Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight (31 page)

The final day of the week, Saturday,
introduced them to the unarmed arts, taught by Lady Guinn
Wellington, a course in which Chris seemed to be un-paralleled.
However, Chris seemed more focused on Lady Guinn than the course
itself.

Sunday morning, Danny woke to the seventeenth
chime of the eighteenth bell. He groaned as he sat up, his muscles
were sore and aching. The first week of training was over, Danny
welcomed the day of rest. However, now used to the routine of
getting up, eating breakfast, and meeting Sir Fredrick for the
morning run for the past six days, he had difficulty falling back
asleep.

"I feel like I should get up and get ready,"
said Chris, verbalizing Danny's thoughts.

"Yeah, I can't go back to sleep either."

"Why am I awake?" Doug asked after the
lingering hum of the eighteenth bell.

"I'm hungry," said Alonso, tossing the covers
from his body and standing up.

"Me, too," said Anthony.

Swiveling his legs over the side of the bed,
Danny turned to find Matt sound asleep. Yawning and stretching, he
said, "Somebody, wake Matt up."

They decided to get some breakfast.

In addition to sore muscles, Danny was
half-asleep as he descended the stairs to the common hall and sat
down at the long table to eat breakfast. Chris and Doug found seats
next to him.

Before Danny could take his first bite, Doug
reached out and knocked over a tall glass of milk. "Careful,"
scolded Danny as he turned toward his friend. However, Doug didn't
hear him as he stared straight ahead, across the common hall. Danny
followed Doug's gaze, watching as Briza gracefully descended the
last step that led up to the girls' barracks.

"Just go talk to her, man," said Chris.

Before Doug could respond, Briza's attention
focused on all six boys, lingering there for a moment, before she
turned and began walking toward Calador.

"I think she heard you, man," said Danny.

"Elves," was all Doug said as he watched her
with dreamy eyes.

"You really should talk to her," said
Danny.

"I don't know if I can."

"I really do think she likes you," imparted
Chris.

"Really, you think so?" Doug asked, raising
both eyebrows.

Briza turned toward them and smiled once
again before turning back toward the much taller Elf and her
current conversation with him.

"See, man," Chris emphasized.

"Okay, I'm going to go talk to her," said
Doug confidently. Getting up from the table, he walked over to
stand near Briza and Calador, both still locked in
conversation.

"What do you think his chances are?" Matt
asked, once Doug was out of earshot.

"Zero, I predict an epic fail," said Alonso
with a snicker just before stuffing his mouth with a piece of
jellied toast.

Anthony refused to comment as he piled his
plate full for the second time.

Both Calador and Briza turned to receive Doug
as though they'd been expecting him. Calador nodded, smiled and
then took his leave, attending to other squires. Unable to hear
what was being said, Danny suddenly wished he had the ears of an
Elf as Doug and Briza began their conversation alone.

"He's doing better than I thought," said
Alonso.

"I told you guys she liked him," said
Chris.

"Quiet," ordered Danny. "He's coming
back."

Briza smiled and disappeared, walking back up
the stairs to the girls' barracks. Beaming, Doug made his way back
to the long table, sat down and resumed eating.

Alonso dropped his forkful of eggs, awaiting
details. Chris and Danny looked on curiously, also waiting for Doug
to speak. Even Anthony stopped stuffing his mouth full of food in
order to hear what Doug had to say.

"Well?" Matt asked finally.

Chewing a mouthful, then swallowing, Doug
positioned his silverware upon his plate. Adjusting himself in his
seat, he leaned forward and grunted, clearing his throat.

"Oh, come on!" commanded Matt.

"She has invited us to train with her."

"…Us?"

"Apparently, her conversation with Calador
concerned reserving the northern section of the Great Dome for
training, and she invited us to go with her."

"What about you?" Chris asked. "I thought the
whole purpose of you going to talk with her was to discuss you and
her."

"Well, I'm included in the 'us' part," said
Doug, making a quotation mark motion with his fingers.

"I suppose it's a start," conceded Chris.

"…Training?" Matt asked, pushing his glasses
farther up on his face. "Like that's going to happen. We just spent
a whole week training and I'm not about to waste a day off."

"That's for sure," added Alonso.

