The Last of the Guardians: Insurrection Page 10

  Both exchange a smile, toast again and drink to the last drop of their mugs in a swig only, followed by a belching sound. – Apparently not lost your touch, Gala. – Neither you the ounce of breath, Rion. – They get up and leave the Sharp. – I think that first we must see if the brothers are there – Galaniel speaks. – Okay, let's then the stable – the captain answered.

  The local is on the other side of town in the west, near the main road connecting the Kolpor Gitar. More than an hour later, they arrive at their destination, enter the room and ask about the boys. The charge said they were returning from Gitar and would be there the next day morning. – This will give us time to look for others. Let's talk to the Citadel Pelokir and Codaino. – I think you would better not enter the temple... To avoid more problems and unwanted eyes. – You're right –Galaniel ends. After they returned and entered the Citadel, climbed the steps of the temple and arrived, the guardian looked at the sentinels known that, to see him, immediately, put themselves in attention. The guardian was limited to smile quietly. Rion knelt, recited the oath and entered.

  Galaniel was outside, watching the scenery, it was beautiful that position. The staircase of the temple was very high, and its gates could be seen almost all Kolpor.

  The sky was a deep blue, there was no cloud and a nice breeze caressing his skin. Next to the stairs, there were some trees and, in them, birds were singing melodies and made his little racket.

  Watching the birds more closely, he could see a John clay building its nest, making several trips from the floor to the branch, taking small sticks and clay. With this view, Galaniel remembered his home, how much of it built, and after his wife had been taken, almost never returned there, leaving her in the care of a healer... – It did not make more sense no... She –Galaniel thinks, reaching into necklace that her mother had given her on her wedding day. – This is my gift to you – she said, removing two necklaces entwined his neck and handing them over to her son – it is called the necklace of eternal union. The pendant is made of a single crystal Bénitoïte, which was broken and imbued with a power of attraction. Whenever the parties are close, they come together again as if the crystal was still one. It's in our family since the time of colonization. Your father shared with me the day we were married. When he crossed over, I started to use both – Eushaniel told wiping a tear stubbornly insisted that run down the face.

  Galaniel hugged his mother in thanks and kissed her forehead. Then she handed the necklace to Nirmiriel that, without separating the crystal, placed a lanyard around the neck of her husband, who kissed her, and during the kiss, he put the other cord around the neck of Nirmiriel.

  When they finished the kiss, over the crystal separated emanating from a small beam of blue light. The guardian was still lost in thought, when Rion returned with Codaino – Courage and Honor – welcomes the mentale the guardian who responds in kind. – So is it true? I will meet the group again? – Yes, the captain spoke to you the reason? – Yes, yes, but let's talk from here – Codaino calls started down the stairs. – You know that you will lose the post of guardian council room, right? – Yes, sir. I also was tired of doing nothing and look at the guy who came and went. – And we will be judged... – Rion complements. – If this is the chat for conviction, you are in need of improvement – talked, smiling Codaino. – Let's get away before you continue trying to convince me to go and I end up giving up. – With that the three warriors continue down the staircase towards the Court. – Lord, I better... – I know, I know, stay out – responds, tired, Galaniel to Codaino. Rion gets the shot away.

  Half an hour goes by and the two are already impatient when Codaino arrives with Pelokir. – What the hell, man, were crocheting? – Rion calls, angry, - Yeah... I and Pelokir were helping her mother to put the needle in the right hole. – Look, I'm sick of talking become my mother. The next will take a thwack, to adjust the bob, – All but Rion, cackle until that laughed too fun. – It took because I was there sitting and I could not leave in the middle, – responds Pelokir. – Besides, he could not simply leave without talking to the judge. – I understand, Pel. I believe Codaino explained the situation? – Yes. That's no way even unhappy, and looks that you do not let the kill – the bionte answers, which was the day on which the leather confusion. – Unfortunately, sometimes we paid the price for our principles – Galaniel justified in tone saddened. – But then you go? You know that things will be no more... – No need to continue, sir. As I said, sometimes we pay for our principles and this is one that certainly worth it: Courage and Honor! –Pelokir bypasses, extending the right arm to Galaniel in greeting, which promptly is matched. – Now that we kissed, we go to Sharp, I'm with the dry throat – Rion ends, while everyone walks smiling.

