The Guardians (Book 2) (17 page)

Chapter 23

Torment

Early the next morning Dale woke feeling hungry. He found his strength was returning, so he made his way directly to the dining room and looked around to see who was present. His eyes fell on Baroness Kielie. She was sitting alone, gazing across the balcony and it was clear she had been crying. She was facing away from the table where Lias, Eibhear and Ben were sitting, but her posture showed discomfiture. Dale walked over and sat across the table from her and she glanced at him sadly before turning her gaze away. He couldn’t help but notice that her incredibly crumpled gown was quite dirty and her hair looked like she hadn’t combed it in several days. Charie appeared through the kitchen doors wearing her usual crisp white apron and carrying a tray of Dale’s favorite pastries. She placed the tray on the table quite close to Kielie and smiled encouragingly.

‘
I know you both love these. I made them especially for you, Baroness,’ she said pointedly. Kielie moved her head slightly in polite acknowledgement. Lias glanced in her direction and huge tears rushed down her face. She stood up and ran from the room. Dale sat staring after her in concern.

‘
What just happened, Charie?’

‘
It’s been too much for her to bear, Baron Dale.’

‘
Explain please.’

‘
I’m supposed to be in the kitchen.’

‘
Alright, explain to me in the kitchen.’ Dale rose and followed Charie through the kitchen doors. He smiled with pleasure as he watched her plump curves as she walked, not for the first time thinking how pretty the girl was and how deeply he cared for her. His mind was so often upon her and his heart leapt each time he thought of her. Charie didn’t hold back once they were out of public hearing.

‘
She’s depressed and she’s confused, Dale. You must have noticed how she looks at Lias! Then he went away to the Dwellings and she withdrew herself for almost the entire time he was gone. Now he’s back and she’s suffering badly.’

‘
I still don’t understand.’

‘
She’s drawn to him,’ said Charie, as if stating the obvious. ‘She’s fallen in love with a warrior who was certainly present at the battle where her husband was killed. So now she feels like she’s betraying her dead husband because of feelings she knows she shouldn’t have. And it doesn’t help that she’s so extremely lonely and Lias is-’ Charie shrugged and Dale waited for her to continue. ‘Well, he’s just so incredibly…’ She sighed. ‘She finds him a little too desirable,’ she finally admitted. ‘It happens all too often, that a girl falls in love with someone they can probably never have.’ A moment of wistfulness passed over her face and she blushed deeply and looked down at her feet. Dale touched her gently under her chin and she raised her head and looked up into his eyes.

‘
It seems it doesn’t just happen to girls,’ he murmured. ‘I certainly understand the difficulty of being in such a position.’

Charie
’s lips parted slightly and she took a deep breath. She turned away, picked up a cloth from beside the stove and began to dry a huge stack of freshly washed dishes.

Dale sat
himself on a high stool, thinking over what Charie had said. He came out of his reverie when Tolly spoke to him.

‘
Aren’t you supposed to be in the conference room, Baron Dale?’

Dal
e’s head came up sharply and he cursed crossly under his breath. He turned and stared through the doors leading into the store room as if he could see something interesting, and as everyone followed his gaze he snatched a fresh, hot pastry from the tray that Tolly had removed from the oven. He darted for the door. Charie’s wooden spoon shot out and landed across his buttocks with a loud thwack and she scolded him loudly as he ran laughing from the kitchen.

General Marnol
raised an eyebrow as he dashed into the conference room, holding a half-eaten pastry and apologizing profusely for his late arrival, but Dannicus waved his apology away and gestured to an empty seat next to Callian.

‘
Where is Squire Enrique?’ asked King Dannicus.

‘
I have Enri up on the wall with Lias teaching some of the older lads how to handle a sword,’ General Marnol explained.

‘
Send for him please and tell Sergeant Alexander to report here also,’ said Dannicus and the page standing near the doorway set off down the stairs at a run. Moments later Enri and Alexander arrived, bowed to the King and seated themselves at the table.

