The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1) (17 page)

“Yes,
your majesty,” replied the knight.

Insur
waved his hand dismissively. “Then return to your post.”

Unwin
bowed and exited. Jared watched his half-brother’s retreat before he turned his
attentions back to their father.

“Tell me
what brings me here this night.”

For the
second time that night Jared detailed the day’s battle. The high king listened
unemotionally until the end. When
finally
Jared
finished, Insur spoke again.

“Is this
woman still alive?”

Jared nodded,
“As far as I know. She was when the healers brought her into the other room.”

“Let us
go to see if that is still the case. I would hate for you to waste your last
favor.”

Without
knocking, the king of the Central Kingdom entered the room where the healers
were stabilizing Rebekah. The healers, save Alawnwee, looked up with scolding
looks upon their faces. However, they quickly checked their expressions when
they recognized the king. As they went back to work, Insur spoke up.

“How is
she?”

Without looking
up the elder healer, a weald, answered. “She has a high fever and we can’t get
her to waken. The poison is in her system, yet it has not killed her. We’ve
administered an antitoxin, though we couldn’t use the most potent due to her
pregnancy. I’ve got my daughter mixing up a poultice to place on the entry
point and suck out what poison it can. I’ll also start a fluid drip to put
nourishment and further subtle medicines into her body.”

“Your
work as always is thorough, Doctor Elam,” the king said. “What is the
likelihood that she’ll live?”

Dr. Elam
looked up; his purple eyes were full of wonder. “Your majesty, it is a miracle
that she is not already dead. Goblin poison is nothing to trifle with, and this
woman has somehow been fighting it for several hours. I would not like to
hazard a guess, my lord.”

The king
did not respond. Instead he studied Rebekah. She was fair, and Insur could see
the grace she would have conveyed were she not so battered and ill. He wondered
about her and could not completely dismiss the notion of sending her away and
leaving her to her fate. Nevertheless, some sense of charity stirred within
him.

Alawnwee
broke the silence of the moment as she began talking to Dr. Elam. “The baby is
stable. It has an elevated heart rate, but otherwise it seems fine. I’d like to
take some birth fluid from the womb in order to see if the poison has invaded
the baby’s system.”

Dr. Elam
looked at Alawnwee thoughtfully for a moment before answering. “That procedure
can be dangerous to both mother and child, though I suppose we have to know if
the child is affected or not. Have you received training for such a procedure?”

Alawnwee
shook her head. “I’ve only assisted in one once. I was coming to the Northern
Temple to practice more in all midwife healing arts.”

“I’m sure
Dr. Elam can train you for now, young lady.” Everyone turned to face the king
once more. He continued to speak, enjoying the shocked looks upon their faces.
“Dr. Elam and his staff are the very best in the Crossroads and possibly beyond.”
The king then indicated Rebekah. “This woman is to be given the best care while
she lives. Hopefully that will be longer than this night. This woman and hers
are under protection of the High King’s Crown. Make every effort to save her
and the child.”

Dr. Elam
nodded and began talking with the other healers. King Insur motioned for Jared
to follow him and they left the room. The two walked down the hall in silence
for a few moments, then the king stopped the young half-blood.

“Is all
of this to your satisfaction?”

“More
than I could have hoped for, your majesty.”

“Very
well; I will accord her guest quarters in the Citadel Proper when the healers
are ready to move her. She will recover in comfort, and the baby will be taken
care of, as well. Our time is now past and you have no more claim on me. You
may carry my blood, but what is mine is not to be yours. I will allow you
visitations with this lady if she wishes it. However, I do not wish to hear of
you seeking me out anymore.”

Jared
bowed deeply and held it for a long time. When he finally spoke it was quiet
and formal. “Your majesty has granted me much, and I accept all that you have
bestowed upon me. I shall not harbor any claim on you or what is yours for so
long as I live.”

The king
lifted Jared out of the bow by gently pulling up on his chin. Insur held the
young man’s face for a few more moments before he let go.

“One last
thing. Prince Jall has grown into a skilled swordsman and has his mother’s
temper. Never let it be known that you are mine, or he may end you. He guards
his inheritance jealously, so beware.”

“Yes,
your highness; thank you.”

The king
turned without another word and disappeared into the shadows of the hall. Jared
had no doubt there was a hidden passage around here. No one
save
the king and the Magi, Verger Rex, knew all the ins and outs of the Citadel
Proper and all the buildings attached to it. Jared rubbed his chin where the
king had touched him. He turned and left, still wondering how to feel about his
father.

Monday
does not exist in the Crossroads. The Rest Day is the last day of the week,
followed by First Day (or Light Day, or Spoken Day, or Day of the Word,
depending on the race or language used). Most of the children weren’t thinking
of this fact. They weren’t thinking about much at all, except about how to get
past the three Coterie brothers and Yero.

