Sentinals Awaken: Book One of the Sentinals Series

by Helen Garraway

  “I wondered where she had come from. We’ll take her back,” the stable master assured him, veering off as Jerrol headed for the hall.

  The dining hall was sparsely populated: a few guards who had finished their shift, and a sprinkling of Bryce’s men silently communing with their coffee, their thoughts far away. Jerrol selected a plate of bread and fruit before pouring his coffee and choosing a seat at an unoccupied table.

  He sipped his coffee, letting his mind drift as he relaxed. The low voices around him were soothing. He listened absently to the men behind him as he cut his apple into wedges and began to eat them.

  “You should’ve seen him, proud as punch ’e was, rescuing the ladies. Not that he helped turn the carriage, nor offered us any help on the field. No, that lord won’t dirty his hands, yer can tell,” one of the guards said.

  “And after all that the Lady Alyssa weren’t there,” a deeper voice replied.

  “He weren’t pleased,” the man said, and the other men with him laughed at the obvious understatement.

  “What about going over to Ramila? We’ve got a couple of days, and there’s that speaker on tomorrow.”

  “Var’geris yer mean? I can’t be bothered. I’ll go another time.”

  “We’re all going. It’ll be a laugh, get some of that Terolian wine in yer, do yer good.”

  “Give me gut rot yer mean. I remember the last time,” the man said.

  Jerrol slowly turned his head and studied the men. They were all damp-haired from their recent bath, though they looked weary and drained. Suddenly Jerrol remembered where he had heard the name before; Lord Aaron had said it at Deepwater. Var’geris was the name Aaron had said. The way this man said the name, it was quite familiar to him.

  Jerrol moved his mug and his plate over to the guards’ table, smiling at the men as he sat. “I couldn’t help overhearing, were all the ladies alright? I’m sure Lady Alyssa will want to know.”

  “Yeah, scared stiff and travel-weary, but they hadn’t been touched. Not for lack of wanting, so we heard, but one of those wenches had a dagger or two and knew how to use ’em, she made them think twice. They were lucky,” the guard nodded wisely, “very lucky.”

  “You mentioned Var’geris, is that a person?”

  One of the men snorted. “Not been to Terolia lately? It’s all you hear, Var’geris this, Var’geris that, apparently it is a new religion sweeping through the nomads. They are falling like flies, never thought to see the nomads bowing to anyone. Not the families, but they are entranced, can’t get enough, so we hear. Makes our life easier, been fewer clashes on the border.”

  “But the smuggling routes seem to have taken a new lease of life,” one of his companions said. “We are intercepting more contraband than ever.”

  “What sort of contraband?” Jerrol asked.

  “The usual: liquor, silk, gems, opiates. All the things the King has a levy on, not large consignments, but enough to be noticeable.”

  “Any idea who is behind it, or where it is supposed to go?”

  “No, they are slippery little buggers. Got all sorts of tricks up their sleeves; you never know what they are going to throw at you. I expect they will be calling this Var’geris down on us next. They keep saying he will come down on us from on high! What was it you said it translated as?” He nudged the fellow next to him.

  “Rising up, to be ascendant,” the man replied.

  Jerrol’s stomach congealed. He managed to smile his thanks as he rose from the table. He walked towards the doorway as Birlerion appeared. He jerked his head, and Birlerion followed him out.

  “Are you supposed to be up?” Birlerion asked, glancing about as if he expected an unhappy healer to descend on them at any moment.

  “Oh yes, Tyrone released me. Where’s Jennery?”

  “Healer Tyrone dosed him up and sent him back to bed. He was sneezing all over the place.”

  “Best place for him, then. I overheard the guards talking about Terolia; have you ever visited the country?”

  “Er, yes, but it will no doubt be different from what I remember.”

  Jerrol gave him a sympathetic glance. “I think after we’ve visited Velmouth, we are going to need to go on a jaunt to Terolia,” and he repeated what the guards had said. “It seems to me the source of much of the trouble stems from Terolia.”

  “That’s not much to go on, though that bandit leader had a Terolian name.”

  “Then go and find out what else you can. Investigating smugglers should be right up your street. We’ll be leaving for Velmouth in the morning.” Jerrol started to turn away but paused as Jason strode up; he didn’t look particularly happy.

