by T Nisbet
Chp. 19
I did my best to listen carefully as Captain Marchon, Guldan and Prince Lathris discussed how best to proceed. The debate was heated, but in the end it was decided that the best way to infiltrate the kingdom of the blood elves was to continue our ruse as merchants.
Led by Guldan, apparently a lord of some standing among the blood elves, we would travel south from the Cenerian city of Brighton, and into Mozgul, the kingdom of the Blood Elves. After making our way to Grimhome, we would find a way to trap the Demon within the Cardinal Ruby before it could unleash the underworld horde upon Cenaria.
Before that could happen though, Guldan’s blood elf companions had to be stopped at all costs. They had to be intercepted before they could bring word back to King Zildian of Guldan’s defection. The entire plan hinged upon it.
Captain Marchon signaled for a guard.
“Close the southern gate immediately. Instruct the guards that they are not to let any Blood Elves leave the city without my leave. They are to use lethal force if necessary.”
“It will be done,” the guard said saluting crisply, then he sprinted out of the room.
“Unfortunately, we must assume they have left already,” the dark elf sighed. “My brother and I should be able to catch them though. After it is done we will await the party’s arrival in Brighton.”
Lathris looked visibly sickened by the prospect of spending time with his brother, but nodded his agreement.
“You best be about it then my lords,” Captain Marchon said standing up. “Corporal Gillian.”
“Sir,” Gill said, standing up.
“Gather horses enough for everyone in the party, and enough provision for the journey to Brighton.”
Captain Marchon gave me a quick smile, then walked briskly out of the room.
Lord Lathris smiled as well and offered me is hand. “Until we meet again in Brighton.”
I took his hand and nodded gratefully.
Guldan stood and stretched. “Let us be about this grim business then, brother. We have two excellent musicians to kill.”
As the two of them exited the room Gill shook his head. “And then there were two. We have some errands to attend to Jake. If we hurry we should be able to get to your friends well before midnight,” Gill said. “Follow me.”
I followed the guardsman through a series of hallways to a long barracks bay lined with orderly bunks. There were several hundred guards inside the crowded, orderly room. Some were lying on their racks asleep, others were standing informally talking excitedly about the tournament.
I kept my head down as I followed Gillian through the barracks, but the guardsmen recognized me anyway and crowded around cheering, despite their sleeping comrades. I did my best to smile and acknowledge them until Gill ordered the guard to stand down and let us pass. The cheering died down, and they cleared a path through the bunk beds.
At the far end of the common barracks there were a series of small rooms. Stopping before one Gillian opened the door revealing a ten by ten cell. As we entered the room, light poured out of two sconces set into the back wall near the ceiling illuminating the immaculately clean room. A single bed stood against the wall on one side of the room and a small desk against the opposite side. Hanging from the walls was a small armory of weapons, including several bows and filled quivers, as well as a variety of well-oiled swords. Gillian quickly went to a footlocker near the end of the bed and began rummaging through it.
“Grab a couple of those bows and a quiver for each of us while I dress, if you don’t mind.”
I inspected the bows and grabbed the two that would best serve our need, then retrieved two quivers of arrows. It was more than a little strange knowing which ones to choose. I’d never shot an arrow in my life. Apparently the knowledge Thallium’s essence had given me included archery. I shook my head and wondered how good I’d be at it.
When I turned from the wall, Gill was dressing into non-descript gray traveling clothes. I took a moment to inspect the collection of swords hanging on the walls. A wicked looking blade with a serrated edge caught my attention. Upon closer inspection I noticed the blade was etched with small, blackened runes. There was nothing at all elegant about the wick swords design, it was meant to savage an opponent. Unbidden chills ran up my spine, and I turned away from the gross blade.
Gill had finished dressing and was stuffing a small pack with an extra pair of pants and a tunic top when a knock sounded at the open doorway.
“Come!” Gill ordered not pausing in his packing.
“Master Gunn’s clothes, as ordered Corporal Gillian,” said a guardsman stepping into the room. He handed me my tunic, pants and cloak, bowed, then left the room.
