A Rising Darkness

by Nikki Dorakis

  “I will find out, majesty,” I promised, “and I will find a way to disable or destroy it.”

  To that end I despatched Orrin and a couple more kayetim to infiltrate the city under the cover of the night to gather what intelligence they could on this weapon. But even as the men disappeared into the darkness I could not shake the idea that I should know what this deadly device was. There was something tugging at the edges of my memories, something telling me that this apparatus was somehow familiar to me as if I had seen it before and knew of its power.

  “You cannot expect to know everything about every magical weapon, Meriq,” Dthor said as he sat down beside me at the hearth. He placed his hand on mine. “Come. Let us away and I will help you forget this for a while.”

  Dthor and I lay together snoozing in the afterglow of our exertions. The feel of his hand stroking the small of my back was soothing and I lay smiling as I stroked the soft golden whorls of his chest hair lazily tracing the outline of his nipple. He reached down tilting my head back to kiss me. “You are the very light of my soul, beloved.” He whispered softly.

  “How very touching!”

  The sudden coldness and the sound of a stranger’s voice in our sleeping area brought us both instantly fully awake and upright in our bed.

  Standing at the foot of the bed was a tall, elderly man leaning heavily on a glowing crystal stave. My mind flexed throwing out a bolt of thought. The old man shimmered briefly dissipated into smoke and then reappeared a little further from where we sat. Dthor grabbed his sword and leapt forward.

  The old man laughed at him. “If your lover could not touch me with his exceptional skill, Dthor, how do you think you will fare better with your plated steel?”

  “How do you know me?” the soldier demanded advancing on the intruder.

  “There is much I know about you—all of you. I am Pendar ibid-Syrrith, Anubis’ brother. Put up your sword, soldier. If I meant you harm you would already be dead.” The sorcerer paused tilting his head as if listening to a voice only he could hear. “Well, that is to say that your Prince Royal would be dead.”

  “What do you want, Pendar?” I asked wrapping myself in a dressing robe as I rose and handing Dthor his cloak so that he might cover himself.

  “Your kayetim will find out only what I will permit them to discover of the Eye of Zoar, Kyr-sini,” The old wizard told me. “And I do not intend that they shall learn much, for I cannot permit it.” The old man tapped at the silver collar around his neck, “I have no choice but to do as I am bidden. I cannot escape, but while my captor sleeps I can at least give you some knowledge that will be helpful.” The old man glanced over his shoulder. “Now be attentive for I do not have much time.”

  Janir, Keelan and the generals sat very quietly until I had finished speaking. Keelan and Janir conferred quietly for a short while before turning to me. “Do you trust that this apparition was not some kind of trick?” Janir asked me.

  “The apparition was real enough, my king for both Dthor and I saw it and heard what it had to say; whether or not it spoke true remains to be seen.”

  I knew this was not the answer either of the monarchs wanted to hear, but it was the only answer I had. Much as I would have liked to have been certain of the intelligence, I could not be. The only thing I knew for sure was that Anubis did have an older brother called Pendar, but I had thought him long dead since my mentor never really spoke of him and neither was there any contact between them of which I was aware.

  Orrin and the others returned shortly before dawn and reported that they had managed to meet with a few Illojans that had formed into resistance cells within the city. These cells comprised mainly ordinary citizens with some of the surviving military who had gone into hiding when the city was lost in the hope that they could reform into stealth groups to weaken the hold of the legionnaires on the city by killing the black soldiers a few at a time.

  The city was being held by a garrison of five hundred Black Legionnaires, a sorcerer by the name of Kaseem and an old man, a wizard so it was said, who it appeared was being held in thrall by the sorcerer, the means of control being unclear.

  The burning weapon was known by the Illojans as the Eye of Zoar. All that could be discovered was that it had been invented by an Illojan scientist sometime during the Pentageonate wars. The man had been killed before he was able to complete the work which would have been used to drive the invading Morlans from the city. The device was powered by the sun itself, its range being determined by the time of day. Its most deadly time was noon when the sun was at its strongest and then it would burn everything in the path of its deadly beam. At night when the moons were full, as they were at present, the beam could freeze whatever it touched.

  From what Pendar had managed to impart it seemed that a number of the Black Legion had been enchanted with shadow vision—the ability to see at night with all the acuity and clarity of a hunting owl. Their main weakness, it seemed, was that they could not go abroad during the day unless they were blindfolded or hooded without being permanently blinded. Most of what the old man had told Dthor and me the previous night was borne out by the information brought back by Orrin and his men.

  “Did you find out any more about the inventor of The Eye?” I asked as a sudden feeling of nausea engulfed me.

  “They said he was called Abram Kalbraith.” Orrin answered, “Apparently he was very gifted. They claim this was why we killed him,” the kayet added almost apologetically.

  I must have looked every bit as sick as I felt for Janir rose and leaned towards me. “Are you alright, Meriq?”

  “No sire,” I told the king, “I am far from alright. I told you I somehow knew this weapon—my name was Kalbraith and my father’s name was Abram.”

