Cristal grinned. “Well, we know at least one of your skills now. It’ll be very useful to us over the next few days. We’ll talk more back at the mansion.”
A cellar storeroom with no windows and a stout door was cleared out and a cot and a bucket, along with a jar of water and a loaf of dark bread were placed in it. Lareeta felt over the body, removing concealed weapons and when she was satisfied there were no more she held the point of her longknife to the man’s throat by feel, while Raleen undid the binding cords. They left the man sitting on the cot, rubbing the lump on his head as they withdrew and locked the door securely.
In the study Raleen quizzed Cristal.
“Now what was all that about not seeing the fellow? He was plain as day?”
“Yes granddaughter, to you but not to us. Tsalk magic. The very same as we were discussing last night. He has a glamour on him, a kind of spell and is invisible to just about everyone. One of the manifestations of your magic seems to be the ability to see through glamours. Oh, I knew there was more than one reason to bring you here.”
“Seriously, no one else can see him. What if he’s a spy?”
“Now you’re catching on Raleen. Do you think Lareeta and I just wander around shopping all day? Not on your life. We gather information about the going’s on in the city and keep a bit of an eye on things but someone has been keeping an eye on us it seems. It’s time for you to start working too. Tomorrow you’ll accompany Chalc. Throughout the day I want you to keep your eyes peeled as he goes about his business and see what you can see.”
“What if I find more of them?”
“No matter, I will advise Chalc of the necessity to carry a wooden practice sword. You just have to point out where the spies are and he’ll take care of the rest. Did I tell you Chalc can use a sword blindfolded. An invisible opponent should not be much of a problem to him. Take plenty of cord with you just in case and dress in the clothes you wore when you rode over from Trugor. Tie your hair up under a cap. By doing so you may be mistaken for a man if we’re lucky.”
“Mendle!”
In answer to Cristal’s call, the housemistress bustled in.
“Clear out some more secure storerooms, we may have a few more ‘special’ guests yet. I wish Shiri was still here. She could have lifted the glamour. Ah well, we’ll just have to handle things the best we can.”
Chalc was waiting downstairs in the kitchen when Raleen appeared early the next morning and after a quick breakfast, they slipped out of the house together. Chalc had managed, with the help of a few of the Thieves Guild, to locate two of the old foundries where swords had been made during the last Dominion war. Some of the old stone sword moulds were still there, found beneath the build up of rubbish which had accrued over the years. He’d cleaned them up enough to use for casting. Today he was hoping to pour the first of the new sword blades at both sites. It was work which had to be kept quiet and carried out secretly but he had confided in Duke Dalvan, Chief of the Guard, who had developed a deep and healthy respect for Chalc. Duke Dalvan did not take to many folk but he’d soon warmed to the Swordmaster and smith from Tarkent who was quietly spoken and did exactly as he said he would do. In turn, Chalc found Duke Dalvan’s coldness was more of a mask than an actuality, worn to save him from people getting too close. The upshot was the City Guard patrols in that particular section of Belvedere had been redirected elsewhere for a while.
Chalc hurried down back streets, zigzagging through narrow laneways into the poorer quarters of the city, Raleen having to almost jog to keep up. The streets became narrower and some of the buildings seemed to lean inward a little. Raleen was surprised to find this section of the city, home to the poorest residents, was not ill kept. Even the poor had pride. While Raleen worked at trying to remember directions, Chalc seemed quite at home and payed no heed to some of the more disreputable types they passed, except to wish some of them good morning. Most responded with a smile for the old blacksmith. Raleen kept her eyes open for possible pursuit but it wasn’t until they neared the first foundry site she saw a man nonchalantly lounging against a wall.
“Just ahead to the right, leaning against the wall,” she whispered to Chalc.
“I can see nothing,” he responded. “Let him follow us and see if we pick up another.”
He led her to the old foundry, down a dead-end back alley and there, in front of it stood a number of men, both young and old, waiting for him.
“Count them,” he suggested, “but do it unobtrusively.”
