by J. R. Castle
Riyah turned to the old fellow. “It is not your fault, Son of the King. You were left as orphans, and one standing alone is sure to be overtaken. That is why King Shaydon established Districts and Provinces and asked that they band together and take care of each other. Two are better than one especially when they stand back-to-back.” He stood in the middle of the passageway and began to glow. Leon and Holand stepped back in astonishment. The glittering gold melted into glittering white dust. As Riyah continued down the passageway, the white followed him.
Holand gasped, his eyes wide as he gazed at the sparkling walls. “It’s like what lays upon the King’s Highway. Your Guardian is a path-layer. Interesting.”
“Indeed.” Leon had no idea but was even more pleased that Issah had assigned Riyah to him. Perhaps… there might be a slim chance of reclaiming Tarest after all.
* * * *
Darnel began to think the Regent would indeed decide the pathetic little town wasn’t worth his trouble. He had to know it was full of members of the Brethren that would overpower his men, if they made it past them, first.
Anwynn stayed close to his side all through the night. She was good at foraging for things to eat that didn’t require a fire to cook. She was also good at finding safe shelter for them to take turns resting through the night.
Maybe killing her would be a hasty move. Darnel was beginning to see ways she might be beneficial if Fajer agreed to keep her around. Since their agreement to be partners, Fajer could no longer order him to do the menial tasks usually assigned to the so-called grunt. Anwynn said she’d be willing to work for her keep.
They needed a new grunt.
Darnel settled into the crook of the maple’s branches. Anwynn did know how to find comfortable places to rest. Nobody would spot them this high off the ground. She sat perched at the end of a thick branch like a squirrel watching for a hawk to swoop by. If he’d ventured out that far, the branch would have cracked. She mustn’t weigh more than a small child.
He’d just started to doze off when someone jabbed his shoulder. “Wake up, mutt.”
Darnel’s brows furrowed. He’d have to teach her to stop calling him that. Sitting up, he gazed down at the road. The others had begun to take their places, some up in the trees like them, other’s hiding under a covering of dead leaves. The trees were nearly bare, but in the night, they’d provide plenty of shelter.
“They come.” A bow appeared in her hand. Reaching behind her, she pulled an arrow out of nothing.
Did the exchange ceremony work with creatures? He would love to take on some of her talents with weapons. Yet, was it a talent or a faerie skill? Maybe he’d ask Fajer about that later.
Since he fought better on the ground, Darnel quietly hopped down, landing in a crouch and moving away from the others, while keeping Anwynn in his sights.
The sound of horses’ hooves clomping over the dirt road hit his ears. Torchlight glowed off the bare branches as they made their way closer. Fools. The light would blind them to what they were walking into.
Darnel had no weapon, aside from his small dagger, and didn’t need one. He’d cloud the Regent’s mind, if he made it past the others, and cause him so much pain, he’d wish he was dead. Once he was incapacitated, Darnel planned to swoop in and drive his dagger into his struggling heart.
Through the bare branches of brush along the roadway, the horsemen came into view. Soldiers rode along the edges with shields readied and swords drawn. They must suspect an ambush. Behind them rode what had to be the Regent, dressed in his regal attire. Several more men followed the group, some on foot and others on mounts. Not nearly enough to be a threat to the wizards waiting in town, and not nearly enough to make his job of stopping them hard, either.
Darnel gathered his energy, then touched the tree nearest him, causing his body to fade into the background. Up above, Anwynn let out a hiss, yet her sharp eyes were able to track his movements. Maybe because his boots crunched over the fall leaves. He couldn’t be sure.
Moving out onto the road, he kept the illusion of camouflage in place.
Suddenly, Darnel realized none of the men carried torches. Where was the light coming from, then? A rain of arrows and rocks showered down on the company, but they bounced off and landed on the ground beside the road.
What was this?
Anwynn aimed her arrow and released. It flew straight for the Regent. As if hitting an invisible forcefield, the arrow shot upward and landed in the chest of a man perched in another tree. His spear fell from his grasp, his body followed, landing on the ground with a loud thump.
