by Dana Journey
Ignoring Jes for the moment, I turned to the rest of the group, “Well, did anyone else find this as interesting as me. He did answer some questions.”
“Lyndon what are we going to do about Naomi. She is one of us, we can’t just let her go without a fight,” said Jes again more frantic this time.
“Do you really think we would stand a chance against them in a fight?” I pointed to the soldiers moving around.
“I wasss able to take one out, and he isss very protective of his kin. Maybe he would allow ussss to go.” Talon said, taking Jes’ side.
“Fine, just let me talk to him. But first, did you hear him when he was talking about the different disciplines.” Everyone nodded. “We must find our final apprentice.”
“What do you mean we have only one left?” Jes was confused.
“Yes, ” I said, exasperated, “Did you even listen to him? You three have trained under the great mages which were Matlintoc’s apprentices. And if you think about it makes sense. You, Talon was once a Caster who has lost his ability to use magic. Now you are a Warrior. Frey you are a Healer that can take pain from others. I do think that falls into the Empathetic Healer category. And you, Jes,” I turned and looked at him who was fiddling with a small dagger. “You are a ‘Shadow Walker.’ All we need to find is the Caster who trained under the fourth mage.” I thought for a second forgetting his name. “Do you remember the last mages name?” I asked Jes almost expecting him to ignore me.
He looked up calmer than before. “Could it be you? Didn’t you learn from a mage?”
I had to think about it, as I never knew my Master’s name, “No, my master was not one of Matlintoc’s Apprentices.”
Jes thought about his Master, “From what I recall his name was Rem.” A loud bang from behind us caused the entire party to turn our heads.
Standing by a tree Naomi was staring at a large pot which had previously been filled with water. Without hesitation Jes ran to her side. “Are you ok? Do you need any help?”
Naomi ignored Jes and looked up at me. “What does Rem have to do with any of this?” She said in a defensive manner. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.
“What do you mean? Rem was one of the last survivors of the Red Beach. He was sent out by Matlintoc, I” I paused, “I guess to fulfill the prophecy.” She clenched her fists and starting towards me. What did I say now? Great, now I am going to burn.
“Rem was no man, no matter what the stories may say. She was my mother.” The entire group was stunned into silence. “And she never left me to complete some prophecy. She lived with me and my father far to the South, and the only reason I know how to defend myself is because of her.” She trailed off and collapsed to the ground. However Jes caught her before she could fall far.
“You? You are the fourth.” I walked to her side. “Don’t you see, you are the last apprentice? She never took anyone else on to train because she was training you.” That was it, I thought, I had done it; I brought them all together. I looked up, I hoped for some cosmic pat on the back, but nothing came. “Well Jes, at least we have a good reason now to keep her.” I turned and walked from the group towards the other camp, leaving behind me a crying crimson beauty and a very happy Rogue.
28
The darkness of the dungeon was near complete. The prisoners sat huddled together not for warmth, but for comfort. Matlintoc had never imagined he would spend his remaining time on Earth in a dungeon with Smithson. Matlintoc shook his head, what has the world come to, a powerful mage as he, needed magical support from Smithson. A mage who could barely start a fire, a task so minimal, it’s the first lesson children learn.
"Matlintoc, do you think they will kill us soon. Or are we destined to live in this dreadful darkness forever." Smithson said over his sniveling. The mage never stopped crying I see, thought Matlintoc. I hope that he had at least trained my prodigy better.
"I do not know. I am sure when we are no longer of any use to the Queen, she will have us killed." Matlintoc said in an even tone, showing no emotion.
Matlintoc did not know how much time had passed, the absence of windows made it near impossible to tell. In the beginning he would count the meals as days, but after Smithson arrived appearing so much older than he should have been. Matlintoc realized he was not getting fed every day.
Matlintoc stood testing his strength, well my legs still work, as he massaged the sore muscles. A sound from behind him caused him to strain his eyes in the dark.