“I make it eight men.”
“Interesting, I see only seven. Is the other one still behind us?”
“No, he’s just moved around us and is now among the rest of the men.”
Chalc thought for a moment or two, looking about their environment.
“This is going to be tricky. We’ll all go inside the building and I’ll make an excuse to shut the doors. Signal me if both of the spies come in with us.”
Raleen agreed and dropped back as Chalc led the men into the forge. The back shutters were as yet unopened so the front entry doors provided the only real source of light. Chalc stood toward the rear as the men filed past and Raleen came through the doors last and nodded to him.
“Okay everyone, I’d like you all to sit on the floor. I need to explain the process of making a sword and it may take a while.”
There were a few grumbles as the men sat. Chalc placed his thumbs through his belt as he walked up and down in front of the men, his wooden practice sword tucked into that same belt on his left side.
“To know how best to make a sword, you need to know why it’s important for it to be balanced properly. It’s essential now for you remain seated while I demonstrate some of the moves a swordsman needs to make. Assistant! Shut the doors please so no one will see in.”
As Chalc drew his practice blade from his belt, Raleen quickly pulled closed the doors and the room became quite dim. The men on the floor wondered what the purpose was in shutting the doors, as they could hardly see each other in the meagre light which entered the forge through the cracks around their edges. However, the low light meant the spies could not see well either. Chalc listened carefully, just as he had been trained to do and located the fidgeting spies by their breathing and the small noises they made. He locked onto them and soon brief sounds of conflict, followed by grunts and thuds, were all Raleen and the men sitting on the floor heard.
“Open the doors please, assistant.”
Raleen did so and was surprised to see both spies unconscious on the floor, bruises swelling on the sides of their heads. Chalc whispered to her.
“Tie them up and drag them outside while I occupy this lot. Don’t let them out of your sight and check them for weapons. Everywhere on their persons and I mean everywhere.”
Chalc stepped back in front of the forge facing the seven men who had their backs to Raleen.
“Sorry men, I didn’t realise it would be so dim in here with the doors shut. These are the main moves used in fighting with a sword of the style we are going to manufacture. Watch closely.”
They did, thoroughly captivated by Chalc’s exhibition of grace and precision while behind them, Raleen was able to quickly bind the unconscious men and drag them outside, checking them for weapons. They had quite a few scattered over their persons and as she piled them up, she started to think of the possibility of assassination. A man or woman with an invisibility glamour was an ideal assassin. Who was setting the glamours though? After about twenty minutes, Chalc came out.
“I set the men to starting up the fire in the forge and repairing the bellows. No need to warm the sword moulds yet. Those few tasks should keep this group occupied for a while. Can you remember the way back to Cristal’s? We need a means of transport for these men.”
Raleen nodded and when she took off running through the narrow streets, retracing their earlier route, Chalc examined the now visible pile of weapons, a grim look on his foreign face. It was fortunate his Swordmaster trainin
g had involved fighting blindfolded, using the sounds his opponents made to locate them. Before long Raleen returned with a light cart and driver. Both bodies were soon loaded into the back of the cart, which completely mystified the driver as he saw nothing being heaved up into the wagon bed but he was one of Cristal’s men so just shook his head. Raleen collected up the assortment of weapons and leaving Chalc at the forge, climbed up beside the driver to accompany the two bound prisoners back to Cristal’s mansion. On arrival, they were incarcerated in another emptied cellar storeroom.
Life had certainly taken an interesting turn.
Cristal was muttering to herself angrily as she locked the invisible men into the prepared cellar storerooms. Suddenly there was a shout from upstairs. It was Waltor and almost immediately the cry was taken up by Mendle and others among the servants.
“Arwhon has returned. Cristal, Arwhon is here and little Shiri is with him. Arwhon has come back. Cristal, Cristal.”
