“It’ll cost her her soul? Why does she have to bear this stone?”
“It is royal duty. Only the kings and queens inherit it. Maybe her mother passed it along to her before her capture.”
“She can’t give it to someone else?”
“I would think not. Otherwise she wouldn’t go through this test.”
“I’m sure she’ll do fine.”
“I hope she does, James. I don’t know what the Kingdom would do without an heir to the throne.”
A pause.
“Wait, what did you say? What do you mean by no heir?”
“It’s possible she may not survive this test. She will only keep her life if she passes.”
“WHAT?!”
“It’s true. Catherine doesn’t yet know how to activate the stone at will, to harness its power. Either she will unleash it now, or Kyran will cut her down.”
“Why? Why would she go for something like this?”
“She facilitated this test, James, not us. She wants this. She doesn’t want to be like her parents, relying only on her guards to save her. She wants to be able to release the stone’s power if need be, to protect herself and others.”
“If her bodyguards do their job, she shouldn’t have to.”
“Like I said,” Arimus winced. “She wanted this. Like you have trained to become an infantryman, she has trained to release the power of the stone. As this is her wish, we can only watch and obey.”
“Like I’m going to stand for that!” James declared as he went to jump off of the balcony. Arimus immediately grabbed him and threw him backward.
“If you try that again, I won’t allow you to observe at all.”
“Why let me watch? What’s the point of watching this foolishness?”
“Because you inspire her, James.”
James sat dumbstruck over the words.
“Despite your perceived failures, you don’t give up. You may have been separated from Catherine all this time, but that doesn’t mean that she hasn’t heard all about you, including your time in the forest. It gave her great motivation. So just sit back, and cheer her on from within.”
James reached out a hand for Arimus to take. Arimus took it and lifted James up to a standing position. James immediately went to the balustrade and leaned over it to watch what would unfold. Kyran was glaring at her, mustering up the courage to do what he was ordered to: kill her. Catherine began sweating as Kyran slowly withdrew the blade from his side, giving her full time to see her doom unfolding. Catherine instinctively went for a blade as well, but she let her hand drop at the last second. She took a deep breath, unsheathed her sword, and threw it as hard as she could to the side. She didn’t want the temptation.
“She’s angry,” Arimus whispered. “Instead of fearing for her safety and drawing a blade, she should have been concentrating on the stone within her.”
“She has nothing to defend herself with?”
“She has all she needs, if only she knew how to release it.”
Kyran took one step back, his heel scraping against the gravel beneath his feet, and in the next breath, he lunged forward, running full speed toward Catherine, his eyes fixed on her throat. Catherine put her hands together in a prayer motion and concentrated, her eyes glaring into Kyran’s.
Kyran reared back at the last second as Catherine’s eyes widened in terror. Arimus saw the problem immediately.
“She can’t do it,” he gasped as Kyran pulled up his blade and spun around her. Catherine took a long needed breath. Kyran scowled and leaned his head back toward her ear.
“My mistake,” he muttered as he backed away and walked over to his starting position, giving her plenty of space. He readied the blade once again as Catherine began sweating. Her concentration appeared even worse off than before.
“Kyran loves her too much,” Arimus said. “He doesn’t want to do this…but if anyone in Allay has the will to perform this task, it is him.”
Kyran lunged once more, and swung toward her head. At the last moment, Catherine ducked and the blade swiped at the air. Kyran regrouped his efforts and brought the sword back up toward the off-balance princess. Catherine tried to fall away from it but failed miserably as the blade managed to slide down her left shoulder, nicking her. Catherine cried out in shock and grasped her wound, practically gliding backwards to get away. Kyran shook his head as she glared at him, gritting her teeth and breathing shallowly. Kyran refused to say a word.
“What are you doing, Kyran!” Catherine cried out. “Why aren’t you giving it your all?”
Kyran stayed silent.
“I knew the moment you swung at my head, it wasn’t going to connect! I knew you were going to alter the course of the blade and slow it down, giving me time to dodge it. You’re not trying to hit me at all! You’re faster than this! I’ve seen you!”
