Children of the Cursed Read online

  “Mages that practice the Dark Arts are dangerous.” Gawain scowled.

  “Let me handle the Mages when we get there, it is clear that you are too scared to make a sound judgment.” The boy acted as though he had something planned.

  “What makes you think that you can handle such men?”

  Ulrich's smile stretched across his face from ear to ear, “Because I know what to say to them.”

  “What words could you possibly have to say to such evil men?”

  “That doesn't involve you, that's between me, them, and Headmaster Caine.”

  “Caine,” he hesitantly replied.

  Why would Ulrich have words for the Mages from Caine? It didn't make any sense to Gawain, he thought for sure that his students were staying away from Caine as he had asked of them. But it seemed as though Ulrich had been disobeying his orders, which meant that Ulrich was being trained by Caine in secret. Which would explain how he could use the Dark Arts to his advantage. All these thoughts swirled around inside of Gawain's head and more, but now wasn't the time for action as he had a feeling that he would find the answers he sought soon enough.

  “I told you that I don't have to explain myself.”

  “If that's the way you feel, then fine by me,” Gawain responded. “For now we set our sights on the Dragon Graveyard.”

  Gawain not feeding into Ulrich's ego upset him severely, “What, you're not going to question me, old man?” He asked with a hint of sarcasm.

  “Why should I?” He asked before pulling the reins to turn his horse in the direction he desired. “Let’s ride.” He kicked the sides of his horse to spur it on.

  “Wait! You're telling me that you're not curious in the least?” Ulrich asked. He didn't look back, he was disappointed and a little heartbroken and his spirit had been slightly broken as well. Nevertheless he had to focus on collecting the pieces of the blade, and keep Leon safe from harm for his destiny was not yet complete. “Nothing? Not a word from you either Leon? Ellyn?” he shouted as they all rode ahead of him.

  After hours of riding through some of the toughest terrain imaginable they were finally closing in on their destination, the Dragon Graveyard. And just up ahead another piece of the legendary blade was within their grasp. Gawain pulled the reins of his horse, “The Dragon Graveyard is just up ahead.” The man lifted his hand, signaling for the others to stop.

  “Why are we stopping?” Leon asked. “Shouldn't we press on and get this over with?”

  “This is where we will set up camp for the night,” Gawain answered.

  “What we seek is just ahead of us, why set up camp now of all times?”

  “That proves your immaturity, you asking such a question.” Gawain laughed and dismounted from his horse. “We've been riding for hours. The horses need to rest as do we, if all is not fresh when entering such a dangerous place, we will surely fall in battle.”

  “Understood.” Leon nodded, jumping off the back of his horse. “What of firewood?”

  “Do not worry yourself over firewood. I shall go and collect the wood this time while the three of you set up camp.”

  “Are you sure, sir?” Ellyn asked with a huge smile on her face. “We can easily go instead.”

  “That is not necessary,” he replied. “I shall retrieve the firewood. Please set up camp while I'm gone.” He turned and walked off alone.

  Ulrich dismounted from his horse, “He's up to something.” He was suspicious of how quickly Gawain went off by himself.

  “What makes you say such a thing?” Leon asked.

  “Think about it. When does Gawain ever go and gather anything for camp?”

  Leon thought about it for a moment, “Never.” He shrugged. Ellyn was already off her horse going after him, “Where are you going?” Leon turned and asked.

  “While the two of you stand around trying to figure out what he's up to, I'm going to follow him and see for myself.” She answered and kept walking on.

  “Then wait for us.”

  “There he is,” Ellyn whispered. “Hurry let's hide before he sees us.” they ducked out of sight behind one of the trees. “What do you think he's doing?”

  “He's waiting for someone,” Ulrich whispered.

  “How do you know that?”

  “How do you know that,” Leon interrupted.

  Ulrich turned to look at the both of them, “Wait and see for yourselves.” Moments later a strange woman appeared from the shadows, “Right on time.”

  “Who is that?” Leon whispered.

