Logan nodded in reluctant acceptance of the situation. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking.
“All right, we continue as planned. Lan’thor you need to get to Magnus and the dwarves. Let them know that tonight’s the night. He probably won’t be surprised by the news, given that the city is locked down and all, but let him know we’ll have the city by dawn and any help they’d care to give would be greatly appreciated by the new king of Tael.”
He smiled at Lan’s look of surprise.
“A new friend I met in the mines,” he replied to Lan’s unasked question. “I’ll explain it all later - assuming we survive the night.”
“Right,” Lan nodded as he answered. “I’m off.”
The elf made for the chamber door but stopped as Logan called out to him.
“Lan, be careful out there. The cities locked down so stick to the shadows.”
Lan nodded again.
“No worries, I’ve learned quite a bit about prowling around the city at night.” He smiled at Raeth then disappeared around the door. Logan looked at the assassin quizzically.
“Do I want to know what all that was about?” he asked.
“Like you said, I’ll explain later,” she answered with a smile.
“Fair enough,” Logan’s face turned serious as he got back down to business. “Can you get me to the general’s chamber?”
Raeth nodded and moved toward the door.
“You ready?”
Logan nodded sharply and followed the assassin from the chamber.
Raeth led the way through the palace halls and into a series of smaller servants’ passages. The lighting was not as good in these chambers, but there was less chance of running into suspicious nobles. Several minutes passed in these passages, though to Logan it felt more like hours. He was trying not to think about it, but he couldn’t help but worry about what the general had planned for El.
Raeth finally took them out of the passages and back into a long hallway. She turned to face him.
“Alright, the general’s chamber is the last door at the end of the hall.”
“Thanks.”
“Logan, are you sure you want to do this?”
Logan just looked back at the woman. She nodded as she continued.
“Okay, okay. I had to double check. Did you want me to stick around?”
“No, I have to face him alone. You do what you came for, there’s an awful lot riding on it. Though, I still have no idea how you figure to get in to see him.”
Raeth smiled, her body began to change as she spoke.
“Don’t worry. I have my ways.”
Those last words were spoken in El’s voice from El’s lips. Logan stood stunned before an exact replica of the woman he loved.
“The king has already expressed an interest in our favourite elfin maiden. I think it’s about time she paid him a visit.”
With Logan still staring open-mouthed, Raeth turned and strode away down the hall in El’s body.
Chapter Sixty-Four: The General’s Chamber
As the guard captain led El toward the general’s chamber, she cast him an annoyed glance.
“You know I’m quite capable of going to the general’s chamber on my own,” she declared icily.
The captain looked back flatly.
“Given the state of the city, the general was concerned about your protection emissary.”
It was the same answer the man had given her when he had come to get her from her own rooms. She realized that it was all she was going to get from the man and she snorted rather unladylike in frustration.
A guard was posted at the door to the chamber and he nodded sharply as the guard captain approached. El was ushered into the general’s private chamber. A large bed occupied the far wall while a large desk occupied the right one. It was behind this desk that the general now sat. A door to the left of the room suggested a water closet or perhaps another chamber. El rounded on the general, allowing her frustration to escape.
“General! What is the meaning of this outrage?!?”
She stood with her hands on her hips, her anger clear in her very stance. The general regarded her evenly for a moment before speaking to the guard captain.
“Thank you, captain. That will be all.”
“Yes sir.”
El heard the door click as the captain pulled the door shut behind him. The general slowly rose to his feet and leaned heavily on his desk.
“Now, now, I’ve had quite enough of this little charade m’lady. I want to know why you and your companions have come to my city.”
El blanched slightly, the nervousness threatening to overcome her. She swallowed with difficulty before responding.
“General,” she said as calmly as she could. “I assure you, that I have absolutely no idea what …”
“ENOUGH!!!”
The general’s fist slammed down on the desk. A figure El hadn’t noticed by the side of the bed jumped in surprise. The figure was a brown haired human woman. El thought she would have been attractive if not for the bruising around her face. For some reason El couldn’t place, she looked extremely familiar. Her attention was pulled back to the general as he continued his ranting.
“I will not be lied to any longer!”
The general stormed around the desk towards her.
“I want answers and I will have answers, even if I have to beat them out of you.”
The general’s advance was fast and with the intensity of it, it was all El could do to snap out the words to activate her sphere of daylight. It was the first thing she could think of and as it flared up in front of the general’s face it had the desired affect. He stopped cold in his tracks and his hands flew up to protect his face. She began chanting again, this time preparing something more lethal, trying to take advantage of the general’s temporary blindness. As she spoke she felt an icy chill as a strange blue light enveloped her. Her voice froze and as she tried to turn she found herself locked in place. The general blinked several times to clear his vision.
“Well, you were right,” he finally said. “She is a mage.”
“A young one, but with potential,” the voice came from behind her, she knew that gravely tone, she had forgotten about Reese and it might just cost her life.
