It wasn't necessary to persuade them, nor to poke them or force them to take a run at full steam, following the creek that was flowing down the valley and entwined around the city.
They both had tempting images in their minds, not to mention that they had gotten pretty hungry after the long trip.
“When we get there, I'm going to get a bowl full of cakes!” said Magnus, a big grin on his face.
Maren's smile wasn't any smaller. “And I can't wait to go shopping! You still have some money left, right?”
Magnus wasn't looking forward to shopping, but he didn't say a word about it. “And I'm looking forward to exploring all corners of the mysterious citadel!” he said in an effort to distract Maren from her thoughts about boring shops.
With each step, their imaginations grew more and more majestic. That is, until they climbed the long serpentine road up to the town and crossed the open iron gates that led them inside.
If Ragna seemed like a ghost city to Magnus, he couldn't find a fitting name for this town. It was quiet like a cemetery. Small houses on the edge of the stone road were empty. Even those that seemed like shops were closed. There was no need to enter to understand the town was completely abandoned.
Or was it? Magnus' perceptive eyes noticed a small green flag tied upon a wooden stake close to the road. “Well, it doesn't seem that any of the things we imagined are going to happen, but I'd say that someone has marked the path for us. That's a sign we aren't all alone here,” said Magnus. When he looked back at Maren's face, he knew right away that she was fed up with everything.
“I thought it would be fun,” Maren cried, looking at the ground. “That we'd have a pleasant (and romantic, but she didn't say that) journey by cart and that we would be welcomed warmly here, that we'd eat some tasty food, rest in comfortable rooms after the journey, that we'd learn powerful spells and instead, we had to walk half of the trip by ourselves, I am tired, hungry and this place looks like a graveyard, not like a town nor like guild! Let's go back, Magnus. Let's just go back to Ragna!” She wiped tears off her face with her sleeve.
Magnus dropped his backpack to the ground, and right away, they could hear a bunch of annoyed screechy voices from inside. He must have had grounded several of Valezar's gingerbreads to dust.
Maren continued on in despair, “The coachman was right, we should have never come here!” When she felt the touch of Magnus' hand on her shoulder, she looked up.
“Come on, it won't be that bad. We didn't have luck with the trip, but that doesn't mean everything is ruined. We've gone a long and difficult road so we shouldn't give up now. We'll follow the green flags and I'm sure they'll lead us to a place where we can find everything we imagined. You'll see, it will be better after we eat something. And then we can decide whether we want to stay or not,” said Magnus, smiling encouragingly at Maren. “Is that fine with you?”
At these words, Maren seemed to calm down. “All right,” she said quietly with a faint smile.
“Let's go, lunch is surely waiting for us! We shouldn't let it get cold!” said Magnus as he picked up his backpack from the ground.
“Oi, just wait! One day we'll have our revenge,” a screechy voice resounded. Magnus wasn't sure if he really heard that or it was just his imagination. In any case, he stepped forward, Maren after him. Who knows, maybe there really were ghosts in this town and it would be wise not to provoke them. They were most likely going to spend quite some time here and it surely wouldn't be good to make enemies right at the beginning.
The marked path led them higher up the pavement which wasn't steep but clearly ascending. The edges of streets were always lined with houses and it wasn't uncommon that a rope with clothes was connecting them. Apparently they had been hanging there for a long time because they were completely dry. Whatever happened here, the town folk had left in great haste.
Maren was looking around, feeling uneasy, “I still don't understand why Zim sent us to such a place. There are hooligans here and complete wilderness. I don't like it one bit.” She kept talking, if only to not be enclosed in silence. As soon as she stopped various frightening scenes were appearing in her mind immediately.
They soon turned right, still going up, and they walked through a passage in the walls of the citadel. Finally they ended up at something resembling a courtyard.
And finally they caught sight of someone other than themselves. When they came closer, Magnus suddenly stopped.
“What's wrong?” asked Maren, giving him an uncomprehending glance.
