Captain Maddox suddenly paused mid-sentence as if something had distracted him. He looked over his right shoulder with alert eyes and taut muscles. The other Wardens also went quiet as their Captain quickly turned around to where the cluster of lonesome red cypress trees cleared. He stood up slowly till he was in a low crouch, and his hand grasped the hilt of his freshly cleaned sword. Then Liam felt it too. Someone was closing in on their location, quickly and in fear.
The thumping of hoofs on the wet earth and the heavy breathing of horses being pursued in the darkness confirmed the Wardens’ suspicions. They listened as the sounds of approaching strangers came nearer, and each Warden had their hands hovering near their weapons incase they were forced to use them. Suddenly, two mounts broke through the clearing, announcing the arrival of Korbin Black and Avery Morris. The beasts were snickering nervously as they were halted by the two heavily armed riders. Korbin threw back his hood and swung his spooked horse around to face Captain Maddox. Avery followed behind, nothing more than a teenage boy who kept glancing timorously behind him as if some malicious fiend was about to wreak havoc on them.
“Brothers, we must leave at once!” Korbin bellowed out. “Avery and I are being pursued! I don’t know how they found us, but they’re right on our heels. We must move out! Now!” Captain Maddox wasted no time and rushed over to Korbin.
“Pursued by whom?” he demanded. “And how far behind are they?”
“I’m not sure, Captain,” Korbin said breathlessly. “Avery and I were spotted earlier this morning by a group of Carian soldiers. We were passing through the Montanisto swamps on our way here. I had no idea they were camping nearby. It’s the middle of bloody nowhere! I thought I detected someone following our trail a couple of hours ago, but I couldn’t make anything of it. Besides, it’s not likely the Carians would have chased us this far from their camp. They’re too scared of the swamp.”
“The Carians may fear the swamp, but the Misou don’t,” Aaron announced loudly. His voice held a hint of worry. The Wardens began shuffling nervously, and Maddox immediately addressed it.
“Ok, Brothers, if Korbin is right and it is the Misou who are following us, then we are already one step behind. We need to get out of here now and pass into the Border. Isaac, Aaron, ready the horses!”
The Captain’s dire commands were instantly cut off by a close miscellany of Misou battle cries that rang out over the silent wetlands. Not wanting to draw attention to their camp, Isaac quickly ran over and doused their fire with a bucket of lagoon water. The illumination of their small camp quickly dwindled into the surrounding night. Korbin and Avery urgently dismounted their horses, and Korbin spoke something into his horse’s ear. Liam watched as the beast fled off into the darkness with Avery’s mount following it. While Wardens possessed the gift to slightly alter their appearances, beasts could not. Korbin was telling the horses to flee momentarily since it would look suspicious for their stalkers to see seven shielded mounts hunkering around a makeshift camp with no riders present.
All the Wardens huddled close to Captain Maddox waiting for his instructions. Seven gleaming Cerendovan scimitars flashed in the moonlight as they were drawn from leather baldrics by skilled and sinewy hands. Sounds of the approaching horsemen moved in closer.
“Captain, do we ride?” Isaac asked tensely. Another battle cry resounded into the clear night, this time louder in their ears.
“We don’t have time,” Maddox said in a hushed voice, his eyes darting nervously around the enclosed area. “I fear they’ve already arrived.”
“The Misou are native warriors of this land. And brutal fighters!” Avery’s young voice trilled above the others. “Do we have permission to engage in combat if sighted?”
“No!” All six of the older Wardens chanted in unison. Maddox quickly grabbed Avery by the hood of his cloak and yanked him in close till he cowered under the Captain’s intense glare.
“Pursue peace in all aspects of life, Brother Morris. This you must learn, and now is as good a time as any other.” He released his tight hold on Avery and shoved him back into the circle of Wardens. “We do not attack the Commoners,” he reiterated. “They haven’t the abilities we do to defend ourselves. If it comes to battle, try and disarm them. Do not inflict undue injury. Call upon the Guardians if necessary, for it is their sole purpose to protect us. I’ve made myself clear, Brothers. Now fade into the brush and remain there unseen. Maybe it’s just a cult of bandits who will pass right by us. What ever you do, do not strike first.”
