“Thank you for coming so quickly Katharlis,” Elhara began. “You may rise.”
“How can I be of service?” the General asked as he rose to his feet.
“I have received a message from one of my agents in Tirgaal that word of an Ythelian plot has been propagated falsely but unfortunately it has been perceived as genuine. As such, an army from Ciphearyn and Ljarthaal are marching toward our borders. I want you to mobilise the army immediately.”
“Of course, your highness, but what if it is merely false rumours and idle gossip?”
“I don’t think we can risk taking the chance. Besides, I trust the source of this information.”
“With all due respect though, that is a large area to defend. Wouldn’t a pre-emptive invasion be more desirable? That way we could force them onto the defensive and choose a battleground more to our advantage,” Katharlis asked sagely.
“No, I will not provoke open war,” Elhara dismissed with a shake of her head. “However, I cannot let Ythelia’s borders be threatened. Send out scouts and find out if and when they plan to attack. Rally the troops and prepare them to march.”
“It shall be done,” Katharlis responded.
With that the General turned to leave. As he did so Elhara called for the Chamberlain once more who dutifully answered her summons. He quietly trooped into the room and escorted Katharlis back out. After they had left Elhara stood up from the desk and crossed over to the window. She held the note up in her hand as she wrestled with an internal dialogue of doubts and a roiling anger that bubbled its way to the surface. In spite of this she remained calm as she cast her eyes over the note again, taking in every word and syllable as if she were reading it for the first time.
“Your Majesty, we have discovered a plot to assassinate the Kings of the Western Kingdoms. Falsehoods have been spread that the assassins were acting on your behalf. I have reason to believe that this has been taken as an act of war and soon Ythelia’s borders may be threatened from an invasion. Akanthir has a new King and he has manipulated everyone to make this possible. I will find evidence of his involvement and return to Ythelia immediately in the hope of putting an end to this before lives are needlessly lost. Ydari Astaugh,” Elhara read aloud to herself. She glanced up and stared at the bustling metropolis of Maleardhus as she was struck by a wave of uncertainty.
***
The colour from the eyes of the Dragon altar drained away until the gems were a cold black, whereas before they had burned with the intensity of the sun. The air rippled around Trelech but it gradually died away and Akanthir’s King was left alone with his thoughts. He sneered inwardly as he thought of his counterpart, half a world away, and he was touched with a flash of anger as he recalled Ydari’s brazenness. The conversation replayed in his mind but he shoved it aside as he turned on his heel and stomped from the Chapel moodily. Trelech imagined all the horrors that he would enact and the scenes that played out in the depths of his depraved imagination amused him greatly.
Just as he reached the end of the aisle, the Chapel door opened and three figures entered silently. All three shapes were clad in the robes of the Draconis Legium and they walked up to Trelech. They dropped onto their knees and held their arms up high in exultation of their God-King. The three shrouded heads dropped and gazed at the floor as they knelt in adoration of Trelech and he found himself enjoying every minute of it. After a time, even Trelech began to get bored of the display and the three cultists rose to their feet after a barked command from Akanthir’s King.
“You honour us Lord,” the shrouded form at the head of the group intoned.
“I know,” Trelech responded arrogantly. “What do you come to me with?”
“Lord, we have news of the artefact that we have been tracking. We have found it among the lower peaks of the Spine of the World.”
“The Belegraad Mountains?” Trelech asked, licking his lips greedily.
“Yes lord.”
“Excellent. It is as if fate is smiling on my endeavours. Has it been secured yet?”
“No lord. Three attempts were made but all three suffered greatly before dying. It is for your hands only,” reported the cultist, his voice unwavering.
“Then we shall have to make arrangements for me to procure it. Spread the word and see that my orders are carried out,” Trelech commanded.
“Yes Lord. We have a trusted brother guarding it and keeping its location hidden from unwanted attention.”
“Good, you have done well. For your loyalty and valuable service, you and your brethren may bring new life to this hallowed hall and use it for your sermons.”
“You do us honour Lord,” all three cultists chanted in unison.
