by Nyssa Renay
“We have to get you out of here, Your Highness!”
“How?” he asked in a panic, eyes welling with tears.
“I’m not sure.” I looked around in a panic, but in that moment, the only safe direction was to retreat back toward the Great Ring of Ein. “We need to go back through the arch. It’s the only way. Come on!”
As we made our way through the chaos toward the bridge entrance to the archway, I noticed one of the dreadful beasts charging toward us. I quickly redirected our course to take cover against the ring’s outer wall, just out of sight of the creature blocking our path.
“Get down,” I instructed the prince before slowly peeking over the top of the wall. The abomination was still there. “Dammit!” I grumbled as I crouched back down. “It’s guarding the entrance. We’ll have to jump.”
“What do you mean, jump?” Raxis was petrified.
“There’s no other way we’re getting past that thing alive. When I say go, I want you to climb up and run along the top of the wall. When you get close enough to the entrance, jump down onto the bridge behind it—”
“What if I fall?” he wailed, trembling.
“You won’t,” I said reassuringly. “You can make it. I know you can!”
“I…I can’t! I’m too scared.”
I’d always thought members of the royal family were noble and courageous, so I was a little disappointed by the level of cowardice the prince was displaying. “There’s no other choice, Your Highness,” I urged. “If we stay here much longer, those things are going to kill us. Please! You need to trust me. I know you can make it!”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right behind you, okay?”
The prince nodded.
“Good…get ready,” I instructed, peering over the top of the wall to watch for the right moment to put my plan into action. The beast snorted and shifted on its feet, poised and ready to kill.
Sadly, it didn’t take long before one of the other potentials made the mistake of trying to run past the creature to get to the archway. The hulking monstrosity lunged after the potential, swiftly tackling and mauling him to death. It was gruesome to witness, but enough of a distraction to keep the creature’s focus on its prey so the prince could make the jump without being noticed.
“Go! Now!” I shouted.
Raxis leapt up and bolted across the top of the wall toward the horrific scene and jumped across the gap between wall and bridge with all his might. I watched him fly through the air. Those awful couple of seconds where I wasn’t sure if I’d just killed a member of the royal family seemed to last forever. But then he landed and rolled a few times before stopping safely along the edge of the bridge with a clear path to the archway. I sighed with relief as I climbed onto the wall.
“I made it!” the prince cheered triumphantly, looking back at me.
The moment of triumph was cut short as the creature spun around and took notice of the prince. It was my cue to jump. I flew from the wall, feeling the terrible sense of weightless freefall as I extended my body to try to land between Raxis and the beast. All I needed to do was block its path long enough for the prince to be able to get through the cloister’s archway and reach the safety of the academy, but the creature’s advance on the prince was too quick.
As I came down, I collided with the beast in midair and tumbled over the side of the bridge. I managed to grab onto the small stone railing alongside the walkway to keep from falling into the starry whirlpool churning below me, but I couldn’t pull myself up. The gravitational force continued to pull me down. I knew it wouldn’t be long before I lost the fight.
“Your Majesty, get through the archway!” I screamed as I felt my arm start to shake under the strain, but Raxis was staring at me, frozen in place.
The creature grabbed me by the back of my tabard and yanked me over the wall, slamming me down onto the bridge. As I rolled onto my back, gasping for air, I saw the prince cowering through the gap between the creature’s legs. “Go now, Your Highness! Run!” I screamed again as stern as I could, which startled the prince enough to make him move into the churning light of the archway.
Slowly, the creature leaned over me, smelling of death and decayed flesh. I could see my reflection in the visor that guarded its eyes, its bloody black sludge drooling onto my face and neck. It opened its mouth, ready to tear my head from my body.
As a last-ditch effort, I grabbed the beast by the wrist that held my tabard and shouted, “Decomptato lupenatchi!”
The creature’s wrist began to shrivel and turn black where my hands touched its skin. The animal let out a screech of pain, its body jerking back just enough so I could sit up and make another attempt. I shouted the incantation again as I grabbed the tube on the side of its neck, causing it to crumble in my hand. It wailed in agony as it moved further off me, giving me enough room to get to my feet. When I tried to advance on the creature and invoke the spell again, it spun around and slashed my chest with the sharp metal prongs grafted onto the back of its forearm. Each prong secreted a sticky green substance that burrowed into my wounds and seeped into my veins.
Instantly, my vision blurred and I felt a surge of pain flow through my body. My throat began to tighten, and I struggled to get in a full breath of air. Through what little sight I had left, I could see the creature quickly lunging toward me. I prepared for the final blow. To my amazement, a barrage of fireballs pummeled the monstrosity with such intensity that the beast was knocked over the side of the bridge. I collapsed in agony, praying for death to end my excruciating torment.
The royal guards stomped down the bridge toward me.
“Shepherd Talmari!” Lexani shouted. “Get to the academy and make sure my son is safe! The rest of you, get this boy to the emergency room, now!”
I’d witnessed the king being ushered away by the royal guards at the first sign of danger, but I was surprised to see Lexani had come back to find his son, especially at the risk of his own life. Maybe the royals weren’t as cowardly as I thought, after all.