  “Jerrol, you got a few minutes?”

  “Of course.” Jerrol was surprised. He followed Jason back to his office.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what?” Jerrol asked, bewildered.

  “That Prince Kharel has a price on your head, dead or alive!” snapped Jason, pacing angrily.

  Jerrol was taken aback. “Well, we had that trouble a couple of days ago, but to be honest, with everything going on, I’d sort of forgotten. I know the King doesn’t support his view, but the King’s voice is not being heard so much lately.”

  “And how do you know the King’s view if the Prince arrested you?”

  “Well,” Jerrol expelled his breath, “I was talking to the King in the throne room when I was arrested.”

  “What? Why didn’t the King intervene?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What were you talking about?”

  “I can’t say. Jason, please, it’s not for me to say,” Jerrol said as he saw Jason’s frown. “Honestly, I have my orders and if the King sees fit to leave me adrift, who am I to countermand him?”

  Jason sat in his chair. “Lad, what have you gotten yourself into?” His face creased in concern.

  Jerrol scowled. “More than I bargained for, I’m sure. I am going to head up to Velmouth with Birlerion, search for Torsion. Then I think we might take a trip into Terolia; there are a few rumours I need to investigate.”

  “Are you sure it’s safe? You’ve not exactly been discreet whilst you’ve been here. Oh, I’ve suppressed this for now, but they will hear the news via other routes. I can’t keep it quiet for long, and then you’ll have all sorts after you. The amount of money being offered is obscene. What did you do?”

  “That’s the thing, Jason, I didn’t do anything! I have no idea why the Prince is determined to kill me. All the charges were trumped up. I was no longer on the Chancellor’s detail. I’m at a loss.”

  “Well, you’d better figure it out before it’s too late. Who are you taking with you to Velmouth? Jennery?”

  “No, I think Jennery ought to escort Lady Alyssa back to Greenswatch. Along with Bryce. I’ll take Birlerion. Uh, I don’t think I said. He is a Sentinal. I woke him in Old Vespers.”

  Jason stared at him. “He’s a what?”

  Jerrol rubbed his face. “A Lady’s Sentinal, he was in the Sentinal tree in Old Vespers. I woke him up, and he stepped out of the tree, much as you see him now. I ought to go and wake yours up.”

  “Birlerion is a three-thousand-year-old Sentinal?” Jason repeated in disbelief.

  Jerrol grinned at his expression. “Yes.”

  “And how did you wake him up, may I ask? “

  “Umm, by accident. The Lady made me her Captain. It seems the Ascendants are back, trying to overthrow the King and the Lady.”

  “And you think there are men in the sentinal trees here as well?”

  “Yes.” Jerrol chuckled at the look Jason gave him. “I’m not mad. Speak with Birlerion; you’ll soon believe me. He’ll be chasing me to wake your Sentinals shortly, just you watch.”

  Jason shook his head and changed the subject. “What about Jennery, what’s he doing here?”

  “I sent him orders to join me, though I think it’s time Jennery returned to his unit. We need to get someone on the ins
ide at Old Vespers, and Jennery could be it.”

  “I can’t imagine Jennery being a courtier.” A brief smile flickered across Jason’s face at the thought. “Are you sure this Birlerion will be enough?”

  “Who else do you suggest? He could always pretend he’s arrested me and is taking me back for execution by the Prince.”

  “Don’t joke about it.” Jason was appalled at the thought. “I was going to suggest Bryce, though I suppose he is not the skulking type either.”

  “Greenswatch is expecting him to return with Lady Alyssa, so I think he’s busy. We’ll be fine. We’ll be with Torsion.” Jerrol tried to reassure him.

  “Why does that not make me feel any better?” Jason asked almost to himself.

  Jerrol clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll tell Jennery his new orders; you’d better tell Bryce.”

  Jerrol found Jennery in the guesting barracks, nursing his cold. He took his orders as well as Jerrol had expected, but once he had calmed down enough to listen to Jerrol’s reasoning, he was soon nodding thoughtfully. “Do you think Simeon will take the Watch that fast?”

