Regulators Revealed

by Toby Neighbors

  “This isn’t something to take lightly,” Reegan said.

  “You’ll be on your own,” Ranger Saul said. “Our numbers are down and we can’t send anyone to help you.”

  “A quest is supposed to be accomplished alone,” Dex said.

  “But this isn’t like finding a magical item, or simply crossing the kingdom with a message, Dex,” Reegan said. “The Executioner has murdered over a dozen veteran Rangers, Ambassadors, and Outriders, maybe more. He won’t hesitate to kill you too.”

  “I understand,” Dex said.

  “Time is of the essence, Dex,” the Lord Marshyl continued. “Our scouts have picked up the Executioner’s trail, but their armor isn’t strong enough to resist his magic. Nor do I believe that most of us could restrain ourselves from killing him if given the chance. I believe you are the only one who can complete this task. Furthermore, I don’t believe the Executioner is working alone. Someone sent him to hurt us. We must stop the Executioner and find out who is behind this powerful new magic. That is why you must bring him back alive. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Lord Marshyl,” Dex said. “And I accept the quest.”

  Reegan’s face fell a little. Ranger Saul looked proud.

  “Excellent. I have already sent for your horse. You will have a week’s worth of food, and Ranger Saul has personally seen to it that all your supplies are ready. Take this,” the Lord Marshyl held out a small purse of coins, “in case you need anything on your quest. Adept Dex, you have been given a most important assignment. We cannot afford to fail. Without the man you believe is your father, our Guild may not survive.”

  “I understand,” Dex said. “I won’t let you down. Any of you.”

  “I believe that,” the Lord Marshyl said. “Good luck, Questor. Outrider Reegan shall take you north and show you the Executioner’s trail, then he is to return to the compound. You both have your orders.”

  Dex turned to Ranger Saul. “I’ll need to get my armor.”

  “I’ve already had it sent over,” he replied. “And Kyp is at the gate with Titan. Good luck, son. Wish I could go with you.”

  “I’ll not let you down,” Dex said.

  “Better not. I’ll run you till your legs fall off if you do,” Ranger Saul said with a smile as he shook Dex’s hand. “You’re ready.”

  “Thank you,” Dex said, not trusting himself to say more.

  “Let’s go, Dex,” Reegan said, opening the door that led from the Lord Marshyl’s quarters.

  Dex looked back at the head of the Marshyl Guild, who nodded at him encouragingly. He felt a wave of confidence as he turned to follow Reegan from the Great Wall. They walked briskly down a flight of stairs and exited out into the courtyard. Another Adept, a girl named Ally, had his armor. She was older than Dex, with bright eyes, and a narrow chin. She was holding the dragon armor Kyp had forged, and Bliss was perched on her shoulder.

  “Thanks,” Dex said.

  “Don’t mention it,” Ally said. “Good luck on your quest.”

  “Thanks,” Dex said, wondering if she knew the details, but choosing not to ask.

  It didn’t matter, he decided as he pulled on the dragon armor, what people thought of him. If word leaked that the Executioner was his father, Dex knew that by bringing the man back to the compound as a prisoner would convince anyone that he was fully committed to the Guild.

  Kyp had forged a chest plate and back protector, connected with scalloping arcs of lightweight metal that rested on his shoulders. He also had a helmet and shield made from the metal forged with the ground dragon scales, which imbued the armor with incredible defensive capabilities. Dex already had the Lord Marshyl’s sword strapped around his waist. Bliss hopped onto his shoulder and once more Dex followed Outrider Reegan across the courtyard toward the big gate that led out of the compound.

  “Hello Kyp, how are you?” Reegan asked as he caught up to the young Forger just outside the gate.

  Kyp was holding two horses, Reegan’s tawny mare and Dex’s big, black stallion named Titan.

  “I’m good,” Kyp replied. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “And you, my friend. When I return we shall go down to the village and raise a pint together. My treat.”

  “That would be great,” Kyp said.

