The Torn Guardian (14 page)

“You found something?” I ask and put my feet down so he can no longer continue pushing us.

He says he did indeed and pulls a note out from his pocket. A small messenger boy gave him it this morning while in the market. The note gives specific instructions to meet a man named Sebastian at midnight tonight in an old shutdown bar. Before I can even ask who Sebastian is, I get the lightheaded feeling I’ve grown so weary of. A memory is coming, and I brace myself. I’m not going to give it a chance to get out of hand this time. I do not want to become the anchor for everybody else. I want to be me.

I watch the memory with about half consciousness. Grace and Adira are keeping me propped up properly as I witness Sebastian and Jo have a conversation. He was one of the men in the uniforms, a special guardsmen, and apparently Jo’s second in command. They were good friends, but that is about all I get out of it.

I’m out of breath when the memory stops, and my muscles are tense. Keeping some form of myself is more strenuous than anticipated. But I did it, and I as tired as I am, I am also proud. Kenley hands me a cup of water and asks if I need a moment to compose myself. There is free bed to lie down in, but I refuse. Instead, I brief Adira and Grace about who Sebastian is, and we formulate how we should approach him.

We determined it is best to keep being related to Jo out of the picture, so we decide to play the distant friend card. Since this could be a trap to capture Kenley, the three of us decide to scope out the area first. Adira will go back to Kenley and tell him to come back when it is clear. I don’t think one of Jo’s friends will betray her mentor, but at this point it is far better to be safe.

We train for a little while down in the basement we arrived in. The ceilings are larger down here than in some living areas, and it has been completely emptied, leaving nothing but a large space for us to work in. Grace, Adira, and I go over different attack and defense positions, and we are all starting to feel more comfortable and confident fighting alongside each other. The time passes quickly, and it is not long before we are heading out in the cover of night.

Although Adira can open portals to locations quite a distance away, it is tricky. It really helps to know exactly where she is going and have clear place in mind. Jo could do it with ease because she knew the city like the back of her hand. We do not have that luxury, and traveling to the building unseen even at this time of night proves to be a difficult feat. There is not just one but several parties going on tonight. It is as if these people have no idea a war is going on. This further confirms my thoughts on needing to investigate Saphira, and I cannot wait to have a talk with Sebastian. If he was one of Jo’s guardsmen, he has to know more about what is going on.

When we arrive at the abandoned building, Grace tells us be on our guards. Adira and I both already know this might be a trap, and this city’s dark energy has become stronger since we left. However, that is not what is worrying Grace. There is something else wrong here; unfortunately, she does not know what exactly it is. Adira offers to go in first and check it out. She can move in and out silently with the claw. Grace and I are hesitant, but agree after Adira says she will be right back as soon as she sees what is happening.

While Adira goes in to check, Grace and I duck into an alleyway. The last thing we need is to be caught and arrested again. Adira appears behind us and tells us to come in through the back door. We have a major problem.

When I get inside, I see what Adira was so worried about. Sebastian is on the ground, leaning against the bar counter motionless. He has a long, deep slash going all the way from his shoulder to the bottom of his waist. We get nearer and see Sebastian has lost too much blood and is no longer breathing. We have not caught a single break since this whole thing started. Our one lead is dead and by the looks of it was murdered an hour tops before we arrived.

Grace is not keen on the idea of searching over his body as it comes off as disrespectful, but we do not have much of choice. I’m hoping he left something behind that can help us figure everything out. After Grace sighs and relents, Adira reaches into his pocket and pulls out a crisp, folded piece of paper.

Before she can unfold it, the front door bursts off its hinges. Adira’s reflexes are great, but not fast enough. The guard catches sight of us as we disappear into the portal and yells, “Murderers!” I look to see who it is, and my heart drops. It is the queen’s brother, Justin.

