The Guardians: Book One of the Restoration Series (21 page)

Philip leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Who ordered that, and for what reason?” Philip had responded well since losing his fight to Flare. He was becoming trustworthy, although he still got indignant when things didn't go his way. Flare attributed his arrogance to being high born, although he had heard others refer to it as being spoiled.

 
“General Vergillion gave the orders. Apparently, the fort has been stripped of solders.” He watched their faces. Atock seemed confused, perhaps his lack of familiarity with the geography of the western mountains. Most of the fighters seemed unhappy, although Trestus looked somewhat relieved. Kara also looked relieved, and he could guess why. If their squad didn't have to fight, then she wouldn't have to tend any wounds.

“How many of us will be going?” Aaron asked, frowning.

Flare sighed, “This squad will go and we will be in charge of four hundred and fifty new army recruits.

Callin wore a frown, too. “They can't do this. They can't send away from the battle.” His words were forceful and commanding.

Kara paused in the middle of lifting a glass, to answer him, “Callin, perhaps it's a good thing we're going west. It you don't fight,
then
you won't die.”

“I don't want to die,” Callin answered angrily, “I want to join the fight.”

Several of the other guardians opened their mouths to speak, but Flare cut them off. “Enough!” He said, rising, “Our orders came from General Vergillion, and that's all you need to know. We leave the day after tomorrow and I need each of you to help me. We'll be in charge of four hundred and fifty green soldiers, and I need you to help keep them in line. I can't afford for them to see you arguing or sulking for the next month.” He met their gazes and held it until they looked away. “Do you understand?”

They murmured they assent, and even Callin looked abashed. Flare sat back down, “Tomorrow is the last day you have to visit any friends or family.”

Atock cleared his throat, “Flare, I'm not familiar with this fort that we are being sent to. Can you explain?”

Flare drank a little water before answering. “The Az’ha’rill mountains are the western border of Telur. On the other side of those mountains are uncivilized forest and wilds that are the home to savage human tribes, goblins, and other nasty things. The mountains effectively act as a shield to protect the west. There are some small gaps in the mountains, but they are dangerous to use and only a small number of people can use them at one time. The only gap large enough for a large group to travel through is the Fang gap, which just happens to be where
Fort
Mul-Dune
is located.”

“Why don't they just go around the mountains, to the north or south?” Atock asked.

It was Enton that answered, “To the north, there are deep ravines and dangerous bogs. The south is guarded by the dwarves. There is a dwarven stronghold at the southern tip of the mountains and they allow nothing to pass through their territory. The goblins especially have learned to avoid them.”

Atock considered, “And no humans travel these forests on the other side of the mountains?”

“Some do; mostly trappers and hunters.
Although, some men go there to track the goblins.”
Enton said, and several guardians raised their eyes, and he quickly added, “There is a large bounty on the goblins. If you are any good, then you can make a lot of money quickly.”

After several moments of quiet, Flare asked, “Are there any other questions?” He paused and waited, but hearing nothing, he said, “Get some sleep. Tomorrow take care of anything that you need to, because we leave the morning after tomorrow.”

Two days later, Flare assumed command of the soldiers on the northwest side of the city. The men were young, barely old enough to be called men, but they looked fit enough to guard the western pass.

Sergeant Danlion was already there waiting for him. He saluted and waited for Flare's return salute. “Good morning, Flare. Are you ready for your assignment?”

Flare smiled weakly, “Yes sir, I am, but honestly I'm surprised to see you here. I thought I was to be in command of the soldiers.”

“You are.” Danlion answered, “I just wanted to give you some advice.” He took Flare by the arm and pulled him away.
“Listen Flare.
I know this is your first command, and I just wanted to remind you to keep discipline in the troops. These soldiers are not the guardians that you are used to dealing with. These soldiers are not quite as well disciplined.” Flare's eyebrows rose, and Danlion quickly continued, “All I'm saying is make sure that you let them know who is in charge. If you have any problems, pick someone and make an example out of them.”

Flare didn't like the sound of that, “That sounds kind of harsh and cruel.”

Danlion nodded his head, “Maybe, but it works.”

They set out shortly before mid-day, heading down the western road. Older women and younger girls cried as the soldiers started off. The old women had to be the mothers of the men, and the younger women were their sisters, or maybe wives. Flare had also said goodbye to several people, Cassandra included, but no one had cried for him. That didn't bother him as much as he would have thought; he had seen enough tears in his young life.

Callin and Trestus had both hugged an older woman and a young girl.
Mother and sister perhaps?
Several other guardians had family there, including Philip. An aging lord had visited briefly to grasp his son's arm. The lord was the Duke of Atwell, but he surprised Flare by not hugging his son. Philip's mother had no such compunction, and cried openly as she hugged him.

Not everyone had someone to wish them goodbye. Atock, like Flare, stood by himself waiting to get the trip started. The handle of a sword stuck up over each shoulder. During the guardian training, Atock had worn the required long sword, but now, he had reverted back to his traditional way of fighting. When battle found them, Atock would meet it with a short sword in each hand. His swords were different than what Flare was used to, they were shorter than normal, and only one side had an edge. In addition, there was a slight curve to the swords. He had seen Atock practicing with them, and it was obvious that he knew how to use them.

Atock was not the only guardian that had changed his weapons; Enton now carried a massive two handed ax on his back. The ax had a double edged end, with the blades in the shape of a half-circle. He shook his head. He didn't know how Enton could carry the ax; much less swing it in battle.

