by Jarod Meyer
“What do you have in mind?” Katrina asked, skeptically.
“The other night when I woke you two, I saw Meredox handing something to his partner. We need to break into Meredox’s private quarters and find out what it is,” he said.
Juarez chuckled nervously. “You must be joking, William. That is against the law.”
“But, what if it is to serve the greater good?” William asked, pleading. “I believe sometimes good people are forced do a little evil to serve that greater good.”
William waited for a response or rebuttal, but none came.
He sighed, “Okay. I won’t you to break any laws, but I will need your help.”
Juarez nodded, Katrina following suit.
“I need a distraction,” William said with a grin.
“What kind of distraction?” Katrina asked.
“I need one of you to ring the warning bell.”
“It is forbidden to ring the bell, William. That would be breaking the law as well,” Katrina offered flatly.
William shook his head, and set a book on the table in front of them. Then he put his finger on an excerpt and read. “The warning bell of Valhalla is one of four identical bells created to call the armies of Archonia to arms during the War of Souls. Any Archonian can ring the bell if Archonia is in need.
“Interesting wording, William,” Juarez smiled. “I will do this for you.”
William shook his head. “I need Katrina to do this for me. She will be the only one fast enough to get away unseen after the bell is rung. Even if Archonia is in need there are those who would probably not agree. Juarez, I need you to tail Meredox and see where he goes after the warning goes off. If he thinks something is coming we need to know where it will be from, and I have a feeling he will lead you to it,” he said.
Juarez nodded.
“During the commotion I will slip into the Adjudicator wing, and find the proof I need,” William finished, triumphantly.
“This is a risky plan, William,” Katrina said. “I will have to run clear around the castle and come back to make it look like I am being called to arms as well.”
“You’re fast enough,” William offered confidently
Katrina nodded, apprehension pulling her face tight
“What if Meredox realizes I am following him?” Juarez asked.
“Don’t say anything. If you remain silent, then you won’t be lying, and you won’t give me away,” William responded quickly.
“Okay, when do we act?” Juarez asked.
“Next week. On our day of rest. People will be at their most relaxed, and there should be fewer sentinels on duty, because of their day of rest rotation. But first, we need to do a little recon,” William said excitedly.
“What is recon?” Katrina asked.
“Uh… scouting,” William corrected. “Juarez I can understand you speaking Spanish but you guys don’t get when I use some words. What gives?” William asked.
“Did every English speaking person from Earth understand your way of speaking all the time?” Juarez asked.
No, most of the British sounded like crazy people.
“Yeah, William, if recon is short for reconnaissance then I get it,” Katrina said.
“Ugh,” William replied.
“Amigo, it will take some years, but eventually you will start speaking so that everyone can understand. It will happen naturally,” Juarez said.
“Okay fine, back to the task at hand. First, we need to find out everything we can about Benjamin, and what his relationship is with Meredox. They are consorting about something, and we need to find out what his role is in all of this,” William said to his two friends.
After they smoothed out some of the finer details and separated tasks to one another they headed back to the Barracks.
William settled in to meditate, but found that he was far too anxious about Meredox and their secret missions to uncover his plot. So he settled in and continued to read a lengthy tome that he had borrowed from the library. It was titled “The war of souls”. The details of the battles and the tactics were certainly useful information, beyond the historical significance, along with whatever information he could gleam as to Meredox’s motivations. Beyond all that, he was genuinely interested in the story.
Anubis had not been the mightiest of warriors, but he possessed defensive prowess, especially for creating shields. When he focused he could shield several thousand soldiers at the same time Next, his troops formed an impenetrable phalanx formation, locking shield and spear, cutting through wave after wave of desecrated souls. His techniques were so effective that they turned the tide of the war, but only for a time. On the opposing side, Ares proved to be no novice to military strategy. He commissioned his followers to create massive creatures called wyrms, and used them to smash through Anubis’ defensive formations.
William continued to read with such enthusiasm that someone cleared their throat, and startled him. Brock walked up, before and plopping down on one of the sofas across from him in the common room.
“Awfully late, little brother. That must be some tale.”
“Yeah, it’s about the War of Souls.”
“Well, no wonder. Those were glorious days,” he said, sprawling out on the sofa, which looked far too small for his sizable frame.
“Hundreds of thousands of souls were obliterated. You call that glorious?” William asked darkly.
“Forgive me, young one. We come from different times. I know that one should not relish the thought of such bloodshed, but many times I wish that I had been there. I believe I could have made a real difference.”
This made William smile. “Yeah, me too.”
“Instead, I crusade once a year, rarely meeting the enemy in combat,” Brock replied callously.
“How do you go back?”
“Not easily. The realm between worlds is a dark place…ripe with terror around every corner.”
“Does anyone ever take their crusade to Dichonia?” William asked, trying not to sound too interested.
Brock looked him over incredulously. “William, no. That is a place of pure evil, far more dangerous than any place imaginable. Only one soul has ever gone there, and returned.”