"If I remember right, you could both do with
more training. Your skills in technique class were pathetic," said
Chris.

"As if you could make me," said Alonso.

"You know I could," said Chris.

"Fine," conceded Alonso before adding, "I was
going to go anyway."

Defeated, Matt grimaced.

"I'm always up for training," mumbled
Anthony, his mouth full of food.

"…You coming, Danny?" Chris asked.

Although Danny would have liked to have gone
with them, he had a strong urge to find Sabrina. "No, I'm going to
see if I can find Sabrina."

"And how are you going to do that?"

"I suppose I'll start by going to the Dragon
Army barracks."

"Are you insane, man? After what happened at
the King's Banquet?"

Finished, Danny got up from the table and
shrugged in response.

"You want me to come with you?" Chris
asked.

Danny shook his head. "I'll be fine. Besides,
I think these four need your help way more than I do," he said,
pointing out Anthony, Alonso, Matt, and Doug. "I'll catch up with
you guys later."

"Be careful, man," Chris insisted.

"Aren't I always?"

"No," said Chris with a smile.

Danny returned the smile and struck out on
his own. He made his way past the barracks of Horse Army and
Griffin Army and stopped in front of the familiar flag of Dragon
Army, two rather large squires stood guard with Bondeds at their
side. Taking a deep breath, Danny took both steps in stride and
stopped before them.

"What do you want, newb?" the larger squire
to the left asked.

"I'm looking for someone, Squire Sabrina
Drake."

"We don't associate with newbs," said the
smaller guard on the right, his hand moving threateningly to the
rounded hilt of his Bonded.

"Please, squire, she is a friend of
mine."

"You'll get no answers from them, laddie,"
said a familiar voice from behind.

Danny's heart sank as turned to find Squire
Rigil standing at the base of the steps.

"I, however, may be persuaded," continued the
red-haired boy as he stepped up. "I told you this thing between us
wasn't over," he added, adjusting a single piece of plate mail upon
his bulky left shoulder, inscribed with the depiction of a dragon,
marking him as a lieutenant.

"You know this, newb, Lieutenant Rigil?" one
of the guards asked, indicating Danny.

"Aye, I know the lad." A small crowd began to
pool behind him. Some wore the red robes of Dragon Army; others
sported the varying colors of the other armies.

"Please, Squire Rigil, just tell me where
Sabrina is and I'll be on my way."

"Why should I? And dats lieutenant to da
likes of you," said Rigil. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Do you play Knights, Lieutenant Rigil?"

"Aye, I do."

"I'll play you for Sabrina's location. If I
win, you tell me where she is."

"Are ya challenging me to a duel, newb?"

"Sure, I guess so," said Danny. However, he'd
never heard a game of Knights referred to as a duel.

A wide smile crossed Rigil's face as he
turned to the small crowd and yelled, "A duel has been issued and
the challenge has been accepted."

Whoops and cheers erupted from those
gathering around as the mass of squires began to build, creating a
rainbow of colored robes.

"Danny?" a familiar voice questioned from
behind him.

Danny turned to find Rogen exiting the Dragon
Army barracks, a look of pure confusion upon his face.

"What are you doing here?" the blond-haired
squire asked.

"Dis here newb has challenged me to a duel,"
said Rigil in Danny's stead.

"I've challenged Rigil to a game of Knights
to find out Sabrina's location," clarified Danny.

Rogen appeared dumbfounded. "A duel is not a
mere game of cards, Squire Danny. If you have challenged Lieutenant
Rigil to a duel, then it is swords you will cross, not cards."

"No," said Danny, shaking his head. "I
challenged him to a game of cards," he tried to explain. However,
turning back toward Rigil, he noticed a sweeping smile growing
across the larger boy's face.

He'd been tricked.

"I didn't agree to a battle of blades."

"A challenge has been issued and accepted.
It's the law," said Rigil, placing his hand on the blue, twisting
hilt of a thick-bladed longsword.

"…The law?" Danny questioned.

"He doesn't know," pleaded Rogen, stepping
forward, standing at Danny's side. "Besides, he doesn't even have a
suit of dueling armor."

Rigil looked both boys up and down, nodding
in agreement with some wicked plan. "Since ya seem to have taken a
liking ta dis here newb, he can use your dueling armor."

