The GuardianThis story is most definitly an Au. I am a much better writer, at least I think, when Im writing fantasy that takes place in a kind of primitive or medeival setting like this one does. The Sentinel and its characters belong to Pet Fly, and I'm not trying to infringe on their copyrights. This is purely for entertainment value only. Notice I did keep the same first names on th characters, but they are pretty different. I will have to rate it R for now, but I may rate it PG-13 later depending on how the story evolves. Do not read this if you are under 18. Feedback would be very welcome. The inside of the tent was hot, and made hotter by the small fire carefully tended by the chieftain's young son, Daryl. Beside him, lying on the handwoven rugs, Jim watched Daryl place a dagger into the hot coals of the fire. Extending his sensitive hearing far outside the tent, Jim heard the approach of the army that had decimated the raiding party. "They are coming closer." Jim said to Daryl watching the young man with his icy blue eyes. Daryl tried to be brave, but deep down he was afraid. "What's going to happen?" Darryl asked. Daryl's father had banded together the plains tribes in an attempt to stop the invading armies of King Aryc. The tribesman, though fearsome warriors with their own special brand of magic, were outnumbered by the armies that were sent. So far the war seemed to be a stalemate. Daryl's capture, Jim knew, was going to change all that. "I'm sorry, Chief, I've failed you." Jim said to the young man. "Don't call me that, I'm no chief. And you didn't fail me. I'm still alive, after all." Daryl looked at Jim's shoulder were an broken arrow lay embedded into the muscle. "I'm not a very good protector. If I was, you wouldn't be facing the threat of capture." "What do you think this king will do to me?" "He'll hold you as a hostage against your father. I'm not sure how that works, but if he's smart he won't harm you." "And you?" Daryl whispered softly knowing that the warrior could hear him as if he had shouted. "You know the answer to that." Yes, Daryl knew. The young man looked at the warrior and suddenly became angry. His grandfather, Philip, had raided a merchant wagon, and a young Jim had been among the prizes taken that day. Daryl looked at the brand on Jim's left forearm, a brand in the shape of a large cat. Daryl knew that it had been Philip who had branded that into the arm of a fourteen year old slave, marking him as a Guardian, and the Shaman had bestowed upon that slave the power of the Guardians. Jim was more than a slave, or a Guardian to Daryl, though. He had been a friend and protector, and Daryl was determined to protect the guardian. "No, I won't let that happen." Then he looked at the Guardian with his dark eyes, "This is going to hurt." Jim's eyes widened as he realised what the kid was going to do. Then he nodded, accepting. Daryl layed the hot knife against the jaguar brand. Jim clenched his teeth and hissed in pain. Daryl took the knife away, and placed it back into the fire. He placed his hand on the wound and concentrated. His hand glowed, and the burn wound healed leaving a scar that looked old. The healing was the extent of Daryl's powers, but it sufficed. Using the knife again, he dug out the arrowhead, then used his healing powers once more. However, thanks to the arrowhead being made of iron, Darryl's healing of the shoulder wound was incomplete. The wound looked raw, but it was closed up and healing on its own now. At that moment the tent flap was torn away and a large man in chain mail armor roared into the tent. Jim leaped to his feet to protect Daryl, but the soldier was able to knock the guardian to the ground. Three more soldiers came inside. Daryl knew it was over. Daryl sat in the back of the wagon chained to it by a shackle around his left wrists as he watched the guardian struggle to keep up with the wagon. Jim was chained to the wagon by an iron shackle around his neck and he held the chain tightly in his hands in case he fell. A soldier rode up beside the wagon on his chestnut mare. "Let him ride in the wagon." Daryl demanded. "He'll be no good to you dead." The soldier looked at Daryl then glanced back at the struggling guardian. The soldier seemed to think about it, then shouted for the wagon to halt. The driver pulled on the reins and the two heavy muscled steeds stopped and stamped thier hooves in impatience. "Get in, now." The soldier ordered Jim. The guardian complied, and once he was in, the soldier ordered the column of soldiers and wagons to continue. Jim lay on the floor of the wagon breathing