“The Crossguard Legion.” Johnas’ eyes lit up.
“Exactly. They would cut my spies out of the kingdom, your agents and organization would be rooted out, the remnants of Richmond and the L’herrim family would be cast away, and they would have every right to do it with so much evidence. The church would appoint the Cardinal as acting king with the backing of the Aldane elders and the most lethal legion in Shanador, the continent for that matter. Balric D’Vrelle was not sent by the king, he was sent by the bishop to find evidence against his king.” Katrina laughed, feeling rather content that Johnas had not figured this out.
“That is why he will not say a word to my uncle, King Mikhail of Chazzrynn, he is sworn by the church.” Johnas felt stress coming now, for he never liked to be on the receiving end of potentially life threatening information.
‘My spy in L’Herrim, a chambermaid, says that the queen is with child for months now and that it is definitely this knight, Savanno Lisario, not the king’s. More than likely, with the threat of an heir looming, that is why the Cardinal left to Shanador so quickly. I cannot believe that you, Johnas Valhera of all people, would not be aware of an entire kingdom about to be completely reformed. If I were you, I would eliminate Balric and this woman of his, pull Florin out of Harlaheim with her people, and keep eye for when the churches in Valhirst begin filling. I would also kill the bishop before the cardinal returns. Willborne can help you out of most things, but the Crossguard Legion of the Church of Alden is beyond me. If this Balric and you ever crossed blades, you would be lucky to survive. He is a trained assassin of the Broken Wing of the Aldane Order. You should be grateful he fell in love with your whore, otherwise he may have completed his mission, for he was trained in secret by the church and likely sent to kill you after he had his proofs.” Katrina saw the chests of gold her men had gathered, and motioned for them to be taken to the longship.
“And what else can you help me with Katrina of Willborne? I am in need of another woman, until I bring mine back covered in Balric’s blood.” Johnas winked at the beautiful blonde woman, in her forties much like himself, but still lovely and charming especially for her line of work.
“Johnas, I would require a lion of a man with a passion for ridding this continent of the northerners to match my own. Everywhere I see brown eyes, dark hair, the descendants of Altestan from when they came to Agara and overtook these old lands. You are Agarian, your mother was anyway, I can tell by your green eyes and blonde hair. I would require a man with the ferocity to see the false nobles of Caberra, Harlaheim, Chazzrynn, and the church fall. I would see Shanador rule without the cross, as those are my people that follow a once foreign God instead of their blood. The old ways of Agara are fading, our religions nearly extinct, and I fight to keep them alive. You are not a lion, Johnas, despite your heritage. You are a snake.” she bowed, feeling the time to leave was upon her when this lord of assassins began to flirt.
“What a loss Katrina, what a loss. I could rule from below, and you from above. I like the title of snake, it suits me well. I appreciate the business, and wish you well in seeing Agarian glory restored through bloodshed. Farewell.” the prince of Valhirst bowed to the veteran lady mercenary that held so much resentment and old world hatred in her heart. He did not share that passion, for the people who had come many millennia ago from the northern continent had led him to having a throne in the largest city in Chazzrynn. His passion was for unseen power behind the rulers and great kingdoms, for there was so much more he could do from that shadowy position.
“I wish you well in your murders and plots Prince Johnas. Should you seek to impress me, show me that you can take this kingdom for your own instead of slithering your way through it. Then, perhaps, we could talk some more. Farewell.” Katrina bowed and about-faced. She strode out of the castle with nearly twenty thousand in gold coin, enough to feed her army for another half year. Now the race was upon her, the race to sell this information to Caberra, Shanador, and Kivanis quickly and set them against each other. The lady of Willborne knew that politics and war were what made men rich and powerful, and also what made her army the most sought after mercenary legion in Agara.
“Organize the underchamber and all the agents of the White Spider, we have much to do. Get me Salah-Cam, my fastest ships with emissaries, and the doppelgangers. I want it done yesterday!” paranoia ripped through his mind, sending flashes of rage that made his facial muscles twitch. Johnas stripped off his robes, down to his leather armor and tight fitting black clothing. He drew his emerald pommeled kris blade, and stomped off behind the throne to head underground. The servants scattered, knowing they better get there before he did, or there would be blood upon the floor this night.
