Weaponforger (Guardian's Prophecy Book 3)

by D A Godwin

  “I began to wonder if you would ever present yourself.” With a motion, she dismissed the other women, who filed obediently from the glade.

  “I am disappointed in you, daughter. It’s been years, and still you’ve allowed this human woman to keep what does not belong to her.”

  “You think I have sat quietly all this time? I have safeguarded Alta Suralia, raised a temple devoted to Elurithlia’s glory at the base of the Three Sisters, and helped pacify Maetholmir.”

  “Your destiny holds more than that of a simple missionary. The human church has abandoned most of our faith, clinging to only the basest form of our teachings.”

  “If they have drifted, we must accept some of the blame for withholding our knowledge.”

  “Take care, daughter. We have shared all that they are worthy of hearing.”

  “Who are we to judge their worthiness? Shalindra has so much strength. Were you to teach her as you did me, instead of sending her away, there would be no limit to what she might accomplish.”

  “It would seem my efforts on your behalf were squandered. You left us under the most noble of mandates, but you return as a servant to a thief.”

  “Eluria has made her choice, and it was the correct one,” Enna said, fighting back her tears. “Shalindra has already fulfilled so many parts of the prophecy. She has raised the dead, called to her side—”

  “He may call himself whatever he wishes. I fear nothing from your humans.”

  “You should, for you have placed yourself between Shalindra and what she deserves. I would sooner face a hundred demons than cross him.”

  “All men have their weaknesses.”

  Enna laughed. A sharp laugh. A human laugh. “You refuse to acknowledge the truth that stares you in the face. He would do anything—to anyone, at any cost—to protect her. As will I.”

  Elothlirial’s jaw dropped open, but Enna left her no opportunity for a response.

  “I will return with Shalindra in triumph or not at all. Goodbye, mother.” She spun on her heel and left the glade behind, not caring if she ever saw it again.

  An Unwelcome Road

  Their time in Eitholmir had been short, remaining only long enough to receive the proposed peace agreement from the council, which was discreetly delivered two days later by a courier. The instructions that arrived with it had made clear that the contents of the document were not to be revealed or discussed with anyone in Ildalarial. The following day saw them travelling by boat once more, this time farther south to Sidirion. The town lay only thirty miles from the Kingdom stronghold of Adair, which stood over the merging of River Annyre with the Merallin River. Shalindra had been only too happy to depart, as the crowds had kept her a virtual prisoner in the dormitory.

  Their arrival at the docks was greeted by an armed and armored squad of elves who, though not hostile, were openly suspicious. After a brief exchange they were ushered into a nearby building and presented to an elvish captain whose countenance was as every bit as stern as Birion’s.

  “Revered Sisters,” the captain said. “Your presence here is a blessing, as always, but you risked much by arriving during the daylight.”

  “We were not told of the level of danger,” Enna said, “but our business is urgent and we likely would not have delayed.”

  “I am unaware of any pressing needs in the city. Your Sisters here have done an admirable job in their duties.”

  “Our business takes us into Actondel.”

  The captain regarded the three of them before replying. “And may I know what this business is?”

  “We are not at liberty to discuss it,” Enna answered, placing a hand on the scroll case slung across her shoulder by a thin strap.

  The manner of her refusal seemed to supply the captain with what he needed to understand their situation.

  “Our enemy watches the bridge like hawks,” he said. “Your crossing will be noticed, and they have been unkind to those they consider spies.” He beckoned another soldier over. “Find Alindis and bring him here at once.”

  To Enna he said, “You are, of course, free to move about the city, but I would advise that you remain close and do not call further attention to yourselves. The Swan House should be able to accommodate you. Woodswarden Alindis will see to your crossing.”

  “Thank you,” Enna said.

  The Swan House was identified by a clearly visible depiction of the elegant bird which hung proudly above its door. The building gave every appearance of being an inn of some quality, even though it stood where the docks ended and the town began.

  Unlike the subtle tension they had witnessed in the capital, Sidirion was a town preparing for war. What little Shalindra saw of the open, winding streets that the elves seemed to love had been blocked at strategic intersections. There were no battlements to be seen, but dense, thick walls of trees and stones formed an equally effective barrier around the city. There were sounds of happiness and laughter, and though the tunes they sang were merry, almost childish in their gaiety, the effort seemed an attempt at normalcy rather than entertainment.

  Rather than an innkeep they were greeted at the door by a soldier, and told to take any empty room. Shalindra suppressed a sigh as they occupied the first with an open door. It was another prison of necessity, and no matter how much sense it made she was growing tired of hiding all day.

  With a glance, Enna drew her attention to Tormjere’s trembling hand. Shalindra was already aware, for she had felt the slow return of his hunger. He was making efforts to keep it in check, but there was little she could do about it now other than pray that the episodes that had plagued him in the valley remained a distant memory.

  Enna unrolled the paper that contained the demands of the Grand Calontier, reminding her that they had larger issues to deal with now. Enna did not read far before she began to frown.

  “What does it say?” Shalindra asked.

