Shadow Master (1st Book)

Chapter 4: The Silent Ones

During their ride to wherever Fendrel was going to, the young Brom learned many things about this man. He learned that he was the leader of the Silent Ones, an assassins' guild. Brom actually expressed extreme animosity about that. It was a fairly quiet ride, save for the sounds of nature. The teen was mesmerized by the beauty of the forest they passed by, that he can't help but stare at them. The assassin was likewise entranced with the beautiful woods, but Fendrel was always aware, unlike Brom who was staring wide-eyed at the beauty nature had fashioned. Fendrel, during their long ride, also taught him many things, mainly the strange creatures that they passed by. He was also given knowledge of the different races in Magnus.

He learnt that the gigantic cat-like creature with a mane on its head was called a lion and a similarly big cat-like creature with black stripes adorning its hide, yet lacked a mane on its head, was called a tiger. He also caught sight of a creature that looked like a wolf, but its hide was red instead of the usual gray. Its tail was also bushy, and it had a pointed muzzle and unlike the wolf, it seemed to show leniency to them, whereas a wolf would have instantly assaulted them. It was also solitary, unlike its cousin which always traveled in packs, a lesson taught to the both of them when they happened upon a den full of those vile foxes. Fendrel called them foxes.

Over the course of their trip, he was also given a much more..complicated lecture on his religion. He learned that Zeddicus and Morgana as the patriarch and matriarch of the six other gods, that he already knew, but the six other gods he didn't know very much. So Fendrel educated him, teaching the boy that the six other gods are, Mericus, the god of fire and the first god born. There was Mericus's sister Seraphina, the goddess of water, who was the second one born. Then there were Rennicus and his sister Marianna, the respective god of the earth and goddess of nature. The last one was Merec, the brother of Mericus, the god of darkness and shadow and the evilest of the gods. "Why was he the evilest?" The youngster asked.

"Because," The older man explained,"He almost destroyed this world. He wasn't called the Destroyer for nothing you know."

"But how did he do it?"

"I don't know," Fendrel admitted,"The only thing I know was from a legend."

"Which tells that..?" Brom was becoming more impatient, hoping the man would just answer his question.

"That Merec tricked the dragons into attacking the humans, elves and dwarves, thus igniting a war that lasted almost a hundred years."

 "Are there really dragons here?" The youth asked, his eyes showing curiosity Fendrel had not seen in ages.

"Yes, Brom." Fendrel replied kindly,"There are, though few still exist today."

"Why?"

"Boy," Fendrel said exasperatedly,"you have as much questions as leaves on a tree."

The youth blushed,"Never mind."

This elicited a chuckle from the older man,"No matter, now what was your question? Ah yes... Why do few dragons or the drakes as they are called by the elves? It is because that the story about Merec tricking the dragons was true, little one."

"Is it now?" Brom raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it.." Fendrel said but was interrupted by Brom,"Don't call me little one! I'm 19 summers old!"

"Compared to me, you're just a little one."

At this, Brom raised two eyebrows, but the time for questions was stopped when Fendrel abruptly said,"We're here."

Brom drank in the sights of his surroundings. They were still in a forest, that much was very obvious, but... it all seems like a mirage, like it was incorporeal. "We are?"

"Yes." The assassin suddenly snapped, shutting Brom's mouth from spewing another question,"Just watch." As soon as he finished the sentence, he began to chant something in a foreign language. He was so fast that he the teen did not understand anything he said, not that he would anyway, the language seemed to have come from another world. But to his bewilderment, he understood snippets of it. He heard things like open and the Shadow Master. Open? Open what? And what is a Shadow Master? What's that? Is it another creature? Or is it a title? The line of questions buzzing around his head was severed by the sound of Fendrel's voice,"Boy, are you brain dead?"

The boy shook his head to clear off his sudden headache,"Huh? What?"

"What were you thinking? I was trying to call you for about two minutes now. I said we can go now."

"Sorry for that." 

"No need for apologies, what I do need for you to do is to get off Shadowfax."

The stripling became aware of his surroundings and was embarassed that Fendrel and Shadowfax were gazing at him, the horse's maroon eyes showing intelligence and also a little annoyance. He also noticed that there were five new people, two of whom wore white except for the other three who wore black. Two were women and the other three were male. Two were of elven descent. Two were human and to Brom's surprise, there was even a dwarf! The human woman gazed at him, amusement showing clearly on her face.

"Sorry again.." The boy nervously chuckled, subconsciously cowering under the hard gaze of the five other people. Maybe they're assassins. He thought quietly while getting off the onyx stallion, checking to see if Alianor was still asleep.

"Fendrel, what have you brought this time?" the dwarf gruffly asked, his deep voice carrying throughout the woods.

"Yes, I would also like to know that." The male elf asked calmly, yet Brom could see his hand brushing over his thigh. Hidden weapons. He thought.

As Fendrel began to explain their current predicament, Brom was surprised to see that the human female was still gazing at him. The youth blushed under the scrutinizing gaze of the woman.

"..as a result, I am going to care for them." Fendrel finished, voice tired from all that explaining.

"But why?" The elven woman now asked,"Why didn't you just drop him and the babe off to an orphanage."

"Because, I didn't want to. And I suggest that you don't ask why not." Fendrel growled.

All of the assassins, he presumed they were assassins, stiffened, all of them answering,"Of course, Shadow Master." So, Shadow Master is a title.

"Good, now go, take Brom and Alianor with you. I have a few errands to deal with. Go!" Fendrel snapped without meaning to.

The five assassins remained emotionless, but Brom can see their fear on their own eyes. It seems that this Fendrel is not only the leader of the Silent Ones, but he was also a feared leader. They five hastily neared the teen, beginning to escort him to a tunnel that he did not notice moments ago. So, this was what Fendrel was trying to opening. He mused to himself as the five assassins began to accompany him to a tunnel that led to the Silent Ones' hideout, knowing that he may never get out if he so wished...