by Tony Roberts
Faer inclined her head. “Then I should collect my advance pay at once. If I may see the good captain, sire?”
Jerethal angrily flicked his fingers to Capel. “Go show her our guest. Take a suitable number of soldiers; she is formidable, so I understand, and we don’t want to tempt her into any rash actions on behalf of her friend.”
Faer looked surprised. “I have agreed a contract, sire. I would not think of rescuing Captain Lace without fulfilling my side of the bargain.”
“A king takes no chances,” Jerethal said. “From now on you will deal with my advisor and courtiers. I do not wish to see you again until my son is safely back here.”
Faer was escorted out and along the passageway, past more guards. Do you think he’s going to live up to his side of the bargain, darling? Faer answered the query in the negative. Jerethal would be a fool to honour that bargain, but she had secured what she really wanted – a visit to the captain. The rest of the ‘contract’ had been a smokescreen. How she was going to pull this off she had no idea, but somehow she had to.
Capel glared at her as they went. “You are shielded well,” he stated. “Dark magic?”
“Why do you say that, Advisor?”
“You are of dark elf blood; I have not seen the like of you before, but I know of the dark elves. You can be no other. Inherent magic-users. What are you doing in Gorradan?”
“Seeking work. I am fresh out of Kaltinar and an eager to get to work. I have a skill which I am keen to use.”
“Yes, so it would appear.” Capel walked a few more steps. “Did you encounter an elf called Seltonas?”
She looked at him sharply. “You knew him?”
Capel stopped and faced her. “Knew? Has something happened to him?”
Faer slowly smiled. “I killed him.”
Capel looked stunned. “You what? Seltonas? How – how did you manage that? He was a powerful elf mage – one of the best! That’s why he was at Blade Mountain…” he stared at Faer in shock. Something else touched his eyes now she could see. Fear.
“We had a serious difference of opinion. It was a fight to the death. I won. Shall we go see the good captain?”
Capel stood back and allowed her to precede him along the passageway. He watched her carefully as she went, her movement, her poise, the way she turned to look at him as she reached a junction. He curtly waved her on and they soon came to a guarded door. The guard opened it and they began descending down a spiral staircase, the smell of unwashed bodies and filth oozing up to greet them.
Coughs and groans could faintly be heard, and the clinking of iron. They made their way along a damp passageway to another door and this was opened to reveal a guardroom of sorts. The passageways off these went in all directions and along these stood doors with grilles inset at head height. Dirty straw packed the floor and the rustling and scuttling of rats was clearly detected.
A filthy emaciated man with a slack mouth and beady eyes appeared, a large ring of keys hanging from his worn and frayed belt. “Bring Captain Lace here at once,” Capel commanded.
Faer surveyed the room. It was of solid stone, and probably formed part of the foundations of the palace. A table lay in the centre, with dark stains on it. Along the walls were manacles and brackets, and torches flickered from some of the latter.
The jailer appeared with a guard, the guard pushing a third figure ahead of him. This third figure was dressed in soiled clothing and had long, lank matted hair and a thick sprouting beard. His hands were manacled behind him. The guard threw him onto a stool and stood back.
“Captain Lace,” Faer said.
The man looked up. Faer sucked in her breath in shock.
FOUR
The argument raged back and forth across the dungeon. “That is Captain Lace!” Capel insisted.
“That is not him!” Faer countered. “I should know, I met him two years ago and spoke to him then. You have an imposter.”
“Ridiculous!” Capel dismissed her words. “He was in the palace when we captured it and in the uniform. Why else would he be wearing it? His own men called him Captain!”
“And did any of you actually know what he looked like before taking Gorradan? I doubt it. I know what he looks like, I know what he sounds like, and that – creature you’ve got locked away is definitely not Captain Lace! Get it into your head, Advisor, you’ve had the wrong man all this time.”
Capel glared at Faer. “So you say.”
Faer folded her arms. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”
The advisor paced back and forth. “It may be a clumsy attempt by you to free him, by stating he is not who he is.”
Faer snorted. “I’m willing to wager the Captain is at large somewhere. You’ve not got him. So,” she turned towards the exit. “I have not had my advance payment. I’m quitting.”
“What?” Capel swung round, wide-eyed. “You have a contract to fulfil.”
“No I do not!” Faer almost shouted, facing the advisor. “Part of the bargain was to speak to Captain Lace, and you have not lived up to your side of the bargain. I quit.”
“You cannot!”
“And how exactly are you going to prevent me from doing that? I have received no payment, therefore I do not feel honour bound to continue with this ridiculous contract. Go tell your master to find another mercenary. I’m off.”
Capel signalled to the guards to block her route. Faer pulled an expression of distaste and swung her arm. A wall of force struck two guards and they fell to the floor. She stepped past them, pausing in the doorway. “Whatever happens now, you’ve still got an imposter in your dungeon, so you’ll have to deal with that.” With that she left, climbing the staircase to the ground level.
As she got to the door that led to the main passageway, there came a rush of wind and the door shuddered slightly. She paused, then hesitantly reached out to pull the handle. Her hand was stopped the width of her hand from it. She turned. Capel was standing there, a look of determination on his face. Behind him stood Theruddas and the guards.
