Chapter 31

“In my opinion, many people have lost faith in the Guardian in these modern days simply because they do not understand his Instructions. And unfortunately—and admittedly—some of the Instructions have been altered over time without his permission, leading many astray. This means that today the best theologians are also the best historians.”

Faith in the Guardian by Grand Arboler Norman Thicket, year 4021

Consult

Lennnox walked slowly as he stared over the men and women, soldiers and mages, as they bustled about, preparing to march. There weren’t as many as before. They lost a little more than half the Barklians and a third of the Forids. Those who remained looked up to him with triumph in their eyes.

They’d captured the city of Cambium, though half of it still burned. A cloud of dark smoke covered the darkening sky.

“It is bein’ unfortunate that their pathetic Ascended Guardian escaped, my lord,” Dale said as he got off his horse. “It would have been satisfyin’ to see you killin’ him.”

“A few things didn’t go as planned,” Lennox said. “General Jarrah proved to be more a nuisance than I’d anticipated.”

Queen Charol walked up to Lennox, two horses in tow. One was hers, the other was unfamiliar to Lennox. She handed him its reins. “I retrieved you a new horse, my Lord. As commanded,” she said. “Unfortunately, this is our last.”

He took the reins and inspected the rare animal. It was a miracle they’d managed to bring four. They were critical, though. Every monarch and head military commander were expected to ride one.

His last horse had proven useful in battle, up until it was struck by a rogue bolt of lightning during the retreat. Lennox hoped this new steed would respond better in the heat of battle than the last had. “His name?” he asked, caressing its neck.

“Windspeed, my Lord,” Charol said.

“What about the false guardian, my lord?” Dale asked. “Shall we be persuin’ him and the rest of the Salverians? Need we continue to Magen City? I lost thousands of my soldiers.”

“Yes,” Charol answered for Lennox. “We drive on. The Salverians must pay for their blasphemous ideals.”

“The false guardian is not yet dead,” Lennox added as he checked the bit in Windspeed’s mouth. “He narrowly escaped.”

Dale crossed his arms. “Even though he isn’t bein’ killed, he is bein’ defeated. The Salverians were seein’ that he wasn’t fightin’—he was fleein’. They must be knowin’ he cannot be savin’ them, cannot be the Guardian. That is bein’ the goal, right? Showin’ them their guardian is bein’ false?”

“That and having them bow to the true Guardian of Magic,” Charol said. “They haven’t reached that point yet.” She looked at Lennox, a fire behind her eyes. “But when we reach the walls of Magen City, and they see the power of Lennox Elmson, and they know their false guardian is nothing compared to him… the Salverians will fall before our staves like flies to a fire.”

Lennox sighed. “They will surrender, my queen. They should surrender and join our ranks.”

“Eventually, they will.” She narrowed her eyes. “Though I’m certain they will require some… additional persuasion.”

Dale scowled at her.

Lennox knew the two monarchs didn’t have the same motives in this war. King Dale was faithful to the Guardian Reborn, wanting only to see an end to the Ascended Guardian. He didn’t admit it, but he also certainly wanted to take some of the Salverian land. Its tree-covered landscape would be extremely beneficial for his kingdom’s economy and military power.

Queen Charol, on the other hand, simply had a savage lust for Salverian blood. She was raised to hate the Salverians by a lengthy line of warmongering royalty. Appeasing her lust and Dale’s loyalty was quite the challenge for Lennox. He needed them to get along to win this war.

Just a year ago, she was the queen of Forid. But now she was his subject. Technically they were husband and wife, but that was just a formality. She was loyal to him but didn’t love him.

Was he to condone her bloodlust? Was it the Guardian’s job to annihilate the Salverians? Was there any other way?

He looked from the stallion to Charol, disliking the hate he saw in her eyes. Removing her from the throne of Forid was the best thing I’ve done so far, he thought. Probably saved thousands of innocent lives when I did. Now, how do I save more?

“Is my tent here?” Lennox asked.

“Yes, my lord,” Charol said, pointing over thousands of men. “Back there.”

“I need to consult and return with commands. Excuse me.”

He walked swiftly through the army, soldiers and mages kneeling as he passed. He frowned as he strode. What’s wrong with me? he thought. We were victorious. The false guardian was humiliated and fled.

