The Awakening (The Stones of Revenge)

by Sargeant, Justin

  This morning was no exception. Strapping on the reins, it was evident to Abaccus that he was being required for work. He had danced and neighed and shinnied his way out of Mordecai’s grasp a number of times until finally Mordecai had cornered him and Abaccus knew he had lost. It was at this moment when Landon had come outside. He saw his uncle parading the horse back towards the road leading him by the reins. Abaccus had, what seemed, a sour look on his face. They next had to secure the saddle with bags. Abaccus had started to act as if he might give Mordecai another fit, but he stopped when he saw Landon exit the hut. Landon noticed this and a slight grin stretched on his face. He turned and headed towards the other horse standing in the grass beside the road. This one was his. A tall, dark brown, nearly black, mare named Aquila. She had been wounded in the leg and left to die when Landon had found her.

  At the time, he had been running errands for Mordecai and was a day’s ride from the farm. Landon knew that she would die if he didn’t help her, so he dismounted Abaccus and walked slowly over to her. She noticed him coming and began to squirm and scream for fear of her life. He stopped his advance and raised his hands in a gesture of peace. For a long minute Landon stood there looking into her dark eyes, unsure of what the mare was going to do. Then, as she returned the gaze, she seemed to understand that he was friend, not foe. The mare relaxed and allowed Landon to inspect her. When he did so, he noticed that the leg was broken but able to be mended.

  Tearing off his tunic he prepared a sling for the mare. Tying it off tightly, the horse gave a short whimper. Abaccus strode over to inspect the scene and began to huff understanding he would have to assist as well. Leaning on Abaccus the mare slowly raised herself and limped her way toward the road. They walked this way for about a day, eventually arriving at the farm.

  Once at the farm, a stable was made for the injured horse. Mordecai completed the healing in a month using the knowledge he had been taught from his parents to bring the horse back to full strength. The mare was so thankful she stayed close to Landon at all times. Finally, after a full three months of being rescued and no one coming to call, Landon decided it was time for a name. He had remembered a story Mordecai used to tell of a sweet maiden who, after being rescued from an evil sorcerer, fell in love with her rescuer. The maiden’s name was Aquila. It seemed a fitting name. Now, nearly five years later, Landon was the only person Aquila would allow to ride her.

  Next to his horse, Landon noticed reins and equipment lying on the ground. He retrieved them and began to lace them around his mare. Aquila was the complete opposite of Abaccus; she loved going for rides. As Landon wrapped the reins and saddle around her she began to neigh and shinny from excitement. She was eager to break into a gallop and could hardly contain herself. It made his task harder for every few moments he had to chase her down. Finally finishing the job, Landon turned to face his uncle and was surprised at the progress he had made. Mordecai was already tying on the saddlebags.

  “At a boy, Abaccus,” he whispered to the horse, “this is going to be a good day.”

  “Uncle, are you about ready? I think Aquila is going to have a heart attack if we don’t get a move on,” Landon said reassuring the horse by stroking her mane.

  “Aye, that about does it. Did you grab the knapsack?”

  “I did,” Landon said as he wrapped the bag around the saddle. Both men mounted their horses, turned them towards the road, and sped off into the direction of Camsbury.

  The road to town was a rather direct route through the most beautiful grassland of the Realm. Encircling the farm was a small ring of trees which ended at the low stone wall of the property line. The road ran through an opening in the stone wall, past the trees, and out into the hills of the shire. The hills spanned out from the road for about one hundred miles before angling into the mountains which surrounded the valley in which Camsbury lay. As the two men crossed their property line, Landon couldn’t help but gaze upon the vast sea of amber which lay before them.