Exodus II:VI
Soujan Mountain, Harlaheim
”The plans are never perfect, the orders rarely timed correctly, and the enemy seldom waits for your final preparations. All one can do is stand their ground and fight without thought of victory, defeat, or death.” –Aldomin Bradswellen , Lord of Saint Erinsburg, upon seeing the overwhelming Caberran army advance to the Harlaheim borders three days earlier than expected. -Circa 198 A.D.
Azenairk Thalanaxe rested his stocky legs and clunked down on a rock, his plate armor heavier than ever before. He had traversed down a mountain chased by ogre in the frigid south; but winding up one with no roads or trail to follow was exhausting. His shaved head dripped with sweat in the afternoon sun, cooling from the winter air of Harlaheim. “At least there be no snow to slow us up. How much further Lord Cristoff?”
The human lord looked to his ten men leading the horses by the reins, as the climb was too treacherous to ride the last several hours up Soujan Mountain. “Perhaps an hour, maybe more good priest. Take a rest everyone, we need not reach the summit without the strength to stand.”
Gwenneth and James sat on a fallen pine tree and caught their breath. The few soldiers and archers tethered the horses to the low hanging branches of the forest filled mountainside and sat to rest as well. Saberrak the gray sniffed the air, wandering a wide arcing circle around the short term resting spot. He was not tired, his legs had more energy than ten men combined.
Shinayne T’Sarrin took a moment of close-eyed meditation, then circled the camp also, stopping fifty feet down the mountain. She sensed something, movement, almost as if she heard it coming closer, it called to her. The elven swordswoman stayed still by a small pine, hearing the squirrels scurry up to the top to watch her. Her aquamarine eyes closed softly, her mind quieted and tuned out the sounds of birds and the wind in the trees, then Shinayne breathed deep. Her thoughts went down the mountain they had spent the last day and a half traveling, through the forested foothills, and inbetween the valleys and outcroppings. Too many to count, she felt them. Dark creatures, cold and black, moving swiftly through the woods on the mountain. They were following the trail she and her allies had left. The elf could feel them close, too close, and moving fast on reptilian legs. Salisan lizardmen, she thought, and a human man with them. The noble highborne elf opened her eyes and dashed uphill to the camp.
“On your feet! We have company closing quickly!” Shinayne drew her curved elven blades and turned to face the slope with the others behind her.
“What is it? What do you see?” Lord Cristoff looked down the mountain, straining to see anything move. There was nothing but ancient pines and rock.
“I sense them my lord, they will be here soon. Salisans, a small army of them track us up the mountain.” she looked around, seeing confused human soldiers waiting for an order from their lord. Zen, Gwenne and James all stood next to her, not second guessing their friend.
“I see nothing, are you certain Shinayne?” the Lord of Saint Erinsburg still could make nothing out, and he held orders for his men until he was sure.
“I smell them, rancid, oily and cold-blooded creatures.” Saberrak caught his breath after finishing his trek around the camp. “What are they elf?”
“Black salisans, lizard men,
maybe a hundred give or take.” Shinayne looked deeper down the cliffs and trees of Soujan Mountain, waiting to see the first of many scaly creatures appear.
“A hundred? We make for higher ground, the summit of the mountain. We cannot stand against so many here on such unstable footing.” Cristoff grabbed the reins and untied his well trained black stallion, Leonis.
“One hundred is all, we have sixteen here, don’t we? Why the worry?” Saberrak smiled from under his curved horns and fierce gaze.
“Are you serious, minotaur?” Cristoff glance back, assuming the jest was just that.
“Very serious, human.”
“Well, if we don’t reach the top of the mountain and find help there, you can show me how serious you truly are in the face of a force of that number. Until then, we move.” he led his steed up through more forested plateaus and valleys on the mountainside.
“I look forward to it.” Saberrak huffed, and headed uphill with the rest. He stayed in the rear, hoping one of the scaly beasts would show itself a little early.
