He nodded to her, trying to smile, but he just didn't have it in him. He looked back for Graf, but the tall man had disappeared again. He was really good at that. Over the last two days, Graf would periodically vanish without telling them, then just be there later out of know where. Rhoe would be more suspicious, if he weren't worried to death over the two people pretending to be saddle bags at the moment. He shrugged and just lead the three horses in as Liss talked to the guards. She was pointing and smiling, and they just opened the gate. This world was so different from the one he grew up in. He led a simple life in a frontier village and had never had to deal with courts, Kings, or castles. He had no idea what was going to happen when he got to Everknight. I hope you wake up soon Karsis, I don't think I can do this without help. He had come to depend on the legendary bard, even though he did pretty well on his own. As he neared the stables, two older boys came over and helped him tether the horses. He accepted their help with a polite nod, and they stared at his long grey robes with amusement. He took Caerlyn down reverently, then Karsis, and laid them down on the hay.
Liss walked over with two guards behind her and smiled at the stable boys. they immediately recognized her and blanched, bowing their heads and walking off. She had seen the way they treated Rhoe, and that would not be tolerated. "Ok, I told the chamberlain that we needed help with the bodies, and after he almost fainted, he sent me these two men." She pointed to the bodies on the ground. "Take them to Caerlyn's chambers and put them on the bed if you could gentlemen."
"Both on the same bed miss?" The man just started at her, clearly not understanding. His partner just shook his head in embarrassment.
"Yes, on the same bed. It's fine men, the man there is Karsis the bard." She saw their mouths drop and had to laugh. She turned to Rhoe and saw him lean on his horse, eyes turning up into the back of his head. "Rhoe!" She caught him as he started to fall, and eased him down. This was not going good at all. She put her hand on his chest as she pulled him over into her lap and felt his heart beating steadily. "I've got you Rhoe." But who is going to catch me? She thought, starting to feel tired herself.
An hour or so later, all four of them were in Caerlyn's chambers. Caerlyn and Karsis were on the bed, still out, with Caerlyn growing colder by the moment. Rhoe was in the big chair, snoring lightly after being brought up from the stables, and Liss sat there on the floor watching them all as the sun's fading rays came through the window. They had made it, but she had this growing fear that they were far from safe yet. If Brenscomb could be turned to the will of these evil sorcerers, then who else was working against them. Was there anyone here waiting to kill them? She had a pair of guards outside of the door, but Deathsong was still on her lap, just in case. She was tired, but she daren't try and sleep with everyone else out of it. And where did Graf go? She thought, as another yawn forced its way out. She had noticed that he liked to hide around people, but she could really use the company right about now, if only to let her get a cat nap. She had grown fond of the tall, skinny man on the road from River Vale.
They had kept him amused by telling him about the faeries for the first day, then discussed the events leading up to their predicament on the second day. She had started to really trust him, when he was around that is. She could still remember the look on his face when they mentioned the Incarnation. All of the blood drained out of his face.
A knock on the door signaled the food the chamberlain said was going to be brought up for her, and quite possibly a healer to look in on the Lady Caerlyn once more. Everyone in the hold was worried about their Lady, and it took all of her Princess-like authority to get them to leave her alone, lest they interrupt what she was doing with Karsis. Whatever that was. Liss got up and walked quietly to the door, but a sound at the window stopped her. She turned and saw a figure hanging outside of the second story window, and he was waving at her as if to warn her. It was Graf, and he looked like he had dragged himself through every mud puddle he could find. If he was warning her, then it was bad. She was getting really tired of all of the bad lately. She didn't dare draw her sword, lest it sound out to her enemies, so she backed up to the window, slowly lifting the latch that kept it closed, keeping an eye on the door. She could see Graf outside pointing to the door. But how would he know who was behind the door? Her thoughts vanished as the knock became a crash, splintering the door open and off the hinges. Three men flooded into the room with drawn knives and black hoods. Liss had just enough time to see the bodies of the guards lying in the hallway, possibly drugged or dead, then she drew Deathsong, It's ringing call echoing off the close walls.