  “I’m off,” Dex said to his friend as he took the reins from him. “I’m going to find my father and bring him back.”

  “You’re what?” Kyp said. “You’re going after the Executioner with Outrider Reegan?”

  “A quest is undertaken alone,” Reegan said.

  Dex was smiling at his friend as Bliss hopped from his shoulder up onto the pommel of the saddle. He gave Kyp a hug, then climbed up onto Titan’s strong back.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Kyp said. “That’s suicide.”

  “I can handle this,” Dex said.

  “Reegan, tell him he’s not going. Tell him it’s too dangerous.”

  “I already tried that,” Reegan said, with an edge to his voice. “He’s as stubborn as the Lord Marshyl.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Dex said. “I can do this.”

  “It’s not right. You don’t have to do it, Dex. Stay here, give me some time and I’ll go with you.”

  “This is my quest, Kyp,” the young warrior said. “I’ll find him and bring him back. It has to be done and thanks to the armor you made me, I’m the only one who can do it.”

  “That’s madness,” Kyp argued.

  “It’s done,” Reegan said. “No sense trying to talk him out of it. Send us off fondly.”

  “Well, you know I’m here for you. If you need anything just send for me,” Kyp said.

  “I know that, and I promise, I’ll be back.”

  Bliss let loose with a piercing cry that echoed off the Great Wall and surrounding mountains. Titan shifted and neighed. Dex looked at his friend, who was trying not to let his worry show, but failing.

  “This is exactly what I should be doing,” Dex said. “Don’t fret.”

  “Just be careful,” Kyp said. “Don’t take unnecessary chances. He’s not worth it.”

  Dex waved to his friend then nudged Titan forward with the heels of his boots. The big horse trotted down the path, snorting and tossing his big head from side to side. Dex could feel the wind at his back and hear the snow crunching under the hooves of his big stallion. At that moment he felt so incredibly happy that he thought he might burst with pride. He was a Questor, going on an adventure that would end with him being made a full-fledged Marshyl Knight. Nothing, he thought as the scent of freshly fallen snow wafted up around him, could be better.

  Chapter 4

  They rode hard all morning, Reegan taking the lead, and Dex forcing Titan to follow. The big stallion didn’t like following. He wanted to be in front, to show off his speed, but Reegan knew where they were going and Dex didn’t.

  The Outrider wasn’t angry, but Dex could tell he wasn’t happy either. Reegan hardly said a word as they climbed a high mountain pass and then dropped down into a sheltered valley, where they stopped to rest the horses and eat a small meal. It was cold, and they were both stiff from riding, so they walked the horses, feeding them from small sacks that hung from their bridles. Each one was filled with dried oats, and when they came to a small stream, Reegan broke the ice that had formed on top so that the horses could drink.

  “You think I’m making a mistake going after my father,” Dex said. “Don’t you?”

  “I am troubled by many things about this quest,” Reegan replied. “The danger not least among them.”

  “I’m ready,” Dex said.

  “You are not the problem. I disagree with the Lord Marshyl’s course of action. We should have gone after the Executioner immediately.”

  “You haven’t fought him,” Dex said. I saw the Lord Marshyl cut down as easily as a stalk of grain.”

  “All the more reason not to send a single Adept to apprehend such a dangerous man. You say you’re ready, and while I do not do
ubt your courage, Dex, I do not agree with your assessment. If the Executioner really is your father, capturing him will not only be dangerous, it will be incredibly stressful. Facing our parents, man to man, is something most people struggle with. You may find that despite all your training and the years he has been absent from your life, you still feel like a child in his presence.”

  “I know what has to be done,” Dex said. “And I know that I have to be the one to bring him in. Surely you see that I will lose all standing within the Guild if word gets out that my own father is our greatest enemy. Bringing him to justice is the only way I can restore my reputation.”

  “Time and service will restore your reputation, although I think you underestimate your fellow Marshyls. Each of us has passed through the rigors of academy training. We know that only the most dedicated can endure.”

