The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1)

by Jim Greenfield

  James felt the burning in his gut. Everything she said brought more questions to him about his grandfather. Who else knew what was happening? His father? His uncle? Edward would have been eighteen when Sena was captured. Edward could have been involved with her imprisonment. It was possible his grandfather never knew although unlikely. Could Edward have been a rouge even then?

  The guards at the riverside of the camp cried out of an approaching rider. James recognized Jed Turlane from the distance. Jed did not waste much time bantering with the other soldiers, which was unusual. James braced himself for the news he would receive.

  James had sent an embassy to Lan Tagjet a week prior to ask for assistance in scouting and information. The Nunari were excellent huntsmen and woodsmen who would greatly help James' endeavors. The Nunari Bearclaws were great fighters, but too few for this warfare.

  "Captain!" Jed Turlane saluted James.

  "How was your journey?"

  "The journey was passable, however my news is not. Kal Tagjet, son of Lan Tagjet was killed by Cane's men."

  James pressed his lips together.

  "He was leading the hunt, his first time, and ran into a squad. Unfortunately, the boy outran them to his death. They killed him on the spot. Lan Tagjet is a strong man. He said he would come in five days, but he must see to his son."

  "I understand," said James. "He didn't need more reason to hate Cane. He might have come to us on his own." He glanced over to Sena who was now returning from washing. Her white hair could be plainly seen.

  "What of Cane's men?"

  "The hunters killed them all. One of the Bearclaws was with them. Ank Rak."

  "Ah, a formidable fighter. Say no more of the killing." He turned to Sena who had waited out of earshot until they finished. He beckoned her forward.

  "Jed Turlane, a valuable man in my command. Jed, this is Sena Tagjet."

  Jed started, but smiled quickly. "A pleasure to meet you."

  She nodded to him.

  "Captain, there is more."

  James watched Sena find a place to sit. "Speak."

  "There were two Daerlan with Lan Tagjet. After he conversed with them, he asked me to join him. When he leads his men to Far Greening, he will ask your father to join him in a quest that the Daerlan brought to him."

  "A quest? For what?"

  "I do not know. Their news had shaken Tagjet, even more than his son's death."

  "What?" said Sena. "Who died?" James cursed himself for being only half sensitive to his guest's presence.

  Jed Turlane paled and looked stricken. James waved him away. "We will speak later."

  James turned to Sena. He exhaled and looked firmly in her eyes.

  "Your brother Kal is dead."

  "Kal. You can't mean Kal! He's a baby, he… He was only five when I saw him last." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Tell me." Her hand reached out toward James briefly before her walls slammed in place again.

  "He was leading the hunt."

  "Ah, he had grown so."

  "He outran the rest of the men chasing their quarry and stumbled into Cane's soldiers. They killed him immediately. Ank Rak and the rest found him too late and killed the soldiers."

  "Never a man, now," she said softly. "Father must be so sad. And Per. He doted on Kal."

  "They will need you," said James softly.

  Her eyes flashed and color rose in her face. "Do not press! Your man said my father would come to Far Greening. Very well. I shall see him there and dance the mourning dance. I can still remember that. If he accepts me, he will dance with me. If not, he will watch and leave without me." She looked into James' face.

  "Do not worry so, my Captain. I am made of hardy stock. Kal's death will be harder on others than me for I once thought they were all dead to me and any that accept me will be more than I expect."

  "I wish to see some joy in your eyes."

  "Do not send me away. Let me fight with you." There was iron within her yet.

  "I don't know. Not fighting, not yet. You need rest and food to build up your strength before you raise a sword. But you may stay. We shall go to Far Greening together to hear your father ask my father to his quest."

  Sena bowed her head slightly, smiling, but her eyes did not yet dance. A beginning, such as it was.

