You guys reviewed so quickly, I was able to post a new chapter sooner than usual. You guys rock like that.
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Chapter 6:
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"Listen," Ashlee went on to the girls, trying to calm their seemingly endless bickering, especially between Halinor and Kadma. "If your going to do any good for us at all your going to have to be in this together, or it won't work. You're all equal, with an equal purpose. We're going to need every one of you and every power you have to offer us. Let's concentrate on the task before us, please."
They all seemed fine with that idea and followed him onward up the hilled terrain.
"So, what's so important about this queen anyway?" Cassidy asked him as they walked on.
"This queen possesses the hope of all light nations and every person in them," Ash explained. "And she was born with a magic that balances the seasons, brings justice to the laws, and upholds all of our defenses. She is everything to us."
"Wait," Nerissa interrupted. "If this queen is so mega-powerful and all, how is it she was able to be captured so easily in the first place? Couldn't she have voodoo-ed them all away?"
"Under different circumstances, yes," Ash said. "But Roarke is powerful himself. He certainly had been plotting this for years and he came indubitably prepared. In the Marsh Lands, there is a legend about a wristband that that has the cursed ability to take away a person's use of any light magic for any who wear it, rendering them powerless. Even if you could make it through the Marsh Lands to get it, you would have to go past a dark cave full of unspeakable creatures to get it. At least, that's how the legend goes. I now realize that not all tall tales are farse. I saw those creatures from the cave with my own eyes, on the day that the queen was captured. If you ever end up facing Roarke, I would keep away from that bracelet if I were you. It would paralyze the Heart as well, since you use the Heart with light magic."
Nerissa stared into the Heart with a newfound mystery. This little thing was ultra-magical? It would sure explain a lot.
"So where is Oracle?" Yan Lin piped up at last.
"Pardon?" Ashlee asked her, but Cassidy was the one to translate, as always.
"The book Yan Lin has at home talks about an Oracle giving us these powers. Where is he?"
"Oh!" Ash exclaimed. "Yes, the Oracle. He hasn't ordered a council in centuries… Most have forgotten about him and who he was. He likes it that way. The only reason I even know of him is because of my father, who was the leader of the armies, and part of the Council. Up until now the Oracle's had a little herb shop in the village of Cambrid. But now that the Guardians have returned, the council will be summoned once more."
They walked in silence for several moments, until Ash came beside Cassidy and said in a low voice:
"What is wrong with Yan Lin?"
"What do ya mean?" Cassidy asked in confusion.
"She doesn't speak like the rest of you. Why?"
Cassidy chuckled.
"She just has an accent. I do too, but it ain't as strong as hers. She's from another part of our world, and she just learned English 'bout a year ago. She's workin' on improvin' her grammer, but don't tell her she needs it or she'll get offended, fer sure."
"Ash!" a young male voice called from the distance.
A younger boy ran up then, a boy with a striking resemblance to Ash, but with lighter hair and eyes.
"Ash, we just got word from the spies," he said, panting with every word.
"And?"
The young boy finally noticed the guardian girls and smiled, seemingly impressed.
"Goddesses," he commented in amazement. "Celestial beings, divine heavenly creatures--"
"Focus, Tred," Ash insisted, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders to focus his attention to him. "What else did our spies say?"
"Oh," the young boy went on. "The queen was strong. They weren't able to get her to cooperate in any way. They've placed her in the lower dungeons indefinitely."
Ash squinted in thought.
"This buys us time," he said, obviously pleased. "She is safe then, for now. Tell the troops to fall back until further word."
"Already did," the boy replied, his eyes falling to the girls again. Ash seemed displeased with the boy, but didn't forsake his own manners, and took the liberty of introductions.
"Nerissa, Cassidy, Yan Lin, Halinor, and Kadma, this is my younger brother, Tred."
"Are these the new Guardians?" Tred said to Ash like the girls weren't standing right there.
"Yes," Ash replied with obvious dismay at admitting it. "Our saviors."
"They're little girls," Tred insisted.
"We know," they piped in together with impatience in each of their voices.
Tred shrugged.
"Well, it doesn't bother me…"
Though Tred was still distracted by the new guardians, Ashlee still demanded his brother's attention. Poor Ash reminded Yan Lin of a frustrated father, dealing with an unruly child. He spoke clearly and slowly, as to make sure young Tred was listening.
"Tred, take the girls down to the Crux and get them started on obstacle training. I'm going to visit the map room and plan our retrieval of the queen."
"Yes, great leader," Tred said with a mocking salute. "Come on then, girlies."
"And Tred?" Ash added.
"Yes, great leader?"
Ash frowned at the name.
"Behave," he instructed.
Tred sneered at his brother disrespectfully, but Ash was already on his way down a nearby hill and didn't seem to see, or perhaps just didn't care. Tred motioned for the girls to follow him in the opposite direction, and left before they had a chance to obey.
"You're Ash's brother?" Halinor said when they caught up with Tred.
"Hard to believe we're related, I know…" he said with a sigh, running a hand through his caramel-colored hair. "But sadly, yes. That stiff-necked, over-controlling, uptight shell of a man is my brother."
"I take it you two don't get along well," Kadma observed blatantly.
"Right you are," Tred admitted. "Brothers in blood, but we don't share much else in common. Here I'm in the infantry for three years and I'm still doing grunt-work, while he's off getting medals. Everyone thinks he's so perfect," Tred said with a hint of jealousy in his tone. "That last mistake sure opened everyone's eyes."
"You mean the capture of the queen," Cassidy assumed. "He mentioned something about failing to save her… Was it his fault?"
"Might as well have been. He's still beating himself up for it. I've never seen him like this before."
"How do you mean?" Kadma asked.
"He's been very depressed since it happened. He's discouraged. Maybe ashamed. I didn't think he could get any more serious than he was before… he proved me wrong. He doesn't even smile anymore."
"Oh, how sad!" Kadma exclaimed. "The man must be absolutely heartbroken."
"You have no idea," Tred said with a hidden meaning. "But! Enough about him. Let me show you something."
At the bottom of the hill, just beyond the village houses, was a large building with tall arched wooden doors, each carved with a strange symbol. It was a kind of star, struck through with a cross and surrounded by a curtain of blue.
"What's that?" Cassidy said quietly to Yan Lin, pointing to the carvings as they walked toward the building's double-doors.
"Um, it common symbol of army, I think," Yan Lin guessed. "Mark of Arandeenair?"
"That's pronounced the Mark of Hrandinar," Tred corrected. "Symbol of the allegiance. And through these doors, is a sacred place called the Crux-- training center for the armies, helped built by the first Guardians themselves."
Suddenly Yan Lin stopped, which provoked the others to do the same.
"Do you hear?" Yan Lin said curiously. "It sound like yelling, like fighting…"
Everyone fell silent to listen.
"It's coming from inside," Tred said fearfully. Slowly he pushed open the double doors, and together gasped at the sight before them.
Hundreds of armed soldiers fought amongst themselves, with clanging armor and clashing swords, with many wounded and killed already scattered across their midst. A stable nearby was in flames, and so was what looked like an armory shed. Men were screaming and combating all around.
"Is this how you usually train your soldiers?" Nerissa asked calmly, but Tred was too much in shock to reply.
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Sorry this chapter
was a little on the short side, but the first transformation is
coming up, and it was too long for one chapter, so I had to put it
into the next chapter. Needless to say, the next one will be much
longer. So until then, please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue
