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A/N: Thanks a lot to all of those who reviewed and to Ally Serenity for betaing this chapter
Chapter Sixteen
"We have chosen: Mistress Derna, Sir Nathael, Sir Orthon, Sir Kermal and Sir Quentin as fighters; Sir Mundungus and Sir Xoal as fight-scholars; Bahir and Gerim as healers, and Sir James and Lilyaris as dragon riders. Can the afore mentioned people please report to me after this meeting? Secondly, until this team completes its mission, we have found a way to slow the Dark Lord a bit. The people I call will have to report to Sir Exer, who will explain everything. Sir Ormain, Sir Thomas, Sir Frank, Sir William, Sir Yvan, and Sir Arxes will be part of this team. I need a few volunteers as well. Be careful, this mission could be dangerous." Said Sir Albus.
About twenty hands shot into the air.
"Good. Give your names to Sir Exer, and you shall be notified of the nature of the mission a bit later. That is all for now."
He stepped back and joined Sir Exer, who gave him a paper. He took it, and decided to call them later.
He headed towards the headquarters where he was awaited by the team's members, minus Lily and James who would come soon.
As expected, they arrived a few minutes later, once everyone was seated. Lily took a seat on Sir Albus's right while James sat at his left.
"Thank you for coming. Now that we are all here, I would like to explain to you the reason why you are here. In a few days, Lily, along with some other riders and Sir Flitwick, will cast the Zizadis spell. Her doing this will give us time to complete the mission you are about to start. In fact, we have found in an old manuscript a way to prevent Voldemort to go further. It will last a few months, giving us the time to think of a real way to stop him definitively. What we found is called the Golden Gate. It is sort of a shield that will prevent everything from exiting it. We need three things to create it. We have two of these artifacts, and the last one is hiding somewhere. We know that the entrance of its hideout is located in the Infernio Canyon where Rhetwas was killed. Your mission is to retrieve the Unicorn's Horn. You will have to go through several trials before finding it, but we do not know what these trials are. The only hint we have is that you will have to prove your intelligence, you strength, and your courage. Do you accept this mission? This is the point of no return. You must choose now." Explained Sir Albus.
There was a long silence, then Derna looked straight at Lily.
"I'm in."
All the others nodded in agreement.
"Thank you. Your equipment will be up to you. Just be prepared for the worst. The mission will take place in a week." Sir Albus looked at them. "You are aware of the fact that everything that had been said here must remain untold?"
Everyone nodded.
"Very well, you may go. If you have any questions, ask Lilyaris."
They slowly got up and left the room.
Lily looked sharply at Sir Albus.
"Excuse-me Sir, but may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Well, why were Sirius, Remus, and Bella not chosen? They are all as good as them."
"I was wondering when you would ask that. Well to be honest, we were thinking of having them join the team, but finally we decided against it."
"Why?" asked the prince, "I mean you have decided to send us: the heir of the throne and one of the most powerful riders; why not them."
"Sirius is too impulsive and could put you in danger or fall in some traps, Remus needs to stay to prevent Sirius from doing something stupid like following you and Bella isn't ready mentally for what might happen." Explain the old counselor.
Lily slowly nodded, understanding these reasons. Then she turned to face James.
"Do you know how to sword play?"
"I learnt it until my eleventh birthday"
"Why have you stopped?"
"A sword is useless when you have a wand." Stated James as if it was obvious.
"Really and what would you do if I did this? Accio wand!"
Immediately, James's wand flew in her hand.
"What would you do if you were disarmed and unable to do wandless magic?"
"I'd run?" said James innocently.
"Very funny, come, I will see what you have to learn."
"Am I obliged? I mean, sword fighting is for those who cannot do magic."
"Well if you manage to beat me without your wand, you will not have to learn it."
James lunged suddenly at her. But she stepped on her right and he fell on the ground. He laughed.
"Alright, you've won."
Lily smiled.
Maris, can you ask Darais to tell Bella to bring Remus and Sirius to the training room? We are going to teach them how to really sword-fight. Apparently the wizards think it is useless as they have magic...
Maris snorted.
They're so blind… Darais says that Bella will be at the training room in five minutes. I quote: "I'll tie them up and drag them there if they don't want to come"
Typical Bella… laughed Lily.
Is it not?
Lily smiled, thanked Maris, and then reported her attention on Sir Albus.
He gave them a few words of advice, and then allowed them to leave.
As soon as they were outside, Lily dragged James to a building. When he entered, he saw Bella, Remus, and Sirius waiting. Lily stopped and took up a bit of parchment and a quill. She wrote a few words on it, and then rolled it.
Lily whistled sharply, and one of the enormous dogs they had used on the first day of training ran to her.
"Good dog! Bring this to Derna, understand: Derna."
The dog barked happily and ran out of the room.
James went to his friends while Lily and Bella went in a small room where were stored the weapons. They chose swords for the three young men, knives, a bow, and a crossbow, not knowing which one they should use.
When they came back, they saw that Derna, Kermal and Nathael had arrived. Derna was one of the best sword-fighters, Nathael was unbeatable when it came to bows and crossbows and Kermal was be able to hit a fly with his knives.