  “I would accept that if not for the fact that Adept Marcus turned on Ranger Saul and Keeper Yeager in the Vault of Mysteries,” Dex said. “And Ranger Einard tried multiple times to kill me. We cannot rely on the training alone to weed out those who are not fully committed to the Guild. Not anymore.”

  “You make a good point,” Reegan said, “but that is even more reason not to risk so much by sending you out alone.”

  “I’m the only one with armor that can resist the Executioner’s magic,” Dex said.

  “That has not been proven conclusively.”

  “Enough Marshyls have died trying to stop my father. Sending more with me wouldn’t improve my chances of capturing him alive. Think about this for a minute. If we went together, would you be able to stand back and let me face him alone?”

  “No,” Reegan said. “What point would there be for me to go with you if I didn’t help you in what will surely be the fight of your life.”

  “That’s exactly the point,” Dex argued. “And if we managed to defeat him, would you feel confident that he wouldn’t find a way to break free and kill us all? Surely not, in which case you would most likely kill him. And while I agree that he deserves to die for his crimes, I’m not going to kill him, not when he has information we need.”

  “You sound ready, but meeting your father will not be as simple as you say,” Reegan said. “You are resourceful, Dex, but don’t let your guard down, no matter what your father tells you. He cannot be trusted.”

  They hiked a long trail through the afternoon, and finally came to a boulder on a steep, winding path. Outrider Reegan brushed the snow away, and Dex saw red streaks on the stone. There wasn’t enough room for the two men to huddle together and talk, so Reegan continued forward until the trail widened by a group of spruce trees. Dex, who had been looking for any signs of the Executioner, saw the burrow under the roots of the towering spruce.

  “Looks like he stayed here the first night,” Reegan said. “I take it you saw the blood on the boulder back there?”

  Dex nodded.

  “There are traces of blood around the tree, but not so much that he’ll die. I think the best we can hope for is that the wound on his chest will slow him down. If you keep moving, you’ll catch up to him sooner rather than later.”

  “Not a lot of places he can go in the mountains,” Dex said. “He’ll have to stay on the trails.”

  “But he might lie in wait to ambush you, so don’t let your guard down. You have what he wants more than anything.”

  “What?”

  “A horse,” Reegan said. “This is as far as I can go with you. It’s not too late to change your mind, Dex.”

  “No, I have to do this. The more I think about it, the more I realize I should have started out sooner.”

  “I have something for you,” Reegan said, pulling open his saddle bag and retrieving a bundle wrapped in a brightly colored bandana. “It isn’t much, but I stumbled across this a few weeks ago. Have you ever seen griffin dung?”

  Reegan unwrapped the bandana revealing three round objects. They were green, with streaks of white. Dex had seen polished marble decorative orbs, and though most were larger than the objects Reegan held in one hand, they were surprisingly similar. The small objects in the bandana weren’t as smooth or glossy, but the color pattern was similar.

  “No,” Dex said. “Is that what this is?”

  “Yes,” Reegan said. “Don’t touch them to your skin. They’re fragile, like eggs, and will burst into a cloud of fine dust when thrown. Contact with the dust will slow a person down.”

  “Can I handle them with my gloved hand?” Dex asked.

  “If you’re careful and be sure to throw the glove away once you’ve touched the dung. If you can get the drop on this Executioner, use one to slow him down before you engage him in combat.”

  “That’s smart,” Dex said.

  “It’s all I’ve got to give you,” Reegan said. “Do you still have the silver dagger?”

  Dex nodded, patting his tunic where he kept the small weapon hidden.

  “Excellent. You’re as ready as we can make you, Dex. The rest is up to you. Be careful.”

  “I will be,” Dex said. “And thank you for everything.”

  They embraced and then Reegan slapped Dex on the shoulder before climbing back into the saddle. Dex carefully stowed the griffin dung in his saddle bag and watched Reegan ride away for a few moments. Bliss cooed and hopped from the pommel onto the horse’s rump. Dex patted Titan’s neck.