  Arriving at the tavern, they take a corner table, the farthest possible. – Meneol always comes a few beers here – Codaino speaks while picking up your mug to drink. – Yes – Rion agrees – that there follows a strict routine, especially when it comes to drinking. – And speaking of the devil – Galaniel nods to the entrance, at the time the forward enters – bartender, brings the usual, and quick, which is currently making a hideous heat. Codaino gets up and goes to the counter where Meneol. Comes from the left and talk something in his ear.

  The head of the magazine drinks half pint at a time, waves to the mentale and both go to table. – I thought I was stuck. – Meneol tells to the Guardian. – Just went to trial, was not arrested. – Good to know. Cod said he will meet the group again... - Yes, he told her; what do we do? – Yes. We'll all be unemployed or even imprisoned if we continue living. Is it really worth? Let's get something? After all no one lives of wind. – It seems you were very accommodating, Lieutenant, you're valuing their currencies. – A man has to think about the future, Rion, because we are not getting younger - Meneol responds. – Paid twice the pay of one month to each of you. Regarding developments, part of the job – responds Galaniel looking in his eyes. Meneol picks up his mug and drink the rest of the beer, turns to the counter and yells: – innkeeper, fill mugs this table and only stop when daybreak. – He extends the arm Galaniel and says: – Courage and Honor. – The guardian corresponds to the gesture, holding in Meneol forearm and repeats the greeting. The group spends the night formulating the plan, because the clock is ticking and there is no margin for error.

  Zelj

  Three years had passed since Nirmiriel had been taken by demons. Galaniel, although he denied to himself and everyone, had given up hope of finding her.

  After his attempt to prevent her to be taken, and was tried, only because of its military history, was able to convert his sentence in services and returned to active duty for two years. It was what he wanted most, because longed to find Nirmiriel and during this period, always volunteered to fight on the frontlines, searching for the spectrum in which she probably had become, but even having fought from north to south of the region, gone through all five cities and most villages, never found her. He fought during the day and drank at night, slept from exhaustion, when he could numb the mind and stifle the nightmares.

  When he fulfilled two years, tried to renew, but not allowed. Since then, he has become a recluse, turned away from everything and everyone, even his house, which had left the home care. Went to live in inns and hostels, and work when he could raise the shield, a protective caravans, sheriff villages and even blacksmith, craft he had learned during his training at the Citadel, all to keep busy. At that time, he was in Zelj village, near Yelbir, as business protector of a wealthy local merchant called Eelal, a tall, a well fat man, who had paralyzing physical disabilities in his left hand, making him drag his leg, and his arm are shrunken and crippled, leaning back in his belly.

  He was always with a scarf because in the left corner of his mouth used to go out saliva while talking, which earned him the derogatory nickname slobbery. With the agreement leaving the free attacks cities, villages began to suffer even more, and with the difficulty and despair of men, flocks of thieves formed and bec
ame another source of suffering for the already helpless free people called so not having to follow the rules imposed in cities, or pay taxes to the High Council. – Today you should go with Zolfar receive some credits of bad debtors – the dealer says, sizzling as ever. – These miserable always give work. – Galaniel, who had drunk a bottle of strong red wine, just nods and walks toward the scowling, balding man named Zolfar.

  Higher and stronger than Galaniel, Zolfar imposed fear in the unknown, and especially in known who owed money to Eelal. He did not like Galaniel, for it was defeated by him when Eelal proposed that the guardian was tested before being hired. Although he was stronger, Galaniel had already fought in many battles, and intelligence and experience always outweigh brute force. At the end of the fight, Zolfar embraces the guardian the chest, shaking him violently, making the guardian expel all the air from his lungs. When he was almost fainting, Galaniel opens his arms as much as he can and strikes, with the palms of his hands, using all his strength, the ears of Zolfar. The troglodyte howls of pain, immediately drops the guardian who, taking advantage of the chance, kicks the left knee inside of the opponent, unbalancing him and causing him to fall to his knees, his hands still in his ears. Galaniel deals a violent punch sequence directly in Zolfar of nose, eyes filled with tears of pain and the nose and the blood dripping ears, falls back inert.

