The Sorcerer's Ring: Book 05 - A Vow of Glory (15 page)

Kendrick
shook his head.

"They
needed a leader. Someone to guide them. You led the way. Many people will live
because of you."

“And I
see those people following you, as well,” she said, nodding over his shoulder
as the hundreds of townsfolk following Kendrick and Atme caught up and began to
enter the gates.

Kendrick’s
face fell in concern.

"I’m
afraid I bear bad news,” he said. “We spotted Andronicus’ army. They march our
way.”

Gwen's
eyes opened in alarm.

"Are
you sure of it?” she asked.

“As
sure as it is day,” came a voice.

Gwen
turned to see Atme coming up beside Kendrick, looking back with concern. He
reached out and took her hand and kissed her fingertips. “My lady,” he added.
“I fulfilled the mission.”

Gwen
smiled.

“You
have brought my brother back to me alive,” she said. “For that, I shall always
be indebted. I know who I shall turn to next time I have a mission of the
utmost urgency.”

“You
trusted me with a most sacred mission, with your family’s life, and for that I
will always be grateful,” Atme replied, nodding back.

There
came a commotion and Gwen turned to see Srog, Brom and Kolk approach, flanked
by several members of the Silver. They all lit up at the sight of Kendrick, hurried
over and embraced him.

"Kendrick,"
Brom said, clasping his forearm. "You serve the Silver well in all that
you do.”

"My
Lord," Kendrick said back to him.

“You
bring much honor upon your father’s memory,” Kolk said.

Kendrick
met his embrace.

"It
is an honor to have a knight of your repute in Silesia," Srog said, their
forearms clasping firmly.

"The
honor is all mine, my Lords," Kendrick said back. "In fact, I owe you
a great debt for taking in my sister and half of King’s Court.”

"The
debt is mine," Srog said. "It the least we can do to honor your
father, who was always good to us. He could have taxed us far more than he did,
and he chose not to.”

Kendrick
half-bowed his head in appreciation, then his brow furrowed with concern.

“I’m
afraid I arrive bearing grave news,” Kendrick said, clearing his throat. “Andronicus’
men follow not far behind us.”

“We
laid our own eyes upon their forces,” Atme added.

There
came a gasp among the men. Gwen felt a pit in her stomach.

“How
long?” Brom asked.

“It
could be a day. It could be more. It is a wall of devastation, and nothing will
stop them.”

The
others looked at each other, gravely.

“We
saved these townsfolk,” Kendrick said, gesturing to the people who filed in
through the gates, “but other towns will not be so fortunate. There isn’t time
to save them all. We must prepare, if there's any hope of defending this place.”

"
Is
there any hope?" Gwen asked,
watching his expression closely.

He
looked at her gravely, and she saw the answer in his eyes. Her heart sank
further.

"We
must do the best we can do,” he answered. “We are in the hands of the
fates."

"Then
there is less time than we thought," Kolk said.

"We
must fortify the city at once," Srog said.

"Now
that you're safely within our gates,” Brom added, “we can begin to seal the
outer walls.”

"We
were waiting for you," Gwen explained.

Kendrick
looked back at her, and she could see that he was touched.

“Then I
owe you a great debt,” he replied.

"Sound
the horns,” Gwen commanded, taking charge. “We have no more time to waste.” She
turned to Srog. “Command your men to begin the fortifications.”

Srog
shouted up to a soldier, high up on the walls, and he turned and shouted to
several others. Several took up horns and blew them, the sound echoing throughout
Silesia. Soldiers began to filter from their barracks and head along the wall
towards the outer fortifications.

"My
lady," Srog said, turning to Gwendolyn. "You have seen but the upper
city of Silesia. Our people down below, in lower Silesia, who live amidst the canyon
walls, await your visit. In this time of trouble it would reassure them greatly
to meet you. May I suggest that we all survey the city together?"

“I
would be honored,” Gwen said.

Gwen
turned and accompanied Srog and the others as the men fell in behind them, the
large and growing group walking through the streets of Silesia, heading towards
the entrance to the lower city. As they walked, the soldiers all speaking to
each other in an excited but agitated way, Gwen fell in besides Kendrick. It
was natural walking beside him, as they had since they were children in King’s
Court, yet Gwen had something pressing on her mind which she needed to share.

"I
feel guilty, being appointed ruler," she said softly, out of earshot of
the others. "Yes, it was what father wanted. But you are his firstborn.
And you are a man. And, with Erec gone, you are the de facto leader of the Silver.
All the soldiers respect you. You've fought side by side with each of them. And
me? What have I done? I feel as if I've done nothing to merit all this. All I
have done is been our father's daughter. And not even his firstborn daughter.”

Kendrick
shook his head.

"You
don't see your own virtues," he said. "You are far more than that.
Father was not a rash man. Or a foolish one. All of his decisions, he made
wisely. And choosing you was the wisest of all. It is not strength or military
prowess that makes a great ruler. A great
soldier
,
maybe—but not a great ruler. It is not about one’s ability to wield a sword, or
even about the way other men look up to you. That might make a good ruler—but
not a great one.

“A
great ruler is forged of wisdom. Knowledge. Temperance. Compassion. Insight. And
it is you who possess all of those qualities.
That
is what father saw in you. That is why he chose you. And I must
agree with him. Do not underestimate yourself. And don't feel guilt. I am
content with my lot. You deserve it, and I wish for nothing more than to serve
you, whether you are my younger sister or not.”

Gwen felt
a rush of love for him, as she always had. He always knew exactly what to say,
ever since they were small children.

