Crimson Guard

by Rebecca Challoner

  I smiled back at him, "Let me go look in the mirror."

  "No time!" He grabbed my hand a yanked me to the door and into the corridor, "You can't keep him waiting."

  He proceeded to pull me down the stairs to the bottom floor but quickly stopped before the entrance of the tower, "Now go have fun, and remember to tell me everything!"

  I laughed and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, "Sure. Perhaps I'll see you at the festival later on."

  "Perhaps. " He gave me a little wink, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

  I couldn't help but chuckle as I walked through the entrance.

  I found Axel leaning against the stone wall to the tower, the morning sunlight highlighting the inky black wave of his hair and his striking cheekbones. He turned when he saw the door opening, a gentle smile greeting me.

  "Hey, finally got down here then."

  I rolled my eyes and gestured to my new getup, "Wymar insisted that I needed a wardrobe change."

  He let out a small chuckle, "You look lovely." He lifted his hand, presenting a beautiful plum red rose, "A flower, madam?"

  "Oh," I reached out to grasp the flower from him, only for him to gently tuck the rose behind my ear and lift my hair back over it. My cheeks burned and I flitted my gaze elsewhere as I replied, "Thank you. It's beautiful."

  "Not as lovely as you. Shall we go?" He held out his arm and after a small pause in hesitation, I looped my own through his.

  As we trolled through the streets I tried to make sense of the situation. I had never been asked out by someone before. The only interactions I had with men other than Tawney was when I was using my powers for a job or for general chit chat. Never for anything romantically inclined.

  To distract myself from my insecurities, I took in the morning sun heating, cobbled stone streets and colourful flowers that lined the pathways. The smell of freshly baked bread hit my senses and the squeal of excited children reach my ears. I couldn't help but smile widely. This is how it was supposed to be, a city full of life, colour and children's laughter. Not a dim city filled with poverty, illness, and crime.

  "That's a lovely smile, although I'm not so arrogant to think that I was the one to bring it to your lips." Axel murmured in my ear, this tone full of mirth and warmth.

  I let out a soft laugh and replied, "I was just soaking in the atmosphere. It's so different from where I grew up and it's only a short distance away."

  Axel looked around and a smile peaked from his lips as his eyes caught two children showering each other with flower petals, "It's not usually like this. It's actually not too different from your home city on a normal day. The war has affected us all greatly." He turned his face to look at me as we continued to walk, "But on the rare occasions of the year like Orsaring, it lifts everyone's spirits up and it's easy to remember what it is your fighting for in this war."

  I looked away from his gaze and dragged my attention to the city, looking at the beautiful architecture of the upper-class buildings to the homey flats of the lower class, the song of the singing birds in my ears and the atmosphere of excitement buzzing around me. "Yes, this is worth fighting for."

  We carried on walking, making light conversation about training, how I was fitting in after being here for a few months until we reach the hustle and bustle of the city center. The fresh smell of food caught my attention and my stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn't had any breakfast.

  I looked around at the stalls lining the streets, cheerful merchants calling out their treats at all people passing by. I pulled Axel towards a joyful man selling delightful smelling pastries, my mouth near watering at the selections on offer.

  "Lords these smell good." Axel murmured from behind me, his hot breath tickling my ear, "Is there any you want in particular?"

  My gaze ran over all the pastries until my eyes snagged on a lightly sugared treat with jam in the middle, "That one looks delicious."

  "Hmmm." Axel turned to the merchant, "We will take two each please my friend."

  The merchant bundled the treats in a thin piece of cloth for them and passed it to Axel as he paid the man, "I hope you and your lady have a lovely Orsaring!"

  "Oh, I'm not-" I went to correct him.

  "Come," Axel interrupted, "let's enjoy our food."

  I felt my brows raise at the interruption but my stomach growled loudly, bringing my attention to the pastry. I raised the treat to my mouth, taking a large bite as the flaky pastry melted in my mouth. A burst of flavour overtook my senses and I couldn't help but moan in delight.

  "That good?" Axel replied with laughter mingled within his voice.

  "You have a bit of yours and you'll find out," I mumbled out of a full mouth.

  His eyebrows rose and he took a bite of his treat. A rumbling groan of appreciation escaped him and I couldn't help but giggle in reply.

  We carried on strolling down the street, looking into curiosity shops before Axel dragged me into a small jeweller. I studied the delights on show, as Axel murmured to the merchant before he gestured me over.

  "How about this one?" He asked, holding up a fine, simple gold chain.

  "What about that one?" I replied, confused.

  Axel rolled his eyes, lightly grasping my wrist and unwinding the necklace Tawney have given to me. With quick and precise movements he removed the pendant from the broken chain and placed it onto the new one. With a quick jerk of his hand, he spun me around and gently placed the necklace around my neck, the pendant resting against my collarbone and gave a warm pulse.

