Into the Fray: Volume 1 of The Sorcerers of Jhanvia Series (21 page)

Kutrik turned back to him and laughed, “You’re obviously delusional if you think for but a moment that these men would be loyal to you. I allowed you to achieve your current station because you brought us a fresh perspective, but I can sweep you away in an instant if you so much as think of challenging my position. The loyalty of my men runs deep and they would avenge with swift precision any efforts to displace me. Now, get back to what you’re best at and leave this plan you have for the Valtyr behind you.” With that, Kutrick turned and left the room, leaving the door open behind him.

Satreka’s eyes were glaring with anger as he watched him away. He knew with all his being that this plan he had conjured was destined to bring greatness to his name. And besides, he had developed an underlying fondness for the Valtyr. Even knowing that her feelings and actions were not of her own volition, there was a part of him, deeply hidden within his being, where he hoped beyond imagining that at some time in the future she would willingly become his mate. And then reality slapped him across the face. If he did not act immediately, Kutrik would kill her, thereby destroying the foundation of the future he had so carefully crafted.

He quickly walked past some of Kutrik’s loyalists and upon reaching the main stairway out of their sight, he ran as fast as he could up the stairs and down to the end of the hallway to his consort’s chamber.

He burst through the door and found her sitting in a chair by the window. “Natilya, you must come with me now.”

“What is it, my love?”

“There are forces in the castle that are determined to kill you. I must get you to a safe place. Please, come.”

Without hesitation, she quickly came to his side. He took her by the hand and led the way to the circular staircase. Their feet hit the steps downward as fast as they could. Her anxiety over this news caused her to grab onto his hand tightly, so tightly, in fact, that her claws extended ever-so-slightly into the back of his hand. In a flash they had reached the servant’s level. He pulled her along to the far end of the hallway,
where there was a second narrow stone stairway that led steeply downward. They stepped onto a cold stone floor in a darkened room lit only by a few torches.

“My lord Satreka?” Dulica was surprised to see him.

“Where are the Sorcerers of Jhanvia?” Satreka demanded.

“Through here, my lord.” Dulica led them to the far end of the room, where a small rough-hewn opening in one of the walls opened to a place that more resembled a cavern, with its uneven stone walls and dirt floor. There in the center of the dimly lit room, the three sorcerers were busy laying stones for a circular fire pit.

Satreka touched Dulica’s shoulder and commanded, “You never saw us here.”

“Yes, my lord,” he responded timidly.

“Leave us.”

He scuttled away and up the stairs, his lordship watching until he was out of earshot.

Satreka stepped through the opening, ducking his head so as not to bump it, and then he helped Natilya step through. He turned to the sorcerers and said, “Juun, I need your help.”

“How may we serve?”

“There are members of my clan that are determined to kill my consort. I need to hide Natilya from them until I can resolve this conflict.”

“I believe we can help.” Juun walked over, picked up an old wooden bench from the back wall and placed it in the nearest corner of the room. “My lady, if you will take a seat here.”

Satreka led her by the hand over to the corner where she took her place as instructed.

Juun explained, “We shall create a spell to hide you. It will lead the observer to believe that they are looking at a wall, when in fact they are actually seeing the reflection of the walls around you. They will not be able to see you, but you will be able to see and hear what is happening outside the spell’s influence. It is imperative that you remain still. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“Very well. “Gentlemen….” And with that, the sorcerers in tandem spread their arms and then passed their hands in front of their faces. A faint golden light appeared above her and quickly spread, creating a perimeter around her. As the light diminished, she disappeared behind it.

“Astonishing,” Satreka commented. “Is she all right?”

“Yes,” Juun reassured him. “Reach out to her. Natilya, touch his hand.”

Satreka’s hand passed through the perimeter of the spell, where it seemed to disappear as well. Then he felt her soft fingers touch his. He said, “Gentlemen, very well done. Natilya, please stay here. I will return as soon as possible.” He headed for the opening in the wall, then abruptly stopped and turned back to the sorcerer, “Juun, please watch over her.”

“Fear not, my lord. She will be safe here. What is next for you?”

“I must confront Kutrik, the leader of our clan. He seeks to undermine the plans I’ve laid.”

Juun encouraged, “Good fortune, my lord.”

“Thank you.” Satreka took one last good look at them before he ducked through the small opening and ran to the stairs.

Aliko spoke telepathically to the other sorcerers, “Kutrik will kill him.”

“Yes,” Juun replied in his thoughts. “In order to protect our own interests, we may need to insert ourselves into this situation a bit more than we had anticipated.”

Satreka knew the layout of the castle better than anyone. He used some of the lesser-used and secret passageways that had been built into the castle all those years ago to maneuver about without being seen. He was looking for his most loyal Zakrell. It was nearly thirty minutes before he found him lurking near the kitchen.

He pushed open a thin, stone doorway and whispered, “Zakrell,” motioning for the big man to come over.

“My lord,” he responded quietly, “Kutrik is looking for you.”

“I know. Follow me.”

Satreka led him through a passageway that had been built between two walls. It was barely wide enough for the big man and his sword to pass through. Satreka pushed on a stone and it opened a thin door into a tiny anteroom that had been hidden behind a fireplace.