"Duck!" Graf yelled, throwing his slim knife past her head, as she crouched down low. It buried itself in the chest of one of the men as he dove over her and rolled up to his feet, kicking out at another man.
He had followed Liss and Rhoe in, using the shadows that he was so adept at, and saw the men dressed in black hiding here and there throughout the hold. After hearing the stories about River Vale, he thought he would scout this place out. He was not disappointed. Finding the right room was problematic, but he got lucky on the third try.
The first room was empty but the second one was a bit of a surprise. The woman that was undressing didn't even scream, and if he wasn't pressed for time....Who am I kidding, smelling like this? She would've slapped me once I got within five feet of her. He reined his thoughts in and slid to the side as Liss lunged with that cool sword of hers and slid it right into the last man's chest. He watched the man's eyes lose their light and then went to check the guards.
"How did you find us?" Liss asked, wiping the blade clean on the man's cloak. The sword felt very heavy in her tired hands.
"I got lucky." He said curtly, not wanting to get into it. He bent over the guards and checked their neck for that telltale throb of life. With all of the blood on the floor he doubted it, but he always checked.
She scoffed at his 'getting lucky' statement, but didn't pry. She hoped that the guards were drugged, but then she saw him shake his head as he felt for a pulse. She spun and kicked the wash basin out of anger and sent the water bowl flying. "I am going to find out who ever is doing all of this and slice them apart very slowly." She slid Deathsong into its sheath and walked out of the door. "Watch them Graf, I need to tell the chamberlain about this, and then he will give me some answers."
"But Liss there's probably more..."
She spun, angry tears falling quietly down her strained face. "Just do it, I'm going to hope that I get attacked, that way I can beat someone until I hear them scream. Oh and be ready to leave when I get back because it seems that we can't stay here any longer." She turned back and stomped down the hall towards the front of the hold, trying to keep her anger in check, and failing miserably.
Graf watched her go and smiled. That girl was a firecracker, and he liked the way she took charge. He wasn't originally going to follow them any farther, but now he almost wanted to make sure she got home safe. You WILL make sure she makes it safely to Everknight, or else....Graf grabbed his head as the voice echoed loudly. He hated when the voices got all lordly in his own head, like they were better than him. He muttered something about how the voice smelled like a sheep, and why, then heard a cough behind him.
Rhoe came awake slowly, like he was swimming out of a deep water pool, climbing for the surface. He heard Graf talking to someone, but when he finally opened his eyes, the man was alone. He cocked his head to the side, trying to hear what the man was saying, but he couldn't catch any of it. He coughed politely and saw the man turn quickly. He laughed at Graf's expression, then Rhoe noticed the bodies. "What?!" He jumped up and spun, seeing the open window, then turned back to the door in alarm. "Where is Liss?"
"She's ok, she went to the chamberlain to let him know about the bodies. Yes I tried to tell her not to, and yes I told her there were probably more assassin's, but that one is stubborn." He walked in and started to gather up the packs that they had placed in the corner. He tightened straps and mad
e sure everything was there, just trying to look busy.
"I take it we have to go?" Rhoe saw Karsis and Caerlyn still out and wondered how long he had slept for. He was more embarrassed then angry with himself for passing out, but he felt ten times better. "How long have I been out?"
"Not long I guess, I just got here myself, but it's been like five hours since you guys came here if that helps." Graf went over to the window and looked out over the courtyard. He could spot at least three people hiding from here. This was going to be about as much fun as a sword through the throat. "I'll start getting these two down to the stables if you can get the packs." He grabbed Karsis and flipped the slender bard over his shoulder and slipped out the window. He was gone in a heartbeat, sliding down his anchored rope.