Seeing thousands kneel before him didn’t feel as good as it had at first. A year of leading had lost its glamor. Something felt wrong. Charol’s bloodlust. Cambium on fire. Thousands dead being buried.

Troubled, he entered the privacy of his tent and dumped a bowl of water on a large pot of soil resting on a wooden table in the middle of the tent. Growing out of the soil was a small coniferous tree. With the table’s aid, it barely reached the height of man and looked as ordinary as any pine tree in the forest.

“Dear Life, I ask for your guidance,” Lennox said, concern seeping into his voice. “Oliver Kapur, the false guardian, lives. The Salverians have retreated and we have taken Cambium. Shall we pursue him or press onward to Magen City?”

After a moment of silence, the tree began to twist, its bark and branches contorting its shape. The branches bunched together forming two arms. A knot moved to the top of the tree and shaped itself into a face with female features, thick lips and piercing eyes. The first time Lennox saw this—that unforgettable day while walking in the woods almost a year ago—he’d nearly fainted.

“Well done, Lennox,” the tree said in a deep voice of an ageless woman. “Your victory over Cambium is commendable.”

“Thank you,” Lennox said, bowing to his goddess.

The Tree of Life shaped its gnarled face into what resembled a tender smile. “Those who oppose my reincarnated Guardian have finally witnessed your power. They’ll respect you and begin to doubt their beliefs in an Ascended Guardian. This has been a true success, indeed.”

Lennox stood up, gazing into Life’s glowing eyes, no longer as intimidated by them as he used to be. “Those were my thoughts as well.”

“Yet,” she said, “Oliver Kapur lives. Here is what must be done.”

The Tree of Life told him her plans.

He bowed. “Yes, my lady.” He hesitated to rise.

“What troubles you, my son?” Life asked.

He swallowed hard. “It is all this killing, my goddess. I’d hoped the Salverians in Cambium would accept our ultimatum. I didn’t think it would come to such a gruesome battle.”

“That was my hope as well. Sadly, some of my creations are so stubborn and deceived that there are no other options than force.”

“I thought…” he paused.

“Yes, my son?”

“I thought I would do more guarding as the Guardian of Magic… and less killing.”

She gave another tender smile, curving her bark. “I know it may be difficult to understand when you don’t see as much as I do. When you first Appeared, one thousand years ago in the Age of Monsters, you ended the lives of many of my creations. You don’t remember it yet, but eventually you will—being a reincarnation of your former self. You saved countless lives by doing what was necessary.”

“But those were monsters,” Lennox said. “Not people.”

“My creations, nonetheless.” Life’s voice stiffened slightly but maintained its motherly warmth. “I can create. I cannot control. Those majestic creatures were beautiful once, but then they were corrupted by the enemy.”

The enemy, Lennox thought. Ignis.

Ignis was the goddess of death and fire. Her only desire was to kill and burn all of Life’s creations. Considered a myth by both Reborns and Ascendists, Lennox believed differently only when Life chose him to be the Guardian. The Tree had taught him many truths about the enemy. She also told him what to say to the people, how to lead them.

And the Salverians think that big white tree near Magen City is the Tree of Life? Lennox thought. Let’s see what they think when it’s nothing but ashes.

The small pine tree leaned forward in its pot, continuing its story. “If you hadn’t Appeared a thousand years ago, the monsters may have put a complete end and extinction to my greatest creation: mankind.

“This age is no different than the Age of Monsters, except in this age, Ignis has corrupted the minds of men by leading them to believe in a false guardian. I have foreseen the enemy’s plan, and thus I have brought back my Guardian to put an end to those who follow him. It is tragic that so many must die, but it is your burden to bear, my son… my Guardian of Magic.”

Lennox bowed again. “Forgive me, my goddess, for doubting your wisdom. I will trust in your guidance and maintain faithful to your word.”

“It is well,” Life said. “Now go.” With the sound of rustling leaves, the tree twisted back into its original form, looking like any normal pine tree.

Lennox turned away from the Tree, strode out of his tent, and quickly found Charol and Dale. They looked to him with anticipation. “At dawn, we march to Magen City,” Lennox said. “Charol I have a special mission for you. Life has told me where you can find the false guardian.”

“Why me?” Charol asked.

“You’re one of our best mages, and Life wants to ensure the job gets done. Oliver Kapur must die.”