The Fall of Belvedere

by B Cameron Lee

  Everything seemed to be going in Martine’s favour and her army was comfortably camped on the plain in front of the city, sometimes taunting the soldiers on the walls by waving bowls of food at mealtimes. No word had come in or out of the city since the siege had begun and despair was starting to grab hold of its inhabitants.

  “I think we should begin talks with Empress Martine on the peaceful handover of Belvedere. It’s better than starving to death.”

  “Bertran, you’re an idiot if you think Martine has any intention of taking this city peacefully. She has about five thousand soldiers out there intent on pillage. All they need is to get in. Speaking of which.” Cristal turned to Jorgen de Frie.

  “How close is that siege tower to being used do you think?”

  “They moved it yesterday. It took five hundred men to pull it but it moves. As far as I can see, it’s finished. The final attack will be soon.”

  Cristal cursed, which turned a few heads, astonished at her broad command of coarse vocabulary. Frustration was mounting, so Cristal made her goodbyes and headed home. Home, a place of respite from the growing problems.

  It seemed only yesterday since Kuiran and Raleen had come home with the news Kuiran had Watermagic ability but did not know how to use it. They had consulted Escarion the following day only to find he had no idea how to use Watermagic either, as he drew his power through Air. Kuiran had returned to the harbour a few times to slip into the water and change into his seal form but even Ssarista could not explain how to use the magic.

  “Iss a thing to be shown to you on Wyalon. There your own kind will teach you how to use the Watermagic.”

  “Aren’t you my own kind?” he asked her.

  “No, I iss nearly alwayss in thiss form. It iss the magic of the oceanss. It iss what we chose. No jumping in and out of water all the time, mostly alwayss in. Except those rare timess we sspends in Haven.”

  So, he could change form but could not use the Watermagic. Perhaps one day he might learn how to.

  Raleen had grown stronger in her skills but was restricted in their use due to the time it took her to recharge her magic after using it. It was a slow process, limiting her effectiveness as a weapon. Cristal knew exactly how exhausting it was draining one’s energy and understood the problem thoroughly. Deep in thought, as she strode up the street on her way home from the Council meeting, Cristal missed seeing the man who pounced at her from a shop doorway. Lareeta, three paces behind, didn’t. She took pity though and reversed her longknife as she swung, merely smashing the man in the temple with the end of the handle, causing him to crumple at the knees and topple over.

  “Thank you Lareeta and before you upbraid me, I know I should have been more aware. Lesson learned. Lucky it was you who got him. I might have stuck him.”

  Lareeta grinned, she liked Cristal, the woman had steel.

  Arriving home, Cristal went immediately to the cobbled back yard to the farming families camping there. She asked them to gather round.

  “The food situation is getting worse. This house is running out of hay as are all the others. The city needs food so I propose to buy your horses from you for slaughter.”

  One of the farmers grumbled.

  “What about thet Redbeard’s mob, they got horses too.”

  “So they have but fighting horses are being saved until last. If the city falls, they can be used in the streets for defence. Listen, in a few days the Council will probably pass a vote to compulsorily acquire horses not useful for combat. That’s why I’m offering to buy yours now, so you at least get something for them.”

  “I suppose you’ll give us nowt for em,” one old fellow opined.

  “If you sell them to me tomorrow, in the morning, I’ll give you a fair market price. That price will decrease in the afternoon. It is up to you gentlemen to decide. Thank you for your time.”

  She hurried back around to the front of the mansion so Mendle could greet her at the main entrance. Mendle did so enjoy her rituals. Lareeta followed closely, Cristal’s formidable shadow.

  After the evening meal, when Cristal had caught up on the day’s news from Raleen and Kuiran, she retired to the study with a carafe of wine. Lareeta accompanied her. They shared a drink in silence for a while until Cristal put her glass down with a sigh.

