by I K Spencer
"You are just trying to console me!" the maiden accused. "All young men dream of being guardsmen. There is no greater honor. I am not a fool Anthen!" Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Most young men do not cross paths with someone as special as you," Anthen replied sincerely, then added in a barely audible voice, "and some dreams are not meant to come true."
The maiden pushed away from him, her large, brown eyes searching his grave face.
"You speak the truth," Urvena concluded, finding her answer in his steady gaze.
"Then I will wait for you," she said solemnly. "Make up your mind during your trip and come back to me a free man."
The two young lovers embraced and kissed softly, tasting each other's salty tears. Anthen wondered briefly if it would be the last time he felt her soft lips.
"When do you leave?" she whispered as they held each other.
"I must return to the estate this evening. We depart at dawn."
"When will you return?"
"I do not know. A few weeks to a few months."
"I will wait," she murmured softly.
She offered him a small smile and took his hand. Without a word she led him inside and into her bed chamber. She slipped out of her robe and gown and lay back in her bed, beckoning him to join her.
"Love me," she whispered.
Anthen, for an instant, imagined Cidrl with her in the same bed and he immediately shut his eyes to dismiss the excruciating image. Ignoring his instinct to flee and end the agonizing encounter, he quickly disrobed and fell into her arms. The young guardsman had no choice; refusing her would surely arouse suspicion. The two young bodies merged and entwined, becoming one as the afternoon sun streamed in through the thin curtains of Urvena's bedroom. Their lovemaking was gentle and solemn, as both knew it might be their last time.
He could not know whether it was all an act on her part but if it was so, then she had missed her calling. Her tears continued as they moved slowly together. Though his eyes remained closed in fear they would give him away, he caressed every part of her glorious body, trying to memorize every curve. They did not speak until the end, when their bodies took control and carried them to their mutual apex. Only then did they call out each other's name and for the guardsman, there was anguish mixed with the passion of his cries.
********
Anthen rode away without looking back at the small bungalow. He turned the corner, then doubled back through alleys to the tavern down the street. He entered the half-empty establishment and made his way directly to the second floor. Garrick opened the door immediately upon his usual knock.
The older man had been busy, all his gear was packed, except for the customary bottle and pair of glasses. Garrick poured them both a draught of whiskey and Anthen drained his glass, welcoming the burning in his throat and stomach from the potent liquid. Garrick looked closely at the younger man but said nothing as he refilled Anthen's glass.
Anthen began by recounting his earlier meeting with Cidrl, focusing on the traitor's description of the treacherous border lands. Most of this was known to the older guardsman, having fought in two wars against the unfriendly neighbor to the east. Garrick had not experienced the oversized mosquitoes but he had crossed the wastelands farther north than Cidrl's path. Next Garrick pulled out a map of the region and the pair reviewed the path that Cidrl had described to Anthen. He agreed with the younger man's suspicions regarding whether the traitor was being truthful or not but he committed the route to memory anyway. It was at least something to go on if he lost their trail.
After they finished discussing Anthen's earlier meeting with Cidrl, Garrick raised the subject of his meeting with Urvena, knowing the younger man would not do so.
"And what happened with the woman?" prompted the older guardsman.
"A typical goodbye scene between young lovers I imagine," Anthen replied with a wry smile but Garrick could see his mood was anything but cheerful. "One item of note. She knows I am a guardsman and is upset, believing that she and I have no future."
Garrick shot the apprentice a sharp look. "How did she come by this knowledge?"
"She said that it was 'well known' in Gates that Cidrl was with the Guard and that the succession of young men to visit him over the years were known to be apprentices. She claims to have found out yesterday that Cidrl was my host, which led her to the expected conclusion."
"How did you respond?"
"I saw no point in denying it."
The older man considered the response a moment before nodding in agreement, though he was concerned as to why Cidrl had the woman bring it up now. Perhaps Cidrl wanted to further unsettle the apprentice, the threat of losing his new love adding to his turmoil.