The warriors casually glanced at the dead man, but continued onward, moving closer together. Nobody hiding in the woods seemed to know what to do. A couple of the younger, brasher, men charged for the group with swords and spears waving over their heads, ready to engage in hand-to-hand combat.
The riders watched with mild interest but made no move to climb off their horses.
To Darnel’s horror and shock, the moment those men’s feet touched where the light glowed upon the road, they screamed. Electrical sparks shot up around them, and they turned to dust.
Pandemonium broke out. The attackers fled into the woods. At that moment, Darnel caught sight of the Elderad riding in the center of the group. The brilliant light came from his staff and the ground they tread upon turned into a White Path. No wonder those men were turned to ash.
“Darsiderus!” Called the Elderad.
Riyah!
Oh blast, he’d been spotted. Of course, his illusion wouldn’t work against an Elderad! Blast, blast, blast.
Darnel began backing away yet was held transfixed in Riyah’s gaze.
“Darsiderus, what are you doing here?” Riyah asked, his voice full of fury and anguish. “Why have you banded with this filth? You, of all people, should—”
Darnel didn’t wait to hear any more. He bolted for the town, running as fast as he could. He had to get away from the Guardian. The Elderad had the power to take him back to Aloblase. Riyah only needed to capture him. What would Shaydon do if he found out everything Darnel had done? The alliances he’d made? Put him in the deepest prison for the remainder of his life? Banish him as he’d done the Enchantress Zilvia, to an island on the sea?
He’d have none of that! This time he’d run. At least for now until he figured out how to increase his power. And he would figure it out.
When he reached the town, he called for Fajer. “They’re coming, and they have an Elderad with them! You cannot fight an Elderad. You cannot!” He searched for where they’d tied the horses and found them in a pen beside the livery stable.
Fajer caught up to him and, grabbing him by the shoulders, he shook Darnel hard bringing him out of his cloud of panic. “Slow down, friend. What’s this you’re crying out about?”
Darnel grasped Fajer’s arms. “The new Regent has the Elderad Riyah with him. He may as well have Issah himself escorting him into town. You will not win this battle, you must warn the Brethren before they are slaughtered.”
Fajer gave him another shake. “Calm down. An Elderad does not kill, my friend. He might be protecting—”
Darnel shoved Fajer away. “Fool! He’ll call Logorian warriors who can and will kill you all. Swiftly and efficiently. The men traveling with the Regent will not even have to raise a sword against you.” He searched in the corral for a horse he could take and settled on a dark brown steed that would easily blend in with the woods. “I must leave. I cannot allow Riyah to capture me here, or the Logorians that he will call forth. If they catch me—” He shook his head, not wanting to speak his fears out loud.
Fajer seemed to understand and helped him saddle the horse. “You’re right, you must leave. Return to the compound, or better yet, ride to Goia for me. I had planned to return and scout the condition of the village before we returned home. Go do this for me and I’ll meet you in a fortnight.”
Darnel tried one more time. “Tell them to abandon this town. Whatever stake the
y have here isn’t worth losing their lives. Fajer, I’m—”
“I believe you. But do not worry. We know how to take care of ourselves. Now go. Ride swiftly, and we’ll meet again soon.” Fajer smacked the horse’s rump. The beast took off toward the woods. Darnel wondered if he’d ever see his mentor again. He wouldn’t hold out too much hope.
* * * *
Leon could not believe what he was seeing. No weapons broke through Riyah’s protective shield. No enemy attacker touched the white stones appearing in Riyah’s wake without fatal regret. But would the guardian’s shield hold up against a gang of sorcerers?
A ball of light shot toward them arching overhead. Riyah lifted his hand and waved it aside as if shooing away an insect. The glowing orb careened and landed in the midst of a small group huddled in the cover of the trees. They all scrambled as the ground exploded. The impact sent several flying off their feet.
