Ethan Wright and the Curse of Silence

by Kimbro West

  Marcus was getting annoyed; he leaned over and whispered something to his comrade. They both shook their heads and chuckled.

  “You don’t believe me?” asked Edison. “Well maybe you’ll be the one to change that, Marcus. Now then, I have a small gift for everyone. It’s a book with factual information about Losalfar and Tirguard — their history — and other interesting facts. Instead of giving you the book outright, I thought it would be a good time to introduce you to the alchemy vessel. Please everyone draw your attention to the stone basin behind me. If I could just get everyone to form a line, reach into the vessel and pull out your book,” said Edison as he motioned the students to stand up. One by one the students reached into the receptacle, paused for a moment, then pulled out a small book. Marcus reached in, snatched his out and walked to the back of the class.

  “If you noticed the markings on the side of the basin, we have translated them to mean, ‘He who pulls from the vessel is the rightful owner.’ As I cleverly placed your names on your book, and meant them to be yours to own, the vessel does the rest.”

  Auren stepped to the basin and reached in, pulling out a book. He looked into the vessel and checked to ensure Edison wasn’t watching. He then dropped his package of Lippy’s Lickable Dragon Eggs into the receptacle. “For later,” he whispered to Ethan with a chuckle.

  “Hurry along now, Auren, you’re holding up the line,” snapped Edison.

  Ethan stepped to the basin. There was a glowing blue swirl inside, with small specks of light, which looked like stars in the night sky. It appeared to be liquid, but to Ethan’s surprise did not feel wet when he placed his hand inside the receptacle. He felt his hand drawn toward an object and clutched his fingers around it. He slowly pulled it from the alchemy vessel. It wasn’t a book.

  “A sword!” shouted Auren. “That’s wicked!” The sudden shout captured the attention of Heinrich, who was teaching his class just behind Edsion.

  “Indeed,” murmured Edison as he tilted his head sideways and approached Ethan. The sword was long and thin. It bore a perfect double-edged blade, and yet it was extremely light in weight and felt perfectly balanced. The handle was slightly misshapen in order to accommodate a comfortable two-handed grip.

  “I DEMAND TO KNOW THE MEANING OF THIS!” shrilled Heinrich, his face rippling with red and veins protruding from his neck. “Where did you get my sword from, you little …” he growled as he came face to face with Ethan.

  “Your what? I just grabbed it, I dunno …” stammered Ethan.

  Edison interceded. “Easy, Heinrich, the boy pulled the sword from the alchemy vessel. You know the rules.”

  “You are telling me that this … BOY, pulled my sword from the vessel?”

  “Yes,” replied Edison, now standing between Heinrich and Ethan. “He who pulls from the vessel is the true owner.”

  “This sword has been handed down from my father, my father’s father, and his father before him. Now then,” Heinrich reached around Edison, grabbed Ethan’s arm and squeezed, “hand it over!”

  Edison quickly knocked Heinrich away. The Captain of the Guard looked surprised. He took a step backward as his students gathered around him. Marcus started smiling and pushed his way forward to get a front row seat to the controversy.

  “Challenge accepted,” announced Heinrich. “Swords only, no alchemy — first to draw blood is victorious.”

  “Terms?” asked Edison, removing his alchemy jacket and handing it to Ethan.

  “For the sword,” replied Heinrich as he removed his leather armor and vambraces. “And your terms?”

  “Next time you find my students in your class, you teach them as if they were your students, and stop feeling sorry for yourself for not getting them removed from the Electus.”

  “Agreed,” said Heinrich, drawing his practice blade.

  “Agreed,” said Edison, pushing back Ethan, who was still clutching the mysterious sword.

  “What are you doing, sir? You’re a retired history teacher!” whispered Ethan.

  “Not retired … I was on sabbatical,” he smiled.

  Heinrich dived forward with his sword leading the assault. Edison quickly drew his sword and blocked the attack. Heinrich advanced, displaying incredible speed. He threw several decoy attacks, twisted his wrist, put all his weight on his front leg and thrust for Edison’s sword arm. Edison quickly guided the tip of his blade through his opponent’s sword-handle and twisted. Heinrich released his sword and a small drop of blood fell from his finger. Edison held his blade to Heinrich’s neck.

