by Victor Kloss
Ben wasn't sure how long the five of them stood there, admiring the shield, but eventually he tore his eyes away and inspected the rest of the room, looking for signs of trouble. So far, so good. Nevertheless, he kept his spellshooter primed and ready as he turned back to the cabinet.
“How do we get the thing out?” he asked.
There appeared to be no handle or any method of opening the glass.
“Look below,” Krobeg said, pointing.
Ben had been so fixated on the shield, he had missed the lock combination just below the cabinet. It was a series of small blocks that could be rotated to produce any given number. There were eight of them.
Joshua frowned the moment he spotted the numbers, and the delight on his face was immediately replaced with something approaching concern.
“Give me some space, please. I need to concentrate,” he said.
They backed up, and let Joshua focus. The first four digits he seemed sure about, for he keyed in three-two-six-one immediately. But the last four had him biting his lower lip and muttering to himself. They watched him anxiously as he tried combination after combination, but nothing happened.
Finally, he took a step back, his face etched in frustration. “My grandfather only gave me four digits, not eight. How am I supposed to unlock the thing?”
“Have you tried entering the same digits twice?” Abigail asked.
“Of course,” Joshua said. “It was the first thing I did. Then I tried it backwards, and in all sorts of different orders. I've also tried other numbers significant to our family. Nothing works.”
Krobeg walked up to the glass and put a hand on it. “It doesn't seem that strong. We could try to smash it.”
“You can try,” Dagmar said dryly. “I would be very surprised if it did you any good.”
Krobeg shrugged. “Worth a shot.”
He hefted his axe, gave it a mighty swing and crashed the blade directly into the thin-looking glass. The axe rebounded with such force it flew out of Krobeg's hands, and Ben ducked as it sailed over his head and across the room.
“What a surprise,” Dagmar said, crossing her arms. “We need to come up with those final four digits. Does anyone else have any suggestions?”
“Let me try again,” Joshua insisted. “It's got to have something to do with Lord Samuel.”
“His birth date?” Ben suggested.
“Tried it.”
“The date he joined the Institute? The date he became director?”
“Tried both of them,” Joshua said, shaking his head. “No, it's something else. Something I must know, but haven't thought of.”
As Joshua continued to rattle off guesses, Ben started to become a little concerned that too many wrong combinations might somehow lock them out, or worse, trigger some sort of reaction. But Joshua was so intent on guessing the code, Ben thought it best not to distract him. Instead, he thought upon Dagmar's words. Does anyone else have any suggestions? He knew of several four-digit combinations, but nothing that had anything to do with Lord Samuel's family or the shield. Indeed, the only combination that had anything to do with Elizabeth's Armour was his own four digits he had obtained from his dad, which turned out to be the address, in reverse order, of Elizabeth's museum. But those were surely the last numbers that might fit. After all, Michael Greenwood and Lord Samuel were practically enemies – the thought that they would share numbers for the code for the shield was almost laughable.
Except, the more Ben thought about it, the less he felt like laughing. Was it too crazy to think that they might have shared the eight numbers, and that only the Guardian of the Shield working with the Guardian of the Sword could unlock the cabinet? Certainly, all the other Guardians had already been used. The more Ben thought about it, the more excited he became.
“Try two-three-seven-one,” Ben said.
Joshua turned, his face flushed with pure frustration. “What's that? I don't recognise that combination.”
“A number,” Ben said. He certainly didn't want to say where he got it from. “Just try it.”
For a moment, Ben thought Joshua was going to refuse. But then he saw him arrange the numbers accordingly.
“Nothing,” Joshua said. “Hardly surprising. Please don't interrupt me again; I've thought of some other possibilities.”
His hand was just about to re-arrange them when there was a loud click. Joshua jumped, and almost fell over, his head jerking up with wide-eyed astonishment at the glass protecting the shield.
The glass faded away, revealing the shield in all its glory.
