The Vlakan King (Book 3) (34 page)

"You would let me go?"

"I would. None of the others will. If you leave now you can elude the Talos Company. I do not know how much of this ambition is yours and how much is Galamog's but it stops now. Tell Natale to keep within her borders and not break our agreement. I fear Ioane Adan may have misled your mistress. The Celaeri wanted the Talos Company occupied on Anavar, unable to journey to Amloth to thwart whatever devilry Ioane Adan has unleashed.

"There are so few talented sorcerers left in the world. It requires such a singular intellect to achieve what you and I have achieved. I would hate to lose a colleague to high emotions. Go now, and seek safety."

"Thank you, Blackthorne. This is unexpected but I shall not let the opportunity slip away."

Pashar Bei turned and walked back to the river. Blackthorne exhaled and returned to the gate where Hobart sat waiting for him.

"You do play your own games, don't you Blackthorne?" said Hobart.

"What do you want?"

"Why do you assume I want anything? I am not the eternal sorcerer of Landermass; ceaselessly grasping for more knowledge. I believe that is you. I am a Tuor; I want for nothing. I enjoy guessing which way your mind will turn next although I usually guess wrong. Still, the pastime is enjoyable."

They walked in silence for several blocks.

"Moria is going nuts you know," said Hobart.

"Not unexpected."

"Why didn't you tell anyone you could bring Kerreth back?"

"I don't like to make promises I can't back up. I hadn't tried that spell before and it did not work as I expected. I think Kerreth was more than we thought he was."

"Yes, when it's daylight he becomes flesh but is a walking skeleton at night. Moria showed up just as the sun set."

"Well. I suppose it's going to get uncomfortable soon," said Blackthorne. "I was pleased to reconstruct the whole skeleton from just Kerreth's skull. That was another new spell. Still as you say it may be better to stay out of Moria's way for a while."

"Could be. Nantitet is a huge city. I'd never been here before. I could walk for days and not get anywhere. Do you know it well? Could you give me a tour?"

"A tour for a Tuor?"

"At least until Moria calms down. I'd hate to see you attacked by a frenzied Daerlan. So, what can you tell me about Nantitet?"

"It's looked better."

"I'd so hoped."

"No extended tour yet, Hobart. Artus Endria is dead. I felt his passing and I am suspicious for it did not happen on the battlefield; it was in the city."

"He was murdered?"

"That is what we need to find out. Gerrand will be heart-broken. We may have a rogue High Mage to deal with. I wondered why I did not see any of Artus' mages in the battle. He was cut off from helping and lost his life. Artus was a good man and Gerrand was his surrogate father after Alec Endria passed. If I will have to endure Moria's wrath concerning Kerreth later I would rather take it out on someone else's hide sooner. Might as well enjoy it now."

"Won't the High Mage be powerful? Not that you are in danger, but I only use arrows."

"Do not worry. There was no mage as powerful as Artus within the Academy. Brevin wasn't even as strong. Artus had nothing to fear in an honest fight. Besides, he was much too smart to find him surrounded by enemies. It would have to be another mage than killed him. He was betrayed."

"Poor Artus. I didn't know much of him, but I liked him."

"Yes, he was forthright and honest. A likeable Men, much unlike myself."

"Ah, Blackthorne if you were likeable you'd be insufferable."

"I have yet to grasp the workings of the Tuor mind," said Blackthorne. "Although I would like to dissect the brain of one. Just a scholarly interest of course."

"My head is not for your experiments," said Hobart. "You never put anything back the way you found it."

"I did nothing to your pet rabbit."

"Who else could it have been?"

"Perhaps, Kerreth?"

"What would Kerreth want with Floppy?"

"Perhaps he was hungry. Your rabbit would have been a single mouthful for him."

"Ah, Blackthorne, you really don't think Kerreth would do that?"

"Hush now. We are coming to the Mage quarters. I can already sense magic called within the building. I can shield you if you stay close. The mages are not that powerful individually but together they might get lucky and level half of Nantitet." He closed his eyes and opened them and grinned.

"Ha! Artus' supporters have not given up. There is a battle of magic going on in there."

"Can you sense the mages'? Do you know who they are?"