  “I do so miss that boy, even allowing he looks somewhat changed now. There’s so much about Arwhon which draws me to him. I don’t want to mother him but I want to care for him and he knows it. He allows me to but is so firm in getting on with what he perceives as his duty. Poor boy. So much responsibility for one so young. With all the changes and challenges he’s experiencing lately, I’m afraid he could be lying dead or injured somewhere. It’s the not knowing that hurts so.”

  Lareeta twirled her glass stem with her fingers, nodding her understanding of Cristal’s anguished affection for her grandson. Her own affections rising in her mind.

  “Truth for truth. Chalc the Servant impressed me more than any man has in a long time. I would truly like to get to know him better. He’s a man of honour. However, while I’m your bodyguard, he’ll have to wait.”

  “Oh Lareeta, I never knew you felt that way or I would have released you long ago.”

  “No one knows but you and I would not have gone with him anyway. I’m staying here until this war is resolved. One way or the other.”

  Escarion sat under the protective force field over the church tower, thinking. He’d seen the fell beast flapping down from the sky three weeks ago to carry the Empress off then it delivered her back five days later. Where had she gone and why? As for the beast, he had never seen it’s like before although rumours existed it was real. Draakonians named themselves after it and the flying lizard or ‘drakon’ appeared in their legends often.

  Escarion prided himself on his vast knowledge of birds, reptiles and animals from all the lands and insects from most. It had taken him a number of mortal lifetimes to learn of them all then suddenly, out of the blue, something turns up which had no precedent. The legends were true then but how had the Dark Mage come to have one at his command? Were there more drakons in the Forbidden Lands or somewhere to the south of Draakonia or was this the only one? It could become a real problem if there were more of the strange fell beasts under Mage command. What else were the Q’Herindam up to? The Dark Mage had been unusually quiet of late. No flamboyant magics at all.

  The lull before the storm?

  Arwhon had battled the strong southerly wind all day in the leaky fishing boat. He needed to be constantly on the tiller, keeping the sails as taught with the wind as possible as they made their way east, staying close to shore, battling through the choppy seas. They made good time and Shiri was put to bailing out the bilge between bouts of vomiting but there was nothing left for her to bring up anymore. Shiri had never been in a boat before and had succumbed to a serious case of seasickness. When she was not bailing, Shiri lay huddled on the floor amidships as the little vessel pitched and rolled and slapped its way parallel to the shoreline in the choppy sea of the coastal shallows, water sloshing from side to side inside the curved hull.

  Arwhon tried to change direction as little as possible but had to tack often to keep the little boat within sight of the coast. The easterly reaches tended to parallel the swell and were easier than the northerly ones running before the wind, where the boat had to climb the short choppy waves causing much more pitching and rolling.

  Arwhon took a chance on there being no rocky shoals beneath the waves in the shallower water. The sandy beaches were a fair indicator. His lack of faith in the seaworthiness of the small, leaking boat meant he daren’t sail further out than necessary from the seashore. Toward evening, the coast swung toward the north as it formed the western shore of Moreland Bay, at the head of which lay Belvedere. This was the hardest part of the voyage, as darkness was fast approaching and there was no light to navigate by under the clouds. Arwhon had hoped for some light from the city but they must have run out of lamp oil t
here as he saw none.

  Luckily the wind dropped slightly as darkness fell and Arwhon fervently hoped it wasn’t too shallow near the beach, as he could use the sound of the waves, heard between Shiri’s dry retching, to tell him where the shoreline lay. Arwhon managed a last look at where he wished to go before the light finally died and using his angle with the wind, kept the boat tight on that heading. They were travelling quite slowly now in the lighter breeze and every so often Arwhon received an inquisitive little mental nudge from Krissi, to which he would reply.

  She was not half as perturbed as Shiri was.

  It was strange being out on the water, cut off from the land. Once he would not have bothered. In fact he would have jumped at the chance to go out on a boat but now he missed the Power. He could feel it slowly ebbing from him and now knew how Shiri, Cristal and Raleen felt when their Earthmagic was running low.