David and
the other four adults woke all the children early. Once they were fed, their
father took the youngest (Ruth, Hannah, Jeremiah, Mary, and Dinah) and began
running them through a simple training course used by the youngest pages who
aspire to become knights. The six oldest, however, were trapped in a courtyard
with First Thunder, Rock, Fleet of Foot, and Yero guarding the exits. Sturdy
wooden swords, staffs, and shields were the only weapons any of them had. They
had been told that, to continue any other training, they had to get past one of
the four.

The
oldest children had been at this task for hours, with no sign of any of the
four men weakening. They were in a sweaty huddle in the center of the court,
panting hard as they talked.

“Okay,”
Mel said breathlessly, “We’ve tried them individually, we’ve tried any
combination of small groups, and we’ve even tried to overwhelm them with all of
us at once.”

“That last
one almost worked,” remarked Deborah.

“Right,”
Mel continued. “So what we need to do is not all try to slip through. We need
to only try and get one of us through.”

“Eve or
Silas,” Nic commented. “They’re the smallest and would most likely be able to slip
past in the confusion.”

Silas
bristled at this comment. “Let it be Eve. I want to keep at this.”

Eve
smirked, “Sadist! Fine, I’ll take the hole if you can make it.” At this, her
smirk turned into a wicked grin.

“Alright,”
Deborah perked up, “who do we go for?”

Mel
reviewed their options. “Yero does this for a living; training I mean. Rock has
that blasted staff and easily held off Deb and Nic when they went for him.
Fleet of Foot is fast and wiry. First Thunder has a lot of muscle to spare. However,
I think he may be our best target. He swings broadly and relies on his size to
intimidate. If we all fervently engage him then he’ll have to make his
defending strokes even broader, leaving Eve room to slip through.”

They all
agreed and without hesitation rushed over to mob First Thunder. Their combat
was sloppy, as only Mel had participated in a few weekend fencing lessons
offered through the high school over a year ago. However, their few days of
training while in the Crossroads was starting to pay off even through their
inexperience. They also battled with enthusiasm. Yet, First Thunder kept them
at bay. Then Mel started grouping his shots with Deborah’s. Then Nic caught on
to the strategy and concentrated his attacks on First Thunder’s left side along
with them. Silas too moved over to the far left and feigned trying to escape,
but clumsily.

First
Thunder nearly burst into laughter when he realized all but one of the children
were in easy reach for one mighty swipe. It was time to teach the children a
lesson about spreading out your forces better. With a bellowing roar, First
Thunder extended his right hand, swinging his sword to encompass his attackers.
Then, just as his swing passed its apex, Eve dodged to the right. First Thunder
saw the movement and started to pull back the might of his blow so as to be
able to defend against the strike he thought Eve was getting ready to deliver.
Eve didn’t strike, though; she ran through the gap between First Thunder and
the wall, and was down the corridor behind him in a breath’s passing. He turned
his head slightly to see Eve sprinting away and growled.

The blow
he had intended to sweep the rest of the children against the wall now lacked
sufficient force and was countered by a well-placed staff on Deborah’s part.
Silas began a series of rapid blows aimed squarely at First Thunder’s shield.
Deborah pushed on First Thunder’s sword arm with her staff. Meanwhile, Nic and
Mel danced in and out of each other’s ways as they aimed sword blows at First
Thunder’s midsection and legs. They were harrying him effectively, yet not
overwhelming him. However, at the moment when First Thunder was bracing himself
to rush forward and grab at the children, Eve’s wooden sword swung up from
behind him and smacked him in the groin. Even through the protective leathers
First Thunder felt the force of the hit and fell to one knee gasping. Eve’s
second blow hit him in the right temple, and First Thunder crumbled.

Mel, Nic,
and Silas backed away from their sister and First Thunder. All of them were
cringing. Deborah regarded Eve with a great amount of shock. Eve shrugged at
them all.

“What?”
she said, exasperated. “I learned it from the sheriff’s self-defense course.”

“Did you
kill him?” Silas asked.

Eve
sneered as First Thunder groaned. “Please, though he may feel the need to be
dead when he tries to walk.”

“Uh, hey,
guys,” Nic spoke up, trying to get everybody’s attention. He pointed to the
other three trainers jogging over to them. “We should run,” he said
matter-of-factly. And they did.

*

That
night over dinner most of them tried not to laugh as Yero told the story in the
Way House dining room. Fleet of Foot didn’t, however. First Thunder had a
bruise developing on his head and a pouch of ice between his legs. He grumbled
under his breath as the story came to a conclusion.

Rock
leaned over to First Thunder and whispered, “Father always warned you about
being overly confident and of extending yourself too far.”

Those
within earshot smiled broadly and tried harder to stifle their laughter.