"Yes, my friend. I have already taken the measure of them and we can observe in safety. I will put a spell around us for protection and secrecy. They will not even know we are here."

"You're not going to help?"

"No. As I said, I have taken the measure of them and have determined the eventual winner. It will do them much good to win on their own than have my help. Our old friends Dimont and Berlo are avenging Artus. Come let us go in."

Blackthorne pushed open the door revealing the debris in the hallway. The air was buzzing with magic.

"Stay close to me," said Blackthorne. "I will shield us from the euphoria of these mage warriors." He chuckled.

There was no movement downstairs and they quietly made their way upstairs peering into rooms as they passed. Several mages were sprawled across the overturned furniture in one room. A soft noise alerted them to the far room down the hall. Blackthorne peered in and then boldly walked in. Dimont and Berlo spun to defend themselves but recognized him.

"Ah, Dimont you are a warrior after all," said Blackthorne. "How does it feel to be a battle mage Berlo?"

"I'm not sure I enjoyed it Blackthorne," said Berlo. "The feeling overwhelmed me." He stood over a mage whose cloak was shredded and bloody.

"It was hard to hold back," said Dimont. "It's a wonder Garvel is still alive."

"Garvel? You have him?"

"He killed Artus," said Dimont. "We need to question him but I've lost the taste for inflicting pain."

"Ah, dear Dimont. You are too gentle a soul for this type of thing. Stick to your scholarly pursuits. I will take Garvel from you. Ah, he's conscious. Garvel my old friend, you will tell me what I need to know. Hobart, will you take Berlo and Dimont downstairs? I will ward the room but sound may still escape. I believe Garvel will need some urging to talk to me."

"We should be here," said Dimont.

"Vicare listen to me. You cannot be here. You will see a side of magic you do not want to know. It is better for both of you to leave."

"Come," said Hobart. "It is safe outside. Perhaps some air will do you good."

The two mages left with Hobart. Blackthorne looked into the pleading eyes of Garvel and grinned.

The wars of Landermass have given us heroes for our legends. One of my favorites was Ronde the Blade, an early swordsman with a weapon cursed or blessed as the tales are told. A companion of Mauran de Arayr, Ronde's fate was intertwined with Ritha de Laruin, a captain of Agnaran the Black and foe of Mauran. Ronde could not die until he killed Agnaran and his sword carried the spirit of his lost love Tabitha. That was a tale; a mortal killing a Jungegud! I know this story to be true as I heard it from one who witnessed it.

From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

The gates opened and the Gornst army marched out to defend the city against the Celaeri whose ranks spread across the fields to the east. A horn sounded and the Celaeri charged forward to engage the defenders before their lines were set. Horns blared from the Gornst walls and the soldiers ran to their positions. Beric Mallon rode out with them shouting orders. Many of the soldiers were in position when the Celaeri reached them and the stragglers filled in behind them. The Celaeri were horsed or on foot and behind followed a dark mass of growls led by a large gray Vlakan.

The Celaeri were faster than Men and could only be contested by two or more nimble soldiers. It was several minutes before the slaughter was halted and the battle became pitched. Princess Linna rode through the gate in her armor with her bow ready. Alarie Skye and Tarlac Brandalay rode beside her with Colleson Bulger on foot wielding his huge blade.

The battle raged for hours as the smaller numbers of the Celaeri and Vlakan began to even the odds. Ioane Adan fought her way toward Princess Linna with frightening purpose. Soldier after soldier fell to her blade. Beric Mallon intercepted her before she could reach Linna.

"Ah, I remember you," said Ioane Adan. "You wanted to kill us all but Kerreth stopped you."

"If I had been in command, this battle wouldn't be necessary."

"No, it wouldn't because we would have won. You are a conceited Man and you have aged much since I last saw you. Unfortunate for you. I would have killed you at your best, now it is hardly a fight. Get out of my way or you die now."

Beric Mallon raised his sword. Ioane Adan grinned and attacked so fast the warlord's head rolled on the ground before he could try to parry her stroke.

Pain erupted in Ioane Adan's arm where Princess Linna's blade struck her. Ioane's eye flashed but she did not cry out. She touched her blood and brought her finger to her lips. She blocked the next sword stroke with ease.

