“Not a pony at all but it was the best disguise we could come up with. I would be careful about trying to touch her without being introduced; you may lose a finger or worse.”
Krissi’s eagle eyes now carefully evaluated each person in the room. Satisfied they posed no threat to her, she retired to a corner, curling up to sleep. She’d also had a long and energetic twenty four hours.
The questions started, so Arwhon and Shiri began their tale at the beginning and told it all the way through. During Shiri’s parts of the tale, Arwhon gazed at the fire, his head throbbing slightly. It seemed the throbbing was related to how much Power he absorbed but it had been going on in the background since the last time he had tried to cast a spell by singing. It didn’t really hurt too much but something inside him had been changed by the last attempt at spell casting.
What was it?
He followed the leaping flames with his eyes, Shiri’s musical voice forming a backdrop to his thoughts. He’d almost dozed off when a tiny, naked female figure, in among the flames, waved up at him. He shook his head, sure he had been dreaming but no, there was another. As he sat quietly watching, he spotted a number of the little flame figures, both male and female, cavorting in the fire. An urge came over him to move closer and quietly excusing himself as Shiri related more details of the trip down into Tarkent, Arwhon went and sat on the hearth. The little figures were definitely waving happily to him as they danced and one, the first tiny female he’d seen, seemed to be talking to him.
Since the Ring had bound to Arwhon’s flesh and he’d discovered how it allowed him to hear the Truth, his life had been one surprise after another. During the last few months he’d come to accept whatever strangeness came his way as part of something far larger than his own life. The little flame figures did not startle or alarm him in any way. In fact, they seemed completely natural.
For some unknown reason, he held out his hand, palm uppermost, near the flames. The tiny figure hopped onto his hand and danced in his palm, turning and weaving like a little living flame. Which was just what she was. Another followed, and the two of them danced sinuously together. Arwhon felt no heat from the little bodies and sat absorbed by their tiny gracefulness. Every so often, one or the other of them returned to the flames before jumping back onto his hand, replenished. Tired of the game, one of them grasped his finger and tried to pull his hand toward the fire. The other jumped off his palm and pulled on another finger. Arwhon, totally in his own little world, complied, his fingers entering the flames. The Ring glowed. He felt no pain but energy radiated from his hand into his body. It felt like Power but it wasn’t. The energy was not as strong but had a comforting feeling and a pattern ran through it, unlike raw Power. He sat bemused until he realised Shiri had stopped talking and the room was silent. He looked up to find five pairs of eyes observing him closely. He followed the direction of their interest and realised his hand was still in the fire. He withdrew it, unburnt and without pain.
“Sorry, I saw some little figures dancing in the flames. I must be more tired than I thought.”
He got up and reclaimed his chair.
Shiri took his hand and inspected it closely.
“You had your hand in the fire for quite a while and yet there’s not a mark on it. What’s happening to you Arwhon?”
She seemed worried about him.
“I don’t know. All this stuff is new. I’ve given up trying to fight it. At least my headache feels better.”
It was, much better. The small amount of whatever had crept up his arm had made him feel much improved.
Firemagic?
“How much more to tell, Shiri?”
“None Arwhon, they’re up to date. Your Grandmother wants to know what you intend to do now to relieve the situation Belvedere is in. Kuiran wishes to speak to you regarding his people, Raleen and a new discovery.”
Arwhon glanced at the fire, the little fire people were no longer there. He raised his eyes to Kuiran.
“Give me your news first Kuiran. Grandmother and I have much more to discuss in planning our next moves.”
Lareeta ducked out to order more tea as Kuiran told of his long talk with Escarion and his subsequent visit to the harbour. Arwhon could see the delight in Kuiran’s face as he described what it was like to change into a seal and swim so easily under the water plus the feeling in his body when the Watermagic filled him, although he wasn’t able to use any of it, other than to feel strong and healthy. Kuiran went on to mention the island of Wyalon and the possibility of him learning to use Watermagic there, perhaps even seeing his birth parents although Vehrin’del would always be his mother and Jahron’dal his father. As his sister, Shiri felt gladdened by Kuiran’s staunch love of his adoptive parents. During the conversation Kuiran told the story of Ssarista and her commitment to take care of the Draakon Reavers. Arwhon breathed a sigh of relief at the news. The Reavers had been one of his biggest worries. Kuiran’s speech faltered.
