Forgotten Guardians

Josan and the others made their way down the hill through the thick brush and trees. Birds chirped and squirrels chattered down at them from the branches. It was slow going with all the underbrush, but nobody cared. Miranda and Aielia whispered as they walked and giggled every so often. Treavin and Baile discussed topics which they would bring up at the alliance meeting; Treavin’s face was etched with worry as he thought of the alliance. Even the dwarves didn’t look forward to dealing with their human neighbors. Off in the distance a large tower peeked out from between the tree branches. Baile explained it was a watch tower of the area. A large bronze bell hung at the very top, shining in the afternoon sun, ready to ring out a warning to the surrounding area.

As they came closer to the tower, movement in the brush increased and darting shadows raced across the edge of everyone’s vision. Aielia straightened and walked on the balls of her feet while Frathe checked his crossbow and Josan slowly worked his hands back to his hilts as he slowed his pace.

Miranda felt the tension rise in her companions. Then she saw with the comer of her eye, a shadow darted from one tree to the another. Slowly she made her way up to Josan.

Miranda whispered without looking to him, “I think something is out there,” she said trying to stay calm.

“I know. Soldiers.” Josan said coolly.

Miranda knew, without even seeing Josan’s eyes under his hood that they were flashing from side to side. Her hand slowly crept to her sword hilt as they continued to walk a little farther.

Suddenly one of the shadows jumped into the path, “Halt, you are surrounded.” a man said, “What is your business?”

Aielia walked forward with her arms spread wide, “I am Aielia, daughter of the High Council Member, Lady Maylen. I come to offer an alliance between our people,” she said formally.

The figure stepped forward revealing a grizzled man wearing an old helm and a shiny but dented breastplate. His face could grind stone it was so hardened and his eyes would freeze a bear in its tracks. A large white scar marked the left cheek of his leathery face. He studied the group for a moment, weighing each to see who would pose a possible threat, especially Grimmly and Frathe, before marching over to Aielia. He approached Aielia and removed his helm; he bowed with the stiffness of a soldier. “My Lady, we are honored to receive you. I am Captain Rynonn. We have heard word that this horde is ravaging your land as well. I’m sure the king shall be most welcoming of this alliance,” he gave another quick bow. “I shall have an honor guard prepared to escort you and your companions to Lord Tylin’s keep.” He paused for a moment as his eyes focused on Grimmly and Frathe. “If you wish, my men can take your prisoners for you. We have ways of dealing with their kind,” he said in a snarl.

It took a moment for Aielia to figure out what he was talking about, “No, no, no. You misunderstand. These are our friends, they are not our enemies,” Aielia said with a smile as she swept her hand toward Grimmly and Frathe. Captain Rynonn took a step back; his hand gripped his hilt tightly. The sound of bushes rustling filled the small area. Captain Rynonn raised a hand and the rusting stopped immediately, but a weary concern crossed his face.

Aielia could feel the man tepertation, “You misunderstand again my dear Captain, Master Frathe and Master Grimmly are no threat to you. They are against the horde as much as we are, if not for them, we would have been hard pressed in our defense.” Aielia said with a calming smile.

Still Captain Rynonn’s hand did not release his hilt. Treavin stepped forward and gave a formal bow, “I am Council member, Treavin.” The captain barely spared a glance in his direction as his knuckles turned while around his sword hilt. “My dear Captain, I know what you are thinking, but you are mistaken. What you see before you is prophecy come to life. They are the Guardians,” Treavin explained as if that would explain everything, the captain didn’t even blink.

“Enough of this,” a bellow came from the back of the group. Baile bulled his way forward, followed by Mourn. “Now you listen here, no one’s going to touch them and if anyone gets to cleave the goblin in half, it will be me. Do I make myself clear boy?” Baile roared. Baile’s scolding brought the captain around; he stared wide eyed at the dwarf with total confusion.

“May I introduce Master Baile and Master Moum. They are here on behalf of the dwarves,” Aielia said solemnly.

