Chapter 13
Adam pushed away his empty plate, the hearty meal satisfying his appetite more than any dish had in some time. He looked up as Canteel's wife Cermay took his plate and deposited it in a large, soap-filled basin.
"I've been complimented on my cooking before, but I've never seen anyone eat so much of what I've made before. You must have been famished."
"Yeah...well, it's been quite some time since I last had a home-cooked meal that good."
Cermay blushed. "You flatter me, Adam."
Canteel stood up from the table. "It's getting late, and I'm sure you'll want to rest. I had Cermay make up the guest room for you. Come, I'll show you where it is."
Adam followed his gracious host along a short corridor to an ornately decorated room that made the rest of the dwelling look run-down by comparison. Plush carpeting covered the entire floor, and the walls were draped with beautiful tapestries. Along the wall was a soft bed covered with four intricately woven quilts, and more pillows than even Adam's bed back home.
Adam was bewildered. "If the Sorceress is trying to punish me, she's not exactly doing a good job of it."
Nevertheless, he welcomed the chance to catch some shut-eye. The tumble through space had made him thoroughly exhausted, and he was ready for some sleep.
As Adam lay on the bed, he looked at Canteel, who was apparently waiting to see how his guest enjoyed the provided accomodations.
"Why treat me so kindly? You hardly know me."
"True, but that's no reason not to be hospitable. My father was always taking in strangers. He believed in helping everybody, no matter what the circumstances. I guess I'm just like him in that regard."
"Well anyway, thanks. I really appreciate it."
Canteel smiled. "Don't mention it, friend. I'll see you in the morning."
As his host left the doorway, Adam remembered that he'd forgotten to unfasten the Power Sword's sheath from his body. He sat up and did so, placing it on the floor just in case. He drifted off to sleep, hoping to put the day's events behind him.
******************************** Adam suddenly found himself floating through space, drifting about aimlessly in no particular direction. Around him was nothing but empty space, save for one small point of light not far from where he was drifting. Adam half-swam, half-glided to the light, hoping it would give him some clue about where he was and how he'd gotten there.
Soon he reached the light, and was met with a deafening roar. His attempts to block out the sound were futile, and he soon stopped trying. Eventually the noise faded, and Adam found himself facing his father...so to speak.
Randor's features were grotesque and twisted. His hands were curved in the shape of claws, with nails that looked sharp enough to slice through Eternium. His mouth was filled with razor-sharp steel teeth, and his eyes burned a fiery red...something that Adam's had done very recently. Finally the king spoke, and the voice was more than enough to chill Adam to the bone.
"I never thought I'd see the day when my own son would become a callous murderer," growled Randor. "And for what? Petty revenge! I thought your mother and I raised you better than that!"
"Petty? Skeletor murdered you in cold blood!"
"And so you took it upon yourself to handle the situation your own way? What you did wasn't justice, it was bloodlust! He would have been made to pay in time!"
"Wait...how did you know what I did?"
"The Ancients, of course. Upon our deaths, they told us everything...including the fact that you were He-Man. It saddens me to know you abused your power in such a manner...I thought you would know better than to do such disgusting things in the name of vengeance."
Adam voice was suddenly defiant. "It had to be done! Skeletor had terrorized Eternia for far too long! And when he killed you, he took something that meant more than anything else in the world to me!"
Randor's voice and features softened. "Even Teela?"
Adam was stunned into silence, his voice failing him completely. Finally he found the courage to speak. "I didn't mean...I wasn't trying to..."
"It doesn't matter, son. You still lost your temper, and in so doing lost the woman you loved."
Randor was suddenly gone, and replaced with the striking visage of Teela. To Adam's relief, she still looked normal, and seemingly rather calm. Still he turned away, unable to face her.
"Adam, why do refuse to look at me? I'm not that repulsive, am I?"
Adam's voice began to crack, but he still managed to speak. "I am not worthy to look at your face. I loved you, and my anger caused me to end your life. I promised to never hurt you, and at Grayskull I broke that promise!" His eyes were suddenly brimming with tears, and he covered his face to prevent Teela from seeing them.
"Listen, my love...please...the things you did were horrible, but they don't change the person you are. I know you would never intentionally harm me, and I am not as angry as you might believe. I am merely saddened that you allowed your emotions to grip you so. I still love you, Adam, and even when you ran me through I could not bring myself to abandon my feelings, for I knew that you were simply a victim of your anger...something which can easily overtake even the best of us. I know it's still eating you up inside, but I also know the man you are...the man I love...always." And with that, Teela faded out of sight.
"N...no...I can't lose you again...TEELA!!!"
And before he knew it, everything was going bright...
Adam snapped out of his nightmare, brow dripping with sweat and eyes filled with tears. He fought to get his breathing under control, and only succeded after several long minutes. He sat up, unable to return to sleep. The dream...it was so vivid...so real...
A crashing sound from the kitchen, followed by several screams from Cermay, jerked Adam to attention. He strapped the Power Sword to his back and dashed from his room.
