by Blink, Bob
They had argued about the order, but Jeen would need support outside and Rigo needed to stay to hold back the prisoners. Now was the time that he might expect trouble. Kaler would be the first to go. He would follow the rope, and if anything went wrong, he would give the three tugs and the men here would help pull him back.
Rigo watched as his friend slipped into the stream, then holding his sword and taking a deep breath, he disappeared under the water, swimming to aid the current as it pulled him down toward the exit point. Within seconds he was out of sight. Rigo felt himself holding his breath as if he was under himself. It seemed to take a long time, but in fact it was only a few minutes before he felt the two sharp tugs he was waiting for. He responded with a pair of his own. Kaler had made it!
Next was Ash’urn. The older man looked uncomfortably at the slowly flowing current, but climbed in and held the rope. With a shake of his head he ducked under the water and disappeared. Once again it seemed forever, but eventually the two tugs came. Next it was Daria’s turn, then Rigo would follow.
“I’m going next,” said a deep voice.
Rigo looked up to see a very large man walking his way. A couple of others held Darr’yl, and a group of several followers stepped up close behind the speaker.
“We agreed how this is to be done,” Rigo said reasonably.
“That was with Darr’yl. I’m changing the agreement. Who knows how many can get out before this is discovered. You and your friend can go after us.”
This was the kind of thing Rigo had feared. He had already decided on how he would handle it. Setting the rope down, he stood up slowly. Then he called his staff to hand. It slapped into his open palm with a smack, the man stepping back in surprise at the unexpected appearance of the length of hardened wood.
“What . . ?” he muttered. “Where did that come from?”
Rigo caused a ball of bluish light to form above the end of the staff. “Beware ye fools and think carefully of what ye intend,” he said in his loudest and deepest voice, attempting to sound mysterious and threatening. Several of the men stepped back suddenly in surprise.
“Tricks,” the large man spat and rushed at Rigo. With barely a thought Rigo knocked him back hard with a push of his magic. The man fell solidly to the ground, yelping in pain as he landed awkwardly on his arm. Rigo hoped he wouldn’t have to use the fireballs. They would bounce around in here with potentially unintended consequences and might draw attention from the guards outside.
“Be warned I will not suffer any changes,” he shouted. “Any who don’t step back and allow this to proceed as planned will be burned to ash.”
Well, he’d seen Burke do it, even if he couldn’t. But these men had no way of knowing that, and they’d been surprised enough that they stepped back as a group.
“Go,” he urged Daria. “They might get their courage back.”
With a quick glance at the men, Daria dove into the water. Rigo waited until he felt the signal, then jumped into the water himself. He felt the current tugging at him and he took a breath and then ducked his head and used his free hand to guide himself down the rope. He used his staff for light and could see the break ahead. It must have been more difficult for the others making their way in the dark. Then he was at the edge. He braked his forward motion with his hand, fighting the current that wanted to thrust him through the opening. Slowly he let himself slide through the opening, feeling the hands of his friends helping him as he emerged from the mountain.
“Are you okay?” Kaler asked after he was through. They were all water logged and dripping except Jeen, who stood off to one side. “Daria told us what happened.”
“I’m fine,” he said, but we need to get out of here. I’m not certain who will be coming through, but it’s going to be disorderly and my guess is they will alert the guards by their foolishness. We don’t want them to know where we went. Come, the mine is this way.”
He was about to set off and show them the way when he saw the burned remains on the ground. He looked at Jeen.
“The sentry,” she said simply. “He made an unexpected double sweep. He caught me just as I was breaking the rock. When he realized I was an unarmed woman he made his intentions very clear. I couldn’t let him ruin our plans. The leer in his eyes was just like the Lordling I burned. I think that’s what made it come back. I was able to call the fire once again. This time I paid attention. I can do it again if needed.”
“Good work,” he said simply, but wishing he could somehow learn the ability. The fact the sentry had been eliminated meant they were on a tighter time table however. At some point his missing would be discovered and someone would come looking. He had learned that whoever was in charge maintained careful discipline and didn’t allow slackness in his men despite the long history of no troubles.
Rigo then pointed the way without another word. They needed to move quickly and quietly. Their path would take them by the camp and then to the far side where the mine entrance was located. They weren’t too far along when they heard splashing and low cursing behind them. The first of the prisoners had made it through to the outside. Rigo hoped that Darr’yl was alright. The man had treated them well. Rigo almost hoped the man was still in the stone prison, for he feared that any that had made it to the outside would die before too long.
Fortunately it was a dark night, with the moon not yet risen and providing light. They made a wide loop around the main camp, stopping only to retrieve their possessions that Rigo had augmented with additional supplies pilfered during the night he was outside the cavern against their upcoming needs. They looped through the stables, and then made their way to the mine. Rigo led the group down the stone ramp into the interior. Fortunately the torches in this section were still lit so he didn’t need to make light which might have been noticed. When they came to the tunnel that branches off, he took it, making his own light now as this section wasn’t used and therefore there were no torches. Within a few minutes they had made several turns, and the light from Rigo’s magic was hidden to those outside.
