He turned his attention back to Vashina and the badly wounded assassin, who had both watched his display of power. Vashina was grinning in awe while the assassin's eyes glistened with unspoken dread.
"Now, maybe you will be of more use to me," Astaroth said, calmly walking over. "Who sent you?"
"It … it was Lady Jewel of Dragon's Cove," the assassin whimpered, truly afraid, knowing his wounds most likely would not kill him, but these two surely would.
"What? How do they know?" Astaroth barked in confusion.
"It is rumored that the Wizard Ursa and Princess Nicolette made it to Dragon's Cove, cleared their names and told them the truth about you." The assassin answered without pause, praying if he told them everything he knew, they would grant him at least a quick death.
"So it was not Tundal after all," Vashina mused.
"How many assassins were sent for me?" Astaroth ordered his frustration clearly growing in his features.
"Just the two of us were sent."
"Why do I get the feeling you are lying to me!" Astaroth hissed, stepping closer to glare at the bleeding assassin.
"I have no reason to lie now - I know I am as good as dead."
"One already tried to kill me today, before you two showed up." He backhanded the assassin across the face, leaving burnt blistering where his fingers had struck.
"Maybe Tundal did hire one on his own," Vashina said, quickly dressing herself and throwing Astaroth a robe to cover his nakedness.
"No, I do not believe that - he had too much honor to do such a thing." Astaroth glared down at the assassin again. "Last chance - tell me the truth or suffer a fate far worse than your comrade did."
The assassin held his ground and did not reply until fire ignited in Astaroth's hand. "They sent five of us to kill you," he quickly blurted out. "They wanted to be sure it got done and smoothly," he cried out, backing his head away as the flames got closer.
"Let me have some fun with him," Vashina purred with a menacing smile and Astaroth nodded, stepping away to retrieve his clothing. "I will get all the information you want from him by the time I am done."
"I will tell you anything. I will help you! I know who the other assassins are - I can kill them for you," the assassin begged.
"Why would we need your help? We already stopped three." Astaroth mused. "Besides - you are wounded. You would hardly be of much help for much longer."
"No, no, I am not hurt badly - please, I will help you for my life." He pleaded desperately, seeing his chance at surviving dwindling.
"Funny thing about assassins, their loyalties always lay with the better offer," Vashina remarked.
"I would rather work for you, yes. You are far more powerful than everyone else - it would be an honor to serve you," he said, forcing himself to sit up this time and doing his best to wince away the pain from the wounds.
Astaroth paced in front of him, knowing he would not be as bold as the other to try to attack him. "Yes, we could use your help - then again, how can we trust that you will not betray us like your former employer?" Astaroth questioned, raising his dark eyebrow.
"You have my word, your Greatness!" the assassin replied, licking his lips nervously.
"The word of an assassin - the irony in such a statement." Astaroth gave Vashina a nod and before his head had even stopped moving, three knifes were embedded in the assassin's chest.
"What are you doing?" The assassin gurgled desperately, slumping back down to the floor.
"Never trust an assassin." Astaroth muttered, his lover continuing to pump knife after knife into the man, her speed so deadly she had twelve blades in him before his final breath escaped his quivering lips.
"I was beginning to wonder what happened to my darling wife-to-be and her cursed Wizard guardian," Astaroth deliberated after Vashina had ceased her attack on the dead assassin.
"Well, they will not be alive for long," Vashina said, searching the assassin's bodies for anything she might want. "All within Dragon's Coves walls will be slaughtered soon enough."
"I want you to go to Dragon's Cove and see to its downfall, Vashina. If Ursa and his apprentice are there, that means Dragon's Cove has four Wizards to defend it," Astaroth told her.
"Dragon's Cove will fall - they do not need me. I would be of more use to our cause here, by finding the last two assassins and making sure no one else tries to stand against you now that Tundal is gone," Vashina argued. "You will need me. I already saved you once tonight - next time you might not be so lucky."
"I need no luck," Astaroth replied, his tone firm. "I want you there to make sure nothing goes wrong. I have a feeling that Ursa could be more trouble than we would like to believe. He is wise and powerful - I will not take any more chances when regarding that one. Once we have total control over Draco Kingdom, with the help of our barbarian ‘friends,' we will be unstoppable, Vashina - nothing will stand in our way. Then we can go take back what was taken from me!" Astaroth roared with enthusiasm. "Besides, I do not fully trust our counterparts in this - it would be wise to have a watchful eye on them."
"Fine, I will go help the savages," Vashina muttered, clearly displeased. "Though I do hope you have fun here. With Tundal dead, no Lords are left here to help see to the ruling. You have placed yourself in a very unstable position - I hope you have a plan." Vashina began to walk away.
"Vashina!" Astaroth said loudly and with full authority. She stopped to regard him.
"What is it?" she asked, indifferently clearing under a nail with one of her blades..
"If we are to make this work, we need to work together and not have any doubt in one another."
"Of course, I have no doubt we will succeed," she replied coolly.
"Good, you know we need each other in this - we cannot do it alone."
