Flare glanced down at the clothes he was wearing. They looked fine to him, just an ordinary traveling uniform. All the guardians were wearing the same thing, except the magicians and Kara, of course, and the same rules really didn't apply to those three. And his hair? It was getting a little long, but it was just now slightly past his collar. He hadn't had much time to cut it when he was killing goblins, but he didn't think that he should tell that to the Captain. “Uh, sir, this is all we have. Our dress uniforms are packed in the wagons.”
Captain Mondell smiled, “Flare, as an officer you will need to start planning ahead. Being prepared.” Mondell half-turned and made a motion, and for the first time, Flare noticed the two soldiers standing behind him holding a trunk between them.
After breaking camp, the soldiers rode slowly toward the city. Throughout the morning, Flare noticed that the pace seemed to pick up. Smiling, he wrote it off to the excitement of the soldiers.
Atock rubbed the sweat from his forehead as he moved his horse up to Flare's left, “If we don't get there soon, I am going to die from the heat.” He seemed to growl as he spoke.
Flare too was suffering in the summer heat. It hadn't been this hot in the mountains near Mul-Dune. But they were now squarely in the plains in the middle of the summer, and in their dress uniforms! Flare grimaced at the uniform he had on, it looked like something he should wear to a ball. The black knee high boots were comfortable enough, but the black pants and black jacket soaked up the sun. He was sure that the grey shirt was covered in sweat stains, and it wasn't even mid-morning yet.
Derek moved closer, although still on the other side of Atock. “Yeah, if we don't get there before noon, people are going to start getting sick.” He kept his voice down as he spoke. “And why are we in dress uniforms, I feel ridiculous!”
Flare smiled a mirthless smile at them, 'I can't let them see that I agree with them.' “I tell you what. You two have my permission to ride to the front and inform Captain Mondell of your opinions. Although, I am sure that he won't be as patient with you two, as I am.” With that, he nudged his horse faster, leaving the two men watching his back.
Derek waited until Flare was out of earshot before he spoke, and even then he spoke quietly, “What's the matter with him? Why is he so touchy?” He waited for an answer, but when none seemed forthcoming, he glanced at Atock.
Atock had a thoughtful look on his face, watching Flare. “I think that he agrees with us,” he said after a moment. “But he's a lieutenant now and I think that he is trying to set an example.”
Derek snorted, “An example. What for?”
Atock glanced over at Derek, “You forget that my father is a king and he too has to set an example. He has to do things for the people's sake, even if he doesn't want to.”
“I can take orders just as well as any soldier,” Derek protested.
Atock smiled, “Then do so, and maybe we should complain a little less while we do it.”
Derek's only answer was a frown and an inaudible curse.
Finally, they neared the city, and Flare was the first to make out the people lining the walls. His elven sight was a blessing and it wasn't long before he could pick out that people lined up at the base of the walls too. He began to reconsider his distaste for the dress uniform.
Captain Mondell called a halt about a mile from the gates. In a column of that many men, it takes a few moments for the whole column to stop, but the soldiers accomplished it with only a small amount of cursing and grumbling. Captain Mondell turned his horse and rode back from the front of the troops and stopped in front of the guardians. “All-right. I do believe that those people are here to see you. Flare, I want you to lead us in, and I want the rest of your squad to follow you.”
“Sir?” Flare asked confused, “What's going on?”
Captain Mondell smiled, “These people are here to cheer their new heroes, and I am not one of them.” He motioned toward the front of the company, “I want you to ride in front, with your squad right behind you. I will follow them and lead the soldiers.”
Flare blinked in confusion, but luckily Captain Mondell kept right on talking.
“We are entering the city through Cetila's gate; it's in the merchants section. It won't be difficult because the streets will have guards and soldiers to keep the people back, so all you have to do is ride slowly down the street. The guards will lead the way for you right to the palace, and there will be someone else at the palace to direct you.” Mondell smiled at the anxiety so plainly evident on Flare's face. He spoke again this time a little quieter, “It's simple. Nothing to worry about. Surely, it can't be as bad as fighting goblins.”
Taking a deep breath, Flare nodded to the Captain and moved toward the front of the troops. The rest of the guardians arranged themselves behind him, and then he gave the command to move forward.
The people noticed the soldiers riding toward them almost immediately. They had been sitting on the grass or playing games. Merchants strolled through the crowd selling everything from pastries to toys for the kids. However, when the soldiers rode down the road toward the gates, the towns-people hopped to their feet in excitement.
Flare nervously led the way toward the gates. 'Are all these people here to welcome us?' He thought in wonder. The anxiety sprang to life again at the sheer numbers of people in those crowds. He resisted the urge to kick his horse into a gallop.
The crowd began shouting and clapping their hands. They called out the names of the guardians. Cries of victory and Telur could also be heard rolling down over them. Flare was extremely surprised and moved that so many of the people called his name.
