by Daniel Fife
Anthony refused to comment as he piled his plate full for the second time.
Both Calador and Briza turned to receive Doug as though they'd been expecting him. Calador nodded, smiled and then took his leave, attending to other squires. Unable to hear what was being said, Danny suddenly wished he had the ears of an Elf as Doug and Briza began their conversation alone.
"He's doing better than I thought," said Alonso.
"I told you guys she liked him," said Chris.
"Quiet," ordered Danny. "He's coming back."
Briza smiled and disappeared, walking back up the stairs to the girls' barracks. Beaming, Doug made his way back to the long table, sat down and resumed eating.
Alonso dropped his forkful of eggs, awaiting details. Chris and Danny looked on curiously, also waiting for Doug to speak. Even Anthony stopped stuffing his mouth full of food in order to hear what Doug had to say.
"Well?" Matt asked finally.
Chewing a mouthful, then swallowing, Doug positioned his silverware upon his plate. Adjusting himself in his seat, he leaned forward and grunted, clearing his throat.
"Oh, come on!" commanded Matt.
"She has invited us to train with her."
"…Us?"
"Apparently, her conversation with Calador concerned reserving the northern section of the Great Dome for training, and she invited us to go with her."
"What about you?" Chris asked. "I thought the whole purpose of you going to talk with her was to discuss you and her."
"Well, I'm included in the 'us' part," said Doug, making a quotation mark motion with his fingers.
"I suppose it's a start," conceded Chris.
"…Training?" Matt asked, pushing his glasses farther up on his face. "Like that's going to happen. We just spent a whole week training and I'm not about to waste a day off."
"That's for sure," added Alonso.
"If I remember right, you could both do with more training. Your skills in technique class were pathetic," said Chris.
"As if you could make me," said Alonso.
"You know I could," said Chris.
"Fine," conceded Alonso before adding, "I was going to go anyway."
Defeated, Matt grimaced.
"I'm always up for training," mumbled Anthony, his mouth full of food.
"…You coming, Danny?" Chris asked.
Although Danny would have liked to have gone with them, he had a strong urge to find Sabrina. "No, I'm going to see if I can find Sabrina."
"And how are you going to do that?"
"I suppose I'll start by going to the Dragon Army barracks."
"Are you insane, man? After what happened at the King's Banquet?"
Finished, Danny got up from the table and shrugged in response.
"You want me to come with you?" Chris asked.
Danny shook his head. "I'll be fine. Besides, I think these four need your help way more than I do," he said, pointing out Anthony, Alonso, Matt, and Doug. "I'll catch up with you guys later."
"Be careful, man," Chris insisted.
"Aren't I always?"
"No," said Chris with a smile.
Danny returned the smile and struck out on his own. He made his way past the barracks of Horse Army and Griffin Army and stopped in front of the familiar flag of Dragon Army, two rather large squires stood guard with Bondeds at their side. Taking a deep breath, Danny took both steps in stride and stopped before them.
"What do you want, newb?" the larger squire to the left asked.
"I'm looking for someone, Squire Sabrina Drake."
"We don't associate with newbs," said the smaller guard on the right, his hand moving threateningly to the rounded hilt of his Bonded.
"Please, squire, she is a friend of mine."
"You'll get no answers from them, laddie," said a familiar voice from behind.
Danny's heart sank as turned to find Squire Rigil standing at the base of the steps.
"I, however, may be persuaded," continued the red-haired boy as he stepped up. "I told you this thing between us wasn't over," he added, adjusting a single piece of plate mail upon his bulky left shoulder, inscribed with the depiction of a dragon, marking him as a lieutenant.
"You know this, newb, Lieutenant Rigil?" one of the guards asked, indicating Danny.
"Aye, I know the lad." A small crowd began to pool behind him. Some wore the red robes of Dragon Army; others sported the varying colors of the other armies.
"Please, Squire Rigil, just tell me where Sabrina is and I'll be on my way."
"Why should I? And dats lieutenant to da likes of you," said Rigil. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Do you play Knights, Lieutenant Rigil?"
"Aye, I do."
