The Guardians (Book 2)

by Dan O'Sullivan

  ‘Surely he couldn’t have fallen out of yet another tree?’ asked Lias incredulously. ‘Is he alive? I can’t sense him!’

  ‘He’s not dead, Lias. He’s just deeply unconscious, which for Dale, is really saying something.’ Callian stood up.

  ‘Can’t you fix him up?’ asked Lias, misreading the expression on Callian’s face.

  ‘I can mend his injuries,’ said Callian.

  ‘What’s the problem then?’

  ‘You need to get him to Emerald as fast as you possibly can. If there are any more of your people around-’ He stopped as Lias snarled at him angrily.

  ‘Don’t you ever, ever call those bastards my people again, guardian. I may be one of the free, but these are not my people. They are…’ He glowered at Callian. ‘They are fallen!’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Callian, surprised by the vehemence from the usually composed warrior. ‘It seems I need to apologize a lot lately. Did you know who they were?’

  ‘I know most of them. The one who attacked Raline was Daegan, one of Nandul’s personal guards.’

  ‘I wonder if that means Nandul is in Alkira.’

  ‘I’d say that’s a fair assumption. He’s probably heading for Castle.’

  ‘I would have thought he would have his personal guards with him,’ Callian mused.

  ‘If he plans to attack Castle, Nandul will drag in anyone and everyone he possibly can. He’ll make sure he arrives with enough warriors to wipe Kelian’s city from the map. So I imagine he has gathered his forces and given his closest warriors the job of getting everyone into Alkira and into position before he attacks.’

  ‘I wonder what he’ll do when he reaches Castle and finds that it’s already practically destroyed,’ said Callian.

  ‘Are you going to heal this poor man or leave him here to die a slow and painful death?’ Lias asked.

  ‘Which brings me back to my point,’ said Callian. ‘You can’t wait here for me. Once I heal him, you need to go south immediately, and move as fast as you possibly can. Don’t stop any more than you have to. Put Raline on the mare and Dale on Leon.’

  ‘What are you going to be doing?’ said Lias, looking bewildered.

  ‘I’m going to be unconscious, Lias,’ said Callian bleakly. ‘There’s a small split at the base of the cliffs,’ he said pointing to the north. ‘If you drag my body over there and push me inside, I probably won’t be found before I wake up again.’

  ‘Callian, I can’t leave you here,’ said Lias uncomfortably.

  ‘Yes you can! I don’t want to argue about this Lias. All I’m asking is that you get the Baron to Emerald.’

  ‘Callian-’

  ‘Just give me your word, Lias!’ Callian’s voice cut like a knife. ‘Tell me you will do as I ask or I will break you!’ Lias took as step backwards. As the guardian glared at him he felt the muscles in his back contract uncomfortably. ‘Tell me you will get Dale safely to Emerald! Tell me now!’

  ‘I give you my word,’ said Lias, watching Callian warily, ‘I give you my word that I will take him to Emerald. You have my word, Callian.’

  ‘Good,’ said Callian, relaxing. He reached out and placed his hands on Dale’s neck. ‘Perhaps you could go back and bring the others here and the horses too please. Bring them north of the cliffs. There’s no easy way through to the south.’

  Lias disappeared into the trees. When he returned Callian was sitting in the exact same position he had been in when Lias left. They made camp in silence as the sky gradually darkened, and still Callian didn’t move. Only Raline ate, when Rezon insisted, then he stretched out several blankets and lay beside her on the ground. She snuggled against him and hid her face against his chest, wondering if he could sense how frightened she was. He immediately squeezed her comfortingly and she drew back and looked up at his face in surprise.

  ‘Can you sense everything I’m thinking?’ she wondered and he nodded. She blushed and hid her face against his chest once again. Rezon wrapped a blanket around her and tried to make her comfortable, and she fell into an uneasy sleep.

