The Apprentices (The Crimson Guard Trilogy Book 1)

by Dana Journey

  A group of soldiers emerged from the forest moments after the light had appeared. From what Jes could see two of the men were dragging a third and a small contingent of men surrounded a most beautiful woman. The men seemed to all have red hair.

  This one must be the witch, Jes thought, but who are they dragging? He thought probably some poor bloke that didn’t survive the battle.

  Patience was luckily one of Jes’ virtues, for he stayed and waited for more than an hour before making his move. Any normal man would have probably gone crazy and rushed into his death. This is what Jes had been trained to do, though; be a shadow, silent and still.

  The wall had a smooth surface that melted together in the darkness. Nothing shouted out the existence of a door, but he had already seen it open once, so finding the trigger would be the hard part.

  Only moments had passed before an odd shaped rock caught his attention.

  “Well, that was easy, ” said the assassin in a dull whisper as he fingered the lump object.

  Swiftly and silently the wall parted releasing a blinding light. The light tore through the darkness. For someone wanting to protect their land should have made that harder.

  “Who’s there?” The words came from a weathered man. From the looks of his armor and gilded cloak, this screamed officer thought Jes.

  “Why just a passing thief” replied Jes in a very calm tone. If I do not have the kill this man, I do not wish to. If I have to, it will not be hard to dispatch one man, but where there is one there is more. Well, that is if the Witch had any knowledge of military tactics. His voice did not reveal the shock that consumed him.

  From his vantage point Jes could see three men covered in sturdy armor, with long swords hanging from their belts. Each man also had shields propped nearby against the wall, on each shield was two rings which matched patches on their shoulders. These were not merely militia, but actual soldiers, maybe even the Witch Queens soldiers. The pain in his leg still ached, not so easy Jes thought.

  “Why have you co…” but before the old man could finish his question; a small dagger implanted itself through his Adams apple. The second guard seated behind a sturdy oak table, barely made it to his feet before a similar weapon struck his chest. The remaining soldier was much quicker and managed to draw his sword.

  With a wounded leg, Jes sidestepped with the grace of a fat cat and blocked the angry man’s savage slashing sword. Before the guard could recover, the dark clad assassin slit his throat.

  The killer looked down at the old officer and spoke in a sorry tone, “I hate talking when fighting is in order”. Slowly, with much respect, Jes retrieved his daggers.

  The street outside the passage was far too open for Jes’ comfort. But what was a lone thief in a foreign city supposed to do? Jes thought as he made his way toward the tall towers.

  A sudden movement and voices found the assassin diving for a flower bed, just outside the lamp’s yellow glow.

  As the men walked by Jes eavesdropped on their conversation, “Ya, man that guy was big, I wonder if he has giant in him?” Said one man.

  “Do you think the cell will hold him?” Asked the other.

  “Of course, it is holding that bloody mage who keeps cooking all the guards.”

  The rest of the conversation consisted of ale and women, Jes did not listen to anything else, he was lost in thought.

  Just as quickly as they came the men’s whispers faded off as they turned the corner. “Oh no they must have captured Lyndon in the battle,” said Jes under his breath as he strode from the shadows.

  “Hello there sir,” came a voice from behind. Quickly, the thief spun to face his new visitor. To his surprise it was not a city guard facing him, but a pack of thugs.

  “Please,” plead Jes. “I have no quarrel with you; I am only looking for a friend who has been imprisoned.”

  A short, stocky man with a club in his hand, who was clearly the leader, spoke up first. “I have seen this prison and no one escapes, no one… EVER”.

  “If you help me, I will pay.” Jes’ statement was directed more towards the five other men than the one now tapping the rudimentary weapon in his hand. Jes knew well enough that most followers are there for the money, not out of loyalty. He was hoping they followed that general belief.

  “I think you will find that I will acquire your money anyway.” Without a second thought the short man lunged at the limping rogue.