"He is just a first-year squire," argued
Rogen. "You cannot expect…"

"It is the law," said a voice from the back,
interrupting Rogen.

Every squire, including Rigil, turned to find
Sir Syndil standing just beyond the crowd. Silence ensued as the
mass of squires parted, allowing the tall Elf to wade through to
the middle.

"Professor Syndil, sir," said Rigil, with a
nod and a smile, as the Elf stopped before him. However, Sir Syndil
didn't return the gesture.

Instead, Sir Syndil turned to Danny and
asked, "What are the terms?"

"I just wanted to know where Squire Sabrina
Drake was," said Danny.

Sir Syndil nodded, turned to Rigil, and
asked, "And you?"

"When I prevail, dis here first-year will
have no furtha contact with Squire Drake," said Rigil with a smirk.
"She's a member of Dragon Army and has no reason to associate with
first-years."

"That's not fair!" Danny said, only to be
silenced by the outstretched hand of Sir Syndil.

"At the chime of the seventh bell, the duel
will commence within the southern chamber of the Great Dome," said
Sir Syndil. "You have until that time to prepare. I suggest that
you use your time wisely. However, if either one of you fail to
appear, you will have violated the Law of the Light and be
condemned to judgment."

"I need no preparation," said Rigil. "Why not
begin now?"

"You dare to question me, Squire?"

Rigil dropped his brown eyes in submission.
"I…" began Rigil hesitantly, only to be interrupted by Sir
Syndil.

"Squire Firoth is a first-year squire, as
such, he will be given time to prepare. Is that understood?"

"Aye, Professor Syndil, sir," said Rigil, his
head still bowed. However, before stalking back into the Dragon
Army barracks, he turned toward Danny and added, "I look forward ta
seeing ya on the seventh hour, lad." With that said, he disappeared
through the double doors of the barracks, followed by a group of
his fellow red robes.

A series of whispers began to echo throughout
the crowd of remaining squires. However, they were soon staunched
as Sir Syndil turned to address them. "It is a day of respite,
Squires. Surely, there are other matters you must attend to?"

Quicker than they had gathered the host of
squires dissipated, leaving Sir Syndil standing alone with Danny
and Rogen.

"You never cease to amaze, do you, Squire
Firoth?" swiveling on the balls of his feet.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean, Sir
Syndil."

"Of course you don't," said Sir Syndil with a
smile. "Come, let us retire to a place beyond prying ears," he
added, looking at the guards who stood just outside the Dragon Army
barracks. "Come with us as well, Squire Rogen." He turned and
walked off, clearly assuming that both boys would follow.

They did.

Stopping in an abandoned street, Sir Syndil
turned and asked, "Do you know where Squire Drake is, Squire
Rogen?"

"Yes, sir, I do," said Rogen, with a slight
nod of the head. "And I would have told you if you had simply
waited a few seconds longer!" he added, addressing Danny.

"If I could predict the future, then I
would've waited," said Danny, growing angry at Rogen's insinuating
tone.

Sir Syndil's right eyebrow lifted
ever-so-slightly at Danny's comment. However, before Rogen could
snap back, Sir Syndil held his right hand up, demanding silence.
"There is no one to blame." Then, after looking at both boys
carefully, he added, "Squire Rigil was right, you are both nearly
of the same stature."

Rogen and Danny exchanged curious glances,
before either squire could comment, Sir Syndil continued.

"Squire Rogen, you will take Danny to see
Squire Drake and then gather your dueling armor. On the last chime
of the ninth bell, I will look forward to seeing both of you in my
classroom chambers."

"…Yes, Professor."

With that said, Sir Syndil walked off, with
other urgent matters to attend.

"Come," urged Rogen, striking off. "I will
take you to see Sabrina."

"…So much for a day of well-deserved rest,"
said Danny.

back to top

ogen led Danny to the southernmost part of the
island, a series of steep stone stairs were carved into the cliff
face. Peering down, Danny gasped in amazement. Below him,
stretching out a good distance from the base of the rock, was a
beach of ivory-colored sand. The glint of metal caught his eye as
he spotted Sabrina, practicing her skill with a slender-edged
blade, just beyond the reach of the lapping waves.