“Too bad, she’ll never realize that potential,”
The general stated as he stepped up close to El. He stopped less than an inch from her face and reached out to gently caress her cheek.
“Now, shall we try again? Why are you here?”
She felt her throat ease up.
“Go to Hades!” El spit into the general’s face. His smile terrified her more than anything had yet. He slowly reached up and wiped the spittle away from his face.
“Now, now, business before pleasure,” he replied in a voice that made her skin crawl.
El’s world exploded with light and pain as the general’s fist broke her cheekbone. She would have collapsed to the floor if it weren’t for Reese’s magic holding her in place.
Chapter Sixty-Five: Here King, King, King…
Raeth moved quickly down the nearly deserted corridors to the king’s chambers. The few servants she passed along the way kept their heads down and quickly got out of her way. Raeth smiled to herself. Her story about El throwing acid in the face of her pretty serving girl had left quite an impression. El had been more than a little upset by it, but it had made both their lives easier. No one had asked Raeth about the hood she always wore and the servants around the palace were too absolutely terrified of the elfin emissary to enter her chambers.
All in all, she thought. A very effective little lie.
She came upon a guard standing duty outside the king’s chambers. Sliding gracefully into the role of elfin emissary, she announced herself.
“You there! Guard! I wish to see the King.”
The guard snorted in surprise at Raeth’s tone.
“The King is not seeing anyone,” he replied, his tone abrupt and
dismissibe.
Raeth stopped mid-stride and looked levelly at that guard. When she spoke her tone was sickeningly sweet.
“I’m sorry. I think you may have misunderstood me. You seem to be under the impression that I was asking your permission.” Her tone turned icy. “Now, get in there and announce me, or you can explain to the King in the morning why he was refused Lady El’dreathia’s attentions.”
The king’s reputation worked against him now and the poor guard paled at the thought of causing the King to miss out on an evening’s pleasure. That he was following orders would not be enough to save him from the king’s wrath. In a moment his mind was made up and he hurriedly entered the king’s chambers. Raeth was left waiting a very short time before the guard returned, a sheepish look on his face.
“His Highness will see you emissary.”
Raeth strode past the guard without a second glance and the guard closed the door behind her. Raeth found herself standing alone in the king’s private living chamber. The door to the bedroom was open and the king himself stood watching her, his robe tied loosely around his waist. He studied her closely as Raeth curtsied before him. Sleep made the king’s voice huskier than normal.
“Emissary? I am surprised to see you here at such a late hour.”
Raeth forced herself to blush and look coy as she answered.
“I am sorry to disturb you your Highness, it’s just …” she purposefully stumbled over her words. “It’s just that with things as they are …,” she paused for effect. “Well, I’m so afraid your Highness.”
Raeth buried her face in her hands as she sobbed softly. She heard the king cross the room then felt his hand on her shoulder. When he spoke, his voice was sure and reassuring.
“Everything will be all right. My guards are the best in the world. No harm will come to you.”
Raeth turned her tear stained face to the king.
“I … I just don’t want to be alone right now.”
The king smiled reassuringly and Raeth saw the glint in the man’s eye.
Typical, she thought. Just typical.
“And, you don’t have to be El’dreathia.”
The king carefully led her to his chamber. For her part, Raeth allowed herself to be led and as they neared the bed she spoke softly.
“I just can’t help feeling that something bad is about to happen.”
The king turned her towards him and leaned in close to her, nuzzling gently at her right ear.
“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered softly. “I’ll protect you.”
Raeth ran her fingers through the king’s hair as she pulled him closer. Her warm breath caressed him.
“But your highness …”
Her left hand moved gently up his back to cradle his head while her right moved softly down his side and then away toward her back.
“… who’s going …”
She ran the fingers of her right hand up his body and caressed his cheek again.
“… to protect you?”
The tip of the spike drove up into the king’s brain through the tissue just behind his left ear. The man was dead before he realized what was happening. No time to scream, no time to struggle, simply alive and then dead. She guided the corpse towards the bed as it fell. She then tucked the king in. She spent several minutes arranging the scene before finally stepping back and studying her work. The bed in disarray gave unspoken testimony to a night of passion. The wound would bleed surprisingly little and faced away from the door. If she was lucky, a casual observer would think the man merely slept. She smiled to herself. That should mean they had until late morning before expecting the body to be found.
Raeth carefully unlaced the front of the tunic she wore and allowed a faint flush to pass across her body. She messed up her hair and prepared to leave the chamber. Carefully, she went through in her mind what the guard would perceive when she left.
A bit quick perhaps, she thought. But, not suspiciously so, the guard shouldn’t suspect.
Raeth threw open the door and stormed our of the king’s chambers. She muttered under her breath about a lack of stamina as she went. Her comments earned a smile and a leer from the guard outside. She glared back at the man before storming away down the hall. Raeth was pretty sure she heard a soft chuckle from the guard as she disappeared round the corner. Raeth let her own smile cross her face as she continued down the hall.
