The Awakening (The Stones of Revenge)

by Sargeant, Justin

  He moved to the pile and began to dislodge the first log. It felt heavier than the first time he had placed it there. He set it down and rolled it across the fertile glade. Slamming it against the wall, he turned to grab the second beam. He worked this way until the whole pile was moved. The sun disappeared just as he finished the task. Aratus, who had been sitting on the turf the entire time watching, stood and approached Landon. There was some light left, but it would be gone before they reached the inner cave. He was eager to sit by the fire, but Aratus once again had other plans. She unsheathed her sword.

  “The best warriors are never tired, always ready for battle. It is in our most weakened state that our natural abilities take over,” she instructed.

  Landon doubted this very much but knew he had little choice. He drew his sword as well. She stood with her strong foot slightly back and the sword pointed directly at Landon. He attempted to mirror her but could barely hold his sword up. As soon as he set his back foot, she was upon him. Landon didn’t have time to plan or think, he simply parried and blocked and twisted away from her quick reflexes and sharp blade.

  With every stab and thrust Landon felt her try to dislodge his weapon. He had already learned that lesson. He didn’t care if holding on to it killed him, he was not scaling the wall again. She continued her advance spinning Landon in circles, and somehow he continued to stand his ground. He was unsure what was happening, but he was finding a strength he did not know. Aratus had worked him past the point of exhaustion, yet here he was continuing to defend himself.

  At the most critical moment of the match, Landon saw that Aratus had left herself open to an attack from the side. Whether it was purposeful or accidental he was unsure, but he knew that it would probably be the only offense he would muster in this fight. Swiftly, he swung his blade from under a block toward her left side. He felt victory as it lithely moved into her ribcage. He saw the hole in her garment pierced by his sword, but before any blood was drawn, his hand was vibrated by a violent block from the elegant blade. Aratus had recovered just in time to stop him.

  It was at this moment that the match was called off. The light had failed and the master and the apprentice could barely see each other. Without speaking, the two of them stood in the growing twilight staring at each other panting. For the first time in their relationship, she learned his aptitude for learning a skill. He was improving simply by watching her fight. She was yet to teach him any specifics about stances, movements, attacks or blocks and yet, he was creating them.

  “I am impressed,” was all the attention she would give the matter.

  § § §

  The rest of the training progressed much more swiftly than either of them had imagined. Within a few weeks Landon mastered his agility on the logs and was easily leaping from one to the next with ease. Soon, the two of them began to challenge each other using the logs as their sparring ground. Landon’s skill at acquiring new knowledge served him well. A few months passed with Landon learning ready stances and the movements associated with the Eagle. Each time Aratus taught him a new movement, he had it memorized within a week. He became so proficient that in sparring matches, Landon came closer and closer to actually getting a strike on his master.

  As the months passed, and the movements increased in complexity, Landon began to add his own improvisation to the steps. This caused a sore spot for Aratus who had seen this before. Every student who began to do so always found death at the hands of their greatest enemy. It became such a nuisance that she felt she had to confront Landon about it.

  “I will have no more of this nonsense!” she cried in the midst of one match. Landon was caught off guard.

  “Do not begrudge me for learning so quickly. It is only due to your great tutelage.”

  “I have seen this arrogance before. It will lead to your demise.”

  “Why does this upset you so? I am taking your training and adding to it.”

  “The movements are purposeful. They are designed so that in the heat of battle, you will not need to think. The hesitation between deciding your next move and acting upon it is just enough to get you killed. I have seen it more times than I can count. You task is too important to allow that. Gavin preys upon hesitation and weakness. He will no doubt see it and take full advantage.”

  Landon had not considered this. He was becoming so excellent at the Eagle that he thought the additions would help him. He had not understood the true importance of the movements until this moment. He understood the error of his ways and his heart filled with remorse.

  “I apologize, Master. I had thought the movements were simply a template from which to draw. I did not realize the importance of them. Forgive me,” he said eyes to the floor.

  “I sense your repentance is genuine. Forgive me as well.”

  “All is forgotten.”

  “Then we are done for the day. I must ponder our next course of action. You have advanced so far in such a short time I must decide how to truly assess your mastery. Tonight you shall practice movements one through thirty-five without addition.”

  They bowed to each other then Aratus retired to her study. In the past few months, this small oasis had become like a second home. Landon had never spent more time in any other place than the farm and that life was fading away. As he was embarking on this journey, he was becoming a different person. Already his physical appearance had changed drastically. Though he was quite fit when he started this endeavor, the remaining parts of him that were boyish had hardened into manhood. He had also grown almost a foot taller. He assumed it must have been something about this place. He always thought there was a divine blessing residing here, but was unsure. His growth was making him start to truly believe it.

  Landon moved into his first position and began the movements in sequence. He had practiced them so many times before they were already reflexive. Swiftly and fluidly he moved from movement one to movement two onto thirty-one and thirty-two. The last few movements had becomes extremely complex, and, though they held many similar steps to the early movements, he continued to get confused. He repeated movements thirty-three, thirty-four, and thirty-five three times each until he was able to complete them perfectly. Then, he retired for the night.