“What do you call that, Princess?” Kyran sulked, pointing toward her cut.
“I call it a scratch, a flesh wound. It’s nothing I can’t shrug off. What’s wrong with you, Kyran? I chose you for the test because I thought you wouldn’t hesitate to do what you’re told! You don’t let your emotions get in the way of the task at hand! And you know this needs to be done. Stop caring about what might happen to me, and think about the good of the Kingdom! If I can’t release this stone, then I am unfit to lead these people!”
Kyran almost seemed uneasy.
“It didn’t seem like you were close at all to where you needed to be,” he muttered. “Your thoughts were all over the place. Your form was sloppy. I knew you wouldn’t tap into the stone’s power then. That is why I hesitated.”
“And when will I be ready? That’s why this is supposed to be so serious! I know when you’re bluffing, Kyran. I’ve known you for years. And I especially know when you’re holding back, at my expense. Put your feelings aside, and think of me as an enemy. If you don’t strike to kill me now, I may never get to where I need to be!”
“Fine,” he gruffed, angry he had been scolded so harshly.
“He’s serious now,” Arimus whispered as James clutched the banister.
“You mean he’s actually going to try to kill her?”
“No doubt in my mind. Catherine’s words reminded him of why he took on this assignment in the first place.”
“Is Catherine ready?” James asked, as he saw her shaking, trying not to hold onto her wound. She had said it was nothing, but it hurt far more than she claimed. She was sweating, and her eyes were sporadic. James knew his answer the moment he asked it.
“No, not even close.”
“That’s all I need to hear,” James said as he climbed onto the banister. Arimus reached for him, but James was ready, having already loosened his jacket the moment he had seen Catherine get cut.
Thankfully, he hadn’t forgotten it today…
Arimus grabbed his jacket and pulled, but James was already out of it, falling to the courtyard floor. James landed on one knee and both hands, as Arimus yelled his name. Kyran stood still and Catherine glanced over at him. He wasn’t sure if it was sweat or tears that welcomed him.
“Arimus is always telling me to wear that jacket, and look where it got him,” James said playfully. Catherine’s eyes smiled.
“Always the kidder, James. It’s good to see you…though, I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Don’t be silly, I’m here to help.”
Catherine’s eyes darkened.
“Seriously, James. That isn’t funny.”
“Catherine, I -”
“- you can’t be here.”
“Let me finish -”
“- It doesn’t matter what you have to say. You can’t help me. I have to do this, alone.”
“Why now?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why do you have to be alone now? Why do you have to take this test by yourself all of a sudden? Last time I checked, you were a princess, not a recruit. You’re supposed to have bodyguards. Well, you’ve g
ot one.”
“There’s no way I can be a princess, remember?”
“I -”
“ - I have to do this alone, James. You might feel like you owe me one, but honestly, I’ve already forgiven you for what you said. Just let me do this.”
Catherine turned toward Kyran who stood impatiently. Catherine nodded, giving him the okay, when James stepped in front of her.
“No, I refuse.”
“James, I order you to go.”
“To me, you’re not a princess, remember?”
“James, this is no time for games.”
“Who’s playing? Kyran is about to kill you!”
“And if he does, don’t I deserve it? Wouldn’t that mean I’m not fit to lead?”
“Allay needs you. I know you think you won’t be able to do anything by yourself, but that’s what your guards are here for. They’re here to protect you.”
“A lot of good they did my parents.”
“Catherine, is that what this is all about? Listen, your parents were up against impossible odds. Even if they could fight, it would’ve made little difference.”
“I want to be able to at least do what I can. What good can I do if I’m simply a liability?”
“Then I’ll protect you!” James screamed. Catherine struggled not to look in his eyes. “That would be far better than this sick test! That’s exactly how our enemy tried to make me turn into a Sage! He tortured me and pushed me to my limits, but guess what? It didn’t work! I don’t understand how the Kingdom of Allay can sanction the same tactics!”
