A Knight is sworn to valour

Part 24

Panting, he struggled to keep up with the blows Godrin sent his way and he continued to dodge and throw in a few blows of his own. Blocking a few more he then gasped and frantically began looking round when Godrin disappeared before him, then he felt his feet being swept from beneath him and he fell flat on his back.

Eyes wide and staring up at the sky of endless clouds, Cammi placed his paw over his drumming heart and tried to breathe. Sweat ran down his brow, and Cammi groaned realizing that this was only the beginning, Godrin had been kind enough to lower his power level down to his level so he could train with him, but with each training session he knew that it would be harder, as Godrin would continue to increase his power with each session until he reached his level.

Turning over on his side, he slowly and reassuringly began to get to his knees and face Godrin who stood towering over him.

"You are doing well Cammi, better than I anticipated" said Godrin.

Cammi chuckled then rose to his feet, and got into fighting stance again ready to fend for himself again with Lalaith and her sister, Linastasia watching from the sides as he fought.

A knock at the door awoke the slumbering child and the door opened with Meloni appearing by Isabelle's side. The young cub buried herself underneath the mass of blankets and pulled them around her tighter and she inwardly shivered despite the warmth of her bed. Her eyes still remained close not wanting to open them, and she sucked on her thumb, which had found its way to her mouth.

She could feel a few strands of hair pulled away from her face and tucked behind her ear, and she opened her eyes to look at her mother. Her mother was not angry like she expected but was more concerned than anything, and she crawled into her arms that were open for her, and she felt them close about her, making her feel safe. She could feel her mother stroking her hair and rocking her back and forth, and she nuzzled into her mother's shoulder, she closed her eyes.

"Cammi" she whispered

Meloni smiled and continued to stroke Isabelle's hair. It was funny to see how in so little time how close the two siblings were, they were inseparable.

"Cammi is safe, Isabelle" Meloni whispered loud enough for Isabelle to hear.

Isabelle said nothing in reply, just stared around the room looking at nothing in particular and she heard a click of a door being closed in the next room and she knew her father was home.

"Where's Cammi" she asked at length.

"Training with the guardians" replied Meloni smiling.

"Sky" said Isabelle and pointed to the sky as if to prove her point.

Meloni's grinned widened and she chuckled as she pulled her daughter closer to her and hugged her "No dear, in another realm far away from here"

Satisfied with that answer, Isabelle snuggled closer to her mother and closing her eyes she fell back to sleep just as she heard the door to her room open, and felt her father's gloved paw stroke her hair.

His training finished for the time being, Cammi sat seated next to Lalaith at the round table surrounded by all the other guardian's angels, and he turned to face Godrin. The middle age guardian raised his head, where his chin had been resting on the tips of his fingers and he smiled down at his brothers and sisters, then his gaze shifted and landed Cammi.

"It is time" he said solemnly.

His brow furrowed and Cammi looked at Godrin confused then said "Time for what?"

A hand raised by Godrin silenced any further questioning from Cammi and the guardian let his hand fall.

"It is time Cammi…for you to be tested"

"The Sword Of Justice" Cammi scarcely whispered.

"Yes Cammi, you have trained under me long enough, now is the question of 'Are you ready?'" stated Godrin.

"I…I don't know" Cammi honestly replied slightly nervous.

The aged guardian smiled warmly then stood from his place and he allowed himself to spread his wings out, a blue aura instantly surrounding him and he lifted himself off the ground and hovered across the table and over to Cammi, he said

"Either way we choose to do this Cammi, Altanion will still be far more powerful than you" he said and Cammi nodded.

"Do you understand Cammi Gummi that this test is all about strength, courage and willingness to prove if you're strong enough to fight Altanion and sacrifice your life for everyone else?" Godrin stated solemnly.

"Yes" Cammi replied softly.

"Then take my hand, and we shall see if you can prove yourself" said Godrin and he offered his hand.

Cammi stared blankly for a moment at the hand offered to him by Godrin, then slowly and reassuringly he raised his eyes from the angel's hand to meet his eyes and he saw the seriousness there. His eyes falling back down to the hand offered to him, he clasped his hand with his own then in the next instance the whole Council disappeared leaving the room empty.

Meloni thumbed through the pages, bored. She and Cammi's friends had been searching for many days and still found nothing and she was sure that if they didn't find anything soon, she'd go insane this whole thing with Altanion was driving her nuts.

Now usually Meloni was a calm and patient gummi but with each passing day they were lacking and her patience was now wearing thin, at still finding nothing in there search on Spirits.

They had been searching since the first attack on the castle on Gummadoon by Altanion trying to figure out what his weakness was, but every time they came up with nothing.

Sitting back in her chair, she stretched her muscles then resumed her attention back to the task at hand, translating the alien language.

When they arrived the first thing Cammi knew was that they were in a different part of the realm, though he couldn't understand why he was here, there was nothing, except for the clouds which drifted and lingered about in the sky above them.

