Tucker moved to meet Tag Makk, both Eslendians and Turucks gave way for them to meet. Tucker lifted his blade in salute. Tag Makk grinned, raised his hammer in a like salute, and then came forward with such speed that Tucker's sword fell from his hand before he realized his good shoulder was now crushed. Tucker grimaced, staggered toward Tag Makk and tried to kick him. Tag Makk knocked his legs out from under him and then pulled out his long dagger. Tucker stared at him, defiant in his last breath.
A troop of Tucker's men found themselves cut off across the river. They drove a wedge through the Turucks and fought their way to the outer flank of the Turucks then crossed back to the Riverdowns side of the river. Seeing their leader fall, they shouted his name and fought a desperate battle to reach him but then Tag Makk beheaded him. Tucker's men screamed and flailed at anything within reach. They saw a dark wave rushing through the Turucks to reach them. The Shadow Runners struck silently but gave no quarter. Tucker's men fought their last just ten yards from where he died.
Edward left corpses in a ring around his position. No Turuck hampered his swordplay. Then the Shadow Runners came and Edward felt the oddness of them as he fought them. He wounded them but they showed little affect from the impacts as if they were only shells of men. He drove his sword into one's chest and it smiled at him as it died. He pulled it out, the dark blood dripping down it. He hesitated and a sword nicked his shoulder. He pushed the Shadow Runner away and struck at him, but the blow was blocked.
The Shadow Runner forced him backward, tripping over a dead body. The sudden fall knocked the wind out of him. The Shadow Runners were upon him before he could defend himself. A blow to the head staggered him and a Shadow Runner cut off Edward's sword hand. He stared at it, still clutching his sword. A noose was tossed over his head. The Shadow Runners dragged him to Tag Makk.
"Sir Norman!" shouted Tag Makk. "Here is the upstart king. Do you wish to kill him?"
Norman looked at the ashen face of Edward and shook his head.
"My battle was with Henry. This boy is nothing to me. Henry's blood flows in him, but so does my daughter's blood. I shall not wet my blade in that blood."
"So be it." Tag Makk nodded to Machel who raised his curved blade. Sir Norman forced himself to watch his grandson die. He bit his lip hard and blood dripped off his chin.
Several dozen Eslendian soldiers remained battle ready and they positioned themselves in front of the gates of Riverdowns. A small band of soldiers braced the gates from the inside. Once the defenders in front of the gate fell, the resistance would fall and so would Riverdowns. They held their weapons ready, but their resolve was weak. Some cursed under their breath, some prayed. All shook with the scepter of death marching toward them. Their leader, a corporal grimly nodded at his men and patted a few on the shoulder. This was their last stand.
The Turuck army did not seem less after the bloody battle. The silent army marched steadily toward the gates. Their numbers covered the fields. The Turucks stopped fifty yards from the gate. Tag Makk strode forward.
"It is not necessary for all to die. You are men of intelligence and can see the disparity of numbers between our two armies. It is true you will no longer be free men as you once were, but you will be live men. I need your answer swiftly or we shall put an end to you."
Swords were tossed to the ground and Shadow Runners came forth, herding the Eslendians away. Tag Makk struck the gates with his hammer. There was no sound for several moments, and then the gate swung open.
Quink watched the huge shape of Tag Makk enter the gates of the city. He shook his head. The people of Riverdowns had no choice, but this was an evil day. He kept his eyes roving around the scene to find someone looking in his direction. As soon as Tag Makk's soldiers carried in the glided casket, Quink felt his nerves screw himself up even more. He thought he had been as taunt as he could be, but the Turucks brought evil with them and it was alive. He could not take his eyes off the chest. He felt drawn to it, yet he felt its taint at the same time. A man walked behind Tag Makk and looked up toward Quink. The pale man's copper eyes struck him. He thought he was looking at Lockwell but it was a younger man, not so tall as the wizard.
Quink ducked back into the shadows of the windows. Tag Makk also had been looking up at the battlements.
