The Guardians (Book 2)

by Dan O'Sullivan

  ‘Aren’t you supposed to be in the conference room, Baron Dale?’

  Dale’s head came up sharply and he cursed crossly under his breath. He turned and stared through the doors leading into the store room as if he could see something interesting, and as everyone followed his gaze he snatched a fresh, hot pastry from the tray that Tolly had removed from the oven. He darted for the door. Charie’s wooden spoon shot out and landed across his buttocks with a loud thwack and she scolded him loudly as he ran laughing from the kitchen.

  General Marnol raised an eyebrow as he dashed into the conference room, holding a half-eaten pastry and apologizing profusely for his late arrival, but Dannicus waved his apology away and gestured to an empty seat next to Callian.

  ‘Where is Squire Enrique?’ asked King Dannicus.

  ‘I have Enri up on the wall with Lias teaching some of the older lads how to handle a sword,’ General Marnol explained.

  ‘Send for him please and tell Sergeant Alexander to report here also,’ said Dannicus and the page standing near the doorway set off down the stairs at a run. Moments later Enri and Alexander arrived, bowed to the King and seated themselves at the table.

  ‘Let’s start by making sure everyone is up to date on what has occurred since my son disobeyed me, as he usually does, and went rushing off to Nyinaku.’ He paused and smiled at Kelian who was looking at him indignantly. ‘You did well, Kelian. If you would fill everyone in on the situation in Nyinaku, with the help of Milgorry and Rudiger, then Callian can bring us up to date on what is happening at the Dwellings. Captain Gillam, you can describe what you found at the Black Apple Islands.’

  It was midday by the time King Dannicus was satisfied with their reports. He questioned each person in fine detail regarding their part in each event and spent quite some time discussing the information to ensure he was absolutely clear on exactly what was occurring. Servants appeared with trays of food which they placed on the central disk of the huge table. Food supplies were becoming ominously short, mostly because those who had agreed to hunt were limited severely by the line of Nailmarni surrounding the city. Those fishing from the docks and those brave enough to venture from the shore in the few boats they had managed to find, were having a little more luck and the meal presented to the King was fish. There was very little to accompany the fish, simply a small roll of bread for each person, as well as several bowls of jindilli and a bowl of perfectly ripened quandongs. The group waited until the servants removed the empty platters before they continued their discussion.

  ‘Right,’ said the King, calling everyone back to attention. ‘There are a few matters which King’s Marshall Danil and General Marnol have brought to my attention. Danil?’ he prompted.

  ‘Yes sir. One problem we have is that we are seriously short of competent officers. Sergeant Alexander, you have proven yourself time and time again to be a competent leader and an exceptional soldier. You are now Captain Alexander. You will work with Captain Gillam and see our citizens safely to the Dwellings.’

  ‘Yes sir. Thank you sir,’ said Alexander in surprise.

  ‘And now, Squire Enrique, we’re not quite sure what to do with you.’ Danil looked thoughtfully at Enri who waited without commenting. Danil glanced at Dale.

  ‘Danil wants you in our army,’ said Dale bluntly. ‘But I’m hoping no-one has forgotten you are only fourteen years old,’ he added worriedly.

  ‘We’ve not forgotten, Baron Dale, and that is a very good point,’ said King Dannicus. ‘However the extraordinary deeds and the courage he showed in Nyinaku must be taken into account. It is worthy of significant recognition that he, along with yourself, saved the lives of my King’s Marshall and his wife Lady Valeska, as well as the guardian General Callian, the free warrior Lias and the little girl Aithne, when all had been captured and tortured by the fallen. From all reports, Enrique also willingly played an important and dangerous part in freeing the Governor’s daughters. He has proven to be brave and selfless, as well as cunning and intelligent.’ Enri went bright red as the King spoke.

  ‘Not to mention absolutely terrifying if you have to face him unarmed,’ Dale added. ‘But he’s still only fourteen.’

