“Who else are you taking with you, Jerrol?” Jennery asked. “No offence, Birlerion, but you are only one person.”
Jerrol laughed as Birlerion spluttered in protest. “The Lady’s guards are not to be underestimated. You’d be surprised how much damage one Sentinal can do. And if there were two, then I would suggest that the Lady meant business.”
Chapter 22
Stoneford Keep, Stoneford Watch
As Jerrol expected, Birlerion cornered him after the meeting and asked him to awake the Stoneford Sentinals. They walked down the winding track to the grove of sentinals, Birlerion quietly excited.
The tension flowed out of Jerrol as soon as he entered the grove, the tall sentinals rising above him. He rested a hand on the sentinal’s trunk and the leaves above him rustled in welcome. He leaned in to embrace the tree and closed his eyes. He breathed in the invigorating green scent, and as he did so, he became aware of a sense of expectancy.
“Well, wake them up then,” Taelia said from behind him.
Jerrol spun in shock. “What?”
“They’ve slept long enough. Birlerion is quite right.”
“Tali! What are you doing here?”
Taelia rolled her eyes. “Waiting for you to wake them up.”
“I don’t know how.” Jerrol turned back to the tree.
“Yes, you do. Use the Lady; she’s rooted as deep in you as she is Birlerion. She’ll help you. She’ll always help you, Jerrol, if you ask.”
Jerrol laid his palm on the trunk and closed his eyes, reaching for the Lady as the bark warmed under his hand. He opened his eyes and found himself standing opposite a giant of a man; he was well over six foot, black-haired, broad-chested. His high-collared jacket and matching trousers glistened in the silver-green light. He wore a broad sword strapped across his back, the hilt protruding above his head. “Captain, is it time?” The man’s silver eyes were bright.
“Time?” Jerrol repeated, hearing the echo of another man asking the same question.
“Time to wake,” the man replied with a grin. “We have waited long for this day. We are ready.”
Jerrol stared at him; deep down, he knew this man. He knew his name. “Chryllion, yes. I believe it is time.”
Chryllion instinctively looked up. “The Veil weakens. You need to seal it soon, or they will breach it.”
“I’m supposed to repair it?” Jerrol’s stomach dropped.
“You are the Captain.”
“I wasn’t aware I could. It all happened so long ago that we’ve lost all knowledge in myth and legends.”
“How long ago?” The tall Sentinal stilled, waiting.
Jerrol gulped. It didn’t get easier with practice. “Umm, the year is 4124.”
Chryllion gasped. “It can’t be.” His voice shook.
“I’m sorry, but it’s been three thousand years since the Lady destroyed the Bloodstone.”
“Still, the Veil needs patching.”
“I don’t know how.” Jerrol ran his hand through his hair.
Chryllion gave a brittle laugh. “Of course you do.”
“Could you go and patch it?” Jerrol asked hopefully, not sure he understood the Sentinal’s words.
“If you command me so, but I will be noticed. Saerille would be better; she has a lighter touch.”
Jerrol spun as a woman stepped up behind him. She was tall and slender with long brown hair tied back off her face in a knot at her neck. Her silver eyes, uncannily like Chryllion’s and, Jerrol suspected, those of all Sentinals, glared at Chryllion before flickering over Jerrol. “What are you volunteering me for? I never volunteer.” Her voice was light and teasing, but her eyes drilled into Jerrol’s. Her hand rested on the pommel of the sword that hung at her waist.
“We were discussing patching the Veil,” Jerrol said.
Immediately she tilted her head. Jerrol followed her gaze, but all he could see was a swirling mist above them. He looked back down and found her watching him. “Could you patch it?”
“It would only be temporary. The Captain would have to go and seal it.” A third voice joined the conversation.
“But could you patch it unnoticed?” Jerrol asked.
Her lips twitched. “Is that a wager I hear? What is my reward if I do?”
“If you’re lucky you live.” The man walking forward had dark red hair and an expressive face. He was grinning at Saerille, his cheeks all dimples and his silver eyes sparkling.
