellow spheres at his opponent.
But Sentar was fast.