The Guardians: Book One of the Restoration Series (20 page)

Flare wanted to continue the discussion on wizardry, but she did not look receptive.

“Well,
Flare
, that’s the background on the magic disciplines. It’s late, and I’m still tired after last night, so if you don’t mind, let’s stop here. We can start again tomorrow night.” Cassandra stood up and moved toward the bedroom. She stopped, turning around, “Have you thought any more of the reward I offered you?”

She placed a hand on her chest as she spoke, and Flare remembered her promise of the delights she could show him. “Uh, Yes, I have.”
A smile blooming on his face.

Cassandra walked over and placed her hand on his right cheek, she seemed to purr as she spoke, “Well, it's too bad you chose learning about magic to be your reward. Isn't it?” She turned and sauntered to her bedroom.

He watched her strut across the room and
close
the door behind her. 'Damn! I should have demanded that she teach me about magic and sleep with me.'

Over the next several months, Cassandra continued to teach Flare about magic. He showed a real aptitude for the art, and absorbed everything she taught him.

At first, Cassandra was amazed by how fast and easy he learned magic, but she soon got used to it. The instruction she was giving sped up as she became more comfortable with his abilities. Although Cassandra taught Flare the basics, she refused to let him cast a spell. That was a line that she still absolutely refused to cross.

At the same time that Cassandra was instructing Flare, his squad continued to drill with the other squads in mock battles. Their cohesion, both as a squad and as a regiment, continued to improve. He was impressed with the process made by the squad, but also worried what would happen after graduation.

With Flare's help, Cassandra quickly improved her high elven. Unfortunately, however, time was beginning to run out, as his guardian training was nearing completion. Soon, he began spending all his free time with Cassandra, trying to remove the guarding spells from the tome of magic. The inhabitants of the castle, and the other members of his squad, wrote off the numerous visits to Cassandra as young love. Neither of them minded, as the miss-conception gave them the time, and privacy, to continue working.

He was off duty the night before graduation, but instead of celebrating with his fellow guardians, he was with Cassandra.

“Cassandra, are you sure you want to try this again? We’ve barely survived the first three attempts.”

Cassandra was busy preparing the ingredients of the spell, and didn’t even slow down, “Flare. This could be our last chance. After you graduate tomorrow, you could be reassigned. We must succeed tonight. I will cast the spell, but I want you near, in case I make a mistake.” She paused, stepping closer. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and held his gaze with her own. “Are you ready?”

Flare took a deep breath before answering, “Sure.” Under his breath he mumbled, “With my luck, we’ll die in the attempt, right before graduation.” His hands were slightly clammy, an affect that Cassandra always had on him.

He stood behind her, as she began the spell process. The steps were performed in the same sequence as they had been done previously, but Cassandra pronunciation of the elven language was much smoother than ever before.

As before, the flame emerged from the bowl, and ran across the ceiling. The white sand was dumped on the floor, with Cassandra and Flare both tracing the runes in the sand.

For several hours, he assisted with the spell, but he began to get worried. With each step, Cassandra performed slower and slower. It was almost as if she was completely out of energy, and was having trouble remembering the steps.

Several times he had to step in and help her complete a step, and each time the step was completed just before time ran out.

Finally, the last step was complete, and all that was left was for Cassandra to speak the ancient phrase. He waited expectantly for her to speak, but she didn’t. She just stood there, with a dazed and confused look on her face.

“Cassandra, speak the words!
Hurry!”
There was a feeling of a building pressure. The magic was building up like it had the first night.

Cassandra raised her right hand to her temple, and slowly stumbled, “What? What are you talking about? What words?”

Each of the three previous spell attempts, Cassandra had spoken the words right on time.
“Cassandra!
What’s the matter? Hurry and speak the words!”

“What? ... I’m not quite....”

Knowing that something had gone wrong, Flare rose and spoke in a loud voice, “Alundia sezkial desnarrath. Alul dã lateth!
Paloze en-tafille al gedst.
Quintill fa la-cantorri.
Yud xil akto!”

The magical energy, that had been building, suddenly disappeared. The magic book, which was sitting on the desk, suddenly
glowed
a brilliant white, getting brighter and brighter, and then finally going dim.

Flare turned to Cassandra, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Cassandra, are you all right? What happened?”

“I don’t know. I felt dizzy, and I couldn’t remember the last step of the spell.” She looked confused, and then smiled. “Flare, we did it. The guarding spells have been removed. The book is mine.”

Grinning and laughing, she embraced him in a huge bear hug. Flare was surprised when she kissed him. He was even more surprised when the kiss lingered.

“Cassandra, the graduation ceremony is in a few hours.”

Cassandra wrapped her arm around Flare’s waist, and pulled him up against her. “I’ll be sure to wake you tomorrow in plenty of time.” She kissed him again passionately, “I’ve already taught you magic, now I have something else I would like to teach you.”

Leading Flare by the hand, Cassandra paused only long enough to pick up the magic book, before entering the bedroom.

He followed her through the door.
The excitement coursing through his body, followed closely by a bothersome anxiety.

The next day at graduation Flare was exhausted, but he wouldn’t have foregone the experience for anything.

The squads were joined into regiments, and then into divisions, where they patiently stood waiting for the various generals and lords who were reviewing them. The reviewing process lasted the whole day, and Flare only managed to stand at perfect attention while he was being reviewed.