  She woke up screaming. Rezon was beside her in a split second. He wrapped his arms around her and her screams turned to sobs. He said nothing, knowing there would be a lot more crying before she could deal with what had happened to her, and to her family. Eventually she became quiet. She gazed ahead and noticed that Dale was sitting propped up against the trunk of a small tamarind tree and the unconscious body of Callian lay on the earth at his side. Dale was frowning as Lias tried to explain something to him.

  ‘I gave him my word, Dale!’ Lias was saying angrily.

  ‘We’re not leaving him here!’ snapped Dale, though he seemed barely strong enough to hold his own head up.

  ‘He told me to take him to the crevice at the southern end of this cliff and leave him there,’ Lias explained. ‘I don’t like it either Dale, but I gave him my word!’

  ‘What exactly did you say, Lias?’ asked Dale curiously.

  ‘I said I would get you safely- ah! I didn’t actually give my word that we wouldn’t carry him with us!’ Lias exclaimed. ‘He told me that I shouldn’t wait for him, but I just said I would get you safely to Emerald.’

  ‘Good,’ said Dale weakly. ‘We’ll take him with us.’

  Chapter 30

  Devastation

  It started raining as Danil led them down the mountain towards Castle. Even though the day had been pleasant, the rain was cool and everyone was chilled as the relentless wind touched their drenched clothing and skin. They stopped at the bottom of the Castle Hills, not far from the city walls. The wind was even stronger here, and Immosey shivered and tried to wrap her arms around her body. The rain was far colder than she would have expected at this time of the year, and her thin dress was saturated and clinging to every part of her. Water ran down her face and her drenched hair clung to her neck. Even her boots were full of dirty water. She looked and felt absolutely filthy and though this didn’t concern her, her wet dress was making her feel even colder than had she been naked. She wished she wasn’t wearing such an impractical garment. She knew Elena was suffering far, far more and she wondered how everyone would react if Elena was to take off her drenched dress and just wear her undergarment, so as not be feel so cold. She laughed aloud at this thought. Kelian and Elena looked at her curiously, and identical looks of amusement crossed the faces of Timbul and Araas.

  ‘Probably not a good idea,’ said Araas. ‘It would be unfortunate if we were chased by a bunch of Nailmarni and Elena had to wear her undergarments for the remainder of the journey.’

  ‘I beg your pardon,’ said Elena, looking appalled and Immosey laughed again. Elena was leaning against Kelian and he had his arms wrapped around her.

  ‘I just thought you’d be warmer without the dress,’ Immosey explained.

  ‘Araas is right,’ said Elena. ‘That’s an awful idea Immy!’

  ‘I don’t necessarily agree,’ Kelian whispered leaning close to Elena and rubbing her cold arms. He stared over her shoulder at what had been Castle, and he was appalled by the wreckage. The only recognizable things still standing were the city walls, the castle itself and a few stone houses close to the walls. Everywhere he looked, masses of debris littered the areas. He could see parts of houses smashed apart by the force of the water and driven miles inland. There were broken carts and pieces of tables, chairs, chests, barrels and beds, all broken and ruined, floating in the filthy water or half buried in thick mud. Dirty linen and clothing was strewn everywhere and crockery, utensils, pots, mats, candles and lamps and every imaginable household item was scattered amongst the pieces of walls, smashed roofs, broken stairs, shattered market stalls and masses of timber and stone. Even a few fishing boats were among the debris. The mess was overwhelming. Every item seemed to be broken, smashed or ruined by muddy water. Kelian drew breath and let it out slowly.

  ‘Danil, we need to scout ahead, so we don’t find ourselves suddenly surrounded by an army of Nailmarni. I wish we could
have a look inside the keep.’

  ‘Borg can have a look around the castle,’ said Danil. ‘I have no doubt at all he can get in and out without being seen - though I don’t suppose there are too many Nailmarni left alive in all this mess. I’ll go ahead with Gil and find out if there’s any of the Nailmarni in the close vicinity. I’m sure some will still be wandering around the bush land. Mil, are you willing to come with us?’ Milgorry nodded and Danil continued. ‘Good. King’s Knight Enri, Araas and Tim will stay here with Kelian, Elena and Immosey. Borg you will sneak into the castle and let us know what’s happening. I suppose there could be Nailmarni still alive in the above levels. I imagine the below levels were all flooded. Be careful!’ He hesitated as he surveyed the destruction. ‘Perhaps I’m being overly optimistic. Is it possible?’

