Lorik The Defender (The Lorik Trilogy) (8 page)

“You carry the swords of Acromin,” Shayah said. “The first time I saw you, I felt there was something different about you. When you scaled the King Tree, we watched in awe. Never have we seen such relentless determination. I can’t imagine that anything would stop you, Lorik, but you must believe in your own strength and goodness. Fear and doubts only tear us down. I will watch for your return every day,” she added with a smile. “I have no doubt you will come again to the great forest. Perhaps then you can settle into the King Tree and the Wilderlands will thrive once again.”

Lorik smiled. Then he handed her the pitcher she had given him. He climbed to his feet and looked around Erkadine again.

“I will carry your faith in me, close to my heart,” he said.

“And we shall be waiting for your triumphant return.”

When the sun rose, Lorik came walking out of the Wilderlands. He knew in his heart what he needed to do, but there was still so much to be done before he could leave the camp again. In his mind, he made a list of the many tasks he wanted to accomplish. It felt like he was getting his house in order so that if he didn’t return, those he left behind would not be left wanting.

His first stop was to the little tent that Vera and Stone used when they were in camp. His best friends always made him feel welcome, even though he knew the constant demands of the camp were taking a heavy toll on their relationship. Vera was adjusting a small pot on the little fire that was burning outside the tent.

“I didn’t make enough breakfast for you,” Vera said.

“I’m not here to eat.”

“Liam is still sleeping. He needs some rest,” she said protectively.

“I agree. I’m here to see you.”

Vera looked up.

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” Lorik said. “I just need your help convincing Queen Issalyn to go to Baskla and recruit King Ricard to our cause.”

“You don’t think she’ll go?”

“She doesn’t want to.”

“She wouldn’t refuse you,” Vera said. “She’s smitten, just like half the girls in this camp.”

“I don’t need a lover,” Lorik explained. “I need a queen who can convince our ally to help us. She’s the only person for the job.”

“Why can’t you do it?” Vera asked.

Lorik looked down, then squatted by the fire.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Vera said.

They had been friends a long time and Lorik knew he couldn’t keep a secret from Vera. She was perceptive and smart, so he didn’t try to hide his plans although he knew she wouldn’t like them.

“I think the best thing for me to do is take a group of men south and try to slow the army marching toward the camp.”

Vera looked at Lorik as if he had just gone completely insane.

“I know, it’s a dangerous mission, but if we wait, they’ll show up here and there’s no way I can protect everyone.”

“Have you considered the possibility that protecting everyone isn’t your responsibility?” Vera said, stirring the pot of porridge she was cooking.

“I don’t want to debate this with you,” Lorik said.

“Too bad. If you want my help, you’ll at least do me the courtesy of explaining why you think committing suicide is the right course of action.”

“I’m not planning on committing suicide,” Lorik said.

“No, you’re just going to face an army with a couple dozen farmers turned soldiers. What do you really expect to accomplish?”

“If Issalyn can get King Ricard to bring his army to the border, then most of these refugees could find safety in Baskla. But what if the enemy gets here before that? What if King Ricard is slow to arrive? My only priority at this point is to give him time to get here. Then, and only then, do we have a chance of defeating this horde.”

“You have all the answers, don’t you?” she said, her anger simmering just below the surface. “You won’t listen to how foolish your plan is.”

“Okay, tell me,” Lorik said.

“You can’t stop an army. You tried that before, remember.”

“I do,” Lorik said. “And you’re right, I got in over my head, but it was still the right thing to do. I was saved by the wizard from Yelsia, but he might have just flown right by us if I hadn’t been in danger. And as I recall, between myself, the wizard, and his dragon, we did turn back an entire army.”

“You won’t have a wizard or his dragon,” Vera argued.

“No, but my power is growing. The Drery Dru said that what happened with the Leffer wasn’t an isolated incident.”

“The what?”

“The Leffer, that’s what they called the horse monsters.”

“So now you think you can defeat entire armies by yourself?”

“I won’t be by myself,” Lorik argued. “I’ll have a group of trained fighters with me. We’ll be mounted. We can move fast, strike hard, then retreat. I don’t have to stop the evil witch’s army, I just need to slow it down. We’d be sending out scouts to find out exactly what we’re facing, but this way I can see the enemy for myself.”

“Don’t try to convince me of the wisdom of your plan,” Vera said. “I only see a lot of people dying. You know Liam will go with you,” she said in a quieter tone. “He chooses you every time. He won’t listen to reason.”

