For an instant, Vanaxe gazed at the scroll in shock. Then he composed himself. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting to see you, Lannon Sunshield."
"Because you thought I was dead?" Lannon asked. "Perhaps you were hoping I was dead. Yet here I am, seeking the truth." Lannon sensed that things had gone too far now. If Vanaxe was corrupted by Tharnin, he was likely to try to have Lannon arrested. Lannon's hand settled onto his sword hilt, and he wondered just what type of situation he'd gotten himself into. Where would it all lead?
Vanaxe rose, his face twisted into a scowl. "This is gravely insulting to me, oh Bearer of the Eye. You come into my humble home filled with accusations. Yes, I have heard of you, Lannon Sunshield, and some of the things I've heard were not good. You are an arrogant Knight. And worse, you're too young to realize your own folly that will get you in deep trouble."
"Sorry if I offended you," said Lannon. "That wasn't my intent. But you are hiding something important, and I will find out what it is."
"No, you won't!" Vanaxe snarled. "You have no authority here, remember? Dremlock turned its back on Kalamede. Now, again, I order you to get out! By your own Sacred Laws, you are required to obey!"
Dallsa glanced toward the door. "Maybe we should leave. This is his home, Lannon, and we don't really have proof of anything."
"Listen to your companion," said Vanaxe, "for she is wise."
Lannon continued to gaze sternly at Vanaxe. "I'm not leaving."
Vanaxe sneered. "Then go ahead and stand there like a fool. I will simply call my guards and have you removed. Or will you kill innocent men just to prove a point? What would your precious High Council think of your behavior?"
Lannon wondered if he was indeed behaving like a fool. Perhaps if Taris was in this situation, he would simply leave for lack of evidence. Lannon didn't know what Taris would do, because he lacked the sorcerer's great wisdom. Lannon was barely a grown man and quite inexperienced in dealing with Knightly matters. Still, he was compelled to hold his ground. The threat to Dremlock was too great, and Lannon knew he had to make something happen.
"I'm placing you under arrest," said Lannon, drawing his sword. He had no idea where this was going. Even if the City Lord agreed to become his prisoner, that wouldn't help him locate Taris or warn Dremlock. But he'd already spoken the words and felt he had to proceed with it.
Dallsa's face was pale. "Um, Lannon, what are you doing?"
"I have no idea," Lannon mumbled in response.
The City Lord nodded. "I see. So you do want this to end in violence. I was hoping we could conclude this discussion peacefully, but it is not to be. Fine by me. Actually, this is my chance at greatness--my chance to crush the Bearer of the Eye!" Vanaxe opened a desk drawer and reached inside it. When his hand came out, it was fitted with a crystal gauntlet--a claw--that glowed with crimson energy. He snarled: "Now the fool has forced me to end him!"
Lannon raised his sword, as he calmed himself with a Knightly meditation technique. "So, the City Lord is revealed to be a puppet of Bellis and the Deep Shadow. And no doubt Taris has fallen into your trap."
"Yes, Taris blundered into it," said Vanaxe, with a humorless grin. He shoved the heavy desk aside as if it were weightless and stepped toward Lannon. "In fact, Taris and his Knights may be dead already--and good riddance. I always hated that arrogant fool. The White Flamestone is ours now."
With a gulp, Dallsa stepped away from Lannon, putting her back to the wall. Lannon simply stood and waited, his sword held before him.
"You will lead me to Taris," said Lannon, pointing his sword at Vanaxe.
In response, Vanaxe swung at Lannon's head with the claw. The weapon moved with tremendous speed, but Lannon managed to duck the blow. Lannon retaliated with a sword stroke, but the City Master somehow caught the blade with his claw and ripped it from Lannon's hand.
Lannon took a step back in shock. Vanaxe's claw reminded him of the Hand of Tharnin, and the Eye revealed a demonic presence within the weapon. The claw could make decisions and move on its own.
Tossing the sword aside, Vanaxe leapt on Lannon in a blur and bore him to the floor, trying to choke him with the claw. The crystal fingers clamped down on Lannon's throat. Vanaxe's eyes blazed with vicious intent and salvia dripped from his mouth as he squeezed. Without the power of the Eye, Lannon's throat would have been crushed in an instant.
