She saw that she wasn’t the only person brooding into her cup, either. King Zorlan sat apart, neither laughing nor happy. He sat watching and Brianna thought there was murder in his eyes.
Chapter 8
Brianna walked slowly up the stairs. She could hear the men below her laughing and drinking. She wondered if they would be so festive if they understood the horrors they would face the way she did.
She lingered along the balcony, looking down on the men who were once again congregating in smaller groups. King Zorlan and his advisors kept to the far side of the room. Wilam’s men seemed to be gathered together in groups according to rank. King Wilam was joined by General Hausey, along with two men she didn’t know. They stayed near the fire with King Bloc and the other dwarves. At the far end of the hall, Quinn sat alone watching the men. He was shrouded in darkness so far from the merry hearth. He kept his cloak wrapped tightly around his shoulders and his sharp eyes seemed to dart from one group to the next. At one point they flashed up to her and a smile played at the edges of his lips.
Brianna went into the rooms reserved for King Wilam. She walked around the room. A small fire burned in a simple wood stove, but it kept the anteroom warm. There was a map laid out on one of the tables; it showed the Walheta mountains, including both the eastern and western passes. She didn’t know the mountains well, but she could imagine how difficult it would be to cross the Walheta range without using the two well known passes. Brianna guessed that the hordes of mutated people would find the crossing difficult if not impossible, despite their increased strength and stamina. She only hoped that the King’s army and the dwarves wouldn’t be overrun by the terrible enemy coming against them.
She sighed deeply as she sank into a stiff wooden chair near the wood stove. Even the threat of death couldn’t keep her mind from wondering when Wilam would return and what he would expect of her. He had made his wishes known. She had pledged herself to marry him and now that Zollin was gone she had no reason not to, but still, she didn’t feel good about the idea. She had been married before, but her husband, Todrek had been too inebriated to consummate the marriage. She had taken her time preparing their bed chamber and when she came out she found Todrek asleep in a chair. The next day Todrek had been slain and Brianna had fled from their village with Zollin.
It had been difficult not to give Zollin her virtue, but they both agreed waiting until they could be married was the right thing to do. Still, Brianna had spent many wonderful nights in Zollin’s arms, warm and safe. Now, she wondered if she was ready to be married. Growing up she had always thought of marriage as an escape from her mother’s constant demands and had looked forward to it. But now she realized that if she couldn’t be with Zollin, being with someone else, even a king, simply wasn’t appealing. Of course she couldn’t let King Wilam know how she felt. He was handsome and kind, he made her feel smart and important, and there had been times over the last month when she would have gladly taken him to her bed. Unfortunately for Brianna, those feeling were little more than infatuation and the reality seemed almost frightening.
In her mind she debated the matter. On the one hand she didn’t know what it could hurt if she married King Willam. They might all be dead in a matter of days and Zollin was almost certainly rushing to his own demise. She had no reason to hold herself back, but on the other hand she didn’t see the benefits of marriage either. She couldn’t be the dutiful wife, waiting patiently for her husband to return each day, ensuring that he had all he needed. She wouldn’t mend his clothes and spend hours cleaning or cooking meals. Not that a king needed a wife for such things, but Brianna wouldn’t stay safely behind the front lines of the coming battle. She would lead her pride of dragons against the monstrous horde of mutated people Gwendolyn sent to destroy them.
After an hour she felt tired and moved to the bedroom. She pulled off her boots but otherwise remained dressed and wrapped herself in a blanket. She laid down on the bed, her head close to the wall that separated the sleeping chamber from the anteroom. She dozed as she listened for Wilam's return, her eyes opening in the darkness with each sound. Time seemed to drag on and on until she finally drifted off to a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning she found herself alone in the small room that was King Wilam’s bedchamber. She had expected him to follow her up after she had slipped upstairs to bed, but she had fallen asleep and he had not bothered her. She washed her face in the basin of water on the table and pulled her long hair back into a ponytail.
In the larger anteroom, she found several men whispering close together. King Willam sat in a chair with his eyes closed, his head resting on a cushion.
“Why is the king asleep out here?” Brianna asked.
“My lady,” said one of the men, standing up and smoothing his clothes. “The king did not wish to wake you. We were very late in our deliberations.”
“I’ll see that breakfast is sent up,” Brianna said quietly. “Tell him I will return by nightfall.”
“Where are you going?” the man asked.
“The dragons and I will begin scouting,” Brianna said. “Wilam will understand that.”
“As you wish, my lady.”
Brianna left the room and breathed a sigh of relief. She had made it through the night without being bothered. Now she could spend the day with the dragons and at least they wouldn’t question her or try to coddle her.
She left word in the kitchens that food should be sent up to King Willam’s quarters. Then, taking a small loaf of freshly baked bread from the oven, she hurried outside.
“And where are you rushing off to?” came a familiar voice from behind her.
