Sovereign Stone (21 page)

General Randal approached the front of the company of soldiers. “Lady Buckwold, are you being threatened? Perhaps they have coerced you into making such a statement. We have it on good authority that Baron Buckwold is already dead.”

“He is alive! I have seen him with my own eyes and held his hand in mine. You will order your men to stand down. Is that clear, General?”

“Yes, yes, of course, Lady Buckwold,” General Randal said, then turned and started issuing orders to withdraw.

Alexander smiled when he saw Nero’s colors change from rage to fear.

Lady Buckwold returned to her father’s chambers and faced Alexander. “Explain yourself. You have come into my home and are holding the Baron of Buckwold hostage, yet you claim that his most trusted advisor is a traitor. You sent an emissary who is clearly imbued with powerful magic and a very persuasive tongue to enlist my aid. I have given it and now I will have my questions answered.”

Alexander studied her colors. She was a strong woman who lived a life bound by duty. She held her emotions very close and didn’t often permit them to intrude.

“Lady Buckwold, my name is Alexander Ruatha,” he said as he drew his cloak back to reveal the distinctive hilt of the Thinblade. Her eyes widened a bit and her severity faltered just slightly.

“Headwater has thrown their lot in with Prince Phane and they have attacked New Ruatha. When I discovered that Buckwold had been duped by Nero into supporting Headwater, I decided the best course was to uncover the treachery and allow Buckwold to determine its own fate. From the brief time I’ve spent with Commander Kern and his men, I’ve learned a great deal about your people. They are industrious and productive; they seek peace and trade. I respect that, and I serve the Old Law. Your people have the right to self-determination guided by a clear understanding of the facts.”

She regarded him for a moment before her expression softened. “My father often spoke of the time when the House of Ruatha would be remade. He will be pleased to meet you, Lord Alexander.”

“I will be pleased to meet him, as well,” Alexander said. “Master Alabrand, my court alchemist is watching over him. Please stay with your father. You’ll be safe here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.”

“Lord Alexander, surely you don’t believe the soldiers will attack now that they know I’m here and my father lives.”

“No, but Nero may try something more desperate. I need to find out what he’s planning.” He turned and left without offering an explanation.

Before Lady Buckwold could ask any more questions, Isabel stepped forward. “Lady Buckwold, my name is Isabel Alaric, daughter of the Forest Warden of Glen Morillian and Alexander’s betrothed. Please, sit with me. I’d like to hear about Buckwold.”

On his way to a quiet sitting room, Alexander chuckled at Isabel’s skillful interference. Anatoly followed without a word and stationed himself at the door. Alexander tossed a pillow on the floor to use as a meditation cushion.

It took several minutes to find the place of empty-mindedness that led to the firmament. Once his awareness slipped free of the boundaries of his body and spread out across the endless ocean of possibility, he quickly focused on Nero. He knew he would be planning his next move and Alexander didn’t want to miss it.

His awareness coalesced in the upper corner of a room that looked like a wizard’s workshop. There were three men present. One was Nero, the second was a wizard, and the third was a soldier dressed in the uniform of the palace guard.

“Administrator Nero, I’m not sure what one man can accomplish. There are twenty soldiers guarding the Baron,” the wizard said.

“Wizard Raj, this is my very best man. He will protect the Baron while the palace guard storms the building. I’m confident he can keep the Baron safe during the assault.”

Alexander could see his colors shift and twist as he lied to the wizard.

“I think it’s too great a risk. We would do better to wait until morning and attempt negotiation,” Wizard Raj said.

“I appreciate your input, as always, but I’ve made my decision,” Nero said with exaggerated patience. “Can you get my man into the building undetected or not?”

“Of course, but I’m still not convinced I should. Your plan seems rash and desperate. I don’t believe we’re at that stage yet.”

Nero drew himself up with a look that teetered between panic and rage. “Wizard Raj, you were in the council chamber when Baron Buckwold conferred upon me the authority to act in his name, were you not?”

