The Merchant and the Menace (60 page)

Ader rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Sergeant Deling, will you humor me and grant our
group parlay?” asked Ader.

The sergeant’s face broke into a broad smile and he
nodded to Ader.

“Well, of course I will, Lord Ader. I’m merely
questioning the point of it,“ he mumbled.

 “Thank you, Sergeant Deling. How fare you?” asked
Manfir.

 “No complaints,” smiled Deling. “Twenty years
watching the north gate and welcoming back our men from battle. They said I was
getting too old, inattentive. So they sent me down here to the south to keep an
eye on wagons of grain and pickpockets. If you ask me, some of them don’t want
my eye on what they’re doing up north.”

The sergeant pointed to several guards on the road.

 “You and you! Clear the entryway to the city! Move
those people back and let the prince heir and his companions enter!” barked
Deling as he turned back to Manfir. “I’ll meet you ‘neath the gate your
highness. Welcome home!”

The sergeant spun and stepped from the edge of the
wall. He disappeared from view and a few moments later he stood in the arching
tunnel formed by the causeway. Recesses in the tunnel walls provided places for
more guards. Zodrians attempted to exit the city, but slowed as they encountered
the burgeoning crowd around the gate. Deling stepped into the road.

“Clear a path there! Clear a path!” barked the
sergeant.

Manfir tapped his heels into the flanks of his
stallion and the group trotted forward. The people backed away and a wide path
opened through their midst. As Manfir passed Deling, the sergeant saluted.
Deling cleared his throat and glanced at his troops. The guards who stood
scattered throughout the tunnel stared in confusion at the event unfolding
before them. The prince regent, unheard from in seventeen years, rode up in
full regalia. One of the guards recognized Deling’s hint and snapped to
attention. He joined Deling’s salute, and the others quickly followed suit.
Manfir smiled at the sergeant and returned the salute.

“Thank you, sergeant,” smiled Manfir. “I’ll be
heading to the Hold before presenting myself to his highness. Perhaps a runner
should be sent to inform my father of my return.”

“It’s already been done, sire,” nodded Deling.

“Always one step ahead,” laughed Manfir.

The old sergeant leaned in and lowered his voice.

“I waited on you for several days now,” whispered
Deling with a wink. “When good old Brelg passed through a couple of days ago,
then Cefiz the day after, I knew I would be seeing you shortly.”

Manfir nodded and moved forward.

“Good fortune to you, sergeant,” called the prince
over his shoulder.

“And to you, my prince,” replied Deling.

The group slowly made their way through the city.
Word quickly spread concerning the return of the prince regent. Zodrians
crowded the streets along the path to the Hold. Kael fidgeted. The crowd acted
uncertain and edgy. Manfir certainly wasn’t receiving a hero’s welcome. Many of
the citizenry pointed and stared at the passing troop. Whispers and knowing
looks passed between some of the Zodrians. Granu remained cloaked and hooded,
but his presence drew many of the looks and whispers. More than a few catcalls
were thrown in the troop’s direction. Kael drew in next to Teeg.

“I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable,” Kael stated in a
low voice. “These people aren’t ecstatic over Manfir’s return.”

Teeg frowned and nodded to the boy.

“I forced myself to ignore events in the capital
recently, too much going on elsewhere. When last I left, feelings weren’t this
sour,” replied Teeg. “I believe the enemy is busy spreading lies and innuendo
about our loyal prince. Manfir returns now and only he may repair the damage
done to his reputation.”

The troop rounded a bend in the road and a group of
horsemen raced in their direction. Manfir reined in and his body tensed.
Zodrians straggling in the street jumped from the path of the cavalry. Others
were knocked aside as the heavily armed soldiers roared to a stop ten yards
from Manfir’s coal black steed. The Zodrian horsemen blocked the roadway. Several
citizens in the crowd cheered as a pair of riders separated from the group. The
larger of the two soldiers addressed Manfir.

“I am Colonel Udas ...” stated the leader and he
paused.

Manfir remained silent and expressionless. The eyes
of the smaller man at Udas’s side darted in panic and distress.

“The hero of Rimdar Pass!” announced Udas’s aide.

Another small cheer broke from the crowd. The
colonel sat ramrod straight. One gloved hand rose and lightly waved in
acknowledgement to the crowd. The other lay stiff and immobile, folded over the
horn of his saddle. Upon his chest he wore a gleaming gold breastplate. His red
robe was immaculate.

“A member of the General Staff in charge of
supplies,” whispered Teeg to Kael. “His breastplate is engraved with the emblem
of the supply staff.”

Kael lightly nodded and noticed the other horsemen
bore the same insignia on their vestments.

“What is it you wish, colonel?” asked Manfir.

“It has come to my attention that Sergeant Deling
allowed a heavily armed group to enter from the South gate without first
appropriately checking their credentials,” snapped Udas. “The old fool has
spent too many years in the noon day sun. I’m afraid he neglects his duties.”

Manfir pursed his lips and leaned forward in the
saddle. He glared at Udas.

“I ask again, what is it you wish, colonel?”
growled Manfir.

Udas sucked in a quick breath and arched an eyebrow
at Manfir.

“Put ‘im in his place, Udas!” shouted a Zodrian
from a group of men in the crowd.

“Show ‘em what a real fightin’ man looks like,
Udas!” called another.

Kael looked to Ader and found the Guide calmly
sitting on the back of his stallion. Ader’s hands lay in his lap, subtly
shifting. Kael’s eyes searched the crowd and immediately he found what he was
looking for. A beautiful young woman with dark hair and blue green eyes stood
on the stoop of a storefront staring at the Seraph. Ader’s hands worked a
moment longer then stopped. The young woman nodded, then threw her green cowl
over her head and turned. She hesitated a moment then spun back to the group
and stared past Kael to the other side of the road. Eidyn sat on his Keltaran
warhorse, eyes fixed upon the woman. She smiled and lightly bowed to the Elven
prince. Eidyn’s face remained expressionless, but he returned her bow with a nod
of his head. She quickly turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Udas gained courage from the crowd’s comments.

