Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight (51 page)

"…Calador!" Danny said as the Elf closed the
distance and joined the group. "You're unhurt?" he questioned,
looking Calador up and down, not finding even the smallest of
scratches. "I could've sworn you were wounded nearly as bad, if not
worse, than I. How is it that I'm in this bed while you're up and
walking around?"

"I am an Elf, Danny, and you are a Human. Our
physical bodies differ quite a bit. You see, Elves are more attuned
to magical healing, the Human body can only repair itself at a
limited speed, even when helped by magical means."

Danny winced as he adjusted himself. "Yeah, I
suppose Sir Virgil already said as much."

"How are you feeling?"

"I've been better but I have some questions
for you."

"Of course you do, but the king will be
arriving momentarily, so I will answer as much as I can in the time
that we have."

"The black sword you wielded. Was that your
Bonded?" Danny asked with a probing empathy.

"What is left of it… yes."

"Then you've regained the powers of your
Bonded?"

"No," Calador said without the slightest hint
of emotion, as if he'd come to terms with this fact a long time
ago. "When Enigmir was destroyed by Syndil, she was shattered into
seven individual pieces. With the help of Sir Bartlett, I was able
to re-forge Enigmir into seven separate swords. Through practice,
secretly, I learned to combine these pieces into a larger whole,
regaining some of her Awakenings. However, the bond between the
blades only lasts for a short amount of time."

"You said she?" Danny asked, he'd only
recently learned firsthand that the bond between wielder and Bonded
was an intimate relationship.

"Enigmir was my elder sister," said Calador,
his composure cracking at admission. "She was killed in service to
the Light before my birth and she chose to join the ranks of the
Bonded. It is rare that a Bonded links with a blood relative, but
it is not altogether unheard of."

"I'm sorry, Calador. I had no idea," said
Danny solemnly, glancing down at Magear.

"As I told you from the beginning, Danny,
your sympathy, although thoughtful, is not required."

"Are you… able to hear …" Danny's words grew
fainter before trailing off.

"Her thoughts are lost to me," said Calador,
knowing full well the extent of Danny's question.

Briza's hand drifted to her mouth in utter
shock. "You must truly hate Syndil," she said, her words little
more than a whisper.

"I hold no grudge against him for the
destruction of my Bonded. However, his betrayal of the Light, that
is another matter."

Danny opened his mouth to ask another
question. However, he was quickly silenced as Calador held up his
right hand in a plea for peace.

"Please, I would prefer that the subject of
our conversation be changed to more immediate matters."

Danny nodded in understanding, a gesture that
was not apparently lost on the blind Elf.

"Thank you."

Danny hesitated and then asked his next
question. "What was that black tornado thing? I don't remember much
before I blacked out."

Clearly relieved to be off the subject of
himself, Calador answered, "What you witnessed was a Shadow Flux,
Danny, a tear in our reality created by the Shadows. Essentially,
it is a doorway to the Shadow Realm. If you had been caught within
it, you would have most likely awakened in the realm of the
Shadows, rather than here in the infirmary."

Danny dropped his gaze at the thought. "And
Syndil allowed himself to be swept up in that voluntarily?"

"Since no remnants of his presence have been
found, we assume so. His traitorous actions run deep."

Danny looked up with hopeful eyes. "And my
father's sword…?"

Calador shook his head from side to side.
"…Is lost."

"For the time being," said a deep, resonating
voice.

Everyone turned toward the sound as the King
of the Light entered the chamber, Alamber Halfelvin followed
directly behind him.

Suddenly in the presence of the king, Calador
honored his leader with a slight nod. "…My lord."

Danny had only seen the King of the Light
from a distance, now, in such close proximity, he found himself
awed in the king's presence; he was so overwhelmed that he stared
without blinking.

The king wore a fine white robe, accented
with golden trim and stitching, his robust physique accenting the
form-fitting fabric. His beard, as white as freshly fallen snow,
sported two long braids that fell just beneath the corners of his
mouth. His right hand lingered on the hilt of a golden sword at his
side. The pommel of the blade was engraved to depict a detailed
crusade of angels and demons locked in endless combat.