“Furthermore, worship of the false Gods will be considered heresy and punishable by death. I want the Draconis Legium to head out to all corners of my Kingdom and stamp out the heretical beliefs in the Efealtor pretenders. Set up my Church and spread word of Althanir’s teachings and my divinity,” ordered Trelech, spreading his arms out and gazing up at the vaulted ceiling as he spoke. “The world will worship my power and tremble with fear at the sound of my name. You will be exalted as the first among my followers and your power and influence will spread. Make it happen.”
“It shall be done. Thank you and long life to the God-King.”
As Trelech’s brainwashed followers spoke, they touched their foreheads to the floor. He smiled at their devotion and his future seemed brighter and more certain than it had ever been. Reports of unrest in the rural parts of Akanthir came less and less frequently and he was confident in his army’s ability to stamp the fight out of a lowly rabble of pitchfork-wielding villagers. An image of Ydari’s defiant features flickered in his brain for a moment and it was almost enough for him to second guess himself. Suddenly Trelech was struck by a wave of annoyance at the thought and he angrily shook it from his mind.
Before him the cultists continued to exhibit their devotion for Trelech. With a single hoarse command, they ceased their prostration and the three hooded followers turned and left the Chapel to carry out Trelech’s instructions. Their footfalls echoed before the clanging of the door announced that they had departed and the King was left alone with his thoughts. His mind turned to the news that had been delivered and he licked his lips in anticipation, practically tasting the power that was waiting for him. As his mind settled, Trelech grinned to himself, more certain than ever that victory was within his grasp and all that was left was for him to reach out and take it.
Chapter Fourteen
The sun hung low as it gradually lowered its way toward the horizon. Mournful cries of gulls and the faint tinkling of bells on board moored ships were the only sounds as Ydari and his cohorts sidled into the harbour of Tirgaal City. The journey had been a harrowing one; ducking into darkened alleys as roving hordes and mobs passed by. News had reached the city of the supposed Ythelian plot that had now spread to Ciphearyn and Ljarthaal and the mood had soured all the more. The cries for the heads of the Ythelian traitors had reached feverpitch and the mob had grown more dogged and ruthless as a result. On the short trip to the docks, Ydari had seen no less than four unfortunate souls strung up and left to swing on crudely made nooses while a crowd of onlookers jeered and roared as the life was slowly choked from them.
The scene that opened up before Ydari and his companions was almost serene and in stark contrast to the chaos that reigned supreme. The city guard seemed unable, or unwilling, to deal with the bloody outbreaks of violence that now swept across the city. Ydari imagined that Adaryn was looking down on what had become of the capital and smiled at the devastation that had been wrought. The docks had a strange sense of order to them. Many sailors milled about on the wharf or on the decks of the ships that lined both sides of the river. Larger ships had been moored closest to the mouth of the River Utharne while the smaller boats and barges were fastened further upriver. This was simply to prevent congestion from overwhelming boats on the river and to keep the vessels moving in
the most efficient manner possible.
From Ydari’s vantage point, a countless number of masts rose into the air until the view beyond was blocked by the sheer number of vessels that were pressed in together. It resembled a wood of withered trees. The smell too was as distinctive as the scenery. The powerful stench of rotten fish, raw sewage and foul body odour mingled into an unpleasant mix that made Ydari breathe in short bursts. The Watch Captain looked around and saw that Teobrin’s face had turned a shade of green and was nearly at the point of retching. Kael copied his brother’s deliberate routine of controlled breathing while Idrahil, Raelynne and Lothram had merely gone for the sensible approach of pinching their nostrils closed. Ydari motioned for them to follow as he turned his back on the larger vessels and headed upriver.