"You killed him!" cried Linna. "You will pay you monster. Go back to the darkness whence you came."

"I do not believe so, little princess. It is time for you to die."

She backhanded Linna who tried to duck but the sting on her temple was sharp. Linna's thrust was batted aside as were the next two. Linna realized the speed of Ioane Adan was too great. She glanced around for anything that could aid her. There were bodies on the ground behind Ioane but Linna did not think she could mount enough of an attack to back up the Celaeri Queen far enough to stumble over them.

"So little princess, have you realized you cannot defeat me? I have planned for many of your lifetimes to take back our land. You will never learn what patience truly is for you are human and your life is so fleeting. I have sympathy for you, truly, that you see so little of Landermass and all it has to offer. Men are so caught up in the doing of things and not in the being. Ah, little princess, it is time for you to die."

Ioane moved quickly, slicing the upper arm of Linna. She dropped her blade and reached for her wound but Ioane would kill her in the next moment with a blow to the neck.

Before she could make the killing blow Ioane spun suddenly and just escaped the spear of her daughter. Ioane knocked the spear away and kept moving around Alarie, never letting her settle in for a strike. A surge of soldiers wedged between them and Alarie stared at her mother until Brandalay pulled her back to the gate as the Celaeri gained ground.

The gate sagged on its hinges and the Celaeri warriors raced through pressing the defenders backward. The spirit of the Gornst soldiers had been shattered with the death of Beric Mallon and the fall of Picker. Picker tried to fight his way to aid the Princess and the Celaeri closed around him. He fought with desperation and newfound strength but he was outnumbered and the deadly spears of the Celaeri tried to claim his life. But the huge blade of Colly Bulger sent Celaeri sprawling and he cut them down; his rage fueling his strength. The Celaeri fell back and Gornst soldiers moved it. Picker was carried back to the tavern by Colly who would return soon. Brandalay and Alarie tried to rally the Gornst soldiers but few would stand. Ioane Adan strode through the gates and pointed at them.

"Alarie! Leave this place. If you stand with the Men you will die," shouted the Queen of the Celaeri. Alarie said nothing.

The shouts of the Celaeri drowned out Brandalay's response to Ioane but Alarie was already rushing forward. She parried the blows of her brethren as she fought to reach her mother. Ioane watched Alarie's approach through soldier after soldier. Alarie kept coming despite her wounds and killing the last Celaeri defending her mother she stood defiant, if uneasy, her spear leveled at Ioane Adan.

"I did not wish this daughter," said Ioane. "But you sided with the Men against your own people."

"You want to enslave Men again. I will not allow that."

"Ah, your spirit is strong. It is too bad your body is weak; your life force drips from many wounds. You cannot stand against me; surrender and your life will be spared. I do not wish to kill your noble spirit. But resist me and your blood will soak this ground as will Brandalay's."

Alarie rushed forward but Ioane easily blocked her thrust and struck her with the end of her spear. Alarie fell face down into the gore. She tried to get to her feet. Ioane kicked her in the ribs and she rolled over out of breath.

"Goodbye my child." She thrust her spear downward. Alarie spun and received a glancing blow on her head. Stunned she lay still. Ioane raised her spear again but Brandalay led several soldiers in a charge and Ioane barely had time to defend herself. More soldiers joined and Ioane killed two and ran back to her soldiers where they reformed their lines.

The fighters surged forward; their collision heard within the city walls. The screams and shouts were a thunderclap. The walls shook all the way to the castle from impact of the battle. The fighting continued for two more hours before the Celaeri push was exhausted. Ioane Adan pulled her troops back to the town square to regroup but many of the Gornst soldiers pursued them.

Brandalay stared at the still form of Alarie. He knelt down and brushed the hair out of her face. Festin stood nearby, his moist eyes looking for firm ground. The blacksmith lost many friends in the past hours and was too slow to read Brandalay's mood.

Brandalay stood and looked across the square to where Ioane Adan killed all comers. Her face was flushed and the smell of death urged her on. He trotted in her direction.

Festin started to wrap Alarie's cloak around her when she convulsed and coughed.

"Tarlac! She's alive!"

But Brandalay was out of earshot.