Read Dragonlance 15 - Dragons Of A Fallen Sun Online
Authors: Margaret Weis
but these guards were alert, not dozing. They came to attention
when the king approached.
"Your Majesty," said one, moving as if to block his way. "For-
give me, Sire, but General Konnal has given orders that he is not
to be disturbed."
Silvan gazed long at the man, then said, "Tell the general he
will be disturbed. His king is here to disturb him."
Silvan enjoyed watching the struggle on the guard's face. The
elf had his orders from Konnal, yet here stood his king before
him. The guard had a choice to make. He looked at the pale eyes
and set jaw of the young king and saw in them the blood line that
had ruled Silvanesti for generations. This guard was an older
man, perhaps he had served under Lorac. Perhaps he recognized
that pale fire. The guard bowed with respect, and, throwing open
the doors, announced in firm tones, "His Majesty, the King."
Konnal looked up in amazement. Glaucous's expression was
one of astonishment at first, but that swiftly changed to secret
pleasure. Perhaps he, too, had been waiting the day when the lion
would tear free of his chains. Bowing, Glaucous cast a glance at
Silvan that said plainly, "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I am
under the general's control."
"Your Majesty, to what do we owe this honor?" Konnal asked,
highly irritated at the interruption. He had obviously received
some unsettling news for his face was flushed, his brows con-
tracted. He had to struggle to maintain a show of politeness, and
then his voice was cold. Glaucous was disturbed by something as
well. His face was grim, he seemed disturbed and anxious.
Silvan did not reply to the general's question. Instead, he
turned to the elf of the kirath, who immediately bowed very low.
"You bring news, sir?" the king asked imperiously.
"I do, Your Majesty," said the kirath.
"News of importance to the kingdom?"
The kirath stole a glance at Konnal, who shrugged in
response.
"Of the utmost importance, Your Majesty," the kirath replied.
"And you do not bring that news to your king!" Silvan was
pale with anger.
The general intervened. "Your Majesty, I would have apprised
you of the situation at the proper time. This matter is extremely
serious. Immediate action must be taken-"
"So you thought you would tell me of the matter after you had
taken the action," said Silvan. He looked back at the kirath.
"What is your news, sir? No, don't look at him! Tell me! I am your
king!"
"A force of Dark Knights has managed to penetrate the shield,
Your Majesty. They are inside the borders of Silvanesti and
marching toward Silvanost."
"Dark Knights?" Silvan repeated, astonished. "But how. . . ?
Are you certain?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the kirath replied. "1 saw them myself.
We had received reports of an army of ogres assembling out-
side the shield. We went to investigate these reports and it was
then we discovered this force of about four hundred human
soldiers inside the shield. The officers are those known to us as
the Dark Knights of Takhisis. We recognized their armor. A
company of archers, probably mercenaries, marches with them.
They have among their number a minotaur, who is second in
command." .
"Who is their leader?" Silvan asked.
"There is not time for this-" Konnal began.
"I want to know all the details," Silvan stated coldly.
"The leader is very strange, Your Majesty," the kirath replied.
"She is a human female. That in itself is not surprising, but this
leader is a child, even among their kind. She cannot be more than
eighteen human years, if she is that. Yet she is a Knight, and she
is their commander. She wears the black armor, and the soldiers
defer to her in everything."
"That is odd," said Silvan, frowning. "I can hardly believe
it. I am familiar with the structure of the Dark Knights, who
now call themselves Knights of Neraka. I have never heard of
a person that young being made a Knight, much less an
officer."
Silvan shifted his gaze to Konnal. "What do you plan to do
about this threat, General?"
"We will mobilize the army, at once, Your Majesty," Konnal
replied stiffly. "I have already given orders to do so. The kirath
are following the enemy's progress through our land. We will
march out to meet th-em, and we will repulse them and destroy
them. Their force numbers only four hundred. They have no sup-
plies, no means of acquiring supplies. They are cut off, isolated.
The battle will not last long."
"Do you have any experience fighting against the Knights of
Neraka, General Konnal?" Silvan asked.
Konnal's face darkened. He pursed his lips. "No, Your
Majesty. I have not."
"Do you have any experience fighting against any foe other
than a dream foe?" Silvan pursued.
Konnal was extremely angry. He went livid. Two bright flar-
ing spots of red stained his cheeks. Jumping to his feet, he
slammed his hands on the desk. "You young-"
"General!" Glaucous came back from wherever his thoughts
had been wandering to hastily intervene. "He is your king."
Konnal.muttered something that sounded like, "He is not my
king . . ." but he said the words beneath his breath.
"I have fought against these Knights and their forces, Gen-
eral," Silvan continued. "My father and mother fought the Dark
Knights in the forests around Qualinesti. I have fought ogres
and human brigands. I have fought elves, as you may know,
General."
The elves they had fought had been elven assassins sent out
before the shield was put in place, sent to murder Porthios and
Alhana, who had been declared dark elves, perhaps on the orders
of General Konnal.
"Although I myself did not fight," Silvan said, bound to be
truthful, "I have been witness to many of these battles. In addi-
tion, I have taken part in the meetings during which my father
and mother and their officers planned their strategies."
"And yet, the Dark Knights managed to capture Qualinesti,
despite your father's best efforts," Konnal said, with a slight curl
of his lip.
"They did, sir," Silvan replied gravely, "and that is why I
warn you not to underestimate them. I agree with your decision,
General. We will send out a force to fight them. I would like to see
a map of the area."
"Your Majesty-" Konnal began impatiently, but Silvanoshei
was already spreading a map on the desk.
"Where are the Dark Knights, kirath?" Silvan asked.
