The Sentinel of Cassendar: Resquarian

Leal felt himself wake up, but he willed his eyes to shut quickly. He did not want to open them and see the faint light come through the windows that he knew must be there. He was not ready to face the day and all that it held. He tightened his arms around Dracia as she slept by his side, wishing he could command the light to stay hidden so the darkness could cover them a little longer.

Leal breathed in deep, the smell of Dracia filling his senses as he rubbed his hand down her side. It was too much to think this could be the last time he would hold her like this. That this could be the last morning he woke up with her in his arms. He did not want to face that reality, but somewhere in him he acknowledged to himself that it could be true.

Belleth would come for her today. He had no doubt of it, and neither did Dracia. Leal was prepared to do whatever was necessary to keep her from harm, but the problem was he didn’t know what he could do. Belleth had powers he did not understand, and though his own power had been effective on her in some ways in the past, how much good would it really do if she was determined to take Dracia?

If Belleth got her hands on Dracia again, Leal knew she would either take her somewhere he would never find her or destroy her. The thought made him shudder and hold Dracia even tighter, causing her to stir next to him. She turned towards him, her hand coming to rest on his chest as she made a slight noise. He kissed the top of her head, hoping she would continue sleeping, but knew it was a foolish hope.

He opened his eyes and looked down, seeing Dracia staring back up at him. He sighed and kissed her forehead before she moved up closer to him. Without one word she put her hand on his cheek and moved it down gently before she leaned forward and kissed him. His arm moved down to her waist pulling her as close to him as he could. He pulled back for one moment, looking down at her, basking in her beautiful full lips, wondering how her delicate eyelashes could really be that long, getting lost in her bright brown eyes that stared at him.

He rolled her over and hovered over her, kissing her again and again as she ran her hands up and down his back.

“We probably need to get up,” she said breathlessly as Leal moved down to her neck.

“Not yet,” he said against her neck. “Let me have a few more moments with you before we have to face today. Let me be with you one more time.”

“Don’t say it like that, Leal,” said Dracia as she gently pulled his head up to look at her. “We will have many more moments like this. We will have a lifetime of loving one another.”

“I know,” said Leal. “I do know it, my love, but I want and need you now. Before this day truly begins, let me love you, please.”

She responded by kissing him, giving him the only answer he needed. He loved her slowly, cherishing every part of their time together. He wanted to remember how he felt when she touched him. He wanted to be able to recall how soft her skin was, and the way she whispered his name. In the moment he wished he was guaranteed many of years of this, but he knew he was not. It could all be taken from him today, and though he tried to push the thought away, it stayed there on the surface as he loved her, making this time with her all the more precious.

When it could not longer be avoided, they got up and prepared for the day. They called for no attendants, helping each other to dress. Dracia wore her High Captain’s uniform, braiding her hair and putting on her black cloak. Leal dressed simply, placing his dark green cloak over his clothes. As they walked out in their sitting room, Malven was waiting there with a simple breakfast, and though neither of them felt much like eating, they sat in front of it and tried to take of the meal to ease the worries of each other.

“Word has been sent that the Navalian forces will be here in two bells, your majesty,” said Malven, unusually grave.

“You should get downstairs into the inner courts, Malven,” said Dracia as she drank some tea.

“No, I will stay here. Neither of you will be in the inner courts, so I will stay above, ready to serve either of you if you need it,” said Malven.

“That really isn’t necessary,” said Leal. “You should go to safety downstairs.”

“It may not be necessary, but it feels like the right thing to do, your majesty. I have longed served you, and I will not be too far away in your time of need. I will be around here, ready to help you and the queen as needed. You may command me, but you will not deny me what I know is my duty,” said Malven forcefully.

“I will not,” said Leal as he stood. He walked over to Malven and held out his hand. “You have always served me well, Malven, and been a friend when I needed it. Whatever happens today, I want you to know how appreciated you really are.”

“I thank you, your Majesty,” said Malven as he took the king’s hand. “I have never doubted you appreciate me. I know we shall have many more years together, and I wish I could say I vow to never irritate you again, but we know I could never keep it. I will only say I will always serve you well and be loyal to you.”

“Fair enough, Malven,” said Leal as he squeezed the man’s hand before letting it go.

After breakfast, Dracia and Leal went down to the inner courts so Dracia could see her mother, father, and brothers. Her father begged her to stay down below, but she would not be persuaded. She told him she had to oversee the battle and would be quite safe in the east tower. Leal knew there was no where she would be safe. She only wished to keep all danger that would be directed towards her away from everyone else. Her father kissed her hand didn’t seem to want to let it go. When he finally did, her mother actually hugged her. On their way out she was stopped by Lady Glain.