  The man took almost a week to re-hear right and his broken nose was not fully healed yet, pasting crooked and the skin turning red around. Galaniel knew it was a matter of time until that brute wanted revenge. He was just waiting for the right opportunity, not to annoy his boss.

  The Guardian follows the collector by the village alleys, past the Flea Market and the source of water, where all are supplied for use day to day. When they arrive in a small tapestries store, the guardian is outside, since taking a small bottle of liquor, stored in his waistband, under the coat of mail, while Zolfar enter. The mere sight of the collector by the owner selling the leaves upset – Zolfar! w-what honoring welcome you here. – Leaving small talk, Pakir knows very well that I have not good news for you. – B-but why? I-I paid the rent. – You paid the last week, not this week. Are you tired of knowing that payment is anticipated. Hurry up, spend the money, or I'll start charging interest on you, and very filling the bag, call the guardian out there to give you cable. – Trembling, Pakir rushes to grab all the coins you have in your small bag and, after counting them, delivers them to the collector, saying – I just have this here, but until tomorrow, can the rest. P-Please do not hurt me. I-I take the money there tomorrow without fail. – Zolfar strikes a slap on the nape of the trader, who almost falls on top of a pile of carpets rolled next to the counter. – If you do not appear until the middle of the day, I come back here, and I will not be so nice. – When is the sale, Galaniel questions: – What was that noise there? – Nothing that interests you, guardian. – If you are hurting some of these traders, you will see me, Zolfar. My agreement with your boss says nothing about hurting the population. – I know, I know... Why do you not drink another of that bottle there and let me work?

  Galaniel speaks nothing. He just follows the collector until the next sale and the day goes well, until the sun disappears behind the hills. This was the time to Galaniel go to the tavern Dead Branch, where he has to captive table to go almost every day. In a dimly lit corner table, the guardian settles and the waiter enough with a pot of dark beer and a plate of stewed chicken, potatoes, a piece of boiled corn bread and nuts. – Every day chicken, Boref, that way I will grow wings – Galaniel complains. – Do not worry, I will not use it in my recipes. If I take you by the fire with that amount of alcohol, you explode. Then I get into mischief. – Boref and other customers laugh joke while Galaniel only raises his mug in toast and then drink it to the dregs, from the left forearm in the mouth to clean the foam and, after belching loudly, speaks to the innkeeper: – Bring another and close the rattle. – Boref obeys, bringing another container with two liters of beer.

  By the fourth or fifth pitcher, the guardian is already leaning across the table and his mug lying on its side with the rest of beer scattered on the table. The bartender comes, close Guardian and gives him a jolt. – Walk, water stick, it's time to go home, I'm closing for today. – With the wrinkled face and dribble rest connecting the mouth to the table, Galaniel rises from the table and, with bloodshot eyes looking Boref means without understanding. – Walk, ho-me! Every night is this ... Go, you already know the way.

  The barkeep helps the guardian, putting his arm over his shoulder and holding him by the waist. Stumbling, the guardian gets to the tavern door and Boref the leaves against one of the wooden columns supporting the tavern. A few moments pass until Galaniel become aware of where he is. Then, staggering, he takes the direction of the One-Eyed Inn.

  He arrives half an hour later, falling a few times during transit. The landlady says something with Galaniel, which understands nothing. Just up the stairs, he enters the room and throws himself on the bed of straw. Even drunk as he was, the guardian has the same nightmare that afflicts every day when he climbs the stairs of a tower that seems endless, hearing the cries of Nirmiriel, for, after a long time, reach the top of the tower and give face with a demon with the features of his wife distorted by evil, and the spectrum telling Galaniel: – so my love, you were not man enough to save me. Now I'm just waiting for you to find and do the same to you. – Then the spectrum grabs the keeper and near her fetid and deformed mouth, leaving her a green tongue, split like a snake, dripping pus. – Come give me a kiss, my love – the demon speaks followed by an evil laugh.

