The Vlakan King (Book 3) (32 page)

"I will do what is needed," said Moria. "If I learned nothing else from Kerreth, at least I can do that."

"Do not lose yourself in the killing and take no careless chances. You still have much to offer this world," said Taina. Moria looked down and nodded.

Taina called the sergeants together to direct the formation of the lines and the expected strategy once they reached Nantitet. She spoke quietly and quickly. The soldiers heard every word. Then they moved out to instruct their squads.

"We are ready," said Pao Guitan. The blued skinned Anethean towered over Taina and the other sergeants. Pao flapped her wings slightly.

"Your confidence is contagious," said Taina. "Make sure you spread it to the rest of the company."

"It is what I do," said Pao Guitan. "I fight to honor the memory of Elberra Turan, the greatest of all Anetheans. Please allow my squad to lead the charge; they've been most bloodthirsty lately."

"Granted. Blackthorne, everyone needs to hear me."

Blackthorne created a ball of light that soared over the heads of the Talos Company and from it came Taina's voice.

"We ride to Nantitet to halt the Mordyn invasion. Celaeri soldiers lead the Mordyn army. We do not know what connects the Celaeri to Mordyn but they are fierce and extremely fast. Do not fight them singly; only with a comrade. The Celaeri are faster and stronger than Men. However, the Mordyn are Men. Kill at will. We have two objectives: to drive the Mordyn army from the gates of Nantitet and to kill the Celaeri leaders. Follow your captains closely and they will lead you to your objective. Mount and ride! Talos!"

A great shout rose up as the Talos Company rode out of Toraba. The ground thundered with their passing and only a handful remained behind. Gerrand watched them ride and stared after them when they were beyond his sight. Faeya Ryr stood next to him her hand softly resting on the back of his neck. Wynne watched them and then walked away lost in the dark clouds of her mind.

Aulan stood on the balcony overlooking the city trying to reach the last drop of wine in his goblet. The wine's taste was the best he could remember. It was from the High King's private stock. It was his private stock now. Aulan controlled the great city of Nantitet and the High King was locked away until Aulan determined he was of no further use. The Brotherhood of the Rose was achieving its rightful place in Calendia. Mere kings would have no influence on the Brotherhood; it would be the conscience of Anavar. It was time to put the next phase in motion. The Mordyn army would soon surround the city and Pashar Bei was within sight in the west. He could see the remnants of the king's guard trying to rally and defend the city against the Mordyn, but they could not fight more than one front. Three squads of Rose Knights were pressing the Calendia soldiers to the gates where the Mordyn waited. The resistance in the city was nil. What more did Aulan need to do before declaring his authority to the people of Nantitet and the rest of Calendia? Perhaps one more symbolic step and his influence would be complete. The Mage Academy needed a new High Mage supportive of the Brotherhood. That would close all the gaps in his influence. Perhaps it was time to reward Garval for poking and prodding the other mages until Artus' leadership was questioned. It had rendered the influence of the High Mage negligible. Artus had several mages in Nantitet trying to create spells to battle the Mordyn army and the High Mage was nothing if not focused. Perhaps too focused and out of touch with what is happening around him. That is Garval's main complaint and reason enough to wish for a new High Mage. Garval said he would reluctantly wear the cloak of the High Mage if called upon. Very noble but, Garval should show his true commitment. Aulan smiled to himself and sat at the king's desk, selected a fresh parchment, dipped his pen and began to write.

After he sent his note off in the hands of a Rose Knight, Aulan walked into the king's quarters where Armana sat tied to a chair. The carpet was soaked with blood from the queen's wounds. She lay in the High King's field of version and Aulan smiled at the tears on Armana's face. His gag had been pulled cruelly tight and his handsome features were unrecognizable.

"So Armana your life is drawing to a close. The crown of the Arayr's comes to me and I will hunt down all of your family and kill them. Your Zidar heritage does not rule Men people. Men will rule Men. The Zidars will be wiped from Nantitet and Calendia. Then all of Anavar will be free of your taint."

Aulan raised his sword and pressed the point to Armana's throat. A trickle of blood began to run down his neck to his chest. Aulan grinned.