Flare slowly led the soldiers through the crowd of people. The people moved out of the road to let the soldiers pass, sometimes pulling young children out of the way of the horses.
As Flare rode through the people, some of them reached up and touched him. They patted his leg, or touched him on the lower part of his back.
More than one young woman touched Flare and spoke to him. Some of the ladies shouted where they lived, and others asked him to meet them, some even said things that made him blush furiously. Still others simply said, “Thank you.”
As they neared the gates, the guards made a show of opening the gates and stepping to the side to allow the soldiers to pass. The guards saluted as the guardians slowly passed them. The smiles on the faces of the people and the festive mood began to calm Flare down, hope sprang up in him. This was a hero's welcome.
He had thought that the crowd outside the gates had been large, but inside the gates there was an enormous amount of people. So many people were waiting, that soldiers and guards had been stationed there to keep them out of the road, but even so they were having a hard time.
Flare was not sure where he was supposed to go, but the soldiers and the people only allowed for one choice, so they followed the path created by the soldiers.
He continued to ride slowly, taking in all the commotion that was going on around him. The spectators could not touch Flare the way the crowds outside the gates had been able to, but they were prepared. The spectators threw flowers at the guardians, and some women through bits of clothes that seemed almost an invitation. The road quickly became covered with flowers.
Banners were hanging from the buildings along the street they were following. The banners proclaimed the guardians as heroes and likened them to heroes from ages past. Many actually had the names of the guardian's written on them. He was amazed at the sight of his name hanging from so many buildings.
They rode for some time, and the crowds actually increased as the guardians neared the center of the city. People leaned out windows and from balconies to get a sight of the newest heroes. Soon, the tops of the buildings were also full of crowds. The guardians were directed to an area that was on the palace grounds, where a huge stage had been erected on a wide lawn of the palace. The wooden stage had the flag of Telur draped across the front.
The crowds were gathered around an open area
in front of the stage. On the stage, Flare could see people sitting down. He guessed that there were twenty to thirty people on the stage.
Flare rode his horse into the open area immediately in front of the stage. He dismounted his horse, along with the other guardians. Captain Mondell and the other soldiers had disappeared somewhere along the ride in from the gates. Stable boys stepped forward and led the guardians' horses away for them, the whole time smiling at the guardians.
Flare looked first at his fellow guardians, and then up to the stage. There was only one person standing on the stage, and Flare blinked when he recognized King Darion. He bowed to the king, who stepped up to a small podium that Flare had not noticed before.
“Guardians, Welcome!” The king shouted loudly, so that the crowd could hear. Their response was an overwhelming cheer that hurt Flare's ears.
It took several moments before the crowd quieted down.
“On behalf of myself and the people of Telur, let me express to you the overwhelming admiration of the feat you performed at Fort Mul-Dune.” Once again, the crowd roared its approval, and King Darion seemed all too happy to let them continue.
Various chants broke out in the crowd, the chants were started by small groups and there seemed to be chants for all the different guardians at one time or another. The cheering and the chants soon quieted down.
Flare was amazed at the reaction of the crowd. He had hoped for a good reception, but he had never dared to envision such a welcome. The looks on his friends' faces showed that they too were overawed.
“We owe you a debt that can never be repaid,” the king continued. “You have saved countless lives that would have been lost if the armies had broken through the fort's defenses. Possibly, you have saved the very city of Telur itself. For if the armies had broken through, there was nothing to stand in their way. Your bravery and courage in the face of staggering odds have made you heroes of Telur.”
Once again the king had to pause, as the crowds voiced their approval of their new heroes.
Flare felt his eyes get misty and he started to get a little choked up as the crowd poured out their support for him and his squad. He glanced at the other guardians, and saw that they were as overcome with emotions as he was. Trestus even had tears running down his face.
“Today, I have ordered that your names and the names of your fallen comrades be added to the list that is recorded on the wall of heroes. It will, for all time, list you as heroes to be remembered. I also have decided that you will each receive a reward. I am appointing each of you into the order of the golden dagger, the highest reward that I have to offer you.”
Atock leaned over to Flare, and whispered, “Flare, what is the order of the golden dagger?”
“I don't know, but it sounds impressive. Doesn't it?” Flare whispered back, fighting a smile.
“Do you think that it will include more money?” Atock asked, grinning.
Before Flare could retort, Philip nudged them to be quiet.
“Tomorrow night, you will be my special guests at a dinner banquet, where I will present you with your reward.” The king paused yet again, as the crowd cheered their support. “I have proclaimed today as a holiday. Today will be a day of feasting, games, and fun. People of Telur, join me in welcoming home our heroes!”
The guardians spent the rest of the day enjoying some of the best food they had enjoyed in weeks. It was a wore out group of soldiers that retired to the special rooms prepared for them late in the evening.
After spending several weeks riding a horse and sleeping on the ground, Flare thought that the bed he slept in was the greatest thing he had ever felt. He was quite embarrassed when he woke up and saw the sun almost to midday, but he quickly dressed and went in search of his fellow guardians. He found them in the dining hall. They were just finishing up their food, when he sat down.
