A/N Yay, another chapter!! Enjoy!! ^_^
Chapter Twenty One
The Garter nodded. The soldiers stood up to hang the prisoners. Jo looked across at Jack, it was a look that was all too clearly saying goodbye.
The men kicked the stools from under their feet.
And then it happened. Onslow and his army attacked.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
In the confusion someone cut the ropes, Jack hit the ground, and gasped for breath. He spent a few moments taking in the scene, as the free men fought the soldiers. The men of Rhydon seemed to be fighting with more vigour and determination then the soldiers, but they were falling quickly. And for every soldier that died it seemed two more appeared. Jack pushed himself up, and pulled out his sword. He looked round, Jo was unconscious but her slow moving chest told Jack that she was still alive. He knelt back down beside her, and kissed her hand, she stirred slightly, and gripped his hand.
"I'll be right back." He said, reassuringly.
Bill was waking up, and coughing, choking for breath. The others too seemed to be stirring. Without wasting any more time Jack set off into the battle scene. He fought his way through the soldiers until he reached the entrance to the fortress. He got their just in time to see the Garter retreat through the stone doors. Jack chased after him, killing everything that got in his way.
He pushed open the stone doors with difficulty, there were no guards, they were all outside fighting. So Jack was free to roam the fortress. He followed the slow heavy footsteps of the Garter.
He was going up a spiral staircase, taking two at a time when he came face to face with the Garter's jewelled sword. The point was inches from his face. Jack looked up to see the Garter, smiling. Jack stepped back carefully and drew his sword. The Garter had the advantage, and he knew it, that was why he was smiling. Jack would have to fight uphill. And if Jack fell down the stairs, well it was a long spirally way down, now one could possibly survive a fall like that.
And with no warning the Garter struck, Jack thrust his sword forward to block the attack. He only just managed. The jewelled sword was heavy, expertly crafted, so that the Garter felt none of the weight, the weight of the sword fell upon the opponent. Jack was forced a few steps back. He felt the steps with his feet, not daring to take his eyes from the Garter's face. It was a gift Jack had, by looking in the Garter's eyes he could see where the next attack was coming from, in theory. Of course the Garter was not one to give his movements away, and his eyes told a different story to what he was actually thinking.
"You fight well." The Garter remarked, in his cold voice. "But is it enough I wonder?" Again he flung his sword forward, Jack blocked it, but only just in time.
"Likewise." Jack replied. It was his turn. He stepped forward, he aimed for the Garter's heart, but just as he was about to thrust, the gold jewelled sword came from nowhere striking his hand with the flat side of the blade. The heavy metal crushed his hand, and Jack nearly dropped his sword in shock, and pain.
The Garter grinned. "You cannot win this, just as they cannot." He referred to the window, Jack saw from the corner of his eye that the men of Rhydon were of poor match for the soldiers. They had put up a good fight, but the end was near.
"And you a stranger enters my dormain and turns my people against me, I cannot let you live." His smiled grew, on his fat brown face.
"You give me too credit. I didn't need to turn the people against you, you did that all by your onesies." Jack replied.
The smile fell from the Garter's face. "Who are you, who dares challenge me?"
"Surely you've heard of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow?"
"Can't say I have. Well today, will be the day that I kill the infamous Jack Sparrow."
"Captain." Jack reminded him, as he dodged another of the Garter's attacks.
Jack stepped froward, he swung at the Garter's head, the massive man ducked. He pushed Jack. Jack's hands scraped the smooth stone walls, trying desperately to find something to grip to stop himself falling. He managed to steady himself before the Garter stood up.
Jack moved up another step, finding amore secure place to stand and the fight began again. There was the constant clang of the jewelled sword as it clashed upon Jack's course steel one. The sword Jack fought with was old and battle weary, but it was sharp, and well balanced, light and easy to use. He thrust it forward, but found himself blocking more then attacking.
The Garter was a supreme swordsman, but he was tiring, Jack caught that quickly and increased the pace. He dodged past the Garter, gaining the advantage of the stairs. Now he could push the Garter to his death.
He continued up the stairs, turned to see the fat king plodding after him, The garter plunged his sword into Jack's shoulder, Jack was too slow to prevent. He yelled in pain, before lifting his leg and kicking the Garter downwards. The man rolled down the stone steps like a giant ball, bouncing off the harsh stone, and eventually spiralling to a thudding halt at the bottom. Jack walked slowly down the steps, clutching his injured shoulder. He reached the bottom, and kicked the Garter, there was a slight moan. Jack picked up his war beaten, and warrior weary sword, and plunged it into the Garter's chest. As he did so someone appeared down the corridor. He stopped in surprise, seeing Jack bent over the dead king.