heavily. Daryl looked at him with concern, but Jim reassured him with a smile. A screaming neigh brought Daryl's attention back to the column around them. Daryl saw his beautiful golden palimino mare being led by soldiers. The mare did not like the soldiers, and would try every so often to break free of her lead. The mare, Sunchaser, bared her teeth and screamed an equine scream lashing out with her back hooves. Darly fought back tears as he silently wished not for the first time that Sunchaser had gotten free. The column continued on its destination to the capital city, Cascade. The Captain, Daryl supposed he was, had said they would reach Cascade in about a week. During that week, both Daryl and Jim were kept chained. They were given food and water with blankets to keep them warm during the cold northern nights. Having come from the southern plains neither Jim nor Daryl were used to the mountain cold, but Daryl suffered more than Jim. Though Jim complained a few times saying he wished he had his fur. Daryl would laugh at that. Jim would smile and laugh with him. The laughter did not last long though. There was little mirth in captivity. When they reached Cascade, the column marched through the paved main street of the capital city. People lined the sides of the street to get a glimpse of the captured barbarians. Some booed and hissed, but the soldiers kept the people from getting near the wagon. Some made signs with their hands, signs that were meant to ward off evil magic. The people believed that the barbarians had evil magic, and that they practiced blood magic by sacrificing their captives. The gates to the palace opened to admit the soldiers, and then closed behind them with an ominous THUD. The wagon stopped before the huge steps that led to the front entrance of the Cascade Palace. The captain unlocked the chains from the wagons that held Daryl and Jim prisoner, and then hauled them up the stairs by those chains. Soldiers surrounded them on all sides preventing any type of escape. Daryl walked with his head held up with all the dignity of a clan chieftain's son. Jim smiled at Daryl proudly. They were led through white stone corridors with large tapestries hanging on the walls. Standing at the large oak doors they were led to was two more soldiers whose armor shone like gold. One of the soldiers opened the large oak doors, and admitted them into the throne room. The throne upon the dias was empty, and the soldiers seemed confused. From another side door walked in a young man with curly brown hair down to his shoulders wearing a dark blue robe. Jim could see the golden circlet on the young man's head. The soldiers in the room knelt. Crowned Prince Blair Sandburg looked at the two prisoners that graced his father's throne room, and smiled. He then walked over the thr Throne and plopped down in the seat with one leg resting over one armrest. Lounging in the throne, Blair then turned his gaze to the kneeling guards, who had pushed their captives into a kneeling position. Inwardly he laughed at the guards obvious disgust at Blair's mannerisms. From his postion he studied the two captives with his Inner Eye. The boy had some healing powers, but that seemed to be the extent of his magical abilities. The other, however, was another matter entirely. Blair had to keep his enthusiasm down as he reocognized a guardian. He could see the binding spells on the guardian, put there no doubt by the shaman of the tribe. Other added shamanatic magics indicated that the guardian's natural ability had been increased. "You may all rise." Blair said pretending annoyance with a wave of his hand. The guards rose hauling their prisoners up with them. "Captain, chain the prisoners down, " Blair continued indicating the iron rings embedded into the floor, "then leave us." "Your Highness, I am responsible for your safety..." The Captain began but Blair cut him off. "Captain, do you honestly think that I cannot protect myself." Blair gazed upon the Captain with his deep blue eyes. The Captain realised to whom and what he spoke to, and muttered an apology. The guards attched the chains of their prisoners to the iron rings, then all of them left the Throne room. When Blair was alone with the prisoners, he immediatly stood up. Closing his eyes, he found his center immediatly, and using the power nodes beneathe the Palace, Blair built a shield around the Throne room to block out any prying eyes or ears, magical or physical. As soon as that was done, Blair's whole demeanor changed. He was no longer the spoiled second child of powerful king. Instead, he was Blair Sandburg, First Among