  The sun had fully risen over the eastern mountains casting a quite, golden glow upon the amber fields and the right side of Landon’s body. The wind dashed against the face of the two riders. All of the world was still in this solemn morning. The only sounds were the rush of wind and the horse’s hooves as they beat upon the hardened dirt. Aquila’s breath moved in rhythm to her gallop. Alongside her left flank galloped Abaccus. Wisps of his breath flew wildly as he ran to stay in step. Aquila was always the faster horse. But when riding beside her, Abaccus always attempted to impress her. He left behind his slothful attitude and pounded at every step, keeping the pace. Aquila would stride ahead. Then slow to see if Abaccus would match it. Most times he would not, so she would move even slower to match him. At times he would dash with every ounce of energy within him and match her speed. They rode like this together for quite some time until failing endurance forced them to slow to a more manageable pace. The two men and their horses journeyed for two hours until the foreboding ruins of Bodam Castle came into view.

  Bodam Castle had been a seat of power for the Duke of Camsbury in the Old Kingdom. Myriad nobles visited the castle as they made their way through the valley, hoping to forge an alliance within the Duke’s court. In its prime, the castle had been the splendor of the realm, rivaling even the Palace of Havring which served as a vacation home for the King of the Realm. Castle Bodam had been small in land but was well fortified boasting six turrets that rose some two hundred feet into the sky. The main fortifying wall stood at an impressive four hundred feet combined with two of the turrets on either side of the main gate.

  For four hundred years the castle had stood impregnable to enemy attack, having survived two wars and a number of different sieges. It was only due to a fault discovered in the moat surrounding the castle that brought it to its knees. After the Second King consolidated his realm, many of the dukes and barons were removed from power leaving the castle uninhabited for nearly a century. It was then that the castle met its fate. The moat which had surrounded and protected the fortress had also weakened its foundation. Slowly the castle had sunk into the soft turf beneath it until it toppled over, leaving vast ruins in its place.

  As Landon and Morecai cut through hushed morning, the first thing to come in view on the horizon was the towering main gate. Landon could make out its dark silhouette against the bright landscape. Near to the fort ran a strong brook with fresh water for the horses to refresh themselves. Landon could already hear the water bubbling over the large rocks. It was typical for the horses to water at the spot before continuing along the road. Approaching the ruins, the two men saw the plethora of stones spread along the hills surrounding the site where the castle had once stood. All that remained of the once proud structure was the main gate and the bases of two turrets.

  Landon rode Aquila to the bank of the brook which, due to the drought, had diminished into a tiny stream. It was enough, however, for the horses to drink. The brief rest would give him and Mordecai some time to grab a quick bite. Hopping off of Aquila, adjacent to one of the stone turrets, Landon took the knapsack and pulled out the apples and bread. Mordecai arrived a few seconds later and they both bade their horses towards the stream. The two men sat down in the shade of the battlement and feasted on their lunch.

  It took them only a few minutes to down the apples and bread but they decided to give themselves a few extra minutes in the shade. With few trees along the road and the drought in full swing, the journey had proven to be hotter than anticipated. Mordecai did not look interested in the possibly of another two hours ride. His mood had seemed to brighten slightly from the morning. This was a shock to Landon who had been used to a silent treatment from his uncle when he awoke in such a manner. Perhaps he had been mistaken this morning. However, the ride to town in the heat had not helped.

  He leaned against the stone and closed his eyes, feeling the coolness of the shade and the warmth slowly burn away. Landon turned his gaze upon the two horses getting their fill from the stream. Abaccus
had already decided to lie down while Aquila frolicked in the bit of water which existed. Landon wished he could live at Bodam. He imagined its great towers and impressive walls rebuilt, his parents alive ruling the county as Duke and Duchess, and he, a lowly Marquis, learning the traits of a Defender of the Realm. Little else stirred his heart more. In an instant, Mordecai bitterly injected his words into the midst of Landon’s thoughts destroying his fantasy.

  “I think we’ve had enough of a rest.”

  So much for an improved mood.

  “Couldn’t it last just a bit longer?”

  “I am itching to get what we need and return to the farm.”

  “But we’ve ridden the horse quite hard already this morning.”

  “Landon, I do not want to be away from the farm any longer than needs be.”