Rhoe stared out the window for a minute, amazed at the man's ability to simply disappear, and then he turned and grabbed the packs. He heard footsteps and turned, expecting Liss, and was shocked when the chamberlain came through the door. "Oh, hello good sir, how can I....." Then he was leaping back, dropping the packs and throwing out his hand to slap the blade away from his chest. The blade sliced his palm, but it was angled enough so as to not cut too deeply. He saw the man's face, his eyes distant and unfocused, and knew that he was being controlled. He wondered if he could use magic to free the man, but he just didn't know how to break it. He ducked another sideways swing, then jumped up on the bed where Karsis had lain. Caerlyn's body rolled over onto his foot, and he almost lost his balance when the man lunged in straight with his blade. The man then looked at the body at Rhoe's feet and smiled.
"Oh no you don't." Rhoe knew what the man was thinking, and quickly whispered to the Ether to free the man's mind. It was all he could think of doing without time to prepare. "Ash'anti Ethir brek dosit a'ren" Rhoe hoped that his use of the elven word Brek wasn't going to do the man any harm. It usually meant break or free, but he was worried that it might take 'break' literally and destroy his mind forever, but with Caerlyn as the man's target, he didn't have time to debate it with his conscious.
The man stumbled, then his eyes focused more and a look of pure horror passed across his face. He dropped the sword like it was poison, and backed away from everyone slowly. "What have I done?" He turned to run through the doorway, but was grabbed by the shoulder before he got three feet.
"It's all right, just calm down, I'm not going to hurt you." Rhoe was just glad that the man wasn't drooling on the floor after his impromptu spell. He really needed to practice more with Karsis, but everything had been a whirlwind since the bridge. He was a little scared that it was coming to him easily though, like he was casting the spells with instinct rather than study. "Sit down and try to remember what happened to you." He sat the man down just as Graf came through the window. Quickly he made the gesture to the tall man that everything was all right, and tried to keep the man focused on him. "Don't mind our friend, he doesn't like bathing." Rhoe smiled at Graf as the dirty man lifted Caerlyn and scowled, then vanished out the window once more like a spirit.
"Well I was marking in the books that you all had checked in, I had just written the names down and then....Verice." He shook his head in disbelief before continuing, "Verice came to me and asked what room you all were staying in, then she said some strange words...." He started sobbing into his hands, his memory coming back to him finally. "I kil.....killed so many. Oh ...oh my God.....wha .......what have I done?!"
Rhoe didn't know what to say, but he knew that they had to find Liss, and quickly. "Show me where....."
*****************************
Liss stalked the halls and eventually made it down to the main antechamber. The chamberlain was usually here, taking notes or checking the inventory books, but all was quiet. In fact the hallways were quiet as well, which she would've noticed if she wasn't so damned angry. She was starting to get that feeling. The feeling that said she was going to really regret this day and probably the next three as well. She took a deep breath and turned around and jumped as a girl was there right behind her.
"Can I help you milady?" Verice curtsied slightly, then bowed her head a bit to show deference. She didn't want to try controlling the Princess just yet, she was too angry still, better to calm her down first. She put on that fake smile and tried to look complacent, but she wasn't a good actress. She had been taught magic from her mentor S'ren in River Vale, but hadn't had a message from him in a couple days, so she was a bit on edge.
"Actually yes you can. " The girl had to be almost twenty winters, and was well versed in courtly etiquette apparently. Everything she did was perfect, but it was weird that she wasn't even a little nervous standing in front of the Princess. Liss looked around the room, seeing if she missed anything before meeting the girl's stare. Was that blood on the carpet by the chamberlain's desk? Her thoughts were in a whirl, with the attack still on her mind. "I'm looking for Renferd, the chamberlain."
"I don't know where he went milady, but I can call for him if you wish." She walked over to his desk without waiting for a response and reached for the long rope hanging from the ceiling.
