Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight (36 page)

In the weeks since the now legendary duel,
Danny spent almost every day, training with Sir Syndil, honing his
ability. Danny's concentration improved, allowing him to perceive
the actions of others for longer periods of time. His goal, the
goal Sir Syndil had given him, was to try to extend the duration of
his ability to a full day. Currently, he could only sustain the
foresight for about a couple of hours prior to one's actions.

However, he wasn't the only one who'd
progressed, Chris had become a force of nature with his hand and a
half-sword, besting most of the first-year class, save for Briza
and Danny himself. In most cases, Danny found that duels with Chris
often resulted in a draw, so flawless was his technique.

Anthony maintained his brawn-over-brain
method, which often resulted in his victory against those less
gifted. However, at times, his sheer strength even overcame those
who showed superior skill.

Alonso, often quick, still hot-tempered,
turned out to be an exceptional duelist. His speed, combined with
his unpredictability, often turned the tide against many of his
opponents. Then again, these same attributes sometimes turned the
tide against him as well.

Doug improved with the help of Briza's
coaching. Matt continued to struggle with the basics, but showed
small advancement nonetheless.

The current day found Danny back at the
tailor for refitting, greeted by the head tailor, Mathis Deandrow,
who looked every part the nobleman in his elegant light blue
robes.

"Greetings, Squires," said the slender man as
he dipped low in a graceful bow, addressing Danny and the entire
first-year class. "It has been two months since I saw you all
last," he continued, wading into the crowd, "and I can see that
many of you are already in serious need of alterations." He made
his point clear as he stopped before Doug, pinched two fingers
worth of fabric from his shoulders, and pulled the cloth taut,
showing a significant amount of extra material. "Your training has
a way of loosening clothes. Come, I shall see you all properly
refitted."

An army of tailors assailed Danny, armed with
quill and ink, parchment and a measuring tape. When they were
finished, he found out that he'd lost two inches around the waist
and gained three inches of muscle in the thighs, two inches around
the biceps, four inches in his chest and three inches from shoulder
to shoulder.

Matt and Doug had lost a substantial amount
of weight and replaced it with lean muscle, their oversized robes
drooped from the excess fabric.

Chris and Alonso had stayed relatively the
same; they'd both been in good shape when they began their
training. However, Anthony seemed to be getting bigger and bigger,
his body stacked on pound after pound of muscle, his robes were
starting to rip at the seams.

By the time Danny and the others returned to
the barracks, the soft glow of the sun began to descend behind the
whirling dark clouds of the surrounding storm, sending the last
beams of amber light over the eye above. Upon entering, Danny found
the table set with a feast of foodstuffs, the aroma was both
welcoming and beckoning. After eating his fill with his friends,
Danny had every intention of finding his way back to his bunk,
tomorrow would be another day of hard training and he would need
the proper rest. However, he only made it as far as the stairs.

"Squire Firoth," Calador beckoned.

Danny turned to face the blind Elf.
I
wonder what he wants?

"I was wondering, might I have a word?"

Danny looked to Chris, who shrugged in
bewilderment. "Of course," said Danny, returning the shrug before
making his way over to Calador as he stood at the head of the long
dining table.

"Teacher's pet," Alonso whispered behind
Danny's back.

"Let us take a walk, far away from prying
ears," said Calador, turning toward the double doors.

Stepping into the cool night air, complete
with a brisk breeze, Calador turned right at a slow, purposeful
pace.

Danny fell into step beside the Elf, his
interest rising. He decided to keep to himself until Calador
explained the reason for this one-on-one attention. Thus far,
Calador had remained aloof, overseeing the needs of the first-year
squires from a silent distance. However, Calador seemed to carry an
air of kindness about him. He wasn't known for saying much, yet his
words were often well-received and to the point. Danny found this
new behavior somewhat alarming.

"You have been spending a substantial amount
of time under the tutelage of Sir Syndil."

"Yes," offered Danny, hesitating, unsure if
the Elf's words were a statement or a question.