  The other men didn’t even see the blade leave the sheath or it pierce the short man’s chest. The only thing visible was a man clad in black holding a bloody dagger, leaning over the other man’s corpse.

  “Now you have a choice. Kneel before me or lie beneath me.” Jes’ voice was full of hate and loathing.

  One by one all of the men laid down their weapons except one. The last man had weighed the consequences and realized that running was the better option, he found himself choking on his own blood. The remaining men trembled in fear of what the skilled killer could do to them.

  “Okay, since we are done with that, if you might lead me to the place that they keep the most dangerous criminals. It would be a big help.” Jes was much happier now. “I may still throw in some coin for the individual who helps me.”

  “I will take you. I know the way, but what are you going to do to my comrades?” Asked one of the thugs; who had a look of malnutrition.

  “Hmm, well they can just run along,” no man in this town was a snitch and Jes knew it.

  The gates to the dungeons were much closer than Jes had previously realized. They had barely turned the corner when the guide pointed towards a steel door.

  “That’s it.” The man was obviously terrified at this point, because his voice cracked.

  “Good, now you can rejoin your friends. Oh, and here is some coin, get yourself something to eat.” The skinny thug made no protests and sprinted off.

  Now to get this door open thought Jes. The sturdy door slid open with the slightest touch, silent as a leaf in the wind. Well, that was easier than I had imagined, I wonder if they are expecting me.

  A well-lit staircase wound down towards the earth’s depths. Time seemed to slip away from the thief as he made his way down and down. The abyss seemed to go on forever. Its abrupt end brought echoed voices.

  “You thought you could defeat us. Obviously you have no idea who we truly are.” A hideous laugh followed the speech. After the laughing subsided the man continued. “Just wait until the Queen’s Favorite arrives. He will show you the hospitality enemy soldiers deserve. Another laughing fit filling the corridor with a terrible sound.

  Jes slowly peaked around the last corner. He found himself staring at the back of the man’s head, who was still giggling.

  “I am not the commander, but I am sssure he will dissspossse of thisss favorite before it arrivesss here.” To Jes’ surprise the soldier talking was not his dear friend, but the red scaled dragon man. Either way, thought the thief, he is one that I should at least rescue. Even though rogues are usually solitary in nature, Jes was good friends with Lyndon and had grown to like Talon, the scaly one.

  A small silver dagger slid free and rested in the assassin’s hand, Jes took careful aim and launched the projectile. Instead of implanting itself in the man’s red mane, he sidestepped. In his hurry to remove himself from Jes’ threat, he miscalculated and found himself lifeless in the grasps of Talons strong arms.

  “Now why does it seem that I am always rescuing you?” A chuckle escaped Jes’ lips as he fumbled with the jailors keys.

  “If you don’t remember, I sssaved you lassst time,” said Talon in a calm voice.

  “Ya, whatever, there,” said Jes as the barred door swung open. “Let’s get out of here before whatever that man was talking about decides to show up.”

  “Wait, there isss at leassst one more prisssoner down further. I have witnesssed four lifelesssss guardsss dragged from that area.”

  “It isn’t Lyndon right?” Looking down the hallway, worried for m
y oldest friend

  “No, I have heard guards call the prisoner a ‘she’.”

  “Fine,” the two men continued down the seemingly endless corridors. Along the way Talon found his stolen sword in a small weapons hold, the guard never stood a chance. After a short distance from the weapons hold, a charred body came into view, and a woman’s voice floated from the cell. “Have you come for the body? Usually it takes longer to realize that another is dead.”

  “No. As a matter of fact, we had planned on rescuing you, but I think I have changed my mind.” Said Jes as he looked at the charred remains.

  “Wait! Who are you? Please don’t leave me here.” The woman’s voice was very soft now.