“What if the Misou have Manchineel Dust in their possession?” Avery spoke the concern none of them wanted to voice. All of the other Wardens knew the answer to that question, including Maddox, but none offered to answer.
“Well, let’s just hope they don’t,” the Captain growled back angrily. “Now hide!”
With that, the seven Wardens immediately retreated into the minimal shade of the red cypress trees encircling the algae covered lagoon. Then, with a manipulation of light and shadow that only Wardens can manifest, all the men quickly dimmed their humanly forms until nothing but an inconspicuous glow remained.
Liam looked around him, waiting nervously. He could see the outlines of his hiding comrades underneath the cluster of cypress trees. Nothing human in the small isolated camp moved or sounded, not even the inhale of a breath or the blink of an eye. Laughing tree frogs were the only thing that could be heard as they croaked their strange sounds then hopped from the lagoon’s lily pads to the cypress trees causing the branches to sway questionably in the night. Unrelenting mosquitos living off of the festering swamp water buzzed around Liam’s still form as they landed on his bare arms and neck. They bit open his skin and sucked on his blood, but the Warden refused to swat them away as he remained still and hidden.
He had his scimitar out defensively, hoping deep down that he wouldn’t have to use it. Liam had never had a violent altercation with a Commoner before, and as Aaron had so delicately reminded him earlier that day, they weren’t suppose to get involved with them at all. Wardens were required to pursue peace at all time, in their own home and abroad, not purposely initiate conflict.
Liam’s mind suddenly trickled back to the brief conversation he’d overheard between Spencer and one of his soldiers upon waking that morning. Through the seams of Zora’s tent, Liam heard the Carian soldier insist he’d come across a pair of wanderers matching Korbin and Avery’s description. They had fled, the man told Spencer, when they tried to intercept them, and they weren’t able to determine in what direction they had gone. Liam had disregarded the terse exchange between the Commoner soldiers as insignificant, deciding instead to focus his energy into the time he could spend with Zora, not on investigating whether the now hunted strangers were, in fact, his fellow Wardens.
Liam’s muse was interrupted by a canorous battle call as the group of pursuers burst through the clearing and into the isolated lagoon area. The leader of the group was shielded head to toe in pristine chainmail with a perfectly shaped iron breastplate protecting his torso. It was engraved with the famous Carian emblem of a sunburst centered directly in the middle of his midsection. He wore a conical helm with kitschy orange and yellow plumes attached to the top of it. Two other men, armored identical to the first, followed closely behind.
Accompanying them were two Misou mercenaries dressed in black leather armor that sat against their muscular bodies, and no plate protection was visible. The men had long black head coverings wrapped around their faces so that Liam could only see the brightness of their eyes peering about in the gloom.
Darkness and shadow completely enveloped the open swampland, and the faint movements of his enemies loomed among the night shadows. The only visible light came from a full moon in the clear sky and a few lanterns held up by three of the soldiers. The leader of the group came forward and dismounted his beast. His iron chainmail clinked loudly as he walked around the edge of the water to survey his surroundings. Liam withheld a gasp when the moonligh
t hit his angular face and illuminated his bird hooked nose set underneath beady eyes.
“Are you positive you saw them come this way?” Spencer DeVore asked in an irritated tone. “Because they’re not here, and there is nowhere else for them to go. The bayou empties into nothing but a watery graveyard after this.”
Spencer continued to walk around their temporary camp inspecting every small detail. One of the Misou men also dismounted his horse and came over to Spencer’s side. His was small in frame but his agile and quick movements told Liam he’d be a deadly contender in a fight. The Prince poked his foot into the still warm ash from the fire and looked around in aggravation.
“No one is permitted to pass through Cara undocumented and at free will. Find out who they are and apprehend them!” He removed his helm, revealing a flattened bowl of sweaty hair, and parked it underneath his armpit.
“Did you bring the Manchineel Dust, Dakota?” Spencer inquired. The Misou mercenary, who had a long scar that ran down the edge of his face, nodded.
“Of course, My Prince, as you instructed,” he said as he patted the swollen pouch attached to his hip next to his spiked battle mace. Spencer nodded then addressed the other Misou warrior. “Yanisin, prepare the thuribles,” he commanded. “We’ll smoke the Slythos out if we have to.”