"I'll play you for Sabrina's location. If I win, you tell me where she is."
"Are ya challenging me to a duel, newb?"
"Sure, I guess so," said Danny. However, he'd never heard a game of Knights referred to as a duel.
A wide smile crossed Rigil's face as he turned to the small crowd and yelled, "A duel has been issued and the challenge has been accepted."
Whoops and cheers erupted from those gathering around as the mass of squires began to build, creating a rainbow of colored robes.
"Danny?" a familiar voice questioned from behind him.
Danny turned to find Rogen exiting the Dragon Army barracks, a look of pure confusion upon his face.
"What are you doing here?" the blond-haired squire asked.
"Dis here newb has challenged me to a duel," said Rigil in Danny's stead.
"I've challenged Rigil to a game of Knights to find out Sabrina's location," clarified Danny.
Rogen appeared dumbfounded. "A duel is not a mere game of cards, Squire Danny. If you have challenged Lieutenant Rigil to a duel, then it is swords you will cross, not cards."
"No," said Danny, shaking his head. "I challenged him to a game of cards," he tried to explain. However, turning back toward Rigil, he noticed a sweeping smile growing across the larger boy's face.
He'd been tricked.
"I didn't agree to a battle of blades."
"A challenge has been issued and accepted. It's the law," said Rigil, placing his hand on the blue, twisting hilt of a thick-bladed longsword.
"…The law?" Danny questioned.
"He doesn't know," pleaded Rogen, stepping forward, standing at Danny's side. "Besides, he doesn't even have a suit of dueling armor."
Rigil looked both boys up and down, nodding in agreement with some wicked plan. "Since ya seem to have taken a liking ta dis here newb, he can use your dueling armor."
"He is just a first-year squire," argued Rogen. "You cannot expect…"
"It is the law," said a voice from the back, interrupting Rogen.
Every squire, including Rigil, turned to find Sir Syndil standing just beyond the crowd. Silence ensued as the mass of squires parted, allowing the tall Elf to wade through to the middle.
"Professor Syndil, sir," said Rigil, with a nod and a smile, as the Elf stopped before him. However, Sir Syndil didn't return the gesture.
Instead, Sir Syndil turned to Danny and asked, "What are the terms?"
"I just wanted to know where Squire Sabrina Drake was," said Danny.
Sir Syndil nodded, turned to Rigil, and asked, "And you?"
"When I prevail, dis here first-year will have no furtha contact with Squire Drake," said Rigil with a smirk. "She's a member of Dragon Army and has no reason to associate with first-years."
"That's not fair!" Danny said, only to be silenced by the outstretched hand of Sir Syndil.
"At the chime of the seventh bell, the duel will commence within the southern chamber of the Great Dome," said Sir Syndil. "You have until that time to prepare. I suggest that you use your time wisely. However, if either one of you fail to appear, you will have violated the Law of the Light and be condemned to judgment."
"I need no preparation," said Rigil. "Why not begin now?"
"You dare to q
uestion me, Squire?"
Rigil dropped his brown eyes in submission. "I…" began Rigil hesitantly, only to be interrupted by Sir Syndil.
"Squire Firoth is a first-year squire, as such, he will be given time to prepare. Is that understood?"
"Aye, Professor Syndil, sir," said Rigil, his head still bowed. However, before stalking back into the Dragon Army barracks, he turned toward Danny and added, "I look forward ta seeing ya on the seventh hour, lad." With that said, he disappeared through the double doors of the barracks, followed by a group of his fellow red robes.
A series of whispers began to echo throughout the crowd of remaining squires. However, they were soon staunched as Sir Syndil turned to address them. "It is a day of respite, Squires. Surely, there are other matters you must attend to?"
Quicker than they had gathered the host of squires dissipated, leaving Sir Syndil standing alone with Danny and Rogen.
"You never cease to amaze, do you, Squire Firoth?" swiveling on the balls of his feet.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean, Sir Syndil."
"Of course you don't," said Sir Syndil with a smile. "Come, let us retire to a place beyond prying ears," he added, looking at the guards who stood just outside the Dragon Army barracks. "Come with us as well, Squire Rogen." He turned and walked off, clearly assuming that both boys would follow.
