Into the Heart of Evil (40 page)

“Sire,” the captive said again, “I have knowledge
that may be of interest to a Kale Gen warrior such as yourself.”

Durik’s interest was piqued.  “What is it?”

“I know where the Kale Stone can be found,” the
conspirator said in a strained whisper.

Durik’s heart burned within him.  “Where is it,
then?”

“Mynar had our expedition all ready to go and get
it, but then he delayed us at the last minute to make this strike against Lord
Krall.”  The conspirator smiled. “I was one of the six who were chosen for the
expedition and fully briefed on where it is and how it is to be found.  Spare
my life and I’ll tell you everything I know.” The conspirator coughed a
belabored cough.

Durik paused for a moment.  Suddenly, yet subtly,
words were given him to say.  “The Kale Stone will be found below Demon’s
Bridge.”  As he spoke these words, he realized the purpose of the visions. 
Something had been leading him all this time to where the Kale Stone lay!

The conspirator coughed and sputtered for a
moment, though Durik was lost in his own thoughts and wasn’t listening
anymore.  “How did you know?  How could you possibly have known?!  Wait, I… I
have more information.”  The conspirator was stalling for time to think of any
tidbit that might save his life.  At that point, one of the house guard
approached.  “I can tell you the names of at least ten other conspirators. 
Please!  Will you spare my life if I give you ten?”

“You’ll tell us everything we want to know by the
end of the night anyway!” the house guard yelled as he rapped the shaft of his
spear against the side of the conspirator’s head.

“Huh?” Durik said, coming out of his thoughts. 
Realizing that the guard wasn’t speaking to him, Durik stood.  Hearing
footsteps, he turned and saw Manebrow approaching.

“Sire, do you have any further need of our warriors
for the evening?” Manebrow asked.

Durik slowly shook his head, then, breathing
deeply, he looked Manebrow in the eyes.  “I think I know where the Kale Stone
is to be found.”

Manebrow looked at his leader. “I don’t know if
I’d trust anything this lot of worthless scum said.”

Durik shook his head. “He was about to tell me,
but then I had the same feeling I get during visions, but not so powerful. 
Then words were given me to say.  ‘The Kale Stone will be found below Demon’s
Bridge.’”

Manebrow nodded his acceptance of the statement. 
“Well, almost right under our noses all these years, and yet we had no idea.” 
Not a week ago he’d not have believed Durik, but since the healing incident in
the forest where they’d killed the great boar, Manebrow was beginning to sense
that, somehow, and for some purpose yet to be revealed, Durik had a powerful
ally or allies that seemed to be watching over him.

“Well, what do you say to some sleep?” Durik
asked.

“Aye, sire,” Manebrow agreed as he wearily nodded
his head.  “I’ll get the company together.”

“I’ve found the treaty,” Durik suddenly
remembered.  “I should probably take it to Khazak Mail Fist.”

“Aye, sire.  I’ll have Ardan take the company to
the quarters then and get them bedded down for the night.  If you don’t mind, sire,
Gorgon and I would like to accompany you.”

Durik looked at Manebrow quizzically, but said
nothing.

Lord Krall stood in the darkness of the evening
holding his lifemate, the Lady Karaba, close to him as they looked out the
window in the conference room of the great hall.  From the doorway that led
into the family’s personal chambers Krebbekar approached them and, in whispered
tones out of respect for the graveness of their son’s condition, he handed Lady
Karaba the Krall Stone.  Gesturing toward Khazak Mail Fist, who stood quietly
in the doorway behind him, and whispering to Lady Karaba, the expression on
Krebbekar’s face showed that he was relaying a request from the mighty Kale Gen
warrior.

Slowly, distractedly, Lady Karaba patted the hand
of her lifemate and slipped out of his embrace, moving wistfully to seat
herself at the large conference table that was the centerpiece of this room. 
Khazak Mail Fist came and seated himself quietly next to her.  His concern for
news of what was going on in the Kale Gen and with Lord Karthan at that moment
outweighed the respect he had for Lady Karaba’s suffering as she worried for
her son who lay on death’s doorstep.

“I do appreciate your entertaining my request, my
lady,” Khazak said almost meekly.

Taking the sphere in both hands, Lady Karaba
looked forlornly at the large Kale Gen warrior who had been the primary
protector of Lord Karthan for several years now.  “He is my brother, you know. 
There is nothing more I can do for my son at this moment, but if I can give you
information that somehow helps my brother, I will.”

Khazak smiled a worried smile and bowed his head.

Taking the Krall Stone in both hands, Lady Karaba
began to focus.  Her look was strained at first from some effort she was
attempting, then quickly her countenance changed as she looked up with
sightless eyes, the visions of what she saw through the stone transfixing her. 
As the visions began to take her, no one noticed Durik, Manebrow, and Gorgon
slip into the room and stand near the doorway.

“I see my brother.  He is in council with the
leaders of the gen in his council chambers.  He still sits upon his throne.”

There was an audible sigh of relief from all
present in the room.  Khazak and Lord Krall both looked over and noticed the
presence of the three Kale Gen warriors.  Visibly relieved, Khazak motioned for
them to come closer.  As they moved into the room, Durik’s heart burned within
him, and he could feel a power that was strangely familiar now, and yet not
exactly the same as before.

“I thought that was the Krall Stone,” Durik
whispered to Khazak.  “How is it Lady Karaba, who is a descendant of Kale can
use it?”

“She’s joined to Lord Krall,” he replied, also in
a whisper.  “Even though she’s Kale by blood, I’ve seen her use the Krall Stone
before.  She was chosen by the Krall Stone to be its holder, to be the Oracle
of the Krall Gen, after she was joined to the Krall Gen.”

