The Sorcerer's Ring: Book 05 - A Vow of Glory (32 page)

She
turned and looked at him, but he continued to stare out at the Canyon.

“Are
you leaving us?” she asked, struck with fear. But then she was struck with an
ever great fear: “Or is it I who is leaving you?”

Argon
stared, expressionless, and would not answer.

“I
suppose once I am a subject to Andronicus, you shall have a new MacGil ruler to
counsel soon enough," she said.

He
shook his head.

"Times
are shifting,” he said.

Gwendolyn
was suddenly burning with a desire to know.

"Just
tell me one thing,” she pleaded. “Thor? Is he safe? Is he alive?”

She
cared not for her safety anymore, but only for his.

"He
is alive, yes.”

She
stared at him.

"You
do not answer if he safe,” she pressed.

Argon remained
silent, not responding. Her heart was breaking.

"Can
you save him?” she pleaded. “From whatever peril he is in? Please. I will give
you anything. Can you keep him alive?”

Argon
turned and stared at her, and his eyes burned right through her.

"I
have already saved Thorgrin once. For you. And now your fate demands something
in return.”

Argon
took three steps forward and laid a hand on her shoulder, and it burned right
through her, feeling as if she was touched by the sun.

"You
have done the gods proud," he said. "Always there will be a spot of
honor reserved for you.”

Just
as Gwendolyn was about to pull away from his burning grasp, suddenly he
disappeared.

Gwen
turned and looked everywhere, but saw no trace of him. She was alone again up
there, on the edge of the rock, more alone than she had ever been in her life.

She
looked up at the Canyon wall rising to the upper city, and knew what she needed
to do.

It was
time to take the first step.

Erec
braced himself as he lay there, defenseless, and the creature prepared to bring
his claws down for his face. Images flashed through his mind as he prepared to
meet his death—of his time as a boy, his days in the Legion, his life as a knight—and
none flashed through his mind so strongly as that of Alistair. He had only one regret
in life as he prepared to meet his death: not having more time to spend with
her.

But as
the creature brought the stone down, suddenly something happened. An intense
light shone through the air, and the creature went flying back, knocked off its
feet as an orb of light hit him in the chest and knocked him halfway across the
battlefield.

Erec
blinked several times, confused, not understanding what had just happened.

Another
orb of light flew across the battlefield, and then another, and the creatures went
flying in every direction, clearing a safe perimeter around him.

Erec
turned and looked up and saw, standing over him, Alistair.

To his
shock, he saw her holding out a palm, from which were radiating the orbs of
light. Her light-blue eyes were aglow and she looked other-worldly, angelic,
with her long blonde hair falling down towards him.

He did
not know what to think.

Erec
scrambled to his feet and stood at her side as she continued casting orbs at
all the creatures on the battlefield, saving his friend Brandt right before a
creature sliced him in half. Within moments a wave of destruction spread across
the field, all the creatures hurling through the air.

The
creatures who were not yet hit looked at them with a new fear and began to back
away warily, then all turned and ran.

Erec
turned and looked at Alistair with a whole new appreciation and sense of wonder.
Did this have to do with the secret of her birth? Who was she, really? How did
she have these powers? And why had she kept it a secret?

He
could barely get out the words, his throat dry, as he turned to her. He was
almost afraid to ask the question:

“Who
are you?”

As the
first sun broke over the Canyon, showering it with the most magnificent sunrise
Gwendolyn had ever seen, filling the universe with red and orange hues,
swirling clouds of mist, Gwen climbed the spiral staircases, up flight after
flight, feeling as if she were climbing her way to heaven. She trembled
inwardly and her heart pounded with anxiety, her legs growing heavier with each
step. She had never felt more alone since she had begun her trek and left the
comfort of her family, her army, her people, everything she knew and held dear.

She
prepared to face Andronicus alone, to give herself over to his service, for the
sake of her people and everyone she loved. It was the loneliest walk of her
life, and she forced herself to go quickly, not wanting to think about it. If
she thought it over too carefully, she was afraid she might turn back.

Gwen
reached the final landing before the top, and encountered several Silesian soldiers,
all snapping to attention, surprised by her presence. They saluted her.

"My
lady," one of them said. "What are you doing up here? Is everything
okay?”

She
cleared her throat.

"All
is well,” she said, trying to mask her fear, trying to sound confident.

“Where
are you going, my lady?” another asked.

“To
the top,” she answered.

The
soldiers all exchanged a look of fear.

"The
top, my lady?” one asked. “You know that Andronicus’s army awaits up there.”

She
nodded.

"I
know, too well. Now, please excuse me.”

The
soldiers looked at themselves in hesitation and confusion, and for a moment it
seemed as if they might not let her pass; but then they deferred, and finally
stepped aside.

As she
walked past them, Gwen turned and faced them, remembering that they were all
looking to her as their ruler.

"You
have all done a magnificent job,” she said. “I thank you for your service.”

"My
lady," one of the guards said, clearing his throat, looking gravely
concerned. "If I may say, whatever it is that you are about to do, you
needn’t do it. All of us are ready to fight to the death for you.”

She
smiled back at him.

"I
know you are,” she answered. “And that is precisely why I am doing this.”

Without
another word, Gwen turned and made her way alone up the final flight of steps,
circling and circling, until she finally reached the uppermost level. She stood
there, in the field of spikes, all sticking straight up into the sky, her last
protection from the hordes of Empire, and walked over to the small platform in
the middle and pulled on a heavy rope.