"So how was it left between the two of you?"
"I told her she was the most important thing in my life and I would consider leaving the Guard for her. She is going to wait for me."
"Do you speak the truth?" Garrick's alarm was obvious. Part of his concern was the candor with which the younger man spoke since Anthen usually remained tight-lipped regarding matters with the maiden.
"Possibly but that changes nothing," the apprentice answered indifferently. "My only interest now is to stop Cidrl and only when this is all over will I decide what to do."
Garrick heard the conviction and determination in the younger man's voice. "Do you doubt the maiden's role in this?" he asked gently.
"It is possible that she may be a victim as well," Anthen replied, quickly continuing before the older man could argue, "but that is of no importance for now. I will judge Urvena when I have all the facts."
Having listened to her the previous night, Garrick had no doubt that she was a willing accomplice but chose to remain quiet. Perhaps it suited their purpose not to dash the troubled young man's hopes completely.
The two men spent the last portion of the meeting going over the plan. If Anthen was successful at convincing Cidrl that he had become the traitorous guardsman's mindless servant, then he would play the part until he learned the traitor's scheme. Once he figured out the plot he would flee, killing Cidrl only if he could be certain it would add no risk to his escape. Above all they must thwart the treasonous plan and alert King Jamen. Knowing how desperately the younger man sought revenge, Garrick expected Anthen to balk at this but there was no disagreement. It gave the old warrior hope to see that the young guardsman properly understood and accepted the priorities of their situation.
Once Anthen escaped he would use the amulet to locate Garrick so the two could decide the next step and work together. Their actions would depend on the threat but likely one or both would return to Carael. They also decided that if either party was incapacitated or killed, then the other would abort the mission and race back to the king so that his armies could begin to mobilize. The amulet would help in this regard as no matter the distance that separated the two stones, a faint light would burn as long as both amulets were worn. If the green light disappeared completely that meant either the matching amulet had been removed or, the bearer was dead.
Finally, there seemed to be nothing left to say. Garrick poured them each one more round and they toasted to the king, the Guard, and their success. Anthen tried to sound enthusiastic but Garrick could see that his heart was not in it.
They grasped hands and Garrick's voice quavered with intensity as he tried to bolster the younger man. "Do not despair Son. Good will prevail and I promise I will be there if you need me!"
"I know," Anthen replied in a steady voice. "Garrick, I do not despair and I will do my best." The troubled young guardsman started to pull away, then paused. "Garrick I want to apologize. I never really believed you and it makes me sick to think how close I came to abandoning you and my duty completely. You have done well."
Garrick pulled the young man to him and they hugged briefly. "I would not believe me either," he chuckled, then grew serious again. "You have done well too Anthen. None could have done better. It is a good omen that such a speci
al guardsman came along when Cidrl's treachery surfaced."
"Fare well Guardsman," Garrick whispered and released Anthen's hand.
"Fare well," the younger man echoed with a grim smile and turned to leave.
Garrick watched the lonely figure walk down the hall, then closed the door. On impulse, he pulled the amulet from his tunic and watched the fierce glow lessen as the young man moved farther away. He watched the stone for some time and was about to put it away when suddenly it started to brighten again. Perhaps the young man had forgotten to tell him something. He waited as the brightness grew but then it stopped.
Alarmed, he went to the window to see if he could spot the apprentice. He looked up the street toward the woman's dwelling, then back in the opposite direction. There he spotted Anthen astride his horse, gazing forlornly at the maiden's lodging. Although the young man's composed face did not reveal it, the old warrior knew the anguish that lay heavy on his heart. After a few moments, horse and rider turned and strode slowly away. Garrick watched as the intensity of the soothing green light diminished. After several minutes the stone's light faded to a barely visible glow.
He wondered whether he would ever see the stone burn brightly again.
