The Guardian 1.2 of 1.5

2.

Karthum looked to his hands. They were all covered in blood; not his but those around him. The local commander, Hurst, the Senior Guard Oma, Thunan, the other guards. And then he saw the bracelet that belonged to his daughter, Sena. It was given to her by her departed wife, Amutha.

"No!" Karthum shouted out in pain. He was on his knees and the blood still stain his hands. He looked around; all dead bodies and then the image appeared.

"Karthum, you promised me." It was Amutha, his wife of only two years. She had died from childbearing their daughter. "Sena, still a child. How could forsake your responsibility?"

"No!" Karthum shouted out "No more please. I beg of you. I had lost you once before."

His head leaned down to his hands, hovering above it, he cried out his pain.

He opened his eyes to find himself hung over the wall by he legs, like cadaver for the butcher. It was not any wall but the city walls. His feet were bind with ropes and hung at the height of ten feet from the edge. He was stripped of his clothes and weapons, left on the wall to be pecked by the carrion eaters or worse the crows. One was at his nose and pecking at his left cheek which was cut in the fight. He could not recalled which one but the crow was feeding on his flesh. He shouted out again and the crow flew off. He swung his hands which was not tied.

His body weak from his ordeal but he sought the inner strength on the vengeance to kill those who had harmed his daughter. He felt the blood in his body circulating and then he heaved himself up in a sitting position. He held the position while his hands held onto the thighs for leverage. He bend his knees and pulled his upper torso by using the hands on the back of his knees. He moved his body until he could fell the ropes. He pulled in tight on the ropes to swing his body. He manage to grab the upper end of the rope then and slowly pulled it. He did it until his body was upright. He continued on his ascend until he reached the edge of the wall. He pulled himself over and dropped on the solid flooring. Karthum laid there heaving in deep breath and then he saw the young boy; dirty and crying. He looked at the boy and whispered in his hoarse voice.

"Water..." The boy understood and ran off to fetch the water.

Karthum had his drink and then some stale food brought by the boy. He found a curved blade among the debris on the wall, and then only did he checked for survivals. He managed to check on a few but they were past the point of saving. He left them on the flooring to seek their own way to the other world. Wherever he goes, the boy followed him.

"Your name?" Karthum asked him.

"Torak. Son of Thoran." Then it occurred to Karthum, that Thoran had three sons, and one was named Torak.

"Please take me with you." The child told him. Karthum nodded and then they began the quest to seek for food and weapons. The city was not only pillaged by the brigands but they had also killed everyone who was deemed a threat, and taken the others as slaves. After that, they had set the city on fire including the temple of Set.

Karthum stood before the standing statue of Set among the burnt debris of the temple. He had then found a skirt to wrapped around his midriff while a waist belt held the curved sword along with a blacksmith mallet. His feet was wearing the sandals found by Torak. He took off the head piece scarf he had on and raised it on his hands towards the statue.

"Know this, Set. I am Karthum. Formerly of the Guards. My city razed to the ground. Your temple the same but you stand proud over it all. I come to you to declare my anger. I would seek those who did this and they would suffered the same fate. Not till I find my daughter would I rest my sword." With that, Karthum bow to the statue. Then he asked the God for his wish.

"Show me their trail, and let me send them to you in the other world."

At that moment, the statue toppled over to reveal a long box beneath it. On the box was written the words that Karthum managed to read; The Guardian shall wield the swords.

Inside the box were two curved swords; one longer than the other by a feet, while the shorter one was wider in the blade. On it was inscription which Karthum could not read. It was not a straight face blade but it had a serrated edge on both of them.

"Karthum, Set had spoken. The blades are yours." Karthum looked to the boy who had spoken. How could he who was so young speak of such wise words. He took out the swords along their scabbards. He tucked them into his waist belt and passed the earlier blade to the boy.

"Torak, you would be my guard, friend and wise one. Guide me to where the brigands rode off."

 
They rode west, but before we go, we need more food and water. Only a fool would wandered into the plains without it." Karthum was surprised by the words that came from the boy. He was different from the earlier boy that he had rescued. Somehow this one was more than a boy.

"Who are you, boy?" Karthum asked as he lowered himself to his knees to look level at the boy.

"I am Torak. But for now, I am his servant. You would be guided by him, and I would be his guide." Torak looked at the Guardian. "If we are to succeed, we need to hasten our tasks."

With that the boy ran off to seek out more supplies. Soon they were on the march along the fading trail of the brigands. They had found a horse who was left behind. They loaded the supplies on the horse and marched along side it. With the sun as their guide, they moved as fast as their legs could move.

It was once said that the God would appoint a Guardian to guard his land and removed the unwanted. That myth could be coming to around once more.