Siege of Night

by Jeff Gunzel

  Even while the cryton wiped her eye with the back of her hand, Azek had already started moving toward her. “Please forgive an old fool who is stuck in his ways. It is an honor to share the field of battle with one as capable as you.” He took her by the hand, turned it over and planted a small kiss. Her bright yellow eyes followed him as he also left the room. Emotion swelled up in Shantis. She was going to need more than one swipe of the back of her hand to dry her eyes this time.

  * * *

  Ilirra floated gracefully down the hall with her head high and level. She tried to maintain the illusion of confidence as best as she could in case there were wandering eyes. She was always to be the queen, whether eating, walking, or playing a commoner’s game of cards. That aura of leadership must be maintained, no matter how far away or dark her thoughts were at the time.

  She passed by the various tapestries displaying the kings and queens of old. Their eyes no longer seemed to judge her, however. Now they just appeared sad, sad that this dark day could not have been avoided; sad that many lives would inevitably be lost, no matter what colors they wore. She hurried past them, not wanting to meet their gaze any longer than was necessary.

  It was a relief to finally set foot in her private chambers. She was unaware as to whether she had been running or not. More importantly, she hoped nobody had seen her run. Ilirra slammed the door behind her and leaned hard against it with both hands covering her eyes. She wanted to cry, to scream, but this was the time to steel herself for her people—for Taron!

  With determination in her eyes, she stalked across the room to her walk-in closet. Sliding her hanging silk dresses from left to right, she began feeling along the side of the wall with a slow-moving hand. There it was!

  There was the tiniest little notch in the wall that no one could have ever found unless they knew exactly where to look. With a bit of pressure and a click, the back wall of the closet opened a few inches. The showing crack of the partially open panel seemed to give off a light of its own. Without hesitation she swung it all the way open as the self- sustaining light source was revealed.

  Shimmering white armor fit for a god hung behind the impenetrable yet spotless glass panel. Glimmering chainmail with perfectly strung, pearl-white links seemed to glow all its own. The single yellow star gracing the chest area stood out boldly, even against the gleaming white links.

  A single golden helmet hung from a peg on top of the shimmering armor. The sparkling piece held two small golden wings on the side, while a long, beak-shaped nose guard flowed down the center. Thin side guards that covered the cheekbones still allowed for perfect vision.

  A long-sword resting partially in a black leather sheath leaned in the corner. The sturdy, wide handle was covered with green emeralds encrusted right into the wide, golden crossbar. The very tip of the handle held the shape of a dove’s head, with the beak hooking downward. The eerily white blade seemed to give off its own unnatural soft light. The blade seemed to be aware its peaceful sleep had come to an end.

  Ilirra’s eyes were hard, cold steel as she gazed upon the magnificent set. There was no more time for emotion, no more time for second thoughts. She spoke into the air as if speaking directly to the armor itself.

  “I need you once again, old friend.”

  Chapter 13

  The stone-faced soldier paced back and forth across the top of the wall. The rain had finally stopped, leaving a slight chill in the air. Gazing about, he experienced an eerie, lonely feeling as he witnessed the abandoned-looking city.

  Shops were boarded up and houses darkened, although the residents had to be home. After all, they had nowhere else to go. The stocky man with a shaved head and double hooped ears looked out over the grassy field for the hundredth time. Between the silence blanketing the city and the calm spread out over the field, he felt as though he were the only man in the world who still drew breath. Suddenly his eyes caught something out in the breaking darkness of early morning: small flickering lights that gave the illusion of fireflies twinkling far off in the distance.

  Pulling out his looking glass, he swept the field slowly from left to right; then, without the slightest reaction or hint of emotion, lowered it back to his side. He blew out a puff of chill air that straightened his blond mustache for a moment, sending a faint cloud of mist up and away from him. The living sea of torches moving this way had been unmistakable. It has begun. He ran down the stone steps and through the empty streets to report his sightings.