Chapter 21
Anthen and Cidrl rode from the estate as the sun peeked above the horizon. They rode past the northern wall, then the older guardsman led Anthen across a barely recognizable trail that threaded east through Cidrl's forest and descended to the plains. As they emerged from the thick woods facing the rising sun, the prairies looked ablaze from the rays of the red orb.
Anthen covered the red fireball with his hand so he could survey the terrain into which they were riding. It was already warm and he knew the heat would be sweltering at midday. They descended at a barely perceptible slope, the savanna stretched out as far to the east as he could see.
The two sturdy guardsman mounts were heavily laden and Cidrl pulled a packhorse as well. Most of the weight was attributed to the most precious commodity for a border crossing into Dolonar—drinkable water. The packhorse carried only water and Cidrl had explained that the animal would be released as soon as they’d exhausted the supply it carried. He had sacrificed many pack animals over the years but this particular one had survived a few crossings now, evidently smart enough to avoid drinking the unfit water and find its way back to the estate.
As the pair rode toward the rising sun through the tall grass, Cidrl was his usual talkative self, cheerily telling stories, forcing Anthen to converse, and even singing songs. The apprentice was sullen and largely remained quiet, making no attempt to even appear in good spirits. Anthen knew the traitor expected him to be lost to inner turmoil and he was happy to oblige.
The pair rode hard throughout the hot day, alternating between an easy trot and a fast walk. Cidrl had explained that the crossing was like a race, to reach potable water on the other side before dying of thirst. Cidrl did not stop for lunch and Anthen nibbled on jerky and dried apples as they pushed on.
During the middle of the afternoon the younger guardsman perceived that the land began to change. First, he began to see the dwarf trees that would soon dominate the landscape. The deadwood trees were like nothing Anthen had ever seen, with rough, twisted trunks and sparse and spindly branches. Even now in summer, the leaves were brown and wilted as though it were late autumn. As the number of the stunted trees grew, so did the prairie dwindle. The tall green grass was first replaced with a shorter, brown variety, then displaced completely by larger and larger stretches of bare, parched earth.
About an hour before dusk, Cidrl turned to the southeast. He explained that they would camp near a spring located on a hill a short distance out of their way and if lucky, the spring would not be dry. He added that it was the last uncontaminated water source they would find until they reached Dolonarian soil.
Arriving at their destination shortly before dusk, the dust-covered riders dismounted at the top of the small bluff and unpacked the thirsty horses. Cidrl went a short distance down the northern slope, then called to Anthen to lead the horses down as well. When he arrived with the animals, Cidrl was on his knees, digging a shallow trench with his dagger just below a rock outcropping. The master guardsman scooped the arid soil and sand from the six-inch trench, a few feet in length. As Anthen watched, the bottom of the trench darkened with damp, then formed puddles of water. Cidrl scraped out a bit more damp earth before motioning for the apprentice to bring the horses forward. The parched mounts stepped forward and bent to drink, swallowing the small puddles as soon as they formed.
"We are lucky," Cidrl said with a big smile. "I never know whether I will find water here or not. Even during the spring, it may be dry here." The large man rose with a groan. "We can leave the horses here to drink their fill."
The pair split up to gather wood for a fire. The deadwood branches, even those Anthen broke from live trees, were dry and brittle as though long dead and partially decayed. The young guardsman doubted they would make much of a blaze. When he returned with an armful of the strange wood, which seemed to have no weight whatsoever, Cidrl was coaxing a weak fire to life. As the apprentice had suspected, the puny campfire smoked heavily and smelled of mildew.
Cidrl set water to heat and began to sort through a basket of fresh food that Mazy had handed him before they left. He lavished compliments on the rotund cook as he discovered what she had sent and arranged it on the ground between them. There was roast duck, a crock of beans, a thick stew, fresh biscuits, and an entire pie.