“You will not stay here in the inner courts, your majesties?” she asked as she stood before them.

“No, we must oversee the battle. I cannot fight for obvious reasons, but I can still keep watch over Winsdell and this palace,” said Dracia.

“You must not come to harm, your majesty,” said Lady Glain as she reached out and took her hand.

“I will be well guarded by my husband, dear lady,” said Dracia covering the woman’s hand with her own.

“You would do better to stay down here. You must think of your child, and your king. How would he do without you?” asked Lady Glain as Leal gave her a small sad smile. She pulled Dracia closer. “And Roderick, what would he do if he lost you?”

Dracia looked at the woman with concern, seeing the agitation on her face.

“I was wrong, my queen, very wrong to keep him from your side in the battle. He was so angry with me when you were taken, and I didn’t understand it at first. I knew he felt committed to you by his oath, but I never understood the depth of his feelings until later,” said Lady Glain as she held on to Dracia’s hand. “He loves you. I don’t mean it as a slight to your king or what he has with Lady Selene, but it is love he feels for you. He cannot do with you.”

“I have love for your son too, Lady Glain. He is very dear to me. I promise you I will be safe through this battle. I wish to live to see my child safely born, and my king rule this kingdom. I want to see Roderick happy with Lady Selene and a family of his own,” said Dracia as she looked at Lady Glain with a smile. “I am very stubborn you know. I usually get what I want.”

“See that you do then,” said Lady Glain as she let Dracia’s hand go.

“Take care of yourself, Lady Glain,” said Leal as he offered Dracia his arm. “Do not worry about the queen, I will keep her safe. She is quite essential to the kingdom and to me.”

They walked to the east tower together, without talking. Dracia became short of breath the higher they walked up the stairs, but Leal couldn’t tell if it was over exertion or anticipation of what was to come. When they reached the tower, they walked out onto the wall, Dracia staring into the distance.

“Can you see anything from here out into the hills?” asked Leal as he looked out.

“Some,” said Dracia. “You can just make out our lines from here. If you know how to look and what to look for. You can make out the Sentinel on their horses at the very top of the farthest hill.”

“I know this is hard for you, Dracia. You must wish to be out there,” said Leal.

“I do in many ways, but in others I am glad to be here with you. This is the only chance we have to keep our child safe, and everyone else from Belleth. I have to face her and Julian at some point, so it might as well be here in our palace with you by my side.”

“Do you know what you re going to do?” asked Leal.

“I am going to trust in the king’s gods to show me the way,” said Dracia. “I will not go with Belleth no matter what happens. Belleth will not get what she wants from me.”

“I don’t like to hear you talk like that,” said Leal. “I would rather you talk of preserving your own life no matter what happens.”

“I plan to come out of this alive, Leal. I plan to do it for you, for your child, for all we love, and even for me. I do want to live a full life with you,” said Dracia as she turned to him.

“I just wish I knew a sure way to make sure we can defeat Belleth. I want to know how I can help you. I don’t want to leave this up to chance,” said Leal.

“I am not leaving it up to chance. I am leaving it up to faith. I believe the gods will show us both the way. They are the king’s gods after all,” said Dracia.

“And if the curse is correct, they have long blamed the Cassendars for destroying Lanoxan and beyond,” said Leal. “What if they don’t wish to help us? What if they would like nothing more than to end out line with you and me?”

“I don’t believe that is true,” said Dracia. “If you believe in the curse, then you have to believe they gave your family a way to make amends. What if you are the way, Leal? What if you are the one who can bring stability to Lanoxan and the land? You’ve read those prophecies, and yes, it talks of one from Siccaria, but they also all talk of a Cassendar.”

“I think that is because to redeem our family it will take both of us, Dracia. It is not only Lanoxan that has been broken for so long, but the land as well. We are divided and suspicious of one another. Even Lanoxan and Siccaria did not have the best relationship until very recently. Meeting the prince from Parvail showed me just how leery other kingdoms are of us. Each kingdom in our land has too long thought only of ourselves.

“If we can get through this battle, and find a way to win, we must find a way to help each other, even Navalia. If Belleth is defeated, we will have to find a way to help that kingdom go forward form this.”

“We will win, Leal. I hope you will believe me. I know it will not be easy, and there may be things I have to do you do not like, but have faith all will be well,” said Dracia as she put her hand on his cheek. “Have faith in the gods and in me.”

“I will,” he said as took her hand from his face and kissed it.

