“Does it still tempt you?” Reegan asked.
“No,” Dex replied. “The magic seems to be completely under my control.”
“Be careful,” Reegan said. “It might flare up if you’re near a powerful wizard or sorcerer. What did the Lord Marshyl say about it?”
“Not much,” Dex said. “He hasn’t spoken with me since I revealed my connection with the Executioner.”
“Well, don’t take that the wrong way,” Reegan said. “If he were worried about you he’d have said something. He’s not the kind of man to hold back for fear of offending.”
Dex finished his story with his father disappearing in a sudden billow of black smoke. Reegan rubbed his jaw and looked at Dex. The sun was setting through the thick clouds and the heat from the fire felt good on the young Marshyl’s weary legs. He had spent most of the day training. As an Adept there was no doubt as to what came next if he wanted to become a full-fledged Marshyl Knight. He would be given a quest. If he completed it, he would be promoted to Knight and given his first real assignment. If he failed… Dex didn’t want to think about failure.
“We should get some dinner, and some rest,” Reegan said. “I’ve only been back a few hours, but I wanted to see you. Remember Dex, you don’t have to accept the quest you’re offered until you feel ready.”
“Do you think the Lord Marshyl will send for me soon?”
“I do, and I want you to think long and hard before accepting anything. You’re a Marshyl at heart Dex, and you’ll want to take on any task the Lord Marshyl asks of you. But be careful. Not every Questor returns to become a Knight. Some have been lost in their quest. You have a bright future here and I hate to think of anything happening to you.”
“I think I understand,” Dex said, as Bliss cooed softly and rested her head on Dex’s shoulder.
“And don’t leave without seeing me again,” Reegan said. “No matter how urgent the quest is. I have something for you and I don’t want you to leave the compound without it.”
“Something for me?” Dex said. “You shouldn’t have.”
“Humility is a great virtue,” Reegan explained, “but the entire Guild is indebted to you. Me most of all. You saved my life long before you were a Familiar or even knew that your honorable actions would earn you a place in the academy. I wouldn’t send you off on your first solo quest without a little something to show my appreciation. I’m staying in a spare apartment inside the Great Wall if you need me.”
Dex scrambled to his feet, kicked dirt onto the embers of their fire until he was certain the fire was out, and then headed toward the mess hall. Bliss jumped from the ground, flapping her reddish wings to rise up to Dex’s shoulder. The young Marshyl knew that the phoenix would be flying soon. Bliss, which was short for Blister, would need to explore her own freedom and that meant leaving Dex. Keeper Quoss had warned Dex that Bliss would leave once she learned to fly, but if he encouraged her to go, eventually she would return to him. He wasn’t looking forward to the phoenix, whom he had raised from a fledgling, going off without him, but he cared deeply for the bird and would do anything to ensure her happiness, including letting her go.
Bliss had developed strong, thick talons that were getting sharper every day. Dex had sewn a thick leather patch onto his right shoulder so that her talons didn’t rip his tunic to shreds or worse still, puncture the skin of his shoulder. They entered the mess hall together. Dex loved the sound of so many people happily ending their day with a warm meal among friends. It was like a tavern, or a big extended family. The mess hall was filled with warmth and light, laughter and voices all mixed together with the wonderful smell of delicious food. He felt more at home in the Marshyl compound than he had since he was a little boy. As a child he never doubted that he belonged, but there was very little laughter and fun in the tiny hut on the beach along the coast of Tuckeron.
“It’s about bloody time you stopped hacking at fence posts and came inside,” Kyp said, rising from a nearby table to join his friend. “I’m starving.”
“How’s it going in the smithy?” Dex asked.
“Good, I’ve shown the masters my techniques. It’s really not anything new, the Forgers here have been welding metal on metal for decades. Some even layer different types of metal to make patterns on the blades. I’m just the first to actually mold something together from tiny bits. It would help if we had more of the aged dragon scales.”
“Squirrel will bring more when he gets back,” Dex said. “You wrote to him, right?”
