Shades of the Past: The Morcyth Saga Book Six (9 page)

“My Alaina knew and some close friends,” he
explains. “There are others from my men who came to live here with
me, many joined the regular army. It was a bad time and one which I
wished to put behind me.”

“So why come here and don your old armor?”
asks James.

“My Alaina is gone. There will be those who
remember the Black Hawk, both here in Madoc and within the Empire,
which may be to our advantage. It was a name to strike terror in
the enemy, and it may serve us with what’s to come.”

He walks away from the room, leaving the
banner behind. “Aren’t you taking the banner?” Miko asks.

Shaking his head, he says, “No.” He glances
to James and says, “Now let’s go find my son.” Securing the secret
door behind which the banner lies, he then takes them from the
treasure room and closes the secret door. With their help, he puts
the chests back in front of the hidden door and takes a moment to
hide the fact they were ever moved. When he at last is satisfied,
he turns and heads back up the stairs.

When Illan comes out of the manor house,
whatever conversation the others were engaged in comes to an abrupt
halt when they see what he’s wearing. Murmurs of ‘Black Hawk’ and
other awed exclamations are heard as each comes to understand just
what they are seeing.

Some of the recruits, having come from
Cardri, are not familiar with the significance of the emblem he’s
wearing. The others quickly fill them in.

James comes out behind him and says, “We camp
here this evening. Delia, you’re going to be in charge for awhile.
We have some business in town to take care of.”

“Very well,” she says.

Illan steps down off the porch and comes to
where Moyil is holding his horse for him. Moyil’s eyes widen as he
draws near. Without saying a word, Illan takes the reins from him
and mounts.

To those gathered around, James says, “We’re
going to rescue his son. Jiron and his group will join us. Delia,
you and your slingers will remain here to look after the prisoners
until our return.”

The recruits look upset at not being allowed
to accompany them, but realize there is little use in protesting.
Those who are leaving with Illan and James mount up and follow them
down the lane to the gate.

As they near the gate, Shorty and Scar see
him riding toward them in his new armor. “I knew it!” exclaims
Shorty with a holler.

“I can’t believe this,” Scar says somewhat at
a loss for words, for once.

When Illan draws close, Shorty stands there
with a grin on his face and says, “I knew there was something about
you.”

“You did, did you?” Illan replies from the
back of his horse. “You two stay here and watch the gate.” Without
any further explanations, he continues through the gate and heads
into town.

As Potbelly passes Scar he says, “Things
should be more interesting from here on out.”

“You got that right,” agrees Scar.

Once past the gate, James drops back a little
bit and rides between Uther and Jorry. To them he asks, “So what’s
the full story behind the Black Hawk?”

On the way into town, they fill him in on the
details.

About twenty five years ago, the Empire made
a push into Madoc in an attempt to swallow up a section of fertile
farmland to feed its growing populace. The army was sent to expel
them back to the Empire but the fighting raged for many years until
a sort of stalemate was achieved.

Unfortunately for Madoc, that stalemate
happened to be where the Empire had decided to stop anyway. A
portion of the lands now held by the Empire was known as
Barrowman’s Field and thus the name for the war.

Some believe that the Ruling Council in Madoc
decided to create a band of men whose job was to destroy as much of
the Empire as they could to force them to draw off some of their
forces defending the area known as Barrowman’s Field.

The Black Hawk was in charge of that band.
Black Hawk and his raiders somehow got through their lines and then
it began. The destruction of town after town, some say they
slaughtered every last man, woman, and child. They’re also rumored
to have salted the fields so nothing would grow.

Whatever the real truth is, it worked. The
cry from its citizens forced the Empire to pull forces from the
border to deal with the Black Hawk which allowed Madoc’s army to
push them out.

Black Hawk’s band supposedly destroyed over
twenty villages and small towns, all the while staying one step
ahead of their forces. They even managed to avoid direct
confrontation with their mages, how no one’s ever been able to find
out.