  I stood there speechless for a moment before replying, "It's lovely Axel. But I can't all-"

  "Perfect, we will take it!" Axel interrupted me, paying the merchant efficiently before pulling me back into the festival until we halted near the fountain in the very center of the town.

  Hundreds of bodies swarmed the area, a variety of shades of white assaulted my eyes and the swells of joyful music causing the mass bodies to sway.

  "What happening?" I asked.

  "Just watch," he replied, grinning widely with a sort of anticipation.

  I turned back to the scene and caught the gaze of a beautiful woman, her eyes an enticing leaf green, a mass of chocolate brown curls fell down her back. She was dressed in a pure white skirt and a tiny white shirt that exposed a tone, lightly tanned midriff. She smiled brightly at me, dancing to the booming music, her hips guiding side to side as the music seemed to increase in tempo. She danced and spun, the music winding to a panicle, and just as the music seemed to come to a crashing note, she threw her hands high up in the air. Seconds later a vibrant purple mist showered the air as the powder within the woman's hand was spread by a cool wind.

  I tightened my arm on Axel's shoulder, gasping out his name in awe and confusion. As soon as people realised what the woman had done, they let out a deafening roar and they too shot their arms to the sky. Soon the air was filled with multiple colours, oranges, blues, greens. The people spun and danced in the rainbow of powders, their clothing and skin becoming stained with colour.

  I turned to look at Axel, confused but amazed only to be greeted with his laughing face, "Come on, let's join them!"

  He pulled me into the mass and twirled me around in a circle, taking my hand to lead me into a dance I didn't know the steps to. But it didn't matter, as the music and the beat rushed through me and I threw myself into the moment. I let the sensations rush over me as I followed Axel's lead, twirling in circles, bouncing around in the crush as the variety of colours fell over us.

  I looked into Axel's twinkling eyes and beamed back at him, just as he whirled me closer into his arms. My laughter stuttered as I gazed into his eyes, seeing the passion and happiness lit within his. The world around us started to blur, the sounds surrounding us muted until all I focused on was him. He reached up and brushed my cheek, whilst murmuring my name.

  And just as he leaned down, tilting his face towards mine, my heart began to race and my eyes slowly started to shut...A gut-wrenching scream rip
ped through the air and Tawney's necklace started to burn.

  Chapter 19

  I broke away from Axel's gaze, whipping my head towards the terrified scream to see a figure stumbling into the street, his hands cradling his side as though he was injured. The crowds of people that were swarming the streets scattered away from him like he was contagious, adults cradled their children within their bodies with terror written across their faces. The man took two staggering steps before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and his legs folded underneath him, collapsing on the floor, exposing the protruding knife buried within his back.

  I lost Axel's grip on mine as I scrambled towards the man, a deep sense of danger and foreboding filled me. The horde of people crept forwards, circling around the man, their curiosity getting the better of them but no one daring to stand near his motionless body. Disgust lifted my lip. Of course, no one else would help a man who was fatally injured. But as I drew closer and I saw a mass of jet black curls, a square jaw with a small goatee, shock and horror zipped through me and I began to sprint towards the prone body, "Axel, It's Simond!"

  We rushed over to Simond's prone body, collapsing next to him as we searched over his wounds and checked he was still alive. Axel held his fingers along Simond's neck whilst I checked the knife in his back. The full blade was lodged into his shoulder blade, blood spreading out from the wound making the leather of his armor discolored and sticky. I peered closer at the injury and although painful, didn't look like it had damaged anything vital, the blood clotted and no longer flowing from the stabbing. However, the injury to his side bled profusely, and as I used my hands to apply as much pressure as I could to the wound, I was deeply worried.

  "Axel, we need to get him medical attention. Immediately." I urgently whispered as I peered at Simond's face, his skin deathly pale with minor scratches littering his features. What in all of Orbain happened to him?

  "We need to get him back to the Tower, the most skilled healers are there." Axel bent down and lifted Simond's unconscious body into his arms, his expression tense with worry. "Run ahead to warn them. I'll be right behind you."

  I darted back towards the tower before he even finished his sentence, running as fast as my feet could take me. Disgruntled voices cried out as I moved people out of my path but they were lost in the roar of barely contained panic that roared in my ears. What happened to him? Why was he attacked? Were the others okay? I battered away my internal questions and concentrated on weaving through the throng of people who had come to celebrate the festival. As I felt the distance grow between myself and Axel, I willed my legs to go faster, hoping I could give the healers enough warning to get everything prepared to save Simond's life.

  But the further away I was getting from Axel, the hotter and hotter Tawney's necklace would grow until I could no longer ignore the sensation and stopped to glance down at the painful heat. Just as I did, a hand whipped out from behind some large wooden crates, roughly tearing me from the street and slammed me into the wall of a small, dim back alley. Before I could get my bearings, a large palm roughly covered my mouth and the sting of a sharp blade kissed my throat.

  "I'm afraid I can't let you save the man." A coarse voice uttered, "Not after all the trouble I went through silencing him."