The longer Danny stared at the King's Bonded,
the more he thought he saw those represented upon the hilt actually
move. However, before Danny could contemplate the Bonded any
further, the King of the Light stepped forward and stopped just at
the edge of his bed, Alonso and Anthony parted to let him through.
Drawn to the smooth crown on the king's head, Danny found himself
mesmerized by its soft white glow which looked like a halo.

"It is good to see you have regained your
wits, Squire Firoth," said the King of the Light, his voice bold
and commanding. Placing his hand on the baseboard of the bed, he
asked, "How are you feeling?"

Forced into conversation, Danny looked
closely at the king, finding the large man's golden-brown eyes
rather startling. "…Fine, my king."

The King of the Light eased himself forward,
putting most of his weight on his frontward hand, causing the bed
to creak. "Please, call me Sire Koltair. There is a time and place
for formality, but this is neither that time nor that place. That
is, of course, unless you would rather I address you as
Mageknight."

"Honestly, my king… I mean, Sire Koltair, I
haven't gotten used to being called by that title, and I'm not sure
I ever will."

Sire Koltair smiled. "To be completely honest
with you, Squire Firoth, I have never truly gotten used to the
title of king myself. You see, I was not placed in this role due to
traditions of nobility or royalty. The King of the Light is more a
political title than anything else. It was not the predisposition
of my blood that earned me this role, but, rather, my ambition to
obtain it. It is not beyond reason that you could someday become
the King of the Light yourself, or, perhaps, someone else in this
room, for that matter."

"
I
could become king?" Alonso
questioned. His eyes grew distant, as if, at that very moment, he
was imagining his future as the King of the Light.

"If that is your ambition," the King stated.
"But I digress. I did not come here to discuss politics. As all of
you know, the Light has suffered a grave betrayal. However, the
Light has also been blessed with the return of the Mageknight, you,
Squire Firoth."

"I'm still not sure what that means."

"Nor am I, Squire Firoth, the ancient text is
quite limited on the subject; I know you are well aware of that."
Turning around, the king shot Calador an accusing look.

Danny eyed the same Elf curiously.

"Calador has been most forthcoming, Squire
Firoth. He has revealed all to me," Sire Koltair said, turning back
to Danny.

Shame filled Danny's heart as he dropped his
gaze. "Oh," he said softly.

Sire Koltair sighed. "Do not blame yourself
for doing something that you thought was right, Squire Firoth. I
understand what your reasoning was at the time. However, in the
future, I would ask that you be more open with your superiors,
myself included."

"Yes, Sire Koltair."

"I would also ask that you meet my eyes when
you answer me, Squire Firoth. One can tell much from another's
gaze."

Looking up, Danny met the king's golden-brown
eyes. "Yes, Sire Koltair," he said again.

"The blame is not yours alone, Danny," said
Alamber, taking a silent step forward. "None of us, Calador
included, could have known the depth of Syndil's betrayal."

"I understand that Syndil has turned to the
Dark but why did he take my father's sword?"

Calador stepped forward. His blindfolded gaze
focused in Danny's general direction. "You do understand that the
blade Syndil stole is not simply your father's sword?"

"Yes," said Danny, dropping his eyes once
more. "The sword Syndil took is a Bonded created from my father's
soul. Sir Bartlett told me."

"…What?!" Sabrina said, looking to Calador,
Alamber and then to Sire Koltair for an answer. When no answer
appeared to be forthcoming, she held Danny's bandaged hand in her
own. "I am sorry, Danny. I had no idea."

"We will get him back, man," Chris assured,
placing a comforting hand on Danny's shoulder.

Briza gasped, covering her mouth with her
hand. "That's horrible."

Danny could feel his heart pounding faster
with every passing second. His sadness turned to rage as he balled
his left hand into a fist, ignoring the searing pain that followed.
"Why'd he take my father?" Danny asked, raising his head, meeting
Sire Koltair's gaze.