"Now you know the truth," grunted Vanaxe, "that I am no weak puppet of Tharnin! I am an elite servant! Now die in misery!" He let out a hideous bellow and doubled his efforts to crush Lannon's windpipe.
Lannon flooded his muscles with the Eye and ripped the claw away from his neck. He shoved the City Lord off him. Vanaxe tumbled across the floor and into the desk, smashing it into pieces.
Lannon pulled out his Glaetherin throwing star and hurled it at Vanaxe, but the City Lord deflected it with the crystal claw in a flash of crimson. The star blade lodged deep in the wall and was lost from view. In return, Vanaxe hurled a crimson fireball at Lannon's chest. Lannon twisted out of its way and it exploded into the door, blasting it into charred fragments.
"Time to die, Blue Knight!" Vanaxe howled. For an instant, he crouched like a wolf, as if summoning energy for an attack.
Lannon summoned his sword back to his hand, just as Vanaxe sprang up and charged him. Vanaxe's eyes gleamed yellow and a shadow of evil had darkened his face. Vanaxe was lost in his rage--too focused on making the kill--and Lannon was able to pierce his defenses and thrust the Dragon sword through the City Lord's heart. Howling, Vanaxe clutched at the blade with one hand and flung another crimson fireball at Lannon with the claw. Lannon ducked the blazing orb and it exploded against the wall behind him, blasting a charred hole in the oak boards. Vanaxe screeched in fury and raised the claw again. Lannon yanked his sword free and beheaded the City Lord, finishing him.
For a moment Lannon stood gazing down at Vanaxe's body, hating the brutal outcome of the conflict. With Vanaxe thoroughly corrupted by Tharnin and having become inhuman in his evil, there had been no chance for a peaceful ending to the encounter. But Lannon had no time to ponder such things, and so he drew his throwing star back to his hand and tucked it away in its pouch.
It was time to search for Taris and the others.
Lannon seized Dallsa and turned her away from the scene. He scanned the mansion with the Eye, searching for Taris or the other Knights. He glimpsed something below--a distant trace of Divine Knights. He also glimpsed two guards who, after hearing the sounds of battle, were racing up the stairs.
"Stay behind me," Lannon told her. "We're going below."
Dallsa nodded, too stunned to speak.
Lannon and Dallsa started down the stairs, but they were met by the two guards with drawn swords, who demanded they surrender. Lannon knew these guards might be innocent--having no knowledge that the City Lord had been corrupted by Tharnin. He didn't want to harm them, but he had little choice.
Lannon struck one of them in the forehead with his sword hilt, knocking him unconscious. The guard started to roll down the long flight of stairs, but Lannon snagged his tunic and stopped him. The other guard struck while Lannon was leaning down, swinging at his neck. Lannon deflected the sword stroke and then kicked the guard in the leg--a fighting technique unique to Blue Knights--breaking the bone. Groaning in pain, the guard lay down on the stairs, writhing about and clutching his fractured thigh. His fight was ended.
Lannon and Dallsa journeyed below the mansion, taking stairs that led them down into a stone tunnel. At the tunnel's end was a locked iron door, which Lannon easily opened with his lock picks in order to save his energy. They entered another tunnel--this one lined with cells on either side. The cells contained the Dark Knights Lannon had seen with the Eye of Dreams--the Ten Axes of Dremlock.
The hallway also contained three more guards, who demanded Lannon throw down his sword. When he refused, they rushed him, as Dallsa stayed behind him. Lannon dispatched them as he'd dispatched the others--with knockout blows to the
head for two of them and a bone-breaking kick to the leg for the remaining one. They were alive but unable to fight--though Lannon knew from his training that a blow to head was always a dangerous move that could prove fatal. It couldn't be helped, however. Innocent or not, the guards were getting in his way and had to be dealt with. There was far too much at stake to waste time trying to reason with them.
Lannon unlocked a cell and dragged the guards into it, sealing the door. Then he freed Dremlock's Dark Knights, who glanced at him with amazement as they located their weapons, armor, and other gear. They quickly suited up for battle.
Dallsa looked shocked, her mouth hanging partially open. She leaned close to him and whispered, "Lannon, I think we're getting ourselves in deep trouble. You cut off the City Lord's head, and that can't be good! Now I'm really thinking I should have stayed in Rogue Haven. The whole city is going to be looking for us and...well...this is all a huge surprise to me."
