Of Heroes And Villains (Book 4)

by Julius St. Clair

  He finally made it to the end of the hall, and he was sure that he would find himself without a bed altogether. He glanced in the last room on the left. No one appeared to be inside.

  Suddenly, two pairs of hands grabbed him and threw him into the hardwood floors. He slid onto his belly and bumped the crown of his head lightly on the bedframe a few feet away. Someone grabbed the back of his shirt and flipped him over. Daisy and Kent were right in his face.

  “Did his retinas turn all black?” Daisy said, her forehead creasing. “I don’t see any change.”

  “Maybe I should stomp on his leg. That might work,” Kent replied.

  “You are heavy. That most certainly would work.”

  “But I’m not fat though, right.”

  “All Langorans are fat,” Daisy said in a very serious tone. When Kent didn’t respond, she glanced over at him, and then she burst out laughing. She pushed Kent to the side and then tackled him to the floor, pinching his cheeks. “Aw, poor baby! Did I hurt your feelings? I sorry poor baby. You not fat. That just baby fat.” She went to pinch his stomach when he shoved her off of him. She went flying through the air, and she would have smashed into the far wall if it wasn’t for Bastion coming to her rescue.

  He caught her in his arms and then let her down to her feet.

  “My hero,” she cooed, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Bastion just stood there, blinking rapidly. What had he walked into exactly?

  “Bastion, back away from her,” Kent demanded, climbing to his feet. “She has to be stopped.”

  “Not if he has anything to say about it,” Daisy shouted at the Langoran. She turned to Bastion. “Isn’t that right? You’ll defend me, won’t you?”

  “I…have no idea what’s going on.”

  “Ugh,” Kent rolled his eyes. “You’re no fun. We’re just playing around.”

  “You are?”

  “Yeah,” Daisy said, wrapping her arm around Bastion’s shoulder. “You thought we were serious when we threw you in here?”

  “I wasn’t sure. What was that whole thing about seeing my retinas turn black?”

  “Oh you know, like what happened when we sparred. You went all psycho on me.”

  “You told Kent about that?”

  “We tell each other everything!” she exclaimed, reaching out her hands toward Kent to give him a hug. He did the same, but at the last second, he tried punching her in the face. Daisy dodged it, grabbed his forearm and then flipped him onto his back. He groaned and tried swiping at Daisy’s legs with his massive fingers, but she hopped out the way. “Of course,” she continued, as Kent slowly climbed to his feet. “That means we’ll tell you everything too. We’re in this together. This is our room. I ran away from Zhou’s class early to grab it.”

  “But won’t you get in trouble with Master Zhou?”

  “Yep! So what? It’s the first day. I’m not going to get punished that badly.”

  “Yeah you will,” Kent replied, glaring at her. Daisy waved bye to Bastion and took off running, darting out the room and sprinting down the hall. Kent barreled after her. “We’ll be back!” he shouted as he turned the corner.

  Bastion chuckled and walked around the room. His living situation was going to be interesting at the least. It was also nice knowing that if he grew tired of their antics, he could head over to the castle too. Though, the more he thought about it, he didn’t think that would ever be the case.

  Bastion turned around and examined the beds, trying to figure out which ones they claimed already, if any. He heard a loud shriek coming from down the hall, and three seconds later, Daisy came running back into the room. She ran behind Bastion and pushed him in front of her. Her hair was flying all over his face, and she was breathing hard into his ear, but he didn’t care. He was excited to feel like he belonged in a group for once. Kent came into the room and glared at them both back and forth. His muscles were getting bigger upon each step.

  Once he was a couple feet in front of them, he cocked back a fist, and sent it straight into Bastion’s face. Bastion didn’t even try to block it. He went flying through the space between the upper and lower bunk beds, and into the far wall. His back created a small crater and then his butt hit the mattress. His body bounced on the bed for a moment as he tried to keep his laughter in. It hadn’t hurt, and he was sure Kent knew that it wouldn’t, but the Langoran had hit him anyways.

  Kent didn’t care that he was the strongest Sage in Allay. They were friends now. And so when Kent dove through the space between the bunks, and began giving Bastion rib shots with his massive fists, all Bastion could do was smile.

  He didn’t remember being that happy in a long time.

  * * *

  “Bring them in,” Catherine said, taking her seat. Back in the private deliberation room, James, Talia and Zhou waited for the Queen to sit first, and then they followed suit. They all sat in a row on one side of the table, with their backs facing the interior of the castle, while the Quietus would take the seats with their backs to the secret entrance.

  If for whatever reason, their meeting went badly, the Sages would be able to defend the castle. Hakin realized this the moment he stepped through the door and saw them all facing him. He put up his hands in surrender and chuckled to himself as Catherine stretched in her chair to look behind him.

  “Are you the only one coming?” she asked sweetly.

  “Considering the size of our group, do you need any other? Let them enjoy their pampering. No matter what happens here, I thank you for that. Though I could have done without the crouch walk through the tunnel again.”

  “It was our pleasure,” Catherine said, getting comfortable in her seat. “And sorry about the secrecy. We just don’t want the general population to know just yet.” She folded her hands together as if she was about to conduct an interview. It wasn’t too far from the truth.

