The Guardians (Book 2)

by Dan O'Sullivan

  Through the leaves of the plant, he stared across the room towards the body. Even in the darkness, Dale was sure the figure was wearing a soldier’s uniform, but he couldn’t see the man’s head. He leaned forward wishing there was a little more light, then he ducked backwards as a face appeared at the window. His heart began to thump and he tried to breathe slowly as a leg appeared over the windowsill and a figure climbed into the room. An odd feeling of detachment flowed through Dale and he felt his body relax. He wondered if Callian had followed him or sensed his fright. The figure glanced around the room and then walked towards the door. Dale watched him emotionlessly as he disappeared through the doorway, then once again he pushed the leaves aside and squinted into the darkness. He gave a start and let the leaves fall back over his face as another body climbed through the window. This man was huge, but moved so gracefully and silently, Dale was sure he must be one of the fallen. He darted towards the doorway, following the first man. There was a muffled thud and a grunt, and Dale wondered who had returned who. His question was answered as the huge man dragged a body back into the room. He lifted if effortlessly and dumped it against a wall as if to get it out of the way. The man became motionless and Dale held his breath.

  ‘You can come out now Dale,’ the man said and Dale’s heart contracted in shock.

  ‘Little Rezon?’ he gasped, recognizing the voice.

  ‘What are doing here? What’s happening?’ asked Rezon.

  ‘I was just going out to the dunnigin, and I thought I saw someone sneak between the wall and this old donjon. Now who would need to lurk around that side of the donjon, I asked myself. There’s nothing around there. And when I crept around for a look there was no-one there, I guessed they’d gone in one of the windows. Obviously no-one was going to fit through the slit windows, so that only left one window wide enough for a man to crawl through, at ground level that is – and unless they grew wings… Anyway I decided jumping through the window might be a little stupid so I used the door. I didn’t see anyone until I came in here, but there must be at least one more person inside because that soldier was already dead when I got here, and this one you brought in here came in the window after that.’

  ‘I see. Stand back behind the plant,’ said Rezon very quietly. He stood without moving as if lost in thought and two minutes later Ben crawled through the window.

  ‘What’s happening?’ he whispered, glancing at the two bodies.

  ‘There’s someone in here that shouldn’t be,’ Rezon explained.

  ‘And you want me to find them?’ Ben moved towards the door.

  ‘No idiot!’ Rezon reached out and grabbed his brother’s shirt. ‘I want you to keep Dale alive whilst I find them.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Ben, looking slightly disappointed. Rezon disappeared through the door and moved soundlessly away.

  ‘Who was the soldier?’ asked Ben.

  ‘I don’t know yet,’ said Dale, and he took a step towards the body.

  ‘No. Don’t move,’ said Ben, his eyes narrowing. Without standing too close, he leaned cautiously over the body.

  With movement faster and more fluid than Dale could imagine, the figure wearing the soldier’s uniform spun to his feet and leapt at Ben. Even in the darkness, Dale could see the pale skin which could only belong to one of the Nailmarni. Ben jumped backwards but the Nailmarni was upon him before he could draw his knife and they rolled across the floor, grappling for each other’s throat. Dale drew his dagger. He hesitated as he tried to get close to the struggling pair. It seemed Ben’s strength was at least equal to the Nailmarni’s but the creature’s movements were so fast, Dale could barely see what was going on. Then the two became still and the Nailmarni was leaning over Ben, choking him. Dale leapt forward and drove his dagger into the Nailmarni’s back, aiming his blow so the blade went up under where he imagined its ribcage should be. It rolled away from Ben and flung itself towards Dale who gave a shout as he stumbled backwards in fright.