“Do you remember saying there were hooligans here?”
“Of course I remember,” answered Maren impatiently, “What about it?”
Magnus' gaze pointed to the entrance of the citadel. “Aren't they the same ones who raced our cart like crazy?”
On top of the stairs next to the doors there stood a group of five boys of the same age as Magnus and Maren, all of them completely dressed in black. One of them sitting distantly on the stairs. He had hair as black as a raven, tied in a short ponytail. Another one had short blonde hair neatly combed to the left side, only above his forehead it was slightly bristly. He looked bored, leaning on the entrance door of the citadel as if he owned all of it. Next to the stairs there was another one with red hair pointing to all directions and finally, two other boys with brown hair. One looked like a spoiled prince and the second like a silent rogue. Even from afar it was clear that the three of them were playing some kind of a card game together. There were small groups of children standing along the courtyard walls, a little father from the citadel entrance. It looked like the group of five boys had chased them away or the others were afraid of them. Those five together looked like a black squad and that's exactly what they called themselves.
Maren's face turned so sour it looked as if she had eaten a lemon. “Oh no, that's the last drop! We're going back, I don't want to be here! And I don't want to study here either,” she said firmly and to show that she meant what she said, she grabbed Magnus' elbow. “Quickly, before they see us!” she whispered indignantly as she wheeled him about so fast that his big shoes scratched on the stone floor. But it was too late for them to vanish without being seen.
“Hey! Hey you two!” resounded behind them. Without even looking behind, they understood that the boys in black took a run after them.
Maren and Magnus were chilled to the bone, but they didn't stop, not even for a second. Walking away, both of them pretended they didn't hear a thing.
But soon they were forced to stop. Their path was sealed off by the light-haired member of the Black Squad.
“Darius, wait,” said the boy with the short dark ponytail and, out of breath, he ran into him. The rest of their band caught up with them in a few seconds.
Darius shot his friend a scowled look. “Why are you clambering on me, Viktor? It's not my fault that you're so slow,” he said, sweeping his black coat. Then he shifted his gaze back onto Magnus and Maren. “But you can't be slower than these two.”
The whole Black Squad burst into laughter.
“Do you think they'll be so slow in learning too?” asked their ginger-haired friend who almost started crying from all the mirth.
“You bet, Rodrick,” said Darius, a nasty smirk on his face.
While Magnus was just silently listening to the jeers at their expense, Maren was ready to say something. But before she could spit it out, a tall man in a dark green cloak stepped between them and the Black Squad, separating them from each other. Seeing this burly man, even Darius and Viktor had to step back.
“Finally,” said the man in a resonant voice, “I thought you wouldn't even bother to show up.” With a grouchy face, he shifted his long wooden staff into his right hand. “All right, I think everyone's here now. And if not, we won't wait for them, because they won't come anyway.” Even though this man was tall, he definitely wasn't skinny. He had broad shoulders and without any doubt, firm muscles. He had chestnut brown eyes and short stubble all over his face. His long,
greyish hair was reaching to his shoulder blades and nobody could deny that it was a great mane.
Magnus was very confused from everything that had happened so far. “Eh, excuse me. We're looking for a friend of Zimbadur Ravan. He's supposed to be a druid. Is he around here somewhere?” he asked carefully.
“Can't you see?” said the tall man, irritated. “I'm standing right in front of you.” Right after that, he turned his back to them.
“Yes, that's what I was afraid of,” mumbled Magnus under his nose.
“All right, kids, end of games, the party's over,” said the druid, suddenly in a much better mood. But everyone knew there was no party and most likely there would never be one.
At a brisk pace, the druid was on his way to the entrance doors of the citadel, his long hooded cloak drifting behind him. All of them decided to follow him, so Maren and Magnus didn't have any other choice. For safety reasons, they were walking right behind their druid leader as it seemed that nobody would nag at them in front of him. But they were still hoping to soon get some tasty and filling lunch.
