Fogle Eric - Forge of the Gods 01 - The Last Knight (V1.0)

by 5kops

  Areck paused as Lord Silvershield stepped away. Just before the com­mander exited the tent, Areck said, "My lord, may I request your council regarding a matter that has been lying heavy upon my mind?"

  "I would be honored, Squire Areck. Please seek me when you are packed and ready." Lord Silvershield exited the tent.

  ****

  Areck sat in silence, trying to forget the details of the past night's discovery. Reaching for his armor, he retraced the events in his mind and shivered.

  I need to forget such morbid thoughts, Areck thought, remembering why he sought his commander's advice: another nightmarish vision. He hoped that the knight-captain, for whom he had great respect, could guide him to un­derstanding.

  Areck strapped on his armor. He packed up his things, broke down his tent, and placed everything onto his horse. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, he looked around the barren campsite and noticed something was out of place. Though all eight of his squires were mounted, one was out of formation, carrying a litter which contained the bodies while the rest awaited orders.

  The three knight-captains stood near the edge of the road and Areck approached them with hesitation. It appeared that his commanders were discussing how they should handle the day. Lord Silvershield turned and called for three squires.

  "You may leave for Brenly," he commanded, pointing at the man carry­ing the bodies. "When you arrive, hand the bodies over to their respective houses and wait for the rest of us to arrive." The squire saluted his com­mander and turned onto the road, towards the noblemen's hometown.

  Lord Silvershield turned to Areck, who had stopped outside the knightly circle. He was about to speak when he was cut off by Lord Vinion, who was disgusted that Areck was allowed to sleep for so long.

  "Squire, why is it that you are the last to be ready, yet again?" Lord Vin­ion snarled. "I trust you got enough rest to control your horse today?"

  Areck reddened with shame, trying his best to ignore Lord Galwen Vin-ion's statement. "My lord, if I could speak to you now . . .?" Areck tried to focus on why he was there.

  "Of course, Areck; what is the reason you seek my council this morn­ing?" Lord Silvershield asked. Lord Galwen paled at the insult.

  "My lords, I feel that I need guidance for a vision from Starsgalt. It is becoming increasingly sinister, and I am confused about the meaning." Though the other squires were several yards away, Areck spoke softly.

  All three knights became serious.

  "Go on, Areck," Lord Silvershield said.

  "Well, my lords, I feel that something terrible is about to happen," Areck said. "My vision has revealed a traitor among the knighthood, one who will murder Messenger Arawnn. Starsgalt never allows me to see the traitor's face. I am unsure what to do, my lords."

  "How do you know it is one of the knighthood, Squire?" inquired Lord Stephen Malketh, whom Areck had heard speak only twice on the entire campaign.

  "He wore Bre'Dmorian armor, Lord Malketh," Areck said. "Though I cannot be positive, the man was also carrying a knightly weapon. This has led me to believe that the assassin is a knight."

  Areck saw concerned interest cross each of his commanders' faces. "If you could not see any faces, what makes you so sure that Arawnn is the person to be murdered?" Stephen asked.

  "I am sorry, Lord Malketh; I misrepresented my information. In fact, Arawnn's face is the only discernable visage I can make out," Areck said and explained each nightmare in detail. Lord Silvershield pursed his lips in thought.

  "Do you have any idea of the location?" Lord Silvershield asked, break­ing the silence that hung over the group.

  "Though this is just my best guess, Lord Silvershield, the murder will happen sometime during our visit to Stormwind. However, as you well know, I do not know the region well enough to give you a proper location." Areck looked into the eyes of each knight, searching for clarity. Seeing var­ied reactions, he explained exacdy where each hallucination took him. He finished by telling them that each vision ended with the body turning into himself.

  "My lords, I am unsure what to do concerning this information. Can you offer me council?" Areck asked. All knights had visions and interpreted them in their own way.