  The door beside them exploded open as Rezon burst into the room. He let out a roar of anger as he saw Ben incapacitated on the floor and the Nailmarni advancing on Dale. The Nailmarni changed direction making an instant decision that Rezon was the greater threat. There seemed no fear in the huge warrior as he leapt towards the Nailmarni. His massive arms closed around the creature and he drove it against the wall. In a sudden cunning movement, he twisted the creature around so its back was towards him then he wrapped his arms around it once again and squeezed its chest until Dale could hear its ribs breaking. The creature snarled furiously as Rezon folded his arm around its head. There was a gruesome snap as he broke its neck. As if unconvinced the creature was dead, Rezon grabbed it by the front of its stolen uniform and slammed it headfirst into the wall. There was a horrible crunch as its skull shattered against the stone. Rezon fell down beside his brother.

  ‘Ben?’ he said desperately, but there was no response.

  ‘Callian!’ Dale screamed out, wondering if the guardian would hear him. Callian appeared seconds later and ran to kneel beside Rezon. He laid his hand on Ben’s chest then on his neck.

  ‘Is he…?’ Dale whispered, looking at Callian in horror.

  ‘No. He’ll be ok. I just need a little time…’ Callian frowned as he moved one hand to Ben’s forehead. He became completely still for a moment and Ben’s forehead and neck gradually filled with warm light. He opened his eyes and stared up at Callian.

  Rezon gathered his brother into his arms, and huge tears of relief cascaded unashamedly down his face.

  ‘Rez, you’re crushing me to death! You might have just let the Nailmarni do it,’ Ben complained and Rezon grinned as he let his brother go. ‘Were there any others in the donjon?’ Ben asked curiously as he moved his neck warily from side to side.

  The grin disappeared entirely as Rezon held up three fingers. Dale shook his head in disbelief. ‘You can’t have returned three of them, surely?’

  ‘Well, they sort of made it easy. They were all conveniently in separate places, and none of them heard me coming.’

  ‘I wonder what they were up to.’

  ‘They were probably scouts,’ said Callian. ‘If they attack, there will be a lot more of them.’

  ‘Callian, we have to get the people out of here as soon as we can. We don’t have enough soldiers to defend against a Nailmarni attack. I’m sure our only hope is to risk the trek across to the Dwellings. What do you think?’

  ‘I think you’re right. How prepared are the people?’

  ‘As prepared as they can be,’ said Dale. ‘We have enough carts and horses to take everything we need, and Baker Ricard has made more than enough travel cakes to keep everyone alive for the time it will take to get there. I know we can’t move very fast, but if we stay here we’re dead. We’re all dead.’

  ‘When do you want to move out?’ asked Rezon.

  ‘Now.’

  ‘Now?’ Ben repeated, looking surprised.

  ‘Now. Before the rest of them find out their scouts are dead and we’ve gone. How much chance do we have of leaving unnoticed?’

  ‘It will depend on whether they’ve formed a circle surrounding Emerald since I last looked,’ said Callian. ‘I should go back into the hills and have a look around again. I can be back here within hours. You can have everyone ready to move by first light.’

  ‘Alright,’ Dale agreed.

  ‘I’ll go with you,’ said Ben.

  ‘You should probably get some rest before you go anywhere,’ said Rezon looking worriedly at his brother.

  ‘No. I’m fine. I’m going with Callian.’

  Callian and Ben slipped out the window and melted into the darkness.

  ‘Why did you come in here in the first place?’ Dale asked Rezon curiously.

  ‘Ben heard you wishing you had Callian or some other of us with you,’ Rezon explained. ‘And you were rightly thinking how stupid is was to come alone and unarmed into an obviously dangerous situation,’ he added.

  ‘Poten
tially dangerous,’ Dale corrected him.

  ‘True!’ Rezon agreed, shrugging. ‘Skulking around in the dark with four Nailmarni is potentially dangerous.’

  ‘I appreciate that you came after me.’

  ‘Callian was already coming after you when I came around the back of the Donjon, so he thought he may as well have a quick look around to make sure there were no more of them wandering around inside the walls.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘No. He didn’t find any more.’

  ‘So where did this Nailmarni get the uniform?’

  Rezon looked at it for a moment. ‘I think you can stop worrying,’ he said. ‘If it was taken from a soldier here at Emerald it wouldn’t be so ragged and dirty. I would guess that they found an old discarded uniform somewhere or took it from an already dead soldier.’ Dale nodded in glum relief.

