The Awakening (The Stones of Revenge)

by Sargeant, Justin

  He paused to look over the cliff. What he saw amazed him. The men had moved the boulder quicker than he thought and were on the path just below him. Arrows whizzed past his head clanking harmlessly against the rock face above him. He knew he needed to hurry. He attempted to spur Aquila to a trot, but the horse refused to move faster than a walk. They were nearly a mile in the air, and Aquila did not want to fall.

  “Come on, girl. At least a little faster?” Landon encouraged her. The horse still kept her pace. “If we don’t go faster, we’ll be dead either way!” he cried. She cocked her head to the side as if analyzing his argument. Then, it seemed to make sense to her because she moved into a trot.

  “Atta girl,” Landon cooed.

  The men below were still gaining, however, and Landon was still dodging arrows. He and Aquila made the next turn. Two more paths until the city gates, but the bandits were turning onto his path. One arrow, nicked Aquila’s heal causing her to rear up. Landon held onto the reigns with his full strength while his body swung over the edge. He knew the dangers of letting go. Aquila set her hooves to the ground and started into a gallop. There was no turning back now. They would either slip off the cliff, be killed by the bandits, or make it safely to Ellington.

  At the end of the last turn, Landon decided to give himself an advantage. He could see the end of the last path and the town in sight. So, behind him, he focused his will on the wall of rock hanging above the last turn. He motioned the heat towards the rock and began to disintegrate it. As the face softened, dirt began to pile. Landon continued to direct the sun’s heat against the mountain. Little by little the pile began to grow. All the while, Landon trusted his steed to get them safely to the gates. Eventually, the rock wall fully dissolved leaving a mound of dirt the height of two men blocking the way. The bandits arrived just as Landon put the finishing touches on his work. A large chunk of rock fell beneath the loosened sand and smashed onto the pile creating a capstone. The bandits were stuck while the city gates of Ellington blurred past Landon. His body began to sway from fatigue.

  Riding through the city, Landon felt very uncomfortable. There was something strange about the people who lived in the town. He could not understand exactly what it was, but he knew something wasn’t right. The city of Ellington was laid out in a circle with three main walls running through the center. At the epicenter of the town was the Lord’s Palace. The walls ran from the palace to the outskirts of the town. Posted at several distinct locations along the walls were guard towers. Below the guard towers were carved massive stone archways allowing the citizens freedom to move from one section of the city to another. Each section had a distinct purpose. The first section, closest to the east gate was the market district. Moving northward in the circle was the housing district. This was followed by the faith district closest to the west gate. Landon knew he needed to head for the center of the city. There were few people about, so his ride through town was quite easy.

  As he approached the palace doors, two guards stood at attention on either side. A hitching post lay outside to the west, and Landon tied Aquila to it. As he walked toward the doors, the guards crossed their large spears.

  “The Lord will not see visitors today,” the first guard said.

  “This is with regards to his daughter,” Landon said. The two men looked at each other, then, studied Landon. They seemed unsure of him, but must have concluded he was not lying for they unbarred the way and stood back at attention. The first guard opened the door for Landon.

  That was relatively easy, he thought.

  As Landon entered the Palace, he was struck by the magnificence of it. The inside rose hundreds of feet into the air. It also spread forward for at least a thousand feet. Upon the walls hung tapestries intricately woven to depict scenes from the city’s famous history. One on the left showed a picture of the volcano erupting. The picture was so real, it seemed almost lifelike. On the opposite wall hung a picture of the town being built. Landon could almost feel the excitement bustling within the image. Above the rows of tapestries hung balconies running the entire length of the walls. Above them and rising into the air was the greatest stone craftsmanship Landon had ever seen. Myriad faces were carved into the structure in concentric rings rising toward the top.

  At the end of the long room, two guards in full array stood on either side of a throne upon which sat a man dressed in grand finery. His robes were of bold russet trimmed in an intertwining of gold and scarlet. Embroidered across the cloth were interlinking circles which ran around the Lord’s body toward the ground. Upon his silver head was a thin crown of gold studded with orange garnets and rubies. Lord Dawson’s face was finely chiseled. His brown eyes held wisdom and age, while his square jaw sat firmly in place. Landon wasn’t sure if his face held a smile or a frown, but he approached nonetheless.

  At the end of the long room, Landon halted before the throne and bowed low. The lord rose from his throne and touched Landon on the shoulder, the sign that he was willing to speak with him. If he had remained in his chair, Landon would have been cast out by the two burly guards. Lord Dawson relaxed back into his grand seat as Landon stood.

  “What is your name, stranger?” The Lord boomed.

  “Landon, son of Jediael,” he said.

  “Son of Jediael?” Lord Dawson repeated curiously. Landon recoiled at the sound of familiarity in the Lord’s voice at his father’s name. “You are an unexpected visitor indeed. For what reason have you come?”

  “I have come to pledge my aid to the safe return of your daughter,” Landon said.

  “Aside from the noble blood of your father coursing though you, what services can you provide that my own men cannot perform already?” It was a fair question. Landon had no expertise in solving mysteries, nor was he expertly trained in hand to hand combat. He knew that his power set himself apart from the others, but something inside of him urged him not to reveal this to the Lord of Ellington.

