Drakonika (Book 1) (13 page)

At a brisk pace, the druid was on his way to the entrance doors of the citadel, his long hooded cloak drifting behind him. All of them decided to follow him, so Maren and Magnus didn't have any other choice. For safety reasons, they were walking right behind their druid leader as it seemed that nobody would nag at them in front of him. But they were still hoping to soon get some tasty and filling lunch.

All the children ran in front but the Black Squad lagged in the very back, to be as invisible as possible.

The druid walked up the stairs and opened one of the tall wooden doors with heavy metal ironworks. “Get in. Come on, move!” he commanded them.

Magnus, standing first in the line, was supposed to make the first step. But before he did that, he looked around the interior. Maybe he just wanted to make sure he wouldn't step into another “Valezar-like” house. He had enough of unpleasant surprises for today and he certainly didn't have any intention to wander the citadel without any lights on. Opposite to him there was a long corridor. Since it had no windows, its light travertine walls were illuminated by torches. However, before the dark corridor there were hallways with windows to the right and to the left, adorned with pylons that ended with a case of spiral stairs. Looking at them, everyone  concluded that the hallways were branched like a labyrinth here.

Magnus made the first step, but he didn't do it by himself. Maren pushed him from behind, but she didn't do it on purpose either. They didn't even have to see outside to understand that someone from the Black Squad put in motion a human avalanche.

The chaos among the children was quelled by the druid's stern voice. “Can't you behave? Just wait, you'll stop it very soon. I'll go first and don't you dare do it once more,” he said, frowning at Viktor and Darius who got that
“great” idea to poke everyone inside. The druid himself strolled past the children to the main hallway of the citadel.

Any one of them would be frightened by these warnings, but the group known as the Black Squad clearly liked to show off and it was almost certain they would do it again.

Unfortunately, the druid stepped in the direction where Magnus wanted to go least. Maren didn't seem to be excited to go there either as she looked around uneasily. She didn't see anything else other than stone walls and flames which provided at least some warmth and light for this otherwise cold and dark place. The long corridor ended with shadowy stairs which, fitting for such a “wonderful” day, led underground.

Deathly stillness prevailed in the whole hallway.

The tall druid stopped without turning around, his head slightly crouched because of the low ceiling. “Those who want can still leave,” he said. There was no answer, but he didn't hear anyone leaving either. They were all so silent he wasn't even sure if they were breathing. Were they afraid? He really didn't care about that, from the bottom of his heart. The important thing was that no one turned back like a coward and that was a good sign.

“Excellent,” he smiled. Then he descended the stairs, going deeper and deeper, till he stopped in front of a massive set of double doors. Even the druid himself had problems opening them. As soon as he pushed them  open, the children saw a sight so enchanting that no one regretted their decision to stay any more.

A large travertine chamber, supported by pillars on some places, had walls veneered with carved dark ebony wood which made a stylish contrast on the light walls. Along them there were several sturdy tables and benches made of wooden logs and the centre of the chamber was carpeted in embroidered dark green. What delighted Magnus the most was at the very end. It was a rather huge hearth reaching to the ceiling. The chamber had two more doors, one on each side. It seemed like this underground was quite vast.

“You'll spend most of your time here,” proclaimed the druid, as if it was the most wonderful thing he could tell them.

No one knew if they should be delighted or not. They had to admit it was really nice here, but to spend most of their time underground like moles? When no one said anything, finally one of the girls dared to ask the question.

“Excuse me, will we also
live
underground?” spoke up a girl with red, almost fiery hair. Her eyes had the colour of radiant green like those of a cat. Or perhaps like a snake?

“NO, you'll live in those
shacks
on the surface,” the druid hissed through his teeth, as if they couldn't have asked something more stupid. He heard the children breathe out in relief. However, his sour expression suddenly changed into a slightly malevolent smile. “Here are your study rooms,” he said, enjoying each word.

That's when everyone understood that they were rejoicing too early. They were to spend all of their days and nights studying and reading in their study rooms, in some cells behind those doors! Their excitement ceased at once and some of them regretted immediately that they didn't leave when they could.

As they stood together in the chamber's front, Magnus sensed a very evil energy somewhere close. He noticed Darius' surly gaze with which he surveyed him silently. Magnus immediately felt the need to tell Maren about it so he didn't hesitate to tug on the black cloak of her mage robe. “Maren,” he whispered, but Maren only looked at him, without saying a word. It would be wiser to stay quiet now, their druid teacher was about to speak.

“My name is Aedan, and I am a druid,” the tall man remarked casually, but from his proud stance and the tone of his voice it was obvious it was the main point of his speech. “I'll be teaching you in this lovely underground and in the even lovelier nature.”

However, not even Aedan's speech discouraged Magnus from telling Maren about what he just sensed. “I can feel a strong evil energy here,” he murmured and he would have told her more details if their teacher's stern glance didn't stop him. At that moment, Magnus realised he should remain silent. “Pardon me sir,” he said quietly. With a breaking spirit, he cast his gaze downwards.

To everyone's astonishment, Aedan didn't get angry. “Doesn't matter, I'll teach you respect,” he said.

In the next moment, Magnus felt unfriendly stares at him as if they were saying: “Thank you very much, you just screwed up big time.”

But their behaviour wasn't the only thing that was getting on the druid's nerves. “And stop with that formal addressing, I'm too young for that,” proclaimed Aedan as he took a seat in a large yet simple wooden armchair by the hearth in the back of the room.

Magnus looked at him intensely. Did he forget about all the grey hair in his mane? “Of course, I'm sorry... Aedan...” he uttered slowly as it seemed very unnatural for him to call this man by his first name.