The captain gave short bows to each, “I welcome you Master dwarves,” he said trying to regain his senses.

“May I also introduce; Master Josan, Lady Miranda, Sir Uuger and Wolf. They are the other four Guardians,” Treavin said calmly.

Captain Rynonn looked at each of the companions as if he was looking at street-thugs, “If you say so,” he said sourly.

The group walked along the path surrounded by their ‘Honor Guard.’ To Josan it seemed more like prisoner guard. The soldiers eyed them wearily as if expecting them to attack at any moment. Treavin tried to make idle chit chat with Captain Rynonn but to no avail. Frathe merely grumbled as the guard next to him sneered openly at the goblin. Grimmly remained placid as if he was out taking a stroll through the woods. Miranda and Aielia whispered back and forth as they glanced at their guards and Uuger slayed close to Miranda’s side, fingering his small mace. Josan showed no emotion, but he prepared himself for the worst. Wolf trotted along side Josan, weary of the soldiers.

After a few miles of walking through the forest, they reached the edge of a forest which opened up to wide plains. About a league from them a keep rose, its stone walls worn with age from the passage of time. Two towers at opposite comers of the keep rose to the sky, as if trying to touch the heavens. Men moved along the battlements of the wall looking for any sign of trouble.

Off on the far left side of the wall, people scurried about, carrying wood or baskets of food. Their faces showed with eagerness and anticipation. Small tenls and pavilions were being set up with brightly colored flags in every corner. No one seemed to notice the small group of soldiers or the party that they were escorting, as they made their way towards the keep.

Captain Rynonn bellowed the name of one of his officers. A man towards the back of the guard quickly ran and stood by his Captain’s side. The Captain whispered a few words and the soldier saluted and swiftly ran off to the far left side of the keep. Moments passed in silence but the Captain and his men stood as if they had grown roots. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the soldier rounded the comer with two men closely following him. One was slender and looked as if he was walking into the audience chamber of a king. He wore a rich blue velvet coat with gold embroidery and his blonde hair was nicely trimmed to his shoulders. He walked with an air of arrogance as if he expected people to quickly move from his path. The other gentleman walked with a casual step. He was a handsome man with dark brown hair touched with gray at the temples. He dressed as if to work in a mill. His clothes were a fine cut and quality material, but they were no where near the fashions of his companion. As he walked he pulled on a silk coat and started brushing out the wrinkles.

The soldier reached his captain saluted and turned, bowing to each of the men, before resuming his place in the back. The Captain gave a formal bow to each as well, “My Lord,” he said to everyone’s shock, addressing the man in the plain clothes. “This is Lady Aielia and Lord Treavin of the Elves and Master Bade and Mourn of the Dwarves, and their ‘companions.’” he uttered the last words venomously.

Aielia and Treavin stepped forward and bowed deeply, while the dwarves merely grunted their greetings. “I’m Aielia, daughter of the High Council Member Lady Maylen and we come seeking of an alliance between our people.” she said diplomatically.

“I am Lord Steven Tylin. I am honored to meet you and welcome you to my home.” the casually dressed man said just as formally. “This is Court Council member, Langon, one of the personal consultants of the king,” he said gesturing to the well dressed man who gave a slight bow.

“Captain, take their prisoners to the dungeon. We will deal wit them later,” Langon said as if talking about something stuck to his shoe. He turned to Aielia and smiled, “My Lady, you must be tired from your journey I shall have someone arrange rooms for you and your servants,” he said with a false smile. He shot at look back at the Captain, “Captain, do you not hear me? Remove these things from my sight, now,” he spat.

“They are not prisoners Lord Langon,” Aielia said with a firm voice.