Zakrell anxiously explained, “Kutrik sent Resali to kill Natilya and found her missing. He is furious. I believe he intends to kill you.”

Satreka smiled, “I know, my friend. Events are upon us and we must act quickly. I believe the time has come to remove him from power.”

Surprise leapt from the big man’s eyes. “But…what you ask.... He has many loyal to him.”

“I understand,” Satreka said patting him on the shoulder. “This will be a challenge, but we are up to it. We need to round up all those loyal to us. I intend to confront him immediately.”

“I believe we can count on eight, maybe nine senior members of our clan, but some are attending to other duties and are not here. With some of the younger, less experienced, we could mount an effort to overthrow him, but we would be outnumbered and outclassed.”

“I understand,” Satreka was disappointed. He contemplated the situation for a few moments and continued, “It will be all right. I have knowledge of this castle that will give us great advantage. Gather the men straight away in Natilya’s room. I’ll meet you shortly and explain to all of you how we will succeed.”

“As you wish,” the big man stated as they parted ways.

s the door latched behind the last of those loyal to him, Satreka walked over to Natilya’s window and looked out into the late day sunlight. Zakrell watched as his friend silently stared into the western sky for several minutes.

Satreka said without looking at him, “You know, Zakrell, I do
so
enjoy Kirlapian sunsets. I was seeing in my mind just now the image of me holding my son, sitting with Natilya on a large stone by the lake, watching the sun depart for another day. It brings a sense of completeness to my being.”

Zakrell could feel that Satreka was fearful over the looming likelihood of failure, “Your plan is a good one. We shall prevail.”

The young leader smiled through his ambivalence, “Or we could be dead within the hour. Events will soon tell.” He walked over and put his hand on the big man’s shoulder and said, “We have been through a lot, you and I.”

Zakrell smiled quietly.

Satreka reminisced, “Do you remember the encounter we had with the Rutalans a few years back?”

Zakrell was amused, “Good times.”

“We were trapped in that ravine with no discernible way out, surrounded by well-trained clansmen intent on our destruction. We whipped the men into a frenzy and attacked head on what turned out to be a weak spot in their ranks.” He laughed at the memory, “We plowed through them so quickly that we only lost two men in the battle. Do you remember the looks on their leaders faces as they watched us carve up their ranks with such ease?”

Zakrell laughed out loud, “They looked like children who just had their toys taken away.”

Satreka eyed his young captain with sincerity, “No matter the outcome today, I want you to know that I consider you a good friend.”

“Thank you. I am honored.”

Satreka nodded his acknowledgement and asked, “Shall we go change the world?”

Zakrell smiled, “Aye, my lord.”

They left the door to the room open as they strode purposefully shoulder to shoulder along the empty hallway and down the stairs to the main level of the castle. As they approached the great hall, Satreka got a step in front and motioned with his finger over his lips for the young soldier keeping watch to remain quiet. They boldly entered the great hall and made their way to the left side of the room, moving quickly with enhanced vigilance along the wall toward their adversaries.

“Kutrik!” Satreka announced himself. “I understand you have been looking for me.”

The clan leader got up from the high-backed chair and stood at the edge of the raised platform, flanked by Resali and Gushol. A handful of his loyalists that were scattered about the room immediately prepared to defend. He smiled and stated, “Ah, there you are. We were just discussing you.”

“All good thoughts, I hope,” the young warlord smiled through his words.

“Actually, I have been hearing rumors of a conspiracy against me…a conspiracy led by you.”

Satreka and Zakrell took a stand in an open space away from the tables about ten paces from the clan leader.

“They are not rumors, my lord,” Satreka responded.

“So it has come to this, has it? Zakrell, I probably don’t need to ask, but whom do you favor?”

“I stand with Satreka,” the big man confirmed.

“I am disappointed, but not surprised. So, where do we go from here, Satreka? Should I have my men simply dispatch you to the nether regions?”

“This disagreement is between us. I suggest that we alone decide the matter.”

Kutrik laughed. “But you are greatly outnumbered and, except for Zakrell here, seriously outclassed. Why should I work up a sweat when my men will gladly do this for me?”

Zakrell called out, “Now!”

With that, two men emerged from hidden openings in the wall behind, flanking Satreka with crossbows pointed at Kutrik. An additional two men similarly armed came out from the wall behind Kutrik’s men. Four other men came into the room from hidden openings at the front of the room. They closed and bolted the doors that were the only two exits, and then they stood firm, guarding them with swords drawn.

“I always said you were a clever man,” Kutrik said with a calm and confident smile on his face. “And here you prove me right again. Satreka, I ask once more, drop this plan for the Valtyr and come back to the fold. All of this will be forgotten.”

“You know that is not possible.”

“My boy, you stand no chance against me. I will quickly destroy you and we will lose a valuable asset.”

Satreka remained silently defiant.

Kutrik gave him a few moments and then said, “Very well. This is how you wish it, then?”

“It is,” he responded forcefully.

Kutrik nodded his acceptance of the challenge. He stepped off the platform, unbuckled his cloak and laid it across a table. He turned, faced his opponent and rolled up the sleeves of his white puffy shirt, the powerful muscles in his arms now out for all to view.

Resali came over to him and asked, “My lord, what should we…?”