Guardian Knites
                                                  Protectors of Aflamina

Chapter 4: Opportunity for Adventure

      A week has gone by and the town of Scarlora is slowing getting rebuilt. In one small house, Wil awakes to find himself bandaged up and laying in a small kid’s bed. His legs draped over the bed.  Wil’s left hand is bandaged up and so is his stomach. He sat up in the bed to see Chris, Lauren, Mateo, and Brittany comatose in other beds. They were all bandaged up like Wil.
“What happened” thought Wil looking at his bandages. “Now I remember, it’s all that man’s fault, Michael. Why did he do all this and what’s with all these scrolls?” Wil then heard “Uh…Uh” coming from the bed next to him. It was Chris.
“Good morning, sunshine” said Wil. Chris then rose up a little in his bed.
“Good morning yourself” he said.
“Someone’s a little crabby” Wil joked. “Looks like we’re all in one piece.”
“Yeah” said Chris. Just then a woman came into the room. She was in her mid thirties and had black hair that was tied back in a bun. She wore a giant white coat and grey slacks.
“Good morning boys” she said.
“Oh, Dr. Lunn good morning” said Wil surprised.
“Looks like you two are feeling better” said Dr. Lunn.
“Sure are” said Chris.
“That’s good, you’ve been a sleep for nearly a week.” said Dr. Lunn.
“Dr. Lunn, will everyone be alright?” asked Wil.
“Oh yes, they are just resting” said Dr. Lunn. “By the way, how are you two feeling?”
“We both feel great” said Chris.
“Can I check your wounds?” asked Dr. Lunn.
“Sure” said Wil.
“I guess” said Chris.
“I’ll start with Wil” said Dr. Lunn. She unwrapped Wil’s bandages to discover no marks or bruises. “Bless the Guardians, my medicine worked. You just have to be careful with you left hand. It should completely heal in another day.” “Now let me check Chris.” Dr. Lunn checked Chris’s wounds to discover the same thing as Wil, nothing. The wounds were completely healed. “You two can go home and relax. The others will be fine” The two boys walked out of the house and started to talk.
“I wonder why Michael wanted those scrolls?” asked Chris.
“I don’t know” said Wil.
“Maybe he’s looking for buried treasure” said Chris.
“He might be” said Wil.
“But why did he have to destroy most of the town?” asked Chris. Suddenly the door opened and Lauren walked out.
“Because he’s a nut case with no heart and has no pity for anyone!” shouted Lauren.
“Your right about that” said Wil.
“And he probably has a small penis” added Lauren. The group then got really quiet.
“Okay? Anyway…” said Wil.
“When did you get out of bed?” Chris asked Lauren.
“A couple of minutes ago” said Lauren.
“Is anyone else out of bed?” asked Wil.
“No, Brittany and Mateo are still snoring away” said Lauren.
“You guys are finally out of bed” said a familiar voice.
“Tony is that you?” asked Chris. Tony Vinsen, Mr. Zinnia’s right hand man. He’s in his late twenties and has short, business like hair. He always wears a white button down shirt and black pants.
“Of course it’s me” said Tony. “The mayor sent me here to get you. Is anyone else still in bed?”
“Yeah, Brittany and Mateo” said Lauren.
“That’s good because the mayor only wants you three” said Tony.
“Why us?” asked Chris.
“I don’t know, he only asked for you three and he didn’t want me to ask any questions” said Tony. “So are you coming or not?”
“We’ll come” said Wil. They followed Tony to Mr. Zinnia’s house. When they got inside, Tony showed them to the living room. Mr. Zinnia came in minutes later.
“That will be all for today, Tony” said Mr. Zinnia. Tony left the room. Mr. Zinnia seemed very calm and edgy at the same time. The 5”3 mayor had a blue collar shirt on and black pants.
“Why did you want to see us, Mr. Zinnia?” asked Wil.
“It’s about last week” said Mr. Zinnia. “Do any of you have anything to say about last week?”
“Well, yes” said Wil. “On the night of the festival, the three of us explored a cave that was right outside of town. In the cave, we met a strange man.”
“The man’s name was Michael” blurted out Chris.
“He said he was looking for ultimate power” said Wil. “That’s when he found a chest containing two scrolls. He then left and we thought we saw the last of him. It wasn’t until we got back into town when we saw him again. He was the one you were arguing with.”
“He’s also the one who destroyed most of the town” said Lauren.
“Michael… interesting” said Mr. Zinnia scratching his chin. “It kinda makes sense now.”
“What makes sense?” questioned Chris.
“You say this Michael was looking for power” said Mr. Zinnia.
“Yes” said Wil.
“Well, I don’t know anything about those scrolls Michael took from the cave” said Mr. Zinnia. “I do know though about the half scroll he took from me.”
“What’s so important about theses scrolls?” asked Lauren.
“The half scroll that’s been in my family for centuries processes knowledge that nobody should know” said Mr. Zinnia. “Reason being is that half of scroll contains info on Bazgaul’s ultimate weapon, The Dark Pendant.”
“The Dark Pendant?” asked Chris.
“Yes, a terrible weapon that can destroy a town in one blast” said Mr. Zinnia. “It also allows the user to bring anyone back from the dead. I think this man, Michael wants to bring Bazgaul back to life. This is why I sent for you, I want you three to get that half scroll back.”
“Us, but we can’t go, we’re just children” said Chris.
“I thought we were teenagers, Chris” kidded Wil.
“Michael is so powerful, how can we get close enough to him to steal a scroll when he can cut us to shreds in a manner of seconds?” asked Lauren.
“I got the weapons you need, follow me please” said Mr. Zinnia.
“This is crazy, we can’t do this” said Chris.
“He’s right, Mr. Zinnia” said Wil. “We can’t do this, what would our parents think?”
“You met Michael two times and you survived both times” said Mr. Zinnia. “That’s impressive.”
“Maybe, but I think we need a little time to think this over” said Lauren.
“There’s no time, if Michael gathers the pieces of The Dark Pendant who knows what will happen” said Mr. Zinnia. “You have to do this; the whole world of Aflamina is counting on you.”
“Just for the record, I was never good at counting” said Lauren.  
“Please follow me, you can talk to your parents after” said Mr. Zinnia. Wil, Chris, and Lauren followed Mr. Zinnia upstairs to his office. Mr. Zinnia went to his desk and pushed a button. The button made the right wall closest to his desk open up, revealing a wall of weapons. Swords to poleaxes, any sharp and pointy weapon you could imagine was up there. Mr. Zinnia went to the wall and took down a short bow made of wood. He also took down a leather quiver, full of arrows.
“For you Lauren, I give you this bow” said Mr. Zinnia. “I also give you this quiver containing arrows that should last you awhile”
“Um, thank you” said Lauren taking the bow and quiver from Mr. Zinnia. The bow was painted white, except for the handle grip which was black. There was a floral design on both ends of the bow.
“For you Wil” said Mr. Zinnia reaching the wall of weapons again. “I give you this dagger which is called the eagleseye. It has been in my family for generations.” The dagger was 14 inches in length. The blade was made of steel and the handle was made of pure oak. The butt of the handle was craved in the shape of an eagle’s head. It came in its own leather sheath.
“Thank you so much” said Wil grabbing the eagleseye very carefully.
“And I didn’t forget about you, Chris” said Mr. Zinnia. He went to the wall again and took down a wooden scabbard wrapped in leather.
“For you Chris, I give you this sword” said Mr. Zinnia. “Made by our very own Mr. Marcello.”
“Mateo’s dad, Awesome!” said Chris. The sword was made with the finest materials around. It had a brass handle with gold trim. The blade itself was 27 inches long and made of blister steel, the best around. Mr. Marcello’s initials were engraved on the blade, D.M.  
“Thank You!” shouted Chris running towards Mr. Zinnia. He gave him a big bear hug, dodging the sword in the process.
“It’s yours” said Mr. Zinnia quenching for air. “Just be careful with it.”
“I still don’t know” said Wil looking at the eagleseye.
“Talk to your parents, those weapons are yours to keep either way” said Mr. Zinnia. “Tell me your answer in the morning.” The three friends then left Mr. Zinnia’s house and went home.
“Hey Dad, can I talk to you for a minute?” asked Wil.
“Sure, what’s on your mind” said Mr. Talli.
“Mr. Zinnia asked if I would go on a mission for him” said Wil. He showed his dad the eagleseye.
“What kind of mission and who else is going?” asked Mr. Talli.
“Well, Chris and Lauren would join me” said Wil. “And the mission is to receive a scroll that was taken from Mr. Zinnia.”
“I don’t know” said Mr. Talli. “It sounds dangerous and your friends can sometimes be a little flaky.”
“I know, but I think I should go” said Wil.
“Well, since you’re almost eighteen I guess I’ll let you make the final decision” said Mr. Talli “I won’t stop you if you go.”
“Thanks, I guess I have some thinking to do.” said Wil.

