The Blood of Kings (Book 4)

by Robert E. Keller

  Trenton ignored her.

  Taris waited a few moments longer, then said, "Vorden Flameblade, since no one opposes, you are now a member of the Divine Shield. However, you are still a Squire and your opinion carries less weight than those around you."

  "Understood," said Vorden, bowing.

  "Now let us eat and take a moment to relax," said Taris. "We are all weary and hungry, and more struggles await us."

  When the feast was finished, Vanaxe returned and seated himself at the table. The City Lord had a friendly face that was smooth for his age, and his grey hair was cut very short. He'd changed into a green robe and slippers. "Welcome, good Knights of Dremlock," he said, in a charismatic voice. "I do hope you enjoyed the food and wine. Now if I may, I would like to discuss the reason you're here."

  "Certainly," said Taris, sipping some water. "We are pressed for time and would like to finish this business quickly."

  "Of course," said Vanaxe, lighting a pipe. "As would I. This has gone on far too long, Tower Master. Far too long. Kalamede has its problems, as you well know, but lately it has become so dangerous here that I fear the city is simply going to shut down forever. Folks continue to leave on a daily basis. This is a time of great despair for us."

  Taris gazed at him in thoughtful silence. Then he said, "Yet Kalamede has chosen its fate. The City Council continues to defy Dremlock and allow a form of human bondage that we consider to be slavery. This city is full of slaves who toil endlessly for the amusement of others."

  Vanaxe's face darkened. "And that is where we disagree, my friend. A person in debt is not a slave--for they have chosen that path and must face the consequences. It is fair business and they know the risks."

  "It is the way of abuse and torment," said Taris. "Young men--forced to work in brutal conditions for no pay. Young women, wandering the streets and suffering so others may profit. This is an evil city, Vanaxe."

  "And yet what has Dremlock accomplished," said Vanaxe, "by withholding aid? This city has simply collapsed, and the suffering has grown worse. The Divine Knights are partially responsible for the decay here."

  "We had to take a stand," said Taris, "and so we have. Better this city vanishes into abandoned ruin than allow people to suffer in bondage."

  Vanaxe sighed. "Kalamede has its share of troubles, yes. However, I was hoping we could avoid such talk and focus on this latest threat. Did you come here to lecture me yet again, Tower Master, or to deal with these cultists?"

  Taris gave a wry smile. "You grow tired of Dremlock's lectures, and we grow tired of giving them. But know this--the practices in Kalamede will come to an end one day, if Dremlock has its say."

  Vanaxe shifted about uncomfortably. "I see. Well, does anyone else have an opinion?" He gazed at Shennen, Daledus, and Trenton.

  No one else spoke.

  "Then on to the matter of the Ironheart Priests," said Vanaxe. "We don't really know what they want with our city or even how they came to lurk in the sewers below. They just started appearing down there at some point. They emerge at night to loot and vandalize, striking terror into all of Kalamede. They have abducted people and taken them below--people who were never seen again. We've sent the City Guard down there several times, but they could find no trace of the cultists or their victims. This is definitely something only Dremlock is capable of dealing with."

  "We will do our best," said Taris, "with the limited time that we have. The threat of Bellis is always with us, and all decisions must be made with that in mind. Some of my Knights must remain on the surface to wait for contact from the Elder Hawks, in case we are summoned back to Dremlock."

  "Agreed," said Vanaxe. "Also, the tunnels are narrow below the streets, so taking your entire battalion below together is not a wise move anyway. I suggest you split it into at least three groups and enter the sewers in three different areas of the city. Is that acceptable?"

  Taris glanced at Trenton and Shennen, and they nodded. "Yes, we will split into three," Taris replied. "That will allow us to do a more thorough search of the sewers. Hopefully, we will learn why the cultists have come here."

  "It won't be an easy fight," said Vanaxe, "even for Divine Knights. The Ironheart Priests are very powerful, as the City Guard has learned. They wield dark sorcery and are masters of setting snares."

  "Rest assured, City Lord," said Prince Vannas, "that we will cleanse Kalamede of their presence. Their sorcery will be no match for our own."

  Vanaxe nodded. "You show great confidence, which helps ease my mind." He glanced at Taris. "So when do you want to get started?"