“Magically locked. Even one with natural gifts like you cannot force that. There is a lot about magic you do not understand, young one.” Capel walked two more steps, his staff firmly in his hand. “As I said, you cannot quit.”
“Then what do you propose to do with me? Lock me in your dungeon?”
The advisor stepped to one side. He nodded to Theruddas. “Immobilise her.”
The sage weaved his hands in an ornate manner, chanted a few obscure words, then splayed his fingers in her direction. Strands of something rope-like whirled about her, but dropped to the floor without touching. The sage and advisor stood there open-mouthed.
“And you have things to learn about magic, too.” Faer prodded the strands by her feet. Her sword tip stuck to it. It came free after a hard tug. “Now what do we do? Stand here for all eternity while you work out how to make me your prisoner? Sorry but I haven’t the time for this nonsense. Let me go.”
Capel ignored her. He spoke to Theruddas. “Do dark elves have total immunity to magic?”
Theruddas shrugged. “Not to my knowledge but dark elves are so much a mystery. Blade could possibly be immune.”
“So in which case what do we do? We cannot stand here like this forever!”
Faer sighed. “Please do not speak as if I am not here. Shall we go see the king and tell him he’s got the wrong man in his dungeons?”
Capel’s mouth turned down. “No! This is not something the king needs to know. We can – come to some arrangement.” He glanced at Theruddas who nodded. “I’m sure you understand?”
Faer leaned against the nearest wall and gazed intently at the two men. “Wait a moment. Are you telling me you and I can agree not to tell the king? I’ve got the feeling you’ve known about that man down there not being Captain Lace for quite some time.”
Capel cleared his throat. “Ah. We… discovered that fairly swiftly after the abduction. The king – thought he held some bargaining power
if we held the captain here. We dare not disabuse him or he may, shall we say, give into his inner passions?”
Faer scratched her head. “So why the imposter?”
Theruddas sighed. “We believe the imposter is one of his men who volunteered to be taken captive so the captain could escape. We think he is at large somewhere but we do not know where. We have been expecting him to reappear at any time but so far,” he shrugged, “nothing.”
Faer folded her arms. “And so what do you think this agreement between us can be?”
Capel smiled, something Faer didn’t like. “Well, if you say nothing we shall be grateful. We would you rather embark on this rescue mission to bring back the king’s son. We shall give you every assistance possible, of course.”
“Of course,” Faer echoed, not believing that for one moment. “Since my advance payment has not been paid, I now change my advance payment request.”
“Oh? And what would this be?”
Faer straightened. “The lifting of the block on Lady Lace’s income. Allow her to live without begging or scraping an existence. She is no threat to you, and since you do not hold her husband, there is little you can hold over her.”
“She should not be told her husband is not under our care. Else she may create mischief.”
Faer shook her head. “I shall speak to her. We are friends and she will do as I ask.”
Capel shook his head. “No – I cannot risk it. You will go find the king’s heir without seeing anyone here in Gorradan first. You will receive an escort of the royal guard who will offer what assistance they can to help you on your mission.”
Faer glared at the advisor. “Frightened they might tell me something you don’t wish me to hear? You seem to be running this mission, as you call it, without recourse to the king. How much does he really know about this?”
“That isn’t for you to worry about; you will be given every assistance, as I said. The men assigned to help you will be the strongest, best-trained soldiers in the royal guard.”
“I have possessions over at the Lace household; my horse, tack and harness, and bags.”
Capel waved a confident hand. “They will be brought here. Tonight you rest here and tomorrow you will set out with your escort for the Losingar Forest. There will be eight in the escort.”
Faer stepped aside. “Release the lock on this door. You can’t capture me and without the door being released, you can’t pass. So it’s a stalemate.”
“Do you accept the terms I have set down?”
Faer considered them. No, he’s untrustworthy. She agreed with her inner voice but at the present moment couldn’t see how she could get away from her situation any other way. “You promise to lift the block on the Lace household income?”
Capel nodded slowly, reluctantly.
“Very well. Shall we get moving on this, rather than stand about stupidly like this?” She watched while Capel raised his staff, shut his eyes, chanted some words softly to himself, and the brightness around the door dissipated.
Theruddas stepped forward. “I shall be accompanying you too.”
Faer grimaced. Probably so he could keep an eye on her. “If all of you are coming with me, why didn’t you go yourselves? Why do you need me?”
“Our job is to escort you to the edge of the forest, to the bridge. From there on you go alone.” Theruddas gave her a baleful glare. “We are not stupid. One person of your abilities ought to have more of a chance than those like us.”
The half elf wasn’t fooled. They didn’t want to get killed. Whatever was in that forest, it had accounted for some of them already. She was expendable, and if she died, then no reward would have to be paid. Most likely they would take the boy if she ever got him out from her. She had no doubt they would try to double-cross her somewhere. Whether it was Jerethal or Capel, or even both, she didn’t know.
She allowed the sage to open the door and then be led to one of the guest chambers on the next floor up. A chambermaid was handed to her for her duration, and showed Faer the two rooms she was to use that evening. It was definitely the most luxurious chamber she had ever seen. If this was a guest chamber, then the sleeping quarters for the king must be something else.
