The Soul Sphere: Book 02 - The Final Shard (40 page)

Tala signaled to the elves holding Roldon that they should start across. They did so, carrying their charge easily, as if he weighed little more than the frock he wore. She took one last look back at Adiel, then ran across, finding her way unhindered. On the other side Deron waited with Rowan. Just as she arrived she saw Roldon’s chin dip to his chest as he slipped into unconsciousness.

“Carry him forward,” Deron told his attendants, “away from this fire. He can do no more here.”

“Can you hold the bridge for Adiel?” Tala asked her father.

He shook his head with a pained expression. “He knows.”

“But what can we do? We cannot just leave him.”

Rowan had been watching the dragons battling above them. He could not be sure who was winning, but the center of the fight had moved to the south, which he took as a hopeful sign. As long as the foul dragons could not attack the land-dwellers he assumed the good dragons must be at least holding their own. Now the questions Tala had asked her father penetrated his consciousness and brought his thoughts back to more immediate concerns. “Can he not walk across on his own?”

Deron gestured back across the gorge. Adiel sat cross-legged on the ground, his body relaxed and his face composed, but he looked only at the ground, avoiding eye contact with those whom he had helped save. “I did not think he could hold the spell while he moved, or while he was moved. He is spent now, his work done for this day. We must go on with out him.”

“We can’t just leave him,” Rowan protested. “The fire is all around…the dragons may return.”

“And how do you propose we retrieve him?”

Rowan sighed in response, a short, angry snort. He looked to Tala for support, but she turned away.

“We do not condemn him to death,” Deron said. “If we win this day, we will return and perhaps Roldon will be able to help him then. Or the dragons that aid us might prove victorious, and may deign to carry him across the void. But for now we must go on, or all Adiel and so many others have worked for will be lost.”

Rowan turned away and stood looking at the exhausted elf across the way, while flames roared before him and to each side. He heard Deron and Tala start to move off down the road, the sounds of their passage subtle under the roar of the fire. Finally, grudgingly, he followed.

Chapter 10: Citadel

Rowan caught up to the two elves and they reached the bend in the road together. Beyond, it was as if they had found a new world. The trees quickly thinned and vanished, meaning the fire that had blazed about them faded as well. Past this, an open field stretched to the cliffs that fell off to the ocean, the grass a deep brown bordering on black. The surviving members of the Arkanian Army had cleared the road past the trees, forming a loose line of battle on either side of it. All eyes seemed fixed on the same point ahead and to the left: Citadel.

The fortress city of Veldoon rose in all its strength and majesty above the dying land. Stone and mortar were both black, adding to the ominous look of the place. The outer wall rose thirty feet above the ground, and extended on the front face to over six hundred feet wide. Behind this wall were four circular towers of varied sizes and heights. The shortest and broadest of these was in the center, and it extended twenty feet above the outer wall. Towers flanked this central one left and right, the right one ten feet higher than the center, the left fifteen. To the rear a fourth tower shot skyward, the main section rising at least sixty feet above the next tallest tower, and a narrow portion, just large enough for a winding stair with a small room at the top, continued on another forty feet. It was not hard to imagine this topmost section being lost in the clouds when the weather was right. The road led to a large drawbridge, which to no one’s surprise was closed at the moment. From the walls were draped large banners with the new standard of Veldoon—the black field with the red tear—and atop the highest tower flew a flag of the same design.

Rowan, Tala, and Deron took a moment to study the city, then walked forward on the road to take their customary lead position. Zald of the Westerland was there, as was the goblin Yola and Myrna, who had become the field leader of the Lorgrasians. The Wolf King, seeing these three approach, trotted over as well, and spoke first.

“So, we near the end of our journey and the most difficult task. My kind does not assault fortified cities, but even if we did, I fear I couldn’t say how to take this one.”

“Legend has it,” said Zald, “that it has been tried many times, but no attempt has met with success.”