“I won’t let him go,” Lorik said. “I think he should go with Queen Issalyn. She’ll need a proper guard, and he can take his pick of the volunteers.”

Vera just laughed.

“What?” Lorik asked.

“You know he won’t do it. He won’t guard the queen while you go out and fight the enemy. If you think he will, you don’t know him at all.”

“So you’ll have to convince him,” Lorik said. “I can’t make my decisions based on what Stone will do. I have to do what is best for everyone.”

“What is best for everyone is for you to stay here, fortify the camp, keep everyone’s spirits up. Can’t you see that? You won’t do us any good by getting yourself killed.”

“I won’t get killed.”

“Men always think they’re immortal until they’re lying in the mud bleeding to death,” Vera said.

“Will you help me?”

“I don’t know what I can do.”

“Come with me to see the queen,” Lorik said. “She is a woman of reason, but she needs to hear more than just my side of the argument.”

“Fine,” Vera said. “But on one condition.”

“What’s that?” Lorik asked.

“When Liam insists on going with you, and I know he will, I will go as well.”

“No,” Lorik said. “That’s not a good idea.”

“Of course it isn’t,” Vera said. “It’s a bad idea for any of us to go, but if you insist on making a bad decision and asking for my blessing, then you will kindly do me the same favor.”

“Fine,” Lorik said. “But if Stone sends you back, I’ll support him.”

“Agreed,” Vera said.

Lorik nodded and stood up.

“I love you, Vera,” he said. “You’re a good friend.”

She stopped stirring for a moment and gazed up at Lorik. Her expression softened but she didn’t reply. They had a long history and she had always been stubborn, doing what she thought was best despite what anyone else thought. She had refused to marry Lorik, even though he offered multiple times, because she knew he didn’t love her. She had loved him like a brother and had leaned on him during the hardest times in her life. When she’d left their village in Hassell Point with Liam, things had not turned out the way she imagined. When Lorik came back into their lives, she was angry and afraid, but she had always known that he cared for her. She would always have someone as long as Lorik was around, which was why she hated the thought of him going into harm’s way.

Lorik turned and left. Vera watched him go, feeling a sadness welling up inside her. The tent flaps behind her moved and Liam crawled out of the tent.

“Was that Lorik?” he asked.

“Yes,” Vera replied.

“What did he need?”

“He wants help convincing Queen Issalyn to go to King Ricard in Baskla to seek his aid.”

“Oh, he didn’t need me for anything?”

“He wants you to rest today. Then he wants you to lead the queen’s guard.”

“What? Why would I do that?”

“Because Lorik is going south to slow the enemy.”

“Damn, you said he would,” Stone said. “I still can’t believe it. He really said that was his plan.”

“Yes.”

“We can’t let him do it alone.”

“I know,” Vera said. “I told him as much.”

“Did he argue?”

“No, he knows better than that.”

“Smart man,” Stone said with a smile as he settled down beside Vera.

He leaned over and she kissed him, but her lips were salty with tears.

“What’s wrong?” Stone asked.

“I’m going to lose you both,” she whispered.

“No,” Stone said compassionately. “Of course you aren’t. You can’t get rid of me, you know that. I love you too much.”

“This is different,” Vera said. “This isn’t a band of outlaws or even an army of Norsik raiders. This is an army created by an evil witch. Don’t pretend it’s not a big deal, Liam. None of us have ever faced anything like this.”

“No, not in our lifetime,” Stone said, his voice rising with conviction. “But it isn’t the first time that darkness has tried to cast its shadow across the Five Kingdoms. I may not have believed the legends and myths before, but I’ve seen dragons, and elves, and monsters. I’ve seen the impossible come to life before my very eyes. Hell, just look at Lorik. He’s like a hero from a bedtime story. The men will follow him into the jaws of death if that’s what he tells them to do. Maybe we are facing terrible odds, but my money is on Lorik. And if he’s going south, then I’m going with him.”

“And I’m going with you.”

“No,” Stone said. “Not this time.”

“Don’t argue with me,” Vera said softly as she spooned the porridge into a bowl. “I’m going with you whether you escort Queen Issalyn or go with Lorik to fight the witch’s army. I won’t leave you, not after all we’ve been through.”

“Fine,” Stone said. “The truth is, I’ll be glad to have you along. Besides, maybe it isn’t as bad as the wizard said. Maybe the army won’t even come to Ortis.”