Wizard Raj frowned with a sigh. “I was.”

“Very well then, I command you to use your magic to get my man inside that building.”

Wizard Raj looked angrily at Nero, but he relented. “Very well, Nero, but you’re making a mistake. If you cost the Baron his life, you will answer to me.”

“I’m just trying to save the Baron,” Nero lied with feigned exasperation. “We are on the same side, Wizard Raj. Now, when will you be ready and what can I do to help?”

“I’ll be ready in an hour. All I require from you is your absence.”

Alexander returned to his body. When he walked back into the Baron’s bedchamber, Isabel and Abigail stood after seeing the look on his face.

“What is it?” Isabel asked.

“Nero is sending an assassin. Commander Kern, have your men find a room without a window in the servants’ quarters. We’re going to move the Baron and put the physician in his bed as a ruse.”

Kern smiled and nodded before leaving to scout the building for a suitable place. Within fifteen minutes, they had moved the Baron into an out-of-the-way room and put the sleeping physician into his bed.

Anatoly, Lucky, and three of Kern’s soldiers stood guard over the Baron while Alexander, Abigail, Isabel, and Jack took positions in the four corners of the Baron’s bedchamber and waited in the dark. Half a dozen soldiers waited in the next room with Lady Buckwold. The rest played the part of standing watch all around the royal suite.

The night wore on. The palace guard maintained their cordon around the Baron’s suites but didn’t advance. Alexander stretched out with his all around sight and watched for the enemy to arrive. When he did, it was altogether unexpected.

A mouse darted into the room from a crack in the corner. It came to the center of the dark room and stopped. Its colors flared brightly to Alexander’s second sight as it transformed into a man. He stood still for a moment as if he was trying to orient himself before slowly drawing a dagger from his belt and carefully, quietly approaching the Baron’s bed. Without hesitation, he put his hand over the sleeping man’s mouth and sliced his throat deeply.

Alexander and Jack flooded the room with light from their vials of night-wisp dust. The assassin looked around frantically for a way out but found none. He was trapped. A moment later, Lady Buckwold stood in the doorway looking at his bloody hands as he stood over her father’s bed and the corpse that lay there.

“Surrender and you might survive,” Alexander said. “Resist and I will cut you in half.” He drew the Thinblade and leveled it at him to punctuate the threat. The assassin slumped to his knees, his knife clattering to the floor.

“Please don’t kill me,” he pleaded with a sob. “Nero made me do it.”

Alexander watched the colors of a liar ripple through his aura.

“How exactly did Nero make you do anything?” Alexander asked with menace in his voice, still pointing the Thinblade at him.

The man’s face contorted with anger and malice as he gave up the pretense. “You’re a pretender to the throne. When Prince Phane conquers the Seven Isles, Master Rake will rule all of Ruatha and I will be rewarded for my loyal service.”

“I doubt that,” Lady Buckwold said. “You have murdered a man in his sleep while attempting to assassinate the Baron of Buckwold. According to the Old Law, your life is forfeit.” She held him with her severe gaze for a moment until his anger transformed back into fear. Then she continued, “However, if you assist us with the apprehension of Nero and all of his accomplices, I may be able to persuade my father to let you live.”

He struggled with his situation for a moment before he hung his head. “I don’t want to die,” he whined.

She turned to a soldier who stood nearby. “Remove his weapons and bind his hands.” The assassin didn’t resist. Once he was bound, she marched him out onto the balcony and pushed him up against the railing.

“General Randal,” she called out across the courtyard. Several moments later the general approached with his adjunct officer.

“Yes, Lady Buckwold?”

“Go get Wizard Raj and the members of the council. And be quick about. I’ll be waiting.”

He blinked a few times before he turned to his adjunct and commanded him to round up the people she had requested. Alexander and Isabel stood in the shadows behind her, watching silently.