"I want what you want, Astaroth. I will stand by your side ‘til the bitter end," Vashina answered back.
"Go now, Vashina, to the meeting place. Stay hidden until I get there." Astaroth ordered, finally turning around to face her.
"Of course," she turned and seemed to melt into the shadows.
Astaroth walked over to the large, full body mirror that was in his room. "Oh mother, how you should have believed in me," Astaroth growled to himself while transforming back into Prince Berrit. "How I do grow tired of being this pathetic form."
*****
Pavilion watched from the shadowed corner of a window as Astaroth's features melted into those of Prince Berrit's, and he stalked out of the room. He had fully intended to complete his mission but had noticed the other two assassins in place and decided to give them the opportunity. He was glad he had now, he had not expected Vashina to have such skills and that would have likely gotten him killed. Not that dying bothered him - he was just an empty husk of the man he had once been - but he had an important job to fulfill, which meant death would have to wait a little while longer for him.
Pavilion scaled down the wall effortlessly, stopping only long enough to avoid the night guards who patrolled the grounds below. He melted through the many shadows of the courtyard as naturally as if he were a shadow wraith.
Pavilion's eyes caught sight of a guard making his way to the gates. Normally, a random guard would not have caught his attention, but this guard did not have the same rough posture or leisurely stride that was expected. He followed the guard beyond the gates and out of the city onto the eastern roadway, where finally the guard's form wavered into his true design. Pavilion was truly intrigued by Astaroth's shape shifting abilities, never before had he encountered or even heard of such an ability existing.
Outside the city, Pavilion prepared himself to strike as he followed his target off the main road into the growth of the jungle. Several times, he thought to strike when he caught a glimpse of movement from the gloom that engulfed the jungle. Vashina was out here with them, watching Astaroth's back in case of such a bold move from the last two assassins.
Pavilion held off his attack and fell back further, making sure Va
shina did not catch sight of him. He was sure he did not want to tangle with the both of them at once. He knew his mission was to kill this Wizard, but instinct was telling him to watch and learn what he could. Something more was afoot than what anyone expected - he was sure of it.
Pavilion knew they were nearing their destination when he noticed several barbarian sentries lying in wait. He altered his course around them, being sure to keep a mental tally of how many he saw in case events turned to a fight.
"Vashina, you can come out now," Astaroth called out, stopping in front of a group of large dangerous looking barbarians. Almost on cue, Vashina emerged from the gloomy foliage - she had been completely unseen. She smiled dangerously as she stopped at Astaroth's side, knowing the barbarians were taken aback by her stealth.
"There are nine," Vashina told Astaroth.
"Nine," Astaroth mused, regarding her for a moment then the brutes in front of him. "It would almost seem like you did not trust me."
"Trust is earned," the largest of the savages muttered.
"Were you followed?" The leader of the group asked - his demeanor calm and sharp - his English only showing a hint of his true ancestral accent.
"I would not be standing before you had I been," Astaroth snapped in reply.
The leader snapped in reply. "Things are going well on our end. Mandrake fell just as we had planned, with fewer losses than we expected…with the knowledge you provided us."
"Good, now what of Dagon and his forces?" Astaroth questioned eagerly, hoping the Lord was lying dead somewhere. "Have they been dealt with yet?"
The leader cleared his throat awkwardly, clearly not wanting to address this question. "Their numbers have been nearly cut in half - Dagon and his band will be finished off shortly without much more hindrance to us."
"From my reports, Dagon has been a great hindrance to you and much to our entire plan," Astaroth countered.
"He knows the land better than we do and he uses that fact well to his advantage," Another one of the barbarians cut in, his features sharp and hawk like. "His numbers are fading - our warriors will crush them soon!"
"They had better. Now, how soon will Dragon's Cove fall?"
"Three more nights and the attack will start," the leader replied.
"Why three more nights?" Astaroth questioned, his tone displeased. "The attacks should have begun by now. Dragon's Cove should nearly be ours!"
"We know, but we do not have the men in place to attack, must wait for more," the leader replied firmly. "Dagon and his men have killed many warriors who were sent from Mandrake to join with tribes near Dragon's Cove."
"I thought he had not been that much of a hindrance?" Vashina added sarcastically, drawing bitter glares from the savages that stood before them.
"The longer you wait, the more time Dragon's Cove has to set up their defense!" Astaroth raged. "Has the element of surprise never occurred to you?" He wondered if he should inform them of the other two Wizards who were now in Dragon's Cove, but quickly decided not to. They would discover it soon enough and a few more dead savages was not entirely a bad thing.
"Too many die, must wait for larger army before attacking. Winning back land no good if we all dead," a thick accented barbarian shot back.
"Dragon's Cove does not even have a moat or catapults! It should be easier to take down!" Astaroth hissed.
"They have two powerful Wizards and can only be attack at by the north and east side," the hawk-faced warrior barked back. "Steeper walls and harder terrain…!"
