The next two days were somewhat quiet. Dark Angel had found a long time contract out on Alexis's life but no one had accepted it; the reason being that they didn't want to incur the wrath of the guardians themselves. They might be black hearted criminals but they weren't completely stupid. Dark Angel noted that the underworld was in a bit of an uproar. It is one thing to be accused of something you did do but another to be accused of something you didn't do. Most of the crime masters want the head of who ever brought the heat down on them. They weren't pleased. If they heard anything, they were willing to sell them the information, at a steep discount of course.
Alexander came back from a job at one of the cardinal's homes with a little bit of news. Various religious figure's homes, and churches had break-ins recently. Nothing was taken, but they speculate they were after information of some kind. They only way they know that they were possibly connected was a symbol was left behind carved into walls, or doors. It was a red vertical line with 3 dots going down it, each smaller than the last. No one had seen it before. Tirai Idanian said she would see what her network could find out. By the next morning she had an answer. It was similar to the symbol of a brotherhood out past Greenwinds, little is known of them other than the madness took most of the priests when their abbey was swallowed by the taint many years ago. No one had seen or heard about the brotherhood for over thirty years. She volunteered to take a group of scouts out to where their abbey used to be to see if they could find anything. Jenos expressed his opinion about going but Tirai convinced him that stealth was needed for now. They didn't want them to run to ground before they found out anything. She and Wallace would return in three days at best.
That was the reason Irina was minding the pub that afternoon instead of her sister. Jenos had spent most of the morning down in the fighting ring. His frustration over everything was best taken out on the practice dummies and not on the local green recruits. He had come up to the pub for a late lunch.
"Still no word from your sister?" Jenos indicated the jewel that hung around Irina's neck. When Tirai left Jenos insisted that she wear the master speaking gem. It allowed her to speak to any of those who held the four minor gems.
"She should be to Greenwinds by tomorrow at noon. Her last message said that the locals haven't heard anything, but there have been strangers through town. Then again that path is along the holy trail of the goddess." Irina looked at him sympathetically.
Since the guardian's great battles, and the ending of the Taint, pilgrims had started making religious journeys to the places that Cassandra visited on her journey to become her eminence, then the goddess reborn.
"The priestess we want to question was thought to be a pilgrim so we might be onto something, then again it could be a wild goose chase."
Jenos was mid drink when he heard the rumble. "What was that?"
"Don't know, sounded like one of the mages had another Ooops."
His curiosity getting the better of him, Jenos stepped out into the street with many of the patrons. You could still see where the dust was settling. "That isn't over by the mage's guild."
"No," some old timer commented, "That looks over by the army barracks."
"Army barracks?"
"Yes, they built new ones to house the new recruits."
Irina poked her head out the door, "Any idea what happened, Poppa?"
"Looks like something happened at the army barracks." Jenos commented as he started back inside. As he walked past her, he saw Irina had gone pale. "What's wrong?"
"Artie was training the recruits at the barracks today." Turning on her heel she ran back inside. "I got to go."
"Irina!" Jenos followed her.
"Poppa, something could have happened to him." She was near tears. "I can't loose him, not after…"
Jenos grabbed his daughter's shoulders, "Irina, stay here and look after the children. I'll go."
"But Poppa.."
"Irina, stay here." Jenos ordered, but she kept looking at the door, "Promise me." She didn't answer him.
"Irina, baby girl, promise me you will stay here until I get back. Promise!" He shook her slightly.
"Al… Alright Poppa."
Jenos grabbed his great sword and shield. At this point he didn't care if all he had on was a cotton shirt and breeches. He grabbed a horse from the stable, and rode as fast as he could toward the source of the commotion.
It was now past sunset and no one had heard anything more than scuttlebutt. Some patrons said they heard 5 killed others 50. All they had been able to find out was that a large chunk of stone had been blasted out of one of the walls of the barracks, and several people were hurt.
Irina was a wreck. It had taken 3 shots of the pub's strongest stuff to get her to calm down. At least now she was in her daughters' room holding and playing with them. They may have only been six and two but they knew something was wrong. They never saw their mother cry like this before. Irina was near to tears again when she heard a knock on the door, followed with Tirai Osdarin sticking her head in. "Irina, your father's back, hurry!"