  There was a shout to the west. A clash of steel. Men ran gathering weapons. James drew his sword and ran to the commotion. A squad of Cane's men had attacked. They had circled to the west and slipped past the sentries. When James arrived, Cane's men had been backed toward the south but held the line. James and Grawlin slammed into the attackers, their blades flashing. Repeatedly James hacked and spun, his great blade slicing through the trunks of men and he cried out with a great voice, killing another man. James's fury could not be snuffed and his opponents gave ground. Soon the numbers were not favorable and Cane's men turned and ran, routed by the Captain. James' company had lost two men and killed thirteen, five by the Captain himself.

  James left the bloody ground and found Sena several paces behind him, a knife in her hand. She slid it in her belt and waited for him. He gave commands to his men. Together they returned to the center of the camp to the command tent. James' washed while Sena ate and rested, but her eyes seldom left him.

  James waited two hours after Cane's attack had been beaten back before sending his men riding again. Grawlin led the raiders in one group and they drove to the middle of the camp, then fought their way out the other side and rode off around the Great Rocks. Cane's men had been celebrating their attack on James' camp when Grawlin killed their captain with a blade to his neck. Once again, the disorganized soldiers could not raise a defense.

  James felt the second raid hurt Cane's forces. There was a little extra in his men's efforts after Cane's attack on their camp. It had stung his men to be caught unprepared by their foes. His men felt his anger and embarrassment. It put fury behind their steel to make Cane's men pay for their boldness. Cane's men fled their campsite, running into the night.

  James would let Grawlin command while he returned to Far Greening to report to his father in person. He would also escort Sena himself. He smiled and hummed to himself.

  Grawlin laughed aloud and waved to his Captain. Grawlin saluted him and James returned it. James turned his horse and rode off next to the woman with the white hair. They rode in silence for a quarter hour.

  "Hal is your father?"

  "Yes."

  "He is king, then?"

  "By right he is, but Edward is proving an unwanted uncle."

  "He is a beast." Her voice was hard, but she said no more, her mouth closely tight.

  James knew somehow not to say anything.

  Chapter 13

  Quink sat in a chair that he removed from one of the sitting rooms. There was a wide interchange of tunnels that allowed room for the chair and a small table. He setup this area as a hideaway from Edward and his servants. Here he could think, he could ponder the recent changes of his life and he could evaluate what he overheard from the spy holes. Not everything was useful for Lockwell. He sipped from a jug of wine and ate muffins he had stolen from the kitchen. This was a new sense of freedom for him. Edward ignored him, there was little merriment in Edward's court at the moment, and so his time was his own for now. He had sent a second message to Lockwell about Edward's instructions for Cane to lay siege to Far Greening and kill Prince James - and Hal if he showed up. Cane's men had left Riverdowns immediately riding north.

  Quink listened at the throne room every spare moment, but heard little else of importance. He did not find any other rooms that Edward used that had places to listen. He could only listen at the throne room.

  After he finished eating, he slowly made his way back to the throne room to listen once more.

  Edward's voice filled the room. He seemed to be talking to himself. Quink smiled. The fool Edward made it so easy. Quink listened for a while. Edward seemed to be explaining something to his dead father.

  "Father, you were gr
owing weak. You did not rule as you once did. Your subjects whispered behind your back. It was time for a change to keep Eslenda strong."

  Quink moaned into the reed.

  "Murderer…"

  "No! Father, don't call me that."

  "My flesh and blood…."

  "I am king now! Be at rest. You are dead!!!"

  "I will haunt you until I am avenged."

  "Father.."

  "You will never sleep again…."

  Quink put the reed down and moved away. Edward's pleas continued for several minutes but faded away into sobs when his father no longer answered. Quink felt hungry again. There would be more fresh muffins soon. He hurried to the lower levels.

  Later, Quink sat in the great hall, nursing a bottle of wine. Edward peeked in, saw Quink and left again. Several minutes later Edward returned with Lord Tucker. They sat on the far side of the room and food was brought to them.

  "Quink," said Tucker. "Have you seen anyone sneaking around the castle?"

  "Sneaking?" came Quink's slurred response.

