Chapter Eighteen
Gabriel rode all day, not stopping for a rest. The next day the snow stopped falling, but the black clouds remained. It wasn't long till he caught up with Vladislaus. "Vladislaus!!" Vladislaus and Salean turned to him. He was dressed in all his armor. He jumped off his horse and pulled out a sword. His look was serious.
"Gabriel! What are you doing? I'm your friend!" Vladislaus was puzzled. He didn't understand why Gabriel would turn his back on their friendship.
Gabriel took a step to him. "Forgive me my friend, for I am to kill you." He spoke softly.
Vladislaus was shocked. How can his best friend come to kill him. He pulled out his sword. "Then…" He paused and prepared to fight. "I will fight!"
"Vladislaus! No! I…I don't want you to die!" Salean was scared. After all that they have been through and everything he done for her to only die and leave her alone.
He looked at her. "To die my love, is the last thing I shall do!" Then took her hand and kissed it. "I love you, and I will see you again. I want you to leave here. Get as far from here as you can. I will find you. Trust me." She was crying at this point and shaking her head. But she gave in to his will and ran as far as she could. Vladislaus turned to Gabriel ready to fight. "So it has come down to this?"
Gabriel stood up. "Give me the ring. You are not worthy of it anymore." He put his hand out.
Vladislaus looked at his ring. Only one who has proven worthy to God was given it. And he had proven himself plenty of times. To him it was a symbol of power and strength and he wasn't giving it up. "You can cut it off my dead body."
Gabriel put his hand back down and got ready to fight. "Then so be it."
Both men got ready to fight. At this point neither one was going to back down. Gabriel had orders and was going to carry them out no matter what. Vladislaus was going to fight for his love. They were both equally challenged and ready to fight till death.