Ahead of them the sailors laughed and cajoled with one another and someone was playing a small guitar on board one of the smaller barges. Two particularly rowdy men danced in circles to the tune and periodically they would link arms and change direction. Their fellows clapped to the rhythm and shared lewd jokes with one another that would make a soldier blush. Ydari’s group passed by unnoticed as they moved from boat to boat; scanning the faces of the men and occasional woman that slumped about the decks. They stopped by one of the last barges in the line and a woman who was idly sweeping the planks stopped. She was clad in a simple vest over a stained white shirt and, equally dirty, black trousers. Smudge marks were smeared across her darkened skin and she had thick black hair tied into a neat braid that flapped against her back as she spoke. She had striking eyes of a deep green that pierced through the evening light as she stared at the approaching figures.
“What do you want?” she snapped brusquely.
“Could I speak to the Captain of this vessel?” Ydari asked.
“You’re speaking to her. Now I say again, what do you want?” the female Captain repeated more forcefully.
“I’d like to arrange passage upriver for me and my friends,” Ydari replied.
“Back to whatever hole you crawled out from in Ythelia I suppose?” the Captain observed astutely.
“No, it’s nothing like that,” assured Kael as he stepped up beside Ydari.
“Don’t try to fool me. I see more than people realise and you lot have the look of someone who needs to get out of Tirgaal and don’t want to have to answer too many questions. You’re not the first who needed to escape in a hurry.”
“If you’ll just allow us to explain…” started Kael.
“And don’t try to sweet-talk me either. The last person who tried to charm me ended up decorating the prow of my boat for a spell. Now, to cut to the chase. I’ll let you travel with my crew for a price and on my terms and it won’t be cheap either.”
“Thank you. What is your name?” Ydari enquired.
“You don’t need to know that,” the Captain barked. “We don’t need to be friends for me to give you a ride on my boat. Let’s just agree that you don’t need to know who I am or what my crew get up to, just like I don’t need to know why you need to leave Tirgaal.”
“Fair enough,” Ydari agreed. “What is your price then?”
“I want five Tirgaalian Krunes...”
“That sounds reasonable.”
“…per person.”
“What?!” Idrahil exclaimed. “That is outrageous.”
“I don’t see what the big deal is. She only wants us to sing a few songs,” Teobrin added helpfully with a shrug. “I have something in mind if that helps.”
“Is he for real?” the Captain asked, flabbergasted.
“No Teobrin, that’s crooning. Never mind, he’ll never understand me,” Ydari said with a dismissive wave of his hand. The Watch Captain turned his attention back to the woman on the deck of the boat. “I’ll pay three and no more.”
“I want five. If you don’t like the price you can walk to Ythelia,” she retorted.
“I know you’re willing to negotiate and my father taught me to never accept the first price. I’ll pay you four per person and I won’t go any higher.”
“Your father sounds like a wise man. Fine, four it is but I have some conditions.”
“Name them.”
“You are to keep below deck when we’re travelling through Tirgaal, though I suspect you won’t object to that one. Secondly, what I say on this boat goes so when I tell you to do something, you do it. Thirdly, the cabin at the back is strictly off-limits. If I see anyone of you back there, I’ll gut you all and leave you to the wolves. Do we understand one another?”
“Yes, I believe so,” Ydari responded as he looked meaningfully at his colleagues. They all grumbled their acceptance of these conditions unenthusiastically except for Teobrin who merely wore a gormless expression on his face.
“Then, welcome aboard the Black Gull. She’s not the fastest barge but she’s the sturdiest one around for miles and she’ll get you to where you want to go,” the Captain said reassuringly as she motioned for them to climb on board.
The Captain of the Black Gull stepped aside and allowed her new guests to enter. One by one they stepped onto the deck of the barge and looked about. A dozen or so sailors worked away laboriously. Two men in the far corner whittled away the time with a dice game and every so often one of them would react with a loud groan or triumphant fist pump. The Captain quickly walked to the head of the group and, with a flick of her head, escorted them to a hatch that led to the deck below. A panel was slid back and they descended into the bowels of the barge. There was almost no light here, save for a couple of candles that were tiny pinpricks of illumination against the almost overwhelming blackness.