“You can’t protect me,” she said solemnly. “Even Lakrymos was killed, remember? I don’t mean to offend you, but what could you do, James?”
“I know I’m not a Sage, but like Arimus said, I don’t give up! I’ll never give up. I’ll never leave your side, no matter what! What you’re doing right now is basically suicide, and regardless of what will happen to me for defying Arimus, I will be your shield!”
Arimus stood silent on the balcony, watching Kyran as the two friends talked with each other. He could tell. The assassin was growing impatient. Kyran gripped his blade with new-found purpose.
“Take the test later,” James continued. “When you’ve had more time to train. We’ll even train together for this. We’ll take our time, grow strong together, pass these tests together. I can help you the way you helped me. And when you pass this in the future, I’ll still be there for you. A bodyguard, advisor, a friend, anything you need. Just don’t do this now!”
“You don’t understand, James. I have to do this now. Time is short.”
“I know someone could attack the Kingdom any day, but that doesn’t mean you should throw your life away!”
“That’s not it…not what I meant at all…”
“Shut-up!” a growl roared across the courtyard. Catherine and James turned to see an enraged Kyran take a step forward, gripping the leather hilt of his sword.
“You can’t protect her. You’re incapable.”
“And how would you know?” James spat back. “You’ve been talking a lot since I’ve gotten here, but I’ve barely seen you lift a finger. For all I know, you’re just talk!”
“You get by on the backs of others. Every step you take is on borrowed time.”
“I could say the same about you,” James said boldly. “Black cat.”
“WHAT?” Kyran growled as he struck the ground with his sword, and then immediately after, his speech turned back to its usual dark monotony. “If you call me that ever again, I don’t care what the circumstances are, I will take your head. You have no idea what you’re saying when you utter those words and I have no time for fools.”
“Mere words, Kyran. That’s all they are.”
“One can say the same about you.”
“Then test me!”
“Fine. If you can protect Catherine, right now, then I will let the test go no further.”
“Agreed!” James yelled as he unsheathed his sword and readied his stance.
“James -” Catherine began, but he put up a hand to stop her.
“Catherine, if I can’t do this, then I don’t even deserve to be here. This is all I have left.”
“James…”
“Take this time to concentrate on releasing the stone. I’ll hold him off.”
James charged forward.
He assessed the situation, trying not to let Catherine cloud his thoughts.Geez, this guy really is like a cat, James thought as he looked at Kyran, noting how he stood completely at ease, as if James wouldn’t even be able to scratch him. He knew he couldn’t unleash a barrage of attacks, and there was little he could do to dodge any assault that came his way, because Kyran was supposedly so quick. There was no real tactic he could come up with…
Then again, from looking at how skinny Kyran was, it seemed like he would fall over at any moment. James was definitely bigger than him. Maybe, just maybe he could get enough weight behind him to…
James charged forward, faster than before, putting even his sword down at his side.He won’t see this coming. James thought as he tried to tackle Kyran’s midsection. Kyran was unfazed. At the last moment, he curled up the corner of his lip and ran forward himself.
He easily met James halfway and ducked right under the recruit’s tackle, thrusting his blade into and across the recruit’s stomach. James’ assault ended immediately as he tasted blood on his lips. He fell forward and somehow, Kyran was fast enough to remove the blade before he hit the ground. James fell to the gravel hard, skidding his face into it as he clutched his wound. Catherine opened her eyes from concentrating the moment she heard the thud of James’ body. Kyran turned to the princess and glared.
“How much longer do you need?” he growled.
Catherine looked from Kyran to James as he struggled to breathe. Catherine raised four fingers, but Kyran shook his head.
“That’s too long. I’m coming now. And this will be it. Either release the power of the stone, or die.”
Catherine nodded as she closed her eyes to concentrate. James heard Kyran’s words loud and clear and he wasn’t going to let it happen. He tried to cry out, but a lump in his throat stopped him. If only he wasn’t such a failure when people needed him most. Sure, he had survived until now, but it was because of freakish luck or refusal to accept the fate before him. No, Catherine was about to die, and he couldn’t live up to his promise.
