Daxton - Episode 24
The 5th Compass | Tales of Stonehaven [2,377 words]
Daxton is the first book in the 6-book series, The 5th Compass, which takes place in Stonehaven. Released in serial form, two episodes each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The audio version is coming in the future for paid subscribers only. Visit the table of contents for a list of previously published and upcoming episodes.
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The wagon came to a stop and Daxton heard a man with a lot of keys dangling approach them. He could see through the bars the man was not a member of the royal army. He did not wear their colors or their uniform. Instead he wore a long black cape over regular clothing, almost like he was trying to fit in with the rest of the men. He wore a stern expression on his face and made no eye contact with any of the men as they bounded out of the wagon. Daxton hung back and let the others go ahead of him, sizing up this man as he thought he could take him. Then he remembered Barton who was just on the other side of the wall with Nelle, plotting their next move. He hated being there, but he knew waiting was his best option especially considering he would find no means of escape even if he did manage to put some distance between himself and the royal army.
“Move along.” The men were all marched to a campsite just off the side of the castle. Many tents were pitched and scattered in no real order. The men were paired off and sent to a cabin to rest up for the night. Not surprisingly, Daxton was paired with the young boy who he was beginning to find rather annoying.
“Why are you here?” the young boy asked.
“What do you mean why am I here? I was brought here same as you, against my will, and without my consent.” Daxton looked at the measly bed provided for them within the tent and groaned as he thought about his bed, and the comfort it once brought him. He lowered himself onto it and it felt like a stone floor was what he slept upon.
“I was not brought here against my will. My parents had to turn me in because of my age. They would not have believed me if I volunteered along with everyone else like I wanted. It needed to be this way. No one would believe their parents would intentionally give up their son if there was even a sliver of hope that he could avoid it. But you on the other hand, you look like you could hold your own and would make a fine soldier. So, I ask again, why are you here?”
Daxton pondered his question for a long time. “I am looking for my mother. I cannot look for her if I am trapped here, working for the king to fight his battles. I have my own battles to fight and my own family to save.” The boy nodded his head at Daxton as if he understood. “So, what do they call you?”
“They call me Jynx.”
“Jynx? Is that what your parents named you?”
“No, they call me something else, but for your safety and the safety of others it is best if I am known as Jynx.” Daxton rolled his eyes at Jynx. He’d heard some strange stories, but this was definitely one of the strangest ones. He laid back on the stone bed and rolled over, turning away from Jynx, who he’d had enough of for one night. “What do they call you?”
“Daxton.”
After just a few hours, Daxton woke to the sound of Jynx’s snoring. It was loud and gurgled and it made Daxton queasy just hearing it. He sat up and decided to take a walk for a while. He peeked out their tent and saw no standing guard. He thought it was odd that no one was assigned to keep watch over them all. Then again, they were all already inside the castle walls with no real means of escape. All any of them could do is hide out till they died of starvation or worse. It was a safe bet they would all be right where they were left in the morning.
He crept around all the tents, making sure to look back over his shoulder to remember the direction he walked so he wouldn’t get lost. In one of the farthest tents he saw its flap move frantically in the wind. He crouched down to hide while he waited to see if someone would emerge. He finally realized it must’ve just been his imagination and kept exploring.
“Help me…” The sound of that woman, his mother perhaps, called out to him. “I am over here…” He turned in the direction he thought her voice originated from. He saw no one and found it hard to believe a woman could be roaming around all these tents full of men. “Daxton, you are in danger.” A woman appeared at the far end of the grounds, a few feet away from the last tent in the grouping. He ran towards her, reaching out his hands to grab her. “Daxton, RUN!” Her scream came so loud it shook him to the core.
Daxton sat up in bed, covered in sweat and panting wildly. He assumed because he was actively looking for his mother the dreams would’ve stopped but this one seemed even more real than all the rest. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried slowing down his breathing and he soon fell back to sleep. Her voice calling out to him rested heavily on his soul as he slumbered.
The next morning camp was woken by a drum beat that sounded like it came from the center of them all. Jynx heard it first and peeked out of their tent to find a man beating a drum loudly and with no sense of rhythm. Its intent was to wake them as the sun began to rise.
“What is that infernal racket?” Daxton asked, yawning and stretching.
“I think it is our morning wake-up. Come on let’s go.” Jynx dressed rather quickly and with excitement in his heart over what this day would bring, Daxton just scowled and grumbled the entire time.
“I wish you wouldn’t seem so happy. What we do here is train to become killers for the king. That is not something to be celebrated or grateful for the opportunity.”
Jynx ignored him and continued to feel ecstatic. He was not going to let Daxton ruin this experience for him. They both exited their tent and found all the others stood outside their tents as well.
“Today marks a great day for Gaspar and all those who live here under the protection of the king. You will be trained to become the best of yourselves as you serve in the king’s royal army. What you do here will forever bring pride and eternal honor to your families.” Daxton heard someone scoff at the general’s remarks. Standing off to the side was Krieger wearing a smug look on his face and aiming it directly at Daxton. General Corwinn continued his speech for what seemed like ages. Daxton eventually tuned him out and so did the others. Everyone knew, including his men, that he spoke for himself and paid no mind to everyone around him. “Krieger, see to the men who are arriving.”
