by Rory Surtain
Here Vigil Snow cut in, “Warden, I am not surprised. You know his story and his success with the Kjaira back at Lockrun. Besides, a pack of lesser demons would be an easier challenge given the circumstances that he already spelled out. And he had the right.”
And here Warden Hartwell nodded, finally accepting my actions and explanation for the patrol’s night fight.
“One last question,” he said. “How old are you, Ara?”
“I’ll be eighteen with the New Moon, Sir,” I said as I stood up. “Warden, please know that I do not intend to rewrite Sentinel tactical doctrine. My entire plan for the moment is to get some lunch and some sleep and hopefully make it to my recruit training session tomorrow, if I may.”
Lynda stood to walk out with me. I could feel her working hard to contain her fear at the ugly event we had just discussed. Her face had gone a bit pale with the effort.
“That girl,” she said, “She was out there all alone in the mountains at night? With a pack of demons chasing her down?”
I nodded. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve got a feeling that her situation was even worse than that.”
Chapter 9
Survivors in exile
Joining me for lunch, Lynda offered to show me into Berykholt town for some new clothes. I was looking forward to a nap in the afternoon but took her up on the offer. I had a few personal things to buy, and with the significant bounty money provided by the Order, I wouldn’t need to wait.
Before heading out, I went upstairs to check on Raven. According to Drew, she was stirring a bit, but still sleeping. I asked Drew to take some measurements of Raven and write them down for me. I figured that I was heading to a tailor and could help her out.
Berykholt was a larger city than Lockrun, spanning the valley mostly south of the Castle. It boasted almost five thousand citizens and soldiers and offered plenty of shops from which to choose.
Our first stop was a leather-works called The Whip, where I bought a new over the shoulder belt and sheath for Raven’s black blade and a backpack for me to use on future patrols. I also bought a new leather brace for my left arm, something a bit sturdier and better fitting than what was cobbled together in Lockrun. We waited while they fit it to my arm and laced on the straps that would help hold it and my heavy steel vambrace tightly in place. My new bruises still ached.
Lynda got a good look at the gruesome sight that defined my left arm. “Who did that to you, Ara?”
“I can show you, if you really want to know,” I said, blushing at the look of pity and fear in her pretty green eyes. I wasn’t sure this was a good idea, but I didn’t have any friends at the moment, at least not any within a couple of weeks travel, and Lynda sure seemed like a good start. Reaching behind my back, I pulled out my war knife, fang, and all.
“This,” I said, watching her wince as I showed off the six-inch fang.
“Is that what you fought last night?” she asked undeterred.
“No, no, the demons last night were kittens compared to the beast that wielded these. The Kjaira demon was stronger, faster, and impervious to pain. It almost killed me. I hope I never run into another like it.”
Next, we headed to a popular tailor shop that Lynda recommended. On the way, we ran into a couple of young Sentinels, apparently friends of Lynda.
“So, Lynda, who’s your new friend? Seems a bit young, don’t ya think?” said one, offering me an envious look.
Luckily, Lynda wasn’t having any of it. “This is Ara. My father recruited him last month in Lockrun. He’s only just arrived, and we’re getting him kitted out for life in the grand city of Berykholt.” After a short pause, she continued, “Ara, this is Keil Martell and his brother Sevin. Both are newly minted Sentinel-Adepts from the Spring recruit company.”
I looked them over. Keil, the older of the two, was around nineteen or twenty, with sandy blonde hair and a smile that spoke a bit too loudly about his interest in Lynda. We were about the same size, and I could sense the innocence and overconfidence of a young Sentinel-Adept. Sevin, his dark-haired younger brother, was slightly taller and visibly the stronger of the two. He was also a quiet one, offering me a nod and quick handshake. I could see his eyes react to the half-moon sigil on my breast.
Keil, on the other hand, was quicker with his mouth, and his eyes never strayed long from Lynda. “Well, when you are done looking after young Ara, I would be glad to escort you out and about tonight,” he offered.
