The Guardian Glendale Cannot Ignore

CHAPTER 1

We both know that Grandson of yours is going to get after him.

I don't think that Gand would kill him but he would put a big hurting on him.

He isn't anywhere near as big as I remember them being but he still has good size on him.

If I were you Fletcher, after they get their first beating I would threaten him again to leave that thing alone.

If Godfrey tries to go bigger, then he and his friends can wind up dead.

-Lionel Hearn speaking with Fletcher Pepper

“Is that one of the Gand?” Fletcher said as he saw the heavily muscled figure walk by.

“Looks like it,” Lionel said as he stared at the back of the subject of conversation. “That red skin gives it away.”

“Could be an orc,” Fletcher said. “They sometimes come in red.”

“You ever see an orc look like that?” Lionel asked. “You were right the first time, that boy is one of the Gand. I have fought enough them to know what I am talking about.”

“What is a Gand?” Godfrey, Fletcher’s grandson asked. “He don't look so tough to me. I made an orc bleed before and ran it out of town.”

“You leave him alone!” Fletcher snapped as his old hands grabbed his grandson by the collar. “You leave that one alone or I am going to kill you myself!”

“Whoa Pops,” Godfrey said. “What is so special about that boy? You know we barely tolerate other races here. Humans only, well maybe one of those elf girls but they are hard to find.”

“You listen to your Pops,” Lionel said angrily. “If you see any of your friends trying for a fight you run as far away as you can.”

“What is so special about him?” Godfrey asked.

“Each Gand is taught to fight from birth,” Lionel said. “They were the guards of the dragons.”

“Ain't no such thing,” Godfrey said. “There would have been some bones or something around.”

“There is a such thing as dragons and they killed many people,” Lionel snapped. “The Gand were their ground forces.”

“I have heard the stories about their bones and everything crumbling to dust in moments,” Godfrey said. “Still think that is a lie.”

“I don't care about any dragons, you leave that Gand alone!” Fletcher screamed as he let go of his grandson.

“What is so special about the Gand?” Godfrey asked.

“They aren't like you and me,” Lionel said. “They aren't even like our mages. They were made to protect the dragons.”

“What do you mean made?” Godfrey asked.

“They were made of pure dragon magic along with the best from every race,” Lionel said.

“They have the grace, reflexes and eyesight of the elves. They are just as strong as an Orc and like an Orc, poison or disease cannot bring them down. Like the dwarves, they are immensely smart and master builders. They can see in the dark as well as the goblins could and they can have children just as often as we can, they were made to be the perfect fighters. They even have some of the dragon in them, they are immune to direct magical attacks and the ends of their fingers end in little claws, I have seen them tear a man’s face off with them.

If that doesn't scare you then their Mystics should.”

“Mystics?” Godfrey asked.

“The Gand created by dragon magic are totally magical beings,” Lionel said.

“Their magic is different from our mages.

They are like our seers except with far more ability.

The Gand created the natural way between the Mystics are the ones with no magic.

It doesn't matter, that Gand would kill you and whoever you brought with you. Just imagine fighting an elf who had the strength of an Orc. That is what would happen if you went after him. Gand are killers, they killed many before even one was brought down.”

“He still don't look that tough,” Godfrey said. “And I have my own sword.”

“You leave that Gand alone!” Fletcher screamed again.

“When Gand are five, they have to fight in a big melee to the death with ten other Gand,” Lionel said.

“The winners are trained and fight again when they are ten in the same kind of melee and again at fifteen.

That is their way, the dragons hate the weak and only want the strong.

Same thing for the females, they fight in female battles.

After fifteen they go through hard training and torture.

They say Gand can't feel pain and I believe them.

I was younger than you when we went after the dragons.

We had killed every last dwarf, every last goblin and now wanted to go after the dragons.

We died by the thousands to dragonfire. Whole cities were torched, men, women and children were burned alive.

We waited until the dragons hibernated and went after them.

Their Gand bodyguards killed twenty heavily armed and trained men for each one we brought down.