“George! Mark! Retrace our steps and scout out the wetlands behind us. They can’t be far.” The two soldiers garbed in plate armor saluted the Prince then retreated back into the swamp outside the enclosure leaving Spencer alone with the two Misou.
As soon as the Prince spoke the dreaded word Manchineel, Liam could feel surges of fear and emanate death seep from his fellow Wardens’ minds into his own. Captain Maddox was quick to combat the swelling surge of terror because a message appeared on all of their arms at the same time.
If the Dust reveals our position, wait for my command to attack. Use Ithillium if you must, but not until I say so. We cannot let them get control of us.
Dakota walked around the perimeter of the lagoon, opposite of where the men were hiding, and faced the shadow of the red cypress trees. He tugged his head covering from over his face and folded it under his chin revealing copper colored skin. The mercenary sniffed the air, closing his eyes to enhance his sense of smell. When he opened his eyes, his predatory gaze Zoned in right where Liam was hiding, causing needles of fear to prickle across the Warden’s neck.
Dakota rolled back his lips and snarled into the night. He reached into his pouch and withdrew a fine white powder that he flung into the shadow of the trees. The ivory hue of the Dust stood out vibrantly against the brown sullenness of the swamp. The delicate particles swirled around like a school of fish, flying in and out of the tree’s crevices and hiding places, intent on finding its target. Dakota studied it closely as the Dust sank lightly to the ground and scattered lifelessly in the mud.
Liam held in his breath as he watched Dakota make his way closer and closer to the cluster of concealed Wardens. He’d already reached out and Bonded with Ithillium. The energy of the magic engulfed his inner Vim while the need to expel such a force sizzled at his fingertips. He did this as soon as he saw Dakota approaching, knowing that with the weapons their opponents possessed, it would be the only thing that could save him.
Yanisin, the other Misou mercenary, had returned to the horses and withdrawn a bronze thurible from his saddlebag. Liam watched as he loaded it with Manchineel leaves and began placing the coals on top of it to begin smoking. The Warden looked around frantically for Captain Maddox, wondering why he wasn’t instructing them to disarm the group of Misou mercenaries who possessed the Manchineel Dust. Meanwhile, Dakota was gaining on his location as he cast the soft Dust into the shadow of the trees looking to reveal the Wardens’ hiding places. Liam grabbed the hilt of his scimitar with his other hand so he was ready to slash the Misou wide open when he finally reached his hideaway.
Suddenly, an arrow whizzed past Liam’s ear and collided with the thurible held in Yanisin’s hand. The object clamored to the ground, spilling red-hot coals and clouds of toxic smoke along with it. Aaron had inched over to Liam and was standing with another arrow ready to fly. He glanced at Liam and gave a small shrug.
“Ooopps,” he said.
They both watched as the deadly fumes caught flight in a northerly wind and flew away from the team of Wardens. Spencer and Yanisin stumbled back from the surprise attack, but it only enraged the young Prince further.
“Find them, you imbeciles!” Spencer hollered, placing his iron helm hastily back on his sweaty head. Dakota called out to Yanisin in their native tongue, and the other man came rushing over to help Dakota continue casting the Manchineel Dust. Spencer unsheathed his sword and stalked over to the hidden cluster of Wardens, scanning his surroundings as he did so. Liam breathed slowly as Spencer neared his hiding place. Even in the minimal amount of moonlight, the Warden could see a milky white substance coating the edges of Spencer’s blade. It was indeed Manchineel poison, which could cause immediate death to any sorcerer exposed to it.
Liam quickly communicated with his fellow Wardens.
Their weapons are coated with Manchineel poison. We have no choice but to defend ourselves.
Liam watched Spencer’s hateful eyes roll over his hiding place, unable to detect Liam’s concealed position. The arrogant Prince’s narrow face was tight with malice, as if it was his sole purpose in life to eradicate those who could channel Ithillium. Liam gripped his scimitar harder, preparing to let it loose. Behind the young Prince, Liam could see Yanisin and Dakota recoating their sword blades with the sticky Manchineel poison till it dripped along the edges. Then they advanced to Spencer’s side.
