Sword of Light (16 page)

Inside the fence, near the gate, he observed Tomaris and Jonas talking quietly with Norlan, Madalin and Cherise.  He felt a pang of loss as he made his way towards them.  These people had sheltered him, cared for him, and acted as a surrogate family for him.  Now he was leaving, likely to never return.  He was not sure what he could say that would adequately convey his feelings towards them.

Making sure that his face was as deep in the cowl as possible, he stopped next to them.  He could see the tears in Madalin and Cherise’s eyes, holding each other’s hand.  Norlan was standing next to Madalin, his arm around her shoulders, trying to be stoic, eyes dry, but Jake knew that was an act.

“Good morning, Jake.”  Jonas said with a nod of his head.  “I wish that I could do more for you, but I believe that Tomaris is the person best able to figure out how to help you.”

“I know that, Jonas.”  Jake replied, going along with the deception.  “You have done more for me than I deserve.”

“It has been my honor to do so, Jake.”  Jonas said.  He raised his hand and spoke again, voice gentle with an undercurrent of suppressed emotion.  “We must now say farewell.  May the blessings of the One go with you, Jake, and may He grant you a way home.”

“Thank you.”  Jake responded.

Jake turned to the family, feeling his throat going tight.  Norlan came up to him and pulled him into an almost crushing embrace.  “I will miss you, Jake.”  He said in a tight whisper.  “I also hope you find a way home, but if not, return here, for this is your home as well.”  After another few moments, Norlan released him.

Madalin threw her arms around him, pulling him close.  “Our love goes with you, Jake.”  She said, voice cracking.  “Stay safe and write if you can.  Do not forget us.”

“Never, Madalin.”  Jake said softly.  “I will never forget what you have done for me.  I only wish I had a way to repay your kindness.”

“No payment will ever be necessary, Jake.”  Madalin said as she leaned in and kissed his cheek.  Jake kept his head down, hoping that she would not notice his true condition.

Once Madalin let go, Cherise came in and hugged him, crying softly.  “I wish you could stay.”  She sobbed.  “I feel better, safer, when you are here.”

“I wish I could.”  Jake said, hugging her tightly.  Amid his roiling emotions, a thought occurred to him.  “If you ever need someone to protect you, ask for Marcus and tell him I said that he should watch over you.  I am sure he will.”  Jake felt her nod.

“I’ll miss you.”  Cherise said brokenly, releasing him, then turned and threw herself into her mother’s arms, weeping.

Before his emotions got the best of him, he turned to Tomaris.  “I’m ready if you are.”  He said, voice catching in his throat.

“Yes, child.  We should get started.”  Tomaris said, then turned to the family.  “Allay your worries.  I will do everything I can to protect and assist Jake.”  He said compassionately.  “Do not fear for his safety while he is with me.”  Norlan gave a stiff nod of his head, while holding onto his wife and daughter.

“Join me in the carriage, Jake.”  Tomaris said as he headed for the gate, Jonas at his side.  “It is time.”

With one last long gaze at the family, Jake turned and followed Tomaris.  He waited while Jonas helped Tomaris into the carriage, then made to follow.  As he grabbed the handle to pull himself into the carriage, the sound of horses approaching made him pause.  He was surprised to see Marcus ride up, flanked by two men in Royal Guard armor.  Marcus dismounted and approached him.

“I just heard that you are departing.”  He said as he stopped in front of Jake.  “I wished to say farewell.”

“Thank you, Marcus.”  Jake said.  He glanced over at Cherise.  “Will you do me a favor?”

“Just ask.”  Marcus replied.

“Watch over Norlan and his family for me, especially Cherise.”  Jake said quietly.  “They have been through a lot because of me.  I will feel better if I know you are protecting them.”

“It will be my honor, Jake.  Nothing will harm them while I live.”  Marcus answered.  He paused.  “Do you not plan to return?”

“I don’t know what will happen.”  Jake said truthfully.  “I have to assume that I will not.”

“It is better to expect the worse.”  Marcus agreed.  “Always keep that in mind while you are on the road.”  He held out his hand.  “May your journey be successful.”

Jake took it.  “I’m glad we became friends, or at least not enemies.”

Marcus nodded, looking at Jake’s face.  Jake saw his eyes widen slightly and his grip become firmer, pulling Jake a bit closer. 
He saw and now he knows.
  Jake thought, dismayed.

