The Protector of Esparia (The Annals of Esparia Book 1)

by Lisa M. Wilson

  “Jessica, tell Anton what you just told me about Quirt.” Stroking Varnack’s head she told about her first impressions of Quirt and the lies he had told.

  Anton rumbled, “I knew there was a spy…a traitor here, but who’da guessed the doogeroot was Quirt?”

  “Who exactly is Quirt?” Gaylee asked.

  “He has been with me since the Battle of Blue Mountain,” Larone explained. “He saved my life. He asked me to train him; he desired to be a healer. To his great disappointment, he did not have the gift, but he has been a tremendous help these many years and a trusted friend. The thought of his treachery is unbelievable.”

  “Maybe he has a good reason for lying about Marone,” Jessica suggested half-heartedly.

  “We’ll find out,” Anton assured her. He reached over and picked her up.

  “Uncle Anton, I have three broken ribs, not two broken legs.”

  “Yeah, well…that’s fine, Jessi.”

  She shot an appeal to her grandmother, but Gaylee only smiled. Leaving the examining room, they made their way to the surgery area to wait for John. They found Ophir, Cordon, and a third officer, someone Jessica had never seen before, already there. This waiting area was the section of wide hallway next to the surgery door, where a few wooden benches lined the bare walls.

  “No information yet,” Cordon said. He introduced the officer as Ballian, the Commander of Ramadine’s Defense Academy. The older man was smartly dressed in a pressed blue and silver uniform, polished boots and shining sword. She could not help but notice how brilliantly his sword glittered in the lamplight. It had a single enormous ruby set in the hilt. The stone was blood red.

  Larone went into the operating room. While he was gone, Anton requested Jessica tell her story once more for Ophir and Cordon. When she finished, Ophir left without a word.

  Commander Ballian was a quiet man, who kept to himself in the corner. Jessica continuously glanced his way. He made her feel uneasy, though she had no explanation as to why. Cordon seems to like him, but I’m sure glad Uncle Anton’s here.

  “Uncle Anton, what’s a doogeroot? I’ve heard you use that expression several times now.”

  Anton blushed. “Well…um,” he stammered and looked to Gaylee for help.

  “You’re on your own for this one, Anton,” she laughed.

  “Jessi, it’s a…uh. It’s a plant that grows in animal…uh…stuff.” Again, he appealed to Gaylee.

  “It’s a plant that thrives on animal excrement,” Gaylee offered. “Anton uses the word as a profanity.”

  “Ohhh,” Jessica nodded.

  The door to the surgery opened and Larone stepped through. “John is nearly finished. The guard has an excellent chance of pulling through.” Ballian seemed pleased and excused himself to relate the good news to the rest of his men. Relief flooded through Jessica when he turned a corner and was gone from sight.

  “It was interesting to watch your father work as I worked on him. He did not flinch once as I stitched his wounds while he operated on the young guard,” Larone commented to Jessica. “He has certainly proved himself. I don’t think there is one man here who would not follow him now. He has shown himself to be an expert archer, a natural swordsman and a master healer.” Jessica felt a surge of pride. Coming from Larone, this was no small compliment.

  John and Lyrista walked out of the surgery a half hour later. John looked haggard, but was hopeful with how things had gone. He had nothing but high words of praise for Lyrista as a surgical assistant. “She anticipated my every need during the operation. I could not have asked for a better nurse.”

  Cordon grinned at his little sister, blatant admiration on his face. She too had a glow about her.

  “You okay, Jess?” The crow’s feet around John’s eyes deepened with concern.

  “I’m okay, Dad, honestly. Uncle Larone gave me some great painkiller. I’m just sleepy.”

  “I think each of us had better take some much needed rest,” Larone suggested. “Let us meet in the morning, right after the breakfast bell. The conference center across the hall from my office would be a better room. I think we were too cramped in mine.” No one objected.

  Lyrista reached for Cordon’s arm. “I don’t know this commander Ballian very well. He left Ider Hoffle Academy shortly after I arrived there, so come with me. I want to visit the barracks, and personally reassure the men that their friend will be all right.” He nodded and together they left through the main corridor.

  “I have a few things I wish to finish here.” Larone stated. “I will be along presently.” He walked back into the surgery.

