The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1)

by Matthew M. Johns

  The Beagle turned to Eve and said, “Were you not on watch with her and supposed to report anything unusual?” The Beagle left the room, as the mirth of the moment drained away.

  Chapter 23

  “What do you think, Yero?”

  David was tense, but he was taking things more calmly than Deborah had thought he would. Yero had come at breakfast to inform David that the council would not meet that day either. As the rest of the group cleaned up and prepared to train or learn for the day, the Beagle chose that moment to recount the early morning events. Eve made herself scarce; Deborah stopped working and sat down. The Coterie brothers quickly moved the other children from of the room. Yero stood the entire time. After reporting the facts, the Beagle found a corner and curled up in it. David turned to Deborah, intense questioning in his eyes.

  For her part, Deborah held herself straight and unflinching. “I’m sorry,” she said before anything else could be said. “Not for the kiss, but tor the hour that it happened. I’m sorry I didn’t have the courage to tell you sooner. I couldn’t seem to find the proper time. I really like him, Dad. . .”

  “A lot,” the Beagle said from the corner. Both David and Deborah shot the angel a harsh look. The Beagle merely closed its eyes and feigned sleep. Yero, still standing, suppressed a smile.

  “I know you warned me about him,” Deborah continued, “and getting entangled with him may create problems.” She paused to catch her breath. “I trust his intentions, Dad. I believe he’s genuine and doesn’t intend harm.”

  “I would trust that statement more,” David said, “if it wasn’t for the hour of his calling and the complications of his family connections.”

  It was then that David turned to Yero and asked what he thought of the situation.

  “Hogan is a fine young man,” Yero replied. “He has never been disloyal to his family. However, the death of his mother, the subsequent abandonment he experienced from his father, and the constant reminders of his status by the family around here, have left him distant toward all of them. I highly doubt he would be involved in a plot against your family. This does not mean that Lord Avrant would not attempt to use such a situation to his advantage should he know of it. Lord Avrant is a cunning man and not one to waste opportunities.”

  David nodded at this, though Yero raised his hand to forestall comment. “I would have you address Hogan directly. I will arrange for him to come to you this afternoon. Talk with him. I must also apologize for my part in this. It was I who let the boy know when Deborah was on watch. I did not consider that something like this might happen, though I should have. He has been brooding these last two days and had become next to useless. He genuinely cares for your daughter, and the thought of ruining what had begun between them was vexing him.”

  Deborah blushed, trying hard to control her breathing and the goofy smile attempting to take hold of her lips. Oblivious, David, not noticing this, nodded and thanked Yero. After Yero bowed and left, David turned to his daughter, who had gained some composure.

  “I appreciate your feelings,” he began. “However, I am upset at your lack of caution. We are in dire times. I need you to go to your room; the Beagle will accompany you. I am going to train with your brothers and sisters. Hopefully, sparring with First Thunder or hitting a practice dummy will help me relieve some frustration at the fact that my daughter was kissing a lieutenant in the middle of the night.”

  David walked over and kissed Deborah on the head before he left. The Beagle padded over to her and tugged on the hem of her skirt. “Come,” the angel spoke softly, “let us seek counsel and peace from the Word.”

  Deborah quietly followed.

  Using what subtle technology that still worked in the Crossroads, Lord Avrant was in direct talks with his family in the Third, Fourth, and Ninth Kingdoms, they were the closest to him and shared similar goals. Already the kings and queens of these realms were preparing for the eventual arrival of the new twelve. Small, discreet tactical forces were dispatched from these kingdoms to aid their kin in his struggle. The forces were highly mobile: thus, in the span of the week since David’s and Avrant’s confrontation, they were nearing the borders of the Seventh Kingdom.

  To his other family members, he sent swift messengers bearing letters detailing the words of the Truth Blade and the precautions he was taking to combat a usurping force. He did not give the full details of what was happening in his kingdom for various reasons; amongst them, he didn’t trust them to not take advantage of his perceived weakness, and he also knew some would heed the “call of God” to step aside. Avrant and his like-minded kin would deal with them in time.

  While Avrant saw to the preparations of war, he wondered at the various reactions of his family as they read his letters. Writing was not the standard form of communication between the thrones. He knew Insur would be furious that Avrant had not used the mist to communicate directly with him, but the king of the Seventh Kingdom did not have time for dealing with the high king. He would deal with the head of the family royal once all this business was done.

  For now, Avrant spent his days holding council with General Kolk, securing the castle proper, and preparing to abolish the council. Lord Avrant had come to realize that council politics weakened the Seventh Kingdom. What he needed were loyal landlords who would maintain the kingdom’s resources and follow orders given to them by the crown. To the several council members he could trust, he sent secret communiques that didn’t divulge details, but made promises of greater power for their fealty. When the forces from the other kingdoms arrived, he would change the look of this kingdom and hopefully begin to eliminate the threat of the Koens.