  Jes had Talon wait behind and stepped over the corpse. The thief’s eyes stopped and stared. Standing in the back of the cell stood a short woman, dressed in dark, midnight blue robes. Her looks would have stopped any man in their tracks. Shimmering crimson hair flowed down beyond her soft shoulders. Freckles spotted her otherwise perfect face. The robe hid the rest of her features, but Jes could easily guess that they were just as stunning.

  Slowly the women strode forward and snatched the keys from Jes’ hand.

  “Thank you, and now what was your plan for escape?” All Jes could do in response was point the way they had come.

  17

  The sun broke over the horizon to signal the start of a new day. All acts of hostility had ceased, leaving each army to lick their wounds and plan for the next attack. The only problem was that all of the commanders of both armies had gone missing.

  ........................................................................................

  “If we just walk in won’t they attack us?”

  “No my big friend, I don’t think they even know who to attack right now.” I said to my big medic.

  The city gates filled my vision as we strayed from the dense forest. I glanced back hoping that some of the men would survive. Without any of their commanders someone would have to step up to the plate. Jes’ horse had taken him from the battle, Talon had disappeared, the iron clad knights had perished in the first night, and now we are openly trying to walk through the city without being caught. Sounds to me like we have not been faring so well.

  We passed through the gate and the guard’s merely glanced in our direction. “See, I told you no one would suspect.” A frown covered the large man’s face.

  The city was much cleaner than I had thought. With only criminals and low lives living in the area, a little trash is expected.

  My train of thought escaped me when I found myself staring at a small stick of a man grasped tightly in my comrade’s grasp.

  “Please don’t kill me,” pleaded the man.

  “Now what gave you the idea that we are going to kill you,” I said.

  The man’s voice now quivering “because you are the leader of the enemy army,” suddenly I found it hard to breathe.

  When I had finally caught my breath I responded. “Who else knows who I am?”

  “Not you mage, this guy” as he looked up at the medic’s face.

  Why would he think that the medic was responsible for that many deaths?

  “And why do you think that he is the commander?” I looked at the medic who just shrugged.

  “Well, everyone knows. You killed nearly one hundred men. All who were there will remember your face.” One hundred men, I didn’t remember that much.

  “Sir, he is not the leader of the army, I am”.

  “Now that you know who I am, why did you people not kill me?” I asked.

  “You are as welcome as a guest of the Witch Queen,” somehow he wiggled out of his confinement and disappeared down an alley.

  “Should I follow, sir?”

  “No, if everyone already knows then what new story can he tell.”

  “Now what is this story about you killing a hundred people, my gentle medic?”

  “Another time Lyndon, another time”.

  A realization suddenly hit me, as squarely as my friend’s axe. The citizens of this place want us to dispose of their queen. While I may not have particularly liked the mayor of Townsmend I would never have thought death upon him, how terrible must this be to wish for an outsider to assist?

  18

  Spying eyes watched as the mage and his massive body guard questioned the little traitor. Her eminence must know about the dangers, thought the man.

  He made his way down the alley that the loose mouthed traitor had escaped. A feeling of danger suddenly swept over the man. A quick glance at the stranger’s location gave him a new sense of security. Nothing out here will challenge me, thought the man, and the mage does not seem too interested in following the snitch. Anger swelled throughout the spy, “no one betrays the queen.” He turned and continued his pursuit of the escaping man. As he turned, he found himself staring at the hilt of a crudely crafted cutlass.

  “Your queen is no longer welcome here.” The spy and his critical message never left the alley. The one thing that the loyalist had not factored in was that as he was watching the traitor, there had been silver eyes following him.

  ........................................................................................

  The castle loomed overhead. Despite the grand extravagance it held, a shudder still swept down my spine. Movement in an upper window caught my eye; the figure was pacing back and forth.

  A question of paths came to my mind, but I already knew what the answer had to be. I gently placed my hand on the large, sturdy doors, half expecting them to be locked. To my surprise they parted with ease.

