The Sentinel of Cassendar: Resquarian

Galen sat in the Library of the Royal Academy with Lexine at his side. He stretched and leaned back in the chair he was sitting in as he adjusted the large book in his lap. They had been in the library for hours at a time the past few days, trying to find anything they could on the three goddesses of power, knowledge, and wisdom as well as anything on ancient magic. Finding books on the three goddess had proven a hard task even with the most experienced wisdom keeper helping them.

In the end, they had found two books with subtle mentions of the three goddesses. The most information they had found had come from the wisdom keeper herself. When they described what they were looking for the wisdom keeper knew the name Sophia as the first wisdom keeper.

“When we take our oaths as the wisdom keepers of this great library, we swear by the light of Sophia,” said the wisdom keeper. “I had never thought of her as a goddess. I always thought that perhaps she was the first cultivator of this library. That maybe she had first gathered some of the books that sit in these very shelves.”

“What do you learn of her?” asked Galen.

“Nothing much, only lore that she was the keeper of the land’s wisdom and wished to share her gift with all. She found books, and wrote some as well to help men and women gain the necessary wisdom to do great things. They say she advised the first Cassendar king,” said the wisdom keeper.

“Amongst other things,” said Lexine quietly, making Galen smile at her.

“And have you ever heard of Alvina or Ricardia?” asked Galen to the wisdom keeper.

“Only in one instance,” said the wisdom keeper. “If you will follow me, I will show you.”

They walked with the wisdom keeper to the top floor of the library and through a door. In the door was a glass case in which a book sat open. The wisdom keeper took some dark gloves out of her pocket and put them on before opening the case and carefully turning the pages of the book.

“This is believed to be one of the original books in this library. It is very old, and we are very careful with it,” said the wisdom keeper. “Look at this.”

Galen and Lexine looked closely at the page she pointed to in the book to see faded handwriting. It said:

To Alvie and Ricardia, may the find their way, realizing the true way to power and knowledge lies in wisdom and love.

Lexine looked at Galen with a raised eyebrow as Galen nodded.

“Do you think I could look over this book?” asked Galen. “I would be very careful.”

“I cannot allow it, sir,” said the wisdom keeper. “Only I and my assistant are permitted to touch it.”

“What about the queen?” asked Lexine. “Would she not be allowed?”

The wisdom keeper paused as she closed the glass case. “You believe the queen would like to see this book?”

“I do,” said Lexine. “I think she would be very interested to look at this particular book.”

“I don’t know how much it would help her. Some of it is written in the common language though it is in is ancient form, but a good portion is written in a language that has long been lost. As bright as I am sure the queen is, I doubt she could make much sense of this book,” said the wisdom keeper.

“I think you might be surprised,” said Galen. “Would you permit her to look at this book?”

“Perhaps, if she did so in my presence and took the proper precautions such as wearing gloves and keeping it in dim light.”

“I am sure she would be very careful, but you will have to permit her to touch the pages without gloves,” said Galen.

“Whatever for?” asked the wisdom keeper.

“Does it matter?” asked Lexine somewhat haughtily as she looked at the wisdom keeper. “My sister is the queen of this kingdom, and I believe she needs to see this book to help Lanoxan. How she would use it, is not much of your concern.”

“I appreciate your sister’s position, your highness, but you must see how precious this book is.”

“And you must see how precarious the kingdom’s situation is. I believe this book could help us in our fight against the Navalian forces that are coming, and so will the queen,” said Lexine fiercely. “Perhaps my brother will join our queen, and you can explain to king why you will not let his wife see this book.”

The wisdom keeper huffed. “The queen can come by anytime and speak with me about this book. I am sure we can come up with something.”

Galen and Lexine expected the High Captain this afternoon. Galen was anxious to see what she could get from the book, hoping it would help find a way to defeat Belleth.

“Have you found anything interesting?” asked Galen to Lexine as she looked up for the book she was holding.

“Only that the ancient magic of the land is very powerful, and if Belleth has a mastery over it, I don’t know what we can do,” said Lexine with a worried sigh.

“It is so complex and hard to understand that one could try to learn to use it for a lifetime and still only manage simple spells,” said Galen.

“If what you and Dracia say is true, Belleth and her sister have had many lifetimes over to practice their magic,” said Lexine. She paused for a moment, looking to be thinking of something. “Do you think Navalian royal magic comes from the land’s ancient magic? Do you think Belleth used it to give the first Navalian king his powers?”

“If what I sensed in that book we found about the goddess is true, and the Navalian legend holds up, then yes, I think it is possible,” said Galen. “They could have done something to the water in the well, that gave the magic to the first king. He could have passed it down through his line.”