Cristal and Raleen dashed upstairs from the cellars and ran out the front doors. Everyone in the household seemed to be present, gathered in the courtyard in front of the mansion. There, astride his large grey Barsoomi stallion, sat Arwhon with Shiri on Rancid the mule beside him. A cheer went up and the crowd of servants parted to allow Cristal and Lareeta through. Raleen hung back, horrified. The man on the horse, a cloak the colour of the stone behind him partially concealing reddish chainmail, a dagger at his side and a sword strapped to his back was not her brother and the beautiful woman beside him, clad in emerald green armour, was unknown to her. Their helms were strapped to their saddles.
“Cristal, wait, it’s not Arwhon. Beware!”
Raleen leapt forward and caught Cristal’s arm before she could draw near the blond man on horseback, wary of a possible trap. It could be an assassin, couldn’t anyone see?
The woman in the green armour looked at her closely as Raleen tugged at Cristal’s arm. Lareeta began to move toward them, concerned, her hand on her longknife.
“Stay Lareeta.” Cristal turned to Raleen. “What do you see?”
“A beautiful blond woman in emerald green armour and a man I do not recognise on the grey stallion,” was her reply.
Cristal looked at the little girl on the mule.
“Shiri, could you come down here please. Sorry Arwhon, stay where you are for a minute. I’ll explain shortly.”
Shiri dismounted as Arwhon stared at the woman holding Cristal’s arm, recognition slowly dawning as he saw through the man’s clothing. Raleen, his sister, she was here! He remained astride Duran as his Grandmother had requested, silent but overjoyed, as Shiri made her way to Cristal and stood before her.
“This one sees through glamours Shiri, her Tsalk magic manifests that way. However you really are is what she sees.”
Shiri took Raleen’s hand in her own and a small thrill passed up Raleen’s arm.
“Ah, the sister. One who believes her innocent brother responsible for the death of their mother.”
She gazed openly into Raleen’s face and Raleen, seeing the amethyst eyes with no whites, recoiled slightly in surprise as Shiri continued.
“Arwhon bears you no ill will for those years of blame. He’s been changed by his time in the Darkwood. It really is Arwhon, your brother, also known to the M’Herindar now as Ahron’dal. Trust me, I do not lie. Go to him and greet him with the love he should have had as a boy.”
All everyone else saw was a young girl holding Raleen’s hand and chatting companionably but Raleen’s cheeks flamed red and she hung her head as she made her way with Cristal to the side of the big grey horse.
Arwhon dismounted and Raleen looked up into the face of the man before her. The large, emerald green eyes with no whites were disconcerting but if she ignored them and the hair colour, she could make out the familiar features of her brother. She opened her arms to him and he bent slightly and hugged her tight.
“It’s so good to see you sister, I’ve missed you and peaceful little Trugor so much but the world is changing, and it seems me along with it. How is Staril? Is he here?”
Raleen looked up into the soft, strange eyes of the gentle soul before her, tears springing unbidden to her own.
“No, he chose to remain in Trugor. He’s probably making advances to Polnari now I’m out of the way. He’s rebuilding the Trading business. Claiming it’s a memorial to father. He’ll be fine.”
She released Arwhon so Cristal could hug her grandson and she overheard her Grandmother mention he’d grown in the time he was away.
“That’s not all Grandmother. Please wait a moment.”
Arwhon touched Lareeta’s shoulder in thankful greeting before handing Duran’s reins to Billit, who already had Rancid in tow. He then mounted a few of the front steps where he turned to face the small crowd.
“Shiri and I thank you all for your warm welcome. I’ll try to make time to see each and everyone of you while we’re here but this will be a short visit. I have much to discuss with Cristal nasi Tsalkini and beg you to allow us some time together for the rest of today. Once again, thank you all for such a warm welcome.”
Arwhon turned and made his way up the remainder of the steps and held the door for the women as the servants cheered again. His smile lasted all the way to the library.
Once inside he closed the curtains and asked Cristal to light the lamps which she did using her magic. Mendle was deputised to provide refreshments for all and she organised the servants to set out a cold spread in the dining room. After Mendle returned to the library, the doors were shut and locked. Chalc and Kuiran were still about their tasks outside the manor grounds, so the library closeted Cristal, Raleen, Lareeta, Mendle, Shiri and Arwhon.
