The Guardians of Rhea
Published by Jose Rodriguez Jr at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 Jose Rodriguez Jr
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In the hands of expert warriors, two wooden staffs cracked properly can make a sound like distant thunder. When Sara and Arthur fought, it sounded like a bad storm. Each circled the other in a grassy arena surrounded by pillars, throwing torrents of strikes that would have stung if they had found their mark.
Arthur feinted, catching Sara off-guard and making her pay with a whack to the back of her leg.
Grunting in pain, Sara dropped to one knee, but quickly regained her composure.
Arthur held his staff in front of him. “This isn’t a game, Sara.” His gray hair and short, white beard told his age, but he was no slouch. He stood ready to attack or defend.
Sweat glistened on Sara’s peach skin as she circled around. Her raven hair didn’t get in the way much as it was straight and only went down to her neck.
“How do you expect to defeat the Rheans when you fight like that?” Arthur asked.
Both were in athletic condition and wore a similar formfitting uniform, basically a gray shirt, pants and a sash. Their boots as well as some small, lightweight padding on their arms and legs were a darker shade. From the amount of dirt on them, they obviously had been dueling for quite a while.
“I thought this was practice. I don’t want to hit you too hard,” Sara said.
“What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll anger me?”
“No, it’s your old bones I’m worried about.”
Arthur chuckled, twirling his staff in circles around his body. “If you think you can handle this, then come get it.”
Sara lunged forward and swung.
Arthur ducked just in time to hear and feel the whoosh sound over his head, and barely had enough time to counter the next attack that smashed against his staff. He scrambled for some distance, but even in his great condition he couldn't dodge like Sara. The only things he could count on were experience and muscle memory.
Sara knew that and it made her press on with everything she had, forcing Arthur back, deflecting anything he could throw at her.
Defending as best he could, Arthur slowly retreated from the arena and around several pillars.
Sara could tell he was getting desperate. With a quick strafing maneuver, she swung low and swept him off his feet.
Landing hard on his back, Arthur looked up in astonishment and let out a long groan. “I’m either getting too old or I’ve taught you too well.”
Sara held out her hand to help her teacher up. “Maybe it’s both?”
Arthur painfully straightened his back out and dusted himself off. “You’re a better fighter than most, Sara. I’ve often worried about letting you go too early, but I think you might be ready for your first assignment.”
“When, today?” Sara asked.
“Right after you’re knighted by the Consular. Let’s get cleaned up.”
Sara and Arthur stepped out of the garden and onto the streets of the city. It was crowded, but not to the point where they had to shove their way through. Several people greeted Sara as she passed by, especially the men.
“Where are we going?”
“I have to pick up Old Trusty,” Arthur said.
As they waited for several horse drawn carriages to pass, Arthur asked. “What did you have in mind for your first assignment?”
“What do you mean?” Sara responded curiously.
“I know there is an assignment you want more than the others. Every Guardian has one. Which one do you want?” Arthur asked, continuing down the street.
“I thought that was up to the Marshal.”
Arthur shook his head. “Don’t make me spell it out. The last thing I or any Marshal wants is to give you a first assignment you’re not comfortable with. So speak up.”
The thought of being able to pick her first assignment got Sara so excited that she accidentally bumped into someone. “Oh, sorry,” she said, then looking to Arthur. “Um, actually I had been hoping to be assigned here in New Haven, just to start out…”
“Don’t get carried away. It’s a courtesy – not a promise. Your assignment can be changed at any time and for any reason. Understand?”
“Yeah,” Sara said, worried that she may have asked for too much.
“Don't worry, though. Hardly anyone is moved these days, but if for some reason a situation arises you can expect to be reassigned every few days.”
“Arthur!” A blacksmith called. “It's done!”
Arthur walked over and shook hands.
“Here you go,” the blacksmith said, handing over the equinox. “All done!”
Arthur took the elaborately etched two-foot long wooden staff and pressed a hidden button to extend its two-foot long, razor sharp, doubled edged blades from both sides.
“Nice!” Sara said. “Can I get a custom equinox?”
“If you can afford it,” Arthur grinned.
They walked for a few moments, heading back to the Guardians' headquarters, the Citadel, minding the people and the animals until Sara spoke. “Arthur, I know you’re only allowed one student your first year as a Preceptor, but I know I’m not the only Guardian-in-training. So am I going to graduate by myself?”
“It looks that way. There are others, but they’re not ready yet,” Arthur answered. “I think you learned fast because you’ve been my only student. Next year I get a full class.”
“Still, I feel a little weird being by myself. Can’t I just wait and graduate with the others?”
“Normally you would, but because we’re a little short on recruits we have to put you in the field as soon as you’re ready. Be thankful for that! When I joined, they threw us into the field because of all the fighting and my assignment was once changed twice in one day.”
As they continued Sara tried to keep quiet until her curiosity began to stir. “I’ve always wanted to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“I heard you once encountered a Vesuvian. What was it like?”
Arthur’s pace slowed. “When I joined the Guardians, I was about your age. At that time, the fighting was winding down. Like most new Guardians, I thought the inhabitants of this land were evil incarnate and it was my duty to stand against them. On my first day, I was assigned to a wealthy nobleman and his family needing an escort along the road between here and Genoa. Halfway through our journey, a Vesuvian came from out of nowhere…” Arthur stopped as he was suddenly hit with bad feelings and memories of that day.
“What happened?” Sara anxiously asked.
Arthur explained. “He did exactly the things you’ve read about, heard about. You think you’re prepared but when you’re face-to-face with it…It’s completely different. After knocking us around, slicing the nobleman’s head off and tearing my partner’s heart out, he came right at me. I was already on the ground with my equinox inches from my hand.”
Arthur rubbed his hand against his forehead in wonder. “I just grabbed Old Trusty and swung it around into his heart. And, right before my eyes, he burst into embers. Hell of a sight I tell you. Never forget your training, what you’ve learned. That’s the best advice I can give you.”
“It’s hard to imagine you scared,” Sara said. “What about a Fenrir? Seen any of those?”
Arthur shook his head. “No, but I hear they’re worse than Vesuvians.”
