“Beon will not take this defeat lightly.” Aabe answered swinging up onto his mount and guiding him out of the forest and onto the path bypassing the lifeless men. Morad followed Aabe and they made their way towards the southern beach of Calnua. Aabe and Morad rode for what seemed to be over half an hour, passing through sleeping hamlets quietly as to not alarm them. In time they found themselves on the beautiful beach of Calnua. Pausing beside one another, Morad lifted up his binoculars from his leather pouch and looked through them.
“How many are there?” asked Aabe taking out his water satchel and soothing his thirst.
“Five,” whispered Morad, “twice as many as I expected.”
“Five? We only killed three of them, where are the rest?” Aabe asked, fear causing him to shake fiercely.
“I have no idea,” mouthed Morad a little off balance. “I suppose a good amount of them have made for Calnuthe.”
“Yes that would seem right,” Aabe mused, “we must hope that our defences hold.”
“The best thing that we could do is to make sure they do not get off the island,” said Morad turning to his friend. “Your powers are about to come in handy.”
“What do you have in mind?” Aabe smiled weakly, it wasn’t easy conjuring powers spontaneously and for Aabe that was an ability that was still in progress.
“Fire.”
“Morad you know that using magic weakens the mind if it is over stretched,” Aabe lectured.
“I’m guessing that there is a lot of alcohol on board those ships,” mused Morad, “all we need to do is start a small fire on each of them.”
“But we will have to be on them to find the alcohol?” whispered Aabe a sudden realisation of the danger they would face.
“Yes and I am guessing that most of the crew if not all of them have left the ships behind,” replied Morad letting his right hand cover the hilt of his sword.
“Yes I had not thought of that,” Aabe pondered, “let us each take a ship at a time and create fuses and then when we are safely out of harm’s way I can light them.”
“Exactly,” smiled Morad a rush of adrenaline running through his veins, causing them to throb.
“We must leave our horses here,” ordered Aabe getting down from his mount and leading him to a nearby tree, tying him up once more. Morad followed suite and when both stallions were quietly out of the way they began to walk up the long and quiet beach keeping vigilance, swords drawn.
“They look like Meer galleys,” Aabe observed, “they may hold up to twenty men.”
“Beon,” Morad spat. “The masts are his colours, blue and yellow.”
“Yes,” Aabe murmured his heart troubled, if Beon was intent on killing his father, then he must be planning to kill his own and take the throne of Meerin.
“He’s a madman,” Morad said harshly, “his wife wasn’t much better.”
“Even so, our island cannot hold strong against Galgor,” whispered Aabe as they came up to the first long galley. Morad turned to Aabe and took his arm.
“We need ammunition to trigger a fire,” he stated. Aabe brought forth a small bag and opened it.
“I have the ammunition we need,” he smiled digging his hand into the bag and taking out a handful of black salt, “here this should be enough for two galley’s we will meet in the middle.”
“Remember keep your eyes open and your ears, if you hear anything get out,” ordered Morad slapping his friend firmly on the arm. Running away from Aabe who was now running on down the beach at the far end, Morad ran into the sea and clasped the side of the first galley climbing up and jumping over. The boat was full of cloaks and other items spied Morad as he waded his way through to the back where he found small barrels of wine. Quickly he took some of the black salt and dusted the barrels with it before turning and making his way up to the front of the galley, jumping down into the sea again before making his way over to the next boat. The cold waves hammered his body as he jumped up into the next galley and made for the back once more. Looking over he saw his friend, now onto his second galley before turning back to the task at hand. Suddenly the tides grew faint and the world grew quiet as a loud cry pierced the sky. Both Aabe and Morad looked over to the East, their eyes cast upwards.
“What is that?” whispered Morad spotting something in the distance heading his way.
“Morad get off the boat!” cried Aabe jumping into the sea and making for the beach.
“What is it?” yelled Morad now jumping overboard, hurting his ankle on a rock and screaming out in pain, falling into the water.