David let
a small grin play upon his lips and looked over to Eve. “Who would have thought
those self-defense courses would have paid off in this manner?”

Fleet of
Foot was finally able to bring himself under control as Yero began speaking
once more. “It seems you all take to lessons well. I’d like to help more, but
our patrol is heading out again tomorrow. I commend you for your working
together and pressing what advantages you had. Mel, you have a tactician's
mind, and Eve, your tenacity will protect you well. Nic and Silas, your sword
strokes are starting to show more control. Deborah, you’ve got blocking with
that staff down really well. There is more work to be done, however, and I
suggest you keep practicing every day.

“I want
to point out to you that the other side receives training as well. They are
taught similar lessons, and they won’t hesitate to fight dirty and kill. You
did right to run when you saw us coming to First Thunder’s aid. Most of your
weapons work is rudimentary, and in order to become truly effective you will
need to practice so that actions become reflexes. Again, I wish I could help
you more. . .”

Rock
stood and clamped his hand on Yero’s shoulder, “Never fear, good warrior; my
brothers and I will educate these young ones. You see to the realm.”

Shortly
thereafter the children helped the Coterie brothers clean up. While they did
so, Yero pulled David aside.

“We had
four council members show up today,” he said, his voice laced lightly with
stress. “Each house has brought around fifty or more men. We’ve started setting
up tents around Council Rock. We’ve word to expect at least five more council
members
tomorrow; they did not indicate the size of their
parties. The king will hold to a meeting tomorrow with the current council
members and the proxies of those not present.

“I hear
you plan on having some of your children attend the council meetings.” Here
Yero paused as David nodded his head. “Last night the king had a meeting with
General Kolk, and all throughout the day today I’ve seen members of the army
personally loyal to the king and Kolk lurking around on no specific task. I
believe the Lord Avrant has taken an interest in you and your family. I would
suggest you not bring any of your children to this first meeting of the
council. If you do choose to bring your children thereafter, I would limit the
number to one or two. I think it goes without saying that you are to be the
only one armed. In addition, know this; Lieutenant Hogan has used what
influence he has to help select a few of the guards to be present in the
council meetings. They are men from our patrol and have been asked to ‘assist’
you by protecting yours if something outrageous should happen during the
council meetings.”

“Thank you,”
David replied. “I hope your association with me is not affecting your
standing.”

Yero
waved the words away. “I’m not an elf, sir; my standing in this kingdom is as
high as it is going to get. Besides, several years ago, my actions foiled an
assassination plot. My Captaincy is my reward and one the king is honor bound
not to revoke. Be warned, though; should the king really want to know about
you, I’m sure he’ll eventually ask Hogan or myself about our time with you.
However, as you’ve conducted yourself above reproach, there is nothing the
king’s watcher, Hogan, or I could report that would alarm him.”

David
bowed his head deeply and said, “Thank you for all your help. I will follow
your advice and leave my children in the care of the Coterie brothers tomorrow
while I attend the reopening of council alone. Before you leave I would like to
ask one more favor of you.”

Yero
nodded, indicating that David should continue. David pulled out a small, flat
leather envelope sealed with an elaborate ribbon of wax.

“My wife
and I were separated when we crossed from our world. I’ve received news that
she is headed for Dauntalus. Unfortunately, the messenger could not bear a
message from me to her. Do you know of a trusted messenger that could take this
letter to her? I’m not sure where she will be within the Central Kingdom, but
I’m certain she should be there soon if not already. I know it is a lot to ask
of a messenger, but I would be willing to compensate graciously as I can.”

Yero
smiled and took the letter. “Actually, I know of a messenger that would
appreciate such a challenge. Are you familiar with the nisse?”

A look of
shock covered David’s face. “I have only heard of them. When I was here last
some talked of them, but I did not encounter any.”

“I am not
surprised. The nisse hardly mingle with the other races. They are more
reclusive than the limnaid or polyheme.”

“Aye,”
David chimed in, “but I’ve fought alongside the polyheme in a campaign in the
far north during the Season of a Thousand Crossings. During that time, I also
saw a delegation of the limnaid. Are you saying that the messenger you have is
nisse?”

“Yes, a
more outgoing lad that my family has known for years. He’ll carry your letter
to the capital and be able to take the time to locate your wife. Should I
instruct him to wait for a reply?”

“I would
like to establish ongoing contact with her, but I don’t know how long my
business here will take or how long it will take to track my wife down. I could
very well be on the road by the time he got back here. I know I am to go to
Dauntalus at some point in the near future. No, don’t have him wait. My letter
does not really require a response, and we can talk about it when we meet face
to face once more.”

Yero
bowed. “Very well. Now, if that is all I must make sure my patrol is ready for
the morning.”

“Thank
you, you’ve done plenty. You’ve been a great help to my family and to me.”

Yero left
David then, and David retired to his room to get himself ready for the next
day.