And that made him particularly mad. Because he would survive, and she would not.
And Catherine was the one who deserved to live, to be given whatever her heart desired. She had lost her parents so young, and worked so hard to become the queen Allay needed. While he, on the other hand, had wasted his life day after day, contributing nothing to his countrymen, simply taking up their oxygen and water, existing until his next nap.
When he had been forced to go to the Academy, he didn’t immediately see it as a chance at redemption, but eventually he did. But how quickly that opportunity had passed. From his failure at being a Sage, to failing at even being a proper infantryman, he continuously let himself down. So why was he even alive? What could his reason for being on this earth possibly be? Surely there was a reason. Surely there was more in him. He had fought a Sage-in-training for three days in a row and lived, being hit by an eidolon and everything.
And now he got stabbed by a regular ordinary sword and he’s down when his best friend needed him more than ever…no, he had more in him. He couldn’t let her die. Everyone needed her. Everyone was counting on her, while he was expendable. Sure his life mattered, but only to him. Who would miss him? Who would talk about his accomplishments? Who would attend his funeral but Catherine, a few friends and perhaps his father, out of obligation?
He had more to offer and he was going to prove it to her. He didn’t care about the fame anymore, he only wanted Catherine to live, so she would be the vibrant and loving queen he knew she could be. So she could teach others to strive for happiness, so she could help th
e world.
So she could make a difference.
And wasn’t that worth dying for?
“If you move around,” Kyran muttered, noticing his excessive grunting. “You’ll bleed to death. That I promise.”
Aw, he cares, James laughed despite his injury. She was the only one that had ever cared about how he felt, and he wasn’t about to die and have her last memory of him be one of disappointment.
James opened a half-shut eye to see Kyran move silently forward toward Catherine. James thrust his hands away from his stomach, brushing something against his leg in the process. James’ eyes widened as he remembered.
The manumit.
A last ditch effort for any infantryman. Well, he had already made up his mind to die for her. He might as well go out in a blaze of glory. Now he just had to get up…
If I only stay still, I’ll live. The words crossed his mind.But then she would die.That was all the motivation he needed as he screamed with everything his lungs could muster. Catherine refused to open her eyes, shutting them harder, trying to concentrate on her mission as James screamed more and more, his determination boosting his legs up to stand, lifting his chin to look at the walking barrier between Catherine and her life.
Kyran stared back at him, sickened at what he saw: a recruit standing in defiance, with half-shut eyes and gravel/blood-soaked clothes. James laughed, short of breath, as he took one step forward.
“I told you, if you move, you’ll die,” Kyran said with feigned concern.
James took a few quick deep breaths, just enough to muster a few words.
“If you move, you’ll die!”
Kyran scoffed at the idea.
“I don’t speak to corpses.”
James reached clumsily for the manumit that lay at his side.
“If you take another step,” Kyran replied, “I will strike you down where you stand.”
James ignored his words, lunging forward, concentrating only on hitting Kyran. His tears blinded him as he struggled almost into unconsciousness, his footing stumbling as he came closer and closer to his target. Kyran readied his sword to strike as James reached for his weapon.
In all the commotion, he had forgotten that the manumit was on his right side, not his left, yet he thought nothing of it as he felt a hilt, extending out from his left rib. He couldn’t see the light that came with the emergence of an eidolon, nor Kyran, but he could feel him standing there. A sixth sense of sorts. He could smell the dirt beneath his fingernails as it mixed with the oils of his skin, creating a distinctive DNA signature. He could hear the way his heart beat steadily, confident in its master’s ability to provide enough oxygen. He could hear the veins tense in the muscles of his legs as he shifted his weight to attack. He could hear his eyelashes tremble as his eyes strained from being exposed too long. He could taste the intent to kill, an acidic rusty taste, or was that his own blood? He couldn’t tell.
The Works of Julius St. Clair - 2017 Edition (Includes 3 full novels and more) Page 24