From the building nearest the gate light flared and a large figure walked out waving two swords. Mordyn soldiers attacked but were cut down by the giant. Again and again he cut a swath through the invaders. The Talos Company returned and struck the Mordyn force hard. The fighting continued for several minutes before Taina could look closely at the huge figure. The red beard, curved swords and the tusks!
"Kerreth!" cried Taina. She rode to him ready to jump off her horse but when he glanced at her, Taina changed her mind. His eyes were black, no whites at all and he did not seem to recognize her. Kerreth seemed empty inside; just a hollow shell. She moved closer and he looked away; engaging the Mordyn soldiers again. Taina whirled around looking for the sorcerer.
"Blackthorne! What have you done?" She screamed to the sky.
Kerreth's assault drove the Mordyn soldiers backward and they tripped over each other to escape the thundering blades of the giant. The Talos Company and Calendian soldiers pushed the invaders back through the gates and Kerreth pushed the gates shut. Taina sent archers to the walls to drive back the Mordyn. Arrows from the walls feathered the Mordyn soldiers and the Celaeri captains called back their forces out of the range of the arrows. Taina ordered the soldiers to stand down. The Talos responded immediately but it was several minutes before she could keep the Calendian soldiers from giving chase to the Mordyn. Taina ordered repairs on the gate while the archers on the walls watched the Mordyn soldiers.
Moria and Hobart reached the inner city where Rose Knights guarded the entrance. Moria did not stop her bloodlust still fueled by the death of Kerreth. Two knights blocked her path. She struck down the guards without a word and continued onward, Hobart running hard to keep up. Many faces peered out of windows at the strange duo but no one hailed them or hindered them.
Closer to the palace there were fewer soldiers and no one opposed them. The palace door was open and Hobart pushed it wider as they entered. The interior was unlit and silent. Moria listened for sound and heard breathing not too far away. She looked at Hobart who nodded. They moved forward into the great hall where the Rose Bishop waited for them, his sword drawn.
"A Daerlan and a Tuor come for me. Is this the best the Talos Company can do? I watched your arrival from the tower window. Very impressive charge on your horses. No doubt the Mordyn will turn and run; they are a repulsive people. You are wasting your time if you come for my sword. I will not surrender to non-Men. This is Nantitet; the great city of Men and you dare tread on the floor of the great hall? This is the heart of Men on Landermass. You creatures must be scoured from the land."
Moria advanced while Hobart moved to one side to watch the doors.
"Where is the High King?" asked Moria.
Aulan lifted his bloody blade.
"I made sure he could not be rescued."
"You are a pawn of Pashar Bei's."
"A pawn? No, I would have tossed him aside when Nantitet was mine. I have no use for Mordyn. Pashar Bei's forces are only now at the west gate. He has his own agenda obviously. He moved too slowly to help me. I am the ruler of Nantitet now. And he who rules Nantitet rules Calendia. Wierland and Curesia bow before Calendia so in fact I rule Anavar. Come Daerlan, cross blades with the Rose Bishop. I shall cut your heathen head from your shoulders."
Moria advanced quickly surprising Aulan as he barely blocked her first blow. As they danced on the landing Hobart waited below with his arrow notched. Soon enough a Rose Knight bounded down the stairs to strike Moria from the rear. Hobart's arrow caught the knight in the throat and the body tumbled past Aulan and Moria to the lower stairs. Moria pressed her attack.
"Hedging your bet?" said Moria. "Can't win on your own?"
"They are compelled to defend their bishop, nothing more. I will kill you Daerlan." He lunged forward but Moria was faster. She knocked his blade away and drove her sword deep into his chest. Aulan gasped and gurgled and fell to the floor. Moria stepped on his chest to pull her sword free.
"Let's find the High King," said Moria. "Or at least his body."
They ran up the stairs to the royal compartments. The guard outside the door was dead and the door was unlatched. Moria pushed it open and saw the bodies. They stood silent for several minutes.
"Damn. Let's tell Taina to take control of the city," said Moria. "I don't know who to trust of the nobles in the city so let it be martial law for now."
"We should hurry. The sound of the battle has changed."
