Khor nodded. “He is bringing four of his own soldiers along and Skinner is sending five of his most trusted mercenaries.”
“That makes twelve in total, I told Skinner I needed Erdhan’s assistance to keep the stone veiled,” Orlla said. “It is to be auctioned off to the monarchs of the lost kingdoms at a feast hosted by Emperor Narlius of the Ithaton Peninsula.”
“Then we must strike before we reach the palace,” Erdhan said.
Khor paced the alleyway. “Even with runes at your disposal, you cannot hope to steal the dragon stone under the watchful eye of Lord Davian, not to mention the mercenaries, without my help. I’ll find a way to escape from here and follow you.”
Orlla wrinkled her brow in alarm. “Remember Skinner’s warning about hunting down deserters. If he catches you, he’ll show no mercy.”
Hard cords quivered in Khor’s neck. “Skinner’s overblown threats don’t intimidate me. He is an uncouth barbarian. I am a trained Protector.”
“How long is the journey to the Ithaton Peninsula?” Erdhan asked.
“We will be two nights on the road,” Orlla said.
“Then we will make our move on the second night,” Khor said. “The first night we will study the movements and habits of the guards and devise a plan from there.”
“What if Lord Davian attempts to abscond with the stone before that?” Orlla asked. “We must surmise that is his intention. He will use the stone to seize power from King Hamend.”
Khor grunted. “Davian’s no fool. He won’t steal the stone on the way to the lost kingdoms. Suspicion would fall on him immediately and, unlike us, he does not have the goat herders at his disposal to spirit him through the mountains. He will wait until he reaches the emperor’s palace where enough interested parties at the feast will muddy the waters.”
“How will we find you once we’re underway?” Erdhan asked.
“Use whatever opportunities you have to leave the campsite on the first night to gather firewood or hunt,” Khor answered. “I’ll come to you.” He cast a quick look into the street. “We should get out of here before someone sees us. I’ll head back to the bunkhouse first so we don’t arouse suspicion.”
Khor nodded to Orlla and clasped forearms with Erdhan and then strode purposefully down the main street in the direction of the bunkhouses.
“I pray he makes it out of Boar’s Fort,” Orlla said, her voice rife with apprehension.
“He can handle a few mercenaries pursuing him,” Erdhan said. “You yourself regaled me with tales of his impressive swordsmanship and knife-handling skills.”
Orlla nodded, only half-reassured. Skinner had warned of weighty consequences for deserters, and he didn’t strike her as the type of man to make empty threats. “We can’t afford to fail. If Emperor Narlius gains control of the dark dragon stone, he will swallow Macobin and Pegonia whole. And if Davian steals it first and ousts King Hamend, our brothers will die.” She gazed at Erdhan with renewed purpose. “I want Samten and Franz to have a future.”
A haunted look flashed across Erdhan’s face at the mention of his only surviving brother. “If we’re going to succeed, you need to teach me the veiling runes to hide the stone, or the mercenaries will see right through me.”
“There isn’t time. Just move your mouth as if you’re muttering the runes inwardly and raise your hands when I do.”
“I can do that. I’m pretty good at keeping my mouth moving,” Erdhan replied.
“Not so good at keeping it shut,” Orlla reminded him, quirking a grin. “We’d better get back before we’re missed.”
They slipped out of the alleyway into the main street and ran straight into Madora exiting the tavern. She lifted an amused brow. “A fine night indeed for a moonlight tryst.”
“Thank you for keeping our secret, Madora,” Orlla said, feigning a flustered tone. “We are leaving in the morning with the party setting out for the Ithaton Peninsula.”
Madora’s eyes widened. “Skinner is sending you to Emperor Narlius? I’ve heard he has a penchant for foreign-born concubines. You should have left when you had the chance.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Orlla said.
Madora let out a dismissive snort. “If I worried about every stray who ended up here, I’d have lost my reason a long time ago.” She balanced her basket in the crook of her arm and set off without a backward glance.
Erdhan folded his arms across his chest and shot Orlla an amused look. “You should have wed me when I first extended the offer. I warned you you’d be less desirable quarry as a married woman than an unsullied maiden.”