Liam doggedly clenched his jaw, unwilling to let Spencer DeVore gain the upper hand on him. He couldn’t take the suspense anymore. From underneath the shadow, Liam lunged at Spencer, crying out as he swung his sword at Spencer’s exposed neck. The Prince staggered backwards but quickly regained his fighting stance. He blocked Liam’s thrust with his own sword as the clashing of metals rang out into the still night. Spencer’s dark eyes glared at him spitefully beneath the iron helm.
“Slythos,” he hissed as spit flew from his mouth into Liam’s face. “I knew it! How dare you show your face on my land! You won’t get out of here alive, spawn of evil!”
With those words, the fight between Commoner and sorcerer broke loose. All of the Wardens flew out from their hiding spaces with weapons drawn, slashing at their oncoming opponents, trying to instantly disarm them. Dakota and Yanisin bolted over to Spencer’s side to help combat the attacks from Liam and Aaron. The Carian soldiers heard the commotion from beyond the lagoon and rushed back to their Prince, immediately jumping into the chaos with weapons prepared to fight.
Spencer was a well-matched opponent for Liam, and his strikes were quick and methodical. The Warden was forced to sidestep, dodge, and duck the continuous blows coming from the plate-armored soldier until sweat dripped into his eyes. He parried back, deflecting the man’s strikes with his scimitar, which were becoming quicker and more violent as Spencer tried desperately to wield a fatal blow to the Warden.
Liam used every defensive move he knew to keep Spencer’s sword from making contact with his skin, for the Manchineel poison caused an agonizing death. Liam’s lungs burned from his quick breathing as he parried endlessly with the young Prince who didn’t seem to tire. He was waiting for the perfect moment to disarm Spencer, but his opponent was too skilled a swordsman to let that happen.
All around him the sounds of battle consumed the silent swamp: the painful cries of fighting men, the clanging of sword upon sword, the curses of those being beaten down. Liam glanced over to the right to see each Warden fighting desperately with an opponent who all possessed poison covered weapons. Liam watched as Maddox, the strongest and most skilled of the group, defended himself relentlessly against Yanisin, the Misou mercenary who was half his size.
He had several chances to end the Misou warrior’s life, but ins
tead of killing him, he continued to try and disarm him. The Misou enemy didn’t seem to weary from the power struggle. Liam knew all of the Wardens could subjugate their opponents. This fight should have been over before it began, except for the fact that Maddox had told them not to hurt the Commoners. The Wardens were blocking the Carian and Misou soldiers’ blows instead of fighting back.
What are we doing? Liam suddenly realized. We have to get rid of them!
Liam felt his shoulders and triceps scream from exhaustion as he danced around Spencer’s attacks. He knew he wasn’t supposed to use Ithillium, but he needed a moment to devise a new plan to deal with the Commoners. With the Bond already created and the hot energy of Ithillium flowing in his veins, Liam quickly ducked one of Spencer’s blows, scooted to the left and kicked Spencer in the torso. He used that moment of surprise to blast an orb of energy at the man, lifting him off the ground and throwing him several yards away with a howl of pain. Shards of color rained down on the lagoon as Liam’s energy absorbed into the atmosphere, and Spencer lay momentarily motionless on the ground across from him.
Feeling the heat of Ithillium’s power being summoned by the other Wardens, Liam watched as all his Brothers followed suit, channeling Ithillium to prevent their attackers from gaining more ground on them. Like a domino effect, all of Spencer’s men flew through the air and landed on the banks of the lagoon with cries of pain and outrage. Waves of heat and rainbows of color shot through the night air, blinding out the brightness of the white moon as the Wardens channeled Ithillium through their powerful beings.
Sariel! Liam called out silently to his Guardian. Come quickly! We’re under attack!
Dakota and Yanisin were the first to recuperate from the Wardens’ formidable attacks. They scrambled up and scurried back over to grab long bows hanging from the saddlebags of their scared horses. “Grab the arrows!” Spencer hollered. “And regroup! We cannot let these sorcerers escape unscathed!”
Azurite (Daughter of the Mountain Book 1) Page 29