"Thanks for coming." Said Lily after greeting them.
"No need Lily," answered Kermal. Lily had become friends with these three after going in mission with them a few times. "Why have you called us?"
"I wanted to know if you could help Bella and me to perfect our techniques…" started Lily
"No problem!" Nathael answered immediately. "It will be useful for missions."
"Indeed. And I also wanted to ask you to help us to teach three of our friends how to fight, even if they think they do not need it." Finished the redhead woman.
"Let me guess, the "why learn to fight with a sword if we have a wand?" speech?" said Derna, smiling.
"Exactly." Sighed Lily.
"Who are they?" asked Kermal. Derna, Nathael and Kermal hadn't yet noticed James, Remus and Sirius.
"They are here: Prince James, Sirs Remus, and Sir Sirius."
The mouths of her three friends fell wide opened in shock.
Bella and Lily laughed at their face.
"Stop doing that. You are the masters in this room. They all stopped sword-fighting as soon as they got their wands."
"You mean they don't know how to properly fight without a wand! But how is it…? No I do not want to know. Let us begin. They have a lot to learn." Said Kermal, recovering from his shock.
They approached the three young men. James eyed them. Kermal was a quite small and rather skinny man. People who didn't know him thought he wasn't able to hurt anything, but he was as deadly as his knives. He was able to move at an incredible speed and without a sound. The rumors said he had never missed a target. He had chestnut hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see everything around him. Nathael was quite his opposite. He was tall and muscular; he was stronger than Kermal, but less fast in his moves. But he was as skilled with bows and crossbows as Kermal was with knives. He could throw two arrows when a normal soldier could throw only one, and was also rumored to have never missed a target. He had blond hair and gray eyes. Finally, there was Derna. At first sight you would never think that this long-light-brown-haired woman, with deep green eyes could hurt a fly. You would have thought she was a brainless woman, unable to think of anything except men and herself, but give her a sword and you would realize your mistake. She had been trained by a Sheanrin warrior and had mastered their art. This tribe was famous for its warriors and usually did not accept to teach a stranger of their clan their art. But they had adopted Derna after the death of her parents when she was only a few months old. When they fought, their swords seemed to be an extension of their arm, and their movements were so fluid and so quick that they were surnamed the Steeldancers or the Steellightnings. She had decided to leave the clan and take revenge. Once the murderers of her family had been punished, she decided to enter the royal army. Despite the fact she was a female, she quickly stood up in the ranks. The soldiers quickly realized she was their equal if not their superior. She was highly respected, and woe betide the man to face her wrath!
"Have they swords, or anything else?" asked Nathael to Bella.
"No. But we have picked these, I think they should be right for them." She showed him the weapons they had chosen. Nathael studied them for a few moment.
"I see you have picked up charmed swords." He said smiling.
"I'm not stupid. These swords will have to deflect curses or hexes or pass through them!"
"Good," said Derna. She took a silver sword with a ruby on it and handed to James. "Take it, your Majesty, and these" she gave him three knives chosen by Kermal, a bow and a crossbow.
"Thank you. And call me James, I am the student in this room."
"Good attitude!" exclaimed the woman smiling at him. "I have been told that the prince was quite arrogant, but apparently the rumors were wrong."
"Not really," snorted Remus, "But someone managed to change his prejudices" he said looking at Lily.
Derna looked sharply at Lily but remained silent and gave Remus and Sirius their weapons.
"Well, we are going to see what your level is, and then start the training. You will have to choose between the bow and the crossbow." Said Kermal. "Lily, you can warm up a bit with Bella during this if you like."
"All right. Don't be too hard on them." Said Bella smirking, remembering her first encounter with them. Her first lesson had been to never judge someone on his or her appearance.
"Don't worry, they will remain in one piece." Replied Kermal.
James and his friends glanced nervously to each other. This wasn't good…
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After less than an hour, Derna, Nathael, and Kermal, approached Lily and Bella who were fighting. James, Sirius and Remus fell on the floor, out of breath.
"So? What do you think of them?" asked Bella.
"I am wondering what wizards have in their heads." Was the answer of Derna. "I mean, without their wand they would be as defenseless as babies!"
"I know Derna; sometimes it infuriates me to see how full of themselves wizards can be. A sword, an arrow, or a knife can be as mortal as a curse." Sighed Lily.
"You know," said suddenly Bella, "I think wizards should be obligated to learn how to fight without a wand. First, it will show them that magic is not the most important thing in the world, and secondly it will give them humility. I know what I'm saying. Lil, do you think the King would accept it?"
"I don't know Bella, perhaps if you propose it to him…"
"I'll do it," said someone behind her.
They turned and saw James standing there.
'It is a good idea. I could have never imagined all the things you can do with a sword or a simple knife. I am sure my father will agree. But you shall have to find some teachers…"
"That's not a problem. I could take care of the sword-masters, Nathael of the archery, and Kermal of the knife-throwers and the Shadowalkers."
"Shadowalkers?" asked Remus, puzzled.