“Yes,” Kyp said, taking a plate that was piled high with mutton, buttered turnips, sautéed mushrooms, and carrots sweetened with honey.
They carried their plates to a table in the corner. Dex liked to sit where he could survey the entire room. The Marshyls didn’t serve ale or spirits in the mess hall. Many of the Keepers and Forgers who lived permanently in the compound kept their own bottles of wine back in their apartments carved into the Great Wall. Others spent their free time brewing their own ale, which they shared freely or sold to the tavern down the hill in the little village that was nestled in the valley below the compound.
“Guess what?” Dex said as he gazed around the room. “Outrider Reegan is here.”
“In the mess hall?” Kyp asked, turning around to look for their friend.
“No, but he’s back in the compound. We were talking before I came to dinner. He thinks the Lord Marshyl is going to send me on my quest soon.”
“Well, we expected as much, didn’t we?” Kyp said, his mouth full of food. “We’re Adepts now. Master Walthyr says that once we get some more of the aged dragon scales I can forge my own armor, which will be my final test.”
“I guess Squirrel will be promoted too,” Dex said.
“Unless the dragons are running wild with the griffins when the Keepers relieve him of his duty in Laskis,” Kyp joked.
They ate their meal and then returned to the dormitory they were sharing with a few other Adepts. Many of the apartments in the Great Wall had been damaged, forcing most of the lower-ranked Marshyls out into temporary housing in the courtyard. Dex didn’t care where he slept and he spent most of his time training or looking after his horse, Titan. Occasionally he helped with the rebuilding efforts, but he hadn’t been assigned to a full time role since returning to the compound and saving the Lord Marshyl.
They were sitting near the fire talking when a message was delivered to Dex. He had Bliss in his lap, where she was cooing softly as he rubbed her feathers. The phoenix was large, with a thick chest, long wings, and powerful talons. But it was the bird’s head that was her most captivating feature. She had dark red feathers up her long neck, and her large, curving beak was black. Her bright yellow eyes were large and seemed to take in everything around her. And on the crown of her head was a plume of golden feathers that shined in the light from the fire.
“What’s that?” Kyp asked.
“The Lord Marshyl has ordered me to his rooms in the morning,” Dex said.
“I guess Reegan knew what was coming,” Kyp said. “What else did he tell you about your quest?”
“That I didn’t have to accept it,” Dex said.
“That’s a laugh. He doesn’t know you at all if he thinks you’ll back down from a challenge.”
“I don’t think it’s that. He’s worried.”
“Everyone is worried,” Kyp said quietly. “I can feel it, especially from the Masters.”
“They expected to be able to retire quietly after a lifetime of service,” Dex commented. “I can’t say I blame them. The biggest threat to the Guild in ages and it comes when they feel past their prime.”
“They’re afraid. The Executioner is still out there. What if he comes back when you aren’t around to protect us.”
“You’ll be here,” Dex said with a smile.
“I’ll fight if I have to, you know that,” Kyp replied. “I might even be able to forge my own dragon armor, but I’m not like you Dex. I don’t want to fight.”
“Oh come on, you love it.”
“I love finally being ready to face the world. In Rycaster we were barely scraping by with no hope of improving our lives. Before that, we watched our parents get worn down by life and the hardships they faced. What I love is feeling like I’m not dependent on anyone else, that I can make my way in the world without fear.”
“All I’m saying is that I don’t run toward danger the way you do.”
“You don’t have as much to prove as I do,” Dex said.
“I don’t? How is that? How are we any different?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“We tell each other everything, Dex. We always have. I know you’ve been holding something back since we got here. I thought maybe it was because of the opal ring, or something the Lord Marshyl said to you when the two of you were alone.”
“No, it isn’t that,” Dex said, leaning closer to his friend and speaking in a soft voice. “I know who the Executioner is.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because, I’m not proud of it.”
“What do you mean? The entire Guild has been searching for the Executioner. Knowing who he is will help us track him down and put an end to his crimes.”
“Maybe,” Dex said.
