Lord Shetley scowled and gave a slight nod to the warrior in the breastplate. The swordsman raised his arm and the five archers raised their bows with arrows nocked. The leader spoke up with command. “Kill them all and find the gem.”
Evisar suddenly understood. Lord Shetley’s new friends were from the Talon Thieves Guild. Somehow they had tracked the companions down again. Evisar looked at Xander and saw on his face that it was true. Evisar said, “How did you find us?”
The swordsman smiled with pride, “It isn’t hard to find a group when they stay in one place, as you were gracious enough to do.”
Evisar knew the swordsman was right. The Talon Guild had used Lord Shetley’s paranoia to convince him that Tristan was a threat when really there was no threat at all.
Xander took a step forward and said, “Sirus, there’s no reason to do this. You can have the gem; just let my friends go.”
Sirus said, “That’s a nice sentiment, but I’m afraid the Guildmaster wants more than that.” Sirus turned to the five archers and said, “Draw.”
The archers brought up their bows and Tristan raised his voice in desperation. “Stop this. My lord, I swear I’m your man. I would never try to take your place. I only want to serve you.”
Lord Shetley said, “You lie. I can see it on your face.”
Sirus said, “Release.”
Tristan was too dumbfounded by the betrayal of his lord to get out of the way, but Evisar and Xander both dove forward toward the cover of the table. Tristan cursed at the last instant as the arrows flew through the air. His chain shirt did little against the razor-sharp metal tips. Tristan fell back against the wall as one arrow struck each breast and another ricocheted off his stomach. Xander and Evisar took temporary refuge behind two chairs, concealed by the thick oak table. Tristan slumped down against the wall and just as his body went limp, he threw his long sword across the floor to Evisar.
Despair left Evisar as he felt the weight of steel in his hand, knowing that at least now he could put up a fight. He handed Xander his dagger as Lord Shetley’s voice rang triumphantly across the room. “Stand up elves, and I promise you a quick death.” Evisar kept his silence and looked at Xander. He looked on with curiosity as Xander pulled out the huge gem with the trapped wizard in it and waited. After a moment, Lord Shetley continued, “No? So be it then.”
Evisar looked under the table and saw the mercenaries take a few steps. Before they could get around the table, Xander thrust the gem into the air so it was in full view of the entire room and muttered the word help to himself. The gem exploded with fire and Evisar’s eyes grew wide as he watched a ball of fire leap out from the gem and strike the wall on the other side of the room. Even from behind the oak table, Evisar felt the intense heat on his skin as cries of pain erupted around the room.
Evisar didn’t know what had just happened, but his warrior instincts took over. He didn’t waste a single thought on the many questions he would ask Xander about the gem at a later time, as he bolted to his feet and moved clockwise around the table to where the swordsmen had been. It looked as though Xander’s trick had taken down the archers grouped together in the corner, but Lord Shetley, Sirus, and the four swordsmen were still alive and quickly regaining their feet. Evisar moved around the table with purpose and caught the lead swordsman as he got up off the ground. Again, Evisar did not hesitate as he shoved the point of Tristan’s sword into the gut of the lead swordsman, twisted the sword to ensure the kill, and then pulled it out. He did not even look at the impaled swordsman to see if he fell back to the ground as he moved on to the next one. His father had often told him to press the attack when he had the advantage, and this was no time to hold back. With Tristan down, their only chance was to finish them in the confusion Xander had created. The second swordsman deflected the first two swings from Evisar’s blade, but Evisar was too quick, too strong, and too well trained for him. With Evisar’s third cut, he disarmed the swordsman and drew a savage cut across his chest. The second swordsman fell, and Evisar pressed his advantage with the third. By now the enemy had recovered, and Evisar found himself exchanging blows with three swordsmen instead of one. It also became clear that the remaining three swordsmen were more experienced than the two he had just dispatched, especially Sirus.
