The Apprentices (The Crimson Guard Trilogy Book 1) (16 page)

I looked hard at the man trying to read his face, but it was blank.  I stepped forward “I am Lyndon, why does the King wish to meet a lowly mage as me?  I mean seriously my master was killed before I even could learn to light a fire.”  I hoped to trick the guards into thinking we were nothing but a group of friends, odd friends, but friends all the same.    My legs involuntarily shaking added to this illusion. 

He looked at me, then Talon, “You are the one?”  He seemed unsure. 

“Yes, it is me.”  I said again.

He still seemed unsure, but spoke to me.  “We have come to find you and your companions.  The Queen will be pleased to meet you.”

“I thought you were taking us to the King?”  I asked.  I knew that the Queen was the one that was worried about us, not the King, but I played it off like I was naïve. 

He didn’t answer, he motioned to his troops and they advanced.  I didn’t resist when they put irons on my wrists. As they were restraining me, I noticed none of my companions were fighting either.

“So off to Ogland then?”  I said directed at the apparent leader.

“Yes, and if I were you I would not have given up so easily.” He responded with a smirk. 

Jes chimed in, “What makes you think we have given up.” Ending his message in a wink, a soldier from nearby slammed him in the jaw dropping him to the ground.

Ouch,
I thought, he did deserve it.  But still, I hope he had some plan for I was at a loss.

They guided us town down the same path I had walked so many times.  Now that we were all grouped together I counted 50 soldiers not counting the leader.  We came to the old Iron Gate without pause.  I looked over to see the familiar building one last time.  All to be seen were three outbuildings and a bare patch of dirt.  The lighthouse was gone.  I looked over at Jes who caught my eye.  He winked with the eye that wasn’t swelled up.  The guard’s punishment had done more damage than I had thought.

We traveled a fair distance from the town and it had turned out to be a very dark night when the convoy stopped.   From up ahead someone spoke, “We will camp here tonight.” 
Thank Fram
I thought my body had not quite recovered from the previous incident at the lighthouse and I was beginning to struggle to walk.  Speaking of the lighthouse I leaned over to Jes.  “What happened to the…” I stopped as a guard turned and lead us to a tree, where he anchored our party.

Jes looked over at me after the man left “I don’t know, I had been meaning to ask you.”  I looked over and looked at his black and blue eye. 

“I don’t know either, it was there and the next thing I remember was a blinding light and I was flying through the air.”  I failed to mention Juleen on purpose. 

“Ya, I saw the light and you take flight, and then it seemed the building just disappeared.”  Jes said.

I pondered what he said, I remembered a story my master had mentioned of the Red Beach.  My master who I now know was Smithson told me of a story of a great battle on a beach that became red with the blood of the combatants.  Smithson recalled that there had been a push by the enemy forces led by a former apprentice of Matlintoc’s by the name of Taxem.  It was their plan to get into the lighthouse and take over the power that was inherent in the building.  Now that I think about it, I never remember feeling any power near the building, I wonder if Taxem had been mistaken.  Before I could continue my thoughts an alert snapped me back.  A voice in the dark yelled something unintelligible before he went silent.  Another scream was cut short, and soon the guards had picked up their swords in search of what was silencing their comrades.   

Jes stood up hands and feet free of restraints “I will find out what is happening.”  Before I could remind him of his last punishment he disappeared in the dark.  Well, he is a rogue, he should be okay now that he is free of bindings. 

I continued to hear yelling, but now a clank of sword on sword began to overwhelm the night’s silence.  Suddenly Jes returned wide eyed fumbling to get back into his restraints.  “Jes what is going on?” I asked. 

“I don’t know, but whatever or whoever is out there, are making short work of the Queens so called ‘elite soldiers’.”  I was worried now because I could see fear slipping through Jes’ constant calm.  If he was scared, I should be terrified, but surprisingly I was not. I have realized that there are things beyond my control and I just have to rely on destiny and the things that I could control. 

Startling me the leader of the guard burst from the darkness covered in blood carrying a bag.  “If I let you free, will you fight for us?”  I looked at him thinking he was joking, but from his face I knew he was sincere. 

“Will you let us go free if we survive?”  I asked.

He was hesitant but finally responded.  “Yes, this enemy is worse than my dear Queen.”  He threw the bag on the ground and the contents spilled out.  I recognized a great white sword, a giant axe and a few other weapons which I had seen Jes slinging around.  I looked up to see the group waiting for my answer.  I averted my eyes to the sky, noticing it was no longer quite so dark.  I had not realized we had been talking for so long, the sun was beginning to rise.  Or had it ever been as dark as we originally had thought, it could have been another spell that we experienced back in Saraphala. 

“We will fight.”   Nearly before I had finished talking Talon, Jes, and Naomi all jumped up gathering their weapons.  Jes walked over to Frey and fiddled with his restraints for a second and the medic got to his feet recovering his axe as well.  I was surprised, but not as much as our former captor.  His face was white and his mouth was open, “How long have you been free?”  He stammered

Jes looked up as he was freeing me “I was never truly caught, I was just waiting for the right time.  Talon over there,” Jes motioned to figure lifting a brilliant sword “actually broke his restraints. And our Ginger friend melted her restraints.”  Jes finally finished and I stood and joined my group.  By now the darkness had begun to break and I could see the origin of the screams and the weapons clashing in combat. 