Vera smiled, she loved Liam’s optimism. She leaned against his shoulder for a minute while he ate, then stood up.

“I have work to do,” she said.

“I’ll help you,” he said, covering his mouth with his hand.

“No,” Vera said. “I can do this. You stay here, rest. There will be plenty for you to do tomorrow.”

“I’m fine, I don’t need to rest.”

“Everyone needs rest, Liam,” Vera said. “Please, do this for me.”

“Alright, but if you need anything I’ll be right here.”

She smiled and hurried away before he could see the tears in her eyes again. She couldn’t help but fear that she would need him, and he wouldn’t be around to help her. She didn’t understand why men had to rush toward danger. She loved Liam, but she held a little part of her heart back from him. He was wonderfully kind and tender with her. He never held her past against her, or blamed her when he grew angry, but she couldn’t love him completely, not when the threat of death hung over his every move.

Lorik found nearly a hundred new volunteers waiting for him at the edge of camp where he drilled his men. His volunteers were there waiting too, and normally he would have Stone work with them. Lorik was more of a brawler than a true warrior. Stone, on the other hand, was a trained fighter. He was more accustomed to helping people develop the skills they needed in the face of terrifying circumstances. It isn’t natural to stand your ground when barbarian tribesmen from Norsik are rushing toward you screaming their guttural battle cry. It’s even more difficult to ride toward huge, monstrous creatures that looked as if they just stepped out of your worst nightmares. Lorik had no idea what the witch’s army would look like or how they would fight, but he knew he needed these volunteers trained as quickly as possible.

“You all know that this is a volunteer force,” Lorik told the group. “There is no pay for this work and you’ll most likely be killed doing it.”

“We may have left our farms, but we can fight,” said one.

“I’d rather die fighting,” said another.

“I won’t let anything happen to my womenfolk,” came a gravelly voice.

“Good,” Lorik said. “Then let’s get started.”

He spent the better part of an hour dividing the group of volunteers into smaller groups. There weren’t enough horses for every volunteer, so most would have to serve as regular foot soldiers. That was alright in the long run, because while most of the farmers were familiar with horses, few were competent riders.

Finding weapons for everyone wasn’t difficult. The Norsik had left most of theirs behind when Zollin and the dragon Ferno had driven them back into the Wilderlands. Unfortunately, the swords were short and the shields were small, not much bigger than a dinner platter. Lorik was used to heavier weapons and he regretted giving Stone the day to rest. The younger man was much more adept at wielding small weapons than Lorik was.

Lorik ran the men through a series of drills. First, they ran, then, while they were still panting for breath, he made them shoot bows at a target. A few of the volunteers were good shots with a bow and had the sense to slow their breathing and steady their hands before loosing their arrows. He immediately pulled them apart from the larger group and sent them with one of his regular volunteers. They would be armed with bows, but their first task was to look after the meager supply of arrows in the camp.

Then Lorik had the remaining newcomers fight one another with wooden staves. Most had no sword skills, but that could be taught. Those that had experience with weapons were given the longer swords common in Ortis. Those without swordcraft would be taught with the Norsik weapons.

It was almost midday when Lorik finally finished with the volunteers. His stomach was growling but he ignored it. He had to get Queen Issalyn ready to leave for Baskla. He had already assigned four of his volunteers to prepare to be her escort. Four men and the queen’s group of shieldmaidens was not an appropriate guard, but Lorik hoped that she wouldn’t be in danger going north. And he simply didn’t have enough men to send more with her. He would of course try to convince Stone to lead the small party of guards, but he didn’t think the young fighter would go. Lorik could order Stone to go, but they were partners and he didn’t like the idea of forcing his friend to do something he didn’t want to do. Not to mention the fact that Stone could simply quit and do whatever he pleased. Lorik had no real authority over his friend, even if all he wanted was to keep Stone safe.

He was almost to the big tent in the center of the camp when he heard the sound of someone running up behind him. He turned quickly, and only his lightning fast reflexes saved him from being run through with a rusty spear. Lorik dodged to the side, the blade missing his ribs but tearing a hole in his shirt. Lorik grabbed the shaft with his left hand and was about to punch his attacker with his other, when another man ran at him from the opposite direction. It was an ambush, and Lorik knew the men would kill him if he didn’t use the same deadly force to stop them.