  Hakin took a seat opposite of James and looked at them all one by one.

  “I won’t waste your time. I want to be here. I’ve already talked to my people, and they want to be here too. We’ve lived so long in the wild that we’re ready to do what it takes to have a home again. Food was already scarce and even the summers were cold. Oltain gave me his report and he assured me that, at least based on appearance, what you claim is true. That there is true unity among the Kingdoms. Why not add the Quietus? It’s not like you don’t already have one in your company.” He gestured toward James.

  “What is it that you would want?” Catherine asked. Hakin raised an eyebrow.

  “What do you mean?”

  “The Langorans insisted on full access to Allay, but they wanted their Kingdom rebuilt in the original location, which it was. Prattle decided to have their new Kingdom built next to ours, to the west. It’s not as large as it once was, and it certainly doesn’t have the benefits of being on the mountain, but they see it as home.”

  “To this day I’m surprised the Prattlians didn’t return to their old home,” Hakin said.

  “I’m not,” Catherine replied in kind. “That place was their fortress, and they are not a combatant or courageous people. Once it was destroyed by Thorn, they found solace in our offer. We welcomed them as we do to this day. So with that being said, what would you and your people want?”

  “I see no need to rebuild Quietus,” Hakin replied. “Especially with it being so far away. Any kind of exchange of goods and services would be unnecessarily difficult. I think that we would want to settle somewhere in close proximity to Allay. Perhaps the forest between here and Languor will work. It’s not a whole lot of space, it’s just enough to set up a couple of homes and there’s enough area to travel through the trees and hunt.”

  “I’ll talk to the King of Languor. I don’t see how that could be a problem. Anything else?”

  “We would need some food and supplies to hold us off until we’re self-sustaining. Other than that, I think that will be sufficient.”

  “Of course. None of that is unreasonable.”

  “
Now what do you need from me?”

  “The Quietus are still feared by many. Allayans, Langorans and Prattlians alike. Not to mention that we’ve established some systems here that may be foreign to you. While you get accumulated to our processes and new way of life, we ask that you’re considerate of their anxiety. Don’t provoke anyone in any way. Basically, have you and your people be on their best behavior, and show everyone that you are not the Quietus from the stories. I’m not saying this to separate you. We all had to earn each other’s trust.”

  “I get it. Stay out of the way, and don’t cause trouble.”

  “Your people will also not be able to join the Sage Academy. Not at first.”

  “Why would we want to become Sages? We are perfectly fine being what we are.”

  “It had to be said.”

  “Is there anything else?”

  “Yes,” James said, leaning forward. “We have to find these Allayans you met with as soon as possible. Since it was in secrecy, we don’t think they’re ready to make any big moves just yet, but we would like to cut them off at the pass. By trying to start an uprising of some kind, they threaten everything we worked for here.”

  “You mean they threaten your way. You said we, but from what me and my people heard, Queen Catherine is undeniably in charge.”

  “The Kingdoms do as they please,” Catherine said, but Hakin chuckled.

  “You were the ones who found a way to defeat Thorn. You did what they couldn’t. That gives you a lot of sway. Let’s be honest. There isn’t complete autonomy. I’m sure that if the Langorans or Prattlians do something that is undesirable, you do what you want in ensuring that it all goes your way.”

  “Our goal is for peace and nothing more,” Catherine scowled.

  “Your peace. What benefits you. What about the Prattlians and their debates? Why not let them debate in the streets? I hear you put an end to that because they disrupt the merchants.”

  “This isn’t because the merchants were Allayan. I would see it as a problem no matter what Kingdom I was in. Even if it was the Prattlians in Langoran streets, I would consider it out of order.”

  “But it is the Prattlian way of life,” he said, leaning forward on the table. “They bicker. They argue. That is how their greatest inventions and ideas came to fruition. Who knows what could have been born from bickering in front of the merchants. The merchants may have joined in. Of course it wouldn’t be a friendly exchange at first, but who knows where it may have ended up. Friendships born. Mutual partnerships created.”

  “Or great conflict,” Catherine said.

  “We have been the Prattlians’ neighbors for a long time. Trust me, you have stunted their growth.”

  “You were their enemies, not their neighbors.”

  “Depends on how you see it. Conflict and chaos is good every now and then, as long as you don’t take it too far. That’s what Thorn did. He took it too far, trying to kill everyone. Not even the Quietus, at their most violent, were stupid enough to try wiping out an entire people. We know deep down that we all contribute to this world in some manner, and that much of it is hidden from our eyes. Just like the fact that you can’t see how your rule will not last much longer.”

  “What are you saying?” Zhou barked, but Catherine held up a hand.

  “Continue,” she said, sitting back in her chair.

  “I’m not trying to upset you all,” Hakin said. “I’m grateful for the help you’re granting me and my people. I won’t cause any trouble, and neither will anyone under my rule. Trust me, after what we’ve experienced, if anyone in my camp causes you trouble, their heads will be severed. What I’m telling you now is just from an outsider’s perspective. I’m saying that you are the ones at the top, and there will be people who don’t like that. I don’t know who these Allayans are that tried to persuade us to their side, but they are not happy with the status quo. And if your own people aren’t happy, you can be sure the Langorans and Prattlians aren’t.”