The kirath stepped forward, indicated with his finger on
the map the location of the troops. "As you can see, Your
Majesty, by following the Thon- Thalas River, they entered the
shield here at the Silvanesti border, where the two intersect.
Our reports indicate that they are currently hugging the banks
of the Tho~- Thalas. We have no reason to believe that they will
deviate from that course, which will lead them directly into
Silvanost."
Silvan studied the map. "1 agree with the kirath that they are
not likely to abandon the road that runs alongside the river. To do
so would be to risk losing themselves in unfamiliar wilderness.
They know they have been seen. They have no reason to hide.
They have every reason to move with haste. Their only hope is to
attack us while we are presumably reeling from the shock of find-
ing them inside our borders."
He glanced pointedly at Konnal as he said this. The general's
face was stone hard, stone cold. He said nothing.
"I suggest that here"-Silvan placed his finger on the map-
"would be an excellent location for us to engage them. The enemy
will come down out of the hills to find our forces spread out in
this valley. They will find themselves trapped between the river
on one side and hills on the other, which will make it difficult for
them to deploy their forces to best advantage. While the foot sol-
diers hit them from the front, a company of cavalry can circle
around and hit them from the rear. We will gradually close the
jaws of our army"-he moved his finger from the footmen in the
front to the cavalry in the rear, forming a semicircle--" and swal-
low them."
Silvan looked up. Konnal stared down at the map, frowning,
his hands clasped behind his back.
"That is a good plan, Your Majesty," Glaucous said, sounding
impressed.
"General Konnal?" Silvan demanded.
"It might work," General Konnal conceded grudgingly.
"My only concern is that the Knights may hide in the wilder-
ness," Silvan added. "If they do that, we will have a difficult time
flushing them out."
"Bah! We will find them," Konnal stated.
"It seems your forces cannot find an immense green dragon,
General," Silvan re;turned. "They've been searching for Cyan
Bloodbane for thirty years. If this army of humans was to sepa-
rate, scatter, we might search for them for a century."
Glaucous laughed, causing the general to cast him a baleful
glance.
"I find nothing amusing in any of this," Konnal said. "How
did this spawn of evil come through that precious shield of yours,
Glaucous? Answer me that?"
"I assure you, General, I do not know," Glaucous said and his
face was once again troubled, shadowed. "Not yet, at any rate.
There is some fell magic at work here. I can smell it."
" All I smell is the stench of humans," Konnal said bitterly.
"I suggest that we try to capture alive this strange woman-
child who leads them. I would like very much to speak to her.
Very much indeed," Glaucous added, frowning.
"I agree with Glaucous, General." Silvanoshei turned to
Konnal. "You will give the necessary orders. And you will
arrange for me to join the army."
"Out of the question," Konnal said shortly.
"I will go," said Silvan imperiously, staring intently at the
general, daring him to defiance. "You will make the arrange-
ments, sir. Would you have me cower under the bed while my
people ride to defend their homes?"
Konnal considered, then he made an ice-rimed bow to the
king. "Very well. If your Majesty insists, I will see to it," he said.
Silvan turned on his heel. He left the room in a flurry of robes.
Kiryn cast a thoughtful glance at Glaucous, then followed after
the king. The guards closed the doors behind them, took up their
posts.
"I would be interested to know why you changed your mind,
GeneraL" Glaucous said quietly.
"Battles are chancy affairs," Konnal replied, shrugging. "No
one knows how they will turn out. No one knows who may fall
victim to the enemy. If His Majesty were to suffer some hurt-"
"_you would make him a martyr," said Glaucous," as you
made his parents martyrs. You will be blamed. Never doubt it.
You should not permit him to go." The mage was grave, with-
drawing into himself again. I'll have a presentiment that, if he
does, something awful will happen."
"Something awful has already happened, in case you hadn't
noticed!" Konnal said angrily. IIYour magic is failing, Glaucous!
Like all the others! Admit it!"
"Your fear is talking, my friend," said Glaucous. I'll under-
stand that, and I forgive you for impugning my magical skills. I
forgive you this time." His voice softened. "Consider well what
I have said. I will endeavor to persuade His Majesty to recon-
sider riding to war. If I cannot do so, permit him to come, but
keep him safe."
"Leave me!" Konnal said harshly. I'll do not need a wizard
telling me what to do."
"I will leave," said Glaucous, "but remember this, General.
You need me. I stand between the Silvanesti and the world. Cast
me aside, and you cast aside all hope. I am the only one who can
save you."
Konnal spoke no word, did not look up.
CHAPTER TWENTYSEVEN
THR TOUCH OF THE DEAD
This evening, while Silvanoshei prepared himself for his
first battle, Goldmoon prepared herself as if for battle. For
he first time in many long weeks, Goldmoon asked that a
hand mirror be brought to her quarters. For the first time since the
storm, she lifted the mirror and looked at her face.
Goldmoon had been vain as a girl. She was graced with a rare
beauty, the only woman in her tribe to have hair that was like a
shimmering tapestry woven of silken threads of sunshine and of
moonlight. The chieftain's daughter, she was spoiled, pampered,
brought up with an exalted opinion of herself. She spent long
hours gazing into the water bowl just to see her own reflection.
The young warriors of her tribe adored her. They came to blows
for her smile. All except one.
One day, she looked into the eyes of a tall outcast, a young
shepherd named Riverwind, and she saw herself in the mirror he
held up to her. Looking into his eyes, she saw her vanity, her self-
ishness. She saw that she was ugly in his eyes, and she was
shamed and despairing. For him, for Riverwind, Goldmoon
wanted to be beautiful.