  * * *

  The murmured chatting and occasional bickering rippling through the war room came to an abrupt halt as Ilirra entered. Within seconds everyone was quiet as mice and staring up at her from their seats. There she stood with her fiery red hair tied back in one thick braid before it disappeared down the back of the most beautiful armor any of them had ever seen. She held the golden helmet in her left hand and an ornately jeweled long- sword with a gleaming white blade pointed down low in the other.

  Azek gasped, “My lady! You can’t possibly be considering engaging in battle. I won’t allow it!”

  She snapped her head up, eyes ablaze, looking every bit the warrior Azek was. “First off, you will allow what I tell you to allow!” He closed his mouth but never relented his stare as she continued. “My intent is not what it appears. If there can be any hope of a peaceful solution, I must exhaust any and all possibilities. I will parley with this Corzon Thenalra and see if we can’t come to some sort of understanding.”

  “Then I will accompany you,” came a familiar but weakened voice from the doorway. Eric leaned hard against the wooden frame, making it seem as if it were the only thing holding him up. He was up now, but even with his eyes sunken in, they held a hardened determination.

  “You are the last person who will be accompanying me!” the Queen said, easily matching his intensity. “If even one of them recognizes who you are, you will be filled with arrows before anyone can blink, parley or not.”

  “Then I am going,” Jade said with an eerie calm in her voice as she slid her chair back methodically then rose to her feet.

  “Absolutely not!” Ilirra replied with a little more fire than she had intended. “You will stay here just like the rest.”

  Jade glided up to her with a creepy calm. Her voice was so soft it was hard to hear, yet so clear, it was hard to ignore. “Then I, Jade Ethrista, publicly disobey a direct order from the Queen herself. I will not resist if you deem me a traitor and have me sent off to the games.” Ilirra’s eyes grew wide with shock. Jade continued, “I go with you, or dress me in chains!”

  Everyone watched as the stare-down ensued. Their similarities in demeanor and intensity were almost uncanny, as if they were perfect reflections of one another. “Very well, you stubborn child,” conceded Ilirra with a small, faint smile she was failing to hide. Stubborn like her mother.

  Azek launched himself from his chair and headed straight for the door. “I’ll get the horses ready,” he blurted over his shoulder. Ilirra started to protest, but he whirled around and cut her off immediately with an upraised open hand and a fiery stare. “This is not open for discussion.” Ilirra closed her mouth but never dropped her eyes. Azek continued boldly, “In case you’ve already forgotten, I don’t fear the games!” With that he bolted out the door. The Queen shook her head but couldn’t help her smile from growing a little bit larger. Men!

  * * *

  A slight chill still hung in the air even as the sun was just starting to peek over the rooftops. Morning shadows began their long, slow creep across the empty streets of Taron as Jade, Azek, and Ilirra clopped along on their three gray-armored white horses. Two men marched briskly in front of them holding large white flags rolling in the subtle breeze.

  The entire city seemed like a ghost town that had been purged of all life years ago. The quiet squeaking of wooden signs swinging from thin chains could be heard easily in the total silence. There was the occasional sound of a creaking door opening an inch or two just to get a peek at the Quee
n riding out to face the enemy with no army at her back.

  The horses’ hooves sounded like thunder cracking against the stone street, echoing through the silent city. But then something odd happened. One of the shop doors opened and a little boy came running out, all the while ignoring the urgent calls from his parents.

  The blond boy with his brown shorts, green button shirt and blue hat started skipping along beside the trio. He looked up at the Queen with his green eyes and smudged face. The boy never spoke a word but smiled as he skipped, never taking his eyes from Ilirra.

  For just a moment she was able to forget about the darkness that had befallen the city. She smiled down at the boy as they kept on riding. “What is your name, child?” But no answer came as more little distractions began to emerge from their homes. One at a time, doors began to click open as children sprung from their homes and into the street to join in what was fast becoming a parade.