  ‘I can get in,’ said Borgulnay confidently. ‘I might need a little time.’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ said Kelian. ‘There’s no point in my sitting here doing nothing.’

  ‘We can’t risk losing you. Borg will bring us a full report,’ said Danil, looking concerned that Kelian might press the point. ‘Remember, this is our job; this is what we do.’

  ‘I don’t want him to go alone.’

  ‘Kelian…’ Danil stopped speaking, hesitant to say what was on his mind.

  ‘You think I’ll slow him down?’

  ‘Definitely, but that wasn’t what I was worried about. We can’t afford to have you killed. With your father and mother gone, you’re our hope. If our people are going to survive this, we need you alive. Also-’

  ‘Also what?’

  ‘Eijelin will need you, Kelian.’

  Kelian sighed heavily. ‘Poor little girl. Alright, I’ll stay here.’

  ‘I’ll be back here by dark,’ said Borgulnay. He paused. ‘If I’m not back by dark, send Araas or Tim after me please.’

  ‘I will.’

  ‘King’s Knight Enri, do your duty,’ said Danil seriously, glancing between Enri and Kelian.

  ‘With my life, sir,’ said Enri.

  Timbul waited impatiently after Borgulnay left. He could see nothing happening within the city walls and there was no sign of Borgulnay. He wondered if the big soldier was still alive, and whether he should leave early to make a path through the water and rubble, which he knew would be difficult to negotiate. He felt uneasy that he couldn’t sense the soldier’s thoughts and he wondered if Danil was shielding him, even from a distance.

  Borgulnay was still alive. The journey through the rain to the baker’s door had been as difficult as Timbul expected it might be, and Borgulnay took quite some time to make his way through the rubble. Unfortunately when he reached the baker’s door he found that where the tunnel sloped downwards it was filled with water. Considering the angle of the tunnel, he was certain the water would go on for a lot further than he could swim underwater whilst holding his breath, so he backtracked and considered his options. He couldn’t open the warehouse door because of all the mud and wreckage piled against it, so he pushed a window slightly open and looked towards the castle. Amongst the debris in the mud and water were bodies of Nailmarni that had drowned in the wave. He shook his head at the blessed irony of the city’s destruction after the citizens had been evacuated and the enemy had taken the castle. There was no movement in any direction, so he climbed out the window and stepped onto the mud and rubble that covered the street. He made his way to the wall. He followed the wall around to the portcullis and was pleased to see it had held out against the giant wave. He knew there was no use in trying to enter at this point, so he continued around towards the sea. He stopped in shock as the area of the docks came into view. The docks were gone. Covering the sand between the wall and the sea was a layer of broken timber and massive poles. Strewn through the wreckage were pieces of fishing boats that had been smashed against the wall. The wooden platform, walls and roof of the harbor watchtower had been swept away, but the lower stone section stood, and to Borgulnay’s surprise several tall thin trees remained near the beach to the side of the watchtower. He stepped through the wreckage of the docks and climbed towards the south-eastern corner of the wall. He stood on something soft and he withdrew his foot in surprise. He grimaced as he saw what he had walked on. Amongst the litter of broken wood were more bodies of dead Nailmarni. At the water’s edge he could see bodies floating in the water amongst the few remaining pilings which had survived the force of the wave. The sight disturbed him in many ways, but he was relieved to see no human bodies amongst the dead.

