The stairs seemed to go up for miles, and he wasn’t sure if he had the endurance to make it all that way. From here there were no more hallways. Only stairs. If he came to a dead end, there would be no escaping whoever might be coming up behind him. He only hoped that his guess was correct about this being Hroth’s tower.
When he finally came to the door at the top, he halted and bent over at the waist, doing everything he could to catch his breath. After a few seconds he looked up at the door. He didn’t know what he was planning. The door would probably be locked. He reached out to turn the knob and sighed in frustration.
But he could use magic, couldn’t he? Right now he didn’t feel the immediate urgency that he had when he produced the green shield around him to protect himself from the assassin Saul. But maybe this was a good thing. He closed his eyes, and concentrated deeply.
Yes, knock it down with blunt force, the voice said.
None of this would matter if Nalani and Coffman didn’t come with the sarian. Silas held out his arms, feeling the magic pulse through his veins. He couldn’t let the voice distract him.
Did you think you could destroy us?
The green bubble of light formed around him. He knew he didn’t need a shield, but he also knew that it doubled as a weapon. When he opened his eyes, he saw the green force around him. With a mighty push, he launched it at the door, splitting it into thousands of tiny shards as it exploded inward. Silas instantly felt tired from the effort, but it had worked.
You tire this easily? You really think you can lead your kind to defeat the Stühocs?
Silas tried to ignore Hroth. He tried not to let his thoughts give away all that the Gatekeeper had told him. Silas tried not to think about the fact that he was supposed to gain the Gatekeeper’s magic by gathering all of these medallions. He was afraid that Hroth could search deep into his thoughts and memories without Silas having to think about anything specifically.
I can.
The room was fairly small and circular with large paneless windows that oversaw most of Mudavé. Silas didn’t have to search long for the medallion. On a hook next to a window ledge, the orange-jeweled pendant hung by a chain. Silas nearly laughed out loud when he also saw that the staff of Uriah was resting upright against the wall next to the medallion. Getting to the items was easy enough, but Hroth knew that Silas couldn’t just jump out of the window.
He ran to the wall, grabbed the medallion by the chain, and placed it over his neck, letting it hang over his chest. He then grabbed the staff, feeling its familiar hum of acknowledgement to its master.
The item didn’t remain a polished wooden staff for long. It instantly changed into a broadsword as if it knew he would have to be swinging hard very soon. That’s when he heard the recognizable death screech that Silas had only ever associated with Maroke.
Leapers.
Since they had an ability to jump great heights quickly, Silas knew they wouldn’t take long to get to the top of the tower. He looked out through the windows, hoping Nalani and Coffman would be there soon. What if they were caught? He thought to himself.
He held the sword firm, ready and waiting to fight to the death. The Leapers came in a group of four. He had expected them to lash out and immediately overrun him, but they waited at the door as though they were studying him.
Silas couldn’t help but snarl at the grotesque figures. Their scaly gray skin shined in the light, and their hind legs were crouched and ready to pounce. Their long snouts gave them the appearance of giant lizards, and their sharp teeth could probably bite through his arm. They carried no swords or knives, but they each had long, razor-sharp claws on the ends of their fingers. Silas remembered the fight Kaden had with the Leapers back on Earth. Their claws were strong enough to deflect any sword.
He could tell the Leapers wanted to rip him to pieces, so why weren’t they moving?
Because they answer to me now, Hroth told Silas. Behind the Leapers, Silas could see the dark hooded Stühoc slowly walking up the stairs.
These monsters were servants of Maroke, but since you killed him I thought I would use them as my own personal guards.
Silas stood motionless, refusing to converse with Hroth. He felt that if he talked back with his thoughts, he would be opening his mind to the Possessor even more.
They are little more than Stühoc animals, Hroth told Silas. But they are powerful allies to have. Easily manipulated. All I have to do is give them a slight thought, and they will kill you. You have nowhere to go. Give me the medallion.