Quink heard the gasps and cries of the people below and he peered out to see one of the Turucks roll some objects on the ground in front of Tag Makk. It took a few moments, and then Quink realized they were heads - heads of Robert Tucker, William Tyler and Edward Islen. Riverdowns had fallen.
Tag Makk waited patiently.
One of the merchants came forward and knelt before Tag Makk. Quink smiled despite the situation; merchants were so practical. A line quickly formed behind the merchant to pay homage to their new master. Some returned to their homes and stores and brought forth gifts for Tag Makk. All the gifts were acceptable to Tag Makk and were laid at his feet.
Tag Makk sat alone in the throne room. The ornate chest rested on the floor next to him. There was a humming emanating from the chest. Quink stood at the spy hole and held his breath for what would come next. Several Turucks came in and bowed to Tag Makk. One of them came forward.
"My lord, we have secured the city. This castle is still being searched. It shall be completed by nightfall. There is a force coming from the north. It is Howard Cane, a lord to the north with an army half the size of the one we just crushed. Do we allow him parlay, or do we crush him?"
"It would amuse me to speak to this man. I have heard of him and Sir Norman does not speak well of Cane."
Sir Norman? Who is that? Quink asked himself. That did not sound like a Turuck name. He scuffed his boot and froze. He checked to make sure no one heard him and settled in to listen.
"Let the Shadow Runners search the castle. They will find those residents unseen as well as the obvious ones. Set the army before the walls. Let Howard Cane see what he is up against. Burn Edward's colors as Cane approaches. Let us see how this man shifts his allegiances."
Quink listened to small talk and began to drift off when an elegantly dressed man entered the throne room. He inclined his head briefly to Tag Makk and sat on a bench near the wall. Quink marked how the man gave scant respect to the Turuck and sat without permission. The other Turucks cowered in their leader's presence, or maybe it was the glided box that disturbed them. The man did not behave as a servant of Tag Makk.
"So, Sir Norman, we are here in the Riverdowns throne room and you didn't have to kill Edward Islen after all. Isn't that what you wanted? If not Henry Islen, then no one?"
"You are correct, Tag Makk. This victory is not sweet for me."
"Yes. I know it."
Quink slapped his forehead. Norman Oswald! He had thrown in with the Turucks to take the throne from Henry, but only from Henry, it seems. Quink thought quickly (for him), and decided he would send word to Lockwell and take a chance to talk to Norman Oswald.
"Will you rule Eslenda for me?" asked Tag Makk. "I will insist on your touching the box."
"I must think on that," said Sir Norman. "You still have not told me what it contains."
"I will not. You find discover that when you touch it."
"And if I don't?"
"The alternative is death."
"Still, give me time to consider the choice."
"Two days shall be your freedom, then my servant or a corpse. I promise you, your death will not be a quick one."
The Shadow Runners entered the castle and dragged out everyone hiding there. Quink hobbled to his passages and stayed clear of the throne room where the wall was still partially torn down. He sat in a darkened dead end behind boxes and wood tossed aside years ago. He closed his eyes and remained silent as the Shadow Runners investigated every room in the castle. He wondered if Lockwell would be discovered. He did not think so, but the glided box of the Turucks disturbed him.
He waited until late in the night and then moved from his hiding place. The corridors stood dark and sile
nt. Quink inched his way along, knowing the dark warriors were lurking in the shadows. His breathing sounded shallow but loud and the more he tried to suppress it the louder it became. He had two more turns and then he would find a storeroom to hide in. He did not dare go back to his room.
He heard a voice on the other side of the wall and stopped.
"Did you hear something?" Quink could tell from their accents that they were Turucks.
"No. What was it? Rat?"
"Awful large for a rat."
"Do you want to knock a hole in the wall and check it out?"
"No. Better yet, send for a Shadow Runner. They'll sniff it out."
Quink's pulse began to race. He moved as quietly as he could but he worried he would be found by the Shadow Runners. There was something not right about them.
Suddenly, strong hands grasped his shoulders and pulled him off his feet.
"What is this? A spy?" A voice hissed softly.
Quink struggled but a cold blade caressed his neck.
"Easy now, or I'll spit you here. Well, what will Tag Makk say about you?"