They ran toward the east gate past bodies of Rose Knights to where the Talos Company had set up their watch to supplement the Calendian soldiers as the sun began to set. Hobart found Taina and told her of the High King's death and that Moria had killed the Rose Bishop.
"Good. At least we can settle things within in the walls. Only having one enemy is quite enough."
"Taina?" said Hobart, pointing towards the gate. "Is that…"
"Oh gods, yes! Where is Moria? I have to talk to her first." She ran toward Kerreth but when she wove her way through the soldiers Moria was already there. Moria had released her hug when Kerreth didn't respond. She stared up at his face when her mother reached her side.
"I'm so sorry, Moria," said Taina. "It was Blackthorne. I don't know how he brought him back or what he intends. When he returns I will give him some hell."
"Is Kerreth in there, or is it just a shell?" her voice was tiny.
"I can't say, but he did fight like Kerreth."
The sun set and Kerreth began to shimmer.
"What's happening?" asked Moria.
Kerreth's skin became translucent and faded away leaving a giant skeleton standing in its place.
"Kerreth?"
It turned to Moria, its grim tusked smile locked in place. She gasped. The skull nodded to her and the skeleton turned and walked away. Moria began to sob and Taina held her.
When Blackthorne reached the west gate a sortie had been sent to test the meddle of the attackers. The defenders charged into the Celaeri soldiers Pashar Bei wielded and fought desperately for they knew the Celaeri's speed and strength were superior. However the Celaeri moved no faster than the Calendians and in some engagements even slower. With a roar the Calendians cut down their opponents and swarmed to the next one. Blackthorne listened to the din of swordplay but then a moan rose from the field. The Calendian soldiers cried out when the Celaeri they slew transformed into soldiers from Wierland and Curesia. They had not killed Celaeri; they had killed Men from the neighboring kingdoms. Their captain pushed them forward but the results were the same. The soldiers lowered their weapons unsure of what to do next. Who were they fighting? That was when the Celaeri rushed forward from behind the ensorcelled soldiers slaughtering the hesitant defenders. Those that were able pulled back toward the city walls. The remaining defenders left the field fleeing to the south. The Celaeri cheered at the rout. Pashar Bei glowed with a green light and walked through the Celaeri lines to within hailing distance of the gate.
"Good soldiers of Nantitet. I do not want to cause more loss of life. Open the gate and allow my soldiers to enter they city and submit to us. Your lives will be spared."
There was silence for several moments and then a rain of arrows came out of the sky into the Celaeri lines. Pashar Bei's magic protected him but he did not expand his defenses to include his allies. They ran for cover. Pashar Bei cast a spell on the gate intending to crumble it and the gate trembled but his spell was cast back toward him. In his surprise he barely shielded himself from the blast dispersing it into the air.
The Celaeri looked up to the west wall of Nantitet. The humming grew louder and the wall itself began to glow. Fingers of lightening jumped from the wall to the nearest Celaeri killing them instantly.
Pashar Bei walked toward the wall. Suddenly, he sensed what it was and raised a spell around him. The explosion of power knocked him off his feet and he rolled back toward the river but his spell held firm. Through the opaque shield he saw the Celaeri shredded mercilessly and the thunder filled the land. Calendia
n soldiers poured onto the battlefield to cleanse it of Pashar Bei's remaining soldiers. The setting sun eased the dull sound of sword in flesh filling Pashar Bei's ears. It was utter failure yet the plan had been so sound. When the sorcery fire faded a dark figure stood in the open gate to the city. Pashar Bei knew at once it was Blackthorne and cursed his luck. Blackthorne was the strongest sorcerer to walk the lands of Landermass and seldom thought anything was of greater importance to take him away from his work. Blackthorne often rejected Kerreth Veralier's commands to join the Talos Company on missions; he kept to his studies and hoarded his lore. Yet he was here to defend Nantitet. Pashar Bei remembered the Talos Company at the Tower of Erast but did not recall Blackthorne's presence. He had not known of Blackthorne's involvement. Bad luck. He staggered to his feet and found himself face to face with Blackthorne. The reddish tint of Blackthorne's eyes unnerved even Pashar Bei. The dark sorcerer looked Pashar Bei over and nodded.
