“Actually, I think running directly off to Brookhaven would be a mistake. This isn’t the first time Morgoran has seen something in his visions about Brookhaven. Ianthill already has Sanmir there keeping an eye on things. He will alert us if there is any immediate danger. Perhaps you should meander toward Brookhaven. I mean, don’t go directly there from here but wend your way there and tell Sanmir what we have learned. I will go back to Lux Enor and get my affairs in order with the highlord and make some excuse to travel in that direction. I will meet you in Brookhaven.”
Gondrial agreed. He pulled his sword from the ground. “Get some sleep. I will keep watch for a couple of hours.”
Lady Shey set up her bedroll, but no matter how she tried, sleep would not come. She had too much on her mind.
Chapter 3: Reign is Falling
Lady Shey was in a good mood when she returned to Lux Enor from the Sacred Land. Her mood quickly soured as soon as she entered the throne room. Highlord Rastafin Stowe was shouting at a servant for, no doubt, some minor infraction. She tried to slink in without him perceiving her, but of course, he looked her way after just one step.
“Where have you been, my lady? I have been in need of your counsel for two days.”
Lady Shey put back her shoulders and walked up to the throne with her head held high. “I told you, my lord. I went to the Sacred Land to investigate the reports of strange activity, remember?”
“I’m not sure I like your tone, Lady Shey,” he said.
“I meant no disrespect, my lord. Forgive me.”
“That’s better. Now, what did you find out?” He leaned back in his throne.
“In the two days I investigated, I found nothing. I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I think the reports came from nights of loneliness, too much drink, and overactive imaginations. The Sacred Land is nothing but a desolate wasteland full of nothing of consequence,” she lied.
“I’m not sure what you expected to find. I could have told you it was a waste of time and saved you a trip. In the meantime, I have been without my advisor. I have a good mind to have the treasurer dock your pay.”
“You wouldn’t. I was in the Sacred Land on official business.”
“Tone, my lady.” He wagged his finger at her face. “And I certainly would.”
“Sorry, my lord.” She went to stand beside his throne. “You needed my counsel?” She decided to change the subject.
“No, I should think not. You’re dismissed.” He made a dramatic point to look away from her. “But no more excursions, official or otherwise. I want you by my side when I call.”
Lady Shey nodded but said nothing, that is, until she was out of earshot, and then she had a few choice words to mutter. It was no secret among those at court that the highlord had other interests in Lady Shey, but she had no interest in him. Besides the fact that he was married and his wife mysteriously disappeared, there was also the matter of his disposition, which was less than desirable. Lady Shey had more than once wondered why the Silver Drake had chosen him to lead the five kingdoms. It was also rumored that she had partaken in an affair with the highlord, a rumor Shey found repugnant and offensive.
Lady Shey was reaching for the doorknob to her private chambers when the servant the highlord had been yelling at earlier in the throne room caught her attention.
“Lady Shey, Lady Shey! Come quickly. They’re in the throne room. I have to find the master at arms.”
“Who? Who is in the throne room?”
“I don’t know who they are, but they’re after the highlord.”
“All right, you go find the man at arms and I’ll go see what’s going on in the throne room,” Lady Shey said before pushing the servant along. Why is the man of arms not with the highlord? she thought.
Lady Shey’s chambers were only two hallways away from the throne room. At the last moment, she decided to enter the throne room through the secret side entrance. The doorway from the throne room was designed to be seamless, Shey knew, so she just cracked it open enough to peer through it. Two men wearing leather armor and carrying heavy swords were striding down the main corridor of the throne room. Lady Shey was confused. From the way the servant was carrying on, she thought the men had already confronted the highlord. The man walking in front unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the startled highlord.
Lady Shey abruptly pulled the hidden door open, exited the secret corridor, and cast the man’s sword from his hand with a wisp of magical essence. He looked at her, cracked a smile, and held his hand out to the spot where his sword clanged on the floor. The sword returned to his hand in an instant. He waved it once above his head, and in a slicing motion, lowered it to the highlord’s chest.
The highlord’s eyes were pleading. “Do something, Lady Shey!”
“Stop your pathetic pleading!” the man commanded.
Lady Shey drew in essence and prepared to unleash it on the highlord’s attacker. She could tell by the man’s actions that he could feel her draw in essence. He immediately thrust his sword into the highlord’s chest before Shey could unleash it. At the same time the highlord was gasping for breath, Shey let loose her spell. The highlord’s attacker blew back into the marble walls with tremendous force. The second attacker, smaller than the first and dressed in black, reacted. He expertly lobbed two daggers at her. Daggers she knew how to block well. With one fluid motion, she waved her forearm and the daggers missed her, bouncing off the marble walls behind her.
The first man, now recovering from her attack, rejoined the fight. Shey felt the invisible essence strike her chest. A moment later, she was on the floor. She had her eyes shut, reeling from the pain, but she could hear the commotion of the man at arms and his men entering the throne room. They temporarily commanded the attention of the attackers.
Shey took the opportunity to go to the highlord. His body was limp; his eyes were open, frozen in the visage of terror. She reached down and closed his eyelids.