The prisoners might have succeeded if they’d been able to cooperate and display some restraint. Unfortunately, restraint wasn’t something they understood, and very early some of those who were now free refused to wait until a large enough number had escaped from the cavern to give them sufficient strength to ensure success. A number had revenge against the guards foremost in their minds, and while some started down the valley toward freedom, others formed groups with the intent of attacking the sleeping guards. More than a dozen guards died, their weapons falling into the hands of the angry prisoners, before the alarm was raised. Far too few of the prisoners had managed to get through the exit to fight off the force of guards that responded, and soon those that had chosen to stay and kill rather than flee were cut down. It didn’t take the guards long to find where the men had been getting out, and they posted a pair of archers nearby to cut down each new escaping prisoner. Then the rest formed up to go into the prisoner chamber and end the escape from the source. Those who had fled down the valley wouldn’t last long, and within two days all would be captured or killed. Only the five new prisoners went unaccounted for.
Chapter 46
Prince Rhory made his way across the campground, speaking to a man here and there as he walked. He was followed at a respectful distance by the remaining three members of his personal guard, far enough to give him some freedom this early morning, yet close enough to quickly surround and protect him should the need arise. That shouldn’t happen. They were well inside the perimeter of the camp, and the guards who were in place along with the scouts who monitored the outer perimeter would give sufficient warning so that no such urgent action should be required. On the other hand one never knew, and several events of the past weeks had made at least one of his bodyguards suspicious that there might be someone within their midst’s who wished the Prince ill.
“Morning your Lordship,” one of the soldiers said respectfully as the Prince passed. He responde
d in kind.
He knew each of the men in camp by sight now, and most by name. The survivors were a well tested lot, and several of the men had excelled. He knew their strengths, and which of them would make good leaders. He had plans to announce several advancements once they returned to Sulen. There was little doubt that war, at least at a limited level was unavoidable and that men who had tasted combat and handled it well would be needed. Those who had proven themselves on this mission would be rewarded and given the chance to direct others less experienced than themselves.
Many had not made it. It wouldn’t be until he was back in Sulen that he would learn the full extent of their losses. Many of the gravely wounded had been sent off to nearby towns and villages for care. How many had died on the way or were convalescing he had no way of knowing. The number that had succumbed to their wounds was likely to be unfortunately large. The kind of wounds that were frequently received in battle were not the kind that were easily survived. They had lost two more of those who had remained with them in the last several days. Those had been men who should have left for one of the villages, but wouldn’t agree to go. Infection had caught both of them, and they had died within hours of one another.
Rhory nodded at another group of men who were finishing up their breakfast. The spirits remained high against all reason. The men had been out in such conditions for a long time, and had lost many of their friends. Food was running short, and there wasn’t much game to be had. That alone was a sign that the enemy had been through here not too long ago. The scarcity of game told that the animals had been hunted and frightened away. Fortunately it was only a matter of a couple more days before they would join up with the promised reinforcements who would be bringing a large load of supplies with the fresh fruits that would perk up his men. He hoped that the men would not be late.
The added men would change their situation in other important regards. His forces had been reduced to such a level that it hadn’t been prudent of late to engage the enemy when they saw him. Even attacking smaller forces would more than likely alert the enemy they were in the area and soon a larger force would be in pursuit. His scouts had indicated that they were certain they were being sought. Well, they had bloodied the enemy well in the past weeks. When he had the additional men his father’s rider had brought word of, he would be a force to be reckoned with once again. No more of this sneaking around, gathering intelligence but basically hiding from the invaders.
Their campground told the story quite well. They had chosen an enclosed area that was easily defended. There were only a few paths into the camp, and those could be barricaded and would cost an enemy dearly to try and break through. The large flat where his men had spread out was lightly wooded, which provided an area that they could fight in if required. A fourth of his fighting force had been on watch at all times, each shift taking three hours while their fellows slept. The night had passed quietly enough, but Rhory wasn’t certain they could continue to count on such luck.
It would take another couple of days to reach the agreed to rendezvous point. He hoped that the additional forces were already there, but it was more likely that he would arrive first. That would require them to hold out and stay hidden a few more days until the others arrived. Getting there was the issue. The mountain range off to their right was pushing them toward the river. Leaving less room to maneuver and increasing the chances they might encounter the enemy. They would have to move carefully and hope they could slip through unnoticed. Rhory hated having his movements constrained in such a manner, but the only hope of meeting up with the other force was to have an agreed to destination.
The Prince had completed his circuit of the camp, so he turned back toward his own tent. He knew that by the time he returned the tent would have been taken down and packed away, something that bothered him but which he couldn’t change. As their Prince and military leader, they would not agree to anything less. At least they didn’t object, at least not too loudly anyway, when he insisted that he be allowed to care for his own mount.
“Commander, tell the men we will be riding out in a quarter glass,” Rhory instructed.
“Yes ser!” the man replied, and he set off to have the word spread.
