The Assignment

There were no windows inside the stronghold at Mt. Vallea, so ellamps were incanted and lined the narrow passageways. They lit the rooms and halls to provide a source of light that faded and flourished with the passing of time each day. So, every day was just like the next; no rain, no snow and no sky unless they ventured outside. Guardians stationed in the north grew accustomed to not seeing the sun, and after two years, Eva was used to it too. What she wasn’t used to yet was being captain of her own company, Company Twelve, a small group of four. And now they were squeezed into the rows of the Mt. Vallea Grand Hall with companies one through twenty-five for an emergency briefing. It was rare that the Guardian Council called everyone together for a meeting like this. Eva looked over at her team and then at the others surrounding them. Grumbles of dissatisfaction and confusion rose from every corner of the room.

Ceron leaned towards her. “Did they tell you anything?” he asked.

“No, this is the first I’ve heard anything,” she said.

“A couple of years ago,” Ilona said and leaned into view from down the row a little ways, “the emergency briefing was about the snow.”

“If they don’t let me eat,” Agim said and put his head in his hands, “I might just shrivel up and die right here.”

“I’m sure you’ll survive,” Ceron said and patted him on the back.

Eva tapped the shoulder of the captain of Company Eleven, who was sitting in front of her. “Did you hear anything?” she asked.

But just then, the heavy doors to the auditorium sent a rush of air inward and slammed shut. Silence fell over the room, and they all turned. Councilor Samel stood at the top of the stairs, her crimson Zucamulet fastened closely against her belt.

“Guardians,” Councilor Samel said and made her way down the steps, “Keepers of Mt. Vallea and the Northern Pass. We have an urgent message from the Kevah.”

“Councilor,” Agim said, “you mean the Kevah in Levasir?”

Eva froze, and the councilor paused and glared at them from behind her thick spectacles. “Is there another Kevah, Agim? Somewhere else that none of us are aware of?”

Perfect, only Agim could get Councilor Samel to target them so quickly. Eva stood and inclined her head. “Forgive us, councilor,” she said and glanced down at the scroll. It bore the indisputable auburn seal and parchment markings of the sovereign. The councilor pursed her lips, clutched the scroll tighter, and continued down the steps. Eva sat down and tried to ignore the glances from the other companies.

Councilor Samel broke the silence. “Companies two, three, four, five, and…” Councilor Samel was giving assignments to each company. Different companies began moving towards the doors, and the sound of boots against stone and murmurs of confusion filled the air.

“Quickly!” the councilor’s voice bounced off the walls.

The Keepers jumped at the command, and in a flurry, they disappeared through both side doors, their footfalls dissipating. The councilor continued and soon the hall was nearly empty.

“She didn’t say twelve, did she?” Ceron asked and glanced at Eva.

She shook her head and groaned inwardly. Only Company Twelve was left, and they watched as Councilor Samel stood staring at the scroll in her hands until she sighed.

She held out the scroll in Eva’s direction. “Captain.”

Eva stood, taking the steps two at a time, and reached for the document. But the councilor didn’t release her grip, and Eva looked up to meet her frigid gaze.

“Read it thoroughly,” Councilor Samel said and surrendered the scroll to Eva. “You, all four of you, leave to meet with the Kevah at dawn.”

“Meet with the Kevah?” Agim exclaimed. “Don’t tell me the clans might go to war again!?”

“Agim, quiet,” Eva said and turned back to the councilor.

“Quickly brief your company on the contents,” Councilor Samel said, “and then meet me in my office.”

“Yes, councilor,” Eva said and watched the Councilor disappear via one of the side doors, her robes trailing behind her.

Eva gripped the thick parchment and lifted the already broken seal to reveal the scrawling handwriting of the Kevah. But even as she skimmed the words, it made little sense. Was it possible for the sun to stop in the sky? Eva ruminated before looking up at her team. “Go back to the dorms and start packing. I’ll meet you there in an hour.”

“What about the letter?” Ilona asked.

“Yes, aren’t you going to read it to us?” Agim asked, “Or should we pass it around?”

She shoved the letter into her lapel. There was no way to explain it, not yet. “I’ll brief you when I get back,” she said.

Ceron rose from his seat, expectantly, but Eva shook her head. He couldn’t come with her, not this time. She was captain after all.

He took the signal and turned to the other two. “Come on, back to the dorms. We have to pack.”

They stood reluctantly, and Eva hurried from the room to follow after Councilor Samel.