‘
Let’s start by making sure everyone is up to date on what has occurred since my son disobeyed me, as he usually does, and went rushing off to Nyinaku.’ He paused and smiled at Kelian who was looking at him indignantly. ‘You did well, Kelian. If you would fill everyone in on the situation in Nyinaku, with the help of Milgorry and Rudiger, then Callian can bring us up to date on what is happening at the Dwellings. Captain Gillam, you can describe what you found at the Black Apple Islands.’

It was midday by the time King Dannicus was satisfied with their reports. He questioned each person in fine detail regarding their part in each event and spent quite some time discussing the information to ensure he was absolutely clear on exactly what was occurring. Servant
s appeared with trays of food which they placed on the central disk of the huge table. Food supplies were becoming ominously short, mostly because those who had agreed to hunt were limited severely by the line of Nailmarni surrounding the city. Those fishing from the docks and those brave enough to venture from the shore in the few boats they had managed to find, were having a little more luck and the meal presented to the King was fish. There was very little to accompany the fish, simply a small roll of bread for each person, as well as several bowls of jindilli and a bowl of perfectly ripened quandongs. The group waited until the servants removed the empty platters before they continued their discussion.

‘
Right,’ said the King, calling everyone back to attention. ‘There are a few matters which King’s Marshall Danil and General Marnol have brought to my attention. Danil?’ he prompted.

‘
Yes sir. One problem we have is that we are seriously short of competent officers. Sergeant Alexander, you have proven yourself time and time again to be a competent leader and an exceptional soldier. You are now Captain Alexander. You will work with Captain Gillam and see our citizens safely to the Dwellings.’

‘
Yes sir. Thank you sir,’ said Alexander in surprise.

‘
And now, Squire Enrique, we’re not quite sure what to do with you.’ Danil looked thoughtfully at Enri who waited without commenting. Danil glanced at Dale.

‘
Danil wants you in our army,’ said Dale bluntly. ‘But I’m hoping no-one has forgotten you are only fourteen years old,’ he added worriedly.

‘
We’ve not forgotten, Baron Dale, and that is a very good point,’ said King Dannicus. ‘However the extraordinary deeds and the courage he showed in Nyinaku must be taken into account. It is worthy of significant recognition that he, along with yourself, saved the lives of my King’s Marshall and his wife Lady Valeska, as well as the guardian General Callian, the free warrior Lias and the little girl Aithne, when all had been captured and tortured by the fallen. From all reports, Enrique also willingly played an important and dangerous part in freeing the Governor’s daughters. He has proven to be brave and selfless, as well as cunning and intelligent.’ Enri went bright red as the King spoke.

‘
Not to mention absolutely terrifying if you have to face him unarmed,’ Dale added. ‘But he’s still only fourteen.’

Enri gritted his teeth.
‘Dale, I’ve had this discussion in this very room before! We’ve already talked about this! His Majesty honored me by making me Squire. Now, I know you take your oath as seriously as I do, after all, you managed to quote the entire thing when you wanted to make a point, which is how I learned the importance of committing my oath to memory. We also agreed that the oath had no clause relating to age. So, just to make sure there’s no uncertainty regarding how I feel about my duties…’ He pushed his chair back forcefully and ignored it when it fell over. The King raised his eyebrows and turned to face the Squire as Enri approached him and drew his sword. He knelt before the King and placed the sword at his feet.

‘
Your Majesty,’ said Enri, staring solemnly into the King’s eyes, ‘I give my life to serve my King. As Squire, my duty is to the people. I will serve loyally, in leadership and in defense of the citizens of our nation, in peace and war. I swear to serve with courage, as the shield and spear of the people, ever laboring to protect and defend by whatever means I am capable, without hesitation and placing the needs of the people above my own.
My life belongs to my King!
’ Sincerity rang from every word and Enri remained kneeling as the King stared proudly down at him.

King Dannicus leaned forward
, picked up Enri’s sword and stood. He grasped it in his right hand and held it high. ‘Stand, King’s Knight Enrique of Castle. May you continue to serve with loyalty and honor.’

Enri
stared up at the King in shock. That the King should knight him was not at all what he was expecting. He hadn’t been aware that a Squire could be knighted. King Dannicus tried unsuccessfully to refrain from laughing at the shocked young man. ‘Stand!’ he commanded again, and Enri leapt to his feet. King Dannicus held out Enri’s sword. ‘Do your duty. Defend our people. Defend our Kingdom,’ he commanded.