“Whoa!” Koloman breathed, eyes wide. He lifted his fist with a mighty shout, “Praise Shaydon for sending us such a mighty protector!”
Leon shouted his agreement. The acclimations were taken up by the warriors circling Leon’s men and attendants, which included some of the stronger displaced residents of Tarest.
Suddenly, Riyah halted his horse and shouted out something Leon couldn’t decipher. Where they under attack? The road before them was clear from what he could tell. But then something scattered a pile of leaves along the side of the road. What was that? Riyah was calling for whatever it was to come back.
The Elderad urged his horse to move faster. “We must hurry children. He’ll warn the others. Let us ride!”
Everyone spurred their mounts into a gallop. The light shining from the tip of Riyah’s staff intensified as they drew nearer. Soon, a few scattered buildings came into view.
“Do not stop,” Riyah ordered. “Head for the center of town. I must reach the watering well before they can hinder me.”
Hinder? Riyah had never let on as if anything was able to hinder him.
Whatever he had been shouting at, must have made it to town and warned the others. Nearly a dozen men, their bald heads covered in red markings and their cloaks also trimmed in red, made a barrier around the fountain.
Leon raised his fist to halt their progression. Riyah glared ahead at the scene before him. Two of the wizards stepped forward. They were each flanked by three others who each rested a hand on the leader’s shoulders. Flames surrounded one man. Lightening the other.
Riyah’s lips pursed. “I will not allow them to steal this town.”
“Riyah,” Leon leaned closer to his guardian. “There’s more of them, look.” He pointed to more robed figures edging nearer.
“You will have to order your men to fight. The Brethren are not immortal, they can taste death, though they’ll not swallow it easily.” Riyah turned to General Gailid. “Ready your men, General. Take down as many as possible but tell them to remain within my shield.” He thrust the staff at Leon. “Protect your men, Regent.”
Then Riyah slid off his horse and walked forward to face the two sorcerers. By himself. Unprotected. The staff continued to burn a bright orb around his men and the refugees. Should he follow Riyah? He’d been told to stay and protect the others. But….
Elder Holand rode forward until he was beside Leon. “I am a shield. I’ll go with him.” He also dismounted.
“Me too, me too, Elder.” Mikel, who didn’t reach past the men’s elbows, pushed his way through the armed men. “Take me. I’ll Illuminate and blind the filth.”
Holand turned to the boy with a furious scowl. “Mikel! You were to stay with your siblings, you little scamp! What are—”
But Mikel grabbed the Elder’s hand and pulled him along after Riyah. “Punish me later, Elder. Right now, we have to help the Elderad. Come on.”
Holand lifted the boy and placed him on his shoulders. To Leon’s surprise, the old man and the little boy both began to glow. Holand threw out a circle of light. When it hit the wizards, they cried out and stumbled backward.
Mikel clapped his hands together over his head creating a flash of light that Leon flinched against. The wizards cried out, shouting they were blind.
General Gailid’s archers moved forward. Leon held the staff higher, wanting to make sure none ended up outside of its protective covering. The archers aimed and sent a volley of arrows into the air. Most of the Wizards knocked the arrows aside. Except those who were blinded or knocked off balance by the old man and young boy.
“Move us forward, Regent,” yelled men from the town that had come along. “Get us close enough so we can fight too.”
Leon wasn’t sure he could protect them all, but he did urge his horse forward a few paces. As Holand and Mikel brought confusion and disorder to the line of sorcerers, the warriors surged forward, engaging them with sword and spears. Shields deflected spells and curses that were cast their way.
Riyah blocked the lightning bolts sent at him. A ball of fire engulfed him. He pulled water from the fountain and doused it over himself. However, he had nothing to fight back with. Leon remembered the Elderad would not kill. They would not fight in man’s battles. Why Riyah wanted to reach the fountain… oh, he remembered something else. Riyah must reach the fountains. He had to!
Another blast of lightning sent Riyah stumbling backward and bringing him down to his knees. He pushed himself up and continued walking toward the pool.