“Definitely,” Kyp replied. “Who is it? How do you know him?”
Dex felt his stomach twist hard inside him. All his fears rushed into his mind like a mob of angry protestors. Every instinct he had told Dex not to reveal the truth. No one would understand, he thought. The entire Marshyl Guild would turn against him. The Lord Marshyl hadn’t expelled Dex, but how could he after Dex had saved his life? And Outrider Reegan hadn’t rejected him, but their bond was strong. Bliss trembled slightly, picking up on the anxiety that Dex was feeling. Dex wanted to trust Kyp, his closest friend, but he still felt weak and guilty just thinking of his connection to the Executioner.
“You have to promise not to tell anyone,” Dex said.
“I don’t get it, Dex. If you know who he is you have to tell the Lord Marshyl.”
“I did,” Dex said. “I told him everything.”
“But you didn’t tell me?” Kyp asked, not even trying to hide the hurt he felt.
“I didn’t want to burden you,” Dex said. “What I know won’t help us. It’s no great insight into the Executioner.”
Kyp didn’t reply, he just stared at his friend. Bliss swiveled her striking head toward Dex and cooed softly.
“He’s… he’s my father.”
“What?” Kyp couldn’t hide the shock on his face. “That’s impossible.”
“I thought so, too.”
“Your dad was lost at sea. I remember that storm like it was yesterday.”
“Me too, but I know what I saw when his hood fell back. It was my dad, Kyp. I swear it. I would know him anywhere. And I saw the recognition in his eyes.”
“You really mean it don’t you?” Kyp said. “The Executioner is your father.”
“Now you see why I didn’t tell you.”
“No,” the bigger boy said, pulling his shoulders back, “I don’t see anything. So what if you’re right? It doesn’t mean anything. You haven’t had contact with your dad in years. You thought he was dead. We all did. It doesn’t make you a bad person.”
“Not to you, but what about the other Marshyls?”
“You mean the ones that saw you save the Lord Marshyl and the entire compound?”
“I mean the ones who don’t know me like you do, Kyp. They won’t trust me if they know. I’ll be an outcast, no matter what.”
“I don’t think so,” Kyp replied. “You have to trust us. We’re your family now.”
“Well, I’m not telling anyone else,” Dex said. “Maybe Squirrel if he were here, but I’m not telling just anyone. And I don’t want you to tell anyone either.”
“I won’t,” Kyp said. “You know that.”
“I do, and I’m sorry I waited so long to tell you, but I didn’t know how. My father is the biggest threat to the Guild. It’s hard for me to believe.”
“Where did your father learn to wield magic?” Kyp asked.
“I don’t know. He never talked about magic when I was little. Not that we talked a lot about anything other than fishing. He and my mom fought a lot, I guess. I never really thought about it.”
“She was really messed up when he was lost at sea,” Kyp remembered. “My mom and dad used to talk about it.”
“I’ve always thought the same thing,” Dex admitted, “but looking back I don’t think she was ever happy.”
“So, what did the Lord Marshyl say when you told him?”
“Nothing, really. He asked a few questions, but I don’t have any insights. I just recognized him, that’s all. Maslow was his name. Other than that, I can’t really contribute any useful information.”
“You think he recognized you?”
“Yes,” Dex said. “He looked at me as if I had betrayed him, when the Wolf Bite spell ricocheted off my shield.”
“I’m sorry, Dex. That can’t be an easy thing to live with.”
“It isn’t. I mean, if he survived the storm why wouldn’t he come back home? Even if he didn’t want to be with my mother, surely he wouldn’t just abandon his family.”
“Maybe he couldn’t come back,” Kyp offered.
“I don’t know, I can’t think of anything but death that would keep me from returning to the people I love.”
“Something happened to him. I mean, look at what he’s been doing - killing Marshyls. When he was lost he was just a fisherman. Now he’s a powerful wizard.”
“An evil wizard,” Dex corrected his friend. “And maybe I’m just like him. Maybe that’s why I’m always getting into trouble.”