The second attacker had a sword and was followed by a larger man with an axe. Lorik drew his sword, the long handled half of the twin swords of Acromin. It glistened in the sunlight, before it flashed down, knocking the assailant’s sword completely out of the man’s hands. The attacker’s momentum made it easy for Lorik to shove him away and deal with the more potent threat. The big man with the axe was lumbering toward Lorik with a look of angry determination. He wasn’t as big as Lorik, but his arms and shoulders were thick with muscle. He carried a fighting axe, which had a thick, metal blade on one side, and a spike on the other.

In the full second it took the big man to reach Lorik, he felt completely exposed. He’d disarmed both of the other attackers, but he hadn’t injured them. There was nothing stopping either man from picking up their weapons and attacking Lorik from behind. Then the big man was close enough to engage Lorik in battle, forcing all other thoughts from Lorik’s mind.

The axe came down in a diagonal stroke aimed for Lorik’s neck. He swayed back, his thickly muscled body more flexible than anyone would have guessed. The axe whistled through the air, and then Lorik rose up with his sword, like the picture of an angry god. He smashed the handle of his sword into the big man’s face, breaking the man’s nose and sending blood flying. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a strong enough blow to stop the man. The axe came back up, the spike driving toward Lorik’s abdomen. He brought his sword down and the blade caught in the wood of the axe’s handle. The big man jerked the axe, hoping to pull Lorik’s sword out of his hand, but Lorik let the momentum carry him into his opponent’s body. Lorik lower his shoulder and crashed into the other man. The attacker fell, and Lorik pulled the axe handle free of his sword and then spun around. The man with the spear had fled, but the other man was once again attacking Lorik. The sword of Acromin, held at Lorik’s long arm length, caught the assailant in the throat. There was a cloud of blood and the attacker fell at Lorik’s feet.

“Who do you work for?” Lorik shouted as the big man struggled to get back to his feet.

Lorik jammed his sword back into the sheath that hung on his massive back, then broke his attacker’s axe over his knee. The wooden handle broke cleanly where Lorik’s sword had cut into it. Lorik dropped the metal axe head and then swung the wooden handle into the side of the big attacker’s head. The man dropped to the ground, completely unconscious.

Lorik turned, expecting more trouble. All around him were the white tents left by the Norsik raiders, there could be any number of attackers hiding behind them, but no one came out. Lorik looked down at the man whose throat he had cut. The man had already died, his life’s blood pooling around his head. Lorik rolled the man over and searched his pockets. There was nothing that indicated who the man was or who had sent him to kill Lorik.

Then a shiver ran down his back. If someone wanted Lorik dead, they might try to kill Queen Issalyn as well. He picked up the unconscious man who he’d clubbed with the axe handle and slung him over one shoulder. Lorik had always been strong. Years of loading and unloading heavy cargo from the wagons he drove through the Marshlands had built a natural strength in him, but the magic of the Drery Dru had increased that strength exponentially. Lorik jogged through the camp. Most of the refugees were near the cooking section of camp, enjoying their midday meal, but the few who saw Lorik and his heavy prisoner looked at them in awe.

Lorik was sweating despite the cold weather when he reached the big tent. He heaved the unconscious man off his shoulder, letting the man’s heavy body crash into the ground beside the entrance to the tent. There was no sign of foul play, but Lorik was still worried. He bent down and went inside the tent. He wasn’t surprised to see Lord Emry standing by Queen Issalyn, who was sitting on a stool looking distressed. Four other men had swords out and were menacing the Queen’s shieldmaidens who had no weapons at hand. The man who had used the spear in the ambush was now speaking with Gunther Emry.

Issalyn looked up, her facing brightening when she saw Lorik.

“Kill him,” Emry ordered his men.

The four men guarding the maidens started toward Lorik

“What is this, Lord Emry?” Lorik shouted as he drew both of his swords, one in each hand. “Why have you betrayed us?”

“I am the rightful ruler here,” Emry snarled. “I’ll not be ordered about by a mud eater from the Marshlands.”

Lorik would have continued the argument but the men around him were threatening. They each had longswords and from the looks of them they were competent in using them. Lorik didn’t wait for the men to attack; he feinted to his left then lashed out to his right. His first attack was caught on the blade of the nearest man easily enough, but that had been Lorik’s intent. He spun past the first man and used his second blade to slice through the thigh of Emry’s second guard. The wounded man screamed as he fell, the bellowing made the others hesitate and Lorik jumped forward. He batted down another man’s sword and then drove his own blade into the man’s chest. He had to kick the dead man’s body off his blade, but he turned as he did so and knocked the fourth man down with his slain companion’s body.

