The Broken Sigil

Chapter 2: Ashen Fields

A day before the caravan arrived

     Cristopher looked in the distance, the Ashen Fields had the same look to them as they did every day, just scorched grey ground, gray skies, the volcano in the distance, the mark on the ground, the dead bodies around the mark. To be honest the dead bodies weren’t something that happened every day. It was the reason why the soldiers woke up Cristopher so early in the morning, he had a black quiff haircut, with a stubble-length beard, his black eyes filled with concern as he looked in the distance. Cristopher was a Protector, he was from noble blood the noblest of them all he was the son of Alfred and Isidora, the next heir of The White City, it was his turn to watch over the Ashen Fields. After all those years nothing has happened, and now these dead bodies it was truly a thing to be concerned about. Since he was a Protector he always wore black leather clothes combined with silverish decorations like buttons and such, black boots and a black cape, the scabbard of his sword was also black as the hilt had a silverish tone, the Protectors also had a silver broche that held the cape together it was the symbol of the school. The symbol was simply The Sigil wrapped around a sword as it is how Francis and Hugo managed to use its power. He walked towards the dead bodies, hoping to gather more information as to what has happened, he kneeled next to the bodies and noticed one similar thing about all of them, they all had their necks cut across, it was clear that this was some sort of a ritual.

     “He is back…” spoke a man that had his throat cut, choking on his own blood. “The ritual is completed…” Cristopher walked towards him, without saying a word remaining calm and composed even though what the man saying was true it would mean that Echo is back and that the world is burning under his feet. “He is more powerful and will e*****e all…” before the man could finish, Cristopher unsheathed his sword and cut his head clean off in a matter of seconds.

     “My lord, the mark…” a soldier approached from behind. “It’s never glowed like that before,” the soldier shivered in fear, disbelief, and anger that all of this was happening. “What does this mean sire?” he looked at Cristopher.

     “Send word to all the kingdoms…” he spoke calmly.

     “What should I write sire?”

     Cristopher slowly turned toward the soldier “He is back…” he walked past the soldier and moved towards the camp, he entered his own tent that was the biggest of them all and laid down the sword on the wooden table, he sighed out and got down on his knees, closing his eyes, he breathed in and calmed himself.

     “Brothers…” he spoke aloud. “Heed my calls, heed my warnings, the danger is coming, something has happened, The Ashen Fields are disturbed, hear my calls brothers and aid me!”

     “I hear you brother!” a voice responded as Cristopher opened his eyes and fell to the ground completely exhausted.

     “Where is Lucius that rascal!?” asked Edmund as he kept drinking with Alfred Frederic looked around the hall and indeed Lucius was nowhere to be seen.

     “I shall go get him father,” Frederic stood up and walked to the door, he opened the door and almost bumped into the messenger that was about to enter the hall. 

     “Sires!” the messenger came yelling in the hall. “Hear ye! Hear ye!” he stopped in front Alfred and Edmund, trying to catch his breath.

     “What’s the meaning of this!?” Edmund was angry.

     “Dire news sire! It’s the Protectors sire!” the messenger handed a piece of parchment Edmund as he took it and read it. He scanned past the letter and lowered it, he looked at Alfred before he looked outside the door.

     “Lucius!” called out Edmund, but nobody responded. “Lucius!”

     “Father…” he showed up on the door. 

     “What is it Edmund!? Speak!” asked Alfred who stood behind Edmund.

     “It’s the Ashen Fields.”

     “The Ashen Fields? Cristopher…”

     “Yes! A letter from your son,” Edmund handed him the parchment, he read the letter and looked at Lucius.

     “Is it true then?” asked Lucius as if he already knew. “Cristopher spoke to me, he needs aid at the Ashen Fields,” Lucius looked at the two lords.

     “I am sure it’s nothing,” dismissed Edmund, as Frederic sighed out as if a boulder fell off his chest, all his life he’s been looking up to his father, all his life he wanted to impress his father so that he may be worthy of the throne, and if his father says that it’s nothing, then it’s nothing and that is the truth.

     “With all due respect my lord, shouldn’t we at least make sure?” asked Isidora. “Isn’t that what a Protector’s job is?” she looked at Lucius who remained quiet and just starred at her, she saw Protectors as if they were monsters as if they were second-class citizens, but if she only knew what they were capable of.

     “I should father,” Lucius turned to Edmund, as he froze on the spot, damn it, he was too drunk to be making these decisions right now, worst-case scenario Echo is back and he risks losing one of his sons, the best case is that it’s nothing and Lucius returns to get wed with Katrina. The latter seemed more favorable and nicer, what are the odds it’s true?

     “Lucius…” he looked at him. “You shall go to the Ashen Fields, put to rest this madness, and return to us with good news,” he ended as Lucius got down to his knee and bowed before his father.

     “As you command…”

     “Katrina!” Isidora called out to her daughter breaking the silence in the hall. “You should go too!”

     “What!?” she jumped.

     “Yes…” confirmed Alfred after a long pause. “My daughter may accompany your son,” he looked at Edmund.

     “Excuse me! But a woman in the Ashen Fields?” protested Lucius.

     “I am more than capable of taking care of myself!” responded Katrina angrily.

     “And what of me? Father” Frederic bowed to Edmund.

     “Frederic… If these rumors are to be trusted, we will need to prepare. I need your help with reinforcing the defenses and supplying the castle, besides your family needs you, Aldus needs you.”

     “Yes father,” he stood up.

     “Prepare yourselves, you will leave at dawn,” Edmund left the hall with Katrina following after him, brushing her shoulder with Lucius giving him an angry look.

     The first roosters started roosting at Celvin announcing dawn, the air was chilly and it smelled like a cattle farm. Lucius always being the punctual guy he was, already was preparing his horse as he attached a couple of sacks filled with provisions and the water sack. He wore his own black leather uniform with the silver decorations, had put on the black cape with the Protectors broche, and was all set to meet his friend the Protector Cristopher.

     “All this time, I did not believe you and thought you for a fool, and now here we are,” Frederic stopped in front of Lucius. “Come back brother, let us plan a wedding than a battle plan,” Frederic handed him the sword.

     “Brother if I come with great news, you can tease me all you want… Wedding? What wedding?” Lucius looked at Frederic suspiciously.

     “Oh… Um…” Frederic froze, he forgot that Lucius had no idea. “Um… Father’s been planning on finding a wife for you.”

     “Is that so? And who has he found?”

     “He didn’t say