The Sworn Defender

by The Ranger

  "I would just be putting even more people at risk," he countered. "No, I can't… I won't do that— not to any of you."

  "If… if you're really sure about what you're going to do," the oldest of the boys started. "You should talk to the Captain. He seemed to know a lot about the mage, at least more than he let on."

  "Captain?" Eren repeated.

  The young man turned to meet his eyes and allowed a slow nod.

  "No, there aren't any captains left in Azra," Richard muttered. "Lacerne pulled them all for his journey— I watched them gather their best men and leave together. All of them."

  "Well, they left one behind," the youth returned. "He's been directing the defense, telling us where to strike and what to do and when to do it."

  Richard and Eren shared a look of confusion before the former of the two brought his gaze back to the young man.

  "Fine, then take us to him," he allowed, curious to meet whoever had taken charge. "Let's see what he knows of our enemy."

  It was a short walk through Azra's empty streets that led them to a merchant square, one that had been repurposed to serve as an assembly point for the kingdom's soldiers. Guards milled in and out of the area— some forming parties to strike out into the city, and others returning, guiding residents with them. They led the rescued people to an amphitheater across from the square, where at least a hundred of them had already gathered, and a few men streamed through, distributing food and jugs of water.

  As they walked along, Richard spotted a large armorer's stand ahead of them, one that had almost two dozen guards piled around it, intently watching something in front of them.

  "Now, Lawrence said he spotted a few stragglers right around… here, but, unfortunately for us, there's maybe two dozen or so of those things between here and there," a man grumbled. "There isn't a way around it; we'll have to cut through their ranks. James, gather a group of fifteen and set out immediately. If you're not back in half an hour, I'll be forced to drag myself out there— and you won't enjoy that."

  "Yes, Captain," one of the guards accepted, quickly dashing away.

  "That can't be…" Eren whispered.

  "It is," Richard smiled.

  A few more men spilled away from the stall as they set out on their missions, revealing a long table, and atop it rested a map illustrating Azra's roads and landmarks. Behind the parchment, dragging his finger across it as he grumbled orders, stood a man very familiar to the both of them.

  He was tall, with blonde stubble and unkempt hair that fell to his shoulders haphazardly. On his right side, there hung an ornate blade, with a crimson jewel just above the grip, which indicated his rank as captain. He wore a spotless breastplate, pauldrons on both shoulders, and a gauntlet on his left arm. His right sleeve hung tied to his side, as he had lost his arm to rot years earlier. His head turned up, and his eyes grew bright as they watched Richard and Eren approach; one shined blue and the other brown.

  "My boys!" Finnegan cried as he clambered around the table towards them.

  "It's been… so long!" Eren squeaked as the one-armed man accosted him.

  "How are you here?" Richard laughed as he hugged his former battlemaster.

  The older man giggled for a moment before clearing his throat and taking a step back.

  "Ah, well, news of what had happened arrived late to my ears," he explained. "By the time I made the trip to the city, you had already gone east. I decided to linger at Brandon's side, in case things… well, for precisely this reason."

  The older man scanned Khora and Edmund before turning his eyes towards the sword fastened to Richard's hip. It took less than a second for worry to break across his aged face.

  "Oh, Richard," he mumbled. "Tell me that thing hanging on your side isn't what I think it is."

  He set his hands on Lucian's blade and allowed a dejected nod.

  "Never in my life did I think I'd be glad Ursula was gone," Finn whispered, wincing for a moment. "But, I'm relieved she isn't here to… to witness this tragedy."

  Richard set his hand on the man's arm, breaking him away from his absent look.

  "I'll tell you everything that's happened soon, Finn, but there isn't enough time to do that now," he started. "What's happened to Azra's people?"

  Finnegan nodded for a moment as he collected his thoughts.

  "They've been… they've been directed to the western farmlands and the townships that accompany them," he answered. "Brandon had scouts watching the east, and he called for an exodus when things began to grow… grim."