“How? From what I’ve learned, it seems like they’re a lot easier to kill. With a Vesuvian, you never really know what you’re up against until the last second. You’re not being very encouraging.”
“Which is easier to kill is a matter of opinion. As for not being encouraging, I won’t make it sound as if you can fight these creatures with both hands tied behind your back, or even one. But, just to give you some assurance, they’re not impossible to beat, either. As long as you keep your wits about, you shouldn’t have much difficulty dealing with the Rheans.”
“I guess I have to wait till I run into one,” Sara said. “Arthur, a minute ago you said you thought the Rheans were evil. Do you really think that?”
Arthur thought for a moment. “If you ask me now, I think I would have to say they were here first.”
CHAPTER TWO
Arthur examined his equinox as he and Sara walked towards the Citadel. “Are you nervous?” he asked.
“Nervous? No,” Sara answered. “Just anxious to get this over with. I can’t believe this is happening.”
Arthur laughed. “Me neither!”
“Hey!” Sara said nudging him with her elbow.
“Sorry, but I can remember your first day of training as if it were yesterday,” Arthur said. “You were so bold and confident when you first stepped foot in that Citadel. By the end of the day you were bleeding and could barely walk.”
“You have to give me a little credit. I was half decent considering I was just a beginner and you had what…twenty years of experience. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe that sparring on your first day of training is not required.”
Arthur shrugged. “What can I say? I had to do something about that attitude of yours. Within a few days you changed from an arrogant bull to a scared girl. And I must admit I would have bet good money that you would quit. Then one day it was as if something inside of you snapped. You were just different. You had a lot more respect for the rules, your peers, and your teacher.”
“I’ve always respected you!” Sara said, though she knew Arthur knew otherwise, and his wide-eyed look confirmed it. “Okay, maybe I didn’t at first, but I do now.”
Arthur slightly arched backward, holding his sides. “If that were true, you wouldn’t have been so rough with me this morning.”
“Hey, you told me…”
Arthur waved his hand. “I’m just pulling your leg.”
A little boy suddenly ran up by Sara’s side. “Hey, are you a Guardian? You have to be! When I grow up I want to be a Guardian, too!”
Sara stopped and smiled thinly at the boy. “What makes you think I’m a Guardian?”
“Well, you’re here, and you’re talking to Arthur. Hey, Arthur!”
“Hello, Robert,” Arthur said.
Robert looked shyly at Sara. “Can I ask you something?”
Confident she could answer any question, Sara said, “Sure.”
“What’s the difference between a Rhean and a Vesuvian?”
The answer was so easy Sara didn’t have to think about it. “Vesuvians are one of several races that live here in Rhea. When we speak of two or more of those races we call them Rheans.”
Embarrassed, Robert blushed and chuckled with his teeth clinched. “Oh…so they’re the same. Vesuvians, Fenrir, Khothu…they’re all Rheans.”
“Don’t forget the Hegirans,” Arthur added.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” Sara asked.
“This is our field trip!” Robert said excitedly.
“You shouldn’t stray from your classmates. You might get lost or worse. Hurry up and go find them.”
“I’m not worried. I’m surrounded by Guardians,” Robert said. He darted off towards a group of kids playing around.
Arthur shook his head. “Sara, let me give you another good piece of advice. Don’t take being a Guardian so seriously. Lighten up a little.”
“What do you mean by that?” Sara asked.
“Being a Guardian isn't exactly a way of life, and at best we’re just a paramilitary organization, not some secret society.”
“Don't you think it’s necessary to protect what few secrets we have? I’ve studied our texts on the Rheans. We know very little of their abilities and fighting tactics, and even less of their culture or society.”
Arthur sighed. “Even so, we can’t close our doors to our own people. Granted, we have secrets, but it’s important for our people to see us and know that we’re here for them. If they can’t see that, we’ll begin to look like the Rheans.”
A glance at all of the people who had come to visit the Guardians told Sara that Arthur was right. “I guess I can’t argue with that,” she said. “Still, I’m worried about our security. Any one of these people could be a spy, or worse, they could be tortured to tell what they know. I mean…a field trip inside the Citadel.”
“I think you worry too much.”
Sara and Arthur reached the front, wide-open doors of the Citadel and continued inside.
“Then let me ask you this,” Sara began.
“I’m already trembling,” Arthur snickered.
“Have we ever tried to have an open dialog, or some kind of treaty with the Rheans?”
Arthur thought for several seconds. “You know what? Your sister was given that assignment! There have been a few exchanges here and there, but nothing significant.”
“And why is that?”
“I don't know. What’s your point?”
“We should try to learn as much as we can about them. Know your enemy, right?” Sara said, as she and Arthur stopped at one of the dormitory halls.
“Get dressed,” Arthur said, continuing down the hall.
Sara entered her dorm room. After bathing and dressing up in a clean uniform, she stepped back into the hall.
Arthur was several doors down heading toward her. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“There’s one thing you should know before we move on,” Arthur said. “The Consular won’t be able to make it, so an Elite will knight you.”
Sara’s mouth and shoulders dropped like anchors.
“I’m sorry, but that’s the way it has to be.”
Sara’s head and arms reeled back. “No! It’s bad enough I don’t get a ceremony, and now I have to be knighted by an Elite.”
Arthur grabbed Sara by the shoulder. “What are you saying? You are getting a ceremony, and an Elite replaces the Consular if anything ever happens to him.”
Sara could no longer hold her head up. “I thought the reason I was graduating alone was because I did so well.”
“You have done well, very well,” Arthur assured her. “I’ve taught you everything I know and you’ve passed all the tests.”
Sara didn’t feel any better. Her ceremony seemed to be getting cheaper by the minute.
Arthur rubbed her back. “Sara, don’t worry, okay. Trust me. Just because you’re being knighted differently doesn’t make you any less of a Guardian.”
Sara grunted in anger.
“Alright?” Arthur asked, lightly pushing Sara on the shoulders.
“Alright.”
They left the hall through a stairwell and entered a much bigger hall. Two Guardians escorted them to a large set of double doors decorated with ebony and ivory trim.
