"I was, my lord," she answered. "I believed him when he said he loved me. But he's a liar, and I've almost erased him from my heart."
"Almost." Adalbert was skeptical.
"I guess I need to kill him to get rid of my obsession," Florence added with an icy stare that clashed with what he knew of her. He guessed her lover's betrayal had changed her.
"My my, Florence, you're only a lady-in-waiting." Adalbert shook his head.
"Not anymore, my lord, I'm ready to fight," she replied, putting her hand on the hilt of a dagger attached to her belt.
"She's good, Father, trust me!" Conall added, nodding repeatedly.
"Very well then." Adalbert sighed. What a mismatched army he had. "I think I only need a magic user now."
"I thought you didn't trust them," Florence said.
"I don't, but Waltrand has one, so I need one to defeat him," he retorted.
"You have me," Benjamin said. "This story has been going on for too long. I'll take care of Beltrand now."
***
Waltrand stared incredulous in the magic basin. The black liquid showed Adalbert and Conall. Beltrand gasped in surprise.
"Adalbert is alive!" Waltrand snapped. "How is it possible?"
"You did poison the arrows didn't you?" Beltrand asked, glaring at him.
"Of course I did! Damn him! Keep an eye on them day and night, I want to be ready for them!"
Beltrand nodded and focused on the small group – Adalbert, Conall, Florence... And then the jester who had come to the castle – probably on behalf of Adalbert. The young man stared back at them. He flashed a smile and gestured as if to get rid of a fly. The magic window closed and both stared at the black liquid, gaping.
"What the hell happened?" Waltrand demanded.
"I don't know." Beltrand sat back. "A spell stronger than mine!" He looked puzzled. He leaned forward again, mixing the liquid with a spoon and mumbling to himself.
"Well?" Waltrand asked impatiently.
"I can't find them anymore!" Beltrand sounded on the verge of panic.
"Damn them!" Waltrand rushed out, leaving Beltrand staring aghast at his failing magic.
Waltrand ran to the guards' barracks.
"Everyone take position!" he shouted. "Double the sentinels! Keep your eyes open at all times!"
As soldiers scurried up and down the corridors and walls of the castle, and the drawbridge was pulled up, Waltrand ran into Romelia.
"Waltrand, what's going on?" she demanded.
"Nothing, my lady, I'm in full control of the situation," he snapped.
"Are we under attack?" she insisted, glaring at him.
"My lady, we might soon be. Please allow me to do my duty and defend the castle."
He quickly bowed and walked away before he snapped at her again and lost control of everything.
10.
"They locked themselves in yesterday," Teobald said, joining the strange council around Adalbert, that included him, Malcom and Benjamin, with Florence and Conall standing nearby.
"Beltrand has seen us – they know Adalbert is alive and Waltrand is being cautious," Benjamin said.
"Then it's going to be a long siege, I'm afraid," Malcom said, pursing his lips.
"No, I'm going in first," Benjamin replied, determined. "When Beltrand is dealt with, you can overcome Waltrand."
"But you're only an apprentice!" Adalbert protested, worried. "That sorcerer will kill you!"
"Thank you for caring, but don't you trust me anymore, my lord?" Benjamin flashed an impish smile at Adalbert who averted his eyes, embarrassed.
"I trust you," he grumbled. "But you're not immortal, I take it."
"No, but I can do it," Benjamin assured him. "You'll know when Beltrand is dead. You can start the siege in the meantime."
"My wife... will she be safe?" he asked.
"Yes, I'll be there for her," Benjamin promised.
"Will you open the main gate?" Teobald asked.
"If I can," Benjamin replied. "I might have to keep my strength for a protective spell on Lady Romelia and your daughters."
"I'll come with you," Malcom said.
"No way, I can get in on my own, but not with you," Benjamin replied.
"Hey, I'm a professional thief, and I've already been there!" Malcom protested.
"Not when the castle is locked up and full of armed men ready to fight," Benjamin said. "You can't become invisible, Malcom, I can."
Malcom raised his hands in surrender. "Be careful."
"Say hello to my little sisters, if you see them," Conall said.