Rowan listened to these comments without stirring, maintaining a neutral expression. He saw confusion and despair beginning to settle into his companions as a chill gets into the bones. As the silence grew, gazes began to drift downward, the first subtle signs of defeat. “Perhaps,” he said, “we need not take the city.”

“Go on,” Deron said.

“We have come for Solek, not Citadel. If my guess is right, he will be in that high tower.”

“Should I check?” asked Tala, her eyes going from Rowan to Deron.

Rowan nodded yes. Deron added, “Only a brief glimpse.”

Tala took the Sphere from the holding bag and cast the finding spell. In an instant she was done and sliding the Sphere back inside, but even such swiftness did not help her avoid the exposed feeling she was now encumbered by. She wanted to hide the feeling, but her face gave her away.

“What’s wrong?” Rowan asked.

“He is in the tower,” she answered, avoiding the question, “just as you thought.”

“And?”
“And what?”

Deron answered. “The fact that he was where we thought he would be would not drain the life from your face.” He offered her a patient, paternal smile. “Please, my daughter. Share what you know.”

She gave in with a sigh. “He knows we have the Sphere. I could sense his gaze, like a splinter of ice in my mind’s eye.”

Rowan thought on this. “Maybe we could use that to draw him out.”

“Seems he likes to send others on such errands,” Zald observed.

“We have come this far,” Deron said. “He will wait for us to come the rest of the way. If we cannot reach him behind those walls…it will be simple enough for him to take the Sphere if none of us live.”

“How attack?” Yola asked. “Warblades no good on stone.”

“We might salvage some of the wood in that forest to build siege towers or ladders,” Zald suggested.

“How long until the elven mages recover?” the Wolf King asked. “Could they not cast the same spell that just saved us, to allow us to bridge our way directly to the tower?”

“In time, yes,” said Deron. “And an excellent idea. But it may be days or weeks, perhaps longer. They are worn out to the point of death, and Adiel is not here. Time is a luxury we do not have. Solek must be spent now as well. If we could get at him now, there is a chance that he—”

A shadow passed overhead, and all looked up to gaze upon the dragon flying past. They relaxed a bit when they saw its scales were of glittering gold. It wheeled casually and then dropped gracefully to the ground before them.

Tala stared at the dragon with an astonished look. “Valya? I thought—”

“Valya remains dead, Tala of the elves. I, Galway, rule now.”

Tala gave a bow, remembering Galway as one of the bronze dragons that had carried her and the others from Misty Island back to the mainland. “My congratulations, and more so my thanks for your aid. You and your kind have saved us again.”

“For now. But if my guess is correct, you plan to attack that city.”

Tala smiled shyly, and had to fight not to look away from the dragon’s piercing gaze. “We must. We have come too far to turn away now.”

“I understand,” said the dragon, “and I would offer our service to you, if it might help.”

“We would continue to be in your debt.”

“I know, as you do, that the dragons were entrusted to guard the Sphere. In that we failed. What we do now we do to repay the debt we already owe you and the rest of Arkania.”

“Then let us say rather that our accounts are settled, and we simply fight as allies against the evil plaguing our world.”

“Well said!" Galway exclaimed. “Now, tell me, have you worked out a plan for your assault?”

“We were just discussing that,” said Rowan. “We do not need the city, only Solek, who is in the highest chamber of the tall tower. We believe he is vulnerable now, having expended much energy to try to stop us from reaching this point.”

Deron picked up the explanation. “We could build ladders or siege towers, or wait for the elders of my people to recover sufficiently to cast spells allowing us possible entrance, but if we wait Solek will be strong again.”

“The wood would not be good for such a use. It burns too easily, as you have seen. As far as your mage…” Galway shook his head.

“What happened?” Deron asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

“You no doubt took note of the orange dragon.”

Everyone nodded glumly, fearing what would come next.

“She is Laza, their queen. After Belthros died, only a few of the males dared challenge her. They were quickly dispatched and she began to rule, at least amongst her kind. Since they were here, it is obvious that they still do the Dark One’s bidding. Once we saw them leave we followed, expecting some such mischief. We forced them to retreat, but Laza, as a last, spiteful act, returned and found your mage alone, left on the island of Solek’s creation. I was right behind in pursuit, but…I am sorry.”