They did.
Stopping in an abandoned street, Sir Syndil turned and asked, "Do you know where Squire Drake is, Squire Rogen?"
"Yes, sir, I do," said Rogen, with a slight nod of the head. "And I would have told you if you had simply waited a few seconds longer!" he added, addressing Danny.
"If I could predict the future, then I would've waited," said Danny, growing angry at Rogen's insinuating tone.
Sir Syndil's right eyebrow lifted ever-so-slightly at Danny's comment. However, before Rogen could snap back, Sir Syndil held his right hand up, demanding silence. "There is no one to blame." Then, after looking at both boys carefully, he added, "Squire Rigil was right, you are both nearly of the same stature."
Rogen and Danny exchanged curious glances, before either squire could comment, Sir Syndil continued.
"Squire Rogen, you will take Danny to see Squire Drake and then gather your dueling armor. On the last chime of the ninth bell, I will look forward to seeing both of you in my classroom chambers."
"…Yes, Professor."
With that said, Sir Syndil walked off, with other urgent matters to attend.
"Come," urged Rogen, striking off. "I will take you to see Sabrina."
"…So much for a day of well-deserved rest," said Danny.
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Chapter 21 - A Bonded Named Rose
ogen led Danny to the southernmost part of the island, a series of steep stone stairs were carved into the cliff face. Peering down, Danny gasped in amazement. Below him, stretching out a good distance from the base of the rock, was a beach of ivory-colored sand. The glint of metal caught his eye as he spotted Sabrina, practicing her skill with a slender-edged blade, just beyond the reach of the lapping waves.
With an eagerness he hadn't felt for some time, Danny hopped down the stone steps with Rogen following behind. Taking the last two steps with a jump, Danny hit the snow-colored sand running. He slowed his step as he came upon Sabrina, not wanting to startle her.
However, if she had noticed his presence she didn't show it, as she continued her deadly dance with a grace unparalleled. Wearing the red robes of Dragon Army, the thin cloth caught the slender curves of her body; it failed to hinder her movement as it fluttered in the salty sea breeze blowing in from the open water.
Danny watched her movements with amazement, his eyes drawn to the slender rapier in her hand as the blade caught the sunlight and reflected the rays in a pinkish hue. The hilt ended in the form of a blossoming pink rose with two petals, creating the hand guards. Twisting before him, Sabrina dipped low and brought the blade before her, causing it to hum as it cut through the air. With her eyes shut, she continued her ballet with the blade, seemingly unaware that someone watched her with a careful eye. Danny stepped forward with the intent to interrupt and stir her from her trance. However, he stopped as he felt a restraining hand on his right shoulder. Turning, he met Rogen's eyes as the blond-haired boy shook his head.
"Let her finish."
Danny took a step back, allowing Sabrina to continue.
Minutes passed as Sabrina fought off invisible enemies, whirling the pink rapier in an intricate pattern of combat. Then, with one final attack, she sheathed the blade into a matching scabbard at her side, and opened her eyes. Turning toward both boys, she smiled.
"You found me."
"Yeah," said Danny awkwardly, returning the smile. Dumbfounded, he added, "Rogen helped."
"I can see that," she said with a laugh. "I have something to show you," she added, pulling the rapier free from its scabbard and presenting it before her. "Her name is Rose."
"Her?" Danny asked, confused as Sabrina personified an inanimate object.
Sabrina smiled. "I assume Professor Torjan has yet to cover the subject of Bondeds?"
Danny nodded.
"Every single Bonded was once a Knight of the Light," began Sabrina in explanation, slipping her own back in the sheath. "When a Knight of the Light gets too old or is mortally wounded, they are given a choice, to pass with honor or be reborn in the enchanted steel of a blade so that they may still serve the Light."
"You mean your Bonded was once a living, breathing person?"
"She was a Knight of the Light," clarified Sabrina, "just as I shall be."
"And someone trapped her in that sword?"
"She volunteered for the greater good, to serve the Light."
"Can it… I mean she . . . talk to you?"
"From what I understand, the transition is difficult."