  Enna could not keep the frustration from her voice. “The terms they request are not generous. I worry that even if we somehow manage to speak to your rulers, it will be rejected. I do not know how we are to succeed.”

  “Almost sounds like they don’t want you to,” Tormjere said. “Not getting wiped out isn’t enough to ask for?”

  Enna looked embarrassed. “We have reached accords before, but they have rarely been respected.”

  “The Edar Woods are just across the river, yes?” Shalindra asked. “I do recall an agreement about the area several years ago.”

  “River Merallindial was to be the original border. Then it moved to include everything within a hatchet’s throw of the bank, and now Actondel claims everything east of River Annyre, right at the very doorstep of Eitholmir. I do not know how we can stop this thing,” she said dejectedly.

  Shalindra rose from her seat and looked out the window. “Only my father, the king, would be able to accept such an offering, though the Lordshouse would officially ratify it. That means we must reach Merallin and gain access to him.”

  “After the way you left last time…” Enna shook her head.

  “We can figure out how once we’re there,” Tormjere said. “Merallin is a long way from here, and we can assume that elves are not welcome at the present. We’ll need a disguise of some sort for Enna.”

  “Do not let him near your hair,” Shalindra warned with a smile.

  Tormjere did his best to look innocent. “I was just hoping for different clothes for both of you.”

  He was correct. Enna would be seen as the enemy, and risked capture as a spy at any time. Shalindra’s own father had placed a bounty on her head, which she was certain someone would attempt to collect if they knew she had returned. They needed anonymity, but she was tired of pretending to be something other than what she was.

  “I think not, this time,” Shalindra said. “The world can deal with me as I am.”

  “That’s fine for you,” Tormjere pressed, “because there are followers of Eluria throughout the Kingdom. So long as we avoid formal dinners,
few people should recognize you after so long. But once we hit the Merallin River, we’re unlikely to find many elves wandering about. Short of a hood, I can think of little that would work. Her hair will stand out as much as your warhammer, no matter what we do.”

  “We can wrap Shining Moon in cloth or a bedroll,” she said, conceding the point.

  “Or simply let Tormjere carry it,” Enna suggested. “It might look less obvious.”

  Shalindra leaned back and closed her eyes in thought. Everything they said was sound, and something that should be considered. It was not the most fleshed-out plan she had ever begun, but no matter how vague or solid their ideas for reaching Merallin, she had no idea what she would do when she got there.

  * * *

  They crept towards the docks sometime after midnight. The moon was full, an auspicious omen, but thankfully its light was curtailed by the thick clouds. Shalindra wondered if the dreary rains would ever end this year, though she appreciated the shadows they provided tonight.

  Alindis paused by the water with a final word of caution. “Once across the river, we will not be able to aid you in any way. This would be much safer were you to wait for a time when our enemy was less alert.”

  Shalindra agreed, but time was a luxury they no longer had. “Events move ahead without our consent, and there is little time to waste.”

  “Then stay as low in the boat as possible, and pray their sentries are all asleep.”

  Alindis and the other rower grunted as they angled upriver, paddling hard against the current. Shalindra felt if she compressed herself any further she might rupture the bottom of the boat, no matter how sturdy. Cold water splashed over the side and pooled about her legs, but she dared not risk repositioning herself, no matter how chilled it left her.

  “Prepare,” came Alindis’ whispered warning.

  Shalindra mouthed a silent prayer to Eluria. Someone tapped her on the back, and she leapt from the boat with Tormjere and Enna. Her feet struggled to find purchase on the slippery rocks, but she was thankful for Alindis’ foresight, as the hard surface would hide any trace of their arrival.

  The trio crouched still on the riverbank as the elves turned the boat towards the middle of the river without any acknowledgment of their parting. Almost immediately the soft sound of their oars was lost to the flow of water and the bellows of frogs.

  Tormjere slowly straightened, staring into the darkened woods. Shalindra closed her eyes and sought his mind, feeling what he did as he searched the forest. It was like running her fingers across every tree, rock, and creature near them.

  They were not alone.

  She felt it the instant he did and was already moving when his piercing whisper carried to her ears.

  “Run.”

  He leapt in front of them as bowstrings twanged in the darkness. From the river came a scream followed by a splash, but Shalindra did not slow, trusting in Tormjere’s ability to find the way out of the darkened woods.

  He brought their sprint to a sudden stop and motioned for silence.

  Shalindra huddled with Enna behind a bush, clamping a hand over her own mouth to muffle the sounds of her breathing.

  The snap of a twig gave away the position of their pursuers. Tormjere crouched with his knife in hand, waiting. She no longer needed his senses to know they were close. The forest grew still, and the heavy breathing she heard was not from Tormjere or Enna.

  A rustling of branches as their pursuer poked the bushes with a spear, then moved slowly away.

  Tormjere waited for a long time before motioning them to rise, and they crept in the opposite direction. Alternating periods of fleeing and hiding continued for most of the night, and by the time dawn began to brighten the sky she was exhausted.

  Tormjere gave her a rueful look and at last broke their silence. “Why is it that we’re always sneaking across your kingdom?”