“Morad!” cried Aabe rushing back across the sand and into the water, the cry of the creature in the air becoming louder. Falling to his side, Aabe grabbed Morad’s arm and brought him up to his feet, throwing an arm around his waist and helping him out. Morad cried as they reached the shore, dragging his right leg behind him, the sky becoming a bright orange. Looking up they saw what it was that filled the night sky and turned running as fast as they could towards the forest.
“Dragon!” yelled Morad.
“Its Nuyay!” smiled Aabe throwing himself and Morad into the forest, slumping down behind a tree, turning around cautiously.
“What is he doing here?” Morad asked, grasping a hold of his ankle and biting down hard on his lip.
“He must be coming to help us,” cried Aabe.
Morad and Aabe watched as Nuyay fell from the sky and flew over the ships breathing fire on them. Almost simultaneously the galleys blew up, the fire mixing with the ammunition. The sound of the explosions pierced the sky as Morad and Aabe threw themselves to the ground, large pieces of timber hurtling into the forest and felling trees. As the fire died down, Nuyay once again flew over the ships before free falling into the sea causing an almighty wave to sweep across the bay. Clutching to the tree trunk, Morad and Aabe held tight until the water went back out to the sea. The dragon once again heralded a cry of victory before stampeding onto the bay letting its rider down. Aabe got up and ran out to the beach and waved to Galean.
“Aabe?” Galean announced running up to meet his friend, hugging him tightly.
“How did you know?” Aabe asked unhanding Galean and looking up into his face before turning to Nuyay and smiling.
“My father,” Galean panted, his sword drawn, “come whoever is alive will most certainly be making their way towards us,” he warned.
“Morad is hurt,” Aabe explained motioning Galean to follow him into the dark forest, finding Morad slumped on the ground. Galean held out his hand to Morad in kindness.
“You nearly killed us!” he cried trying to stand up but failing.
“I did not know you were here,” Galean answered firmly before bending down to inspect Morad’s ankle, looking up at Aabe hopefully, “can you not do something?”
“We don’t have time,” answered Aabe wearily, “I need to concentrate,” he explained, “and with the threat of soldiers coming our way that is a bit hard.”
“Try,” Galean pleaded gazing at Morad his eyes kind and warm.
“Okay,” sighed Aabe settling down beside Morad, placing his hand over his ankle and closing his eyes. Galean sat back his eyes keen and his ears alert. Aabe uttered words unknown to Galean and watched as a glow of warm light encircled Morad’s ankle a gentle snap echoing causing Morad to cry out faintly. In the distance Galean could hear the cries of men coming their way.
“You better hurry,” he cried looking from Morad to the depths of the forest, figures coming into view.
“Okay it’s done, can you walk on it?” Aabe whispered to Morad. Morad got up and stood for a moment checking his balance before looking down and Aabe and smiling.
“You are a miracle worker,” he cried, holding out his hand, Aabe clasping it and bringing himself to his feet.
“Okay compliments to the side,” Galean uttered franticly. “I think there are a dozen or so men headed our way any bright ideas?”
“We fight them,” Morad stated frankly, “what else can we do? We can�
�t let them roam round the island putting our people in danger.”
“True,” muttered Galean shrugging. “Aabe will you be alright?”
“Off course I can wield a blade just like you two,” smiled Aabe weakly, unconsciously standing behind the stronger and broader men. Galean looked at his friend with unease, he knew Aabe wasn’t a great swordsman, he was undoubtedly better with a bow, but they had no bows with them.
“So what do we do?” Morad asked watching a dozen or so men run onto the beach crying out in anger at their burning ships.
“We each take on four,” said Galean eyeing up the men individually, “you and I,” he looked to Morad, “will take on the stronger of the group, Aabe you will take on the weaker, do you see those three men at the back of the group?”
Aabe looked over Galean’s shoulder and nodded, what a sword was to a warrior, magic was to Aabe, and maybe it was time to test out his abilities he pondered following Morad and Galean onto the beach once more.