  Ascending the secret stairs to the inner cave, Landon could only dream of sleep. Each night it was his peace away from the work and the doom that lay before him. He had been given his own room a few nights into his stay on the second floor opposite from Aratus’. He relished the thought of his head settling into the soft mattress. As he entered the large chamber, he did not see Aratus waiting with supper. Usually, she would have their meals prepared at the end of the day. He thought this odd, but was not very hungry anyway. He decided to retire to his bedroom for the night. He headed for the stairs but before he was able to reach the second floor, Aratus appeared at the top of the stairs. Her hair was swept up into a large arrangement on her head keeping her face free. She wore an elegant, silver dress fitted to her body that ran down to her knees. Pointed directly at his face was the tip of her sword.

  “Either you or I will not leave this place alive. I have been waiting for this moment since you arrived. Gavin has been informed of your presence and is eagerly waiting the opportunity to fight you should I fail.”

  Landon stumbled down the stairs, but caught himself at the bottom. He couldn’t believe it. In an instant, everything he knew melted away. Aratus had betrayed him just as Gavin had. He knew he was right when he thought everyone held secrets. He shouldn’t have been so surprised. But he was. Even more than that, he felt rage. Rage from being betrayed again. It welled up in him forcing Landon into a crossroads. He had sworn never to kill again. He knew that all of this training prepared him for such a commitment, but until this moment he had felt as though there would be some other way. Now he understood. Sometimes to kill is a necessity. The bandit from so long ago had chosen his fate. Now, so had Aratus. He could not let her leave this room alive. If Gavin was on his way, he would use her
body as a sign that he was not to be trifled with.

  He sprinted up the stairs with his sword pointed at her body. The movements he had learned meant that this fight would be based on reflexes. The only decision he had to make was which movement to use. As he ascended the staircase, he chose number thirty-five. It was the last one he had practiced and the one he suspected Aratus would least likely expect.

  He finally stepped into the landing and thrust his sword towards her chest. She easily parried, but Landon was expecting this. His next move was to step to the right and prepare for an attack. Aratus seemed uncertain of her next move. She was obviously trying to figure out Landon’s choice of movement. But the hesitation was a costly one, for it allowed Landon the chance to move around her again and switch to a second movement. He knew Aratus had cautioned against improvisation, but he decided this would be the only time. He moved into an attack toward her back designated as zone four. She barely had time to block and move out of the way.

  Now she was on the defensive. Landon rarely had her in this position in his training and knew she would eventually twist her way out of it. He pressed her, moving her around the floor towards his room. She felt the pressure and moved a feint to deceive him. The move was all too recognizable and he did not fall into the trap. Suddenly, his instincts kicked in and he no longer thought; he only reacted.

  The fight continued as though he was a spectator. He moved through his motions as fluidly as he ever had. Clarity filled his mind, and it seemed as though he knew every move his former master was going to make. Once she tricked him and moved into a dangerous position above him by leaping to the rail and catapulting over his head, but Landon recovered with a block on his back.

  The fight ranged all over the room ultimately moving downstairs destroying the delicate seats around the fire. Landon wished he had his ring to absorb the flame to his advantage, though he did not need it. He had become a master of the blade equaling Aratus. With every move she made, he countered. When she moved to strike he parried and reposted only to be blocked. The stalemate raged for what seemed like hours. Finally, it came to a climax.

  Aratus had just slid under an attack from Landon deflecting his blade and attempting to repost under his body. Landon had suspected the move and kicked over the remaining couch to suspend her motion. Once she had blocked him, he knew he needed to be on her left side. He leapt slightly before her attack, anticipating it, and landed on the other side. Aratus was unaware of the sudden repositioning completely committed to her motion. He kicked the couch just as she sliced upward causing her sword to impale its fabric and pulling the couch on top of her. She was pinned. Landon had won the fight and wanted to end the conflict for good. He raised his sword to strike, when a voice from behind forced his hand.

  “Halt!” the voice commanded. “Stay your hand young one. Aratus has been beaten.”

  Landon wheeled around to see a more than familiar face. “Godfrey?” he inquired.

  “Indeed, it is I. I have been watching your studies for quite some time now. It was I who led Aratus to deceive you this night.”

  “Deceive me?” he asked his head obviously spinning. “Then she is not in league with Gavin?”

  “I’m afraid not. After your last lesson, we knew that you had advanced to the state of master. But we also knew that you would never be able to move beyond your training as long as you continued to think of her as master. You had to mentally separate yourself from her in order to be willing to defeat her or even kill her if needed. This is why I asked her to deceive you. You may help her up now.”

  Landon had almost forgotten that she lay at his feet. This new found discovery trumped everything that had come before. He bent down to release the seat and aid Aratus to her feet.

  “Well done. I am honored young master,” she said with a bow as she stood.

  “How did you know that I was ready?”