They both looked out in the distance watching what they could of the battle. There wasn’t much either of them could make out, but they still looked and stayed silent, waiting for something, though Leal couldn’t say what. The battle raged on in the hills for some time, and Dracia started to pace at some point. Leal tried to get her to back in the tower and have a seat, but she would not listen. The minutes went by and the bells chimed every hour, telling them how much time was passing.

It was just after the second bell of the afternoon when a new noise close to them made them both look at one another and then run to the side of the wall and look down at the base of the palace. A large group of fighters had formed, attacking the group of Elites, Siccarian soldiers, and Indomia fighters who surrounded the base of the palace with some palace guards.

Leal watched as Dracia raised her hand and threw it down, sending a blast of wind at a nearby group Leal could see contained some traitor Elites of the Sentinel. When the wind should have hit them, it did nothing. It seemed to flow off of them with no affect. Dracia tried again and still nothing.

“Something is not right, Leal,” said Dracia as she continued to look down with her hand out. “I can feel something; it’s almost like a shield over the Navalian force.”

Leal put his own hand out and concentrated. He searched for his power as he had practiced and let it slowly come forward, searching over the group below him.

“You are right,” said Leal as he pulled his hand back. “Belleth must have done something to give them a shield.”

“This must mean she did the same to the force fighting in the hills,” said Dracia with a horrified look. “My Elites are out there now, Roderick, Galen and Ethen, and they cannot use Mystics. Can you do anything to take the shield down?”

Leal put his hand back out and felt for the defense around the Navalian forces. He concentrated trying to use his power to destroy it somehow. He felt his power come out of him and move towards the strange magic that surrounded the Navalian fighters. It seem to flow down to the shield, testing it before it surrounded it. Leal kept his hand out, concentrating as his power squeezed against the shield tighter and tighter, until he felt the shield shatter.

“Try now, Dracia,” said Leal as he pulled his hand back.

Dracia put out her hands and threw them down, sending a blast of wind towards a group of fighters her Elites were engaged with. The wind hit the Navalian group, sending the fighters flying into the palace wall.

“We have to find a way into the hills, Leal,” said Dracia as she grabbed his hand. “We must go help them.”

“We cannot, Dracia,” said Leal as he pulled her back close to him. “You cannot leave this palace. You know you cannot. If we stand any chance of defeating Belleth it will be here in the High Palace. You need to trust Roderick and your Elites. They can fight with more than just Mystics.”

She sighed and looked down as Leal looked out, seeing an Elite on his black horse racing towards the hills.

“I believe one of your Elites went to get help for the palace,” said Leal.

“We shall have to help them the best we can from here,” said Dracia as she raised her hand.

She threw them out and a large bank of snow covered a large group of Navalian forces coming up behind some of the Indomia fighters.

“Be careful and don’t extend yourself too much. You need to be able to protect yourself,” said Leal holding out his hand and trying to settle his power so he could use it to help those below.

He had never pressed his power for long periods, always being careful in battles and picking his moments. He didn’t want to go too far now with so many of their own fighters below, and the fact he might need almost all of his strength to protect Dracia. Still, he did what he could taking out Navalian fighters, and shielding some of their forces for a time.

“Leal, look,” said Dracia excitedly as she pointed.

Leal did as she asked, and he saw Roderick riding towards the palace with Galen and Ethen behind him. He smiled a little as Dracia held out her hand sending a large bank of snow to cover some fighters close to Roderick and Galen. Roderick and Galen looked up at them, Roderick alerting Galen that they could use Mystics again. Leal turned away slightly as a large blast of fire erupted form Galen burning a large path of Navalian fighters.

Dracia’s head was turned a different direction, staring down at something intently. Leal leaned over to see what she had spotted, when he saw Belleth, her sister, and Darron for a split second before they disappeared.

“They are in the palace,” said Dracia as she looked at Leal. “They are coming here now.”

“You are sure?” he asked. “They didn’t retreat?”

“No, they took advantage of our distraction and breached the palace. They are coming this way. I can sense them,” said Dracia.

“What should we do? Should we run?” asked Leal.

“No, said Dracia as she walked from the edge calmly and moved to the middle of the pathway on the wall. “We will meet them here. I am ready for this to be over.”

Leal walked to her side and took her hand. “Are you sure there is nothing else to be done?”

“No, there is no other way. You don’t need to be afraid, Leal. Just have trust,” said Dracia as she squeezed his hand and let it go.

He was afraid, though. He could not remember ever being so scared as he was in those moments as they waited for Belleth and the others to come to them. He tried not to show it. He tried to appear strong for Dracia, standing by her side, hoping he could do something to protect her. They didn’t have to wait long. Leal jump slightly as he heard the door to the tower open.