The man was Tuleus. He looked at his father, as though he was about to be sick.
Jack stood up still holding the blood dripping sword.
Tuleus looked from the dead man on the floor to Jack, and his bleeding shoulder.
"You have lost." He muttered. "Rhydon has lost, the last of the men have ran from my father's soldiers."
"They're your soldiers now." Jack said.
"What of it?"
"Your father is dead because of how he ruled, do not end up like 'im."
"My father is dead because of you."
"And what are you going to do about it?" Jack asked.
Tuleus scowled. "See that join him in hell!" He walked past his father and picked up the jewelled sword.
"I don't wanna fight you." Jack said.
"Scared you'll lose." Tuleus demanded.
Jack sighed and threw his sword to the ground. Tuleus stared at it for a moment or two.
"So that's it you won't fight?" Tuleus asked in amazement.
Jack shook his head, he clutched his shoulder, and spat blood on the floor. "I understand you wanna avenge your father, but I don't wanna fight."
"You have little choice."
"Oh I have a choice, same as you. I came 'ere to collect a few supplies, I was betrayed and nearly killed by the Garter's guards. The harem girl agreed to 'elp me, but the Garter sentenced us to be 'anged. We done nothin', and nor have you, I have no fight wit' you."
"How about the fight I have with you?" Tuleus demanded.
"You're the new Garter, lead your people well and they will respect you. Let them live free, look, look out there." Jack led Tuleus to the scene of carnage, where hundred lay dead and drowning in their own blood. "Or you the meet the same end as your father."
Tuleus looked down, as though in deep thought. He stood there for several minutes, his father's killer standing beside him, weaponless and bleeding from a possibly fatal wound to the shoulder, helpless if Tuleus decided to kill him.
"You must leave here, and never return." Tuleus said, quickly. "You are banished on pain of death from ever returning. Take any supplies you need, and go."
Jack nodded. He stepped out of the fortress and was met by Bill. Together they walked back to the docks. Jack didn't look back, he thought then that he would never return to Rhydon. As they walked
Bill pulled a piece of gold from his pocket and handed it to the Captain.
Chapter Twenty One
The Garter nodded. The soldiers stood up to hang the prisoners. Jo looked across at Jack, it was a look that was all too clearly saying goodbye.
The men kicked the stools from under their feet.
And then it happened. Onslow and his army attacked.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
In the confusion someone cut the ropes, Jack hit the ground, and gasped for breath. He spent a few moments taking in the scene, as the free men fought the soldiers. The men of Rhydon seemed to be fighting with more vigour and determination then the soldiers, but they were falling quickly. And for every soldier that died it seemed two more appeared. Jack pushed himself up, and pulled out his sword. He looked round, Jo was unconscious but her slow moving chest told Jack that she was still alive. He knelt back down beside her, and kissed her hand, she stirred slightly, and gripped his hand.
"I'll be right back." He said, reassuringly.
Bill was waking up, and coughing, choking for breath. The others too seemed to be stirring. Without wasting any more time Jack set off into the battle scene. He fought his way through the soldiers until he reached the entrance to the fortress. He got their just in time to see the Garter retreat through the stone doors. Jack chased after him, killing everything that got in his way.
He pushed open the stone doors with difficulty, there were no guards, they were all outside fighting. So Jack was free to roam the fortress. He followed the slow heavy footsteps of the Garter.
He was going up a spiral staircase, taking two at a time when he came face to face with the Garter's jewelled sword. The point was inches from his face. Jack looked up to see the Garter, smiling. Jack stepped back carefully and drew his sword. The Garter had the advantage, and he knew it, that was why he was smiling. Jack would have to fight uphill. And if Jack fell down the stairs, well it was a long spirally way down, now one could possibly survive a fall like that.
And with no warning the Garter struck, Jack thrust his sword forward to block the attack. He only just managed. The jewelled sword was heavy, expertly crafted, so that the Garter felt none of the weight, the weight of the sword fell upon the opponent. Jack was forced a few steps back. He felt the steps with his feet, not daring to take his eyes from the Garter's face. It was a gift Jack had, by looking in the Garter's eyes he could see where the next attack was coming from, in theory. Of course the Garter was not one to give his movements away, and his eyes told a different story to what he was actually thinking.