  He turned to where the escape tunnel led up to the castle watchtower. The rocks and soil, which had fallen into the tunnel when Danil had removed the supporting timber, had been washed away, but there was now a mass of wood from the docks blocking the entrance. He removed wreckage from the tunnel until he had a space large enough to squeeze through, then he pushed his way inside and found himself standing in water up to his knees. There was a strange dark fish, of a type he had never seen before, frantically swimming back and forth in the small amount of water. He considered it for a moment before grabbing it by the tail. As quickly as possible, he squeezed through the wreckage, darted back through the rubble and flung it into the ocean. He regretted his actions immediately as the creature darted towards the nearest white body and began to feed. He turned away feeling sickened and made his way back into the tunnel. The water didn’t last for more than ten paces then the tunnel sloped upwards and darkened. He walked slowly, touching his hand to the wall for guidance and listening for any sound of activity. As he neared the watchtower he began to hear faint noises. He paused and listened. He was quite certain that there was someone not more than ten paces from where he stood, probably just around the curve of the tunnel where it came up under the floor of the watchtower. He drew his knife and moved silently forward.

  As the day wore on, worry increased Timbul’s impatience. Araas and Timbul found several huge pieces of what had once been the walls of a house and leaned them together to form a small shelter. They even delved through the rubble and found enough broken planks to form a rough floor and Elena and Immosey were more than relieved to be out of the driving rain. Even when the rain eased, the sun had not returned and the fog persisted, so the girls stayed under their little roof. Kelian began to pace anxiously back and forth as time passed. Timbul made no comment as he watched the Prince’s agitated movements. He held his own anxiety in check until the light began to lessen, then he stood and stared towards the city. He turned and looked pointedly at Kelian.

  Kelian was relieved to think that at least one of them could do something. ‘Do you want Araas to go with you?’

  ‘No. I’ll stay here with you,’ said Araas.

  ‘Enri is here. I’ll be fine,’ said Kelian and he smiled as Enri immediately stood a little taller.

  ‘Yes. But one person can’t defend you and the ladies against an attack. If there are any Nailmarni still around, it’s better if two of us remain here with you,’ said Araas diplomatically.

  ‘Very well. Tim, you don’t need to do anything except make sure Borg gets back here safely,’ Kelian instructed.

  Timbul disappeared into the gathering gloom. He followed the path to the docks that Borgulnay had taken, and made his way into the same dark tunnel. He had no difficulty seeing as he moved through the tunnel towards the tower, but the thought of running into a bunch of Nailmarni slowed him. As he approached the watchtower, he stopped walking and wondered if he should come around the corner into the tower quickly and have the advantage of surprise, hoping to startle anyone who might be waiting, or whether he should peep around the corner and try to see if anyone was guarding the tunnel entrance. In the end he opted for the advantage of surprise. He was inside the tower in a flash, holding a knife at the ready. It was unnecessary as the Nailmarni who had been standing guard was lying dead on the floor with his throat cut. A pool of clear, sticky blood had formed on the stones under the Nailmarni’s neck and Timbul wondered how long he had taken to die and
whether he would have ever believed he could have been killed by a human soldier.

  Timbul moved to the window and looked toward the castle. He could see two more white bodies on the ground between where he stood and the stone arch which led into the rear courtyard. He ran towards the arch and flattened himself against the stone wall. He glanced back towards the two bodies. One lay with its neck at a peculiar angle and the other lay face down with a stabbing wound in its back. The courtyard was deserted so Timbul ducked under the arch and pushed his way through the prickly bushes next to Eijelin’s sandpit. He waited behind the bushes for some time until he was satisfied he had not been seen, and then he moved towards the keep. There was a wooden door in the base of the motte around the castle. It was a huge, heavy structure, lined with steel and there was a portcullis hanging over it, which could be closed if needed. To his relief the portcullis was raised and the door was slightly ajar, but he did not enter immediately. Very warily he reached out and pushed the door open. There was still no movement and no sound. He stepped through the door and jumped lightly over two more bodies. One was missing a hand and had a stab wound in almost the exact same place as the body near the watchtower. The missing hand lay on the floor beside the body, next to a long, thin knife. The second Nailmarni had been strangled. Even in death its eyes seemed to bulge with shock.