In the middle of the inspection field, a large wooden platform had been built, with stairs leading up to it.

The generals and lords each reviewed each student, making sure that their appearance was satisfactory. Flare was immensely relieved that Duke Angaria was not part of the reviewing team. It would not have surprised him if the man had shown up just to insult him.

If the student’s appearance was satisfactory, then each reviewer asked a simple question, and passed on. The questions were simple, and the soldiers had no problem answering them.

After the graduation review, King Darion climbed the stairs to the platform, and addressed the soldiers.

“I have the great honor of proclaiming you the newest members of the guardians.”

A great cheer arose from the soldiers at the king’s words.

Flare himself cheered just as loudly as the rest. It felt as if a huge weight had been flung from his shoulders.

King Darion stood on the platform, listening to the cheering and smiling. He allowed the cheering to continue for several minutes, before he raised his arms for silence.

The cheering quieted immediately. “You have done well, and your efforts have made us proud. Your two years of training are complete. You are the essence of what guardians are supposed to be. But answer me this. Would you give your lives in defense of Telur?”

As one, the soldiers screamed, “Yes!”

The smile faded from the face of King Darion, and he became sterner. “Unfortunately, you may get your chance.”

King Darion’s words had a dampening effect on the mood of the soldiers.

“I am going to have to ask you to mature faster than you planned. We have discovered that the forces of Dalar and Ontaria are gathering to the east and south of us. I have ordered that all available soldiers be sent to our borders with these two areas. Your commanders will give you your orders. Good luck to you all. I have the utmost faith that each of you will strive to uphold both the reputation of the guardians, and the reputation of Telur, and that you fight and die if necessary. Do us proud.” The king paused a moment, and then climbed down from the platform.

Flare’s heart skipped several beats. The chance to earn glory would come sooner than he had expected, and he wasn’t sure if that was good or not.

The weight that had been removed from his shoulders had returned, although the burden was not near what it had been.

Chapter 9

The day after graduation, Flare was summoned by Sergeant Danlion. He already knew the troops were being sent eastward and he relished the idea of helping to defend the eastern territories.

He found Sergeant Danlion having a discussion with several other sergeants and military officers. They were standing near the edge of the field upon which the graduation ceremonies had been held.

Flare stood to the side and waited patiently for Sergeant Danlion. It took several moments before the sergeant noticed him, but he quickly broke free of the other men and approached.

Sergeant Danlion stopped in front of him, and ignoring Flare’s salute, slapped him on the shoulder. “You're early Flare, but that’s good. Promptness is an excellent attribute for a soldier.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I sent for you, to give you your orders.” Sergeant Danlion said.

“Yes Sir!”

“Come, Flare. Walk with me.”

They walked for several moments in silence, until they reached the shade of several large pine trees.

“Flare, I suppose you know that the other squads in your regiment have already been ordered to the east, to help guard our borders with Ontaria.”

“Yes, sir.
When do we leave?”

The sergeant pursed his lips “Well. Your squad leaves the day after tomorrow. But, your squad will not be going with the regiment eastward. The squad is being sent to the west.”

The words hit Flare like a blow.
“The west!?
But why?
There’s nothing to the west. Why are we being sent there?” His spirits plunged at the sergeant's words.

In his surprise, he had interrupted Sergeant Danlion; however the sergeant paid it no mind. “Flare, you are to take your squad to Fort Mul-Dune. A large number of the soldiers have been withdrawn to supplement our forces to the east, and your squad will help reinforce the fort.”

“Sir.
What good are thirteen more soldiers?” In his surprise and anger, Flare was almost being argumentative, not a good thing to do with a superior officer.

“It’s not just thirteen; you will be leading four hundred and fifty soldiers. They’re all new recruits in the regular army, but they should be sufficient to improve the level of preparedness of the fort. Do you understand the importance of this assignment?” He paused, “Fort Mul-Dune separates the western frontiers from the wilds of Cail dar’mock. Without the protection of the fort, the savages, goblins, and other monsters would have unrestricted access to our western farms and villages. The fort must maintain an acceptable state of readiness”

Flare sighed deeply, “Yes, sir.”

Sergeant Danlion placed a hand on his shoulder, “Flare, a soldier’s job is to follow orders. Orders are not always explained, and the reasons behind them are seldom what they appear. Honor your oath, and follow these orders to the best of your ability.”

Flare nodded slowly, “Sir, it’s not a requirement to like orders, just to follow them.”

“Good. Your orders are to be at
Fort
Mul-Dune
, and turn over command of the men in two fortnight’s time. That’s not much time, so you had better get your men assembled.” He smiled, “Oh, and by the way, you have been promoted to Sergeant.” He held out his hand, “Congratulations. Sergeant Flaranthlas.”

Flare was quiet at dinner. Was there a deeper reason that he was being sent westward? He was sure that it was because of him that the squad had been ordered to the west.

“Flare. What's the matter?” Kara asked. “You haven't spoken at all tonight.”

He looked up from his plate. The other guardians had all stopped speaking and were watching him. It figured that Kara would notice first. “We are not going eastward with the regiment. We have been ordered to the west, to Fort Mul-Dune.”

He wasn't sure what reaction to expect from the other guardians, but the reaction he got was as varied as the soldiers themselves.