"Goodbye High King." He pushed hard; the blade pierced Armana's neck opening a wide gap and blood poured out. Aulan went to refill his goblet.

The Rose Knight muttered under his breath at being an errand boy when there was fighting to be done. It was important to the Bishop who said he could trust no one else. Still it was difficult to pass his brethren as they crossed swords with the King's Guard or even the Talos Company that rumor held was approaching Nantitet. He ran with his sword in his hand towards the Mage headquarters in the north of the city. Outside the walls of the inner city chaos ruled and despite efforts to the contrary he found himself engaged in swordplay a few times on his journey.

The door to the Mage building opened as he neared and the mage Garval stood in the doorway. He glanced at the bloody sword in the knight's hand.

"A message from the Bishop?" asked Garval.

"Yes sir," said the Knight. He handed the sealed letter to Garval and backed away. "I must return to the fighting."

Garval waved him off absently as he broke the seal and read the words written by the Bishop. When he finished his head snapped up to stare toward the inner city.

"Damn you, Aulan," said Garval. He crumbled the letter and slipped it in his cloak.

Artus Endria stood at the window of his study of the Nantitet Mage quarters and looked out over the smoke from the guard's barracks. He had foreseen the duplicity of the Rose Bishop but did not anticipating Aulan moving so quickly. The War Mages were still in training and useless to defend Nantitet in real battle. They had learned the rudimentary steps but in battle they could not spend time preparing; they had to be ready to kill at every moment. They would die as they tried to remember their training. I was just as well that Aulan locked the mages in separate rooms. They would live to fight another day. Did the mages have the courage to escape? Their magic was useful for other things besides killing. Would he have the courage to defy Aulan and his Rose Knights alone? He had never been a fighter. Gerrand tried to teach him how but he was never comfortable in that role. Certainly his magic was powerful enough, but could he kill with it? And could he kill people he knew? The people of Nantitet needed the Talos Company. He had sent his last message yesterday by hawk and was confident it would reach Toraba. Blackthorne had spelled the hawks and even an arrow would not bring them down. Artus had remembered Navir's muttering of 'never again' but Blackthorne wouldn't explain it to him. Even Wynne seemed moved by Blackthorne's precautions.

Artus tried to remember the instruction he received from Gerrand the Sorcerer but he found it difficult to clear his mind. That was unusual. Gerrand had appointed him High Mage because of his clear thinking and now it had abandoned him. He felt the stress of the situation; his heart pounded in his throat and his hands shook. Think Artus, think! What would Gerrand do? Surely some of the king's guard was still loyal and would resist Aulan. The mages could send messages between the Talos Company and the king's guard. If they aren't ready to fight, they could be scouts.

The door of the study opened and it took a moment for it to register in Artus' mind and he turned to see three figures; two mages he couldn't name off hand and Garval.

"What do you want Garval?"

"I came to see how you were, High Mage. What can we do to help defend Nantitet? The War Mages you tried to train are a failure. No mage has courage enough to step beyond these doors save perhaps yourself."

"I am no fighter," said Artus. "But I will do what I can." He stepped forward but his balance eluded him and the two mages with Garval kept him from failing and led him to a chair.

"Are you feeling all right?" asked Garval. "You look pale. Get him some water."

"I don't, I don't know," said Artus. "I've been feeling poorly all day."

"Are you having trouble concentrating? Are your thoughts getting away from you? You may be ill; it could be a fever. Are you fit to lead the Mage Academy during this crisis?"

"What do you mean?" Artus focus sharpened for a moment but then it dissipated.

"Artus? Artus can you focus? Do you understand what I am saying? We need a strong leader right now. Are you able to lead us?"

"I'm not sure. I may have been poisoned."

"I know you were," said Garval. His tone changed and he smiled.

"What? You're not making sense. My mind's so fuzzy."

Garval held a red dagger in his hand.

"A beautiful dagger isn't it? The man who made it was a real craftsman. I haven't used it yet and the edge is perfect. I wove a special spell around this blade," said Garval. "The wound it makes does not heal; the blood does not clot. Now, doesn't that sound like a useful spell for a war? Did you teach your mages that?"

"What are you doing?"

