Hornguard 1c

  “You are going to tell me that you lost two boys in a castle that only had one exit. You are all fools. I sense that the weapons are heading towards Rillion. Get them before they get there.” The image of the Overlord faded from the crystal ball. The man holding it took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He carefully put the ball away, and walked out of the tent.

  “We leave now. We have to get to the Plains of Narvos before tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?! That means riding all night.” One of the guards complained. “I still think that the boys were a figment of Wimk’s imagination. Otherwise, how do you explain the fact that we made tracks in the dust but they didn’t?”

  “I don’t know, I don’t care, I have my orders and we are going to follow them.”
* * * * * * * *
  Joel was awakened by James yelling for the boys to get up and circle the fire. Joel jumped up with his dagger out and went by the fire. Only then did he notice that there were several pairs of eyes looking at him from outside the light of the fire. There were some guttural noises from a group of creatures. “Orcs” James yelled as one jumped out and started to attack the boys. All Joel could think of was to kill as many as he could before he got killed, which is what he thought would happen. Before he knew it, though, Joel was panting as he looked at the dead bodies on the ground around him. As James and Tom joined him to rest, James said, “You both fought very well. I am sorry that we had to have a trial by fire, but you both passed. We had better move on. You boys can sleep in the wagon. Don’t forget to clean off your weapons.” The boys wiped their daggers on the dead bodies and climbed into the wagon. James hitched the horses up and the wagon started to more.
* * * * * * * *
  “They should be over the next rise.” The ten horses rode over the hill and stopped. In front of them was a scene of destruction. There were six dead orc bodies lying around a dead fire.

  “You said there were only three of them, and two of them are untrained boys. How could they kill all of these orcs?” one of the guard asked.

  “I said that they have magical daggers. That is why the Overlord wants them. They must have left, come on.” The leader started off down the road towards Rillion.
* * * * * * * *
  The morning started out misty and dark; when the sun finally came up, the mists were gone. About halfway into the morning the wagon crested a hill and a tremendous sight lay in front of them. Tall spires rose from the pure white walls of a giant fortress. “Rillion.” James said quietly. As the wagon got closer, the boys noticed that this place was indeed as large as it looked from the hill. The walls were made out of pure, white granite, guards walking on top of them. There was a large draw bridge over the dark, murky moat. The wagon went under the large gate house without incident, though there were guards watching everyone.
* * * * * * * *
  “They made it to Rillion.”

  “You fool.” Yelled the voice from the crystal ball. “You will go into the city, find them, and bring them to me. You will NOT fail again.” The image faded from the ball, and the rhino in the black cloak breathed a sigh of relief.

  “We are to go into the city and retrieve them.” The man said.

  “What?! Are you crazy?!” was the response from the others.

  “Well, I’m going in. You can stay here, but the Overlord said that we won’t fail him again.” The leader got on his horse with the others following more slowly and headed towards the city.
* * * * * * * *
  “Boy, this place is big!” exclaimed Joel.

  “How long did it take to build this?” Tom stuck in.

  “Several centuries.” Was the reply from James. The wagon moved ahead slowly as the people in the streets cleared out of the way. The boys were nearly overwhelmed with all the activity, and the smells. This was a far cry from the small village they were from. Everywhere they looked there was some sort of activity. The ride seemed to take longer in the city than it did to get there. Finally, the wagon arrived at the castle in the center of the town. The boys had never seen a castle, let alone one this big. The walls were 50 feet tall, 500 feet long, and 25 feet thick. They were made of a gray material that looked like granite but was different. AS the wagon passed over a stone bridge, the boys saw the inside of the yard. From the glimpse they saw, the keep itself looked larger than life. The wagon passed the first set of doors and into a dim passageway that led through the wall to the yard. When they came out, the light blinded them for a second. They were then able to look around.
* * * * * * * *
  One of the guards held out his hand and stopped the ten black horses with riders that were about to enter Rillion. “What is your business here?” the elephant guard asked.

  “We wish to buy some goods in your fair town.” The lead rhino replied.

  “Where are you from?” the guard questioned back.

  “Here and there, mostly from the West.”

  The guard looked at the group for a few minutes then finally said, “Move along.” The rhino’s entered the city.
* * * * * * *
  The yard was huge with buildings lining the walls, not the least of which was the rather large keep. There was a flurry of activity as men rushed everywhere. Over in one corner, men of various species in matching uniforms marched practiced drills while younger men hacked at practice dummies with swords. The boys were led to the barracks and shown their bunks. “Meet me at the 8th watch, 1st hour outside.” James said this as he left. The boys looked around, there were various men sleeping on bunks and cleaning their weapons. None of them really seemed to notice the new recruits. Joel set his stuff down on his bunk and started to unpack it all into the chest next to his bed. Tom walked around the barracks a little before doing the same.

  The 8th watch came sooner than the boys realized. As the bell rang, the boys raced outside and stopped at what they saw. In front of the barracks was a large group of young boys all about Tom and Joel’s age. They were joking and laughing as they waited. One of the boys, a malamute, walked up to Joel and asked what he was doing there. He continued to ask wasn’t he far from home and missed his mom. “I might if I had a mom.” Was all the reply that Joel gave. The boy was about to say something else when James and two other guards walked up.