Sirus pressed forward, swinging his two rapiers gracefully through the air with a swordsman on each side of him. They moved together as a cohesive unit, and Sirus looked unhappy that seven of his friends were already dead. The swordsmen advanced in a pyramid, with one flanking Evisar on each side, while Sirus kept his attention on the front. They traded blows as Evisar searched for an opening. It only took a moment for him to realize what kind of trouble he was in. He thought back to his father. It was disappointing to know he could have dealt with these three in short order, but Evisar was not his father, and he grimaced as he was forced to give ground to the advancing swordsmen. Evisar was nearly to the wall and was about to be forced into a bold, but stupid posture, when he saw Xander leap out and bury his dagger into the back of the swordsman on Evisar’s right. The dying swordsman had been caught completely by surprise, but he still managed to make a reflexive swing that caught Xander in the arm and made a deep cut.
Xander recoiled in pain, and Evisar moved to finish off the injured swordsman with a swing to the head, but he never got to finish his swing as a bolt of energy took him full in the chest and threw him up against the back wall. Evisar writhed in pain as he looked up in time to see Lord Shetley with a magic wand in his hand.
Sirus and his remaining partner did not hesitate as they moved in quickly toward Evisar. Evisar was barely able to stand up in time as the swordsmen came on. Both swordsmen moved in and stabbed at Evisar simultaneously. There was nothing Evisar could do but parry one of the two blows. Evisar blocked the one meant for his heart and felt the cold bite of steel as Sirus’s rapier pierced his chain shirt and went into his stomach. Evisar bent over and screamed in agony as Sirus withdrew his weapon. Over his own pain he heard another bolt leave Lord Shetley’s wand. He saw Xander thrown against the back wall in a heap.
Evisar had done his best, but it was all over. He raised his blade and resigned himself to an honorable death at Sirus’s hand, when he heard a thrum crackle through the air. Suddenly, Sirus dropped his sword and collapsed in front of him with an arrow piercing his heart through his unprotected back. Sirus hit the ground chest first; the steel of his breastplate made a loud thud on the hardwood floor. The remaining swordsman took a stab that Evisar deflected away from his chest, but he still felt searing pain as the sword went through his left shoulder. He slumped against the wall and fell to the ground. He didn’t even have the energy to remain standing.
From across the room Evisar heard Valihorn’s voice loud and clear. The remaining swordsman dropped his arms to his side right in front of him with a smile on his face that seemed oddly out of place. A moment later another arrow took him in the back as well, and he collapsed to the floor.
Lord Shetley pointed his wand at the door and fired another bolt. Jefon nimbly ducked out of the doorway and allowed the bolt to pass harmlessly by. He reappeared a moment later and released an arrow that leapt from his bow and took Lord Shetley in the shoulder, sending the magic wand flying across the room.
Lord Shetley quickly recovered, standing tall and defiant. He still had his sword, but he was smart enough to know a sword would not help him against a wizard and a bow. “Go on, kill me you bastards! I can’t stop you from taking my kingdom.” He drew his sword and dagger and threw them across the floor.
Jefon and Valihorn left the doorway and entered the room as Xander and Evisar began to stir. Jefon had an arrow nocked and pulled back to his ear as he answered Lord Shetley in kind. “We don’t want your kingdom, never did. But clearly you aren’t worthy of it either.” Jefon circled the table and came within ten feet of Lord Shetley. “You have lost your mind and are unworthy to lead. You abuse those whom you seek to rule. Your son shall inherit your kingdom
.”
Lord Shetley raised his hands in surrender and smiled. “I am unarmed and the battle is over. Are you going to kill me in cold blood?”
In answer, Jefon began to quote a passage from Martel himself. “Strike down those points of authority who abuse their power. Take vengeance upon those who hold my people underfoot.”
With the decision made, Jefon launched his arrow without hesitation and took Lord Shetley in the heart. Valihorn screamed, “No, Jefon!” as the arrow found its mark. The Lord of the Land was dead before he hit the floor.
Even through the pain of his injuries, Evisar couldn’t believe what had just happened. His brother had killed an unarmed man in cold blood. Anger arose in Evisar as he realized what had happened. He could barely find his feet and blood was gushing out of his wounds, but his voice was loud and harsh.