A sliver of light burst through the darkness, illuminating the crying Smithson. The light continued to grow until if filled the room. Matlintoc looked down for the first time since his imprisonment. His feet were black from filth, as his shoes had worn off long ago. His brilliant blue robes were tattered and had turned brown. He moved his attention to his hands. The skin was sunken covering nothing more than bone. The only thing the old man had that of value was a beautiful gold trinket.
Matlintoc leaned over studying the trinket. It was polished gold except for an insignia stamped into the center, three rings. Matlintoc shook his head, the Queen had become far greater an enemy than any could have imagined. Again he looked at the trinket, no it was more than a trinket. The jewelry was an artifact, an artifact used to stem the flow of magic to the ancient mage. So that is why I have been unable to use my magical abilities.
Remembering he could see now, Matlintoc shifted his attention to the open door. This is different, thought Matlintoc they never open the door to feed us so something else is happening. Matlintoc walked to the portal and looked out, to his dismay a man accompanied by two others blocked his view.
"Taxem," Matlintoc said with disdain.
"Yes, it is me, old master. But did you forget I was the one who brought you to your new home." Taxem opened his arms wide.
"No, I have not forgotten." Replied Matlintoc with a reserved sigh.
"Good, good, then this may not be a waste of time." Taxem motioned to Matlintoc and the two silent men grabbed the prisoner. Matlintoc looked up and caught a glimpse of red hair under their helmets.
"Where are you taking me?" Matlintoc questioned his captor.
"Not far." As he said this the party stopped in front of a small door. "Look, we are already here." Taxem opened the door and walked through.
Matlintoc looked after the vanishing mage and saw a room not much bigger than his cell. Inside was a table and two chairs. On the table was an impressive banquet. All types of food could be seen from fresh vegetables to roasted venison. "Why have you brought me here? Do you wish to eat and make me watch, for I could care less?" Matlintoc turned toward Taxem ignoring the food.
"No, no you misunderstand, we are celebrating. Great news has finally reached the castle and the Queen wanted you to hear it." Taxem finished and grabbed a carrot. "Sit, eat. We do not want you to upset the Queen by not eating her food."
"What has happened to you, at one time you were a young true hearted mage with great potential. What has the Queen done to you?" Matlintoc asked.
"Again, you misunderstand it was not her, it was you. You pushed so hard for me to grow my skills and to prove myself better than the Crimson Guard." Taxem pointed to the two men at Matlintoc’s side. "You pushed too hard. You know just as well as I, I should never have gone with Malidor. I was not ready for what was in that cave."
Matlintoc looked the other mage in the eye. "I just wanted to prove to the others the Crimson Guard were not the only great warriors. I wanted to prove Humans could stand on their own without divine intervention. True, it may have been arrogant," Matlintoc leaned close to Taxem straining against his restraints. "But I could have never known you would be so weak and cowardly."
Taxem laughed "At one time your words would have stung, but now. Well, just look at yourself, look at how far you have fallen." Taxem reached out and brushed dirt off the old man’s robes, revealing a patch with a single ring embroidered on it. "There, have some pride Master." Taxem said sarcastically.
Changin
g the subject Matlintoc asked "So what are we celebrating then?" Before sitting down and starting to eat.
Taxem followed him with his eyes, "Your pitiful band of 'apprentices' as you call them have been found and captured.” Matlintoc looked up confused, at the smiling warden.
"Good thing to celebrate I guess, but I truly have no idea what you are talking about. The Queen and her lackeys have hunted down Trimble, Apox, Doxen and Rem years ago. I am sure you already knew this." Matlintoc said and returned to his meal, pocketing some for his cell mate.
Taxem now was confused, did he not know of the small party? Did he not know about the start of the prophecy? Taxem watched the man eat for a few moments, almost feeling sorry for him. "Why will you not join the Queen? She has a place for you by her side. Together, this world can be ours, and you know I am not just talking about the South but also to the North." This time Matlintoc laughed.
"We, now that is funny." He laughed again. "She will never allow anyone else to be her equal. If you become too strong you will be like the King, a patsy. I should have seen it coming by the way she acted, and the way she treated the students."
