The High Council

by Victor Kloss

  “Okay, whenever you're ready,” Charlie said, softly.

  Ben watched the box dwarf closely as it approached.

  Nothing happened. Joshua, unperturbed, showed no sign of annoyance.

  Ben was about to lift his sword for the umpteenth time, when the dwarf opened its mouth, and paused a second. It lasted just a moment, before it swung its club.

  “Yes!” Charlie shouted, completely ruining Joshua's concentration.

  Joshua opened his eyes, pure delight on his face.

  “Did I do it?”

  “You did it,” Ben said, with a grin.

  Within another half an hour, Joshua had the box dwarf stopping and starting just like Ben.

  Charlie clapped enthusiastically. “Good work, guys. Let's take a break.”

  Ben looked up at Joshua, and they gave each other a mutual nod of acknowledgement.

  — Chapter Five —

  It Takes Practice

  The next few days saw Ben and Joshua really dive into their training, without actually touching their respective sword and shield. They mastered the complete manoeuvrability of the box dwarf, before progressing through the grey goblin, and then the dazed pixie.

  Charlie spent most of his time with them, but there were periods when he went off to research the High Council, leaving Joshua and Ben alone to progress with their training.

  The war in London was constantly on the back of Ben's mind. After the initial surprise sprung by the dark elves, the Institute's army had evened things up, and Prince Robert, along with the Diplomacy Director, had finally managed to brief the government on the situation. Part of Ben wished he were there, but he knew his purpose lay here, learning to use the sword.

  Then there was Natalie. Ben hadn't seen her since she had left the meeting in the Crimson Tower. He and Charlie searched every day, but without success.

  “You think she's done something silly?” Charlie asked, one morning after they had once again managed to successfully sneak into the training room.

  “No, she's much too smart for that,” Ben said. “She's just very upset, and she's also very stubborn. I'm sure she's avoiding us on purpose, but she'll show herself eventually.”

  “I keep going over in my head how I could have avoided this catastrophe,” Charlie said, running a hand over his cheeks.

  Ben looked at him firmly. “Don't go there again. You did the right thing. Now we have to face the consequences.”

  Nevertheless, Ben worried and thought about Natalie every day, but he was also so busy that it never lingered too long, before he was back training.

  “I think you're almost ready,” Charlie said, rubbing his hands.

  Ben and Joshua had just dismissed a sea dwarf, using their combined thoughts to control it. They had both pulled up chairs in the ring, and were listening to Charlie with rapt attention.

  “Ready to use Elizabeth's weapons?” Ben asked.

  “If by 'use', you mean touch and hold, then yes,” Charlie said.

  Ben couldn't help giving a little sigh of relief. It was now the fifth day since they had started training and he was eager to get going on the final journey, something that could only happen once they could actually use the weapons they intended to end Suktar's life with.

  “Joshua, go pick up your shield,” Charlie said.

  Joshua didn't need asking twice. He ducked under the ring, and walked over to his shield. Slowly, with two hands, he picked up the shield, and his eyes immediately widened.

  “I can feel its magic,” he whispered. “Far more than before the training.” He turned to Charlie and gave an approving nod. “Your training has really helped.”

  “Thanks,” Charlie said, unable to hide his pleasure. “But we've barely started. The sword and the shield are sentient, remember? In fact, their consciousness is not that far below a human’s, according to several articles I've read. Your task is to work with the artefact, and gain its willingness for you to harness its power.”

  “And how do we do that?” Joshua asked.

  “By using similar principles to the lower-level opponents you've been facing,” Charlie said. He thrust a finger in the air. “But there is one big difference. With Elizabeth's Armour, you do not force or command it. You contact it, and convince it to 'lend' its magic to you. Only then will you be able to harness the magic.”

  If learning to master the box dwarf was difficult, that was nothing compared to what Charlie was now asking. For an hour, Joshua held the shield in all sorts of positions, staring at it, clearly trying to communicate to it. Ben admired his persistence, but eventually Joshua slumped his shoulders and he put the shield down, shaking his hands out in frustration.