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“It is not impossible, nephew! I have you and ten men and myself! I will not let Rosana be executed, not today, not tomorrow, and if that means my death, so be it!” Savanno stood from the dirty wooden table in the basement of the abandoned armory. He knew that none of the preparations were in order in the courtyard, that the order of execution was obviously not being carried out. He had thought it was a trap or a lure many times; yet he could not take that chance. He had snuck into the city late last night and searched out his nephew Sir Sulian.
“Uncle, Florin not only has your title, she has taken control of the city as acting Seneschal. Only the lords of Saint Erinsburg, Wynnegarde, Devonmir, and Saint Tarumin combined could hold any military threat now. She controls the city, they control their lands, and without the cardinal we have a divided church and order of knights. We have no army!” Sulian hung his gaze to the table, rubbing the stubble on his head, and thought hard of what options they had before them. He admired and believed his uncle, but it seemed like suicide to rescue the queen at this point. Everything he had taught him now stood on the edge of a blade.
“They are distracted with the siege on Kalzarius, the men’s loyalty is in question every moment. You know this, they do not trust the bishop, Florin, or even their own king. They trust in the knights, you and I.” Savanno’s eyes began to tear, fearing that his own nephew and knight of the Order of Saint Tarumin may not follow him or assist.
“They have restrained the king to his chambers, if they did not trust in Florin-“
“Rosana carries my child, Sulian. Kalzarius told me, and I have been suspicious anyway.”
“They are not going to execute the queen of Harlaheim, uncle. They would not dare make such an enemy of Caberra, the king will not-“
Savanno pounded his fist on the table, the other men in the room jumped to grab for their weapons. They had been on edge since they entered the city, and had not been used to fighting much other than the dead from the swamps. They realized that if this went foul, they would be branded for treason and taken to the guillotine themselves. Some began to wonder if the orders from their Lord Cristoff were legitimate, as he would be implicated should they be caught.
“The king knows she does not love him, he knows she loves me, and he seeks to empower only himself. You know Richmond as I do.” Savanno Lisario sat back down, feeling his age and anger wear on him.
“And what would you do, uncle? The heir to the throne in the womb, with a former queen, and the former lord of knights; where will you go, and what of the heir that is born? You will be hunted forever, unless you mean to take the throne…”
“Do not ever accuse me of such treachery, or we are blood no more. Understood? I love Rosana, regardless of title. I will leave with her to Shanador and find peace there. I have found a small acreage outside of Gillian, and have assurances that I will be safe there. An old lordship by the name Azarris has no heirs to be found. My name will have to change, I have been arranging it for some time.” the veteran knight of Harlaheim looked directly into the eyes of Sulian, pleading with but a stare.
“Fine then, very well. I will get as many men as I can trust, quietly. You stay here with Cristoff’s men. We meet at sundown and we enter from the sewers. I will have Sir Leonard spread information that your were spotted south near the docks, and Sir Karai will join with me if all goes well. Once we get Rosana, we make for the north gate. Sir Leonard’s men will be there, and you will have to get safely to Saint Erinsburg. If we leave with you, Florin will know, and we are all dead men.” Sulian stood and shook his uncle’s forearm with his own, then pulled into a hug.
“You could leave with us Sulian.” Savanno let him go, overwhelmed that he had a chance to save his wife.
“No, uncle. I believe that Harlaheim will see brighter days, and I stay to ensure it. You have no choice but to leave, I have a choice to help my kingdom. You have to follow what God has laid before you. Stay quiet until I return, and be safe. Alden bless you and show us mercy.” the young knight pulled his black cloak over his shoulders and face to keep hidden as he made out the rotted door and into the city streets.
Guilt and shame tried to poison his weary heart, guilt that he sought help from his own blood. He had trained Sulian since his father was killed eleven years ago in the war with Chazzrynn. Now in his twenty fifth year, now a knight of the order, his own nephew would be helping him. Savanno tried to think of the greater good here, the love for his wife, and the wicked cruelties he had seen as Richmond became even worse than his father before him. The veteran lord of knights drew his steel rapier and checked the edge. Like his love and purpose here, it was free of blemishes or scratches.