  What was known and who knew it was being orchestrated by the various groups throughout the Way World. Chief amongst these were the spies of the Void. The spies of the Devil are craftier than those mortal born. The Manipulator used the best of these to monitor his sphere of influence. He knew nearly all that was worth knowing. He knew of the developments that transpired within Way House even if he could not get a spy directly to the house, due to the angel presiding there. He knew of and prompted Lord Avrant’s manic plans against his own council and the Koens. He also knew of and participated in the scheming of the various council members, though there were limits as to what he could put into motion.

  The Fallen One had communicated to all those in his power and given them very specific instructions. These were to be followed without fail. Each of the demons and Void forces would be given one chance to prove their worth to the Lord of Darkness. Within the next few days they were to rain chaos upon the Seventh Kingdom and use that as a cloak to dispatch the new twelve. If they failed in this endeavor, they would be punished and new plans would be made in order to corrupt and waylay the ascension of the Koens to the Hub World thrones.

  Caliban was not pleased with his new position as leader of the Dark Riders. He was left with a tattered band that was forced to operate outside the confines of their normal modus operandi. Nevertheless, he obeyed orders and kept his growing resentment to himself. He gathered his band of Dark Riders to his banner. They retreated to the outskirts of Ven with a small band of thralls and waited.

  Though the riders quickly grew restless with the forced waiting, it was good that Caliban had time to reorganize his riders, for they were severely depleted and had new issued to contend with. When Ferreter returned from his failed attempt to capture the last Koen child, within him was placed a Hell Fire that now burned through his veins. Though eventually this could be turned to his advantage, it was mainly a torture that would eventually burn him up from the inside out. Vex too had become strangely quiet since his direct encounter with the King of the Fiery Lake. Caliban was unsure what had transpired after communication was broken with the whole group, but he knew Vex had been dealt an unpleasant punishment. Now he was often found training at night, trying to access the full potential of the Void power within him. Only time would tell if these challenges would make Caliban’s force stronger o
r lead to their downfall.

  Chapter 24

  Yero stood with Hogan outside the back door of the Way House. Hogan eyed it nervously, unwilling to proceed. Yero looked at the young lieutenant and grinned.

  “I’m not going to go in there with you,” he said flatly.

  Hogan balked and stared at his captain. “What?” his voice broke in fear. “Why not?”

  Yero let out a small, quiet laugh. “You’ve helped me roust out goblins from hidey-holes. Our troop has chased after Dark Riders and battled a colony of chiroptera. Let us not forget the various bandits and killers it is our job to bring to justice. Yet, going and talking to a father about his daughter frightens you?”

  “Well, yes; all those other things could do was kill me. This is dangerous.”

  Yero lost control and laughed outright. He took nearly a minute to get control of himself. “You will do fine. Be honest and straightforward with him. He already has a good opinion of you. All you have to do is express your feelings for his daughter. However, as you apologize for kissing his daughter whilst he slept upstairs, make sure he has the Sword of Truth on him.”

  Hogan paled and broke out into a sweat. “Whatever for?”

  “Well he is somebody who is very much mindful of the power and presence of the sword; therefore, he will be mindful not to harm or kill you should he be wearing it. Now, if he is wearing a different blade, you’d best run should he start at you. If he has no visible weapon, you’ll have a fifty-fifty chance.”

  Hogan started to regain his color as he studied the whimsy on Yero’s face. “You really are enjoying this far too much. Are you truly not coming in?”

  “Look,” Yero said sympathetically, “my job was to get you out of the castle and away from your cousin’s spies. Yes, you now have to face a Truth Blade, but that is probably a good thing. He has the Word, which will affirm that you don’t ally yourself with Avrant and his plans to kill his family. He will know you speak honestly when you tell him of your feelings for Deborah, and this will make him less likely to maim or kill you.”

  With a nervous laugh, Hogan asked, “Only less likely?”

  Yero shrugged, “He is a father. All joking aside, you don’t have anything to be nervous about. This isn’t your cousin’s court. You don’t have to worry about the Truth Wielder judging you based on your family status; only your integrity. Now, unless his daughter doesn’t mean that much to you, I’d get in there before you're late.”

  With these final words Yero knocked on the back door. Nearly instantaneously, First Thunder opened it. Seeing they were allies, he motioned for them to enter. Yero declined and prodded Hogan forward. Yero took a step backward and then spoke once more to Hogan.

  “I’m going to make a diversion for Avrant’s spies. Your way from here will be clear. Meet me at the barracks when you’re done.”

  Hogan turned slightly as he continued into the house and nodded. Then he was gone, and First Thunder secured the door. Yero turned with a smile on his lips and departed.

  After a moment, in the shadows cast by the eaves of the house, something shifted. Deep within the inkiest part of the shadows lay a creature. It was formless and indistinguishable from the shadows in which it was wrapped. It barely even existed on the plain of reality that corporeal life dwelt in. It showed no signs of life, no rhythm of bodily functions, no sense of self. Its pitch black eyes recorded what it saw, and its lobeless ears recorded the sounds around it. When it had the opportunity, it would attach itself to the darkness of a passing creature and make its way back to its handler, where all the stored images and sounds would be revealed.