  Anton handed the Sword of Judgment to John. “I went back to the stables while Larone was fixin’ Jessi and got it. Didn’t trust no one else.”

  “Thanks. I didn’t mean to leave it.”

  “Dad,” Jessica admired the sword, “tell me about this weapon. It’s beautiful.” She ran her hand over the blade and fingered the crystals in the hilt. “Are these diamonds?”

  Varnack accompanied Gaylee, Anton, John, and Jessica back to the main building where their quarters were located. While they walked John told his daughter about the brief ceremony when the soldiers returned from burying their comrades at the Dorsett and of his public adoption into the House of Saylon. “This is called the Sword of Judgment. Your grandma mentioned it was one of two sister swords passed down for generations in her grandfather’s family,” he finished.

  “Yeah.” Anton rubbed his beard. “This one’s a warrior’s weapon, meant to go from father to son, but Larone and I aren’t true warriors and neither of us has sons, so it was only right we gave it to Graesion, then to Haesom, and now to you, John. Ya proved tonight yer worthy of it.” He clapped John firmly on the back. “Those aren’t diamonds, Jessi, they’re white persite.”

  “So this is the sword that Daenon so desperately wanted. Haesom’s last act was to deny him access to it,” Jessica remembered.

  “What happened to the other sword?” Gaylee asked.

  “Dunno,” Anton shrugged. “It wasn’t meant for warfare…Was called the ‘Sword of Mercy’. As I remember the story, it was forged at the same time as this one,” he indicated the weapon in John’s hand, “but it’s a lot more delicate and as the steel cooled, it was sprinkled with diamond dust, so it glitters from every angle when the light hits it.”

  They reached the lime-green building and stopped before the doors. “I only saw it once, when I was a little boy. It truly was beautiful and the light danced off it, but my Dad wouldn’t let me touch it. He told me it held some sort of power, but it’s all pretty hazy in my memory. Larone doesn’t even know what happened to it. Well, goodnight.”

  Morning came swiftly. Varnack had spent the night as guard at Jessica’s door. When she slid off the bed to let him out of the room, she was pleasantly surprised to find she still felt no pain. Uncle Larone’s medicine is great stuff. She dressed swiftly, then joined Gaylee and Lyrista for breakfast in the sitting room. Larone had ordered white bread, butter, honey, milk and several pieces of a pink, round fruit to be sent to their chambers.

  Smelling the soft fruit, Jessica asked, “What’s this?”

  “Taya.” Gaylee put emphasis on the second syllable. “It’s tart, but not so much like a lemon that it’ll make you pucker. Try it, I bet you’ll like it.”

  Jessica bit into the juicy ball. “Hmmm. It’s almost like a tangy banana flavor.” Juice dripped down her chin.

  Lyrista handed her a cloth. “Don’t eat too much; it can really make you want to go to the bathroom…a lot.” Her light laughter filled the room.

  The morning bell rang, its high tone a dramatic difference from the rich baritone quality of Ramadine’s great assembly bell.

  The conference room was much larger than Larone’s humble office, but just as bereft of decoration. A window on the far wall, framed with dark green drapes, allowed the sun to flow in unchecked. The bare, wooden floor was well worn and in need of a good refinishing. Two small round tables
with five chairs surrounding each were the only furnishings.

  Ophir was already there with Quirt, bound hand and foot, next to him. Larone, Varnack and Anton entered after the women, with John, Cordon and Reese not far behind. When Reese walked in he hurried over to Jessica. “Your father has been telling me about last night. Are you all right?”

  “Yes, thank you.” His concern surprised her and she felt her cheeks flush.

  Once everyone was seated, Ophir took charge. “Last night, after Jessica told us about Quirt, I went to find him. If he was innocent, then he would understand. If he was guilty, he needed to be stopped from doing more harm. I found him in a stable, saddling his horse, but he came quietly.”

  “Untie him,” Larone requested. Quirt looked uneasy, barely able to remain calm.

  “Quirt, my friend,” Larone’s voice was soft, “you have some explaining to do. Jessica will notify us of any untruths you may tell. Let us begin with your mission to Saylon Dorsett. Did you reach General Gammet?”