A bolt of lightning landed near Holand. Mikel yelled out, coaxing the elder to stand firm as he tried to clap his hand and create another light blast. Except the young boy must have grown weary and produced nothing more than a feeble flash.
Leon spurred his horse forward, urging the men to keep fighting. “Stay behind Riyah and the Shield. Anyone else with special abilities, use them now. We cannot allow these wizards to take what belongs to Shaydon!”
“For our King!” General Gailid shouted. “For the Kingdom. Forward men remember who’s covering you are under and do not allow fear to take hold. Forward!”
The men responded by shouting, “For King Shaydon!”
The wizards seemed to pause, some covering their ears. A couple of women who’d insisted on coming along began gathering the white stones left in Riyah’s wake. Younger men dropped them into simple slingshots and sent the rocks toward the wizards. When one made contact, a chilling screech came from the sorcerer moments before he was engulfed in flames.
More of the robed figures turned and ran for the surrounding woods.
Only the three Sorcerers facing Riyah stood firm, along with a handful of devoted followers that seemed to be lending some of their energy to their leaders.
Holand fell to one knee. Mikel climbed off his shoulders, but he’d nearly used up his powers.
They couldn’t let the other Wizards escape. They’d only re-band and return again when the opportunity arose. Indignation rose in Leon’s heart. His father might have allowed this to happen, but he would not stand for this travesty to continue. The thieves needed to be dealt with once and for all.
“Courage men!” He shouted. “We represent King Shaydon. Push ahead. Do not let them escape!” The glow pouring from the staff intensified with his words. To his relief, the glow covered the elder and boy. Sweat poured down Leon’s back. He wanted to hop off his horse and help with the fighting but knew the shield aided them better than his sword would.
Instead, he continued to encourage them to push forward, to trust in Shaydon, and to remember who they were.
A small band of men broke away from the shelter of the shield and started after the retreating figures. Leon tried to call them back. They didn’t seem to hear.
A wizard noticed them and began pointed his blackened staff at the group. A bolt of light shot from the tip and hit the leader who fell off his horse, writhing and screaming in pain. Another blast hit the second warrior. One of Leon’s archers aimed his arrow at the wizard and shot. The arrow struck the wizard’s arm, only deterring him for a moment.
/> It was long enough for the warriors to drag their fallen comrades back beneath the light covering.
More arrows flew toward the wizard, but he was able to throw up a shield to block them, before he, also, turned and began running away.
“They cannot harm us under Riyah’s shield,” Leon shouted over the ruckus. “Let us continue forward with all our might and plow them down if that’s what it takes.”
General Gailid shouted for his men to charge and as one single unit, they all rushed forward.
The few blocking Riyah moved out of the way. Riyah dove into the pool. When he stood, a wall of water and light flowed up and around him, parting like a curtain.
From the blinding light men dressed in gold and silver armor poured out of the portal, too many for Leon to count. With a mighty shout, half pursued the retreating sorcerers while the other half finished the battle for Riyah.
From the woods, shouts and screams sent flocks of birds into the air.
Leon had no idea what was happening and decided he didn’t want to know.
Riyah stumbled from the pool, his garments soaked and sticking to his body. “You are not done yet.” He said to those standing beneath Leon’s shield. “Purge this town of the remaining rebels. Take back your land. Search every building, every cellar, and cave until they are all driven out.” Then he sat heavily on the railing, burying his face in his hands as his long, white hair fell around him.
Hopping down from his horse, Leon hurried to his side. “Riyah, are you all right, my friend? That was…magnificent. This is the first time I’ve witnessed a portal opening.”
The Elderad stood abruptly. “I am fine. I must go to the King. I’ll return soon. Make sure they check everywhere, Leonard. Every possible hiding place. Those they find that turned on their own town, you will have to deal with firmly and swiftly. I will return soon.”
“Wait. You’re leaving me?” He grabbed Riyah’s sleeve.
