The Warden's Sword

by Paul Summerhayes

  “You must be the Lady Anna of Tarmia.”

  Anna turned to face the speaker—it was Princess Maria. Both Anna and Eula stood and curtsied low before the princess.

  “Please,” said the princess. “There is no need for that. You are to marry my cousin and we will be related.”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” said Anna. Eula was speechless and kept her eyes pointed at the ground.

  “Please, call me Maria.”

  “Thank you for your kindness.”

  “We are family now and I want us to be as close as sisters.” Maria smiled as she hugged Anna. “Tell me all about your life. I want to know who my handsome cousin is marrying.”

  “My life…is a story of tragedy—”

  “Now, now, Anna,” interrupted Wolfgang. “Let’s not bore the princess with stories of home sickness—”

  “Silence!” commanded the princess. “How dare you interrupt.”

  Wolfgang fell silent as two powerfully-built knights moved behind him. The knights’ hands rested on their sword hilts and they looked to their princess for her orders.

  “You are familiar with the king’s personal body guard, are you not, Sir Wolfgang?” asked Maria, her dark brown eyes locked with Wolfgang’s. “If I accidently sneeze, they will slay you where you stand. I suggest you back away, so us future cousins can talk.” She dismissed Wolfgang with a wave of her hand. “Go.”

  Wolfgang bowed low. “As you wish, Your Highness.” He knew he was out of his league and he cast a hateful glance at Anna as he backed away from the princess.

  “That’s better. Now, where were we? That’s right, you were telling me about your life in Tarmia. Please continue.”

  Anna poured out her story and tears flowed down her cheeks. Maria put her arm around Anna’s shoulders and patiently listened without judgment. Most people had left the temple by the time Anna was finished. Several people chatted with the high priest near the front doors and the knights made sure that no one came close to the princess. Even Wolfgang was nowhere to be seen.

  “Well, that is one hell of story.” Maria was silent for a few moments. “Lord Tollis and Sir Wolfgang have a lot of power here in the north and cousin Anthon is brave and handsome but not very smart…I suggest you come with me back to the capital. I will ask my father to protect you. He will send you back to your home.”

  “Thank you, Maria,” Anna wiped away her tears. “You have saved my life.”

  “That’s settled. You will both stay with me tonight and tomorrow, under the protection of the royal guard, we will travel south to the capital. You can relax, Anna. You are safe now.”

  Chapter 24

  Finn and Severus watched the city officials and the visiting dignitaries exit the temple and walk down the temple stairs to their waiting carriages. Anna did not appear and Finn started to worry. Maybe she left through another exit.

  “She’ll be fine,” said Severus from under his hood.

  I think I understand why my father left us now—he was protecting us from this life. It’s hard to see people you care about in trouble, especially when you can’t help.

  “Here she is,” said Severus. Relieved, Finn released a long breath that he had been unconsciously holding. Anna, the princess and guards stopped at the top of the temple stairs and Princess Maria waved to the crowd. His relief was short-lived as Lord Tollis appeared from the crowd and moved up the stairs to the princess’s side. He spoke rapidly to Princess Maria while Anna stood in silence—even though she tried not to show it, there was fear in her eyes. The master’s mannerism indicated that he was not happy about something. Good.

  After several long moments, the conversation ended and the master bowed to the princess and walked down the stairs and out of sight. Flanked by armoured knights, the princess, Anna and the maid walked down the stairs and entered a waiting carriage which had been trimmed with gold and displayed the royal crest on its doors.

  Anna stopped briefly on the carriage step and looked around. Finn tried to catch her eye, to let her know that he was here, but after a moment’s hesitation she entered the carriage and was gone from his sight. Six heavily-armoured knights in the king’s colours rode powerful horses behind the carriage as it drove off in the direction of the wealthier section of Parma.

  “Do we follow?” asked Finn.

  “It would look suspicious—two cloaked eldon running behind the princess of Krystoria’s carriage. The king has a residence here so we know where they’re going.”

  “What now?”

  “We sleep,” Severus placed a gloved hand on Finn’s shoulder. “For tonight, we save your Anna.”

  The two eldon made their way back through the winding streets to the inn where their gear was stored. No one spoke to them as they crossed the taproom and climbed the stairs up to their room. All of their possessions remained untouched as Severus had said and Finn was suspicious that the inn keeper knew who or what his father was.

  “We’re safe here so no need for a watch,” said Severus. “You sleep in the bed. I prefer a chair—it’s an old habit.”

  It was now late afternoon and Finn had not slept much the night before. Within moments of his head hitting the pillow, he was asleep. Severus sat in the chair with his long legs resting on the room’s only window sill. He was deep in thought and not for the first time he regretted not seeing his two boys mature into men. He gazed at his son’s sleeping form and smiled. “They’re good boys,” he mumbled to himself.

  The room was shrouded in darkness when Finn woke. He lay motionless for some time listening to the darkness. Nothing moved. Severus was no longer there.

  He checked for the black sword—it was where he left it. Not that he distrusted his father but he might steal the sword and with it, its strange power. Without it, he doubted that he could best anyone in combat as he was not a warrior. He regretted taking any life.