I felt one of the guards pick me up and sling my body over his shoulder. He said something to me as he started to run, but I couldn’t make out what it was. I felt my body shake and jerk in violent seizures as the poison raced through my system, destroying me from within.
They rushed me into the Divine Mountain through the chaos of screams and panic. I caught glimpses of the hallways and people darting about as I slipped in and out of consciousness. My body convulsed and twitched as the guard placed me down on an operating room table in the Rectory hospital. Dark shadows moved in front of my face, blurred and distorted by the effects of the toxins that took hold of my senses.
The last thing I remembered was the mask being placed over my nose and mouth as the shadowy figures cut away my clothes and worked feverishly to try and save my life.
-65-
“He’s waking up!” a familiar voice called out. “Sister Camacho, inform the king at once.”
“Yes, Shepherd Machoji.”
“Vigil…Vigil…” Machoji said, shaking me gently.
My head was in a foggy haze as I slowly opened my eyes, weak and slightly disoriented. “What…what happened?”
“You’re safe, Vigil. You survived it. I knew you would.”
I survived it? I thought. I survived what? Then, it all came rushing back to me. The Great Ring of Ein, the courtyard under attack, the dark ship full of flames crashing into the Divine Mountain, and those creatures.
“What about the invasion?” I croaked, my throat hoarse and dry.
“It’s over. We managed to fight them off.” Machoji forced a smile, lifting a glass of water to my face and bending the straw to my lips. Up close, I could see the royal seal of Telshakra etched into the side of the glass.
I sipped the water and let it coat my throat before trying to speak again. “How did they get through the shield? Did they attack the skyforks again?” I asked,
slightly traumatized.
“Don’t worry about that right now. Everything is fine.”
I knew this was another one of his “need-to-know” moments, so I decided to inquire about the one job I was supposed to have done above all else.
“Did the prince make it back alive?”
“Yes, Raxis is fine. He’s here in the Divine Mountain with his father. Once we were sure the area had been secured after the attack, he was brought back. You did well, Vigil. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
I sighed, relieved. “Thank you, sir.” I didn’t really know the prince that well. We weren’t friends, but my main concern was to keep him alive so I didn’t have to pay the price for failing to guard him. I’d been through many punishments in my life, but I couldn’t fathom what kind of punishment I would suffer if the prince was hurt or killed under my watch.
Shepherd Machoji opened a window near the side of my bed, and the bright morning sunlight blared into my eyes as it filled the room. “You’re still processing the anesthesia. It’ll take a while to wear off. The shepherds and priests were in surgery with you for seventeen hours. The shepherds pulled the poisoned blood and venom from your veins to fully detoxify your system. You’ll be fine in a couple of days when your own healthy blood cells begin to replicate, but until then, please just try to rest. Conserve your strength.” Machoji moved in front of the window, blocking my eyes from the sun.
“Where am I?” I asked as I rubbed my eyes again, helping them adjust to the light in the room. I slowly sat up and looked around, realizing this wasn’t an ordinary recovery room like those in the medical ward. The deep blue walls were lined with gold moldings carved in the shapes of leaves and flowers. There were portraits of King Lexani, Prince Raxis, and a woman I didn’t recognize, but I assumed she was the queen. The sheets on my bed were soft and clean. The thick, fluffy pillow was covered in a pristine white pillowcase with the royal seal of Telshakra embroidered in gold thread.
“You’re in the royal family’s private hospital suite at the Rectory. The king insisted you be brought here after your surgery.” Machoji grimaced. “We need to study the aftereffects from the procedure we performed to extract the toxins from your bloodstream. It’s a risky surgery, but it might prove to be extremely useful in the coming months. The shepherds and priests spoke to me about testing that same method in the field hospitals on the frontlines. Be proud, Vigil. Your survival has taught us a lot. In fact, it might ensure that other shepherds can survive the same types of injuries,” Machoji said as he sat down in a wingback blue velvet chair in the corner of the room.
“What were those things? Those beasts, I mean,” I asked, picturing the grotesque monsters in my mind.
“We call them droolers,” he explained. “They’re something new. We’ve been holding the enemy back for centuries, but now they’ve started farming those abominations in vast quantities. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain control of the frontlines.” He spoke with a sense of weariness and defeat like an old soldier. I’d never heard him lack faith or confidence in any situation. It worried me. But before I could ask any more questions, King Lexani and Prince Raxis came into the room.
“Your Majesties,” Machoji said, rising to his feet to offer a respectful bow.
I tried to climb out of the bed to mimic Machoji’s behavior, but my action was halted when the king noticed me.
“Please, my boy! Don’t get up. You need to conserve your strength,” Lexani offered humbly. “Shepherd Machoji, would you please excuse us. My son and I wish to speak to our hero privately.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Machoji reluctantly bowed again. “Vigil, if you need me, I’ll be in the laboratory. Just have one of the sis—”
“Yes. Yes, Shepherd Machoji,” Lexani interrupted, his tone cold and dismissive. “I’ll make sure the boy is tended to just fine.”