From where we were I could not see many of the unknown assailants, from what I noticed there were only fifteen or so.  Each was dressed in crimson armor fitted to their bodies.  Some were men and I could identify some as women; each as deadly as the other.  Suddenly one taller soldier nearby turned to Talon. The soldier swung a large spear in an arcing path.  The point found its mark on Talon’s left forearm.  Without flinching, Talon quickly moved and the great white sword slammed into the Spearman’s head shattering his helmet revealing a crimson haired woman.  As Talon battled the woman I noticed the rest of us were all standing by watching, even the guards’ leader had joined us.  I looked closely at the guard and realized the patch, which had been on his shoulder with the three rings, was missing.  I was brought back to the ongoing fight when I heard a thump on the ground. 

Lying on the ground was the crimson haired female.  Now that she was not moving I could see numerous scars on her face and in the metal of her armor.  The spear she had been using was now lying in two pieces by her still body.  I looked up at Talon “Is she dead?”  He shook his head in response. 

“If I don’t have to, I will not kill a woman, unless they really push the issue.”

At the end of the fight, with the addition of the still Spearman, I noticed an eerie silence had fallen over the camp.  The sun had now crested the ridges separating the Ogland prairies and the forests surrounding Townsmend, and I could see the carnage.  Scattered on the ground I counted 49 Royal Guards and none of the unknown crimson soldiers except for the one at Talon’s feet.  Holding weapons at the ready, our party waited. 

On all sides the crimson soldiers cautiously approached, avoiding Talon’s long reach.  They all suddenly stopped their approach and seemed to stand down.  From the back of the group a stout man with black armor came to the front and walked towards me.  I noticed Jes, who was standing close, become tense.  I looked at him “I think he might want to talk.”  I patted him on the shoulder and stepped from the protective circle.  Even as I walked forward I could tell that Talon and Jes were both waiting for a hostile attack.  For the first time in a long time I honestly believed my back was protected, possibly by some of the best warriors ever.  Of course I would never tell them that, their egos were big enough as it is. 

The individual sheathed his sword and removed his helmet.  I had a feeling I had met this man before, but I could not remember when.  He looked to the others “sheath your swords this battle is over.”  In unison, all the crimson soldiers followed his orders. 

“Okay Talon you can put your sword down and Jes, I doubt these soldiers were fooled by the dagger you have in your sleeve.”  I heard the clanking of weapons being put away behind me. 

“Hello, I am Lyndon. I may say thank you for the rescue, but due to the fact your people attacked us I am unsure what to say.”  I said.

“Yes, that was unintentional, but it does seem you are able to handle yourself quite well.”  He glanced down at the woman who began to stir. 

“You can have her back if you wish.”  I told him.

The man glanced at a nearby soldier who swiftly recovered his unconscious comrade.  “Now you know who I am, I am still eager to know you.”  I looked closely and noticed his face was free of scars unlike the fallen woman.  His hair was shoulder length, deep black.  Matching the color was a beard nearly as long. 

“I call myself Redington and I have actually come to ask for your assistance.  But it seemed you needed mine.”  His voice, it was so familiar.  All of I sudden I remembered how and where I knew him from.  He was the mysterious being from my dream.

I realized we were all still on edge. “Jes we can stand down, I believe we are safe now.  Set up camp and take Frey to help any wounded.”  Jes looked unsure, but complied.  Talon grumbled about blood not being shed or something and followed. 

“Now that the tension is lessened, will you please explain to me why you have come?”  I asked. 

“Yes, yes, but it will take some time, so please sit.”  He motioned to a log near the tree we had been chained to.  It did not bother me since I wanted answers.

I sat on the log and waited for him to join me.  He dragged another log over.  “So now that we are comfortable I will answer a few questions you may have and a few you have yet to think of.”  I merely sat back and waited.

“You may have wondered why you and your group are important.  There is a war that has been waging for many years.  Few know of the war because it is not necessary for people to know.  Many have heard of the battles when they spill into populated areas, which we try to avoid at all costs.  You need to know because you and your apprentices are the key to ending the bloodshed.”

Looking shocked “I do not have any apprentices, these are my friends and comrades”. 

“We will get to that, but first I will tell you my story.”

27

Centuries Past

The world was old yet its inhabitants were still young.  Humans and others alike were still learning about the wonders of their home.  Shlocks stayed to the North and the Humans to the South.  No one knew exactly why it had been divided as such, but it had always been that way.  Both free to live their lives in their own way, safe from the other.  Neither race even knew of the existence of the other.   The border was a great river running from the great mountains in the East to the endless sea in the West.  Essentially the only difference was that the Shlocks had a river to the South while the Humans had the river to the North.  The river’s name, if it ever existed, had been lost long before Humans ventured close.  The river was so wide and the fog so thick that to both sides, they were alone unless they knew of the bridge.  Neither race dared cross the great river; not for fear of the water, but for fear of the Brothers.  Over the river was one bridge, an earthen bridge which crossed the raging waters.  The bridge had been named The Bridge of the Gods, for only Gods were allowed to cross, who in the beginning were often seen wandering the two lands.  These Gods took on the images of the respective people’s features and therefore the people continued to live without the knowledge of each other.