Chapter 11: The Duel

They found Jenner in only a few minutes. They looked around the wreckage where Nicodemus had been killed and found him along with Cassin and Nicolas immediately.

"So you finally decided to show up," Jenner said mockingly. "Give it up Jenner you've lost the fight", Hogarth yelled. Justin took over, "You have two choices just give up, or you will lose your life.

"You don't understand do you?" "I wasn't going to let Nicodemus ruin this whole colony that we worked so hard to build."

"You took an innocent life, and now when real danger is coming you won't listen", Dexter said to him.

"Now son was Nicodemus really innocent, I believe he was a backstabbing, idiotic, and foolish leader."

Justin retorted at him. "NO, he was a great leader who wanted to help people, he trusted you, and you betrayed him.

Jenner was finally finished. "I've had enough of this Cassin, Nicolas, finish them off. "Yes sir." Cassin and Nicolas came towards the group while Jenner walked away.

"What are we going to do we can't let Jenner win", Hogarth said. Dexter and Tut both came up with an idea. Tut then explained it.

"You guys go after Jenner and finish him we'll fight these guys for you." "Are you sure", Justin asked. "Yes now go and stop that guy before he kills someone else Dexter said." "Alright come on Justin let's go Hogarth said and they took off running."

"LET'S GO AFTER THEM", Cassin yelled.

As Cassin and Nicolas were about to run after Hogarth and Justin, when Dexter and Tut jumped in front of them. "You foul rat demons, if you want to get to them you'll have to take on the mighty pharaoh and his friend first", Tut yelled.

"We're not going to let you win this Jenner and you will all be defeated", Dexter said to them.

"So be it", Nicolas said, but you will not win this fight child."

The duel went on for some time. Dexter was fighting Cassin while Tut was fighting Nicolas. Cassin and Nicolas' swords clashed with Tut and Dexter's in a violently. At one point Nicolas stabbed Tut in the stomach but was surprised Tut felt no pain.

"You should know I'm already dead."

The fight raged on becoming more and more violent until Dexter got a brilliant idea. Seeing two unstable rocks hanging from a ledge over the ground where they were fighting this idea came to him.

"If we can just lure Cassin and Nicolas close to the wall and have them knock into it the rocks will come down and knock them out."

Dexter distracted Cassin and ran over to where the ledge was, Tut who realized Dexter's plan followed him and stood under the ledge as well.

"Come get us you dumb rats", they both yelled. Cassin and Nicolas charged at Dexter and Tut and as they reached them Dexter and Tut jumped out of the way just in time.

Nicolas and Cassin crashed into a rock wall and then the rocks on the ledge came down and crashed on top of them knocking them out cold.

"Well I guess that'll keep them sleeping for a little while", Tut said satisfied at seeing their enemies defeated. "Yeah come on Tut, we've got to help Justin and Hogarth fight Jenner." Tut nodded at Dexter's suggestion and they ran over to the platform to help Hogarth and Justin finally finish the battle with Jenner.

As soon as Hogarth and Justin found the platform Jenner was at it was a fight from the very minute they got there. They found Jenner standing waiting for them.

"Well I see that you two have finally made it."

"Jenner, we're going to say this one last time, give up or die", Justin said.

"It doesn't matter about those choices because both of you won't survive," Jenner yelled unsheathing his sword and dueled Hogarth and Justin.

The fight started and Hogarth was surprised that he was actually doing well with his sword even though he had never used one before.

Jenner smiled at them evilly and taunted them every chance he could get. Jenner's taunting enraged Hogarth and Justin but they stayed focus on what they had to do. As they're swords clashed again and again Justin accidently let his guard down and Jenner hit him against a rock where he was knocked out cold.

"You'll pay for that Jenner," Hogarth yelled while clashing his sword with Jenner's.

"You don't understand do you boy, there is nothing you can do."

"What are you talking about?" Jenner scoffed and continued talking coming to a brief stalemate.

"Who else will rule the rats, that fool Justin, ha, he can't even master sword fighting properly.

"Well I sure as hell know that you aren't going be the ruler Jenner."

"Ha and what makes you think that."

"They know what you have done, they know you killed Nicodemus, if you win and go back they'll go against you, try you, convict you, and then maybe they'll kill you.""Besides they saw you for what you really are when you attacked Mrs. Brisby so now they know."

"Well boy you may be right, but there are many solutions."

"What kind of solutions."