“Thank you, Sire,” Machoji replied through gritted teeth as he left the room, his patience with the monarch obviously wearing thin.
“Oh, my boy, I’m absolutely thrilled to see you awake…and alive!” Lexani cheered as he and his son approached the side of my bed. “You gave us such a scare, there!”
“Sorry, Sire,” I replied hesitantly, not knowing how to respond appropriately to this greeting.
“Vigil, I have a proposition for you.” Lexani smiled, beaming with pride. “Given your impressive level of bravery when those around you cowered…and because you have so nobly proven your dedication to my son and his well-being, I want to appoint you to the position of Guardian to the Prince!”
“Thank you, Sire,” I replied, somewhat confused. “I…I was just doing my duty.”
“Nonsense, my boy! Without your swift, decisive actions, my son would’ve been killed. And for that, you must be rewarded. What do you say?”
“I…uh…of course. Whatever I can do to help,” I replied nervously. “I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I don’t know what a guardian actually does.”
“It’s simple. Wherever my son goes, you go. You’ll protect Raxis at all times while he’s at the Shepherd Academy. You’ll also tutor my son in the areas where he’s weakest. I’ve checked your academic records, and I’m very impressed with your evolution as a potential.”
Prince Raxis blushed when his father said these words. I had no idea the prince had struggled at the academy, and I never pictured him needing help like that.
“I…uh…thank you, Sire,” I replied apprehensively, not knowing what else to say. My workload at the academy was now tripled because of Prince Raxis. I didn’t know how I’d manage it all.
“Oh, don’t worry, Vigil.” The king laughed. “I can see the stress on your face. Your other responsibilities at the academy will be waived in lieu of this one. You’ll still be expected to keep up with a minimum amount of your basic training, but any other duties or responsibilities will no longer be yours to worry about. My son will be your top priority.”
“Really?” I was surprised.
“Yes.” Lexani smiled. “As soon as you’ve recovered here, you’ll begin the position of guardian immediately. Oh, and you’ll no longer live in those wretched dorms, either. Your new place of residence will be next to my son’s room in the shepherds’ tower. I’ll allow him to stay at the academy on a regular basis, now that you’re going to be watching over him.” Prince Raxis seemed excited to hear this, and I got the sense that he was looking forward to having a constant mandatory friend around him. “At this very moment, my people are busy preparing your new living quarters. You’ll have your own room, your own bed…whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Sire!” I cheered. I’d only been exposed to the luxury of the shepherds’ lifestyle once on the night of the royal dinner. If that extravagance was any hint as to how they lived in the shepherds’ tower, then my life was in for a real upgrade.
“Honestly, Vigil, we need more potentials like you at the academy. At such a time as this, it reassures me to know I still have subjects who respect the Church and the Crown. You keep your priorities straight, and I like that! From now on, consider yourself a very close part of this family.”
“Okay, Dad, take it easy,” Raxis laughed nervously. “I think he gets the point.”
“The point? The point?” The king stared angrily at the prince. “The point, son, is that this boy didn’t run away when his life was threatened! He stayed and fought like a true potential! I wish I could say the same for you.”
“I-I’m sorry, Father,” Raxis said, his head bowed. He looked remorseful, and I suddenly felt uncomfortable.
“Has the academy been attacked, too?” I asked. It was the first thing I could think to say to break the tension and change the subject. The king, still red-faced, snorted and turned his focus away from Raxis, who gave me a grateful smile.
“The Shepherd Academy is fine,” the king said. “The Divine Mountain was their intended target.”
“Well, that’s good news, at least,�
�� I stated.
“Yes, that’s very good,” the prince repeated, trying to add something to the conversation.
Lexani smiled, patting my shoulder. “That’s nothing for you to worry about now, Vigil. I believe it’s time for us to leave you to rest.” He started toward the door, motioning for Raxis to follow.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I called out as they left the room, relieved they’d gone. I was tired, sore, and desperately needed some sleep before I could wrap my head around what had just happened.
-66-
Two days passed before the royal medical staff considered me well enough to leave the Rectory. I hadn’t fully recovered. My body still ached all over, and I felt tiny slivers of pain stab my nervous system as the blood pumped through my newly-recovered veins. In the eyes of the shepherds and priests, however, I was well again. I had just finished dressing and was about to leave my hospital room when there was a knock at my door.
“Come in,” I called out as I fastened the belt on my new robes. The light blue tabard and my other robes had been completely destroyed in the attack upon the Divine Mountain, so the royal tailors gave me a new custom set of robes to wear. They were much more comfortable than the academy’s standard issued ones.
The door cracked open and Prince Raxis poked his head around the corner. “Hi, Vigil!”
“Good morning, Your Highness,” I said, bowing properly.
“My father told me you’re well enough to escort me to the academy today,” Raxis stated.
“Yes, Sire, I was told the same. I’m almost ready. We can head down to the Great Ring in just a moment…as soon as I get my boots on.” I sat down on the side of the bed, gingerly pushing my left foot into a new boot.