  “It’s just us now,” he said. “Let’s cover some ground before nightfall.”

  In places the trail was wide, but there were a few choke points, perfect ambush spots. Dex held his shield close as he rode through the narrow places in the trail. He didn’t really expect his father to be waiting to ambush him. Several days had passed since the battle with the Executioner, not quite a week, but enough for his father to have gotten much farther from the compound where he’d been wounded.

  That night Dex found a level spot with a large boulder to block the wind that was blowing down from the north. He built a fire, saw to Titan’s needs, then filled a small pot with water and dried beans. He wasn’t surprised to see that Ranger Saul had ensured he had plenty of beans for his rations, but there was rice as well. Once the beans had boiled long enough, Dex drained the pot, added fresh snow and rice, along with some seasonings. Soon the snow melted and the rice absorbed the moisture. The hot meal felt good in Dex’s stomach, and the fire was warm and cheerful.

  He wrapped his blanket around his body and tied the end of Titan’s reins to his wrist, before stretching his feet toward the fire and going to sleep. He woke up cold and stiff at dawn. The next three days were lonely and repetitive. Each day he moved through the mountains, following trails and paths made mostly by animals. He began to worry that he had lost his father’s trail on the second day, but eventually he found the remains of a small fire and some bloody rags.

  On the fourth day the trail opened up into a well-traveled pass and Dex was able to spend the night in a small village with a tiny inn. It had only four guest rooms, and the beds were made of straw mattresses laid across wooden frames and supported by sagging ropes, but it was better than sleeping on the ground. The innkeeper remembered his father as well, a solitary traveler in dark robes. He spent the evening alone in his room, paid with silver, and purchased a horse the following day.

  “That was three days past,” the innkeeper said. “Sold him our old mare. He’s riding her without a saddle though. Can’t expect that’s comfortable for either of them.”

  The next morning Dex set out at a faster pace, letting Titan’s long stride eat up the miles. His father was traveling north, and the pass led out of the mountains before the day was out. Dex checked in the small town that was built on a rise that looked out over the vast plains of Northia and served the travelers heading through the mountain pass. Dex had been in the town before, and with only two inns, it didn’t take him long to discover that his father had passed that way two days prior.

  “He bought a walkin’ horse,” the man at the livery said. “Saddle, tack, a small sack
of oats. After ridin’ that old nag he was probably relieved to have a decent horse under him. I get them walkin’ horses from a man I know. They’re good stock. A man can ride one a’them horses at a good pace all day long on level ground.”

  “I’ll take a sack of the oats,” Dex said. “I appreciate the information.”

  “You’re one of them Marshyls, ain’t ya? A bit young though. That’s a fine horse you’re ridin’ if I do say so myself. You wouldn’t be interested in sellin’ would ya?”

  “Afraid not,” Dex said.

  “Well, I gotta ask. It’s how I make my livin’. I suspect that fella headed north. Said he needed an animal that could make good time. I got the impression he was on a long journey.”

  “That’s very helpful,” Dex said, passing the man a silver coin. “I’m in your debt.”

  Dex rode out of the mountain pass and then walked the horse late into the night. It was cold, but the wind had settled down, and the plains made travel easy enough. A few hours before dawn he found an old, abandoned barn where he slept for a few hours. He could feel his quarry getting close and was anxious to gain as much ground on his father as possible, but he didn’t want Titan to come up lame or to be so tired that he couldn’t overtake the Executioner if he was lucky enough to catch sight of him.

  He had barely ridden for an hour the next day when a group of Northia’s famous horsemen came galloping across the plain. As they drew near, Dex had to work hard to keep Titan under control. Bliss jumped up onto his shoulder and called out a piercing scream. The riders, all wearing the Northia royal colors and carrying long lances, surrounded Dex. They wore tall helmets with plumes of horse hair on the crown. Their horses were sweating despite the frigid temperature and blowing great clouds of steam as they caught their breath.