The Sentinel's Reign

by Suzanne Rogerson

  Murmurs of agreement travelled around the room. Tei watched Callisa as she stood, a serene presence amongst them, allowing the reactions of the mystics to roll over her. When she held up her hand, all talking ceased.

  ‘We have to kill Rathnor.’

  Tei gasped and glanced across at Brogan, but his expression remained neutral. She realised he must already know the plan; it had obviously been the reason for their private meeting.

  Callisa waved down the growing din of conversation before she continued. ‘One brave man has already tried, but I am sad to report that his efforts met with failure…’ She paused, looking grave.

  Tei saw pain in Callisa’s eyes and shivered, already guessing what was coming next.

  ‘Benon gave his life trying to assassinate Rathnor. His last words to me were that we should try again.’

  Shock resonated through the gathering. Tei had only known Benon by reputation, but many of the mystics in the room hung their heads in respect to their lost friend. She remembered watching Benon in the winter tournament, battling against Undren and Garrick; he was the rising star everyone was backing to win the summer games. Now, like so many of Kalaya’s heroes, he was gone.

  The Sentinel took time to find her composure. ‘Benon told me Rathnor’s powers are too great to catch him unawares. We need to plan a decoy attack.’

  ‘Why not march into Newington and kill him,’ Hafender called out.

  Callisa smiled at the suggestion. ‘We want to stop a war, not provoke one. No, we must kill Rathnor quietly, then his hold over the Assembly will be gone and we’ll have a chance to set up peaceful negotiations.’

  Captain Dlane took to his feet. He’d lost weight and had worn the same haunted look since the ambush at Fenga Village. ‘You want us to risk more lives to this plan, but what if they fail too? Will you send more? When will it end?’

  Callisa turned on him. ‘I know you’ve lost people, Dlane, we all have. But if we don’t stop this war, it could spell the end of Kalaya.’

  All argument ceased, replaced by heavy silence. Tei watched Callisa, trying to second-guess her, but she gave nothing of her thoughts away. I may as well be looking at a stranger, Tei thought to herself.

  Callisa shifted her feet and cleared her throat. ‘We have a volunteer willing to be our assassin, but I need two decoy mystics to help set the trap.’ The Sentinel scanned the room, her gaze skipping past Tei.

  ‘Two suicidal mystics, you mean,’ Dlane said.

  Callisa glowered at him. ‘That attitude doesn’t help, Captain. Morale is our best weapon against this war. Don’t seek to destroy it.’

  Dlane kept to his feet, refusing to back down. ‘What do the Elders have to say and why are they not here to discuss your plan?’

  ‘This is not a matter for them to decide.’ Anger flared in Callisa’s eyes.

  ‘I back the Sentinel’s judgement.’ Hafender glared at his colleague. ‘If we listen to the Elders in everything, the war will come to us before we act.’

  The Sentinel nodded solemnly. ‘I believe if we wait... it will be too late.’

  Her prediction hung in the air as everyone contemplated the implications of her words.

  Dlane stared at her, his face a mask of unhappiness. Tei felt sorry for him standing as the only voice against the Sentinel. He coughed, his drawn features pale in the cavern’s harsh light. ‘I don’t wish to keep speaking out of turn, Sentinel, but I can’t condone this reckless risk of life.’

  ‘It is for each individual to decide; not me, not the Elders, and not you, Captain Dlane.’

  The captain’s shoulders sagged. ‘Then which madman has already agreed to your plan?’

  Callisa’s mouth opened, poised to speak, just as Tei sensed movement to the side of her.

  ‘I have.’

  She turned to see Brogan standing tall and resolute beside her.

  ‘No.’ Her hand flew to her mouth.

  Brogan looked stern as he faced the room of stunned mystics. ‘Rathnor must be stopped, that’s a fact no one here can deny. Now he’s secured the vote for war, even Turrak won’t be safe for people with magic. Nowhere will be, unless we kill him.’

  As Brogan sat down, he shot Tei a warning look.

  She stared dumbfounded at him and then turned on Callisa. What are you doing?