  Soon it was no longer just children as entire families grew strength and confidence at the sight of their queen leaving the safety of the city walls to face an unknown. Men began to cheer and pump their fists in the air. Women walked ahead of the trio throwing flowers in the road, trying to pave the way for their queen. The two soldiers holding the white flags, now leading the parade of sorts, looked back to Ilirra, each giving a salute then marching on with a newfound vigor.

  By the time they had reached the front gate, the streets were full of people cheering and whistling for their queen. Bravery was just as contagious as fear, it would seem, spreading from one home to the next until none could escape its grasp.

  Jade turned to Ilirra as the horses clopped along. “They love you, my queen. Fear of the unknown had made them forget temporarily. However, it is clearly an issue no longer.” Ilirra smiled as she glanced all around her. Now the archers on the walls were pumping their bows in the air while chanting wildly as the parley group passed through the gate.

  But the queen was no fool. They were probably cheering because they wanted to fight.

  * * *

  Corzon sat on a wooden stool in his white tent. They had only been here a few hours, but tents were already popping up everywhere out in the field. He was sure Taron was terrified and would stay locked down until he initiated combat. He had no plans to wait very long, either. The men were certainly tired, but he was sure the adrenaline rush of battle would wake them up.

  The portable, thin wood table held some assorted fruit and dried goat jerky that he tore into while Athel just quietly glared at him. He slid an extra plate filled with grapes and jerky in her general direction. “You have to eat something,” he said as tiny bits of jerky flew from his mouth. She just stared at the plate then shook her head back and forth with a defiant rattle.

  A man with a short, black crew cut peeked into the tent. He did not look like a typical Dronin with his extremely short hair and beady eyes planted close together on either side of his nose. “Sir, you need to come right now!” His head quickly disappeared through the tent slit. Still chewing as he stood, Corzon just glanced at Athel and motioned for her to come along. She reluctantly rose from her chair and followed his lead.

  He and Athel emerged from the tent as soldiers were running here and there, trying their best to be ready whenever Corzon was. War towers that would eventually be full of soldiers cranked up in the air as ladders were placed underneath them. Catapults were being pulled down ramps from canopied carts, then set up on wheels with stoppers so they could be anchored once the targets were in range.

  The same soldier who peeked into the tent earlier motioned toward the two of them. The second they approached, he shoved a looking glass into Corzon’s hand. He elongated it and made a sweep toward the Taron walls.

  He could see the men on the walls cheering and waving bows in the air for some reason, but lowering the looking glass a bit, he caught sight of the two soldiers waving white flags as the queen herself rode toward the Dronin camp. It also appeared she had two riders with her as well. He collapsed the looking glass with a hard clank. “What is that witch doing?” He turned toward the soldier. “Go find Grandling and send him here.”

  “Yes, sir,” he replied, and began to run off.

  “While you’re at it,” Corzon called to his back, “fetch Tamera and Grimton as well. I don’t think they’ll want miss this.” The man just nodded and started off once again. “You will accompany me as well, loyal daughter,” he said, staring right at Athel. She didn’t say a word or even acknowledge him.

  * * *

  They could see Corzon with his small entourage of four coming toward them on horseback. Azek motioned for the two men carrying flags to return to the safety of the walls. He started to ride ahead of Ilirra, but an angry glare made him think better of it. His instincts were always to protect her, but if he took the lead, it would display a lack of the queen’s authority. His unrelenting need to protect her simply must have limits.

  When the two parties met, Corzon brought his snorting horse so close to Ilirra’s, their noses were almost touching. She was the first to break silence. In a loud and commanding voice, she said, “So you are the great Lord Corzon Thenalra, come to invade my people, who have done nothing to the citizens of Dronin.” Athel shrunk down in her saddle a bit at that comment. Her wild braids purposely lay down over her face so no one could see her eyes.

  “You give sanctuary to a false god and use the mystery of ancient books to manipulate your people,” barked Corzon. “You would use superstitious writings of a dark time long forgotten to turn your people’s fear into obsession, then use their fear to manipulate them into turning against the peaceful people of Dronin just because we refuse to worship this Gate Keeper!”