“Magic is within you, like your spirit,” his father once preached over a fire, “there will be a moment when you feel great need and it will be then that you will be able to harness magic as the lungs harness oxygen.”
“Ready?” Galean asked Aabe shaking him out of his memory.
“Yes,” he answered firmly, he was not a boy any longer, he was not weak, and in fact he was the most powerful out of the three men. With this encouragement, Aabe’s confidence soared as he ran onto the beach and made a bee line for the weaker soldiers, dropping his sword from his hand and using his hands instead to unleash the power within, stunning and killing his foes with instant success, causing Morad and Aabe to turn from their opponents in awe. Morad and Galean looked at one another and shrugged turning once more to their attackers and enjoying the game of dancing feet and singing swords. Aabe aided his friends where he could, but really he knew that he should not fight their battles, they were proud men and would feel defeated if Aabe used his magic against their own strengths. After some time, the soldiers lay strewn across the sand, blood soaking Morad and Galean as they returned to Aabe, wiping their swords on the sand and putting them away, panting and coughing with exhaustion. It was only when they regrouped did Morad laugh.
“You know we could have used your dragon and saved ourselves all of the hassle?” he cried looking over at the enormous creature, confused as to why the soldiers had not noticed its presence.
“Where would the fun be?” teased Galean watching Aabe frown.
“There should never be any fun in killing,” he whispered turning and walking away from his friends back to his horse.
“I was joking,” Galean apologised smiling weakly at Morad who simply shrugged and followed Aabe towards his own mount.
“Still,” Aabe looked down from his black horse into Galean’s eyes, “we should learn to have mercy before we take away the life of another.”
“Aabe that is easy in theory, but when your people are at risk then we have no choice,” muttered Morad guiding his horse towards his friend.
“I understand, but take no joy in ending another’s life, I do not,” he replied solemnly, “each night I dream of the life’s I have taken; I cannot imagine what my dreams will be like when I am an old man.” With that he rode off into the forest leaving behind a bewildered Morad and Galean.
“Off course he has a point,” muttered Galean looking up at Morad.
“He does, and where we can show mercy we must show it, but sometimes are hands are tied,” Morad answered seriously, “ we are not blood thirsty monsters, we seek peace and justice as much as he.”
“I am afraid it was my brothers doing, this attack,” Galean explained. “I am sent to bring Anvin and Aabe to my father at once.”
“I’m afraid Anvin will not be happy with that, who will protect his people?” Morad asked nervously.
“There are those within your community that can keep the island safe from harm, but in the long term it is safer if they come with me,” Galean replied. “Where can I find them?”
“They have gone to Droti, when it is safe we make for Calnuthe and await there until they return.” ordered Morad taking up his reins.
“We must hurry, news will reach Beon of this night,” Galean responded bluntly slapping Morad’s mount on the thigh, sending him forward into a violent gallop.
*
Anvin, Mathilda and Celestine had all heard the loud cries to the east as they arrived at the fort of Droti, an isolated fortification on the coast. Dismounting from their horses, they entered the fort quietly, anxious about the invasion. The fort was small with only a hall and a side room. Mathilda made herself busy by going out to find wood to make a fire in the great hearth whilst Anvin and Celestine looked around.
“What a night it has been for you,” Anvin commented watching Celestine pace about, her face pale and tired.
“And you my lord,” Celestine replied stopping and looking at him shyly.
“Do not think that I have forgotten your journey here or the loss you encountered along the way,” Anvin smiled laying his fur coat down in front of the hearth, “come sit and be comfortable.”
“Won’t you be cold?” Celestine asked anxiously.
“No, don’t you worry about me, you sit down and rest a while, Mathilda will be back soon and in time a warm fire will fill this darkness.” Anvin answered motioning her to come and sit down. Reluctantly Celestine walked over to the hearth and sat down on the warm fur, feeling instant relief in her bones, her stomach quite sick. Anvin found an old chair and brought it over to the hearth and sat down resting his chin in his palm, looking at Celestine thoughtfully.
“Do you find disappointment in me?” she asked quietly massaging her shoulders.