Guardians called the next room the Chamber of Ascension.
Standing before Sara halfway through the room was an Elite, Thomas.
Elites were Guardians who only took orders from the Consular. Sara slowly approached Thomas and knelt before him. She could feel her heart pounding.
Arthur and the escorts stood to the side and watched.
Thomas pulled an odd-looking weapon, a halo, from his holster. It was similar to a chakram. This one was a foot in diameter. Most of the ring was sectioned off with razor-sharp blades. Only three sections between the blades were safe to hold. If an untrained person tried using this weapon, he would most likely end up hurting himself rather than his opponent.
Holding the halo above Sara’s head, Thomas spoke. “You’ve trained long and hard to reach this point. The road ahead is filled with great danger. But with your knowledge and your skills you can overcome them. Always remember that you are never alone. From here on, you are now part of a special order. Rise, and go forth as a Guardian Ranger.”
Sara stood, maintaining a stoic look as she watched Thomas turn and leave through a door at the back of the room.
Arthur approached behind her. “Now before you start complaining, that’s about as long as the regular ceremony. We like to keep it short and sweet.”
Sara stood motionless, now almost in shock, but managed to crack a smile. “That’s it?”
“Be proud, Sara. Not everyone makes it this far.”
Sara wished it were that easy. She had gone through hundreds of painful sparring sessions and long hours of studying to become a Guardian. There was a sense of accomplishment, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was just…cheap.
Arthur flicked his finger close to her ear to snap her back to reality. “We’ll see the Marshal today. He’ll give you your very first assignment. You have some time, so you can go ahead and tell all your friends.”
Sara looked at Arthur in disbelief. “Tell them what? That I graduated by myself in a ceremony that lasted ten seconds?”
Arthur shook his head. “You’re not the only person who’s ever graduated alone. Granted, there are very few who do, but I told you, being knighted differently makes you no less a Guardian.”
Sara let out a long sigh. “I guess so.”
CHAPTER THREE
New Haven had many spots where people liked to hang out. For Sara and her friends, Juli and Marian, it was a particular spot, a clearing, partially surrounded by trees.
Juli, a fair woman with fire-red hair, spun into the clearing. “I can’t believe William asked me to the ball.”
Marian teased. “Of course he did! There was no one else left for him to ask.” She and Sara laughed.
Juli pouted. “Don’t be so mean, Marian. Besides, it’s not true. He just had to make sure I wasn’t already going with someone.”
“I know, I know,” Marian snickered. “All the girls he asked already had someone to go with.”
Juli clinched her teeth. “Marian!” she grunted and quickly took off, trying to catch her antagonist.
“Careful!” Sara hollered as she watched her friends dart past the large rocks.
It didn’t take long for Juli to tackle Marian to the ground.
Marian tried to wrestle back but was laughing too hard. “Ow! You’re always playing so rough.”
“Say sorry,” Juli said, holding Marian’s arms down.
“Ok, sorry,” Marian said with a laugh.
Juli let go, but not throwing a handful of grass at Marian.
Sara helped Marian back to her feet. “Don’t be upset, Juli. At least the both of you have someone to go with. Nobody’s asked me.”
“No one has to ask you. You’re a Guardian, you have to go,” Juli said.
Sara shrugged. “Just because the Guardians are hosting it doesn’t mean I have to go.”
“But you are going, right?” said Marian. “You have to go. It won’t be fun unless we’re all there.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there.”
Juli sat on one of the rocks. Marian leaned against another and Sara stood staring off into the distance past the cliff nearby. The view was incredible. They could see all of the docks along the shore. Dozens of large ships were coming and going.
Juli looked up and sighed. “Sky’s starting to clear up. At least the weather here is just like back home. I can’t wait for winter to come.”
“I hate the cold,” Marian said, disgusted.
“Sara, why don’t you ask someone?” Juli asked.
“The boy is supposed to ask.”
Marian looked sharply at Sara. “You know, there is one Guardian all of the girls dream of going to the ball with.”
Sara had a curious look on her face. “Really? I haven’t had any dreams like that.”
“Sure you haven’t,” Juli said with a spark of sarcasm.
Marian playfully punched Sara on the arm. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know who I’m talking about.”
Sara put her hand on her chin, acting as if she were trying to think of who her friends could possibly be speaking of.
Juli rolled her eyes. “Please, Sara. He’s only the strongest, bravest and most gorgeous Guardian to ever grace the earth.”
A devilish smile crossed Sara’s face. “Arthur may be strong and brave, but I definitely wouldn’t say he’s gorgeous.”
“Your teacher,” Juli said baffled. “Eww!”
“You know you want Richard just as much as any of us!” Marian said, lightly pushing Sara.
“Oh, Richard? I thought he was already spoken for.”
Juli pouted her lips in disgust. “It would be a crime if ever that man didn’t have a girlfriend.”
Sara shrugged. “Why should I care about someone I can’t have?”
“What Juli meant by ‘girlfriend’ was friends that are girls,” Marian explained. “They don’t mean anything to him.”
“How would you know?”
Marian suddenly became coy. “I’ve talked to Richard, too.”
Sara, still smiling, folded her arms across her chest. “Oh, really. And what did he say to the likes of you?”
“You’d like to know, wouldn’t you?”
Sara leaned against a huge boulder “You make it sound like I want to marry him.”
“And what if he asked you to?”
“Of course not! I don’t know him that well.”
Juli hopped off the rock, landing between Marian and Sara. “I saw you talking to him the other day, and you expect us to believe you don’t know anything.”
“I said I didn’t know him that well,” Sara repeated.
Marian grabbed Sara by the wrists and pulled. “Sara, I’ve seen the way he looks at you when you talk. Don’t tell me you don’t see it.”
Frustrated, Sara pulled away. “I didn’t come here to find a husband! I came here to join the Guardians and be a Ranger like my sister. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to be like her. When I was young, she would tell me stories…”
“Cameron got married, didn’t she?” Marian asked.
“She did, to another Guardian. And look at her now. She’s back in Gaia with her kids. I’m not ready to become a wife and mother. I would die if I just stayed at home doing nothing.”
