The Castle Guard

Another cut!

King Walren was a man of many qualities amongst them generosity wasn’t one of them ; he was a 6’0 tall with a slender build, silky graying hair, mildly handsome face, ocean blue eyes and an aquiline nose. He sat on the throne quietly in a trance news of fall in production of crops in the south arrived the day before and people were starting to retaliate following the hanging of an unlicensed hunter in a province in the north, he pondered on how to solve both his problems, to be clear he didn’t care for the people only that both situations would cause a drop in profits on the market and downfall in tax collection. The throne room was unusually quiet ‘Garda must be out.’ He thought “That woman sure likes to spend and talk about spending” he spoke to no one in general he almost smiled picturing her quietly sitting beside him like  her picture on the wall serenely smiling at him. Staring at those life-like eyes he felt a little bit unsettled like she was watching him think he made a mental note to have the servants move it, his silent reverie broke at sounds of gruff footsteps. Disgruntled at being disturbed “Who dares..” his voice trailed off recognizing Dracenstark the only person he respected enough not to yell at, the arch-mage stopped at the bottom step in front of the thrones and bowed “Dracenstark!” the king began biting back his irritation  “What brings you here?” he said forcing a smile

“You’re Majesty! There’s been an attack in the dungeons.”

The smile dissipated from king Walren’s face just as fast as it had come, his face wrinkled with worry ‘Someone else knows!’ he could feel his breathe shorten “What happened?” his voice had turned stone cold; Dracenstark recounted the events that happened just moments before. The king knowing that this day was inevitable had made early arrangements “Arch-mage begin the contingency plans!” Dracenstark smiled quietly the attack brought him a better plan. After the mage left King Walren summoned a servant “Send for Dame Erska!” he ordered barely hiding his anxiety.

The arch-mage’s chambers was empty when Darien got there his door was closed The guard knocked three times then immediately left. It didn’t open Darien tried knocking again, the door swayed before he could touch it, “My Lord!” Darien called peering into the room then pushed open the door, entering the arch-mage’s chamber without him present felt weird for Darien yet it was awkward just standing alone in the hall.

It’s furnishings were the best Darien had ever seen not that he’d seen many nobles’ chambers, with an oak wood polished rectangular table and a throne-like chair behind it and other two normal chairs on its sides; from behind that one had a view of the whole kingdom through its wide windows with red velvet curtains pulled to form a question mark which made it even more beautiful. On the table a couple of books were neatly arranged beside a quill and black ink, there were other few books on shelves on the table’s right side with small bottles containing weirdly colored liquids of different shades of black, grey, red and some had powder-like substances they were square shaped contrary to the bottles with fluids. Beside the shelf a red leather wooden chest colored golden on its sides lay ‘What treasures lie within you?’ Darien thought fighting an urge to open it. The whole room was large in general at 400sq feet almost half of the throne room, Darien stood still admiring so involved he didn’t notice Dracenstark come in behind him.

“Darien of Haslet!” he exclaimed Darien almost jumped turning back abruptly face to face with the arch-mage “Sure you want to take that out” he said pointing at Darien’s side, he didn’t even remember putting his hand the sword’s hilt considering the day he’s had being ambushed and beaten down twice his hand had flown to his sword almost naturally he almost drew his sword on the mage.

Darien embarrassed took his hand off the hilt and stood upright cursing himself inwardly “I apologize my lord!” Darien said silently praying the mage wasn’t angry. Dracenstark seeing discomfort on Darien’s face continued ignoring the apology “Your father died last year, right after you became a guard in the castle?” he was more like confirming than questioning. “Yes my lord!” Darien answered

Dracenstark went for his desk his chair moved by itself before he got to it backwards then forward as he sat. Darien was quite impressed up until that day he had never really witnessed use of magic up close in the dungeons opening the door was more like a trick and all he could remember from earlier was a large boom sound. Seeing  it so clearly made him feel a bit giddy, “Please sit” he motioned his hand in front of him Darien thought he wanted him to sit on the floor until the chair from the right moved silently on the front then moved forward touching the back of  Darien’s knees as he sat. “It’s getting dark” Dracenstark declared he snapped his fingers instantly lighting all the candles making his room seem to glow with a yellow aura.

“Have you ever done magic before today?” Dracenstark began his tone his grey eyes made Darien feel unsettled they seemed to stare at his soul looking for something they have yet to find. “No! Not that I have noticed” Darien answered honestly ‘If I had I wouldn’t be here’ Knowledge concerning magic was quite limited in the kingdom of Karistan; the ones who were lucky enough to have it hid it for themselves to eliminate any competition. Magic was once outlawed in the past until they were attacked by a neighboring Kingdom; the war was brutal claiming lives of almost half the kingdom causing havoc, panic and death until a clever mage named Urian proposed a solution involving magic. King Erin at the time was on the verge of being overthrown desperate for anything made a decree allowing free usage of magic that is without breaking the laws in exchange for Urian’s help. Needless to say Karistan won the war and conquered the other kingdom. Mage Urian became the first court mage given the status Arch-mage or duke with high authority, over time other mages arose but not many and those few became linked to the government directly or indirectly for security, their “Indiscretions” were ignored or given a slap on the back hence many were under the king.

 “Give me your hand” Dracenstark ordered “The good one!” he said indicating Darien’s right hand that hadn’t been cut, Darien raised it unsure of what would happen next. The mage cradled it in his hands Darien’s palm facing up, he started a series of chants Darien couldn’t understand he then stopped and kept quiet ominously. Darien thought it was his queue to remove his hand but Dracenstark held it firmly, the arch-mage pulled a knife out of his left sleeve and cut his palm. Darien winced as blood fell from his hand silently cursing ‘Great! Now both my hands are wounded’ Dracenstark releases his hand clearly satisfied.

“Go rest, meet me outside the castle at dawn tomorrow” He ordered pulling a drawer open taking out a small bottle containing a brown fluid-like substance “Apply this on both your hands before you sleep.”

Cradling the small bottle in his hands he stood glad to be leaving “Thank you my lord” he said not quite knowing what he was thankful for ‘a bleeding hand and a weird brown liquid?’ he felt more confused but he didn’t say anything

“Oh and My lord in the dungeons there is…” Darien exclaimed at the door,

“don’t worry they have been assigned to join you.”