  "As soon as we rest for a while," said Taris. "I want my Knights to have a bit of merrymaking first. We have seen much darkness and bloodshed lately, and there is certain to be more of it below the city."

  "On that we can agree," said Vanaxe, a strange glint in his eye.

  ***

  After the merrymaking was finished, the Divine Shield and fifteen Knights entered the sewers not far from the City Lord's mansion. They climbed down an iron ladder into a cramped and altogether unpleasant stone tunnel. Birlote torches were brought forth, revealing stone walkways on either side of the dark water. Rats scurried about in the crimson light of the glowing gems.

  Prince Vannas shook his head in disgust. "Into the wretched depths we go. Let us pray we finish this mission quickly."

  "Indeed," said Galvia, shuddering. "I can think of a few places I'd rather be. I hate rats. And these ones are huge!"

  Jerret glanced about, looking unhappy. "I don't mind the rats too much, but I hate feeling closed in like this, with all this stone above us. I really, really hate it. It reminds me of Dremlock's mines."

  Aldreya felt the same way. As a Birlote, she'd grown up in the treetops with much freedom to move about. She wasn't fond of caves or tunnels--especially foul, narrow ones like these sewers. It made her feel short on breath and filled her with the urge to escape back up to open sky.

  "It smells worse than the Bloodlands down here," Lothrin muttered. "Lannon is lucky he is missing out on this adventure."

  Daledus Oakfist chuckled. The stocky Dwarf waved a Birlote torch around, examining the walls. Then he handed the torch to Aldreya and explained: "I need two hands to fight. Just don't lose it in the slop, as we've only got a few of them, and I'm not going to dig around for it."

  Aldreya's grip tightened around the torch handle as she glanced at the dark water. "Don't worry, I won't be dropping anything in there."

  Trenton coughed, his face flushed. "My investigations have led me into some filthy places, but this wins the prize." He held his stomach.

  "The air is dangerous down here," said Taris. "Breathe shallowly, my friends, and avoid the use of fire unless we absolutely need it."

  "I have no issue with breathing shallowly," said Daledus, wrinkling his nose. "But what's wrong with a bit of flame? I would hate for us to have to surrender our greatest advantage in a fight."

  "A single spark could cause our doom," said Taris, "if we happen to be in the wrong place. As I said, the air is dangerous." He frowned. "A Dwarf should know about these things."

  Daledus shrugged. "We dwell in caverns, not stinking sewers."

  "Beware of the rats as well," said Taris, "for these ones possess long teeth and can spread disease easily with a single bite."

  "That's where a bit of fire would be useful," said Daledus, nodding to himself. "Burn them all to ash."

  "What did those rats do to you?" asked Shennen, looking amused.

  "Nothing yet," said Daledus, "but the fact that they exist is enough for me to want them dead." As he spoke, he stomped at a rat that got too close and missed. He nearly lost his balance and fell into the water.

  Shennen grinned.

  They found themselves in a maze of rat-infested tunnels. Some of the rats were diseased and tried to bite them, though most simply scurried away. One Brown Knight suffered a bite from a diseased rat when it dropped from the ceiling and landed on the back of his neck. He howled in desp
air--his voice echoing through the tunnels--and tore the creature away. The journey was halted while the White Knights set to work on him to weed out the possible infection.

  Aside from the danger of rats, poisonous snakes slithered through the water silently now and then, some of them sliding up onto the stone walkways and hissing at the intruders. Large centipedes also lurked in the tunnels, moving swiftly in and out of the torchlight. Aldreya's skin crawled as she waved the torch about, and she wondered what new and nasty sights she would see.

  Suddenly, Shennen swung his short sword over Aldreya's head--so close it touched her hair. The blade struck the stone wall and a long, writhing snake--now missing its head--dropped down next to her. She clamped her hand over her mouth to smother a scream and jumped back. The poisonous snake had been emerging from a hole in the stone blocks.

  Shennen winked at her. "That sneaky fellow was about to give you a kiss on the cheek when it tasted my blade instead."

  Aldreya shuddered. "Thank you, Shennen."

