Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight (46 page)

"Thank you, Sir Syndil."

"No, Danny, thank you," said the Elf, his
smile almost appearing genuine.

Danny stepped clear as Sir Syndil closed the
door softly behind him. Standing in the cool night air, Danny's
confusion remained. However, more than anything else, he felt an
overwhelming sense of dread. He had the feeling like he'd just
failed a very important test.

back to top

Chapter 33 -
Betrayal

anny woke up to the first ringing of the
seventeenth bell. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he
stepped, bare-footed, onto the cool stone floor. He knew that he
didn't have to be up for another hour but he knew he would be
unable to go back to sleep; his training had conditioned him to
waking at this time. Besides, jumbled thoughts and feelings still
haunted him from the night before, his encounter with Sir Syndil
had unnerved him.

Chris stirred, sat up and nodded in Danny's
direction.

Danny filled him in, giving Chris every
confusing detail about his last training session with Sir Syndil.
While he was telling Chris the story, his friends began to wake up
as well.

"Why can't I go back to sleep," groaned Doug,
shifting in the sheets.

By the time the final toll of the seventeenth
bell had come and gone, everyone, except for Matt, appeared to be
wide-awake.

"Somebody, please wake Matt up," Alonso
groaned, as he rubbed his eyes. "If I have to be awake, so does
he."

Anthony shrugged and moved over to the edge
of Matt's bed. Gripping the side of the mattress, he lifted it
upward, overturning both bed and boy, spilling him somewhere
beneath in a mound of sheets and blankets.

"What the… what's happening," mumbled Matt
from somewhere beneath the heap, causing laughter to erupt from
those in the room. The pile of sheets shifted as Matt peeked
through, pushing the mattress aside. Still half-asleep, he wiped
his eyes, slipped his glasses over his face and reached for his
sword. Pulling the blade halfway out, he said, "Who's the newb that
did it?"

Everyone pointed accusing fingers at Anthony.
Matt followed their gestures and turned an angry eye toward the
larger boy.

Anthony stood up straight as if he couldn't
care less being the target of Matt's anger. Still dressed in the
thin white fabric of his sleeping robes, his massive chest and
sizable biceps stretched the cloth taut across his muscular
build.

"You guys are such newbs," said Matt,
thinking it best that he not confront Anthony as he slipped his
sword back into the scabbard.

A resounding fit of laughter ensued in Matt's
honor.

All Matt could do was shake his head as he
went to work gathering the sheets and straightening his bedding.
"Newbs," was all he managed to say in his own defense.

After a good laugh, Danny felt better. It had
been some time since he was able to feel free enough to do that, to
laugh.

"I'm hungry," said Anthony, a fact that never
seemed to amaze anyone.

"Breakfast does sound good right now," agreed
Danny.

With that, everyone seemed to agree as they
made their way down to the main hall. Finding a long table, they
sat down next to the huge fireplace at the far end of the hall. The
flames were fresh and toiling, licking the bark of newly-placed
wood. A feast awaited them, food stacked high on the table. Anthony
filled his plate and then his mouth. Chris followed him, as did the
others. A few minutes later, Briza joined the group, finding a seat
next to Doug.

"Morning," Doug greeted her, his voice
somewhat muffled from the muffin in his mouth.

"If you ever visit Elsmelda, your manners are
going to have to improve most drastically," said the she Elf.

Doug swallowed hard, embarrassed.

"Whipped already," said Matt, before
finishing off a forkful of eggs.

"What does he mean by whipped?" Briza asked,
unfamiliar with the Human expression.

"He is suggesting that, because we've become
close, I'm sort of your slave," explained Doug.

"My race does not allow slavery!" Briza said,
taking to her feet, motioning toward the hilt of her sword.

Matt allowed himself a slight chuckle as he
held his hands before him in a sign of peace. "For living such a
long time, you Elves really aren't that bright."

"She hasn't had very much experience
interacting with Humans," Doug told him, placing a reassuring hand
over Briza's and navigating her away from the sword at her
side.

"What does he mean, clarify?" Briza asked,
now confused more than angered.

"He's just being stupid, I'll explain later,"
said Doug before turning on Matt. "Most Elves will never set foot
beyond the boundaries of their own borders and are not familiar
with Human slang."

"Good to know," said Matt, adjusting his
glasses, shrugging.

"Should I be informed that you have slighted
me, Squire Mickler, I shall uphold my honor with my blade," said
Briza.

"Truly, I meant no offense," Matt said, now a
little concerned. "Tell her, Doug."

"I'll explain it to her like you meant it.
How she interprets it is completely up to her."

"Speaking of my race, how did your last
session with Sir Syndil fare, Squire Firoth?" Briza asked
Danny.

Danny suddenly realized that it had been very
late when he returned to the barracks the night before. He realized
that Briza had yet to hear the tale. However, still somewhat
confused by what had transpired, Danny felt more than comfortable
recounting the details, if not for Briza, then for his own
understanding.

"We dueled," began Danny, "and Sir Syndil
tested my progress to the point that I thought he might actually
kill me. Yet, I have a feeling that he discovered whatever it was
that he sought as far as my… ability is concerned."

"Perhaps, he merely wanted to challenge the
Mageknight," said Briza. "Sir Syndil's legendary ability with the
blade is always the talk of Elsmelda. A good swordsman strives to
pit themselves against stronger opponents, hoping the one to follow
will be more skilled than the previous opponent. Maybe, he wanted
to face the legend of the Mageknight in order to prove something to
himself."

"Perhaps," said Danny, more for everyone else
than himself, he still had his doubts.

