by Lana Axe
“Welcome to Na’zora, Lady Rya,” she said as Ryshel approached.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she replied.
“I am Lady Bartin, friend of Princess Aubriana. I received your letter and am most eager to help.”
Ryshel smiled in relief. This was the woman who had kept Aubriana informed of Rayne’s well-being. “Can you help me get a position in the palace?”
“I can,” Lady Bartin replied confidently. “First we’ll need to get you some more suitable attire.”
Ryshel nodded and climbed inside the waiting carriage. “Who else knows of my arrival?”
“No one,” Lady Bartin replied. “I have kept this secret to myself. My husband believes you are a cousin of mine who lives near our southern border. I’ve made it a point over the past few days to complain about the care Rayne has been receiving. My husband is one of Rayne’s appointed guardians, you see.”
“That is good to hear,” Ryshel said. “That means you might be in need of a new governess for him soon.”
“Yes, indeed,” she said. “My husband cares little for the rearing of children. I have seven of my own, so he listens to my advice most carefully.” She laid a hand on Ryshel’s arm and said, “Rayne misses his mother so. Tell me how she is faring.”
Looking down at the floor of the carriage, Ryshel replied, “Aubriana is not well. Her heart is broken, and she suffers greatly. That is why I’ve come.”
Lady Bartin sighed. “I feared she would not have the strength for this. We must get you and Rayne back to her as quickly as possible.”
That was exactly what Ryshel had in mind. The longer she remained in Na’zora, the greater her chance of making a mistake and being discovered. As soon as an opportunity presented itself, no matter how small, she would attempt to leave with the young prince. Both their lives might depend on it.
Chapter 31
As the sun first peeked over the horizon, Efren awoke to an empty bed. Ryshel was not in his arms, and her warmth was nowhere to be found. How many days has it been? Is she safe? Though he was constantly surrounded by servants and advisors, he could not shake the feeling of loneliness his wife’s absence had created. Since their marriage, they had never been apart for more than a few hours. He trusted her advice above all others, and he yearned to have her at his side once more.
As he rose from his bed, servants immediately flocked to his side. A bowl of water was held in front of him, allowing him to wash his face. His clothes had been laid out hours ago, and the servants eagerly dressed him for his morning council meeting. But Efren had no desire to meet with his councilors. Each day they presented him with more bad news, and he simply did not wish to hear it.
It is my duty, he decided with a sigh. How he longed for the days spent in the countryside, when war had yet to consume his kingdom. Gannon had been a strong leader. He had a passion for war that Efren lacked. In times when war cannot be avoided, perhaps it is better to have a soldier for a king, he thought. If only Gannon were here. Even my father would be a better choice than me.
A servant presented the king with a silver tray, which contained an assortment of breakfast items. Efren waved the servant away. He had no appetite this morning. Followed by his manservant, he walked slowly through the corridor to the council chambers, his footsteps making little sound against the stone floor. His anxiety rose as he approached the door, but he steadied his breathing to hide it. He must stay strong, though given a choice, he would join Aubriana in her melancholy.
Without speaking, Efren entered the council chamber and took his seat at the head of the table. He waited patiently for someone to commence conversation.
“Your Majesty,” Duke Arden said, “it pains me to report that Na’zora has now taken the entirety of central Ra’jhou. What is left of our army is now scattered and leaderless. Scouts have reported seeing mages who conjure fire in the northern regions. They are headed our way.”
“There is still no word from Pedr or any of the other dwarves?” Efren asked, sitting tall in his seat. What has become of him?
“None, Majesty,” Arden replied. “Whatever their mission was, it seems they have yet to accomplish it.”
“Let us hope they do so before there is no Ra’jhou left to assist.” Though he did not show it, Efren was worried the mission had failed. It was possible Pedr had been unsuccessful in persuading the dwarf king, or that he had changed his mind entirely. There was also the possibility that his king had him executed. After all, Efren had sent him back to the person who had banished him. Was he to be another death added to his conscience?
“Majesty,” General Willem began, “there are rumors that our missing soldiers have indeed gone into the mountains. Some of the evacuated citizens have knowledge of it.”
“I am told many of our smaller forces are fleeing from magefire,” Arden added. “They know not how to combat them, so they flee.” Looking at Willem, he said, “Not our more experienced forces, of course.”
“They are safer among the mountains than they would be here,” Efren commented.
“Send out riders, Your Majesty,” Willem suggested, ignoring the king’s comment. “Your men are loyal and willing to fight. They are scattered, but they have not deserted. They will return if we can locate them.”
“Sir, if scouts are reporting that the Na’zoran army is moving this way, then we must make final preparations for a siege,” Councilman Faril said. His eyes met the duke’s, and he quickly looked away.
Efren leaned his head on his hand as he weighed his options. “We cannot send out riders. They could be lost as well, and we need every man here who can fight when the castle is attacked. Once Na’zora has breached our walls, someone will have to defend the people.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Willem began, “we are waiting for an execution. Without the rest of our army, we have almost no protection.”
“We have this castle. It is our fortress,” the king reminded him.