  Galaniel wake up all sweaty, raises body and looks around, still scared. – Once again... Damn... – thought, wiping the sweat from his forehead and back to bed. Alcohol once again does its job, and he goes back to sleep without delay, this time fortunately without dreams or nightmares. The morning comes faster, yet the hangover. The headache is so strong that it seems to have taken a mace blow between the eyes. As in every morning, a tub with clean water is on the dresser.

  The guardian raises the bed carefully, avoiding very rock the judgment to not hurt and, when he comes near the tub, dipping his head to reach the shoulders, in cold water, and thus be the maximum time that can.

  When he finally comes out, the headache already decreased slightly and there was no more sleep or laziness. He grabs a bottle with a rest of sweet wine, the dresser, he drinks the rest in a swig only to hit the hangover that still bothers. – Ready for another day of shit – think Galaniel. Before going down, to relieve the bladder in the bathroom, he looks out the small window to see how the weather. – Scorching sun, no wind. That's Perfect! – he predicts.

  When he comes down and sits at the table for breakfast, the One-Eyed, as everyone called her because of her right eye be directed upward when looking at someone brings a clear glass of beer without foam and rancid bacon, fried to turn clod; a slice of black bread, a soft poached egg and two green olives.

  Seeing the food, revulsion almost makes him throw up, but even so, he is obliged to eat, because the day will be hard and he does not know when you'll have another hot meal. Slobbery wanted him to protect a precious cargo, which would be taken to Saupor, wagon. Ten gross amalgânio bars, enough to forge many noble weapons and the value reached over one hundred gold coins. Galaniel asked three more warriors, but received only Zolfar. – A lot of people attracts a not necessary attention – denied the dealer while trying to amaze with his good arm, a persistent fly that landed in the paralyzed corner of his mouth.

  Reluctantly, Galaniel accepts and begins to help in the preparations. It will be the driver's side and the front guarding Zolfar together with the load in the back on the eye. Placed beside him, a long bow, made from oak with Gazelle tendons and two loaded quiver of arrows poplar with turkey feathers, while Zolfar preferred the beast, because he had no experience with bows. Packaged groceries, treated horses left in mid-morning.

  The forecast trip was at least a week, and there
were already seven days on the road, it had to stop to change the wheel of the wagon that had broken, so the morning of the second day due to a hole hidden by a stone on a curve. There was not a living soul for miles and, luckily for them, no demon. All the way, Galaniel drank campaign of wine and sometimes jabuticaba liquor.

  When night came, he was already pretty drunk. As every night, they stopped the cart next to the road, near a rock, treated the horses, made a fire next to the wagon and slept, taking turns at night. Due to the guardian of the condition, he always took the first round, to be able to stay awake and then try to cure the drink. He sat on a rock near the fire and kept looking around and, on occasion, got up and made a small round, taking the opportunity to sip the liquor in the bottle that always accompanied him in his pants waistband and take a leak.

  Two hours had passed and Galaniel was already dozing, sitting on the stone and supported by his bow. Zolfar opens his eyes, still lying and looking for the driver and for the guardian, both asleep. Not rises gently to make noise and picks up a campfire stick with the tip on fire, and swing it over his head from left to right and vice versa three times.

  Two forms begin to distinguish themselves in the darkness until, with the firelight, seeing if two evil looking men, armed with mace and dagger. Zolfar draws his sword and points to the cronies to address to the driver as he takes a turn where Galaniel. When he is about to bury the sword in the back of the guardian he breaks it.

  The driver wakes up and, seeing the strangers beside him, prompting cries: – Robbers! – It was the only thing she could say, that he who was with the knife, opened a deep gash in his throat, making thick blood down in profusion. Galaniel woke with a start, and can only see the death of the driver, but in time to protect Zolfar coup that, by little, he does not open the back, piercing the air where was the guardian who, dodging, can pick up your shield and then draw his sword from its scabbard. – Damn traitor! So it was with your help that the charges were being stolen. – Of course, do you think someone else would have the nerve to steal knowing that I was protecting the cart? Only a cripple and a drunk! Now you will pay for having humiliated me like that – and he says part with his sword to attack Galaniel.