  ‘You didn’t get any blood on you when you stabbed it, did you?’

  ‘Not a drop. I’m heading back to the new keep.’ Dale made his way out of the Donjon and across the courtyard with Rezon at his side. Rudiger and Eibhear were standing outside the room occupied by Lerise and Jade, and Dale was sure Lias would be inside with Physician Loreto. He was correct and as he and Rezon entered the room, Rudiger and Eibhear followed him inside.

  ‘The Princesses seem to be doing well,’ Dale observed.

  ‘Better and better,’ agreed Loreto with obvious relief.

  ‘Can they be moved? If we go to the Dwellings now, would they survive the journey?’

  Loreto turned questioningly to Lias. ‘I think so,’ he answered cautiously.

  ‘They have more chance of survival than they would if we remain here much longer,’ said Rezon. ‘A whole bunch of Nailmarni managed to slip past the soldiers and into the old Donjon and it was only luck that Dale noticed them. One of them was strangling my brother to death when Dale stuck a dagger up under its ribs – thank you Dale,’ he said sincerely.

  ‘I’m surprised you’re alive,’ said Lias sounding amazed.

  ‘So am I,’ Dale admitted. ‘Rezon crushed the Nailmarni half to death before he broke his neck. Then just for good measure he smashed its head against the stone wall. I imagine by now it would have been ripping me into pieces and eating-’ He stopped speaking as he caught the sickened expression on Loreto’s face.

  ‘Rez?’ Without taking his eyes from Rezon, Lias reached out and took Loreto’s hand and gently pulled her towards him.

  ‘Ben’s throat was crushed and he was hit fairly hard on the head, but Callian didn’t have any difficulty with his injuries,’ said Rezon. ‘He has a great gift,’ he added.

  ‘Where are Callian and Ben now?’ asked Lias.

  ‘They’re checking if we have any chance of getting out of Emerald unseen.’

  ‘Let’s gather the citizens,’ said Dale. ‘I want to be moving out by first light.’

  Chapter 42

  Kelian’s Message

  ‘Where’s Borg,’ asked Gilgarry, looking around the nearly empty courtyard.

  ‘He went out to test the situation with the Nailmarni,’ said Timbul casually, not looking up from the huge basket of fruit he was inspecting. ‘All good.’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘I meant this fruit. It’s good – not spoilt. Borg went with Tiernan and King’s Marshall Danil.’

  ‘To check on the Nailmarni?’

  ‘To test their theory. They want to see if we can influence them or even force them to do anything.’

  ‘How long ago did they leave?’ Gilgarry had slept for a long time after the grievous task of burying bodies.

  ‘They left early yesterday morning.’ Timbul became motionless and inclined his head as if concentrating hard. ‘That’s strange. I can normally hear my father’s thoughts, even at quite a distance, but right now I can sense nothing from him.’ He frowned worriedly. ‘Perhaps he’s just too far away,’ he added doubtfully. He leaned against a column stared into the distance. His body became entirely still. A small gasp escaped the guardian’s lips and his hands curled into fists as if he’d been struck by unanticipated pain. Gilgarry watched him, feeling puzzled by the peculiar look that came over his face. He could feel an odd poignancy and he struggled to place the mass of emotions he felt flow from the guardian. With sudden clarity he sensed grief and disappointment, and strong regret. Timbul turned to look at him and Gilgarry was immediately sure that Timbul had not meant to share his experience. He wondered what had happened to make Timbul momentarily lose control. Timbul continued to look at him very seriously, and Gilgarry knew he was asking him not to speak of what he had felt.

  ‘Of course I won’t,’ said Gilgarry. He pursued his previous thought. ‘You’re worried about your Father?’

  ‘I can’t sense him at all. Not Father, not Danil and not Borg. I wonder if Araas can.’ He paused as though concentrating and a moment later Araas appeared, looking as confused as Timbul.

  ‘I can’t sense them either,’ he said ominously.

  ‘We go after them?’ asked Gilgarry.

  ‘Tim and I will go and find them,’ said Araas.