"I'd imagine it would be."
Placing her hand on the rose-hilted Bonded, Sabrina continued, "I can hear her thoughts vaguely. It is said that once a Bonded awakens to a wielder, its mind is but a pale shadow of the person it once was. As the link between Bonded and wielder grows, the Bonded matures in intelligence and power. However, all Bondeds develop relationships with their wielders differently."
"Will it… I mean . . . will she remember her past life, before she was trapped within the blade?"
Rogen stepped forward, pulling his own blade free from its sheath with the singing of steel. The blade, a soft gold, caught the amber rays of the overhead sun, reflecting brightly. The hilt, also plated in gold, crafted in the shape of the sun at the base, seemed to absorb the light and hold it, glowing ever so softly.
"Try not to think of it as a prison," he said. "A Knight of the Light gives oneself freely. It is considered the highest honor to become a Bonded."
"...And that's your Bonded?"
"His name is Radian," presenting the golden blade before him.
"There is no guarantee that a Bonded will remember its life before," continued Sabrina, answering the question Danny had asked before Rogen interrupted. "Some do, remembering small portions of their lives, others do not. It is the risk a Knight of the Light takes when the life is given."
"What exactly is given?"
"You are referring to the concept of the soul or the spirit?" Rogen asked.
"Yes, what if, by volunteering to become a Bonded, you give up your chance of an afterlife?"
"Assuming there is an afterlife," said Sabrina.
"Well, becoming a Bonded, by definition, is a form of life after death," added Rogen.
Danny shook his head. "But what if there's more?"
"That is a chance that one takes in order to preserve the ways of the Light," said Sabrina. "Whether it is one's soul or simply their consciousness, without the Bondeds, the Light would have fallen to the Dark centuries ago."
Danny tried to imagine what it would be like, trapped within a sword with only his thoughts to comfort him. He concluded that it would be a very lonely existen
ce.
"Enough of this talk," said Sabrina, interrupting Danny's dark deliberations. "How is it that you ran into Rogen?"
Danny dropped his eyes, "About that…"
"What have you done now?" Sabrina asked, reading Danny's uncomfortable expression.
Danny refused to comment and looked at Rogen.
"Don't look at me."
"One of you better tell me what's going on!" Sabrina yelled, taking turns staring at both boys.
Rogen sheathed his bonded. "Danny has challenged Lieutenant Rigil to a duel," said Rogen, unwilling to meet Sabrina's frightful gaze.
"What?" Sabrina asked, locking her accusing soft brown eyes upon Danny.
"I challenged Rigil to a…" began Danny, only to be interrupted by Sabrina.
"I heard that!" she yelled. "Why would do such a thing!?"
"He tricked me," regaining his wits, raising his head to meet Sabrina's unwavering gaze, an action Danny quickly regretted. "I thought I might challenge him to a game of Knights in order to find you. I just wanted to see you."
"How foolish," said Sabrina, her voice but a whisper.
"What's done is done," interjected Rogen. "We don’t have time to waste thinking about what should or should not have been done."
"When is it?" Sabrina asked, turning to face the crashing waves and toiling dark clouds beyond.
Danny followed her stare and found small comfort in the rhythmic sway of the sea. "At the seventh chime, I'm to meet Sir Syndil two hours before to prepare."
"I don't know if any amount of preparation will see you victorious before Squire Rigil," said Sabrina. "He is a third-year squire, a lieutenant at that, meaning that his Bonded has at least progressed to the first Awakening."
"…first Awakening?"
Sabrina allowed herself a heavy sigh as she sheathed her Bonded and turned toward Danny. "As I said before, as wielder and Bonded work together, a Bonded becomes more aware, as well as more powerful. Each Bonded contains its own innate powers, different from any other. There are three phases to mastering a Bonded, called Awakenings. The first Awakening grants the wielder the powers of the blade. One must master the first Awakening to become a lieutenant in any army. The second grants the powers of the blade to the wielder as both work as one in battle. One must reach the second Awakening in order to become a captain. The third Awakening summons the consciousness of the Bonded into our world to fight side by side with the wielder."