"Don't hurt me, Master," whimpered Quink. "I'm just the old fool. I don't know anything."
"I know better than that, Quink," said Sir Norman, releasing his grip somewhat. "Come; let us find a place to talk. I want to know what you know."
"Don't take me to Tag Makk. I am scared of him. He's brought some evil with him."
"You are correct there, Quink. There is a terrible evil controlling Tag Makk, but come! This is not the place for it."
Quink led the way to a storeroom off the kitchen. Sir Norman gave the cook an evil look as he and Quink entered the room and pointed his blade purposefully at the cook. Once inside, Sir Norman waited a few minutes before speaking.
"I think the cook will refrain from eavesdropping, at least for a little while. So Quink, what happened? How did Edward end up with the crown?"
"Murder. Treason. What did he not do? An assassin knifed King Henry using Hal's dagger and Edward's soldiers overpowered the king's guard. It was well planned. Henry had no clue it was coming. And Edward arrested Hal for the murder of King Henry."
"Hal is dead, too?"
"No, he escaped. He is at Far Greening."
"That is good, but he has too few soldiers to fight the Turucks. If Howard Cane joins him they are still outnumbered."
"What about Charles?" asked Quink.
"Charles? Is he alive?"
"He never came to Riverdowns. As far as I know he never left his castle."
"Just like my son," he said softly. "Still, it may prove beneficial to us."
"If you pardon me, Sir Norman. Who exactly is 'we'?"
"I always thought you were underestimated Quink. 'We' is Eslenda. I admit I wanted to kill Henry myself, but I do not want Tag Makk to control Eslenda. Killing him is the only choice. The Turucks must be driven back across the sea."
Sir Norman smiled at the little man.
"I do not doubt that you have seen terrible things, Quink. You are a brave man. Do you know where Edward put my daughter?"
"I do, but she is no longer there. She escaped from Edward. I do not know for certain, but I heard rumor that she is with Hal."
"Ah, that is grand news!" He patted Quink on the shoulder. "You should be rewarded by whoever gains the throne. You have proven yourself loyal to Eslenda, Quink, and that is no little thing. Come, unless I misread the signs, there is a wizard hiding amongst the invaders, and I desire Lockwell's counsel."
"I know how to get word to Lockwell. He told me where to leave a message."
"He did? I am surprised he trusted you. Lockwell trusts no one. He is a strange creature is he not? Well, go tell him I need him to distract Tag Makk and keep the Turuck army here until Hal's army is ready. I will wait here for you to return, so your secret communication method will remain safe. I can see you don't fully trust me yet."
Quink nodded and hurried off. Sir Norman watched the little man shuffle off.
"Excellent work, Sir Norman," said Tag Makk, standing in the darkness behind him. "Once Lockwell is out of the way, Hal has no hope to defeat me."
"There is James."
"Yes," he said softly. "There is James. What shall I do about this Prince?"
"Hand to hand. No one else can beat him."
"Even you, Sir Norman?"
"Even me."
"Well, I shall look forward to engaging him. I leave you to wait for the little man. Tell me where to find the wizard and you are free to go on your way. I no longer hold you to my banner. I release you from all bonds."
"Why?"
"I have what I want and I don't need you any longer. I am not foolish enough to think you would be content under thrall to me. You are free to join Hal if that is what you want. You have earned your freedom and your life. However, if I see you again after the next sunset, I shall kill you."
Tag Makk left him to his swirling thoughts. Sir Norman looked up to see Quink staring at him.
"Well, Quink, you are not the only fool in this castle, nor were you ever the only one. I will give you another message to give to Lockwell. I am free from Tag Makk but do not call Lockwell out of his hiding place. Tag Makk desperately wants to find him. I will leave immediately for Far Greening. Good luck, Quink. May you fare better in your next life."
Sir Norman handed Quink a folded piece of paper and then vanished down a side tunnel. Quink stared into the blackness for several minutes, then suddenly remembered where he was and trotted back into the tunnel to find Lockwell.
Chapter 19
"What do you expect to find in Eslenda?" asked Gorm Talos.
