Mindbender (11 page)

The keep itself was a castle made of the ubiquitous Ithilian white marble with high walls and soaring towers. Alexander listened politely as Abel explained how the stone was quarried, finished, and transported. Once inside the keep, Conner showed Alexander to his rooms. They were in a secure wing of the keep, almost wastefully spacious and richly appointed. Alexander had seen so many palaces and seats of government in recent months that he was becoming immune to the sense of awe that he’d felt the first time he had set foot in the palace at Glen Morillian.

Anatoly met him in the entry hall. “They gave us enough space to house a small army but it’s secure enough and easily defended. How’d the assembly meeting go?”

“As well as can be expected,” Alexander said as he unclasped his cloak. “Turns out Phane is making inroads here as well.” He quickly recounted the events of the meeting, then found his lavishly furnished quarters and washed the road grime off before changing into his finery.

Boaberous and the Rangers, with the exception of Lieutenant Wyatt, stayed in the quarters while everyone else went to the King’s table for dinner. It was informal but there were still quite a number of people there. King Abel and his wife, Queen Sofia sat to the left and right of Alexander who was given the seat of honor at the head of the table. Abel introduced his advisor Mage Lenox and his senior military commander General Kishor. Conner and Cassius were there as well.

The meal was excellent. Ithilian produced a wide range of food crops and the chef was an accomplished cook. Alexander enjoyed the meal and spoke freely of Ruatha and his home. By an unspoken agreement, the more important subjects were avoided until the meal was cleared away and wine was served.

“You mentioned other threats,” Abel said.

Alexander nodded. He spent a few minutes explaining the threats posed by Phane and Zuhl, then told them of the Reishi Coven and the abduction of Isabel and Abigail. Finally, he explained what he knew of the shades and the Nether Gate while being careful not to reveal where he believed it was located. Mage Lenox listened intently with a look of alarm.

“Lord Reishi, forgive me, but much of what you say is hard to believe,” Mage Lenox said. “I have studied magic for many more years than you have lived and I have never heard of a wizard sending his mind into the netherworld, let alone providing a conduit for the shades to reach this world. Such a thing is beyond imagining.”

“I agree, but it’s the truth nonetheless,” Alexander said. “I can name the shades if you wish.”

Mage Lenox blinked. “No. That won’t be necessary. The shades are terrifying creatures and I have no desire to draw their attention.”

“Alone, they are frightening enough, but with the possibility that they could open the Nether Gate, they may be a greater threat to the Seven Isles than Phane,” Alexander said.

“I agree,” Mage Lenox said. “Perhaps we can be of some assistance. The head of my order is very talented at divination. He may be able to determine the whereabouts of one or more of the keystones you spoke of.”

“That would be very helpful,” Alexander said. “My hope is that the keystones have been taken from the Reishi Isle and are scattered around the Seven Isles, the farther apart the better. With my wife and sister’s abduction and the invasion of my homeland, I have other matters I would rather attend to first.”

Alexander paused for a moment, considering how much to reveal about the adept wizard’s keep in southern Ithilian. The colors of everyone at the table were clear and bright except for Cassius Ithilian’s. He had the muddy and cloudy colors of a self-absorbed narcissist—Alexander didn’t trust him. He decided to proceed with caution.

“What can you tell me about Grafton Province?” he asked.

Abel nodded to General Kishor. The ranking officer of the Ithilian Army cleared his throat. He was a man of medium height and sturdy build with powerful arms and a broad chest. His eyes were dark brown and his white beard was close cut as was his greying hair.

“Grafton is comprised of the southern island and a portion of the land holdings around Grafton city proper on the mainland,” Kishor said. “The area around the southern island is teeming with sea life, and the people who live there are skilled fishermen. The interior of the island is very rugged and mountainous. It’s avoided because it’s rumored to be haunted by an ancient magic, but more practically, there are a number of dangerous predatory creatures that reside in the rocky heights. Additionally, there’s very little of value in those mountains that warrants the risk of traveling through them.