William didn’t press the subject further. He could tell that it bothered his large friend. Instead, he asked a question that had been nagging at him since he had formulated his little plan.
“Brock…If you knew in your heart that something had to be done, even if you were to be persecuted for it, would you do it?” William sat up, and put the book down.
To his surprise, Brock chuckled heartily. “Little brother, that is the very essence of being a Guardian. Putting the good of the collective before yourself.”
This was all the reassurance that William needed. Though he was confident that his friend had no idea of his intentions were with Meredox. The two remained in silence for a time, until Brock rubbed his face and announced that he needed to leave.
William watched him walk out, wondering what the elder Guardian did in his free time. Brock barely meditated anymore. He could only imagine that filling the time must be difficult. As for his own meditation, William soon drifted off, the War of Souls repeating over and over again.
For the next week William and his friends did everything they could do to prepare for their mission. Katrina watched the guards who guarded the bell tower, and learned that only one guard stood post on the day of rest. Those guards changed only once during the evening hours, always on the top of the fortieth hour. She would swoop in and hit the bell during their change.
Meanwhile, Juarez watched Meredox every night while the others meditated. This assignment suited him, as he had been in Archonia the longer, and needed the least meditation. Katrina nosed around, carefully listening and asking questions, and learned that Benjamin was another high level Justicar, ironically enough, whom Meredox had mentored. The two became extraordinarily close as master and pupil, and from what she head, thought of each other as brother
s.
William spent his time scouring the castle for clues, searching for Meredox’s private quarters. Some of the higher level officers were given their own quarters in the castle. He finally had to ask a sentinel if he knew where the Grand Justicars private quarters were was. The sentinel told him.
“He resides in the Adjudicators wing, of course.”
To his dismay, William was also told that Guardians were not allowed in the Adjudicator’s wing. Primarily because Adjudicator initiates resided within, and were undergoing a ritual they referred to as “The Purge”.
William asked Juarez, who defined the process as brainwashing and reprogramming someone, in order to be perfect machines of the law.
“They purge them of opinion, and make them completely selfless, so the law might be upheld perfectly. Outside interference was not allowed. Apparently the process takes years, which is why the path of the Adjudicator is so difficult,” Juarez had told him.
After learning about the purge, William was very happy that the Synod had not seen fit to send him down that path.
“Meredox’s private quarters are in the Adjudicators wing as we have feared,” William said, once their laborious Windday drills had finally ended.
“Then there is no way we are getting in, not even with a distraction,” Katrina half-yelled.
“We can’t give up now. Look, I’ve devised a little plan that I think will gain me access to the Adjudicator’s library.”
He had been daydreaming in one of his lectures, when his plan started to come together. He would ask Chang Fei for permission to study in the Hall of the Adjudicators library, to learn more about Archonian laws. He quickly explained the plan to his friends. Juarez gave a little half-smile, while Katrina scoffed.
“Do you guys have your part of the plan figured out?” William asked, ignoring their lack of support.
“Yeah, William, I know the guard changes like the back of my hand,” Katrina said dismissively.
“Affirmative, Amigo. I have been working on trailing people at a distance. I am confident he won’t notice me for a while… unless we get out in the open.”
William’s confidence soared. His part of the plan was going to be the flimsiest, so he knew he had to utilize just the right approach. The following day he carefully approached Chang Fei.
“Why do you need access to the Library?” Chang Fei asked, his face a stern mask.
The two walked out of the castle, headed to the fields for drill.
“In my special forces unit we were taught that, in order to achieve victory, we needed to know our enemies as well as we know ourselves. How can I know my enemies, if I do not know what my allies are capable of?” William asked.
Chang Fei stared off into the distance, before turning his piercing gaze on William.
“Come with me,” he said, swiftly taking off down the corridor.
William followed the captain, his newly acquired speed helping him keep pace. The two flew past the first two floors of the castle devoted to housing. Here, the majority of the sentinels, the largest branch of the military, lived. They flew past the Guardian’s barracks on the fourth floor, past Adjudicator’s wing on the fifth, before moving past two floors William had never been to. Finally when it seemed they were at the pinnacle of the castle, they came upon a single, broad door. It was smooth, dark mahogany with a symbol carved in it. One that William didn’t recognize.
Chang Fei approached the door, and with a steady fist, knocked an unusual series of beats. A slot appeared in the door at eye level. A face peered out at them at them for a moment. The slot shut quickly, and the door swung open. Chang Fei walked inside, and William followed.
“Where are we?” William asked.
“Achilles private quarters,” Chang Fei said.
William’s heart skipped a beat.
Oh crap, I’m screwed.
He followed Chang Fei, who was now escorted down a short hall by a heavily armored guard. William started to regret his request, his heartrate increasing to an uncomfortable level. They entered another room, where two stone-faced guards swung open the doors anticipation of their entry.