All the children ran in front but the Black Squad lagged in the very back, to be as invisible as possible.
The druid walked up the stairs and opened one of the tall wooden doors with heavy metal ironworks. “Get in. Come on, move!” he commanded them.
Magnus, standing first in the line, was supposed to make the first step. But before he did that, he looked around the interior. Maybe he just wanted to make sure he wouldn't step into another “Valezar-like” house. He had enough of unpleasant surprises for today and he certainly didn't have any intention to wander the citadel without any lights on. Opposite to him there was a long corridor. Since it had no windows, its light travertine walls were illuminated by torches. However, before the dark corridor there were hallways with windows to the right and to the left, adorned with pylons that ended with a case of spiral stairs. Looking at them, everyone concluded that the hallways were branched like a labyrinth here.
Magnus made the first step, but he didn't do it by himself. Maren pushed him from behind, but she didn't do it on purpose either. They didn't even have to see outside to understand that someone from the Black Squad put in motion a human avalanche.
The chaos among the children was quelled by the druid's stern voice. “Can't you behave? Just wait, you'll stop it very soon. I'll go first and don't you dare do it once more,” he said, frowning at Viktor and Darius who got that “great” idea to poke everyone inside. The druid himself strolled past the children to the main hallway of the citadel.
Any one of them would be frightened by these warnings, but the group known as the Black Squad clearly liked to show off and it was almost certain they would do it again.
Unfortunately, the druid stepped in the direction where Magnus wanted to go least. Maren didn't seem to be excited to go there either as she looked around uneasily. She didn't see anything else other than stone walls and flames which provided at least some warmth and light for this otherwise cold and dark place. The long corridor ended with shadowy stairs which, fitting for such a “wonderful” day, led underground.
Deathly stillness prevailed in the whole hallway.
The tall druid stopped without turning around, his head slightly crouched because of the low ceiling. “Those who want can still leave,” he said. There was no answer, but he didn't hear anyone leaving either. They were all so silent he wasn't even sure if they were breathing. Were they afraid? He really didn't care about that, from the bottom of his heart. The important thing was that no one turned back like a coward and that was a good sign.
“Excellent,” he smiled. Then he descended the stairs, going deeper and deeper, till he stopped in front of a massive set of double doors. Even the druid himself had problems opening them. As soon as he pushed them open, the children saw a sight so enchanting that no one regretted their decision to stay any more.
A large travertine chamber, supported by pillars on some places, had walls veneered with carved dark ebony wood which made a stylish contrast on the light walls. Along them there were several sturdy tables and benches made of wooden logs and the centre of the chamber was carpeted in embroidered dark green. What delighted Magnus the most was at the very end. It was a rather huge hearth reaching to the ceiling. The chamber had two more doors, one on each side. It seemed like this underground was quite vast.
“You'll spend most of your time here,” proclaimed the druid, as if it was the most wonderful thing he could tell them.
No one knew if they should be delighted or not. They had to admit it was really nice here, but to spend most of their time underground like moles? When no one said anything, finally one of the girls dared to ask the question.
“Excuse me, will we also live underground?” spoke up a girl with red, almost fiery hair. Her eyes had the colour of radiant green like those of a cat. Or perhaps like a snake?
“NO, you'll live in those shacks on the surface,” the druid hissed through his teeth, as if they couldn't have asked something more stupid. He heard the children breathe out in relief. However, his sour expression suddenly changed into a slightly malevolent smile. “Here are your study rooms,” he said, enjoying each word.
That's when everyone understood that they were rejoicing too early. They were to spend all of their days and nights studying and reading in their study rooms, in some cells behind those doors! Their excitement ceased at once and some of them regretted immediately that they didn't leave when they could.