“What could have been passed down in whose line?” asked the High Captain as she joined them. She sat down with a groan in a chair by Lexine.

“Are you alright, Dracia?” asked Lexine looking at the High Captain with concern.

“It was a rather rough and early morning,” said the High Captain rubbing her stomach. “But I seem to be feeling better now. I hope this little one is less trouble when she is born than she is now, though I doubt it.”

“With you and Leal as her parents, I am sure she will get into her fair share of trouble,” said Lexine with a smile.

“Indeed,” said the High Captain. “Now what is it you two were speaking of before I interrupted?”

“We were wondering if perhaps Navalian royal magic comes from the land’s ancient magic,” said Galen. “We wonder if Belleth and her sister could have used it to create the magic found in the Navalian royal line.”

“I think you are probably right,” said the High Captain. “It is powerful magic that could do great things. I should know, but I wonder how much most Navalian royalty can really control life or death. I think maybe Lilith is a special case.”

“Why is that?” asked Lexine.

“I believe all Navalian royals have some healing abilities along with controlling others. Once again, I have had experience with it, but I think Lilith may be different because she is not King Arnar’s daughter with his late wife’s. I believe she is the daughter of Belleth.”

Galen looked at Lexine. “You are sure, High Captain?”

“I am, actually. Lilith told me Belleth was her mother, and Belleth as good as confirmed it. Belleth told me she hoped my daughter was less disappointing than hers. She is unusually close to Lilith and Lilith to her. I think she has been trying to train her daughter to use ancient magic,” said the High Captain.

“I suppose that explains why Lilith was able to control my brother in ways. Is she able to control her brother as well?” asked Lexine.

“Yes, I have seen it. I am sure she has help from Belleth, but I believe Lilith does have some powers on her own,” said the High Captain as she added. “I don’t think Lilith will be the problem, Belleth is. I can manage Lilith if it comes to it.”

“Can you manage, Belleth and her sister?” asked Galen.

“I don’t know, Galen. I am not sure how I will do it if I have to.”

“Does it have to be you? We have the Sentinel and the Siccarian forces,” aid Lexine. “Can she not be killed in battle?”

“I honestly don’t know. I think it would be difficult if it is not impossible. There are things she can do to protect herself and harm large groups of others. She will be coming for me, and I doubt she will be stopped until she finds me,” said the High Captain. “As much as I want to hide away and protect my child, I doubt I will be able to.”

“You will try, won’t you?” asked Lexine. “I know my brother will try to keep you safe, Dracia.”

“I will do everything I can to keep my child safe, Lexine. If I thought running away and hiding would help I would do it, but all it would do is cause more harm to befall Lanoxan and Belleth would still find me.”

“Then we have to be ready for her,” said Galen. “Are you feeling up to looking at that book?”

“I am,” said the High Captain as she stood. “I will need you both there with me if something happens.”

“Did my brother not want to come with you?” asked Lexine.

The High Captain looked at Lexine with a small sad smile. “I did not tell him, Lexine. He is being very protective right now, a little overprotective, though I do not blame him. Still, I will be very careful. If I think this book could harm me at all, I will not go any further.”

“I do not like keeping secrets from Leal, Dracia,” said Lexine as she stood. “At least not when it comes to the safety of you and your child.”

“I will tell him when we are done. He has enough to deal with at the moment. He has to meet with the king’s council this afternoon including Lord Nest and Lord Leighston the Lord of Farrel, Darron’s father. Not to mention dealing with my own father. It will not be an easy afternoon. I hope to join him after we are done here if I am up to it.”

They all three walked to a small office near the entrance and found the head wisdom keeper there. She stood up as she saw them in their doorway, curtseying to the High Captain.

“Your majesty,” said the wisdom keeper as she rose. “I understand you are here to see a particular book.”

“I am, and I know how precious it is to you. I give you my word, I will not harm it. I will barely even touch it,” said the High Captain.

“I will show it to you, my queen, but I doubt there is much you can make of it. Much of it is written in a language long forgotten,” said the wisdom keeper.

“I would like to see it all the same,” said the High Captain.

The wisdom keeper took all three of them up the stairs to the room that held the glass case. She put on gloves and carefully took out the very old book, holding in her hands and away from her body.

“Please put it on that small table, there,” said the High Captain.

The wisdom keeper slowly walked over, and placed the book on the table gingerly as though it might shatter if it hit the wooden surface too hard. She stood up and looked at the High Captain.

“Now, you will leave us for a while,” said the High Captain as she sat in a small chair close to the table.

“Your majesty, I am not sure I can permit it. I must always be in the presence of this book when it is out of its case.”

“I have given you my word I would not harm this book,” said the High Captain. “Do you not trust my word?”

