Hornguard 1e

    “You did well, Barrix” the Overlord said.
   “I knew I would.” Was the response from the man cloaked in black. “It was an easy spell, one that I was first taught.”
   “Don’t get cocky.” Was the instant response.
   “I’m not, I just know what I can handle and what I can’t.”
   “You may leave.” Barrix nodded his head and left the room by the double doors. “Keep your eye on him. I don’t want him too independent.”
   “Yes, master.” A dark, shapeless, shadow-like creature stated before disappearing from the corner of the room.
* * * * * * * *
   “Joel,” the Chancellor started, “After the summer challenges, I am going to want you to come and study with me. You are good enough with weapons for me to start you on your next stage.” The Chancellor got up and started to pace the room. “I am only going to live for 3 more years. The god, Palakor, talked to me in my sleep last night. He told me that you have to be trained to take over for me in three years time from the summer challenges. Why he spoke to me, I don’t know. I do know that he told me that he has also spoken to the High Mage. His apprentice will take over in 3 years time as well. I believe that in all things, Palakor is neutral. You may go back to your training sessions tomorrow.”
   “Yes, sir,” was all that Joel could respond. Gods talking to people, Trig knowing when he was going to die, stop training in weapons, this was all too much to try to digest at one time. He was glad that Trig gave him the rest of the day off.
* * * * * * * *
   The summer challenges came sooner than Joel was ready for. When it came time for Joel’s first fight, he chose the swords. He excelled through all the early battles. The final battle was against Markouls, the Duke’s son. Joel knew that Markouls was a good swordsman, but not as good at quarter-staff. They weren’t a macho type of weapon according to the Duke, and his son. Joel picked up the quarterstaff and swung it some to get the balance of it while Markouls just laughed and said some rude comments to his friends. When the battle begun; however, it was Joel’s friends that were laughing. Joel had learned to use the quarterstaff very well. He had spent extra time practicing both the sword and staff because he knew that he wouldn’t learn any more weapons after these challenges. When Markouls would rush, Joel would step out of the way and hit him with the staff. When Markouls would try to slice, Joel would block with one end and hit with the other. The final move was one where Joel did a pole vault over Markouls head and knocked him down from behind. Joel did not see the look of hatred in Markouls’s eyes.
   As Joel was walking back to the barracks for a few of his items that hadn’t been taken to the keep yet; he heard his name called from behind. He turned around just in time to see Markouls coming at him with some of his friends. “You disgraced me. ME, a duke’s son. You are going to pay for this.” Markouls pulled out a dagger that he had obviously taken from the armory.
   Joel backed up a step and said, “Don’t do this, you’ll get us both in trouble.”
   “The only trouble I’ll be in is that I didn’t do this sooner.” By then Joel realized that there was no avoiding this. He did notice that the group of friends was letting only Markouls fight; obviously that is what the malamute wanted. Fortunately, Joel had begun the habit of carrying the dagger that he had found in the ruins with him. He pulled it out and noticed that it radiated a faint blue glow in the darkness of the early evening. He didn’t let that get in his way of concentration; he was ready for Markouls’ first attack. The first and last attack of the battle.
   “Freeze!” Chancellor Trig demanded. “Now, tell me what is going on.” To the credit of both Markouls and Joel, neither one bolted at the sudden appearance of the Chancellor. The duke’s son’s friends, however, they bolted and were out of the area before the answer.
   “He started to attack me with a stolen dagger.” Markouls stated in a matter of fact tone. “I was on my way to the armory to put my weapon away since I had been training later than usual.”
   “I must disagree, my Lord. I was just walking back to get the rest of my personal things when he attacked me. I told him not to, but he didn’t listen. I only pulled my dagger in defense.” Joel stated.
   Chancellor Trig looked at the two men and sighed. “This is a matter for the King. Unfreeze!” The young canine’s could move again, and both quickly fell in step behind the elder wolf.
   “A matter for Your Lordship to rule on.” Stated the Chancellor as he directed the young men into the private council chambers. “They both accuse the other of starting a fight. When I got there, Markouls here was advancing on Joel. Both had daggers out.”