Sometime after the end of the War of
Barrowman’s Field, Black Hawk disbanded his men and was never heard
from again.

“Many thought he had died,” Uther says,
winding the tale to a close.

“But now he’s back,” James says.

“That’s right,” agrees Jorry. “But what
that’s going to mean is anyone’s guess.”

“Thanks,” James tells them as he moves to
rejoin Illan at the fore.

“Sure,” replies Uther.

Coming abreast of Illan, he glances over to
his friend aghast at the things they just told him. He knows Illan
must have heard all that was said, he definitely was close enough
to have overheard the conversation.

“Did you do all those things?” James asks
him.

He rides in silence for a minute before
replying. “Yes, to a point,” he finally says. “We did destroy towns
and villages, sow fields with salt and other acts of destruction.
But the wanton deaths of innocents? No, we never did that.
Unfortunately, in the fog of war, innocents were killed and for
that I shall always feel remorse. But we did what we had to
do.”

James digests that for a moment then asks,
“Why didn’t you resume your role as Black Hawk when the Empire
first attacked last summer?”

Illan glances to him and then says, “I’m
getting old. Sure, I thought about it but my Alaina counseled me
against it. Said it would bring back too many bad things. But I
couldn’t simply stand by and do nothing so I went south to see what
I could do.”

“I left home before the fall of the City of
Light. I hated to leave my Alaina, we both knew it was unlikely we
would ever see each other again. She understood and sent me with
her best wishes. My son offered to accompany me but I told him to
stay and take care of his family.” He pauses and then says with a
catch in his voice, “It seems that’s all I have left now.”

They ride in silence for awhile before he
gets his emotions under control and is able to continue. “By the
time I reached the City, the Empire had already encircled it and I
thought it would take months before it fell. Then the following
morning to my disbelief, it was over. I worked my way to Lythylla
and joined with Miller and his band, seemed like the logical thing
to do at the time. The rest you know.”

He always knew there was something about
Illan. Always an air of command about him and in a crisis always
knew what to do and took charge. Now it all makes sense. “After we
rescue your son, what do you plan to do? Now that Black Hawk has
returned.”

“Nothing has changed,” he says. “I’m still
your man and will stand by you till the end.”

“Thank you for that,” James tells him.

Illan simply nods in reply.

By this time, Seastar appears ahead in the
road. The sun now just dropping below the horizon, the lights of
town begin to wink into life. “Where do you think we’ll find
him?”

“My son will be in the jail,” he says. Then
adds, “I hope.”

“No, I mean Lord Faetherton,” clarifies
James.

“Who knows?” he says. “Though I don’t plan to
leave until I deal with him.” He glances to James and is relieved
to see him nod agreement.

Entering the outskirts, they make their way
between the buildings, finally coming into an area lit by an oil
streetlamp. When Illan rides into the light, his armor blazes forth
and gasps are heard from those nearby on the street.

“Black Hawk!” “He’s returned!” and other
exclamations are heard in an increasing number as more and more
people gather round.

“Sir!” a middle aged man exclaims as he comes
from a nearby tavern.

Illan pauses in the street and turns toward
the man. “We ride,” he says. “Brook’s Hollow at dawn. Spread the
word.”

With a whoop, the man turns and races down
the street.

As they progress through town, that scene
replays three more times. Each time all Illan says is, “We ride,
Brook’s Hollow at dawn, spread the word.” The crowd gathering
around them grows as they progress further into town.

When the press of people becomes too great,
Illan brings them to a halt. At that, the street grows quiet.
“Please return to your homes,” he tells them and then takes off his
helm, revealing his features to all.

“Illan?” some people ask in shock. Still
others stand in dumbstruck amazement. Never before had anyone known
who Black Hawk had been. But once they knew, it didn’t take them
long to realize where he’s going. All knew of what Lord Faetherton
had done and where his family lies.

“They’re in the jail Illan,” one man cries
out.

Illan nods and says, “Thank you. Now you
should all return to your homes.” He glances around at the faces
he’s known all his life. Some he’s watched grow to adulthood.