After kissing each of her girls she ran down the stairs to be met by her father talking to the rest of the family. "… the engineer's are saying the wall should hold until they can repair it. Daniel is staying and helping with the clean up. He should return shortly."
"Poppa where's Artie?"
"Irina…"
Before he could say anything more she was shouting at him again, "Where is my husband?"
"You are as bad as you mother," Jenos sighed, "He's alright, a bit banged up but alive."
"Where is he?"
"I'm over here," a pained voice came from behind Jenos.
So he wouldn't be in the way Jenos stepped aside so Irina could run to where Artorus sat on the edge of one of the tables. Alexander was casting a few spells on him, and getting out the healing kit. Irina immediately took over from him.
"Are you alright?" Irina asked again. She wanted to hear it from him.
"I'll live. I don't know if I hurt worse now or when your father beat the crap out of me for kissing you the first time." He winced as Irina examined his bruised or broken ribs.
"Gee thanks, a stone wall nearly falling on top of you is being compared to getting the stuffing knocked out of you by me. Nice comparison Artorus." Jenos grumbled. "Those walls aren't nearly thick enough to match one of my backhanded swings..."
"So what happened?" Rachel was on Artie's other side.
Jenos shook his head. "Not entirely sure what caused it; ask Artie. He got lucky."
Between winces Artie told them what happened. "Our group was training next to the building. I'm walking back towards them after demonstrating something when I tripped. The next thing I remember was my hair standing on end as the explosion went off. Two of my team was killed; three others were hurt pretty badly. Remind me never to make fun of dad for making me clumsy. If I hadn't tripped I would have been right in the middle of the blast."
"I am so glad you are safe." Irina hugged Artie. "I love you."
"Ow...ow! Irina, ribs… I love you too, but ow!"
Everyone turned their attention away from the couple.
"So what was that blast?"
"We are not sure, but what ever it was, it was of magical origin. Someone obviously wanted to do some damage."
Michael brought in some strong ale for everyone. "If I didn't know any better you would think someone was out to get you." Michael realized he had said something wrong when the whole room got silent. "Yes, well I'll be back for the mugs later." He made a hasty retreat.
Tirai Osdarin broke the silence from her place on the stairs. "What caused the explosion?"
Jenos shrugged. "Magic isn't my thing. Artie?"
"The mages think it was electrical in nature. Possibly a lighting spell, but this was like a ball of it went off."
Alexander's head shot up from the case of potions he was holding at that comment. "You mean like the damage was in a sphere? Or were there little orbs?"
"That was one big blast, not a series of smaller ones." Artorus looked at his brother-in-law, curious. "What are you getting at Alex?"
"Were there any spells going on? Were there any spell casters around?"
"There were a couple; two mages from the guild, and Father Stephan."
"Why were they there?"
"The mages were there discussing with the commander about a set of new armor he was commissioning. Father Stephan runs the small church by the barracks. He is quite a fan of you sir. He likes to train with us, and tends to the spiritual and physical wellbeing of the troops."
"Did the mages do anything odd before the blast?"
"I wouldn't really know. They were on the other side of the building when it went off. To be honest, I wasn't paying much attention to them. What are you getting at squirt?" Artorus stood up and straightened his shirt. Irina had healed the worst of his wounds, with potions.
"What are you thinking son?" Jenos raised an eye brow at his youngest son.
Before Alexander could say anything Danielle cleared her throat from the kitchen door, "Sorry to disturb, but a delivery boy just brought this note. It is marked urgent. I thought it might be from the little Tirai."
Jenos snatched it from her. When he opened the letter he blanched slightly and then turned red with anger.
"What's wrong Poppa? Is Tiari alright?"
"It isn't about her." Jenos tossed the parchment onto the table. On the parchment was the symbol again only one of the dots had an X through it. Underneath it said, "The line shall end."
"What does this mean?" Rachel croaked.
Jenos practically pounced on Danielle. "Where is the boy who brought this? Where did he go? Where did he get it?"
"I'll go get him Uncle. Michael, I believe is feeding him in the kitchen." Danielle hurried away slightly scared of Jenos. She shortly brought back a scrawny dark haired boy who looked completely terrified.
"What is your name boy?"
"Josh, sir."
"Who gave you this letter?"
"A woman sir. She was wearing a cloak. I didn't see her face."
"Did you see where she came from?"
"No sir, she just offered me a gold coin if I would deliver the letter sir."