  "Quick thinking," Khora commented. "He has more sense than I would have expected from him."

  Finnegan cracked a smile at her assumption before shaking his head.

  "I expected nothing less from him," he returned. "The Prince made a good choice appointing him as steward— Brandon was trained and taught by one of the best men I've ever known. I… I just wish he had listened and joined me here."

  "He stayed in the castle," Edmund mumbled, a statement that earned a nod from the worn battlemaster.

  "He refused to let the sorcerer take it without rival. Only a handful of men stayed with him, but I know they weren't enough. I don't know who is."

  "We can end this now," Richard reassured, determination sparking across his face. "Lucan will fall, and our people will no longer have to be afraid."

  "Lu-Lucan?" Finn stammered, gripping him tightly. "How do you know that name?"

  "Gerald mentioned it… to me," Eren explained, cutting in. "That and… a few other things."

  "Eren and me-" Richard started.

  Finnegan narrowed his eyes as he stared at his former student closely.

  "Eren and I — along with our companions — have been chasing him since we left the Ashlands," he continued. "We know about the secrets and the lies— we know about Marinia and the Archivist concealing it all. We know what Lucan is to Lacerne. What we don't know is why. What exactly happened so long ago that forced us here?"

  "I-I can't," the battlemaster murmured. "I… I shouldn't-"

  "Please, Finn. You've worked to keep Azra safe for a long time, and you're the only person left here that I trust to be honest with me."

  The captain seemed to ponder on his words for a moment, and Richard almost thought he could sense a hint of resentment radiating off of his former battlemaster. Finally, he nodded and took a deep breath.

  "All of you, you know what your duties are," he murmured, turning to the soldiers he had assembled there. "Get moving, and don't disappoint me."

  They were met with a few curious glances as Azra's defenders filtered out of the stall and made their way across the square.

  "I know Little Ed, but what about her?" he pointed, gesturing to Khora. "I don't recognize this woman."

  "She's a friend," Eren assured him. "A trusted friend."

  He and Khora shared a glance for a moment before turning their attention back to the captain, who had been looking around as the last of his men began moving further away. He almost seemed nervous as he scanned them, waiting for them to stray far enough that they could not listen to their conversation. After a few seconds, Finnegan closed his eyes for a moment and grimaced before he began to speak.

  "What exactly is it that you know?" he questioned.

  "Lucan is the King's brother," Richard started. "After Laycen died and our relationship with Marinia fell apart, Lacerne had the city sacked. His brother led the charge and burned the settlement to the ground. Sometime after that, there was talk of deposing him… that's all I know."

  "That's… that's most of it, I think," Finnegan sighed, shaking his head slightly.

  "How could… we not know?" Eren questioned. "After… all this time… how could we… not know Lacerne had a brother?"

  "Very few did," the battlemaster explained. "Laycen was an extremely private man when it came to both his family and his affairs. There was an attempt to assassinate him when he was a child— one that left him crippled for the rest of his life. He never presented eith
er of his children to the public and chose to leave them to their own devices. Only those with strong ties to the late king and those who served him — like me — encountered his second son."

  "But… still," Edmund countered. "How could he never leave the castle?"

  "He did," Finn returned. "In fact, he was hardly in Azra. Lucan was Master Uros' apprentice, and the two would often travel between the elven lands to the west. When they weren't together… the Prince attended some college in the far north. I really only met him once or twice before his father's death."

  "Was he… was he a monster even then?" Khora inquired.

  "I don't know," the man sighed, setting his hand on his waist. "He was well-regarded by those who knew him well, Queen Ursula chief among them, but when he and Lacerne clashed… no one stood in his defense."

  "How did the King catch him?" Khora inquired.

  "Letters— letters from… we'll say individuals in advantageous positions," the older man began. "They urged Lucan to act in the interest of the kingdom, to depose Lacerne and claim the Crown for himself. They promised him their support."

  "And then he tried to kill his brother, and… take the throne for himself?" Edmund volunteered.