“I... I... I would like to take Raleen to Wyalon with me when I go. If you don’t mind,” he finally managed to blurt out. Arwhon leaned back in his chair, a small smile on his face.
“Raleen is my big sister Kuiran. I’ve never told her what to do anytime in my whole life. I wouldn’t dare or she would box my ears. I have no intention of starting now. If she wishes to accompany you, it’s fine by me and I wish you both well but we have a war to win first.”
Kuiran’s face fell as his thoughts returned to the present.
“You’re right. Horse before the cart as they say in Belvedere.”
Shiri was yawning widely and Arwhon suggested she bathe and get some rest for a few hours while he talked with his Grandmother. She nodded tiredly and withdrew from the room. After she’d left, Arwhon beckoned Raleen to sit beside him and drew some Power up into himself.
“Raleen. I’m going to try something here which may help us in our fight against Empress Martine. If it works for you it will probably work for Grandmother as well. Ch’ron gave me the ability to draw Power. It’s the underlying energy of the four magics and can be used to strengthen them. It’s what powers your abilities. I’ve just drawn on some, not a lot, and want to see if you can take some from me. Place your hand on top of mine.”
Raleen did so and looked at Arwhon blankly.
“What’s supposed to happen?”
“Try to feel the underlying power driving your abilities. Now try to feel it in me and then draw it up into yourself.”
Raleen was a picture of concentration as her mind worked hard. Minutes passed, dragging on as Raleen concentrated.
“I don’t feel anything Arwhon, did you?” she asked.
Arwhon felt disappointment.
“If you can’t feel an increase in your powers, it hasn’t worked.”
“Oh.” Raleen appeared a little subdued with disappointment but tried not to show it as she sat back in her chair. Cristal stood up and with her back to the fire asked Raleen and Kuiran if they would mind if she talked to Arwhon privately. Raleen nodded in understanding and taking Kuiran’s arm, pulled him out of his large chair and they left the room, to look for Redbeard in the mansion grounds. That left Arwhon, Cristal and Lareeta in the drawing room with Krissi asleep in the corner.
Time to get down to tactics.
“Arwhon, what was that thing with the fire?” Cristal enquired of him.
“I’m not sure Grandmother, I’ve never done it before.”
“Try again,” she suggested.
Arwhon reached out confidently to the flames only to snatch his hand back as the heat singed his flesh. He seemed bewildered.
Cristal shook her head.
“When you first came here Arwhon, the group of people you had acquired were leading you. Your first major decision was to rescue the Barsoomi heirs, driven by dreams of them. Since then, you’ve changed markedly and become a far more confident person, and in such a short time. I notice a difference in you above what Ch’ron did in repairing you. Almost as if you’re so
meone else at times. When did you learn battle tactics so well and where are these strange abilities coming from? You said yourself you can draw Power but it doesn’t allow you to sit with your hand in a fire and not get burnt.”
Arwhon’s eyes closed as he thought. He was weary but the Power he had drawn energised him enough for now.
“I get headaches Grandmother, well not really headaches anymore, more like just throbbing and then things come to me. There’s an unconscious need to keep moving forward. I feel driven. The Ring made contact with Martine’s mind once and also what lay behind it. It seems as though I know how Martine thinks. Sometimes I even feel I’m not alone in my head but I still can’t use Firemagic when I want. Either I don’t have the ability, or the ability is being blocked. I also worry about Sihron’del. The seeress of the Black River Tribe said she was going to be horribly tortured and I won’t allow that to happen. She’s too important to me.”
At his mention of the Black River Tribe seeress, there was a sudden intake of breath by Lareeta.
“Our seeress has never been wrong before Arwhon. It will come to pass.”