Flare gave them as long as he thought they could spare, and then he mounted his horse and gave the order to form up. The other guardians moved the fastest, followed more slowly by the other soldiers.

The rising sun had burned off the early morning spring chill, and it felt nice. Flare was thankful that is was a clear sunny day for the start of their trip. The birds were chirping and singing in their trees and bushes as the soldiers traveled past. The stones underfoot quickly gave way to packed dirt, but the dirt seemed almost as hard as the stones, and didn't affect their traveling.

Flare rode in the front of the column, with the other guardians riding throughout the company of soldiers. The soldiers themselves marched along the road in their squads. Bringing up the rear, were the supply wagons.

Along the western road, farms occupied either side of the road. Farmers were busy working in their fields, but they stopped to watch the soldiers pass.

He was a little uncomfortable at so many people looking to him for their orders, but he relaxed slowly.

They traveled throughout the day, pausing only long enough for a hasty lunch and then they were back on the road. The farms thinned as they traveled through the afternoon. Small copses of trees were appearing between the farms, and off in the distance forests could be seen. All in all, it had been a good first day of traveling, and Flare was pleased with their progress.

An hour before sundown a runner came up from the rear of the column. He was a little out of breath, but he didn't let that stop him, “Sir,” he said, stopping beside Flare's horse. “One of the supply wagons has cracked a wheel. The wagon master thinks it will take an hour or so to repair.”

He looked around at the location of the sun in the sky. “Good timing.” He said to no one in particular. “All right, we'll stop here for the night.” He pointed to a large field that was slightly overgrown with weeds. “That field looks abandoned, pass the order to make camp there.”

“Yes sir,” the boy said, saluting.

Flare shook his head, that boy looked like he was thirteen or fourteen.

Flare helped raise the long tent that he would share with the other guardians. He was the leader, but being the leader was a temporary assignment, and it was best that he not get used to having others do his work for him.

Philip was working to get the tent tied down, “Are we to riding in the same spots tomorrow?” He asked.

Flare looked up. Philip had changed a lot. He couldn't imagine Philip even considering asking him for orders two years ago. “I hadn't thought about it. Why?”

Philip motioned to the dust that covered his face and clothes. “I rode in the rear today, and I was hoping not to eat so much dust tomorrow.”

Flare smiled, “It only seems fair to rotate.”

Philip opened his mouth, but just then a corporal ran up to the guardians' campsite. “Excuse me, Sir, there's a problem.”

“What's the matter?” Flare asked quickly
.
“Two soldiers got into a fight. One of them accused the other of stealing.”

Flare sighed; it seemed that he would have to take Sergeant Danlion's advice sooner than he had feared.
“All right.
Bring both soldiers to our tent.” A knot was starting to form in his belly. He was not looking forward to what he had to do.

He stepped into the tent; several of the other guardians followed him. “Before the soldiers get here, I have to be rough, and I don't want any of you disagreeing with me in front of the soldiers. Understood?”

They murmured their assent just as the corporal led in two soldiers. They were both young and they bore the scrapes of their tussle. The tall one on the right had a black eye and a bloody lip. The shorter one on the left wore an angry look on his face, but he seemed to have made out better in the fight.

The corporal stepped forward, “Sir, these are the two soldiers that we caught fighting. He motioned to the taller one, “private Delon accused private Marall of stealing.” He motioned to the shorter soldier, “We searched private Marall's possessions and found a money purse that bears private Delon's mark.”

Flare turned to the soldier on the left, “private Marall, it would seem that you have been caught beyond any doubt. What do you have to say for yourself?”

The gruff young man shrugged his shoulders, “You caught me. What can I say?”

Flare was quite frankly amazed at the lack of concern in the young man. “Well, you could apologize for one thing.” He answered.

Marall spit, “Would that really do any good? I mean we would both know that I was lying.”

 
Flare blinked, and then anger starting welling up within him. “It might have done some good,” he paused, before quietly adding, “but it won't now.” Marall was making it awful easy to follow Sergeant Danlion's advice.

Flare turned his attention to private Delon. “Tell me what happened.”

“Yes sir. I pitched my tent quickly, and then left to go to the privy. I returned and saw him,” he pointed at private Marall, “emerging from my tent. I stopped him, but he tried to force his way past me and I punched him.”

“You punched him first?” Flare asked, looking again at darker bruises on Delon's face.

“A lot of good it did him,” Marall snarled. “I whipped his butt good.”

“Enough!” Flare snapped at Marall. “You will keep quiet unless I speak to you. Do you understand?”

“You are no better that the rest of us. As soon as we get to the fort, you'll just be another soldier like me.” Marall mumbled.

Flare's anger had welled up white hot, “Enton, come here.”

Enton jumped at hearing his name called out, but he came over quickly.
“Yes, sir.”

Flare pointed to private Marall. “Take him out and tie him to a tree, and give him ten lashes with a whip.” Marall's eyes bulged. Flare turned his gaze to Kara, “You are not to treat him until tomorrow morning.”

Enton merely nodded and started over to Marall. Kara turned her head toward Flare and opened her mouth to speak, but he shot her a look and she snapped her mouth shut.

He waited until Enton and Marall had left the tent, and then turned his attention to Delon. Delon was smugly watching Marall being escorted out and it pained Flare to do what he had to do. “Private Delon. You have admitted to breaking the law of the army of Telur.” At his words, Delon's head snapped up and turned toward him. “By striking a fellow soldier instead of seeking out your squad leader, you have committed a crime and you must share in the punishment.”

“What!” Delon exclaimed. “He was guilty. I caught him in the act of stealing.”