  "It never came to that," Finn whispered. "The King's advisor at the time… he searched through the Prince's things and found the letters. Lucan hid them in his library. Lacerne was furious."

  "The King's advisor?" Richard repeated. "You mean, High Priest Kota? He was Lacerne's right hand at the time, wasn't he?"

  "H-he was," the battlemaster muttered. "How— how did you know-"

  "So, the point… is that he's… here for revenge," Eren surmised. "To take the throne after… years of waiting."

  "What's wrong with your voice?" Finn prodded, a question that was shooed with a gesture.

  "Whatever his aims are, it doesn't matter," Richard returned. "I've heard enough. Now that I know Azra's defense is in good hands— it's time I find Lucan myself."

  "What?" Finn exclaimed. "You're no match for him…"

  Richard opened his mouth to explain but instead took a breath as he reached for the hilt of his sword and calmly pulled it from his sheath. He flicked his grip for a moment, and the blade roared to life.

  "I know I have a lot to explain to you. But, for now, you have to trust me."

  Finnegan stared at the blade; his brow furrowed as he scanned its surface and turned his gaze back to its bearer.

  "You don't understand," the man sighed, disbelief slowly leaving his eyes. "Even with magic— none of us are a match for him. Lucan's… he's never lost a battle."

  A fearful look made its way to Richard as he met Eren's eyes, and it was joined by another from Edmund. However, he knew better than to lend his mind to terror. It was something Khora knew as well when she stepped closer to Finnegan.

  "Eren told us that Uros was the one to bring the mage to the Dawn Tower," she chimed in. "He defeated him, didn't he?"

  "There was no defeat. Believe me, I was there that day," the captain recalled. "I was there when Lacerne charged Uros with capturing his brother, and I was there when they confronted him. We weren't certain Uros could defeat him, but when the time came… there was no battle. Lucan surrendered— he wouldn't raise a hand against his master."

  Richard clenched his fists as Finn looked over him, apprehension present in every glance. He would not let himself be intimidated by the past. Not now, not when they were so close.

  "It doesn't matter to me whether or not someone's beaten him before," he rejected. "I'm here now, and I will succeed; because Prince Lucian died to put this power in my hands— and I won't let that be for nothing!"

  There seemed to be a genuine sadness in Finnegan's eyes as he watched his former pupil, but it quickly passed from sight as he conceded.

  "Do as you must, but there's something I need you to help me with before you go to the castle," he murmured. "We've been moving the people out of the city through the southwestern gate; it was the most convenient exit until these creatures began hovering near there in droves. With them in the way, we're pinned here. I don't like that thought."

  Richard furrowed his brow; while he was almost certain that the Soul Seekers wouldn't come looking for them, it was impossible to tell if they would wander in this direction— if that happened, there could be no avoiding bloodshed. It also did not ease his mind that Lucan might be much more formidable than he anticipated, and their battle could drag on for far too long. If a massacre came to pass, he would know it was because he refused to help them.

  "Fine," he accepted. "We'll clear the route of Seekers, and our people can escape to the western lands. But we have to do it now."

  "Of course," Finn grinned, beginning to move away. "One more ride between the three of us."

  The battlemaster marched towards the amphitheater, calling to his men while he did as much. They flocked towards him, and Richard could already hear a slew of instructions shoot from the captain in every breath.

  "I'm glad you're staying to help them," Edmund admitted, trudging closer to him.

  "As am I," Khora agreed. "There is much to be done before we cut the head from the snake."

  He nodded absently as he watched the throngs of people prepare for their abrupt departure, his mind dwelling only on what he would have to face once they were done.

  An air of optimism pierced the procession of Azrians as they made their westward march through their home's perilous streets. They didn't seem to possess the same dejectedness Richard had witnessed among Marinia's refugees, nor the utter panic that gripped his own heart whenever a Seeker came into view.