She pulled twice and then turned to the Princess, waiting for the echoing gong of the bell to stop before speaking. "Have a seat and he should be right here. Can I get you anything?" Verice glided closer, confident that she could take her if she got comfortable and let some of that anger subside. Emotions were tricky with controlling magic, and you had to tread carefully around strong minds. Unless you were a blood born sorcerer like S'ren, then it didn't matter.
Liss eyed the girl closely and walked to a comfy chair. Graf was watching Rhoe, Karsis, and Caerlyn so she could wait a couple of minutes for the chamberlain to arrive. As she sat down and crossed her legs, she saw that spot again by the desk. This time, because she was sitting, she could also see an arm under the desk. There was no way that the girl didn't see that when she pulled the cord. Every instinct told her to jump up and pull her sword, but she closed her eyes and took a breath. She wanted to surprise this killer.
Verice saw her take a breath and smiled, walking around the chair and stepping behind it real quick. She took a quick breath and leaned in, whispering in the Princess's ear. "Obren ethir..." That's all she got out before her world was turned upside down.
Liss reached up and grabbed the girl's hair and neck pulling her straight down, yanking her over the back of the chair and onto her lap. Liss rolled out of the chair, flipping it over and wrapped her arm around the girl's throat, and started punching her in the side as they tumbled to the ground. The girl was fighting desperately, but was no warrior. In another couple of hits, Liss was on top of the girl, straddling her waist and landing blow after blow into her face, bouncing her head off of the carpeted floor. She heard her name being called faintly, then arms grabbed her from behind.
"Princess, It's all right, you got her." The young boy was trying to get through to the Princess, but she was so angry she couldn't hear him. He had hid when the chamberlain started killing people, but came out when he heard Allissana's voice. He ran around behind her and tried to pull her off, and then he felt his lungs explode as her elbow seemed to go right into his chest and do a little dance.
She threw her elbow back and connected, but when she heard the young voice cry out she snapped out of it. The young boy was bent over, trying to throw up but without any air he was having a hard time. She felt horrible for hitting him like that. "I'm so sorry. You'll be all right, here sit down here." She guided him to the chair, flipping it back so he could sit. "I've got to get back to my friends to make sure they are all right."
"No you don't silly." Rhoe called from the door way, "We came to you." He walked in with Renferd, who was still a sobbing mess, and a young page carrying most of the packs. "I take it you found Verice?" Rhoe looked down at the girl and was shocked at the violence with which she was subdued. Her face was bloody and swollen already, but then he remembered that the girl was a sorceress and how bad that could've turned out.
"Who is Verice
?" Liss was dumbfounded, last she knew Rhoe was out cold, now here he was and he knew more of what was going on than she did. How does he make me feel so powerless, yet so important at the same time? She thought, as she eyed the bawling mess that was the hold's chamberlain. There was blood all over his clothes and the boy in the chair was whimpering at the sight of him.
Renferd saw Verice on the ground and seemed to just snap. He launched himself at her and started kicking her mercilessly, over and over, crying all the while. "You made me do this! You made me kill them! Why did you make me kill the children!?" Rhoe quickly grabbed him and pulled him away, but he just kept kicking at the air. Maybe I did break his mind. Rhoe thought as he dragged him away from the unconscious girl. "That is Verice, she took control of the chamberlain and he killed a bunch of people." Rhoe didn't know that he had killed children, that must be horrible to have on your conscious. "He came in to kill me and the others, but I broke him free of the magic."
"Where is Graf and the others?" Liss asked, finally calming down now that it seemed to be over. Servants were slowly peaking in to see if everything was all right, and then the healers came in shortly after that.
"He brought them to the horses. He said we had to leave fairly soon, so I brought everything else down." He smiled at her, feeling that warmth that he always felt now when he looked at her. It was getting easier to talk to her without feeling stupid.
"Yes, I just have to find out who is going to be in charge once we leave. I don't think they are safe here anymore." She looked around at the assembly in the antechamber and saw only lost looks. How could she leave them.
The Darkness Within (A Lythinall Novel) (Book 2) Page 10