Blood of the Earth (22 page)

“Simple firepots would be effective,” Lucky said. “Although magical weapons would be much better, especially against the larger vessels you described being built by Zuhl.”

“We’ve tried flame-based weapons in the past,” Magda said, “but we’ve always had trouble igniting them in flight.”

“I have just the thing,” Lucky said. “Conventional fuses would be useless in flight, but I have a formula for an igniter that flares on impact.”

Magda and Cassandra both sat forward.

“Fire would be a most welcome addition to our arsenal,” Cassandra said.

“What’s needed to make firepots?” Alexander asked.

“Mostly just clay pots, lamp oil, and a glass ampoule filled with an igniter,” Lucky said. “The most difficult part is the igniter. It requires a careful mixture of less-than-common ingredients, but it can be made without magic.”

“Good. Let’s get a team of people trained to make them and start production immediately,” Alexander said. “I’d like to get the Sky Knights armed with firepots as quickly as possible.”

“For the larger ships,” Lucky said, “I can think of a number of compounds that would be highly effective, although somewhat dangerous for the Sky Knights using them. Liquid fire, of course, and a few more caustic forms of magical acid I know how to concoct.”

“Those will require your direct involvement to create, won’t they?” Alexander asked.

“Yes, there are no other alchemists within our guild, and those concoctions require magic to create.”

“Let’s focus on the firepots for now,” Alexander said. Lucky had other assignments of more importance.

“We have two master alchemists in the Ithilian guild,” Mage Dax said. “I’m quite sure they would be happy to create the weapons you speak of.”

“Excellent,” Alexander said.

“I have a few thoughts on the matter as well,” Kelvin said. “I can create a much smaller variation of the explosive weapons we used against Northport and design them to detonate on impact rather than on command. A direct hit should be enough to sink nearly any vessel.”

“You’re already stretched pretty thin,” Alexander said. “If you have the time, do what you can, but don’t make it a priority over some of the more pressing projects you’re working on.”

“If I may,” Regent Samuel said.

Alexander nodded.

“Since the Guild Mage mentioned it, I would like to discuss the disposition of Northport.”

“Of course,” Alexander said.

“I must say I was most distressed by the destruction of our city,” Regent Samuel said. “It has been a terrible loss for our people. Many innocent citizens lost everything in your attack—their homes and possessions are gone. Thousands have been reduced to refugees in other cities, forced to rely on the charity of others to survive. What I’m trying to say is that you had no right to do what you did. That was our city and you destroyed it.”

“Yes, I did,” Alexander said. “While I regret having to make that decision, it was necessary.”

“Perhaps, if Northport had been your home, you wouldn’t have been so quick to wield such terrible power against it.”

“Our home was burned to the ground by the enemy,” Abigail said coolly. Alexander stopped her from continuing with a gesture.

“Northport’s loss is terrible,” Alexander said, “but not as terrible as losing half of our army in a pitched battle against the enemy forces that had taken refuge within your city. We are at war, Regent Samuel. Some of the decisions we must make are a choice between a bad option and a worse option.

“What’s done is done. Northport has been sacrificed and I understand the loss that has caused for you and your people. But now is the time to focus on rebuilding for the future.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure the city can ever be restored to its former glory,” Regent Samuel said.

“I have no intention of restoring it,” Alexander said. “I intend to rebuild it better than before. A legion of Rangers is already working to clear the rubble within the walls, salvaging any materials that can be of use and cutting the timber necessary to rebuild.

“What I need from you, Regent Samuel, is to call your people home and put them to work. My father will have access to sufficient gold to pay the workers and will also provide the assistance of the army.

“The first order of business is rebuilding the shipyards and roads. As soon as the shipyards are operational, they will begin producing warships while the rest of the city is rebuilt. All of this is going to happen with or without you. I would like your input and your assistance, but I don’t require it.”

Regent Samuel blinked and his colors flared with anger and indignation, but he held his tongue, clearly thinking better of challenging Alexander and risking his power. Instead he nodded his assent and remained silent.

“Good,” Alexander said. “Coordinate with General Valentine. He will oversee the rebuilding effort.”

“As you wish,” Regent Samuel said, his colors revealing inner turmoil. Alexander understood the man’s feelings but he couldn’t do much about it, so he moved on.

“Commander P’Tal will be calling the Reishi Protectorate to Blackstone Keep and reorganizing his forces into a military cadre and an intelligence force. I’ve asked him to form several teams of highly capable operatives who can be sent on missions of the most sensitive nature and highest importance. Commander P’Tal will handpick those who demonstrate the skills and abilities he needs. Wizards, witches, Rangers, Sky Knights, and soldiers are all welcome to apply.”

“I suspect a number of my order would welcome the opportunity,” Kelvin said.

“Mine as well,” Magda said.

“All right, I believe the final order of business is the Reishi Keep,” Alexander said. “There are stores of knowledge and magic within the Keep that might be invaluable. Unfortunately, there are also some very dangerous creatures within and even more living on the Reishi Isle.

“I intend to send a regiment of soldiers through the Gate to begin constructing a wall around the Keep just inside the wood line to prevent anything else on the island from entering. Once the wall is built, we’ll begin systematically clearing and restoring the Keep.”

“Wizard Jahoda is uniquely suited to lead the construction of the wall,” Kelvin said. “I estimate it would take a month or six weeks to build a complete defensive perimeter wall, if he’s provided with sufficient manpower.”

Before Alexander could respond, Chloe spoke within his mind.

“Darkness is near, My Love.”

Chapter 18

Alexander tensed slightly and focused his all around sight, searching for any sign of the shade. He had expected, even counted on Shivini showing up during his war council.