“Oh, I don’t know. Ara might need more looking after this evening. I’ll let you know,” she replied with a grin, looping her arm through mine.
I was so not getting off on the right foot with these fellows, but I didn’t mind one bit.
Keil frowned as Sevin pulled him away down the street in the opposite direction. Lynda, on the other hand, was quickly winning my favor. Her smile and the way she held my arm gave me a sense of warmth that I had never experienced before.
“You’d make a great diplomat,” I said, chuckling. “I mean the way you handled Keil there.”
“You haven’t met my brother yet,” she said, offering a grin. “Someday, I hope to match his proficiency in managing the demands of others.”
At the tailor shop, a place simply called The Needles, Lynda helped me pick out several sets of well-made shirts and riding pants, as well as a road jacket that would suit me well for when I was off duty. The tailor wanted me to try on the shirts and pants in case they needed to be altered. I waved off the suggestion, trusting his eye for sizing and not wanting to remove my shirt in front of anyone, especially Lynda.
She chuckled at my modesty, saying, “I don’t bite, you know.”
She certainly had the uncanny ability to make me blush at a drop of a hat. I had only just met her the day before, and she had already seen enough of my scars.
I replied half in jest, “Well, your father hasn’t given me permission to take off my shirt.”
That seemed to set her back for a second, and she gave me an uncertain smile. Okay, my social skills needed some work, but what was I going to say?
Finally, I handed the tailor the measurements that Drew had made of Raven while she slept. I asked if he could provide a set of comfortable and durable clothes fit for a young female. I could only guess at what Raven might like based on her earlier appearance. The tailor suggested a cream-colored shirt and black riding pants and assured me that they could alter anything that didn’t fit.
It was late afternoon when we finally returned to the keep, and I was ready for a long nap and a quiet night. I dropped off everything in my room and went to check on Raven. She was gone. So were Helen and Drew. Starting to worry, I headed down to the kitchen and dining room to see if they had gone to eat. Both rooms were empty.
My stomach was starting to turn knots, and I began counting to myself to calm and think. I couldn’t see them removing Raven from the keep, so I ran up to the third floor, to Vigil Snow’s floor. There was a crowd present as I entered his meeting room.
I stormed in. “Where is she?” I demanded.
I could sense her here among Vigil Snow and his men. And family? I saw Lynda with Meryna on the far side of the room, looking confused by the scene. Vigil Snow was facing Raven, who was struggling as she was being held by Sentinels Glenn and Barnes. Suddenly, I froze, locked in place. Damn, Loeb was here too.
I started to count in my head again, needing to regain some control, some composure. Anger flared in my heart now and matching it to my intention, on a count of eight, I reached around behind my back and drew my war knife.
Loeb yelled out, “Ara, please hold! This isn’t what it seems.”
The rest of the room seemed to still at that warning shout as I stepped intently toward Raven. She was dressed in an over-sized Sentinel recruit shirt. Barefoot as she was, she stood maybe five and a half feet tall, about six inches shorter than me. She was weak, weakening further. Whatever was happening here, it wasn’t right.
“Let her go now,” I said, as calmly and quie
tly as possible, stepping forward between Snow and Raven. I turned to face her and her captors. “Raven, do you remember me?” I asked. “Do you remember last night?”
She stopped struggling and looked at me. She looked at my dagger. I held it out to her. Glenn looked at me like I was insane.
“You smell familiar.” She was shaking slightly now, ready to collapse again. I sheathed my weapon.
“Please release her, Glenn,” I asked again.
Snow must have nodded because Glenn and his Second let go and quickly stepped back away. I looked for Loeb and shook my head in his direction. I was still glowing with anger but starting to level with the situation.
“Vigil, why is she here? Have you done anything to her?” I said, moving closer to Raven and slowly reaching out my hand to her.