  Janir nodded and then smiled. “Then if this man was your sire you have inherited your blood father’s genius, Ez’n-Kyr,” he said, “I have every confidence that you will find a way to defeat this device and get us into the city before too long.”

  “I will do my best, sire.”

  “Could we not use the same route of entry as Orrin?” Faedron asked. “After all, he and his friends got in and out undetected.”

  I set aside the piece of plains-fowl I was about to eat. It was true that Orrin and his group had penetrated the city successfully using the drainage channels and sewers, but they were kayetim. I seriously doubted that we could smuggle an entire battalion into the city and remain undetected, even if I were to cast a cloaking spell. Such a casting would require a spell of such magnitude that I would probably be comatose from the strain for weeks afterwards and there was the risk that such an enterprise would kill me and the king along with me.

  “A small force such as ours might be able to breach the city from within.” Aenar said. He pointed to the various entry points the kayetim had used. “If even half our force gets into the city we could breach the gates to let the main army in.”

  I shook my head. When would we do it? In daylight the beam would incinerate the forces as they charged and if we attacked under cover of night and the moons were clear the army would be turned to ice. No. We could not attack until the Eye of Zoar was blinded, and the task of discovering how this might be accomplished fell to me. I needed to get a clear vision of the device to understand how it harnessed the light of the sun and the moons and I needed to know how it was constructed so that I might discover a means of disabling the mechanisms that enabled it to be focussed so accurately and moved so smoothly.

  “I do not hold much hope of anyone getting close enough to be able to draw detailed plans of the Eye,” Orrin told me. “Only a kayet could, but we are not skilled in artwork, t’pahq.”

  “But I am.”

  Every head turned at the sound of Jalin’s voice. The boy had been quietly going about his duties of serving biscuits and drinks being invisible as all good servants were during times of conference.

  “You could not sneak in, boy,” Maegor said patiently, “Even Orrin and his men are hard
pressed to infiltrate the place.”

  Jalin turned to me. “I do not need to go in to the city Ez’n. I simply need the kayet’s consent.”

  “Only if you are certain you wish this known, Jalin.”

  He gave me a short nod. “You trust the White Guard, Ez’n,” the boy answered, “who am I not to trust them?”

  “Very well,” I said turning to the gathering. “Gentlemen,” I said quietly, “what you are about to discover is not to be spoken of beyond this assembly.” I turned to Jalin. “Is the area free from prying ears?”

  Jalin closed his eyes for a moment and stood as if listening intently. “Only Thaze and Karyn are close by,” he told me at length.

  “Jalin has a singularly unusual talent in that he can detect the thoughts of others.” I told the men.

  Maegor frowned. “I find that hard to believe, Ez’n.”

  “Do you find it as hard as you are finding your corporal is making you by his covert attentions beneath the table, Sergeant?” Jalin asked.

  All eyes turned to Faedron who went the colour of a Morlan cloak and placed both his hands quickly on the table. The men laughed aloud falling silent immediately as Jalin turned his gaze on each in turn. “When I choose I can hear thoughts as clearly as you hear the voices of your comrades,” he told the men. “I have been practicing my skill with King Janir,” he said, “and my talent is now almost as fully developed as my mother said it would be. When necessary the King can hear what I hear and see what I see. And if I choose, a man or woman can feel what I feel.” He took the dagger from his belt, turned his attention to the gathering as he jabbed the tip of the blade into the palm of his hand. Every one of us jumped at the sudden stabbing sensation. “If a kayet will allow me to link with him and can get to the Eye of Zoar to study it, I can draw what he sees.”

  “How close do you need to be, Jalin?” Markos asked rubbing his hand ruefully as he examined it to see if he, like Jalin, was bleeding.

  “I suppose it would be easiest were I able to enter the city with the kayet.” The youth looked at me, “but you are not about to permit that are you, Ez’n?”

  “No I am not,” I answered.

  “I am not exactly certain of the effect distance has on me, your highness,” Jalin continued. “If you could cloak me, Master, I could get right up to the walls and back undetected. That should ensure I can maintain contact.”

  And so it was set. I would use a cloaking spell to hide Jalin and a kayet as they approached the city. I would maintain the enchantment until Jalin let me know they were safely away from the city and on their way back.

  When the boy had left us to continue his duties with the king the men remained silent for a considerable time.

  “Do you think he is listening to us now?” Ursus asked glancing suspiciously over his shoulder.

  I laughed. “No, Ursus. Jalin is an honourable boy. It is as he has told you. He does not spy.”

  “Except for you and the king,” Markos said glibly.

  “Yes. But only on those whom I do not trust, Markos.” I answered with so little hesitation that the prince caught a breath. “Such a disclosure should come as no surprise to a man who openly has assassins in his personal guard.” I teased.

  “Fine words from one who employs the same in his,” Markos answered with a grin.

  I had to agree with the sentiment. I was more than satisfied with the services Orrin and his men could provide in the way of intelligence and at this moment in time I was not about to question their methods.

  King Janir, it transpired, was not quite so comfortable with my methods. The king paced relentlessly as I acquainted him with the plan and was clearly concerned that I was about to send Jalin into danger.

  “Sire, forgive me for asking this. Has Jalin become more to you than a guard?”

