Creed of the guardian he.., p.1
Creed of The Guardian: Heart of The Warrior - Book Three, page 1
Creed of the Guardian
Heart of the Warrior - Book Three
By
C.R. Richards
Copyright © 2019 C.R. Richards
All rights reserved.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
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For Dad
Master Sergeant - United States Army (WWII and Korea)
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
People, Places, Things
About the Author
Other Books by C.R. Richards
Chapter One
Seth D’Antoiné punched his fist into a helpless bundle of hay secured in the airship’s hold. Trapped like mindless livestock, he and his best friend—his squire, Riley Logan—had been herded inside a reinforced section of the hull. The suffocating enclosure was typically used to house mounts for the Jalora Legion’s traveling rangers. Fortunately for all concerned, the battalion wasn’t taking horses with them to North Marsh.
“Great gulls! Would you stop? I’m near death, and you want to punch things.” Riley gripped the porthole with one hand and covered his mouth with the other.
“You’re already airsick? We haven’t set sail yet. Our journey to North Marsh Outpost spans three days. The trip will be a rough one if you don’t settle your stomach. Can’t you make some concoction?”
Ignoring Riley’s glare, Seth leaned against the hold wall. The Lion Ring on his finger pulsed to the beat of his angry heart. It, too, resented being caged by their uneasy allies. The Jalora was the force for good on Erthe. Its Legion consisted of men, each of whom had been bonded in service by a Heart of the Warrior ring. Every such talisman clung to its bearer’s left middle finger, feeding off the host’s blood. Seth lifted his Lion Ring and regarded it. His blood surged and ebbed with the tide inside the yellow crystal.
“They’ve no right to cage me like a beast! I have things I must do.”
His thoughts returned to the hidden passageways boring through the granite body of the Obsidian Citadel, his former duty post. A few hours before the Legion caged him, Seth had chased his murderous half-brother, Julian, to the battlements. Mercenaries had been waiting for him there, ready to fight. His new Lion Friend, Lord Fausto De Quintaro, and the men of Valdeon had stood with Seth to drive the villains from the stronghold. Fausto had vowed to return to Valdeon with rebellion in mind. Seth desperately wanted to go with him, but the Jalora Legion had other plans in mind for the new bearer of the Lion Ring.
“Aye. But you’ve been grousing for the last half-hour. Please give me a little peace so I can calm my aching head.” Riley swayed forward with a groan. “Tell me what happened when you met with that foul-tempered uncle of yours. As quietly as possible, if you please.”
Seth’s uncle, Esteban D’Antoiné, was a prince of Valdeon and bearer of the Hawk Ring. His very name sent Seth’s temper surging. Esteban’s intrigues had ripped their family apart.
“Hawk was the ranger who bargained with the assassin Pavel Sandor on Marianna,” Seth reminded his friend. “My uncle found Mother when I was a baby and promised her he would protect us by keeping my existence secret. Hawk assumed he had Pavel under his control. We both know his madness was uncontainable.” Seth ran a hand across his face. “My uncle claims he sends us with the Phoenix for my protection.”
Riley sighed. “Who knows what waits for us at the end of this journey. I’m not sure I trust that uncle of yours. It seems to me he should have waited for Cardinal Dragon to return.”
He made a sound point. Cardinal Dragon, as head of the Legion, should’ve been consulted before Hawk sent Seth off to the farthest reaches of Andara. Seth folded his arms and fell silent. Hawk was flying on a hidden path and taking Seth with him. Seth and Riley needed to escape this airship and find Seth’s Right-Hand, Wolf.
Thoughts of his missing mentor sent Seth’s anxious fingers picking at a stray splinter clinging to the wall. He’d searched the hull for a way out, but the corral had been built to keep beasts inside. A few small windows covered in steel mesh had been placed around the enclosure to give the horses fresh air. Through one of these small openings, a pair of wide green eyes now appeared and stared at Seth. He reached out gently with his power. Curiosity ran both ways.
Then a voice added a comment. “You see, son. Remember this day. The Lion has returned to Andara.” A man’s face joined the young boy’s in the crisscross of steel mesh. “He’s coming with us to learn how to be a ranger.”
“Are you going to teach him, Dad?”
“No.” The man laughed. “A gentleman like the Lion couldn’t learn anything from the likes of me.”
The little boy’s smile turned into an unhappy frown. “You’re plenty smart, Dad.”
Seth let out a frustrated sigh. A chance of birth had made him heir to Edmund the Leo, King of Valdeon. But birthrights and riches didn’t matter in the heat of battle. True honor was in a man’s actions. Courage was located in the heart willing to risk everything to protect those who couldn’t defend themselves. Seth’s bloodline didn’t make him any better than this loving father, who also fought for his family.