The man at arms came up behind her. “How is he? I sent one of my men to fetch the clerics on the way here.”
“He’s gone. There was nothing I could do. The sword must’ve pierced his heart; he died instantly,” Shey said.
“That’s unfortunate,” the man at arms said.
Lady Shey had no love for the highlord, but she was still sympathetic. “It’s more than unfortunate this man lost his life. Where in Fawlsbane’s name were you? Why were you not in here where you belong?”
“I meant no disrespect, my lady. I was called away. The highlord sent me out. I left two men here.” He glanced around. “Although I do not see them now.”
“Did you capture the assassins?”
“They are both wounded, but they still managed to slip away. I have men on it.”
Shey nodded and then reached under the highlord’s shoulders. “Here, help me get him into a more dignified position.”
The man at arms grabbed ahold of the highlord’s feet and helped Lady Shey stretch him out flat on the marble floor.
“Find something to cover his body. I will return in a moment. I have to alert the King’s Council and fill them in on what has happened. If you can manage to stay here.” The man looked at her sheepishly.
Lady Shey left the man at arms barking out orders to his men and securing the highlord’s body. She made an effort to hurry to the King’s Council chamber. With the highlord gone, they would need to make a decision on a ward to handle day-to-day affairs until the Silver Drake could select a new leader. She entered the council chamber to find the five men sitting around a wooden table, locked in debate. They abruptly stopped talking when she entered.
“What is the meaning of this interruption?” a man with dark hair barked at her.
“Forgive me, Lord Drakkius, but the highlord is dead. He has been murdered. The man at arms is with him now. His men fought with the assassins, but they got away. He has men chasing after the perpetrators.”
One of the council members, a man named Yarbrough, stood up. “Where
was the man at arms when these perpetrators entered the throne room?”
Lady Shey was shocked. “I don’t believe I said it happened in the throne room, Councilman.”
The councilman winced. “I only assumed . . . Where else would it happen?”
“Indeed, where else?” She immediately knew her life was now in danger. Perhaps if I let him get away with the blunder, I can investigate what really happened, she thought. They were in on it. It was obvious to her now. “What are your orders?”
Drakkius stood from his chair. “You will investigate these assassins. Go check if the highlord’s guards have captured them. Find out what you can and report directly to me in the throne room.”
Lady Shey bowed. “As you command, Lord Drakkius.” She turned and left the council chamber. “Time to leave,” she said to herself. She went to her chambers to get a few things.
While she was hastily packing, she accessed a secret panel under her desk where she kept an emergency requisition for a coach and team of horses. She clutched the paper and threw her good cloak over her arm to hide it. She managed her two bags with her free hand and headed for the stables.
Chapter 4: Memories and Quests
Lady Shey entered the stables carrying her two bags. She spotted the stable master giving orders to a stable hand hitching up the carriage she planned to requisition. She disliked speaking with the stable master because he smelled of horse and his rotten teeth made his breath horrendous. His slovenly appearance completed his unpleasant presence. After he noticed Lady Shey was near, he advanced toward her, approaching entirely too close to her face.
She handed him the requisition and held her breath so she wouldn’t have to smell the barrage she knew was about to come.
“Do you already have someone in mind as a driver?” the stable master inquired. “I have a few available. I just need to know your requirements.”
Lady Shey put her two bags in front of her to distance herself from him. “My requirements?”
“Aye, a straight driver, or a man who can get things done, a sword carrier, perhaps?”
“You have someone like that?”
“I do. He’s a bit jumpy. I think he served in a war for some foreign land at one time or something. He carries a sword and knows how to use it.” The stable master rubbed his chin. “Come to think of it, he even stopped a payroll robbery for me once. I’ll warn you, he isn’t much to look at, but he knows how to get the job done.” The stable master reached down, took Lady Shey’s bags, and tossed them on top of the carriage to be secured.
“Uh, I would rather you put those bags in the trunk, if you don’t mind; I wouldn’t want them to get wet if we run into foul weather.”
“Sorry, my lady, I forget these royal carriages have trunks.” He sported a rotten-toothed grin. “Force of habit.” He carried the bags down to the rear of the coach. “Oh, by the way, I was sorry to hear about the highlord. I heard tell you were fond of him. It might be none of my business, but some say that . . .”
“You are correct, sir, it is none of your business. However, I assure you the highlord and I were never in amorous relations, or any other relations for that matter, other than the business of the kingdom.”
“Forgive me, my lady.”
“You are forgiven. Now, if you’d be so kind as to find the driver you spoke of, I shall be on my way.”
“Aye, I shall return shortly.”
Shey froze. How did he know about the highlord so fast? Either he knew something or news traveled fast. Of course, all the commotion would carry news.
After waiting in the coach for quite a while, Lady Shey became increasingly nervous and decided to find the stable master. She stepped outside of the coach and came face-to-face with a large man carrying a sword and a bow. She was startled by his ominous appearance. She struggled not to stare at the scar over his left eye or his scarred left ear. She focused instead on his jet black hair, which was in recede.
“Something wrong, my lady?” he said.
“Um, no, you startled me, that’s all. I wasn’t expecting to step from the coach into someone.”