  “Of course he has, Meriq. I would have thought that much was obvious—even to someone as indescribably vague as you.” The king laughed at my expression. “Are you sure you can keep him safe?”

  “I am as certain as I can be, Sire. The cloaking spell is effective even against those with shadow vision and The Sight.”

  The king gave me a dark look. “You think there may be a Seer within the city?”

  “No, Sire, but there is a Seer with us and I do not trust him; and for the record neither does my source. Balten knows much of things he should not know, and in fact could not know unless he himself possessed The Sight.”

  “And how have you come to know this, Meriq?”

  “We share a common source, Majesty. Perhaps you have forgotten that fact.” I handed the king a bronze disk. “This is a cloaking stone, majesty. It will prevent any further intrusions in these chambers. I have placed similar devices in the War Tent and the Kyr-Garrin’s quarters.”

  The king smiled artfully. “You are a truly devious fiend, Meriq.”

  “Another reason you made me Ez’n, sire?”

  “Another of many,” the king agreed. “Keep the boy safe, Meriq.”

  Sirazj bowed low as he entered my reception area, bent his knee and waited for permission to rise. Dthor shot me a look that could have split a rock. I smiled at him. “Ez’n-Kyr, Lord Consort,” the seer said with as much courtesy as he could manage without choking himself, “please forgive the intrusion, but I have had a vision that I feel I should share with you.”

  I gestured for the man to take his ease noting with some amusement that this time he waited for Dthor and me to be seated first.

  It was his way, so the Seer told us, that while the army was on campaign for him to scry the camp and its environs as a matter of routine. He had become most alarmed to find his vision opposed around the king’s quarters, mine and that of the White Guard and War Council.

  “Well of course, good Seer,” I answered calmly. “I have set cloaking talismans in those areas. One never knows what prying eyes may be abroad.”

  Sirazj looked shocked, “Ez’n surely you are not suggesting that I . . .”

  “Of course not, Sirazj,” I answered evenly, “but I cannot take the chance that there is not a Seer within Illios working for the Black Legion. I would not want our battle plans spied upon. And I am certain you will understand my reasons for ensuring the privacy of my own quarters in the light of my recent bonding.” I gave the Seer an eloquent smile.

  “Yes. Yes of course, Ez’n,” the Seer replied somewhat flustered, “I should have realised. Your caution is most commendable and your desire to be private in the company of your Consort is completely understandable.”

  I knew you would appreciate my reasons.” I said conspiratorially. “Perhaps you should use the more conventional means of staying current with developments and strategies and attend the Councils?”

  “Yes. Yes. I think that eminently sensible, Ez’n.” The Seer agreed.

  “Perhaps you would care to take some refreshment with the Lord Consort and me? I would be most pleased if you would.” I added summoning Jalin and Aarin.

  “I will be honoured, Ez’n-Kyr.”

  I explained then to Sirazj that it had been agreed by the kings that I would send a cohort of kayetim into the city to ascertain the exact nature of the burning beam they called the Eye of Zoar, and if it was at all possible they were going to sabotage it. Once this was done we would storm the city.

  The Seer frowned slightly. “But what of the enchantment that shields the fortress, Ez’n?”

  I smiled, waiting as the servants poured wine and set out a selection of breads and cheeses. “Well, Sirazj,” I said confidentially as the boys left us, “between you and I, I have found a way to disable it. Apparently it only works to prevent an attack from the outside. In the next two days I will get a contingent of fifty men inside the city. The chemists have come up with a powerful chemical that will shatter the stones of the main postern arch and cause the gates to collapse. Once the walls are breached the shield will fail.”

  Sirazj shuffled his bulk around on the couch. “This is most exciting news, Ez’n, Most ex
citing. I must make certain I attend all the War Councils from now on.”

  With the interlude for refreshments at an end Sirazj took his leave and hurried away. He was eager, I supposed, to share his newly acquired intelligence with Balten and whoever else he might be in league with.

  “What?” This as I noticed Dthor giving me a sideways look.

  “I am wondering what happened to the little wizard who never lies,” he said stoically.

  I gave him an exaggerated look of indignation. “I did not lie, Dthor.”

  “You will get a contingent of fifty men inside the city?” he said pointedly, “The chemists have a powerful chemical that will shatter the stones?” he continued, “When exactly did this become part of an approved strategy? Well?” He folded his arms across his chest and scowled at me.

  “Well, perhaps I won’t quite manage to get fifty men inside the city,” I admitted, “and possibly I was being a bit ambitious thinking I would manage it in two days. I am almost certain that the chemists have finished the explosive mixture by now—of course I could be mistaken—but I am not lying.”

  Dthor laughed and grabbed me up shaking me playfully. “I swear, little dragon, if I did not love you so much I would slap you.”

  “I am sure of that, beloved. But I seem to recall the last time you did that you ended up in chains.”

  “Aye,” Dthor said, kissing me gently on the head as he set me on my feet, “but I seem to recall that your love saved me—and I have been enchained by that love ever since.” He cupped my chin gently tilting my head back and stooping to kiss my lips, “And I trust that your love will ever be so strong.”