“Why did you kill him? He surrendered; the fight was over.”
Jefon looked at his brother with a steel all his own. “My god warned me of his attack and my god demanded his death. Were it not for Martel, the three of you would be dead by now and the two of us would surely have followed. He abused his power and didn’t deserve to live.” Jefon moved over to Xander and helped him to his feet.
Xander grimaced as Jefon helped him up and said with a roguish grin, “Maybe I like you after all.”
Jefon did not return the good humor as he said, “Can you heal Evisar while I check on Tristan?” Xander nodded his head as he said a divine word that healed his arm and chest almost completely.
Xander went over to Evisar. He was about to heal him with a touch when Evisar grabbed his hand with great force. “And you. What in the seven hells was that ball of fire that came out of the gem?” He threw Xander’s arm away as he said, “You lied to me again.”
“Regretfully so. Sometimes I don’t have any choice in what I do.”
“There’s always a choice.”
“You think so? Then why don’t you ask Austen and your brother why I couldn’t tell you about the gem?” Evisar’s head snapped up at the mention of his brother. He couldn’t believe Jefon would keep a secret like that from him. “Don’t be so quick to pass judgment on me. Now, do you want to be healed or not?”
Evisar was prideful and hurt, but he was no fool. He knew he would die without the help of a healer. He sat in silence and let his anger stew as Xander healed his wounds. Then Xander moved over to Tristan, closed his wounds, and helped the large warrior to his feet. A short time later, all of the companions were on their feet, and it seemed as if they would live to fight another day.
Evisar’s mind was awash in questions. He was so angry that he had to fight to think rationally, but he did not have the luxury of anger for the moment. He turned to the door with indignation in his voice and command on his lips. “Let’s get our weapons and see if we can get out of here.” Evisar moved toward the door to the hall just as William Shetley came in with sword and shield in hand, along with thirty other guards at his back.
William looked down at his dead father and took it in. He asked only one question, “What happened here?”
Evisar spoke quickly. If William didn’t listen, then they were all dead. “Your father attacked us using these mercenaries. He was jealous of Tristan and thought he was trying to take his kingdom away from him. We were able to defend ourselves, but unfortunately your father died in the process.”
William said nothing. He looked around the room for a long time and finally his eyes settled on his dead father once again. He spoke to his guards without passion. “Arrest them all. Throw them in a cell until I can figure out what happened here.”
Chapter 42: William’s Judgment
The companions were stripped of their weapons by William’s guards, put in shackles, and taken to another building made of stone, mortar, and iron bars. They were placed in a single cell with four guards to watch over them at all times. Once they were in the cell, Xander went around to all of the companions and continued to use his powers of healing until all of the injuries were gone. Evisar thought of escape, but it was unlikely from behind iron bars with four guards watching. Still, perhaps they should try since the new Lord Shetley wasn’t likely to be generous with them after Jefon killed his father in cold blood. Of course, William didn’t know how his father died, and the man had been an ass.
Evisar looked around the room as he went over events in his mind. Valihorn was mourning the loss of his lord and refused to look Jefon in the face while Tristan did not seem to know whether to react to his lord’s betrayal or the fact that the Lord of the Land was dead. Jefon had purposely sat at the far end of the cell to avoid his older brother’s gaze of disappointment, but Evisar could see that he was shaking ever so slightly from his intense fear of confinement. Jefon hid his feelings well, but Evisar knew he was in agony. Lastly, he looked at Xander and had to chuckle in spite of himself. Of all the companions, only Xander seemed to be in relatively good cheer as the half-elf lay on his cot taking a nap with a clear conscience.
Evisar, for his part, couldn’t sleep with so many unanswered questions. Had Lord Shetley really been insane enough to see Tristan as a threat? Evisar hadn’t known Tristan long, but even he knew Tristan was loyal to a fault. In the end, he decided it was a waste of time to worry about what Lord Shetley had been thinking since understanding what happened wouldn’t change the fact that he was sitting in a cell.