  “I don't want to question your instructions…” Joshua began.

  “But you are. That's okay; I don't blame you. It's going to be a while before you make any sort of contact.” He turned to Ben. “Let's give Joshua a break. Why don't you have a go?”

  Elizabeth's Sword was in its scabbard, leaning innocently against one of the walls. Ben eyed it like he would a particularly hungry piranha, and walked up to it carefully, as if the mighty sword might fly forwards and attack him. He remembered vividly what happened the last time he tried to draw the sword. The moment his hands had made contact, he had felt raw energy unlike anything he thought possible, magic infusing and overwhelming his senses. Had he not let go quickly, Ben felt he may have done lasting damage.

  “It's a sword, not a snake,” Joshua said, with a smile, watching Ben's daunted expression with amusement.

  “Easy for you to say. That thing almost killed me last time.”

  “Let's start with baby steps,” Charlie said, watching Ben approach the sword intently. “Focus, try the communication, then just gently touch the handle, before pulling away again. You're just letting the sword know you are there, nothing more.”

  Ben rubbed his hands together slowly, and focused on the gleaming silver scabbard, noticing once more the incredible blue gem in the centre of the hilt.

  He shut his eyes. He was in no hurry to touch the weapon, after what happened last time. Instead, he concentrated and calmly reached out to the sword. He wasn't surprised or concerned when the sword didn't respond, but kept at it for a good five minutes. It must be sleeping, Ben thought. Realising he couldn't stand there forever, Ben opened his eyes and reached out again, but this time his finger brushed the base. A flash of light almost blinded him, and he tore his finger away immediately.

  “What happened?” Charlie asked, watching Ben like a hawk.

  Ben shook his hand out vigorously. “Same as last time. The sword flowed a tiny amount of magic into me and it almost knocked me out.”

  “That's okay,” Charlie said, raising a calming hand. “Let's keep trying.” He turned to Joshua. “You should do the same. In the meantime, I'm going to see what I can find that might help us.”

  Ben tried gamefully for the next half an hour. Each time he felt the painful surge of magic, and each time he stepped back, re-focused, and tried again. It wasn't pleasant, but until Charlie gave him some other solution, he was determined to plough on.

  Even Joshua, who initially found Ben's expletives amusing, started looking at him with sympathy.

  “Why don't you take a break?” Joshua said. “Take a few minutes to recharge the batteries. It looks like you're just slamming your head against the wall.”

  Ben looked at Joshua with surprise. “Wow, am I detecting some sort of empathy here? I would have thought you'd relish me getting hit by magic every few minutes.”

  Joshua shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable. “It was amusing for a while, but you're clearly not getting anywhere, and unless you can use the sword, we're both in trouble.”

  “That's true.” Ben nodded with enforced sincerity. He turned away so Joshua couldn't see his true reaction. Was that a subtle indication that Joshua was starting to bond with him? He wouldn't have thought it possible, but Ben recalled a definite look of concern in Joshua's eyes upon the umpteenth ti
me the sword had repelled him.

  A sudden thud interrupted his musings.

  “Nothing,” Charlie said, after slamming a book shut with frustration. “There's nothing else here that can help us. I'm going to have to look elsewhere.”

  Before Ben or Joshua could respond, Charlie was flying towards the door.

  “What should we do in the meantime?” Ben asked.

  Charlie didn't even look their way. “Keep practising.”

  Ben exchanged glances with Joshua as Charlie flew out the room.

  “You can't tell me he doesn't annoy you sometimes,” Joshua said, picking up his shield.

  Ben grinned. “Occasionally, but he's worth it.”

  — Chapter Six —

  It’s About Acceptance

  Another day passed. Ben and Joshua snuck out of the training room only long enough to grab food and bring it back up. It was safer that way. They couldn’t risk Zadaya or one of the other group leaders spotting them and questioning why they weren’t at their duties. Once again Ben wished that he could reveal the secret of the armour and its Guardians. That would make everything so much easier, but of course he couldn’t. Their task had to remain a secret — for now.