  “Is there anything they said about their cause? Other than taking back what’s theirs? Any information at all would help.”

  “Nothing that I can remember.”

  “So when you refused, what did they do? Just walk away? I imagine they would have killed you, so that no word would come back to us.”

  “We had to fight back,” Hakin smiled. “But we didn’t have to shed any blood.” He ducked his head down and started digging around in his pants. “Ah, here it is. Our great weapon.” He revealed it from under the table, and Catherine couldn’t stop the gasp from escaping her lips. James’ heart started beating quickly. Talia and Zhou both looked at the royal couple in concern.

  Hakin was holding a stone in his hand, about the size of an apple. It was glowing with vitality and energy, and they could all feel its seductive power from where they sat.

  “It’s one of the stones of power,” Talia said, reciting what they were all thinking.

  “But that’s impossible,” Catherine said, reaching out to brush her fingers against it. “But…I know this feeling all too well. I carried one inside my body for years…this is genuine.”

  “What does this mean?” James asked, and Catherine just sighed.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I really don’t know.”

  Chapter 15 – Just In Case

  “Where did you get this?” Catherine asked, her eyes affixed on the stone. Hakin’s face fell.

  “In Prattle,” he said, turning over the stone in his hand. “They were sitting in the courtyard in plain sight.” He stopped to chuckle. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw them. I thought it was an answer to our prayers. That with the stones, we could rebuild Quietus. I didn’t know how they worked back then though.”

  “Stones?” Talia asked. “There are more of them?”

  “Five in total,” he said, placing the stone on the table. “I wouldn’t be telling you this if I wasn’t stepping out on faith a little bit here. I may not know everything about the stones, but from what I’ve skimmed through in your history, all of you guys destroyed yours a few years back. That means, if a Kingdom was in possession of these five, they can continue their lineage and no one else could unless they allowed it. I don’t know how many generations it will take for the abilities to water down and die, but this prevents that. Eventually, that Kingdom with all five stones would be able to have warriors of great power, while everyone else would be at their mercy.”

  “You’ve put a lot of thought into this,” Catherine said, but Hakin just gave her a smirk.

  “The Quietus have a lot of dried blood on their hands, your Highness. We don’t need more. Now, maybe it was just by chance that I survived and countless others didn’t, but I don’t think trying to take over the world is the answer. There were plenty of Quietus that would do exactly what I just outlined, but I’m not looking for that. I just want a warm place to stay and a hot plate of food on the table. I’m simple, and I think the Quietus people should be that way too. I figure that we could be the enforcers of the Four Kingdoms. We’re strong and skilled. Maybe our jobs could be to keep things in line once our trust has been earned.”

  “So these stones…what do you think we should do with them?”

  “The Quietus will hold onto them for now, only for a year or two while we gather our strength, and then we can hand them off to you to do what you like.”

  “Why the wait?”

  “You confirmed my suspicions earlier. Your people, and those of the other Kingdoms—they all hate us, and there’s not much stopping them from killing us all completely in our sleep—“

  “—we would never let that—“

  “—you don’t know that,” Hakin interrupted. “You have a couple of rogue Sages on the loose. What if they try to take us down because we refused their offer? No, the stones must stay with us for now. It’s our only defense.”

  “It doesn’t make sense though,” James spoke up. “Why would the Allayans run away just by seeing the stones? If they’re from ou
r Kingdom, then they would know that we destroyed the five stones long ago. As you know, we advertise our history openly, and I would think that anyone trying to cause a coup would cover all their bases. No, something doesn’t add up. If I was to turn on Allay, and I saw those stones, I would either think they were fake, or I would take them for myself. I would know that they had little power outside of a carrier’s body.”

  “That’s what happened though,” Hakin said. The room fell silent. He looked to the Sages one by one. “Are you saying that I’m lying? After all I’ve just told you? I didn’t have to reveal this stone at all. I could have accepted your hospitality and secretly continued our lineage.”

  “We’re not saying you’re lying,” Catherine butt in. “We’re just saying that your story has some holes. Something is very wrong here. Still, I’m not sure if we should just have you hold onto those stones. Like you said, those stones were the only reason the rogue Sages backed off, but no one would be fooled around here. Everyone around here knows how little defense they actually provide. Your smokescreen is worthless here.”

  “So we actually have no defense? Everyone knows about them?”

  “No defense from them whatsoever,” she said solemnly.

  “And what would you have me do then? Just give the stones to you in exchange for protection?”

  “We would have the Quietus protected regardless, but I also think the stones would be safest in our possession.”

  “We had them for nearly five years.”

  “And that is only because you were out in the proverbial wilderness. Are you willing to go back out there in order to keep those stones with you?”

  “You know that I’m not.”

  “And even if you were willing to, I couldn’t in good conscience allow it. Those Sages you encountered—even if they aren’t from here, they will surely find out the truth eventually. They would go back and retrieve the stones from you, and this time, they would not hold back.”