The Vlakan King (Book 3) (31 page)

"Well, her brother executed her husband. I could not imagine what she felt. Howard Cane supported King Henry's brother in an attempt to steal the throne from Henry. Treason is punishable by death. I am not aware of any kingdom that does not follow the same code."

"Even though Howard Cane fought alongside Henry against the Turucks?"

"I was not there so I cannot speak to the facts. Perhaps Henry thought Howard was fighting to save his own skin not the kingdom. Perhaps the King did not believe he could trust Howard again. Did you ever ask King Henry?"

Prince Jahnn sighed. "No. I am afraid to. I don't want to hear the worst."

"That only natural."

"Tell me about your two charges. Where are they from?"

"Davan is the easy one. I've known him all his life. He's from Peradon and grew up believing he was an innkeeper's son. Now his father is cursed by an ancient race and both his parents once fought alongside the Talos Company. He's still coming to terms with it. But he is no soldier.

"Now Jarius is another matter entirely. He is a sorcerer as are both his parents. He is far older than he looks although he acts younger than Davan most of the time. But make no mistake he is very powerful. He will be deadly to the Celaeri."

"How about you, Brevin. How powerful are you?"

"I can hold my own on the battlefield, Prince Jahnn. I could ask the same of you. You are young and ambitious but you will be facing an ancient foe. The Celaeri are one of the long-lived races like the Daerlan and Turuck but are not related to them. The Celaeri are a separate race and distrusted by the other elder races. They are evil and desire the enslavement of Men."

"I admit I have never fought against another race. Can you tell me how they fight?"

"They are taller and faster than Men. Their primary weapon is spear but if you do not commit two soldiers or more per Celaeri you will lose."

"Are they such great fighters?"

"Compared to Men, yes. Man has outnumbered the Celaeri in every war but only with the help of the Talos Company could the Celaeri be beaten back. Kerreth Veralier is a deadly name to the Celaeri. Trying to fight them in even numbers is not wise. Your army will lose. Prepare for the worst and you may survive."

"Hmm. I will think on your words. The air grows cold without the sun and I am tired. Good night, Brevin."

"Good night Prince Jahnn."

King Byron Haldane of Cresida watched the thousand soldiers march north to support Gornst. His sister was in danger from the Celaeri again. The demons never completely vanish and later they come again. King Byron was overjoyed at his sister's victory in the Celaeri war and she had strengthened Gornst, throwing down the distrust sowed by her predecessor Dacu Belderag. The time had passed so quickly; their father's passing and Byron taking the crown. Linna had governed the northern towns wonderfully but was she ready for another war? The Talos Company would not be there to help her and Colly Bulger and Beric Mallon were old soldiers. They were no longer fighting men. Did he provide enough support for Linna over the years? Had she developed a military mind as well as a management mind? This was the doubt that nagged at him as he counted the profits at night. Andara was the busiest trading hub on Landermass but would his eye for profit put the rest of Cresida in jeopardy?

Should he have led his army himself?

Lord Mikoes found him standing on the balcony enjoying the view of the city below as his father spent many a day. The king had missed a trade meeting, which was not normal for him, so Mikoes went in search of King Byron.

"Sire, is there something disturbing you? You did not attend the meeting with the minister from Anethe. She was disappointed not to talk with you."

"Ah, Mikoes, there is much on my mind. Send a message to Opehia; I will meet with her privately."

"Very good." Mikoes motioned to his assistant who hurried out the door.

"There is war up north Mikoes."

"Yes, sire. The Celaeri again. You sent a sizable force to Gornst to aid the Princess."

"Yes. Should I have gone myself?"

"You are no warrior, begging your pardon, sire. You are a man of trade and wealth. You build kingdoms, not tear them down."

"That is how I viewed it."

"The Princess has experience in fighting the Celaeri and your presence may dilute her leadership."

"There is that," agreed King Byron.

"However, she is your sister and heir. Your presence would acknowledge her importance to Cresida."

"Mikoes! Why didn't you say that at the beginning! Order an escort for me. I will dress for battle and ride north. Give Opehia my regrets."

"Very good, sire," said Mikoes.

