Second Guard (22 page)

Tali tried to shake away the memory as she ran. She concentrated on her breath so that it matched her steps, counting to herself. The rhythm of it began to soothe her, her feet hitting the soft
path in time with her breathing. That’s it, Tali, she told herself. Keep moving, keep breathing, stop thinking. But moments later, her problems slipped back into her mind. What should she do?
Should she go see Telendor herself to tell him what happened before Drayvon did? Would Boulder be safe at Saavedra’s cottage, where they had taken him after the fight? Would Brindl lose her
position with Saavedra and be sent back to the kitchens? Would Tali find
herself
in the kitchens as punishment?

Twice they circled the island while question after question circled Tali’s thoughts. When they arrived back at the rock where Jaden usually stood, two guards awaited Tali. The
commander’s guards. Her stomach dropped.
So it begins.

“Talimendra Sanchez?” the taller of the two guards asked.

Tali nodded, afraid her voice would betray her fear.

“Report immediately to Commander Telendor’s quarters,” he commanded.

Again Tali nodded and the guards departed. As soon as they were out of sight, Tali bent over and put her hands on her knees, as much to settle her nerves as to catch her breath. Chey approached
and put his hand on Tali’s back. It felt hot, but comforting as well. Tali stood up and faced her friends.

“Come, we’ll walk with you,” Zarif offered.

Still unable to speak, she gave them a quick smile, though she knew her friends would read the anxiety in her eyes.

As the three walked toward Telendor’s quarters in the far tower of the Alcazar, they saw Brindl heading toward them as well. Her face looked like a mask carved of worry. No doubt she
dreamt of horrors, too, Tali thought.

No words were exchanged as Brindl joined them, but Zarif gave her hand a quick squeeze. No one wanted to give voice to their worst fears—that Tali would be dismissed as a pledge, that
Brindl would be sent back to the kitchens, and that Boulder…As the four continued in silence, the bright sun and cloudless day seemed to mock Tali’s misery.

When they reached Telendor’s tower, Chey grabbed one of Tali’s hands and one of Brindl’s. “Be brave, friends. You have the truth on your side,” he said.

Then Zarif put a hand on her shoulder and one on Brindl’s. “Picture us standing beside you.”

Tali nodded and Brindl smiled weakly, then both turned to face the guards standing sentry at the tower. They passed through the heavy wooden doors, then began climbing the circular stone stairs
as they had been directed. When they finally reached the upper level to Telendor’s study, they found Drayvon and his two companions already there. The boys stood at respectful attention, legs
shoulder width apart, arms locked behind their backs, save for Drayvon, whose right arm, heavily bandaged, rested within a sling. Tali and Brindl took their places beside them, Tali in the same
military position as the boys. She snuck a peek at Brindl, who looked even paler than usual, her legs visibly trembling as she clasped her hands in front of her. Poor girl, thought Tali. At least
I’m used to being yelled at by centurios.

Telendor sat behind a massive desk on the far side of the circular room, seemingly in no hurry to address the people before him. He shuffled through papers, organizing them into neat piles, his
actions somehow incongruous with his powerful status. His impeccable uniform almost seemed to strain under broad shoulders and arms, his face like a stone, carved with lines around his eyes and
mouth. As he bent down to open a desk drawer, Tali noticed how his dark hair thinned along the top of his head, the only sign of the man’s age. He finally seemed to find the paper he was
hunting for and quickly folded it into thirds, sealed it with a drop of wax, and stamped it with his ring. A guard came forward and received the sealed parchment with a nod, as if he already knew
what to do with it.

Then Telendor folded his hands on top of his desk, his head down, as if thinking. The minutes had begun to feel like hours as the five of them stood silently, awaiting their fate. Finally,
Telendor spoke.

“Tell me, Pledge Drayvon, about the events that bring you here,” he said, his deep voice measured and quiet.

Drayvon’s shoulders relaxed and his left arm fell to his side. Telendor’s eyebrows shot up and Drayvon immediately snapped his arm back into position behind his back.

“Sir, my friends and I had just returned from a trip to Porto Sol. We went directly to the stables to check on the progress of my yearling, who had a stone bruise in her hoof.”

Telendor nodded slightly and Tali bit her lip. Drayvon had rehearsed his story ahead of time, one his friends would undoubtedly corroborate.

“We were just preparing to leave, sir, when we were viciously attacked by a packhound. I believe these two
girls
, giddy and drunk from the day’s festivities,” he said,
pointing with his chin to Tali and Brindl, “set him upon us for sport. Had we not defended ourselves, he might well have taken our throats,” he added, looking down ruefully at his
bandaged arm.

Anger rose like a flame inside Tali, and she had to bite her tongue not to yell “Liar!” Brindl had stopped trembling and was now standing dead still, her hands clenched in fists at
her side.

Telendor glanced at the pledges on either side of Drayvon.

“Is this how events transpired?” he asked them.

“Yes, sir!” the both responded immediately, in unison.

Tali felt her stomach drop. The worst would certainly come from this. It was three against two, and Brindl’s servant status would not help matters.

Telendor shifted his intense gaze to Tali.

“I will ask you the same question. Is this how events transpired, Pledge Talimendra?”

Tali cleared her throat. “No, sir, it is not. Brindl and I were neither giddy nor drunk last night. We were simply putting the packhound back in his stall for the evening, when these three
pledges approached us,” she explained, glaring at the boys next to her. “They were obviously inebriated and looking for trouble. When they made…threats to our persons,”
Tali said, “we were forced to defend ourselves. Outnumbered and weaponless, we…
I
released the hound from his stall. While the dog did flatten the boys, sir, it only bit
Drayvon after he pulled a knife and slashed it in the shoulder.”