Lannon shrugged and whispered back, "Not much we can do about it. The City Lord tried to kill me and I was forced to defend myself. And you wanted to come here, knowing the risks. This is how Knightly business goes, Dallsa. Anything can happen. Be prepared for more surprises."
She shook her head, wiping sweat from her brow. She glanced at the Dark Knights, shuddered, and then whispered, "I'm not sure I can handle any more surprises. This is just...unbelievable."
"Why are we whispering?" asked Lannon, truly puzzled.
Dallsa groaned. "I don't know, but I'm not sure I want to be Knight anymore. Not sure at all."
"You'll be fine," said Lannon. "It just takes getting used to."
Valedos Firehelm, the leader of the Ten Axes, nodded to Lannon. He held a black, horned helm in one meaty hand and a huge battle axe in the other. "We appreciate this greatly," he said. "And who might you be, by the way?"
Considering they spent all their time in the tunnels below Dremlock, the Dark Knights didn't recognize Lannon. He scanned Valedos and the others with the Eye, searching for traces of Tharnin. Finding none, he replied, "Lannon Sunshield. So how did you end up in this dungeon?"
"Good, the Bearer of the Eye," said Valedos. "We're in excellent company, then. We were on the way to join Taris' battalion, when our camp was ambushed just outside of Kalamede in the dead of night by a bunch of City Guardsmen. They caught us after we'd consumed a bit too much ale and we were forced to surrender. They brought us here in a wagon and imprisoned us. Vanaxe, the City Lord, questioned us extensively but wouldn't release us. I swear he is a puppet of Tharnin!"
"He's dead," said Lannon.
"Good riddance," growled Valedos, to grunts of affirmation from the others. "I only wish I could have killed him myself."
Lannon quickly explained everything that was going on and why he needed to find Taris, while the Ten Axes exchanged frowns and muttered curses.
"So Bellis is ready to move," said Valedos. "Perhaps we should ride to Silvergate and send a message to Dremlock by Elder Hawk. Dremlock needs to be warned immediately to prepare for invasion."
"I disagree," said Lannon. "I think the White Flamestone is what matters now. It needs to return to Dremlock right away."
Valedos stroked the braids in his beard--the death knot--in contemplation. He was truly a fearsome looking Grey Dwarf, with the black runes of doom tattooed on his forehead and his bulky armor and weapons. He was a born leader who wasn't used to taking orders. He gazed at Lannon with a look that was meant to intimidate the much smaller Knight.
"No," said Valedos, "we're going to Silvergate. I think it's best."
Lannon stood in silence for a moment. He hadn't been expecting this response, considering he'd just freed Valedos and his Dark Knights.
Valedos pushed past him, motioning to the others. "Come with us if you like, Lannon, or stay and search for Taris. However, we may have to fight our way out the city and we could use your help."
Lannon scratched his head. "Actually, I think you should come with me. We need to stick together and find Taris."
Valedos paused and turned, his smoldering gaze on Lannon. "Your suggestion is noted, but I'm going to take a pass on it."
"Well, I guess this is an order," said Lannon, hating to have to go there.
Valedos' eyes widened. "An order, you say?"
Lannon nodded. "I am a member of the Divine Shield, which does put me in a position of authority." Actually, he wasn't sure he had any say over these particular Knights, but he thought he'd give it a try.
"Authority over Dark Knights?" said Valedos. "I've never heard of that. We serve Dremlock by the will of our king. It would be wise for you to keep that in mind, young warrior. At Dremlock, we obey the Lord Knight and his Tower Masters and no one else. I don't recognize your authority."
Noises came from above--shouts and the clanking of armor. Soon they would be forced to fight, but Lannon wasn't about to give in.
"What about the authority of a Dark Watchman?" said Lannon, taking a gamble. He had no idea how they would respond.
"A Dark Watchman?" said Dallsa, looking more stunned than ever. "No wonder you can fight like that! I should have guessed it."
Valedos frowned. "The Dark Watchmen were a menace to Silverland. Everyone knows that. I wouldn't be too proud to call myself one of them if I were you, Lannon, considering their grim history."
"Nevertheless," said Lannon, "I am one of them. The Divine Essence blessed me with the power I have in the hope that I will use it wisely. Do you recognize my authority or not? Will you ignore my need for assistance?"