  “I don't know,” Ulrich responded. “I've only seen her talking to the old man once, several months ago.”

  “And you did not think to tell me of this?” Leon's brow furrowed.

  “It was not of importance.” Ulrich shrugged. “But something is different this time.”

  “Would you two be quiet?” Ellyn hissed. “I can hardly hear what they speak about.”

  The strange woman talking with Gawain suddenly turned in their direction, “Come out from behind the tree, there is no need to hide.”

  “How did she know that we were here?” Ellyn looked surprised.

  “This is not the same lady I remember from before, be on guard,” Ulrich warned.

  “I said come out from behind the tree, or I shall come back there after you!” She shouted. And with that Ellyn, Leon, and Ulrich slowly made their way out into the open. “Come over here and stand by Master Gawain.” And so they did.

  Gawain shook his head and sighed, “Can I not leave the three of you alone for one bloody minute?”

  “They are just as much a part of this as you, Master Gawain.”

  “What we talk about is of no concern to them.”

  “Have you forgotten what I can do if I so choose?”

  “My apologies, please forgive my rashness.” Gawain bowed.

  “Someone finally put the old man in his place.” Ulrich laughed.

  “Silence! I need no response from someone who constantly acts like a child, you still have a lot of growing up to do.” She scolded.

  “She just put you in your place as well.” Ellyn giggled.

  “That is enough!” Gawain demanded.

  “Sorry.”

  “My apologies. You can tell my students are still very young, as you have figured out.”

  The lady smiled faintly, “They are more than just your students, Master Gawain. These children are becoming young adults, even though they still have a lot of growing up to do they are still warriors. Not only that but they are your companions, be mindful to treat them as so.”

  “Understood, Sis-” Gawain caught himself mid-sentence. “Lady Elena.” He coughed. “I'm curious about why you humble us with your presence.”

  “Headmaster Caine caught wind of the fact that you had gathered two pieces of the legendary blade.”

  “He sent you here to retrieve the pieces, did he?”

  “It was not Caine that sent me, but Lord Alistair himself,” Elena answered. “Do you know why they both seek the pieces of the Legendary Blade with such passion?”

  “I do not,” Gawain answered. “But I was hoping you could shed some light on that subject.”

  “If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you,” Elena responded coldly.

  “Whatever the reason it cannot be anything good.”

  “Seems that way.”

  “And yet you still do their dirty work.” Gawain responded out of anger.

  “What about you?” She hissed. “Do you not seek out the pieces of the legendary blade for them? Do you not aid them regardless of how you feel? It would seem you do more of their dirty work then I, and you do so without question.”

  Gawain lowered his head, “I do not know what else to do.” He muttered. “If we do not do as they say we could be exiled for treason, and I cannot allow such a fate to befall my students.”

  “Then give me the pieces that you have collected thus far, so I can take them back to Lord Alistair.” Lady Elena took Gawain's hand in hers. “Tis th
e only way, you know it to be true.”

  “I know,” Gawain sighed. He removed his hand from hers, reaching into the bag that he had strapped to his waist. Then removed what looked like something wrapped in cloth and held it out in front of him. “Take it, and be on your way.”

  Lady Elena reached out, taking the cloth from his hand, “Thank you, Gawain.” She opened the cloth to see the contents inside; to her elation she was actually holding two pieces of the legendary blade. The hilt and part of the blade itself, “It's hard to believe that I hold such power in the palm of my hands.”

  “Promise me that you will protect that which I have given you,” he pleaded.

  “I promise.” Elena smiled. “I must get back, Lord Alistair is waiting. Take care, Gawain.” She smiled happily, then turned to walk away.

  “You cannot trust her.”

  “Shadow,” Gawain said. “I know that it is you.”

  Another lady stepped out from the shadows, but none could see her face, for she had it covered with a hood. “That's the lady I was telling you about, not the other,” Ulrich whispered.

  “Mind your own, young master Ulrich.” She turned her attention back to Gawain. “As I was saying, you can't trust Lady Elena.”