"You fight well." The Garter remarked, in his cold voice. "But is it enough I wonder?" Again he flung his sword forward, Jack blocked it, but only just in time.
"Likewise." Jack replied. It was his turn. He stepped forward, he aimed for the Garter's heart, but just as he was about to thrust, the gold jewelled sword came from nowhere striking his hand with the flat side of the blade. The heavy metal crushed his hand, and Jack nearly dropped his sword in shock, and pain.
The Garter grinned. "You cannot win this, just as they cannot." He referred to the window, Jack saw from the corner of his eye that the men of Rhydon were of poor match for the soldiers. They had put up a good fight, but the end was near.
"And you a stranger enters my dormain and turns my people against me, I cannot let you live." His smiled grew, on his fat brown face.
"You give me too credit. I didn't need to turn the people against you, you did that all by your onesies." Jack replied.
The smile fell from the Garter's face. "Who are you, who dares challenge me?"
"Surely you've heard of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow?"
"Can't say I have. Well today, will be the day that I kill the infamous Jack Sparrow."
"Captain." Jack reminded him, as he dodged another of the Garter's attacks.
Jack stepped froward, he swung at the Garter's head, the massive man ducked. He pushed Jack. Jack's hands scraped the smooth stone walls, trying desperately to find something to grip to stop himself falling. He managed to steady himself before the Garter stood up.
Jack moved up another step, finding amore secure place to stand and the fight began again. There was the constant clang of the jewelled sword as it clashed upon Jack's course steel one. The sword Jack fought with was old and battle weary, but it was sharp, and well balanced, light and easy to use. He thrust it forward, but found himself blocking more then attacking.
The Garter was a supreme swordsman, but he was tiring, Jack caught that quickly and increased the pace. He dodged past the Garter, gaining the advantage of the stairs. Now he could push the Garter to his death.
He continued up the stairs, turned to see the fat king plodding after him, The garter plunged his sword into Jack's shoulder, Jack was too slow to prevent. He yelled in pain, before lifting his leg and kicking the Garter downwards. The man rolled down the stone steps like a giant ball, bouncing off the harsh stone, and eventually spiralling to a thudding halt at the bottom. Jack walked slowly down the steps, clutching his injured shoulder. He reached the bottom, and kicked the Garter, there was a slight moan. Jack picked up his war beaten, and warrior weary sword, and plunged it into the Garter's chest. As he did so someone appeared down the corridor. He stopped in surprise, seeing Jack bent over the dead king.
The man was Tuleus. He looked at his father, as though he was about to be sick.
Jack stood up still holding the blood dripping sword.
Tuleus looked from the dead man on the floor to Jack, and his bleeding shoulder.
"You have lost." He muttered. "Rhydon has lost, the last of the men have ran from my father's soldiers."
"They're your soldiers now." Jack said.
"What of it?"
"Your father is dead because of how he ruled, do not end up like 'im."
"My father is dead because of you."
"And what are you going to do about it?" Jack asked.
Tuleus scowled. "See that join him in hell!" He walked past his father and picked up the jewelled sword.
"I don't wanna fight you." Jack said.
"Scared you'll lose." Tuleus demanded.
Jack sighed and threw his sword to the ground. Tuleus stared at it for a moment or two.
"So that's it you won't fight?" Tuleus asked in amazement.
Jack shook his head, he clutched his shoulder, and spat blood on the floor. "I understand you wanna avenge your father, but I don't wanna fight."
"You have little choice."
"Oh I have a choice, same as you. I came 'ere to collect a few supplies, I was betrayed and nearly killed by the Garter's guards. The harem girl agreed to 'elp me, but the Garter sentenced us to be 'anged. We done nothin', and nor have you, I have no fight wit' you."
"How about the fight I have with you?" Tuleus demanded.
"You're the new Garter, lead your people well and they will respect you. Let them live free, look, look out there." Jack led Tuleus to the scene of carnage, where hundred lay dead and drowning in their own blood. "Or you the meet the same end as your father."
Tuleus looked down, as though in deep thought. He stood there for several minutes, his father's killer standing beside him, weaponless and bleeding from a possibly fatal wound to the shoulder, helpless if Tuleus decided to kill him.
"You must leave here, and never return." Tuleus said, quickly. "You are banished on pain of death from ever returning. Take any supplies you need, and go."
Jack nodded. He stepped out of the fortress and was met by Bill. Together they walked back to the docks. Jack didn't look back, he thought then that he would never return to Rhydon. As they walked
Bill pulled a piece of gold from his pocket and handed it to the Captain.