Defenders of The Sacred Land: Book One of The Sacred Land Saga (20 page)

Servants cleared away the rest of the packs and equipment and then led the way to the dining hall. Tatrice and Rennon followed Dorenn and Gondrial to the table at the dining room center. It was a long table constructed of heavy wood with carved, high back chairs. It appeared to be quite old. Dorenn seated himself next to Tatrice, and Gondrial assumed the head of the table. Rennon sat opposite of Dorenn and Tatrice to Gondrial’s left.

“I hope the cook’s in a good mood,” Gondrial began, “because I am as hungry as an ox.”

“Me too,” Tatrice said.

Dorenn shivered as he peered out of the window at the head-end of the dining hall. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled. Rain poured down, tossed and blown by the wind, which, in turn, howled through the shutters. A servant hurried to the window and pulled the shutters to, fastening them tightly against the storm.

The cook served brisket sandwiches and ale. Gondrial would have normally turned up his nose at such fair, but Dorenn noticed no protest from the rogue as he ate. Dorenn’s hunger was strong, but he could not seem to stomach the food. He forced himself to eat anyway.

Seancey entered the dining hall in a rush. “You best finish your meal. Word has it that more Enforcers are on their way.”

“How could they possibly be sending more men?” Gondrial asked.

Seancey pondered the question for a moment. “I suppose they were to meet up with their companions here, or perhaps they were to rendezvous and Captain Praf never showed.”

Gondrial slammed his mug of ale onto the table. “Once we complete our task at hand, Seancey, remind me to raise an army and do away with those annoying Enforcers once and for all.” Seancey smiled and nodded at Gondrial’s jest. “How far away are they?”

“Difficult to say. A day perhaps, maybe less,” Seancey answered.

“The rest of you, eat up and gather your things. We will leave as soon as the rain breaks.” Gondrial shook his head, gulped his ale in one breath, and then stomped out of the dining hall. Seancey followed him.

Dorenn’s head began to swim. He felt dizzy.

“What is it, Dorenn?” Rennon asked. Tatrice put her hand on Dorenn’s forehead to check for fever.

“Something is wrong. I know we told Vesperin we would stay, but I have an overwhelming feeling we should leave.”

“What’s wrong?” Tatrice asked with growing concern.

“I don’t know. I just know that we need to go.”

Rennon stood from the table. “That is more like it. I will go to the kitchen and see if I can get us some food for the trip. Brookhaven is not far away. We can be back in a day or two.”

Dorenn nodded. “Hurry, Rennon, we have to leave fast.”

“What about Vesperin?” Tatrice asked.

Dorenn rubbed his temple with his left hand. “He will find his way. I don’t think we will persuade him to come with us.”

“Dorenn, we can’t just leave him. He is your best friend,” Tatrice pleaded.

“What would you have me do, Tatrice? He will find his way.” Dorenn stood. “We will have to go on foot. The stable master would be suspicious if we tried to saddle any horses, and he would question us.”

“We have to take the horses, Dorenn, or we would be caught within a few hours’ time on foot,” Tatrice said. “We need a diversion.” She thought for a moment. “I think I can come up with something. Meet me at the stables as soon as you collect your things.”

Rennon returned a few moments later with a basket of bread and cheese. “This is all I could find without the cook eyeing me. It will have to do.”

Dorenn patted him on the back. “It will do. We will be home soon enough.”

“I will gather my things. You coming, Dorenn?”

“I will be there in a moment,” Dorenn replied. Rennon acknowledged him and left the dining hall.

As soon as Tatrice and Rennon left the room, Dorenn removed the black leather pouch containing the stones from Cedar Falls from his belt and loosened the drawstring. He turned it upside down and let the three purple stones fall into his hand. They glowed intently and gave off heat.

“These stones will aid me in decisions.” Dorenn squeezed them tightly in his fist. He could feel the power of the stone’s energy enter his body. “Am I doing the right thing?” The stones began to burn his hand, but he did not flinch. Instead, he dropped the stones back into the pouch, drew the string tight, and fastened it back on his belt.