"I
appreciate your kindness, brother,” she said. “But I still feel as if you've
been passed over. And that doesn't sit right with me. If I am to rule, I want
you to help me rule. I want you to have a position of import. I would like to
name you as ruler of our armed forces. I want all of them—the Silver, the
Legion, the King’s Men—to answer to you. After all, there is no one I trust
more, and no one better fitting. You are a MacGil, too, and it will inspire the
men to have you in court.”

"That
is not something you need to do, my sister,” he said softly, humbled. “I love
you equally, no matter what.”

"I
know I don't need to," she said. "I
want
to.”

Before
he could say another word, she turned to Srog.

“Srog!"
she called out.

"Yes
my lady," he said, rushing up to her, Brom and Kolk beside him.

"I
appoint my brother Kendrick in the new position of ruler of the armed forces,”
she said formally. “I would ask all the generals of all the forces assembled
here to answer to him. Of course, you will lead your men, and Kolk and Brom,
you will lead yours, but Kendrick will take direct control of the Silver, and
you will all answer to him. I realize my brother is far younger in years than you
are. But I also know it is what my father would have wanted, and I can think of
no one more deserving.”

"My
lady, it is a wise choice, and admire your sharing of power. We will gladly
answer to Kendrick who, after all, is our bravest and finest warrior.”

“As
will we,” answered Kolk and Brom heartily.

"Then
the matter is settled," Gwen said. “Kendrick, I salute you on your new
position.”

Kendrick
looked down.

"I
am deeply humbled,” he said. “I will serve you with my life.”

"As
you always have," Brom said, stepping forward and clasping him on the
shoulder.

They
wound their way through the shining, red cobblestone streets, the stone
lighting up in the early morning light, and approached a deep and narrow arched
alleyway, carved of stone, wide enough for only two people to pass through at a
time. At the far end of it, maybe fifty yards away, the light of the Canyon
shone through. Several soldiers stood guard, snapping to attention as they
approached.

“The
entranceway to lower Silesia, my lady,” Srog said.

Gwen
entered with the others, all of them marching in the blackness of the tunnel,
the only light that of the Canyon at the far end, their footsteps and whispers
echoing off the walls. It was an eerie feeling, walking through this long
tunnel; Gwen felt as if she were entering a portal to another world.

"We
are the same people, up above and down below,” Srog explained, “yet in some
ways, the upper and lower Silesias are like two different cities. Those above ground
rarely descend, and those down below, clinging to the side of the Canyon, like
to stay there. Those afraid of heights don’t do well down below; they jokingly
refer to lower Silesians as mountain goats. Yet those who breathe the Canyon
air are content where they are, and find no need to come to the ‘flatlands’, as
they call it.”

Gwen
smiled.
                            

“Otherwise,”
he continued, “we are very much one people. Make no mistake about it: if Andronicus
should attack, we will all defend as one city. And if the upper city gets
overrun, we can fall back on the lower city. That is the great strength of
Silesia. That is why it has not been conquered in a thousand years.”

They all
reached the edge of the tunnel, and Gwen stood on a small landing. A cold gust
of wind hit her in the face, and she looked down at the steep drop below. She
grew dizzy. It was as if she were standing on a landing at the edge of the sky,
before her nothing but the vast expanse of Canyon. She felt as if she were
inside the Canyon itself: one more step and she would go plunging to her death.

Beneath
her, built into the Canyon walls, she saw lower Silesia for the first time.
Also built of an ancient red stone, its architecture was breathtakingly
beautiful, the lower city replete with spires and parapets and dwellings, all
built right into the side of the cliff, jutting out from the Canyon a good fifty
feet. There was activity below, people swarming about, livestock, children
playing, all going about their ordinary lives as if they were living in a
normal city, and not dangling on the edge of a cliff, with a plunge beneath
them that would send them to their deaths with one wrong step.

Gwendolyn
pulled back, feeling nauseated, wondering how these people could live this way.

"Don't
worry, everyone reacts the same way the first time," Srog smiled. "It
takes some getting used to. After a while, you don't even notice the heights.”

Srog
led the way down a narrow, twisting stone staircase embedded in the side of the
cliff. Gwendolyn gripped the railing firmly, knuckles white, as they headed
down the steps, trying not to peek over the edge as another gust of wind came,
so strong it knocked her off balance. She was not necessarily afraid of
heights, but this descent was so steep, and so close to the edge, it got to
her. She could hardly fathom how people did it—especially how they could let
their children play, so care free. She assumed they were all desensitized.

After
several flights they reached a broad landing, fifty feet wide with a high
railing, and Gwen finally relaxed again. Waiting to greet them as they came
down were several dozen lower Silesians, pouring out from side alleyways,
seeming to come out of the cliffs themselves. As with the Silesians above, they
were a warm and friendly people, all wearing welcoming smiles, and all looking
to Gwen with adoration. It was clear that, as with those above, they all looked
to her as their leader.

Gwendolyn
felt overwhelmed. It was a surreal feeling for her, having all these people
looking to her for guidance, and again she felt unsure if she could live up to
the task of being the leader they needed. Being a king’s daughter had aged her
more quickly than most, yet she was still just sixteen, barely an adult
herself. She marveled at how these people put such faith in her. She knew deep
down it was only because of her father. Clearly, they had loved him. For that,
she loved them back. Anyone who had been loyal to her father earned her love
and appreciation.

“My
fellow Silesians," Srog boomed. "It is my honor to introduce our lady
Gwendolyn, daughter of King MacGil, the new ruler of the Western Kingdom of the
Ring.”

There
came a shout and cheer as the crowd rushed forward, several women clasping her
shoulder, some of them giving her a hug, others kissing her hand. Others ran
their palms on her cheek, and children stroked her long hair. They raised three
fingers to their right temple, then slowly pulled them away, saluting her.