  Not now, Tei. Callisa didn’t even acknowledge her with a glance as the room erupted in debate.

  ‘This plan is flawed,’ someone called out, but Tei was too shocked to recognise the speaker.

  ‘Brogan is a wanted killer and a spy…’

  ‘It’s madness to use him; surely there is someone more skilled.’

  Brogan rose smoothly to his feet. ‘I know Rathnor better than anyone here.’ His voice reverberated with authority. ‘I watched him for months, studying his habits. I know I can get to him, and I would be willing to go alone, but I stand a better chance if I have help.’

  There were hushed whispers and arguments breaking out amongst the mystics.

  Tei pulled Brogan back into his seat. ‘Don’t do this,’ she hissed vehemently in his ear, her hand still gripping his arm, her nails sinking into his flesh.

  He didn’t flinch, but covered her hand with his own. ‘I must,’ he said simply. ‘For my friends.’

  An uncontrollable sob rose in her throat.

  Two men at opposite sides of the room stood up. ‘I volunteer,’ they said in unison.

  Callisa studied each man in turn. ‘Thank you for your courage.’

  ‘Don’t do it,’ a voice shouted out.

  ‘These men have agreed of their own free will.’ The Sentinel’s eyes blazed with anger.

  Tei’s shock finally broke through the paralysis that had held her tongue silent. She pushed away from Brogan, getting to her feet. Callisa’s gaze flicked to her, but she ignored the silent plea in her eyes.

  ‘This meeting is a travesty. The Sentinel’s plan is flawed, and if you let it continue, these men will die.’ Tei’s voice was gruff with emotion but she swallowed it back.

  No one spoke. Tei knew they were shocked to hear the Confidante publicly defying the Sentinel, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t hold her silence, even as Mara discreetly tried to pull her back into her seat.

  ‘Who’s to say Rathnor can be defeated this way?’ She looked around the room, her blood hot. ‘I beg you all to speak out and let your denials be heard. Don’t let these brave men ride to their deaths.’

  Still no one spoke and, in the silence, Tei felt tremors seize her body.

  ‘It is this, or war, Tei. There are no other choices left,’ the Sentinel said, her sorrow reaching out across the room.

  Tei held her gaze, hatred coursing through her. Then she stalked out of the room, fighting against the dread threatening to crush her.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  ‘Tei, we can’t leave it like this. Please talk to me,’ Brogan called, his voice muffled by the door between them.

  Tei swallowed her emotion and remained on the bed, watching the ceiling. She heard Brogan pacing outside, but didn’t rise to let him in.

  ‘You’re being stubborn if you won’t even talk to me about it.’

  She refused to answer, no matter how much he hammered on the door and begged her to talk to him.

  Eventually she heard him huff. ‘Fine, I can’t do this anymore. I’ll be with Ellas if you want to say goodbye.’

  She heard him stalk away and buried her face in her pillow, still too shocked to contemplate what the future held.

  Taking some long, deep breaths, Tei let go of her body’s bonds and reached towards the Astral Plane. She soared away from Turrak, desperate to escape the place and its betrayals.

  Garrick found her in the spectral trees beyond the mountains, his spirit image as strong and serene as any of the ancient trees in the forest.

  The words poured out of her and he listened. ‘What am I going to do, Garrick? I can’t let Brogan go against Rathnor.’

  ‘Sometimes we don’t h
ave a choice.’

  ‘But it’s so unfair. How can she expect this of him, or of anyone?’

  Garrick drifted alongside her as they traversed the mists of the Astral Plane. He was quiet and thoughtful and his placid mood soon helped to calm her anger.

  ‘Rathnor is a mystic like any other on this island, but his actions are destroying Kalaya. The Sentinel has to respond.’ Garrick gestured around them. ‘She has to put the magic first. If she doesn’t, the island will die along with everything on it. Callisa isn’t the villain, but I’m sure if you thought about it you’d know that already.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean I can forgive her, especially not when she went behind my back.’

  Garrick hugged her. ‘Be strong, Tei. Let Brogan do this.’

  She remained cocooned in his arms, wishing she could take his advice, but it was impossible to imagine Brogan pitted against Rathnor.