   “And how are we to decide who has the correct case?” the King answered.
   “Joel has on him a dagger with special properties. When one is holding the dagger, he can’t tell untruths.” Joel looked down at his dagger in awe as the Chancellor talked to the King. The wolf walked over and held out his hand, which Joel quickly put the sheathed dagger in it. “I will first give it to Markouls.” The malamute took the dagger and repeated the same story, word for word. The dagger glowed a bright red. When Joel took the dagger and told his story, the dagger glowed the blueish tint. “I believe that your lordship should be able to tell who the guilty party is.”
   “We can. Markouls, you are to be on report starting tomorrow and ending a sevenday from tomorrow. We will talk to Sir James about this incident. We hope that we are making ourselves clear when we say that this will not happen again.” The King gave a meaningful look at both the young men, and then dismissed them.
* * * * * * * *
   Joel saw little of his training mates for the next three years as he was always in the keep. The only time he could get out was in the middle of the afternoon when the rest of the castle slept. He wanted to maintain his edge with weapons. Chancellor Trig instructed Joel in the ways of magic and tradition. The shepherd also was instructed in the history of the land and it heraldry. He even sent Joel to the great Library of the god Melkor to learn scribe skills from them. In all of the learning, and practicing, Joel excelled.
   The Prince was born on the summer festival, or challenge day as called by the trainees, one year after Joel started his training with Trig. The King and Queen named him Charles Vaper Melnston Rilken IV. The King and Chancellor started to become worried the following year. On the third year of Joel’s training with the Chancellor, the wolf called Joel into a special council with the King.
   “I am going to have to put the Duke of Northing on the Regency.” The King was saying as Joel was shown in.
   “You have no choice. But you must also make sure that Joel is named Chancellor and placed on the Regency staff also. Ah, here is the young rascal now.” Joel bowed to the King and sat in the seat that Trig pointed to.
   “Tomorrow, I will announce that you are the new Chancellor to take effect on the summer festival. I will also announce that the lands of Hornguard are forever in the able hands of the Chancellors. This means that if you should ever be in trouble, you can retreat to the ruins and camp there. It is not the best, but I feel that it is something that must be done. I will leave you two to talk about the upcoming change.” With that, the King and other council members left the room.
   “Joel, you must remember not to get angry at every little problem.” The Chancellor started.
   “How will I avoid a curse like the one that was put on you?” Joel asked in a frightened voice.
   “If you find another artifact of magic, you will have the power to stop it. I will now give you my ring. I have not told you all of its powers, but then again, I don’t know all of the powers. I will also give you my staff; as you might remember, it’s the Snake Staff. It isn’t very powerful, but it does turn into a huge constrictor snake on command. You must hunt up the Dragon Staff, though. The trek will be dangerous, including the fact that you will have to fight the Dragon itself in order to win the staff. This was done so that normal men would not get the power of that staff. You must find it before your enemy, Lord Barrix, does. With that staff, the ring, and your own powerful magic, you will be able to rebuild Hornguard. If you do that, make sure you put in the safeguards so that Lord Barrix won’t gain the power that the castle has. If he does, evil will offset the balance. Remember at all times, the balance of nature must be preserved.”
   Joel blinked a few times, trying to take in all that was just said. It was like a lifetime that was crammed into his head. He finally was able to form a question. “Why would I want to rebuild Hornguard even if you say that I have the ability; though, I know I don’t.”
   “You do have the power. You will, however, have to find it on your own. When hadn’t reached the point I wanted to, but we have no more time. Two days from now, I will die and the King with me. You must keep the Duke from taking over the kingdom. He is jealous that he was born second to the King. Even though he has the largest amount of land outside of the King, he wants it all. That is why the King is setting aside the lands of Hornguard. These are smaller but rich growing lands. You know that, of course, as you lived there for the first years of your life. Now leave.” The wolf looks at the shepherd. “I know you have questions, but I can answer no more.” Joel left feeling that he should have had all of his questions answered, but he didn’t want to cause an upset. The Chancellor was already tense enough with the knowledge of his death; he didn’t want an impertinent youth asking hard questions.