  It was already approaching mid-morning when Joshua suddenly sat bolt upright.

  “I think I got it!” he exclaimed wildly. He had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, the shield in his lap, and had been hunched over the artefact, his face focused on its centre, his blond hair hanging down and almost brushing the shield’s edge.

  “Yeah?” Ben had been sitting across from him in similar fashion, the scabbarded sword resting across his legs, and now he leaned back and rubbed at his eyes. “You talked to it? It accepted you?”

  Charlie was off somewhere, doing more research presumably, so it was just the two of them.

  Joshua frowned. “Slow down,” he insisted. “No, it hasn’t accepted me. Nor has it responded. But it is definitely there, and I definitely made contact. I could feel its mind against mine, and it didn’t shut me out. Not completely, anyway.” He sighed. “I guess I’ve still got a long way to go.”

  Ben shook his head and glared down at the weapon covering his own lap. “You’re doing better than I am.” He could feel the energy of the sword even through its scabbard, like he had a live wire lying across his folded legs, but fortunately the scabbard was at least enough to prevent him from getting a shock from that incidental contact.

  “Maybe stop charging about like a bull in a china shop,” a voice offered, and Ben started.

  He hadn’t heard Charlie return, but when he glanced over there was his best friend, back on the stool he’d claimed as if he’d never left, a plate of food on the desk beside him. Charlie chuckled at Ben’s reaction, popping a tomato into his mouth and chewing idly, then held up a hand as Ben switched that glare to him.

  “I’m just trying to help here,” he protested after he’d swallowed. “Seriously. You attack every problem like it’s, well, like it’s a battle. That’s great sometimes. It’s what got you through training and why nothing ever rattles you for long, but this isn’t like that. These artefacts aren’t your enemies. They’re not tools to be used willy-nilly, either. They’re allies, and you’ve got to go at them softly or you’ll get their backs up and then—”

  “Then I get a warning to back off,” Ben finished grimly. He’d already been shocked by the sword more times than he cared to remember. “Yeah, I get it. And you’re right, but how do I get there? I’m trying to be as gentle as I know how, and as nonthreatening. Nothing’s working.”

  Charlie frowned. “Maybe it’s because you’re still taking the lead,” he suggested slowly, as if he knew his words might offend but was determined to get them out there anyway. “You’re a natural leader and you’re used to being in charge. Even with the rest of the Guardians, you call the shots. I’m not saying you’re a tyrant or anything; you’re pretty good about listening to suggestions and considering other options — usually — but you still get the ball rolling each time.” He scratched at his nose. “With the box dwarves you said you were reaching out to them. But maybe you don’t have to do that here. These things are a lot brighter than box dwarves, and a lot stronger. Maybe they’re already right there, waiting. Not for you to reach out to them, but for you to let them in.”

  Joshua nodded. “That’s what I did,” he confirmed. “Maybe not deliberately, but I wasn’t pushing or even trying to get in. I was just thinking about it. And that’s when I felt it.”

  “You were receptive to it,” Charlie agreed. “That’s what it needed.”

  “Let it in,” Ben repeated softly. “Be receptive to it.” He nodded. What Charlie said made sense. “Yeah, alright. I’ll give that a go.”

  For a second, he eyed Joshua, who stared right back at him. But there was no longer any animosity there that Ben could see. Still some wariness, perhaps, but that was a long step from where they’d been.

  “I’m really sorry about your dad,” Ben said finally. “I know I never said that before, but I am.”

  Joshua’s father, Arnold, was a senior Warden and one of Draven’s right-hand men. He had led a team to put down a dark elf incursion the week before, but it had been a trap. The rest of the squad had been killed. Arnold himself had disappeared. They still didn’t know if he was alive or dead, and Ben knew that had to be eating away at the other boy.

  “When I thought my parents might be dead, it was horrible,” he admitted softly. “Particularly ’cause there was nothing I could do about it.”