"May I inquire why?"

"Sir Syndil has been assisting me with my
swordsmanship."

"Was it his tutelage that helped you to
defeat Squire Rigil in a duel?"

"You know about that?"

A small smile cracked the stern lips of
Calador, an expression not often seen on the Elf. Stopping, he
turned to stare down at Danny. Although the Elf sported his usual
binding of a white blindfold, Danny could feel the intensity of
Calador's focus. "Most of the island has heard of your victory,
Squire Firoth. You must remember that my ears are more keen than
most."

"Of course," said Danny, stopping before the
Elf, meeting his blunted stare squarely. Calador's gaze seemed to
go right through him. Feeling uncomfortable, Danny dropped his
head.

"Come," said Calador, resuming his walk, his
attention forward as if sensing Danny's distress.

Again, Danny followed behind, rushing to
catch up, falling into step.

"So, it was Sir Syndil's extra training that
allowed you to accomplish something that no other squire has been
able to do since the inception of the Order of the Light?" Calador
asked after a few silent seconds of walking.

"I… I believe so, yes."

"You do not wish to tell me the whole truth?"
Calador asked in a tempered tone.

Caught off-guard, Danny slowed his step,
falling behind the Elf. He had indeed kept the whole of the truth
from the Elf, but Danny wondered how Calador could've known.

"I can hear the subtle differences in your
voice as you tense up in a lie," explained Calador, slowing his
pace to match Danny’s. "If you were a better liar, I might not have
caught it."

"You can tell when people are lying just by
the tone of their voice?"

"I see, so you
were
lying?"

Danny stopped. "You tricked me!"

Calador took two last steps before turning, a
smirk growing across his face. "Did I?"

"So,
can
you tell if someone is lying
or not?"

"It seems we both have our own little
secrets, Squire Firoth."

"Why'd you bring me out here?"

Calador's expression resumed to his familiar
mask of emotionless composure. "I simply wish to tell you a story,
Squire," said the Elf, his blindfolded stare sending chills down
Danny's spine.

"I'm listening," said Danny, not knowing what
to expect.

"Then come with me, this is not the proper
setting," said Calador, turning as two Knights of the Light passed
on a routine patrol, their heavy armor clanging as they walked.

Danny followed, his curiosity piqued.

Turning down a slim corridor, between two
white brick buildings, Calador emerged onto a dual-lane road that
ran along the edge of the island. Before him stretched a highly
arched bridge that provided passage across a deep break in the
earth. The bridge was bricked with the usual white stone of the
island and ornate in its construction, with four towering
pillars.

Following behind but at a distance, Danny
watched as Calador stopped near the edge of the cliff face. The
pointed ears of the Elf perked up, as if listening for possible
intruders, just before he turned and dropped over the side. Danny's
heart stopped in his chest as he ran to the edge, expecting to see
the Elf's lifeless body strewn across a set of jagged rocks below.
"Calador!" he yelled, before peering over the edge. Instead of the
gruesome sight he expected, Danny found the Elf standing safely on
a large stone outcropping, the rhythmic sound of the crashing waves
echoing from nearly fifty feet below him.

"Come, Squire," said Calador with a smile,
just before hopping to a lower set of protruding stones.

Danny's knees became rubbery as he glanced
down at the sheer cliff wall and the razor-sharp rocks that
appeared and then disappeared in the colliding waves of the
sea.

"This is crazy," said Danny, more for his own
benefit than the Elf's ears. However, Danny carried no false hope
that the Elf had failed to hear him.

"I found this path during my first year here
as a squire," said Calador, hopping to a third set of stones
further down the cliff face. "You could say I was quite cocky in my
youth."

"You were a squire?"

"Once," said Calador, a faint hint of regret
in his tone. "But that is no secret."

Danny pondered the comment only
momentarily.

"Come! There is something I wish you to see."
Danny hesitated a bit longer, prompting the Elf to add, "Do not be
so reserved, Squire, you have eyes to see where you are jumping; I
have only my memory."