  "Someone who doesn't belong here. Perhaps someone of Hal's?"

  "Ah, I understand. No, Lord Tucker, I have only seen subjects of King Edward's."

  "Very good. Keep an eye out. I suspect not all of Hal's people have left the castle. I want you to report to me if you see any of them. Especially the wizard, Lockwell."

  "Lockwell? He's a traitor?" asked Quink.

  "The fire looks suspicious. I think it had a magical beginning. Stone doesn't burn as a rule."

  "Lockwell? If he sees me he'll turn me into a toad."

  "Be careful then. Anyway, who would notice the difference?" Tucker laughed and even Edward smiled. Tucker turned back to Edward.

  "Rest assured, Sire. I will find the 'ghosts' that torment you. I have found some clues and shall lay traps."

  "Good, good. Your reassurances are welcome."

  They spoke more but their words were soft. Quink tried to hear but his efforts would have been obvious if he tried harder. He contented himself with the single word or phrase that reached his ears. At least he knew Tucker was actively trying to catch him. He would be very careful. He did not know if Tucker had found the tunnels or was laying his traps in the rooms where the voice of the ghost had been heard. Quink still felt confident that he held the advantage.

  Later that day envoys came from Masina asking to speak with Edward. Quink positioned himself at his listening post and watched through the peephole.

  "Hail, King Edward," said the leader of the Masina envoy. He was a tall grey bearded man, dressed in brown trousers and a bright red shirt. Quink had not seen the like before.

  "Be welcome," said Edward.

  "We greet you in the friendship of our two nations. We congratulate you on your new kingship. May it be evergreen. We have brought gifts from King Kennis to you." The gifts were brought forward and set at Edward's feet.

  "We also bring ill tidings, I fear. The Turucks have crossed the water from Anavar and are ravaging Masina. We cannot hold them back without your help. Both our kingdoms have supported each in need. Will you send soldiers to aid us?"

  "Alas, good ambassador, your news is ill-timed. Eslenda is in the turmoil of civil war. To the north, the traitors build their forces and wait for my attention to be drawn elsewhere. For me to aid Masina now would be the perfect opportunity for them to attack Riverdowns. I must have the traitors in chains before I can release my soldiers to aid Masina. I am sorry, there is no other way. Our strength is limited."

  "But your Highness. Masina will fall without your aid and soon. Will you allow us to perish without raising a hand?"

  "I will raise my hand and strike you for that tone of voice. I shall not be insulted in my own hall. Send him back to Masina, or anywhere else he wishes to go. We have Eslenda business to conduct."

  Another man stepped forward and threw back his hood. A slender man of an age with Edward, he looked directly at the king. He wore a gold circlet and many rings.

  "I am Prince Kal of Masina. My father sent me to persuade you to help us. You cannot throw us aside. If we fall, the Turucks will come here."

  "Prince Kal. What a surprise but untimely. You have wasted your time journeying here. I have nothing to offer Masina. I must contain my rebels before I can consider sending you aid."

  "I cannot accept that answer, King Edward. My people will die."

  "I will not help you at this time. Perhaps in a month."

  "It will be too late!" shouted Prince Kal.

  Edward shrugged his shoulders and reached for his wine.

  "If you cannot help me, perhaps Hal can." Prince Kal turned to leave.

  "Impudence! Guards arrest that man and his entourage. They plot with Hal, the traitor and murderer, to overthrow me. Put them in the dungeons. Prince Kal needs time to consider his words before speaking to his betters."

  The guards roughly hauled them away.

  "This is war!" shouted Prince Kal.

  "So be it. The Turucks will destroy your kingdom before you can send an army against me. My war will be with the six of you. Take them from my sight!"

  Edward was alone with Tucker. Quink felt bold and he murmured softly.

  "Edward…"

  "Did you hear it?" asked Edward.

  "Yes, I did," said Tucker. "This charade is about to end. Brock! Get your men in here!"

  Several soldiers with hammers entered the room.