“We would have all met the same fate if not for you and your kin,” Rowan said.

Galway dipped his head slightly in appreciation, then returned to the subject of Citadel. “I expect several dragons to return shortly, while the rest see to it that Laza and the others return to Bone Island. It may not be much, but we would be willing to carry a few of you—those we carried before—up to the base of the tall tower.”

“Even there, what could five or six do against the all Veldooners inside the walls?” asked Zald.

“The rest of us would need to march on the city,” replied Deron. “To hold their attention.”

“The dragons flying in won’t be noticed?” Zald retorted with a laugh.

“Of course they will. But if we have the city’s defenders engaged, fewer will be able to react before our group has a chance to reach Solek.”

“I can also promise what help we can give holding back any that try to reach the upper tower in pursuit,” Galway said, his eyes glimmering like jewels, a certain well-directed malice shining through. He then marked Rowan and Tala and asked, “Are the others with you?”

“Three of the four,” Tala replied. “One fell as we crossed the Dead Plain.”

“She was Alexandra,” Rowan added. “Queen of Lorgras.”

“My condolences,” Galway said. “Far too many noble hearts have fallen to Solek’s desires.”

“Then let us see if we can end that today,” Rowan said.

Demetrius, Corson, and Lucien were brought forward and were ready before a small group of dragons returned, all bronze adults of decent size. Counting Galway there were two more than were needed, but rather than choosing new riders, these would act as scouts and would provide cover as the others tried to land on the battlements at the base of the narrow section of the high tower.

“You will have to hold on to our scales, as we have no saddles,” Galway said. “We will see to it that you do not fall.” His gaze turned to Tala. “I would be honored to carry the bearer of the Sphere.”

“The honor would be mine,” she said. While the others mounted the great beasts, she turned to her father. “There is no time for a proper farewell,” she began.

He held a finger to her lips. “Say not that we will part here forever, but only for a short time, until the task is done.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, then embraced her, whispering, “I am proud to call you my daughter.”

She smiled, blinking away the tears that were trying to form in her eyes, then hugged him again. By the time she had climbed onto Galway’s back, Deron had resumed the mantle of command. “Stay here for a time,” he told them. “Until we can reach the walls and draw them into battle. Then move swiftly. We will hold there as long as we can.” With that he drew his sword, which had remained sheathed during their previous battles, as he preferred the bow. He pointed it at Citadel, gave a cry, and marched forward. The Arkanian Army followed, wishing the dragon riders luck as they filed past.

The walls of Citadel came to life as the last hope of free Arkania approached. The battlements were lined with grim-faced, low-browed Veldooners, scores of archers prepared to attack at a word from their commanders. Deron took up a position he believed to be just out of their bow range, but perhaps within that of his own archers, who had better weapons. The Arkanians arrayed themselves in line of battle, their banners of many colors flapping in a stiffening breeze. As the last of the Arkanians moved into position, the two opposing forces stood regarding each other silently, only the wind creating noise as it whistled and rippled clothes and flags.

“Should we call a challenge?” Zald asked, his voice lowered as if those atop the walls might hear.

“Not yet,” Deron replied. “Let us see if they blink first.”

They did not have long to wait. A fair-sized demon—just over ten feet tall—appeared on the wall. He fixed his gaze on Deron. “You have traveled far, and through many trials and toils, in order to pay tribute to my master. Have you brought gifts?” The Veldooners laughed at the taunting words of their demonic overlord.

“We have,” Deron answered, unfazed. He held aloft his sword. “Right here I have something I would be happy to give him the opportunity to become acquainted with.”

“Perhaps we should open the gate?” the demon asked. “Invite you inside for a feast?” More laughter rained down from above.

“As you wish,” Deron replied. “Though I hoped you might have the courage to come out of your hiding place and face me in the open.”