Dark Quest (31 page)

The two side groups of Rangers arose out of the darkness and charged to the front of the castle. Someone inside the castle slammed the doors shut and they burst into flames. There was little hope of survival for any of the Black Devils in the courtyard, but the groups in the windows were starting to take their toll on David’s men.

Mordac looked out his window and saw the Rangers below turning the corner into the front courtyard. He shouted into the hallway and three of his men came running. He was about to ask what was going on when he noticed that the tower guard was throwing fireballs at his own men. He tossed his own fireball and watched it bounce off. The tower guard started returning missiles directed at him.

“Close that door and ward it,” Mordac shouted. “Hurry up! Now get a ward on me. Something tells me that I have an uninvited Master to contend with, and seeing as it is the Rangers attacking, I think I know who it is. We’ll find out for sure when she’s dead.”

With the help of Alex’s men the second floor windows were cleared fairly quickly and Rangers were pouring in the front door. The first floor team arrived to help out and Alex directed them to the third floor and then headed for Mordac’s study himself.

Alex ran up the stairs and around the corridors to Mordac’s room. When he arrived the door was closed. He drew his sword and struck the door. His sword reverberated and the shock wave ran up his arm. Alex was mystified. His sword could cut through metal armor. The wooden door should not be a problem. He tried again, harder, and the shock wave caused him to drop his sword. He picked up his sword and ran to the next room, threw open the door and peered out the window. He saw Jenneva throwing projectiles at Mordac’s room and saw fireballs bouncing off her. With each hit, her invisible shield was glowing a little more. He knew it was only a matter of time before her shields were so weakened that they would not protect her.

Alex turned back into the corridor and saw his men. “I want that next door opened and I need some rope. Use Fire Glue on the door if you have to, but get it open.”

One of the men handed Alex a coil of rope and he headed for the stairs. He raced up the stairs and smashed the hasp to the roof door with his sword. He pushed through the door and looked over the edge. He could see Egam trying to protect Jenneva with a ward, because Egam could not effectively hit Mordac. Jenneva’s ward was glowing so much that it was impossible to see the figure behind the invisible barrier.

He uncoiled the rope and measured the distance down to the window next to Mordac. He turned and ran back to a chimney that was aligned with Mordac’s window and tied the rope around it, leaving the proper length free. He wrapped the loose end of the rope around his left arm several times and firmly grasped the end with his hand. Grabbing the rope with his right hand also, he ran to the edge of the roof and threw himself off.

The jarring snap of the rope as it reached its extent felt like it was going to rip his arm out of the socket, but he had little time to worry about the pain as he went sailing through Mordac’s window and into the band of Black Devils.

Alex’s left arm was useless, hanging limp at his side. He rolled into the door and felt the heat of the door burning on the outside of it. Alex leapt to his feet before the confused magicians could figure out what had happened. He pulled his sword and started swinging. His first swing took the legs off of one of the magicians. His backstroke pierced the chest of another.

Mordac was on his feet and hurled a fireball at Alex. Alex barely had time to bring his sword in front of him to intercept the projectile. The fireball glanced off his sword into the face of Mordac’s last assistant and Alex lunged forward, shoving his sword clear through Mordac’s throat. Alex pulled his sword free and Mordac’s head fell out the window to the courtyard below. Alex turned and killed the two wounded assistants and collapsed into a chair and laid his head on the desk. Darkness overwhelmed him.

When Alex came to, he was lying on a table, naked from the waist up. Jenneva was holding his right hand and he saw Egam at his left. David and Mitar were at his feet. “How are the men?” he asked.

“Excellent, considering the odds,” stated Mitar. “Still, we lost thirty good men. Another five badly burned, and you.”

Alex looked at their grim faces and gazed at his left arm. His shoulder was torn open, raw meat exposed. Egam motioned to Jenneva and the two magicians headed for the door. “Don’t let him move an inch,” Egam called back as he and Jenneva left the room.

Alex looked at his two Lieutenants. “You are both good men. I don’t want to choose between you for a successor to lead the Rangers. That presents me with a bit of a problem.”

“I don’t see a problem,” David said. “Do you Mitar?”

“No,” Mitar replied. “No problem at all. You just have to stop trying to fly, Captain. You may have to start letting David and me have some more of the fun though, but you can still command troops.”

Alex laughed quietly as darkness overcame him again.

When Alex awoke he was disoriented and in a plush bedroom. Jenneva was lying beside him. He gazed over at her beautiful face and flowing golden hair. He leaned over and kissed her.
I love you, Jenneva.

Jenneva stirred and sat up. “And I love you, Alex Tork.”

Alex wrapped his arms around Jenneva and hugged her. He felt a slight stab of pain in his left arm and immediately remembered his arm. He looked at his shoulder and heard Jenneva laugh.

“I’m afraid Egam and I spent little time studying the arts of healing,” she smiled. “Egam went and got Galdan to attend to you. The elves are very learned in those arts and Galdan knows them best. He says that within a week, you will feel no pain. You are going to owe Galdan a debt, though.”