Ydari and his fellows were forced into a crouching position and had to half walk, half crawl their way forwards, stumbling over bedding and makeshift shelves as they did so. Occasionally there was a tremendous bang as skulls met the wooden planks of the deck above and, after much constricted shuffling and swearing, they finally made their way to a small corner that the Captain indicated was to be their sleeping quarters for the next few days. After a few more curt words and the exchange of money, she finally turned and left, leaving them alone in the gloom. Lothram and Kael shifted positions a few times in a futile attempt to gain some comfort and their muffled curses were the only sounds that could be heard except for the rhythmic pounding of footsteps on the planks above. Ydari simply laid out flat and let the rocking motion of the barge settle his nerves as he gradually became lost in his imagination.
“So, what is the plan when we get back to Ythelia?” Lothram asked. “We’ve been winging it this whole time and it hasn’t gotten us anywhere so it might be nice to have a plan.”
“I’d hate to agree with him but he does have a point,” Idrahil conceded grudgingly. “Also, if we do find something how are we going to report back with enough time to do anything about it?”
“I have something that might help,” Raelynne added. She fumbled about for a moment with her bag before she extracted a device that looked very familiar. “I borrowed the Fenilax from Zarifis. I hope he doesn’t mind too much.”
“You’re a genius,” Ydari praised as he sat up. “As for what we’re going to do when we get to Ythelia, I have no idea. I just hope our warning got through in time. We should be on the lookout for signs of more cultists though. I have a hard time believing that we won’t encounter more on our journey, seeing as how widespread they are.”
“And then what?” Lothram whined miserably.
“Then we wring the truth from their miserable bones and use it to our advantage. They will have a weakness and all we have to do is find and exploit it. Now, get some rest. You’re going to need it.”
Silence fell among them as they laid back and listened to the sounds around them. Ydari had no way to fathom the passage of time within this cramped space but it seemed an awfully long time before dulled shouts and hoarse commands could be heard above them. The slight rocking of the barge was replaced with the tell-tale rhythm of movement. Lothram blundered about in the
darkness as he blindly reached out and felt along the hull. His fingers brushed up against something solid and he quickly realised that it was a shutter over a small round porthole. He opened it a crack cautiously and peered through. The Sergeant whispered to his companions as he looked out. Ydari shuffled his way over to the porthole and he too glanced through it.
Ydari could tell that the barge was indeed on the move as Tirgaal City slipped by at an excruciatingly slow speed. They were so close to the shore that Ydari could make out the freckles on the face of an overburdened servant as he puffed his way down the riverside path. Soon however, the Black Gull had navigated its way upriver and the monolithic towers of Tirgaal were left far behind. Ydari quickly lost interest in their restricted view and Lothram was made to close the porthole cover with a grudging sigh. Ydari allowed himself to be lulled back into his imagination and he became utterly lost in a world that was entirely his own.
The world passed by in much the same way over the next few days. Their progress improved once the barge was finally free of the congested waters of Tirgaal City and the breath-taking scenery slipped by. As per the Black Gull’s Captain’s demands, Ydari and his cohorts kept themselves confined to the below decks for the first couple of days but were then free to roam the deck with the crew. Kael quickly became friendly with them and his jovial and good-humoured nature was infectious. Lothram, in stark contrast, was a pillar of sombreness and despair. The crew had shared their rations of salted meat and beer with their guests and there was much merriment to be had in the evenings. The landscape ahead of them sloped gradually upwards and occasionally the barge’s progress slowed to a crawl. The vistas of Ythelia beckoned to them before too long and Ydari sighed contentedly at the prospect of seeing his homeland once more.
As peaceful as the days were, Ydari’s nights were anything but. His dreams were filled with ghostly images of a strange yellow gem floating in a pillar of ice whilst an enormous White Dragon slept around it, almost protectively. Other nights Ydari thought his name was being uttered by the vast beast and its monstrous yellow eyes seemed to be peering directly into his soul. Each day the Black Gull worked its way closer and closer to Ythelia’s borders, the strange dream grew more intense until it filled Ydari’s waking hours with its haunting spectacle.
The Fractured Heartstone Page 27