  All light had been forbidden from the great hall, utter darkness consumed all. “Let me fix this.” I said as we stepped through the gateway. The light suddenly burst forth in my presence, casting a yellowish glow on everything in the room. In an instant a figure swept forth from its concealment, and I saw a flash of silver off to my side.

  The figures’ soft movements and delicate action intrigued me. I felt a thud and excruciating pain come from my side. As I looked back towards the medic I saw the hilt of a fancy dagger embedded in my side.

  Unable to think I grabbed the hilt and ripped it from my flesh, following it came a stream of blood. As quickly as the blood flowed it stopped. The medic looked down at me and said “How bad?” Hmm, I thought "Not that bad it stopped bleeding. Figuring it was not life threatening, I nodded and continued on into the room not noticing my friend bleeding on the floor. Forgetting the wound I watched for the being. It was fast, but not quite quick enough for my wanting eyes to follow. I watched as the figure danced from pillar to shadow and back never stopping at the light. The entity finally stopped hiding behind a thin wood wall; like a child playing a game.

  Neither fear nor death crossed my mind as I approached the brown wall.

  One more step and I will see what my eyes are eager to see again, I thought. Before I could make that step a tremendous thud vibrated throughout the room, which shattered an unknown hold on my consciousness. Somewhere a dripping of liquid pattered on the floor.

  “Oh no, I must have gotten wounded again.” I thought out loud frantically scanning my body.

  “No, not you,” a flat voice rose from behind.

  “Then what is that?” I asked no one in particular. Just at that instant I glanced behind the thin wall to find myself face to face with a very pale woman with long black hair and red robes. Fear swelled within me. A little scream escaped my lips. What now? Before I could act I realized she was not standing, but actually hung by an axe. I turned and saw a wounded giant leaning against a stone pillar.

  “Are you all right,” I frantically ran to his side. Not remembering him being injured. "What happened?" I asked.

  “Quite good mage, now leave me be. Finish off that queen so we can get out of here.” With little complaint, I left his side; the path ahead was my only choice.

  I guess he can fend for himself; he seems to do better than me, I thought, as I continued dow
n a lavishly decorated hall.

  ........................................................................................

  The castle had been built soon after the arrival of the witch queen and her followers. It was shaped like a giant cone. There appeared that there was only one known entrance and exit. The walls of the castle were made from a brilliant ore unknown to the forest. Hundreds of lives had been lost transporting the great stone from the deserts to the south. The tower comprising the top half of the cone was constructed of gold magically mixed with the white ore, creating a shimmering effect, so beautiful it counteracted the hideous city which surrounded it. Not surprisingly, she didn’t allow any non-magic user to participate in the construction so she mixed all the magic ore herself. Many people thought it was because of the materials, others thought that she was paranoid; or she liked watching the horror as common men and women tried to hoist great stones.

  At the front of the castle great wooden stood enchanted doors covered in symbols, barring non-magic users from entering the palace. Inside, the castle opened into a hall where beautiful yet hideous creatures find their home. These beings are much like vampires, but swifter and lacking the need for blood.

  Many rooms angled off of the following hall in a random manner; the rooms were built to house treasure, not people. Stairs rise from the end of the hall leading up, the next two floors resembled the first, yet a little smaller.

  As the stairs continued up they ended in the tower. Those who were part of the queen’s privileged group saw the castle tower. In this room all could finally understand what true wealth and luxury was, all except the slaves.

  19

  A dark figure watched as the one with endless power climbed the grand staircase. He could sense the power trapped in the little man, and he knew the mortals intentions. Many thoughts of past conflicts raced through its head, battles he had fought; battles with only victims. The immortal had the body of a man, blank white spheres replaced the hazel eyes, and a pale blue hue emanated from his flesh. The deep green cloak draped over the man’s leather like scaled armor covering much of the beast’s pale skin. No other would ever wear the same caliber of craftsmanship, after the transformation many lives had been taken. Hate swelled within the creature’s chest, hate that never seemed to lessen.