The first guard was hacking at Lorik’s shoulder, and although Lorik brought his sword up to parry the blow, he was a split second too late. His blade caught and held the other man’s weapon, but not before it bit into the thick muscle on Lorik’s shoulder. Blood welled around the blade, and the attacker looked triumphant. Then Lorik swung his other sword and amputated the man’s arm at the elbow. The screams were bloodcurdling and when Lorik turned back to the fourth guard, he found the man scrambling backward, his face pale with fear.

Lorik knew the cowering guard was not a threat, so he turned back to find Emry with a blade to Queen Issalyn’s throat. The man who had tried to kill Lorik with the spear now had a dagger in his hand and was guarding Emry’s back to keep Issalyn’s maidens from saving their queen.

“Drop your weapon,” Emry said in a high pitched voice. “Drop it now or I’ll kill the queen.”

“I’ll make a deal with you,” Lorik said. “You can live or die. Let the queen go, and I’ll let you live. You’ll have to leave the camp and you’ll no longer be a lord of anything, but I won’t kill you.”

“Shut up!” Emry screamed. “Drop your weapon or she dies!”

The tent flaps fluttered as people began coming in. Some were refugees, but Vera and Trinad were among them too.

“If she dies you die,” Lorik said. “Is that really what you want?”

“Drop you weapons!”

Lorik dropped his bloody swords onto the thick carpet of the tent. At that same moment Emry relaxed slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing a bit. Lorik didn’t hesitate, but jumped forward so fast and so unexpectedly that it was almost as if he had vanished from one spot and reappeared by the queen. He punched Emry in the face, knocking the smaller man backward and into his only remaining ally. Both men fell and the queen’s maidens pounced on them. Some wrestled away the men’s weapons, others dropped down, driving their knees into the men’s backs and heads so that they couldn’t move.

Lorik pulled Queen Issalyn up from the stool and she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, sobbing.

“Are you hurt?” Lorik asked.

She shook her head.

“Vera,” Lorik said, obviously unsure what he should do.

Vera and Trinad came forward. Vera helped the queen to let go of Lorik, who turned to Trinad. The older man was ashen and visibly shaken.

“Do we have a stockade?” Lorik asked. “Any place to keep people who are caught causing harm?”

“No,” Trinad said. “We haven’t needed one.”

“We need one now, see about it quickly. I want Gunther here in chains. Do whatever you have to.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“And the man outside, I want him confined as well.”

“What happened, Lorik?” Vera asked.

“Lord Emry tried to have me killed,” he said.

“Well that was a stupid idea,” Vera said.

“The last stupid idea he’ll ever have,” Lorik said angrily.

He stormed from the tent, somehow angrier now that the fighting was over. He walked and walked, trying to calm his mind. Eventually Stone caught up to Lorik. The big man had known his friend would arrive eventually and he was glad for the company.

“I can’t stay here,” Lorik said.

“Alright, but tell me what happened? You’re bleeding, did you know that?”

“It’s nothing, just a scratch,” Lorik said, pressing a rag to the wound in his shoulder. “That little weasel Emry tried to have me killed. He threatened Queen Issalyn.”

“Is everyone okay?” Stone asked.

“Yes, the queen is okay, I’m okay. Several of Emry’s men are dead. I didn’t want to kill them, but they left me no choice. We could have used those men, Stone,” Lorik said angrily.

“I know,” Stone agreed. “But we can’t worry about that now. Why do you need to leave the camp?”

“Because, I’m no good here,” he said.

“That’s not true. Obviously everyone sees you as our leader.”

“But I’m not, or at least I shouldn’t be. I like things done my way, who doesn’t. And maybe I’ve brought this on myself by being too vocal in my opinions, but I shouldn’t be in charge of the camp. We need someone with a cool head, someone who doesn’t slay everyone who disagrees with them.”

“That’s not what happened,” Stone said. “You killed men who were trying to kill you.”

“But why?” Lorik said, finally stopping and turning to look at his friend. “Why were they trying to kill me? I’m not the enemy.”

“Emry saw an opportunity to rise in power,” Stone said. “He was frightened and intimidated by you, but that isn’t your fault.”

“Queen Issalyn should be in charge. She is the rightful Queen of Ortis; I’m no one, just a teamster from Hassell Point.”

“We both know that isn’t true,” Stone said. “And no one ever said this was going to be easy. But why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you.”