The rain still fell as Dorenn made his way to the stables. Rennon was waiting at the side outer wall. Together they stalked to the side wall of the stables and waited for Tatrice, not sure what she might do. They did not have to wait long. A scream cut the air and a black mare bolted from the stables, followed by the stable master and his hands. Tatrice ran after them and then stopped, searching frantically.

“Here, Tatrice,” Dorenn said.

“Come on, there are four saddled horses. If we hurry we can make away with them.”

Dorenn and Rennon bolted for the stable door, and the three quickly mounted up. They rode out into the courtyard before Dorenn realized the gates were still closed. They were trapped in the Vale. “The gates!” Dorenn shouted. “They will be closed tight.”

“There has to be a side gate somewhere,” Rennon shouted back. They rounded and headed for the sidewall to the east where only one man guarded the gate they found there. Rennon drew a dagger and thrust it forward. It cut the rope holding the counterweight in check, causing it to fall. The gate shot up on its pulley so fast, it broke off its frame. Rennon was shocked when he looked into his hand and saw that the dagger he had just thrown had returned to him. He sheathed it even though he was uneasy about the magic it possessed. The three rode off into the rain toward the woods. Once under the cover of the trees, the rain lessened, and Dorenn could see much better despite the darkness. He led them to a path that he had seen when they had returned from Signal Hill. They rode hard south on the trail for what seemed to be an hour until they emerged from the woods onto the road. From there they turned back east toward Soldier’s Bluff and Brookhaven.

The rain subsided, but the road was muddy, causing the horses to tire quickly, so Dorenn slowed them to a canter. He knew Soldier’s Bluff was not far, and he figured he could rest the horses there. Tatrice and Rennon were beginning to show signs of fatigue. They had not recovered from the trek from Signal Hill before they began on the trail to Brookhaven. Dorenn began to wonder if the two would make it to Brookhaven. He, on the other hand, showed no signs of fatigue. Without warning, Dorenn felt essence surge through his body. Unable to control himself, he fell out of his saddle and onto the muddy road. His hair stood on end and his ears were ringing. When he opened his eyes, Gondrial stood above him. “Gondrial!” Dorenn said surprised. “But how did you…”

Gondrial held up the book with silver runes and pointed to it. “Magic travel spell. Remember?”

“I thought the use of that would alert the Enforcers, or anyone else, to our whereabouts?”

“Brilliant, Dorenn, it will, but what choice did you leave me? Get back on your horse. We have to get to Cedar Falls by nightfall.” Dorenn did not move.

“We are going back to Brookhaven,” Rennon said.

Gondrial clinched his teeth, pulled Rennon off his horse by the lapels of his cloak, and thrust him to the ground. He pointed his index finger three inches from Rennon’s face. “You are a fool, Rennon. Have you not learned anything? Brookhaven is being watched. If you return, you will not only forfeit your life, but you may very well get Brookhaven destroyed in the process.” Gondrial took the reins of Dorenn’s horse. “Now mount up. Lady Shey and Enowene are meeting us in Cedar Falls. We must travel to Symbor and catch a ship bound for Adracoria, if the Enforcers don’t catch up with us first.”

Rennon stood, slinging mud back into the puddle while keeping his eyes fixed on Gondrial. He took the reins of his horse and climbed on its back.

Dorenn strengthened his resolve. “No, we have to go back and let Brookhaven know what has happened to us.”

Gondrial rolled his eyes and reached out with his hand to Dorenn. “We don’t have time for this nonsense anymore. Why do you think Morgoran sent Trendan back to Brookhaven? The village will go on without you.”

“Excuse me?” Tatrice interjected. “Why is it so important that we go with you? We are no one special.”

Gondrial’s frustration reached a new high. His cheeks became red with anger. “You wish to go back to Brookhaven despite what you have seen thus far? Then go, but know this, once you go back neither me nor any other wielder can help you once you do. You will be on your own when the Dramyds attack and when the armies of Abaddonia and Scarovia come. If you come with me now there may still be a chance to save your village.”

“What is going on here?” Rennon asked confused.