"I'd rather have your memories than my sight,
I think," Danny conceded. "Not only can I see where to jump, I can
also see where I'll end up if I fall."

"Then close your eyes if you wish," said
Calador with a soft chuckle.

Despite the task before him, Danny found the
Elf's light-hearted mood comforting. This was a side of Calador
that he had never seen before. Taking a deep breath, steadying his
resolve, Danny made the four-foot drop, landing solidly on the
stone below. To his relief, the rock was firm under his feet.
However, the cadenced crash of the ocean beneath him was a constant
reminder of the risk.

"Good," encouraged Calador, "now follow
me."

Slowly, but surely, Danny followed the Elf
down a descending set of naturally-occurring steps, some were an
easy jump and others required a jog just shy of a running start.
Together, they worked their way beneath the bridge to a wet rock
landing, the lapping waves cresting just below the lip.

"Here, you will need this." Calador presented
Danny with a short stick wrapped in a soft grey cloth.

Un-wrapping the package, Danny nearly dropped
it into the water as the tip burst into a bright yellow flame.
However, after running his left hand through it, he realized that
the blaze didn't burn, nor did it produce any heat. Upon closer
inspection, the wood appeared to be black, as if charred.

"The flame is eternal, but it will not keep
you warm at night, nor will it assist in the creation of a real
fire. Its purpose is to provide light only. Obviously, I have no
use for it, so you may keep it if you wish."

"Thank you," said Danny, continuing to test
the licking flames on the palm of his left hand.

"This way," said Calador, ducking beneath an
overhanging ledge, entering the threshold of a jagged cave.

Danny followed, leaving the sound of the
crashing waves behind him, muffled by the corridors of the cave.
Delving deeper, the rocky path descended in a series of steep steps
before expanding into a spacious chamber with a vaulted ceiling,
filled with hanging stalactites. The heatless flame bathed the
massive room in soft yellow light. Danny found Calador in the
middle of the room, the Elf's hands folded behind him and his face
an emotionless wall. Around the Elf, upon the smoothed stone of the
floor, ran a crudely carved ring inscribed with ancient text. Danny
recognized it as a dueling circle.

"What is this place?"

"This is where I prefer to train, Squire
Firoth," said Calador with a matter-of-fact tone.

"I don't understand. You said you were a
squire once, right?"

"Yes."

"Then why aren't you a Knight of the
Light?"

"You were chosen to become a squire due to
the Gift of Sight, yes?"

"Yes."

"Well, I have no sight at all. That gift was
taken from me."

"…How?"

"It happened during my third year as a
squire. Another squire, one year my senior, accidentally
extinguished my sight forever during a duel over rank, or so he
said. He was the captain of Dragon Army at the time; I was his
lieutenant. I thought myself to be better and challenged him to a
duel in order to assure my place as captain. I lost my eyesight as
a result. As I said previously, I was quite the cocky squire."
Calador allowed himself a slight chuckle.

"But you're still able to see so much despite
the loss," said Danny in a comforting tone. He felt unsure of
Calador's intentions, the Elf had never been this forthcoming with
him. "Surely, losing your sight wouldn't have stopped you from
pursuing knighthood."

"No, it would not have," said the Elf as he
dropped his gaze, his tone thick with pent-up emotion. Forcing the
sorrow down, resuming his cold façade, he added, "I lost something
far more precious than my sight that day. My Bonded was shattered,
destroyed during the same attack that took my eyes. It was the last
thing I ever saw."

"Couldn't you just choose another?"

Calador's hardened disguise broke
momentarily. "If only it was as easy as that."

"Isn't it?"

"No," said Calador, his gaze turning in
Danny's direction. "A Knight of the Light does not simply choose a
Bonded on his or her own. The Bonded must choose the wielder as
well. Once the relationship between a Knight of the Light and a
Bonded is made, it is carried until death. The name given to the
blade, Bonded, is not in name only, the wielder and blade become
one. Thus, losing a Bonded is like losing a part of yourself, once
lost, neither is able to choose another."