“It must not. I’m trying to protect Shiri without being obvious about it. She wouldn’t like it if she knew I was trying to guard her. Shiri probably didn’t tell you she went to the Darkwood to learn how to put her life essence into a stone. If you ever find her and she appears dead, place the obsidian stone she wears on a thong around her neck onto her lips. It may bring her back to life. Don’t mention I told you, as she’s sensitive about it.”
“We won’t Arwhon,” Cristal assured him. “We can keep confidences. Now, what plans have you in mind for the war here at Belvedere?”
“The only chance I can see for us to win is for Martine to enter the city with her army. I’m amazed she hasn’t done so already, thanks be given.”
Cristal looked around herself, taking in the room and its furnishings and sighed.
“Are you sure? Is there no other way you can see for this war to be won? Belvedere has never been taken before and I’d hate to lose my house.”
“Cristal, we’ve freed the Broken Lands and Tarkent as I’ve already said. We must hope the missives sent to King Daveed of the Barsoomi, imploring him to ride through Tarkent with half his forces and join battle in Graswyn against the Dominion soldiers will bring us success there too. Martine will shortly find out Tarkent has fallen. Hopefully she’s still in the dark about King Daveed’s pending attack on Graswyn. If he does indeed join the war.”
“He will. Our King will neither forgive nor forget the kidnapping of his heirs.” Lareeta chipped in.
“I hope so Lareeta, I sincerely hope so, as it will be a pivotal point in our struggles. Anyway, Martine has to take Belvedere now to give her a power base or she’ll be undone. She thinks once she holds Belvedere she can rely on her reserve forces in Graswyn and resupply by the ships of the Draakon Reavers. From here, she believes she will be able to move her troops around. Then the war will go on and on until she has all the Dominion back again and more to boot. We have to stop her here in Belvedere.”
“But how are we going to stop her if she takes the city?” Cristal asked.
Arwhon paused and felt the pulse in his head start to slowly throb.
“I discussed the problem with Duke Braden de Marne who’s in control of the mounted troops of the army and we’ve formulated a plan. I’m hoping to see the first part of that plan go into action tonight in an attempt to spur Martine into some premature action. We’ll see how successful he is. The idea is to allow Martine’s troops, as if we could stop them, get over the walls and open the main gates. Hopefully, the gates being open will draw all of her troops to the north wall to gain entry to the city. Then we’ll open the western gate and get all the women, children and old people out as quickly as possible, leaving only able bodied defenders to fight in the streets. Duke Braden’s scouts will be watching for the main gates to fall to the enemy and all the enemy troops to enter Belvedere. If that happens, then Duke Braden will ride as quickly as possible to attack Martine’s forces from the rear. It will be a desperate battle, as her army outnumbers ours. We have one advantage. Our people will be fighting for their homes and their loved ones. If we fail.....”
Cristal exchanged glances with Lareeta, whose eyes widened. This was beyond her scope. Her arts were in subterfuge and death dealing with her longknife but planning on this scale was something different. Cristal’s brows furrowed in concentration.
“It could work but the timing.... We’ll have to talk with Escarion about this in case their Dark Mage attempts to join in.”
“Good point Cristal and I have to speak to the army. Not as your Grandson but as Arwhon nari Tsalk, without the glamour. It would be best if no one else knew of the Broken Lands and Tarkent being freed until I do speak to them. Could you inform Raleen and Kuiran of that please? I need to bathe and sleep now, so I must bid you goodnight.”
Cristal assented and as Arwhon hauled himself wearily out of his chair, she rose and took his hand, gazing deeply into his eyes.
“I love you my Grandson. You are all I could wish for. Save a little of your energies for yourself and take care. I must not lose you.”
Her sincerity touched Arwhon deeply and he left the room with tears in his emerald green M’Herindar eyes.