“Ara, we haven’t made any claims, if that is what you are asking,” Snow replied in his usual calm demeanor.
“Raven, I'm Ara. We met last night when we killed the demons that were hunting you. The demons are dead, and you are safe here, under my protection. Nobody here will hurt you or lay a hand upon you without my permission. Do you understand?” I announced to Raven and the room in general.
Eventually, she nodded in response, looking about the room.
“Please give me your hand. I will help you return to your bedroom where you can rest and regain your strength.”
She hesitated before reaching out. “Where am I?”
“You are in the castle in the city of Berykholt, south of the Everest Mountains. You are among the Order of the Vigil in Colivar. Where did you come from?”
“The City of Bastian, in the mountains to the north,” she answered.
I began walking Raven over to the door for the stairwell.
“Lynda, would you please help me here? I’d like you to meet Raven and help us walk back downstairs to her room. I have some things that I’d like to give her.”
We placed Raven back in her bed. It was painful to see her body so stiff, and her muscles so weakened from her ordeal. She wouldn’t be a threat to anyone anytime soon. I’d had to fight the urge to carry her down the stairs, wanting her to take a few slow steps on her own.
“Raven, this is Lynda, daughter to Lord Snow,” I said, completing introductions. “I believe you have already met Helen and Drew, waiting over by the door. They are here to help you, so please let them know if you need anything. I’ll be right back; my room is right next door.”
I quickly recovered today’s finds from my room and presented them to Raven. First, I handed over the black blade in its new sheath. If she were anything like me, I knew that would do the most to ease her anxiety. I was right, and for the first time ever, I saw her smile.
“Thank you for returning my Talon. I feared that I had lost it. It belonged to my father and was given to me upon my exile from the kingdom.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, but I felt a deep sense of sympathy at the word ‘Exile.’
“Raven, your old sheath was torn up, so I replaced it with one that you can wear over your back. It won’t be in your way when you don’t need it. I also brought you some real clothes just in case you want to take another stroll outside this room.”
Turning to Helen and Drew, “In the meantime, would you please bring up some dinner for Raven.” I took a seat in the chair next to the bed, propped my feet up on a nearby stool, crossed my arms, and decided to rest my eyes for a few minutes until dinner arrived.
Bar Sinister
Flaming drinks
I stood in the back of the smoke-filled bar.
The two bodies at the bar had been joined by a lethal and lovely third, raven-haired, sinuous, and ageless. A hunter out of season, she sat with an air of boredom, sipping something dark and red.
“So, we have our friend, the Pestilent Duke Sargon, to thank for the present company? This doesn’t make us even. Not yet anyway,” said the leering dark warrior. “But, one can certainly consider it a start.”
“The Duke will be glad to hear it, no doubt,” said the smaller man to his right.
“He can consider it payment for my patience. Any other words of wisdom I should know?”
“Skip the flaming drinks from now on,” said the smaller man. “They keep destroying my thin-skinned umbrellas.”
It was left unsaid what type of skin was used to adorn the umbrellas of his drinks.
“Such strife, Memet,” chuckled the warrior. “If ever I see the barman, I’ll let him know.”
Chapter 10
Paying attention
In the still-dark hours of early morning, I awoke in my bed. I had slept better last night than I had in months. Shaking off the new thoughts and emotions of the past couple of days, I checked in next door before heading to get myself cleaned up. Raven was sound asleep. Helen had drawn the night shift and dozed in a small cot by the bed.
After washing up and kitting up, I headed down to the kitchen, which I hoped was already open. I needed to fill up before I attended a long morning of recruit training. Sure enough, the dining room was open, and I wasn’t alone. Vigil Snow was already breaking his fast with hot coffee and smoked meats on fresh bread. I sat down across from him, knowing that we had plenty to discuss, but letting him choose where to begin.
“Good morning, Ara. Glad to see you’re up. How is our half-elf guest this morning?”