Pushing away from the wall, Seth used his powers to move unseen among the ribbons of sunlight. A cold blast of winter chill struck his face as he stood before the open vent. This goodbye from the Obsidian Citadel felt harsh.
Hovering midway up the mountain fortress above the Legion docks, the airship floated hundreds of feet over the city of Lea. Seth had no idea how the boy and his father had managed to perch outside his window. Putting a finger through the mesh, he lifted the little boy’s chin.
“The Lion!” The boy gasped with wide eyes. “You’ve come to speak with us.”
“So, he has.”
Short-cropped blond hair rested well above the collar of the father’s olive UR Army uniform. Three tan stripes on the lapel marked him as a master sergeant within Seth’s new battalion. Sharp eyes, accustomed to spotting unenthusiastic cadets, held Seth’s gaze as if he may be waiting to see this new Lion’s reaction.
Seth held his left hand against the mesh and let the child’s small fingers smooth at the Lion ring. Floating in the center of the Heart Crystal, the great beast’s head swayed back and forth as it followed the boy’s movement.
“Your dad is a modest man.” Seth nodded at the sergeant. “This is my first time traveling with the army. I’m certain I can learn a great deal from him if he’s willing to teach me.”
“The name’s Sergeant Duncan, my lord.” The grateful father smiled down at his son’s proud face. “I’m honored to help you in any way I can.”
“Why have they locked you in the hold?” the boy asked.
Seth and the boy’s father well knew the answer. The rangers wanted to use their new Lion and his gifts to restore power to the Legion. His uncle, Esteban the Hawk, was ever evasive and harbored secret ambitions for Seth. The Legion’s collective fear, however, was keeping Seth in a cage. Throughout the continent of Andara’s history, a man of pure Valdeonian blood had been named Lion Protector by the Jalora. Born of two ancient rivals, Seth was the first Lion with mixed blood. He’d sensed his battalion’s uncertainty and heard the hushed whispers as soon as he’d boarded the ship. But how to explain such blind fear and hatred to a child?
“Sometimes people fear what they don’t understand…”
“But the Jalora gave you its ring,” the boy said, touching the beast’s head with a final stroke. “Shouldn’t that be enough?”
“You are a wise soul, my little friend.”
The great ship began to rumble, then eased as the crystal engines fell into their usual rhythm. The shuddering wall shook bits of hay from the bales onto the floor—small compensation for horses confined to such suffocating circumstances.
“I’d better see you back to your mum.”
The little boy waved to Seth and then sank out of sight. Sergeant Duncan lingered a moment, however, and dug into his pouch. He took out a long, black string of some kind of dried plant or herb and handed it to Seth with a nod. Seth sniffed the gift while attempting a smile. Sickening sweet with overtones of leather from the sergeant’s pouch, this present wasn’t something Seth would willingly put into his mouth.
“Tell your squire to chew on it until his stomach settles. It shouldn’t take more than a bite. I’ve seen some air sickness in my day, but not as bad as he seems to have it.”
“Thank you, Sergeant.” Seth, sorry to watch them go, stepped a few paces back. They were sure to be the only friendly faces he’d see in a great while.
Making his way across the hay-littered floor, he stopped by Riley and handed him the black string. “It’s from a friend. He says you should only take a bite. It’s sure to settle your stomach.”
“You’ve made a new friend in an empty cargo hold? Aye, that’s you all over.”
Riley, too, sniffed at the stringy object, but he had the courage to take a tentative bite. He wrinkled his nose and swallowed with a big gulp. Closing his eyes, Riley leaned his head on his arm. The soft hum of relief told Seth the sergeant’s remedy was working.
Then the engines roared to life again. The hay prison shook and swayed as the ship suddenly lifted into the air.
“Great gulls!” Riley cried. “I don’t think I can stand three days of this.”
“I’m more concerned about what happens when we land.” Seth gripped the nearest post and hung on tightly as they ascended into the unknown.
Chapter Two
The door burst open with a boom. White Tiger stood before Seth and Riley. Thinning hair, faded with age, clung close to his scalp. Small scars covered his face and hands. These relics of wounds spoke of many battles and a lifetime of experience. Seth had surprised the old ranger on the battlements of the citadel once. Luck had been with Seth as he knocked the warrior off his feet. He wouldn’t get the chance again. Power radiated from White Tiger, who looked ready to strike. Gray eyes now ruthlessly examined Seth. Clearly, he’d not entertain any mischief.
A squire stood next to the ranger. Matching White Tiger’s age, he held the same sour frown. A growling predator feline, forever captured in bronze, clung to the collar of his uniform. The squire’s indignation focused on Riley. Neither man seemed impressed by the Lion and his own faithful squire.
“Stand at attention, Ice Lion. I’m not the stable hand.”
Seth pulled Riley to his feet. They hurriedly assumed respectful stances. White Tiger was second in command of their new battalion. He’d also been a friend of Seth’s father. The old ranger was someone Seth hoped to win over. Disrespecting his authority wasn’t a good idea.
