The Sentinel of Cassendar: Resquarian

Galen lay in Lexine’s bed, her at his side with her arm draped over his chest. He tightened his one arm around her as she snuggled in even closer to him. He looked down at her a dropped a kiss on her forehead, marveling in her beauty. He knew he needed to get up and go out into the hills, but he was having a hard time even beginning to leave her side.

He couldn’t believe he ever even contemplating not being with her. His love for her was complete and overwhelming. He didn’t care what he had to do with his life to be with her, he would do it. Fortunately, all it would take is accepting a lordship from the king, serving on his council, and working with his queen to better his kingdom. None of it sounded awful at all. It sounded like a good full life he would spend with a woman who would make it all worth it.

All he had to do was get past this battle. They just had to defeat the forces coming for them, and find a way to end Belleth and her sister once and for all. As hard as it sounded to Galen, he was afraid it would be even more difficult than he imagined. He had spent the past week with Lexine and sometimes the High Captain trying to find some kind of information that would give them a hint on how to defeat Belleth.

Galen had read numerous books, staying up late each night and waking early each morning but he hadn’t found much of use. He did learn a little of old magic and some of its limits. He believed it could be affected by royal magic specially one as powerful as what the Cassendar’s possessed, but he wasn’t sure how much. He remembered what the High Captain had found in that book under the glass, but he wasn’t sure what to make of it. He and Lexine had puzzled and puzzled over it, even bringing out the old prophecies from Navalia, Lanoxan, and Siccaria to see how it could fit.

All they could figure out is it seemed Lanoxan might need some kind of redemption, especially the Cassendars. If the legend was true and the curse was given to the Cassendars because of their lack of care of their kingdom, then they would need redemption. But how would that come and by who? It could be Dracia, but she believed she could not kill Belleth or her sister. It could be Leal, but even with his power, would he be able to kill the women? As far as someone with vengeance, that could be almost everyone has they had all lost someone or be harmed or had someone they loved harmed. Their village had been decimated, their kingdom invaded.

“I can tell you are trying to figure something out, Galen. What is it?” asked Lexine softly as she looked up at him.

“At first I was trying to figure out how I could ever leave your bed and go into the hills. I still don’t know how to do it, so I moved on to how to save our kingdom.”

“How do you get on with it?” asked Lexine.

“I still don’t have a clue,” said Galen.

“Dracia seemed to think it would work out somehow. I don’t know what she has figured out or why she hasn’t told us, but she has trust all will be well,” said Lexine.

“And do you think she is right?” asked Galen.

“She has to be because I don’t think I can stand the alternative. The thought of anything happening to her or my brother or even their child is too much to bear, Galen. The thought of anything happening to you is something I can’t even let myself imagine,” said Lexine.

“You will not lose me, Lexine,” said Galen as he smiled down on her. “I will not lose you either.”

“I wish I could come out with you to the hills,” said Lexine as she moved up, so her face was closer to his. “I could fight with you. I believe I could shield you all somehow; my magic is very powerful.”

“I know it is, but so is your healing ability and other skills. We need you close to the palace to help with the injured,” said Galen as he reached out and stroked her cheek.

“I don’t see why. You will have every healer around here including Sarin,” said Lexine as she looked at him.

“Sarin does not have your bravery. If things start going bad, only you will be able to keep everyone calm and organized. You know you are needed for this task,” said Galen. “You are a healer at heart, and you will want to help the fallen.”

“What of you, Galen?” asked Lexine. “I am still not convinced you are a fighter.”

“I am an Elite of the Sentinel right now, so I am a fighter. Though perhaps a life always fighting would get old to me. Tomorrow I will be glad to be alongside my brother defending our kingdom and those we love.”

“And when we win, you will give it up?” asked Lexine.

“I believe I will,” said Galen. “I will serve your brother on his council and our queen as she needs me.”

“And you will be happy?” asked Lexine with a half-smile.

“I will be because I will be giving you and our future family a life worth living. I can find purpose in many different things as I serve the kingdom, but what I truly want is you,” said Galen. “What will give my life meaning is being with you.”

“I would still be with you if you chose to be an Elite. I hope you know it.”

“I do, which is why I know I am making the right choice for us. You are the right woman for me, and I will become the right man for you,” said Galen.

“There is nothing you truly need to do, you are already right for me,” said Lexine. She leaned forward and kissed Galen, both getting lost for some time in each other.

Galen managed to rise from her bed eventually. He walked down to the inner courts to check on things, finding his mother who was interestingly enough sitting close to Lord Arwel and Lady Owena. Galen’s eyebrow raised as he waked over to her as his mother nodded at Lady Owena and met Galen in the middle of the room.

“Are you leaving for the hills, Galen?” asked Lady Glain as she took Galen’s hand and they walked close to the side of the room.

“I am. I have stayed too long in the palace as it is,” said Galen. “Are you well settled here?”