He noticed that all the guardian angel surrounded him and Godrin and wondered what the commotion was about when two of the angel's moved aside revealing to him an altar which he'd never seen before, before him laid a path.

Examining the path itself it was not what Cammi would of expected with clouds or bridges no, this path was invisible to him, and he looked up to the angel like they were crazy but then thought about it, they had wings to be able to cross what did they expect him to do, jump, and hope that he reached the other end.

Looking slowly back up to the head of all the angels, Godrin sensed what Cammi was thinking, and spoke suddenly

"Please, go ahead"

Blinking with surprise, Cammi replied with disbelief "What! Are you nuts?!"

Suddenly several sniggers, and outright laughing were heard behind Cammi, and he frowned, as he turned round just in time to see Lalaith try and keep a straight face but failing miserably.

"Enough!" drawled a deep voice, whom Cammi recognised instantly was Godrin, and notice all the angels fall silent.

Seeing Lalaith become serious again, though her eyes still contained her mirth, Cammi shifted his eyes back to the altar where laid the sword which would strike Altanion down, and he instinctively let his hand fall on the hilt of his sword by his side. Taking a deep breath he knew they wanted him to go first, but he wasn't going to prove himself an idiot and jump across.

Silently praying that he would make it to the other end, he closed his eyes, then raising his foot he proceeded to take a step forward. Leaning forward to take his first step, Cammi felt everything go in slow motion, as he took his first step ready to fall into nothingness, since he could not see the bottom except darkness. Reaching forward, he could feel himself falling further, when his eyes then snapped open and he stumbled forward, practically almost falling flat on his face, and he could have sworn that he heard some of them sniggering only to fall silent once again.

Still stumbling, he finally regained his balance as he turned to face the guardian angels and noticed straight away Lalaith's smirk and her barely contained her mirth. Gazing at each one in turn he was surprised to see Godrin's eyes flash dangerously at Lalaith and turn a dark violet, then resume back to their original colour seeing Lalaith contain herself and become serious again.

"He has passed the first test" said Linastasia solemnly breaking the silence that had bestowed upon them.

Cammi looked up and at each of the guardian clueless, when Lalaith suddenly stepped forward him.

"Believe in yourself, Cammi and have faith"

Not daring to speak, he gave a curt nod then felt his attention immediately drawn back to the altar where the sword lay. He could almost feel it's power radiant off, and he suddenly wished nothing more than to hold it, but resisted. He would not be foolish as to stride up and simply pick it up when it was obvious that it was enchanted.

Reclining his neck, he looked towards Godrin whom had hardly spoken a word since they had arrived, and saw him nod his approval. Nodding his approval too, he swiftly resumed his attention back to the altar. Walking the few steps until he stood before the small flight of stairs, Cammi took to examining the stairway, trying anything to calm his drumming heart, he was so nervous!

He was sure he must look a wreck, and he could feel his body shaking slightly with the adrenaline coursing through him. Clenching his paws into fists, he grinded his teeth together as he tried to control himself over his actions. Shaking slightly until he finally felt that he had control over himself again, he lifted his eyes up from the stairs to stare at the altar again.

Just staring at the altar where the sword lay, Cammi suddenly felt a desperate surge of longing rise up within him to hold it again, and he took a step forward towards the altar, only to slam his face into thin air.

"Why, you have faith Cammi, you must also have the will to help others in despair" a wise voice interrupted the silence, and he found the voice of the owner to be Loucielle.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Cammi turned to face the flight of stairs again, and inwardly could've smacked himself. He had been so content on thinking about the sword, which laid on the altar that he had forgotten for a moment that he was being tested.

His face becoming a mask of determination, his eyes hardening making him appear somewhat older, Cammi thought about all the gummies he had helped saved when he fought Tarquan, and the gummies he wished to help now, and attempted to take the first step.

Successfully managing the first step, Cammi felt a slight discomfort as he presumed what he passed was some sort of barrier. Taking the next step up, Cammi was surprised to find this step much easier than the first one, and he continued his small journey up the stairs, the feeling of discomfort becoming less and less, and his thoughts remained on the gummies he wished to help.

Reaching the top of the stairs Cammi turned to face the guardian angels, and not seeing them at the bottom of the stairs he raised his head where he saw them floating above him, their wings spread out, and their eternal light shining all around them, and he felt as though he had never seen a more beautiful scene as it was now.

"He had passed the second test" Linastasia smiled warmly at Cammi.

"His will to help others in despair is strong" said Loucielle and he locked eyes with Cammi and smiled, causing Cammi to smile back.

"Now the final test stands before you Cammi…are you ready?" asked Lalaith solemnly.

Cammi nodded eagerly, and he let his eyes rest on the sword before him. Immediately he felt the sense of longing, to pick it up and run his fingers along the cold steel yet he could feel something holding him back.

Staring long and hard at the sword he could feel the eyes of the entire guardian council on him, especially Godrin's, and he debated whether or not to pick it up. It looked so fragile, and precious to be picked up yet he could feel the power it radiant, drawing him closer, tempting him.