Juli placed her hand against Sara’s forehead. “The good news is that you’re not sick. Bad news is that you’re crazy. How could you not want a man like Richard to care for you as you lie in the sun?”
“Easy. I don’t think about it,” Sara said, looking up.
Marian and Juli stared at their friend like a lost cause.
“It’s not like I’ll be single forever. I’m still young.” Marian’s eyes shot wide open. “Being a Guardian is your idea of fun?”
It was right then that Sara seemed as if she weren’t too sure of herself. “Maybe it’s the danger, or something. I don’t know.”
“I’ve heard some of the stories,” Juli said. “If I ever saw one of those monsters, I think I would die screaming.”
Marian held Sara by the arm. “Sara, we know that you trained very hard to be a Guardian, and no one doubts you. But I’ve heard some of the stories, too. What if another war breaks out? They say that some assignments are just plain suicidal.”
She responded rather like a Guardian recruiter giving a pitch might. “That’s not true. Guardians are trained to easily handle any situation. We are also highly trained to fight and overcome any adversary.”
“Real funny, Sara. Have you ever even seen a Vesuvian, or Fenrir, or whatever they’re called?”
“Don’t worry!” Sara said. “Believe me when I say that I know enough about them. If the Guardians didn’t think I was ready, they wouldn’t be giving me my first assignment tonight.”
“Tonight!” Juli said.
“What about the ceremony and all that stuff?” Marian asked.
Sara gave a small shrug. If she weren’t so ashamed of it, she might not have exaggerated the truth. “They usually have a big ceremony. My teacher said I did very well…so I guess that’s why I graduated alone.”
“Still, you could have told us you were graduating,” Juli said.
“Hey, it was a private ceremony for some reason. Believe me, I didn’t like it, and I would have felt horrible telling you guys you couldn’t go!”
The worried look on Juli and Marian’s face was clear.
“What’s going to happen? Where will they send you?” Juli asked.
“I don’t know, but the Marshal will give me my assignment in a few hours.
Marian appeared as if she were going to cry. “You’re joking, aren’t you?”
Sara shook her head. “Don’t get mushy. It’s not like we’re never going to see each other again. Hopefully I’ll stay here in New Haven, but if not, I promise to try and stay in touch.”
Marian and Juli wrapped their arms around Sara for a group hug and began to cry, which made Sara feel awkward.
“You’d better,” Marian said.
Sara did her best to remain stoic. “C’mon, you two,” she said, but after several moments she found herself on the brink of tears. “Both of you are just weird.”
CHAPTER FOUR
It was late in the evening. Arthur waited impatiently just outside the Citadel. “Where is that girl?” he said, leaning on the wall and folding his arms across his chest.
The grounds were now empty of commoners. Only a few patrols walked about. A Guardian in the Citadel set a torch against a small reservoir of oil that fed into all of the lamps in the ground outside.
Arthur stared off into the surrounding city. The light from the buildings gave them a subtle silhouette. It was actually quite calming. Just as he was about go off into a daydream, Sara came running into view.
“It’s about time!” Arthur said.
Sara was back in uniform, mostly. She struggled to place one of her armbands on as she made her way to the Citadel. “Excuse me!” she said, almost plowing through several Guardians who barely managed to get out of her way.
Arthur opened the door as if he were expecting Sara to keep going. She was going so fast he was surprised that she managed to stop before reaching the door.
“Sorry,” Sara said, “My friends and I were at the pub. They wanted to give me a good sendoff.”
“You better not be tipsy!” Arthur said.
“I drank one little glass.”
Arthur sniffed the air and thought he picked up a slight whiff of alcohol. He shook his head in disappointment. “You haven’t been a Guardian even a day and you’re already pushing it.”
“It was one glass,” Sara said, placing her hands on her hips.
Arthur waved his hand for Sara to go inside. “Let’s go. The Marshal is waiting in the Great Hall.”
Sara could never really keep her eyes in front of her to see where she was going. “You know, I think I’ve only seen half of this building. I need to take myself on a tour one of these days.”
“You won’t find anything more interesting in here than outside,” Arthur said. “After one week on assignment, I bet you’ll want to get as far away from this place as possible.”
After a few minutes of walking, Sara started to ask. “So, about my first assignment…”
“I’ve already spoken with the Marshal,” Arthur said. “You’ll get what you want, and I’ve pulled a few strings to have you assigned here in New Haven.”
Sara’s face lit up. “Really? I can’t believe you did that. I was worried I would be assigned to patrol one of the routes between the cities.”
“Don’t make me regret this!”
“Don’t worry. I promise I won’t screw up.”
Arthur opened another door and allowed Sara through first. “You shouldn’t make promises like that,” he said.
Sara passed by, but then stopped and turned to Arthur. “Then how about ‘I’ll do my best?’”
“I can appreciate that,” Arthur said with a wink. “C’mon, the Marshal is right through that door.”
It didn’t show, but Sara became anxious looking at the large door at the end of the hall, and with every step she took toward it, her anxiousness turned to excitement.
“Remember, just take the nearest seat next to him and please be nice.”
“No problem,” Sara said.
Being the noble Guardian he was, Arthur opened the door and politely allowed Sara to pass first.
The Great Hall was a very large circular room with a huge table in the middle surrounded by chairs.
Henry, a man who looked about as old as Arthur, was sitting patiently in a chair. A small candle and some papers sat on the table in front of him. Henry was a Marshal, a Guardian assigned to lead the other Guardians in a particular area, like a city. Sara sat down next to him.
“Hello, Ranger,” Henry said.
“Hello,” She responded.
“So what did you think of the training? Tough, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it was, sir.”
Henry began ruffling through the papers in front of him. “I hear you graduated alone and early, too!”
“Um…yeah,” Sara said uneasily.
Henry leaned towards Sara with a smile on his face. “Congratulations!” he said before returning to his papers.
Sara’s eyes wandered around at the numerous painted windowpanes around the room.
“Now,” Henry continued, seemingly more excited than Sara. “I have five positions in the three cities. There are openings here in New Haven. One in Alaria, and one in Genoa. Did you have one in mind?”