  “Alright, line up in a straight line.” Was the first command. “My name is James, and I will instruct some of you. The rest will be divided up between Kyliy and Lemsot. You will find out at supper tonight, but for now, all of you run ten laps around the courtyard.” There were various grunts to this, but they stopped quickly as James looked around. This was the start of the training. As Joel ran, he knew that most of these boys would end up.as guards, some would inherit their fathers’ estates, and a few would be part of the personal staff of the king. Joel, alone, knew that he was destined to become something different, though he didn’t know why at the moment.
* * * * * * * *
  “Quickly, they are closing the gates to the keep soon.” The ten horses with their riders padded quickly through the first gate, then through the second. It was only then that the rhinos knew they were in trouble. As they came out of the second gate, the gate shut. There were then shouts to lay down their arms. The leader looked around and saw that they were surrounded, and signaled to throw down their arms. The swords and weapons hit the ground as the guards came and took the men towards the main keep.

  “Put the rest down in the dungeons while I take him to the king, “one of the guards said. He led his prisoner towards the main room, and when the doors opened, he pushed the prisoner through.

  “So, he sent some spies.” The Jaguar on the throne said.

  “I won’t say anything.” Was the only reply the rhino gave.

  “Well, you will rot until you do. Take him away.” Ordered the king.
* * * * * * * *
  “I have a job for you.” A cloaked figure sitting on an identical but black throne said.

  “Yes, my Lord.” Was the reply from the old, gray furred wolf.

  “Certain people have failed me and have been captured. Take care of them and return their items to me.” The Overlord stated.

  “Yes, my Lord.” He started to leave the room.

  “One thing, let your successor do this job. I want to test him.”

  “Are you sure? He is only 14?”

  “I am sure, your first job was at 13.”

  “Yes, you are right. I shall do as you say.”
* * * * * * * *
  At dinner that night, the talk of the room was how ten prisoners had suddenly died and all their items disappeared. The King and Chancellor were in discussion all night as to how the men had died. The king had thought that the High Mage had done it, but the Chancellor wasn’t sure.

  “All quiet.” James commanded at the end of the meal. The boys quickly became quiet. “All of the boys who are to become guards of the castle will from now on report to Kyliy. All of you boys from the small cities and keeps will report to Lemsot. All of the rest will report to me. We will start with the third watch, so I suggest that all of you get some sleep. Kyliy will expect his boys in the courtyard, Lemsot will see his boys near the training ground, and I will expect to see my boys in the weapons storeroom.” With all of that said, James started to leave the room. As he passed Joel and Tom, he said, “You will be with me from now on.” Many of the boys also got up and left the room. Joel and Tom remained with a group of boys that seemed to be in James’ group.

  “Why did he let poor people like them train with the best fighter in the land? That is normally reserved for deserving folk like us.” One of the boys said. The malamute looked familiar to Joel, then he recognized him as the rude boy from earlier in the day. Joel was about to give a nasty answer when the boys started to stand up. Joel, Tom, and some of the boys on the opposite side of the table turned to see who was coming.

  “I see you made it here in one piece.” Chancellor Trig said.

  “Uh. . . .yes, sir.” Joel replied.

  “Good. For now, you will be in the company of James until you have mastered fighting techniques. I will be talking to you every so often to find out how you are doing.” He then looks at the other boys that are standing. “Good night, boys.” With that said, the wolf pads off.

  “So that is why he is training with us. He has some connections.” The malamute stated after the Chancellor was out of ear shot. “I just hope that he measures up to our high standards.” The other boys just laughed.

  “I believe that not only will I be better than you, but that I will be higher in the King’s favor than you.” Joel replied, but not knowing why he would be higher station than this obvious nobility kid.

  “There is no way, because I am the son of the Duke of Northing.” To that, Joel just got up and left the room, with Tom following shortly after.
* * * * * * * *
  “Are you trying to tell me that the High Mage didn’t kill them? I find that hard to believe. He was the only one talented enough to get in here without setting off any traps. If he didn’t do it, who did?” The king’s question hung in the room for a minute or two.

  “I believe, “ started Chancellor Trig, “that it was someone that is being trained to take over for the High Mage. This is the only way I can account for not feeling the Mage’s presence. This recruit is one that will have to be watched very closely by my successor.”

  “So, you feel that this successor of the High Mage will be tougher? And that he is also young?”

  “Almost undoubtedly, my lord. He would be someone who is young and without family. Young, so they can mold him to their designs; orphaned so he has no family that we or any of their enemies can hold a sway with. Now that I think of it, I did sense something last night, but I thought it was….” The older wolf slowly trails off.

  “Chancellor, you were saying?” the jaguar prodded.

  “Nothing, my Lord, I was just thinking to myself.”

  “The council is ended for now. When you have information come and tell me in person.” The king dismissed the council and left the room. Only the Chancellor remained in the room, apparently lost deep in thought.
* * * * * * * *