by Tony Johnson
“Excuse me,” Steve said, after only a few minutes, finding a veteran Casanovian warrior who sported both the city’s yellow and sky-blue colors on his armor. “We just arrived to the city. Do you know where we could find one of the Warrior Commanders here?”
“Sorry, we only have one commander on hand, and I don’t know where he is,” the veteran replied before turning and starting to walk away.
“We need to speak to him. We have urgent news from Celestial.”
“The commander is a busy man. He can’t drop everything and meet anyone who comes here.”
“Could you at least point us in…”
“Take us to your commander now,” Grizz ordered, interrupting Steve’s attempt to ask for directions by stepping in front of him and turning his armor into hard rock.
Taken aback, the Casanovian was bewildered at the Dwarf’s elemental ability.
“How can you do that?” he asked, voicing his thoughts out loud, the quickly added, “Never mind,” forgoing the need to receive an answer to his question. In the warrior’s eyes, Grizz could see he was starting to process what it meant that someone who wasn’t King Zoran had one of King Zoran’s elements.
“Follow me. I’ll take you to Commander Lockland’s barracks, but I don’t know if he’s still in his office or if he’s already done for the day and headed home.”
“Wherever he is, you’ll take us there,” Grizz reasserted his initial demand.
“What can you tell us about him?” Steve asked as the group followed, wanting to gauge what kind of man they’d be working with. I hope we don’t get another type of person like Captain Jarek in Port Meris who thought we were pulling a prank when we told him about Celestial.
“Commander Lockland is a great man. Literally and figuratively. He’s a Giant, one of the few of his race to be serving at such a high position in the warriors, but he’s beloved by this city. He brought home a first place trophy in the Warriors’ Melee ten years ago. The following year he won the silver medal. But then he was promoted to commander, so he retired from competing in the Tournaments. Don’t tell him I said this, but he’s not the smartest guy I’ve ever known. I will say, though, that he is one of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet.”
The group followed the warrior to Casanovia’s arena, a stadium only a fraction of the size of Celestial’s. “One of our city’s three barracks is attached here, in this building to the side of the arena. It’s where we have our largest mess hall as well as the location of Lockland’s office.” Walking up to a guard, the warrior asked, “Has the commander left for the day? We have some visitors who need to see him right away.”
“He’s in a meeting. Let me check and see if they’re almost done,” the guard inquisitively glanced at Copper, then disappeared inside only to come back within a minute with Commander Lockland himself.
His head nearly hitting the top of the eight-foot doorway, the muscular Giant emerged outside with a bright smile and a booming voice, “I heard we had some visitors with a direfox, so I had to see for myself. Can you shake, boy?” the commander asked the four-legged beast as he crouched down to his knees. Copper, having been trained to do simple tricks, lifted his paw to shake the outstretched hand.
Lockland’s slow, monotonous laughter and playfulness with the heroes’ monster friend was enough to put a smile on the face of the travelers who had experienced the most treacherous week of their lives. Something about the commander’s cheerful demeanor created a calming and inviting presence.
With Lockland was the person he was meeting with, a short-statured Human who was afflicted with a condition that classified him as a “little person.” Next to the Giant, the man barely reached the commander’s kneecap. “Hi, I’m Mayor Hughley,” the man introduced himself. “What brings you five to Casanovia?” he asked, making sure to include Copper as a counted member of the group.
“Maybe we should talk somewhere else,” Steve suggested to the two Casanovian leaders, glancing around to give the impression the conversation should be kept secret.
“Yeah,” the Giant let out a sigh through his nostrils. “I could tell by your faces that you bear bad news. Right this way,” Lockland led them inside. “I hope you don’t mind I have Mayor Hughley join us,” he motioned for Casanovia’s political leader to follow them. “That is, as long as you have the time, mayor.”
Hughley, intrigued by what this interesting-looking group was doing in Casanovia, replied, “Nothing I can’t reschedule for a different time.”
“Mayor Hughley is a much brighter man than me, I freely admit,” Lockland explained. “He knows this city and this province like the back of his hand, so I like to keep him in the loop with everything going on.”
“It’ll be beneficial to have you here,” Steve suggested, looking down on the small Human from his six-foot-one height.
“My office is too small for all of you, and some of our Warrior Trainees have the next hour scheduled for dinner in the mess hall, so we’ll have to talk out here,” Lockland offered, opening a door to a small courtyard.
“How many trainees do you have?” Ty asked, making conversation as they pulled picnic tables together to create conjoined seats.
“Currently there are thirty-five in Boot Camp. It’s a good crew this year. I’m hoping most of them pull through and stick with it for the remaining months. We’ve got about a hundred others working through the second part of training, taking their classes and exams and what not.”
Once everyone was seated, the Giant said, “Go ahead, tell me your story.”