“The bulk of their population actually lives on the mainland within the city. Most of their forces are stationed there and they have a substantial fleet of merchant ships and fishing boats that routinely make port there. Most of our iron and copper is imported from Tyr through Grafton.”

“Where are they likely to hold the princess?” Alexander asked.

“I would guess they’d take her to Lighthouse Keep on the southern tip of the island,” Kishor said. “There’s a small fortress on a high bluff overlooking the ocean that doubles as a lighthouse. It’s the most easily defendable position in all of Grafton and the most inaccessible.”

“I take it the approaches by water would be easy to spot,” Alexander said.

“Yes, and the roads are also easily guarded,” Kishor said. “The island has a single road that runs along the coastline. It runs over the southern bluff farther inland but there are a series of switchbacks on each side that can be seen from the keep.”

“What about over the mountains?” Alexander asked.

“There’s no path or road and the terrain is treacherous,” Kishor said. “Of greater concern are the ganglings and the revenant, as well as the persistent rumors of some form of haunting within the mountains that seems to revolve around the ancient ruins of a long-dead wizard’s keep.”

Alexander schooled his reaction carefully to avoid any hint of interest. He suspected that the ruins were exactly where he needed to go for answers about his magical calling but he didn’t dare reveal as much. He couldn’t afford to let that information get to Phane before he found what he was looking for. And he also didn’t want to show weakness by revealing his limited understanding of his own calling.

“I’ve had encounters with ganglings before but I’ve never heard of a revenant,” he said.

“A revenant is a most terrifying creature,” Mage Lenox said. “It’s believed that they were created during the Reishi War by Malachi Reishi himself. They're larger than a man and have large wings, sharp claws, powerful strength, and a crown of bone horns protruding from a hairless head. They feed on blood, and it’s said that a person who survives the bite of a revenant will slowly transform into one of the foul creatures. If there is an antidote to the curse of the revenant’s bite, it has long been lost. Revenants of extreme age are said to develop the ability to create illusions in the minds of their victims.

“The people who live on the island speak of seeing a revenant on the hunt from time to time. It doesn’t venture into the villages that ring the small island, but there are many stories of those who strayed from the safety of the coastline never to be seen again.”

“I may be able to learn something more of these creatures if Malachi Reishi actually did create them,” Alexander said. “Normally, I would dismiss the story of a haunting but recent events have opened my mind to such possibilities. What can you tell me about the ruins and the restless spirits surrounding it?”

“Over the years some brave or foolish souls have ventured into the mountains in search of what treasure might be found in the ruins,” Mage Lenox said. “Those who returned reported many unexplained sightings, from dragons to shadows that move on their own. Many attribute these phenomena to the revenant but there is some evidence to suggest that there are other forces at work. In most reports, the intensity of the sightings increases closer to the ruins. Aside from the high mountains to the west, the central region of Grafton Island is the most remote and unexplored part of Ithilian, so it’s hard to say for certain what resides there.”

“If your daughter were returned safely, do you have the military strength to bring Grafton back under your control?” Alexander asked Abel.

“Absolutely,” Abel said. “The latest reports say there’s less than a legion of enemy troops there with more soldiers arriving every day. I can muster three legions without drawing soldiers away from the outlying garrisons or the Reishi Gate.”

Alexander hesitated for a moment before he continued. His next question was the most important. The future rested on King Abel’s answer. “Lord Abel, will you accept my offer of friendship and alliance against Phane?” Alexander held the King’s eyes firmly with his own while he waited for an answer.

Abel didn’t hesitate. “I will, but my word on the matter is not final. An alliance must be confirmed by the assembly. As for your friendship, I welcome you to Ithilian and into my home.”

“Thank you, Lord Abel,” Alexander said and then turned to Cassius. “Chancellor, I urge you to support this alliance within the assembly. I’m confident that the delegates will follow your example in this matter.”

