The Guardians (Book 2) (21 page)

‘
Excellent,’ said Kelian. ‘If you are sleeping now, you will eat first, if you are on guard, you may eat when you have finished your duty. At first light tomorrow we will discuss what our best options are and I will decide
what we are going to do. Now, we need to arrange for some blankets for privacy for the ladies. Little Rezon, you’re the tallest. If you’d assist me with this I’d be grateful. Also, before we settle, I want the food and blankets distributed evenly between everyone, taking into account that I do not expect to see Elena or Immosey carrying more than the travel cake they might be eating or a water bag they are drinking from. Ben and Jival, see to this please. Lias, ensure that the ladies are suitably armed. I’ve been told on more than one occasion to do my job, and not anyone else’s,’ he said glancing towards Timbul. ‘I can only speak for myself, but I’m exhausted and I’ll be no use to anyone in the morning if I don’t rest, so let’s try to get some sleep.’

After fifteen minutes of quiet activity,
they began settling down to eat and sleep. Kelian lay on the rocks wishing he could sleep. He listened restlessly for Callian, Mil and Borgulnay to return, feeling terrible anxiety for their safety and knowing he couldn’t even begin to make plans before they returned and reported to him. He rolled onto his side and tried to calm his racing thoughts, but his mind kept returning to his parents and the soldiers who had not escaped from Castle. He sighed heavily and rolled uncomfortably onto his other side, feeling sickened to his stomach by the terrible losses. He was thinking in circles. His mind leapt between likely scenarios and possible ways of handling each situation. Then he started to imagine the possible outcomes and he would remind himself that he needed to wait until Callian returned before he could make any decisions. Then, like an annoying song stuck in his mind, his thoughts would begin all over again. Eventually Danil sat up and touched Kelian’s shoulder.

‘
Would you like a little help sleeping, Highness?’ he asked.

‘
That would be appreciated, Danil,’ Kelian admitted. ‘But wake me up if anything happens.’ Danil brushed his hand over the Prince’s face and he slept peacefully until first light.

Chapter 2
6

Dangerous Tactics

‘
This is quite good,’ said Kelian, nibbling on a sweet travel cake. ‘I want you to go south, Dale, to Emerald. Find out what’s happening up there, and do whatever is needed.’

‘
And if they don’t need me in Emerald?’ asked Dale.

‘
They will need you in Emerald. Even if they’ve been fortunate enough to have not been attacked either by the Nailmarni or the fallen, they’re still going to need you. Alexander said Li and Elizabeth tried to convince father that they should return to Emerald, but he wanted them to go to the Dwellings. They were terribly weak after their illness and he wanted to give them time to recover, but we need someone up there.’

‘
You didn’t give
me
any time to recover and besides, Lerise and Jade are there,’ Dale commented.

‘
Lerise and Jade are really young,’ said Kelian. ‘Please don’t misunderstand me. They are intelligent and capable, but they’ve never had to face a situation such as this. Jade is barely seventeen and Lerise is only eighteen.’

‘
I’m eighteen and you’re only a year older than me,’ Dale pointed out. He shook his head when Kelian began to look worried. ‘Stop worrying, Kelian. I’ll go to Emerald and see what needs doing.’

Kelian
brushed his hand across his forehead. ‘Under normal circumstances I would definitely go myself to see what needs to be done. As things stand, you are the only one left who can go in my stead.’

‘
Well, we’re really at the bottom of the barrel now,’ Dale mumbled glumly.

‘
No. That’s not what I meant,’ Kelian smiled. ‘You’re a good choice. I could send Danil, but I think you’re the best person for the job. If this wasn’t the case, I would try to give you more time to recover from your illness, but it’s you that I want to send.’

‘
Thank you,’ said Dale, looking surprised. ‘And if Emerald has been overrun by Nailmarni or by the fallen?’

‘
You will need to be the judge of what must be done, depending on the circumstances when you arrive. You will carry my authority and I expect your orders to be obeyed, regardless of what’s happening up there when you arrive.’

‘
I wonder what Jastin will have to say about that.’ Dale knew that Colonel Jastin was quite likely to refuse to obey his orders. The Colonel had always seen him as a wild lad, and made it clear from the moment Dale arrived in Emerald that he neither liked nor trusted him. He was a very tough man, small in frame, but large in attitude, and his knowledge of military tactics and strategy was extensive. He set high standards for all soldiers under his authority and enforced obedience with strict discipline. Regardless of the fact that the garrison ran with exceptional efficiency, he was not well liked, nor did he appear to like anyone.