A thought struck her as she was left to settle in; King Jerethal had a son. Where was the mother?
The bed was an immense piece of furnishing. Stout wooden frame, carved rounded pillars and a canopy of red velvet. She had never slept in a four-poster before. The pillows were not stuffed with straw. No, they were full of feathers. The mattress was similarly filled, and the sheets and blankets smooth, soft and rich.
Drawers, wardrobes and tables were scattered throughout the room, and she even glimpsed sight of a brass bath in the adjoining washroom. A bath? She examined it. Yes, but it was empty. A wash basin stood against one wall and there was a privy here too. She shook her head in amazement.
Darling, if we become Queen of the Dark Elves this is what awaits us. “You’re being a little optimistic, aren’t you?” she said to her other self. “We’re no closer to finding father or any of his retinue.”
We won’t if we carry on fooling about here on this stupid rescue mission. “Oh be quiet. Captain Lace is a kind, generous man and if I can help find him so much the better.”
And how are you going to do that if you don’t know where he is? “I don’t know but something will come our way, just you see.” Faer ignored her inner voice thereafter. Sometimes she was just nothing but a moaning distraction.
She lay on the bed and put her hands behind her head, staring up at the canopy, not really seeing it. Her problem was that she didn’t really yet feel confident enough to argue long enough to get her way. She knew too little of the world. Even so-called magic, what she knew as her inherent abilities, she only knew enough to control it. She had no idea yet how powerful it really was or whether she had more abilities than the ones she knew about. Other people’s abilities were another unknown. Could she really defeat someone like Capel? Or Theruddas, come to that. It was frustrating not to know. Now she was away from Blade Mountain, she no longer had access to any learning.
She desperately wanted to find Markus, or Captain Lace. A friendly face. Her thoughts turned to Blademaster Territus. A smile played across her lips. The gentle way he had made love to her in the pool below the school filled her mind. How she would love it if he came to her now and filled the bath and took her by the hand and led her to it.
What that had shown her was that she could make love to someone and not enslave them. It had freed her mind in so many ways. She was not an outcast, not a plague, not someone to avoid, not to touch. She could love with the best of them. If only she would be allowed to.
But where was her life taking her? She sighed and thought deeper on that. She was carrying the Owyn Royal Dark Elf Bloodsword. It was part of her heritage. But what would she do if she ever found it? Could she actually lead dark elves? They were highly unreliable and dangerous. They surely would not tolerate one with human blood in her. They might even kill her. What alternative did she have? To find her human heritage? To go after neither? Be merely a mercenary, blade for hire? She laughed for a moment. Someone somewhere would eventually identify the sword she carried. Then she would know no rest.
Best she got more knowledge and experience. She would follow this fool’s errand and see where it took her. Captain Lace was at large somewhere. She really needed to talk to Lady Lace but Capel had put a stop to that – at least for the time being. She needed friends, and she needed a place she could retreat to in times of need or merely as a place of rest.
How big was the world? She thought on that. What did she know of the world? Practically nothing, save for the few things she had picked up whilst reading in the library on Blade Mountain. Of course, the library was stocked with old books so much of the information there may be out of date. She needed to gain knowledge fairly quickly so she had more of an idea how to continue her search. It was all very well following directions left her b
y her father eighteen years previously, but so many things might have changed since then.
There came a knock on the door and she gave permission for the caller to enter. It was the chambermaid. She asked if there was anything that was needed and Faer asked for water to take a bath. The chambermaid bowed and stated she would arrange it, and that food was going to be served up in the dining chamber along the corridor, down the stairs and two doors on the right. A guard would escort her. There were two on duty outside her room which she was not to leave unescorted.
Faer lay back on the bed after the maid had gone. No doubt she could get out of the room and leave any time but she knew any sign of not following the king’s or Capel’s wishes and she would probably lose the job and have the royal army hunting her all over the land. Not what she really wanted. She needed to be allowed freedom of movement in Gorradan if only to follow her father’s trail.
The bath was relaxing and for dinner she actually decided to use her dark elf dress. Tied behind her neck and at her waist, there was little else fixed down. A narrow band of material covered her breasts and went down to her waist. Her back was totally bare. Her legs were on full view as her skirt was split from the waist down both sides. Apart from a small loin piece, the dress was all she was wearing.
The guard escorting her couldn’t keep his eyes off her as he showed her to the dining room. The chamber was large, dominated by a thick oak table and could seat about thirty. However today there were few guests and only nine places were occupied. Most of them were men but there were two other women.
She appraised the others. Theruddas was at the top of the table and he stood. His eyes roamed over her, surprise on his face. The others stood, too, some more slowly than the others. The guard indicated which chair she was to sit in.
“Welcome, Blade.” Theruddas waited till she sat on the first chair down from him on his right. They all sat and Theruddas continued. “Our mercenary hired to help in the recovering of the king’s heir. Dark Blade, fresh out of Kaltinar.”
“A raw untried child?” The disbelief in the speaker’s voice was clear. Faer held the speaker’s sceptical look, one of the women who was sat opposite her.