“Yes, and once their mages burn it to the ground what shall we have?”
“Fire cannot burn stone,” Efren replied. “The walls will hold.” After a moment, he added, “They have to.”
Arden sighed. Though the king was unwilling to try, the duke was still in favor of collecting the missing soldiers. “There may be time to retrieve some of the soldiers before Na’zora reaches us. Perhaps they are gathering in strength and waiting for us to lead them home. I am in favor of sending out riders.”
“If they are alive, they should find their way back here on their own,” the king said. He would hear no more talk of seeking them out. If they were in the mountains, perhaps they would cut off the Na’zoran troops as they marched on the castle. It would certainly be beneficial to have a group on the outside, as long as Na’zora was unaware of them.
“What preparations remain for the siege?” Arden asked, changing the subject. “The Na’zorans could be here within the month, and there are so many mouths to feed that I cannot say how long we will last.” The duke had been incredibly busy overseeing the training of the volunteer soldiers, as well as observing every movement of the traitorous councilors. Luckily, he had employed several young servants who were eager to keep a close eye on the men. All reports had been positive. It seemed the councilors had no further interest in their plot.
“The dwarves are still working on constructing defensive machines. Though some of them are working with wood, which isn’t the same as working with stone. I have no idea how well crafted these machines might be, but I suppose they are better than nothing.” Willem shook his head, displeased with the castle’s lack of defenses. If the king thought walls were all the protection he would need, he was sadly mistaken.
“Food stores are in good supply,” Faril reported. Since Ryshel’s departure, he had taken over many of her duties among the people at Arden’s insistence. With the duke watching his every move, he had been forced to abandon his plan to supplant the king.
“My scouts will continue to monitor Na�
��zora’s progress,” Willem stated. “It won’t be long now. I’m certain of it.”
“Let them come,” Efren replied. “They can have my throne instead of the lives of my people if it comes down to that. A throne is nothing to me compared with the well-being of Ra’jhou’s citizens.”
Arden admired Efren’s resolve. He wished he had been privy to the deal Efren had made with the dwarves. It would put his mind at ease if he knew help was on the way. Unfortunately, the king had offered up no information on the subject for fear of a second betrayal.
Chapter 32
Pedr paced impatiently outside the massive stone palace. He and his companions had been waiting hours for the king to decide whether he would meet with them. Finally, a guard came to collect them.
“The king has agreed to give you a few moments of his time,” the guard said, motioning the men to follow him.
Inside the palace was a vast, open space. The walls and floor were carved into the cobalt blue stone of the mountain. Large cauldrons lit the way as they pressed on toward the throne room, a journey of nearly a mile. As they reached the door, the guard held up his hand to stop them.
“Pedr is permitted inside. The others must wait here,” he said.
The three men exchanged concerned glances. This could only mean trouble. Taking off his backpack, Pedr handed it to Geryl.
“We’ll be right here when you’ve finished,” Geryl said, taking the bag.
Pedr nodded and headed through the massive stone doors of the throne room. Inside, the king perched himself high upon an ornately chiseled throne. His queen sat next to him, her throne only slightly lower than the king’s. A wide stone ramp led up to them, lined on each side by guards dressed in the finest plate armor. Pedr resisted the urge to roll his eyes. King Oge was obviously enjoying his newfound power and the luxury that came with it.
“I didn’t think to see you again,” the king said. He sat proudly upon his throne, dressed in his finest satin tunic. Each finger bore a jeweled ring, giving his hands a heavy appearance.
Reaching the king, Pedr bowed low before him. “It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
“You were banished from this land,” Queen Zella reminded him. “You are lucky we didn’t have you killed on sight.” Her golden gown nearly swallowed her in its excess of fabric. She wore too much makeup in an effort to appear younger next to her youthful husband, but it gave her skin a thickened appearance instead.
“What urgent business have you brought? Your message mentioned a vast reward?” The king’s voice sounded bored but not angry.
“Forgive me for disobeying the order of banishment,” Pedr said. “I had no intention of returning to insult your majesties, but I have been offered a proposition from the King of Ra’jhou. He is interested in friendship with our people.”
“Our people—” the queen started to say. King Oge held up his hand to silence her.
“Explain quickly,” the king said. He had only so much patience, and his wife’s objections to Pedr’s visit had already used up most of it.
“The kingdom of Ra’jhou has a rather lucrative mine sitting unused near its northern border. I, along with my kinsmen, have begun construction of a settlement there. Unfortunately, the kingdom is at war, and its future is uncertain.”
“Let me guess,” the king said. “You have come to ask for my help in holding this mine, even if Ra’jhou loses their war. Who is it they are fighting?”
“The kingdom of Na’zora lies south of Ra’jhou. They have skilled mages who are taking over each village and market district. At this very moment, they are marching on Ra’jhou’s castle, if they haven’t reached it already.”
“What does any of this have to do with us?” the queen asked.
“King Efren of Ra’jhou is willing to pay you a stipend from the mine’s profits for your assistance.”