Silence reigned in the realm, so quiet that Cammi thought they could hear a pin drop from a mile away, and a whisper echoed among the realm.

Cammi looked up expectantly, thinking that one of the guardians had spoken, and he looked at each one in turn, but they said nothing, only remained to stare at him, and he felt uneasy under their constant gaze.

There it came again, the silent yet gentle whispers, whispering his name and Cammi looked frantically round himself wondering where it was coming from, and seriously began to debate whether he was going crazy.

Then it came again, only stronger and clearer and Cammi's eye fell on the sword which although faintly began to glow, and he felt his jaw sag, and his eyes widen.

"Cammi"

The sword whispered his name again, and Cammi came back to reality snapping out of his trance, and he slowly stepped up to the altar, daring for something to happen, but nothing came.

His thoughts then fell back on his family, as he thought about each one, then his first meeting with Altanion flashed before his eyes and Cammi visibly tensed, and grinding his teeth, his eyes turning into slits and he turned away from a moment feeling anger course through him.

"A Knight is sworn to valour

His heart knows only virtue

His blade defend the helpless,

His might upholds the weak

His words speaks only truth

His wrath undoes the wicked"

Cammi involuntarily gasped, and his eyes widened hearing those words in his head, and he knew it had to be his reincarnate, Derrum.

His hand outstretched above the sword, he let his hand fall on the blade and felt it's coolness, and he closed his eyes in remembrance. Lifting his hand again, he let it rest on the hilt of the sword, then wrapping his fingers round it, he lifted off the table.

Holding the sword in front of him, pain etched on his face, and Cammi could feel his right hand holding the sword, burn. Grinding his teeth together, he tried to ignore the pain, but it was becoming unbearable and Cammi yelped releasing the sword in his hand and it fell and hit the ground with a clang which seemed to echo among the clouds of the realm for would be countless miles on end.

Seconds later the ringing amongst the clouds ceased and all that remained to break what would be silence was Cammi's ragged breathing, he covered his hand with the other close to his chest, and he closed his eyes and wondered why the sword had burnt him so.

"Do not be hasty, Cammi" Telequentin said softly.

"You underestimate the powers of the sword, Cammi" said Linastasia her voice stern.

"But why then did it burn?" asked Cammi.

"Because you are not yet ready, Cammi" said Loucielle solemnly, and he closed his wings about him.

"Ready….for what?" asked Cammi clearly confused.

"While your will is strong, Cammi, stronger than many I have ever seen since Derrum Gummi himself was here. You are willing to help those out in despair; you have already sacrificed many things that which a mortal desires Cammi, to keep your loved ones safe. But would you be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice Cammi, to guarantee the safety and peace for many a generation to come?" asked Godrin, his tone grave.

Cammi was left speechless, and it began to sink in, that if he did this, he may never see his family again, or do the things that he had always wished to do, instead he would die saving the world.

Crestfallen, Cammi stared at the enchanted sword on the floor, and he wondered what he would sacrifice more, the sword or his life. His brow furrowed and he appeared troubled when a sweet yet grave voice of Linastasia's interrupted his thoughts.

"You're family is in grave danger…you must go to them"

Immediately Cammi attention was gained, and the angels nodded to confirm Linastasia words, and he looked at them with a newfound determination and gripped his own sword on instinct.

"I understand, Cammi if this is all a bit overwhelming for you, but until the next time we meet…go and save you're family" stated Godrin and he raised his clenched fist up to his face, then slowly allowed his fingers to uncurl, opening his hand, and a celestial light emitted from his palm, and swiftly engulfed the entire realm, and Cammi shielded his eyes from it's brightness.

The next, Cammi opened his eyes, he found himself back in Gummadoon, in an old abandoned corridor near the Councillor's Tower, and remembering Godrin's words, he ran towards the Councillor's Tower without another moment to spare.

Encountering no-one on his way, Cammi charged through the entrance and down the long aisle, he saw many gummies at the other end, they're back to him when he spotted his father.

"Dad!" he screamed gaining everyone's attention, and he saw all his friends looking at him, as he drew closer to them.

"Cammi?" Sir Plucki replied surprised to hear his son, and he stood before him, panting for breath.

Cammi didn't reply straight away, instead he began to scan everyone's faces, the wheels turning in his head and he counted them off then sighed a huge relief when everybody was here.

Nobody spoke a word for they could tell that the way Cammi was looking at them, and searching their faces, that something was not quite right.

"What's wrong?" asked Sir Cubbi anxiously.

Realization hit him like a ton of bricks and realised that someone was amiss, and his eyes widened when he realised whom, and he could feel the evil's presence growing.

"Where's…my…mother?" asked Cammi afraid of what the answer would be, and prayed that she wasn't alone.

"She's in the library, Cammi, se-, CAMMI!" called Sir Plucki, and watched as his son disappeared out of sight.

TBC…

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