  “I knew you were ready when you easily acknowledged your error. Only a true master can receive correction as gracefully as you did. This was not about proving to me you were a master; it was about proving to you. Landon, you are ready.”

  Though Landon felt so in his heart, he could not move forward until Godfrey explained everything to him. “Why were you not able to accompany me on this journey?”

  “Come, Master Landon, we have much to discuss.”

  Aratus led him up the stairs to reconnect with his old friend. They embraced then entered into her private chamber to answer his every question.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The Revelations of Godfrey

  Inside Aratus’ chamber Godfrey had stalked over to a stool by the fire and set himself down uneasily onto it. He closed his eyes and let the warmth from the fire pour over him. He opened his eyes with a smile. “I never had the chance to say it, but happy birthday, my boy.”

  With a smile Landon said, “I do appreciate it. What kept you away?”

  “Let me start by saying that things are not as they seem in the Realm. The history you know is not all truth. Camsbury, for instance, was founded with a purpose much higher than Lord Malchus would have you believe.”

  “I have no doubts about that. He is a cruel man.”

  “He is more than you realize,” Godfrey said cautiously.

  “The only good he has ever done is to allow me to inherit the farm.”

  “Ah, but he is not as generous as he seems; he keeps his own agenda. I would not so easily have accepted this gift. But I suppose that is all too late now.”

  “Godfrey, what do you mean?”

  “Malchus has intentions far greater than being Sovereign. Those that own land in Camsbury, end up in his service.”

  I have followed the same path, Landon thought ruefully. “But serving him cannot really be as bad as you make out.”

  “It will be worse than you know. Long has he lived on this Earth. And long has he been Lord of Camsbury. In fact, he is the only Lord to have ruled over the city.”

  “Not so. There are myriad stories of the patriarchs. Why, I can name at least ten Lords of Camsbury off the top of my head: Lord Baldor, and his son Findal; then Lord Tybalt, that makes three; Lord Rowan –”

  “Those names are known, but the persons who embody them have never existed,” Godfrey interrupted. “They were perpetrated by Malchus to deceive.”

  “For what purpose would Lord Malchus want to create false Lords?”

  “We shall answer many questions tonight, but all in due time.”

  “Then answer me this. Why would he let me own the farm? He already controlled us. He sent Mordecai away on some mission.” Landon said.

  “He did so to test you.”

  “Test me, for what purpose?” Landon inquired.

  “He fears you.”

  “Fears me? I am a simple farmer’s son. What would he have to fear?” Godfrey paused. He was willing to reveal everything, but feared revealing too much too soon. He simply eyed Landon in response to his last question. “Then, at least tell me how you know so much.”

  “For I am also not as I appear to be, and I am privy to certain knowledge that most men are not. When last you met, Malchus told you a story I presume?”

  “Yes, some story about heaven and rebellions. I do not quite remember. His point was well taken, though. If I am to be feared, why capture me then let me leave? Surely he could have found Aldous another way.”

  “I suspect he was waiting on orders from his master.”

  “What purpose would the Sovereign have with me?”

  “You misunderstand. The realm of the master he serves is far greater than the bounds of this kingdom.”

  “What new riddle do you speak of?” Landon asked becoming agitated.

  “That is a complex question with an even more involved response. Landon, truth has a way of changing things. I think it is time you learn about everything, but the next few moments will change everything you have come to know. You will most likely hereafter spend your days watching behind you for what might be l
urking in the shadows. Can you live with this?” Landon looked about him. He took in the shape of the dark walls of the chamber that had become his home and watched as the light from the fire danced about them. He thought of the consequences. Life had already changed so much since he was given his ring. Landon believed that nothing else could shake his foundations as this past year had.

  “What more could Malchus do to me?” he said with a sigh.

  “Very well. Landon, there are forces for good in this world and forces for evil. Lord Malchus is part of the latter. He is a created being, as we all are, but his life spans a great many more decades than does a human’s. Some call his race angels, some call them demons, still others wizards, but whatever term you choose, he remains dangerous.

  “The story he told of the ancient, furious battle fought many ages ago between the forces of good and evil is true. Good prevailed but there was a cost. The evil was cast down from Heaven and has reigned here on Earth ever since. These Fallen Angels have lived here portraying themselves as humans waiting for their chance to exact revenge. They have weeded their way into many positions of paramount in this world.”

  “Malchus.”

  “Very good . . . As they were cast down, they had to leave behind their glorious armor. It was destroyed so that no evil could exist in Heaven. However, the head of this angelic order, Asriel, secretly had five stones saved from his breastplate and cast down to earth. He has been searching for them since. With them he plans to take his revenge and overthrow God on his throne. Knowing the evil in the hearts of the fallen, God sent an army of angels after them to keep watch over their deeds and to locate and destroy the five stones. Yours is the first to be found. What happened to the others is unknown, but until they are destroyed the angelic host must remain on the earth. Your father, Landon, was a part of this host of angels living on earth to complete the task appointed to him by God.” Landon head swarmed with wonder and disbelief.