  Jerrol rubbed his chin. “I think the ceremony will happen as soon as Alyssa arrives. I highly doubt Simeon will pick up the mantle; it will stay with Alyssa. You need to help protect her. See if you can delay so you can attend.

  “As you are returning to Old Vespers to rejoin your company you could suggest that you escort Alyssa, that will get you in at court. I expect her mother will want to call her to her side once she hears about Lord Hugh. I can’t imagine she would miss that opportunity.”

  “What’s the story there? I’ve never met her.”

  Jerrol sighed. “Not much to tell, typical daughter of a courtier swept up by a lord, not realising that she would have to live so far from court, and in the ‘Wilds of the Watches’ as well.” He rolled his eyes. “She stayed long enough to beget two children before recalling her promises to the Princess that she would return to her duties or some such. And she was gone, leaving Hugh with two young children. Be warned though, she may seem shallow, but she is astute and has the ear of Prince Kharel’s wife. Be very careful around her.”

  “Ah,” groaned Jennery, “court intrigue, my favourite. I think I would prefer skulking around Velmouth with you instead, send Birlerion to court.”

  “Can you imagine a Sentinal loose at court? We will do well together. Let’s introduce you to Alyssa. At least you are an official escort!”

  Alyssa accepted her new personal guard with aplomb, especially once she realised he was in the employ of the Lady as well. She was enthusiastic about keeping him as her escort for as long as possible. As they seemed to hit it off so well, Jerrol left them plotting their journey and went to search for Birlerion. He had a few plans of his own to set in motion.

  He had just exited the inner courtyard when he felt the change in the air. He sidestepped, drawing his sword as he spun into motion and deflected the brutal downward sweep of his opponent’s sword. The screech of metal echoing through the hallways was deafening; the sheer force of the blow almost overbalanced the man, who had been expecting it to be a killing blow. Jerrol absorbed some of the energy and used the rest to spin back into the body of his opponent and strike low and hard, to be met with a counterthrust as the man recovered and parried.

  The sound of clashing swords drew a crowd of watchers as the fighters traversed the inner courtyard, the swords flickering so fast they were just a blur.

  Jennery and Alyssa thrust their way through to the front of the crowd. “Can’t you help him?” Alyssa grabbed Jennery’s arm as Jerrol went on the offensive, his face cold and stern and very focused. Forcing his opponent back, he began the final movement of his counterargument.

  Jennery shook his head. “Too late, I’d only throw him off his stride.” Jennery watched Jerrol’s opponent falter as Jerrol’s unexpected response shattered his timing. The rhythm of the fight was deliberately broken. Jerrol spun tightly and thrust his sword through the man’s guard. Jerrol followed the body down to the ground, the deadweight dragging him down. After a short pause to gather himself and breathing heavily, he pulled his sword out and stood back up, blinking blearily at his audience.

  “Jerrol, are you alright?” Jennery moved forward to block the view, Alyssa close behind him. “And you,” he snarled as Birlerion approached, “where were you? You’re the one supposed to be protecting him.”

  Birlerion stiffened, though he answered calmly enough. “The Captain had it in hand, he is quite capable, you know. I didn’t intercede for the same reason you didn’t.”

  Jerrol waved his hand, trying to catch his breath and gripping his side. “Give me a minute.” Tyrone had been right; he wasn’t as recovered as he thought he was.

  Jennery knelt to turn the body over as Jason entered the courtyard. Jason soon dispersed the spectators and was assessing the scene as he approached. “Who is it? Do you recognise him?”

  “Never seen him before.” Jerrol breathed deeply. “Is he one of yours?”

  Jason looked closely. “No,” he said slowly. He glanced up and barked out an order to one of the guards who had followed him.

  In short order, Bryce arrived, somewhat dishevelled as if he had hastily dressed, and Jerrol remembered he had not long returned from Greenswatch. He grimaced in sympathy as Jason explained what had happened and directed his captain to the body. “Anyone you’ve seen recently?”

  Bryce stared at the body intently. “He may be one of the Greenswatch guards, though I’m not positive.”

  Alyssa frowned. “I don’t recognise him, but then, I don’t know all the men.”

