Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight (21 page)

"...Last bell?" a sandy haired squire toward
the front of the large group asked, a question Danny would have
asked if the boy hadn't beaten him to it.

"Upon your arrival, you heard the chime of
two bells, correct?"

The squire nodded.

"On the Island of White Rock, we mark time
using an ancient method," explained Calador. "The bells of the main
keep chime every hour on the hour." He pointed toward the huge
castle on the highest part of the island, its dual spires nearly
reaching the limits of the starry sky. "On the island, the bells
start at twenty-four chimes every new day and count down to one.
For example, in about forty minutes, the last bell will chime. For
those of you that are not Lightborn, this would be eleven o'clock.
After the last bell, the cycle will start anew with twenty-four
chimes, marking it midnight."

"That's confusing," said Alonso.

"I'd say it's pretty easy," said Chris. "You
just count the day down from twenty-four."

"Precisely," encouraged Calador in a calm
voice. "Now, as I said, you all have about forty minutes until the
last bell. You may use that time to explore your new home. However,
once the last bell rings, I expect you all to gather in the common
hall. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir!" the group said, the combined
voices melded into one loud acknowledgment.

Calador waited with limited patience as the
group stood in silence, no one really wanting to make the first
move. "Well, go on, then," urged the Elf.

The group of first-year squires surged
forward, pulling the double doors open, entering the barracks.

Forced along by the mass of squires around
him, Danny found himself shoved inside. Caught by surprise, he
gasped at the sheer size of the common hall. The walls were bricked
in the same white stone as the rest of the island; the ceiling was
high and vaulted. The size of the room rivaled the gymnasium at
school. At the end of the long lobby were a series of stained-glass
windows that portrayed great knights of old. Two huge fireplaces,
set alight with crackling fires, were placed on both sides of the
room, bathing the pale walls in an amber illumination. Above, just
below the ceiling, a series of small blazing spheres danced,
lighting the hall in a mild glow.

"Magic
,
" Danny assumed.

"This place is amazing," said Chris, plopping
down on one of the many black leather couches that lined the stone
floor.

"Unbelievable is more like it," Danny said,
sitting down next to him.

"You think those balls of light are magic?"
Matt asked, peering up at the ceiling.

"Indeed they are, young squire," said Calador
from behind them. "They were created by Bartholomew, the caretaker
of these barracks."

"Is he a wizard?" Matt asked, scooting
forward in excitement.

"Indeed he is, Squire, you will meet him soon
enough," said Calador. "However, I encourage you all to explore and
pick out your quarters before the better rooms are taken." The tall
Elf nodded, smiled and pointed toward a winding staircase, before
moving off.

Danny and Chris exchanged glances before
jumping up and darting toward the stairs. "Come on," Danny urged,
forcing Matt, Doug and Alonso into a steady run behind them.

They found a room on the third level, toward
the back of the barracks. The room contained six beds and a single
large window that faced out over the cresting waves of the ocean,
displaying the flickering lights of the raging storm beyond.
However, before they could investigate the barracks further, a
single chime of the bells signaled that their time was up. Placing
their packs upon the beds, claiming them, they did as instructed
and made their way back down to the common hall.

Upon entering the hall, they noticed Calador
standing next to a man in long white robes with grey hair and a
lengthy grey beard.

Calador waited to speak until all the other
squires had gathered. A few minutes later, after the last squire
descended the stairs, apologizing for getting lost, he began, "Good
evening, Squires," he said in a calm even tone.

"Good evening," said the crowd of
squires.

"I would like to introduce you to Bartholomew
Mac Durmitt," motioning toward the shorter Human next to him.
"Bartholomew is a Wizard of the Light, as well as the caretaker of
the first-year barracks. He is responsible for the continual flames
you see in the fireplaces, the lights you see above you, and many
other magical functions featured within this structure."

Bartholomew responded to the introduction by
nodding his head in greeting.

"He is a man of few words, but if you have
need of him or have any questions on the subject of magic, he is
always willing to lend an ear as well as his voice."

From within the crowd of squires, a single
hand rose up in question.

"I am afraid now is not that time,"
instructed Calador. The young boy's hand descended. Calador
continued. "The hour is late and the twenty-fourth bell will soon
be upon us. There will be ample time for questions on the morrow.
At this time, I would like to put names to your voices. Due to my
blindness, I associate you with the tone of your voice much as you
might the face of a friend. As I said before, my hearing is much
sharper than that of a Human, even better than most Elves, and my
memory is just as keen. So, starting here," he instructed, pointing
toward Doug, "please stand and say your name loud and clear so that
everyone can hear you."

Hesitating only momentarily, Doug stood and
recited his name. One by one, every squire present did the same,
and Calador acknowledged each in turn. Once finished, the tall Elf
nodded, crossed his arms, and said, "Good. Now, if you all would be
so kind as to get to bed. A long day awaits you on the morrow, and
I am sure you must be tired from the journey. After the chiming of
the eighteenth bell and before the seventeenth bell, you will meet
here in the common hall to break your fast. Get here later than
that and you will not eat. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," said the gathered squires in
unison, all except one.

"Does he mean breakfast?" Alonso asked in a
hushed whisper.

Before any other squire could respond to his
question, Calador spoke first. "Yes, Squire Martinez, I do mean
breakfast. Now, off to bed with you."

The squires dispersed, the boys ascending the
stairs on the left and the girls on the right.

Alonso flopped down on his bed and said, "I
don't know if I like that blind Elf."

"He's stern, but respectful," said Chris. "He
reminds me of my dad. I like him."