One of the Rangers standing guard beside the door stepped forward past Boaberous, drawing his sword, and tried to stab Abigail in the back, but Alexander saw the attack coming. He put his foot on the edge of Abigail’s chair and shoved her over just moments before the thrust that was meant to take her life. She tumbled to the floor and came up quickly, drawing the Thinblade and scanning the room as Alexander came up as well, drawing Mindbender.

Boaberous grabbed the Ranger possessed by Shivini by the back of the neck with one giant hand and hurled him backward into the wall so hard that the man lost consciousness.

The Ranger who had been standing guard with him knelt next to his fallen friend as Shivini slipped free of the first Ranger and into him. After a brief struggle for dominance, Shivini stood up in his new host with a malicious smile and drew his sword. Before anyone could react, he stabbed the unconscious Ranger in the heart.

“You know, Alexander,” Shivini said, “you’re the only one who’s ever escaped me. In fact, it’s a point of pride for me. Every single person I’ve ever possessed has died by my hand, so to speak, except you.”

Boaberous started to advance toward the possessed Ranger.

“Hold,” Alexander commanded.

Boaberous stopped but remained poised to strike.

“Oh, come now, Alexander, let the giant strike me down,” Shivini said in a mocking tone. “I do so relish that moment when the soul of my possession slips free. You know, they can hear and see and even feel everything. I make sure of it. The fear and hopelessness of being trapped within one’s own body as death nears, being unable to do a single thing about it as their life comes to a violent end, it’s positively intoxicating.”

“Maybe we should try this again,” Alexander said, holding up the collar.

Shivini started casually strolling toward Abigail. She stood still, but ready, with the Thinblade between her and the possessed Ranger. Erik had taken command of the remaining Rangers in the room with hand signals and directed them toward the head of the table. Isabel was muttering the words of a spell under her breath. Alexander could see the flare of anger in her colors.

Magda and Cassandra had joined hands and were both in the midst of casting spells as well. Wizard Ely was muttering under his breath, Kelvin was inching closer on one side of the table while Sark approached from the other.

Shivini shook his head sadly. “Tsk, tsk, Alexander, you should know better than that by now. I’m disappointed in you. I’d hoped that you would have come up with something else—equally as useless, of course.”

Alexander ignored Shivini’s taunting. “I need him alive,” he said.

Boaberous didn’t hesitate for an instant. His war hammer came off his shoulder with terrifying speed and smashed the Ranger on the left shoulder, crushing him to the ground but leaving him alive.

As Boaberous advanced, Shivini laughed. Before the giant could reach him, he cut his own throat and his maniacal laughter transformed into a sickening gurgle. Before the Ranger could take his last breath, Alexander watched the shade slip free of his latest victim and into Boaberous. The giant froze as the shade struggled to dominate him. Everyone in the room held their breath, then Boaberous turned and Alexander saw Shivini in his eyes.

“Don’t you see, Alexander?” Shivini said from within Lieutenant Grudge. “You simply can’t win. You were doomed from the moment you released us into this world.”

“You don’t belong here, shade,” Isabel said.

“Ah, but of course I do, Mother,” Shivini said.

Before Isabel could find the words to protest, Shivini continued.

“You brought us into this world, gave birth to us, in a manner of speaking. We belong here as much as you do.”

“I’ll find a way to send you back, Shivini,” Alexander said, advancing toward the shade. Abigail flanked him on his right, Isabel on his left.

“Enough of this,” Shivini said. “As much fun as this is, I’ve come with a more important purpose. My master would address your war council.”

Shivini pronounced a word from some long-dead language and Phane materialized, standing in the middle of the table. Everyone froze for just a moment before they began making preparations to attack.

“Hold!” Alexander commanded again. “It’s just a projection.”

“Some projections can do harm,” Kelvin said.

“My dear Guild Mage,” Phane said with mock indignation. “I have no desire for unpleasantness. I only wish to be heard by this esteemed council.”

Alexander caught Erik’s eye and pointed to Boaberous. Erik nodded, directing his Rangers to surround the giant. Once Shivini was cordoned off, Alexander turned to face Phane.

“How can he do this?” Abigail asked.

“I don’t know,” Kelvin answered with a frown.

“My dear Abigail, are you referring to how I managed to penetrate Blackstone Keep’s security or how I’m projecting an image from so far away?”

“Both,” Abigail said.

“He must be using an enchanted item of some sort to relay the projection,” Kelvin said.

“Very good, Mage,” Phane said. “You could yet serve me. In fact, I would be willing to accept the surrender and fealty of everyone in this room, save Alexander, of course.”

The room fell deathly silent for a moment before Isabel started laughing softly.

“You won’t turn any of us, Phane,” she said.

“Don’t be so sure, my dear. All it would take to end this war for everyone on Ruatha is Alexander’s head in a bag and the Sovereign Stone delivered to me. I would even let dear Queen Abigail rule in my name.”

“You must have actually loved that imp of yours,” Alexander said.

Phane lost his composure, his face contorting in a mask of rage and sorrow for just a moment before he reclaimed control.

“You should never have murdered Kludge, dear cousin,” Phane said. “Before that, I would have killed you quickly, or even allowed you to rule in my name—didn’t matter to me, so long as the Sovereign Stone was surrendered to me. But now it’s personal.”

“It was personal the day you killed my brother, Phane,” Alexander said.

“Oh, but I never killed your brother,” Phane said innocently. “Your protector, Commander P’Tal, was the one who ordered your brother killed, and yet you have forgiven him.”

“He sent an assassin to prevent Darius from threatening you,” Alexander said, “but it was always about you.”

“If you’d had the good sense to die two thousand years ago, none of this would be happening,” Isabel said.