  Eventually she pulled away and looked at her friend. ‘Thanks for trying to help me.’

  ‘I’m always at your service,’ Garrick said, bowing low.

  Smiling, Tei bid him goodbye and left the Astral Plane. She returned to her body and lay on her bed for a moment before rising to look through the shutters, surprised to see it was already dark outside.

  She pulled on her cloak and invoked her father’s spell before sneaking through the quiet settlement.

  Thinking about Callisa’s decision made her anger resurface and she clenched her fists as she closed in on the Sentinel’s summer residence in the valley. The building was dark, as she suspected it would be.

  Tei glanced around and then slipped into the empty house, settling down by the unlit fire to wait.

  Callisa arrived an hour later. She walked inside cautiously, as though sensing Tei’s presence.

  With a whispered word, two lanterns flickered to life.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Callisa said, as soon as their eyes met.

  Tei’s heart hammered in her chest, her anger ready to explode. She gripped the arms of the chair, trying to take control, but rage got the better of her.

  ‘Sorry for what exactly? Sentencing the man I love to death?’ Her magic tingled, desperate to lash out.

  Callisa watched the outburst with no change in her sorrowful expression.

  ‘Sorry doesn’t come close.’ Tei jumped to her feet. ‘How can you do this?’

  Callisa sank into a chair, looking old and weary. ‘What else would you have me do?’

  ‘Stop this nonsense before anyone else is killed. Admit you’re wrong and that this is a terrible mistake.’

  ‘No, what’s wrong is allowing Rathnor to march his army upon us without doing all in our power to stop him. What’s wrong is allowing Kalaya to fall because you love the man best equipped to kill Rathnor.’

  Tei paced the floor. ‘But Brogan will be killed on sight. Every guard and Masked Rider will be looking for him.’

  ‘A concealing spell with protect him, at least until he reaches Newington.’

  Tei stopped pacing and turned to face the Sentinel. ‘But what about his soul? Can you conceal that from Rathnor?’

  Callisa sighed, buckling under Tei’s gaze. ‘I don’t have all the answers. I just know Brogan is capable of killing Rathnor. What’s more, he’s willing to try. Without taking risks, we can’t win this war.’

  Tei glared at the Sentinel. ‘I rescued him from the gallows, only for you to send him back to them. Tell me, Sentinel, was that your plan all along?’

  Silence was her answer.

  ‘So this is what you’ve become.’ Tei shook her head, disgust a bitter taste in her mouth. ‘You were right when you said you can’t have any friends.’ She paced to the door, but Callisa’s voice stopped her.

  ‘I’m sorry, Tei. I didn’t choose this, but the survival of the island rests on my shoulders and I can’t put one life above that.’

  ‘Then I can’t forgive you,’ Tei said, her hand on the doorknob, tears blurring her vision.

  ‘Don’t get involved. Allow Brogan his chance and let the fates decide.’

  Tei pushed open the door and escaped into the night, the Sentinel’s words like poison in her ears.

  Looking up at the sky, a patch of clouds cleared and revealed the stars twinkling in the blackness. Clarity hit her and she knew what she had to do. She’d follow Brogan to Newington and to death if that was the only way they could be together.

  ***

  Callisa watched the door long after Tei had slammed it shut behind her. All her resolve drained away and she mourned the loss of their friendship; there could be no coming back from this betrayal.

  Callisa sank back into her chair; there was one last task to perform before she could rest.

  She closed her eyes and reached for the trancelike state, connecting to the island in a heartbeat. The magic pulsed through her, drawing from her like a virus eating away at her soul. The magical barrier rippled around Kalaya as she struggled to restore it, but the decaying land sucked away the power of her spells.

  Finally, she pulled back into her wasted body and sat, recovering her strength. Doom swamped her; she couldn’t keep the barrier strong for much longer. Rathnor’s game of murder was stealing the life force from the magic and, when war came, she wouldn’t be able to defend Turrak against the death and destruction he would breed.