  “Then this needs be. Come on, uncle. You wouldn’t want the horses tiring out on the way home and we having to walk would you?”

  He scratched his scraggly beard. “Nay, you stay if you want. I will ride on.”

  Reluctantly Landon pulled himself off of the ground and whistled Aquila over to him. She came eagerly at a trot and Landon easily mounted her saddle. Mordecai whistled, but Abaccus remained where he was. Mordecai whistled again but still no movement. Exasperation finally set in as Mordecai trudged over to the stubborn horse.

  “Now you listen to me you over grown flea bag! You get yourself up this instant or there will be no more apples in your oats.” As if understanding the threat, Abaccus slowly began to rise to his feet. Mordecai mounted him with a huff, and together he and Landon continued on their way towards Camsbury.

  As the road carried them ever away from the ruins, Landon couldn’t help but to continually glance back to imagine what the ruins might have looked in its glory days with an attacking army camped on the hills five hundred yards away and an army littered about its ramparts and towers. He could picture his father shouting orders to his Defenders and his mother organizing the women and children into safety. He had slowed behind Mordecai, who knew enough to leave Landon be and ride ahead, knowing he would catch up when he was ready. He took a few more minutes to envision the scene then turned away to catch Mordecai. After an hour’s worth of riding, the ruins were barely visible on the horizon. Landon slowed to a trot as he poured his last gaze over the landscape. The old castle faded into the distance, and Landon thought that for a brief moment he saw a red flag flying off one of the turrets and heard a trumpet sounding the alarm of battle.

  He returned his attention to the road ahead to see the faint outline of a walled city in the distance. From the midst of the city, Landon could make out the tall spike from the cathedral that stood in the center of Camsbury. Distantly a bell was ringing signaling the changing of the hour.

  Clang

  Clang

  Clang

  Clang

  Clang

  Clang

  Clang

  Clang

  Clang

  Nine times the bell tolled and nine times Landon heard it fade as the wind brought the slightest whisper to his ears. He spurred Aquila on to catch up with Mordecai. Within the hour, they would be within the walls of Camsbury.

  Chapter Three

  Lessons of Inheritance

  As the two men entered the city gates of Camsbury, their attention turned to the commotion among the people. Men and women hustled about the streets carrying on from one important errand to the next. Some women huddled together with their children to gossip about the latest news from around the empire. Others bought from sellers, traded what they had for whatever they could get, then moved on to the next vendor. Men stood behind rough wooden tables and yelled to the passersby to entice them to buy from their stand instead of the man across the road.

  “Fresh meat! I cut ‘em, you eat ‘em!” one merchant said.

  “Fresh fruit picked straight from the trees! Get ‘em two for the price of one!” the seller across from him barked.

  “You there! Come on over and look at my assortment of rare valuables! They come from very distant lands and contain special powers!” a strange looking merchant said. He had wild hair and torn, dirty clothes. He leaned close to Landon as he and Mordecai passed by.

  These were not the people to buy from. Any of the sellers in the town marketplace could always be counted on to do one thing, exploit the consumer. To get anything at a reasonable price, Landon and Mordecai had to head closer to the town’s center where the shop owners lived and sold their goods.

  The town of Camsbury was shaped more or less like a square inlaid with circles of houses. Toward the outside lived the poorer individuals. Dilapidated houses set in an ordered arc, hung together by a few strands of straw stood against the city walls. These were situated adjacent to the street vendors. This part of town was known for it corrupt and wicked ways. A couple rows of houses inward lay the town center shaped very much like a pear. At the south end, the end from which Landon and his uncle rode, was the larger end. Four large, old, wooden buildings lay stretched out in an arc. The two in the center were bigger than the others and had dirty, black windows surrounding the top. They each had two large doors which swung outward inviting visitors into a cavernous shop inside. These were Godfrey’s blacksmith shop and the silversmith’s shop. On the outside of them lay two shorter buildings with one door and one window each. The doors were closed. These shops belonged to the butcher and Archer who sold the good Landon and Mordecai needed. Across a wide street on the opposite end of the center contained one small building with a small wooden door, the Apothecary’s shop and another long building bustling with people. This was Rowan’s Tavern. Situated just behind the town square to the northwest sat the monstrous cathedral which cast its enormous shadow on numerous abandoned buildings to the east.