  Arwhon didn’t have to tack now as he was running before the breeze. The waves had diminished and the little vessel rode the water more smoothly than earlier on. Shiri sat up and splashed her face, feeling a little less bilious. Arwhon took something to eat and drink and continued to pilot the boat while Shiri snatched a little sleep. He did not begrudge her; the poor woman had just had a very rude introduction to sailing.

  They were finally nearing the head of the bay, the most dangerous part of their voyage but the clouds had scattered somewhat and the first moon was helping. Slipping from behind cloud banks at irregular intervals, it offered both vision and protection.

  Ideal.

  During one of the periods the moon was out, Arwhon spotted the defensive wall on the south western arm of the harbour. He altered course slightly and sailed to the east of the redoubt’s end, the entrance to the harbour of Belvedere. The little boat slipped through unnoticed and as the sky lightened in the east, presaging sunrise, Arwhon tied their bow line to a bollard at the quay and gathered up packs and helms before he and Shiri stepped onto Belvedere’s quayside.

  Arwhon could feel the Power immediately and drew enough for both himself and Shiri. She laid a hand on his arm and immediately perked up as the energy quickly flowed into her. She then set a glamour over them before smiling up at Arwhon and wistfully commenting.

  “I would love to know how to do that. The Power is so fresh and clean when it comes through you. Like chilled spring water.”

  “It’s funny you know,” he replied. “Power feels different in different places. Everywhere we have been it has..... I would call it a ‘distinct’ flavour.”

  They started the walk up to Cristal’s mansion from the docks, noting the changes in the city since their last time here. It was dirty and smelly, the streets full of rubbish and debris. By the time they arrived at the main square where the farmers were camped, they were disappointed that the city’s residents had let their once beautiful and proud city slide so far into foulness. A few folk were about at that early hour but they moved listlessly and without apparent purpose. Almost beaten before the fight to come. What he saw did not bode well and Arwhon sincerely hoped the army was not affected in the same manner.

  The top end of the city was a little better, residents taking more pride in the area in which they lived. It was cleaner and smelled less odorous than the lower sections. Before long they turned into the street of Cristal’s mansion and Arwhon felt himself growing excited at the thought of seeing his Grandmother again. Shiri was also eager to see Cristal, who she’d spent time living with well before Arwhon first appeared at the mansion.

  Just before they arrived at the mansion gates there was a high pitched squawk from above and the sound of air thrumming through pinion feathers as a large shape hurtled down and landed heavily just behind them.

  “Hello Krissi, you must be tired, I was going to call you after we met Grandmother but now is fine too.”

  Shiri glamoured Krissi without being asked. They were an odd enough couple in this setting, even without Arwhon’s unusual pet. Arwhon banged on the gate. A helmeted head peered over the wall.

  “Who’s there?”

  They were recognised immediately.

  “By Gar its Arwhon and Shiri with a small pony. Open the gate you and send someone to tell Mendle so’s she can wake the Mistress. Arwhon and Shiri are back.”

  Pandemonium. Cristal and Lareeta were already up and were just coming downstairs when Mendle raced up toward them, taking the stairs two at a time, huffing and puffing. She had a big smile on her face and was extremely animated for that hour of the morning.

  “Cristal, they’re back!”

  “Who’s back?”

  “Arwhon and little Shiri. They haven’t got their horses with them but they do have a small pony in tow.”

  Mendle turned and ran down the stairs to the kitchens. There may not be much food left but it was her job to feed people and she did so enjoy her job.

  Cristal rapidly descended the stairs, closely followed by Lareeta and they met Arwhon and Shiri in the entrance hallway. Standing quietly behind them was the small pony. Cristal threw herself into Arwhon’s arms and gave him a long hard hug before reaching for Shiri to draw her in also. Releasing them at last, she stood back and scrutinised them both, glancing at the pony now and again. Lareeta gave them both a short hug but kept looking around them as if in search of something. Finally, she could contain herself no longer.