Saerille scowled over her shoulder. “And you can promise that, Tagerillion? I think that is the Captain’s promise to speak. Can you offer that? That I get to live?” She turned back to face Jerrol.
Jerrol froze as he watched Tagerillion; no wonder Birlerion had been excited. Birlerion’s brother did not look like him at all, though his resemblance to Versillion was uncanny. Jerrol stared at the Sentinals before him, tall and strong and very intense. He swallowed as he considered all three Sentinals. “I think that is not something I would offer you, Saerille.” He spoke slowly, catching the tightening around her eyes and the growing frowns on the men’s faces. “It would be something that I offered to all Sentinals; as your Captain, I look to you all, not just one.”
“Well said.” Tagerillion slapped him on the shoulder, a grin spreading over his face. “Well said!”
Jerrol relaxed. “Someone is waiting to see you.”
Tagerillion looked over his shoulder, and his face lit up. “Birler,” he gasped, and he rushed past Jerrol.
They shimmered into the grove where Tagerillion was hugging Birlerion.
“Let the lad breathe,” Chryllion said, his voice gruff as he watched their reunion.
Tagerillion released his brother. His face was wreathed in smiles. “This is my brother Birler, known as Birlerion.” His face darkened. “Birlerion, what happened? We couldn’t find you.”
“It was chaotic, Tage, you couldn’t have found anyone.” Birlerion rubbed a shaky hand over his face. “The Lady called,” he said.
“And she calls again now,” Jerrol said gently, watching the young Sentinal struggling to regain his composure. And he was young; having the older Sentinals beside him accentuated his youth, a fact disguised by his usual air of assurance and self-reliance. Jerrol glanced around the grove, but he couldn’t see Taelia anywhere.
“She left,” Birlerion said. “She said she couldn’t stay.”
Jerrol grimaced. “I have no idea how she’s doing it. She keeps turning up when I least expect it.”
“The Lady sees,” Birlerion replied with an enigmatic shrug.
“Doesn’t matter,” Jerrol said as he noticed the Sentinals watching them. Jerrol gave them a summary of the situation in Stoneford. “I know it’s a shock, but anything you can tell me about the Ascendants would be a help. It seems they have returned.”
“They can’t have, the Lady took them with her,” Tagerill said immediately.
“She was supposed to have taken you with her, but you’re still here, sort of,” Jerrol pointed out.
Tagerill grinned; he was irrepressible. “There’s no sort of about it, we are here. Who else is around?”
“Only you three and Birlerion. Though I know Versillion still sleeps in Greens,” Jerrol admitted, watching them. They seemed to be accepting the situation very easily. He wondered if they understood what it meant.
Tagerillion turned to Birlerion. “You’ve seen Versillion, is he alright? What about Marianille?”
“Versillion is still asleep, but at least we know where he is. Marianille is still missing; she isn’t in Vespers. There are no other Sentinals in Vespers.”
“And Serillion?”
“He still sleeps at the Grove in Greens.”
Tagerill released his breath. “Well, that is good news, at least.”
Chryllion spoke up, his face grave. “How can we help, Captain?”
Jerrol rubbed his face and stared at them, a pulse beating rapidly under his eye. “Saerille, I need you to patch the Veil as best as you can unt
il I can get back up there. Do not be seen and do not get caught.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“Chryllion, I need you to stay here and reinforce Lord Jason at Stoneford Keep. You will be responsible for maintaining the keep and the grove until Saerille returns. When you return, Saerille, you help Chryllion and Lord Jason as needed.”
Saerille grinned as Chryllion nodded assent and adjusted his broad sword.
“What about me?” Tagerillion waited expectantly, a grin on his face.
“You,” Jerrol said, relaxing, inordinately comfortable in his company, “will come with Birlerion and me. I need backup, and you are it.” He poked Tagerillion in the chest. “I have a price on my head, and I am fed up with assassins trying to collect it! I need to return to the King and report, and you are going to make sure I get there.”
Tagerillion immediately stood to attention and struck his chest, serious for the first time since he had appeared. “As you command, Captain.” Then he paused. “King?”