If the three of us were not wanted criminals in this country before, we sure are now. I’m worried about whether they will be able to find us here as Kenley will be in a world of trouble if they find us at his place. However, I am more worried and curious as to why Justin has a bright red dragon mark on his arm. I’m trying to think back to when I first saw him, but I think he wore a jacket covering it.

Before I can bring it up with the others, Grace asks Adira what the paper Sebastian had in his pocket reads. Adira unfolds the paper and a smaller piece falls out. Kenley picks it up and says it is a ticket to the annual ball tomorrow night. He hands it to me, and I look down at the paper Adira is holding to see it is a flyer for the same thing. Grace questions if Sebastian wanted us to stop a party, but I doubt that. He more than likely wants us to stop something from happening at the ball. Kenley agrees with me and states we have to stop whatever it is as it is clearly important. Sebastian died because he knew something about this.

Grace tells Kenley that he will have to go. We were not going to be welcomed before, but Justin caught us leaning over Sebastian after he died. Since we are on the topic of Justin, I bring up the mark on his hand and inquire with Kenley if he had ever seen it before. Kenley is taken aback and asks me repeatedly if I am positive the mark I saw was red.

I know where this is going. I am quite positive of what I saw, and that fact alone is incriminating. My suspicions are confirmed by Kenley when he affirms the red mark is the symbol given by Sethos to his followers. When we ask if Kenley is willing to go to the ball, he accepts. The life priest wants to ensure Sebastian’s death was not in vain. He is tearing up, and I do not know what to say.

He excuses himself and leaves us in the room. I cannot say for sure, but judging from what little I have seen in memories, I believe Kenley was close to all of the guardsmen under Jo. According to her, Kenley's kindness and honesty is unlike any other. In a city so insistent on manipulation and deception it was a welcome change for Jo. Now, the elder needed some kindness shown to him. I glance at Grace and Adira, and they both nod without a word needing to be said. I wish I knew what we are going to say or had some idea on how to comfort him, but I don’t. All I know is a friend is hurting, and I want to help him.

When we find him, he is sitting at a table bowing his head. I don’t know what you say to someone who feels they should not have outlived their youthful counterparts, so I do not say anything. I sit down next to Kenley and hold him. Adira sits on the opposite side and does the same. We look at Grace, and after a moment’s hesitation, she joins in from behind him. The old man lightly laughs while he is buried beneath us. He thanks us, but I can still hear the pain in his voice. This isn’t something that can be hugged away. We leave him knowing he needs time to himself. I truly wish to one day be able to actually know the perfect way to handle the situations like this, but something tells the perfect way doesn’t exist.

After a semi-restful sleep, I wake up the next morning to formulate a plan with the others. Kenley may be the only one waltzing in through the front door, but he will not be the only one in attendance. The ball will be in one two story room, but Kenley informs us the upstairs quarters are living areas for the palace officials. If Adira can open a portal to get us to the top, we should be able to enter in unnoticed as no one will be up there.

Guards block off entrance to those parts of the palace while the ball is going, so the biggest problem is getting close enough to where Adira can open a portal inside. Our best bet, according to Kenley, will be to enter in the back. There is a large garden covered in trees, shrubs, and other plant life. It can provide cover while we work our way to the top.

It is well after sunset when we head out, but the town is alive. Everyone is clamoring trying to get into the ball. It kind of disgusts me, and really irks Grace. I cannot read Adira’s expression, but judging how annoyed she is at having to maneuver around the city as we are doing, I’m guessing she does not approve either.

As if getting to the palace’s outer gate is not hard enough, Kenley was not joking about the garden being large. If the queen wants to, she can build another palace in this space. There is not one but three fountains and so many flowers blooming all around it I’m surprised anyone can walk throughout the space at all. There are trees and hedges, but those are actually spread apart and not very tall. Several guards are patrolling while guests sip on colorful spirits and make small talk, so I don’t think we have much of a choice. Adira is going to have to use the claw to move us up.