"What'll you do now, man, knowing that Sir
Syndil doesn't have some evil plan in store for you?" Chris
asked.

"I don't know."

"Are you going to make yourself known to the
King of the Light?" Doug asked.

"I don't think I have much of a choice there.
Calador told me that when this was over, he'd see to it firsthand
that I did just that."

"You're going to be famous," said
Anthony.

"Just don't forget about us, man," joked
Chris, thudding his fist lightly against Danny's right
shoulder.

Danny's tone turned serious. "I'll still be
me. Being the Mageknight won't change who I am. Besides, I still
have to pass the true test. The Bonded blade of the Mageknight
still remains at the bottom of its resting pool. If you remember, I
failed to pull it from the water, just as you did."

"That's true," agreed Alonso. "For all you
newbs know, I might be the Mageknight. I think I'll give it another
shot. Maybe I'll be able to pull the sword out on my second
try."

"Still," interrupted Danny before Alonso
could continue any further, "Alamber has yet to return from
Elsmelda."

"And there is no word from the magician as of
yet," said Calador from the end of the table. All eyes turned to
the Elf, shocked that they hadn't heard his approach.

"That's rather rude of you," pointed out
Alonso.

"I made no attempt to hide my movements,
Squire Martinez," said Calador, standing rigidly.

"Maybe he's been unable to find anything,"
said Matt.

"That is one of many possibilities, Squire
Mickler. Yet, I keep coming back to what you just said about your
last lesson with Sir Syndil," the Elf said, turning in Danny's
direction, as if to address him alone. "It would be unlike Sir
Syndil to give up so easily. However, from what you have told
everyone here, you feel as if he has done just that."

"No," said Danny, shaking his head, "I said
that it felt like he found what he was searching for. Whatever he
wanted from me, I think he found it."

"Forgive me, Squire Firoth, but it does not
add up."

Danny felt annoyed. He was beginning to feel
that Calador had been manipulating him from the beginning in order
to turn him against Sir Syndil. He stood up. At this point, he
didn't know whom to believe anymore.

"Are you sure that you're not reading more
into this than you should be? That your personal grudge against Sir
Syndil isn't clouding your judgment?"

"I told you, from the beginning, that my
personal feelings toward Sir Syndil had nothing to do with my
involvement in your safety," said Calador, his mood unchanging even
in light of Danny's obvious frustration. "My duty as your caretaker
is to see to your well-being, by any means necessary. You must
forgive me if I refuse to fall short of my responsibility; I
believe that this business with Sir Syndil has not yet come to its
full fruition."

"Enough!" Danny said, more forcibly than he
meant to, causing the majority of those gathered within the hall to
turn in his direction. "Enough," he said again, this time in a
softer tone. Taking a deep breath, Danny turned away from the
table. "I need some fresh air," he said, walking toward the double
doors that marked the exit to the first-year barracks.

"Wait up, man."

Danny turned on his friend and held up his
hand, palm out. "…Alone."

Chris stopped dead in his tracks, his face
wrought with confusion.

Seeing the hurt in his friend's eyes, Danny
felt the need to explain. "Thank you, everyone, for your
friendship," he said, addressing everyone seated at the table, "but
this is my burden. The final duel between Lion Army and Dragon Army
begins in about an hour. Save me a seat."

With that, Danny faked a smile and strode off
toward the doors, alone as he wished.

Stepping outside, Danny took in a deep whiff
as the salty sea air invaded his nostrils, carried on the wings of
a soft breeze. Walking forward, he made his way past the barracks
of Griffin Army and Horse Army. Some squires lingered outside,
getting ready to leave early in order to get a good seat for the
final duel. He paid them no heed and walked on. He intended to wish
Sabrina luck before she left, however, stopping before the towering
construct of the Dragon Army barracks, he figured that he probably
wouldn't find her. Without knocking, he knew that no one would
answer, the building looked vacant. Dragon Army was in the running
to win the Chalice of Light for the third year in a row. There was
no doubt that they were preparing in the Great Dome while he stood
there.

Danny regretted not telling Sabrina the truth
and he knew that if he could turn back time and tell her what he
should have, he would. Feeling very alone, he turned down the small
alleyway that separated Dragon Army and Rat Army. With no
particular destination in mind, he simply walked, allowing his mind
to roam completely free, something that had been far beyond him the
past few weeks. He walked, not keeping track of time, comfortable
in the release it allowed.

Turning a corner, a strong tone announced the
first of sixteen bells. Danny panicked, the final duel would begin
any minute and he would be late. However, before he could put his
legs to good use, he almost gasped as he spotted a flash of orange
robes combined with a yellow sash and flowing red hair. Then, just
as quick as he'd appeared, the man vanished in a blur of motion,
blocked by a high brick wall.

"Alamber," whispered Danny, he quickened his
step into an all-out sprint.

Alamber seemed to be heading for the Castle
of Light.

"…Alamber!" Danny yelled, as he rounded the
stone corner.

A good distance away, a confused Alamber
turned with an expression of utter surprise. Perhaps the last
person the Half-Elf had thought to encounter was Danny Firoth.
Alamber's eyes darted in every conceivable direction. He had the
appearance of concern and purpose. Once sure that no one else might
surprise him, he motioned Danny over with a wave of the arm.

Speeding up, Danny covered the distance,
coming to a sudden stop. "Alamber," he said, his tone rising in
question.

"Hush, Squire," said Alamber, holding a
finger in front of his lips. "The Dark has a presence here.
However, I know not the strength of it yet."

"What are you…" began Danny, he was
interrupted as Alamber gripped the cloth covering his neck and
hauled him into the nearest alley.