“Yes,” Sara answered without hesitation. “I’d like to be assigned here in New Haven.”
“It shall be done,” Henry said. He picked up his pen and filled out the necessary paperwork
“Sign here and here, please.”
Sara quickly signed the forms.
Henry took the forms back and folded them. “That’s it. Welcome to the Guardians. You are to patrol the Chapel District on the second shift. Don’t forget to pick your weapons up in the armory.”
“Thank you,” Sara said, shaking Henry’s hand.
“Please be on your way. Your shift starts soon.”
Sara got up and headed straight for the door Arthur was too pleased to open.
“Are you happy now?” Arthur asked.
Sara walked at a brisk pace with Arthur doing his best to keep up.
“This is it! My first assignment!” Sara said.
“What are you doing?” Arthur asked. “You act like you’re going off to save the world or something. You do know what patrolling boils down to, right? All you do is walk down a few streets, making sure nothing bad happens.”
Sara responded without hesitation. “If something bad does happen, I’m going to be there to stop it.”
“What’s the worst you think will happen? There's never even been a confirmed sighting of a Rhean within the city.”
“That doesn’t mean it won’t happen tonight.”
Arthur couldn’t help but laugh. “I almost forgot – you’re a newbie, so I guess it’s okay to have high hopes.”
Sara ignored the insult. She didn’t care what anyone said. She was a Ranger and she had a job to do.
Arthur decided it was best to ease up and leave her alone. The thick wooden doors of the armory came within sight as they rounded the corner.
A single Guardian stood by the door and opened it as Sara passed.
The armory was loaded with a few different types of weapons. Aside from the standard sword and shield, which few Guardians used because of the weight, there were also collapsible composite bows.
Sara grabbed a talon and equipped it. Talons were leather gauntlets with retractable blades worn at the wrist. Since it was small, light and easy to master, it was a popular secondary weapon.
Her final weapon, one she wished she had practiced more, was the halo. It was simple in design, yet so hard to wield safely that many Guardians thought twice before using it. Sara carefully grabbed a halo from its holster and spun it around her hand.
“You don’t need a weapon like that for an assignment like this, do you?” Arthur asked. “I've heard stories of people losing fingers just trying to pull the damn thing from the holster.”
Sara flicked, flipped and spun the halo like she had been born with it, but sighed and placed the halo on the rack. “You’re right,” she said. She moved over to a table with dozens of equinoxes lain out. It was the workhorse in the Guardian's arsenal.
Compared to Arthur's equinox, these were just a plain leather-wrapped hilt with blades but just as deadly.
After a little eyeballing, Sara picked one up and extended the blades. There was just enough room in the armory for her to practice a few basic moves. Satisfied, she retracted the blades and holstered it.
A Guardian stepped in and tossed his equinox on the table. Letting out a long sigh, he turned his head side-to-side, cracking his neck. Looking at Sara, he asked. “Let me guess, Chapel District, right?”
“Yeah,” Sara answered.
“I’d hurry if I were you. My shift is up.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Sara and Arthur ran at nearly full speed. The streets were now much less busy, so it didn’t take long to reach the Chapel District.
“Here we are,” Arthur said, lightly huffing as he held his sides. “You know the routine. Walk this way and that way, and that’s it. Someone will come to relieve you of duty at midnight.”
Sara took a quick survey of her surroundings. The chapel rested in an alley-riddled area where the buildings and streets radiated outward from it. “Well, I guess this is it.”
“Finally!” Arthur said tiredly. “I thought I’d never get rid of you!”
Sara laughed out loud.
“See you around,” Arthur said. With that, he turned and left Sara to be on her own for the first time.
Sara watched as Arthur faded into the darkness. As she patrolled her beat, she could hear the creaking of signposts, the chirping of crickets, and a gentle breeze of cool air every now and then.
At one point, her route branched in two directions. One path winded several blocks to the chapel. The other was a dark, narrow alley. There were a dozen reasons to not take the alley, most of them nothing to worry about.
Sara stared down the less-traveled alley, telling herself there was nothing to be afraid of, nothing she couldn’t handle. A blast of cold air rushed out from the alley that made Sara’s hair stand on end.
“Maybe next time,” Sara whispered to herself. As she began to walk down the street she heard a clang-like sound that seemed to come from the alley. Sara stopped and looked again. “What the...”
Sara moved through the alley trying to make as little noise as possible. There was nothing out of the ordinary, except that she occasionally heard an odd noise that sounded like cloth moving through the wind. Each time, it came from a different direction.
“Is anyone there?” Sara asked. After a moment she continued through the alley and eventually came upon a wooden crate. She leaned back against a wall for a rest from the games she thought her mind was playing on her. “Get a grip,” she said, taking a seat on the crate.
After some eye rubbing, and a yawn, Sara was back on her feet. She stretched her arms and took a deep breath. She took several steps forward and then stopped when she had an undeniable feeling of being watched. There were several places in the shadows for someone, or something, to hide.
Sara examined the alley in front of her. Another gentle breeze blew across her back. As calmly as she could, she turned around. At first she couldn’t really make out anything in the dark, but after about three seconds she realized that there was someone standing just a few feet in front of her.
Sara’s heart jumped. With the speed and grace of a cat, she grabbed her equinox and extended its blades. Just as quickly, the figure leaped straight up into the air and onto the rooftop, and almost immediately after that something else right behind her did the same thing.
Sara spun around and barely caught a glimpse of it as it disappeared over the rooftop. Whatever it was, it was really fast and the dark didn’t help to see any. Sara ran through the alley, hoping that when she reached the street there would be more Guardians around. As she turned another corner, she looked up and spotted a dark figure moving from one roof to another.
Before she knew it, Sara burst onto the street. Everything was quiet. Her eyes were glued to the buildings around her. She paid especially close attention to the area around the alley.
A faint hissing noise came from a building next to the alley. Sara had heard a cat hiss before. This didn’t sound anything like it. It sounded like it came from something bigger and it sent a shiver down her spine. She managed to zero in on it just in time to see the dark figures suddenly take off across the roof tops.