For the next fifteen minutes, Ty recapped the fall of Celestial and the death of King Zoran while Kari explained the Hooded Phantom and his relation to Prince Silas. Grizz mentioned what happened to Almiria and Serendale, leaving out the part about his murdered family, which was still too much for him to relive. Steve discussed how he overheard Silas would be leading a part of the Hooded Phantom’s Army to Misengard and that Casanovia was likely one of the cities on the way the army planned on attacking. During all this, the commander sat with his arms folded and a look of anger on his face while Mayor Hughley repeatedly closed his eyes as if he were mentally trying to block out the horrific images of the attacks painted in his mind.
After the heroes finished, and both Ty and Grizz had shown them their elemental powers, Lockland sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry for what you all went through,” he responded, then for minutes sat silent, digesting all the information while considering a plan of action.
While the commander contemplated the news, Mayor Hughley spoke up, “I started thinking something was wrong when I realized we had not had any word from Celestial on the results of the Tournaments. People around here wait on the edge of their seats to find out who won. After a few days passed, it should’ve been a red flag. I’d just assumed the carrier doves that brought the list of winners had been killed or lost their way.”
“I had a bad feeling something unexpected like this was going to happen too,” Lockland admitted. “A few weeks ago, I sent a letter to the Guardian Knights to let them know about peculiar movements our warriors on patrol noticed throughout our province. Monsters seemed to be combining clans, joining forces, and moving out of the area. I’d even heard rumors from monster informants of a man called ‘The Faceless.’ If only I’d seen the link of these clans aiding him in the attack on the kingdom, I could’ve done something. Maybe Celestial, Serendale, and Almiria could’ve been saved.
“We’re here to make sure Casanovia isn’t added to that list,” Steve said. “I wholeheartedly believe we need to make a stand in this city against the part of the army that marches here. We can’t let them obtain a foothold in the north.”
“I agree,” Lockland nodded his head, “but the question is, what’s our best strategy? From the sounds of it, we’re outnumbered, even with half their army staying behind to hold Celestial.”
“How many days has it been since the siege?” Hughley asked.
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“Eight.”
The mayor temporarily stood to take a well-worn map out of his pocket. Opening it and spreading it on the table revealed scribbles, shapes, arrows, and notes. He added to these markings as he charted out the army’s path from Celestial to Almiria, and around Lake Azure to Casanovia. “If they left the day after the siege as you claim they did, that means they’re already more than halfway here. I mean, it depends on how long it took the army to take control of Almiria, but theoretically, that may have only been a couple of days.”
“So you’re saying that we have only ten days before the army is at our doorstep?” Lockland questioned.
“I would give it a range of anywhere from eight to ten.”
Dropping his head and combing his fingers through his close-cropped hair, the Casanovian warrior leader used his booming voice to call one of his guards to him from inside one of the nearby buildings.
“Warrior, would you find your captain and work with him to gather our sentry team? I need this done as fast as possible. Tell them they’ll be sent out on a critical mission tonight.”
Lockland turned to the group once the warrior left. “We need to confirm the army’s movements and see how close they are to us. We have six sentries. I’ll have half take their aerial monsters and see what they can find without getting in view of the army’s own sentries. The other three can head around Lake Azure on horseback and do the same thing in case anything goes wrong with the first group.”
“We should also send carrier ravens to the Primary Cities, with letters letting them know of what’s happened and ask them for any aid they can provide us,” Hughley proposed. “I can draft those and send them sent out tonight.”
“Speaking of this upcoming battle, it’s the one thing I’m unsure of how to best approach it,” Commander Lockland spoke openly. “Either we can send out our forces and engage the enemy in a surprise attack at the risk we have nowhere close to the amount of warriors we would need or we wait here and hope other cities come to our aid as we defend Casanovia.”
“No matter what you decide, we’re here to help,” Ty offered.
“We’ll need it,” the commander nodded in appreciation. “Is there anything else we should discuss?”
“When do you plan to tell the civilians here about what’s to come?” Grizz asked, and then looked up to the see the sun’s placement to check the time.
He doesn’t want to be here, Steve could tell. He wants to get back to drinking. He’s only here with us now because he wants to get a feel of what the battle plans will be since he knows the Python and the goblins will be a part of Silas’s army.
Lockland looked to Hughley for input on answering the Dwarf’s question, but the mayor shrugged his shoulders, so Steve asserted his opinion. “Casanovians should know what happened to Celestial and the other cities. We should give them as much time as possible to make preparations before the army arrives. Board up their houses, begin storing up food, whatever’s needed.”
“If we tell them now, a citywide panic might ensue. This information should be held to a select few until we hear the sentries’ report,” Hughley respectfully disagreed.
“Yeah,” Ty acknowledged the mayor’s point but supported his brother’s argument, “but it’ll be a few days until the sentries return. If we wait, we might be telling people ‘hey, by the way, we’re going to be under attack tomorrow by an insurmountable army. Good luck!’”
“They have a right to know,” Commander Lockland sided with the two Celestial warriors.
“I agree they have a right,” Hughley surmised, “but you can’t deny the risk in telling everyone. We should accomplish it strategically. There’s not enough time to address the city tonight, but what if we start spreading the word tomorrow among the warriors and then hold a joint meeting tomorrow night where you,” he looked at Commander Lockland, “and I address the people. Does that work for you commander?”