As she
pulled, slowly, one pull a time, the platform raised, lifting her higher and
higher above the spikes. With each pull, she felt her heart sinking, felt the
anticipation of what could be her near death.

Finally
she reached the top, above the spikes, and took a step out, onto the landing of
upper Silesia. Standing there were dozens of Empire soldiers, who all turned
and looked at her, eyes wide in shock. They stood there, gaping, unsure what to
do.

Gwen
took several proud steps forward, raising her chin and chest, realizing she
represented the Ring. Everything she did reflected on her people, and she was
determined to be brave and strong.

She
looked for the most important-looking soldier she could find, and stepped to
him and stared coolly back.

"Bring
me to Andronicus," she commanded, using her most authoritative voice.

The
Empire soldiers all looked at each other, dazzled, as if they'd seen a ghost
appear in their midst.

Then,
finally, the lead soldier nodded back. He turned and walked alongside her, and several
soldiers fell in behind them.

The
group of them marched, Gwen’s heart pounding, crossing through the inner
courtyard of Silesia. Gwen’s heart broke at the site: it was destroyed, ravaged,
burnt to embers, and now filled with thousands of Empire soldiers, milling
about. As they marched through, all the soldiers on either side of her jumped
to their feet, staring at Gwendolyn as if she were an animal in a zoo, as if
she were a lamb being led to slaughter.

Gwen’s
heart swelled with increasing anxiety. It was too late to turn back now. Now, she
was entirely at their mercy.

She
prayed to God that she had made the right decision, was doing the right thing. She
prayed that Andronicus would indeed honor his word.

A
murmur spread throughout the camp, as they all marched out the city gate, and
into the huge camp beyond the walls. Gwen was awe-struck at the site: hundreds
of thousands of Empire soldiers were camped as far as the eye could see. They
all turned and stood and stared at Gwen’s arrival—and a great murmur arose
amongst the soldiers.

Gwen
was led across the remains of the drawbridge, and towards a huge black tent
pitched in the center of the soldiers, which she assumed was Andronicus’ camp.

As
they neared it, suddenly its flaps opened, and out of it emerged, ducking low,
then raising his head high, Andronicus, wearing a black cape, no shirt, and his
necklace of shrunken heads. She could see a new addition to it—the head of Lord
Kultin, Gareth’s pit-bull. She tried to look away.

Gwen walked
as confidently as she could up to Andronicus. He wore a huge, triumphant smile.
He was more beast than man, towering twice as large as any man she'd ever met,
and with his long fangs and claws, it was hard for her to believe that he
walked on two legs.

"Well
well, my little lamb," he said to her, his deep voice snarling and booming
in his chest. "You have taken me up on my offer after all.”

The
camp grew silent, as Gwendolyn cleared her throat.

“You vowed
not to harm any of my people, or myself, and to let us live in freedom,” she
said, “if I would swear allegiance and enter your service. It is an offer I am
prepared to accept.”

His
grin widened as his eyes twinkled down at her.

"You
are very brave,” he said. “You are willing to sacrifice yourself for your
people. A very noble trait, indeed. You were wise to accept my offer. You can
begin by kneeling before me and taking the Empire vow of allegiance.”

The
idea of kneeling before this monster and vowing allegiance to him tore Gwen up
inside. Every muscle in her body screamed at her not to. But she forced herself
to think of her people down below, of the suffering they would endure if she
did not, and slowly, she willed her knees to bend, and took a knee before him.

“Bow
your head,” came the harsh voice of Andronicus’ attendant.

Slowly,
Gwendolyn lowered her head.

"Repeat
after me,” the attendant said. “I Gwendolyn, daughter of King MacGil, ruler of
the Western Kingdom of the Ring….”

“I
Gwendolyn, daughter of King MacGil, ruler of the Western Kingdom of the Ring….”

"Do
hereby acknowledge that the great Andronicus is the one and only ruler of the
universe….”

"Do
hereby acknowledge that the great Andronicus is the one and only ruler of the
universe….”

"That
there has never been any greater, and never will be….”

"That
there has never been any greater, and never will be….”

"And
that I shall forever swear my loyalty to him.”

As she
spoke these last words they nearly stuck in her throat, and she felt a sense of
nausea spread through her. She paused, wondering if she could go through with
it.

"And
that I shall forever swear my loyalty to him.”

She
did it. She managed to get them out. Finally, it was done. She raised her head,
looking up at Andronicus.

A
great rumble arose from inside Andronicus’ throat, like a purring sound. It was
the sound of satisfaction.

"Very
good,” he said. “Very good indeed. You will make a most obedient subject. Now,
you can rise.”

Gwendolyn
stood, and stared back at him coldly.

"And
now you can let my people go,” she said.

Andronicus's
smile widened, as he reached up and fingered his necklace of shrunken heads.

"Well
yes, about that,” he began. “You see, sometimes I enjoy being honest. And
sometimes I take great pleasure out of a lie. In this case, I'm sorry to say,
it is the latter. I promise many things. Some things I keep, and some things I
do not. And I am afraid you caught me on the wrong day.”

Gwendolyn’s
heart began to pound. Inside, she screamed at herself. How could she have been
so stupid?

"Your
people,” Andronicus continued, “well, I may not kill all of them, because of
what you’ve done here today. But I will kill a great deal of them. And the rest
I will enslave. I'm afraid they won't know what freedom is anymore. But then
again, few people do.”