  ‘I’ll get my gear,’ said Gilgarry, turning away.

  ‘Gil, you’re too slow. No offence intended,’ said Timbul.

  ‘Offence taken! I’ll go by myself then!’

  ‘It’s our job to go after them,’ said Araas shortly. ‘You’re worse than Kelian always wanting to do things that aren’t his job!’

  ‘I beg your pardon,’ said an indignant voice from behind Araas. ‘What do you mean ‘worse than Kelian’ and how is it you didn’t sense me behind you? Or did you choose to be rude to me even though you knew I was standing here?’ Kelian folded his arms across his chest.

  ‘Oh I knew you were there,’ said Araas with a grin. ‘But you were listening in on our conversation and already you were planning to come with us.’

  ‘As King of Alkira I can come and go as I please,’ Kelian reminded him.

  ‘As King of Alkira, you need to stay with your people,’ Timbul countered.

  ‘As King of Alkira, I won’t have any people unless everyone including myself makes every effort to destroy the Nailmarni,’ Kelian reasoned.

  ‘You won’t be King of Alkira if you go gallivanting around the forest and get yourself killed,’ said Gilgarry.

  ‘If you get killed, Eijelin becomes Queen,’ Timbul observed and he raised an eyebrow as Kelian’s face lit up hopefully.

  ‘Oh no, you don’t get out of your duties that easily Majesty. Kelian, I know why I need to go, but why do you want to come with us?’ asked Timbul.

  Kelian face darkened and he turned away. ‘Because I need to find my King’s Marshall and my Colonel, as well as Lord Tiernan. I am ultimately responsible for their safety.’

  ‘We can find them,’ said Timbul, spreading his hands as if this was obvious.

  ‘I know you can, but I wish to come,’ said Kelian firmly.

  ‘Kelian, I really don’t think it’s a good idea,’ said Araas, glancing worriedly at Timbul. ‘I wish we’d left without you knowing.’

  ‘We still could,’ said Timbul, grinning.

  ‘I don’t think so!’ said Gilgarry crossly. ‘You won’t be going without me. My best friend – and soon to be brother-in-law is out there somewhere. I’m coming with you!’

  ‘Now we have to leave without two people knowing we’re going,’ said Timbul wryly to Araas.

  ‘Enough!’ Kelian exploded. ‘I need to come! I have to go with you. King’s Captain Gilgarry and I will get our gear and meet you back here in five minutes. This conversation is ended!’

  ‘Yes Majesty,’ Timbul and Araas answered simultaneously. ‘We’ll be waiting right here, sir,’ Timbul added.

  ‘Good,’ said Kelian, still sounding cross. He turned and strode across the courtyard with Timbul and Araas looking at his retreating figure uneasily.

  ‘Well, that certainly leaves no room for argument,’ said Timbul.

  ‘We shouldn’t be arguing with the
King of Alkira,’ Araas commented.

  ‘I think of him as my friend. I guess we need to show more respect.’

  ‘Tim, if something goes wrong, I intend to grab him and get him back here as fast as I can. I won’t be waiting for anyone else.’

  ‘That should be my job. After all I’m-’

  ‘You are not faster than me, Tim!’ snapped Araas. ‘Besides, if something does happen, you’ll need to get Gil back here as well.’

  ‘You’re worried.’

  ‘Or course I’m worried. The King of Alkira wants to leave the only relatively safe place in the entire land and go to what is probably the most dangerous. How could I not be worried?’

  ‘There’s more to it than that. What’s on your mind?’

  Araas walked over to a low wall and Timbul followed. They sat on the wall and stared towards the beach for several minutes without speaking. ‘I don’t want things to change, now Kelian is King,’ Araas said eventually. ‘And I’m not sure he understands how dangerous this little venture might turn out to be.’

  ‘You can bet he knows exactly how dangerous it will be,’ Timbul assured his brother. ‘I think we have to accept that he has a valid reason for wanting to come with us. We don’t know what his reason is, but we have to accept his decision.’

  ‘And if he gets killed?’