  “Good match, Heinrich.”

  “You cannot be serious,” argued Heinrich.

  “The terms are for first blood — one drop should suffice, don’t you think?” stated Edison as he lowered his sword and placed it into the sheath. “I believe you have a class with my students tomorrow?”

  Heinrich sniveled. “Make sure they show up prepared this time — this is a sword class … not an alchemy class,” he snarled as he picked up his sword, sheathed it, and returned to his class.

  Ethan’s mouth stood agape. “But how did you …”

  “Did I mention, while on sabbatical, I joined a retired gentleman’s sword-dueling club — works wonders to keep one in shape,” winked Edison.

  Chapter 14

  A Predetermined Diversion

  “It stands to reason that an assassination attempt on Ethan Wright has just taken place — what would you have me do?!” exclaimed Odin as he slammed his uninjured hand onto the marble table inside the Hall of Kings.

  “It’s too early, Odin! And sometimes I think you forget your place … remember, you are addressing the King.” King Basilius’ voice echoed up the tall statue-embossed walls. The short-haired King was in his dressed-down clothes but still bore his father’s gold signet ring, with the family crest stamped in the center.

  “And sometimes you forget, I was placed in charge of Ethan’s well-being — I will not stand idly by while an ancient alchemical half-breed werewolf hunts down a mere boy.”

  “But he’s not a mere boy … is he? He is extraordinary,” argued the King.

  “Extraordinary or not, he has no training! Something about natural ability comes to mind,” said Odin. He glanced over to Ghislain, who was staring down the King.

  “Well, don’t look at me! That had nothing to do with the will of Whitehaven. Natural ability was needed to select which brother would go to Tirguard first. That was the will of the Oroborus,” exclaimed the King. This comment made Ghislain very uncomfortable. “The Oroborus has a plan for …”

  “This conversation is getting out of hand,” interrupted Ghislain. “I will not be caught up in any spoken mistakes!”

  “The Curse of Silence has ended, Ghislain … which is one of the reasons I called you here.”

  “Do you know for sure that the entire Curse has ended? I’m not accustomed to speaking of these things openly … I know of those who died instantly for speaking about these things!” yelled Ghislain.

  “Perhaps you will find it comforting to know that the Curse ended more than three months ago.”

  “How do you know that?” asked Ghislain, trying to sound calm but fidgeting with his beard.

  “I am the King.”

  “Yeah … comforting indeed,” said Ghislain, leaning back in his chair.

  “Ghislain….” sighed the King. “The Curse was never intended to kill any of the families that are exempt, including yours.”

  “Unless we interfered with the game — with Ethan and the bloody will of the Oroborus! How are we supposed to know what words will or will not interfere? It’s best to keep our mouths shut I’d say. I have a wife and a son! I’ve seen men die before my very eyes in the pub … they got drunk and started blabbering — you ever seen a man die like that?” asked Ghislain, extremely irritated.

  The King looked down at the table and fidgeted with his family ring. Defeated, he looked back up at Ghislain. “One hundred and forty-seven.”

 
“What? One hundred and forty-seven what?” asked Ghislain.

  “I have seen, or should I say … I executed … one hundred and forty-seven men. They were convicted of crimes here or in a nearby city … any man that was sentenced to death, once a month, since the day the Wright brothers were born — we would have them recite something that would violate the Curse of Silence … they would simply fall over — dead before they hit the floor.” The King looked as if he was guilty of murder. His hands trembled and his face was filled with a look of despair. “The deaths took place every month — until three months ago,” added King Basileus. “I was so happy with the man that didn’t die after saying the words … I set him free.”

  Ghislain nodded.

  “The day the Oroborus put words in my head … that Curse … was the day I realized there was no other way to know, for sure, that the Curse had ended,” said the King quietly.

  The room went silent for a moment. Ghislain was satisfied with the explanation and even felt a bit guilty for confronting the King.

  Odin interrupted the silence. “The reason we sent Ethan to Tirguard is because the Stonewolf is here. There was no better way to keep him safe.”