  *

  Deborah ate little as she herself was nervous. To her left, Hogan was also picking at his food. David, however, was eating just fine. Hogan noted that he was wearing the Sword of Truth and did find this somewhat comforting. Though he was stuck, as he often was, on how to speak up, he knew that once he could find his words they would be judged fairly. How to begin, though? He had no pithy joke to share, no trivial fact to bring up, and no observation of the weather that would help him even begin talking. Then a pea hit him in the head.

  Hogan looked up from his plate in surprise. He saw David still eating away. Then he looked over to Deborah and saw her imploring eyes. Without meaning to, he loudly asked, “Did you just throw a pea at me?”

  David stopped eating, a smile growing at the corner of his lips. Deborah, blushing, did not drop her eyes from Hogan. A little flame seemed to burn within them now, and the same heat was heard in her quiet whispered reply to Hogan.

  “Yes, I wanted your attention and you seemed so deep into your thoughts or your plate. I felt throwing food at you was the best way to get your attention.”

  “I blame myself,” David said with mock severity. “I’m afraid I’ve not done my best to teacher my daughter subtlety.” Turning slightly, he gazed at Deborah with a stern eye. “Dear, next time your dinner partner is not focused appropriately on you or important matters at hand, lightly nudge him with a foot, so as not to draw the entire table's attention.”

  David could have continued, but the mortified look on Deborah’s face was too priceless and he laughed. She very quietly replied, “Thanks, Dad; I’ll take that into consideration next time.”

  Hogan looked at the two of them and smiled. Then without a conscious thought he said, “I love her.”

  Deborah blushed so brightly she nearly radiated light. David folded his hands in front of him. “I’m grateful you aren’t just kissing her to see if it suits your fancy.”

  “Dad!” Deborah yelled, but could say no more for the embarrassment taking hold of her.

  Hogan dropped his eyes back to his plate. After the briefest of moments, he spoke up softly. “I can’t say I’ve ever really enjoyed being part of my family, but they were family. I’m saddened and angered by my cousin’s actions and words, and wish I was a stronger man to stand up against him.”

  Hogan took a deep breath and looked up at David. After a moment he shifted his gaze back to Deborah. “As nervous as I am right now, there is a sense of peace deep within me. I can’t quite express it or properly analyze the true depths of my feelings, though I would say that being here with you, sir, and your daughter feels right. It feels like. . . home.”

  A breath’s span, no longer, Hogan spent staring into Deborah’s eyes that were now sparkling with happiness, before David sighed heavily and began to speak, weariness in his voice.

  “Hogan, as much as I like you, I can’t in good consciousness just give you a blessing to court my daughter. Though you may not have close ties with your family, you are extremely aware of the politics therein. Now these politics are shifting. There will be others in your family like Lord Avrant who will seek to destroy the will of God. I don’t know how the ascension of my family and the retirement of your family will proceed. I do, however, know that you two would never be allowed to have a normal relationship. Furthermore, should you ally with us, how would that look? My children’s battle for the twelve thrones could very well be long and bloody. Where will you stand? At our side, journeying from place to place, or holed up in a friendly region? Will you wait here, or act as a spy and risk being used by your cousin and family and possibly put into a political marriage? Would you prefer to be a courier between different camps allied to us? Tell me, where do you think you fit in? How do you think a relationship with my daughter will be possible?”

  Hogan was looking at David as he talked, but his hand had found its way into Deborah’s. Deborah watched both men intently, feeling the dread and uncertainty of her future as she had never imagined. She saw her father in a starker light as he asked each question of Hogan. The man who had raised her had never seemed less positive. She knew now, beneath all his trust in God and optimism lay a mind that saw many opportunities for things to go wrong before he saw the possibility of something going right. She then wondered about Hogan and how he would react to her father, as well as how he would react should any of what her father had
proposed truly happen.

  Hogan squeezed Deborah’s hand and took a deep breath. “I will serve you and Deborah to the best of my abilities and in whatever capacity you see fit or necessary. I am aware that any relationship Deborah or I would have would be complicated by current politics and I won’t have an opportunity to properly court her, but I would very much still like to have the opportunity to be in her presence.”

  Deborah was holding tightly to Hogan’s hand with both of hers, and with Herculean effort she resisted kissing the lips that spoke so fondly of her. David was shaking his head as he stood from the table. He pushed in his chair and held firm to the back.

  “What fools love does make. You will be counted amongst our allies and have my permission to visit our current residence. Don’t make a habit of it though, for as good as Yero is, there are spies for the Void that even angels have difficulty finding and thwarting. Your allegiance to my house and love of my daughter will not long be a secret. Watch out for yourself for my daughter’s sake, if for no other. You two may have five minutes to say goodbye, then you should be heading back. If at all possible, try to look distraught and angry when you leave. You never know what watches these quarters.”

  With that, David left the room. When Hogan turned from the parting form of David he was greeted by Deborah, who wrapped her arms about him and pulled him into a deep kiss. When the two finally broke to take a breath Deborah whispered, “I love you, too.”

  Hogan smiled. He had said he loved her and was marveling at the truth of his confession. Also there welled up within him so much joy at hearing Deborah say those words to him and knowing she meant them. He took his hands and held her face between them. As typical, he could not find the words to properly express himself which left him with one response. He kissed her again.

  Chapter 25