  Children laughed, mothers scolded, and fathers even gathered along the edges to quip with the guards escorting them. It was something he could not quite reason, but then the truth struck him. They were just like Lucian before leaving home; they had been taught that Azra always protected its own and that their safety was guaranteed.

  However, with the Prince dead, King Lacerne's condition unknown, and wicked monsters dispersed around the land— nothing was entirely guaranteed.

  "Willy," Finn barked, pointing at a Seeker that poked its head out from an alley.

  The boy at his left nodded and waved to a line of archers further away from the rest of them. They raised their bows, nocked their arrows, and aimed for the ghastly creature, releasing their hold when the time was right. None of them looked to be older than fourteen, and half of their arrows missed the monster.

  "I told you I could handle them," Richard told him, sending a lash of fire towards the lone Seeker.

  "Yes, yes, I know," Finn murmured. "But they need the practice anyway, and I want you to save your energy for the larger packs. Besides… some of my men — well, I suppose boys is the better word — seem to be a bit intimidated by that magic of yours. Most of the people around here would be, I assume."

  Richard realized his mentor had been correct as he scanned the faces of the same individuals he sought to protect. They returned his gaze with awkward glances and quickly looked away as he and Finnegan led them forward.

  "Maybe Eren should've stayed here in front with you. He and his Viper would have been just as effective, and I could've been in the back with Khora and Edmund."

  "Don't worry about it, son, we're nearly there," the captain returned, eyes stuck to the road in before them.

  "Speaking of nearly being there," Richard picked up. "Your soldiers, as unseasoned as they may seem, have been handling themselves well. I'm starting to believe you dragged me along to give yourself time to change my mind."

  "Not at all," Finn smiled, a bit of mischief dancing along his face. "Tell me, Richard, when have you known me to lie?"

  He laughed at the battlemaster's line because he knew he wasn't wrong. Never in his life had he lied to him, even if the cost was Finnegan's own pride. It was among the things he respected most about the man.

  "Now, I won't say I have no intention of swaying you," he continued. "But— it isn't my first goal. The
ir safety takes that place, then… we deal with what comes next."

  "I'm sorry, Finn, but my mind is set," Richard reminded him. "As soon as I'm sure they're out of danger, I'm making my way to the castle. I don't know what Lucan seeks there, and that makes me uneasy."

  "He'll be kept there for another while, at least I think so," Finn murmured. "I didn't mention it earlier because I'm not sure how true it is, but that helm of his— supposedly, it can only be removed at the same time and place that it was placed on his head."

  "Are you sure?"

  "I just said I wasn't," he repeated. "Bartholomew, a captain from just before your time, shared that information with me, and I believed him. If memory serves, Lucan didn't have that ugly thing stuck on his head until later in the evening. If he's waiting to remove it, we have time."

  Richard stared at the dimming afternoon light and was adamant in splitting from the group as soon as he could. His thought was interrupted when Finnegan started to chuckle lightly.

  "By Izkar, I wish you had been here to help me round up some of these people," he began, lowering his voice to a whisper. "The absolute idiocy I encountered. Most of the commons were emptied in as little time as could be expected, but the reluctance some people possessed when it came to doing what needed to be done… I don't understand it."

  "And the rest?" Richard questioned. "I can sense that most areas outside of the commons aren't… quite vacant."

  "No, not at all," the captain grumbled. "The merchants and the barons refused to leave their homes— didn't think there was danger, and even if there was… well, we'd handle it."

  "I don't envy you. I remember this… Baron Vartos, I think? He came to the castle urgently seeking the king, but Lacerne was on a week-long hunt; he spoke to Lucian in his stead. I don't even remember what he wanted, but he was fuming after a half-hour of his prattling. He was merely 'setting a precedent,' Lucian had said."

  "Annoying the nobles into submission… if only it was that simple for men like us," Finn poked. "But… that's why we're here, isn't it? Cleaning up a mess that our 'betters' created. A twist of the blade, I feel, but still our duty."