  “And what about him?” asked the King.

  “Him, who?” challenged Ghislain.

  “If you mean Xivon — if he hears that the Curse has ended, he will find a way to reach Ethan, whether it’s in Tirguard or here in Whitehaven,” argued Odin.

  “You have a point, Odin, but I should have been consulted in the matter….” replied the King. “So then … what now?”

  “What we need now is a plan,” continued Odin. “I was thinking Ghislain and I could train him.”

  “No — hardly a good idea! I am afraid that is out of the question — no training. Ethan must find his own way; we still must do as the Oroborus willed.”

  Odin sat silently. He leaned back in his chair and sighed, placing both hands on the table, including the crippled black-veined hand that he normally kept hidden. He looked ready to stand himself up. Ghislain, too, was quite annoyed. Just then one of the tall doors across the hall slowly opened and a well-dressed man walked toward the table. His shiny shoes clicked against the marble floor as he walked, and his overzealous jewelry glistened in the light. It was Tothyll.

  “My King,” Tothyll bowed. “Ethan Wright is in Tirguard.”

  “Yes, as I have just been informed. Odin and Ghislain sent him,” barked the King. “A bit too early, I may add.”

  “I just thought you should know, despite the protests of Heinrich, they entered the Electus. Their instructor is a Mr. Rupert …”

  This news put a small grin on Odin’s face, but the King did not seem amused. “What do you mean, they entered the Electus?” asked the King.

  “Ethan Wright, Auren Faryndon, Availia Tanbe, and Mr. Stanley … um … — well, they were all selected by Mr. Rupert.”

  Ghislain was now smirking.

  “I am not amused. If he were to join the Guard this early, I wanted him here, in my Guard! I can keep an eye on him — it’s safer,” added the King under his breath.

  “There’s more, my Lord,” said Tothyll.

  “More?”

  “It seems they have found a way to get the alchemy academy re-opened, Your Greatness.”

  “Did they now?” King Basileus said as he scratched his short dark beard. “Now that is interesting news indeed … although early. Did you say Mr. Rupert as in Edison Rupert?”

  “Yes, the very same, Sir.”

  “I was hoping as much — excellent work, Tothyll.”

  “Wait … you were hoping?” asked Ghislain.

  “I made the necessary arrangements long ago, in case Ethan ever went to Tirguard. I placed Edison Rupert on sabbatical in order to have time for tactical training and hand-to-hand combat. He is older, but he knows alchemy like a fish knows water….” The King paused and looked at both Odin and Ghislain intently. “Everything is unfolding as it should — can’t be too soon either, otherwise the Oroborus would never have ended the Curse. I mean, doesn’t it all make sense now?” The King seemed relieved, as if an incredible weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Gentlemen, we are lucky to be here at this exact moment. I will watch with an open mind, let events unfold as intended, and watch our chosen saint discover who he is,” exalted King Basileus.

  “Well said, Excellency,” said Tothyll.

  “Thanks, Tothyll, now please return to Tirguard and report back any news. Also let the Castellan know that I will be there in one and thirty to make the announcement about the end of the Curse. I am sure word has reached the city, but an official address is always comforting to the people of Tirguard.”

  “Yes, my King.” Tothyll started to leave, but turned on his heel. “Ah, Sir, one last thing if I may?”

  “Yes, what is it?”

  “The Castellan had a statue of his father made here, in Whitehaven … and it is ready for display in his hall. With your permission, I would like to take it to him.”

  “What’s the matter Tothyll, don’t they have stone sculptors in the magnificent stone city?” harrassed Ghislain with a chuckle.

  “Of course … however, the Castellan’s grandfather’s statue was made by a sculptor here in Whitehaven. He is quite fond of it, so naturally he wanted this one made by the same man,” answered Tothyll with a slight bow.

  “Yes, Tothyll, do as you will, I am sure Ghislain is just giving you a hard time. I will see you in one and thirty days,” said the King.

  Ghislain leaned over and whispered to Odin. “One and thirty?”

  “Time difference, Ghislain. Thirty days pass in Tirguard, one passes here,” whispered Odin.