Orlla rolled her eyes at him and took off down the street to the bunkhouses, leaving Erdhan chuckling to himself.
By dawn the front gate was teeming with activity. Horses snorted and pawed, eager to be underway, while Skinner’s mercenaries and Davian’s soldiers yawned and scrubbed hands across their faces to rouse themselves from their slumber.
“What are we waiting for?” Erdhan asked, peering around at the restive group as they sat on their steeds.
Orlla jerked her chin in the direction of Skinner’s quarters. A squad of men followed him as he marched across the courtyard leading a black stallion with saddlebags attached. When they reached the gate, Skinner snapped his fingers and a ginger-haired, hard-bodied mercenary retrieved the dragon stone from the saddlebags. Orlla eyed it curiously. Just like Yaarlin had said, it held no appearance of beauty at first glance.
“I want the veiling runes in place before you depart Boar’s Fort,” Skinner said.
Orlla gave Erdhan a knowing nod and they both dismounted. Focusing all her concentration on the sack, Orlla reached deep into her mind and began to weave the runes, hands raised and slightly apart. At her side, Erdhan mimicked her every move, his lips moving in an easy manner that complemented the confident swish of his hands over the stone.
Audible gasps rippled around the circle of onlookers when the Onyx disappeared from sight.
“Put it in a sack inside the saddlebag and mount up,” Skinner ordered the ginger-haired mercenary holding it.
Skinner turned to Orlla and Erdhan. “This is my right-hand man, Shanks. I’ve instructed him to carry the stone. He will ride between the two of you.” A devious smirk broke out over his face. “He is a seasoned killer, so you will be as safe as the stone.”
Orlla fought to keep her expression indifferent, the underlying meaning not lost on her. Shanks was not there for their protection—he was there to make sure they didn’t escape.
The gates to Boar’s Fort creaked open and the eager horses pranced out onto the road. Orlla and Erdhan found themselves strategically sandwiched between Lord Davian’s soldiers up front and the mercenaries at the rear. Evidently neither Davian nor Skinner trusted them fully.
They were underway only a short while before Lord Davian fell back, trotting alongside Orlla. He lowered his voice to a menacing pitch. “I see you do not carry the Opal of Light about your person. Where have you hidden it?”
“Somewhere you will never get your hands on it,” she hissed.
Lord Davian stiffened but quickly composed his features, raising his voice for Shank’s benefit. “I trust you are keeping the runes on the dark dragon stone fortified, or do I need to conduct regular checks?”
Orlla fastened a cold glare on him, fighting the desire to rip the smirk off his pitted face. This was the filthy cur who had left her brother for dead and tried to trade his life for the Opal of Light. It took all her willpower not to spit a retort in his face, but she had to bide her time. “Rest assured, it is handled, General.”
Lord Davian threw back his head and laughed. He cast a cunning look in Erdhan’s direction. “Well, we have all earned our titles, haven’t we rune weaver?”
Before Orlla could fling another scathing retort at him, Lord Davian cantered off to the front of the line, his fiendish laugh ringing out after him. Orlla tightened her grip on her reins. She desperately wanted to vent her fury to Erdhan, but with S
hanks listening in on every word, she would have to hold her tongue.
“An odious individual,” Shanks growled.
Orlla’s jaw dropped. She cautioned herself to tread carefully. It could be a trap. Shanks wasn’t here to befriend them. “Apparently, Skinner doesn’t think so,” she replied casually.
A muscle twitched in Shank’s jaw. “He has a use for the general, nothing more.”
Orlla waited for Shanks to elaborate, but he fell silent. Deeming it wise not to probe any deeper, she tucked away the information for further reflection. Skinner had given Lord Davian permission to dispose of them once the stone had been safely delivered, but it occurred to her that he might have authorized Shanks to eliminate Lord Davian afterward too.
Late that afternoon, they broke to set up camp. Orlla and Erdhan wasted no time offering to gather firewood while the mercenaries and Davian’s men tended to the horses and dressed a deer they had shot with a crossbow.
