by Owen Elgie
"Yet this is what we have always done, Mr. Johns." Now it was The Mage's turn to speak through gritted teeth. "You have served The Circle with great passion since assuming the mantle of Guardian, including saving me personally, but it would appear that you still have a great deal to learn regarding the finer points of our protocol." I was about to respond with exactly what I thought of the protocols when, thankfully, I was interrupted.
"WAIT!" A new voice crashed through the cavern and each and every Guardian looked around to locate the source. From deep within the shadows at the far edge of the cavern, a tiny movement flickered and a shape began to approach. Mouths dropped open as the shape entered the light and made its way to the centre of the gathering of Dragons. Clad in a purple bodysuit and walking with purpose and authority, came Maria. She strode into the centre of us all and stood before the Mage, her arms clasped behind her back.
"I believe that Mr. Johns has made a valid point concerning the complicity of the Tayne. They were all controlled by Mr. Ward so should remain blameless in this." She was still a child but she was now so much more than that.
"I witnessed what they did in Bress Tal and they should not be punished for it." Silence covered everyone, as if preventing them from uttering a sound. The Mage narrowed his eyes and considered her words, ignoring completely the fact her body was just six years old.
"And what of the wider message this act would send other races who wish to conquer us? The truth doesn't matter, only what races perceive."
"But let the Tayne spread the word that we were merciful. Should we not evolve in our dealings if that were to give us a stronger outcome?"
The Mage stroked at his chin and pondered what Maria had just said, the creases around his eyes pinched in concentration. I couldn't have said it any clearer than she had. I don't think anyone could have said it clearer than she had, so now it was down to the Mage. We didn't wait long.
"Lady Messenger, you have presented a valid point, though poorly delivered. I agree. Sparing the Tayne will have a chance to do some good and any risk to The Circle by not wielding our might against them can be dealt with swiftly should it arise. But I will expect for them to be very grateful when they speak of this in the future." This time there couldn't have been any doubt concerning the threat in his voice.
Maria nodded once, gave me the smallest hint of a smile and without any further comment or discussion the matter was concluded. Just like that. The Mage had just accepted the word of Maria when mine was worth so very much less? I knew that she wasn't just a child but my anger still blossomed at the casual way I'd been cast aside. She may have been the new Messenger but still, we were both involved in the fighting.
"Is that it? Are we done?" I just had to get out of there. Looking across at Andrea, hoping that we could at least try to speak with each other, I found her heading towards Hairy's Dragon. He was only a fraction shorter than me but was a great deal more armoured. I couldn't take my eyes from her.
"We will be concluded when I have returned to Egypt Mr. Johns. We have another matter to discuss." The Mage paced towards me and the energy crackling around him was the vastest thing I'd ever encountered. With each step, the pressure from him grew and although I wanted to just jut my chin out in defiance, even I could see the need for calm. I bowed my head in capitulation.
"Excellent." The wall of force evaporated. "Miss Thomich will conduct the first training for our newest Guardian as she did for you. She made it possible that you would be able to do all of things you now can even despite your lack of knowledge of The Circle so will be more than capable of guiding Mr. Blanco in what he has to do." He turned away from me and all I could do was seethe. He'd made sure that I'd been put into my place and he'd done it with the rest of The Circle watching. Hairy the Dragon stood and just stared into space, seemingly oblivious to what was going on but Andrea stood next to him and folded her arms across her chest. This would have to wait.
"Gathered Guardians," began the Mage. "We now arrive at the final issue for the day." He was back to the cordially polite tone and there was no hint that there was anything out of the ordinary going on.
"We must now welcome the latest Messenger to our service. A former member of the Guardian line at this very site, this child has been granted the role of acting as my direct vassal." Maria had remained in the gathering of Dragons and acknowledged the various glances as they came. I didn't dare look but I could feel her eyes pass in my direction. The Mage beckoned for her to approach him. She obliged and he settled his hand onto head.
"This is a very important part of who we all are and has never been shared with any of the previous Guardians but I feel that I must grasp the chance opened to me." A blaze of purple energy erupted from under his hand and wreathed Maria in a cloak of light.
"My Guardians. The destruction of The Drake Stone and the arrival of this new Messenger show perfectly that our own magics can be twisted against us. What remains of the stone is simply to hold The Messenger together as a living embodiment of all of The Circle. To be the righteous fist of my will beyond." This didn't sound good. The light continued to burn.
"I have conducted this rite for every preceding Messenger and the details of what has taken place show that it is beyond vital that I continue to perform it." The light exploded, leaving one of those floaty blobs before everyone's eyes. Maria seemed unharmed by what had just happened, so at least that was something.
"To safeguard all of humanity and protect each and every one of the people who serve us, I am forced," he looked me dead in the eye, "to remove so much of the detail of this child's memory of the life she had before." Maria turned slowly around and took in all of the giant Dragons looking down at her. There was nothing. No reaction. She just took in all of the detail as if she were looking over her toy collection.
I'd known what he was going to do. I'd been told that it had happened to Em so I knew that it would happen again but I'd just stood there and let it happen. I'd stood by and watched on as the child I'd risked my life to save was 'corrected' by one of the people who was supposed to care for her. But it was just her. No-one else. The Messenger was now the only one who was going to have to lose any memory for the good of The Circle. I was starting to understand more clearly why my uncle had needed to live apart from it all.
"Gathered Guardians." Maria addressed us all and her voice now somehow seemed flattened and toneless. "I am The Messenger. I am here to serve all of you as we protect the world from the threat of The Hive. For the greater good." The words were a knife in my chest and while the others growled their agreement I was left hollow. Maria, now imbued with the power of the crystal in her chest, looked in my direction and frowned, then strode to me.
"Guardian," she stated to me. "Are you well? You seem to be angry beyond what a Fire Dragon such as yourself would normally be. Is there anything I can provide for you?" I'd never had the chance to speak with her before all of this had happened but now, face to face with a new Messenger, it was clear that Maria was gone.
"No thank you Messenger." I choked on the words, their enforced propriety.
"Very well", she said before bowing and turning away. But she stopped and turned back to me.
"I am sorry my Lord, but have we met before today? You seem, familiar to me." Hope flashed through me. Was Maria, or at least something of her, still in there?
"I don't think so Messenger," fell out despite every tiny piece of me roaring in my ears to explain the truth. "What is your name?"
She frowned. "I am The Messenger. I have no further name." My heart broke. There was now another name to be cast into my memorial.
"Well I can't call on you as Messenger.” I smiled weakly. “How do you feel about being called Em?"
About the Author
Owen is a fan of all forms of storytelling and enjoys books, film and TV, as long as there's something compelling going on. He's worked in different roles over the years, but has always had the spark of creativity lurking in the back of his mind. A Wels
h rugby supporter, he lives in South Wales with his wife Joanne and they are protected by their loyal guard cat, Baggins.
Visit Owen Elgie on Facebook, Twitter, and Wordpress.