William’s walked into a space he didn’t entirely expect. At first he thought they would be entering an office, but instead the space looked more like a training room. There were weapon racks and weights against the wall, and the floor was covered with mats. Men wrestled and sparred. These men looked tougher than any soldiers he had yet encountered.
William spotted Achilles in the center of five men, whom were all attempting to attack him. William’s eyes could barely track the lightning movements. Achilles’ fluid motions were graceful and brutal at the same time, flattening the five men assaulting him in an instant.
After a moment’s pause the ancient warrior stood up in a relaxed position and looked over at William and Chang Fei. Then he motioned with two fingers that they should approach.
“What is it?” Achilles asked after Chang Fei bowed.
William followed suit, but it was delayed and more than a little awkward.
“This recruit has requested entry to the Library of the Adjudicator, to become better acquainted with his allies,” the Chinese warlord stated.
Achilles looked William over.
“So, it seems there is more to you than simply rage,” he said.
William nodded.
“I would like to see your armor,” Achilles said, his voice soft but strong.
William looked around. The men stopped sparring, and looked at him. He felt the blood rush to his head, but he did his best to stifle his embarrassment.
He flexed, and felt the energy within flow freely. Then he thrust his arms out, and felt the satisfying rush as the solid metal materialized out of thin air, and clung to his body. His sword appeared, the familiar weight falling on his back. The etchings inset in his armor and sword glowed briefly, like they were alive with a dancing inner fire.
“Well done, young one,” Achilles said, a slight smile breaking across his face.
William stood awkwardly, fully armored, in full plate and mail while the rest of the group stared in silence. Chang Fei approached Achilles, and whispered something in his ear. Achilles’ eyes never left William, and his emotion never changed. Chang Fei turned and addressed William.
“Report for drills when you have concluded your business with the commander,” he said, disappearing into the passage in a blur of color. Achilles turned and began walking and talking. William jumped into motion, quickly following after him.
“Your captain tells me that you wish to study in the hall of the Adjudicator, to learn your allies, to know yourself, so that your enemies may not have an edge against you,” Achilles said, his piercing blue eyes studying him.
William looked around at the other men, who had returned to their sparring without a word. Achilles followed his gaze.
“They train for their crusades. My myrmidons go on two crusades a year, instead of the traditional one. I demand my men be the best in every aspect.”
“They seem tough,” William said casually.
Achilles smiled.
“Leave us,” The ancient Greek warrior said, and almost immediately everyone in the room disappeared in a flash.
A long, uncomfortable moment of silence stretched between them. William struggled, trying to decide what to say.
“I am a warrior, young Guardian, but do not think me a fool. You seek more in the Adjudicator’s wing than the library,” Achilles said, finally breaking the silence.
William stammered, his mind running in circles, trying to decide on a lie or the truth. He finally gave up, and decided to tell the truth.
“My lord, there is a plot that threatens our world, and nobody believes me. It is my intention to discover the truth for myself,” William said, staring straight ahead and avoided the Guardian master’s gaze. William was surprised at the confidence ringing in his voice, especially with his heart pumping so fast. He was afraid that Achilles would shut his plan down, and
worse…
“You’re full of surprises, William of Archonia. I was ready to bet all the gold in Archonia that you were going to lie to me, as you did your captain,” Achilles said.
“I didn’t lie to the captain, my lord. In this case, knowing my ally better would directly help me know my enemy better. It is coincidental that our ally is also the enemy,” William offered.
“It seems you have a silver tongue, young one. I respect the cleverness of your ploy,” he said, before walking slowly into the next room and motioning William to follow.
The next room was small and held a desk and a large chair. Achilles walked behind it, took a piece of parchment and a pen, and began to write.
“I wish to know more of your plan, but I am afraid that it will fail…in which case I would be assisting a traitor to Archonia. I feel I must warn you of the obvious. Meddling like this will lead to conflict,” Achilles said, finishing his writing.
He held up the parchment, extending it towards William. He took it and scanned over the writing quickly. It was a writ of passage into the Adjudicator’s wing, to study in the library. A wave of excitement blossomed inside William, and as he looked at the commander he barely stifled a smiled. Achilles’ face remained stiff, and William quickly looked away.
“My lord, something is coming and I have to find out what it is. I think that conflict will be inevitable, and that it will be more than anyone is prepared for,” William said.
Achilles nodded, and William turned to leave. As he did, Achilles spoke.
“Only the very wise may enter the hall of the Adjudicator.”
William didn’t turn back, but only paused, and then walked out.
Chapter Eighteen
The Traitor
A bead of sweat trickled down William’s face. Whether it was from the heat of the sun or his anxiety, he didn’t know. He had been granted leave to study in the library of the Adjudicator, but he still needed to prepare his mind for the greater task at hand.
His mind swirled with the possibilities. What exactly would he be looking for? Would there be any evidence at all? Was he just chasing shadows? He sat in the Hall of Heroes, contemplating what he needed to do and trying to work it into a series of tasks he could understand.