  The first to speak was Lord Malketh. "I, for one, do not believe in tak­ing chances. Although his recent actions wreak insubordination, we cannot judge a carrier of Starsgalt's visions. I have to believe that the boy is telling the truth." He spoke with confidence to Lord Silvershield, who nodded. "The intensity of these visions may indicate that these events may unfold while we are on this mission."

  "What's to say that Squire Areck has not conjured up the entire story in order to return to the good graces of the knighthood?" Lord Vinion spoke to his commanding officer but gazed at the squire in front of him.

  At this point in the mission, there was little Areck could do to change Lord Vinion's opinion of him. He had never worked closely with the knight and was unfamiliar with the knight's temperament. Dealing with Lord Vinion on this unfortunate occasion had increased Areck's appreciation of his relationship with Lord Silvershield.

  His commander responded, directing his comments at Lord Vinion. "Areck is not one to fashion extravagant stories, Lord Vinion. It is my opinion that Starsgalt has chosen to use our young squire here as a tool to give warning that there may be trouble brewing." Lord Silvershield's words came as a surprise to the other knights.

  "My lord, since we are in agreement, it might be a good idea to allow two squires to accompany me ahead of the group," Lord Malketh said, sug­gesting that precautionary measures be taken. "Three of us traveling ahead will not draw undue attention to the company. The goal will be to cause less commotion than a full formation, scout any danger that may hinder the completion of our objective, and if we find anything, send word. As far as I am concerned, the courier's safe arrival at Stormwind Keep is still the prior­ity."

  "I am well aware of our priorities, Lord Malketh," Bowon responded. "I do not feel that it is wise for anyone to ride ahead, as it will only weaken our defenses. Our best option will be to ride together and keep a sharp eye out for anything unusual." Areck knew an order when he heard one, but it ap­peared that Lord Malketh had other ideas.

  "It is a matter of honor, Knight-Captain," Malketh stiffened. "So far, we have traveled slowly and done nothing to ensure the safety of our charge. This will set my mind at ease."

  Lord Malketh stood, head held high, awaiting approval from the com­mander. Moments passed without a word. Areck looked over at Knight-Captain Silvershield, trying to discern his thoughts.

  "I expect a full report when we arrive at Stormwind, Lord Malketh," the knight-captain finally spoke. "Take your two squires and ride ahead. Alert me immediately if anything suspicious in nature comes up, and I will slow our canter so you may have time to investigate."

  Lord Silvershield heaved himself up onto his horse, motioning Areck and Lord Vinion to do the same. Lord Malketh followed suit, riding to­wards the seven mounted squires, who saluted him.

  Areck watched Lord Malketh choose his pair of squires, issue com­mands, and gallop down the road, ahead of the company.

  The company, now consisting of six squires, two knights, and Arawnn, began a slow canter down the road. The collective heartbeat of the group amplified as each of them became alert to potential danger.

  They rode in complete silence.

  ****

  Var had followed the Bre'Dmorians closely since his contact with the con­tact knight. He used the shadows to plod along, observing each armored man's weaknesses. It was common for an assassin to stalk his mark. How­ever, Var had not let the party out of his sight for more than an hour, sometimes riding ahead or falling behind, always sure that killing the cou­rier was within his ability.

  Though Var had made contact on the eve of the first night and learned that the company consisted primarily of squires, he did not feel comfort­able. Something about the traitorous knight's instructions just didn't feel right. He used the coastal stor
m as camouflage, sneaking in and out of the Bre'Dmorian's camp until he was satisfied that his accomplice would not betray him.

  He was about to leave when something happened. One of the squires, a tall young man with ice blue eyes, had entered the camp with frantic news. It had sent the entire camp into a fast paced frenzy.

  Var watched the company roar into action, seeking the source of the squire's paranoia. It turned out that the boy had stumbled upon dead bod­ies—a pair of noblemen had been murdered. Not for the first time, Var wondered why such a thing even mattered.

  It is not like a knight has never seen a dead body before, he mused, following several men into the forest. It wasn't until the commanding knight sent his men back to the camp to fetch a litter that Var stepped out of his hiding and bent down. As he poked one of the mangled corpses, he noticed some­thing interesting: the body had a small mark cut into its face.