Cidrl cheerfully feasted on the food and urged Anthen to do the same, reminding him it would be their last good meal for some time. Anthen had no appetite; the foul-smelling smoke from the fire made him nauseous but he forced down a little of the food. As they ate, the tired guardsmen watched the yellow sun disappear below the distant prairie to the west. The twilight had faded before Cidrl stopped eating and then, as the older man wrapped up the little that remained for their breakfast, Anthen made coffee with some of the hot water. As they waited for the coffee, Cidrl pulled a pouch from his cloak and rolled a crude cigarette.
"I did not know you smoked," Anthen commented.
"Usually only on the trail," Cidrl replied and blew out a flume of thick smoke. The large man leaned comfortably back against a fallen log, sitting on his bedroll beside Anthen. "It helps keep away the bugs and besides," he said with big grin, "it smells better than this fire. You want one?"
Anthen shook his head.
"Well you might change your mind later. The stench is much worse in the swamps."
Anthen roused himself to pour them both a cup of coffee, then settled back on his own bedroll. The sky was clear and the stars were starting to fill the blackness above.
"How did you leave matters with your lady friend?" Cidrl asked innocently.
Anthen felt his grip tighten on the coffee mug but forced himself to remain calm. The older man's visage displayed only friendly concern.
"She says she knows I am an apprentice guardsman; it is well known that you are one. She is understandably upset, knowing the life a guardsman leads." Anthen watched the older man closely as he spoke but Cidrl's cheerful demeanor did not waver. "I told her my future is undecided and I had to go on a long journey and she promised to wait."
Cidrl nodded. "I should have warned you about people's suspicions of me. It is difficult to keep a secret for so long. Does she have other suitors?"
Anthen held his rising anger in check, taking a drink of the hot coffee to delay answering for a few moments. He would like nothing better than to lunge at the murderous traitor.
"None that I am aware of," he answered quietly.
"Well, with such a beautiful maiden as she, others will come along." Cidrl shook his head sadly.
Anthen wondered if this was a slip or intentional, since he had never described Urvena to Cidrl.
"Being a guardsman is a lonely life," Cidrl went on. "I am sure you have thought about that often. I certainly have."
&n
bsp; "I have," Anthen agreed.
"I think we need a drink," Cidrl said and pulled a flask from his pack. He dumped out the rest of his coffee and refilled it from the flask. "Help yourself," he offered and set the flask between them.
Anthen waited for the other man to take a few swallows, then discarded the dregs from his cup into the arid soil and poured in a little of the liquid from the flask. He sniffed the dark liquid before taking a small amount into his mouth. He determined it to be brandy and detected nothing else so swallowed. He enjoyed the slight burning as the potent liquid went down his throat and the warmth it brought to his stomach.
"A fine brandy," Cidrl said and took another long drink from his mug. "Yes, being a guardsman is certainly a lonely life. I wonder, sometimes, if it is worth the sacrifice."
"You do?" Anthen sensed that this line of conversation was orchestrated by Cidrl for some purpose so he just followed along.
"Sure. I mean in times of war or unrest there is great excitement and glory; heroic deeds can make a man into a legend. In times of peace and prosperity, however, the guardsmen are all but forgotten."
"What about this expedition? Is this mission not of great import?" Anthen played the dedicated new recruit Cidrl expected him to be.
The older guardsman chuckled. "I guarantee you Anthen that we will see nothing of importance. The Dolonarians have finally learned that it is futile to attack us. These wastelands," Cidrl began, pointing to the east with his cup, "along with the mountains and our impregnable garrison, present too much difficulty for a force of any size. The Dolonarians finally have learned this and have given up hope of ever gaining control over our heartland. Sure, they could wrest these plains away from us for a while but then the wastelands would make holding Gates so difficult that sooner rather than later we would drive them back into the swamps."
Cidrl paused to take a drink. Anthen said nothing but watched the traitor, waiting for him to continue.
"Then there is the threat of insurrection. Not much threat, really, when Isaencarl thrives so and you have such a popular king as Jamen. Everyone is too content to think of rebellion."