The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1) (32 page)

David
stopped pacing, held onto the rampart in front of him, and stared off into the
distance. After a brief moment he shook his head.

“Not
worry; no, I keep rolling back around to what I didn’t tell my family about who
I was back on Earth. I understand I was compelled not to tell. It’s just, could
I have told them things by creating bedtime stories? Maybe the reveal would
have been easier. Maybe everything now wouldn’t be a shock. Maybe. . .”

“No,
David,” the Beagle broke in, a commanding forcefulness in his tone. “You hear
the dishonesty in those words. You feel the disobedience. In your care is the
Sword of Truth. The Lord commanded you to be silent about the sword, the
Crossroads, and your work with the agency. He blessed you to have a good life.
He protected you and yours.”

“I...”
David faltered, “I know. I let myself think my work with the agency was all I
was going to be called to do. I had originally suspected I would have to come
back here, but not with them, not until. . .”

“David,
stop,” the Beagle spoke softly this time, though the firm authority was still
there. “It is late. You are weary in your soul. Looking back at the past is one
thing; asking all these “what ifs” leads to regret. You were commanded to hold
your peace. You did as the Lord asked and were faithful to the duty of a Sword
Bearer. You have nothing to regret.”

David
sighed heavily, “Yes, I know, but I can’t quit thinking about Rebekah and
what’s going to happen when we are reunited.”

The
Beagle chuffed, causing David to look down. “See, I knew you were worrying.”
David shook his head and looked back out into the night as the angel continued.
“What good will worrying do you? It is only going to cause you sleepless
nights. We will talk to Rebekah when the time comes. You will have the ability
to tell her everything now. She has angels watching over her, and they have no
doubt told her about your commission of silence. The Lord brought you two
together. Trust that things will work out.”

The
Beagle fell silent. David kept his gaze on the horizon. The two old companions
stood thusly until the first hint of dawn touched the horizon.

David
finally spoke. “The Creator watches over my steps.”

The
Beagle replied, “You know this is true.”

“He who
set the stars’ paths also set my path.”

“You feel
the truth in your bones.”

“He calls
upon my family for a great task, yet He stands with us; therefore, who can
stand against us?”

“Many will
try. You know they will fail.”

“Still, I
wish Rebekah were here and Deborah didn’t have to be married so quickly.”

“As does
your daughter. The Word has brought Deborah and Hogan together, as he did you
and Rebekah. They will have joy with each other. They will strengthen each
other. Together they will be more than they could have been separately. They
will build a stronghold here in the Seventh Kingdom that will help your family
time and time again as you fulfill the Almighty’s purpose.”

David nodded
as the sun tipped the horizon and he softly spoke, “Let it be so.”

*

The great
hall was packed as never before. The balcony had been filled to capacity. There
were empty spaces on the lower level. Yero took notice of the missing council
members and made a note to assign trusted trackers to keep tabs on them. Yero
knew there were still malcontents and spies represented within the council.
However, until Deborah was officially crowned they could take no true actions
against those suspects.

Deborah
stood on the dais in front of her throne. She wore a
more
regal
looking dress than the simple one she had donned three days ago.
Her hair too was more elaborate. David had been shocked at her appearance and
once again had to look at her a second time to reassure himself that she was
not Rebekah. Her poise and carriage was commanding, and within moments of
entering the room she held the attention of everyone. She held the silence and
scanned the crowd, attempting to meet the eyes of all present. When she finished
she spoke without effort, her voice carrying through the hall.

“Welcome.
I stand here today to announce my betrothal. In one week's time, in the royal
chapel, I shall be married and take, by God given right, the crown of the
Seventh Kingdom. After three nights of solitude it has been revealed to me that
my groom will be Hogan, son of Gielz, formerly of this kingdom’s royal guard.”

A door
behind and off to the right side of the throne opened. Hogan stepped out,
dressed in a sharp looking outfit that bore a striking resemblance to his dress
uniform, save that all medals and rank had been removed and touches of design
and color had been added. He stepped forward and stood next to Deborah. The two
grabbed each other's hand and the crowd erupted in applause.

Yero was
not the least bit surprised by the commoners’ and the house staff's approval.
Hogan was disarming and genuinely kindhearted. Yero even acknowledged that many
of the council members would approve. However, he was interested in the overly
enthusiastic acceptance of this decision by several members of council who had
been quiet during the transition. Yero studied their grins and the glimmer of
their eyes. In them he saw not a coming to terms with the new situation, but a
cold calculation that promised trouble on the horizon.

Caliban
and Ferreter sat at the small table in the corner to which they had been
relegated. In the center of the small room was a second table, where there sat
three demons and an elf. Of the demons, Caliban knew two. The ragged looking
little man-like one was a schemer who specialized in twisting political
situations. A common name it used was Manipulator, but a more accurate nom de
plume was Falsifien. Caliban had no fear of this demon, for he knew two of its
names and could probably figure out a stronger one.

Caliban
couldn’t say the same for the second demon. While he knew one name, Chivy, the
demon was wily and tended not to go in for the excesses that trapped other
demons. Chivy’s specialty was driving mortals to the brink of insanity by
putting them into situations where it could hunt them like animals. Ferreter
had performed many services for this demon, and was no doubt the reason he was
here with Caliban at this meeting.

The final
demon was hard to read, mainly because every time Caliban looked away the
creature shifted its appearance. Upon entering the room, it had been an elegant
elven woman. Then it was a rugged dwarf male, taller than most of that species
with a close trimmed beard. Over the course of the meeting the demon continued
to change gender and species. Each of the transformations was flawless and
would hold a great deal of appeal to a mortal’s eye. Caliban didn’t know this
demon, but suspected its name. He wondered when and where it would begin to play
its part.