“I am,” said Lady Glain as she glanced over to where Lady Owena sat. “You must have been surprised to see me taking with Lady Owena.”

“I’ll admit I was,” said Galen.

“She wanted to try to make amends with me, asking for forgiveness for what she has done. It was hard, but I could not deny her some forgiveness. After all, you father made the choices he did on his own.”

“I think it is good for you to offer her forgiveness. Hopefully, it will help ease your soul. You were not to blame in any of it, but you still must feel the strain of the betrayal and hanging on to your anger,” said Galen.

“Yes, I have been angry too long and at times it was directed at the wrong people. After your High Captain so easily forgave me for my wrongs towards her, how could I not offer some comfort to Lady Owena?”

“I believe the High Captain would say your crimes against her were not as grievous as those of Lady Owena towards you.”

“Perhaps not, but wrong is wrong Galen, and I don’t think Lady Owena ever wish to hurt me. She was hurt herself, and acted in a foolish way to try to soothe her own heart. Your father could not stand to see her so lost, and he was probably a little lost himself. I have long since forgiven him, so I will forgive Lady Owena as well. I wish to live in peace with everyone I can, especially with all that has happened or might happen.”

“You are very good, mother,” said Galen squeezing her hand. “I hope you will find much happiness in the long life you have left.”

“I believe I shall with what you and Roderick will provide me with. I look forward to you both having your own families,” said Lady Glain. “Please be safe, Galen, and take care of your brother as well. I doubt I will see him, but I hope he knows I love him.”

“He does, mother, we both know it,” said Galen as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

“Go do your duty, Galen. You are an Elite of the Sentinel, and you must see to the defense of Winsdell and your royal family,” said Lady Glain with a smile. “I am very proud of you, and all the choices you have made.”

“Thank you, mother,” said Galen before he turned and left the room.

He found his way back into the hills to sit beside the fire with Lord Ethen and his two friends. He was happy to see Roderick was not there when he arrived, hoping that meant his brother was seeing to his own happiness and spending time with Lady Selene.

“Was all well in the palace, Galen?” asked Lord Ethen with a smile as Galen sat down.

“It seemed to be,” said Galen. “The people seem well settled behind the walls, and I believe all the lords and ladies are in the lower courts. I see my brother is not here. I hope he is not walking the hills somewhere.”

“No, I believe he is checking over things in the palace as you were,” said Lord Ethen with a grin.

“Good,” said Galen. “I hope he does not return for some time.”

His brother eventually joined them, Galen happy to see Roderick seemed settled and ready. It would not do for their leader to feel he was not prepared, but Roderick showed no signs of uncertainty. Galen knew Roderick probably did miss the High Captain by his side. Galen knew he did as well. There was something about her that gave Galen and others confidence.

Even though she was not here, she still had a hand an organizing their defenses. It felt like a bit of her was in everything around him. She had helped train him and give him a sense of what it meant to be an Elite. He was aware that much of the confident man Roderick was today had to do with her. When Lord Ethen smiled, Galen swore he could see a bit of the High Captain in his face. Galen only hoped at the end of the battle, the High Captain would still be around to reign as queen.

The cold night passed quickly as they talked around the fire. Sometime before dawn, Galen laid back and feel asleep. His dreams were a scramble of his time in the Disciplines, sparring with Cara and Tomas and watching the High Captain on the Sentinel course. He dreamed of his time in the Royal Academy with Lexine. He dreamed of her smile and of their first kiss. When he was awoken by Roderick, saying the Navalians had been spotted, Galen’s heart felt full and his mind ready for what he had to face.

As they rode towards the invading soldiers, Galen calculated ways to clear the lines in his mind. When he was sure of what he wanted to do, he flung out his hands sending fire towards the soldiers in front of him. He waited for the fire to clear out a large portion of the middle of the first few lines, but it did not happen. The fire evaporated around the soldiers as though it was nothing but air. Galen tired again, but still the fire did not find his mark. He let out a loud breath, knowing what was happening.

“A shield of some sort,” cried Galen. “Roderick, they have some sort of defense set up around them. Mystics cannot get through.”

Roderick turned and said something to Lord Ethen before he called loudly for swords to be used. He turned to Galen and asked him to tell Tomas to take the message through the lines. Galen urgently told Tomas what to do, and Tomas turned his horse, riding through the lines as Cara moved to ride next to Galen.

They met the front lines, and Galen immediately engaged with a man on horseback. His sword quickly finding his mark in the man’s chest, Galen sliding it out as the man fell dead off his horse. He moved on to another, and then another, working to his left and then right, trying to take out those around him while watching his brother and Cara out of the corner of his eyes.