Joshua turned back to Ben in astonishment. “What were those numbers?”
When Ben told him, he expected disbelief or at least denial from Joshua. Instead, he received a distant look that even contained a hint of a smile.
“They must have resolved their difficulties,” Joshua said, almost to himself. “It's the only way. Incredible.”
Joshua reached forwards with the sort of reverence that Ben could fully understand, and gently eased the shield from the wall. Ben and the others surrounded Joshua as he turned the shield over, examining every inch of the magnificent piece of armour.
“It's stunning,” Joshua said softly.
He slipped his arm under the straps, and put the shield on. He gave an involuntary gasp, and his mouth stayed open for a good few seconds, before he got it under control.
“The magic,” he said. “I can feel it. It is incredible.”
“Yeah, they all have that,” Krobeg said with a rueful look.
“We did it,” Abigail said with a delighted smile. “Can we go now? I would really like to see the sky again. It feels like we've been in this house forever.”
“In a moment,” Dagmar said. She turned to Ben. “The sword?”
Ben felt his empty scabbard. “I don't understand it. The riddle said, 'Find me last. I am not hidden’ But if we can't find the thing, then it’s obviously hidden.”
“We must be missing something,” Joshua said. His eyes had finally returned to something approaching normal size, though he kept the shield strapped to his arm. “We have all the pieces now, so we are certainly trying to find the sword last. What are we not doing?”
Ben rubbed a hand through his hair, forcing back a growing desperation. He had thought – hoped – that maybe the sword would somehow materialise within the scabbard the moment the shield was found, but that hadn't happened. What else could he do? He had no other clues. Now he cursed himself for not getting more exact information from his dad while he had the chance. But the way his dad had addressed the issue led him to believe that finding the sword would simply be a matter of course, once they had the other pieces.
Having the four Guardians staring at him expectantly was both off-putting and compounded his desperation and feeling of failure. He clenched his fist. There had to be a solution. He must be missing something.
Ben scanned the room and the double doors that he had spotted when he first entered caught his eye. A small flicker of hope welled up inside him, and he walked over to them. They were made of stone and, just like the glass, had no obvious handle or way to open them.
Ben stepped back, hands on hips. “This could be something.”
“I didn't even see these,” Joshua said with sudden optimism. “I was so focused on the shield. How do we open them?”
“There must be a handle or a knob somewhere,” Krobeg said. “These look dwarf-made, so we might be searching for a while.”
Even searching methodically, with five sets of eyes, it took them a good twenty minutes before Abigail gave a delighted shout.
“I've found something!” she said, waving her hand and bouncing up and down.
Ben had to get on his knees to see the small button that Abigail had found at the bottom right edge of the door. It was difficult to see even when staring right at it, but Ben could just about make out the button's outline, no more than an inch in diameter.
“Good job, Abigail.
” He looked up at the others, trying and failing to hold back a mounting excitement. “Let's see what this does, shall we?”
Ben pressed the button.
There was no click or any indication that a mechanism had been set in motion. Ben tried again, and a third time. Nothing. He frowned. Was there more than one button to press, perhaps?
Ben was searching so diligently for a second button that it took him a moment before he saw the white mist that was beginning to accumulate to his right, just within his peripheral vision.
“Oh my,” Abigail said, her face going pale as she stared towards the mist, tapping Ben on the shoulder with increasing urgency.
Ben turned and quickly stood up. The mist started to solidify, and a female, ethereal figure began to form. She had auburn hair and a strong nose. Her posture and dress oozed regality. Her long-fingered hands rested on the hilt of a magnificent sword.
Ben stared into the dark brown eyes of Queen Elizabeth and saw an intelligence and determination that took his breath away.
“Directors,” she said. Her voice was soft, but spoke with an intention even Dagmar would struggle to match. “The time has come. The power of Suktar draws close, and must be stopped.” She paused, and once more inspected them. “You have united my armour, bar the sword, which I myself watch over. Are you ready, Michael Greenwood, to claim the sword?”