"Look and admire." said Kermal.
He started to walk in the room. James and his friends looked intensively at him whereas Derna, Lily, Nathael and Bella, knowing what would happen didn't focus on him but on their surroundings. After a few minutes, James and his friends had more and more difficulty looking at Kermal. He was walking without a sound and seemed to melt in the walls. Suddenly they lost him. He seemed to have become invisible.
"That's a Shadowalker." Said somebody on their right. They jumped. Kermal stood there, smirking at their surprise.
"That is amazing!" said finally Sirius. "You were invisible! How could you do that without magic?"
"A lot of things are possible without magic." Replied Nathael. Sirius, like James and Remus, was amazed at the techniques they had mastered and were eager to learn them.
"Enough show off!" exclaimed Derna. "Well boys, you have a lot to catch up on, but you know a bit the basis of sword-fighting, so it will hopefully not be too difficult. On the other hand, you have to learn everything about knives and archery. Lil, what training do you inflict on them?"
"The easy one. A morning run, training on a trap circuit, lunch, practice of magic, work in teams, fake fights, strategy."
"Hmmm, you are taking care of the Lions, right?"
"Yes."
"All the soldiers have three hours of break in the end of the afternoon. Do you think you could bring your wing here to train?" cut Kermal.
"No problem. The Lions will be here. But I think you should start to prepare plans for teaching all wizards how to at least defend themselves without a wand."
"I shall prepare that with my colleagues."
"Good! I will warn you is the King accepts."
"Alright."
They cleaned the room and left to the headquarters.
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They quickly reached the headquarters and entered, after had being allowed to do so. The King was sitting near a huge plan and was studying it. Sir Albus and Sir Exer were talking quietly in a corner, and the other counselors were sitting at the table and were trying to help the King to find some solutions.
Everyone looked up when they saw the eight young adults enter the room.
"What happened?" asked King Regis.
"Nothing father, but Mistress Derna has had an idea which I approved, and we would like to have your opinion about it." Explained James.
The King looked at them sharply.
"Alright Mistress, explain your idea."
Derna was slightly embarrassed to speak in front of the King, but gathered her courage and spoke.
"Well Your Majesty, I had noticed that along with a few of my colleagues, Lilyaris and Lady Arabella that most of the wizards have a huge weak point. They are unable to defend themselves without their wands. They completely depend on their magic and it is dangerous. I know that a lot of spells can be used to disarm ones opponent." She paused
Kermal took his cue and continued.
"Which is why we propose to teach all wizards how to fight without a wand, in particular wizard-fights."
"How could a sword be used against a wizard?" asked a counselor, puzzled.
Derna took her sword whose creation Lily had helped.
"Try to hex me Sir."
Raising his wand the counselor cast a few minor hexes at her and to his surprise, Derna blocked all the spells with her sword, but what was more surprising, the spells were deflected.
There was a moment of silence.
"Of what materials is this sword made?" asked Lady Minerva, stunned.
"Common materials, but it is the stone in the handle which allows the sword to deflect hexes." Explained Bella, pointing to the emerald on the sword. "The stone uses the holder's energy as a shield against the curse. And the energy holding in the stone itself allied with the one of the holder, allows it to deflect the spells."
"Intelligent." said a counselor. "But about archery and knives?"
"Could you please cast the strongest shield you can around you and stay still?" asked Kermal.
Bewildered, the man cast a strong shield and waited."
Suddenly he was pinned on the table by an arrow and a knife.
"How is it possible?"
"Magic shields stop magic attacks and some physical attacks, but they cannot stop arrows or knives, particularly if they are made of yew or platinum." Said Kermal.
"Alright," said the King. "Counselors, what do you think of this proposition?"
One by one, the counselors nodded their agreement.
"Good. I shall let the organization of the training sessions up to you Mistress Derna and Masters Kermal and Nathael."
"Thank you, your Majesty." Derna, Kermal and Nathael bowed then left, followed by Lily and her friends.
Once they were outside, Derna sighed.
"That went well. Thank you James for speaking for us."
"You're welcome."
"Sorry to leave you, but I have a lot of things to do to prepare the session for tomorrow." Said Derna. "May the stars shine on you."
"The boys caught up with them.
"You know, this will not be accepted by everyone." Remus warned them.
"We know Remus," said Bella. "But we will not give them the choice, and our dear dogs will help along with a few other friends…" she added laughing.
Sirius glanced at his friends before saying; "I really don't like it when you are like this… It scares me to think of the things you may have prepared for us."
"Sirius, Sirius, you cannot use your name and the word "think" in the same sentence, it's unnatural!" stated James.
"Do not be scared, my little boy." said Bella, patting his head "It won't harm you… much."
"That's what I fear," sighed Sirius "But can you not give us a hint?" he added hopefully.
"No, no, no, where is the surprise in that? It will spoil the fun of it…"
"Fun? It depends for whom." Muttered James.
"Oh don't worry! You'll see it tomorrow." Said Lily. "Come Bella, we have to prepare them."
"I'm coming! See you tomorrow."
With that, the two friends left behind them three very worried boys…
