Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) (39 page)

“Jurik!”  Karg bellowed out.

An ogre about a foot shorter and heavily built came running up.

“Yes, Chieftain?”  Jurik questioned.

“A scout approaches.  Run and bring Axethane Bran and Commander Salic.  Anyone in that big of a hurry has important news,” Karg instructed.

Jurik
nodded and bolted for the pass.

Karg continued to watch the scout approach.  The horse was running full out
, and he could just barely see the rider hunched over the animal’s neck.  Karg smiled.

“Ready yourselves!  Glory follows yon rider!”  Karg bellowed.

The ogres stopped what they were doing and formed up.  All watched the approaching rider now.

Rand slowed Fire as he saw the ogres form up into a veritable wall before the pass.  Their leader stood in front of them looking in his direction.  Rand knew these beasts were supposed to be on their side
, but childhood stories and campfire tales dredged feelings of terror from his mind, and he couldn't help but shiver.  A few hundred feet out, Rand brought Fire to a walk and slid out of the saddle.  He walked Fire to let him cool down.

His faithful horse
was blowing hard and a slight froth had formed at his mouth.  Rand was immediately afraid he had pushed Fire too hard for too long.  He began stroking the horse's neck and talking to him.  Fire shook and stumbled, but kept his footing.

Karg
, seeing the horse falter and the concern the rider seemed to have for him, turned to Mardak.  “The scout and his animal look as if they could use your help brother.  It seems they have found some of our glory for themselves.”

Mardak moved instantly forward and bowed to Rand.
  “I am Mardak, shaman of our tribes.  I see that your animal is injured and, by the look, you tended to him and not yourself,” Mardak commented.

Rand
stared at the ogre with a puzzled expression.

“You are covered in blood, master scout.”

Rand looked down at himself.  Mardak was right.  He was covered in dried blood.  Rand realized he must look like some ghoul newly risen from the dead.  Sweat and dirt had mingled with the blood and run in streaks down his arms.  He had, indeed, tended Fire’s wound while merely wiping the blood from his own eyes.

“I am uninjured
, but I would appreciate any aid you could give Fire.  However, I cannot delay here.  I have news for Commander Salic about Mortow’s army,” Rand said as he started to walk passed Mardak.

Mardak held out a barring hand to stop him.
  “Your intent has been relayed to your Commander.  Chieftain Karg has sent for him and the Axethane.”  Mardak dug in his pouch and pulled out a mottled brown leaf and offered it to Rand.

“What is this?”  Rand asked taking the leaf and examining it.

“It is a Tana leaf.  Chew it and it will help replenish some of your strength.  I am afraid the taste is quite unpleasant, but the effects are worth enduring the bitter flavor,” Mardak explained.

Rand looked from the leaf to Mardak’s face, weighing the truth of the ogre’s words.  He shrugged and popped the leaf into his mouth and began to chew.  Instantly his face crinkled in distaste
, and he shivered with a chill that ran down his entire body.  The back of Rand’s jaws ached with the bitter taste.  It was like chewing on a fresh lemon only many times worse.

Mardak laughed at seeing the scout’s reaction.
  “You only need to chew it a few times, and then you can spit it out,” Mardak informed him.

Rand chewed rapidly several
more times then quickly spit out the sour leaf.  “Yuck!” Rand exclaimed.

“It tastes bad
, yet in a few minutes you will begin to feel the magic within the leaf start to work,” Mardak said chuckling.

Rand did not have to wait
.  Almost immediately, he felt a surge of warmth flow down his limbs and his aches and pains began to subside.

Mardak nodded as he saw the results
, then went to Fire and gently began to unwrap the binding around the horse’s neck.  He inspected the puncture holes and then reached into his pouch once again.  This time he drew forth a large leather bag.  “While you wait for the Commander, mix some of that into water and give it to your friend here,” Mardak said tossing the sack to Rand.

“I need to get more water
. I am nearly out after cleaning the wound,” Rand explained.

Mardak held out his hand for the sack.
  “I will take care of it.  You Commander approaches,” Mardak said gesturing toward the pass.

“Thank you
, Shaman Mardak,” Rand said, handing the sack back.  He turned and began to trot toward the approaching men.  Rand saw among them, Commander Salic, Captain Hamil, Axethane Bran, the Avari Lord, a young man dressed like the Avari Lord, the two Avari he had met the first time he scouted The Slot, Wizard Merric, and an older dwarf.

“Commander, we have trouble
,” Rand said looking once again at Salic.

“Do you not have any new news for me?”  Salic exclaimed with a chuckle.

“Aye, and it is all bad.  Mortow’s Army was breaking camp when I left.  It looks like they intended to march.  With the pace his army sets, they will be here before sunrise tomorrow.”

The young
man looked Rand up and down.  “It seems you have had your share of that trouble already.  Are you injured?”

“I am fine,” Rand replied
, looking to Salic questioningly.

“This is
Wizard Michael.  The one I told you about,” Salic explained.

“Wizard?  He looks more like a warrior than a wizard.
"

“I am a little of
both, though wizard is not entirely accurate.  To be precise, I am a Myrkron, and I have been training with Avars Branik and Reek,” Michael amended.

Rand turned and glanced back at Fire.  Shaman Mardak was on one knee holding a huge hand cupped under Fire’s muzzle while the other hand stroked his neck.  Salic watched his gaze.

“Was Fire injured?”  Salic asked with concern.  He knew how close Rand was with his horse.

“Aye
.  He was attacked by three Weres.  One bit him on the neck, but not before Fire caved in the head of one of them,” Rand recounted with a proud smile.