Ben managed a nod. He wasn't sure if the queen was seeing them or the original directors, and he certainly wasn't going to argue the point.
“I'm ready, Your Majesty,” he said.
“Very well,” Queen Elizabeth said.
To Ben's surprise, she turned to Joshua. “Lord Samuel, are you ready to assume your role as protector to the sword-bearer?”
Joshua responded with admirable dignity. “I am, Your Majesty.”
Queen Elizabeth nodded. “Good. Your commitment to the cause will be sorely tested during your struggle, especially as I know the regard in which you hold Michael Greenwood. However, it is because of this, not in spite of it, that I chose you to bear the shield and take this responsibility. Now, let us see if you can pass the first test.”
Elizabeth raised a hand and the double doors slowly opened, sliding away from each other. Ben watched as a narrow corridor was revealed beyond. At the end of the corridor was a small room with a single pedestal. Upon that pedestal, floating upright, seemingly held in place by thin air, was Elizabeth's Sword.
Ben forgot to breathe. His heart threatened to explode from his chest and he was vaguely aware that there was pooling in his mouth. It must have been over fifty paces away, but even from a distance the sword shone and seemed to light up the small room by itself.
“The sword is protected by spells that were given to me by the High Council. They cannot be stopped, except by my shield. Your test, Lord Samuel, is to put your own life at risk to protect Michael's, so he can retrieve the sword. Are you prepared to do this?”
Ben turned to Joshua, who had gone a slightly sickly colour, but, to his utmost credit, he nodded immediately.
“So be it,” Queen Elizabeth said. She turned to Ben, who once again felt the full force of her gaze. Ben had time to wonder just how she must have been in real life.
“Michael Greenwood, I give you my permission to retrieve my sword.”
— Chapter Thirty-Nine —
The Final Test
The urge to rush over and grab the sword was extremely tempting, but Ben knew that would be suicide. He turned to Joshua, who was looking down the passage, as if trying to guess what lay in store.
“How do you want to do this?” Ben asked.
“I'll lead,” Joshua said. “You follow right behind me.”
Joshua extended his shield in front of him. Ben noted his hands were shaking a little, and he didn't blame him. Ben recalled Queen Elizabeth's words.The sword is protected by spells that were given to me by the High Council. Who or what was the High Council? They sounded impressive – Ben made a mental note to ask Charlie once they were out.
The moment they stepped into the corridor, the double doors slid shut behind them. Joshua started shuffling forwards slowly, eyes darting this way and that, looking for the spells they knew they were going to trigger. Ben followed right behind, eyes on the sword ahead, using Joshua as his human shield.
Ben estimated fifty feet until they reached the cubicle containing the sword. Joshua continued to inch forwards. Forty feet. Ben glanced at the walls – could the attacks come from there? Would Joshua have the necessary reflexes to block them if they did?
The first spell materialised from the cubicle. It was barely a speck of light, but its brightness was such that it stung Ben's eyes. The speck grew to the size of a pea, and Ben had to squint. The spell radiated a power that almost knocked Ben from his feet.
“Here it comes!” Ben said.
Joshua raised his shield, just as the spell struck. It moved like a bullet, leaving a trail of silver dust as it rocketed towards Joshua. The spell hit the centre of the shield and exploded. Joshua fell backwards and knocked Ben over, landing on top of him.
Joshua scrambled to his feet, his face scrunched with pain. His whole body was shaking. Ben was about to ask Joshua if he was okay, when another speck of light formed.
This time they braced themselves, and Joshua took the impact of the spell without falling. But his groan was more pronounced than before. Nevertheless, he took the impact, and moved forwards – or tried to. Joshua was already struggling to put one foot in front of the other.
The shield might take the majority of the impact, but clearly it was having some other effect on Joshua. He managed just two stumbling pigeon steps before the next spell smashed into the shield, throwing him back into Ben, who caught and held on to him.