"Where were you when she gave it to you?"
"Market square, sir."
"The busiest area of the city." Irina commented, "It would be hard to track anyone through there."
"Is there any thing else you can tell me about this woman?"
"I don't think so sir, but there were a couple things odd about her." Jenos motioned for him to continue. "She wore a weird necklace. It had weird symbols on it. And she did say something odd as I ran away."
"What was that?"
"The reign will end when the blood line is gone, sir."
"Blood line?"
"Yes sir, can I go sir?"
"Yes, and Danielle see to it that he is taken care of."
"Very well sir." Danielle guided the boy back into the kitchen.
The silence was broken by Alexander. "How much do you want to bet that woman was the one who tried to kill Artie?"
"We aren't sure if they are related." Irina commented.
"A man is targeted for a lighting bolt spell, and that doesn't strike you as unusual?" Alexander said getting frustrated.
"It couldn't have been a lighting bolt." Irina glared at him.
"The only spell that has that does the kind of damage that you have been describing is a lighting bolt spell. I've been around Thacomus long enough to know that one." Alexander rolled his eyes.
"You aren't a wizard Alexander. What would you know?" Irina growled.
"Just because I don't go for that fancy wand waving doesn't mean I don't know spells." Alexander growled, "It is safe to assume it was silenced, which means it was a very powerful arcane spell caster."
"A lighting bolt is a straight line; not a ball like what Artie said." Tirai Osdarin tried to defuse the situation.
"Not if it was shaped?" Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"Is that possible?" Artrous asked confused.
"There are mages who can do it. There are tales of mages who could shape fireballs to go 120 feet in a line, killing all those in its path. From the description that Artie gave, and the damage done it is highly possible." Alexander said nonchalantly.
"That is not very reassuring?" Rachel said worriedly.
"We have had two attacks on this family in less than a week. This isn't a coincidence." Artorus spoke up, and walked to the fire place. Irina followed him, not letting him out of her sight.
It was then that the main door opened. Everyone's hands went to their weapons, until they saw it was Daniel. "It's just me, everyone alright here?"
"Irina patched me up, you alright Daniel?"
"I'll live." He sat down on one of the near by benches. "What did I miss?"
"Besides finding out someone is trying to turn us into crispy critters? Nothing what so ever." Alexander said frustrated.
"You have completely lost me, little one."
Daniel calling him little didn't improve Alexander's mood much. "The blood line."
"Huh?"
"Don't any of you understand what that means?" He looked around to all of his siblings.
"What about it don't we understand? What are you implying?" Daniel looked at him confused.
"Someone is trying to end the blood line." Alexander said getting more frustrated.
"What is the blood line if you are so smart Alexander?" Daniel didn't like his brother's tone.
"The blood line is Daniel, Artorus, Daniel's son Jenos, and I. We are the blood line."
"You have lost me." Artorus spoke up, "Alex, how can we be this blood line?"
"This country is ruled by his royal eminence; however the Celestial Guardians are servants of the Goddess, not to the church it's self. It was through their powers that Cassandra ascended to her rightful place, and defeated the God of Maddness. They are reverend and respected through out our country, and beyond."
"We know this. We grew up knowing this. What does this have to do with anything?" Daniel was getting frustrated with Alexander.
"The heirs, the blood line of those guardians hold considerable power in the land. If they so chose the guardians, theoretically could take over the country, and leave it to their children to rule."
"Which we wouldn't." Jenos mumbled, but motioned for his son to continue.
"We are the Royal blood; the holy mortal blood. At any time the guardian's could do that. That is why the Anthatal families wield so much influence."
"You are loosing me." Irina held her head.
"Father, why do the guardians come back year after year?" Alexander turned to his father.
"Our families, we gave up being with them to serve the Goddess. As a reward, one month a year we may return and be with them. "
"If you want to make sure the Guardians don't come back, or don't want to come back; you must give them a reason to not come back." Alexander stressed.
"Break the blood line." Rachel covered her mouth with her hand, as if she said a bad word.
"Stop the heirs." Alexander practically whispered.
"They tried to take little Jenos. The first born male, of Jenos's first son, the heir to the family name." Tirai Osdarin breathed.
"Then they tried to end the blood line of Aleron by killing Artorus." Irina spoke up, and he voice nearly cracked, "If we had a son they would have gone after him."