  “Don't be silly, I've known Lady Elena since childhood, on top of that she's higher up in the church. We can trust her, I'm sure of it.”

  “It's the ones that we think we can trust that knows how to manipulate us best. You of all people know this.” Shadow warned.

  “That's enough about Lady Elena, I will hear no more of it Shadow!” Gawain demanded of her.

  “As you wish.” She bowed.

  “What have you learned of the Dragon Graveyard?” Gawain asked, back to business as usual.

  “It's just as you suspected, there are powerful Mages that have set up camp there, keeping all from entering,” Shadow replied. “They are not the type to be trifled with either.”

  “Like I was telling the old man here, I will handle the Mages,” Ulrich butted in. Shadow turned her head ever so slightly.

  “What shall a child such as yourself do with such a powerful enemy? Do tell.”

  “What would you know of me?” Ulrich snarled.

  “I know all about you, Ulrich,” she answered. “This is my job, I am of course a top Scout.” What she failed to say is that she was actually the Academy's Assassin when she needed to be. “Now Ulrich, answer my question in return.”

  “I will tell you the same thing I told the old man, which is that it is between Headmaster Caine and myself.”

  “I see that I'm not the only one that keeps secrets,” Shadow said. “Know this, Ulrich. The Mages won't take kindly to you or your friends, what you speak to them better be worthwhile.”

  “Who needs words when you can just fight your way through,” Leon interrupted.

  “There is no way that you could fight against Mages that use the Dark Arts, Leon,” Shadow responded.

  “You know of me as well?”

  “I know more about you than you know of yourself, Leon.”

  “What about Ellyn? Do you know anything about her?”

  “Don't ask such questions.” Ellyn hissed at him.

  “It's okay, child,” Shadow said. “Your secrets are your own, with time I'm sure you will tell them about your past.”

  “So you know of my past?”

  “I do,” Shadow replied. “However, that's not for me to discuss.”

  “Thank you.” Ellyn smiled slightly.

  Shadow nodded and then turned her attention back to Gawain, “Master Gawain, here is my last bit of information for you. Just up ahead there is a cave, and that is where the Mages quarters are. If you make it through with your lives, the Dragon Graveyard shall be on the other side. Until we meet again.” And with a cloud of smoke she vanished into thin air.

  “Where did she go?” Leon asked, looking the area over.

  “Shadow is already far away from here,” Gawain said. “Let's get back and set up camp, we need to rest before the morrow.”

  Ellyn waited to see if any would ask about her past, but to her relief they smiled and hurried along back to where they left the horses so they could get themselves settled in for the night. Morning came quicker than expected, and this time around Ellyn, Leon, and Ulrich were up and ready to head out before Gawain could even fully awake.

  “Hurry up, old man. Time is a wasting,” Ulrich started the joke.

  “Be quick sir. For we are on our horses and ready to head out,” Ellyn also joked. “You are only slowing us down.”

  “Grab your food! Move! Move!” Leon couldn't help but join in on the fun.

  “What?” Gawain muttered, wiping the sleep from his eyes. “Is there something the matter?”

  “Of course. You're holding us up!” Ulrich shouted.

  Gawain stumbled around grabbing for his things, placing them back into his saddlebag, then he stumbled back over to the fire that was already put out to grab what was left of the rabbit that was killed and cooked earlier that morning. “I'm hurrying, leave me alone,” he grumbled after taking a bite from his food.

  The youngsters laughed at their teacher as he stumbled around eating his breakfast, then he tried to mount his horse but fell off the other side. “Damn horse, stay still,” He spat, only to have his companions laugh even louder at his actions. Little did they know that he was putting on an act just for them, to calm their nerves and make them laugh together before they made their way to the Dragon Graveyard.

  Gawain held up his hand motioning for his companions to stop, “We're here,” he whispered.

  “What shall be our plan of action?” Leon quietly asked.

  “We sneak inside,” Gawain replied.