“Can't move,” Joshua said between gritted teeth. “Body shaking too much.”
But despite that, he continued to shuffle forwards, each step ripping a cry of pain from his lips. Ben wanted desperately to help – he hadn't been hit, and felt perfectly fresh. There had to be something he could do, even if it wasn't taking the brunt of the spells. An idea came to him.
“I’ve got you,” Ben said. He wrapped his arms underneath Joshua's and helped prop him up. Joshua was shaking so violently it was as if he had hypothermia.
Together they inched forwards.
Twenty feet.
“Almost there, Josh!” Ben said. Ben wasn't sure how Joshua was still holding the shield, but it remained propped out in front of him, remarkably still compared to the rest of his body.
Ten feet.
To Ben's horror, another white speck started to materialise when they were just a few paces from the cubicle. Ben cried out with frustration. He barely had time to prepare himself before the white flash of light crashed into Joshua. The impact sent both of them sprawling, and Joshua lost his grip on the shield.
Ben blinked rapidly, trying to regain his eyesight after the blinding flash. It took him a moment to realise he was lying face down. He groaned, and scrambled to his feet.
Joshua was still lying down, shaking violently.
Ben knew he had just seconds to act. If another spell went off, they were curtains. He grabbed the shield, placed it in Joshua's outstretched arm, and then physically dragged him towards the cubicle, praying another spell wouldn't materialise.
They made it, and Ben collapsed alongside Joshua, breathing raggedly. In the back of his mind, he wondered if the spells might still ignite; if so, they were done for. Joshua wasn't fit to block an ant, let alone another one of those monstrously powerful spells.
“Did we make it?” Joshua asked. He was still lying on his back, but his shaking was starting to recede just a fraction.
“We did,” Ben said. “You were great. Magnificent even.”
Joshua managed to ease himself up into a sitting position, leaning against the wall. “I'll tell you what's magnificent –that.”
Joshua nodded, and Ben turned towards th
e pedestal in the middle of the room.
Ben stood up slowly, his eyes locked on Elizabeth's Sword, which hovered just above a red cushion. Like the other pieces of Elizabeth's Armour, it was a work of beauty, but to Ben this one seemed even more so. The blade was perfect, and in the centre of the hilt was a blue gemstone that seemed to glow. It was only a short sword, but Ben could feel the magic emanating from it.
This was it, he realised. Ben licked his lips and slowly reached both hands towards the hilt. Slowly, almost delicately, he attempted to lift the sword away from its position.
Ben gasped with shock the moment his hands made contact, and he very almost dropped the sword on the floor. Raw energy flowed through his body, his perceptions heightened to a fever pitch – not just the regular perceptions, but other ones he was not normally aware of, such as time, orientation, balance, instinct, and dozens of others.
There was too much power; Ben couldn't control it. His heart started accelerating to dangerous levels, and the world began to blink, as he became light-headed. He stumbled backwards, his head spinning. He needed to let go of the sword before it did lasting damage, and he needed to do it now.
The scabbard.
The thought came to him as he glanced down, looking for a place to put the sword. With trembling movements, Ben managed to sheathe the sword in the scabbard. The moment he let go, the magic ceased to channel through him and, incredibly, the scabbard housed the sword and contained the magic within. Ben let out an audible sigh of relief.
“Are you okay?” Joshua asked.
Ben hadn't realised, but Joshua had got to his feet, and was looking at him with concern.
“Yeah,” Ben said, wiping his brow. “You?”
Joshua nodded. “I am now.”
The two of them looked at each other, and there was an awkward silence. Ben was a mixture of emotions. He seemed to recall that he strongly disliked Joshua, but he was having trouble remembering why.
“We did it,” Ben said with a sudden smile.
To Ben's surprise, Joshua smiled back and extended his hand, which Ben shook.
“We did it,” Joshua agreed. “Now the hard work begins. We need to take out Suktar.”