Hroth stretched out an arm and motioned for Silas to do as he was told. Silas shook his head. He would die first.
You don’t want to do this, Silas. I would love nothing more than for you to become the eighth Sleeper, but killing you wouldn’t be too much of a loss either.
Silas knew it went against his better judgment, but he was running out of time. Communicating with Hroth might give Coffman and Nalani more time to get the sarian to the tower.
What if I do give it to you? Silas thought. What will you do with it?
I will keep it from the Dunarians, Hroth answered.
Silas smiled. You’re still scared of us. You’re terrified.
Hardly.
You are. You think we still have a chance to win.
You really do want to die, don’t you Silas?
You have no power, Silas continued. You bring the Leapers here because you are powerless to fight me. You have no weaponry; you have no other magical ability other than possession. Silas stepped forward, sword in hand. He knew he was right. Hroth was weak. He spent his days locked in this tower, orchestrating his possessed Sleepers, making sure they did everything as he wished. Silas could kill him now and the Sleepers would be finished.
Without warning, the Leapers attacked.
Silas slashed at the first one and was forced back to the side when two more attacked on his right. The fourth Leaper jumped over Silas, landing between him and one of the windows in the tower wall.
The Leaper to his right slashed with all its might, but Silas ducked and cut upward, severing the creature’s arm. It screamed in pain, but the other three were relentless.
Silas blocked and parried in every direction. He had not faced such ferocity before. He maneuvered in such a way as to get all three Leapers in front of him where he was able to keep them all in focus. Hroth watched in determination from the doorway.
Silas’ body became exhausted. He knew it wouldn’t be long before the Leapers overpowered him and took him down. Throughout the fight, the staff changed from shield, to sword, and back to shield. He knew the weapon’s magic was keeping him alive. He stole a glance out the window of the tower and saw the sarian flying in with its two riders.
“Silas, you gotta jump!” came the yell from Coffman.
Silas swung mightily with the broadsword. He wished he had the position to take one good swipe at Hroth, but this was his only chance to escape. The Possessor would have to die some other time.
Hroth noticed the riders too.
You don’t want to jump, Silas.
Silas stabbed a Leaper through the heart, leaving two left to attack. He had finally found his opening. He turned from the Leapers and charged for the window. As his foot sprung from the ledge, he could see all of Mudavé below him, and the rocks that awaited him should the sarian not catch him.
The staff felt loose in his grip, but he realized that it had turned into a rope. He had fallen short of the sarian, but Coffman reached out and grabbed the rope as Nalani veered the bird into the opposite direction.
Dangling below the sarian, Silas could see a Leaper jump from the ledge. For a moment, Silas knew the animal would reach him and sink its long claws into his chest, but the sarian took a sudden turn, and the Leaper missed Silas by a foot, falling to a crushing death.
Nalani directed the sarian to fly as high up as possible to avoid arrows from any Stühoc guards that would be watching for them.
Coffman pulled up on the ro
pe, finally bringing Silas to the back of the sarian. Silas couldn’t believe they had escaped Mudavé, and the clutches of Hroth’s influence.
You haven’t lost my influence, Hroth told him.
No! How far did Hroth’s mind reach? Silas hoped he would not have to live with this voice in his head as long as Hroth was still alive.
You have opened your mind to me, Silas Ainsley.
Silas tried to shake the voice from his head. He could not let his thoughts be plagued by Hroth.
He looked down at the orange medallion and smiled. They were free. They had escaped the clenched fist of the Stühocs. Now they had to get back to Jekyll Rock and start winning this war.
Chapter Five
“How can you deny my request of the green medallion?” Julian Hobbes asked the Erellen King. He was tired of dealing with Jiaros. The Erellen leader would not listen to reason.