They edged as far from the campsite as they dared while calling blithely out to one another—ostensibly to reassure the guards they were still in the vicinity, all the while making sure Khor knew where they were going. Orlla scooped up some sticks for kindling as she scanned through the foliage searching for any sign of Khor’s face, while Erdhan looked for footprints or any indication the Protector was nearby.
Minutes ticked by and still Khor didn’t appear. Before long, the mercenaries began shouting at them to get a move on with the firewood.
“Coming!” Orlla called back, hurriedly grabbing some more branches from the forest floor. She met Erdhan’s questioning gaze with a quick shake of her head.
With a fire crackling and fresh venison cooking over a spit, the men’s mood relaxed. Orlla took the opportunity to steal off into the trees again, desperate to connect with Khor—once again, to no avail.
“He may not catch up with us until tomorrow night,” Erdhan whispered reassuringly when she returned, but the look on his face told her he was every bit as worried as she was.
Orlla slept fitfully that night, starting at every sound. She rose shortly before dawn, determined to take one last scout around in the event Khor had caught up with them overnight. She nodded in passing to the two guards on perimeter duty and slipped off through the undergrowth.
As she stepped under a low branch, she jerked her head up, sensing eyes on her. She sucked in a breath when she spotted a face she hadn’t expected to see watching her through the brush.
Chapter 15
Akolom emerged from the bushes, a bony finger pressed to his mustached lips.
Orlla almost blurted out his name before she caught herself. “How did you find us?” she asked in a hoarse whisper, throwing a skittish glance over one shoulder to make sure they weren’t being watched. “Is Khor with you?”
“No.” Akolom’s eyes flared with a hint of concern. “I hoped he was with you. I haven’t seen him since we parted ways at Boar’s Fort.”
“Skinner, the mercenary overlord, didn’t want him along on this mission,” Orlla explained. “Khor said he would find a way to escape Boar’s Fort and follow us, but he hasn’t shown up yet.”
Akolom pulled his wispy, graying brows upward. “What mission?”
“We’re taking the dark dragon stone to Emperor Narlius of Ithaton who has long sought it. He is inviting all the monarchs of the lost kingdoms to a feast at which the stone is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Skinner will be paid handsomely in return, in coin and soldiers.” Orlla lowered her voice, until she was barely audible. “Erdhan and I are planning to steal it before we reach the Ithaton peninsula. Khor was supposed to be here by now to help us.”
Akolom paced in front of Orlla. “You need to go ahead with the plan to steal the stone, whether Khor shows up or not. I am growing weaker by the day, but I will assist you as best I can.”
“There’s something else you should know,” Orlla said. “Lord Davian is here. He joined up with the mercenaries, posing as a general from the lost kingdoms. Skinner fell for his cunning lies and put him in charge of leading the mission and negotiating a price for the stone.” She hesitated. “I’m certain Davian will attempt to abscond with the stone. The only question is when. Khor thinks he will wait until he reaches Ithaton, so the blame will be put on someone at the court. There will be many dignitaries from other territories in the lost kingdoms represented at the feast, all of whom are eager to acquire a dragon stone.”
Akolom nodded gravely. “I agree with Khor’s assessment. Davian’s greed knows no bounds. By delivering the Onyx, Davian will gain the trust of the emperor. He will be given a battalion of soldiers as a reward, in addition to the gold in payment for the stone. And then he will steal it back. With enough men, coin, and the dark dragon stone at his disposal, Davian will ride to Macobin and seize the throne from King Hamend.”
Orlla peered through the trees to see if anyone was coming. “How are we going to get our hands on the stone without Khor to take out the guards? There are always two perimeter guards on duty at the camp, and two more guards assigned to watch the stone throughout the night—a mercenary, and one of Lord Davian’s soldiers.”
“Where is the Onyx kept?” Akolom asked.
“In the saddlebag on Shank’s black stallion.”
Akolom fingered his beard thoughtfully. “If you can find a way to distract the guards, I could slip into the camp under the guise of a veiling rune and steal it.”
“I’m sure I can think of something before tomorrow night,” Orlla said, turning to go. “I need to get back before my absence arouses suspicion. I take it you have a steed?”