  I tried to regain my senses as I looked at my aggressor. He blended in well with the local folk, wearing cotton shirts and trousers, coloured dye now staining the clothing as though he had just been dancing within the swell of celebrating people. He was tall, over six feet in height and I would have had to crane my head to look at him if it wasn't for the knife to my neck.

  Frustration ran through me. Stupid. I was taught to be aware of my surroundings and look at the mess I had gotten myself into.

  As my anger boiled, the necklace burned brighter again and my vision bled from colour to reds and golds. All noises surrounding me ceased and adrenaline coursed through my body.

  My attacker opened his mouth to say something else, but I didn't give him the opportunity to. With a speed I didn't know I was capable of, I reached out, yanking him forward whist at the same time pushing his arm away from my neck. Pushing myself off the wall, I dodged sideways, just as I used his own momentum to slam him into the wall. His nose crunched on impact and I took advantage of his momentary wince to yanked the dagger from his palm.

  Whirling my body away from him, I quickly assessed my opponent, trying to find his weaknesses. Using my upper hand, I rushed towards him and dropped to the floor, skidding across the ground and attempted to cut at his Achilles heel. Slicing the blade in a quick sideways motion, the blade glanced across his skin, only for the man to dodge at the last second and slam his booted foot into my face.

  My nose popped and pain swarmed my senses as I scrambled away, rolling away from his body so I had little time to recover. Taking advantage of my stumble, he raised a heavy foot and hammered it into my chest. I fell onto the hard ground, the impact winding me. As I laid there gasping for breath he rammed his hand around my throat and squeezed with all his might, cutting off my air supply.

  Panic shot through me and I twisted my arms, hurling a fist in front of me until it made contact.

  "You hit like a weak kitten." He laughed, tightening his hand around my throat. Desperation flooded me as black spots started to appear in front of my eyes. The world around me started to dim and my brain began to feel fuzzy. My limbs felt weak and just as the world was almost black, something seemed to whisper into my ear.

  Live.

  The burning sensation from the necklace flared brightly again, knocking me back into my senses and I kicked out, pounding my foot into him with all my strength. He let out an agonised gasp, thumping next to me as I gulped, filling my lungs with sweet air.

  He laid panting on the floor, holding his hand between his legs whilst trying to scramble to his feet. Knowing I didn't have long, I felt my body instinctively remember my training and I whirled my body upright. Stepping behind my assailant's cowering body, I grabbed his head and yanked it back, exposing his neck. Realising he was vulnerable, he tried elbowing me in my stomach. But I expected this and I dodge out of his way.

  Finish this.

  With a quick strike of my blade, I severed his throat, causing a river of blood to gush everywhere. His eyes widened in shock and he let out a series of small gasps, struggling to speak as the life drained out of him. I let go of his head and the body fell forward, slumping to the ground in defeat.

  I stumbled back against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor, staring at the bloody corpse as its lifeless eyes stared at me. Slowly, colour bled back into the world and my hands started to shake, my head started to feel numb and nausea swirled in my stomach. I just killed someone. I took a multitude of deep breaths, trying to regain calm myself but my stomach revolted. Quickly turning to the side, I violently vomited, the image of my assailant burning behind my eyelids.

  As I panted through my nose and tried to calm my nausea, the burning from Tawney's necklace slowly started to cool and return to normal temperature. The silence that remained left me alone with just one singular thought. Simond.

  I lunged upright, my hand still gripping the dagger in my hand and ran out of the alleyway, the sense of urgency renewed as I remembered Simond's pasty coloured skin and fatal wound. As I pounded my way through the streets, I could feel the bruises left from my struggle with the assassin and I tried my hardest to ignore it.

  The further away I pushed myself from the festival, the clearer the streets become until I was sprinting up the empty street towards the Crimson Guard Tower. As I got closer the sense of urgency filled my bones with adrenaline until I was nearly flying into the Tower's courtyard. As I shot into the yard Rema, Thorlan and Volorn turned from the training ring to look at me. I barrelled towards them, ignoring Rema's irritating sigh and focused on Volorn, just as he reached out to capture me.

  "Fawn, what's happened? What's wrong?" he asked, his face bunched in concern and his voice filled with a
larm. His hands lifted to my shoulders, holding me away from his body as he assessed me.

  I tried to capture my breath, barely panting out, "Simond. It's Simond. He's hurt."

  "Hurt? Hurt how? What have you done?" Rema's voice rang out but I blocked her out, focusing on Volorn's concerned gaze as I managed to say, "Get the healers. Now."

  Just as I uttered the words, I heard a commotion behind me. I turned to see Axel stumbling into the clearing, somehow cradling Simond's large body in his arms and avoiding the dagger implanted in his back. Axel's clothes were covered in blood and it shocked me how Simond looked even paler than I last saw him. Anxiety churned within my stomach and I couldn't help the small gasp that escaped my mouth.

  "Rema, get the healers. Now." Volorn commanded, "Thorlan, go help Axel."