I saw a future Duke lose his head to one and I was as close to the fight as you are to me.

A mage tried to take the Gand down, our magics don't work on them. The Gand was so wrapped up in going after the mage that he forgot about me.”

“You never talk about things like this,” Fletcher said. “How did you escape?”

“I played dead while that Gand was killing everything that moved,” Lionel replied.

“I felt like a coward after that Gand was killed and men surged past me. I still played dead as they killed the last of the dragons. The cost was too high and when that happened the elves and the orcs attacked. Peace was eventually called, all of the people who wanted to kill the other races were either dead in the war with the dragons or the one with the unified army of orcs and elves. It was thought the last dragon died, I thought the Gand did as well.”

“Why would you kill them all off?” Godfrey said confused. “I have beaten up my share of elves and that one orc but I don't want to kill them. I just don't want them thinking they can just come to this town like they own it.”

“Well we went after the dragons because of the hoards,” Lionel smiled and then started choking.

“Rich nobles wanted to be richer and promised to give us some money for help.

People were angry with dwarves because their goods were better than ours and the Iron Barons hated the competition and wanted humans to only buy from humans.

When that didn't happen we went to war, that was when we were just one big kingdom instead of all of the City States we are now.

No one liked the goblins, nasty little things.

If there are any regrets it sure isn't about trying to kill them off.

They loved eating humans and thought our Mages were the tastiest. You don't see many anymore, but goblins could also make babies with us.

Half breeds were everywhere, goblins raped whoever they could get their hands on.

All they cared about was if a girl had begun to flower.

The females even raped the males, you could be held down while some goblin ate you alive and ravished you at the same time.

Our females would be left alive but that was only so the babe could survive.

Culling them was long overdue, the halfbreeds that were found were put to the sword no matter their age.

Goblins can have babes at four years, and can be in a motherly way three times a year and birth ten of the little bastards each time.

We don't kill half breeds anymore, pit, we don't kill full breeds anymore since the accords. If you go after that Gand you are as good as dead. If he is a Mystic he has already killed you.”

“What do you mean a Mystic?” Godfrey asked. “You said he was like a seer?”

“Mystics can see the future, both in real time and when they meditate,” Lionel said.

“They know your moves before you throw them.

This isn't mind reading like some mages can do, this is something different. He has probably played out every scenario that can happen in his head. If he knew he was going to die he never would have walked into town.”

“What if he isn't one of these Mystic people?” Godfrey asked.

“Then he would still be a rampaging monster if you want it with him,” Lionel said.

“He would still be a warrior that is stronger, faster and smarter than you are. He would have all of that and would still be trained in the Gand ways, you would be outmatched. Better to just leave that Gand alone, I wonder what he is doing in town?”

“He is probably looking for people to rob,” Godfrey said. “And you want me to just let him go?”

“You and your friends fought a young Orc and between the four of you, two of you are missing teeth and one had his nose broken so badly it looks like it was put on sideways,” Fletcher said.

“I wasn't one of them,” Godfrey said. “I got my licks in and didn't get touched.”

“You would do well to leave those other races alone,” Lionel said. “I don't know why you keep going after them but a Gand is no Orc. And maybe he is like most Orcs, he is looking for a job as a strongman or something.”

“How do you tell a Gand from a red orc?” Godfrey asked.

“Orcs have big jutting lower fang like teeth, makes it harder for them to close their mouths,” Lionel said.

“They only have four fingers on each hand also, that was a Gand alright.

Orcs never mind a good throw down, you found that out yourself boy.

The Gand really don't mind a good throw down but they will kill you. That Orc you chased off was just trying to mind his own business when he was waylaid and saw it was better to flee. This Gand would fight until either you or he is dead. If you escape, you can bet on him coming after you until he feels the wrong is righted. That is the Gand way, never thought I would see one again. A dragon must be somewhere close.”

“A dragon?” Godfrey said excitedly.

“Dragons were said to be immortal,” Lionel said.

“Well they could be killed but wouldn't die of old age.

Either a dragon made that one or there is a nest of Gand hiding somewhere.