  “I have nothing special to add, just an extra helping hand.”

  “Then, why have you come to ask my permission? Surely you could have begun the search on your own.”

  “I was sent by the sage Aldous. He instructed me to speak with you and offer any services I could,” Landon said.

  “You have been in contact with the scientist?” Lord Dawson asked, and at that moment, Landon was unsure if revealing his friend had been a wise decision. Then, the Lord’s countenance relaxed and he said, “I am glad to hear he is still alive. We have not seen him for quite some time. If Aldous has sent you, then perhaps you can be of assistance after all. What do you need to begin your search?”

  “I am unaware as to the information surrounding her disappearance. Perhaps you could enlighten me.”

  “Very well, my daughter, Mackenzie, has been missing now for over a year. The day she vanished, I had sent her on an errand of grave importance. She was carrying a special item to Lady Rowena. I sent Mackenzie to ensure its safe transfer. Along the way, her escort was attacked by an unknown enemy. No one was found. However, we did find the chest she was escorting empty which leads me to believe whoever has my daughter was looking for the item. I believe they are holding her, in an attempt to elicit information about the item.”

  “What is this item?” Landon asked.

  “Unfortunately, I am not free to answer that question. You must understand there are matters of state which we Lords must keep confidential. Besides, the item is not important to finding my daughter.”

  “But if I knew what it was, perhaps we could figure out who would have wanted it. That might lead us to her location.”

  “Enough!” Lord Dawson roared standing. A minute later his face eased and he sat back down. “My security team has already sifted through all possible scenarios, and we have found no leads. You must concern yourself solely with finding my daughter or remove yourself from my presence.”

  “I accept. Before I leave, perhaps one more bit of information might aid me in my search. Where was your daughter’
s escort attacked?”

  “We found her carriage on the road to the sea at the crossroads. There is where you should begin. I thank you for your service, Landon, son of Jediael. If you have need of a bed, inquire of Harding at his inn in the market district. Explain to him your mission and he will allow you to stay free of charge.” Landon stepped backwards and bowed again.

  “I thank you for your hospitality.” Landon said with a half bow. And with that, he left the Lord of Ellington in his throne to find some place to rest.

  It was then that Aratus roused Landon from his sleep. The pain in his body had subsided a little, but he was not ready for more work. The dream of Ellington and the quest he should have been pursuing instead of training weighed on his heart. He knew that somewhere the Mistress of Ellington was lost and it was his duty to find her. It saddened Landon to know that she must remain so until he accomplished this task. He relayed this to Aratus.

  “That is a terrible burden to bear. However, I believe leaving your search for Gavin would prove to be a far more dangerous decision. If he were to unlock the power of the ring, he might be unstoppable.”

  Landon could only imagine the horrors that Gavin would unleash upon the realm. As much as it terrified him to trust another person he knew she was right.

  “You are correct,” he said. “This is my priority. I must finish this first.” It was just the push he needed to arise from the bed upon which he was sleeping and continue his training.

  “I’m ready, Master. Let us begin anew.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The Forging of Master Landon

  Landon and Aratus stood along the lake’s edge in a small glade. The constant drum of the waterfall was beginning to give Landon a headache. It had seemed so peaceful when he first encountered this place, but living here for a few days was beginning to tire him. In addition, the ointment he had used to soothe his wounds had not healed them completely as his master had promised. He could still feel a pain when he walked and breathed. Aratus did not seem interested in letting up either.

  “As I mentioned last night, you need to learn balance before any specific training can begin. Balance is essential to a fighter’s ability to carry out attacks and parries. In addition, a balanced fighter shows more poise at the start of a duel creating a mental advantage in his opponent. Usually, I train my apprentices to master this before choosing a focus style. However, since there appears to be a rush on the importance of you learning your skill, I will skip much of my routine.

  ‘There are many different forms of saber combat. I have narrowed them down to three basic categories. Any type of fighting will ultimately result in learning and using these forms. They are named for animals which best represent their style: the Lion, the Ox, and the Eagle. First, the Lion. Just as a lion is fierce, powerful, and aggressive, this fighting style embodies sheer attack with a detriment to defense. To wield it effectively, the user must possess energy, strength, stamina, and speed. Most fighters who use this style exclusively do so out of arrogance of their own skill. It is a deadly form, and one that is very useful in the most dire of circumstances.

  ‘The Ox is a sheer defensive form with a limit to attacks. Much like the animal for which it is named, it is sturdy, dependable, and can work well for any user. A swordsman of this style intends to wear down an opponent before striking. Mastery of the Ox requires patience, focus, and determination. For it is only with these attributes that a fighter can truly wear down his opponent. There is also a warning associated with this style. If you come across an enemy who possesses a great amount of tenacity and stamina, this style will wear you down. It is very tiring to always defend and never attack.

  ‘The Eagle is a combination of the two. Like the noble bird, it uses quick strikes and rapid retreats. It is a balanced style, but the most difficult to learn. To master all of the movements associated with this style takes years. Instead of using improvisation, there are patterned attacks and defenses associated with this style. You will need determination, speed, strength, and focus to wield this style.