Garval raised the dagger and trust it into Artus' chest. Garval almost recoiled at the sensation of the blade sliding between the ribs. Artus gasped, reaching for Garval's arm but slumped back in the chair. Garval wiped the blood from his hand on Artus' cloak.

"That was a message from the Rose Bishop to you High Mage. Rest well Artus Endria. You were a good man but the wrong man for the Mage Academy. We need strong Men in these trying times. Goodbye, Artus. You may rest easy knowing the Academy is in good hands. I am now the High Mage."

The news quickly spread throughout the Mage quarters and Garval's supporters filled the common room. In the upper floor Dimont and Berlo pondered their situation. Dimont paced the room, muffled by the thick carpeting. He did not know how to get a message out to the king or to the Talos Company about the murder of Artus Endria. Although neither of them witnessed Artus' death there could be no doubt. Artus was alive when Garval entered the study and dead when Garval left and no one could examine the body upon the authority of the new High Mage. Their situation was bleak; once the initial chaos of the battle subsides Garval would consolidate his position and deal with his opponents of which Dimont was the most vocal.

"What can we do Vicare?" asked Berlo.

"I know not," said Dimont. "Aulan has the city in his control and now the High Mage too. We cannot fight them."

"I can make fire and perhaps we can escape in the confusion."

"Or die," said Dimont.

"Garval will kill us eventually. We have to help fight against Aulan, the people of Nantitet need us."

"I think your exposure to Blackthorne did not help your grasp of reality. We need to sit tight and figure a way out."

"Would Artus have sat still while the city burned? No, he would have found some way to help. The first thing we need to do is get out of this building. Garval would not expect us to try anything; he believes we are too meek."

Berlo grabbed Dimont's shoulder and looked into his eyes.

"Did we learn nothing from our adventure with the Talos Company? We must commit to a course of action and follow through."

The older mage nodded his head.

"You shame me, my friend. I have been too intent on watching the world from my classroom. You are right; we can be of help. I know many ways out of this building and Garval will not think to lock us in."

Dimont retrieved a pack of supplies and led Berlo to the far end of the hallway to the rear stairs. He took a deep breath and they began their own adventure.

Taina Talos had few choices if they wanted to reach the city. The Mordyn army stretched across the plains nearly to the river keeping the Gornst soldiers from leaving the city to engage the Celaeri in the fields. The Talos Company would have to punch their way through the lines to reach the gates and relieve the city. Taina debated what would be the more strategic but she had less than a thousand soldiers against three thousand. The Mordyn would be in the city while the Talos Company still fought the edges of the Mordyn line.

"Your decision is the correct one," said Blackthorne.

"You don't even know what it is," said Taina.

"Nevertheless, you are a battle leader. Who in Landermass is more experienced? There is sorcery on the far side of the river; I believe Pashar Bei is there. I do not know any others who would wield such power carelessly. I will need to face him before the end. I must leave you now and move quickly."

"You will wait for now. We need to get to the city and increase their defense. We will need wards for that."

Blackthorne grimaced. "I understand. I just want to be clear that no one else will be able to stop the sorcerer so don't let them try. Don't send any soldiers against his army; it is magically enhanced. I can't tell how from his distance but he is doing something to his soldiers. Might only be making it appear his army is greater than it is. Get me into Nantitet and I will stop Pashar Bei."

Taina nodded and signaled the company. Horns blared and the Talos Company cried out in one voice and started their charge. The ground began to rumble as the pounding of the hooves grew. They rode hard.

The outer lines of the Mordyn army started to turn toward them. One of the Mordyn captains had noticed the rumbling from the north. The Talos Company rode in a wedge formation with Taina Talos in the lead, Pao Guitan's squad right behind her. The heralds sounded their horns. Closer, closer came the shaking earth. The Mordyn soldiers braced for impact but they had few lancers; all they could hope for was to slow down the Talos Company before too many of their comrades were ridden down.

The front soldiers began to shake and back away but the wall of soldiers behind them blocked their escape. The oncoming force did not seem to slow as they closed the last remaining yards. The crunching sound was felt in the teeth of everyone in the area and the dead had no chance to cry out when the force of the horsemen thundered into the Mordyn lines. The initial drive into the Mordyn lines slowed and the hard fighting started. Yard by bloody yard the Talos Company push the battle closer to Nantitet.