Still shaking their heads in wonder, they
begin to disperse.

Sighing, Illan replaces his helm and glances
to James. Then he resumes riding toward the jail. Before they reach
it, they see lined up before the front door, thirty or more men,
ten of whom have crossbows. Standing before them is a man dressed
regally and can only be Lord Faetherton. Illan approaches and stops
a good twenty feet from him.

“I’ve come for my son,” he announces.

“Your time is past, Black Hawk,” Lord
Faetherton says derisively. “You and those with you are under
arrest for the illegal release of a prisoner.”

“I don’t think so,” Jiron says.

“If you don’t remove your weapons, we will be
forced to fire,” he says.

“If you don’t drop your weapons and stand
aside, I will kill each and everyone who stands against me!” Illan
says with utter conviction.

From his vantage point behind Illan, James
watches Faetherton’s men begin to shift in their ranks. Each has
grown up with the tales of Black Hawk and the viciousness with
which he pursues his enemies. Several crossbows actually dip to the
ground as the men holding them begin to reconsider supporting Lord
Faetherton in the face of Black Hawk’s rage.

Lord Faetherton raises his hand and all can
see it is not entirely steady as it shakes with the nervousness
he’s feeling. “When I lower my hand,” he says loudly, “my men will
fire. Remove your weapons and prepare to be taken into custody.

“When your hand falls,” Illan says as he
begins edging his horse forward, “everyone dies.”

Suddenly from out of the dark to the right of
the jail, a dozen horsemen appear. One is carrying a battle torn
flag bearing the Black Hawk insignia. The rider in the fore says,
“Thought you might be here.”

“Ceadric!” exclaims Illan.

“Your orders sir?” Ceadric asks.

“When his hand falls, kill them all,” he
says.

“Yes, sir,” Ceadric replies and turns toward
where Faetherton and his guards stand before the jail. The
‘whisking of swords’ can be heard as Ceadric and his men draw their
weapons.

Hearing that, Faetherton glances from one
force to the other and judges his chances. Behind him, some of his
men have already judged their chances of survival to be slim at
best. Two crossbowmen and three guards break ranks and high tail it
out of there.

Standing there in indecision, Faetherton
licks his lips and his arm remains up.

To the men blocking the entrance to the jail,
Illan says, “Drop your weapons now.” When they hesitate, he adds,
“I’ll not ask a second time.”

A second later, the clatter of weapons
hitting the ground can be heard as, to a man, they all drop their
weapons. Faetherton brings his hand down slowly. Illan glances to
Ceadric and says, “Take them inside and lock them away until I
decide what to do with them.”

“Yes, sir,” Ceadric replies and then gets his
men moving to collect the prisoners.

Illan dismounts and walks toward the jail.
James follows suit and tells the rest to stay with the horses.

Faetherton stands there as Illan approaches,
still maintaining an air of superiority. “You’ll not get away with
this!” he states. “I am the magistrate here. You are all branded
outlaws.”

When Ceadric and the others with him hear
that they all break into laughter. “Shut up,” one says when they
pass by. Another spits at him and it lands on the front of his
shirt.

“Now, let’s go inside milord,” Illan says
with a slight derogatory emphasis on ‘milord’. Propelling him
forward, they move toward the door into the jail.

Along the edge of the streets, the townsfolk
have gathered to watch the events unfold. They knew Illan’s family
is being kept inside and was hoping to see Faetherton’s blood
spilled, there’s little love for the man among the populace. When
they see him being pushed through the door and into the jail, a
cheer erupts.

Inside the jail, Illan has him move through
the door to the holding cells in the back, James follows along
behind.

When Illan enters the holding cell area, he
sees his son and family all in one cell and comes to a stop. His
son looks emaciated and his daughter-in-law and children don’t look
much better. They must have been given the barest minimum of food
to keep them alive. James remembers him from their previous visit
as a guard outside the magistrate’s office. What he sees there in
the cell barely resembles the man he once was.