  Must be the mark of a killer, Var thought. With a curious look, he walked towards the next body, which also bore the mark.

  Pursing his lips, Var studied the murder site for several minutes. He was so engrossed with the odd mark that he did not hear the soft footsteps ap­proach him from behind. Var felt a stinging pain cut into his back and a rough hand cover his mouth. Var stiffened, struggling for his weapons.

  "Shh, assassin, do not move or I will kill you," the voice of his accom­plice whispered into his ear and pushed him deeper into the forest.

  As they moved Var relaxed. When he felt the knight loosen his grip, Var grabbed the man's thumb and deftly sidestepped. The result was that the knight flipped over and the assassin took control of the situation.

  "What in the name of hell's demons are you grabbing me for?" Var whispered, wrenching the knight's thumb.

  "Let go of me, fiend!" the knight said. "I was making sure that if anyone saw me approach you it would not look conspicuous."

  "Tell the truth." Var pushed the knight away. "You were trying to pay me back for our late night encounters—you wanted to prove a point."

  The knight stood straight but did not reach for his weapon. Instead, the man dropped his gaze and turned red in shame. Var could tell that his assessment was right and took a moment to remind the holy bastard that as an assassin, Var could kill his accomplice at any time.

  When he was satisfied, Var turned his attention to inquiring the reason the knight was here.

  As it turned out, the knight had been waiting for him to talk about one of the squires who slowed the party- down repeatedly.

  "Damn it!" Var spat. "This job is getting more complicated by the mo­ment. Does this squire have a name? Just kill him, so we have no more problems to deal with."

  "His name is Areck of Brenly, but I do not see him as a threat. In fact, I think I can turn this to our advantage," the knight said.

  "How?"

  "Leave that to me," the knight said and detailed his idea. "Isn't that risky? What if your commander doesn't think that wise?" Var asked.

  "Once again, allow me to handle that."

  Var shrugged. "I will trust you then, sir," he said and moved into the forest. Looking over his shoulder he added, "I will meet you at Stormwind in two nights."

  With that Var Surestrike was gone.

  14

  IT WAS mid-afternoon on the fifth day when the last of the clouds dissi­pated. The coastal storm that had followed the company a hundred miles inland finally burned itself out at the base of the Dragonspine Mountains. The fresh scent of eastern pines wafted down the steep slopes. Because the surrounding area had become calm, birds chirped happily and hopped from tree to tree, watching the riders make their way down King's Road.

  Since entering Moonwood Forest the prior morning, the company had passed several merchant caravans heading west. It was common to see a surplus of traders entering the duchy, seeking the rare imports that came through Aresleigh's grand ports. This time, however, the dour faces on the riders kept the vocal merchants to a quick greeting before moving on their way.

  As Areck rode behind the pair of knights, he regarded the paved road with interest. In his history classes, he had learned that one of the major advantages Arsgoth had over other kingdoms was the discovery of paved roadways. Furthermore, during his sixth year at the Academy he had been given the opportunity to watch several teams of prisoners construct such a road, an extension of the road running from Aresleigh to the small southern township of Quail. They had followed the precise instructions of mathema­ticians and engineers, who had first calculated the amount of material re­quired on such a project before letting the laborers move in. Areck vividly remembered the prisoners slaving away with picks, digging down six to eight inches as they created a trench approximately ten feet wide. When the diggers finished, another crew of prisoners hauled in thousands of yards of gravel, pouring enough to fill one half of the small ditch. Finally, the stonemason's guild had dragged in carts laden with rectangular slabs of stone, chiseled smooth to fit together precisely in various patterns. Every fifth stone was left unsealed for runoff, using a mixture of volcanic ash and water to create a paste that, once dried, secured the stones in place.

  The art of making roads had been an Arsgothian specialty for nearly two thousand years, since the formation of the kingdom. It allowed armies to march with outstanding speed in times of war and merchants' quick passage during times of peace. It was the epitome of the age, as more kingdoms secured mercantile contracts of Arsgothian artisans and slaves to build styl­ized roads.