  Enri gritted his teeth. ‘Dale, I’ve had this discussion in this very room before! We’ve already talked about this! His Majesty honored me by making me Squire. Now, I know you take your oath as seriously as I do, after all, you managed to quote the entire thing when you wanted to make a point, which is how I learned the importance of committing my oath to memory. We also agreed that the oath had no clause relating to age. So, just to make sure there’s no uncertainty regarding how I feel about my duties…’ He pushed his chair back forcefully and ignored it when it fell over. The King raised his eyebrows and turned to face the Squire as Enri approached him and drew his sword. He knelt before the King and placed the sword at his feet.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ said Enri, staring solemnly into the King’s eyes, ‘I give my life to serve my King. As Squire, my duty is to the people. I will serve loyally, in leadership and in defense of the citizens of our nation, in peace and war. I swear to serve with courage, as the shield and spear of the people, ever laboring to protect and defend by whatever means I am capable, without hesitation and placing the needs of the people above my own. My life belongs to my King!’ Sincerity rang from every word and Enri remained kneeling as the King stared proudly down at him.

  King Dannicus leaned forward, picked up Enri’s sword and stood. He grasped it in his right hand and held it high. ‘Stand, King’s Knight Enrique of Castle. May you continue to serve with loyalty and honor.’

  Enri stared up at the King in shock. That the King should knight him was not at all what he was expecting. He hadn’t been aware that a Squire could be knighted. King Dannicus tried unsuccessfully to refrain from laughing at the shocked young man. ‘Stand!’ he commanded again, and Enri leapt to his feet. King Dannicus held out Enri’s sword. ‘Do your duty. Defend our people. Defend our Kingdom,’ he commanded.

  ‘Yes sir,’ said Enri, proudly raising his chin and taking his sword.

  Dale’s face was a strange mixture of pride and worry.

  ‘Enri,’ said Dannicus, ‘you will report to King’s Captain Gilgarry, under King’s Colonel Borgulnay and King’s Marshall Danil. You have proven you are worthy of the rank of King’s Knight and you are entitled to, and will be given, all respect relevant to your rank. But Dale is wise to remind us of your age. Your training and your duties will be structured to suit a young man of fourteen years, and your responsibilities will increase with age. I will not allow you to take on the full burden of military duty at fourteen,’ King Dannicus said firmly. ‘This is not open to discussion, Enri. These are my orders.’

  ‘Yes sir.’ Enri could see the wisdom in the King’s decision. He remembered how frightened he had been as they moved through the Khynol Mountains and he gave Danil a tiny nod as the King’s Marshall watched him knowingly.

  ‘There are so many people we want to thank,’ said King Dannicus, ‘everyone who went into Nyinaku, and brought Elena, Louisa and Immosey safely back to Alkira. We thank you Captain Gillam, for bringing our Queen home, through such difficulties and danger. And we remember guardian Yarrabyth, who gave his life for our Queen and for Ladies Elena, Louisa and Immosey. General Marnol, for ensuring we had a place to come home to. Milgorry of Tarl, we owe you the lives of my future daughter in law and her sisters, and Rudiger of Morlee, I and the Princess and Duke owe you our lives, as does Baron Dale. If there is anything we can do to repay you, you need only say.’

  ‘There was one thing, Majesty, that I could use a little help with,’ said Rudiger.

  Dannicus eyed the warrior perceptively. ‘We will assist you in every way possible to bring Nandul to justice,’ he said and Rudiger’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said looking stunned. ‘Are you sure you can’t hear my thoughts?’ he added and King Dannicus shook his head.

  ‘And you, Milgorry?�
�� Dannicus prompted.

  ‘One day in the future I may need your help, Majesty,’ said Milgorry.

  ‘And when you do, you will have it,’ Dannicus declared. ‘You expect Nandul to come after your child?’ he added once more showing his ability to discern more from a person’s words than was spoken.

  ‘Yes. There’s no doubt he’ll come after the child,’ Milgorry said with certainty.

  ‘Danil, you were working on a plan with Borgulnay and Gilgarry to remove the nest of Nailmarni. Tell me exactly what you discussed please.’ He waited patiently as Danil described the horseshoe shaped ravine and Dale’s idea of using this as a trap.

  ‘Alright, we have several situations here we need to deal with simultaneously,’ said Dannicus. ‘So we’re going to split what little remains of our forces. I’m not willing to see any more innocent people die. Captain Gillam, you will load up supplies and take as many as possible of the citizens of Castle to the Dwellings. This will take several voyages, but pack as many on your ship as possible, even if they have to sleep on the decks. Regardless of the fact that the ‘Swift’ wasn’t stopped from entering the harbor, I still think we should aim to evacuate under cover of rain.’