  Quirt rubbed his wrists with shaking hands. “Yes, I did.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That a force of a thousand Elitet rode to destroy him and all who lived at the Dorsett, but I arrived too late. The attack came before he could adequately organize his forces. I told you, everyone died.”

  “Not everyone,” Cordon snapped. “You are looking at a survivor of that battle.”

  “Two survivors,” Reese intoned just as icily as his uncle.

  All color drained from Quirt’s face.

  “How much time did you tell General Gammet…my father, that he had before the attack was to start,” Cordon demanded.

  Quirt remained silent.

  “Answer him,” Lyrista sternly commanded.

  “Three days.”

  Cordon’s chair fell over when he bolted to his feet. “Three days!” he bellowed. “We only had hours! You deliberately lied to him. You betrayed us all. How did you know our defenses so well? How…” He quieted down when John placed a hand on his arm.

  “You knew they only had a short time,” Larone shook his head in disbelief. “Why did you tell Gammet he had three days?”

  “They captured me before I arrived at the Dorsett,” Quirt choked. “They promised if I cooperated, I would be spared when the attack came. They were very convincing, Larone.” His eyes darted from Cordon to Reese, then back to Larone. “They gave me money and told me never to return to Ramadine, but I did anyway, to tell you about Haesom’s death. When we met and you gave me a new assignment, I was terrified. I went to the east coast instead of Marone. I don’t know what happened to me,” he bowed his head and shook it. “Those Elitet and Addex.” Jessica flinched at the name. “These last two weeks, I’ve done some deep, inward searching and I decided to come back.”

  Larone looked to Jessica. She nodded, “He’s telling the truth.”

  Quirt stammered at Cordon, “Believe me. I knew n…nothing about your defenses. I’m not a military man. I don’t even know w…what you’re talking about. I told Gammet he had three days instead of three hours, but I betrayed nothing else. I s…swear. How can I betray something I know nothing about?”

  “You were trying to leave when I found you,” Ophir cross-examined. “Why?”

  “Why? You ask me why?” his voice was becoming hoarser by the minute. “I heard the Elitet was loose. I wasn’t about to stay around and let him kill me!”

  “Kill you?” John shot back. “He wasn’t after you, he wanted Jessica.”

  For the first time Quirt looked directly at the girl. “Wanted you, but why? You’re nothing but a child. Granted, you have red hair, but the Lady Gayleena is the real power here. You’re nothing. Why would an Elitet be interested in you?”

  Jessica felt thoroughly offended, but before she could say anything John stated matter-of-factly, “You didn’t free the Elitet.”

  Quirt gaped at John, “I may be a coward and a deserter, but I’m no fool. I’d never free an Elitet! Those guys are crazy.”

  There was stunned silence and it was Gaylee who finally voiced each of their thoughts, “There is someone else. A second traitor is in our midst.”

  “But who?” Lyrista asked.

  “Maybe I can help answer that question,” a male voice from behind offered. This unexpected interruption startled every one and together they turned to see a rugged, travel worn man standing in the doorway. Heavily armed and in need of a shave and bath, his torn clothes were caked with dried blood from several deep cuts on his chest and arms, but he stood tall with his hands clasped behind his back.

  “Lepsis!” Larone sprang to the man’s side and placed an arm around his shoulder. “Come, sit down. You are wounded.”

  “Nothing too serious.” Lepsis closed the door behind him. He shot Quirt a menacing glance.

  Ophir jumped to his feet and drew his sword. Anton also stood, staring at the newcomer, but his weapon remained where it was.

  “Sheath your sword Ophir, Lepsis is a friend.” Larone soothed. “We have been in communication for many years now. How do you think I obtained the information to warn Gammet at Saylon Dorsett of the Elitet’s attack?”

  “I risked everything to send that information in time to save those people,” Lepsis fumed. “Because of this worm,” he motioned to Quirt, “it was all for nothing.” His green eyes were cold, full of anger.

  Cordon, still on his feet from threatening Quirt, offered the man his chair. “I served at the Dorsett. I’m Cordon, Gammet was my father.”

