Guardians Book 2, Ch 6: Fading Trust

Read all of Book 2 here

Fremont and Esmun stood on opposite ends of the training area, facing each other. The Blue Blade shined in Esmun’s hand as he assumed a ready stance. Fremont raised his fists, his sword still strapped to his side.

“Are you sure you want another round?” Fremont called, “I’ve proven that I can disarm you pretty easily.”

Esmun growled and charged at the red-haired boy, sword at the ready. Fremont started a bit at the noise, then crouched down and braced himself.

Esmun’s mind swirled with a mixture of anger, fear, and exhaustion. He had lost to Fremont four times now, each time remembering the Guardians’ failure to defend themselves against the two Taulaga traders. As he ran forward, he felt the bruises from his last attempt fading.

He had to win.

At least one round.

As he got within striking distance of Fremont, the Red Guardian stepped to the side and dodged his swing. Moving quickly, he dodged Esmun’s sword as he began making more frantic swings.

“Remember, you need to predict my movements,” Fremont commented, “You’re faster than me, but as long as I stay just away from the blade, I’m able to avoid getting–”

“Shut up!” Esmun shouted.

Fremont started, hesitating for just a second. However, that was enough. With a roar, Esmun cut his blade deep into Fremont’s arm. As the Red Guardian yelled out in pain, Esmun kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Fremont looked up at him as he pointed the Blue sword at his throat.

“Do you submit?” Esmun asked.

“Are you okay?”

“Answer me!”

“Yes, I submit. Put the sword down and talk to me. What’s wrong?”

Esmun dropped his sword and put it back in its sheath. Stepping back, he allowed Fremont to stand. The Red Guardian brushed off his robe and checked his blood-covered sleeve, feeling the tear over the already-healed wound.

“Look, I’m sorry if what I was saying hurt your feelings, but…” he started.

“No,” Esmun said, “It’s not that.”

The blue crystal faded to black as the training room lost power. The two boys stared at each other as the light in the room faded back to the thin slits of sunlight casting through the open windows.

“It’s been a stressful few weeks for all of us,” Fremont said, “Elganheart Harbor left a sour taste in all of our mouths that we haven’t gotten rid of yet.”

“It’s more than that,” Esmun responded, “We have been trying for years to convince the public that we are as strong as any other set of Guardians before us. Then this happens and proves the people who call us weak right. If we can’t defend against two Taulaga users, how can we defend Areotheil?”

“Esmun, those weren’t two Taulaga users, one was able to melt into and out of walls at will, and the other vanished into thin air as soon as the tables turned. If we had a fair chance at them, we would have a much better shot at defeating them,” Fremont responded.

“But they’re still out there and probably planning something.”

“If they do, we will be there to stop them.”

“What if we can’t?”

Fremont grabbed Esmun by the shoulder and looked into his eyes.

“We can. We have Creator Xinar and Familiar Ingrid and ten years of training under Mphu Lonix. No matter what the public might say, we can take down any Taulaga user that might show themselves.

Esmun looked away, avoiding eye contact with the Red Guardian. He felt a pain in his stomach and a shiver down his spine.

“Thanks…Fremont,” he said.

“Of course,” Fremont said. He smiled reassuringly at Esmun before heading out of the training arena.

Esmun stood in the dark room, clutching his stomach. He wanted to believe Fremont was right, and he wanted to trust him.

So why couldn’t he?

Fremont walked quickly away from the Training area, trembling. Leaning against a wall, he stared at his hands.

They were clean.

The Red Guardian sighed and tried to calm down, pushing down the images that had come to mind when he touched Esmun’s shoulder.

Pushing down the picture of killing him.

Chapter 7: Here