“Guardians!” Sara yelled, hoping to attract help. She moved on hoping to not lose track of what she was chasing. Every few steps she would spot odd-looking shadows moving around. These were her only clue as to where to go. As she ran full speed around a corner, she realized the street ended at the chapel.
The chapel was one of the bigger buildings in the city, with larger than life windowpanes that were quite colorful. The stairs leading up to the front doors were vast slabs of concrete.
One of the dark figures made a daring leap from a roof and went crashing into one of the chapel's windows. The other dark figure was quick to follow.
Sara could only hope that the noise of the windowpane breaking was loud enough for other Guardians to hear. She ran as fast as she could up the stairs and pushed hard on the door to open it.
Inside the chapel, drapes hung from the ceiling. The pillars holding the roof up were more like statues, and the pews were arranged in an arc pattern going around the altar at the far end of the chapel.
A large open space lay between the pews and the altar. It was there that she finally caught up the phantoms she’d been chasing—Vesuvians.
One of them looked similar to the descriptions Sara had seen. Most of his clothes were black. He had slightly pale skin and blue eyes. His hair was black and shaggy.
“Now look what you did, Bekal,” said the other Vesuvian. In one hand he carried a black staff that was about three feet in length. “You’ve got the humans involved. This is your last chance to come back quietly, or things are going to get messy.”
When Sara came within a few yards, Bekal flashed his fangs at her. “Leon, look what we have here,” he grinned.
Sara couldn’t make out much detail about Leon He was almost completely covered from head-to-toe in black clothing. His hood, casting a shadow over much of his face, connected to his long, tattered tunic. He was shorter than Bekal but slightly taller than her.
“How can you not be interested?” Bekal asked, pulling two serrated knives from his coat. “I know you can smell her blood…her youth…her strength.”
Sara took a defensive stance. She was slightly winded from her pursuit. Her nerves were on edge. She looked back and forth between the Vesuvians, expecting to be attacked at any moment.
Leon spun his staff and focused his attention on Bekal.
“You’re a coward and a traitor!” Bekal exclaimed. “I’ve had many dreams of taking your head, Leon”
Sara stepped forward. “Put your weapons down and surrender!” she demanded, trying to keep both foes in sight.
Bekal took one look at her and began laughing. “Little girl, you have no idea who you’re talking to.” With a loud snarl he ran toward Sara at full speed and raised his knife in to take a fatal swipe.
Leon launched himself forward and used his staff to block the knife.
Without missing a beat, Sara swung her equinox, slicing Bekal’s other hand off and then landed a hard elbow to his face to send him down.
Leon quickly retreated several steps.
Sara circled towards him. “You have to surrender, Vesuvian. I won’t ask you again.”
“I’d be more worried about Bekal here.” Leon said.
Growling in anger, Bekal stood and swung his knife wildly at Leon – who easily dodged the attack and struck him on the side of the head with his staff. The blow sent him sprawling against the pews just a few feet away.
Sara went after Leon, whom she was still unable to get a good look at. Every swipe she took was either blocked or dodged. For a moment it seemed pointless, until she decided to put more of what she’d learned to use. She spun the equinox in a disorienting fashion, hoping to throw Leon off guard, and she belted him with a hard kick to the midsection.
Most humans, or even most Vesuvians, would have keeled over in agony. Leon skipped back several steps and paused.
The look on Bekal’s face was that of complete anger. He ran at Sara, repeatedly swiping at her from all directions. His frustration only grew as his attacks met with no success.
With every attack, Sara desperately looked for a way to end the fight, thinking that at any moment Leon was going to stab her in the back.
Keeping most of her focus on the immediate threat, Sara swung the equinox up to block Bekal's knife and stabbed him in the heart with her talon.
Several Guardians burst through the door as Bekal fizzled away into a heap of ember and ash.
Sara spun around just in time to see Leon make an incredible leap through the broken windowpane.
One Guardian turned to the others. “Go back out and track him!” he ordered, before running to Sara’s side. “Were you just fighting with two Vesuvians?”
Sara stood motionless. She could feel her heart beating like it was going a hundred miles an hour.
“Hey!” the Guardian said, patting her on the shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Like waking up from a daydream, Sara turned to him. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“This is incredible!” the Guardian laughed. “Man, you sure paid attention in class, didn’t you!”
CHAPTER SIX
It was early next morning. Arthur found himself walking with Sara through the halls of the Citadel. “We lost track of the Vesuvian you fought in the chapel,” he said.
“I’m not even sure he was Vesuvian,” Sara replied.
“What makes you say that?”
“For one, he was completely covered from head-to-toe, so I didn’t get that good a look at him. Second, it seemed as if he was there for the other Vesuvian, the one I killed.”
Arthur scratched his beard. “Hmm… I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Why would two Vesuvians be running around the city trying to kill each other?”
“Could he have been a Hegiran or a Khothu?” Arthur asked.
“No, he dressed like a Vesuvian and moved like one. Hegirans and Khothu are too slow to dodge like that.”
“He must have been a Vesuvian then. If he were a Fenrir, you’d know it. Besides that, only a Vesuvian or Fenrir could have made that leap through the window.”
Sara shook her head. “I don't know.”
“Maybe there’s a lot of infighting between the Vesuvians. Don’t forget about their thirst for blood. If your fellow Guardians hadn’t shown up when they did, the one that got away might have made a meal out of you.”
“Good point,” Sara said with a look of concern.
After a moment, Arthur noticed that Sara was dwelling on the thought a little too much. “What’s wrong?”
“You don’t understand what this is like for me. I couldn’t get any sleep last night. Everyone keeps asking all these questions. You said no one had seen a Rhean within the city for years…”
“Which is true, or was true.”
“And I have a fight with two Vesuvians, inside the chapel of all places, on my first day on the job.”
Arthur chuckled. “Weren’t you the one who was so excited about being a Guardian?”
Sara ran her hands through her hair. “You’re right,” she said. “I should just be glad I’m alive.”
A Guardian suddenly appeared from around the corner. “Sir Arthur, the Consular is having a meeting with the Marshal, Elites and Preceptors. They’re gathering right now in the Great Hall.”