“I do trust you, but you are not use to handling old books, your majesty. You could accidently tear a page or smudge the old ink somehow. The oils in your hands could be very destructive.”

“I believe what is in this book could help save our kingdom, so I will value Lanoxan over some oils from my hands putting a small hole in one of this old pages,” said the High Captain as the head wisdom keeper looked scandalized. “Still, I will be very careful. Nothing shall harm this old tome.”

“You queen has spoken, wisdom keeper,” said Lexine. “You should remember you hold a position in an institution that is fully supported by the family of Cassendar. I would hate for you to lose your place that you must have worked hard to obtain for many years.”

The wisdom keeper sighed angrily. “Very well. I shall give you half a bell, but no more.”

“You didn’t need to be so harsh, Lexine,” said the High Captain after the wisdom keeper had left. “I’m not sure I like threatening people with our family name.”

“It was needed besides, she thinks too much of her position. I am sure she is proficient at her job, but I have seen how she lords over her assistant and the other wisdom keepers. She needed to be put in her place for at least a moment,” said Lexine.

“Let’s just get this over with. It doesn’t sound like we have much time,” said the High Captain as she opened the book very carefully.

Galen sat down in a chair next to the High Captain as Lexine sat down on her other side. They both watched as the High Captain turned a few pages with the very tips of her fingers until she came to one and stopped. She took a deep breath and gently put the pads of her fingers barely on the words and closed her eyes. Galen watched her closely as the time went by. She made a few noises as her fingers moved very slowly down the page. At one point she turned a page with her eyes still closed, and her fingers started at the top again slowly working their way down.

The time continued to pass as Galen watched a small clock in the corner of the room. They only had about a quarter of a bell left until the wisdom keeper would return. Galen turned back to the High Captain as she gave a loud breath and shook her head. She seemed to grow more agitated as her fingers moved to the end of the page.

“Galen, I think we should stop her. It is almost time for the wisdom keeper to get back, and Dracia seems troubled,” said Lexine.

Galen nodded and placed his hand on the High Captain’s arm. He pulled gently as Lexine took a hold of one of the High Captain’s hands. The High Captain resisted for a second or two before she sat up and opened her eyes, her hand moving up to her forehead where she gently messaged it.

“Dracia, are you well?” asked Lexine as she put her hand on the High Captain’s arm.

“I am’ just give me one moment,” said the High Captain as she continued to message her head. After another few minutes she began speaking. “Sophia met with Barin, who I believe we know as Scriptor, after she banished her sisters. He was not happy she did not destroy them and wanted to go seek them out to destroy them himself. Sophia spent a day pleading for her sisters’ life, wanting Barin to give them time. She called upon the goddess of mercy to lend her own aid.

“In the end Barin, relented. He said he would give the sisters ample time to change their ways, though he was worried Resquarian would pay for it. He told Sophia she would never again have the chance to correct her mistake and destroy her sisters. He said she was too bonded with love for them. If they did not relent and change, they would be destroyed by the gods.”

The High Captain took a deep breath and stared straight ahead. She sat there in silence, barely moving except for her chest which rose rapidly up and down with her hard, quick breaths.

“Dracia?” asked Lexine. “Dracia, what is it?” The High Captain did not move or answer Lexine. “Galen, what is wrong?”

“I don’t know,” said Galen watching the High Captain. He moved to touch her when the High Captain turned and looked at him. Her normally brown eyes were a shimmering gold.

“The fallen goddesses shall die together. Their time in Resquarian will be over. Vengeance and Redemption will come with one strike, and the land will be healed,” said the High Captain in a commanding voice. She fell forward on the table, her eyes blinking rapidly.

“Dracia,” said Lexine as she slowly and carefully took the High Captain’s hand. “Are you alright?”

The High Captain nodded. “I am well, Lexine. Do not worry.”

“What was that you just said?” asked Galen. “What did you mean by redemption and vengeance with one strike?”

“I don’t know,” said the High Captain as she shook her head as if to clear it. “I am not sure. I believe I must have gotten it from that book.” She sat up straighter. “I don’t think I can be the one to kill Belleth.”

“If not you, then who?” asked Lexine.

“I am not sure,” said Dracia. “Who needs to obtain vengeance and redemption at the same time?”

Galen and Lexine looked at each other as the door opened.

“It has been half a bell. I hope you have found what you needed,” said the wisdom keeper as she walked into the room.

“Yes, we have,” said the High Captain as she stood. “I thank you for your assistance. I hope you will find the book is as good as you left it. Come along, Galen, Lexine, we need to be going. I have a meeting to get to, and I am sure there are things the both of you need to work on.”

Galen walked out after Lexine, wondering how they would ever figure out a way to end Belleth and save the High Captain and their kingdom