He stopped dead at the scene that spread before him. Tharvan stood over a badly bleeding Canteel, who was doing his best to get to his feet and reach a sword that was laying on the table. Cermay's arm was badly slashed as well, seemingly as a result of trying to help her husband. Bekta, who had been sleeping in a chair when Adam left the table, was cowering in a cower, sobbing uncontrollably.
The sword in Tharvan's hand was covered with a mingled mix of blood and a pale green venom. His face was a twisted mask of glee, and he looked as if he was about to burst out laughing.
"You thought you'd get away with robbing me, didn't you? Thought you'd never have to pay for your crime? Well, justice has been served now, thief! The fangcat venom is quickly working its way through your body. If the loss of blood doesn't kill you, the poison will! Your lovely wife, also...she never should have gotten involved!"
A light went on in Adam's head, and suddenly he understood what his father meant. He drew his sword and stepped toward the assailant, prepared to fight.
"Didn't anyone tell you it's not nice to break into people's homes and attack them? Not very polite, you know."
Tharvan looked at him with a mix of surprise and anger. "You! You were talking to Canteel earlier! What are you doing here?"
"I'm a guest in his home. I think it's safe to say that you aren't."
"Don't get involved, stranger! Do you want to end up like the happy couple?"
"I'm only going to say this once-get out! You've caused enough trouble tonight!"
"Make me, fool!"
Tharvan rushed toward Adam, bringing his sword down toward his head. Adam blocked the blow, pushing the blade toward the side as he swept one of Tharvan's legs out from under him. Tharvan stumbled, catching his balance at the last second. As he regained his footing, he reached into the pouch around his waist and produced a fine, black dust. As Adam approached, Tharvan hurled the dust in his face, forcing the younger man to bring his free hand up to his face.
Now scowling, Tharvan quickly thrust the blade downward, ripping through Adam's chest and out his back. Blood splashed to the floor as he pulled the sword free. He smirked as Adam struggled to breathe.
"I warned you not to get involved. Now you will die like your friends."
With the strength he had remaining, Adam staggered toward Tharvan. Ignoring the burning pain he felt, he said, "Not without making sure...you get what you deserve." With that, he brought the Power Sword's handle down hard on Tharvan's head, knocking him unconcious. Seconds later, Adam collapsed.
He heard the sound of footsteps and shouting voices. He saw Canteel and Cermay being carried out on makeshift stretchers, saw Bekta being led away by another couple, saw three men restraining Tharvan's hands, felt himself being carried out.
Then, darkness overtook him...
TO BE CONTINUED...
Adam pushed away his empty plate, the hearty meal satisfying his appetite more than any dish had in some time. He looked up as Canteel's wife Cermay took his plate and deposited it in a large, soap-filled basin.
"I've been complimented on my cooking before, but I've never seen anyone eat so much of what I've made before. You must have been famished."
"Yeah...well, it's been quite some time since I last had a home-cooked meal that good."
Cermay blushed. "You flatter me, Adam."
Canteel stood up from the table. "It's getting late, and I'm sure you'll want to rest. I had Cermay make up the guest room for you. Come, I'll show you where it is."
Adam followed his gracious host along a short corridor to an ornately decorated room that made the rest of the dwelling look run-down by comparison. Plush carpeting covered the entire floor, and the walls were draped with beautiful tapestries. Along the wall was a soft bed covered with four intricately woven quilts, and more pillows than even Adam's bed back home.
Adam was bewildered. "If the Sorceress is trying to punish me, she's not exactly doing a good job of it."
Nevertheless, he welcomed the chance to catch some shut-eye. The tumble through space had made him thoroughly exhausted, and he was ready for some sleep.
As Adam lay on the bed, he looked at Canteel, who was apparently waiting to see how his guest enjoyed the provided accomodations.
"Why treat me so kindly? You hardly know me."
"True, but that's no reason not to be hospitable. My father was always taking in strangers. He believed in helping everybody, no matter what the circumstances. I guess I'm just like him in that regard."
"Well anyway, thanks. I really appreciate it."
Canteel smiled. "Don't mention it, friend. I'll see you in the morning."
As his host left the doorway, Adam remembered that he'd forgotten to unfasten the Power Sword's sheath from his body. He sat up and did so, placing it on the floor just in case. He drifted off to sleep, hoping to put the day's events behind him.
******************************** Adam suddenly found himself floating through space, drifting about aimlessly in no particular direction. Around him was nothing but empty space, save for one small point of light not far from where he was drifting. Adam half-swam, half-glided to the light, hoping it would give him some clue about where he was and how he'd gotten there.
Soon he reached the light, and was met with a deafening roar. His attempts to block out the sound were futile, and he soon stopped trying. Eventually the noise faded, and Adam found himself facing his father...so to speak.
Randor's features were grotesque and twisted. His hands were curved in the shape of claws, with nails that looked sharp enough to slice through Eternium. His mouth was filled with razor-sharp steel teeth, and his eyes burned a fiery red...something that Adam's had done very recently. Finally the king spoke, and the voice was more than enough to chill Adam to the bone.