“Everyone, sit down at the tables,” commanded Aedan, contently observing how his students ran across the room as if it was an order. Oh wait, it actually
was
an order!

There occurred a hustle and a buzz like in a busy beehive. Everyone was trying to overrun each other as they argued for the best spots. The members of the Black Squad were even tripping others just to get the most distant place in the corner at the very front of the chamber, where the teacher couldn't see them easily.

Magnus fought out an honourable seat near the hearth for Maren and himself while the others could be glad if they still had somewhere to sit. As soon as the rustle subsided, Aedan looked around the chamber again. All the tables were occupied, except for one.

Suddenly they heard a quick pace issuing from the corridor where they had come from. Magnus and Maren weren't the only ones who curiously leaned from their tables to look behind them. Who could it be?

When at last a tiny figure appeared, Magnus experienced an unexpected surprise. It was Fjalldís! Perhaps Zimbadur had sent another carriage for her, or her smile was so irresistible that somebody had given her a lift.

In her long skirt, she descended the stone stairs and quickly sat at the only table available which was right next to the Black Squad. Of course, she didn't yet know why it was unoccupied. Her eyes darted downwards, hoping that all the curious stares would soon turn away from her.

Aedan smiled then continued his speech, “The town above us was once inhabited and the citadel served the guild known as the Fellowship of The Devoted.”

That immediately caught Maren's attention. They would finally get to know something about the ghost town they were supposed to live in! She hoped that the more information they learned, the easier their stay there would be. But it could have been the other way around too. “What happened to the Fellowship?” asked Maren curiously, expecting an exhaustive answer.

“That needn't be of your concern,” responded Aedan reluctantly. “The town serves us now and that's the only thing you need to know.”

There was a comment on everything that Aedan said. “Great!” resounded from the dark corner. “So the whole town is ours!” exclaimed Darius and Viktor, clapping hands victoriously.

Aedan didn't move a muscle but the blood in his veins was boiling. These brats needed a firm hand and a complete re-education. “It's not
yours,
” he said grimly. He seemed to be losing his patience already. “You should be thankful you were given the opportunity to study and educate yourselves undisturbed. So for the love of Nature, let the town be and only use the underground of the citadel, your houses and the roads I have marked for you. You're not here to explore the surroundings but to study. It that clear?” said the druid loudly, but he wasn't expecting an answer. “I have to warn you though; this is not a normal school. And you are not students. This is a guild, and you are now my novices. Forget about any school rules for we'll have our own.”

As soon as he said that, another triumphant cry resounded from the distant corner of the chamber. “Cool! Can we make them ourselves?” Darius interrupted Aedan for the second time. His friends were just grinning at the idea. Others didn't feel like laughing though. Who knows what rules Darius' Black Squad would create for them!

“NO,” echoed another impatient answer from Aedan. “I have made them for you. And you are to see them right away.”

Magnus was the first one to receive the “precious” document in his hands. In order to unwind the scroll completely, he had to use the whole space their table offered. When he laid his eyes on the numerous strict rules, he shared a look full of horror with Maren.

“These are our sacred rules. Please, pass the scroll to everyone,” said Aedan, much more content now. But at that moment he had no idea that almost half of them wouldn't be able to read it. Not every child in Aria had the chance to study at a school. “My job is to prepare you to enter the higher guilds like the Mages Guild, the Fighters Guild and many others. However, I advise you to join the druids, it's the best choice for you,” he said in a ringing voice as he proudly lifted his druid staff that was made of hard wood and decorated with feathers. That was enough for Maren and Magnus to be fed up with their teacher pushing them to become druids. But Aedan continued in his boasting, “No one can surpass druids in their perfection. They are great fighters, they don't have a match among healers and they can cast the most powerful spells. And they do all that in harmony with nature!” Despite some novices being quite annoyed, he acquired a large audience that was listening to him closely.

Maren leaned close to Magnus. “How can he say something like that? Everyone knows that mages and not druids can cast the most powerful spells,” she whispered angrily, but very carefully and quietly. Magnus had to lean incredibly close to hear what she was saying.

Another group of novices sitting on the other side of the room clearly didn't show any interest in druids. Maren was distracted from her complaining by a crumpled paper ball that bumped into her shoulder. She quickly looked around the chamber to find out who did it. When she noticed it was someone from the Black Squad, she wasn't surprised at all. It didn't make her feel any better though. She made sure that Aedan wasn't watching her, then picked up the paper ball and threw it across the length of the chamber. But she missed the target completely and the paper ball landed on the table in front of Fjalldís.

“You should think well about which profession you will choose and think about it twice, because your studies will depend on it. Druids are without a doubt the best choice,” said Aedan proudly. When he finished his speech, he look around the chamber to see the reaction of his novices. “So, what do you want to become?” he asked, expecting only one answer.

“Druids!” squeaked a number of novices.

Hearing that, a touched smile appeared on Aedan's face.

“I don't understand how he could have brainwashed them so fast,” whispered Maren into Magnus' ear, but he just shrugged.

Viktor reached out to the neighbouring table and grabbed the paper ball from under Fjalldís' nose. “Give it back, it's ours,” he barked fiercely, as though she had stolen a heap of gold from them. After that, they didn't look in her direction again.

Maren noticed another attack of the paper ball, this time it flew just around Magnus. Maren's face became red with fury. She picked it up from the ground in order to throw it back, but Magnus stopped her. In the meantime, the Black Squad amused themselves with their great idea of how to shorten Aedan's boring speech.

“Wait, let me do it,” said Magnus quietly as he took the ball from Maren's hand. Not long after he said that, Darius was rubbing the place where the ball hit him. It was a direct shot, straight to the head!