Arthur looked to Sara. “We don’t have too many meetings like this. It must be important.”
“I’m going to get some sleep,” Sara said, then yawning out loud.
“Make sure you get enough rest and don’t forget about the ball tonight.”
“That’s tonight? Oh no! I forgot!”
“Don’t worry,” Arthur said. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”
Sara slumped. “I’m only going `cause my friends are making me,” she said before turning to go find her room.
Arthur followed the Guardian. Entering the room, he got the feeling that he was the last one to show up. Dozens of Guardians sat or stood around the table, but there was one unoccupied chair next to Henry and Philip, the Consular.
“Arthur, please have a seat,” Philip said, waving his hand. He was an older man, to the point where keeping his shape as robust as it had once been was easier said than done.
Arthur kindly took the seat.
“Is that everyone?” Philip asked.
“I believe so,” Henry replied.
“Let’s begin. Last night one of our Rangers had a run-in two Vesuvians. Only hours have passed and already citizens are talking about it. As some of you know, for many years there have been sightings of Rheans within the city walls, but no one has ever been able to prove it. This time we have multiple witnesses and a pile of ash. Questions are going to be asked and we have to be sure of what we’re going to say to avoid any panic. Any suggestions?”
Arthur raised his hand. “Sir, I don’t think we should tell the whole truth.”
Everyone in the room looked at Arthur.
“Explain,” Philip calmly demanded.
“We know that two Vesuvians were involved, but one escaped. We should tell the people that one Vesuvian was killed, and the other was chased out of the city. If they think there’s a Vesuvian running loose, there may be widespread panic. In the meantime, we should increase patrols and make sure the survivor isn’t hiding.”
There were murmurs of support from the other Guardians. “Good idea.”, “I agree.”
“A wise decision,” said Philip. “You trained Sara, correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Congratulations. I look forward to seeing more Guardians under your tutelage.”
Elsewhere in the Citadel, Sara walked tiredly through the corridor. Her eyes felt like lead and she couldn’t even stand straight anymore. Leaning against the dining hall door, she stared down the corridor, which seemed to stretch on forever. There was, however, a shortcut through the very door she was leaning on. She opened it slightly and saw that breakfast was still being served. At least several hundred Guardians were eating and chatting at the numerous tables in the room. She stepped in and tried to walk through hoping nobody would notice. Her walk was somewhat casual, but she held her head down. After only a few steps in she could hear the chatting slowly die down and feel all eyes fall upon her.
Richard, a tall, handsome young man with blue eyes and brown hair, cut his conversation short when he spotted Sara passing by. “Excuse me,” he said, getting up from his chair and hurriedly navigating his way around the tables to catch up with Sara.
The closer Sara got to the exit the faster she walked. When she finally reached the door she wasted no time to push it open and get out.
As the door closed, Richard came plowing through it. “Sara, wait.”
Almost startled, Sara stopped and turned. “Richard, what’s up?”
“I heard about what happened. How are you holding up?”
“I’m just tired.”
“Can I walk you to your room?”
“Sure.”
As they walked, Sara kept an eye out for her door while Richard spoke.
“I’ve been a Guardian for a little over a year. I’ve seen a Vesuvian here and there, but I never got into it with two by myself. Three of us once ran into a Fenrir, and it took an entire night to kill that thing.”
“Oh yeah, you told me about that one. Good thing our weapons are lined with silver,” Sara said, then seeming to lose herself in thought.
After a moment, Richard began to feel like a fifth wheel.
“I’m sorry,” Sara said. “This all still feels surreal. To be honest, I always dreamed of doing what I did. I just never thought it would actually happen. Now that I have all this attention, I feel funny.”
“Just so you know, what you did makes a lot of us feel better, and for some of us who haven’t seen too much action lately, it’s a reminder of why we're here.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“If it weren’t for the Rheans, the Guardians wouldn’t even exist. So you have to ask yourself--what would you be doing if you couldn’t be a Guardian?”
“I’m not sure,” Sara said. “I’ve never really thought about it.”
“Maybe it’s just me,” Richard said as they rounded a corner. “And maybe you don’t know it, but I think you joined because you wanted to do something that not everyone can do. It’s not just for the fun and excitement--you want to make a difference.”
Sara stopped and smiled at Richard. “You know that would be the most honest answer I could give, but then people would probably think I’m crazier than I already am.”
Moments later they arrived at her room. “I just hope everyone gets over this soon,” she said.
“Oh, I think you have a long wait ahead of you,” Richard laughed.
Sara opened the door and stepped in before turning to Richard. “Thanks for walking me to my room.”
“Anytime. Hold on, you’re going to the ball tonight, right?”
“Yeah, I’m going with Juli and Marian. After I get some rest.”
“Great! I’ll see you there.”
Closing the door behind her, Sara tilted her head back and gave a big sigh of relief. “Home sweet home,” she whispered right before falling face first into bed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
It was pretty much a wasted day as Sara slept in. By the time she woke, the sun was already beginning to set. As her body struggled to get itself out of bed, she looked around at her dark room. A small part of her wondered if the past night had been a dream, but then again, she figured her chest wouldn’t have felt as sore as it did. Managing to crawl out of bed, she headed straight for the washtub and took the most relaxing, hot bath she had ever had.
Juli and Marian stepped into the ballroom. Both looked radiant enough to certainly test a man’s will not to stare.
Juli scanned the crowd. “Where’s William?”
“Don’t be so desperate!” Marian whispered. “Oh, wait! He’s dancing with that girl over there!”
Juli quickly grabbed Marian. “What!”
“Just kidding!”
“How’s my fair lady?” William asked, approaching from behind. Like all male Guardians, he had a formal uniform similar to his normal outfit but without a sash, complete with a knee-length military jacket.
Juli spun around. “Excited. We haven’t been here a minute and the party is fantastic.”
Marian’s eyes darted from side to side looking for her would-be date. She spotted him halfway across the room, drinking with a fellow Guardian. “I’ll be right back,” she said, even though Juli paid no attention.
“Jacob,” Marian said as she came to his side.
Jacob was stunned by Marian’s beauty. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. I like your uniform.”