"I never thought I'd see the day when my own son would become a callous murderer," growled Randor. "And for what? Petty revenge! I thought your mother and I raised you better than that!"
"Petty? Skeletor murdered you in cold blood!"
"And so you took it upon yourself to handle the situation your own way? What you did wasn't justice, it was bloodlust! He would have been made to pay in time!"
"Wait...how did you know what I did?"
"The Ancients, of course. Upon our deaths, they told us everything...including the fact that you were He-Man. It saddens me to know you abused your power in such a manner...I thought you would know better than to do such disgusting things in the name of vengeance."
Adam voice was suddenly defiant. "It had to be done! Skeletor had terrorized Eternia for far too long! And when he killed you, he took something that meant more than anything else in the world to me!"
Randor's voice and features softened. "Even Teela?"
Adam was stunned into silence, his voice failing him completely. Finally he found the courage to speak. "I didn't mean...I wasn't trying to..."
"It doesn't matter, son. You still lost your temper, and in so doing lost the woman you loved."
Randor was suddenly gone, and replaced with the striking visage of Teela. To Adam's relief, she still looked normal, and seemingly rather calm. Still he turned away, unable to face her.
"Adam, why do refuse to look at me? I'm not that repulsive, am I?"
Adam's voice began to crack, but he still managed to speak. "I am not worthy to look at your face. I loved you, and my anger caused me to end your life. I promised to never hurt you, and at Grayskull I broke that promise!" His eyes were suddenly brimming with tears, and he covered his face to prevent Teela from seeing them.
"Listen, my love...please...the things you did were horrible, but they don't change the person you are. I know you would never intentionally harm me, and I am not as angry as you might believe. I am merely saddened that you allowed your emotions to grip you so. I still love you, Adam, and even when you ran me through I could not bring myself to abandon my feelings, for I knew that you were simply a victim of your anger...something which can easily overtake even the best of us. I know it's still eating you up inside, but I also know the man you are...the man I love...always." And with that, Teela faded out of sight.
"N...no...I can't lose you again...TEELA!!!"
And before he knew it, everything was going bright...
Adam snapped out of his nightmare, brow dripping with sweat and eyes filled with tears. He fought to get his breathing under control, and only succeded after several long minutes. He sat up, unable to return to sleep. The dream...it was so vivid...so real...
A crashing sound from the kitchen, followed by several screams from Cermay, jerked Adam to attention. He strapped the Power Sword to his back and dashed from his room.
He stopped dead at the scene that spread before him. Tharvan stood over a badly bleeding Canteel, who was doing his best to get to his feet and reach a sword that was laying on the table. Cermay's arm was badly slashed as well, seemingly as a result of trying to help her husband. Bekta, who had been sleeping in a chair when Adam left the table, was cowering in a cower, sobbing uncontrollably.
The sword in Tharvan's hand was covered with a mingled mix of blood and a pale green venom. His face was a twisted mask of glee, and he looked as if he was about to burst out laughing.
"You thought you'd get away with robbing me, didn't you? Thought you'd never have to pay for your crime? Well, justice has been served now, thief! The fangcat venom is quickly working its way through your body. If the loss of blood doesn't kill you, the poison will! Your lovely wife, also...she never should have gotten involved!"
A light went on in Adam's head, and suddenly he understood what his father meant. He drew his sword and stepped toward the assailant, prepared to fight.
"Didn't anyone tell you it's not nice to break into people's homes and attack them? Not very polite, you know."
Tharvan looked at him with a mix of surprise and anger. "You! You were talking to Canteel earlier! What are you doing here?"
"I'm a guest in his home. I think it's safe to say that you aren't."
"Don't get involved, stranger! Do you want to end up like the happy couple?"
"I'm only going to say this once-get out! You've caused enough trouble tonight!"
"Make me, fool!"
Tharvan rushed toward Adam, bringing his sword down toward his head. Adam blocked the blow, pushing the blade toward the side as he swept one of Tharvan's legs out from under him. Tharvan stumbled, catching his balance at the last second. As he regained his footing, he reached into the pouch around his waist and produced a fine, black dust. As Adam approached, Tharvan hurled the dust in his face, forcing the younger man to bring his free hand up to his face.
Now scowling, Tharvan quickly thrust the blade downward, ripping through Adam's chest and out his back. Blood splashed to the floor as he pulled the sword free. He smirked as Adam struggled to breathe.
"I warned you not to get involved. Now you will die like your friends."
With the strength he had remaining, Adam staggered toward Tharvan. Ignoring the burning pain he felt, he said, "Not without making sure...you get what you deserve." With that, he brought the Power Sword's handle down hard on Tharvan's head, knocking him unconcious. Seconds later, Adam collapsed.
He heard the sound of footsteps and shouting voices. He saw Canteel and Cermay being carried out on makeshift stretchers, saw Bekta being led away by another couple, saw three men restraining Tharvan's hands, felt himself being carried out.
Then, darkness overtook him...
TO BE CONTINUED...