Thinblade (24 page)

The road opened onto a wide flat platform that was part natural and part cut into the face of the mountain itself. About a hundred feet from the face of the imposing stone fortress was a half ring of stone laid into the ground. It was about seven feet across and encircled the entire fortress from the cliff wall on one side around to the other and there were ancient-looking symbols carved into it. Other than the stone ring, the entire platform looked like an assembly area. It had been cleared of snow and there was evidence of large numbers of horses moving about, mostly along the road.

The fortress was really just a stone wall fifty feet wide and fifty feet tall that protruded four or five feet from the face of the mountain. There were no openings until about twenty feet up where there were three rows of arrow slits placed close together one on top of another. It looked as if they could be manned from three corridors running the width of the fortress wall, one above the next.

Seventy-five archers could fire on the field at once from nearly complete protection. In the center of the fortress wall was a single door that stood fifteen feet tall by twenty feet wide. It was made of stone and was solid and seamless. Otherwise, the fortress wall was simple stone without adornments, banners, or ornaments of any kind.

Erik called out as they approached, “Open the gate.” He halted the horses twenty feet from the large stone wall.

Alexander could more feel the vibration of it than hear the huge stone block begin to lower. It was set two feet farther into the mountain than the outer fortress wall and slowly started to sink into the ground. Once it stopped, he saw that the top of the huge stone block now served as the floor of the entryway into the fortress. The gate stone was a good twenty feet thick. No battering ram ever built could have cracked this gate. He began to wonder what had prompted the construction of such an impregnable fortress.

They traveled down a hundred-foot hallway lined with arrow slits on each side and riddled with murder holes in the ceiling. It was a death trap for the uninvited. Alexander had read about fortresses and siege warfare but he’d never seen such a clearly military construction in his whole life. The walls surrounding Southport were a joke compared to this. Even the fortifications of Highlands Reach paled next to the overt military nature of this structure.

The long hallway spilled out into a well-lit courtyard that was built into an enormous cavern inside the mountain. The ceiling reached more than a hundred feet overhead and barracks and stable buildings lined the walls. Suspended from the ceiling by a network of chains were giant oil reservoirs that fed dozens of wicks surrounded by hundreds of carefully placed mirrors each angled to direct the light into the cavern.

He stopped and simply looked around in wonder. Isabel smiled at him and he felt suddenly foolish. His life had been so simple compared to hers. She had grown up surrounded by a kind of splendor that he could only imagine. This place was the stuff of stories. At that thought, he glanced over at Jack who was looking all around in wonder himself, no doubt cataloging everything he saw for later use in a song.

“The fortress gates were constructed during the Reishi War,” Isabel offered.

“Gates? You mean there’s more than one?” Alexander asked.

“There are five,” Isabel answered. “Each one guards an entrance to Glen Morillian. All five were built during the war to protect the valley within from attack by the Reishi. This is probably the most well-defended place in the entire Seven Isles. When we get to the palace, I’ll show you my father’s map. It’s a little model of the whole valley, complete with mountains, rivers, lakes, roads, and buildings. It’s really something. I used to sit and stare at it for hours when I was a girl. Come on, the stables are this way.”

Alexander followed while trying to take in the austere magnificence of the place. Everything was in order and good repair. There was no ornamentation whatsoever, but that only served to magnify the dimensions of the accomplishment. All along the walls were stairs and walkways and smaller tunnel openings. The place didn’t just encompass the cavern and the face of the fortress but stretched out into the mountain itself in a number of different directions.

They were met at the stable by a middle-aged man in a Ranger’s uniform.

Erik dismounted and saluted. “Master Gatekeeper, it’s good to see you.” Erik took his hand. It was clear that they were friends. “May I present Lord Alexander Valentine, the bearer of the Mark of Cedric.”

The gatekeeper looked sharply at Erik for confirmation, which he seemed to get from the Ranger’s eyes, before he turned to Alexander and bowed formally. “My Lord, we are at your service. You have only to command it and your wish will be done.”

Alexander nodded to the man even as a chill raced up his spine.

Erik waited a moment to see if Alexander had any requests before speaking. “My Second and my brothers are at the spring meadow on the old trail to Falls Cave. Between here and there are twenty enemy soldiers accompanied by a wizard.”

The gatekeeper nodded. “I will send an adequate force to rout the enemy and collect your brothers and your Second. May I ask how you got past them?”

“Lord Valentine devised a plan to make our way around the enemy unseen and unnoticed and steal their horses. In one stroke we avoided their ambush and left them on foot.”

The gatekeeper chuckled, “Well played, My Lord. Now if you’ll excuse me I have enemy to attend to. My administrator, Hodge, will see to your needs.”

“Thank you, Master Gatekeeper,” Alexander said. “One other thing. We have a friend, probably traveling by wagon, headed our way. Please inform your men that he should be given safe passage. His name is Owen.”

“It will be done, My Lord.” The gatekeeper nodded and left to attend to his duties.

They turned their horses over to the stable hands and followed Hodge to a nearby building that looked more like an inn than anything else. Alexander soon discovered it was temporary lodging for those traveling to and from Glen Morillian. They were each given a room while a small army of servants leapt into action. Hot water was brought to each of their chambers. The servants offered to clean their traveling clothes and provided comfortable robes for the evening if they wished. Once everyone had a chance to clean up and rest for a bit, they were informed that dinner was ready.

They gathered at the large table in the main room of the lodging house. Alexander was glad to see everyone had chosen to take advantage of the comfortable robes that were offered.