"So you are the great Pashar Bei. We meet at last. I have no quarrel with you. I recommend you withdraw from this war. We will soon have the Mordyn army turned around. The rebellion in the city is over and the Rose Bishop has paid for his deeds."
"You would let me go?"
"I would. None of the others will. If you leave now you can elude the Talos Company. I do not know how much of this ambition is yours and how much is Galamog's but it stops now. Tell Natale to keep within her borders and not break our agreement. I fear Ioane Adan may have misled your mistress. The Celaeri wanted the Talos Company occupied on Anavar, unable to journey to Amloth to thwart whatever devilry Ioane Adan has unleashed.
"There are so few talented sorcerers left in the world. It requires such a singular intellect to achieve what you and I have achieved. I would hate to lose a colleague to high emotions. Go now, and seek safety."
"Thank you, Blackthorne. This is unexpected but I shall not let the opportunity slip away."
Pashar Bei turned and walked back to the river. Blackthorne exhaled and returned to the gate where Hobart sat waiting for him.
"You do play your own games, don't you Blackthorne?" said Hobart.
"What do you want?"
"Why do you assume I want anything? I am not the eternal sorcerer of Landermass; ceaselessly grasping for more knowledge. I believe that is you. I am a Tuor; I want for nothing. I enjoy guessing which way your mind will turn next although I usually guess wrong. Still, the pastime is enjoyable."
They walked in silence for several blocks.
"Moria is going nuts you know," said Hobart.
"Not unexpected."
"Why didn't you tell anyone you could bring Kerreth back?"
"I don't like to make promises I can't back up. I hadn't tried that spell before and it did not work as I expected. I think Kerreth was more than we thought he was."
"Yes, when it's daylight he becomes flesh but is a walking skeleton at night. Moria showed up just as the sun set."
"Well. I suppose it's going to get uncomfortable soon," said Blackthorne. "I was pleased to reconstruct the whole skeleton from just Kerreth's skull. That was another new spell. Still as you say it may be better to stay out of Moria's way for a while."
"Could be. Nantitet is a huge city. I'd never been here before. I could walk for days and not get anywhere. Do you know it well? Could you give me a tour?"
"A tour for a Tuor?"
"At least until Moria calms down. I'd hate to see you attacked by a frenzied Daerlan. So, what can you tell me about Nantitet?"
"It's looked better."
"I'd so hoped."
"No extended tour yet, Hobart. Artus Endria is dead. I felt his passing and I am suspicious for it did not happen on the battlefield; it was in the city."
"He was murdered?"
"That is what we need to find out. Gerrand will be heart-broken. We may have a rogue High Mage to deal with. I wondered why I did not see any of Artus' mages in the battle. He was cut off from helping and lost his life. Artus was a good man and Gerrand was his surrogate father after Alec Endria passed. If I will have to endure Moria's wrath concerning Kerreth later I would rather take it out on someone else's hide sooner. Might as well enjoy it now."
"Won't the High Mage be powerful? Not that you are in danger, but I only use arrows."
"Do not worry. There was no mage as powerful as Artus within the Academy. Brevin wasn't even as strong. Artus had nothing to fear in an honest fight. Besides, he was much too smart to find him surrounded by enemies. It would have to be another mage than killed him. He was betrayed."
"Poor Artus. I didn't know much of him, but I liked him."
"Yes, he was forthright and honest. A likeable Men, much unlike myself."
"Ah, Blackthorne if you were likeable you'd be insufferable."
"I have yet to grasp the workings of the Tuor mind," said Blackthorne. "Although I would like to dissect the brain of one. Just a scholarly interest of course."
"My head is not for your experiments," said Hobart. "You never put anything back the way you found it."
"I did nothing to your pet rabbit."
"Who else could it have been?"
"Perhaps, Kerreth?"
"What would Kerreth want with Floppy?"
"Perhaps he was hungry. Your rabbit would have been a single mouthful for him."
"Ah, Blackthorne, you really don't think Kerreth would do that?"