You mess with a dragon and it will burn this entire city down in a matter of minutes.

We tried to make them extinct, I don't think they would be open to talks like the other races. If it is a nest of the Gand then you really stepped into it. I think you should run Godfrey and let Lord Richer know that there is a Gand in town.”

“Gand ain't all bad from what I remember,” Fletcher said. “What was it about them being lucky?”

“Not lucky, Mystics,” Lionel said. “They can see into the future, both in the long and short time. They can do a day’s work in their heads and know the outcome.

If the outcome isn't what they wanted they can change things here and there until they get what they want. A mystic would have already seen the reaction this one got when he walked into town, along with me telling your grandson to go inform Lord Richer.”

“Well why would that be lucky?” Godfrey asked.

“Imagine being around a Mystic,” Lionel said.

“And you are off mining. He could work the entire day in his head and can tell you where the right spots to strike should be at.

If you were hunting, he can tell you where the animals wouldn't be. If you were traveling together he could tell you when you were about to be robbed. The Gand were the dragons’ protectors but enough of them came into town.

Never saw a half Gand though, those Gand stuck to themselves.

Sometimes I look back on it and I don't think it was worth it.

The dwarves made things that are still in use right now.

The elves were expert growers and planters, they have food that you have never and will never taste.

All of us got together and were nearly wiped out ourselves.

We weren't fighting for no human race, we were fighting for the rich and powerful to make them even richer and give them more power.

Then they didn't want to share amongst themselves.

You couldn't even imagine boy that all of us were united under one Kingdom. Now the others war with each other often. You should remember this lesson, and it starts with leaving that Gand alone.”

“There could be another reason,” Fletcher said. “I am an old man, Lionel has me by 20 years. I was told some stories about the Gand. If they thought there was danger, they would send out their weakest member to test the water.”

“That was their weakest member?” Godfrey said as he went pale. “He looks as big as an Orc.”

“I said could be boy,” Fletcher replied. “But enough of this, two things we know. The first is that Gand should be left alone. The second is that I want you to take the information to Lord Richer.”

“Here comes Creamy,” Godfrey said. “She must have seen it, look at her.”

“Pops,” Creamy said as she walked over shaking. “There is a red orc in town with yellow eyes that seemed to glow. It was like he looked right through me.”

“That ain't no Orc girl,” Fletcher said.

“We were just talking about it, that is one of the Gand.

I know you girls like to play little flirting games with the other races and weaker boys to get the pit beaten out of them by your brother and whichever one of his friends are trying to impress you.

You start it up with that one, you would be the first to die.

They don't care about hitting women if they have been wronged. Those are real warriors, not fake ones like your brother.”

“I am a real warrior,” Godfrey said angrily.

“Real warriors don't waylay people,” Lionel said as he started coughing.

“They fight one on one, no tricks, no help.

That ain't you, only people you would fight man to man are boys you know you could beat. I heard about your last elf fight, it was more than three of you pounding on that trapped creature over in Billam’s tavern.

That is not a warrior, you are not a warrior.

You shouldn't ever confuse yourself with one boy. If you do, you might get yourself killed.”

“Well the red Orc Gand thing is plenty scary,” Creamy said. “Someone should do something about it.”

“You go ahead and play stupid games girl,” Lionel said. “Go on ahead and spin up some idiot to do something.”

“It is not a human, it shouldn't be here,” Creamy said. “Maybe it should be over in Cabbage Town where all of the Elves and Orcs hangout.”

“It could be lost,” Godfrey said. “That is where it is probably looking for, it is looking for Cabbage Town.”

“What in the pit is Cabbage Town?” Lionel asked.

“It is what the kids are calling the elven slums on the north side of town,” Fletcher said.

“Normally elves and the unemployed orcs live around there.

Not even my grandson is dumb enough to go over there starting trouble.

Now run along Godfrey and do what I told you to.

If you run into any of your dumb friends, you tell them to leave that Gand alone.

You young people who like to start trouble will find out the Gand are trouble you don't want.”