Then
there was the elf, barely able to be called one as he was so poisoned in his
soul that he was becoming a monster. Though it was not yet visible on the
outside, Caliban could see the change ready to break out. The elf was obviously
being deceived. When the change finally happened, it would be destructive to
all around the elf. Caliban had seen it many a time and smirked. When he
changed the elf would lose control, left only with a desire to destroy and a
sense of need he’d feel only his demon handler could satisfy.

Caliban
reflected how different this elf’s transformation would be from any of the Dark
Riders. The Riders sought out the power of the Void, pled for the chance to
serve, and embraced the power when it was given. Yes, they changed, but it was
more of an augmentation of their natural skills. Over the years there came more
changes. These came due to battles and the abuse their bodies took.

Caliban
was pulled from his musing by the demon Chivy’s voice. The meeting had begun.

“. . . thus
the Lord of the Fiery Lake wishes us to sow chaos during this transition. The
first crown will be set within days. None of our forces are to interfere. Their
girl may not realize what she has done by selecting even a minor member of the
elven royal family as a groom. We, however, can see how this can still play to
maintaining the elven line.”

The elf
interjected, “Lord Avrant and his household are in flight. They will rally a
force against the usurping humans, though they will be persuaded to recognize
Hogan as the new King of the Seventh Kingdom. We are aware that no more unions
such as this will likely take place. We will then put our efforts into securing
what kingdoms we can and sabotaging the human whelps from succeeding any
further.”

“To that
point,” Chivy interrupted, cutting off any more of what the elf might have
said, “our ally here will return to Avrant’s household and will help guide
those efforts.”

Chivy
turned to the elf and nodded. “You should go now so you can report to Lady
Liseea. She will aid you in your efforts to establish a force and guide its
movements.”

Though he
looked a bit disgruntled at being dismissed, the elf bowed, stood, and left the
room. The demons watched the door for nearly a minute. Falsifien finally spoke
up.

“He has
truly left.”

The other
demons nodded. Falsifien continued, “There are portions of the elven royal
family who will accept the coming change and embrace their replacements. The
Dark Lord cares not about who reigns, as long as the royal family in place is
held in sway by those who serve the Void’s purpose. My agents and I will do as
we have always done. Unfortunately, I will have to relocate. That arriviste
chit knows two of my names. I can’t risk setting up shop around here, and I
dare not strike at her directly. I have capable agents within the council who
can bide time and take appropriate measures to undermine her power and provide
the elf heir with clout.”

“Very
well,” Chivy responded with an unimpressed air. Falsifien riled, but said
nothing further.

Chivy
continued, “From reports given by the Void Riders, a Hungry One has been put
into play. It is uncertain who did so, though inquiries will continue.
Nevertheless, I am to shadow the bearer of the Hungry One and separate the
whelp from the pack. From there, the Rider Ferreter and I are to observe and
aid the Hungry One’s consumption of the boy’s soul.”

Caliban
looked at his fellow Rider and did not envy him the task set before him. A Hungry
One was a demon bound to an object; in this case it had been forged into a
sword. There had been reports of others in vases, jewelry, even on some planets
as computer programs. The Hungry One in this blade was a particularly old one.
It had no hope for escape and no way to feed unless a mortal bathed the blade
in blood. The demon would feed thusly on both the person being killed and the
bearer of the blade. However, Hungry Ones were unpredictable and would turn on
even the Void’s servants to satisfy their mad hunger.

Caliban’s
attention was called back to the assembled demons by the speaking of the third
unnamed demon.

“My task
is simple enough for me.” The demon’s voice was a melodic blend of both male
and female, high and deep, soft yet gruff, all at once. Its form also continued
to shift. “I will infiltrate the human band and latch on to the weakest one. I
will pull the sheep from the fold and transform the child into a savage wolf,
thus tainting the line toward our camp.”

Chivy
nodded and stood. The demon turned to Caliban. The Void Rider rose and waited,
knowing he was to be addressed. From there he would be dismissed or set upon by
the demons.

“You’ve
failed several times now,” Chivy said coolly. “I would see the benefit of
killing you and making the other Riders watch. However, the Acolyte of the Void
sees a benefit in keeping you.”

The demon
produced a smoldering pouch that seemed to absorb the shadows around it. Chivy
dropped the bag between itself and the Rider. It then took out a folded piece
of paper and extended it to Caliban. The Void Rider took it as Ferreter
retrieved the bag.

Chivy
continued as Caliban opened the paper and read the list of names written upon
it. “Those are your new recruits. You are to assume leadership of the Void
Riders and increase their number. The Void magic is potent and will help to
speed the process of converting the volunteers. They have already made a
pilgrimage to the pit where new horses and hounds are being made ready.

“When you
get back into the field you are permitted to kill the humans only under direct
instruction of either the Void or the Dark One. The elves are another matter.
Aid them or kill them, which ever option sows the most chaos. Also take note:
the once magi
is
in possession of a device that allows
him to call upon you. As he is an elf, your orders stand. However, ignore him
at your peril; his power and the device make a deadly combination that could
cost you your life.”

Caliban
nodded and took the bag from Ferreter.

“How
long?” he asked the demon.

“Not
long, and you may only have one other Rider with you. The others are needed in
play.”

“Anything
else?”

“Don’t
fail again; your backers won’t continue to see your value if you do.”

Caliban
knew that went without saying and nodded. The meeting broke up without any
other words. Save Ferreter and Chivy, each player went their separate way to
work their separate plot.