9. The Fall of Belvedere.
Leathery wings beat lazily, creating great eddying drafts of air as they rose and fell. The wind was cold up here but Martine was well muffled against it in layers of exotic furs. The Dark Mage had flown the drakon along the coast of Graswyn for a while, the land on the left and the sea to the right. From this altitude, the view was superb and Martine had no difficulty in making out Talhaven, just coming into view far below. She could see a mighty fleet of Reaver ships riding at anchor in the naturally protected harbour. The residents of Talhaven, by all accounts, loved the gold the Reavers spent but hated their rough ways and sudden justice. She picked out a large ship flying a gold flag.
“Get your beast to fly low over that ship there,” she said. “We’ll show that upstart Draakon admiral where the power lies.”
The Dark Mage pointed out to the fell creature where he wanted it to go and they swung away from the land as they descended, to circle low over the Admiral’s ship, nearly brushing the masthead, before returning to shore and coming to land on the main wharf. A Reaver was a little slow getting out of the way of the landing drakon and paid for his tardiness with his life, snatched up and gobbled down before he realised the danger.
Martine dismounted from her seat on the drakon’s neck as though she travelled this way every day and strutted to the end of the wharf as a boat was lowered from the Reaver ship they had just flown over. Oars flashed and bit into the water. Soon the craft was pulling in just below her and she caught her first view of Gortan, Admiral of all the Draakon fleet. He was not what she’d expected. For one thing, he was relatively young and for another, fit looking and darkly handsome with long black hair bound in a braid and finer features than most Reavers she’d seen before. He sported a large, ornate drakon tattoo on his bare right forearm.
Stepping lightly ashore at the bottom of the wharf, he climbed the steep, slimy steps to where Martine stood waiting, his curved sword sheath slapping his leg. He considered her for a moment before holding out his hand.
“I am Gortan, Empress, Admiral of the Draakon fleet.”
She clasped his hand lightly and he bent his head to kiss the back of it. Mmm, this boy had potential. He turned to the Dark Mage and the drakon, inclining his head before speaking.
“I never thought to see a drakon in the Northern Lands. I know of them but this is the first I have actually seen. A creature of legend. I certainly didn’t expect your mode of transport to be so exotic.”
Martine quietly wondered why the drakon wasn’t seen on the Dark Mage’s previous visits to the Admiral. Her reverie was interrupted by Gortan.
“I’ve reserved an inn for our meeting. Much more comforta
ble than the ship and far less cramped.”
Martine inclined her head, looking imperious.
“Lead on.”
Martine and Gortan adjourned to the inn, leaving the Dark Mage waiting with the drakon on the wharf. Mostly to make sure it remained and behaved itself. Over mulled, spiced drinks, the two leaders struck a deal. Two weeks to the day, in the morning, the Reavers would sail into Belvedere’s harbour and reave the city. What they looted, they could keep. This time they would be under the protection of the Dark Mage, who would be waiting for them on the eastern shore of Moreland Bay to make sure fire could not be used against them. Simultaneously, Martine would mount an assault on the front walls of the city using her siege tower. Belvedere would be hers.
Finally.
Momentarily, perhaps due to the inn’s wine and hearth’s warmth, Martine considered dallying with Gortan but decided against it. There would be time aplenty later.
Leaving the Admiral at the inn she walked back to the flying beast and mounted the double saddle before addressing the Dark Mage.
“Two weeks to the day, is when the final assault will be launched. Take me back to the army now but remain ready. I will travel to Goristoum the day after tomorrow.”
Martine could not see the malevolent look on the Dark Mage’s face beneath the hood of his cloak. He hated being dictated to.
Just before dark, Arwhon, newly awakened and refreshed, went up onto the city walls to take his first look at the disposition of the enemy troops from a closer viewpoint. The first thing he saw was the giant siege tower, hauled nearer the city’s wall but still out of range of the bowmen. Beyond, the enemy camp stretched away into the distance, smoke rising from myriad fires. As the last rays of the dying sun rimmed Mehgrin’s Wall, he observed a large, dark, flying shape in the sky, descending toward the enemy camp. He turned to the nearest officer, a young captain.
“What is that thing? Is it part of their armoury?”
The Captain replied without taking his eyes from it.
The Fall of Belvedere Page 27