“I can deny it because you are dangerous,” Jiaros said as he sat at the end of the table. Several advisors sat near the king, all of them surrounded with parchments and books, looking more important than they really were. The Erellen prince, Daewyn, sat comfortably beside his father. Julian had been surprised to see Inga in the room as well, though she was in a seat off to the side, permitted only to engage in conversation when requested. Julian stood at the other end of the table, frustrated.
“What you perceive as dangerous is my attempt to get rid of the Stühocs and their influence in Marenon. You call that dangerous?”
“What’s dangerous, Julian, is that you executed three members of the Dunarian Council. You have singlehandedly destroyed the strongest ally we have against the Stühocs.”
“This ally of yours would have been even stronger if you had actually supported them,” Julian answered. “The Dunarians have had no help from you for seventeen years.”
“Do you acknowledge that you made a mistake by killing the Dunarian council members Katherine Fallera, Quincy Todd, and Myron Lloyd?” Jiaros asked.
Julian let out a sigh. It all came back to that. Of course it was a mistake. Of course he should have investigated the situation better.
“I was deceived.”
“You were manipulated!” Jiaros countered. “How can I be sure you aren’t being manipulated now?”
“If Kaden were here to ask you for the green medallion would you deny him?”
“I’m not here to argue speculation,” Jiaros said. “If that time comes, I will consider it then. Either way, I am not going to give away the security of my people to a king who has gone mad.”
Julian should have known what he was getting himself into. Of course the Erellens weren’t going to hand him the medallion. It provided their only escape should they ever need it. It opened the Green Gate, leading to an unknown world. If the Stühocs ever took over the Erellen’s land, Elysium, it would be their last chance for survival.
“You have done no direct harm to me or my people,” Jiaros said. “That’s why we have no quarrel yet. But I knew your brother Morgan. You carry the same traits as he. I would not go into battle with him nor will I go to battle with you as the Human king.”
“I assure you, I am not my brother,” Julian said staring down at the table. The king’s words bit at him like a snake. They made him want to vomit.
“Before the Erellens will support you or your cause, you have to prove yourself,” Jiaros said. “And it takes many years for a king to be able to prove himself.”
“You and I both know we don’t have years,” Julian said. He pointed at Daewyn. “You’ve heard your son’s account of what is happening in Voelif and Mudavé. You know the Meshulan has been captured. Yet you still cower away in your corner of Marenon as if nothing else is happening in this world. On your watch, the Gatekeeper was killed.”
Jiaros sat stone-faced.
“I have four medallions in my possession,” Julian said. “I can get the orange one easily enough, and that leaves only one left. Yours.”
“So, I am the only one standing in your way of absolute power,” Jiaros said.
“You are the only one standing in the way of finally defeating the Stühocs for good.”
Jiaros stood from his seat, as did all the others out of respect.
“I’m sorry, Julian. I cannot help you,” he said as he turned to leave the room. “The servants will show you to your quarters. I’m sure you will find them comfortable enough.” He stopped when he came only a foot from Julian. “I expect you to leave Elysium in the morning.”
Julian said nothing, but gave a slight nod. He didn’t know what he had expected. He had known this would be a long shot, but he had to try anyway.
Julian was now perceived as the enemy. How could he prove to people that this was not the truth? How could he tell them that the only thing he wanted was to win this war? It was all that mattered. He cared nothing for being the king, but only for the defeat of the Stühocs. Once it was done, he would step down if that was the wish of the people.
After a moment, only he and Inga stood in the room together. He didn’t know what she thought of him now. She was probably angry with him too.
He looked at her awkwardly, but she didn’t move.
“I suppose your magic kept you alive?” Julian asked. “You know, when you and Silas were attacked?”
She shook her head. “Actually, I didn’t do much. Marcus crashed into us and I was knocked out. When I woke up, I saw them flying away on a dragon. There was nothing I could do.”
“I’m glad you’re ok,” Julian said. He could tell she wanted to ask him about the Dunarians. About the council. But she held her tongue. She knew he wouldn’t tolerate her questioning.