Langon stepped back and look another look at Grimmly. Treavin stepped forward with a smirk, “My Lord Tylin, may introduce the prophesied ‘Guardians’; Master Josan, Lady Miranda, Master Frathe, Master Grimmly, Sir Uuger and Wolf,”

It was Lord Tylin who looked confused now, “I’m sorry, I’m... I’m not familiar with that prophecy,” Lord Tylin said. In reality he had never heard a single prophecy, but knew they were connected to magic in someway.

Treavin wasn’t surprised. Humans never remembered anything because of their short lifespan, but he didn’t want to embarrass the man. “It is very old. Very few know of it. If you wish, I shall tell it to you when you have time,” Treavin said with a humble bow.

“You said something about an alliance?” Lord Tylin said, still with a bewildered look.

“Yes my Lord, between our people, against the horde and Army of the Light,” Treavin said smoothly. “Are they not ravaging your lands as well?”

“Yes, yes they are, but they have not moved from the borderlands,” Lord Tylin said sadly. “If it is an alliance you seek, you must speak with my cousin the king, though I believe he will be most grateful for your help,” Lord Tylin said seriously, as Langon huffed. “In two days I will personally escort you to the king, but until then, please, stay as my guests.” Lord Tylin offered with a cheerful voice.

“We are thankful for your hospitality,” Treavin said with a graceful bow.

“My Lord, if I may ask what are you planning here?” Miranda asked as she watched the people scurrying around.

“The Festival of the Winter’s End, the spring equinox,” Lord Tylin said as the thought brought a smile back to his face.

“Why are you planning a celebration now, when your kingdom is about to go to war?” Miranda said a little concerned.

“Yes, war is coming. This might be the last joy that this people see in awhile. I will not rob them of it,” Lord Tylin said. “Come now, let us not talk of war, it will dampen the joyful mood.”

At that moment a man dressed in common clothes came running around the comer of the keep, “My Lord, my Lord.”

“If you will excuse me for a moment, I must attend to this, but please make yourself comfortable, my home is your home,” Lord Tylin said as he bowed and turned to the man.

Miranda and the others walked around and watched the preparations. Most of the people they encountered quickly made way for the unlikely companions, many did nothing to hide the digust from their faces as the group passed. Even with the strange companions walking about the people continud their work; men and women were preparing cook fires and games. Small stages were being erected for musicians and entertainers. For one moment these people knew something other than war.

Vander sat in his chair staring at the ceiling while he puffed at his pipe. Charkic sat to the side reading an old weathered book. A sharp knock at the door brought them out of their contemplations. Parlon stepped through the door and bowed deeply.

“You requested to see me General?” Parlon asked humbly.

Vander sat for a moment staring at the ceiling, slowly he brought his eyes to rest on the sneaky wizard, “Yes, I did.” he paused for a second to tap out his pipe. “I will be sending some of our forces into the interior of the kingdom. They will need someone to lead them and that will be you.

“My General do you think such a small force will be adequate to.take these outer territories?” Parlon asked.

“My scouts have reported that the lands are under manned. Most have been called back to the central territory to protect the king. I wish to take them quickly and with little loss of life,” Vander said packing a new bowl of tobacco.

“But General, surely someone more knowledgeable of war should lead the first assault,” Parlon said pleadingly.

“You will lead. The horde is more in tune with you then anyone else. They will do as you command. Do not fail me wizard,” Vander said as he lit his pipe.

Parlon bowed and quickly exited the room and made his way back to his house. As he walked through the small village a shadowy figure jumped from blackness to blackness trailing him. Most of the villagers were in their homes by this time, the ones who were about quickly made way for the wizard. As he reached his house at the edge of town, a small country cottage he had claimed for himself, the shadowy figure stepped around the comer.

“My master, what news?” the dark elf asked as he bowed.

“We will lead the horde against the kingdom,” Parlon said without looking at the elf.

“Master, why do we play these games with the wretched humans?” the dark elf said with spite.

“Patience, this will be the perfect opportunity for the beginning of my plans. Remember what I told you, capture as many of the little rums as you can.” Parlon said with heat building in his eyes. “I will deal with Vander when I have time to spare.”