  Finn’s thoughts drifted to the Mordan as he strapped the alp’s sword to his waist. Mordan would return to Freewater and discover that Anna was gone. Finn imagined that he would be angry at him for letting her get into more trouble. He disliked Mordan and not because he was an undead blood sucker—no, he was using Anna. His training Anna to use her magic was to his benefit, not hers. But the alp needed to be respected for what he could do. He moved faster than anything Finn had ever witnessed and killed effortlessly—who could stand against such a creature? No mortal could match his speed or strength.

  After putting on his green cloak and doing up its clasp, Finn headed down stairs in search of Severus. It was early evening and the taproom was only half full. These locals kept to themselves and all were probably involved in one shady deal or another.

  Finn moved to the bar which was tended by a sleazy looking man with flat, oily hair and a thin, stringy beard. He was not the same barman as before. “Yeah?” said the oily man.

  “I am looking for…my eldon friend.”

  “Sorry, sir. I should have guessed you were with him.” The barman’s attitude changed quickly. “He left some time ago.”

  “Did he say where he was going?”

  “No, sir, and I wasn’t asking.” He smiled, exposing a mouthful of brown rotten teeth.

  “Do you have any food?”

  “The old girl made her spicy mince a few hours ago. It’s good.”

  “That’ll be fine.”

  “Yes, sir. Make yourself comfortable and I’ll bring it over.” The barman indicated a small unoccupied table. Finn nodded his thanks and sat down.

  He didn’t have to wait long before a wooden bowl and spoon was placed before him. He thanked the barman and started to eat. To say it was spicy was an understatement but it was hot and filling. As Finn finished off the meal, the inn’s front door opened and a tall hooded figure entered. It was Severus and he sat opposite his son.

  “That smells good,” said the older eldon.

  Without a word, the barman appeared with another bowl of spicy mince and placed in front of Severus. “On
the house,” said the man. Severus nodded his thanks and the barman went back to his bar.

  “Where have you been?” asked Finn.

  “For a quick look at the palace. Anna is there,” Severus said with a mouthful of food.

  “You saw her?”

  “No, but the locals did.”

  “When do we get her?”

  “At midnight. Most of the household should be asleep by then.”

  “That gives us plenty of time to prepare.”

  “Another thing sprang up when I was nosing around,” he shovelled food into his mouth and chewed it before continuing. “There are members of the Brotherhood here.”

  “Assassins!” Finn exclaimed a little too loudly.

  “Keep it down.”

  Finn looked to see if anyone was paying them any attention. “How do you know?”

  “I have my sources. There are at least two or possibly more in the city.”

  “Hunting you?”

  “The Brotherhood will never give up and the bounty is great encouragement, too.”

  Finn pondered this information and his thoughts strayed to Karok. The dwarf was more than a capable warrior and he might kill for gold... “Is your life always like this? Sneaking around, killing, being hunted…?”

  “Yes.”

  A lonely life—well, things are different now! He’s got family.

  Chapter 25

  For the first time in days, Anna felt safe. She no longer thought every breath she took could be her last. Princess Maria had rescued her from the clutches of the master and Wolfgang and tomorrow, she would be on the way to the Krystorian capital, Rulle. It was almost too good to be true. Let’s see the master steal me from under the king’s protection… Despite being safe, a sadness tugged at her heart. She was a long way from home.

  “You’re quiet.”

  Anna was startled from her daydream. It was early evening and Anna sat at a long table in the royal residence. She had just finished eating but she couldn’t remember what it was. Seated at the table were several dignitaries; Parma’s mayor, distant royal relatives, ambassadors and a handful of politicians—all there to honour the princess or to gain favour with the royal family.

  “Do you worry about the girl?” asked Princess Maria seated beside Anna.

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  “Please, call me Maria.” The princess patted Anna’s arm. “She is being well looked after and we will take her to the capital with us.” Anna wasn’t really thinking about Eula as the young girl was not in immediate danger from the master or Wolfgang and the palace was well guarded.

  “Thank you…for all your kindness.”

  “I’m happy to help. I am surprised and disappointed that my uncle Morgan is acting like this. I always thought him a little…strange but I never thought he would resort to kidnapping.”

  “And murder.”

  “Murder?”

  “He murdered Warden Kalher and tried to kill my friend.”

  “Lord Morgan Tollis, the king’s cousin, did that?”

  “And more.”

  Maria was intrigued and leant closer to Anna. “Continue, please.” Such was the princess’s concentration that she was unaware of the servants around them taking away the dirty dishes.

  “I told you much of my story at the temple…but not about my heritage and…the person training me.”

  Maria sat back and studied Anna’s face. “This is probably not the time or the place for this but we have a long journey ahead of us and we can talk in length then. Tomorrow you can put it all behind you and start a new life.”

  “Thank you,” said Anna softly. It was all she could say.

  The princess smiled at Anna and then turned back to her guests. Deep in her own thoughts, Anna blocked out the conversations around her. My new life…I don’t want a new life. I haven’t finished with my old one yet!

  The moonless night aided the two dark forms lurking in the darkness across from the royal residence. Severus had spent a lifetime blending into his surroundings and he knew the deep shadows would hide them from searching eyes.