“Hey Mom and Dad” said Chris. “I need to talk to you right now.”
“What is it?” asked Mrs. Palani.
“I don’t know how to put it, but Mr. Zinnia gave me, Wil, and Lauren a job” said Chris.
“What kind of job?” asked Mr. Palani.
“The job is to get a scroll that was taken from Mr. Zinnia” said Chris.
“How long would you be gone?” asked Brenna, Chris’s little sister.
“A couple of days, I guess” said Chris.
“Sounds good to me” said Brenna.
“Well maybe for you young lady, but I don’t know” said Mrs. Palani.
“I got a cool sword and I’ll have company” said Chris “Hopefully” Chris showed his sword to his parents.
“That’s some blade, I can’t see you using it” said Mr. Palani.
“Hey, I’ve had practice!” shouted Chris.
“I still don’t know, let us think about it and we will tell you in the morning” said Mrs. Palani.
“Okay” said Chris worried about the decision.

“Hi mom and dad, both of you look great” said Lauren.
“What do you want?” asked Mrs. Mimosa.
“I just wanted to know if I could go out tomorrow” said Lauren.
“Go where?” asked Mr. Mimosa.
“Mr. Zinnia wants Wil, Chris, and I to get something for him outside of town” said Lauren. “You know I love you, right Daddy.”
“Nice try, but what are you guys actually getting?” asked Mrs. Mimosa.
“A scroll that was taken from him” said Lauren. She showed them her short bow and quiver of arrows. “See, I’m very well equipped.”
“That’s what makes me worried” said Mr. Mimosa.
“Please can I go” said Lauren looking at her father with sad puppy dog eyes.
“I guess, but I’m in agreement with whatever your mother thinks” said Mr. Mimosa.
“Please Mom” said Lauren.
“Let me think about it” said Mrs. Mimosa.