Adira is not comfortable with the idea, but Grace and I need her to do it. We help her calm her nerves and relax, so she can focus. If we take it slowly and plan the cover out ahead of time, we should be fine. Adira opens a portal and walks through. She is situated perfectly behind the fountain on the far left just as planned. I follow and appear slightly to the left of her; so far so good. Grace is last, but either she messes up or the portal acts up. She isn’t behind the fountain, she is in it. And there are people who heard her splash. She dives down into the water quickly, but Adira and I need to think of something fast. Grace cannot hold her breath forever.

Kenley might be my favorite person in the world. He enters the garden from the ballroom and is standing on the patio yelling about how good it is to be back while holding a large champagne glass. He is dressed in Saphira’s finest green clothes complete with gloves and top hat. Several people who initially turned to the fountain cheer when he shows up, and he becomes the center of attention. I tap Grace’s shoulder to let her know she can surface, and both Adira and I pull her out. Adira swiftly makes another portal, and we jump through. This time we all land where we are supposed to behind a large blossoming bush.

We continue to move around the garden this way with little resistance. Kenley has everyone’s full attention as he dances and jokes with the other partygoers. Although I would love to watch, he can only distract them with his antics for so long.

Soon Adira is able to get us inside one of the unoccupied guest rooms by opening a portal on its balcony. After it becomes clear we are safe and concealed for the time being, I erupt into a downright fit of laughter because Grace is furious, and her soaked hair is plastered to her face like a wet dog. Adira is also fighting to keep herself together at the site of our sister of death. Grace tells us to laugh it up because she fully intends on getting us back. I don’t know why I’m being included here. I had no control over the events that occurred.

We enter into the actual room of the party, but stick to the shadows. I spot several guards in front of the curved staircases on the left and right sides of the room leading up here, confirming what Kenley stated. No one should be up here for the time being, so I relax a teensy bit and have a look around.

The first thing I notice is the music playing. It sounds so beautiful, and I wish I play anything like it someday. I’m envious of the dancers who get to listen to and enjoy this music as they gracefully twirl around the bright stone floors. It is mesmerizing to watch them as their colorful dresses and coats fly in the air.

Despite it being quite dark outside, everything in the room is clearly visible thanks to the three large crystal chandeliers spanning across the ceiling. I hear Adira awe and turn to see her head lifted up towards the sky. The entire roof is made of glass which allows the full sight of the moons and stars to be seen, and it is a magnificent site, leaving me in the same state of awe as her.

While Adira and I are easily distracted, Grace is not. She finds Kenley in the crowd, who has also found us, and brings our attention to him. He gives all three of us a wink and continues to mingle with the guests.

“Sly old man knows how to play drunk,” Grace says.

“It’s not like he hasn’t had years to practice,” I say, but I am equally tickled.

Grace starts identifying several people within the crowd. There are many of Oriare’s most important politicians and families in attendance. I ask her who is talking to Kenley, and she replies with her nose scrunched. The man with perfectly groomed silver hair and a matching pointed beard is Justin’s and Isabella’s uncle, Sir David.

“He’s a prick,” Grace says, and she really loathes him.

“You think everyone in Oriare is a prick,” I say with a shrug. She really does, and I am beginning to see why. Up here I hear several bits and pieces of other people’s conversations, and almost none of them are about what they can be doing to help their citizens and allies. Everybody seems preoccupied with trying to determine who wore the best outfit of the night.

“Well, yes. But he’s the prickiest of the pricks,” Grace retorts, and I smile. There has to be some truth in that statement, as Kenley looks slightly uncomfortable. I would love to get a closer look, but it’s currently impossible.

We stay up here for hours occasionally making small talk to try and pass the time, but nothing happens. I’m starting to get bored, and it is getting harder to stay awake. I’m pretty sure Grace and Adira are dozing off as well because they find this almost as dull as I do.