I put the bows and sheaves of arrows on Gill’s bed and hurried out of my borrowed guardsman’s uniform. The tunic, pants and boots were still soft and fresh from the bar maiden’s cleaning. I put them on remembering the kiss she’d planted on me. I also remembered that Carla and Ivy weren’t happy with me. I was willing to bet that nothing had changed with my absence. Who knew, they might be even more upset with me for leaving them. I donned the cloak and sword belt, wondering what I would say to them.
“Perfect,” Gill said, looking me over. “No one will give us a second thought but for our blades. Pick a bow and quiver and lets get down to the mess hall.”
I grabbed the more inferior of the two bows, wrapped it in a soft leather bundle attached to the quiver and put it over my head and one shoulder. I slung the quiver over my opposite shoulder and secured it with length of braided leather Gill handed me. Gill picked up the other bow and followed suit.
We left his room and headed through another series of hallways, up a flight of stairs and into a large kitchen. I was surprised by the size of the guard station. It hadn’t looked remotely this big from the outside.
A red-faced cook nodded at Corporal Gillian and handed him another small pack.
“A months worth, as ordered,” he said, handing the pack to Gill.
Gill took the proffered pack, and we left the kitchen behind. I hadn’t heard him issue any orders to anyone. As we made our way down another hallway, I had to ask.
“How did they know to bring my clothes and prepare a pack with food?”
“Captain Marchon isn’t the leader of the guard for nothing, Jake,” he laughed as we hurried down a flight of steps and emerged into a busy, darkening courtyard. “Salinas will have our horses here shortly. His family’s stable isn’t far.”
“The bookie we visited earlier?” I asked.
“What is a bookie?”
I shrugged.
“He’s a guy people place bets with.”
“Ahh… yes, my bookie,” Gill laughed.
“Why is he bringing us horses?” I asked as we stood waiting in the courtyard. Opposite us was a large stable. “Doesn’t the guard have horses of its own?”
“Of course we do, but they aren’t of the quality of Salinas’s horses. I bought six of his best with part of my winnings from today,” he smiled.
I shook my head. “When did you have a chance to do that?”
He smiled at me and patted my shoulder. “I am not a corporal of the guard because of my endearing smile.”
While we waited for the horses to arrive I asked Gillian about the size of the guard station. Gill explained that Lockewood had been built around a group of twelve guard stations, all interconnected and housing several thousand guardsmen. It was possible to enter a station on one side of the city and journey to the other side without having to travel through the city proper. It allowed the guard free movement to any area of the city they were needed in. Long thoroughfares ran beneath the city from a central staging area to the four main gates. We were going to take one of those under city roads to the gate my friend’s had exited Lockewood by when the horses arrived. Gill explained that the station we were in housed the elite guard, those that had the skill, training and resolve to bodyguard the mages. They were the best of the best and took their
jobs very seriously.
A rider entered the gate to the courtyard leading a line of beautiful brown horses. They looked like Arabians only heavier, though I didn’t know much about horses. Men moving about the large courtyard paused momentarily and looked at the animals in appreciation. Gill greeted Salinas as he pulled up before us.
“Father won’t be pleased with this Gillian. Not a bit,” he said dismounting and handing the rein of the horse he had been riding to Gill. “You know my father. He loves his horses more than his gold, and he loves gold.”
Gill inspected the horses, a wide grin splitting his face. “Sal, they are marvelous!”
“Indeed.” Salinas said, then noticed me and bowed. “I’m glad my friend Gill here begged me to bet with you Master Gunn. Congratulations on your victory. I really didn’t think it was possible.”
“Thank you,” I said, nodding back.
Salinas laughed. “No need to thank me, I made father a fortune betting on you. It will make the giving of these horses pale a bit when he sees how full his coffers are.”
“Giving?” Gill asked warily. “They are extraordinary Sal, how can you do this?”
Salinas shook his head and laughed. “I made father a lot today, I mean a lot! Plus I couldn’t leave you broke and begging for alms outside the city gates. Especially after what you did for me today.”
Gill joined him laughing.