  “Chalc is not with you. Is he.....”

  Shiri spotted the anguish on Lareeta’s normally reserved face and made the connection.

  “He’s alive and well Lareeta but we couldn’t bring him.”

  Lareeta relaxed. “Is he injured then and staying somewhere until he recovers?”

  “No, he’s a very important person now. Chief Advisor and Bodyguard to the King of Tarkent. He has to help run a country so he couldn’t come with us. I didn’t know you cared for him so much Lareeta.”

  “Neither did I until after you had all left the last time. Imagine, at my age, worrying about a man.” She laughed with relief. “At least he’s alive.”

  Cristal pointed at the pony.

  “We don’t normally have horses inside Arwhon, even if they are little.”

  Arwhon looked over his shoulder at Krissi then back at his Grandmother.

  “It’s a glamour, I’ll explain shortly but it’s probably best if it stays close to me for the moment. I haven’t been able to fully regulate its eating habits yet.”

  There was a loud whoop from the top of the stairs and Kuiran charged down, closely followed by Raleen. He picked Arwhon up and swung him around like a doll while Raleen gave little Shiri a kiss on the cheek.

  “Put me down you great lump,” was all Arwhon could manage to gasp out as he was placed back on his feet. “I’m happy to see you too.”

  He gave Raleen a warm embrace before stepping back to inspect her, as Kuiran embraced Shiri, his sister, lifting her off her feet and cavorting around with her held tightly in his huge arms before putting her down and stepping back.

  “You look well.” Arwhon commented as he studied Kuiran. “You both do.” They both blushed at the same time and Arwhon caught the look that passed between them. He smiled. Then Raleen spotted Krissi and gasped, her face paling.

  “Is that thing dangerous?” Raleen asked him, indicating Krissi. Arwhon sighed. He’d forgotten Raleen could see through a glamour. He leant toward her and spoke quietly so the others couldn’t hear.

  “No but everyone thinks it’s a pony at the moment and I’d like to keep it that way just a little longer please.”

  Arwhon was rescued from further explanation by Mendle turning up with a large tray of food and bustling them all into the dining room, quickly setting out six places, each with a steaming bowl.

  “Boiled cereal and honey, best we have on short notice but there will be tea to follow. It’s a good winter breakfast so eat up before it gets cold.” She withdrew to give them some privacy.

  Shiri didn’t know if she could eat so soon after being seasick but after the first mou
thful she found she was really hungry and set to.

  Talking over each other in their eagerness to share news and answer questions about the city’s trials, the hot food passed their lips almost unnoticed. Belvedere’s strain under siege was front and centre for all present at breakfast. Between mouthfuls of hot porridge, the present situation was outlined and Arwhon’s and Shiri’s questions answered.

  Cristal couldn’t contain herself and called for Arwhon and Shiri to speak more of their own experiences since leaving Belvedere with Chalc.

  Arwhon knew everyone wanted to know the whole story of what had occurred to them but he was feeling hungry after the labour involved in sailing a fishing boat a day and a night through choppy seas.

  “Just let me finish breakfast Grandmother and I promise I’ll give you all a detailed account of where we have been and what we did. While you are eating though, think on this. The Broken Lands and Tarkent are now free from the Dominion.”

  Cristal dropped her spoon in surprise and Lareeta clapped her hands together while Kuiran let out a loud yell. The pony became agitated and Arwhon sent Krissi calming thoughts. He didn’t need her unsettled.

  It was a little chilly so Cristal asked for a fire to be lit in the drawing room. There was not much wood for fuel left in Belvedere and Cristal was very carefully using what little she had stockpiled. Together at last, listening to Arwhon and Shiri’s tales, deserved warmth for a change. They entered the drawing room to pull seats close around the small fire, settling comfortably while Mendle brought the promised tea before she withdrew once again.

  “Remove the glamours please Shiri.” Arwhon requested and there was a collective intake of breath as Krissi was exposed to view.