With one decision made, his mind gravitated away from his brother’s questionable morality to the less painful subject of Xander’s accursed gem. Evisar leaned back against the wall and shook his head. Why should he be surprised at another lie from Xander? The game was getting old and Evisar was running out of strength. Still, Xander might cause him to lose sleep wondering what else he had up his sleeve, but he was loyal to him and his brother, and loyal to their mission of finding the First Heir. The gem seemed to be a powerful artifact capable of helping them at odd times, and that was an advantage Evisar couldn’t give up. In the end, his barely contained anger toward Xander melted away as he came to the conclusion that Xander was a useful part of the team, and if he enjoyed his secrets, then Evisar could live with that.
He turned toward Jefon and felt an ache in his heart. He couldn’t explain why or how, but somehow their bond as brothers wasn’t as ironclad as it had been a few moons ago. They had left Armena with the common purpose of rescuing the First Heir, but now Jefon seemed to be drifting from that mission. He had always been a believer in Martel, but he had never taken to quoting his god’s mantra before committing murder. Jefon had even taken a liking to the woman from Wessex. Evisar didn’t know how deep their relationship ran, but Jefon wasn’t one for fleeting love, or love of any kind for that matter.
Then there was the battle against Lord Shetley to consider. How had Jefon and Valihorn even known Lord Shetley was about to attack, and what of Jefon’s marksmanship with the bow during the battle? His skill with the bow had always been shaky, but during the battle he had shot four arrows and hit four targets, with three of the shots delivering lethal blows.
Finally, Evisar couldn’t take it anymore. He didn’t care who overheard or what the guards thought; he had to have some answers. He got up and walked to the back corner of the cell where his brother was sitting on the floor with his knees against his chest and his head in his lap. He could see that Jefon was near his breaking point and close to tears. Evisar joined Jefon on the floor and asked, “How are you holding up, brother?”
“Not very well. This cell is driving me crazy. Followers of Martel are supposed to free those who are wrongfully imprisoned, not become imprisoned themselves.”
“Don’t despair. I’m sure the new Lord Shetley will want to talk soon.”
“Not soon enough.” Jefon made a little squeaking sound and stopped talking. He began to rock back and forth, staring off into space and mumbling incoherently to himself.
Evisar sat with Jefon for a while before asking, “How did you know Lord Shetley was going to attack us? You were in the li
brary. There was no way you could have known.”
Jefon continued to rock back and forth and Evisar was forced to ask the question a second time. Jefon said, “Sent message. Saw vision. Knew what was going to happen. Had to help Evisar. Had to help brother.” It was obvious Jefon was slipping, and he knew the answers would have to wait for another day. Evisar put his arm around Jefon and the two brothers sat together long into the night.
___________________________________
In the middle of the night, Xander was lying in his cot dreaming when the wizard in the gem came to him. The dream shifted as dreams so often do, and then they were sitting across a table from one another, discussing important issues.
The wizard said, “You are not keeping your part of the bargain. In exchange for my services you were supposed to take the gem as far away from the Talon Guild as you could, yet you continue to stay in the same place.”
“We just got held up by the giants for a few days. That’s all.”
“While you play hero in this little town of Wessex, all of Kentar is suffering in my absence. Hundreds of thousands of lives hang in the balance over the decisions you make, and you are acting stupidly.”
“What the hell do you expect me to do?”
“I expect you to move on to the Ring Sea, and if that means leaving the elves behind, then that is what you do.”
“I can’t just head out on my own without some protection.”
“I was all the protection you needed, but you squandered my help by forcing me to intervene on your behalf twice already. Leave the elves behind and head for the Ring Sea.”
Xander got angry and lashed out. “I’m not going to leave the elves behind. They need me, and I need them. They move quickly and they think quickly. Just because the elves stayed in Wessex for a few extra days doesn’t mean I should leave them behind. Just remember who’s doing who the favor here. You picked me, remember?”
Do the Gods Despise Us? Page 7