“Don’t go there,” Kyp said. “You have great instincts, Dex.”
“I have a tendency to do things I shouldn’t,” he said, holding up his blackened hand so that the light from the fire reflected from the platinum bonded onto the skin of his hand, the opal shards twinkling like stars.
“You saved the entire village from that sink hole,” his friend argued. “You have a good heart.”
“I never would have been accepted into the Guild if they had known about my father,” Dex said.
“But you didn’t know, and you’ve done nothing wrong. Your whole life you’ve looked out for others. When my folks died you gave up everything to help me. Don’t forget that. You’re the sum of your actions, Dex. Your family doesn’t define you.”
“You’re a good friend. Thanks for that.”
“Anytime pal, but we better get some sleep. And don’t you dare leave this compound without seeing me first. No matter what the Lord Marshyl has for you tomorrow. No more secrets. Promise me.”
“I promise,” Dex said.
Bliss squawked and they both laughed.
“Keep that bird quiet,” someone else in the dormitory said. “Some of us are trying to sleep over here.”
Chapter 3
Dex was nervous when he stepped into the Lord Marshyl’s quarters. He hadn’t been able to sleep much, his mind was filled with too many possibilities of what his quest might be. Seeing Outrider Reegan and Ranger Saul in the room with the Lord Marshyl only made Dex more nervous.
“Adept Dex,” the Lord Marshyl said. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course,” Dex said.
“I believe I’m right in thinking that you want to become a Ranger, possibly an Outrider one day,” the head of the Marshyl Guild said. “And as you know that means you’ll need to complete a quest to become a full-fledged knight.”
Reegan was staring at Dex, nodding slightly in encouragement.
“Yes, my lord. I’m ready,” the young man said, trying his best to sound confident.
“Most quests are designed by an Adept’s mentors. Ranger Saul knows you very well, but you are a special case. And he has allow
ed me to intervene.”
Dex swallowed, not sure what to say, as the Lord Marshyl explained his reasons for getting involved in the young Marshyl’s quest.
“You’ve already proven yourself,” the Lord Marshyl said. “And I believe you will become a great Marshyl Knight, perhaps even Lord Marshyl one day. But we cannot pretend that the executioner you fought and the revelation that he is your father isn’t something that we don’t have to contend with. There are many dangers in the world, but the gravest danger to the people we are sworn to protect is the loss of the Marshyl Guild. We are the only men and women willing or able to stand against the lawlessness of wand casters, ring mages, and outlaw sorcerers. Our entire Guild is threatened with extinction, and every Marshyl’s actions are of the greatest importance. We can no longer afford to send our Questors out on missions that do not support the Guild. That is why I have decided that your quest is to find your father and bring him back to us alive.”
Dex felt his chest constrict. He couldn’t swallow and it was difficult to breathe. He looked to Reegan, who seemed to be imploring him with his eyes to remember their conversation the day before. Ranger Saul looked grim, but determined. Dex felt as if his guts had been turned to water, and he could feel sweat springing up on his back.
Finding his father was not even something he had considered. Once the Executioner had disappeared in a plume of black smoke, Dex thought he would never see the man again. He had just assumed that the Lord Marshyl had sent Rangers and Outriders to track the Executioner down. He was wounded after all, and Dex assumed that he would be too weak to resist a group of powerful Marshyls.
“Do you accept this quest, Adept Dex?”
The Lord Marshyl looked at Dex, staring intently at him. Dex saw the hope in the older man’s eyes. The Lord Marshyl was standing up, but leaning heavily on his desk. His leg had been healed, but the strength had been stripped away from the limb by the Executioner. The Lord Marshyl needed help, just as surely as he had on the battlefield when Dex had rushed to save him from the man no other Marshyl had been able to stop. And just like that day, Dex knew he couldn’t refuse. He was needed, and the more he thought about the quest, the more he realized it was exactly what he wanted to do. If anyone was going to risk their life by going after the Executioner, it should be Dex.
Regulators Revealed Page 2
