The Castle Guard

              No one is allowed in the dungeons located far beneath the castle, Darien wondered what lay behind the massive door locking the archway entrance to a room he’d been guarding for over a year the arch-noble Dracenstark a man whose power could only be exceeded by the king himself is the only one Darin had ever seen enter so he could only assume it was very important.                                                            Gruff footsteps echoed from behind him snapping back his attention steeling his resolve inwardly cursing at his curiosity ‘My job is to guard not to ask questions’ he thought sadly remembering his dearly departed father’s words. A middle aged man wearing dark green robe with immaculate threads of white leather around his waist, he walked with precise poise and character that of a noble the Mickan royal seal depicting a golden sword at the centre of a flaming dragon embroidered intricately in gold color on his left breast of the robe. Darien was surprised to see the noble ‘Has it been a month?’ he thoughtfully asked himself  “Arch-duke  Dracenstark!” he exclaimed and bowed with respect fully aware of the man’s status and most importantly his immense prowess in magic. Darien bowing before a 6’5 foot noble looked inferior almost insignificant not to mention despite having met several times the mage had never said anything except giving Darien ice cold glares. Darin dismissed this as aristocrat arrogance the nobles seemed to be all the same at least the ones he’d met. However he always bowed in respect aware of their power and influence, Dracenstark as usual passed by him in silence his floor length expensive robes trailing behind him, Dracenstark was a good looking man when you got past the glares , he had silky black hair with wisps of grey , green emerald eyes that projected intelligence and power, a symmetrical elfin face with high cheek bones and a neatly trimmed grey beard. He stopped in front of the archway and uttered a single word in an ancient language “DISPIRITUS UN’THLA” The door instantly budged open swaying as the wizard entered and shut it back, Darien felt a surge somewhere inside him rise each time the mage  did that spell then disappear slowly no matter how much he tried to hold on to it. It felt like something deep within he’s soul awoke every time he heard that spell then quickly disappeared just as it came. He  pondered on what it meant without a clear answer, when he was a child laying on his bed sick his mother would tell him stories about their ancestors’ great powers and magical skills but he’d dismissed them. ‘Were we truly blessed with magic, I wouldn’t be lying dying on a bed seeing my parents suffer trying to find a cure for a fatal disease.’ He thought to himself grudgingly In fact that’s how he’d ended up as a guard in the first place forced to sit alone in a dark hall lit with fire torches having minimal interactions with the outside world he hadn’t seen his family since he left the year before, his mother in tears partly due to her husband’s death and seeing her only son whom she’d desperately fought to save for so many years leave unawares of when he will be back, his sister Diana held their mother close trying to console her, herself trying not to tear up. Despite missing them uncontrollably Darien couldn’t despair or regret his decision, to be fair they’d borrowed an enormous amount from the royal treasury in order to get the necessary ingredients and appropriate healer for him. He was paying a debt so his mother wouldn’t have to originally his father had been the guard but his unexpected and eerie death left the burden on his family and  he was determined to pay working as a castle guard. Darien stared at the door trying to imagine what’s beyond that cold hard black wood ‘some kind of treasure? Why only one guard?’ Sometimes he’d hear low humming voices he dismissed it as echoes  from down the hall maybe other guards, no one could survive that long without food or water ‘what kind of crime could someone do to deserve such a fate.’ He was expressly forbidden to enter so he didn’t snoop for the sake of his family. A sudden movement in the shadows broke his reverie, feeling another person’s presence in the hall he became alert quietly listening for sounds of footsteps it remained silent. His right hand clasped around the hilt of his sword without unsheathing it, walking silently he searched the shadows carefully sensing immediate danger all around him. As he moved further he could almost spot a  dark figure hidden in the shadows, Darien took a torch holding it in his left hand his right hand still around the hilt of his  sword , two feet in hard leather boots appeared  in front of him lightened by the torch. Whoever it was seemed to be very large standing still, Darien felt his pulse quicken “Excuse me you are not allowed to be down here!” he exclaimed Darien moved closer now walking a bit faster “You are…” Darien barely finished before an arrow came sailing towards him. Unsheathing his sword Darien cut the arrow midair in a quick movement despite its heavy metal he let the torch fall down slightly dimming its light and clutched the sword tightly with both hands preparing for battle.   If   his assailant was intimidated they didn’t show it “Show yourself.." Darien shouted hoping for the person's appearance into the light doubting he'll be able to deflect another shot.                                                     Whoever it was had moved back into the shadows for a moment Darien thought they had gotten scared and ran unfortunately luck wasn’t on his side, a hooded figure jumped right in front of him holding a razor sharp dagger in hand his face remained unrecognizable beneath a mask covering half his face leaving the eyes under the hood that was connected to a floor length, long sleeved dark brown coat, a sword’s hilt protruded on his  left side. Darien knew whoever it was they were at the very least really strong judging from his large physique, he readied his sword to strike a blow but the mercenary was faster striking so fast Darien barely noticed his own sword flying off his hands with a clean cut in his right hand. The mercenary hit his jaw knocking the lights out of Darien sending him flying back onto the ground nearing the dungeon doors, still dazed, confused as to how the emissary moved so fast, Darien felt a hard kick to the chest his back hitting the wall. Darien blinked back as tendrils of pain enveloped his chest and back simultaneously, tasting a metallic substance the hooded figure stared at him as if deciding how to kill Darien, ‘from the time he’s taking staring at me probably a long painful one’ Darien’s eyes wandered searching for his sword, lay several paces away behind the person trying to kill him The emissary seemed to notice he turned “that!?” he said Darien could see the smirk beneath the mask though he remained silent afterwards. Darien  calmed his heartbeat “what do you want?” he spoke keeping fear from lacing his voice, the hooded figure raised his hand pointing towards the Dungeon doors “Whatever’s behind that” the emissary’s voice was deep clear and most of all calm in a way that sent shivers down Darien’s spine , “Why?” Darien asked hoping it would buy sometime for someone to notice and maybe come and help him yet it remained silent.                                                                                                        The mercenary threw a dagger aimed at Darien’s head, both men were surprised   when it stopped near Darien's face midair then fell onto the floor. It was then followed  by creaking sound of a door opening with a sudden boom sound exploded in the air, a strong telekinetic wave  threw the mercenary into the far recesses onto the floor near the emerging staircase , The arch-mage appeared beside him "What happened here?" He asked his rage filled eyes staring at down where Darien sat looking stunned confused as to what just happened.