Roderick kept on his horse, kicking a soldier off of his mount as he used his sword to slice through a man. He expertly turned his horse to face another as Galen took out a man in front of him. As they fought deeper into the lines, Cara jumped off her horse and met some men who were on the ground. She spun around, striking out quickly at one man before turning and burying her sword in another. She slinked through the crowds, taking out soldiers at an unbelievable rate before she found her horse again and remounted, looking at Galen for a second before turning and riding over to start on another group on foot.

Galen knew time passed as the clouds gathered and the day became darker. As small flakes of snow started to fall, Galen had one moment to gather himself and look around. He saw many Elites fighting nearby as well as soldiers and fighters from Indomia, Siccaria, and Parvail. It seemed as though it was slowly going the way of Lanoxan in the hills, but Galen wondered where Belleth and her sister were. He had not seen Darron either or really any other disgraced Elite of the Sentinel. Where they not coming to this battle, or were they somewhere else in Winsdell waiting for their time?

As though on cue, a cry was heard over the fighting being passed between the men.

“The palace,” they called. “There are soldiers at the palace.”

Roderick commanded Galen to let the Elites know to follow them to the palace. Galen relayed the message before following his brother and Lord Ethen into Winsdell. They rode through the mostly deserted streets as the snow started falling more heavily. As they came close to the High Palace, Galen could hear the shouts of fighters and the sound of swords meeting one another.

As they came up on the fighting, Galen could see those who were guarding the palace where holding their own as best they could. He moved to enter the fray when a large bank of snow flew down and buried some soliders in front of him and Roderick. Galen saw Roderick look up, and he followed where his brother’s eyes had gone to see the king and High Captain on the tall wall. He knew immediately what was happening. The king had done something to take down the defense of the Navalians, and the High Captain had sent snow to help them.

Roderick told Galen that the shield was now down, but Galen had already had fire building in his hand. He threw it out, taking out a large portion of soldiers in front of him as a disgraced Elite of the Sentinel threw up his hands and dove out of the way.

Galen turned to smile at Roderick when he saw something at the bottom of the highest wall of the palace. Lady Belleth, her sister, and Darron where near the wall, Belleth’s hand on the stone. She had her head bowed and her eyes closed. Galen watched as she lifted her head and looked at her sister before all three disappeared before Galen.

They had gotten into the palace using their old magic. Somewhere in its walls, Belleth, her sister, and Darron walked looking for the High Captain and the king. They had to get inside.

“Palace, Roderick,” said Galen urgently. “We have to go, now.”

He didn’t wait for his brother to act. Galen kicked his horse and rode through the fighters in front of him, throwing out snow on soldiers to create a clear path to the palace gates. He came to the gates, the soldiers seeing him standing there with Lord Ethen and Roderick coming up behind him.

“Open the gates, now,” said Galen. “We must get inside. Our king and queen are in danger.”

“What did you see, Galen?” asked Roderick as the gates opened up just wide enough to let them in while a group of palace guards walked out to stand guard.

“Belleth, her sister, and Darron got into the palace somehow. I saw them by the wall, and they disappeared. I know they are somewhere in the palace, now, Roderick,” said Galen frantically.

“Then we must hurry,” said Roderick as he urged his horse forward.

Galen and Ethen followed, their horses moving swiftly down the path, the people on either side a blur. They made it to the second gate, where they all three slowed down as the guards let them in with no questions. Riding up to the front door, Galen hopped down from his horse, following his brother to the palace door with Lord Ethen jogging to catch up with them. Roderick pounded loudly on the door until it was opened by a guard with his sword ready. Once he saw Roderick, Galen, and Lord Ethen, he let them in, moving out of the way as they all three ran into the entry hall, and up the stairs.

The stairs ended on the fourth level, where Roderick led them down a hall to a large old wooden door. It opened to a step set of stairs, that Roderick started climbing without stalling. Galen ran up the stairs behind Roderick, Lord Ethen right on his heels. They came to a landing that was small and had only one door. Roderick turned the handle and pushed against it with its shoulder, but it would not move.

“It is locked,” said Roderick pounding on it.

“Let me try, Roderick,” said Galen as Roderick moved out of the way.

Galen closed his eyes and sensed the stone next to the hinges, trying to undo them to break the door free. He could not make any progress toward it. It felt as if something was blocking him.

“I think Belleth has done something to the door. I cannot knock it down or jar it loose.”

Roderick hit the door with his hand as Lord Ethen looked at Galen. “Is there no other way up into the tower or the wall?”

Galen was about to say no, when he walked over to the right wall away from the door. He put his hand on the stone and closed his eyes, sensing that he would be able to manipulate the stone there. He quickly formed a plan in his mind. It would be tricky and dangerous, but it could work.

“I think I might know a way, but I doubt either of you will like it,” said Galen as he took his hand off of the stone.

“Whatever it is, we have to do it, Galen. We have to get to Dracia and the king,” said Roderick desperately as Ethen nodded.

“Very well,” said Galen as he held out his hand and pushed, a large hole forming in the wall opening into the snowy sky outside.