Without another word, she walked out of the room and Julian stood alone. There would be no support for him now, he knew. Now he decided he would have to do things the way he always did them. If the Erellens refused to hand him the medallion, he was just going to have to take it from them. He did not want to fuel his own power; his desire was not to be greedy. His desire was for their own good. For the good of everyone in Marenon.
Julian walked through the city, accompanied by guards assigned by Jiaros for Julian’s protection. He was fine with them. He was used to it. During the past three months he had hardly been alone. In fact, when he had traveled unescorted from Farlaweer to Jarul, he had felt very exposed. He had the consistent urge to look over his shoulder, even while flying his sarian Eden.
He was glad that Jiaros was cordial enough to provide Julian with royal treatment. The bedchamber for the visiting king was more elaborate than his own in Farlaweer.
When he opened the door to his room, he had not expected to see the Erellen prince waiting for him. He stood when Julian walked into the room, and Julian froze.
Daewyn took no time getting to the point. “You want the medallion,” he said. “I want something too.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed as he slowed closed the door behind him.
Deawyn continued. “I think if we can work together, we’ll both be happy in the end.”
*****
Inga had disguised the sound of her footsteps with simple magic when she followed Julian to his room. After Julian closed the door behind him, the guards took post on the other side of the hallway facing the door.
Perfect.
She closed her eyes for a moment and felt the ice-cold blanket of invisibility fall over her. With her sound muffled and appearance undetectable, she was able to place her ear against the door. There were voices. She thought something like this would happen. A meeting between Daewyn and Julian wasn’t unforeseeable, but she was still surprised to hear them speaking together.
With just a bit more concentration, she was able to amplify the voices in her ears to hear them clearly.
“You want the medallion,” Daewyn said. “I want something too. I think if we can work together, we’ll both be happy in the end.”
“What are you talking about?” Julian asked.
Daewyn went straight to the point. “I can get you
the medallion without getting caught. But first I want your promise that you can do something for me.”
“I’m listening.”
“Lorcan Zamire,” Daewyn said. “I want him captured.”
Inga nearly gasped. She thought about how Kaden had just broken Lorcan out of prison just days before. Daewyn was obviously angry about it.
“I don’t know how he got out,” Daewyn said. “And I don’t care. I just want him to face justice.”
“I have no idea how to get Lorcan,” Julian said.
“Of course you do!” Daewyn said eagerly. “What’s the first thing you plan to do when you get the green medallion?”
There was a pause in the conversation. Inga imagined that Julian was deep in thought, contemplating what Daewyn was asking.
“You’ll go to Jekyll Rock,” Daewyn said. “And that’s where Lorcan will be.”
“How did you know Lorcan was with the Dunarians now?” Julian asked.
“I was in Voelif three days ago,” he said. “I ran into a couple of his friends there. They got me out.”
“Who did you see? Did you see Nalani?” Inga could tell Julian had gotten excited.
“Yeah,” Daewyn said. “There was quite an uprising there. I escaped with two Humans when Nalani lent us a sarian to ride. She told us to get out and warn our allies.
“You were with Coffman and Alric?”
“No. It was a couple named Dink and Emma. They flew me here so I could tell my father about a weapon the Nestorians have built. They left here to fly to Jekyll Rock and warn the Dunarians about it.”
The room was silent for a moment. “What about Nalani?”
“Like I said, I took off. Last I saw, she and the big guy were flying after Alric to try and help him. I have no idea if they made it out.”
Julian sighed loudly. Inga knew of their past relationship, so she knew what Julian was feeling. He was in a helpless position.
“Then getting the green medallion may be useless,” Julian said.
“Maybe not,” Daewyn answered. “The three of us would be heading in a different direction. Alric had the medallion with him, and the other two were on sarians. It’s very possible that they made it out safely.”
The Marenon Chronicles Collection Page 61