  Taris paused and leaned against the stone wall, his chest heaving. He raised his hand to indicate he was okay. "Just my old wounds troubling me once again," he said. "I need to moment to steady myself. Being down here makes me wish I had gone ahead and retired to Borenthia. I could be smelling sweet leaves and wood smoke instead of..." He muttered something under his breath.

  Trenton shook his head in amazement. "I don't know how you manage to go on, Taris. If I was in as much pain as you are half the time, my days as a Divine Knight would be over. It makes me think you're crazy."

  Taris turned and smiled. "Perhaps I am. I always tend to think that Dremlock can't do without me. But the kingdom was around long before I was born. Perhaps I'm a fool who suffers for nothing."

  "Nonsense," said Shennen. "Dremlock needs you--more than you realize. I, for one, am quite grateful you have chosen to remain and see this conflict through. I'm sure I speak for everyone here--even Trenton."

  Trenton nodded. "Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. Taris, you have done more for the survival of Dremlock than anyone I know."

  "Perhaps," said Taris. "Yet even as my skills improve with experience and training, my body struggles to keep going. I'm not sure where it will all end." He fell silent and again leaned against the filthy wall.

  "Take a rest, everyone," Trenton ordered.

  "No," said Taris, standing tall once again. "We need to get done with this mission. I know it is too late, but I am feeling more doubtful than ever about the wisdom of us being here. After all, Bellis is the real threat. Why aren't we at Dremlock, with the White Flamestone ready to defend the kingdom?"

  No one answered for a moment, and then Shennen said, "Because we're Divine Knights, my friend, and we can't let these Ironheart Priests continue to terrorize this city. While it's true that Kalamede is an immoral place, it is not our way to leave innocent people to suffer."

  "That," said Trenton, "and Kalamede supplies many of our resources. It would be folly to ignore a major threat to the city."

  "Of course," said Taris. "Perhaps I just needed someone to remind me of those things. Now let us move on."

  They started off again.

  "Do we even know where we're going?" asked Jerret, as he stumbled over a brick. "Without Lannon, we're just wandering blind. And if we can't use fire, what good is the White Flamestone?"

  Again Taris paused, shaking his head in amusement. "That last question is a good one, Jerret. Believe it or not, I hadn't thought about that. I think my brain has been foggy lately from the head wound--or something."

  Prince Vannas looked disgusted. "You mean I must fight with my blade? Then why did we even bring the White Flamestone here?"

  "Use it if you have to," said Taris. "But try to keep the fire focused exclusively on your target. Be very careful, or you'll kill us all."

  "I can focus the flame," said Vannas, "and make it very narrow. I've done it before, though it makes for a less effective weapon."

  "Nevertheless," said Taris, "use it only if left with no choice. I fear there are pockets of gas down here that could ignite."

  "How do you know so much about sewers?" asked Daledus.

  "Taris knows about everything," said Shennen. "He's as old as the mountains."

  Taris chuckled. "I am indeed old by Norack and Olrog standards, and I've picked up a bit of knowledge along the way."

  Jace, who had been a silent shadow since they reached Kalamede, at last broke free of his sullen mood and said, "Well, I am even older than Taris, yet I'm proud to say that I am not an expert on sewers."

  "You will be after this mission," said Shennen.

  "If you think about it," said Taris, "the sewers beneath Kalamede are an amazing feat of engineering. There is nothing quite like them in Silverland. They were designed by the Grey Dwarves from the nearby mountain kingdom of Fallenrock."

  Daledus slapped the wall, looking proud. "I should have known my people were behind this fine system of sanitation."

  "Yes, it's quite amazing," muttered Jace. "I'm in total awe."

  Aldreya started to laugh, but it was cut short by a warning cry from some of the Knights. Moments later, the tunnel was flooded with blue-robed, hooded figures, armed with iron maces, who charged forth from the shadows beyond the torchlight. The attack was so swift that the Divine Knights were caught off guard, and for a moment they were pushed back beneath a flurry of blows. The Ironheart Priests did not look human--possessing orange, warty skin and fingers that ended in claws. They had become monsters of the Deep Shadow--a hybrid form of Goblin and human that was considered an abomination by Dremlock.

  "Don't use any fire!" Taris reminded them, as the foes clashed. "Prince Vannas, hold back--let the other Keepers defend you. Watch for snakes!"

