The King's Sword (21 page)

* * *

Robusk huddled in the corner of the dark place. There had been no light to open the darkness for him for two weeks. He’d been given only one meal since he was thrown down here and shackled. One meal of molded bread and a tin cup of dirty water.

Shivering, Robusk looked up as the door of his prison unlocked and swung open revealing his captor. “It’s almost over, old man.”

“Indeed it is.” Robusk’s voice sounded weak to his own ears. “The wizard blacksmith is not as stupid as you thought he was.” He tried to summon his power but lack of nourishment, the cold, and a protective shield of magic prevented him from doing his will.

“No but those he travels with are. Except for one, of course.” A smirk moved closer and Robusk tried again to hurl magic at the man. “You are only wasting your energy, you know. I am more powerful than you.”

“If that is true, why am I locked away and deprived food and water?” Robusk met those cold eyes with a smug smile. “Because you aren’t nearly as powerful as I am, Sleagan.”

SleaganSleagan clicked his tongue. “Stupid old man. Don’t you know? You killed my father. In doing so, you gave me the throne over the dark forces. That is the only reason I have not delivered you to death already.” SleaganSleagan knelt in front of Robusk. “But you did kill him. So I’ve decided to watch you die. It’s a small fascination of mine. Death, that is.”

“You will not get away with this,” Robusk warned and the man before him laughed wildly.

“I’m already getting away with it. But it is to be expected. The first stage of dying is denial. It is interesting but I particularly enjoy the following stages. Pleading. Teetering on the brink of madness. And finally acceptance.” SleaganSleagan sighed heavily, shaking his head. “You grow thinner now, you are fading fast. I’d hoped you wouldn’t and allow me a few days extra of toying. But I cannot control the effects of age. If you were younger, it would bring me more satisfaction.”

“Sorry to disappoint you.” Robusk spat in his face. A slender hand lifted and wiped the saliva from his eyes but his expression did not change.

“Is that all the fight you have left? You are supposed to be the great high wizard Robusk. I expected more from you.” SleaganSleagan rose and stared down at Robusk for a few moments before turning and heading back toward the door.

“I’ll come for another visit tomorrow, to see how you fair,” he called before closing the door firmly. Robusk heard the lock turn and looked down at his hands. Chained where he was with dark magical shackles. There was no escape for him.

Hurry, Ronan.
He thought past the walls of his prison in desperation.
The safety of Meris depends upon you.

-

Ronan had expected the hills of Johran to be as breathtaking as those of Jobi but he’d been wrong. Scowling, he gazed out at the brown grasses and gray rocks. The trees did not grow tall and lush, the foliage was sparse, and there was dryness in the air that made Ronan’s mouth water.

“This is the ugliest place I’ve ever seen,” Arien said as he glanced around them and Ronan nodded with agreement. “It is no wonder they are cannibals. Nothing grows here to be used for food.”

“Which brings up a fine point.” Ula looked at Ronan. “How are we going to get past this tribe of flesh eaters?”

Ronan kept his eyes straight ahead. “They do not eat their own. So I will become one of their tribe.”

“What?” Ula reached out and touched his arm causing him to look at her. Her black eyes were rounded as she stared at him and her lips formed the word ‘no’.

“It is the only way.” Ronan kicked his horse forward so she had to release his arm. “And I’ll not hear any arguing about it. I’ve made my decision. It is the only way to save us from becoming someone’s breakfast.”

“It sounds of madness.” Of course Keegan would not keep quiet just because Ronan bid it of them. “Even if you do convince them to make you one of their tribe, you realize you will be expected to eat with them. As you say, they do not eat one of their own. That means one of us will be part of your meal. ”

Ronan swallowed but did not look at the horseman. “I have already thought of that.”

“And?” Keegan demanded.

“I will convince them that none of you can be killed because of the mission we are on. The outcome of this journey does affect the way of life of their tribe as much as anyone else’s. They will have to listen to my reason.”

“You should start talking now.” Mikel pointed from Bryan’s back to the three men who stood on the hilltop ahead of them, each holding a spear that was longer than any of them.

“Fall back,” Ronan ordered and for once, no one argued. They all obeyed allowing him to ride ahead.
Hold your hands out so they see you have no weapon aimed at them.
Ahearn thought from behind him and Ronan did as he suggested. The others followed suit.

The men did not move, even as Ronan’s horse approached then stopped directly in front of them. “I wish to speak to the leader of your tribe,” Ronan said to the man who stood in the middle but it was the one to the left who responded.

“You have trodden upon the soil that belongs to the Johran people. By doing so you seal your fate and provide our tribe with nourishment and…”

Ronan dropped his hands impatiently. “I provide your tribe with nothing until I am granted an audience with your leader. The alternative is for me to cut you down where you stand.”

One of the men smirked and Ronan’s lips pulled. “You think I cannot? What weapons do you have that are so powerful to strike against the King’s Sword?” They blinked and Ronan knew he had their attention now. “Spears? You may use them well but you should be warned that I am a wizard and I travel with two changelings and a sorceress, each very dangerous creatures.”

The one to the left spoke again. “You are the King’s Guard?”

“He is the stone wizard, Ronan.” Keegan’s voice bellowed from behind Ronan with force that would have moved a mountain. The stone wizard? And then Ronan almost laughed as he remembered Keegan had caught him playing with the small stone at the lake in Jobi Hills.

“Then we surrender to feed your people. However I stipulate that no one is to be cooked or served until I speak to your leader myself.” Ronan crossed his arms. After a moment the man inclined his head and turned to lead them the way.