"Sure. See you later." Benjamin waved good-bye and left.
"All right, now, Teobald, take your men to the south side," Adalbert ordered. "Malcom, your archers should keep to the forest, they'll be safer under the shelter of the trees."
Conall pulled his tunic to catch his attention.
"Yes?" Adalbert crouched so that his son could feel taller than him for a change.
"May I come with you?" Conall asked, serious.
"You're too young, dear." Adalbert ruffled his son's hair. "I want you here with Florence. Your mother would never forgive me if I put you in danger."
Conall sighed. "All right, I'll stay behind."
Adalbert hugged him, feeling proud of his mature little boy.
***
Beltrand sat by the basin, but the black liquid didn't show anything. The sorcerer seemed to be listening to invisible voices. Waltrand fidgeted while he waited, more and more nervous.
"Where are they?" he snapped at last.
"Very close," Beltrand sighed. "At least the wizard who is blocking my spells. He's already in the castle."
"How did he get in?" Waltrand frowned, worried.
"On the wind's wings..." Beltrand snapped back to reality and looked at Waltrand, determined. "Join your men. Adalbert will attack as soon as the fight of magic powers is over."
"Will you be able to help us?" Waltrand asked.
"The man who is coming is very powerful," Beltrand answered, thoughtful. "Even if I win, I doubt I'll have much strength left."
One last hesitation and Waltrand left.
***
"You called, my lord?" The young apprentice stepped into Beltrand's room as soon as Waltrand was gone.
"No, I didn't call anyone," Beltrand snapped, glaring at the gorgeous young man. He shooed him away, then thought again and stared suspiciously at the newcomer. "You were in the forest with Adalbert," he realized. "How did you get in?"
"On the wind's wings," the young man answered mockingly.
"You! But you're just a boy!"
"They call me Benjamin, the apprentice."
"An apprentice! But I feel the presence of your master..."
"How perceptive." The young man still sounded sarcastic. "But I'm alone."
"Stop your game, boy, and tell your master to come forward!" Beltrand said with contempt. "I will not confront an apprentice!"
Benjamin's smile vanished.
"I'm alone. And I'm here to punish you for your crimes. Say your prayers, the thing you stole cannot protect you."
"You insolent brat!" Beltrand ignored the threatening glare. "You're a liar! Get out of here and let your master in!"
Benjamin didn't move. Beltrand tried to hit him with a magic bolt, irritated, but Benjamin dissolved it with a bored gesture.
Beltrand started wondering about the young man's real identity and stared at him more closely.
"You're not what you say you are."
"I didn't say what I am, I said what they call me," Benjamin retorted. "Your time is almost up."
"Who are you?" Fear started growing in Beltrand's heart. Maybe the gorgeous youth wasn't even Human, after all.
"I am Firestarter, the owner of the cave where you found that damned liquid." Benjamin pointed at the basin without even looking at it, and the black liquid stirred. The boyish voice seemed to contrast with what he was saying, but Beltrand didn't doubt it was the truth anymore.
>
Beltrand's eyes dashed back and forth from the youth to the basin.
"You're too young to be the High Wizard! You looked older when I last saw you!" he burst out.
"Still, you weren't afraid to disobey my orders and enter my cave again," Benjamin said coldly. His look hadn't changed, but Beltrand thought he projected a big shadow of power, and it was growing.
"You refused me as your apprentice!" he complained.
"Because you weren't worth the effort. In fact you came back and stole the liquid, thinking you could use it without my help." It was Benjamin's turn to be scornful.
"Which I did, I managed without your precious lessons," Beltrand replied, outraged. "It made me powerful. And made you younger, apparently! How do you do it?"
"I might look young, but who tells you I really am?" Benjamin replied flatly. "You have to be very powerful to live by a Pond of Dark Magic. Humans can't do it."
"You're not Human?" Beltrand scoffed, incredulous. "I thought even the Magical Races couldn't get near the Ponds."
"Some of us can. The more powerful." Words as cold as ice.
"So what are you?" Beltrand stepped back, fearful again.
"I am your death, you stupid Human!" A roar more than a human voice.