Krieger wasted no time and moved faster with every step he took towards the main gate. Unlike those who had to be captured and forced within the Kings walls, those who volunteered were welcomed through the front where the king stood on his parapet and watched.
“You!” Daxton stopped looking over at the main gate to see General Corwinn called out to a man two tents over. “Step forward.” The man only hesitated for a second before squaring his shoulders and walking straight towards General Corwinn and standing before him. “Have you ever handled a sword before?” The man nodded but he did not seem very sure of himself.
The general held out his hand and seconds later one of his men came bounding up to him, unsheathing his weapon and placing the hilt in his hand. He then handed it over to the man who stood in front of him. He took it but proved instantly he had never even held a sword before as his hand dropped from the weight and the tip of the sword dug slightly into the dirt. General Corwinn rolled his eyes up to the sky then unsheathed his own sword and took a step back, assuming a defensive stance. The man did not stand a chance and everyone watching knew it.
Daxton’s eyes eventually moved away from the mocking treatment each man was receiving at the hands of General Corwinn to see Krieger had all the men he was in charge of stand in single file while he called out each of their names.
“You, thin one!” General Corwinn shouted in Daxton’s direction. He was out of breath from overexerting himself with each man he easily took down with just a few sword maneuvers. Although he was skilled, he was still overweight and much older now than he used to be, and it showed in the way his uniform fit him tightly around his waist. Daxton looked him dead in the eyes but realized it was not him he was addressing, it was Jynx.
How could he call on someone who was barely half his size to tear him down? Was this what he planned to do the entire morning? Daxton was beginning to be fed up by this whole spectacle. He stopped watching Krieger and started looking around for a means of escape before he would be called upon.
Jynx approached the general even more valiantly than the others who came before him. They all knew what would happen to them once they tried to hold their own against General Corwinn but Jynx was far too hardheaded to let that put fear upon his face.
“You show no signs of fear little one, that is good. It is a sign of determination you’ll need along with skill, on the battlefield. Pick it up.” General Corwinn pointed his sword at the weapon on the ground not a few feet between them. Jynx was not stupid, he knew the second he reached for it the general would easily be in striking distance and possibly kick him to the ground before he even had a chance to properly defend himself.
Daxton saw this trickery as well and was surprised when Jynx decided to use his small stature and agility to roll in one direction and then back again, a little closer to the sword, picking it up as he passed right in front of the general who was not fast enough to catch him. He swung his sword to the ground but missed him by a mile.
As General Corwinn tried to catch Jynx who was extremely light on his feet he began to regret not starting with him. His breath was becoming more and more labored as he managed to move their fight closer to where one of his men stood guard. Daxton saw the general give the guard a signal and before Jynx had a chance to notice it or react he went crashing to the ground. The guard stuck his foot out just enough for Jynx to catch it and lose his balance. Upon hitting the ground, the sword skidded away from him.
Daxton did not think he just reacted on impulse when he ran forwards and grabbed the sword from the ground. It was heavy and sweaty from the many men who handled it before him, and it kept slipping in his grasp as he sidestepped away from Jynx and the guard to get the general alone.
“Barton always told me you were thick skulled. Now I see what he meant. You will regret this boy.” He swung at Daxton who, out the corner of his eye, saw his bow protruding from a wagon that was yet to be unloaded from the night before. He managed to duck the general’s swing of his sword and like Jynx he was light on his feet as well. He knew the sword he held was not going to help him put an end to these games. If he wanted to best the general, he’d need to use a weapon he knew best. He ran and slid on the ground feet first to stop himself as he nearly crashed into the wagon. He tossed the sword to the side and in one motion managed to pull his bow free along with an arrow. He readied it as he turned back to the general who he felt was directly behind him, in hot pursuit. Before the general could react, Daxton let the arrow go and it struck him right in the leg.
Inches from the general’s thigh the arrow hung in midair. “Enough!” It fell to the ground in front of General Corwinn who stepped back away from it, his eyes wide with fear as he knew it would have entered it leg had it not been stopped.
Daxton turned to see the source of the shout come from the Paragon, a man who did not seem so tough on the exterior but whose face was hard with a striking jawline and long hair that fell to his shoulders. He wore a heavy cape even as the heat beat down on them standing in the open expanse of the castle grounds. He strode over towards General Corwinn and it looked like he was floating on air when he moved. “Enough of these silly games. We have work to do. The king would like a word.” He glowered at General Corwinn who, for the first time since the men have had the privilege of being in is presence, cowered. He looked away from this man who commanded fear from someone who was easily twice his size and walked towards the castle. “You!” the Paragon exclaimed to the guard who earlier cheated for the general. He stepped forwards, visibly shaking with each step. “Train these men.” He placed his foot under the hilt of the sword and kicked up, the sword flying perfectly in the air for the guard to catch it in his waiting hand. The Paragon then left the way he arrived, stopping only once to look Daxton up and down, sizing him up.