“I hope you know what you are doing,” Keegan murmured lowly. Ronan did too. He’d just placed them all in the midst of what could become a very dangerous situation.

“How far?” Ronan called after an hour and a half had passed.

“Two days and a night to camp,” one answered and Ronan gritted his teeth. He’d assumed that he would be speaking to the leader tonight.

* * *

“I’m famished,” Arien said as they finally stopped for the night. “But I doubt there is anything to hunt around here.”

Ula glanced at Ronan and he gave her a nod so she rose and stepped off into the dark. She wasn’t really hunting, he knew. He’d guessed it when she brought the elk back for the harpies. She was using sorcery to manifest food. Obviously the others hadn’t guessed the trick though for when she returned they all made a big deal over how great a huntress she was.

“If you are my betrayer I am going to be thoroughly disappointed,” Ronan murmured when she sat down to skin the rabbits she brought back, “for I would starve to death without you.” Ula’s lips twisted and her black eyes glittered but she said nothing.

The three men that led them had kept their distance but when she fashioned the meat over a spit, they neared, licking their lips hungrily. They obviously hadn’t had a meal for several days, bodies thinned and gaunt. Ronan sighed.

“Do you think you can manifest enough to feed them as well?” Ronan asked Ula in a low voice.

“I can.” She nodded and Ronan tilted his head in thought.

Ronan bent his head toward Ula so that the others could not hear. “Perhaps before we reach the leader, you can come up with a bit more to carry as a peace offering. If the tribe is as starved as these three, it might make my task a bit easier to offer something they need.”

“A good plan.” She nodded again.

Ronan straightened. He had to rely on her again. And after he decided he would not accept help from any of those traveling with him again, not until he found out who the betrayer was. But this world was too dangerous to go at it alone. Reluctantly he admitted to himself that he needed each of them to make it to Merisgale.

When he looked at Ula, his eyes dropped to find that three more rabbits had appeared where there had only been two before. “Are you men hungry? Ula has outdone herself and there will be more than enough food for us all tonight.” He brought his gaze to the three tribesmen. They moved closer and knelt near the fire.

“We’ve been hunting these hills for days. We found nothing.” The one who’d spoken before addressed Ronan. “Now your woman has more food than we’ve seen for many months.”

“To eat of the flesh cleanses our people’s bodies and souls. Your centaur is no good to us, for he is half animal. But the rest of you will be sacrificed so that our people remain pure of evil,” The tribesman explained.

“Why do you wish to speak to our leader? Most do not come this way or have any business with us.” Yarro drove the blunt end of his spear into the ground and then sat down beside it, across from Ronan.

“I wish to join your tribe, so we may cross into the moors freely.” Ronan decided it wouldn’t be wise to mislead. He didn’t know how big their tribe was and a lie would be found out quickly enough.

Yarro’s eyes widened. “A wizard wants to become a Johran?” His sons dropped to his side, their eyes locked on Ronan now. “We’ve never had a wizard among us. Such a great honor. And would you protect us from starvation?”

Ronan felt his chest constrict. His mouth was dry as the image of his dying mother filled his head. Her body had been skeletal and her voice weak. No magic, she had whispered, respecting her husband’s wishes long after he was gone.

“I would,” Ronan answered blinking from the painful memory. “I plan to strike such a deal with your leader that will keep those that travel with me safe as we pass through your land.”

Yarro studied him for a long moment. “I am the leader you seek. What you propose is interesting, Ronan. You want to travel through Johran lands to get to Merisgale and deliver the sword. Normally we would allow you to pass but not your companions.”

“You are the leader?” Ronan stared at the thinned man.

Yarro smiled. “Expected something more?” He had too gentle a face to be the leader of such a primitive people. “You realize that becoming one of us means you would accept and respect our ways. You would be expected to eat the flesh of someone who was not one of our kind.”

“Not me.” Mikel the Hort glanced around and then looked apologetically at Ronan, “There’s not much of me here anyway!” Ronan’s lips slanted, and then sobered as he looked at the others.

“I would give you my arm if it is what you need,” Ula offered softly.

“You travel with many who honor you, Ronan.” Yarro observed the others before looking at Ronan. “There is a ritual to be performed before the members of the tribe. If you are willing to become part of our tribe, to provide for us and call us your family, I can see no reason why we should not grant you and your companions free pass through Johran.”

“Then it is agreed.” Ronan held out his hand and Yarro grasped it firmly. The world around them suddenly rippled, glinting silver for a moment, before changing from the barren hills. Ronan blinked. They were standing in the middle of a large village with small huts not much different than the thatched houses of the Jobi village.

“An illusion. Very clever,” Ula said without rising. She turned the meat over the fire that Ronan could see was started just in front of the door of one of the huts. Tribe’s people were gathered all around them.

“We must protect our village as best as we can,” Yarro explained as he released Ronan’s hand. “This way, no one can form a plan of attack against us without us knowing full in advance.”

“How many in your tribe?” Ula asked.

“Only a few hundred,” Yarro answered.

“Yore, build us some more fires. I will have to come up with something more than rabbits tonight.” Ula lifted her hands and Ronan stepped back watching them glow with a blue light. Ronan smiled as a skinned and prepared Elk began to appear on the ground.

“My sorceress will feed your people tonight.” Ronan turned from her as she continued manifesting food for the village. Yarro’s eyes were wide as he continued to watch the woman.