Jake leaned close.  “You cannot tell anyone, Marcus.  Not Keria or even Norlan.”  He whispered urgently.  “Only Jonas knows.”

“I will keep your secret, Jake.”  Marcus said quickly and quietly.  “I take it that you have other plans than what was announced?”

“Yes.”  Jake responded, glancing around.  “I can’t say anything more.”

“Fair enough.”  Marcus said.  “May you find success in your quest, whatever that may be.”  He released Jake’s hand.  “Do not worry about Norlan and his family.  I will keep them safe.”

“Thanks, Marcus.”  Jake said.

Marcus turned and headed back to his horse.  Once he was back in the saddle, he gave Jake a final salute, and then he and his companions rode off.  Jake motioned Jonas over.

“What is it?”  Jonas asked softly.

“Marcus saw my face and knows that I’m not going to be healed.”  Jake said.  “He promised to keep it secret.”

Jonas mulled it over.  “I will make sure of that.”  He said firmly and resolutely.

“I trust him.”  Jake stated quickly.  “He will keep his promise.”

“Of course.”  Jonas said absently.  He motioned for Jake to climb into the carriage.  “You need to be off.”

Nodding, Jake climbed into the carriage.  With a final wave to Jonas and the family through the window, Jake turned ahead and the quest for the Guardian’s sword began.

…

The party rode throughout the day, only stopping briefly to feed and water the horses.  Like Dominic and he had done, they stopped at the North Reach waystation as the sun was setting.  The ride in the carriage had been quiet for the most part, with Jake’s thoughts on those back in Sanduas and Tomaris sitting there silent, his eyes closed, seemingly content to wait for Jake.

At the waystation, Jake was forced to play the invalid again, shining in power while keeping his hood up.  He made a show of it, making his way slowly through the dining hall to the room he was sharing with Dominic.  Dominic brought him his dinner, then went back to join the rest in the hall.  Jake ate in silence, anxious now to be on his way, so he could be free of this masquerade.

He was lying on his bed, his thoughts focused on what was coming, when Dominic returned.  He sat up when the door opened, then sank back down when he saw it was Dominic.

“What’s on your mind, boy?”  Dominic asked, seeing the look of concern on Jake’s face.

“I’m just thinking about what I have to do.  I don’t want to screw up.”  Jake replied.  He looked up at Dominic.  “I’m also a little scared, to be honest.”

“That is good to hear.”  Dominic said.  “If you were not afraid, I would be worried.”  He sat down on his bed.  “Control that fear, but keep it in the back of your mind; it will make you cautious.  When you confront obstacles in your journey, just remember your lessons and react accordingly.”

“But, what if-.“  Jake began, but Dominic cut him off.

“Leave over the ‘what ifs’, boy.”  He said.  “Thinking on it does no good.  What will happen, will happen.  You simply need to stay focused and be prepared to deal with what comes.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”  Jake retorted.  “You have a lot more experience with stuff like this.”

“And how did I gain that experience?”  Dominic asked rhetorically.  “By trial and error, like all good lessons.  You learned from the bruises on how to properly defend yourself with a sword.  You faced demons with your power, despite your fear, learning how to fight them.  You will learn your way through this as well.”  He snorted.  “Also, you have the girl to keep you out of trouble.”

“Do you think we have a chance?”  Jake asked quietly.

“Tomaris believes it to be so and, so far, I have been given no reason to doubt his judgment.”  Dominic replied.  “There is danger ahead, even great danger, but the reward may be a way for you to return home.  Only you can decide what you will risk to accomplish that.”

“I just wish I had a better idea of what to expect.”  Jake said.

“Then, when we are on the road, ask Tomaris if he has anything more to say other than what he has told us.”  Dominic responded.  “I’m sure he will have some advice for you.”  He leaned over to blow out the candles.  “Now, get some sleep.”

As they continued their journey the next day, Jake decided to follow Dominic’s advice.  He asked Tomaris if he could tell him anything else more on what he had planned.

“When we camp near the crossroads tonight, you will trade places with the young cleric.”  He told Jake, eyes knowing and sympathetic.  “In the morning, you, dressed as a cleric, and Hailyn will continue north towards Beragan.  Jonas has provided a letter of introduction to the Chief Cleric of Beragan that will give you passage to Dunanty, the capital of Beragan.”  He reached into his robes and pulled out a small piece of parchment, handing it to Jake.  Jake took it and saw several runes on the paper.  Confused, he looked over at Tomaris.