“You must have made a killing indeed!”
The bookie smiled brightly.
“You have no idea.”
Gill stood back and offered Salinas his hand.
“Forgive me my friend, but we have pressing business and need to be away. Thank you.”
“Fare you well Gillian,” Salinas said, and nodding to me, turned and walked out of the courtyard.
“Pick a horse and mount up Jake. I’ll lead the others.”
I walked over to the first horse in the lead line and put a booted foot tentatively in the stirrup.
“The other side, Jake.” Gill smiled. “I see your skill with a sword doesn’t extend to riding horses.”
Face flushed with embarrassment, I walked around the front of the massive animal to the other side.
“I’ve never ridden a horse before,” I sighed putting my foot into the stirrup and slinging myself onto the horses back like I’d seen in the movies. The bow strapped across my back got in the way, but I somehow managed to get into the saddle. I knew I wasn’t very high up, but it sure felt like it from my view on top of the horse.
“Indeed? Well, I will teach you all I can my friend, don’t worry,” he said untying the horse from the line and handing me the reins. He manipulated the stirrups so they fit me and pulled the cinch tighter around my horse’s waist.
Satisfied, Gill returned to the lead horse, mounted expertly, and nodded to me. “When you want to go forward press into its sides gently with your knees or heels and loosen the reins a bit, like this. To stop, pull the reins back lightly towards your hips and sit back in the saddle. If I know one thing, these horses have been expertly trained, so it won’t take much, your body language alone should be enough. Just remember, you’re in charge, not the horse. It follows your will, not the other way around.”
He turned his horse and started forward towards a tunnel to our left leading the other four horses.
I patted my horse’s neck as it stamped a hoof against the cobbled street impatiently. Whispering a prayer, I lightly touched its sides with my heels. The horse snorted and fell in behind the other horses. What the hell was I doing? It was another surreal moment in a series of such moments.
Even though it was only walking I could feel the barely restrained power of the horse beneath me. I suddenly understood the term horsepower, and how inappropriately it was used for cars. My father’s Prius was supposed to be ninety-eight horsepower. It was almost laughable. Dad’s Prius would be lucky if it had a quarter of my horse’s muscle.
The tunnel was lit with sconces similar to those in Gill’s room only larger. The passageway was wide enough for several horses to ride abreast and tall enough so I didn’t need to worry about hitting my head from where I sat atop the horse.
We followed the tunnel downwards in a lazy circle and exited into a huge stone chamber bustling with activity. Oxen, horses, mules and donkeys of a variety of colors, were tethered around several massive columns that stretched up from the floor to the ceiling. Guardsmen ran about loading wagons and preparing crates of varying sizes and shapes. The sounds of hammer hitting nail, orders being given and acknowledged, mixed with the grunts of men hard at work. The sound of our horse’s metal shod hooves echoed loudly joining the cacophony of sound in the great chamber.
Riders spurred their mounts into and out of the massive room through huge tunnels leading off in four different directions. Gill guided us across the smooth stone floor past the flurry of activity to one of the main tunnels leading south. Once we entered the tunnel Gill gestured for me to join him. I pressed the horse’s sides lightly and it trotted around the other horses jarring me horrendously. When I reached Gill’s side I pulled back gently on the reins towards my hips and sat back in the saddle as instructed. The horse responded immediately and fell in beside Gill.
“It’s true, you glow just like the mages,” Gill said looking at me slightly surprised to find what I told him was true.
“Like I said.”
“It will make being stealthy at night difficult if we should have the need. It’s something we’ve had to deal with at times, as bodyguards to mages, so don’t worry. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it I guess,” Gill said giving me a friendly grin.
“Anyhow, the trot is the hardest thing to get used to Jake, you’ll get it,” he laughed, winking at me. “Feel the rhythm of the horse’s movement and don’t fight it. Roll your hips with it, and trust your balance.”
“I’ll try,” I said wishing I were walking on my own already.
“This tunnel leads to the southern gate. We need to pick up the pace a bit. I’ll talk you through trotting as we go. Ready?”
