by Tony Roberts
“Former, hmm. So you’re one of Jerethal’s whores? Thought as much. They should know better than to come here.” He signalled the men to take the women’s weapons. Faer went to resist but a number of archers took aim at her, and Via shook her head.
“Let them take it – they’ll skewer you well and good if you don’t.”
“Listen to your companion’s sense,” the man growled.
Faer scowled and reversed her sword, laying the blade across her arm and presenting the hilt to the man. He took it and gazed in wonder at the weapon.
“What is this?” He practiced a sweep, a smile breaking out over his face. “Wow, quality. Light, too.” He looked up. “Elf steel, I know it is!”
Faer said nothing. She just glared at him.
He grinned and slipped it through his belt. “Nice. Mine now, darling. You’ll have to behave nicely if you ever want it back. You know what I mean by that, too.”
“I’m not going to be your whore, if that’s what you mean.”
The man chuckled unpleasantly. “You might end up being forced into it anyway, so it’s best to volunteer rather than being made to. Like the thought of you warming my bed and making my nights memorable. Pretty one, you are. Heard dark elves are passionate.” He waved his men to return to their posts. He pushed the two women forward, eight men escorting them, four on either side, four of them archers. As they approached the cave he called out to more men skulking just inside the entrance. “Be wary of this one,” he indicated Faer, “she uses magic.”
The guards nodded and stepped aside. The cavern was dark but at the back and off to the left a single torch flickered, illuminating a rope bridge that crossed a chasm of some sort. Beyond, where the bridge was anchored, ran a tunnel through the rock. “No fancy tricks,” the man snapped to them, “or you’ll go over the edge of that drop. Its two hundred paces or more down and you’ll have no chance.”
Via glanced at Faer. Her face was expressionless. Clearly she was relying on the half elf to do something. More men stood on the far side of the bridge, armed with crossbows. “Plenty of men here,” Via commented. “Looks like the remnants of an army.”
“Shut up,” the man said. “You talk to the boss and only to answer questions.”
The rope bridge was unsteady and they had to cross one at a time. Via went first and was covered by three crossbowmen. Faer was next and she began to concentrate on her veins and arteries, bringing the power in her to the surface. Behind her came the man with her sword and then the others began to file across.
Faer stepped onto rock and half-turned to watch the man with her sword cross. He stepped onto rock and Faer brought both hands up and sent a fireball onto the bridge, turning it into a blazing pyre. The screams of the men on it filled the cavern. The man with her swore and grabbed his sword but Faer was already at him, clamping her hand to his face and began sucking the life from him. The man screamed and tried to pull her hand away, but he was caught fast.
Behind her Via was using her fists and feet to incapacitate the crossbowmen who had been caught in two minds, whether to go for Faer or keep covering Via. Via had kicked the first between the legs, then send a stiff hand edge into the second man’s throat, pulling him round to face the last who swung his weapon to shoot her. The bolt smashed into the choking second crossbowman’s chest, so Via dropped him and went for the defenceless man.
Faer meanwhile had pulled her own sword from the sinking man’s belt and grasped it. The four archers on the other side of the chasm now raised their bows and loosed. Faer raised a hand and the wall of force knocked the missiles aside, then she released the half-conscious commander and send a bolt of fire into the reloading archers, igniting one of the middle two.
By now the rope bridge was collapsing, sending the two charred remains of what had once been men down into the chasm. Faer backed away and nudged Via who was grabbing a sword from one of the downed crossbowmen. “Let’s go,” Faer said.
The tunnel turned and twisted and they quickly ran out of sight of the furious archers. The route ran generally downwards and turned to the right. Torches lit the way at irregular intervals. Via turned to Faer. “Nice trick of yours. Now we’re trapped here with a load of angry men above us.”
“We’ll work something out. So we’re in the camp of the former royal army – the ones who have the heir captive. We’ll need to fight all the way to find him you know.”
“Yes, and I bet those up above will be working on bridging that chasm. We’ll have some time before they get across and come running after us.”