  ‘It’s not going to rain,’ said Dale bluntly, ‘not for a while, anyway.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’m sure; maybe in two or three days…perhaps.’

  ‘We’ll proceed without the rain then,’ Dannicus decided. ‘We have little choice. We will go ahead with Baron Dale’s strategy for dealing with the Nailmarni nest, but not until the last citizen is taken safely from Castle. I want enough soldiers to at least attempt to defend against the Nailmarni here at Castle, but everyone else needs to be evacuated. Danil, you and Borgulnay will come up with a workable plan for removing the circle of Nailmarni surrounding my city. At the same time, I want to assist with the protection of the Dwellings, and I want to do this before they are attacked, if that’s possible. So we split our forces. Some soldiers will remain to deal with the Nailmarni; some will take the ‘Swift’ to the Dwellings. The group who are to deal with the nest will make their way to the Dwellings once this mission is complete. If Nandul chooses to take this opportunity to destroy Castle, we’ll be gone, and if he wants to attack us personally, he’ll have to come to the Dwellings to find us.’

  ‘I doubt he’ll leave a stone standing, if he finds this place unguarded,’ said Milgorry.

  ‘It’s a place, warrior,’ said Dannicus firmly. ‘It can be rebuilt. But only if we are alive to rebuild it.’

  ‘What about the Nailmarni on the Black Apple Islands?’ Captain Gillam asked.

  ‘I’m giving Baron Dale the job of coming up with some way of destroying them,’ said Dannicus. ‘Dale, work with Captain Gillam and with Danil and Callian to see what you can come up with.’

  ‘Maybe we can do something with Chiniocelle,’ Dale suggested.

  ‘It’s too dangerous for humans to handle,’ said Danil emphatically. ‘It’s not safe. The solution is very difficult to get right without poisoning yourself.’

  ‘I made some when I wanted to keep all those snakes under control,’ Dale argued, ‘and I survived.’

  ‘Yes. You knocked yourself out at least three times in the process and if I hadn’t been standing beside you-’

  ‘Yes, alright, no need to go into details,’ said Dale crossly. ‘And don’t show off because you’re impervious to almost everything. I’ll come up with something else.’

  ‘Good,’ Danil replied. ‘Because what I saw you doing certainly wasn’t-’

  ‘We need to have a plan if the Nailmarni attack us before we attack them,’ said Dale, interrupting to change the subject.

  ‘I think if this happens we need to simply try to get everyone out through the new tunnel and up to the Dwellings,’ said King Dannicus.

  ‘So who holds them off whilst everyone is ducking out the back door?’ asked Dale.

  ‘I’ll have soldiers on the walls, and let’s hope we have time to get from the walls to the ship before they break through,’ said Dannicus.

  ‘We?’ said Dale. ‘I hope that doesn’t mean you plan to be on the wall, Majesty,’ he said, aghast.

  ‘I’ll be wherever I see that I’m most needed, Baron.’

  ‘You’re most needed alive and safe up at the Dwellings!’

  ‘Let’s just hope they don’t attack us before we can carry out our plans.’

  ‘What if the Nailmarni start attacking other cities, because we’re all up at the Dwellings?’ asked Enri.

  ‘That’s a good point, Squire,’ said Dannicus. ‘But once we’re at the Dwellings I intend to take the battle to them. I would have preferred to have the help of the free as well, but until we sort out Nandul, that’s not likely to happen.’

  ‘Your Majesty, when do you want me to begin evacuations?’ asked Captain Gillam.

  ‘I imagine it will take a little time to get organized, but I want you to leave as soon as possible. Now there is something else you should know. We had a messenger through from Cullen Ringo and Three Ways. I have no idea how he managed to get through the ring of Nailmarni, but he did. Cullen Ringo has been reduced to rubble and Three Ways is little better. He found no survivors within the ruins, but there was evidence that a lot of people moved up into the hills.’

  ‘Nailmarni?’ asked Dale, his heart sinking right into his boots.

  ‘He wasn’t entirely sure,’ said Danil. ‘He didn’t go into the hills to see how many escaped.’