"Hush now. We are coming to the Mage quarters. I can already sense magic called within the building. I can shield you if you stay close. The mages are not that powerful individually but together they might get lucky and level half of Nantitet." He closed his eyes and opened them and grinned.
"Ha! Artus' supporters have not given up. There is a battle of magic going on in there."
"Can you sense the mages'? Do you know who they are?"
"Yes, my friend. I have already taken the measure of them and we can observe in safety. I will put a spell around us for protection and secrecy. They will not even know we are here."
"You're not going to help?"
"No. As I said, I have taken the measure of them and have determined the eventual winner. It will do them much good to win on their own than have my help. Our old friends Dimont and Berlo are avenging Artus. Come let us go in."
Blackthorne pushed open the door revealing the debris in the hallway. The air was buzzing with magic.
"Stay close to me," said Blackthorne. "I will shield us from the euphoria of these mage warriors." He chuckled.
There was no movement downstairs and they quietly made their way upstairs peering into rooms as they passed. Several mages were sprawled across the overturned furniture in one room. A soft noise alerted them to the far room down the hall. Blackthorne peered in and then boldly walked in. Dimont and Berlo spun to defend themselves but recognized him.
"Ah, Dimont you are a warrior after all," said Blackthorne. "How does it feel to be a battle mage Berlo?"
"I'm not sure I enjoyed it Blackthorne," said Berlo. "The feeling overwhelmed me." He stood over a mage whose cloak was shredded and bloody.
"It was hard to hold back," said Dimont. "It's a wonder Garvel is still alive."
"Garvel? You have him?"
"He killed Artus," said Dimont. "We need to question him but I've lost the taste for inflicting pain."
"Ah, dear Dimont. You are too gentle a soul for this type of thing. Stick to your scholarly pursuits. I will take Garvel from you. Ah, he's conscious. Garvel my old friend, you will tell me what I need to know. Hobart, will you take Berlo and Dimont downstairs? I will ward the room but sound may still escape. I believe Garvel will need some urging to talk to me."
"We should be here," said Dimont.
"Vicare listen to me. You cannot be here. You will see a side of magic you do not want to know. It is better for both of you to leave."
"Come," said Hobart. "It is safe outside. Perhaps some air will do you good."
The two mages left with Hobart. Blackthorne looked into the pleading eyes of Garvel and g
rinned.
Chapter 27
The wars of Landermass have given us heroes for our legends. One of my favorites was Ronde the Blade, an early swordsman with a weapon cursed or blessed as the tales are told. A companion of Mauran de Arayr, Ronde's fate was intertwined with Ritha de Laruin, a captain of Agnaran the Black and foe of Mauran. Ronde could not die until he killed Agnaran and his sword carried the spirit of his lost love Tabitha. That was a tale; a mortal killing a Jungegud! I know this story to be true as I heard it from one who witnessed it.
From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.
The gates opened and the Gornst army marched out to defend the city against the Celaeri whose ranks spread across the fields to the east. A horn sounded and the Celaeri charged forward to engage the defenders before their lines were set. Horns blared from the Gornst walls and the soldiers ran to their positions. Beric Mallon rode out with them shouting orders. Many of the soldiers were in position when the Celaeri reached them and the stragglers filled in behind them. The Celaeri were horsed or on foot and behind followed a dark mass of growls led by a large gray Vlakan.
The Celaeri were faster than Men and could only be contested by two or more nimble soldiers. It was several minutes before the slaughter was halted and the battle became pitched. Princess Linna rode through the gate in her armor with her bow ready. Alarie Skye and Tarlac Brandalay rode beside her with Colleson Bulger on foot wielding his huge blade.
The battle raged for hours as the smaller numbers of the Celaeri and Vlakan began to even the odds. Ioane Adan fought her way toward Princess Linna with frightening purpose. Soldier after soldier fell to her blade. Beric Mallon intercepted her before she could reach Linna.
"Ah, I remember you," said Ioane Adan. "You wanted to kill us all but Kerreth stopped you."
"If I had been in command, this battle wouldn't be necessary."
The Vlakan King (Book 3) Page 26