She turned and saw the unmistakable curly beard of Babaz, the dwarf who had led her and Zollin through the underground tunnels of the dwarves under the mountains of the Northern Highlands.
“Babaz,” she said. “I didn’t realize you had come.”
“I’ve been with my clansmen,” he admitted. “I’m afraid I opposed our involvement in your war.”
Brianna frowned. “You’re opposed and yet here you are.”
“The Oliad clan would never turn our backs on our fellow dwarves, even if we felt that staying hidden in the mountains was the wisest choice for our people.”
“I understand that sentiment,” she said. “I’m going to scout the enemy.”
“Yes, you are a Fire Spirit, master of dragons,” Babaz said proudly. “And friend to the dwarves, yes?”
“Of course, always.”
“So much has changed for you, but you seem to be handling it well enough.”
“Thank you,” Brianna said.
“I look forward to hearing of your exploits,” he said, bowing slightly.
“And I yours.”
Brianna didn’t walk far before Selix swooped low. She jumped and allowed the golden dragon to snatch her up with his long tail. Another flick of that tail sent her flying high into the air. She twirled and danced along the invisible currents before settling gracefully onto Selix’s back. From behind them half a dozen dragons roared. They were well past the little village and long lines where the cavalry troops made their camps. Fire roared out around her and Brianna felt more alive than she had in days.
* * *
Quinn heard the roar of the dragons and smiled to himself. He was glad to see Brianna out of the village feasting hall. He understood her decision to marry King Wilam, but he was glad she wasn’t waiting on him hand and foot. He felt an ache that she had decided not to marry Zollin, but with all they faced Quinn knew his son’s chances of survival were grim. Still, he held out hope and not only for his son, but for the Five Kingdoms. Things had changed drastically and not for the better, but sometimes things needed to be shaken up. Others might see the chaos the Five Kingdoms had been thrust into as disaster, but Quinn could see the opportunity that lay before them.
He had hoped to see more of the dwarves, but they were not in the feasting hall. He guessed they were probably in one of the rooms a
bove the main hall sleeping off the ale they had drank the night before. He had nursed his own drinks slowly and kept to himself most of the night. He had slept a few hours once the sour King Zorlan had turned in. Now, he was enjoying a warm breakfast. It was little more than porridge, but it was sweetened with honey, just the way he liked it.
“Good morning old man,” Mansel said coming up behind his mentor.
“I’m not old,” Quinn said. “I’m aged, like wine, improving with each year.”
“But no funnier,” Mansel scoffed. “I suppose you have a plan for us today?”
“Always,” Quinn said. “But sit down and eat. We don’t need to hurry anymore. I suppose everyone of importance is here already. They’ll probably have a list of things they want changed.”
Mansel sat across from Quinn and began to eat his breakfast.
“You think being inn keepers is the best use of our time?”
“Maybe not,” Quinn said, “but I want to keep an eye on things and important people rarely take notice of the hired help.”
“How long until they kick us out of their deliberations completely?”
“I don’t know. If it weren’t for Brianna it would have happened already. I also want to keep an eye on her.”
“She’s sleeping in Wilam’s quarters,” Mansel said, before sticking a large spoonful of porridge into his mouth and letting the statement hang in the air.
“I know that,” Quinn said after a pause. “She has every right.”
“You aren’t going to say anything to her?”
“I’m not her father,” Quinn said sadly. “We can’t blame her for choosing Wilam over Zollin.”
“I can,” Mansel said. “Don’t get me wrong, I like our new king, but where is the honor in wooing a woman who is already promised to another man. Not to mention the fact that Zollin has saved Wilam’s life and protected the kingdom the man just inherited more than once.”
“Like I said, important people rarely notice the hired help,” Quinn said bitterly.
They ate in silence after that. The soldiers spent the day in leisure, resting after their long march south. The dwarves too were quiet, but searching through the hills, exploring the best places for battle. Quinn and Mansel kept busy on small projects. Quinn managed to do some work outside of the rooms where King Zorlan stayed most of the day. At one point he overheard the king of Falxis talking about King Willam.
“He’s my whipping boy,” Zorlan said loudly. “I’ve bested him once on the battlefield and he knows it. He kowtowed to his father and now he will to me.”
“He seems confident my lord,” said a voice Quinn didn’t recognize.
“And that shall be his undoing,” Zorlan said. “I have plans for him. I shall lay the web quietly and carefully. Then, when the time is right, all I’ll need to do is give Wilam a subtle push in the right direction. His sense of honor and his pride will propel him right into my trap.”
The voices fell quieter and Quinn couldn’t make out any more of the conversation. But he had heard enough to know Zorlan was plotting against King Wilam. It wasn’t a surprise really. King Felix had died trying to take over Zorlan’s kingdom. Zorlan had been in Osla laying siege to the Grand City when the witch Gwendolyn unleashed the dark magic that shattered the Five Kingdoms. The fact no one realized that it was the secret plots and constant struggle for more power that had laid them low in the first place astonished Quinn. He understood the power of wanting things, the way greed could creep into a man’s heart and take control of him. But he still couldn’t understand how, in this dark hour, the rulers couldn’t put their differences aside and focus on the real enemy.