Faer nodded. “Come on, let’s see what awaits us at the bottom.”
They walked down, turning something like a half circle before coming out onto a ledge. To the right the ground dropped away sheer. The bottom was out of sight, but the smouldering remains of the rope bridge were visible high up to the right. The ledge continued ahead before ending in a series of cut stone steps that led down to the bottom of the cave system. Faer squinted, her eyes trying to adjust as best they could. She vaguely made out pillars of rock rising up to points thirty or more paces high, or forming solid columns that went to the ceiling.
There were pinpoints of light off to the right. Faer informed Via of all this. They took the stone steps carefully, since none of them were more than half a pace deep and some were smoothly worn. Getting to the bottom they orientated themselves. Off to their right the remnants of the destroyed bridge glowed. Ahead were two pinpricks of light, beacons for them.
“How high does this go?” Via asked in wonder.
“Must be two hundred paces,” Faer replied. “Wonder what this was originally? Some beast’s lair, perhaps?”
“Who knows? Let’s get going; won’t be too long before those men back there get across. Plenty of wood out in the forest long enough to bridge the gap. That man you hurt; is he going to die?”
“No – I released him before he lost too much life force. He’ll be up and about in a while, but not straight away.”
Via nodded, leading Faer ahead, skirting great columns of stone. The floor was rippled and uneven, and they stumbled on more than one occasion. Their steps echoed in the huge underground chamber, and they both wondered what awaited them up ahead. The pinpoints of light grew into flickering torches, and now a dark opening could be seen in between the torches. What they also saw were two armed guards.
“Two?” Via remarked, smiling.
“Could be more around,” Faer said cautiously.
“Let’s see.” Via led her companion towards the waiting men. The two guards straightened and looked at each other, then one stepped into the opening. The remaining one took a pace forward and stood in their way, sword ready.
“Step aside,” Via commanded. “Or die.”
“I’ll die first,” the guard replied grimly.
“That is your choice.”
“Halt,” came a new voice, and more men came pouring out of the opening. They spread out swiftly and some were armed with crossbows, others spears, and others again swords. One of their number stepped past the line and came face to face with the two women.
Faer gasped and lowered her sword. “Captain Lace!”
SEVEN
Captain Lace regarded her for a long time, then he nodded with recognition. “Two years isn’t it?”
“It is, and my name is now Blade. My professional name, Captain.”
Lace looked from her to the other, and his face hardened. “You choose bad company, Blade. This one is as bad as they come.”
“Who, Via? She’s a scout, Captain.”
Lace laughed ironically. “Oh no, young lady, she is not. May I introduce to you Lieutenant Via of the 1st Gorradan Covert Regiment. A particularly nasty and cruel unit, led by vicious and pitiless officers.”
Faer looked in amazement at Via. “Is she?”
Via pointed at Lace. “He’s hiding what we’ve come for. Get rid of him.”
Faer shook her head. “Captain Lace is a kind and generous man who I ow
e a great debt to – I regard him as a friend. What is going on?”
Lace folded his arms. “I’m puzzled as to why just two figures such as yourselves would be here alone.” He looked at one of his companions. “Go check-up top. I’m suspicious.”
The man saluted and left. Via faced Faer. “You’re under contract, Blade. I order you to get rid of these people and we can collect what we’ve came for and go.”
Faer slid her sword back into her sheath. “Not until I know exactly what is going on here. Captain, do you have the heir to Gorradan’s throne here?”
Lace laughed briefly. “Here? Not a chance. Who says we do, her?” he nodded to Via.
Via swore and sprang at Lace, her sword suddenly in her hand. She struck hard, but Faer sent a wall of force at her and Via was pitched into Lace and the two fell over into a loose ball of legs, arms and torsos. The men sprang forward and grabbed Via who struggled and swore violently, but she was immobilised.
Lace got up, brushing himself down. He looked at Faer in surprise. “Thank you – but I had no idea you could do that!”
“I didn’t either until I got to Blade Mountain. I learned so many things there.”
