The town's warning bell began chiming around noon. Azriel looked up in the middle of his practice, surprised, and got a whack in the head by Kurr, who was following through on his attack.
"What the hell did you do that for?" asked Azriel, rubbing his head while he stood.
"I'm sorry, you broke concentration. If the warning bell hadn't of..."
"The warning bell..." said Azriel as he once again looked towards the bell, hundreds of metres away, being frantically rung by a young boy.
"I...I have to go." uttered Azriel, as he dropped his staff and mounted Trojan, galloping away on the steed to the main security office.
"WAIT, ORION. COME BACK!! THIS IS A MATTER FOR YOUR FATHER!! YOU MUST GO TO THE BUNKERS!!!" Azriel wasn't listening. His mind was heavy with what the problem could be. Never before had there been a need for the warning bell to be rung. It was reserved only for the gravest of urgencies. What could be happening?
Azriel arrived to the sight of his father's Town Guard arming themselves with swords, Firearm Gauntlets, axes, bows and arrows, as they got onto their suited horses and prepared for their orders. The youngest rookies had already been sent to ensure all the civillains made it to the bunkers. Azriel jumped from his horse and ran inside, through the crowds of soldiers and into his father's office. Standing there were Samara, and some other man, who had a huge build. He looked almost inhuman with his enormity. Azriel looked to his father and said
"What's happening? What's going on?" His father's eyes were of concern
"Azriel, you should be at the bunkers. It's not safe here."
"Damn it, father! WHat's going on?!? I have a right to know!" bellowed Azriel with annoyance. Samara was stunned. He stared at Azriel for a minute, and looked down at his feet.
"I shouldn't have become a Guardian. When my father died, I thought it was my responsibility to take over. I left the army, and came home. Hope was such a quiet town, I never thought anything would happen. I allowed myself to fall in love, have a child. It looks like I was wrong. The Knitmare Hordes are coming, Azriel. If we...if I...fail...then our town we'll be ravaged." Samara stood quiet for a moment. He pondered his situation. "Azriel, get your mother. Load up as many things as you can into the cart, take Trojan and Pegasus, and leave town. Go to the city of Sanctum. Wait for me there. If you don't hear from me...then....Please. I beg of you. Go. If anything were to happen to you and your mother, I would never forgive myself." Azriel stood quietly. While his father continued staring at him, he said
"Empyrean, go brief the troops on what you know. I'll join you in a minute." The huge man began striding out. As he did, he stopped beside Azriel. He looked the boy in his eyes and simply said
"Your father is a brave man, Azriel. Always know that. I wish I had the honour he did..." The man turned, and continued walking out of the office. Azriel stood in the middle of the room. So many emotions ran through him. His stomach was heavy with nerves. He pushed back the tears forming behind his eyes. His father sighed heavily, and walked from around his desk. As he did so, he unstrapped his sword sheath. He crouched in front of Azriel, held the sword in front of the boy, and said
"My father gave me this sword. He crafted it himself many years ago, when Newmilieu was newly born, and the Earth's memory was still fresh. It's made of Gaia, and strapped with the hide of a Minotaur. My father gave it to me, and now...," Samara handed the sword over to Azriel. The child slowly took it "....I'm giving it to you." Azriel was in awe. He didn't know what to say. He looked down at the huge weapon held within his own seemingly tiny hands.
"I...."he stammered "I can't take this." he said.
"You have to," his father replied in earnest "It may be dangerous on the way to Sanctum, and you're own sword won't withstand much. I can simply get another sword off of Kurr. Now go, pack up the house, and get your mother and yourself out of here." Samara stood, and stared at Azriel.
"Go." he said sternly. Azriel buckled the sword to his belt, which made the thin strap sag as the weapon rested on the ground, and began running from the room.
"Azriel!" his father called. The boy looked back. "Remember....remember that I've always loved you, and not matter what happens...I will always love and be proud of you."
"I love you, too, Dad. Good luck." Azriel said, as he turned, and left the guardian post, fighting his way through crowds of soldiers, and volunteer villagers with pitch forks and home made swords. He made it to Trojan, who neyed at his arrival. The boy patted the horse's nervous face as he climbed onto it's back, and galloped it off to his home. He had never been so scared before in his life as he was now. Next Page Main Page