As darkness fell the fires were built up in the feasting hall. From the kitchens came the aroma of baking bread, stewing vegetables, and roasting meat. The kings and their closest advisors arrived, talking together in quiet groups. A roar shook the building and they fell silent. Brianna threw open the large door. Quinn caught a glimpse of the golden dragon called Selix and thought of how much Miriam would have loved to be around those animals. He missed Miriam and thinking of her made him sad, but he knew that coming south to find and help Mansel had been the right thing. He only wished she could have come with him.
“I have news,” Brianna said loudly, so that everyone in the hall could hear her. “The army will make landfall in the morning. The first troops should arrive by tomorrow evening.”
“That is excellent news,” said Wilam.
“The witch’s horde is four days away,” Brianna said, her tone more somber. “Their numbers are innumerable.”
“None went east around the Sea of Kings?” King Zorlan asked.
“I cannot tell,” Brianna said. “There are so many of them.”
“Perhaps we should rethink our strategy,” Zorlan said.
“The strategy is sound,” Wilam said.
“I’m afraid I have more experience in these matters, my young king. As you may recall from your own attempt to defeat me in battle. A failed attempt, mind you.”
“The army is Yelsian and shall be lead by the King of Yelsia,” Wilam said angrily. “Take your remnants and do as you please.”
“No,” said Bloc, trying to ensure that the alliance didn’t fall apart. “We need a combined army and a single strategy.”
“It’s no use,” King Zorlan said. “This boy playing king has no idea what he is doing.”
Anger flashed across Wilam’s face, then doubt.
“No,” Quinn said. “Bloc is right. Zollin knew our only hope lay in coming together to face the evil surging toward us. We must work together. King Wilam is the rightful heir to his father’s throne and as such he must be accorded with the honor and respect of that position.”
“But can we put our hopes of success into his untried and ultimately weak hands,” Zorlan argued.
“Wilam is not weak,” Brianna said angrily. She couldn’t understand why Wilam remained silent.
“His only experience in leading an army resulted in total failure,” Zorlan said.
“And you have been successful?” Quinn said. “Your invasion of Yelsia failed. Your invasion of Osla failed. Now your kingdom is overrun. We’ve all made mistakes and we’ve all been hurt by the evil threatening to engulf the Five Kingdoms. Now is the time to turn away from that greedy, self serving point of view and work together for the good of all our people.”
“Quinn is right,” said Bloc. “We must see past our own needs and work together.”
“And we have no time for this senseless fighting amongst ourselves,” Brianna said, her voice shaking with anger. “Put your pride away and help us make plans to stop the witch’s army.
“At least you can agree that it is time to eat,” said one of the cooks in a screechy voice that made many in the feasting hall laugh.
The tension ebbed away and Quinn noticed the look of frustration on King Zorlan’s face. Everyone moved to seats at the long tables as servants began passing out mugs of ale and goblets of wine. Quinn realized that more people had been brought in to help the two cooks and guessed that Nycoll had a hand in that wisdom. He was impressed with Nycoll’s ability to work behind the scenes and get things done without anyone ever knowing what she was doing. He thought that King Wilam could learn a thing or two from Mansel’s fair lady.
Brianna moved immediately to Wilam’s side once the tension broke.
“Can I speak to you?” she said.
“Of course.”
They moved to a small store room for privacy.
“What is going on?” she asked.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes you do, why are letting King Zorlan run all over you.”
“I beg your pardon, my lady, but I don’t think you understand the gravity of our situation.”
“I don’t understand?” Brianna almost shouted. “I think I’m the only one who does. I’ve seen the monsters we are facing. I’ve fought them. I know just how dire the situation is, which is why I can’t understan
d why you’re suddenly backing down from Zorlan.”
“I’m not backing down,” Wilam said. “You need to understand just how delicate this alliance is. I know we are facing a horrible army, but I’m also trying to balance the egos of two kings.”
“Balancing or backing down?” Brianna said.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Wilam said angrily.
“Yes I do.”
“I can’t let my ego get in the way of what we’re doing here. Perhaps Zorlan is right. Perhaps I’m not the best one to lead in this battle.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“He bested me on the battlefield,” he said, the pain in his voice etched on his face. “I vowed that I would never let that happen again. I underestimated his forces and we were routed. I can’t help but wonder if I’m doing it again, if I’m letting my feelings about Zorlan keep me from making wise choices.”
“You have to trust yourself,” Brianna said.
“I don’t know if I can. I can wear the crown of Yelsia, I’ve envisioned that for so long it feels natural, but I don’t know if I can make the right decisions.”
Five Kingdoms: Book 07 - Wizard Falling Page 6