Guardians Book 1,Ch 10: Bumps in the Night

Read All of Book 1: Here

The Guardians sat in the carriage in the dead of night. Darkness turned the towns and ruins around the old cobble path into twisting shadows, reaching out to the boys and the candle-lit carriage as if trying to snuff out the light they had brought to their world of shadows.

“Have you guys felt like you were being watched recently?” Esmun asked, breaking the silence.

“What a great discussion to have in the middle of the night,” Warinot muttered.

“What’s wrong, Warinot, scared of the mon?” Fremont asked.

“No!” Warinot snapped back, “But that just sounds like a horror story starter, and besides, the Idemoni are typically more common the further you get from a major city.”

“I would hope we’re not being watched; we took so many precautions to get out of the city without being detected.” Bao threw in

Esmun nodded. Xinar didn’t want anyone to realize that the Guardians had left. So they disappeared in the night after they finished their patrols and training, sitting in an unmarked carriage drawn by the fastest Racows the Creator had at his disposal. They were scheduled to arrive in Elaganheart Harbor by morning, hopefully being able to use a combination of the Changits elixirs Esmun had brewed up and the hustle and bustle of the people to disguise their presence until they could locate and take down Legion.

“I don’t know,” Esmun said, “I mean, we would have realized if someone was following us, but I just get this feeling that we’re being watched. I’ve had it since we left the prison 2 days ago.”

“We’ll be fine, Esmun,” Fremont said, “You are probably just nervous about the mission.”

“Yeah,” Esmun muttered, not totally convinced.

“Changing the subject from Esmun’s sudden creepy outburst, how are we supposed to sleep on hard wooden planks moving down a bumpy street,” Warinot complained.

“Previous Guardians would have to take trips like this on foot and needed to sleep in shifts,” Bao said.

“Well, fine, but….” Warinot starts.

“Use your robes to make a mattress,” Fremont said.

Warinot went quiet and nodded, taking his robes and folding them on the bench. He laid down and closed his eyes. The other Guardians put out the candles and laid down, one by one drifting off to sleep.

Esmun stood in Elaganheart Harbor. The dark streets twisted in front of him, and tall black buildings loomed on either side. In the distance, he could see inky, choppy water splashing on a beach and lapping the sides of an old dock. A door to one of the buildings opened, casting a dim, flickering light into the starless night. Esmun drew his sword and entered.

The light went out as soon as his foot crossed the doorframe. Two shadowy figures spoke in hushed whispers in one corner.

“They’re coming this way. They should be here by morning. Should we move?” one asked.

“Move?” the other hissed, “and lose both the advantage we have on them and the chance to move the plan into the second phase? Not a chance.”

“But we’re not ready, the Dark—” the one began

“shh,” the other interrupted, “We have company.”

Esmun gripped his sword tighter as the first figure looked over at him. The other turned slowly and pulled down his hood.

Esmun gasped and took a step back in fear.

“you’re not supposed to be here yet.” The second figure said he was a tall, muscular man, not unlike the kind you’d expect to find in an industrious harbor city.

Except for the fact that he had a snakehead.

Esmun reeled back, tripping over the doorway and landing on his backside as the city twisted and vanished around him. There was blood on the floor next to him. In front of his eyes, it came alive, springing up from the ground and forming into a Blood-Red Sword. Four swords lit up the darkness around them, but one vanished as the Red Sword prepared to strike. The three remaining fought, but they fell and shattered one by one.

Esmun scooched back, trying to stand but being unable to, the Red Sword sliced the Failoga Book in half, and the Staff of Memories shattered on a cold stone floor.

Then the Red Sword turned to Esmun. The boy screamed in fear as the floating weapon slowly moved towards him. Trying to crawl away, he looked up to see his sword hovering just a little ahead of him. Crawling forwards, he reached for the handle of the Blue Weapon.

But it vanished as the Red Sword plunged into his stomach and out of his back.

Esmun woke up screaming. The Guardians jumped to their feet, Bao waved his hand and muttered something unintelligible, and the candles on the chariot lit up.

“What happened?” Fremont asked, His hands in the ready position, his red sword still in its sheath attached to his belt.

“Sorry.” Esmun muttered, “I just had an awful dream.”

“Archana’s greatest warriors, everyone.” Warinot sighed.

“Shush Warinot.” Fremont scolded. He turned back to Esmun, eyes full of tired concern. “Sorry to hear about it. Now everyone, get back to bed. We have a Taulaga Artifact Dealer to face tomorrow.”

The lights went back off, and the boys laid back down. Esmun stared at the shifting shadows on the carriage ceiling, holding his stomach where the Red Sword had stabbed him.

“I’m overtired,” he muttered, turning around and reaching to grab his robes and wrap them around himself.

When he lifted his hand, he saw blood. He gasped and moved his hand into the dim light from outside, but by the time he got a good look, it was gone.

The eyes he felt watching him bored into his back as he slid off to sleep again.

Chapter 11: Here