  “Not was…is. He’s still alive.” Lepsis sat heavily in the offered chair. He removed his bow and quiver and let them fall beside him. Cordon’s face went ash gray and Lyrista gasped. “That’s one reason I’ve come. The other is to warn you there is another traitor here, worse than this maggot,” he gestured again at Quirt, “but I see you’ve figured that out on your own. I also can’t stomach being around Daenon any more, fifty years is long enough.”

  Anton walked over to the man and pulled him upward into a huge bear hug. “Lepsis m’ boy, yer the exact image of yer sister. How are ya son?”

  Lepsis was visibly shaken. His hard exterior fell for a moment and a vulnerable, sensitive man stood there, but he certainly was not a boy, he was older than John.

  “It’s been an interesting life, Anton.”

  “Tell those in this room, who do not know you, a little about yourself,” Larone prompted.

  Lepsis looked at those seated around him. “I’m a prince of Marone. When my mother died I came to live with my sister Naydeen, wife to Segal. I hoped Daenon would be the brother I never had.” He shook his head and sat back down in the chair. “I was fifteen when Segal and Naydeen died. I made the decision to stay with Daenon, hoping to continue my sister’s efforts at making amends for what Segal had done, but it was too late. By the time Daenon reached fourteen he was already like his father. The most I could do was try to control the damage he did. I think…I hope anyway, I did some good while I lived at Rendaira. About ten years ago I contacted Larone. I knew Daenon was gearing up for an attack and I’ve been keeping Larone informed on each new development. I’d still be there, but when Quirt was caught trying to warn Gammet, Daenon knew he was betrayed. I barely escaped. There’ve been a couple Shields on my trail the entire way here. It’s a good thing your sentries knew my name and let me in.”

  Jessica felt both compassion and respect for this man. She recognized her own thoughts reflected in her father’s face and knew he would be Lepsis’ friend.

  “You said my father is alive,” Lyrista barely whispered, her pale face a mask of calm.

  “Yes. He’s being held at a high security prison in the Snow Peak Mountains. That was the last information I acquired before escaping.”

  “You also claimed you could help us find the spy,” Ophir reminded him.

  Lepsis leaned forward on his chair. “He’s a military man, someone who knew every detail of the Dorsett’s defenses. I never saw the man’s face, only caught a g
limpse of him when they sneaked him into Rendaira after the battle to receive his reward. He wore a blue and silver uniform and carried a sword. I remember the sword quite well, very unique. The biggest, blood red ruby I’ve ever seen was imbedded in the hilt.”

  For one electric moment Cordon locked eyes with Ophir then they dashed from the room at the same instant. Lyrista was only a step behind and the others quickly followed. They ran to the main entrance.

  “Garrett,” Cordon yelled towards one of the lofty guard towers that flanked the front gates. “Have you seen Commander Ballian?”

  “Yes,” he hollered back. “He left Ramadine a short time ago, just after that man came.” Mica pointed to Lepsis who brought up the rear of the posse.

  “Aaauuugggghhhh!” Cordon threw his hands up in the air. “So close, and he slips through our fingers!”

  “Larone,” Ophir spoke up. “Word must be sent to every outpost that Ballian is a traitor. He needs to be taken, dead or alive.”

  “I’ll do it,” Reese offered and ran toward the Red Feathers Center.

  One by one the exasperated leaders turned back to the Administration Building with Jessica and Lepsis being the last to move. She continued to stare down the road from the open front gates. “How maddening,” she mumbled to herself. “It would have been one less headache to have that guy in prison.” When she turned to follow an already retreating Lepsis, a nearly overwhelming wave of nausea hit her. Not again! In a split second she ran at full speed, straight for Lepsis. Catching him completely off guard, she tackled the large man, throwing him to the ground with a loud thud. A well-aimed arrow whizzed past Lepsis as he fell, narrowly missing his head.

  “Commander Ballian?” a surprised soldier just outside the main gate queried in complete astonishment. The sound of a retreating horse, galloping away at full speed was barely heard.

  Cordon yelled at group of nearby soldiers. “Go after him! Commander Ballian’s a traitor!” The soldiers grabbed their tethered horses and galloped out the gates.

  “Perhaps we better start exposing Ballian’s treachery here, with our own troops,” Larone, who came running up with Ophir suggested. The old warrior nodded.