"I fear it has already fallen to the Turucks," said Kerreth Veralier. They stood apart from the others, their voices low. "But we must press on as our mission demands it. The Eslendians will defend their land bravely, but the Turucks are in great numbers and the rumors here in Masina of the chaos among the ruling class of Eslenda give me little hope that the Turucks would be denied. Prince Kal of Masina rode to Riverdowns to ask for help against the Turucks and vanished. I fear he fell into darkness before the Turucks had the chance. If he lives, we must find him."
"Who rules in Eslenda? Who do we contact? Rethe said King Henry was murdered by Prince Hal and his younger brother Edward has the crown."
"We won't know for sure until we reach Riverdowns. We cannot afford to trust anyone. Pass the word, no mistakes, and no surprises."
"Who do you want on point?"
"Loric, if he's recovered enough, otherwise Taina."
Gorm left Kerreth alone and joined the others at the fire. After several minutes Moria left the fire and slowly walked to Kerreth.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
"I do not think we are gaining on them. The Menaloch drives them beyond endurance. They do not stop to rest, but we cannot do the same. I grieve for those we cannot save from the Turuck onslaught."
"We will save some and we must be glad for that. You always worry about those you cannot save, Kerreth, and it is a good trait. But do not let it paralyze the need for action. We can only do what we can do. Do not condemn yourself."
"Yes, yes. Sometimes, it is too easy to think darkly. Thank you, Moria, you help me see clearer."
"I hope that is not all I can help you with." Her voice was soft and throaty.
Kerreth smiled. "We shall leave early in the morning."
"Do you wish to dissuade me?"
"No, I am trying to be practical."
"Practical? What does that have to do with love? Wait, does that mean you don't love me?"
"No, no. I give up. Whatever, I say shall not come out right. I shall face the morning bleary eyed."
"Good decision, Captain Veralier."
Darkin Root woke Kerreth up at dawn. The air was cool but sunlight peeked over the horizon. The day would be warm.
"Sleeping soundly this morning, Captain?"
"Stow it," said Kerreth. He turned over but he was alone, Moria was gone. He glanced a
round but did not see her. He rubbed his face.
"Breakfast is ready," grinned Gorm. "Loric has been on the road for the better part of an hour. Taina left a quarter hour ago. We should be gone from here within an hour."
"Good. I want to make good time through the flatland. When we cross the mountains and enter the meadows of Eslenda we do not want to be spotted."
"We are well prepared," said Blackthorne, who sat a few yards away eating a biscuit. "I have a low spell searching at all times for Turucks who may be thinking of ambushing us. I gave Loric and Taina each a pendant that is spelled to warn them of danger nearby. We can do no more."
"Let's finish breakfast and get on with it. We have many miles to cover today."
"We were just waiting for you, Captain," said Gorm. "Thought you could use the extra sleep." Kerreth bit his tongue.
They rode steadily but did not hurry. Kerreth believed they would find Turuck rear guards and he did not want to risk that they might have a way to send messages to Tag Makk. The Talos Company needed the element of surprise against the immense odds awaiting them.
They left the rolling hills of Masina behind them and the road rose steeply into the pass. Taina returned twice with messages from Loric detailing the path ahead. The signs of the Turuck army were everywhere, discarded food, broken weapons, hoof-prints and footprints but no sign that they stopped for any length of time.
The road became rougher and the air cooled noticeably. The horses picked their way through the fallen rock and uneven ground. Now and again they passed the body of a Turuck who could no longer keep to the pace.
"That would never happen to a Daerlan," said Gorm. "His comrades would care for him and help him along on the journey. Turucks must be further from us than I thought. Except for Darkin, of course."
"Nay," said Darkin Root. "These dead ones are killed by the Menaloch, not exhaustion. We Turucks have more stamina than Daerlan."
"Let's not start," said Kerreth.
"Well, in any case, the presence of the Menaloch is a poison, slowing seeping inside and eating the Turucks," said Darkin Root. "Once freed from the Menaloch they will return to what they once were, if it not too late. It's too late for Tag Makk in any case."
The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1) Page 18