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Whoosh, crackkk! Another spear whistled past the elf’s head and splintered as it buried into a tree in front of her. She kept moving alongside the minotaur, bringing up the rear of the company as they neared the top of Soujan Mountain. She could hear them, so many of them, snarling and hissing and taking longshots with spears now and again. Shinayne sprinted up further, and reached out to one of the archers that was leading his horse. She grabbed his bow and quiver without asking, catching a confused look from the human who looked far more nervous than anyone else. “I will return this in a moment.”
Saberrak pulled a spear from a tree as he ran to catch up with the elven swordswoman, his nose caught much more than lizardmen behind him. He sniffed the speartip, noticing the black paste smeared all over the metal head and upper section of the wooden shaft. He had smelled something similar in the arenas of Unlinn from his life as a slave gladiator. “The spears are poisoned Shinayne, be careful.” he snarled and huffed as he ran past her to get the others to find a spot to stand and fight. Saberrak the gray snapped the spear and threw it into the forest, then drew his greataxe and the curved shamshir. Sixteen on a hundred, he thought, good odds.
Cristoff pulled harder on the reins, seeing a plateau with few pines and rocky obtrusions ahead of them up the mountain. His men followed, as did Gwenneth and the dwarven priest. “Where is Shinayne?”
James slowed his pace, allowing Saberrak to catch up to him, and his eyes asked the same question. “Saberrak, where is she?”
“She is doing a little archery lesson I believe. Keep moving, the elf can take care of herself. We make stand at that flat spot there.” he pointed with his axe toward the plateau they were heading to.
“Minotaur, we are all dead men if we stand and fight.” Cristoff looked up to the flat plateau and back to Saberrak.
“We shall see.” he heard the arrows, knew it had begun, and moved to find his place uphill.
Fewwhhmm! Fewwhhmm! She fired a third arrow from the longbow she had borrowed and another salisan went down screaming in pain. It had been years since Shinayne had fired a bow, yet it came back to her like yesterday’s lesson. She moved to the left, seeing dozens of black scaled hunters on two feet rushing up
toward her. She drew them off her direction, stopped, and fired again. This time hitting the creature in the thigh, then her second shot went into its stomach. Before it fell, the spears of it and several nearby flew airborne at the elven woman. She turned behind the tree, waited until all seven spears had hit the tree or passed by, then turned round the other side of the pine and let loose another arrow. Yet another forked tongued scream and a hiss as the salisan fell head over scaly tail down the mountain. The enemy horde was now within thirty feet and closing, and she could not gauge how many with just a glance. Shinayne had no time now, her quick elven steps dashed up the trail left by her friends, then she stopped. The elven noble turned and fired again at point blank as one of the lizardmen was faster than the others and had come up behind her. She saw the orange eyes not five feet from her, its sharp toothed mouth open and hissing. The arrow sunk deep through the reptile’s throat, then another into the chest, and a third into the abdomen. The salisan stopped its charge and fell to its knees, and Shinayne kept firing over its reptilian head. More arrows, as fast as she could draw them and fire, flew into the dark hunting party, two more falling to the ground from the savage mob.
Now only fifteen feet away from her enemies, Shinayne slung the bow and ran with the quiver in hand up to the plateau. She reached over the lip of the rocky ledge, some distance from where the horses had gone up. As the elf pulled herself up, a hand reached down and grabbed hers. James Andellis pulled the elven woman up onto even and stable ground. She tossed the bow and quiver with only a few arrows remaining in it to the archer she had taken it from, and then drew her blades.
“Did you kill one?” Saberrak asked challengingly as he lowered his stance and prepared for the onslaught of whatever was hunting them.
“No. I killed eight, horned one.” she caught her breath, and backed up closer to James, Saberrak, Zen and Cristoff. She noticed the line of five human archers behind the line of five soldiers who had drawn longblades and shields next to their lord. Gwenneth was behind them with the horses, staff in hand, waiting like the rest of them to see what would come over the ledge.
The Exodus Sagas: Book II - Of Dragons And Crowns Page 14