“Well, look who decided to join us,” Philip said, smiling. “I was beginning to wonder if you hadn't found some young serving girl to keep you in bed this morning.”
“Philip, leave Flare alone.” Kara interjected. “His body is still healing, and I don't imagine that the trip helped in the least. I personally didn't think that his health was ready for the trip to begin with, but I was over-ruled.”
“If he did have a serving girl in his bed this morning, then perhaps that is exactly what he was doing, nursing.” Enton said, grinning.
Kara flushed a bright red and scowled at Enton, as the rest of the squad broke out into laughter.
Flare tried to ignore Kara; she almost seemed to be clucking like a mother hen. Instead, he focused his attention on the plate of food; he suddenly seemed to be ravenous.
He was nearly through eating, when Atock asked, “Philip, what is the order of the golden dagger?”
Philip seemed taken aback by the question. “You mean that you have never heard of the order of the golden dagger?” He laughed briefly. “You have been selected for our highest military honor, and you don't even know it.” He shook his head, “The order of the golden dagger is a military award that is reserved for a select few. I don't think that anybody has received it in my lifetime. I never thought that I would receive it, but then again, I didn't think that my name would be on the wall of heroes either.”
“So I will repeat my question from last night. This reward gives us more money?” Atock asked.
Several of the guardians laughed, but Philip didn't think it was funny. His face darkened, and he opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted by a young page running up to the table, effectively ending the discussion.
“Excuse me sirs, but I was instructed to relay a message to you.” The young boy said, somewhat out of breath.
The thought crossed Flare's mind that some of the soldiers that had been under his command at the fort were barely older than this young boy. Visions of the dead soldiers floated through his mind, but he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. For just a second, it bothered him that it was so easy to push them away. “What's the message?” He asked.
“You are expected at the royal tailor's quarters in half an hour. You are to be fitted for a dress uniform for the banquet tonight.”
Flare rose from the table, pushing back his chair and picking up the plate and glass that he had used. “Fine. I'm on my way now.”
“Yes sir. One more thing, sir. The king has requested you to see him personally an hour before the banquet tonight. You are expected at the king's study.”
He was somewhat taken back. “The king wants to see me by myself?”
“Yes, sir.” The page answered before he turned and disappeared.
Several of the guardians raised their eyebrows at that, but several others seemed relieved that Flare was the only one to visit the King.
After being fitted for his dress uniform, Flare had spent the rest of the day nervously waiting to see the king. 'He probably just wants to congratulate me again.' He thought, but somehow that just didn't seem right. He was as nervous as he could be, and his stomach was starting to hurt him. 'I survived the goblins, but my nerves are going to kill me.'
At the appointed hour, Flare was in the anteroom waiting to see the king. A guard was stationed outside the door to the king's study, and he watched everybody closely. Unlike most guard duties, this was not one to be taken lightly.
Flare announced himself to the king's secretary, a beautiful young lady with long brown hair and a gorgeous smile. She directed him to have a seat in one of the overstuffed chairs.
Sitting there, he would have expected to be overcome with nerves, but they didn't seem to be bothering him that much. Perhaps, the pretty secretary that his eyes kept being drawn to was the reason. A couple of times, his looks met hers and she smiled back at him, seeming to warm him down to his toes. Although that caused feelings of guilt as well, here he was, smiling at a pretty girl so soon after Murleen's death.
About twenty minutes later, the door opened and a small group of nobles left the study. The guard snapped to attenti
on as the nobles walked by, and even Flare came to attention. The nobles didn't even notice him as they walked passed, and Flare didn't mind one bit.
After the nobles were gone, the king's secretary got up and went into the study. Flare was interested to see that she was as pretty standing as she was sitting. She returned quickly, and summoned him, “The king will see you now.”
Flare entered the study, and took in the surroundings. The study had not changed at all since he had first come here with Henotairin so long ago.
The king was sitting down at his desk, when Flare entered, apparently going over some papers. He maintained an appropriate military stance while he waited on the king. The king quickly put away the papers and rose to greet him.
“Hello Flare.” The King said and walked around the desk. Then noticing how Flare was standing at attention, he said, “Enough of that. Relax; this is an informal meeting between you and me.”
Flare relaxed his stance somewhat, but he was still nervous, and standing at attention kept his mind off of his weak knees.
“How are you feeling? Are your injuries healed?” The king asked.
“I'm feeling fine, sir,” Flare replied. Then he added with a smile, “Although I still don't think that I will be ready to return to duty for several weeks.”
The king returned the good-natured smile. “Well, I don't think that you will be going back to service quite yet. I think that we might give you several months to completely heal, especially given the nature of your injuries.”
'Surely he didn't call me here to discuss my injures.' Flare thought. Things were going really good, but he patiently waited for the hammer to fall.
The Guardians: Book One of the Restoration Series Page 33