“Come with me to the house of Ianthill and there you may find your answers,” Gondrial said.

Dorenn looked at Rennon, Rennon looked back at Dorenn, and then they both looked at Gondrial. “No, we must return home,” Dorenn said. Rennon agreed.

“Oh, for the love of Loracia,” Gondrial said, and with a wave of his hand he put them all to sleep.

When Dorenn awoke, he was lying over his saddle face down with his hands tied. He heard voices. Enowene and Lady Shey were talking.

“Dorenn is awake,” he heard Enowene say.

“Where are we?” Dorenn said, trying to right himself.

Gondrial rode next to him. “About half a day’s journey out of Cedar Falls. I have managed to keep you asleep most of the way.”

“Stop so I can get into my saddle. And untie me,” Dorenn said.

Gondrial smirked. “I would love to, but thanks to your running off we have Enforcers in the area, and they want to make our acquaintance. I am afraid we cannot stop just yet. You will just have to make do.”

“You are doing this on purpose,” Dorenn accused.

“Yes, yes I am,” Gondrial said, spurring his horse onward.

“Gondrial!” Dorenn screamed. “Do you intend to keep me this way until we reach Symbor?”

“Don’t make me bind your mouth too!” Gondrial retorted.

“Lady Shey, Enowene, are you going to let him do this to us?” Dorenn asked.

“You brought it on yourself,” Enowene said.

Dorenn struggled with his binds, but Gondrial had tied them too tight and too well.

“Rennon is awake,” Enowene said.

“I demand that you untie me! Gondrial!” Rennon affirmed.

Gondrial raised his hand without looking back, and Rennon became fast asleep again.

“Hey, stop doing that,” Dorenn protested.

Gondrial rode back beside Dorenn and unsheathed his sword. Dorenn flinched as he stretched his sword out toward him but was relieved when he cut the ropes binding Dorenn’s hands. Dorenn pushed himself up, and Enowene handed him the reins to his horse. Gondrial rode on to take the lead again.

“Dorenn,” Enowene began. “What do you know of Naneden?”

Dorenn blinked and his anger subsided. “What…well, I know he is king of Scarovia. The soldiers that come to the inn talk about him. They say he is mad.”

“What else do they say about him?”

Dorenn thought hard for a moment. “I never really paid much attention. I was usually busy working.”

Enowene reined her horse closer to his. “You know he has been amassing an army. That is why the soldiers of Symboria have come to your village. The king of Symboria believes Naneden plans to invade.”

“Aye, but what are you getting at?” Dorenn asked.

“I cannot tell you much about our intentions, but I can tell you that Naneden is indeed mad. He does plan to invade Symboria by force, and Brookhaven is likely to be the first to go.”

“Then I must go back to defend my village and warn my parents.”

“Trendan has been sent to Brookhaven for that purpose. We hope that by taking you to Adracoria, you will be able to persuade the kings of Trigothia to join Symboria in defeating Naneden.”

“Me? How could I do that? I am but a simple innkeeper’s son.”

“Sylvalora believes you to be much more than that. She has researched your linage and found that you descend from the nobility of the Trigothian kingdom of Ardenia, the strongest of the Trigothian kingdoms. If we can prove your linage to the king of Ardenia, you may be able to incite their help. Ianthill sent Lady Shey to Brookhaven to find you. She met with the elders of your village and persuaded your mother and father to let you travel to Symbor. She was to evaluate your strengths.”

“What, that cannot be true,” Dorenn said disapprovingly.

“Oh, did you really believe the village elders and your parents would allow you to just traipse off with a wielder so easily?”

“This makes no sense. If I descend from nobility then why not take my father or mother to Ardenia to get help?”

“Because it is from your mother’s side that you descend from the kings of old. They would never accept the council of a woman. Ardenia and all of the Trigothian kingdoms hold fast to tradition. Only a male descendant would have any hope of rallying them.”

“Then what is your involvement?”

“All in good time, Dorenn, I have already told you too much. Such knowledge may actually work against you.”

“How?” Dorenn asked.