Taxem was about to respond when a little man burst through the door from the corridor. "Taxem, the Queen has been summoning you for some time, there has been a development. She wants you to come to the royal chambers immediately." Before Taxem could ask anything of the messenger he sped from the room.
"So be it," Taxem said to himself more than anyone else. "Take the old man back to his cell. We will speak again soon, Matlintoc." Taxem left the room in pursuit of the little man.
Matlintoc was dragged back to the cell and the darkness returned. "Master, master is that you?" From the corner, he could hear Smithson trembling. "Yes and I have brought food." He stumbled over to the other man and sat thinking, has the prophecy finally come to pass.
29
It did not take him long to reach the dungeon exit. Sitting on a stool behind a short wall facing the free world was a tall man. The man was dressed from head to toe in the Queen’s royal colors. "Maybe Matlintoc was right." Taxem thought out loud.
"What, sir?" The man jumped from his seated post standing straight. "Nothing, as you were, soldier." Taxem continued on to the Queen.
He found her hunched over a small crystal ball centered in the room. She was an impressive sight with brilliant black hair and silver eyes. She looked up from the crystal and smiled at him. "Ah Taxem you have come, finally, I have been calling for you for what seems like hours." Taxem entered the room and closed the door.
"What new developments have arisen my Queen that you need me on such short notice?" Taxem said was he bowed.
She looked at him smile turning into a frown. "Any development I call you for is important. Do you think your time more important than the Queen's?"
"No, your majesty, I apologize." He bowed lower. “I was speaking with Matlintoc regarding the prophecy, I think the old man is starting to fail, he knew nothing of the new group of apprentices.”
"Good, I have seen a great thing, but I have also heard a great disappointment." Taxem stood up straight waiting for the Queen to continue. "My soldiers that you sent west in search of the boy and his companions have been destroyed. From what I hear in the wind a great force of strength came down from the North to rescue the insignificant group. I do not care nor am I afraid of anything. My power is limitless."
"Yes, my Queen. They were weak soldiers, nothing can stand against your might." Taxem quickly added.
She again smiled at the man before continuing. "The great news I have seen is the Lighthouse has returned to whence it came." Taxem's spirits jumped.
"You mean the house has returned to the Red Beach?" Taxem asked.
"Yes, it was returned. You must leave here immediately with all the protectors in my dungeon. Nothing will stop you from seizing its power for me." She clenched her fists in front of her face.
"I will leave immediately, with your desire my Queen." Taxem turned to leave, but before he could, she said, "Take some of my guards. Failure is not an option, or the King will have some company." She pointed to a man curled up in the corner, gnawing on a bone. A shudder went up Taxem's spine and he jogged from the room.
He stood outside the closed door separating him from the Queen’s glare. I may have something to fear more than you my Queen Taxem thought. The soldiers I sent to retrieve the boy were the best I had. Not wanting to dwell any longer he set off in the direction of his room. "Time to pack." He directed to the creature in the shadows.
Epilogue
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A young boy sat resting on the beach trying to build a sand castle in the reddish tinted sand. He was trying to recreate the great castle at Ogland, which he had only seen from illustrations in books. Behind him his mother yelled to clean up and come home.
He reluctantly stood, hating that he had to leave so soon. It wasn’t even getting late. Behind him, he left drag marks from his feet as he sauntered home. I guess I could always come back tomorrow and finish it he thought. Before he went too far a loud crash and rush of air caused him to look back at his little creation. Instead of the small sand castle, a giant building stood with a single great tower. Terrified, the young man ran screaming for his mother.
A light shone brightly in all directions from the top of the tower. Far above the sand a pair of silver eyes watched the little boy run.
Dana Journey is originally from Crescent, Oregon. After attending Eastern Oregon University, he moved around prior to settling in the Columbia Gorge Region of Oregon. He shares his home with his wife, son, and dog Vader. When not working or writing, Dana enjoys outdoor activities, and star trek.
For updates on the second and third book of the Crimson Guard Trilogy or to contact Dana Journey, please contact his publisher at Wizardskeeppublishing.com