Valedos hesitated, scowling. At last he said, "Very well, we will agree to it out of respect for Dremlock and the Divine Essence. But the burden of this move is on you. If it turns out to be a disaster, let the Ten Axes not be tainted."
"You won't be," Lannon assured him. "I will take all the blame if things go badly. The High Council will accept my judgment." Lannon wasn't totally sure of that last statement, but he was learning that he had to show confidence in his decisions if he wanted to be taken seriously.
Valedos donned his horned helm and then motioned Lannon along, his eyes blazing with Dwarven battle lust. "Lead the way to the sewers, then. But know this, lad--we're not content to break bones or knock a few guards unconscious." He sneered at the guards in the cell. "That's not how we fight. Besides, these guards are probably puppets of Tharnin. We'll crush any that get in our way!"
The ten Dark Knights--a wedge of heavy armor and broad shields that looked invincible--raised their axes in enthusiastic agreement concerning the crushing of their foes. And Lannon believed they just might be invincible, as long as the ale flask was out of reach.
***
The journey to the sewers wasn't easy, as they faced more Guardsmen along the way and had trouble finding an entrance. They feared the whole city would end up pursuing them, after they were forced to cut down some of the Guardsmen in the street in front of a number of witnesses. As promised, the Dwarves showed no mercy on their foes, leaving dead bodies in their wake. Lannon was displeased with the violence, knowing the Guardsmen might have families who would despair over their deaths, but he'd begun to suspect that Kalamede was thoroughly corrupt. The Guardsmen seemed like hardened thugs beneath their uniforms who had been hired to deal out harsh justice without asking many questions. Regardless, Lannon had no control over these Ten Axes who sneered at authority.
At last they located an iron hatch and climbed down into the sewers, closing the lid behind them. They were left in darkness--though Lannon could see with the Eye of Divinity. "Do you have torches?" he asked.
"We do," said one of the Ten, whose name was Uldrun Stonecrusher. "But we won't light them down here."
"There is a risk of explosion," Valedos explained. "Haven't you heard the story of what happened in Silvergate? The sewers exploded and killed a large number of workers, including Kavlod Longship of the Olrogs, the greatest architect in Silverland who also designed these Kalamede sewers. He was killed by his own creation--and the torch of a clu
msy fool."
"I hadn't heard that tale," said Lannon. "Well, follow along behind me then. I will use the Eye to guide us."
"We don't need the Eye," said Valedos. "We have excellent vision in the dark places. I'm not proud to say that it's a leftover skill from our dealings with the Deep Shadow, if you didn't know that. It's not perfect, mind you. We prefer torches or lanterns, but when we lack them, we can still make our way."
Lannon knew the Grey Dwarves harbored many strange abilities from the days when they were servants of Tharnin, so he wasn't surprised that they could get by in dark tunnels without torchlight.
"I need a torch!" said Dallsa, glancing about and shuddering.
Lannon shrugged helplessly. "Just stay close to me, Dallsa." He groaned inwardly at the thought of having to protect her down in these sewers, but he didn't dare leave her on the surface when the whole city seemed corrupt.
Valedos stepped ahead of Lannon. "Let us lead the way, boy. Yes, you have the mighty Eye, which is a great tool worthy of respect. But you're not a Dwarf and you don't know much about tunnels. Can your precious Eye tell you where every pitfall lurks? Can it sense danger in the very stone around you?"
"It can tell me a lot," said Lannon, "but if you want to lead, that's fine." He didn't feel like arguing with a pack of stubborn Dwarves. The Ten Axes pushed past him and started through the maze.
"Watch out!" Lannon warned, catching a glimpse of snakes up ahead. The water was churning with them, and some had slithered onto the walkway. The snakes were hunting rats and grew angry when disturbed.
But the Dwarves were already in motion, hacking and stomping the poisonous creatures into ruin. Meanwhile, a deformed rat tried to crawl up Lannon's boot and he kicked it away in disgust. The rat hobbled away unharmed, a diseased and bloated creature that was dragging an extra leg along.
Lannon shuddered, his flesh crawling at the sights around him. These sewers made the dark mines below Dremlock seem appealing. Dallsa clung to him with a grip so fierce it caused him to wince. As a large centipede scuttled across the walkway by her foot, she started to scream--but Lannon clamped his hand over her mouth until she calmed down a bit.
The Blood of Kings (Book 4) Page 18