They had been riding for more than half a day when the scout came riding quickly up from behind. He reined in his horse to match the speed of the advancing force when he came alongside the Prince.
“Riders, Your Grace,” he said.
“How many?” the Prince asked.
“I don’t know the number, but a force considerably greater than our own.”
The Prince looked around. He could see his commander was doing the same. This wasn’t a good spot to engage the enemy. Somehow they had been spotted. Rhory wondered how long ago that had been if the enemy had been able to field a large force to pursue him.
“I think there’s a more defendable spot not too far ahead if I remember the area from our last passage through this region,” the commander said.
“Let’s move them out and see if we can get into place before they catch up to us,” the Prince commanded.
The word passed through the ranks quickly, and many with a nervous glance behind them, closed up the ranks. They picked up the pace, making no more attempt at stealth and headed purposefully toward the spot the commander recalled. They were less than halfway there when the first riders could be seen coming up from behind.
The commander passed the word to abandon the last two supply wagons and a couple of the pack horses as they made a push to reach more protected ground. If they didn’t live through this the supplies wouldn’t matter, and if they carried the day they could come back for them later.
They broke out of the trees into a large meadow that Rhory recalled from weeks before. Now he was certain they were close to the spot the commander was hoping to reach. He spurred his horse hoping for even greater speed and was halfway across the clearing when a voice hollered to him.
“You Lordship! More riders!”
Rhory looked where the man was pointing. The meadow they were riding through was mostly surrounded by thick stands of pine with only a couple of paths that led into or out of the large open area. There were two openings on the far side of the meadow, and through each of them rode a large force of enemy soldiers. They were surrounded with no place to turn.
The only hope was to break through. If they stopped to fight, all three groups would converge upon them and they would be so badly outnumbered and outflanked there would be no hope. Rhory drew his blade and holding it aloft shouted his personal battle cry. He hoped dearly that his wife’s vision, assuming she’d had one, hadn’t been wrong. He charged straight into the approaching riders, feeling his sword strike home after knocking aside the thrust by the first enemy he encountered. Then it was madness, every man for himself fighting to live. Their forward momentum had been quickly checked, and now it appeared hopeless. He had seen two of his personal guards cut down, and had no idea where the last might be. His commander was somewhere off to his left, assuming he still lived.
So close, Rhory thought. Another day or two he would have joined up with his reinforcements and this force wouldn’t have been large enough to challenge him.
Chapter 47
Queen Usaya listened carefully to the discussion of the healers from her vantage point in the secret passageway that led behind the walls of the medical room where the four men made their headquarters. They had no idea that the secret tunnels existed let alone that they actually reached this far from where the nobles were housed and felt any discussions they held in here were free from eavesdropping. The Queen wanted to know what the four men truly thought. She wasn’t entirely convinced that one or more of the men might have had a hand in bringing about the current situation.
The King was gravely ill. There was no doubt about that. It had been almost a week now since he’d first shown symptoms that had taken him to bed from which he’d never risen and she was frightened to know that it was unlikely that her husba
nd would ever again walk out of the sick room. Equally bad, her daughter had come down with the same symptoms, and was actually fairing far worse than her husband. Despite daily contact with both, if they were to die she wasn’t sure she wished to live anyway, she had not become ill as she ignored the advice to stay away. What bothered her most was that they were the only two people who were afflicted. Neither herself nor Rhog nor Mydra had shown any signs of the illness. As far as she knew no one else in the city had been afflicted with the disease. That made her certain that the illness was the result of some kind of poisoning directed at the King specifically. That she could almost understand, but why her daughter as well? Perhaps she had inadvertently been exposed to whatever had infected the King, but try as she might she’d been unable to think of a connection that would explain the situation. During the days before the King and her daughter had fallen sick they’d had no contact.
She’d thought very carefully about each and every person who’d had access to the King, and tried to discover anyone who was suddenly absent or who might appear suspicious or unwilling to meet her eyes. She’d found no one. Despite being certain that the illness had been a directed attack, she could not imagine how it had been accomplished. Certainly it had something to do with the coming war. Lopal had managed to reach inside the castle and bring down the King at the worse possible time.
Queen Usaya had raised her concerns to the healers as well as the King’s Guard. None were as convinced as she was. Now, hearing the frightened healers, she was certain they had not been holding back from her. The four men were more concerned for their own health and what the sickness might represent than they were for the recovery of the King. It was obvious they had already written him off. As they had told her in private, the symptoms were too close to the coughing sickness to be ignored. Even though it hadn’t been that long since the last plague and everyone should be immune, it appeared that both her husband and daughter had somehow contracted the deadly disease. Normally it spread quickly, jumping from person to person and bringing down the majority of those who were unfortunate to catch the illness. That had not happened here, which again raised suspicions. The healers argued the very point as they catalogued the symptoms against what was known of the frightening disease. No. They were convinced that was what afflicted the King and Hegha. What they didn’t understand was why they hadn’t contracted the disease after days of intimate contact with they King and why no one else had contracted it in the castle or elsewhere. That was the real mystery here.