Interlude

Part 1

"Chief, we-"

"Shut up," snarled Alfred. "Don't bother me now. Later."

The other man muttered something under his breath and scurried away. Alfred barely noticed him; his mind was thousands of miles away. He couldn't be sure, but for a moment he thought that he'd felt a flicker of his power. The power that had been denied to him since the destruction of Odegan.

He felt hatred lick his insides as he thought again of the Fairy of the Gudo Valley.

The bitch will pay.

The rage welled up inside of him again, and for an eternal moment he was back in Odegan, back the day that Mars had come into his life. Into everybody's life.

It was a beautiful day. The air was crisp and clean, and his soul felt at peace. Today of all days he knew that the son of the legendary Ser Jiles was coming to the Castle. Alfred nodded politely to the good morning that young Cayne shouted cheerfully at him.

Cayne was a young man, slight of stature, yet he had been a guard for longer than Alf albeit, only by a couple of months. Morley was a little older; he'd been a guard for nearly two years. He was powerfully built, and Alf knew that Ser Kaizel was considering him for sergeant of the junior guard.

Alf admitted to himself that Morley would be a sound choice. He had seniority and knew his guard duties well. Privately of course, he would have hoped for command, but he knew that was unrealistic. He was after all very new to his post.

Alfred was the last of a long line of an aristocratic, indeed, even a royal family. Centuries ago, the nephew to King Arris had been granted a very powerful holding and so had Alfred's family been born.

Ser Kaizel was as much of a family as he had ever had. The old commander looked out for him. Alf was grateful, of course he was, but privately he felt that he never matched up in his mentor's eyes. Ser Kaizel had this way of watching him, so careful, so watchful, as if nervous that Alf might do something.

Abruptly the young man shook his head. He's just old. Nothing more. So Alf stood there quietly wondering when the son of Ser Jiles would arrive, and what he would be like.

A young fellow, more a boy than a man really, walked into the room looking about him nervously. Alf paid him no mind. A country lad, most like, come to join the guard. Ser Kaizel was always looking for more men and the treasury could afford to hire.

The boy walked towards the hall. Alf had to resist the urge to smile, the Chancellor and Ser Kaizel were hard at it this morning. Something to do with the elves and the Hobbit Delegation. Not that Alf had ever paid them much mind. Although, perhaps he should… It was said that elves had much knowledge of arcane matters. Perhaps the Hobbits would as well.

Alf had been born with power. It was rare for a wizard to have the ability to summon both fire and water, but it had happened. That wasn't what made Alf special. He knew that he had power, because there was no one else with his range of talents. No one else who could call on both the light and the dark.

He kept his arcane abilities as a secret, but he knew that they alone merited his worth. He would rise high, in the guard. High enough to realize his ambition, and ask for the hand of Princess Satera, King Ulrich's only daughter.

He abruptly returned to the present as he heard the voice of Ser Kaizel, at first reasonably loud, but slowly rising in volume. "Alf!... Alf! Alfred! Are you around?"

He ran over quickly taking note of the new boy as he gasped, "Yes, right here!"

"Can you come over here?"

"Yes, right away, sir."

Ser Kaizel smiled at him and gestured to the boy, "Since I am quite busy as of late, I have asked Alfred to watch over you. You two will be working together. I'm certain you'll make a great team."

Ser Kaizel then turned aside to continue his discussion with the Chancellor, a rather pompous older man with a thick neck and a huge white moustache. Alf heard none of it. He was staring at the boy, stunned.

Could this pathetic looking specimen be the son of the great Ser Jiles? Alf couldn't imagine so, but Ser Kaizel had told him days ago that he would be assigned to show the hero's son the ropes.

Finally he managed, "Nice to meet you, I'm Alfred." Finally readjusting the shock he continued with greater confidence, "I just signed on here a few months ago, so technically I'm new, too. And you, obviously, are Mars." He paused for a moment and asked, "That is the name, correct?"

The boy nodded at him.

Alf smiled condescendingly at his charge, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I was expecting someone much, uh,… larger. Ah well, size is overrated. You and I are gonna make a great team anyway!"

He gave Mars a few instructions, adding that he himself would be off in the dormitory making sure that he'd be awake for the night watch that they'd share. The other boy walked off down the hall.

Alf paused for a moment watching him. Ah well, Mars didn't seem that bad. And working with Ser Jiles son would be a wonderful way to start making his mark. He'd also have to speak with Ser Kaizel and discover just what it was that his mentor didn't trust him about.

I am a man grown. I have a right to know.

He started walking away whistling lightly. As he passed Cayne the brown-haired guard sniggered at him, "Where you off to, candy pants?"

Alfred's smile curdled like warming milk. "Shut your mouth you poltroon or I'll shut it for you!"

Cayne grinned at him. "Is that a challenge?"

Alfred stood there for a moment. Then he nodded and said, "Aye."

Morley looked up from his post at the barracks door. "Oho, I'll have to see this. Young Ser Starry Eyes against bold Ser Candy Pants? Should be priceless. Why not make it a bet?"

Alf smiled, "Ten gold coins says I win."

Cayne nodded, "I'd agree to that."

Morley chuckled, "I'll put mine in. Why not see if Mars'll pitch in too? It'll be a good way to get him into the club."

Alf nodded, "Done and done. Tomorrow?"

Cayne said, "Sure. Try not to collect any more candy though."

Alf snorted and continued on his way.