“King Benedict of Vespiri,” Jerrol said. He took stock of the Sentinals standing before him in their archaic uniforms, tall and mysterious, and if the legends were right, from a different time when gods walked the land. “Umm, I’m not sure how to tell you this, but the Lady is no longer here. She vanished when she sundered the Bloodstone, taking you, or so we thought, and the Ascendants with her.”
“That’s not possible.” Tagerillion took a step back.
“I’m afraid it is. This is the year 4124.”
Chryllion spoke up. “You said the Lady took us all with her?”
“That’s been the legend for over three thousand years. When the Lady destroyed the Bloodstone all her Sentinals disappeared, and trees like these,” he gestured at the graceful Sentinals, “appeared overnight across Remargaren.”
“You say the Lady is not here and yet you are her Captain,” Saerille said.
“Where is Guerlaire?” Chryllion asked suddenly.
Jerrol shrugged. “I am sorry, but I don’t know. The Lady said I needed to find the forgotten and I believe that is you. Your names have been lost in centuries of history.”
Tagerillion looked at him, his face pale. “Where are the others? You said there were other trees? How many are there?”
Jerrol considered for a moment. “Maybe ten or twelve in Vespiri.”
“Ten!” Tagerillion was aghast.
“How many should there be?” Jerrol wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
“There should be over a hundred,” Tagerillion said, looking horrified. His face paled even further. “Our families,” he whispered, the blood draining from his cheeks as he realised they would be long dead and buried as well. Forgotten much as they had been.
“I am so sorry,” Jerrol said, knowing it was not enough.
“It is not your fault.” Chryllion’s voice was deep and slow. “The Lady has called, we answer.”
“But, Chryllion...” Tagerillion screwed his face up in anguish.
Chryllion gripped his shoulder. “We serve the Lady, to protect her people. She has called. The Captain needs us.”
Tagerillion struggled for a moment, and then he bowed his head. “The Lady calls,” he said. When he raised his head, there was a sheen of tears in his eyes. “As you command, Captain,” he said, an audible tremor in his voice. Birlerion wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
Jerrol took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. “To work then. Let me introduce you to Lord Jason of Stoneford Watch.”
“He’s a good man, visits often.” Chryllion’s deep voice was soothing.
“Ah, but he hasn’t met you yet.” Jerrol couldn’t wait to see Jason’s face as he led them down the road towards the keep. The Sentinals kept shoving each other as they pointed out new landmarks and changes in the surroundings. Birlerion and Tagerillion continued a low-voiced conversation, Birlerion no doubt explaining all that he knew. Jerrol led the way through the keep to Jason’s office. Fortunately, the sentries recognised Jerrol and waved them through.
“It is much changed.” Chryllion spoke from behind Jerrol.
“Even inside? I thought this was all still the original building.” Jerrol knocked on Jason’s door.
“No, I don’t recognise any of this,” said Chryllion as he ducked his head and followed Jerrol through the door and into the study. Jason was seated behind his desk, talking with Jennery and Alyssa.
“Lord Jason,” Jerrol began, startling Jason with his formality until he saw the three people standing behind Jerrol. “May I present Chryllion, Saerille and Tagerillion, lately the Stoneford Sentinals. Saerille, Chryllion and Tagerillion, may I present Lord Jason of Stoneford, Lady Alyssa of Greenswatch and Lieutenant Jennery of the Lady’s Guard.” Jerrol stood back and observed their faces. He couldn’t help smiling broadly at Jason’s bemused expression. Jason glanced from the Sentinals to Jerrol.
“You can’t just leave that hanging out there,” Jason rapped, glaring at Jerrol. “Explain!”
“My Lord Guardian,” Chryllion spoke, “it is an honour to meet you finally. My colleagues and I have enjoyed your visits. We look forward to working with you to rid Stoneford of this Ascendant curse.”
Jason gasped. “You woke the Sentinals?”
“These are the original Sentinal guards, confined to their Sentinal trees until the Captain returned.” A smile flitted over Jerrol’s face as Jason struggled with his words. Alyssa and Jennery exchanged amused glances.
Jerrol poured some wine. “Here.” He handed one to Jason and, offering the Sentinals a glass, he took a gulp himself. “Sit, and we’ll explain.”
Jason sat and numbly drank his wine.
“Remember when I told you about the fire at the Grove in Greenswatch? And the loss of the Guardian.”
“You haven’t told me about any fire at the Grove,” Jason replied.
“I must have done,” Jerrol said, trying to remember.
“If you’d stop flitting around the country for five minutes, you might remember to tell me what you’ve been up to, but...” Jason spread his hands.
Jerrol launched into a recap of events at the Grove and Deepwater.
Chryllion’s low voice interrupted him. “You mean to say we’ve lost two Watch Guardians? Greenswatch and Deepwater?”
Tagerillion stirred his face pale. “Greens has lost its Guardian?”
“Yes, the Greenswatch Guardianship currently resides in Lady Alyssa, but I fear the other is lost. Both the heirs have strayed from the Lady’s path.”
“Your name is Tagerillion? Tagerill?” Alyssa said hesitantly, her diminutive form dwarfed by the Sentinals. “Your father was Lord Warren Descelles of Greens, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, he was the first lord, appointed when the Lady created the Watches.”
Alyssa held out her hand. “Then we are cousins, many times removed, but family all the same.”
Tagerillion’s face lit up, and he engulfed her in a hug, the thrill of the Guardianship flowing between them.
Saerille spoke over them, concern in her voice. “If what you say is true, I had better leave straight away. I need to see what is possible. It may be, Captain, that you will have repair the Veil after all.”
“We’ll worry about that when we have to. What do you need?” Jerrol hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He had no idea where to start.
“A horse and a map. I have all else,” Saerille said, ready to leave.
Jason gave the orders and glanced at the excited Alyssa and Tagerillion. Tagerillion dragged Birlerion forward, and Jason shook his head before turning back to Jerrol. “What are you talking about? What’s this about a Veil? When were you going to tell me about all this?” he said, his voice rising with exasperation.
“I’m sorry, Jason, I thought I had. Anyway, Ari will prove it one way or the other.” Jerrol muttered a command, and there was a ripple in the air as the Arifel popped into view.
Chryllion’s face lightened. “An Arifel, what a splendid fellow.”
&
nbsp; “This is Ari. Ari, I’d like to introduce Lord Jason, Guardian of Stoneford, and his Sentinals Chryllion, Saerille and Tagerillion.”
Jason launched himself out of his seat. “What?” As Ari joyfully fluttered above their heads, a second Arifel appeared, and Lin chittered as she landed on Birlerion’s shoulder. Alyssa reached out to stroke her white chest.
“He can see them. He’s a Guardian!” Tagerillion said with a smirk, regaining some of his former bounce as he interrupted his discussion with Alyssa.
Jerrol called the excited Arifel down to him, attempting to calm him down. “This is an Arifel, and only Guardians can see him, so,” Jerrol shrugged, “you must be a Guardian. Now if I have it right, Ari and Lin can speak to us, and we can use them to pass messages back and forth?”
“Indeed,” Chryllion rumbled, “when they pay attention, they are a very efficient method of communication, but they tend to have short attention spans.” He glared critically at Ari, who cheeped happily in response.
“But you can all call them when needed, can’t you?”
“Oh yes, they will respond eventually,” Birlerion said as he stroked Lin. The Arifel perched on his hand, preening under all the attention, meeping happily in the presence of so many Guardians.
“Birlerion always had more luck than the rest of us, they seem to like him,” Tagerill said, watching his brother.
“Right then, Saerille, make sure you report on what you find before you take any action. We do not want the Ascendants to discover you are abroad until we are ready. That is one advantage we can’t afford to lose,” Jerrol ordered.
Saerille nodded. “Yessir, I understand. I will be careful.”
“No heroics, Saerille. In and out unseen, remember?” Chryllion said.
“Yes pops,” she said, with a vivid smile at the older Sentinal. She saluted Jerrol and left the room on the heels of a page who had returned to say her horse was ready.
“Jerrol,” Jason held his head in his hands, “what do you mean they are my Sentinals?”
Sentinals Awaken: Book One of the Sentinals Series Page 19