‘
The only people who have the authority to countermand your orders are Lerise and Jade, but I doubt the Princesses will be anything but relieved when you arrive and take some weight from their shoulders,’ said Kelian.

‘
Well, I guess I can’t go any sooner,’ said Dale. He picked up his bow and quiver.

‘
Er, Dale?’ Kelian’s incredulous tone caused Dale to stop and turn towards him. ‘I wasn’t intending for you to travel alone.’

Dale grinned.
‘I don’t mind going alone, Kelian. After hearing what Callian had to say, I think you’ll need everyone else to stay here to deal with the Nailmarni.’ He picked up his pack and slung it over his shoulder.

‘
Will you stop trying to leave,’ said Kelian crossly, and Dale dropped his pack to the rocks in surprise. ‘I want you here a bit longer, whilst we work out exactly how we are going to tackle the nest. And when I do give you leave to go, you won’t be going alone. That would be stupid. I want everyone to come inside the shelter of these rocks to help plan the attack. I value the opinion of every person here.’ He turned to Callian. ‘Could you call them all in please?’

M
inutes later Rudiger, Jival and Lias appeared, all looking curiously at Kelian. Everyone sat in a rough circle on the rocks around the Prince, and Elena and Immosey perched on a small log that Rezon had dragged into the shelter for their comfort. Kelian nodded towards Callian.

‘
As you know from what we saw last night, there are still some Nailmarni in the nest,’ said Callian. ‘Prince Kelian has decided we are going to attempt to wipe them out before we head towards the Dwellings, and the best plan we have is Dale’s original suggestion. I think we should attempt this while we are all still together. If the attack goes badly, Dale’s group heads for Emerald and everyone else heads for the Dwellings.’

‘
So who goes with Dale?’ asked Enri.

‘
The King’s men stay with Kelian,’ Callian began. ‘So that includes Danil, Borg, Gil and you Enri.  Tiernan ordered Tim and Araas to protect Kelian, so they are bound to remain with him and of course Elena and Immosey must be taken to the Dwellings as quickly as possible.’

‘
Callian, will you go with Dale, and then on to the Dwellings?’ asked Kelian.

‘
As you wish,’ said Callian.

Kelian
looked around the faces of the free warriors. ‘I know I said that whilst you are in Alkira, you will do as I command, but I want the choice to be your own. I will not prevent you from returning to Nyinaku if this is your wish or going on to the Dwellings as was your original plan. I know you have enough problems among you own people without having to deal with ours. So you have one choice.’

‘
Don’t you mean two choices?’ asked Rudi.

‘
No, I mean one
choice
; a choice to make. If I said you had to return to Nyinaku that would mean you had
no
choice, Rudi. You have the
choice
of returning to Nyinaku or going on the Dwellings. But I wish to ask something of you. Would you consent to going with Dale to Emerald before you make this choice?’

Rudi glanced around his group of warriors.

‘Someone needs to look after Dale,’ Eibhear commented.

‘
I don’t need looking after!’ said Dale indignantly.

‘
He might fall out of a tree,’ said Jival with a grin.

‘
That was actually Rudi’s fault! He scared me half to death!’

‘
Or he might break his ankle and dislocate his shoulder,’ Ben added.

‘
Or get himself covered in Nailmarni blood,’ said Rudiger nodding in agreement.

‘
If you hadn’t put an arrow through that Nailmarni just when he was leaning over me-’ Dale began.

‘
-he would have gutted you,’ Rudiger finished and Dale grimaced.

‘
So how many warriors will it take to keep Dale alive,’ asked Kelian feigning seriousness.

‘
Very funny, Kelian!’ said Dale, looking highly embarrassed.

‘
At least six, Highness,’ said Eibhear, ignoring Dale’s offended snort.

‘
Good. Then perhaps Rudi, Eibhear, Lars, Ben, Jival and little Rezon would consent to escorting the Baron to Emerald?’ said Kelian. ‘From Emerald, go where you please.’

‘
Rudi,’ said Milgorry, ‘I know you want to see Tiernan as much as I want to see Nandul, and you were planning to make your visit as brief as you possibly could, but we could use your help at the Dwellings. I know Tiernan doesn’t think we can defeat the Nailmarni, but I think it’s possible. If we have every single person who is willing to help, maybe we can.’

‘
Actually, I was planning on finding someone who could be a liaison between us and Tiernan. I wasn’t planning to actually face him. That would be...dangerous.’

‘
You need to face him Rudi.’