  She held her head in her hands, picturing poor Benon and the faces of the men she was risking. Then she thought of Tei, with her fiery anger and hatred. She wanted to weep, but she was too tired even for that small act of release. Instead, she reached for the only friend she had left.

  Thal, she quested out to him.

  The Elder responded straightaway. I see your heart is heavy, Sentinel.

  I can’t do this anymore.

  Of course you can, it’s just exhaustion talking.

  Callisa wanted to argue, but her body’s need betrayed her.

  Get some sleep. You’ll need your strength to meet with the Elders tomorrow. They were most annoyed you didn’t show for our meeting today.

  Callisa smiled to herself. Thank you for smoothing things over for me, Thal. I trust you have placated them.

  I did my best, but the day after we receive news of impending war isn’t the best time for our Sentinel to disappear.

  I will explain my reasons tomorrow, once the men have left.

  As you wish. Thal didn’t question her judgement, though she sensed he wanted to. She bade him goodbye and then fell asleep the moment she crawled into bed.

  ***

  Brogan found Beliss already up and at the stables with Bluebell and Conall. The little pony was trailing behind them as they gave the horses their breakfast. Brogan held back and watched the young man take Beliss under his wing, teaching her about the Turrak herd. Beliss glowed with happiness; the haunted look was gone from her face and it was good to see her being a child again.

  Morane arrived beside him and together they watched Beliss as she measured out a scoop of grain in each horse trough, her tongue stuck out in concentration. One horse attempted to eat from the scoop before she had a chance to pour it and the little girl giggled as she scolded him playfully.

  Smiling, Brogan turned to Morane. ‘How are you settling in?’ He indicated the small dwelling Morane and Beliss had been allocated close to the stables. Conall and his family were their neighbours and, being fellow horse lovers, Brogan could see the two of them becoming close friends.

  ‘She’s been a lot better, though she woke up screaming from a nightmare last night. The first one in a while.’

  ‘I wish I could do more to help her.’

  Morane patted his arm. ‘She’s glad to have you here.’

  ‘That’s what I’ve come to see her about,’ he said quietly.

  At that moment, Beliss spotted them. She ran over squealing and jumped into Brogan’s arms. He caught her and spun her around. ‘Hello, sweetheart. I see you’ve been keeping the horses fed.’

  ‘They have to have the perfect amount of grain to kee
p them healthy, but they’re so greedy.’ Beliss frowned and pursed her lips in a good imitation of Gamel the stable master.

  Bluebell sniffed and lapped up any split grain before trotting over to join them. Brogan gave her an affectionate pat. ‘The terrible two of Turrak,’ he said, making Beliss giggle.

  ‘Breakfast is ready for us too, Beliss. You’ll join us, won’t you, Brogan?’

  ‘Oh please, Uncle Brogan.’

  He laughed and rubbed his stomach. ‘I’m sure I can manage some.’

  She led him by the hand all the way down to their home and watched him like a hawk until he was sitting at the tiny table set in front of the cooking fire. Morane dished out three bowls of porridge.

  ‘You’re going away again,’ Beliss said as she swirled her spoon in her food and refused to eat.

  Brogan glanced at Morane and she shrugged.

  He set down his spoon and rested his hand on top of hers. ‘I have to, sweetheart. I’m going to stop the bad man that did this to us.’

  ‘He’s a very, very bad man. I want him dead!’

  ‘Oh, Beliss, you shouldn’t say that,’ Morane chided gently.

  ‘I don’t care.’ She pouted and then picked up her spoon and took a tentative mouthful.

  Brogan ate his food and murmured how good it was to Morane. Between them, they tried to keep up a flow of conversation to draw Beliss out of her mood.

  ‘Delicious.’ Brogan licked his bowl clean, managing to draw a small smile from Beliss.

  When she met his eye, he said, ‘I have to go now.’

  She shook her head.

  He picked her up and smoothed back her hair. ‘I’ll be back soon, I promise.’

  ‘No.’ Beliss locked her arms around his neck.

  He squeezed her tight and fought back a sudden moment of grief for the tiny damaged child in his arms, and the friends he would never see again. His resolve firmed and he gently peeled apart Beliss’ hands and set her back in her seat.