"Elves are an amazing race," said Doug.
"After meeting Syndil, I did some research on them. Did you guys
know they can live well beyond two hundred years?"

"How do you even know if that research is
accurate?" Matt asked. "Where did you look, the school library? Up
until a few months ago, you didn't even know Elves existed. Nor do
most people, whatever you researched was most likely based on fairy
tales."

"It's because he has a crush on that Elvin
girl, Briza," added Danny, slumping back in his bed.

"Oh, you have room to talk!" Doug said,
raising his voice. "At least I said something to the girl that I
have a crush on."

Danny's heart skipped a beat at the thought
of Sabrina. Spurred on by Doug's jeering, he responded angrily.
"Said something? More like thought out loud and she just happened
to hear you."

"Hello," said a voice at the door before Doug
could respond to Danny's claim.

All five boys looked toward the open doorway,
a rather large brutish-looking boy stood there, peering in. Dressed
in a tight white T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, he sported short
brown hair, blue eyes and a daunting physique, causing him to take
up nearly the entirety of the door frame. With broad shoulders,
sizable biceps that rivaled, if not surpassed, Chris's, and a
puffed-out chest, he was an intimidating sight.

"Hi, I'm Anthony, I was wondering if I could
bunk with you guys since you have an open bed?"

"Sure, man," said Chris, waving Anthony in.
"The only bed left is the one in the corner."

"Thanks," said Anthony, moving into the room,
tossing his belongings on the bed.

"Don't let those two bother you, we're all
friends here," said Chris, giving both Danny and Doug a stern look
of warning. "You have a last name, Anthony?" he asked, returning
his attention to the newcomer, nonchalantly sizing the larger boy
up.

"Bath," said Anthony, "my full name is
Anthony Bath."

"My name is Chris Greene," added Chris,
prompting everyone else to introduce themselves.

Twenty-four crisp chimes broke the silence,
announcing midnight. Following the final tone, the single ball of
flame floating in the middle of the room darted into the hall,
joining the others, leaving the room bathed in the dim glow of the
moonlight.

"I guess that means lights out," said
Anthony.

"We should all get some sleep," said Chris,
stretching out on his bed.

Despite his lingering anger toward Doug, as
well as himself, Danny suddenly felt tired. He soundlessly agreed
and fell back into the confines of the soft bedding. Although the
exciting events of the day and thoughts of Sabrina danced through
his mind, exhaustion overtook him quickly, forcing him into a deep
sleep.

back to top

anny woke up to the soft shake of a hand upon his
shoulder. Coming awake with a squint, he looked up to find Chris
towering over him.

"Get up, the eighteenth bell has come and
gone," said Chris.

Beyond the single window of the room, the
storm created by the Eye raged on, unending, blocking out the
morning rays of the sun. High above the wall of black clouds, the
deep blue sky contained a lone white cloud that reflected the
missing light.

Danny yawned, stretched and climbed out of
bed.

Suddenly, Danny found Doug standing next to
him. "I'm sorry about last night," said Doug, extending a hand
toward Danny.

"Me, too," said Danny, shaking Doug's hand in
a gesture of friendship and acceptance.

"Is anyone else really hungry? I am," Chris
asked.

At the mention of food, Danny's stomach began
to rumble, forcing him to place his hand on his stomach. "I guess I
am, too."

"I'm starved," said Anthony, admiring his
reflection in the only mirror in the room.

"Let's head down to the common hall," said
Chris. "I wouldn't want to miss breakfast."

Danny looked over his shoulder and said,
"Someone needs to wake up Matt first."

After a few minutes of jostling, Matt stirred
and sat up. "Has anyone seen my glasses?" he asked through
sleep-matted eyes. He rifled through the sheets of his bedding.
"Never mind, I found them," he said, laughing, he was already
wearing them. Wiping them clean with his shirt, he placed them back
on the bridge of his nose.

Together, Danny, Chris, Alonso, Matt, Doug,
and their new friend, Anthony, descended the stairs to the common
hall. At the base of the steps, the alluring aroma of
freshly-prepared food greeted them. In the middle of the common
hall, where the black leather couches had been the night before,
there was a long wooden table heaped high with just about every
breakfast food they could imagine.

"Man, this place just gets better and
better," said Chris, rushing over to the table.

Danny followed behind, claiming a seat beside
his friend, piling his plate with two slices of French toast, a
large spoonful of scrambled eggs, four strips of crispy bacon,
three biscuits drizzled with sausage gravy and a handful of hash
browns. After a second helping, Danny sat back, resting his hands
on his stomach.

"That was good," he said, to no one in
particular.

Chris, working on his third plateful, nodded
as he stuffed his face with a blackberry pastry.

Anthony had found a seat opposite Chris,
keeping pace with him bite for bite, to see who could eat the
most.

"Good morning, Squires," said Calador,
standing at the head of the table.

"Good morning," said the mass of squires in a
half-hearted harmony.

"I am sorry but I believe I said, good
morning, Squires," said Calador again, raising the volume of his
voice.

"Good morning!" everyone said again, the
combined voices resonating into a boisterous response.

"Well, it seems that we are missing a few
this morning," said Calador. His voice was quiet, so only a few
sitting toward the front of the table, including Danny, could hear
him. "In a matter of minutes," continued the Elf, resuming his
commanding tone, "the seventeenth bell will chime. After this
occurs, I expect you all to be standing outside the double doors of
this barracks. We have much to accomplish on this day, do not
dawdle." Calador headed off toward the boys' side of the barracks
and ascended the steps.