“Of course, Lord Reishi,” he said. Alexander schooled his reaction when he saw the Chancellor’s colors flare with deceit. “I will give this alliance you propose my full-throated support and urge the members of the assembly to stand behind it as well.”

“Thank you, Chancellor,” Alexander said politely. He wanted to strike the man down for his deception but dismissed the irrational desire out of hand. Cassius Ithilian would undo himself with his treachery in time. Alexander wondered how much damage he might cause before he was revealed for the traitor he was. Then a thought occurred to him. He heard his father’s voice from a lecture long ago: “Deception is the most powerful weapon on the battlefield. If you can make your enemy believe something, you can make him take the action you want.” Perhaps Alexander could use Cassius to his advantage. If the Chancellor was in league with Phane, he might prove invaluable as an agent of disinformation.

Then another thought occurred to him and his blood ran cold. He had revealed the presence of the shades and the existence of the Nether Gate. If that information fell into Phane’s hands, he might be able to bind the shades to his will, find the keystones, and open the Nether Gate before Alexander could stop him. He silently chided himself for his error in judgment. He knew from Cassius’s colors that the man couldn’t be trusted, but he hadn’t considered the possibility that the Chancellor was already in league with Phane.

“Lord Reishi, if I may,” General Kishor said. Alexander nodded for the general to continue. “You spoke of an army from Zuhl invading Fellenden. Can you estimate their numbers?”

“I’d say at least a hundred thousand,” Alexander said.

General Kishor’s eyes went a bit wide. “Fellenden will fall to such an army very quickly. They are not a single nation but rather a collection of territories and city-states. Without an organizing authority to marshal a defense, they won’t stand a chance.”

“We’re trading partners with many of the territories of Fellenden,” Abel said. “They’ll appeal to us for our help in the face of such an enemy, and I’m inclined to offer what assistance I can.”

“I understand,” Alexander said. “If there weren’t two enemy armies on Ruatha, I’d send an army to Fellenden myself, but as it stands, I can’t spare the troops. Something has been troubling me though. Why Fellenden? What do they have that Zuhl wants?”

“Iron Oak,” Mage Lenox said. “Zuhl is rich in minerals and stone. Their fisheries are the most productive in the world, but they have little in the way of timber. The Iron Oak forests of Fellenden could be used to build a fleet of ships. Zuhl could realize his lifelong dream of establishing an empire under his name that spans the entire Seven Isles.”

Alexander frowned. “I don’t know much about Zuhl.”

Mage Lenox nodded. “That’s understandable. Zuhl is a very secretive and paranoid ruler. My understanding of his domain comes mostly from conversations I’ve had with the head of my order, Mage Jalal. He’s used his magic to learn about many of the more powerful figures in the Seven Isles. Zuhl is a necromancer mage of great power. His most significant achievement is a spell that he uses to prolong his life span through the sacrifice of another. By some accounts, Zuhl is over seven hundred years old, yet he looks like a man of about twenty-seven.”

Alexander was astonished. He knew that the mana fast led to a longer life. Many of the Reishi Sovereigns had lived for four hundred years or more, but he’d never heard of anyone living for seven centuries.

“The House of Zuhl was the first to fall during the Reishi War,” Mage Lenox said. “Zuhl has spent the better part of his life spreading the story that the suffering and hardship experienced by the people of Zuhl is the fault of the Reishi. He has actively promoted the story that Phane will return to enslave them. Through such propaganda, he has kept his people in a state of constant war, pitting one territory against the other. The result is a large population of battle-hardened and quite ruthless soldiers. They have a culture of rule by violence, with utter contempt for weakness. Killing is glorious and battle is the greatest endeavor. The people of Zuhl see conquest as the only alternative to enslavement. They hate the Reishi with irrational passion and have lived for the day when they could fight in the final battle of the Reishi War.”

“That’s unsettling,” Alexander said.