  “Why would Greenswatch send someone after me?” Jerrol said. “It doesn’t make sense! They couldn’t have known I was here. There was no reason to connect me to the recovery of Lord Hugh.”

  “Maybe someone at Greenswatch saw you with Garrick?” suggested Jennery. “You were in the archives a while, that might have drawn comment.”

  Jerrol shook his head. “Only Garrick knew who we were, and we kept out of sight. I can’t see how anyone there would have known.”

  “Unless they were on the lookout for you,” Alyssa added. “There are conspiracies we never knew existed who can tell what they already know? First Lord Stefan, now my father; you can’t tell me their deaths are not connected.”

  The men looked at her in surprise. She raised a very valid point. Alyssa gazed back at them in frustration. “This all has to be connected,” she said, sweeping her hand around the courtyard. “Who else is trying to find out what is going on in the Watches? No one but you!”

  “Let’s move this conversation inside,” Jason said. “Bryce, deal with the body and meet us in my office; the rest of you follow me.”

  Jason sat behind his desk. His face was creased in thought as he tapped a finger on the arm of his chair. Lady Alyssa sat perched on a chair, with Jennery standing beside her. Jerrol was pacing the floor like a caged animal, still on an adrenaline high as he listed the facts they knew. He paused as the door opened and Bryce entered.

  “We know that we have two Watches down.” He glanced sympathetically at Alyssa, who inclined her head, her face calm. “That Guardians are being targeted, councils suborned, temple leaders converted, even the King is failing healthwise. As Lady Alyssa says, this conspiracy has been afoot for some time, so who is coordinating it? Prince Kharel? The Chancellor? Some outside influence? There are rumours of a religious upset in Terolia. Torsion went up to the Watch Towers four months ago and hasn’t been seen since. There are rumblings in the northeast; it could be a symptom, or it could be the cause we need to check.”

  Jerrol held up a finger. “One, we need someone at court to keep an eye on the King and feed us up-to-date information. Two, we need to investigate the rumblings. Three, we need to shore up the watches and begin our defence.”

  Jason looked at him keenly. “I see your time in the infirmary was well spent,” he said as he gestured for Jerrol to continue.

  �
��Seeing as I can’t go back to Vespers and I am guessing that is a deliberate act to keep me away from the King, I suggest Jennery goes to court with Lady Alyssa. They have more reason to go than any of us, and I am sure if you drop the right hints, Alyssa, your mother will invite you, and Simeon will have to agree. He must want to appear to have a tighter alignment with Prince Kharel.”

  Alyssa tapped her foot gently on the floor. “I’ll send a letter to my mother straight away.” She glanced up at Jennery, and they shared a fleeting smile.

  “Bryce, once you’ve escorted Lady Alyssa home, you need to detour through the watches to Lords William and Marcus. Check their holdings, agree on the protocols, advise them what has been happening elsewhere and make sure they check out any newcomers to the council. If we can remove them before they can act, we have a chance to weaken their position.” Bryce whistled softly, glancing at Jason, who gave him a sharp nod.

  “Jason, you need to coordinate with those you trust in the Stoneford council and remove those from power whom you think are the instigators. They can argue the toss once you have them out of position. And this smuggling business...” Jerrol rubbed his nose. “I smelt trealt at Deepwater. If drugs are playing a part in this, we need to cut their supply. Can you try and disrupt the operation permanently?”

  Jason chuckled, his eyes bright. “I’m sure we can find a way.”

  “Birlerion and I will go up to Velmouth; speak to the council, track down Torsion, check out the towers and the borders if possible. Dependent on what we find we’ll either head over to Terolia or return here. No matter what, if urgent send a messenger, but within the month, we all need to have reported back to Jason. Then we need to figure out how we win the Watches back!”

  Jerrol stopped speaking and looked around the room expectantly. He was greeted by a slightly stunned silence, as they all digested his instructions.

  Birlerion spoke up hesitantly. “If there is a deliberate attempt to keep you from the King, shouldn’t you make every effort to reach him?”

  “We need proof. Evidence that will prove to the Inquisitors that Kharel and the Chancellor are trying to overthrow the King. Otherwise, as soon as I step into the palace, they will execute the warrant and me! They won’t have a choice.”