The only thing keeping me up is watching Queen Isabella interact with all these crazily dressed people. Compared to the others her black silk gown flowing freely from her breasts to the floor appears normal. It is interesting to watch because unlike all the others, she does not seem content with small talk. She isn’t laughing or smiling at some crude jokes. In fact, the overall atmosphere seems to make her uncomfortable as she constantly shifts from leaning on one side of her body to the other.

When I bring this to Grace and Adira's attentions, chaos almost instantaneously erupts. Multiple devilins come smashing through the rooftop glass and onto the unsuspecting people. One of them is about to eliminate the queen, but the beasts falters and roars in agony as my arrow pierces through its back shoulder. Without any hesitation, Adira opens a portal in front of Isabella, and the three of us march through on to the ground floor.

Isabella is flabbergasted when she sees us, but her expression quickly changes to hurt as she trusted us when she let us go the first time. I want to explain. I want to talk to her, but we do not have the time for that. Adira says she will get the queen out of here, but Isabella insists on fighting us about it.

Justin told her about how he found us over Sebastian. Thankfully Kenley joins us, and the queen attempts to ask him questions. He brushes her off stating when they are safe he will answer. Adira opens a world portal, and Kenley pushes the queen through as she shouts at him before following after her.

With the queen out of harm’s way for the time being, the three of us focus on the devilins, and I have never been more ready for something. It has been a long, uneventful night thus far, but killing these creatures will be an excellent release. I glance over at Grace and Adira who are smiling confidently and ready. They want to fight as much as I do, maybe even more.

Grace and Adira charge in one right after the other. Grace starts by putting the devilin off balance with a medium strike using her scythe. Adira follows with a punch to its face, and I finish it off with a devastating shot to the jugular. Whenever a devilin is too close to either of us, the other one covers. Adira warns me whenever one is getting to close and moves me via portal as necessary. I continue to barrage the monsters with arrows when they get to close to either Grace or Adira, while also clearing a path so the people who attended the party can escape. Grace and Adira are having to carefully watch their blows, making sure not to send devilins flying onto the partygoers. With the room clear, we can truly begin the beating.

And do we. These devilins were not expecting the type of annihilation we are handing them, but I am enjoying this. The three of us are in sync, and our enemies cannot keep up with us. Within minutes the entire room is smeared in black blood. A few people were unable to escape the devilins when they first showed up, but this would have been a bloodshed in the opposite direction if we were not here.

Before I leave through the portal Adira has made, I look up to see both Justin and his uncle, Sir David, staring hard at me. Sir David looks wrathful, but I suppose if he is helping Justin and Sethos, he should be. Grace, Adira, and I ruined their plans. I hop into the portal and arrive back in Kenley’s shop. Unfortunately we are no longer staying here. Justin and possibly some others who support Sethos saw Kenley go with Isabella. If we stay, we are asking to be attacked.

Kenley seals his home away as he did before. He has another mirror in the room with the round table and activates it. We take turns stepping to the other side, and once we are all in, Kenley destroys the mirror on the other side. This is another one of the guardsmen’s safe houses. It is dusty from lack of use, and Kenley thinks we will be safe here for the time being. He starts to unpack the furniture, and the three of us help.

It takes me awhile to realize the queen is nowhere to be found. I ask Kenley where she is, and he exclaims he nearly forgot. He opens a wardrobe, and Isabella is inside with a cloth over her mouth and hands tied behind her back. When Kenley removes the cloth she starts furiously screaming at all of us, so he quickly puts the cloth back on and closes the door.

Grace starts laughing hysterically at how quickly the life priest chose to do so rather than let the queen out and attempt to calm her. We decide with a unanimous vote to leave Isabella in there until she calms down a tad. When we do speak to her, we will try to explain everything. Hopefully the queen of Oriare will be in a more listening mood. But judging by the amount of shaking the wardrobe is doing and angry muffled grunts coming from inside of it, I doubt she will be.