  Ghislain nodded.

  “Yes, my Lord, one and thirty,” replied Tothyll. He turned and left, the clicking of his shoes echoing down the great Hall of Kings.

  Odin leaned toward the King. “What happened to letting Ethan find his own way?”

  The King smiled. “Whatever do you mean?”

  “Sending Edison in … re-opening the alchemy academy …”

  “Just giving him a nudge in the right direction — a … predetermined diversion toward a guided path … if you will.” The King smiled and stood up, as did Odin and Ghislain. “It is getting late. I have a room set up for you both; it is best that you stay in case the Stonewolf is still lurking about.”

  “Not me, Isabel would wring my neck if I stayed out. Besides, if that wolf runs into me, I’ll bite off more than it can chew,” quipped Ghislain. “I will return first thing in the morning.”

  “I, on the other hand, will stay if it’s no imposition,” accepted Odin. “I’m quite tired, and Wegnel made me promise to take it easy. I even brought his green mystery paste along, just in case.”

  “I will have someone show you to your room. We still have much to discuss. I will see both of you tomorrow morning.”

  Chapter 15

  Stanley’s Plan

  “What do you mean? It’s just a handle!” exclaimed Auren, examining Ethan’s newly acquired sword.

  “No it’s not, you daft monkey, it’s got two distinct grips on it — you can hold it one- or two-handed,” argued Ethan, unsheathing the sword. The morning sun gleamed red on the long, thin, double-edged blade. “It’s so light,” he added quietly.

  “Light indeed,” said Edison, walking up to Ethan and taking the sword. He pulled out his spectacles and placed them at the tip of his nose. “I have to say I have always wanted to examine this sword — Heinrich’s prize possession, I may add. I’m afraid he’s going to be upset for quite a while, Ethan,” he added as he handed the blade back. “No dings or anything … it’s perfect.”

  “It doesn’t look very sturdy — one tap with a broadsword could break it in half I’d imagine,” challenged Auren.

  “On the contrary, Auren, I have seen Heinrich use this sword against others and it has never faltered. It’s a precise instrument, almost surgical,” said Edison as he removed his spectacles and tuc
ked them away. “Ethan, do you have any idea how you pulled Heinrich’s sword from the alchemy vessel?”

  “No,” replied Ethan. “I just reached in and … it was just sorta there in my hand.”

  Just then, both Availia and Stanley arrived with swords and armor bags.

  “Met up with my sister and got my armor, or … her old armor anyhow — should fit. Now we just have to worry about you two,” said Availia as she removed the armor from the bag and started trying it on.

  “Great, now I’m the only one without a sword,” grumbled Auren.

  Stanley removed the chestplate from his armor bag and slipped it on. It was black, with blue swirls that shone in the light. There was a silver crest in the center and silver fasteners held the seams together.

  “That’s right nice! I mean, how did you get it?” exclaimed Auren. “It must’ve cost a fortune …”

  “Mmmma, mmaa, my father … mmma, mmma … made,” replied Stanley.

  “Your father makes armor?” asked Availia.

  Stanley nodded and then stared at his shoes.

  “Could he make some for us? Or does he have any lying around that we could use, you know, just for Heinrich’s class?” asked Ethan.

  “Dad’s dead,” replied Stanley. “Nnngg, nnngggg, sold … nnngg what was … nnngg … left.”

  Ethan was embarrassed. He put his hand on Stanley’s shoulder to comfort his classmate. “I’m sorry, Stanley, I didn’t know,” replied Ethan. “I mean, I wouldn’t have asked, but …”

  “It’s … ok,” replied Stanley.

  “Well, let me worry about armor and such for you two,” interrupted Edison.

  “Sir … where are you going to find armor? We visited every armory in the city,” asked Ethan.

  “Yeah, everyone’s sold out,” added Auren.

  Edison sat on the ground, seemingly preparing for meditation. “I have until tomorrow, I will come up with something. Besides, I told Heinrich I would have you prepared for class, and prepared you shall be. Now then, you will all meditate for as long as possible. I need to get at least three hours straight today, then we will practice some swordplay.”