I nodded, and we urged the horses into a trot. I bounced and smashed against the saddle and took hold of the saddle horn with one hand. Gill scolded me gently for doing this, and I reluctantly let go. My butt was taking a beating. Gill’s horse fell into the same rhythm as mine, and I watched him closely as he instructed me. It was difficult because my vision was being jarred from my impact with the seat.
After what must have been thirty minutes the hammering that had reduced my tailbone to dust, relented to a softer pounding. My vision cleared quite a bit and I could see what Gill was doing much more clearly. I forced myself to relax and roll my hips more; the pounding ceased altogether.
“You’re a faster learner,” he said, grinning over at me. “Ready for a Canter?”
Despite my success, my butt was on fire. I nodded anyway. Gill leaned forward a bit and his horse took off. I pressed my heels in and leaned forward slightly. My horse lurched forward and caught up to Gill’s then matched its speed.
I can’t begin to express how relieved I felt. Cantering was so much easier on the body than trotting. I felt my muscles relax and the ride became enjoyable.
“A horse can go the farthest distance walking.” Gill yelled as the walls blurred past us. “Trotting next, then cantering, then galloping. With horses such as these we could canter all day and not tire them out too much. Trotting is only used occasionally, like in a city or to allow the horse to get warmed up for a long ride. This is much easier eh? Time your breathing to every other breath the horse takes. Breath in after the horse lifts up, and out when the horse lifts again. It will keep you from tiring as quickly.”
I nodded, listening to the steady breathing of my horse, and Gill’s. Neither seemed to be laboring at all.
“At this pace we will cover five leagues in an hour. The gate is only ten minutes away give or take a minute or two.”
A rider flew past us on the left just before we started up
a slight incline and exited the cold tunnel. Gill slowed his horse to a walk and my horse followed suit without any urging from me at all. The torches that lit the closed gate before us pushed the dark night back. We joined the crowded main road and headed for the gate. Revelers sang and cheered as they moved about the street making way before us.
I watched them knowing what they didn’t. A horde of underworld creatures and Blood Elves would be attacking them within the month. I sighed hoping that they would still be alive afterwards.
As we approached the gate, the guards stationed there saluted Corporal Gillian smartly, and opened the massive wooden doors to allow us through. As the heavy doors closed shut behind us with a loud crash, we pushed our mounts into a canter once more. There were no wooden buildings along the dark road leading from this side of Lockewood. I wondered why.
My mind filled with images of my friends as we rode. I knew Toby would be happy with my return, and I couldn’t wait to see him. What I was worried about was Ivy. How was I going to explain the kiss? It was true that I didn’t initiate it, but like Thallium’s voice suggested, I hadn’t protested either. Sure, I’d been surprised, and the kiss hadn’t lasted very long, but I hadn’t pushed her away. Truth be told, it was amazing.
I was popular at school and there were plenty of girls who wanted to go out with me. I wanted to blame my panic attacks for my lack of dating, but the truth was that the attacks were only partially to blame for my never having a real girlfriend. I’d gone on a couple of dates, which were near disasters and I was scared. I didn’t know how to kiss or anything else. I was afraid I would kiss a girl and she would spread word of how horrible I was at it through the whole school.
The barmaid’s lips had been so soft and promised such passion. I had no idea that a kiss could say so much. No wonder Ivy and Carla were upset with me. I wondered briefly if Ivy’s lips would be as soft, and if I’d ever get a chance to find out.
“They left the city just after the second bell. Can’t be more than three, maybe four leagues from the gates. We should catch up to them in less than an hour,” Gill said as we headed down the wide dirt road.
We rode on in silence through the moonlit rolling hillside. Off to either side, some distance from the road, light poured from the windows of widely spaced stone farmhouses. I could make out the fields surrounding them as darker patches in the surrounding darkness.
“Why are the farms so far from the road?” I asked as we rode.
“The killing field extends far from the city wall on this side of town. Since the city’s founding, it has always been in this direction that Lockewood has been attacked. The ground has been well seeded with salt over the years to prevent plants or crops from growing in the killing zone. The soil is good for nothing closer to the walls, and here nothing but poor table grapes grow. How they manage to eek out a living I don’t know. The farmers that live here, do so at their own peril.”