  After a long motionless wait, Finn’s muscles started to cramp. He wiggled his toes but that didn’t help much. His father didn’t appear to move at all and if he didn’t, neither would Finn. The only sign that Severus wasn’t a statue was the occasional flicker of his eyes as he surveyed the grounds beyond the high iron fence in front of them.

  It was well after midnight when Severus finally motioned that they should gain entry to the grounds. They moved down the street to a secluded spot and Severus leapt up and grabbed the top of the fence, pulling himself up and over without stopping. Finn caught the top of the fence after his third attempt and also scrambled over, landing beside his father. He hoped he didn’t have to climb back over in a hurry.

  Following a short distance behind his father, Finn sprinted across the lawn and pressed up against the main building. Bent over, they moved under several windows before Severus stopped at one and started to unlatch it with a long, thin knife. With a satisfying click, the widow was unlocked.

  “Any problems and we exit through this window,” said Severus softly. Without waiting for a reply, he pushed the window open and climbed in. Finn followed. It only took a moment for Finn’s eyes to adjust to the dark room—superior eyesight was an advantage that every eldon had over humans.

  They were in a library. There were books of all shapes and sizes lining countless bookshelves around the room. Severus was at the library door and was peering out.

  As quiet as he could, Finn snuck over to his father who continued his surveillance. Time crept slowly and Finn’s heartbeats got louder and louder in his chest. The palace seemed asleep and hopefully, so were its occupants.

  “Upstairs,” whispered Severus and Finn nodded.

  The pair stalked silently down a wide corridor lined with large paintings depicting deceased royals and heads of state in various grand poses. They arrived at a long majestic foyer containing two oil lamps illuminating the room with a soft yellow light. Without hesitation, they moved through the area and up the stairs leading to the second story and hopefully, to Anna.

  At the top of the stairs, Severus grabbed his son’s arm, stopping him in his tracks. Both froze and waited motionlessly. “Something is wrong,” Severus whispered.

  Finn heard nothing except the thumping of his pulse. What’s wrong? Looking back down to the entrance, Finn noticed movement as something vanished through an open doorway. Fear gripped him and his body went tense.

  Severus still held Finn’s arm and felt his tension. “What?”

  “Downstairs.” It was all Finn could manage to say.

  Descending back down the staircase, Severus stopped and quickly pressed against the wall. The building was quiet but his father drew his sabre silently from its oiled scabbard. What’s happening? Finn followed his father’s lead and unsheathed the black sword. Its hilt was warm in his hands. It thirsts for blood! Wide eyed, Finn stared into every shadow below them.

  Time ticked by and just when Finn thought they were wasting too valuable time, three shapes broke from the shadows below and moved silently across the entrance toward the stairs they stood on. They were men, clad in tight-fitting black clothes and hoods and held straight-bladed swords. Not palace guards! When they reached the bottom of the stairs, four more undetected shapes peeled out of the shadows and followed their three companions.

  Assassins! Finn wanted to scream but he remained silent and motionless. He waited for Severus to make the first move. The assassins didn’t appear to notice the pair until the first one stepped onto the stairs blocking their escape. It looked like they would have to fight their way through the assassins. He felt the false confidence of the sword creeping into his mind and pushing away his fears.

  The assassins froze at the base of the stairs. One of their number spoke softly, “Well met, friends,” he said softly. “Let’s all live tonight and not hinder each other�
�s business.”

  “We’re not here to kill,” whispered Severus.

  “How fortunate.” The seven men advanced up the stairs. Finn gripped his sword tightly in two hands and sucked in a breath.

  “Look away and prepare for flight,” whispered Severus to Finn. Severus took something from his pocket and threw it on the ground in front of the assassins. There was a sharp bang, a flash of light and smoke appeared from ground. Severus jumped over the handrail and dropped several feet to the floor below and rolled into a fighting stance. Finn followed and hit the floor hard, taking a moment or two to regain his balance. He winced as pain shot up his leg.

  “Let’s go,” said Severus. Without looking back, Finn followed his father down the corridor toward the library. Finn slowed at the library door as pain throbbed through his ankle.

  “Assassins!” came a shout from somewhere in the house. “Assassins!”

  They crossed the dark library and without hesitation, Severus jumped through the open window and into the garden. Following slower, Finn sheathed his sword and climbed out after his father. The cool air hit Finn and he became aware that he was sweating.

  Cries of alarm could be heard all over the grounds as father and son reached the iron-barred fence. Severus boosted Finn over and then climbed the fence himself and the pair vanished into the surrounding night.

  “Who were those men?” asked Finn when they were back in the inn. Finn sat on the bed and had taken his boots off. His left ankle was sore and bruised but shouldn’t slow him up too much.

  “Kidnappers or assassins, and most likely members of the Brotherhood. I would guess in the employ of Tollis.”

  “The master…” Finn muttered. “Do you think they got her?”

  “There would have been fifty soldiers there to protect the king’s daughter in half a heartbeat,” said Severus. “I believe your Anna is quite safe.”

  “We’ve failed her.”