Everyone turned their attention to the King
of the Light, awaiting an answer.

Sire Koltair looked straight at Danny. "Ten
years ago, your father, along with a cohort of other Knights of the
Light, set out on a secret mission to obtain a rare artifact of
legend, the Black Bonded. Said to have been created from the
essence of a Shadow, the possession of this weapon would strengthen
the Shadow hordes beyond the capability of the Light. If they
possessed this weapon, Squire Firoth, it would allow the Shadows to
fashion Bondeds of their own. This could not be allowed to happen."
The king paused to allow the full weight of his words to sink in.
"Your father was successful, his fellow Knights of the Light were
slaughtered.

"Before your father passed and allowed his
essence to be placed within the shell of a Bonded, he hid the Black
Bonded in a location known only to him. The reason Syndil wanted
the Bonded containing your father was to locate the final resting
place of the Black Bonded. Because a Bonded will only awaken when
touched by its eventual Bond mate, we were unable to question your
father about the resting place of the Black Bonded. However, even
if we could have, the transition from body to blade can be most
confounding, and it is unknown whether your father even remembers
its location anyway.

"Most likely, it is Syndil's intention to
force your father's Bonded to consciousness and coerce him to
reveal the location of the Black Bonded."

"Why wasn't I told about this?"

"Only a handful of Knights of the Light were
privy to this information. Additionally, it was your father's wish
that you be kept as far away from the conflict between the Light
and the Dark as possible. He did not want this life for you, Squire
Firoth. However, it seems that it was your destiny regardless, as
the Mageknight, you would have been pulled into this ancient
struggle whether you wanted to be or not. Syndil must have chosen
you because of your father, hoping that some clue concerning the
whereabouts of the Black Bonded may have been passed down to you.
Syndil must have considered it an added bonus that you actually
turned out to be the Mageknight."

Danny dropped his eyes. "Yes, he said as
much, he used me."

"Syndil used all of us, Danny," Calador said
in a calm voice.

"What happens now?" Danny asked, taking
comfort in Calador's words. "What'll be required of me now that I'm
the Mageknight?"

The King of the Light smiled. "You are the
Mageknight in title only, Squire Firoth. I am afraid that, in mind
and body as well as ability, you are still just a Squire of the
Light. Thus, you shall fulfill only the requirements of that duty
at this time. You will remain a Squire at the White Rock Academy of
Illumination, being no different from the friends gathered around
you. You have reached the end of your first year as a squire and as
such, you must make a choice. You may choose to continue your
training to become a Knight of the Light, or, if it is your wish,
you may return to the life you knew before. No one within the Light
will stop you."

"You're saying I could simply go home and not
have to return."

"…If that is your choice, Squire Firoth."

"…Even though I am the Mageknight?"

"Even so, the Light will not force you to
fight."

In turn, Danny met the eyes of his friends.
He wondered what they would choose to do, given recent events.

"You should know that your friends have
already decided," said Sire Koltair, as if reading Danny's
thoughts.

Danny looked closely at his friends. "I'd
like to know their decisions before I make my own."

The king responded with a slight nod and
said, "Of course."

Chris was the first to speak. "You know me,
man. I've never been one to back down from a fight. I have chosen
to return next year and continue my training to become a
knight."

Danny smiled at his oldest friend, the truth
of his words was heart-warming. Chris was forever faithful. Once he
put his mind to something, he would allow nothing to stand in his
way.

Alonso spoke up next, "I had already planned
on returning, now that I know I could become the king, I want to
come back even more."

Sire Koltair shot the black-haired squire a
quizzical look. Alonso's stone-faced expression caused a series of
small chuckles to erupt from his friends.

Matt sighed and shook his head. After
adjusting his glasses, he said, "Who wouldn't want to come back to
a place like this, where magic exists alongside creatures of legend
and fantasy? I'll return, even at the risk of my own life. I can't
go back to being the nerdy kid at school, being bullied on a daily
basis."