“Dracia, you left without saying goodbye,” said Belleth as she stepped out onto the wall. “We had to come find you, and look what has happened. All this death and destruction brought to your doorstep just because you couldn’t oblige me with my one request.”

“Your one request is to rule over the land how you see fit,” said Dracia as she folded her arms. “From what I know of you, I do not think that would work out well for any of the people in this land.”

“Come now, Dracia, it wouldn’t be so bad,” said Belleth. “You and Julian would be with me. I am sure we could work together to see that all are satisfied. Even your king would be safe and could rule over his little palace and village. It is much better than the alternative which will happen if you force my hand.”

“I am not afraid of you,” said Leal as he step in front of Dracia.

“You know you are lying, your majesty,” said Belleth with a laugh. “You have interrupted my conversation with my dear Dracia, and I can’t have that. Darron, see that the king is well occupied while I deal with the queen.”

Darron stepped forward and withdrew his sword, moving towards Leal and Dracia. Dracia pushed Leal back and withdrew her own silver sword, stepping towards Darron.

“I am still the High Captain of the Sentinel, Darron, and I believe you are mine to deal with,” said Dracia.

“I wouldn’t think you would wish to fight in your condition, Captain,” said Darron with a grin.

“He is right, Dracia,” said Belleth. “Besides, Julian and I need you here to speak with us. Come here.”

Belleth held up her hand and curled her fingers inward, and Dracia dropped to her knees, clutching her chest. Leal reached for her, but Darron was already upon him, his sword striking out as Leal dodged the blade quickly, and put his hand out. He felt his power try to reach for Darron, but it hit something like an invisible wall.

“That won’t work, your majesty,” said Darron as he got ready to strike again. “You will have to find another way to defend yourself.”

Leal looked down to where Dracia had dropped her sword. He picked it up and blocked Darron’s sword, holding the silver sword up high. He pushed Darron away and looked over to where Dracia kneeled on the ground towards Belleth.

“Come closer, Dracia,” said Belleth as she pulled her hand towards her body causing Dracia to fall forward in pain.

“Sister, be careful, you are hurting her,” said the woman as she pulled on Belleth’s arm.

“Be silent, Julian, and let me handle this. I know what needs to be done,” said Belleth as she moved her arm to throw Julian’s away.

Leal saw Darron move towards him, and he moved his sword up to block Darron’s move. Leal had not fought with a sword like this in ages. He wished he had kept in practice more, but some things were coming back to him. He somehow had to dispose of Darron so he could get to Dracia and figure out how to help her. If he could just break his power free somehow.

He moved forward striking out at Darron, pushing the man towards the end of the wall.

“Do you see your wife over there, your majesty,” said Darron with a smile as he blocked Leal’s blow and pushed back. “She will not be able to resist Belleth’s pull long. You should look at the queen now as I doubt you will ever see her again.”

“What do you know of Belleth’s allure, Darron? Does she have you under her spell?” asked Leal.

“In a way, I suppose,” said Darron. “She has offered me all I have ever wanted, power, status, and a way to end your family for good. The Cassendars have too long been weak rulers of our land. Once the land is united as one, we can move forward advancing those who are strong, and eliminating the weak.”

“My family has made mistakes in the past,” said Leal as he move forward, swinging his sword at Darron trying to get past the man’s defenses. “But it has nothing to do with advancing the strong and hurting those you think are weak. We have too long ignored those we thought below us. We should have strengthened our kingdom by taking care of all our people high and low.”

“You prove your family’s sad legacy,” said Darron. “Belleth will see to your end and restore the land as it always should have been. I have seen what she can do and experienced it.” Darron smiled as he blocked Leal’s attack, pushing forward to come very close to Leal. “She even gave me a taste of your queen. I must say I understand why she appealed to you so much. I wouldn’t mind being able to have her when ever I wanted. Perhaps, Belleth will give me her once you I do away with you.”

Leal felt his power surge, rising to Darron’s bait, but it had nowhere to go. It swirled inside of him making him feel sick and off centered. He staggered as Darron’s pushed him away, causing him to slip backwards and land against the wall, Dracia’s sword falling out of his hand as his shoulder took the brunt of the fall.

“This was easier than I thought,” said Darron smiling over Leal as he moved forward his sword raised.

Leal started to roll away, hoping he would be able to move in time as he saw someone jump over him and meet Darron’s sword with one of his own. Leal looked up to see Roderick standing in front of him, his sword against Darron’s. Roderick pushed, causing Darron to slip back in surprise, as Galen and Lord Ethen joined Roderick on the wall.

“Go to Dracia with Lord Ethen, your majesty,” said Roderick as Galen unsheathed his sword. “Galen and I will take care of this traitor for the Sentinel and our High Captain.”