The Guardian 1.1 of 1.5 ( aka the Stygian )

1.

The temple of Set loom over the city with its high narrow tower. Its wall gleaming white stood like an elephant tusk in the horde of treasure. The people of Mina had been busy with the god offerings on that day, while the priests were all in their best robes to received the offerings be it gold or services. The city cover a large tract of land with the river streaming on the west side and the acrid dry plain land on its east, while the land to the south laid its vast farms and orchards. The land to the north was devoid of farms as it held the pits that bred the animals for the city population. It was a city build with an rectangle shape shouldering the river as its guide. The high walls of the city build with clay and stones held its edge high to prevent the sand storms and also the brigands who roam the plains

The city holds a population of twenty thousand with its three section of dwelling; the rich, the traders and the slums. The last outnumbered the other two but it was controlled well by the local enforcement garrison of a hundred city guards who patrol the city. There were the usual skirmishes ad conflicts but nothing that the guards could not handle.

With the festival, it was filled to almost thirty five thousand people including the newly arrived devotees. For such a big crowd, the city had to called on the local army garrison of two thousand guards under the command of its leader, Al Syarif Thurh. He was a noble man's son who had used his influence to promote the young son up the ranks. A rank which does not suit the inexperienced man whose real interest was elsewhere this leaving much of the works to his senior who hold the lower ranks. One of them was the Senior Hasin Oma who commands four hundred guards on the city walls. The Senior was dressed in full armor; chest plate and leather arms guards with tough shoulder pads over his tunic t5hat reached his knees. His feet was in the knee high sandals held by the leather strips that was tied around his shins. He was armed with the long curved sword favored by the Stygian while a dagger was seen on the left of his waist belt. His head piece was scarlet shade cloth wrapped around with the tail end flowing onto his back.

"Senior Oma, tell me how much of the entrance fees have we collected today?" The commander of the garrison was behind his table tabulating the previous collection. The commander was young in age, was dressed in the simple tunic that reached his knees and plain sandals. He had just returned from the temple of Set after having paid homage to the God.

"We are still counting. I reckon maybe a thousand gold pieces. The devotees are willing to pay regardless the rate." Hasin replied. He had knew that Commander would asked but he had pocketed himself some to set off against expenses. It was then the local guards commander, Karthum Masin; he himself was a former gladiator and mercenary then re-enlisted to serve the new city as local guards, had stepped in. Unlike Oma, Karthum was dressed only in a skirt with the leather waist belt holding his curved sword and fighting stick for close combat. His upper torso was bared except form the tattoo done by the priests on his back and left breast. It spoke of words from the Gods to protect him from harm. His head piece was a simple scarlet hair band that was tied to the left side, with its end covering his ear to the neck. Like most Stygian warriors, he was bald on the head as a tradition look reserved for warriors. There was one distinctive mark on Karthum which made him look fearsome; a scarlet birthmark that streak downwards on the left side of his face. The priest who first saw it told his mother, that the child was a Guardian.

"Commander Thurh, the devotees are complaining of the high rates. I had heard of they are paying more than the previous years." Karthum asked the commander.

"Yes, Guardian Karthum, we have increase the rate. It was to offset our loss of gold to fight the brigands." Commander Thurh replied. " An unforeseen event but needed to employed more warriors."

"I feared that your increase had created dissatisfaction among the devotees." Karthum had stifle his view that he had seen suspected brigands among the devotees. "I feared we may had too big a crowd to monitored."

"I have assigned a thousand of my men to help you. Was that not sufficient?" Commander Thurh retorted back. "My two patrols of fifty men have yet to returned. The others are needed elsewhere."

Needed somewhere? Karthum smiled to himself. He knew the extra guards was mostly deployed to guard the rich and traders homes. He sighed and left the local commander post to returned to his own. He was joined by his own second in command, Aby Jawab; another ex-mercenary who found retirement was best be with a sword in the hand.

"They admit to it?" Aby asked him. Karthum nodded which made the other shook his head.

"Guardian, I counted maybe two hundred among the ones I could identified. We cannot stop them as they are here as devotees. Set is a great God in the plains."

"A God which made no qualm on wars or killings." Karthum replied. "We can't stop them but we would if they forget their role here. Spread the word; the devotees are to be protected. The real ones, if there was any outbreak of fights."

With that command, Karthum approached the main gate to the city. It was a short walk there, but he was hindered by the flow of devotees. When he reached there, he saw the Senior Thunan standing by the open wide gate. It was normally close on one side but that day, on the instruction of Commander Thurh, it was opened wide.

"Salute, Thunan." Karthum joined the other to looked at the outside plains. They were on the western wall side where three main gates are situated. The one which they were standing at was the middle one.

"Salute, Karthum. A busy day for you and for me, an anxious one." Thunan replied. "My two patrols are late. I feared for their safety. Commander Thurh is a fool."

"The sound of your voice could travel. Beware my old friend." Karthum cautioned him. "I am more concerned on the devotees in the city. We are overwhelmed by their numbers."

"Devotees? You are misled. There are not all devotees, but brigands in disguise. I have refused entry to many but I am at one entrance when we have eight to contend with." The other five entrances are smaller ones and located in different parts of the wall.

"Behold, I see my patrol." Thunan shouted out at the sight of the dust column which was typical of a fast moving group of riders. "They ride home in haste. My poor boys are probably hungry and does not want to missed the festival."

It was not one group but a solitary rider pulling behind him another horse. Thunan saw the rider and asked for his own horse. He mounted and rode out to meet the rider. He met the rider and was given the grim news. He then turned his horse to ride back towards the city wall. He was met by Karthum, who held onto the horse while the other dismounted.

"Close the gate! The brigands are coming!" Thunan shouted out but soon his voice was to drowned in his own blood. He was shot in the throat from inside the gate with an arrow. Karthum turned to look and saw the devotee armed with the bow had notched in another arrow. Other fake devotees have shed their praying robes to reveal their weapons hidden on their half naked bodies. They were engaging the guards at the gate. More to it, the brigands there outnumbered the guards.

Karthum rushed forth to assist the guards, and met his brigand with a deep cut on the right rear shoulder. His cut severed the sword arm and he gave the brigand a kick on the back to move onto to the next brigand. His second brigand was prepared to faced Karthum but the more experienced warrior did not pause in his moves, and end it with a forward thrust of the blade into the brigand torso.

"Sound the alarm!" Karthum shouted to the wounded guard to fire the bonfire near the gate. It was to alert the others that they are under attack. He then turned back to ,look at the gate, but it was then manned by brigands than the guards.

"Rally to me. We would push them back!" Karthum shouted out to the surviving guards. They were outnumbered two to one, but nevertheless, Karthum charged. Three arrows ended his charge; one on his chest, and two on his thighs. He fell down in pain but the worse pain was to see the gate still wide opened. He saw on the horizon were the brigands, and they numbered more than three thousand.

Karthum then fell into darkness.