‘
Yes sir,’ said Enri, proudly raising his chin and taking his sword.

Dale
’s face was a strange mixture of pride and worry.

‘
Enri,’ said Dannicus, ‘you will report to King’s Captain Gilgarry, under King’s Colonel Borgulnay and King’s Marshall Danil. You have proven you are worthy of the rank of King’s Knight and you are entitled to, and will be given,
all
respect relevant to your rank. But Dale is wise to remind us of your age. Your training and your duties will be structured to suit a young man of fourteen years, and your responsibilities will increase with age. I will not allow you to take on the full burden of military duty at fourteen,’ King Dannicus said firmly. ‘This is not open to discussion, Enri. These are my orders.’

‘
Yes sir.’ Enri could see the wisdom in the King’s decision. He remembered how frightened he had been as they moved through the Khynol Mountains and he gave Danil a tiny nod as the King’s Marshall watched him knowingly.

‘
There are so many people we want to thank,’ said King Dannicus, ‘everyone who went into Nyinaku, and brought Elena, Louisa and Immosey safely back to Alkira. We thank you Captain Gillam, for bringing our Queen home, through such difficulties and danger. And we remember guardian Yarrabyth, who gave his life for our Queen and for Ladies Elena, Louisa and Immosey. General Marnol, for ensuring we had a place to come home to. Milgorry of Tarl, we owe you the lives of my future daughter in law and her sisters, and Rudiger of Morlee, I and the Princess and Duke owe you our lives, as does Baron Dale. If there is anything we can do to repay you, you need only say.’ 

‘
There was one thing, Majesty, that I could use a little help with,’ said Rudiger.

Dannicus
eyed the warrior perceptively. ‘We will assist you in every way possible to bring Nandul to justice,’ he said and Rudiger’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

‘
Thank you,’ he said looking stunned. ‘Are you sure you can’t hear my thoughts?’ he added and King Dannicus shook his head.

‘
And you, Milgorry?’ Dannicus prompted.

‘
One day in the future I may need your help, Majesty,’ said Milgorry.

‘
And when you do, you will have it,’ Dannicus declared. ‘You expect Nandul to come after your child?’ he added once more showing his ability to discern more from a person’s words than was spoken.

‘
Yes. There’s no doubt he’ll come after the child,’ Milgorry said with certainty.

‘Danil, you were working on a plan with Borgulnay and Gilgarry to remove the nest of Nailmarni. Tell me exactly what you discussed please.’ He waited patiently as Danil described the horseshoe shaped ravine and Dale’s idea of using this as a trap.

‘
Alright, we have several situations here we need to deal with simultaneously,’ said Dannicus. ‘So we’re going to split what little remains of our forces. I’m not willing to see any more innocent people die. Captain Gillam, you will load up supplies and take as many as possible of the citizens of Castle to the Dwellings. This will take several voyages, but pack as many on your ship as possible, even if they have to sleep on the decks. Regardless of the fact that the ‘Swift’ wasn’t stopped from entering the harbor, I still think we should aim to evacuate under cover of rain.’

‘
It’s not going to rain,’ said Dale bluntly, ‘not for a while, anyway.’

‘
Are you sure?’

‘
I’m sure; maybe in two or three days…perhaps.’

‘
We’ll proceed without the rain then,’ Dannicus decided. ‘We have little choice. We will go ahead with Baron Dale’s strategy for dealing with the Nailmarni nest, but not until the last citizen is taken safely from Castle. I want enough soldiers to at least attempt to defend against the Nailmarni here at Castle, but everyone else needs to be evacuated. Danil, you and Borgulnay will come up with a workable plan for removing the circle of Nailmarni surrounding my city. At the same time, I want to assist with the protection of the Dwellings, and I want to do this before they are attacked, if that’s possible. So we split our forces. Some soldiers will remain to deal with the Nailmarni; some will take the ‘Swift’ to the Dwellings. The group who are to deal with the nest will make their way to the Dwellings once this mission is complete. If Nandul chooses to take this opportunity to destroy Castle, we’ll be gone, and if he wants to attack us personally, he’ll have to come to the Dwellings to find us.’