“Now Shiri, remove the glamour please.”
Arwhon grinned in anticipation.
There were gasps all round as the glamour faded. Where most of them had seen Shiri and Arwhon as they had been when they left to rescue the Barsoom heirs, now they saw the same reality before them Raleen had already seen.
Sihron’del, clad in her emerald green armour from head to ankles, standing tall and beautiful with long blond hair framing her elfin face. Her penetrating amethyst eyes, with no whites, regarded them teasingly. Arwhon, taller than Shiri but not so blond, clad in cloak and mail and wearing his weapons had similar whiteless eyes. His were emerald green. He was amused at their response.
“Wha... what have they done to you?” Cristal wailed as Lareeta’s eyes widened in amazement. Raleen stood staunchly, having already seen the pair as they were. Mendle fainted and was lucky enough to be caught by Lareeta before she hit the floor. She came around shortly and gave a little cry when she saw she hadn’t been dreaming.
“It was necessary Grandmother. I’d lost my memory and nearly my life. Again. If it hadn’t been for Sihron’del I would have.”
He shot his companion a shy glance.
“The Darkwood itself healed me and changed me. I’m still the Arwhon you knew but am now also something more. It’s been a long ride. Could we eat please while we wait for Chalc and Kuiran? Then we can discuss what the Wise Ones of the M’Herindar have shown us; glimpses of a possible future. It’s that which we’ve come to discuss with all of you.”
Arwhon turned to Raleen.
“So, you are starting to find the family magic in yourself. I’m having a lot of difficulty with mine. I don’t know exactly what it is or where it is but Shiri is helping.”
Raleen studied the beautiful, alien looking woman beside Arwhon; there was some unspoken bond between them. Shiri nodded in recognition of the question on Raleen’s face.
“I’m his Shield. I’ve been given the task of shielding Arwhon from danger as best as I can but out of the Darkwood I cannot refresh my power easily, so I have to use only minor spells unless pressed.”
Arwhon smiled a secret smile; he had a surprise for sometime later on.
Cristal’s mind was working overtime as usual.
“What a coincidence turning up when you
have; I was hoping Shiri would be here soon. Thanks to Raleen’s magical ability we’ve found three spies cloaked in glamour. Only she could see those men but we’ve managed to capture them. They’ve been spying on all of us. After we’ve eaten, could we go downstairs and remove the glamour from them?”
Arwhon looked over at Shiri, who nodded acquiescence.
Before leaving the library, Shiri cloaked herself and Arwhon with their disguise and they took their places at the dining room table where Mendle filled their plates. The bread and cheese, cold meat and pickled onions, all washed down with ale, didn’t take long to consume and soon the pair were following Cristal and Lareeta down the stairs to the cellars, with Raleen bringing up the rear. Cristal stopped at the door to the storeroom containing the single prisoner they had captured first and produced a key which she used to open the door. Shiri pushed in and halted suddenly. The group peeked around her as Lareeta held up the lamp. The prisoner lay dead on the floor, his face blue and his body already starting to swell and blacken in death.
“Quickly, the other two were just brought in not too long ago,” exclaimed Cristal.
They all dashed to the other locked door. Once again Shiri entered first and made a small gesture. As Lareeta raised the lamp they could clearly see two men sitting on the floor rubbing their eyes at the brightness of the light. Arwhon drew his patterned dagger as Lareeta handed Cristal the lamp and drew her longknife. Shiri stood before the prisoners as their eyes adjusted to the light and removed her own glamour. Fear registered on their faces at the sight of her. An alien in form fitting green armour.
Another gesture from Shiri.
“You can put your knives away, they are unable to move now, apart from speaking.”
She addressed the two prisoners.
“Who are you working for and who put the glamour on you?” she asked them. Neither spoke. She walked over to the nearest one and lightly touched his arm, concentrating.
The Fall of Belvedere Page 2