  As Landon and Mordecai entered the town center, they turned their horses left and headed towards the first building which was Archer’s. Landon did not stop when Mordecai did. He instead continued forward towards the third building in the middle of the row where Godfrey’s shop lay. As Mordecai dismounted and flipped the reins around the post, he looked back as Landon carried on his way. He could see Godfrey’s wooden sign hanging over his door covered in dust with the word blacksmith and a symbol of an anvil. He stood in disbelief at the blatant disobedience from his nephew. He started to call out then stopped himself. He would deal with it later.

  As Landon approached Godfrey’s he saw the shop in its state is disrepair. The building was very old. The south side of its roof had a thatched spot where a hole had been repaired years ago, and on the west side, a new hole was forming. The shop had two large doors in the front that opened up revealing a wide array of anvils, kilns, and an assortment of weaponry hanging all around. Aside from the windows near the roof, the sides of the shop had one window each, which were covered in dust and slightly blackened from the smoke. Landon also noticed a few guards roaming the town center. He felt an uneasiness begin to creep up in his stomach. He stopped Aquila and dismounted her. Finding a post, he flung the reins around it, and was about to enter the doors when a voice stopped him.

  “I wouldn’t go that way. He’s not in right now.” Landon turned at the sound.

  “And where might he be?”

  “If it was your place to know, you would not need me to tell you,” the voice retorted.

  Landon strode towards the man he had been speaking with. He was a head taller than Landon, and his hair was speckled with the gray that comes from years of living. His brown tunic was strapped tightly about him allowing his muscles to bulge out from underneath. A sword was sheathed and hung at the man’s waist. The lines on the man’s face and the dark blue eyes that stared at Landon indicated more under the surface that only needed a reason to explode at any man’s peril.

  Landon stopped in front of the man, his nose inches away from his chin. For a moment, it seemed as if the entire town was frozen in suspense at who might make the first move. They received their answer when the tall man
raised his right hand to the sky. As he did so, Landon stepped back waiting for the inevitable. The man’s arm came down around Landon’s shoulder and slapped him square on the back. Landon recoiled from the shock of the man’s burly hand. The huge man laughed.

  “It is good to see you young one!” Godfrey exclaimed.

  “It’s good to see you, too,” Landon said with a smile on his face. “Octavius broke his harness again.”

  “Then you will not be staying.”

  “Nay, though, he won’t be needing me at the moment.”

  “I am glad to hear it. Would you like to come in and have a seat? I was just returning from buying some shoes for my horse. You never know when you might have use of them.”

  “It would be my pleasure,” Landon said with a wide smile stretched across his face.

  Godfrey was one of the few men still living in Camsbury who old enough to remember how the Realm had existed before the Treaty of the Lords. He was an odd old man who lived alone and made sure to keep it that way. He always kept to himself and depended upon selling armor and weapons to soldiers, knights, and anyone who might have a need for defense. Every year the harvest festival came to town and Godfrey set up shop. He never attempted to coerce people to enter his tent nor ever appeared in front of it. He always sat quietly inside sipping his tea, waiting for people to come to him; that was how he and Landon met.

  When Landon was ten years old, he and Mordecai went to the festival to sell some of their crops from that year’s harvest. Mordecai got lost in a conversation, and Landon decided to sneak away to visit the other tents. He knew Mordecai wouldn’t be happy if he got caught, but the excitement of discovery was more appealing at the time. Landon walked past every vendor who yelled or shook goods in his face until finally he came upon a tent with no one in front. The sign at the front read: Godfrey’s Weaponry. It was just enough to inspire the boy’s curiosity.