The boy stood with his sheep on the side of a hill sheltered from the wind. As the evening passed the sheep grew silent and crowded near him. He knew it was no wolf approaching yet his skin tingled from the anticipation. He thought he heard the jingle of a bridle but the sound seemed muffled as from a long distance.

They came silently from the Black Heath almost floating as they passed through the trees toward the road. The isolated homesteads shuttered their windows and hid in darkness until the host of demons had passed. Ioane Adan rode at the head of her army, fey and strong yet despite the thousands of years she toiled to reclaim a piece of Landermass for her people. Her father had died at the hands of Kerreth Veralier. She had no hope of gaining revenge on her own for no one less than a god could best Veralier in battle. She felt the rumbling voices of the gods mourning a warrior some time ago and hoped it was Veralier, but she knew nothing more. Even the gods avoid the Celaeri in these later years; a broken people, outcast and fading from Landermass. Moruga, the Jungegud of Twilight that created the Celaeri faded into history and had not been heard of in eons. But it all would change with her alliance with Natale Galamog. With the aid of the Jungegud the Celaeri were strengthened and their claims acknowledged as valid by the Mordyn. Momentum was growing and soon Gornst would fall. Ioane would not be greedy, not at first. She would solidify her hold on northern Cresida before looking for another area to annex. The king of Men in Cresida was a merchant and would hesitate to send an army against her. She glanced involuntarily north of the road to Greyrawk Mountain, once called Adan's Hill and the place where she was born. Ian Greyrawk's friend Brandalay lived there now with Ioane's daughter Alarie Skye. Alarie would have to be punished for her betrayal and perhaps even lose her life but Ioane doubted she could kill Alarie herself. But for Tarlac Brandalay things will be different. There will be a reckoning for Brandalay, but Ioane would not rush. These things are best served cold. She wanted Brandalay's voice to give out before he died. His screams would fill the night atop Adan's Hill warning Men not to set foot on the Celaeri home.

They swept through some isolated farms killing everyone they found. Advance scouts waited beyond to catch anyone fleeing. They set no fires and allowed no word of their approach to run before them.

Ioane Adan did not smile at the cries of the dying; she felt no emotion. Her only concern was the survival of her race and the oppression of Men. She wore a blue bladed sword crafted in the depths of time and her blood red cloak clung to her like a shadow. Her copper hair held in place by a single silver band with a soaring eagle on her forehead. She watched her soldiers finish their work and rejoin the column.

Over the next rise a squad of soldiers waited for them. When Ioane saw them they had already sent a rider back to Gornst. She did not care; their end would come soon enough. She raised her spear and then pointed at the Cresida soldiers. The Celaeri roared as one and rode hard to engage them. Ioane rode at the point and as they drew near from the forest to the east a small squad of soldiers rode directly at Ioane. She grinned and turned her horse to meet the foolish men.

The battle was brief and the Gornst soldiers bled where they lay. It was a clear road to Gornst. Ioane Adan called a rider to her and gave him instructions. He rode ahead to the city. As he neared the walls he fitted an arrow on his long bow and released an arching shot that thunked in the rail near Princess Linna. The archer turned and headed back to the Celaeri lines.

The arrow stuck in the wood rail of the corner tower of the city and was run to the Princess who watched the Celaeri advance a few yards away. She had watched the rider and the arrow; curious of the intent until she saw the message fastened to the shaft. She read the demands of surrender and her temper flared.

"Beric!" called Princess Linna. "Get your soldiers together and ride to meet the Celaeri."

"The city is well fortified," said Beric Mallon. "We have stores of food and water to last months."

"The Celaeri are immortal. What are months to them? We would not survive a siege. Meet them on the field. We defeated them before and we will do so again."

"Yes we defeated them, but we had the king's army and the Talos Company was with us. I see no such heroes aiding us today."

"Nevertheless, we will meet them on the field, not in the city. Their interest was Greyrawk Mountain last time - Adan's Hill. If the army loses perhaps the Celaeri will turn from the city and go to Adan's Hill and leave the citizens of Gornst in peace."

"That's a big 'if' Princess."