Artorus wrapped his arms around Irina, "I wouldn't let that happen. I would protect you and them."
"Why are they not going after the girls?" Tiarai spoke up. The others were glaring at her, "I was just asking because it seems like they would want to wipe out any heirs."
"Who's to say they won't? For now they most likely have the general opinion that women are worthless. They have no power to rule; only a male can carry power." Alexander practically growled. "In their eyes women are weak, and have their place. For now they aren't worth their time."
"Be glad your mother didn't hear that you would have gotten your head bitten off." Jenos tried to get Alexander out of his mood. It backfired on him.
"If you were here doing what you were suppose to be doing I would have my mother here to yell at me."
"Alexander!" Rachel snapped at him.
"If some one is trying to hurt us why haven't you done something about it?" Alexander looked over to his father.
"What more could I have done? I have no way to see what is going to happen."
"Anything is better than standing around doing nothing. I at least am going to go out there and do something about it." He started for the door.
"Alexander, some one is trying to kill the guardian's children before they return. You are to stay here where I can protect you." Jenos blocked his way.
"Protect me? Where were you when we needed you?" He shouted back at him, "Oh yeah I forgot, my FATHER abandoned his wife, and children to go play solider in another plane. He would rather protect other people than his own family."
Jenos fought to control his anger, but did not fare well. "Alexander! Listen to me!"
"No, you listen!" He poked his father in the chest, "Where were you when Tirai was being picked on? Where were you when Irina broke her arm falling off her horse? Where were you when Daniel won his first combat match? You were off in another world with out a care for your family." Alexander had a full head of steam and he was not letting his father get a word in. "Where were you when I needed my FATHER? You weren't even there for when I was born; much less any time I needed you. The one time when the person who has been there for us needed you, YOU- WEREN'T - THERE! And you want me to trust you to protect all of us?" Alexander shouldered his way around his father and started to walk out the door. "We would be better off hiring a stranger to do it because you certainly won't be there. " He slammed the door.
Before Jenos could make a step both Tirai and Irina had their hands out in front of their father; while they had no intention of letting him leave, they were unsure of how far his anger extended and thought better than to lay a hand on him.
"He had no right to say that to you." His younger daughter commented cautiously.
"Yes, he did." Jenos sighed. In an instant, his anger disappeared, replaced instead with something akin to anguishing guilt. Wearing his pain on the outside for a change, Jenos sauntered towards the stairs with a look of resignation on his face, on his way to the bedroom he and his wife had shared many fond memories in.
At the base of the stairs, Tirai Osdarin looked up at the man and forcefully placed both hands on his shoulders, blocking him. "You're not going anywhere until you and I talk about this, Jenos." She took his hand and led him up the stairs, out of sight and earshot of the rest of the family.
Angry Daniel went out the back door, most likely to the sparring room to beat something up. Silence was hanging in the air when Irina spoke up, "I'm going to take Artie upstairs and finish getting him patched up. The girls will be happy to see him. When you have a minute, have Danielle or Michale bring up some tea or something." She ushered a gob smacked Artorus up the stairs to their room.
In his bedroom, Jenos sat on his bed as a stern-faced Tirai Osdarin stood in front of him, regarding her friend. "You don't get to storm off and stew in your own misery… not this time."
Jenos looked up at her. "I know you're trying to help, but—"
"Shut up," she told him harshly, hoping that after their years of friendship, the Warblade would not be capable to take out his anger on her.
She was right. "I've learned not to argue with you." Jenos sighed and laid back on the bed, his legs dangling over the side as his feet rested on the floor. "Are you going to tell my why I'm a terrible father too?"
The pain rolled off of Jenos and hit Tirai like a blast of hot air from a furnace, the bond that the pair had shared through the years making her heart wrench in sympathy. She sat down on the edge of his bed and put a hand on his shoulder. "Jenos, dear, I remember being overwhelmed by the joy you felt when you first held your son and daughter in your arms. I saw the love in your eyes every time you came home from battle and those angels of yours latched onto your arms and legs with tiny little hugs. I had a smile on my face every time little Tirai managed to work her way right past your stern 'father' look and melt your heart any time she was in trouble. You are many things, Guardian Idanian, but you are not a bad father."
Jenos looked up once again at Tirai. "Tell Alexander that."
"He knows, Jenos. He's angry and in pain. You can appreciate that."