“Really? We were just talking about our uniforms. They’re kinda plain, don’t you think?”
“No,” Marian said, taking hold of Jacob’s arm. “It’s…simple, yet elegant. And I like a man in uniform.”
Juli and William were having a slow dance.
“So how long have you been in Rhea?” William asked.
“A little over a year,” Juli replied. “I came here with my best friends, Sara and Marian. You know Sara, don’t you?”
“I’ve certainly heard of her. She’s definitely going to be a household name around here for a while.”
Sara was certainly in no hurry. After nearly falling asleep for a second time in the tub, she decided to step out. She went to her dresser and found her formal attire. It looked similar to her normal uniform, but with a skirt and no sleeves.
The halls of the Citadel were noticeably empty.
Sara walked at a brisk pace. As she crossed one of the gardens on the upper level, she stopped suddenly. The curtain wall of the Citadel was right next to her. She leaned against it, looking through the crenel at the city before her. Instead of enjoying the view, she peered at the shadows as if she were expecting something to come out.
When she thought about it, if something had popped out, like a Vesuvian, she’d be completely helpless with no weapons.
A Guardian and his date for the evening suddenly came from around the corner, talking and laughing.
Sara waited for them to pass before following suit. She entered the ballroom directly behind the couple mistakenly thinking that no one would notice her. Just like in the dining hall, almost everyone’s attention was drawn to her. But the odd moment was thankfully cut short.
Juli and Marian were standing around with their dates and Richard.
“Sara!” Juli shouted.
“Over here!” Marian added, waving.
The party didn’t completely stop, but most, especially the Guardians, paid their respects by saluting Sara with their drinks as she passed. Sara, blushing slightly, smiled and nodded.
“Looking good, Sara!” Richard said.
“Not bad yourself!” Sara shot back.
Marian wrapped an arm around Sara’s. “What took you forever?”
“You fell asleep again, didn’t you?” Juli asked.
“In case you didn’t hear. I had a little tussle with two Vesuvians,” Sara said.
Marian released Sara’s arm, cringing. “What?”
Sara rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe you haven’t heard by now.”
“Oh, we heard! We just didn’t think it was you!” Juli said.
Richard wrapped an arm around Sara. “Who else could have done it? Even among us Guardians, Sara is already a legend. Earlier this morning, I overheard two Guardians saying that she had the skull of a Fenrir hanging on her wall.”
“Everyone in the city has been talking about it,” Juli said. “You actually killed a Vesuvian?”
“Just like they showed me!” Sara answered, grabbing a drink from a passing waiter and taking a chug. Her face soured at the strength of the alcohol. “Someone tipped the bar good!”
“Easy now,” Richard said.
“Hey, Rich!” Jacob began, “Remember last year when we were escorting that convoy to Genoa, and we got jumped by three Vesuvians?”
“How could I forget? Charles almost lost his arm in that mess.”
“What ‘mess’? We all made it out alive and bagged two Vesuvians.”
“I would hope that four Guardians and six soldiers are a match for three Vesuvians.”
William nudged Jacob. “You should have been there when me and Rich ran into a Fenrir.”
“I heard about it,” Jacob said.
“Yeah? Well did I ever tell you I had nightmares for almost a week because of that?” For a brief moment, William stared at the floor. “All that hair, claws and teeth. It was like a dog.”
Richard shook his head. “More like a wolf, with the way it howled.”
Juli took hold of William's hand. “How'd you kill it?”
William took a quick swig of his drink. “As fast as we could.”
“Sara, do you really have a skull?” Marian asked.
“Marian,” Sara said in disbelief.
The sun had completely set, and the full moon was out.
Several miles from the city and into the forest, cliffs soared hundreds of feet. From here, Leon could see the lights of New Haven as a soft amber glow in the distance. Sitting in a crouched position, he scanned his surroundings before casually standing up and diving feet-first to the ground. A fall from that height would kill just about anything, but for a Vesuvian, it might as well have been a hop.
Upon landing, he took off in a burst of phenomenal speed leaping, bouncing and jumping from one tree to the next.
Within perhaps a minute, Leon found himself at the edge of the tree line, looking at the gates of New Haven. He stood motionless, watching the patrolling soldiers.
With the light from the moon, the soldiers could see several dozen yards out toward the forest. One was startled when he spotted Leon approaching the gates. “Halt!” he ordered, getting the attention of several others.
Leon did as told.
“It looks like a Vesuvian,” a soldier said. “Besides, we're not expecting anyone until tomorrow.”
“What should we do?” Another asked.
“Alert the Guardians,” said Thomas, passing by. “I'll deal with the Vesuvian.”
Leon waited as the gate opened and Thomas passed through, approaching him at a brisk pace.
Several soldiers gathered along the wall and began to whisper among themselves. “He’s crazy.”
“He's an Elite. He can handle it.”
Thomas pulled his halo from its holster as he closed in.
Leon didn't even get a chance to speak before having to dodge a swipe from the halo that could have split his head in two.
Minutes later, back at the Guardian's ball, a soldier burst through the doors, bringing the party to an abrupt stop. “There's a Vesuvian outside the gate!”
Immediately, everyone scrambled to the nearest armory.
“What's going on?” Marian shouted.
“Wait here,” Sara said, running off with the rest of the Guardians.
Leon grabbed his staff and began using it to block many of Thomas' strikes.
Thomas was stronger and much more imposing than Sara, but slower. He found it difficult to land any hits even when he feinted.
There were a few times here and there where Leon had to eat a punch or a kick just to avoid the halo’s razor edges.
Sara arrived at the wall with several Guardians. She recognized Leon almost immediately. “It's him,” she whispered to herself.
Thomas was becoming more exhausted and frustrated by the second. As he swung wide, Leon ducked under and grabbed him by the arm, flinging Thomas several yards through the air. He landed with a thud.
A few of the people along the wall gasped in horror.
Leon reached into small knapsack around his waist and pulled out a small roll of paper, then tossed it in front of Thomas.
CHAPTER EIGHT
In the Great Hall, all of the Guardians who'd gathered the day had returned.
“What does it say?” Philip asked.
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