"Enough!" the barbarian leader growled before Astaroth could open his mouth to argue. "Valka also wants to wait for the Priests and Priestesses to arrive. With more of them joining the fight, our warriors will be inspired to fight harder to gain favor with Valka and the Goddess. Do not concern yourself with the fall of Dragon's Cove . Besides - we have heard you are having your own troubles within the castle walls."
Astaroth smiled snidely. "Yes, there have been a few minor setbacks on my part within the castle. But my part is far more delicate and tedious and requires far more skill in the act than merely the siege of a castle." He did well to compose himself - he hated acting as if he were inferior to these pathetic creatures, but if he was to get what he wanted, he had to play his part. "On the morrow I shall send word to Drandor and tell them to send aid to Dragon's Cove. By the time they arrive, you should have Dragon's Cove and you should easily be able to defend against the reinforcements. Once Drandor's army arrives to aid Dragon's Cove, your army will march from Mandrake to overtake Drandor—if, of course, Lord Dagon and his boys are not still causing too much trouble for you," Astaroth said coldly. "Once you have those three castles secure, I shall order the surrender of Draco Kingdom to your leader. You will have your lands back and then Kinor will give me what I seek."
"I shall tell our leader everything is going as planned, and so it had better, Astaroth," The barbarian barked while he and his men walked back into the jungle.
Several minutes passed before Astaroth spoke. "Once I no longer need him, I am going to enjoy gutting him like a pig."
"Now, now my love, play nice with the pawns. We need them, remember," Vashina reminded him with saccharine sweet tones dripping in her voice.
"Go now, to Dragon's Cove. See to it that it is ours as soon as possible. And keep an eye on Valka - I will never trust her." Astaroth told her as she melted into the darkness.
*****
Pavilion could not believe what he had witnessed - this was so much more than Dragon's Cove believed it was. This was not just one man causing problems. This was what everyone had always feared - the barbarians finally had the edge they needed to take over Draco Kingdom, had someone powerful on the inside, and they were succeeding.
Pavilion knew what he was sent here to do, but now he knew killing Astaroth would not be enough - things were already set in motion. The information he knew was far more valuable. He had to get back to Dragon's Cove. He had to warn them of what was transpiring - he just prayed he could get there before it was too late.
*****
Dagon watched the activity around his castle and city from the rocky crest of the hillside he and his men were camped by. There were so many of them now, they kept filtering out of the wastelands to the east. Dagon had been surprised at first that they had not burned down the city after they had overtaken it. However, realization soon came that the enemy had not intended ever to leave and now made full use of the city to house their growing army.
He and his men were doing the best they could winnowing that growing number, but it seemed for every enemy they killed, two more replaced them. But that would not stop him - he would fight until he won back what was his, or until an enemy blow took the life from within him.
Dagon turned his horse around and headed back to one of the small camps he and his men had set up around the land. From his original eighteen hundred soldiers, only a thousand remained. But more and more refugees from all of the towns and small cities that had been sacked or threatened by the barbarian invasion were joining his army daily, in hopes of helping rid the land of these heathens. He had close to two thousand men now, most simple farmers or shopkeepers, but they all had one thing in common - they had lost their family, friends and homes to the same enemy, and a man who has lost everything fights hard to reclaim it.
Dagon had several small camps, a score of men in each, set up all along the eastern river flowing out from Mandrake's lake. They kept the smaller tribes of barbarians from coming out of the wastelands and joining with the large army already residing in Mandrake castle. The smaller armies made it easier to pack up and run when they needed to. Now, many of the tribes were sending their warriors across the lake in boats from Mandrakes harbor, avoiding Dagon's men entirely. Dagon had already run his lines thinner than he would have preferred, so there was no way they could guard the whole lake and stop the boats. The rest of his soldiers were in three larger groups of three hundred each. They were doing their best at stopping or hindering
all the barbarian warriors from leaving Mandrake that were heading west or that went out to sack and pillage the lands around them.
Lord Dagon knew the barbarians were up to something big. Every day, more and more bands left the castle and traveled to the northwest. Dagon and his men did their best to see to it most of them never made it far. In the beginning, the barbarians came out in small packs of a score or more, so it was easy for Dagon's men to overwhelm them. Now they were growing smarter and sending out several larger bands at a time, four or five scores, so Dagon would have to join his three groups into one instead just to take on one of the enemy armies. Too many were getting through to wreak havoc on Draco kingdom.
Dagon prayed that the messengers he had sent to Tundal at Draco Castle asking for the aid of more men would soon arrive with another army. He had also sent messengers into Zandor to Besha -where he also asked Lord Andras for the aid of his armies. He had doubts that any aid would come from Zandor, but his options were limited and his hopes high.
Dagon arrived back to his camp and watched his men prepare for the battle that would soon take place. The barbarians had sent out the largest army thus far the day before - fifteen hundred warriors. Along with them were several dozen heavily loaded wagons. He knew weapons and food supplies were in those wagons, but he had no idea where they were heading with them. They were up to no good and he was not about to let them get away with it if he could. Additionally, his men needed those supplies badly - their own stocks were dwindling down to nothing.
The False Prince (Fall Of A King Book 1) Page 39