“You and your companions will be checked like any
other unauthorized, armed party which enters the city,” blurted Udas. “Your
weapons will be confiscated and you will be interviewed to determine your
business here in Zodra!  The majority of your group is not Zodrian and its
suspicious constituency requires immediate attention. Those of you I determine to
be enemies of the state, will be detained!”

Manfir tapped the flanks of his stallion and moved
alongside Udas. The colonel shrank back as Manfir glared at him.

“You’ll do nothing of the kind,
hero
of
Rimdar Pass. I speak for all the men in this group,” growled Manfir. “And the
last time I checked, I held a general’s commission in the Guard. The next time
you fail to salute a superior officer before addressing him, you will find
yourself confined to the Hold. Do you understand me?”

Udas’s eyes shifted nervously between Manfir, the
crowd and his troops.

“I uh ... I..” stammered Udas.

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME COLONEL? YES OR NO?” demanded
Manfir rising in his saddle.

Udas’s eyes widened and he nearly slid from the
back of his mount. He fumbled awkwardly with his right hand in an attempt to
extract it from the reins of his stallion then stiffly raised it in salute. His
unit followed his lead as Manfir glared at them. The prince spun his mount and
cantered toward the area of the crowd that shouted support to Udas. The men
standing there shrank back against the wall of the nearest building. Manfir
leapt from his stallion and walked amongst them. Fire raged in his eyes.

“How I served this kingdom and my Lord Avra over
the last seventeen seasons is no one’s business but my own and the ruler of
this great land. Any man willing to question that service and take exception to
my duty may do so now!” bellowed the prince.

 Manfir drew one of the dual sabers strapped to his
back and held the hilt out to the crowd. The group shrank further away.
Manfir’s hard eyes bore into them.

“No one?” questioned the prince as he shoved the
hilt toward the face of the man who shouted the first comment.

The Zodrian averted his eyes to the cobblestone
street and shook his head in dissent.

“No, my lord,” muttered the man.

Manfir flipped the sword over and deftly slid it
back into its scabbard. The prince spun and marched to the middle of the
street. He swept his hand across the growing crowd.

“Zodrians! Now is the time for faith!” shouted
Manfir to the crowd. “Now is the time for unity. The forces of evil bear down
upon us! They hope to overwhelm and destroy us! We live in fear of an enemy
poised to sweep down upon us unleashing murder and Chaos. The Ulrog strain upon
their master’s leash, desiring nothing more than to overrun beautiful Zodra!

“However, the arena for this destruction is not
solely the battlefield! They also fight for our hearts and minds. These too are
battlefields to our enemies. They hope to twist and corrupt all that is good in
our society. They hope to turn us against our allies, our neighbors and our
brothers. When the final battle begins, do not spend your last hours
questioning whether your neighbor is doing enough. Ask yourself whether YOU are
doing enough. Make sure that your own house is in order before you wonder about
your brother’s house!”

Manfir walked confidently to his stallion and threw
himself in the saddle. The crowd‘s eyes remained fixed on the Zodrian prince.
The street was quiet and still.

“As for me,” stated the prince. “My house remained
faithful to the wishes of Avra these last seventeen seasons, and I am ready to
sacrifice all for the good of Zodra. I call upon those of you who can say the
same to ride with me in defense of the kingdom!”

Manfir reined the stallion to face Udas.

“Now out of my way, colonel. I wish to go home!”
called the prince.

The black stallion charged in Udas’s direction as
the colonel and his aide scrambled to get free of its path. Ader and the
remainder of Kael’s group followed closely and a cheer went up from some
gathered in the street.

Udas’s face boiled with rage and embarrassment as
he glared at the retreating figure of Manfir. He dropped his right hand onto
the horn of his saddle with a hollow clunk. Hatred filled his eyes and the
supply commander’s left hand mechanically rose and rubbed the elbow of his
stiff and immobile right arm. His subordinate pulled beside him.

“Prince Manfir was absent from these lands for
quite some time,” chattered the aide as he nervously glanced to the area Udas
caressed. “Perhaps he is unaware of the pain and sacrifice that both you and
the great General Ellow endured at the hands of those Keltaran monsters, my
lord.”

Udas’s attention was broken from the departing
troop and he turned to the young officer. A sneer spread across his face.

“The sacrifice and pain I endured for the good of
my nation is nothing compared to that which Manfir son of Macin will face
before he ever sets foot outside his beloved kingdom again,” snarled Udas.
“Spread word to our men. The time comes to show this kingdom where its power
lies!”

NOW ENDS BOOK I OF
THE
SERAPHINIUM

Ader:
One
of the second generation of Seraphim created by Avra to fill the gap after Awoi
and Amird left the world. Ader represents the voice of Avra, commanding those
on this world who will follow.

Aemmon Brelgson:
The second son of Brelg, an innkeeper in the small town of Kelky.

Alel:
One
of the second generation of Seraphim created by Avra to fill the gap after Awoi
and Amird left the world of Vel. Alel represents the Ear of Avra, hearing all
the prayers and praise of his people.

Amird:
One
of the first two Seraphim created by Avra to help and support the human race.
Amird represents the intellect and creativity of the Creator.

The Anvil:
The military of the Keltaran Empire. All men past a certain age are
members of the Anvil.

Astel:
Once
thriving kingdom on the plateaus to the East of the Mirozert Mountains. Astel
has been conquered by the warlock Izgra and his Ulrog stone men. The palace and
ruins surrounding it have been renamed Kel Izgra.