King Oge laughed. “This king finds himself without allies and too weak to fight. He thinks I’ll come to his aid.” The king shook his head and laughed again. “A few pieces of ore are not worth my involvement in a war. What’s to stop Na’zora and its mages from marching here?”
“The mine—” Pedr began, but was interrupted by the king.
“Don’t think I don’t see what this is about. You want to control this mine and become wealthy off it. You will have full control, while I sit here waiting for you to send me my fair share.”
Pedr had expected this sort of reaction from Oge. He was a young king, still figuring out how he wanted to rule. These words were merely his way of feeling he had the power here, not Pedr. It was time to reveal the information he was withholding. “Your Majesty, this is a silver mine.”
King Oge’s eyebrows went up as he leaned forward to look at Pedr. “I’m listening,” he said.
“You know well that the magical properties of silver are highly prized among our people, as well as among the elves of the isles.” Pedr smiled, knowing he had the king’s full attention. “You also know that those elves would never have anything to do with a common dwarf such as myself. But a king, they would speak with. A king they will consider worthy of their time. You can arrange a trade that will bring you profits beyond all imagining. I will be nothing more than a humble worker.”
King Oge beamed, nearly salivating at the prospect of trade with the elves. Enlightened Elves had ceased dealings with the dwarves on all matters, preferring to deal with humans, who they considered slightly more tolerable. A wealth of silver, with its immense magical properties, would bring them crawling back. The elves had no current supplier of the precious metal, and they had no skill in crafting it. With dwarves added to the equation, and a human king who was most willing to share, there could be no finer deal for the dwarves. All it would require were soldiers, which Oge had in abundance.
“Why doesn’t this Ra’jhouan king just sell the silver to the elves outright and cut you out of the equation entirely? What does he need with us?” The queen spoke with contempt, not hiding her dislike for Pedr.
“King Efren needs an ally who is closer to home,” Pedr explained. “His men have no idea how to craft the silver to unlock its magical potential, so he needs us dwarves to do that for him.” Pedr felt confident he had explained things well enough. How could the king refuse such an offer?
Queen Zella laughed. “Don’t you see?” she asked the king. “This is a trick. This king wants your army to save his land, and after you’ve done your part, he and Pedr will have all the profits. They don’t need us at all for this deal with the elves. The elves would rather deal with a human king than a dwarf. We won’t be needed once we’ve delivered the troops.”
King Oge nodded, narrowing his eyes. To Pedr, he said, “I have no reason to trust this king. This idea of yours has merit, but how do I know I’ll get a cut of the profits?”
“You would be the one negotiating with the elves,” Pedr replied. “King Efren would leave everything to you.”
Oge shook his head in disbelief. “He wants my army now, and then he expects me to do the negotiating with the elves later. I have no assurance here.”
“Your Majesty, I can promise you that King Efren is a man of his word. Why do you dismiss him so readily?” Pedr could not understand why Oge was not eager to take this opportunity. He had plenty of soldiers to spare, and the dwarf-crafted silver would make him the richest king in all Nōl’Deron.
“The fact of the matter is that this king is a blind man who has fought no battles. He hasn’t proved himself worthy of my aid.” Oge sat back in his seat, his head leaning heavily on his hand.
Pedr reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. It was time to reveal his final bargaining chip. “I hold in my hand something that will increase the strength of our army, the likes of which have never been seen.”
Oge seemed perplexed. “Why has this king not used this for his own army?”
“He does not have the forges nor the proper resources,” Pedr explained. “I have brought something from Ra’jhou’s m
ines that, when compounded with an item from our mines, will grant us a weapon like no other. This paper explains the process in the king’s own hand.”
Oge’s eyes gleamed with delight. He was most interested in this new weapon. “Let’s have a look, shall we?”
Pedr handed the paper to the king. Oge was a sly man, and not one to be trusted too readily. He had betrayed his own king in order to take his place, and a man such as that would betray anyone to get what he wanted. Pedr would not hand over the missing ingredient, nor the second sheet of parchment, until he had an army ready to march. If Oge was planning to double-cross him, he would never succeed.
Chapter 33
Stepping back to admire his work, Groot felt a sense of pride. The trebuchet had come together nicely in less time than he had anticipated. To his surprise, he saw the king and Duke Arden touring the grounds. He waved his hand to get their attention. The duke noticed him and nodded. After a moment’s discussion, the pair were headed to the top of the castle wall to meet with Groot.
Groot bowed slightly before the king. He had little experience in matters of court and wasn’t sure what was considered acceptable behavior. Deciding he would talk with the king as he would any other man, he said, “I’ve built you the finest trebuchet your kingdom has ever seen. She’s a beauty to look upon.”
Efren ran his hand along the smooth wood of the machine. “What do we have to load into it?” he asked. “How far is its reach?”
“I’ve had one of your youngsters run out in the field to mark it for me. His legs were longer than mine.” He chuckled a bit, and added, “It’s got a good reach on it, of that you can be sure. As for what to load, well that’s in the works. Some of my men are already gathering rocks for you to use. If all else fails, use the castle when it starts to crumble.” He probably should have left out that last bit, but it was too late.