“We’ve set sail and are well away from the docks. I doubt you can cause much mischief now.” White Tiger stood aside and motioned them into the hall. “Phoenix will be meeting with his new apprentices in a few moments. You’re to join them.”
More apprentices? Seth hadn’t seen any other young men waiting to test in the arena of the Obsidian Citadel. Of course, his attention had been focused elsewhere at the time. His uncle had taken Riley and the Lion Friends hostage, forcing Seth to test for his naming into the Legion.
Now, they followed White Tiger down a long corridor. Several doors—each expertly labeled with the contents of the room—lined the walls. Armory. Storage. Oats. Someone had gone to a great deal of trouble to keep the hold orderly.
A sign marked “Upper Deck” was shaped like an arrow and hung at the bottom of a flight of stairs. According to the sign, Seth and Riley had experienced their first Legion takeoff from one of the “Lower Decks.” A few more flights up finally brought them to the “Main Deck.” Here, the transport ship began to look less like a massive warehouse and more like a military building. The walls were painted a green-gray color from floor to ceiling. Sanitized and tidy, the deck could have passed for an infirmary. The ship’s captain was a champion of order.
White Tiger slid open a set of double doors, crystal lanterns giving off a surprisingly cheery glow in the interior, windowless room. Rangers sat solemnly on benches lining the walls of the chamber. Their ash-colored uniforms contrasted starkly with the green-gray walls. White Tiger pointed to a group of nervous young men sitting in a cluster at the far corner. Dressed in the olive drab uniform of Legion apprentices, they stood apart from the rest of the battalion in every way.
“Ho! Lion!”
A massive young man with dark-brown hair and pointed sideburns waved to him. This was Anders the Bear, Seth’s opponent during testing at the Obsidian Citadel. Seth had won the battle, earning his ranger name, ‘Ice Lion.’ Judging by the huge grin on Bear’s face, the other man had forgiven the defeat.
“Well, don’t just stand there like a couple of wallflowers.” White Tiger jutted an impatient finger again. “Go join the other apprentices.”
Seth and Riley walked past the rows of higher-ranking rangers. The Jalora’s transmitted power, garnered by these men in years if not decades of training, pulsed as low hums while tendrils of white light drifted in gentle waves across their skin. They were justice incarnate and servants of the Light, whose blades never hesitated. Today, they seemed uneasy, though, as Seth walked by. Quick probes and curious stares followed Seth’s and Riley’s steps. Hushed whispers reached Seth’s sharp ears. He ignored such interest, keeping the ice walls about him.
“I was glad to hear you’ve joined our battalion, Ice Lion.” Bear patted the seat beside him. “Sit quickly. Our commander doesn’t look kindly on those out of place.”
“Phoenix is an impatient man then?” Riley grumbled with dislike and added a quick “sir.”
“Something happened in the Legion HQ. He has been in an ill temper since.” Bear shook his head at Riley. “Phoenix is the commander of this battalion and a powerful deacon. If I were you, squire, I would clear my mind when he comes among us. A ranger’s skill isn’t required to sense your dislike of him.”
“You’ll find others more fitting of your disdain before our apprenticeship is over, Lion’s squire.” The young man sitting on Bear’s other side glared over at the rows of rangers. “You’ll have plenty of choices.”
“This is the Stallion. He’s a new apprentice as well.”
Coal black wisps of fine straight hair flapped atop the Stallion’s head as he nodded to Seth. The uneven tresses had the appearance of once-long hair having been cut short by a dull blade. Seth had seen enough of such cuts at sheep-shearing time on Marianna. The young man slumped back against the wall. Pulling on his hood, Stallion folded his arms with a pout. Anger. Resentment. Frustration. They raced about the apprentice in a wild fury. He seemed determined to broadcast rather than hide his emotions.
Fear. Its intensity pulled Seth’s attention toward the young man sitting apart from their group. Curly blond hair dangled in swirls about his face. Thin, boyish shoulders hunched forward as the youth’s body shuddered. An older man, his squire, sat beside him. Resting a gentle hand on the young man’s back, the squire whispered soft words of comfort. Both ranger and squire stared down at the young man’s ring as if they were looking at a death sentence. Shame. Disappointment. Terror. These emotions made erratic patterns about their bodies.
“That’s the Badger. He’s an Ephemeral,” Bear whispered to Seth.
“A what?”
Lifting his yellow stone to show Seth, Bear tilted his finger to catch the light. A black bear floated within the dark yellow crystal. The beast watched its Bearer circling the surface with his finger.
“On rare occasions, a black circle forms around the outside of the crystal, the Jalora’s curse on a bearer. The lucky ones die quickly. Others—the truly cursed—are deformed. They’re bad luck for themselves and their battalion.”