We continued encountering more and more farms, their borders coming closer to the road the further we got from the city. Gill explained that the salt traveled further south with every rain, though it was less and less a factor in being able to grow crops.
“There is no place for them to camp here. They will have to had to wait for the Jasperlink Woods. It’s about thirty minutes up the road,” Gill shouted over to me as we rode.
My butt was completely numb by the time we left the farms behind and entered the woods. We slowed our mounts to a walk. The trees grew so closely together on either side of the road, that there wasn’t enough room for a horse to pass through them, and certainly not a wagon. The trees closest to the roadway resembled Birch, their white trunks gleaming ghostly in moonlight.
We scanned the woods on both sides of the road, looking for any sign of a path large enough for a wagon. We had been walking the horses for maybe half an hour when Gill slowed to a stop.
“There,” he pointed.
An owl cried out loudly nearby.
Off to the left, through the trees, a lane had been cut into the woods. It led over a small hill and disappeared.
“That’s where I’d camp for the night. What remains to be seen is if they found it first.”
Gill dismounted lightly and I followed, nearly falling down as pain lanced up my quivering, weak legs.
“Holy crap!” I cursed steadying myself against the lightly sweating horse.
Gill laughed, patting my shoulder. “You’re pressing too hard with your legs, my friend. You need to trust your balance more and not rely on your legs to keep you in the saddle. Stay here with the horses; I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said handing me the lead line.
I nodded and watched as he moved stealthily down the leave-covered lane disappeared over the small tree covered knoll. As I waited, I stretched lightly trying to get feeling back in my thighs and butt. I had no idea riding a horse was so painful. I felt chaffed in places a person should never be rubbed raw in.
After ten minutes or so, I saw a figure running lightly down the path towards me. Gill was breathing lightly from his exertion as he stopped and grabbed his horse’s lead line from me.
“It’s them, they haven’t been here very long.”
“Cool!” I said, putting my foot reluctantly back in the stirrup, and mounting.
“Cool?” Gill asked mounting his horse.
“It means... good,” I said, as we started walking the horses down the path.
“Strange term for something good,” he said. I could see him grinning.
“Yeah, it is.”
As we topped the little hill I could see the campfire blazing from down in a gully. Figures sat on logs around the fire. They heard our horses and stood up.
“Jake-O!” yelled Toby clapping his hands together. “Bout time!”
“Quit your yelling!” shouted Coach McNally. “You’ll have brigands investigating the sound you huge idiot.”
“There are no brigands this close to Lockewood,” said Gill, as we drew to a halt before the fire.
“Says you!” Coach McNally grumbled.
Two guards stepped lightly out of the woods and saluted Corporal Gillian. I hadn’t even seen them hiding.
“He does go on about such things,” said one of the guards sarcastically.
“A true delight to travel with,” said the other.
Gillian laughed and dismounted, greeting the two guardsmen by name. I swung down from the saddle and was rewarded with a ferocious hug from Toby that nearly knocked the breath out of me.
Letting go of me, he smiled and nodded towards Coach’s retreating back. “He’s been in rare form. How did you do in the tournament?”
“He won,” Gill interjected and extended his hand. “I’m Corporal Gillian, but please, call me Gill.”
Toby accepted his hand. “Toby.”
A soft form melted into me from the side. I hugged Ivy back and forgot about everything but the smell of her hair and the softness of her embrace.
“I was worried,” she whispered softly against my neck.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered back. “I didn’t choose any of it.”
She pulled back and looked up into my eyes. “I know Dear Heart, just don’t let it happen again.”
And just like that, I’d been forgiven for everything. Somewhere deep inside I imagined Thallium’s giggling.
Toby introduced Gill to Carla, Brianna and Coach. Coach grunted dismissively.
Carla punched me in the shoulder, then caught sight of the horses.
“Oh my god!” she gasped. “What kind of horses are they? Not Arabians or Andalusains, but close I’d say.”