Rudiger
looked at Milgorry for a long time, with apprehension and confusion written on his face. ‘We’ll do as you wish, Mil,’ he said eventually. ‘We’ll help Dale with anything he needs at Emerald, then we’ll come to the Dwellings, but if Tiernan returns me, be frightened of the day he returns you, because I’ll be waiting.’

Milgorry smiled at Rudiger.
‘He didn’t return me Rudi. Well, he almost returned me, and I suppose I was just lucky Louisa was not prepared to let me go. But I can’t blame him for wanting to return me.’ He shook his head as he remembered Tiernan’s reaction when he first met him on the beach.

‘
Oh Supreme Majesty!’ Rudi whispered as he caught Milgorry’s thoughts. ‘He thought you raped her? No wonder he wanted to return you! Of course, right up until I knew you weren’t working for Nandul, I wanted to return you myself,’ he said grinning sheepishly.

‘
Wonderful,’ Milgorry said drily. ‘Alright, if you’re going with Dale, I’ll go with Kelian. Louisa is back at the Dwellings, so the sooner I get there, the better.’

‘
Good,’ said Kelian. ‘Now let’s just make sure everyone knows exactly how we are going to handle the Nailmarni nest.’

‘
Someone will need to remain here to guard Elena and Immosey,’ said Borgulnay immediately.

Immosey frowned.
‘There must be something I can do to help!’ she said standing up. ‘After all, isn’t this the very chasm you intend to lead the enemy into?’ She pointed over the cliffs.

Gilgarry glared back at her.
‘Don’t even think about it, little sister. You’ll stay here until someone comes and tells you it’s safe to leave, and if no-one comes, you go with whoever is guarding you to the Dwellings.’

‘
You can’t tell
me
what to do Gil! I think we’re going to need every one of us to defeat the Nailmarni in the nest. I’m not useless! I can help!’ Immosey was now looking furious and she slapped Gil’s hand away when he placed it on her shoulder.

‘
Immy,’ said Borgulnay and he stepped up to her and wrapped is huge arms around her thin little body, lifting her feet from the ground. ‘You are the bravest and most beautiful girl ever to have graced this land, and I might be a little selfish, but I’m not prepared to lose you. Please stay here,’ he said gazing down into her blue eyes. She stared back up at him and her resolve disintegrated entirely.

‘
Will you stay with us?’ she said hopefully. Borgulnay glanced at Kelian.

‘
That’s fine,’ said Kelian. ‘Borg will stay here to guard the ladies, and perhaps if one of the free warriors would be willing to stay?’

‘
Lias?’ Milgorry asked and Lias bobbed his head in consent. ‘If anything happens you get them to Tiernan.’

‘
Understood,’ Lias replied. He turned to Elena and Immosey. ‘I’ll take you into the bush land so you can relieve yourselves now. Once Callian draws the Nailmarni from the nest you won’t be able to leave until they are destroyed.’

‘
Good. I’ll come too,’ said Kelian, and he grabbed Elena’s hand and followed Lias, Borgulnay and Immosey into the bushes.

‘
Me too!’ Enri called after them and dashed into the bushes to catch up. ‘Lias!’

‘
What is it?’ asked Lias, slowing down to walk beside him.

‘
Mil said Tiernan was going to return him. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but could he have killed him instead of returning him? Is there a difference?’

‘
If a guardian is returned, they return to our creator, and he decides if they will stay with Him, or if they will be sent back here. If a human is killed they still exist, just not here and it’s the same for the free. If we’re returned we cannot come back here but we still exist. But if one of the free is
killed
, we cease to exist altogether. Very, very few guardians have ever existed who can truly take the life from one of the free. They can return someone, but for one to have the ability to actually kill one of the free is almost unheard of. It’s said that Tiernan might have been given this ability, but in truth, I don’t want to find out.’ Enri remained silent until they returned to their camp, pondering Lias’ words.

Dale
’s thoughts had been going over and over the best way to execute his strategy for destroying the nest, and within his mind he debated if it was even possible to trap the Nailmarni inside the chasm long enough to start a bushfire big enough to burn them to death. His stomach turned over and he felt horribly sick at the thought.

‘
It’s not a pleasant thought, Dale, but we’re running out of choices,’ said Callian sadly.

‘
We’re running out of live soldiers,’ said Dale. ‘Was there anything else that’s changed, anything that might be important to know?’

‘
No. Same sleeping bodies, same motionless guards,’ said Callian.

‘
What about the pile of bodies?’ Dale asked, remembering the horrible sight and his stomach turned over again.

‘
They’re gone,’ said Callian shortly, turning away.