Beltrand grabbed the basin and showered himself with the black liquid, screaming, "Powerful force, protect me!"
Like black paint, the liquid color covered him completely, then vanished, absorbed by his skin. His eyes turned completely black, which made Benjamin hiss like an angry snake.
Beltrand cackled. "Now I really see you, Fajrulo! That's what I call power!"
***
On the edge of the forest, Adalbert and his men stared worriedly at the towers of Hawk Castle. One tower was surrounded by strange lights and bolts of unnatural lightning, sign of a magic fight going on.
A sudden explosion made half the top of that tower crumble. A huge, red dragon opened his bat-like wings and moved backward from the wreck, breathing fire on the remnants of the top.
A black human figure confronted the dragon with hysterical laughter, apparently untouched by the dragon's breath. A red magic lightning hit the dragon who spit fire again.
The black figure turned into a ball of fire and the dragon hit it again with a white lightning bolt.
A scream, another explosion. Dragon and dark silhouette vanished like powder in the blue sky. A falcon flew towards one of the other towers.
Adalbert and his men gaped at the disaster, but it was only one tower and the castle was still locked up.
Attack now! Benjamin's voice came inside Adalbert's head. He shook his head and met Teobald's startled stare.
"You heard him, right?" Adalbert asked. The mercenary commander nodded. "Attack!" Adalbert shouted to his mismatched army.
"I hope someone opens the main gate," Teobald muttered before charging.
***
Romelia held her daughter closer, hoping the whole castle wasn't crumbling down. Waltrand stormed in and checked something from the window.
"What was that awful noise?" Romelia demanded. "Waltrand, I want an explanation!"
"Not now, my lady, we're under attack," he replied without looking at her.
He rushed out again and locked them in. Romelia pursed her lips, trying not to panic. If whatever had destroyed the east tower hit again, she was doomed to be buried in the ruins of her castle with her daughters.
"These sounds don't feel like a normal siege machine," she grumbled. "I hope Waltrand is not using magic again."
"The east tower is all crumbled," Isabel said, glancing outside of the window like Waltrand had done.
"That's Beltrand's place," Romelia said. "I sure hope he's dead!"
"Do you think Conall is out there?" Isabel looked strangely quiet, as if she could feel her twin was close.
"I don't know, darling, I don't know." Romelia squeezed her, trying hard not to cry.
11.
Tristan stared at the smoky remnants of Beltrand's tower. He left his room and went to look outside of another window to see the castle walls assaulted by assorted mercenaries.
Tristan headed quickly for the courtyard, determined. All was lost, he might as well help his lord to get back what Waltrand had tried to take.
Everybody ignored him as he walked to the unguarded drawbridge. The soldiers were all on the walls, busy fighting back.
"Traitor!" Waltrand's voice reached him moments before an arrow hit his back. Tristan clenched his teeth, stumbling, and walked faster.
"Tristan, stop!" Waltrand shot another arrow.
Tristan fell to his knees, but got up again. The drawbridge was blurry in front of him, but he'd make it.
"It's our lord Adalbert!" a soldier screamed as Tristan collapsed in front of the drawbridge. He panted, trying to get up again, but he was bleeding... "Waltrand be damned," he whispered before falling down again as life flooded out of his veins.
***
Romelia was startled when the door opened again. Waltrand stormed in again, furious, his sword drawn. He grabbed Romelia's arm and pulled her to her feet, making her daughters fall back. Isabel hugged her little sister who gasped in fear.
"Take me out of here," he ordered. "Or I'll kill your daughters."
"I can't, only my husband knows the secret passage escape," Romelia answered, trying to remain calm.
"Liar!" Waltrand's face was a mask of hatred as he pointed his sword at Isabel's throat. "Adalbert has no secrets with you. Take me out of here or I'll kill them both!"
With a short hesitation, Romelia led him to a tapestry that hid a small door. She opened it.
"Pick up a lamp," Waltrand ordered, grabbing Isabel's thin wrist. "Move!"
This time Romelia obeyed promptly. Eliza rushed to her and clung to her gown as she entered the passage first, followed by Waltrand still holding Isabel.