“When you reach the capital, you should ask the Chief Cleric if he can decipher those runes.”  Tomaris continued.  “I was only able to acquire them recently.  What I know is that they are from ancient Beragan.  Without having their key, though, I have not been able to interpret them.”  He paused.  “However, I believe that they refer to a possible location of the sword.”

“If you can’t interpret them, why do you think the Chief Cleric can?”  Jake asked.

“While I have an extensive library, I don’t know everything, child.”  Tomaris said with a laugh.  “It is possible that the clerics of Beragan will know what the runes mean.  That will save time that we cannot spend seeking the key.”

“After we get there?”  Jake asked.  “What then?”

“You will need to follow the clues as you find them.”  Tomaris replied.  “You will have to think your way through this and, sometimes, simply follow your instincts.  If I knew more, I would tell you.  I would not risk you if I knew where the sword is located.  I would simply have sent a large party of clerics and soldiers to recover it, trusting in them to get there before the demons could move it.”

“I am an old man, Jake.”  Tomaris continued.  “While I still have my power, my body is fading; I cannot do this quest myself.  If I could, I would leave you in the safety of the Keep and go myself.”  He sighed bitterly.  “As it is, since I cannot go, someone must.  I believe that you have the power and intelligence to accomplish it.  Otherwise, I would not have suggested it.  You have stood against a demon lord and survived; that is no small thing.”

“I had help.”  Jake stated.

“And you have help now.”  Tomaris responded.  “You and the girl can match most demons now and your power is not reached its limit.  When you held it, I tried to determine if there was any change since you left the Keep.  I believe that it has grown stronger.”

“Well, I guess that is one thing in my favor.”  Jake muttered.

“Be at peace, Jake.”  Tomaris said soothingly.  “I believe that the Creator has brought you here and He would not have done that if there was not more to you than you believe.”

When they stopped for the night, moving off the road and onto the grassy plains, and set up camp, Taric, the male cleric, came over to the carriage.  When he and Jake were trading clothes, Jake was surprised to see that he was wearing chainmail under his robes.  He asked him about it.

“Many clerics who serve in the army wear armor.”  Taric said with a wink and a laugh.  “Secretly, of course; we are not soldiers.  While some purists state that we should trust in the One for our protection, I believe that He gave us the ability to shape metal for just this purpose.  It would seem to be an insult to Him to not take advantage of His gifts.”

Jake chuckled at that while he pulled the robes over his own armor.

…

Hailyn was sitting near her blankets, stretching her sore muscles, when Tomaris appeared.  He had moved so quietly that she jumped a bit, startled when he spoke.

“I’m sorry, child.”  He said with a small smile.  “I did not mean to frighten you.”

“You did not frighten me, Master Tomaris.”  She responded.  “You simply caught me off guard.”

“May I join you?”  He asked.

“Of course.”  Hailyn replied.

Tomaris slowly settled to the ground, sitting across from her.  He looked at her for several moments, his unusual eyes seeming to see inside her.  She took a deep breath and stared back, trying to achieve a cleric’s calm.  That seemed to impress him, for he smiled deeply and nodded his head.

“You have strength in you, child.”  He said approvingly.  His smile faded.  “You will need that strength on this quest.”  He reached into a pouch on his belt and removed a silvery object.  When Hailyn looked closely, she saw that it was a bracelet, its surface covered in runes.  With a start, she recognized the runes as the same ones on Jonas’ staff.  She looked at Tomaris, the question in her eyes.

“Yes, child.”  He replied, turning the bracelet over in his hand.  “The runes are the same.  I copied these runes when I was creating the staff that I gave to Jonas.”

His eyes took on a faraway look.  “When I was much younger, I sought out all things related to power.  I had the idea that, if I found old and ancient artifacts or manuscripts, I could use them to increase my own knowledge and power.”

He shook his head.  “It was during one of my quests that I found this.  It was in a cave, deep in the Gray Ridges, one that I believed Arnes lived in.  I searched it, spending days tracing its passages, without finding any evidence to support my theory.  In frustration, I kicked at a stone.  When it rolled away, I saw that there was a small opening under it.  When something glittered back in my torchlight, I reached in and pulled this out.”