  Just then Ulrich shouted out, “Show yourselves at once, I know that Mages dwell here.” Four Mages wearing black robes came walking out from inside the cave, then three more appeared behind them.

  “What have you done, Ulrich?” Gawain said with a look of bewilderment.

  “Mind your own, old man,” Ulrich hissed. “I know what I'm doing., you will just have to trust in my words.” Gawain would soon find out that he would have no choice but to trust that his student could save them from almost a certain death.

  “Who dares to make commands in our territory?” One of the Mages angrily snarled.

  “We are the ones that Lord Alistair and Headmaster Caine spoke of in the message sent to you by the carrier,” Ulrich explained. “Would you challenge the word of Lord Alistair and have the Knights Of Valor come for you?”

  The leader of the Mages pulled the hood from his face, “I do not fear any such man or men of titles.” His face was badly scarred, and he was blind in one eye as his pupil was completely white. His head had no hair atop it, and there were foreign symbols branded on his scalp. This was clearly a man to be feared by all who would dare defy him. “Also, I do not believe you to be the ones Caine spoke of in his letter that found its way to us.”

  Ulrich pointed at the man, demanding that he call Caine Headmaster out of respect. The Mage laughed at the boy's insolence, “If you talk down to me again, boy, you will be the first to die.” He never made a threat he did not keep. The Mage raised his hand in the air and it started to glow red from the flames of fire. However, something caught his eye that made him rethink burning the foul-mouthed boy into dust.

  “Did you finally come to your senses?” Ulrich laughed.

  “No, I'm curious to find out why Caine holds people such as you yourselves in high regards,” he replied. “State your business and I shall decide if I let you leave here alive.”

  “We need passage into the Dragon Graveyard,” Gawain said.

  “Don't we all.”

  “What do you mean?”

  The man turned his back to them, “Follow me.” He walked on ahead inside the cave. While they hesitantly followed the man, the Mages that lived inside of the cave hissed their disapproval at the sight of the non-magic users being let into their domain.
“Quiet,” he commanded. “None shall harm these people. If you do not heed my words then the punishment shall be swift, and without mercy. Go. Return to your duties.”

  “That was some welcome,” Gawain joked.

  “I apologize, my men are not used to strangers.” The man smirked. “Make sure you keep up, I wouldn't want anything to happen to such brave souls like yourselves.”

  “Your words are soothing,” Gawain mocked. “Tell me Mage, where do you lead us?”

  “You shall see soon enough, non-magic user,” he answered. They came to a part of the cave where the walls narrowed, and to the right of them was a drop off that went down towards the depths of hell, maybe even further. “Watch your step, and keep close to each other.” The light flickered from the torch that the man carried to light the way, and their shadows danced off the wall, except for one. That shadow seemed to stay off at a distance, which meant they were being followed. However, Gawain thought it was best to keep that to himself for the time being.

  “Tell me something,” Gawain said, staying as close to the wall as possible while walking down the narrow path. “Why do you call us non-magic users?”

  Once they made it through the dangerous path safely, the leader of the Mages answered Gawain's question. “You are not Mages, therefore to us you are non-magic users.” He didn't even to turn to face Gawain as he spoke; instead, he walked on without hesitation.

  “But we know how to use magic,” Gawain replied as he kept pace with the man. The Mage didn't even bother to acknowledge Gawain's words, as in his mind they were non-magic users and that was all there was to it. They walked for what seemed like another good hour, up and down different paths, each as dangerous as the next. Until finally the man stopped abruptly, “Why have we stopped?” Gawain questioned.

  “Because we are here.” When the man smiled the flames from the torch made him almost look like a demon in human flesh, which was said about all Mages.This was the first time that Gawain had witnessed this firsthand. The Mage noticed the man glaring at him ever so slightly, “Is something the matter?” He laughed.

  “No.” Gawain cleared his throat, “Where is here?”

  “This is the end,” the man mysteriously said.

  “The end?” Gawain questioned, he was for sure the Mage was up to something.