  There was a sudden explosion of movement as Azek’s sword flashed into his hand with the speed of lightning. Jade threw her wrists toward the sky as silver missiles appeared in her hands from nowhere with a click. Grandling’s double axes twirled twice around his enormous wrists before settling crossed in front on his stone-hard face. However, Athel, Tamera, and Grimton never even moved.

  “Be careful of the words that fall from your tongue when speaking to the Queen!” Azek roared with his blade pointing right at Corzon’s face. Then he hissed, “Or it will no longer be yours.”

  Ilirra raised a hand quickly to calm everyone down. She spoke to Corzon but kept her eyes on Tamera and Grimton. “I protect false gods? You say that I would use fear to manipulate my people into turning against the Dronin?” Her eyes narrowed as her voice lowered. “You should hear the words coming from your mouth, spoken as if you really believed they were you own. As if I or any citizen of Taron cares what your people do on the other side of Tarmerria. You have clearly been manipulated.”

  She kept her eyes on Tamera and Grimton, but was now actually talking directly to them as she turned her head. “So not only have you betrayed Taron, but you have tricked an entire city into going to war!”

  Athel lowered her head even farther. She had always had her suspicions, but it was all painfully obvious now.

  Ilirra tried to stay calm while dark images of these monsters whipping her sweet Jade danced through her head. Deadly fire smoldered in her green eyes as she glared at both without blinking. Her voice started as a hissing whisper. “Let me guess...eternal life was the promise made to you for this betrayal? Hundreds of lives will be lost this day so you two might go on living forever.”

  Her voice began to gain in intensity with every word. “You should have come to me first. I could have given you that and more. I swear to both of you, your legacies will live on forever.”

  Now her commanding voice was booming, sending chills through everyone present. “I swear...when your heads hang from the walls of Taron, they will stay there for as long as I am queen! When the birds pluck out your eyes, they will remain for all to see. When the flesh rots from your skulls and falls to the ground; when skulls yellowed by age are all that is left for the world to lay eyes upon, on the walls they will remain!” Her voice
returned once again to a dangerous whisper. “I promise you both: your memories will live on...forever.”

  Tamera and Grimton sat back on their horses, wide-eyed with their mouths hanging open. Jade smirked at both of them before turning her horse around. Each party rode back the way they came, but each was left with a very different feeling after the exchange.

  * * *

  Eric anxiously paced about the room as Addel and Berkeni both watched him curiously. “You say you can still feel him in your head?” asked Berkeni as he stroked his stringy beard.

  “Yes, but I’m not sure the lingering sensation was left on purpose. He directly intervened with my thoughts, like he was challenging me, or something, but this time it feels different. It’s more like he left a trail leading right to the very source of the intrusion, whether he meant to or not.”

  “This could be a blunder we could exploit?” asked Addel as she struggled to get to her feet. “You know, Eric, I would never intentionally put you in danger, but—”

  “This is all my fault!” he cut her off while pointing a finger toward the wall. “They are out there because of me. Dragot has hurt people because of me. If there is anything I can do to even begin to make this right—”

  “It seems you may be in the perfect position to track him down,” said Berkeni. “He has left a trail in your mind that might lead directly to him. Addel and I could monitor and support you from here if you were to seek this course of action.” But Berkeni began shaking his head before he had even finished, as if even he didn’t like the words coming out of his mouth. He did his best to try and quickly give Eric a backdoor. “It would be very dangerous, and of course the decision is yours…”

  “He threatened to hurt Jade.” Eric voiced the calm statement as if that was all the explanation anyone could ever possibly need. The thought of that very threat sent anger surging though him. How dare he enter my mind? Threaten to hurt the ones I love? The anger pulsed through him like a drumbeat. He focused on it, on the subtle remnants left behind by the demon when he had made the worst mistake of his life. He unconsciously drew his sword, not even thinking about it as instinct began to take over. I’ll kill you!