Agreeing to the proposal, and with no one having any more questions or comments, everyone got up from the picnic tables. Ty bent down to wake Copper by ruffling his fur since the direfox had fallen asleep next to him.
“I’m sure you’re all dying to sleep in a real bed for a change,” Mayor Hughley addressed the heroes’ lodging situation. “I’ll take you all to one of our best taverns, Applewood Inn. You’ll love it there. The food is excellent.”
“You guys go ahead, I need to stay behind and talk to Commander Lockland about something,” Steve told the group.
“For the first time we're in a city and a return to normalcy,” Kari pulled Steve aside for a private conversation. “I was really looking forward to spending time with you. I thought we’d have dinner together tonight.”
“Believe me,” Steve took her hand in his own, “I want that too, there’s just something I have to do first.”
“I don't mean to be rude and invite myself, but can I accompany you?”
“No,” Steve decided, then, seeing the disappointment in Kari’s face thought, Ugh, she looks so bummed, but what I have to do is better done with few people.
“Will I see you at the inn later?”
“It’s already dark, and I’ll probably be a while. Why don’t you get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Okay,” Kari said in a deflated way, pulling her hand away from Steve’s and heading off after Ty, Grizz, and Mayor Hughley to Applewood Inn.
I feel horrible rejecting her, especially when there’s nothing I’d rather do than spend time with her, Steve felt guilty as he watched her leave.
“If she didn’t care about you, she wouldn’t be disappointed,” Lockland clasped Steve’s shoulder, trying to encourage him after seeing his dismal look. Then, seeing that it was just jum, the direfox, and the red-armored warrior, he asked, “What was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Commander, I know we’ve taken up a lot of your time tonight, but I was wondering if you could help me with something. I made a promise to someone and I’d like to follow through on it.”
Chapter 79
“How can I help?”
“Did you know a warrior named Cyrus? He was the jouster Casanovia sent to Celestial.”
“Yes, of course I know Cyrus! Cyrus Wheeler,” the commander’s face was proud at first mention of the young warrior, but grew grim as he realized, having just been told about the siege of Celestial, that Cyrus likely met an untimely end.
“I was facing him in the quarterfinals when the attack began,” Steve explained. “He was mortally wounded early on. As he died, I promised him I would speak to his wife, Emma. I’m sure she has no idea what’s happened.”
“I know right where she lives. My wife and I brought dinner over to their apartment a few weeks ago to wish him good luck in the Joust before he left. Cyrus was a good man who had a lot of potential to be a great warrior,” Lockland sighed and took a moment to reflect, still in shock over all the news.
He’s starting to realize that it’s not only Cyrus who was killed, but its also potentially every warrior and citizen that traveled to Celestial to participate in or spectate the games.
“It’ll still be a short while before all the sentries gather to be sent out. I’ll take you to Emma’s residence and then head back here.”
“That would be much appreciated. Thank you.”
“So, you were Celestial’s jouster, huh?” The commander asked as he led the way out of the barracks and the arena.
“Yessir.”
“I was confused when I first met you and saw you were wearing red armor. I said to myself, how did this warrior earn his colors when he’s so young? Now that I know you’re the capital’s jouster, it makes sense.”
“It’s honorary armor,” Steve confirmed the commander’s realization, thinking about how he was given it from the Circle City’s oldest and most talented blacksmith who had been annually forging Celestial’s jouster’s armor for all forty-eight years of Celestial’s existence. Stev
e looked down and was sad for a moment, missing the lower half of his prestigious armor he had to abandon during the siege. Nonetheless, he was thankful for his Celestial Red gauntlets, spaulders, and plate, “It’s a little dented and damaged, but receiving it was one of the greatest honors ever bestowed upon me.”
“I imagine it was. The traditions around how each of the Primary Cities support their chosen jouster are special. Celestial may revere theirs more than anyone.”
“I can say it was the greatest experience of my life. You’re right, the support of the citizens, the pomp and grandeur of it all, it was a lot of fun.”
“I always loved jousting,” Lockland shared. “Would’ve done it myself, but Giants aren’t physically built for the sport. We’re too big of targets,” he let a bellowing laugh out of his barrel-like chest.
“I heard you were quite successful in the Melee though,” Steve commented, hoping the Giant would elaborate on his wins.
“I won a trophy and a medal in the years I participated. It was such an adrenaline rush, using blunted weapons in the arena against ninety-nine other warriors trying to make a name for themselves. If you dropped to your knees in exhaustion, you lost. I’d never been so tired!” Lockland smiled at the recollection, then turned down a side street, then into a narrow alley.
“You get used to taking these shortcuts,” he shouted behind so Steve could hear in the alley that only allowed them to travel single-file in the order of commander, Copper, Steve. “You have no idea how popular winning makes you, even ten years after the fact. Sometimes I’m on important business and people will stop me in the street to tell me they were there when I won or ask me what it felt like when it got down to the last ten men or so. Sticking to the shadows is a timesaver and helps me avoid having to retell the same stories.”