  ‘That’s one advantage we have,’ said Dale trying to be optimistic. ‘We have more than ten times the number of people scattered throughout the country towns and farms than we have living in our cities. If they’ve escaped into the hills, there’s a better chance they’ll survive.’

  ‘That is true,’ King Dannicus agreed. ‘Now, I want strategies to me by tomorrow morning please. If we do intend to use fire to defeat the Nailmarni, we need to do this before it rains. If we have a few days before it rains – well, that’s how long we have. We’ll meet back here tomorrow at first light.’

  He turned as Lias appeared in the doorway surrounded by soldiers and holding Baroness Kielie in his arms. His face was crumpled with horror and anguish. It was apparent from the angle of her head that her neck was broken. Her arms hung limply and her brown eyes stared vacantly. There was a gash across her neck and the blood had run down her chest soaking the shift she was wearing. There was blood covering her hands as though she had tried to staunch the flow from her neck, and her pale shoulders were a sickening mess of blood and dirt.

  King Dannicus rose to his feet, his face ashen as he walked towards Lias.

  ‘What happened?’ he whispered, horrified by the gruesome sight of the dead Baroness. Lias opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

  ‘Tell me what happened!’ Dannicus’ voice rose.

  Lias took a deep breath and pressed his lips together, seemingly unable to speak.

  ‘Sir, I saw her fall from the balcony on the third above level,’ one of soldiers answered.

  ‘How could she fall?’ said Dannicus incredulously. ‘There’s a stone balustrade running around the entire balcony!’

  Lias carried her across the room and placed her body on the long lounge then he knelt beside her and brushed the hair carefully away from her face. He took her hand and squeezed it gently and stared hopefully into her blank eyes.

  ‘Kielie?’ he said softly. ‘Oh Kielie, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please, don’t be dead.’ He tried to blink away the tears, but they fell onto Kielie’s face and he leaned forward and laid his forehead against her bloodied body. He eventually raised his head and looked pleadingly at Callian but the guardian shook his head sadly.

  ‘Please?’ Lias whispered.

  ‘It’s too late.’

  ‘No,’ said Lias, shaking head sadly. ‘Please no. Callian this is my fault.’

  ‘How so?’ Callian asked expressionlessly.

  ‘She was…drawn to me,’ Lias admitt
ed. ‘Yet she hated me.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Dannicus.

  ‘I was at East Inlet.’ Lias’ face was a plea for help as he stared at Callian.

  ‘Yes,’ said Callian watching Lias intently. ‘She wondered if you were the one who killed her husband. She hated you, and at the same time she felt guilty for being attracted to you. It proved too much for her to endure.’

  ‘Lias, you will tell me how she fell,’ Dannicus demanded.

  ‘She didn’t fall.’ Lias’ voice was a choked whisper. ‘She chose to be with her husband. I caught her thoughts. I was hiding her thoughts as I knew she felt shamed by her feelings - and I went to find her - to try to stop her, but I was too late, too slow! She tried to cut her own throat, but it didn’t work, so she threw herself from the balcony.’

  Chapter 24

  Evacuation

  The ‘Swift’ left the harbor unchallenged, which Captain Gillam felt confirmed Kelian’s guess that destroying the citizens of Castle was not the Nailmarni’s primary concern at this very moment, though they had left with such caution, and with all citizens below deck that he was reasonably confident the Nailmarni would be unaware that the ship carried over half of the remaining citizens of Castle. He watched the people now huddled in nervous groups around the decks. One of the sailors expressed his annoyance as he pushed his way through a group of women who were trying to keep their children out from under the sailor’s feet. The women herded the children across the deck, only to find themselves in the way once again and this time the sailor let fly with a few choice curses before the women grabbed their children and scurried back to the area they has just vacated. The sailor watched them cantankerously. The ladies blushed with embarrassment as the sailor approached yet again.

  ‘Surely you don’t need to be up here on deck!’ he said contemptuously. ‘We have work to do and you and your brats are making it impossible to get anything done.’

  ‘We’re doing our best to stay out of the way, but there’s not a lot of space up here or in the cabins and there are so many people on board,’ Leonie said apologetically. ‘The children must have some fresh air and some area to move about.’