“Khee-lar Shadow Hand is not present in the
council chambers.  His seat sits empty.  In fact, there are a few chairs that are
empty,” Lady Karaba continued.

“Aha!  Lord Karthan must have rooted out the
conspirators then!  He’s got them on the run, by the Fates!” Khazak said
excitedly.

“I see Khee-lar…  He is in the lower chambers of
the Deep Guard Warrior Group’s training caverns.  He is walking with two
others… one of whom bears the marks of an elite warrior… the other carries both
the brand of elite warrior and leader caste.  I believe… yes, the leader caste
is Raoros Fang.”

Khazak’s scowl returned.  “That one owes me much.  He
better not have thrown his allegiance behind Khee-lar.”

“They’re talking about…” Lady Karaba was silent
for a few moments as she listened.  “They’re talking about ‘five who have not
returned’ and ‘no reports from Mynar confirming success or failure’.”  

Khazak, Durik, and the other two Kale Gen warriors
knew they were talking about the five conspirators who had died trying to kill
Khazak and Lord Karthan’s two sons. 

Lady Karaba had paused yet again to listen.  “Now
they’re talking of…” Lady Karaba got a rather surprised look on her face. 
“They’re talking about the Kale Stone!  Raoros is saying that if Khee-lar
doesn’t have the stone, he will not recognize his claim to the throne of the
Kale Gen.  He’s saying that… He’s saying that he believes something’s gone
wrong and that he doubts Mynar will deliver the stone as promised, and
therefore… He’s saying that he’s pulling his support away from Khee-lar and
believes that Lord Karthan is likely to get the Kale Stone first.  He’s
expressing confidence in ‘Khazak and the yearling group’ and doubting Mynar.”

Khazak slapped his thigh. “That’s it, the
conspiracy is crumbling!”

“Raoros has stopped walking.  He’s saying…
‘Without my warriors behind you, there isn’t enough strength in the Covenant of
Loyalty to overthrow Lord Karthan.  And don’t talk to me about your silly sheep
skin with their names on it.  I didn’t sign it.  Besides, my warriors are more
loyal to me than to your ridiculous covenant.’  Raoros and the elite warrior
are turning to go.  Khee-lar is left standing there.”

Khazak slammed his fist down on the table
excitedly.  “We’ve done it!  By breaking the back of the conspiracy here in the
Krall Gen, it appears we’ve broken the back of the conspiracy in our gen as
well!” 

Big smiles were evident on the faces of all the
Kale Gen warriors.  Lord Krall’s expression, however, was more reserved.

Pulling her hands away from the sphere, Lady
Karaba shook her head and blinked as the sight returned to her eyes.  Looking
around the table, she noticed the three Kale Gen Warriors for the first time. 
“Oh, hello, friends from my brother’s gen,” she said politely.

“My lady,” Durik said, bowing his head slightly.

“Khazak,” Lord Krall began, “I would dare say
that, while things appear to be working out, there is likely still much to be
done to ensure the security of your gen.”

Khazak Mail Fist nodded.  “Aye, lord, but I
believe the situation just changed from a fight for survival to a clean up
operation.”

“Be that as it may, Khazak, don’t forget that a
clean up operation can very well become a fight for survival yet again.”

“Aye, lord.  We shall leave on the morrow to
ensure that it does not become such.”

Disappointment and abandonment were feelings that
Khee-lar Shadow Hand was familiar with from his youth.  After all, he had
always had a hard time winning people’s loyalty with his less than charismatic
personality and his propensity of putting personal gratification and lust for
power above all else.  That was, however, before he had learned to twist his
fellow kobold’s loyalties to be his by promising them power, wealth, or
whatever it was they desired… and delivering just enough to keep them in his
employ.  They didn’t have to love him, they just had to further his desire for
power.  Today, in the bowels of the Kale Gen’s deeper caverns, someone else
would feel more than disappointment and abandonment.

Drawing a long, narrow knife from behind his
cloak, Abetor, the new chief elite warrior of the Wolf Riders Warrior Group,
took the blade in both hands and plunged it deep into Raoros Fang’s back. 
Raoros fell immediately to the ground, the shock of the blow leaving him
stunned and twisting on the ground as wild eyes looked up at his trusted second
and soundless lips mouthed words of surprise.

Stepping forward, Abetor drew his knife out of
Raoros’ ribs and quickly sliced through his neck, spilling out a torrent of
blood.  Raoros’ eyes rolled back into his head and he slipped quickly into
unconsciousness.  Within moments, he lay dead.

 “Well done.” Khee-lar nodded approvingly as he
folded his arms across his chest.  “You have made well on your covenant this
day.”

“Yeah, I guess.  He deserved to die,” Abetor said
as he cleaned the blade on Raoros’ cloak.  “His failure to act got my brother
killed in the insurrection.  If he’d helped, like he said he would, I wouldn’t
have had to kill him.”

“And what of Raoros’ war… well, your warrior
group?” Khee-lar asked calmly.

“Troll was a vain fool to start the insurrection
in front of the whole gen, and my brother was a fool to follow him, instead of
sticking to the covenant.  But Troll’s loss is my gain,” Abetor said.  “I have
made the promises that were required, and I have gained the support of all of
the elite warriors who remain… and some of the warriors as well.  It wasn’t
hard, once Raoros Fang here made me his chief elite warrior.”

“My friend,” Khee-lar said, almost too smoothly,
“I reward well those who serve me.  With the loyalty of my group, as well as
the loyalty of the elite warriors in your group already bought – every one of
them now – and with the loyalty of many in the other warrior groups, I believe
the last obstacle to the plan is sitting on the throne in the council
chambers.”