Jane and the Guardians: Sword of the Lady

Chapter 2

Mrs. Smith's door opens slowly without a sound after the third knock. John walks into a palatial hall lined with men uniformed in simple white suits on both sides standing at attention. Immediately, he senses the tremendous energy source at the far end where Mrs. Smith, in a simple white dress, sits on a perched throne. Instead of grandmotherly, she is young, beautiful, and radiant, with a calm thoughtful smile. A brilliant white aura surrounds her and each of the Palace Guards. John walks solemnly down the hall and kneels with a bowed head before the throne.

Her voice light and melodious, Mr. Smith addresses John in a warm and welcoming tone, "It's nice to see you again John. It has been too long."

Keeping his head bowed, John replies in a sincere and humble manner, "Yes, My Lady. It is glorious to be in your presence again. My heart ached everyday that I was away."

"Rise," the Lady says.

John stands, head still bowed. "It was difficult to leave ten years ago, but I've found it!" He takes out a delicate golden-gemmed bracelet from his jacket pocket and raises it above his head with both hands. "I present the long lost Sword of the Lady."

The lead Palace Guard on the throne's left steps forward to accept the bracelet and, before taking it in his hands says, "Are you sure my brother? This is not a sword. It's a woman's bracelet."

John looks up in a steely stare of intensity and urgency. "Jeremiah, my brother, this is no time for jokes."

"It looks like you're the one joking here," Jeremiah responds in a stern voice and returns to his post next to the Lady.

Hands still raised, John turns toward the Lady and says, "My Lady, this bracelet is the Sword of the Lady. It's why it has been lost for so long. No one thought it would be a piece of jewelry." John feels incredulous that he has to explain the identity of the bracelet but the Lady has not made the slightest acknowledgement of his gift.

The lead Palace Guard on the throne's right says in an even matter-of-fact manner, "It was hidden because My Lady meant for it to be hidden."

"Then My Lady meant for me to find it and present it to Her today." John continues in a softer pleading tone, "Please My Lady, please consider wielding the Sword again."

The Palace Guard explains with great deliberate care and seriousness, "John, my brother, if My Lady wants to use the Sword, she would use it when She sees fit and not at your urging."

John looks at the Captain of the Palace Guards and reasons, "Tom, my brother, you know I am only doing our job. It is up to us to help My Lady to protect the world."

In the same somber voice Tom says, "We discussed this many times before you left. It is not our way to save the world by inflicting death and fear."

"Maybe it should be. The world has only ever had fleeting moments of balance. Keep it tilted permanently will provide stability and a better humanity."

No longer amused, Tom questions mockingly, "And who decides where it stops, you?"

John lowers his hands and lifts his head to look at the Lady with a sincere determination. "If My Lady does not, I am willing to take on that burden." The Lady looks John in the eye with a kind wistful expression.

"How dare you!" Tom steps forward with his left foot, forming a powerful Arrow Stance, and throws a right punch in the direction of John's face. A burst of energy shoots from Tom's fist and sizzles through the air like a bolt of lightning. Knowing John is no pushover, Tom does not hold back, hoping to weaken John enough that he and his fellow Palace Guards can take him down quickly, without disturbing the Lady any further.