Chapter Sixty-Six: A Family Avenged
The image of El being hit by the general flashed through Logan’s mind, a consequence of the link they shared. His temper flared and the adrenaline pushed through his body. Logan gave himself over to his rage and stormed down the hallway. There was no stealth or caution in his approach and the guard at the door stepped forward to meet him, drawing his long sword as he moved.
The intensity of Logan’s attack nearly dislocated the guard’s arm as the large axe smashed into the man’s defensive parry. The guard was thrown off balance by the force of the blow, but before he could recover, Logan brought Leveller down into the base of the man’s skull. The force of the blow severed the guard’s head from his body and the walls of the hall were splashed with blood.
Logan wasted no time with the fallen man and advanced on the chamber door. Using all his strength, he charged the door. The force of the impact tore the door from its hinges and slammed it to the ground. Logan paused briefly to assess the scene before him. To his immediate left was an old man who stared in his direction with sightless eyes. To the centre of the room stood El. She was limp and barely conscious, with a dark bruise beginning to form on her right cheek. To the right of El was the man known as the general, the man who had killed his parents and enslaved and raped his sister? The man who even now was threatening the woman he loved.
The man’s eyes were wide with surprise at the sudden interruption and as he studied the stranger at the doorway, recognition slowly began to dawn on him. Logan gave him no time to recover and drove forward, a guttural bellow tearing from his throat as he slashed out with Leveller. The wide arc of the blow was designed to take his opponent at waist level.
Unfortunately, the general recovered his wits in time to dodge the blow. He narrowly avoided the swinging blade and was forced back towards the bed.
In one fluid motion, Logan continued the swing up into an overhead arc that he brought down heavily at the general. The general dove toward his desk and again he narrowly escaped being split in two as the razor sharp blade of Leveller split the footboard of the general’s bed.
As Logan pulled the weapon free, he noticed the figure beside the bed for the first time. Through his rage, he recognized his sister and flashed a grim smile. The look of hope in her eyes filled Logan with strength and he tore the blade free from the bed frame. Whirling to face the general, who had managed to get back to his feet and was now reaching for his own long sword. Logan took a half step in the man’s direction and brought Leveller down towards the man’s exposed shoulder. Logan knew his distance was perfect. He had the man this time.
As the heavy axe came down on the general’s shoulder, it suddenly veered away. It was as though the blade had encountered some form of armour that sent it skittering to the side. The edge of the axe slammed deep into the top of the general’s desk, splitting it and burying the weapons head.
Logan was stunned. The weapon should be buried in the general’s body not the wood of his desk. The general smiled sadistically as he drew his long sword free of its sheath and swept it toward the shorter man. Logan released his axe and pushed himself backwards as the tip of the general’s long sword slit a long wound along his face.
“I remember you,” the general’s voice was little more than a growl as he spoke. “I thought I killed you once.”
The general prowled around the split desk, his eyes never leaving Logan’s.
“I assure you, I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
As the general stepped to lung his sword forward into Logan, he suddenly stumbled. He looked do
wn and found Tanel’s hand at his ankle.
“You bitch!” the general spat and brought his sword up to strike at the girl.
“No!” bellowed Logan as he dove at the general, catching him off guard with his sword arm still raised to strike.
Logan’s weight forced the man back to the wall and the impact knocked the sword from his hand. It fell to the floor with a clatter. Logan buried his right shoulder into the general’s chest, pinning him against the wall. As Logan drove his left fist into the man’s stomach, the general beat down with both hands trying to snap Logan’s spine.
Tanel watched her brother fighting for their lives. She had seen his axe miss at the last moment and knew that the mage had a hand in that. She had done her best to distract the general and now watched in horror as the man beat down with closed fists on her brother’s back. From the corner of her eye, she saw a flurry of motion from the old mage. She knew with a sense of dread that the old man was casting.
Without thinking, Tanel grabbed up the general’s fallen sword and threw it as though it were a spear. The weapon wasn’t designed for this and the throw was clumsy, but the mage was too focused on his magic to defend himself. The long sword sliced into the large muscle of the mage’s left thigh.
El suddenly found herself able to move. She had seen the slave girl throw the long sword. Her sudden freedom told her that she must have hit her target. Spinning quickly, she saw the mage collapsing to one knee as he reached for the long sword lodged in his leg. El chanted quickly and a bolt of heat slammed into the old mage’s chest, melting clothes and flesh. The mage screamed in pain as El stepped towards him. With her left hand, she caught the man by the hair while her right drew the dagger Logan had given her. The mage tried to block with feeble arms as the elfin maiden slammed the double-edged blade into the old man’s chest.
“LOGAN!”
The scream from behind her caused El to drop the remains of the mage and whirl back to the general and Logan. The general had drawn a blade from somewhere and had driven it into Logan’s shoulder blade. Logan stumbled in pain and the general was finally able to push him away. Logan fell to the floor, while the general panted from the exertion. The general spoke harshly in gasping breaths.
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