***
Adalbert entered the courtyard with Malcom and Teobald by his side. A standing ovation welcomed him back. He thanked his men with a smile. He saw Tristan's corpse, the arrows sprouting from his back, and wondered for a moment who had killed Waltrand's brother.
"Where's the traitor?" he asked. "Bring him to me!"
A few guards rushed into the castle. Adalbert turned to Teobald and pointed at the broken tower.
"Teobald, check how Benjamin is doing."
As if called by the mention of his name, Benjamin came out of the tower's door, unscratched.
"I'm fine, Adalbert," he said, serious. "Waltrand is running away with your wife as a guide and your daughters as hostage. Go for the exit of the secret escape."
Adalbert turned to Teobald again. "Go to my room, there's a door hidden behind a tapestry." He turned to a guard. "Peter! Take him to my room. Malcom! With me!"
The lord, the bandit and a few archers mounted horses and galloped away. They quickly reached a clearing where a rocky cave opened. They dismounted and hid the horses and themselves behind trees and bushes.
Romelia appeared first, with Eliza tightly holding her gown. Malcom, who was closer to the tunnel exit, grabbed her and pulled her aside, hushing her. The little girl was too terrified to even whimper.
Waltrand emerged still holding Isabel with one hand and his sword with the other. The archers aimed at him and Adalbert came out from behind a tree. Waltrand stopped, stared at his lord with pure hatred, pushing the sword against Isabel's throat.
"Others are coming from behind you," Adalbert warned him. "Surrender now, traitor."
"I'll take your daughter to hell with me," Waltrand threatened.
An arrow hit his armed hand, but it didn't come from the men in front of him. Startled, Waltrand dropped the sword and lost his grip on Isabel, who ran to her father for protection. Conall jumped down from a tree, followed by Florence in men's clothes. Both had bows, but the child had no arrows left.
"Conall!" Isabel gave a gushing squee and hugged her twin.
"I've been hit by a child?" Waltrand said, incredulous.
"My best student, actually," Malcom announced with a grin.
"Get him," Adalbert ordered, glaring at his former captain.
Waltrand looked subdued as two archers grabbed him. He held his wounded arm and still had a short dagger by his side. When he was close enough to Adalbert, he freed himself, unsheathed the weapon with the good hand and attacked his former lord.
Romelia screamed. Isabel and Conall held each other tight. Malcom aimed his arrow, but hesitated, fearful of hitting Adalbert who was struggling to keep the blade away from his vitals.
The two men rolled on the ground of the clearing, fiercely fighting each other. Waltrand pinned Adalbert to the ground and raised his arm to kill him.
An arrow hit his throat. Eyes wide in shock, Waltrand collapsed on his left side.
Still breathless, Adalbert looked around. Malcom stared admiringly at Florence, bow still in her hands, who was looking gloomily at her dead lover.
"Actually, Conall is my best student," she said, looking Adalbert in the eyes.
"Great shot, Flo!" Conall cheered.
"I didn't know you could shoot like that." Adalbert got up and stared at her warily.
"I didn't learn at your wife's service..." She shrugged. "Good to see you again, my lady."
"Good to see you too," Romelia answered, coming forward, as color returned to her cheeks. "Where did you learn to use the bow?"
"We learned together when we were hiding in the forest," Conall quipped in proudly.
"Good..." Then her eyes met Adalbert's and she ran to him, hugging him and sobbing with relief. Adalbert took in her scent and squeezed her, relieved. It was finally over.
***
Adalbert had all his family in the great hall with him when Benjamin came to say good-bye. Teobald wore what had been Waltrand's insignia of Captain of the Guard and the guards were half his men and half the original men.
"Thank you for everything," Adalbert said. "Are you sure you don't want to stay?"
"No, a castle is too small for me," Benjamin replied. "I live in the world. But I'll be back sometime."
"Please, at least accept some silver coins for a job well done..."
He offered the young man a jingling purse.
"I had my reasons to come here," Benjamin replied. "Keep that money to rebuild the tower I destroyed."
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2 Page 24