"Yes, Beric, it is. But it is the best I have at the moment. Please don't argue anymore and get your men ready. We must draw their attention away from Gornst."

"As you command Princess."

Raeind led the girls into Cresida. They were far north of Gornst and he feared they would not reach the city in time. Merie and Krysta kept up with him but he would not answer their questions.

"Raeind, what can we do in Gornst if they are attacked by the Celaeri?" asked Merie. "Krysta and I aren't fighters. Go without us, you'll make better time."

"I cannot leave you," said Raeind.

"Noble," said Merie. "But you won't say why."

"Not the primary reason no. But the Vlakan may still be on our trail."

"Poor Salie," said Krysta. "I hoped he survived."

"Or the end was quick," said Merie. "All right. Lead on, Raeind. Let us see where your secrets take us."

They walked until Krysta's feet could stand no more and the red haired girl slumped to the ground. Merie called Raeind back and he lifted Krysta and carried her to a stand of trees.

"We will rest here."

"Won't it be colder tonight? It feels like the wind is harder down here."

"You are right Merie, but we cannot risk a fire. I fear the Vlakan are too close. I had hoped to run into a patrol from Gornst from now. It is unusual that we've seen no signs of them. It may be they are no longer patrolling this area."

"Why would they stop?"

"Only if they attention was drawn by something more dangerous. The Vlakan may be in greater numbers near Gornst."

"What can we do?" asked Krysta. "Gornst is the closest city, correct? I get a feeling that something is following us."

"Vlakan?" asked Merie.

"Have you had these kinds of feelings before?" asked Raeind.

"No. I haven't and I don't think it is Vlakan but it is dangerous. The dread has been growing steadily. Whatever it is seems to be coming fast."

Here are the origins of the Talos Company as nearly as I can determine it. These immortal races are not the most reliable for consistency of history, which I found surprising because they were present. However, their stories shift with time and mood and I had seven versions from Kerreth Veralier alone! The Daerlan are even worse in their recollections.

Before the Daerlan left Arda in the early years of Navir's rule he asked Altair Talos to organize a company of Daerlan to patrol Arda to look for signs of the Menaloch. Altair Talos enlisted his daughter Taina and his brother Gorm to help lead the company. After a few years they came upon a giant of a man with long red hair and a braided beard. The man was twice as wide as Altair and a foot taller. Two weathered tusks jutted up from his lower jaw. He had just killed a band of goblins and was leaning against a tree. Immediately Altair offered the leadership of the Talos Company to Kerreth Veralier and he accepted. Over the centuries Kerreth allowed all races to join the company although the leadership remained with the long-lived races. Kerreth did not want the brevity of the Men to affect the consistency of leadership.

From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

"We can wait no longer," said Taina Talos. She stood with the other leaders on a hill overlooking the Talos Company. "Mordyn marches on Calendia and Pashar Bei leads his Celaeri army through Wierland. Wierland will fall soon if they haven't already and then Nantitet will be between the two armies. We must bring all the Talos Company to Nantitet. We will need every sword."

"I agree," said Moria. "The squads are well rested and at full strength."

"And I agree also," said Dvorak. He wiped his mouth and set down his jug. "The supplies are loaded on the wagons, the horses fed and rested. We can move out within two hours of your command."

"I agree," said Hobart. "I wish Loric was here. His sword is always useful in large crowds. I confess I do not look forward to the press of two armies in the field. Not a place for a Tuor. I prefer a high place where I can loose my arrows in peace."

"Blackthorne?" asked Taina. "What is your opinion?"

"I concur with the others. It would do no good to disagree anyway," said Blackthorne. "You are the boss, Taina. In some ways it feels like Kerreth is still here. Not in the good ways either." He turned to the sergeants waiting. "Prepare your men. We ride within the hour."

"I wish Kerreth was here," said Moria. "And not just for his swords." Taina hugged her daughter, remembering.

"So do I," said Taina. Moria looked into her mother's eyes.

"Careful what you wish for," muttered Blackthorne too softly to be overheard.

"Are you strong enough for this battle?" asked Taina. She held Moria's gaze.