“Not enough though, did you?” He turned to his men. “Come on; let’s go to warmer and more comfortable surroundings. Bind her hands behind her back,” he pointed at Via. “I don’t trust her any further than I could throw a boulder.”
They made their way along the narrow passageway to a room that had been hewn out of the rock, and there were two wooden doors leading off it. A table and stools stood in the room and most of the guards remained there, while two guards, Lace, a bound Via and Faer went through the door directly ahead.
The room was decorated with furs and Lace threw one over a stool and sat down on it. He indicated Faer to do likewise, so the half elf smoothed a fur over another stool and slowly sat down, looking up at Via who was regarding her with contempt. Faer’s mind was confused. She looked at Lace. “Can someone please tell me what is going on?”
Lace looked thoughtfully at Via, held by two men with swords drawn. “I think the Lieutenant might be able to tell you. As for me, all I know is that we’ve been holed up in this gods-forsaken place for a year or more. Three times Jerethal sent men into the forest to wipe us out and three times they were destroyed. Once by my men, twice by creatures of the woods.”
“We hardly saw anything hostile,” Faer said, “except for those loscurs just outside your cavern entrance.”
“Oh those,” Lace dismissed them with a wave of his hand. “A nuisance. Nothing more. You were lucky if that’s all you found. The gods must be smiling down on you, Blade. So, Lieutenant, like to illuminate us on what exactly your plan was? Or shall I guess?”
Via tightened her lips and looked away.
Lace nodded slowly. “Very well. Blade, I think she mentioned you had taken a contract?”
“Yes, to rescue Jerethal’s heir from his imprisonment here. My terms were firstly to have you released from their prison which I was led to believe you were being held. When I found it wasn’t you, I changed the terms to having your wife allowed to have money in order to feed herself.”
“You saw my wife? How was she?” Lace leaned forward eagerly.
Faer shrugged. “Alive, but poor. Only Mrs. Balkan was with her. They were struggling. I got a promise out of Capel that they would be looked after.”
Lace snorted. “Capel! That bloodsucker! He’s just about the worst of that lot! He’s entirely untrustworthy, and is the real power behind Jerethal. The new king is a nobody; a puppet in the hands of evil scheming people, too twisted and vile to show an acceptable face to the people of Gorradan, so they have to have someone to be the acceptable face of their power. Jerethal.”
“But – “ Faer shook her head in bafflement. “How was it they launched a successful revolt on the legitimate king?”
Lace pointed at Via. “She’s one reason. Spread lies and deceit, and also lubricated the right palms. You remember those street slavers who nearly got you two years ago?”
Faer nodded.
“Well, they were recruited by Capel and Via’s scouts and murdered a number of top officials in the city in a single night; threw the kingdom into chaos. Then they bribed one of the generals in the army to defect at a critical moment in the deciding battle. Our army was crushed in between the traitors and Jerethal’s army. We got away but only because I held my men together. We had to flee to this place.”
Faer looked at Via. “You wanted me to kill Lace, didn’t you? You knew the heir was never here.”
Via glanced at Faer, then ignored her once more.
Lace sighed. “So why just the two of you? It doesn’t make sense.”
Faer sucked on her lower lip. “I don’t know - maybe she thought I had the power to defeat your men single handed.” She looked up at Via once more. “And she seduced me, hoping to make me more loyal to her.”
Lace’s eyes widened. “Really? Yet you refused to follow her orders.”
Faer nodded. “I knew you to be a good man and would never kill you. You were so kind to Markus and I that time when we came through Gorradan. On that note, did you ever see Markus return? He came through shortly after we got to our destination. It wasn’t for him, Blade Mountain.”
“Sorry, no. The war was fully upon us, I’m afraid. I hope he escaped harm.” Lace stood up. “Well, Lieutenant, your plan failed, and your little lover refused to be swayed by your – charms. It must really rile you to know you’re not irresistible.”
“Shut up,” Via growled. “What do you know of true love?”