  ‘You must choose which style you prefer to learn. I will instruct what you wish, but remember, though Gavin is your foremost enemy, he is not the only villain in the world.” Finished, Aratus stood silently waiting for Landon’s choice.

  “What technique did you teach Gavin?”

  “His arrogance led him on the path of the Lion. He was the only student I ever had to master this style as rapidly as he. That was many years ago, however, and he may have mastered others. I cannot be certain.”

  “Then, I choose all three styles. I may not master them, but if I can become proficient in each, I stand a better chance,” he decided.

  “I caution this choice. To confront an enemy of Gavin’s expertise, you will need more than simple proficiency. You must find mastery before you can truly defeat him.”

  Landon pondered this information. Gavin was the type of person to take pride in his skill. He was not the type to spend time relearning a new style because his pride would not have allowed him to do so. Landon was positive his skill rested in the Lion alone.

  “What do you counsel, Master Aratus?” Landon asked.

  “There is no one style which is preferable to another, nor does one style serve as a counter-weight to another. Any discipline you choose will serve your purpose against Gavin so long as you come to mastery.”

  Landon thought over the styles for a long while. The Lion was certainly attractive for in it he would learn the ability to wield death. However, he worried that this might lead to pride such as Gavin’s. He did not trust himself with this power especially if he was to regain his ring. The Ox was an alternate option that played more into his desire for deterrence. If he could master wearing a person down and saving his own energy, it would most likely teach him how to conserve his ring’s power. Lastly, Landon considered the Eagle. It was a perfect balance of two worlds and would give him the ability not only to learn when to strike when necessary, but defend himself and others. It may take a lifetime to master, but Landon liked the challenge. He had always been a quick study and thought that this would be the ultimate test. “I will master the Eagle,” he said confidently.

  “So be it. I respect your ambition; though, this will not be a quick training,” she said as if she knew what he was thinking. “Only dedication will prepare you for the many enemies you will face. I already know that you possess determination, focus, and strength after your first task on the cliff. Your next lesson will be to learn speed. How proficient are you at swimming?”

  Landon’s heart sank. He had never had a need for swimming, and he greatly did not like the prospect of having to now. “Rather poor, actually. I can manage when the water is calm, but beyond that I am not confident.”

  “Then this will be the perfect opportunity to learn. As I mentioned before, you need to learn balance. Coupling this with your need to learn speed, I have a task that will serve you well. You must conquer these skills before I can show you any of the movements associated with the Eagle. Are you ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be, I suppose,” he said with cynicism.

  “Good, here is your task. I will send logs over the fall. You must gain balance on each as I send them. In the meantime, I expect you to maintain a ready stance in which ever position you feel most comfortable. You goal is to complete ten successful logs and maintain balance on the final log to the river. At that time only will you be able to sheath you sword and jump to solid ground. We cannot move forward until this task is complete. Do you understand?”

  “Aye,” was all Landon could reply. The difficulty of this task overwhelmed his senses. He watched as Aratus easily scaled the rock face next to the cascade and disappeared over the cliff. She makes it look so easy, he thought. But before he could think anything else, a log the thickness of a full grown tree came hurtling over the fall. It hit the water creating a giant wave before it. Landon drew his sword and tried to time his jump onto the log. It was far more difficult than he i
magined. As he leapt onto the beam of wood, he felt his feet skid across the slippery bark and before he knew it, he was holding his breath underwater. Quickly, he swam to the surface. As he did so, he moved back onto the embankment to prepare for another attempt.

  He did not have to wait long. As soon as he was up, another large log poured over the cliff and into the large lake. He readied himself and again leaped onto the board. Again he failed and splashed into the water. Once more he made his way onto the grass and prepared himself for another attempt. It too was unsuccessful.

  The rest of the day followed the same pattern. Logs collected at the mouth of the river and formed a dam. Still Landon could not seem to master even gaining a footing on the wood. His goal of mastering this technique rapidly was quickly fading. Eventually, Aratus called him to a halt and instructed him instead to gather the logs into a pile on the grass. This too seemed difficult due to his weak skills at swimming, but he managed. Most of the timber was salvaged and piled against the cliff walls.

  Aratus watched Landon work from her perch atop the waterfall. He felt slighted. Yesterday he had accomplished an impressive task. He had scaled a cliff in the most impossible way, and she had not even watched. Today, he had failed his task in the worst way, and she was there for every laughable moment. He could not understand her motives. He grabbed the last log and tossed it into the pile. Once again his body was entirely taxed.

  As soon as he placed the last log in the pile, Aratus quickly descended the mountain and met him where he stood. He was relieved the day was over. He was so tired he was unsure he could even make it to supper. Aratus, however, was not quite finished.

  “This will not do. You must move the logs over to the cliff by the fall so they will be prepared for tomorrow’s work.”

  Landon could not believe what he was hearing. Did she not witness what had just taken place? There is no possible way I could survive doing that! Yet, he had sworn to obey his master, and if he truly wanted Gavin to find justice, he would have to continue to obey her. He swallowed his anger and pride and responded in the only way he knew Aratus wanted, “Yes, Master.”