  "Snakes?" Daledus asked, but there was no time for talk.

  Forced to surrender their greatest advantage, the Knights fought back with cold weapons. The Ironheart Priests were very strong and swift, and they harbored tremendous combat skills--but they were going up against some of Dremlock's greatest Knights. The City Guardsmen held back behind Jerret and Aldreya, letting Dremlock shoulder the burden of battle.

  Without the ability to use fire, Aldreya felt helpless. The burning blade or fireball were her primary methods of attack. Aside from that, all she had was her dagger--and she wasn't greatly skilled in using it as a weapon. Frustrated, she stayed behind the others and away from the Priests.

  Aldreya found it odd that the City Guard was standing back with drawn weapons, but no one else seemed to notice. She assumed they were focused on guarding the rear. As she glanced toward them, she noted what looked like a malicious smile on the bearded face of the one of them as he gazed back at her. She wasn't sure what to make of it and turned her attention back to the battle.

  Prince Vannas stood next to Aldreya, looking sullen. "I wasted my time coming to Kalamede!" he snarled.

  Jerret stepped in front of the prince, broadsword in hand. The muscular Red Knight bore his usual delighted expression whenever battle was in progress. "Stay behind me," he commanded. "Let me handle this."

  Lothrin, Galvia, and Vorden also moved forward. The walkway was narrow, and splashes arose as some of the combatants ended up in the stream of filthy water--which thankfully was only knee deep.

  Taris Warhawk's primary attacks were based on fire as well, but he was far from helpless. He seized a Priest's mace and tore it away, then shoved the cultist into a wall with devastating force that caused bones to crack. Taris moved with a speed beyond that of his foes, his stone dagger lashing out to inflict deadly wounds. He didn't fight with the agility and elegance of a Blue Knight. Rather, he fought like a sorcerer--with simple, precise movements. But his speed and strength was such a huge advantage he was nearly untouchable. His sorcery was fused with his muscles and blade, turning him into a seemingly invincible warrior. Only his old wounds threatened to slow him--revealed in an awkward movement or grimace now and then.

  As the battle intensified, a Priest lun
ged at Jerret with the intent of crushing his skull. Jerret bashed the mace aside with his Glaetherin broadsword and then drove the weapon through the cultist's chest, finishing him. He yanked the sword free just in time to block another mace stroke from another charging Priest. The Priest wrapped his arms around Jerret and tried to crush him. The cultist possessed unnatural strength that caused his arms to tighten like constricting serpents. Jerret's sword dropped to the walkway with a clatter, and for a moment, Jerret seemed to be losing ground, his face growing crimson as he fought to keep from being crushed. Aldreya started forward to help, but then, with a grunt, Jerret somehow broke free and punched the cultist in the jaw--a blow that knocked the Priest unconscious into the slop. The Red Knight quickly retrieved his broadsword and ordered Aldreya back into position behind him.

  Aldreya was flooded with both gratitude and annoyance. She wasn't fond of being protected by Jerret (who no doubt relished his role as her protector), but with her sorcery not a factor, she had little choice but to do as he commanded. Vannas looked terribly unhappy as he leaned against the tunnel wall. Some of the dark water had splashed onto him from the fighting and dripped down his sullen face. Angrily, he wiped it away with the sleeve of his expensive cloak.

  Jace lifted two cultists into the air by the throats. They looked as small as children next to him. They fought back viciously but were no match for his strength. He flung them at the other cultists, knocking over a few.

  Trenton was cornered by two of the Priests, and his sword was batted from his hand. As they raised their maces to crush him, Daledus caught one them from behind with his oversized battle axe. The blow from the enraged dwarf crushed through bone and killed the evil cultist in an instant. The axe not only slew the cultist but also shattered the stone walkway. Shennen took out the other Priest, stabbing him through the heart with his Flayer.

  Some of the Knights went down, crushed by mace blows. Two of the Priests hurled twisting, poisonous snakes from a basket into Dremlock's ranks. The snakes bit on contact, injecting venom so deadly there was no chance at a cure. One of the writhing snakes landed in Daledus' beard and got tangled. He cried out, his eyes wide, but a swift Flayer stroke from Shennen cut the snake's head off. With a grimace, Daledus flung the headless serpent away.