“More than you. I love someone for what they are, not for what use you can make of them to your own evil plans.”
Via addressed Faer. “If you do not kill him now then you shall be known as an enemy of the kingdom and will know no friend here. You will be hunted down and destroyed.”
Faer stood up. “What are you going to do with her?”
“I ought to destroy her, but she may have some ransom value. We may be able to swap her for someone we want.”
Via laughed. “You’ll never see the day. You will be destroyed soon enough, mark my words.”
Shouts came to them and all turned to look at the door, which opened suddenly. The man who had captured them outside came in, looking pale and dishevelled. “There she is! That magic-using bitch! Nearly sucked my life out of me, and she blazed the upper bridge to a cinder, along with some of my men! Watch her, she’s lethal!”
Lace stood before Faer. “Is this true?”
“I’m afraid so, Captain – this was before I realised who you were here.”
“Sucked the life out of you, Heller?” Lace asked the man.
Heller nodded his eyes wild. “She’s got some inherent powers – dark elf powers. Touched my head and I felt as if my entire soul was being drawn out of me! Dark elf, dark heart. Don’t trust her one bit!”
Faer spread her hands wide in apology. “I’m sorry but I was duped by Via here.”
Heller glared at Via. “You, you’re Via? I’ve got something to say to you!”
“Cut it out,” Lace chopped his hand down through the air. “What exactly happened?” he demanded of Heller.
Heller explained the incidents at the cavern, and all looked at Faer with a range of expressions. While all attention was focussed on Faer, Via suddenly exploded into action, swinging round, her arms suddenly free – nobody has seen her loosen or break her bindings – and she sent the hard edge of her hand into one of the guards’ throat. The man choked and staggered back, clutching his injury. The second guard tried to grab her by the neck but suddenly had a knife in his guts. Via had pulled the weapon from the first guard’s belt and had used it in an instance.
Via now pulled the second guard’s sword from his nerveless fingers and turned, her face determined. Lace was her target and she was swinging the weapon down towards him when Faer stepped across, blocking it with her own. The room echoed to the ringing of the bla
des. Via didn’t stop; she planted her left foot down and swung again, two-handed.
Faer turned, deflected the blow up and over her head. Her light weapon enabled her to strike first, driving her blow back across the one Via had just made. The elfin steel entered Via’s stomach and sank in deep. Via shuddered and dropped her weapon. As she sank to her knees, Faer held her, sinking with her, pulling her blade free.
Via looked at Faer, her eyes wide in pain. “I didn’t think you’d do it!” she gasped.
“You betrayed me,” Faer answered, holding the dying woman off the ground, her own blade falling to the floor. “I thought we meant more to one another.”
Via laughed, her voice a dry whisper. “You’re too trusting and naïve, Blade. You’ll never get to Gorradan.” She looked at the girl, blood flecked on her lips. She smiled one last time and then drew her last breath.
Faer slowly, gently, lowered her to the ground. She looked at her sadly, then closed her eyes and straightened. She swept her hand round for her sword but it was not there. She looked up. Heller was holding it, standing over her. “Give that to me,” she held out her hand.
“Not a chance. You’re some kind of magic-user and I don’t trust you one bit. You killed my men up top and as far as I’m concerned you’re with Jerethal’s lot.” He looked at Lace. “She should be locked up.”
Faer sighed and stood up. “That sword is not yours, it’s mine. It’s not for a human to hold.”
“Who are you to say?” Heller snapped.
“Hand the sword back, Heller,” Lace said. “I trust her.”
Faer smiled in gratitude.
Heller scowled. “Not a chance. I’m willing to bet there’s more of those bastards out there waiting.”
“So look for them,” Faer said, tired of the man’s stubbornness. She shut her eyes and concentrated on the sword. She sent every iota of energy she had through her and around the blade.
Heller suddenly had the weapon wrenched out of his hands and it cartwheeled up towards the roof, then dropped like a stone. Faer reached out and took it by the hilt before it struck the floor. “How did you do that?” Heller demanded.