When he saw Isabel, his heart skipped a beat. She wore a forest-green robe that clung to her well-toned figure just enough to be alluring without being too revealing. She had loosely tied back her chestnut-brown hair with a golden ribbon that seemed to bring out the sparkle in her eyes. All traces of the tomboy were gone. She was all woman now. Alexander couldn’t help but smile.

The food was simple but hot and plentiful. They served a well-seasoned beef roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions along with a heaping tray of freshly baked biscuits. For dessert they served a fruit salad glazed in honey sauce. After days of travel rations, Alexander took the time to savor the meal.

With every course, Lucky stopped the serving girls and asked a whole series of questions about the preparation of the meal until they finally told him they didn’t know and went and got the chef. Lucky insisted that he sit down and they talked about food and cooking for an hour while everyone ate.

Conversation stayed light and frivolous. No one wanted to spoil the simple pleasure of a good meal with talk of the dangers ahead. There would be time for that all too soon. Jack regaled them with stories of scandal at the court of New Ruatha that he’d witnessed as a child. Alexander couldn’t quite tell where the facts ended and the embellishments began, but he marveled at Jack’s seemingly effortless ability to hold everyone in thrall. He clearly reveled in the telling of a good story and was masterful in his delivery. Alexander started to understand the young bard a little better. More importantly, he noticed how Abigail was looking at him. He’d never seen her look at a man like that before. It made him happy to see the unabashed joy that Jack brought her.

Before he wanted it to end, dinner was over and the servants were clearing away the dishes. On cue, both Alexander and Erik yawned, followed only a moment later by everyone else at the table. It had been a long couple of days, so they all retired early to get a good night’s sleep.

Chapter 21

Breakfast was served early the next morning. It was a hearty meal of scrambled eggs with chunks of ham and skillet potatoes along with biscuits and jam. The frivolity of the night before was replaced with a somber mood. They would reach the palace of Glen Morillian by evening. Alexander knew that the duties he’d inherited would weigh heavily on him in the days to come. He also knew that there was a very real chance he would not survive the coming war with Prince Phane and the world he’d grown up in would fall into darkness. When he forced himself to look the situation squarely in the eye, he couldn’t help but sense madness scratching at the edge of his consciousness.

After a quiet breakfast they walked to the stables. Alexander was surprised to find different horses saddled and ready for them. Their new mounts were healthier and better cared for. The stable master said he wanted to give the horses they’d ridden in on time to recuperate from the long journey. His saddle, weapons, and gear were strapped onto a white saddle horse with a brown splotch on his forehead. Alexander patted the side of his neck as he spoke softly to his new steed and the horse leaned into his affections. He was a magnificent animal, full of spirit and intelligence. Alexander fished around in his saddlebags and produced a carrot. His new mount eagerly took the treat and nuzzled Alexander for more.

They traveled down a long straight tunnel cut through the heart of the mountain. All along the ceiling grew greenish-yellow lichen that emitted an eerie light that illuminated the corridor well enough to ride by. Once his eyes adjusted to it he thought he might even be able to read under the strange glow. They rode at a steady pace for almost an hour before the light of day could be seen at the end of the arrow-straight shaft through the mountain. When they emerged it was midmorning and Alexander got his first glimpse of the Glen Morillian valley.

It was as idyllic a place as he could ever have imagined. The long tunnel through the mountain spilled out onto a high mountain ledge big enough to assemble a battalion. The space had been cut from the granite of the mountain itself. From this altitude, Alexander could see that the entire valley was ringed with an impassable mountain range that acted as a natural defense. The mountains rose sharply from the valley floor below, reaching high into the sky. He could see rolling grasslands, patches of evergreen forest, and crystal blue lakes with mountain streams running between them.

The roadway down from the imposing altitude wound through the foothills after a series of switchbacks cut into the face of the stone mountains. By noon they arrived at the valley floor. It wasn’t exactly warm but it was a great deal warmer than it had been at the altitude of the tunnel opening.

Alexander spent the afternoon riding through a dream. The entire valley was dotted with small family farms. The fields were well kept and the herds he saw were healthy and fat. The forests they meandered through boasted giant trees that looked like they were trying to challenge the mountain’s claim to the sky. People were friendly and greeted them or waved as they passed.

There was little conversation during the afternoon ride. Erik led the way at a good pace. Not a hard ride but fast enough that it made little sense to try to talk. Occasionally, Abigail would get Alexander’s attention and point out some new piece of scenery around a bend or over a hill. She was clearly just as awed by the perfect-looking little valley community as he was.

Then they came out of a little wood and saw the city itself. The outskirts of town consisted of simple cottages and houses all neatly lined up along well-ordered streets. Each house had a yard and a garden plot of its own; most were surrounded by well-kept, sturdy little fences meant more to mark a person’s property than to keep people out or animals in. The place looked well maintained, as though everyone took pride in their property. The cobblestone streets were well made and clean.

The squalor Alexander remembered from the streets of Southport was nowhere to be seen. There were no beggars and the people on the streets moved with a purpose as if they had someplace to be or something of value to do. People were friendly enough and a few took an interest in them as they rode through, but Alexander suspected their glances had more to do with Abigail and Isabel than with him.

He rode beside Erik as the Ranger guided them through the streets. He could hear Abigail and Isabel talking to one another while they moved toward the center of town and the palace. Alexander hoped they would become friends. His sister’s opinion was important to him and he took her counsel seriously. She was younger, but she often had a way of seeing things in a different light. He rode silently, content to be alone with his thoughts as he took in the industrious little city tucked away in the shelter of the secluded mountain valley.