“I borrowed one from Yaarlin.” Akolom gave a sheepish shrug. “I took it under cover of darkness. I will find a way to repay him.”
Orlla bit her lip. “Varon’s dead.”
Shock flickered over Akolom’s face. “I fear his death will be the first of many brought on by the dark dragon stone.”
“All the more reason to destroy it,” Orlla whispered, before taking her leave and threading her way back to the campsite.
Other than the guards on duty, none of the mercenaries or soldiers were stirring yet. Orlla poked Erdhan awake and apprised him of Akolom’s whereabouts and plan.
“Still no sign of Khor?” Erdhan muttered.
Orlla shook her head. “Akolom hasn’t seen him since he was turned away at Boar’s Fort. I’m worried about him.”
“Khor can look after himself. I’m willing to wager he’ll show up tonight,” Erdhan said. “In the meantime, we have to figure out how to distract the guards who are watching the stone.”
“I’ll throw a few pebbles into the bushes and tell them I heard something,” Orlla said. “While I’m talking to them, toss a few more in whichever direction I point. As soon as they leave to investigate, Akolom can slip in and steal the stone.”
“They won’t leave it unprotected,” Erdhan replied. “One of them will stay with it.”
Orlla pulled her brows together. “Perhaps, but he’ll be distracted, glancing into the brush, keeping an eye out for would-be attackers and not watching the saddlebag closely. Akolom only needs a few seconds to lift the flap. Both he and the stone will be invisible to the guard.”
Erdhan nodded. “I think we can pull it off with his help.”
On the other side of the campfire, Lord Davian yawned loudly and stretched, barking at his men to rouse themselves. Within minutes, the camp was awash with activity as soldiers and mercenaries saddled up their horses and munched on hard biscuits. Orlla watched Lord Davian reach into the saddlebag to check that the dark dragon stone was still there. He nodded to Shanks who strapped the saddlebag back on his horse with an expression of blank deference that masked his true feelings about Davian.
The morning that loomed ahead of them was overcast, and a cold wind was gearing up to buffet them along the way. The men grumbled to one another, rubbing their hands briskly as they mounted their steeds and fell into the same formation as the previous day.
&nb
sp; Shanks greeted Orlla with a stiff thrust of his chin when she rode up to him. A flicker of loathing crossed his face the moment Lord Davian turned his back to them.
“Keep a steady pace,” Lord Davian roared to the departing party. “We may have to set up camp early if foul weather assails us.”
Orlla braced herself against the wind and spurred her horse to a trot.
Shanks muttered something under his breath and hurled a ball of spit to the ground before urging his horse on.
Erdhan cocked an amused brow at him. “I take it General Davian has failed to make a good impression on you.”
“We’d be better off letting the men hunker down in this weather, but he’d rather drive them to mutiny.” Shanks curled his lip, keeping his face forward. “He may be a military man as he claims, but he’s a swindling buzzard at heart.”
“What makes you say that?” Erdhan asked, throwing a quick glance in Orlla’s direction.
Shanks ground his teeth before answering. “Something doesn’t sit right about him. What slave works his way to freedom to become a general in the emperor’s army, and then joins a mercenary outpost?”
“It is odd that he showed up at Boar’s Fort right after the dark dragon stone was discovered,” Erdhan agreed.
He let the impact of his words settle in Shank’s mind before adding, “Do you think he’ll try and double-cross Skinner and steal the stone before we reach the lost kingdoms?”
“I’m betting on it,” Shanks said in a crass tone. “And when he does, I will personally remove his pompous head from his shoulders, and take great pleasure doing it.”
Orlla shuddered at the brutal words. She didn’t doubt the sincerity of them for a moment. Skinner had warned her Shanks was a seasoned killer, and his most loyal mercenary, willing and able to protect Skinner’s interests.
“I won’t shed a tear over Davian’s demise either, but who will negotiate with Emperor Narlius if you kill him?” Erdhan asked.
Shanks angled his head and studied Erdhan with a crafty look. “You are rune weavers, are you not? If you can unveil the stone for the emperor, what need do we have of Davian?”
Onyx of Darkness_An epic dragon fantasy Page 12