The wizard arrived first. He looked up with a frown and shook his head. When he started to speak, she raised her hand sharply. “Wizard Raj, you will have a chance to speak, but not yet.” They waited until, one by one, members of the council of nobles arrived. They all looked like they’d been roused from their beds. Once they were assembled, Lady Buckwold addressed them.

“General, Wizard, and Nobles, Buckwold has been the victim of treachery. Nero is an agent of Elred Rake. He has been poisoning my father with deathwalker root for over a month now. This man,” she motioned to the miserable-looking man standing next to her, “is an assassin sent by Nero to murder my father in his sleep. I witnessed his crime myself.” She turned to him. “Confess.”

He squirmed under her accusing glare before he turned to the men assembled below the balcony. “Nero was sent by Master Rake to ensure that Buckwold would side with Headwater against New Ruatha. He sent me to kill the Baron. Wizard Raj cast a spell on me that transformed me into a mouse for a few minutes. Once I made my way inside, I carried out my orders, except the man I killed wasn’t the Baron.” He hung his head. “Please don’t kill me,” he whimpered.

The men standing below looked shocked and worried about the treachery. But Alexander could see that they were more concerned about the events of the past month and how their actions might be viewed in light of this new information. He remained in the shadows.

“General, you will order the palace guard to stand down. My father is alive and safe, and I have it on good authority that he will wake sometime tomorrow evening. Next, you will send fast riders to deliver orders to Commander Kern’s legion to stop and hold their position until further notice. Finally, you will issue an order for Nero’s arrest. Do you understand your orders, General?” she asked pointedly.

He nodded nervously.

“Wizard Raj, explain your actions.”

He stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “My Lady, I offer no excuses. Against my better judgment, I obeyed Nero’s command to get that man inside the Baron’s suite.” He pointed to the assassin. “Nero said he needed his man inside to protect the Baron while the palace guard stormed the building. After I cast the spell, two men came to my chambers and attempted to kill me, I presume to keep my knowledge of Nero’s involvement a secret. I’m grateful to learn that the Baron survived my mistake.”

“Very well then, you will help General Randal find Nero. Nobles, my father never gave Nero the authority he’s been wielding for the past month. An imposter played the part of my father and, with the aid of magic, duped us all into accepting Nero as the Baron’s spokesman. I would like to introduce to you the man responsible for delivering us from Headwater’s treachery.” She motioned to Alexander, and he and Isabel stepped out of the shadows and up to the balcony railing.

“I give you, Lord Alexander Ruatha, our rightful King and wielder of the legendary Thinblade, and his betrothed, Lady Alaric, daughter of the Forest Warden of Glen Morillian. Lord Alexander saw through the lies of Nero and his minions. He is not an enemy of Buckwold, but a friend and an honored guest. Until my father awakens from his long sleep, we will remain within the safety of the Baron’s suite. Once he has been made aware of the events of the past month, I suspect he will have a few things to say to you all. Until then, we are not to be disturbed.”

The rest of the night and the next day passed quietly. They spent time talking with Kern and Lady Buckwold about their homeland. Alexander offered news of the war and revealed much of what he knew about Phane and his machinations but withheld all mention of the Sovereign Stone. Jack told stories about the events of the past few months that held everyone in thrall. Alexander remembered many of the events Jack spoke of but they seemed somehow more glorious in his stories.

Late in the afternoon the Baron woke. Lady Buckwold was at his side and Alexander was in the room along with Jack and Lucky. The Baron was groggy at first and took several minutes to fully wake. When he did, he looked up at his daughter. A single tear slipped from her eye. He gave her a quizzical look before frowning and looking around the room at the unfamiliar faces. He sat up with effort.

“What’s happened?”

“Nero poisoned you with deathwalker root. You’ve been asleep or in a stupor for a month. He tricked the nobles into thinking he was acting on your behalf and committed our army to war against New Ruatha in support of Headwater.”

He gave her a look of alarm. “Where’s Nero now?”