“For the use of my arm again, I would say that my debt to him would be very great.”

“Oh, no,” chuckled Jenneva. “The debt is not for repairing your arm. He would gladly do that for a warrior of your stature. No, the debt is for accompanying you to Tagaret. The elves have not had much experience at sea and Galdan stayed with you all the way from Casper. He vowed never to set foot upon another ship.”

“We are in Tagaret then? How long have I been unconscious?”

Jenneva sat up and straightened her dress.

“Over a week, Alex. The Council of Advisors and King Byron await your recovery before holding their meeting.”

Alex sat up and looked for his shirt. “Why didn’t you tell me, Jenneva? I cannot keep the King waiting.”

Jenneva threw her arms around Alex and pulled him back down to the bed. “As far as I’m concerned, the King can wait another day.”

Alex put his arms around Jenneva and kissed her passionately. “Well, I am still feeling very weak. Besides, we need the time to plan our wedding. We’ll let the King attend. That should make up for it.”

Jenneva laughed. “Actually, you don’t really feel that weak, but I’ll never tell. As for me marrying you, Queen Marta has already had the gown made for me.”

The Council of Advisors invited the magicians and pertinent military officers to their meeting. They discussed the attack on Mordac’s castle and plans for bringing stability back to Targa.

“I suppose we need a plan for distributing the books that Mordac collected,” offered Duke Moran.

“Your Highness,” began Lord Habas, “I think we should endeavor to find the rightful owners of the books. Most of the books came from temples and holy places and we would not want these Orders feeling ill towards our new King.”

“I agree,” interrupted Egam. “Let these Orders submit a list of books that were lost to them. When all of the lists are complete, we can distribute the books to their rightful owners. I would suggest a boon for Jenneva, however. Let her have any unclaimed books that she desires. Rather than have these books go to waste, she has the capacity to make good use of them.”

“So be it,” announced the King. “Lord Habas, you will administer the list. Inform the Orders that they will have one year to deliver their lists to the Palace. In a year’s time, we will deliver those books rightfully claimed.”

King Byron leaned closer to Lord Habas and whispered. “And, Lord Habas, make sure that the Book of the Beginning is not on any list. I have already promised it to Jenneva.”

General Clark rose. “Your Highness, I respectfully request leave to retire from service. I fear the years have blunted my judgment and I should step aside and let more able men fill my shoes.”

“And do you have a plan for this transition, General?” asked the King.

“I do, Your Highness. I have held talks with Colonel Gregor regarding this subject and I believe we are in solid agreement. My proposal calls for Colonel Gregor to replace me as General of the Army. The other promotions would be his to make, but I will outline them if you wish.”

“I do so wish, General Clark.”

“The reorganization calls for the unification of the Frontier Division into the Regular Army, reporting directly to General Gregor and whichever subordinates he appoints. The Red Swords would report to a Captain and we believe the best choice for this position is Lieutenant David Jaynes. The Rangers will continue as a separate force still reporting to a Captain. The best qualified man for that job is Lieutenant Mitar Vidson.”

“And what of Captain Tork?” asked the King.

“We propose that he be appointed Colonel of Special Forces. Those forces would include the Red Swords and the Rangers,” concluded the General.

“Very well, General,” replied King Byron. “I will accept your proposal with one change. You will not be allowed to entirely retire. I am appointing you to the new post of Military Advisor to the King. You will no longer maintain military rank, but you will receive a generous pension for your military service to Targa, which this country greatly appreciates.”

“Now,” King Byron continued, “if there are no further items for this Council, I have two announcements to make.”

There were no further requests to be heard and the King continued. “First, I have the pleasure of announcing the marriage of Jenneva Roth to Colonel Alexander Tork. It gives me great pleasure to announce that I will perform the ceremony for these two very special citizens of Targa. The wedding will be held here in the Royal Palace, with Prince Oscar and Princess Callie standing witness for these two friends of the Crown.”

The room filled with applause and congratulations for the betrothed couple.

“Second,” announced the King, “the young couple will be wed as Duke and Duchess. The very least this nation can do is to provide the proper recognition to citizens of outstanding quality. Further, let it be known that the day of their wedding will be a day of national celebration, a day for all Targans to celebrate the joys of our country’s heroes.”

The meeting adjourned and everyone filed out of the room congratulating Jenneva and Alex. Prince Oscar and Princess Callie were the last to speak to the engaged couple.

“I don’t know where you plan on going for your honeymoon,” offered the Prince, “but my homes and my fleet are at your service. If you wish for any of them, they are yours.”

Alex started to thank Oscar for his generous offer, but Jenneva interrupted. “That is a very kind offer, Prince, but I have already made plans for our honeymoon.”

“Where will you be going?” asked Princess Callie.

“Oh, very far away,” replied Jenneva. “Someplace . . . simply out of this world!”

THE END

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