“I’m your driver. Name’s Rodraq.”
“Nice to meet you, Rodraq. My name is Shey Namear.”
Rodraq nodded and stowed his sword and bow near the driver’s seat of the coach. He hesitated before he climbed onto the seat himself. “Where we headed, my lady?”
“Through the Sacred Land to Old Symbor.” She started to step up onto the coach. Rodraq kicked the metal steps down for her and reached for the door.
“Here, let me, my lady.”
Lady Shey stepped onto the coach and through the door. “Thank you.”
“Aye, my lady.” He shut the door behind her. The coach tilted to the left as he climbed aboard.
“Rodraq.”
“Aye, what is it, my lady?”
“We will be stopping to pick up a passenger a few miles south of the city, an elven woman. There is a copse of trees not far from the main road; she’ll be waiting for us there. You can’t miss it.”
“Aye, my lady. I’ll keep my eyes open for her.”
The coach rode comfortably along the rutted streets of Lux Enor. Lady Shey sank back into her padded seat. So this is how royalty rides, she thought. She had almost fallen asleep when Rodraq pulled the reins on the four white horses to stop the coach. A few moments later, she heard the familiar sound of the metal steps and the coach door opened to admit her elven passenger.
“It’s good to see you—” Shey began.
“No, my lady, careful with your greeting. I am an unassuming traveling companion. Simply call me Sylvalora, dear. In fact, why don’t you call me Sylvalora until I tell you otherwise.” She winked at Lady Shey.
“Of course, I understand.” Shey reached out her hand to help Sylvalora take her seat. “But it is good to see you.”
“And you, my dear. It has been entirely too long since our last meeting.”
Rodraq peered through the coach door. “On now to Old Symbor, my lady?”
“Old Symbor?” Sylvalora asked.
“That would be fine, Rodraq,” Shey said. “I hope you’re not easily frightened, Sylvalora. There have been reports coming from the Sacred Land.”
“I never have been easily frightened before. Don’t plan to start now. Are we going to the Sacred Land so you will not be easily detected?”
“Aye.”
“Good. Let me know if we run into any patrols of Defenders. I should like to have a word with them.”
“I’m sure they’ll stop us after we enter the Sacred Land, anyway.” Shey heard the sharp crack of the reins, and the coach lumbered forward. “So, Sylvalora, I was surprised to get your message.” She tapped her temple. “Does your wanting to join me have anything to do with the highlord’s death?”
“I have an interest, aye. I know what you’re getting at, and no, the Silver Drake probably will not be choosing a new highlord anytime soon.”
“Oh, and why is that?”
“The Silver Drake is inaccessible at the moment.”
Lady Shey grinned. “Well, I certainly hope the Silver Drake does a better job of choosing a highlord than it did last time.”
“Highlord Stowe had his merits.”
“Aye, and he kept them where no one could find them.”
“Amusing. No wonder you got along together so well.”
Shey adjusted herself in her seat to get more comfortable. “Now, on to business.”
“Hold on a moment,” Sylvalora said. “Let me secure the coach.” She closed her eyes for a brief moment. “All right, we can speak freely now.”
“The Sacred Land is reawakening, but you already knew this or you would not be here right now. Am I correct?”
“You are correct. What else do you know about it? Why are we really going to Old Symbor?” Sylvalora asked.
“Toborne. When I was an apprentice, he and Morgoran used to experiment with essence and little jade figurines, remember?”
&nb
sp; “I was there. I remember.”
“The highlord used to keep several of these statuettes on a table near the throne for decoration. After he was assassinated, I noticed they were gone. They were there when I left him for my chambers. The assassins took them. The highlord just liked them because they were intricately carved depictions of elven maidens. He had no idea what they really were.”
“So you are hoping to find a clue about them beneath the White Tower?”
“It was the last place I saw any of them.” She cleared her throat. “The highlord’s council had him assassinated. I’m fairly certain.”
“They will notice you are missing and send someone after you.”
“Not necessarily. They will only send someone after me if they think I’m a threat. I think they will see my escape as a move of self-preservation. Drakkius will think he has the upper hand.”
“I will keep an eye out for you, anyway, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, Sylvalora.”
Chapter 5: Defender Patrol
Shey could see the bleak, barren plains and dead forests of the Sacred Land in the distance. Low grey clouds began to accumulate the closer she traveled toward the border villages. Shey felt the familiar oppression and general feeling of despair that always pervaded her when in proximity of the dead land. Shey tried to remember the names of the border villages they would be passing through shortly, but she couldn’t recall them. They changed and shifted populations too many times over the seasons. The road became rough from mud hardening into ruts. The coach lurched and bounded. She was about to tell Rodraq to take it slow when she felt the coach slow down without her intervention.
Sylvalora slept opposite her, almost in a fetal position, across the whole of the coach bench. Shey wondered briefly how Sylvalora could sleep during such a rocky and jolting ride.
“My lady,” Rodraq called down from the driver’s seat. “We are approaching a group of men on the side of the road. They appear to have injured, but I can’t be sure from this distance.”
Dawn of the Sacred Land Page 3