  Areck mused at the thought. No other kingdom in the known world could create the longevity or the usefulness of Arsgothian roads. He mar­veled at the intricacy of the road. He could see the cracks left for expansion created by heat, and crevices left for water runoff. The King's Road was the second-oldest roadway in all of Arsgoth, created seventeen hundred years ago by whichever king wished to access this region.

  Seventeen hundred years ... the thought gave him a spurt of inspiration. This road was almost as old as the kingdom itself. It was built even before the gates of Stormwind were erected in defense of the second ferryll inva­sion, sixteen hundred years ago. It had seen the burning of Das'Dalmen, an ancient port which fell during the Second War of Ancient Souls, when most of the western shores were destroyed. To be riding on something so old made him wonder if there was magic involved in its making.

  "They must be talking about something important," a voice whispered. "Ever since the commander sent Lord Malketh away, Vinion has kept his distance."

  The words drew Areck's attention away from the road. He frowned at Arawnn then up at the pair of knights riding side by side, deep in discus­sion. He knew what they were speaking about and wanted to explain to Arawnn. Yet he did not. If only they—if he—could only figure out the true meaning of the vision.

  "I am sure they are discussing why we haven't heard back from our scouting party," Areck responded solemnly. He let his gaze linger past the knights towards the massive oudine of Stormwind Keep. He saw the three banners of Stormwind fluttering in the afternoon sun: a brilliant red banner with a poised golden lion, a dark navy banner with a sword and staff crossed and a crown encompassing them, and a white banner split by a blue tower shield. The red banner represented Duke Hawkwind, whose family had ruled Aresleigh in service of the King of Arsgoth since its conception. The blue banner displayed the Bre'Dmorian's presence in the region, and the last was that of Baron Marqel, a local lord who had controlled Storm­wind before Duke Edelin Hawkwind had taken his uncle's position. Each banner was situated according to power within the region: the Duke's out­numbering the Bre'Dmorians two to one, who then outnumbered the local lord three to one.

  Arawnn considered Areck's comment. "Is it uncommon that no one was sent to relay information back to Lord Silvershield?"

  "Yes. That Lord Malketh has not reported is a bad sign," Areck said. "In a worse case scenario, he should have at least sent one of the garrison's sol­diers."

  He had to admit that it was odd no one had made it back to t
he com­pany. However, his commanders did not seem concerned about the fact, rather discussing privately how they would approach the vision. But the lack of communication from Malketh worried Areck. It was unlike a knight, especially a knight-captain, to be less than meticulous in his duties. To not hear anything indicated possible trouble.

  "Does it concern you?" Arawnn asked, trying to follow the array of emotions that played across Areck's face.

  "It is unusual," Areck explained cautiously. "But I do not know Lord Malketh's exact orders. It's possible that his orders were to secure the area before any information was sent."

  "You were with the commanders when they left," Arawnn pointed out. "Come man, I can see it on your face. What aren't you telling me?"

  Areck sighed, disappointed in his inability to hide his thoughts. "I am not withholding any information that is mine to give, Arawnn," Areck said, noting that his friend was saddened at the news. Trying to change the sub­ject, Areck pointed out that the completion of his quest was nearly at hand.

  Taking the hint, Arawnn asked about the architecture of Stormwind Keep. Areck took interest in the subject and explained the various aspects of defense. Stormwind guarded the only pass into the region and was forti­fied, protected on each side by steep mountains, thick walls, and dense for­est. On the eastern side of the pass, the local inhabitants had hired dwarves to extend the wall several hundred feet past the gatehouses, creating a kill­ing field should the keep be attacked from the Aresleighan side. The keep itself was built in tiers, expanding partially into the mountain. Its high tow­ers looked down into the pass and controlled all trade coming in and out of the duchy. In times of military action, Stormwind Keep acted as a focal point of the western armies, with the capacity to garrison nearly three thou­sand soldiers.