4.

4.

    "So they do exist, eh?"

Shoden was back at Grimwall's house. It had taken him only an hour to get back from the clearing with the Empress and he was rehashing his meetings with Isabella and the High Priestess with the Magician.

    "I guess so," Shoden replied. 

    "I have wondered all my life if the Guardians exist, Shoden," Grimwall said. "And now there is, at least, some proof."

    "Couldn't the Empress be wrong, though?" Shoden asked and immediately regretted it. The Magician cast a look in his direction that said 'How can you be so dim?'

    "The Empress of the North is a prophetic woman. Her visions are well known not just throughout the north, but all of the world. Every one has come true. That said, I want to focus on the first part of her vision: those two deaths. Do you think she could be referring to your parents, gods rest their souls?"

    Shoden shook his head. "I don't think so. I think she was saying two more people were going to die before I meet this Guardian, the Character. That's the part that worries me."

    Grimwall nodded slowly and patted the boy on the shoulder, "I understand that. Don't worry, though, Shoden, I'll be here to guide you through this."

    Shoden smiled, but this comforted him only a little. The Empress, she had a true aura of comfort and compassion. This Magician, he seemed to care for Shoden, but the boy thought that, if it came to him or Shoden, Grimwall would, in the end, choose himself. Shoden didn't hold it against the man, because, up until the other day, Grimwall only had to care for himself.

    "Now," the Magician grunted as he sat up from the table. "About your meeting with the High Priestess."

    "What about it?" Shoden asked.

    "Her advice, as always, was true and wise. Your heart, as she says, must guide the way. But the heart is a vulnerable spot, Shoden, and you'll need more than that to finish your journey, no doubt."

    "What can I do?" 

Grimwall opened a cupboard near the table and pulled from a wrapped bundle. He set it on the table and said, "You will be my apprentice." 

    The Magician pushed the bundle towards Shoden and gestured for him to open it. When Shoden did he found a chain necklace of the four objects that rested on the wall of the house: a Wand, Sword, Cup, and Pentacle. He took the metal in his hand and found it's weight the strangest he'd ever felt. It felt heavy and light at the same time; a weight that he would feel around his neck, but would never be a burden.

    "The Four," Grimwall said. "They are the sources of magic for any Magician. They represent the four elements," Grimwall pointed to the Wand, Sword, Cup, and Pentacle in order as he spoke. "Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Put it on, Shoden."

    Shoden slipped the chain of objects over his head and felt them thump against his chest lightly.

"Now, come outside with me and we shall begin your training as a Magician."

    Shoden smiled and followed the Magician Grimwall. Trigger yipped from the bunk room and ran outside after them.

As they stepped outside, into the bright afternoon, the three were confronted by a large group of armed men in royal red coats. Several were mounted on horses and one stood out front with a large scroll in his hands. 

    This one stepped forward, unrolled the scroll and read aloud, "Grimwall of Lillith, we have come to bring you to Castle Arthur."

Grimwall walked over to the man and asked, "Why have I been called?"

    "Today is your Execution day, Grimwall," the man said and rolled the scroll back up. Immediately, two guards from either side of the man came up and grabbed the Magician's arms, pulling him towards the rest of the armed men, one of whom spoke up.

    "What about the boy, Egon?" he asked, pointing to Shoden.

    "Boy," the man with the scroll, Egon, said to Shoden. "We ask you to come with us. You will not be cuffed, but you are ordered under the Emperor to accompany. Bring your pooch, if you wish." He gestured to Trigger, who growled lightly.

    "Easy, boy," Shoden said, patting the dog's head and calming him. He stood back up and followed the moving group of armed men towards the Road and Castle Arthur.

_________________________________________

    "Afraid I wasn't exactly telling the truth, Shoden," Grimwall said as the guards dragged him by the chains that linked to his manacles. Shoden and Trigger walked by the Magician's side. 

    "What weren't you telling the truth about?" Shoden asked.

    "Well, I told you that I was banished from the City of Arc, right? Well, in actuality I ran away from there to escape capture and execution."

    "What did you do?"

    "I used my magic to manipulate a man. My powers had me in thrall and I manipulated the man to give me money, but I used to much power and killed him. To cover that up I killed several more people. I thought that was over with. It was over twenty years ago." The Magician hung his head in shame.

    "The Emperor doesn't rest when it comes to crime." the guard dragging Grimwall grunted. 

The Magician laughed humorlessly and said, "I can see that now." He turned to Shoden. "I'm sorry I lied to you, Shoden. I also want to tell you something..."

_________________________________________

    Castle Arthur, the Emperor of the North's royal palace, was quiet and still, yet full of people as the guards led Grimwall and Shoden into the main grounds. The trip had taken hours and, filling up those hours, the Magician had told Shoden the path to magic. He had told him that it was mostly imagination and, if focused enough, that imagining would come true. He said that many of those who opened portals throughout Allworld were, or had the potential to be, great Magicians. Grimwall also told the boy not to make the same mistake he did, that the magic could control you and make you do things you didn't normally do. He concluded by saying that, once again, he was sorry for lying and hoped that his journey to find the raiders would work out.

    Now the group stood before a giant gallows where a noose and two chairs sat. Beside the noose was the Emperor of the North's executioner, wearing a mask of Death of over his face and in the seats were the Emperor himself and the Heirophant, the Emperor's religious adviser. The Emperor was a tall man dressed in his royal red with a dark gray beard and dark gray hair under his crown. His brows set just over his eyes and made his face into a grim scowl. The Heirophant could have been the Emperor's twin, with the same low brows and regal dress, but his beard was a much brighter white and almost as long as Grimwall's.

    "Grimwall of Lillith," the Emperor spoke loud and low, looking down at the Magician. "You know why you are here?"

    "Yes, your Highness," Grimwall bowed his head. "For my execution."

    "You have killed several people and run away from the law," the Emperor explained. "Is that correct?"

The Magician nodded slowly. He had told Shoden, as they had traveled, that he was, he supposed, glad the Emperor had finally caught him. He had been tired of hiding.

    "Do you face the gallows honorably?" the Emperor asked.

    "Yes, your Highness," Grimwall said and immediately the guards took off his shackles. The Magician turned to Shoden and said, "The raiders that killed your parents lie past Morning Star, Shoden. Your revenge is something that must be quenched. Do it well, my boy." Then he turned and walked up the wooden gallows steps, towards his fate.

    The Heirophant stood and walked over to where the executioner was pulling the noose over Grimwall's head and tightening it around his neck. The old man, holding a Gods' Star in front of him spoke gently and kindly.

    "Gods, we are but specks on this earth," He prayed. "And in times, we sin. But you are merciful gods and we bow our heads in prayer to you. Take this Grimwall of Lillith into your presence and open his soul. If he truly repents his sins, let him into your Heaven. If he does not, let him kiss the feet of the Devil. Amen."

    Without another word, the gallows floor opened and the Magician fell through. The noose rope hit it's end ten feet before the ground with a TWANG! and Grimwall the Magician was dead.