  Joshua frowned, but the expression didn’t appear to be aimed at him. “Yeah,” he agreed after a second. “I keep wishing I’d said something to him before I left, you know? Cleared the air? I thought I’d have more time.”

  His voice broke a bit on that last part, which Ben kindly ignored. Joshua and his father had argued the last time they’d seen each other, and a lot of it had been about Ben and his family, and the Guardianship.

  “I get that,” Ben said and sighed. “I don’t even remember the last thing I said to mine. I’d been out the door so it was probably something like ‘yeah, yeah, see you later’.” He shook his head. “When I came back, they were gone.” And didn’t see them again until just a few days ago, when he’d claimed the sword’s scabbard and a spell upon it had sent him into the void, where his parents had been waiting. He brushed away a tear at the thought of that brief reunion, reminding himself that it had only been temporary. His parents’ bodies were still frozen somewhere in Suktar’s palace, where they’d been captured and nearly killed. They would be there until he could defeat the dark elf king and give them the space they needed to come back safely.

  Joshua wasn’t finished, though. “Sorry I was such a prat to you before,” he said. “The whole thing between your dad and my uncle, and then they were charged with treason, which just cemented my opinion of them; then you come strolling in like you own the place—”

  “And the very first thing I do is shoot you,” Ben cut in, unable to stop from grinning. “Yeah, not my finest introduction.”

  “No, but it was impressive,” Joshua replied, a grin slowly forming on his own face as well. “Wasn’t expecting that, to be sure, especially from someone who wasn’t even an apprentice yet.”

  Ben had swiped Natalie’s spellshooter and somehow managed to fire it without any training at all, which was practically unheard of, but he’d been focused on following Draven and the Diplomacy Director, Colin, and Joshua had gotten in his way.

  “I’m glad we’ve got past that now,” Ben told him seriously. “And I get why you had it in for me.” Considering his father had killed Joshua’s uncle, Ben could hardly blame him for his animosity.

  “Yeah, well, I was still a jerk,” Joshua offered. He held out his hand, his face serious but open. “Done with that?”

  Ben accepted the handshake. “Yeah, definitely.” He knew saying that didn’t solve everything, or erase the months of animosity, but it felt like a start. Then
his gaze strayed back down to the weapon in his lap. “Which means I really should focus on this instead.”

  “You’ve got this,” Charlie urged. “Just don’t push or demand.” He grinned. “In other words, don’t be you.”

  “Ha, thanks loads.” Ben rolled his eyes, but laughed anyway. The suggestion was not without merit.

  He closed his eyes again and just sat there, hands on his legs, near but not touching the sword, breathing deeply. It was just like when he was using a spellshooter or controlling the box dwarves as far as focus, except this time he did as Charlie had suggested. He didn’t push his mind into or even towards the sword. He just made himself receptive in case it wanted to reach out towards him.

  And, after a time, it finally did. It was the merest flicker, just a hint of a presence near his mind, but Ben knew he hadn’t imagined the sensation.

  His eyes popped open at once. “I did it!” he exclaimed.

  “Brilliant!” said Charlie. “What happened?”

  “I felt the sword,” Ben answered. “You were right. I didn’t go after it; I let it come to me. And it did. Just a brush, but I definitely felt it.”

  Joshua smiled. “And I had another go with the shield while you were doing that,” he explained. “This time it made real contact. It knows who I am, and that I’m its new Guardian.” His blue eyes were wide with awe. “I think it’s starting to accept me.”

  Ben felt a surge of frustration at that. He was still trying to get the sword to connect with him, and Joshua had already been accepted by the shield? Charlie obviously saw his consternation, and had an explanation ready.

  “Remember the sword is more powerful than the shield,” he reminded Ben. “It’s the most powerful of all the pieces, which is why it went to the Head Guardian. It’s going to be a lot harder to control as a result. Just like you,” he dead-panned.

  “Hey!” But Ben couldn’t help grinning, and what Charlie said did make him feel a bit better. Joshua didn’t seem to take offence to the idea that his artefact wasn’t as powerful.