She petted my horse appreciatively. I had forgotten she rode.
Gill laughed. “I know not of Arabians or Andalusains, Lady Carla. These are Cenursians, and the finest example you’ll will ever see by my reckoning.”
“They are gorgeous!” Carla crooned.
“That they are,” he agreed.
“I think I’ve been replaced,” Toby teased a
nd led me over to the fire.
Carla insisted on helping to tether the horses with Gill and the two guardsmen. I sat down gingerly on a log before the fire and warmed my hands. Ivy sat next to me and leaned against me resting her head on my shoulder.
“So, you won a sword tournament eh? Start from the beginning buddy. I want to hear every detail,” Toby said sitting on a large log next to Brianna, across the fire from Ivy and I.
I didn’t know where to begin without explaining everything about the sword. Toby knew of course, but Coach and Ivy didn’t. I wasn’t planning on keeping it from Ivy, but I didn’t feel right about telling McNally. I was trying to figure out a way to explain when Carla, Gill and the two guardsmen came to the fire and sat down.
“Jake was just about to tell us about the tournament,” Toby informed them. I watched as he realized that he might be opening up questions about my secret. The look he gave me begged forgiveness.
“I thought you were in the tourney? Did he really beat you?” one of the guards asked Gill, eyeing me with disbelief. “I have a hard time believing he could best you with a blade. No offense meant.”
“None taken,” I said.
“I’ve never seen his like Korst. I’m nothing by comparison.”
The guard’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Seriously?”
“Hogwash and Bull’s pizzle!” Coach growled, gathering up his bedroll, he moved away from the fire and lay down, his back to us.
“Charming,” Gill said, laughing quietly. He smiled at the guard who had spoken to him. “Master Gunn here took my place representing the guard, and won.”
Gill told them about what happened over the course of the day, sparing me the embarrassment of having to do it myself, and revealing anything about the sword. After he finished, the two guards congratulated me and begged their leave. Gill granted it, dismissing them. They gathered their horses from where they were tethered to the wagon and headed back towards Lockewood.
Ivy smiled at me warmly. I blushed, but felt a surging of pride.
After they left, we discussed what had taken place in the dining hall. Brianna interrupted several times to ask about Guldan. She was still obviously taken with him. Gill answered her patiently and told them of the plans that we had made.
We ate some rations from Gill’s pack, and I felt exhaustion taking me again. Was everyday going to end with my eyes closing against my will? Ivy noticed me nodding sleepily and helped me spread out a bedroll. I lay down on it and listened for a second to Toby describing what football was to Gill, and how vital the position of center was. Ivy ran her fingers lightly through my curly hair urging me towards a contented sleep. The next thing I knew, I was waking up to the smell of bacon.
I sat up feeling refreshed and not the least bit sore. I’d seen enough movies to know that being saddle sore didn’t go away overnight. Something was wrong, but I didn’t argue with it, I was profoundly grateful. I stood up and stretched. Gill sat by the low, crackling fire roasting a slab of bacon. The smell made my stomach growl loudly. I walked over and sat on a log before the fire. The fire’s warmth took the chill out of the morning air.
“Morning Jake,” he smiled. “Sleep well?”
I smiled back. “I don’t remember any of it, so yeah.”
“Sore?”
“No, I feel pretty good all things considered.”
“Your coach stormed off into the woods a few minutes ago. He probably woke you up with his yelling. I don’t think he likes our plan,” he chuckled. “He is a strange old bastard.”
“You told him? Wow!” I said relieved I wouldn’t have to do it. “He doesn’t like anything very much.”
“I gathered that.”
Toby and Carla woke up and joined us by the fire.
Carla groaned as she sat down on the log. “I’d give my first born for a cup of Starbuck’s coffee.”
“I’d give your first born for one too,” Toby teased. “If we could get that much for him. A Twinkie or Ho Ho would be more realistic. Hey, maybe one of those scones!”
“Her!” Carla argued. “And I wouldn’t settle for less than a Venti.”
Gill looked at them curiously but didn’t say anything.