“Resting well. She’s healing, and I hope that she’ll be up and about in few more days. Did you want to talk about yesterday?” I asked.
“Ara, you are young, strong, and fearless, but my biggest concern for you has been your independence. A Vigil must draw upon those around him for the strength and skills that he lacks. He must form bonds with his people that last a lifetime, for we are in a fight that never ends. There is a shared devotion for all in the Order, but especially around a Vigil that carries us forward. It has been an honor to watch you find yourself and begin to find your place in the Order.”
“I was concerned that I might have overstepped yesterday,” I offered.
“Many in the room were sweating the outcome, but you were quite clear and correct in your actions. You were well within your rights and abilities to step and in and protect the girl,” Snow replied. “My only concern now is the arrival of Thorn and how she will react to you and the situation, but let’s leave that for a future discussion. Today, I have but one request for you.”
“And what is that, Lord Snow?” I asked.
“You will be attending Sentinel recruit training on the west-side training field this morning under the tutelage of Adept-Sergeant Masterson. He’s a bit rough around the edges. Please don’t damage him,” he requested with a smile.
“And keep my shirt on?”
“Exactly,” he said.
Before reaching the west training fields an hour after dawn, I stopped by the North Tower. I was in luck this time to find Sentinel Mott Duncan in the Scout’s common room sorting his day’s patrols.
“Sentinel-Scout Duncan, may I have the honor of accompanying your second shift patrol today? I’d very much like to get a daytime view of the land around Berykholt,” I said, offering my best respects.
“Ha! Cut with the crap, Scout,” he fired back. “Once you’re in, you’re in. Glad to ride out with you this afternoon. Be here after lunch with your horse.”
“Will do. Now I must get over to my first recruit training session with Sergeant Masterson. Vigil Snow made me promise not to hurt him. Any advice?”
“Well, then you are likely well and truly fethed,” he chuckled in reply.
We took the field to the West of Castle Berykholt after a five-mile run in full kit. Four hundred fresh faces flushed with exertion, including my own, as we came to rest for the inspection of the four recruit companies. Each company consisted of about one hundred recruits, from ages eighteen to twenty-two, with the Summer company being the most senior in status and due to graduate with the new moon. The Autumn company would then be highest ranked, followed by the Winter and Sprin
g companies. Spring company recruits had only been in training for about two months. Each company took up a side of the field, and a rather large Sentinel-Adept ran inspection, counting heads, and organizing lines according to a simple ranking system. The best fighters, or alphas, in each company, were upfront.
Not wanting to disrupt the current training regimen, I spied out and approached Sergeant Masterson, who was waiting impatiently in the center of the field. The Scouts had filled me in on Masterson. He had the skills and had even graded out as the Alpha of his company during training twenty years ago. Unfortunately, according to the Scouts, he had lost his eye during his first battle against a horde of demons. It was a rare wound, most being fatal. He would never have the chance to advance beyond his current station of Sentinel-Adept. The Vigil placed him where he could be most useful, and he was Hell on earth where recruit training was concerned.
“Sergeant, my name is Ara. Vigil Snow has asked that I train with your recruits,” I stated, hoping the word had been duly passed on.
Masterson wore a black eye patch over his left eye. It only partially covered a set of three scars that ran from forehead to cheek. I had a similar but more substantial set of scars running across my back.
“You seem rather young and oddly dressed for the occasion,” he replied, pointing to the half-moon on my tunic. “And what’s with the vambrace? How will you use a shield with that heavy thing on your arm?”
“I know it’s not doctrine, but it works as a brace for my arm, as well as a shield and a club, depending on my temper,” I answered. “My first encounter with a demon a couple of months ago injured my arm in a bad way. I was hoping you would point out which company position I should take for today’s training. Sentinel Glenn has surely informed you of my presence.”
On a small hill overlooking the field, I now noticed a small group of Sentinels, including one with the shiny bald head of Sentinel-Scout Duncan, watching the proceedings from a safe distance.