  "Take down the wall!" cried Tucker, pointing at Quink's wall. "One at each end and one in the middle. Let's catch our ghost."

  The men moved quickly to the walls and began pounding with their hammers. Stone chunks fell away at once. The noise was deafened and Quink hurried away with his hands covering his ears. Within minutes, they had broken through to the tunnel.

  "You were right, Lord Tucker. There is a passage here."

  Tucker looked at Edward who smiled with relief.

  They opened up a doorway and Tucker went in. He found the reed and signaled Edward.

  "I am going to make ghostly noises, now. Edward…..oohhhhh!"

  "That was it! How was it done?"

  "A thin reed stretched around the wall. I merely had to make some sound into it. No doubt the traitor watched from behind this wall until you were alone and spoke into it."

  "I want the person found who has been using it. I have not slept well lately, and with his head on a spike, I shall sleep deeply."

  Quink rushed past his hiding place and continued to the kitchen. At least they would not catch him in the tunnel. He heard the shouts and curses as more was exposed in the wall. He hurried where he could to limit the attention drawn to him. He kept to the back staircases and crept back to Lockwell's chambers where he rested against the door.

  Several minutes later his heart started racing again. He heard voices, loud and angry float up to his hiding place. He could not move anywhere, the only choice he had was down right into their hands. He was trapped! Why had he come this way? He would wait to see if any were brave enough to risk checking Lockwell's chambers.

  "Find the Fool!" shouted Tucker. "It's the Fool we want. I found his bell staff in the tunnel near scraps of bread and rolls. The cook said someone always stole the fresh bread. Some of the servants thought it was a ghost. It was Quink. We found a door leading to the kitchens."

  "Excellent," said Edward who had regained his bluster. "I want that little man roasting by nightfall. Have you checked the north tower?"

  "Just Lockwell's Chamber up there. Should we check it? What traps may be waiting for us?"

  "Good point, Tucker. Cannot take chances. Send two men up there while everyone stays back."

  Tucker called out orders.

  Quink's heart began to pound again. He bit his lip and opened the door to Lockwell's chambers, thankful that it moved silently and closed it behind him.

  "In trouble are you?" asked Lockwell.

  Quink stifled a scream and fell to the floor.

  "You seem surprised to see me,
" said Lockwell.

  "I…I.."

  "Take your time."

  "They're coming here - searching for me."

  "Ah, naught worse than that? Here stand by me and no one will see you." Quink stumbled over to the wizard who caught him with surprisingly strong hands. "Quiet now."

  The door opened, revealing two pale faces of the guards. One entered and looked around quickly even as the room became darker.

  "Let's go! No one's here."

  "It's getting darker."

  "You triggered a curse!"

  "I did not - run!"

  A large black cloud streamed out behind them chasing them down the stairs to Tucker and Edward. The men fell to the floor at their king's feet.

  "No one there, Sire."

  "I see," said Edward. He glanced involuntarily at the black cloud dissipating overhead. "Well, continue the search elsewhere. Tucker, post a watch here. I want to know if anyone leaves or enters that room."

  "Have you been here all the time?" asked Quink after his pulse slowed.

  "Mostly. I have enjoyed your messages and your methods. You have made quite an enemy in Edward. Plucker was right to include you. You have erased any doubts I may have about your worthiness. The Ghost of Eslenda, ha! Edward should be ridiculed for that alone.

  "But now we have another problem. The Turucks are coming and Edward will not be able to hold them back. I don't think they will be frightened to search my quarters and we would be found."

  "Can we escape?" asked Quink.

  "Escape? We could, but that is not our purpose. We are here to work against our enemies. We do not want them to wander unheeded in our land."

  "Won't Edward fight?"

  "Fight? The Turucks will roll over his soldiers as they did to Masina. This beast is vulnerable only at the head. Kill Tag Makk and then our soldiers can fight."

  "Are you sure you want me for this?" asked Quink softly. "I run from Edward's soldiers. Tag Makk is a creature that I cannot face."