“No, oh no, I am wondering what is in that leather bag of yours?” Anvin asked curiously gazing down at the satchel.
“Oh, I brought books with me,” Celestine smiled, bringing the satchel round and opening it, producing Marcus Aurelius and handing it up to Anvin. Anvin looked at the book before opening it and spending some time reading the contents within, humming. As Anvin read curiously, Mathilda re-entered with a stack of wood in her arms. Quickly she reached the hearth and threw them down before looking to Anvin expectantly. With a flick of his hand and barely a raising of his eye Anvin set the wood to fire, causing Celestine’s body to instantly heat up making her very tired. Mathilda threw off her own fur cloak and set it down beside Celestine yawning loudly.
“You two close your eyes, I will keep watch,” soothed Anvin. “I have much to occupy my time,” he smiled. Celestine watched in envy as Mathilda stretched out and fell straight into a deep sleep. Quietly Celestine followed suite and lay down, her eyes on the fire. As much as she wanted to close her eyes and sleep, she couldn’t. Her body was exhausted, but her mind was in disarray, she wanted to cry but couldn’t, she wanted to hide away in a cave and never come out, but she couldn’t and most of all she just wanted to see her grandfather, she needed some explanations.
“You will have plenty of time to grief and worry tomorrow, sleep.” Anvin ordered, laying the book down on his knees and looking down at the still form of Celestine.
“It feels like betrayal when I have only lost my husband mere hours ago,” she whispered, a tear falling from her eye and soaking her ear.
“It is no betrayal, the grief of his passing will forever be engraved within your heart and memory, but you have a hard and trying journey ahead and you need rest,” Anvin explained gently, watching her body shiver with dismay and pain.
“I have no strength for a journey,” cried Celestine. “I have no power with which to rid this world and the universe of my brother, everyone will lose hope in me eventually.”
“I will help you to gain strength, you will find it soon enough, it often comes to us in times of need, when we can no longer see beyond the present,” said Anvin taking pity on the young woman.
“How?”
“I will show you how to harness your powers, how to c
ontrol them,” Anvin explained. “Mathilda and Morad can teach you how to gain physical power, Aabe can lecture you on the ways of the North and South and Evalean, and she will teach you to be kind and merciful.”
“But I must get to Calhuni,” whispered Celestine, watching the flames dance about.
“In time,” Anvin began, “you will find Calhuni when the time is right.”
“Do you know how to get there?” Celestine asked hopefully.
“Nobody knows where the garden of Calhuni is, only the heir to the throne,” answered Anvin seriously.
“But I don’t know how to get there?” Celestine complained anxiously.
“Calhuni will show itself to you when it is time,” answered Anvin firmly, “for now, sleep.”
Celestine spent some time thinking about the present and the future, and found herself stroking her jewel finding comfort in it. In time the hall fell quiet as both Mathilda and Celestine fell to sleep, leaving Anvin to read the book given to him by Celestine. Only the crackling of the fire and the gusts of wind filled the forgotten fort.
Chapter XX
Gone
The arrival of Evalean awoke Celestine from her sleep just as the sun rose, its rays warming the fort. Mathilda and Anvin were across the hall talking with one another, stopping upon Evalean’s entrance.
“What took you so long?” Mathilda said getting up and walking to her friend hugging her tightly.
“I have some news for you,” Evalean smiled, curtseying before Anvin and nodding over at Celestine.
“What tidings do you bear?” Anvin asked folding his long hands in his lap.
“A great dragon descended upon the island my lord, setting fire to the invaders ships,” Evalean announced calmly. Celestine got up from the fur cloak and yawned, her ears alert.
“Galean,” Anvin murmured looking to Celestine with curious eyes. Upon hearing his name Celestine stood still, off course it made sense, she had seen Galean in her dream, she had met his dragon and Aurora.
“Morad has sent me to tell you that the island is secure and that I am to bring you back to Calnuthe to meet with Galean,” Evalean explained bending down to re tie her boot.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 43