Wizards. He looked at Daryl with a smile, "What is your name, young warrior?" Blair asked. "I am Daryl son of Simon Bearclaws." Daryl answered proudly. "Well, Daryl, it seems we are in a predicament." "How so?" Darly asked. "It may gladden your heart to know, but my father King Aryck is ill, possibly dying." "You are right it does gladden my heart." Daryl answered. "Yes, well. Despite our differences, he is my father. He supported me when I chose academics over being a warrior. However, perhaps the reason was because I was only a second son. My brother was killed a few months ago, and my father had no choice but to crown me as his heir. Despite the fact that I truly have no wish to be king, I cannot let my father down." "Why the pretense?" Jim asked suddenly speaking for the first time. Blair looked at the guardian, "I am not entirely sure that my father's illness is a natural cause. If it is as I suspect, then a traitor is loose in this palace. I have no doubts that I will soon become a target. The pretense is to try and remind the nobles and others about how I used to be, not what I have become. Perhaps then they will not see me as a threat. Very few but my father and mother know that I am a very powerful wizard. If they believe that I am a threat, then they might try to get some back up. Another wizard to take me out, I suppose. But that is my problem to deal with. When the messenger came and told me that they had prisoners, and that one was a chieftains son, I thought perhaps now I can end this travesty." "And what travesty is that?" daryl asked. "This senseless war that my father insisted on pursuing. As if he doesn't have enough on his plate as it is." "So you want to use me as leverage to force my father into a surrender. He won't do it, and I won't become a pawn!" Daryl screamed. Blair sighed, "I didn't think your father would surrender. My hope was that I could talk to your father and the other chieftains about terms for a cease fire, and perhaps negotiations for a conditional surrender." "Yours or ours?" Jim asked. Blair took a deep breath, then let it out, "I can't surrender to the tribes. I have thousands of people whom I must protect. Your tribes are not the only enemy my kingdom has to face. If I surrender, even conditionally to the tribes, the Western empire will take that as a sign that we are weak. they will then invade. Of that I have no doubts. And when they are done with my kingdom, they will move in on the Tribes. So you see my position is not an easy one." "I have never doubted that. What is it you want of us?" Jim asked. "Your word, both of your words that you will agree to stay here as my "guests" and that you will obey my rules, and not try to leave. If you do give me your word, you will be treated like guests. If not, I have no choice but to find a confortable cell for both of you." Jim looked at Daryl, "It is your choice, my chief. I follow your commands." Daryl looked at Jim for the longest time, "I need your counsel, my friend. What do you think we should do?" "The Prince is right. He cannot surrender to us, and sooner or later his forces will completely overwhelm us. Then our people will live in slavery forever. If we can negotiate a peace, then perhaps we can save our lands and our people." Daryl saw the wisdom in the words, and nodded. He then looked at the Crown Prince, "I agree. You have my word. I shall not try to escape. I am your guest as long as you will it to be." "I accept your word, and know it to honorable." Blair stepped forward and placed his hand on the shackle around Daryl's wrist. The shackle opened up and fell to the ground. Blair then looked at Jim. "I am a slave. I belong to Daryl and his Father. I obey Daryl's commands, you don't need my word to hold me here." Jim answered the unspoken question. "Your honor is such, that I know your words to be true. I cannot however in good conscience allow you your abilities untethered." With that Blair reached up and touched the chain that was attached to the iron collar around the guardians neck. The chain opened and fell away, leaving the collar on intact. The iron would hinder the guardians powers. "Come, I will escort you both to your rooms. I am sure your would both like to clean up. I will send a Healer to check on the guardian's shoulder." Daryl and Jim followed the young prince through the side door and into the depths of the palace. Up four flights of steps, and through seemingly endless corridors, Blair led them to a large room with a balcony window, a sitting room, private bath, and one large bedroom.
Comments and Feedback Welcome!mailto:Stormwolf2000@hotmail.com |