"Maybe I can say that you and your friends were planning to overthrow us, or maybe I'll threaten the rats to do my bidding."

"They'll never listen to you or obey you, because they were loyal to Nicodemus and they'll do what he would want which includes going to Thorn Valley."

Hogarth's was gaining the upper hand and he was finally going to finish Jenner. Hogarth clashed his sword against Jenner's. Jenner backed up shocked at this boy beating him. Hogarth kept up his fighting and was close to winning. Just when Jenner thought he was about to lose he did the unthinkable.

For a split second when Hogarth had his guard down Jenner made a quick slash move. Hogarth stopped and felt a sharp pain coming from his stomach. He looked down and was shocked at what he saw.

Jenner had slashed a severe cut into his abdomen and he was bleeding. Hogarth turned ghostly pale as blood poured of his wound. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees coughing up blood. He tried to crawl away, but Jenner kicked him while he was crawling. Hogarth stopped crawling and sat up against a rock in excruciating pain. Jenner stood over him smiling.

"Well it seems I've won now boy."

Hogarth looked up at him with tears in his eyes. "Please, don't kill me."

"Well that depends, how about you and your friends join me and we can rule this colony." "You'll be a leader and you can have control over everybody and can have anything you want."

Hogarth didn't listen and instead spat in Jenner's face. "Very well then, you shall die."

Jenner raised his sword preparing to strike. Hogarth closed his eyes and prepared for death. Just then a voice yelled out.

"JENNER!"

Jenner turned around while Hogarth opened his eyes and looked. It was Elizabeth standing before them with the Stone around her neck.

"Elizabeth, you're here."

Jenner returning to falsely acting polite spoke up to Elizabeth. "Well Mrs. Brisby, it seems that you have come to see your friend die."

"Wait Jenner, is this what you want", Elizabeth asked taking the Stone and holding it up. Jenner stared wide eyed at the Stone.

"The Stone, YES, GIVE IT TO ME!"

"I'll give it to you but on one condition." Jenner laughed sarcastically, "and what might that be my dear", he asked.

"In exchange for the Stone you spare Hogarth and let him go." Hogarth looked to her and shook his head.

"Elizabeth, no don't give him the Stone."

"Shut up boy", Jenner said kicking Hogarth on the shoulder. "I'll spare him, now give me the Stone."

"First drop your sword." Jenner was a bit annoyed by this but obliged dropping his sword and holding his hands up in the air.

"There now give me the Stone." Elizabeth walked towards Jenner and was about to hand him the stone. Hogarth quietly looked on with tears in his eyes and said "Elizabeth, please no."

But Elizabeth turned her head to him and winked at him. Hogarth was confused for a moment but understood seeing Jenner's sword beside him he picked it up and held it.

"Now hand over the Stone Brisby."

"You want the Stone, Jenner, THEN TAKE IT" Elizabeth yelled then she jumped and using the Stone whacked Jenner in the face.

Jenner was visibly enraged by this trick. "You little wench, I'm going to", he was about to say before Elizabeth yelled to Hogarth. Jenner turned to Hogarth holding the sword in his hands. Hogarth then stabbed Jenner in the stomach with his sword. Jenner screamed in pain, his eyes went wide and he fell to the ground, unconscious, possibly dead.

Elizabeth ran over to Hogarth and examined his wound. "Oh my goodness, what did he do to you, Hogarth." "I'll be fine I just need someone to fix it."

Dexter and Tut then arrived and saw Hogarth wounded. "Jesus, Hogarth what happened", Dexter yelled. Elizabeth spoke for Hogarth. "Jenner hurt him; we have to stop the bleeding." "Maybe I can use some of my bandages to help." Dexter turned to Tut and shook his head. "No Tut it's going to take more than bandages to help." Justin had woken up and ran up to find Hogarth bleeding.

"Justin can you do something to help him", Elizabeth said.

"I think I have an idea." Justin took his belt and wrapped it around Hogarth's stomach using it as a tourniquet. "This should be able to stop the bleeding for a while." The bleeding slowed down but Hogarth's face was still pale.

"Hogarth do you think you can stand", Elizabeth asked. "Yes I'm fine, Elizabeth, thank you, you saved my life." "Just like you said Hogarth, that's what friends are for."

"Come on Hogarth let's get you back and have Mr. Ages patch you up", Justin said. "Okay." Hogarth stood a bit shakily but was able to stand up and walk. They walked away from Jenner's body and walked back to the rats.