“And
, judging by that look and the fact that you both stand here now, you took out the other two,” Micah added with an approving nod.

“I could not say, my lord.  I remember running to help him and then waking on the ground
, a naked corpse lying atop me, and my sword shattered.  The blood you see on me is from that man,” Rand explained, once again turning to check on Fire.

“Shaman Mardak is a capable medic,” Bran assured Rand.

“I am sure he is,” Rand replied.

“But you are worried about your friend,” Michael added.

“Make your report, master scout.  I will help Mardak,” Michael offered as he walked away.

Rand watched
Michael as he walked off and then turned to Salic.  “I mean no offense, but what can a wizard do to help?”  Rand asked.

“A wizard, nothing
; but Michael is not a wizard, as he said.  Worry not about your steed.  He could be in no better hands unless Healer Dain was tending him,” Merric said with a smile.

“So they march this day
and will be upon us before dawn,” Salic said returning the conversation to the impending threat.

“Yes,
Commander, and I get the feeling there is a reason for their marching when they did.”

“Everything Mortow does has reason behind it, be assured,” Merric said gravely.
  “He broke camp when he did because that has been his plan all along.  He will arrive before dawn because that, too, is his plan.”

“But what possible reason could he have?
  His troops will be tired and will have little time to rest, unless he also plans on camping on our doorstep, which would allow us the advantage of tactical raids,” Salic thought out loud.

“Mortow will have no intention of allowing us any advantage.  He will attack when we would least expect it.  When it gives him the advantage
,” Merric said gravely.

“What possible advantage could be gained by this move?  If he camps
, we have the advantage of position and timing.  If he attacks, we have the advantage of being rested and forewarned.  I see no sense in this move,” Salic voiced in confusion.

“An attack in the dark would be of great advantage to Mortow
,” Micah chimed in as Karg came striding up.

“How so?”  Captain Hamil asked.

“Trolls and Weres have extremely good night vision and, though his ogre troops will be no better off than any of our men, the Weres make up over half his army,” Micah explained.

“He is correct
, Captain.  We never fight the trolls at night if we can help it.  Their vision seems to be unaffected by the absence of light,” Karg added.

“Even so, the elves
and dwarves have a similar advantage, not to mention King Westan and his men,” Salic said.

“But the elves
, dwarves and high caste number less than three thousand.  Mortow’s Weres alone are almost ten times that number,” Micah pointed out.

“So that is his plan.  Attack us when we cannot see him coming
, and we dare not build fires for they would only further obscure his approach by making the dark seem darker,” Salic said with a sigh.

“We still hold a few surprises of our own, commander,” Micah said with a wicked looking grin.

“Then they are surprises to me as well, my lord.”

“Mortow fears me
or, more precisely, he fears what he does not know about me.  He tried to keep me and my Avari from joining this war, but those plans have come to naught.  Another of those surprises stands before you,” Micah said pointing to Michael, who had walked up while he was talking, leading Fire.

All of them turned and looked at Michael
.  Michael smiled nervously and looked at the ground after handing Fire’s reigns to Rand.  “Here you go.  Good as new,” Michael said trying to shift the focus off himself.

Rand ran his hand over Fire’s neck and inspected the spot where the wound had been.  He was amazed and overjoyed to see
that Fire was completely healed.  “Shaman Mardak is, indeed, as good as his word,” Rand said hugging Fire’s neck.

“He is that
, but it was not the good shaman that healed Fire’s wounds,” Micah said enigmatically.

Rand looked at Micah then followed his gaze to Michael.
  “You did this, Wizard Michael?  How is that possible?” Rand asked stunned.

“It is possible because I am not a wizard
.  I am Myrkron,” Michael replied rubbing Fire’s neck.

“I do not understand.”

“Neither does anyone else,” Michael replied with a slight smile.

“And therefore Mortow cannot account for Michael,” Micah added.

Salic shook his head.  “We should begin readying ourselves for Mortow’s arrival.  How far behind you were they, Rand?” Salic asked.

“We made all possible haste in returning
; but, estimating the pace with which his army moves, I should think we have maybe a few hours at best.”

“Then I had best inform King Brose
, and we should prepare.  It seems our wait grows short,” Salic added.  Salic looked over all the men present; human, dwarf and ogre, warrior and wizard.  His eyes locked on Rand’s.  “Gentlemen, if this is the last we see of one another I wish you all a swift victory or an even swifter passing.  May all of your battles be short and your celebrations be endless.”  Salic turned and walked off with Captain Hamil only a step behind him.

Rand watched Salic walk away
, then turned to Michael.  “Thank you, Michael, for tending Fire.  Gentlemen, please excuse me.  King Brose will no doubt have questions that he will want answered.”  Rand led Fire off, following his commander into the pass.

“
I think it best if I also attend the king.  He may have questions for me as well, once he learns of this news,” Merric added and looked questioningly at Micah.

“I will attend no more meetings.  He has heard all I have to say,” Micah said shaking his head.
  “Only time will be able to judge how wisely he puts it to use.  I will bring the Avari forward.  They will fight alongside Chieftain Karg’s men.  That is, if the Chieftain has no objections?”  Micah said looking to Karg.

“None, my lord.  Warriors as great as the Avari are most welcome among us,” Karg replied with a slight bow of his head.

Merric nodded and turned to Michael.  “Walk with me, Michael,” Merric turned to the pass without waiting.

Michael looked at Micah.  Seeing Micah shrug, he hurried after Merric.

“I know time grows short, but the reports I have heard make me fear that you, I, and Mathis are not going to be enough,” Merric confided.

“The sheer size of Mortow’s army is daunting
, but we are holding the stronger position, and we have the Avari,” Michael replied.