Brindl pulled Drayvon’s knife from the pouch tied around her waist and silently laid it on Telendor’s desk. The dark mahogany hilt was engraved with a
D
.

“Brindl grabbed the knife after Drayvon dropped it,” Tali explained. “The boys left then, sir.”

“And how did this packhound come to be at the Alcazar?” Telendor asked.

Tali did not hesitate. “He followed me, sir, on my first day here. I have been taking care of him since then. I apologize…I should have asked for permission first.”

Telendor said nothing. The room filled with a terrible silence and Tali wondered if anyone was even breathing.

Finally the commander stood, towering over the young pledges. “There is no room in the Guard for liars and those who would behave dishonorably,” he said, his voice still calm and
measured, but Tali now heard an undercurrent of anger in it, which sent a shiver down her spine. She dropped her head and squeezed her eyes closed, preparing for the worst: dismissal and disgrace
for both her and Brindl…and sweet Boulder…she had heard of hounds being put to death for attacking a human. Dear Gods, no, she thought. Anything but that. She forced herself to look
up then and confront Telendor’s punishment head on. But Telendor’s eyes looked elsewhere.

“I am the Queen’s Sword and Commander of the Second Guard, the highest ranking military officer in the realm. Do you think I rose to that post without being able to discern a lie
from the truth?” he said, staring coldly at Drayvon and his friends, who looked at each other in alarm. “Returning drunk on a sacred festival night. Threatening a fellow pledge with
harm. You dishonor the Guard. You dishonor yourselves. You, Drayvon, dishonor both your father and your grandfather. It is only my loyalty to those fine men and the service they rendered as
centurios of the realm that keeps me from dismissing you outright.”

Tali could not believe her ears. She stood clasping her cold hands together, relief pouring through her body. Now the boys’ heads dropped in shame as Telendor outlined their punishment.
“As such, I will allow you to remain in the Guard, but your right to compete in the Clash of Warriors is forfeit. You will remain at the Alcazar and clean weapons instead. Is that
clear?”

“Yes, sir,” they answered, though Tali felt sure the blow had hit hard. There wasn’t a pledge alive who didn’t dream of competing in the upcoming Clash of Warriors
tournament in Fugaza, where the best guards in the realm showed off their skills in front of huge crowds, including the Queen herself. Every year, nine pledges were chosen by the Alcazar to test
themselves against seasoned soldiers at the Clash. Tali knew Drayvon’s fighting skills were among the best of the pledges. Surely he would have been one of the nine chosen…until now.
She found herself almost feeling sorry for the brash Sun Guilder, whose slumped shoulders clearly reflected his disappointment.

Telendor approached Drayvon then, stopping only inches away from his face. “This is not the first I’ve heard tell of you, Drayvon. My son says you’re one to keep an eye on.
Anger is useful in battle, but it is a crutch elsewhere. Learn to control it, or lose your place as a pledge of my Guard.”

Drayvon nodded curtly, and Telendor stepped back again to include the other two boys in his remarks. “From here on out, I expect you to behave in a manner befitting a guard of Tequende, or
you will return to your guilds in disgrace. Now go.”

The boys chimed “Yes, sir!” again and strode out of the room, making an effort to keep their heads high, in order not to displease their commander further.

Then Telendor turned toward Tali and Brindl. “I am aggrieved you have suffered such behavior from those who should know better. You defended yourselves admirably. However, the packhound
must go. The Alcazar is no place for pets. You are dismissed.”

This time it was the girls’ turn to say “Yes, sir,” and file solemnly out the door. In unspoken agreement, they took the stairs slowly, not eager to catch up to Drayvon and
company.

Back at Saavedra’s rooftop cottage, Tali and Brindl finally allowed themselves to hug each other in relief. Chey, Zarif, Saavedra, and Boulder were all there waiting for
them, and soon the day, which had started out so horribly, turned into a celebration. Tali and Brindl took turns recounting each moment of the nerve-racking encounter with Telendor, sometimes
finishing each other’s sentences. The feelings of awkwardness and discomfort between the girls were now gone, and the two smiled openly at each other.

The group sobered, however, when Tali brought up the only sour note of the day: the fate of poor Boulder. The dog, initially excited by their arrival, now lay peacefully on the hearth in front
of Tali’s feet. Saavedra had sewn his wound and given the dog some leaves to chew on to dull the pain.

“Perhaps there is a farmer nearby who could use a packhound,” Saavedra said, reaching down to rub Boulder’s ears, who licked his palm in thanks. “In truth, he would
probably prefer to work than spend so much time inside a stable.”

Brindl nodded in agreement. “Packhounds are working dogs,” she said. “They are happiest when they are put to use.”

“The question is, will a farmer want to take on a wounded dog?” Saavedra asked. “It may be some time before Boulder heals.”

“This is my fault,” Chey said miserably. “I should never have let him follow me here.”

Tali reached across the chair and patted Chey’s knee. “If it had not been for Boulder, who knows what those idiots would have done to us last night?”

“Boulder is a hero,” Brindl added, her eyes tearing up as she fidgeted with the chunk of salt in her hands.

“That’s it!” Tali said, standing up. “We’ll take him to the mines! Surely Ory will take care of him for us.”

Tali watched Brindl’s eyes light up. “Of course. And he will have plenty of help, I’m sure. The salters take good care of their packhounds, even the old, infirm ones. Boulder
will be in good hands there.”

Everyone was well pleased with the idea, especially Chey. Saavedra put on another pot of tea and had Brindl fetch an entire cake from the kitchens. For right now, thought Tali, as she sat with
her friends, all is well.