Chapter 10

Edgar tore the mouthpiece off of his head and turned to his wife and child. "You two stay here, stay close to Cyan!" he turned to his trusted friend. "Cyan... guard them well! Yourself included!" Cyan bowed in affirmation.

Edgar lifted his sword out of the rack, the Sun-Sword of Figaro, the symbol of power that had more status than even the crown of Figaro. He hoped Locke was alright. He knew that somewhere in that mess, Locke was swinging the Figaroan key-mace and busting some heads.

Locke swung his mace, cracking it sharply on the head of a enormous Arlorden warrior, carrying little Lok under one arm. "Dad! I wanna fight!" little Lok swung his mini version of Locke's mace around. Locke gritted his teeth and sent another Arlorden crashing to the ground, a woman this time. "Damn, their women fight too? And you're not fighting Lok, I'm taking you to your mom!" He swung again and kicked an Arlorden from behind. "If I can find her..."

Kodaka Arlorden strode through the castle, grey eyes blazing. "Where is your king?" he roared. "If he is man enough, let him fight me for control of this desert!" he stood in front of the throne, having made it to the throne room. "Let me fight your king to measure the strength of this worthless kingdom!"

Edgar heard Kodaka's challenge from their room, Lynna still clinging to him. "Edgar! Don't go, please!" she begged. Edgar turned his head away.

"I have to, or what will become of my kingdom? If I have to sacrifice myself for this kingdom, then so be it."

"Edgar! You're still weak from the poison! Please don't!"

Edgar turned to Gerad. "Gerad, will you take care of Mommy if something happens to me?"

Gerad ran to him and hugged him. "Nothing will happen to you, Dad! I'll protect Mommy! And Figaro!"

Edgar nodded, satisfied. "That's my boy... I... have to go now..."

Before Lynna could protest, Edgar ran out of the room, Sun-Sword in hand, the light of battle in his eyes, and the pride of a king in his heart, to face Kodaka.

Kodaka grimaced. "So, it seems you have courage to face me after all, little Figaro." Edgar bared his teeth. "I'm not so little as you think!"

Kodaka looked at him strangely. "Hm... we will see, little Figaro. Let us see if you bite as hard as you say you can." He held up one hand, palm out, and Edgar wondered what he was doing. He raised his sword.

"You will pay for what you did to my mother! I'll rip you apart the same way you did to her!" Edgar growled. Kodaka laughed, and Edgar's blood boiled. "I would never harm a woman, unless she made clear the intent to kill. If your mother had no ill will against me, then I did not touch her. Who is this mother of whom you speak?"

His hand lit up with white fire and danced around his open hand. "Hurry and answer, little Figaro, I am not known for my patience." Edgar growled at him. "The King of Figaro doesn't have to answer to you!" he lunged, sword arcing to slash at Kodaka's leg and divert his attention from his hand, but Kodaka saw his intent.

"Be wary, little Figaro, I have been on this land just as long as your father had! It was he whom I wanted to kill, but your trespassing on our sacred land will not be forgiven!" Kodaka blasted him full force, and Edgar gasped as the fire hit him and burned his already tender body. He staggered upright.

"I will not forget your father's face for a long time, he murdered my sister, and now," his eyes narrowed. "Now I come, to kill you." Kodaka struck him again, this time plaguing him with cold.

"My father... murdered no one... he could never... hurt... a woman..." Edgar snarled through gritted teeth. "How would you know this, little Figaro? My sister disappeared from our lands before your birth, my sister, Sabil Arlorden, was murdered, by your father!"

"Sa...Sabil... Mother... NO!" Edgar surged forward with a sudden burst of energy, and Kodaka caught his blade with his hands before it cut down on his throat. Edgar had him pinned, and he would not give up that advantage. "No! Her name couldn't have been Sabil! It couldn't have! No!"

Kodaka's mouth twisted. "Why not, little Figaro? My sister was Sabil Arlorden! Did you know her?"

"Sabil... Sabil was my mother's name!"

Kodaka's eyes widened and he pushed Edgar off of him. "No! She could not have... no, not with a Figaroan!" Edgar stared at Kodaka. Now he knew who those eyes reminded him of, they reminded him of his mother! And if Kodaka Arlorden was truly his uncle, then...

Kodaka exhaled haltingly. "My nephew... my sister's child... you... are the first... Figaroan and Arlorden blood mixed child..." Sabin burst into the room, covered in bruises, battered and bleeding. "Brother! Get away from him!" he pulled his twin away from Kodaka, supporting him.

Kodaka's eyes darkened. "Blood mixed children... my own blood... I cannot... slay my own blood... it is against our teachings. Little Figaro... or maybe I should say... little Figaro-Arlorden... today I am pulling back our assault... but another day maybe... I will not be so leniant. Consider yourselves lucky, there will be a next conflict between us, mark my every word."

And with this last exchange, Kodaka vaulted through a window, landing safely on the castle wall, and called back his men to their desert home, leaving Figaro in peace for the moment to gather the dead and wounded and relieve broken hearts.