As they stood together in the chamber's front, Magnus sensed a very evil energy somewhere close. He noticed Darius' surly gaze with which he surveyed him silently. Magnus immediately felt the need to tell Maren about it so he didn't hesitate to tug on the black cloak of her mage robe. “Maren,” he whispered, but Maren only looked at him, without saying a word. It would be wiser to stay quiet now, their druid teacher was about to speak.
“My name is Aedan, and I am a druid,” the tall man remarked casually, but from his proud stance and the tone of his voice it was obvious it was the main point of his speech. “I'll be teaching you in this lovely underground and in the even lovelier nature.”
However, not even Aedan's speech discouraged Magnus from telling Maren about what he just sensed. “I can feel a strong evil energy here,” he murmured and he would have told her more details if their teacher's stern glance didn't stop him. At that moment, Magnus realised he should remain silent. “Pardon me sir,” he said quietly. With a breaking spirit, he cast his gaze downwards.
To everyone's astonishment, Aedan didn't get angry. “Doesn't matter, I'll teach you respect,” he said.
In the next moment, Magnus felt unfriendly stares at him as if they were saying: “Thank you very much, you just screwed up big time.”
But their behaviour wasn't the only thing that was getting on the druid's nerves. “And stop with that formal addressing, I'm too young for that,” proclaimed Aedan as he took a seat in a large yet simple wooden armchair by the hearth in the back of the room.
Magnus looked at him intensely. Did he forget about all the grey hair in his mane? “Of course, I'm sorry... Aedan...” he uttered slowly as it seemed very unnatural for him to call this man by his first name.
“Everyone, sit down at the tables,” commanded Aedan, contently observing how his students ran across the room as if it was an order. Oh wait, it actually was an order!
There occurred a hustle and a buzz like in a busy beehive. Everyone was trying to overrun each other as they argued for the best spots. The members of the Black Squad were even tripping others just to get the most distant place in the corner at the very front of the chamber, where the teacher couldn't see them easily.
Magnus fought out an honourable seat near the hearth for Maren and himself while the others could be glad if they still had somewhere to sit. As soon as the rustle subsided, Aedan looked around the chamber again. All the tables were occupied, except for one.
Suddenly they heard a quick pace issuing from
the corridor where they had come from. Magnus and Maren weren't the only ones who curiously leaned from their tables to look behind them. Who could it be?
When at last a tiny figure appeared, Magnus experienced an unexpected surprise. It was Fjalldís! Perhaps Zimbadur had sent another carriage for her, or her smile was so irresistible that somebody had given her a lift.
In her long skirt, she descended the stone stairs and quickly sat at the only table available which was right next to the Black Squad. Of course, she didn't yet know why it was unoccupied. Her eyes darted downwards, hoping that all the curious stares would soon turn away from her.
Aedan smiled then continued his speech, “The town above us was once inhabited and the citadel served the guild known as the Fellowship of The Devoted.”
That immediately caught Maren's attention. They would finally get to know something about the ghost town they were supposed to live in! She hoped that the more information they learned, the easier their stay there would be. But it could have been the other way around too. “What happened to the Fellowship?” asked Maren curiously, expecting an exhaustive answer.
“That needn't be of your concern,” responded Aedan reluctantly. “The town serves us now and that's the only thing you need to know.”
There was a comment on everything that Aedan said. “Great!” resounded from the dark corner. “So the whole town is ours!” exclaimed Darius and Viktor, clapping hands victoriously.
Aedan didn't move a muscle but the blood in his veins was boiling. These brats needed a firm hand and a complete re-education. “It's not yours,” he said grimly. He seemed to be losing his patience already. “You should be thankful you were given the opportunity to study and educate yourselves undisturbed. So for the love of Nature, let the town be and only use the underground of the citadel, your houses and the roads I have marked for you. You're not here to explore the surroundings but to study. It that clear?” said the druid loudly, but he wasn't expecting an answer. “I have to warn you though; this is not a normal school. And you are not students. This is a guild, and you are now my novices. Forget about any school rules for we'll have our own.”
Drakonika (Book 1) Page 11