  Shalindra just shook her head as she sought familiar landmarks. “Where are we?”

  “Somewhere east of the Annyre,” Tormjere guessed. “Probably a day or so west of the Merallin River, and maybe two or three to Adair once we find the road.”

  Enna plopped down on a log. “This was not the beginning I had hoped for.”

  “Nor I,” Shalindra said. “Let us eat and catch our breath, and then we will try to stop a war.”

  Friends and Foes

  Adair was a large, multileveled city which had grown up the side of one of the countless rolling hills that rumpled the countryside, where a thick stream spilled into the Annyre river. The mass of structures was dominated by a squarish castle near the highest point, its walls bright with quicklime beneath peaked slate grey roofs. Stout battlements commanded a view over field and forest alike in every direction. The city below was given over to more common browns and greys surrounding islands of lighter tones where this mansion or that rose above the closely packed buildings.

  It would have made for an idyllic setting on a more cheerful afternoon, but the clouds were a clumpy overcast that painted everything in a dull light and a gentle mist was falling in spite of the hints of blue that peeked through thin spots here and there. The hills around the city, which should have been green with pasture and farm, lay trampled and brown, dotted with tents and banners among which thousands of men moved like ants in a garden.

  Tormjere’s eyes swept the fields, counting. “I’d say close to twenty thousand here, which could mean as many as eight to twelve thousand more are already spread along the border.”

  “Many of the banners are from Ceringion houses,” Shalindra noted. “Far more than our own.”

  Enna just shook her head. “Elurithlia protect us, my people will never survive that.”

  “We can only pray that we find some way to put an end to it,” Shalindra said, though it was little comfort given that she had no idea how she would accomplish that.

  She stiffened suddenly as a flash of green and gold caught her eye.

  “What is it?” Enna asked.

  “My brother Logian is here. His banner is a green field with a golden sword.”

  “Could he help us?”

  “No. He is likely overjoyed at the prospect of testing himself in another battle. The Conclave would extend their hand to us before he would.”

  “It would take days to circumvent this,” Tormjere said. “We’ll find a place to stay for the night, then move on. Keep your cloaks up. At least the rain gives us a reason.”

  It was more than mile through the armed camp to the edge of town. Enna tucked close behind Shalindra and kept her head down, but her knuckles were white where they clenched her cloak. Thankfully, the weather kept everyone in their tents or huddled around their fires, and they were paid no more mind than any of the other travelers plodding up and down the busy road.

  “Should we find someplace outside the walls?” Shalindra asked. As with most larger cities, what could be accurately described as a small village that had grown up outside the walls that marked the city proper.

  “Even if we do, we’ll still have to go through tomorrow.” Tormjere glanced at the clouds. “We’ll probably garner less attention now given the weather.”

  They continued up the road to the gate, where a line of people seeking entry had formed. Most of those ahead of them were allowed through after only a cursory inspection, but their progress seemed to slow the closer they drew to the gate.

  By the time their turn came, Tormjere was beginning to wish they had elected to bypass the city, no matter how long it would have taken, but there was no way they could turn back now. Shalindra shuffled forward at an unassuming pace. He watched the guards’ eyes crawling over her, but neither shifted from their bored posture. Tormjere was almost ready to relax when one of the guards dropped a gloved hand on Enna’s shoulder.

  “Where are you going, elf?” he challenged.

  Enna tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. “I only wish to visit Eluria’s temple,” she stammered.

  “I think you’ll be visiting th
e dungeons.”

  “My good sir,” Shalindra said as she stepped between them. “Need I remind you that Sisters of Eluria do not participate in armed conflict? Surely one in your position of responsibility is aware of this.”

  “She could be a spy,” the man said defensively.

  “She could sprout fairy wings and fly above this oversized fence as well, but I think that unlikely.”

  The guardsman blinked as he tried to imagine such a feat. “Well… what do you want in the city?”

  Shalindra graced him with look that implied he had lost whatever sense he might have once possessed. “To get out of this rain like everyone else. Are you well?”

  “I… yes. Begging your pardon, my lady, but…”

  “Sister will do.” She patted him on the shoulder. “I will pray for you this evening.”

  Without waiting for a response, she swept past him. Enna was as caught off guard as the soldiers, but a nudge from Tormjere sent her hurrying to catch up.

  She giggled the moment they were out of sight of the gate. “You sounded like Sister Kayala.”

  That brought a smile to Shalindra’s face, easing the lines of worry that had settled on her forehead. “I suppose I did.”

  Tormjere chuckled at the memory of the old cleric as well, but his merriment fled as he caught a flash of upswept blond hair in the crowd. He motioned them to a halt and peered through the mass of people. On the opposite side of the square, a halfling was watching the streets more carefully than his relaxed posture would indicate.

  Weeby.

  Here? Could he be looking for me again?

  Let’s find out. Wait here with Enna.

  Be careful. I do not want to flee into the night again.

  “Excuse me,” Enna said. “Why are we standing here staring at the crowds?”

  “I see someone that I should not,” Tormjere said aloud. “Wait here.”