Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web (The Complete Epic Fantasy)

by Thomas J. Prestopnik

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Provide myself some added security in case events take an ill turn,” he replied. “And, Gwyn, bring two of the Island guards with you.” The Enâr furrowed his brow. “I’ll explain later. Hurry now!”

  A short time earlier, Prince Gregory’s army had emerged from the woodland spread on the eastern slopes of the Keppel Mountains and made its way to Red Lodge in the inky darkness. Before moving out of the trees, they waited for a band of patrolling Island soldiers to pass south along the main road. Afterward, the army of Arrondale encountered no resistance until they arrived at Red Lodge. Before the assault, Prince Gregory directed some of his soldiers to the east, west and north sides of the wall surrounding King Rowan’s compound. The bulk of his men would attack the main entrance at the south. A mix of Enâri and Island troops stood guard at all gates. A handful of the Enâri walked as lookouts along the top of the stone wall, illuminated now and then in the glow of oil lamps placed around the stone enclosure.

  A short time later in the predawn darkness, the signal was given and Prince Gregory’s men attacked. Some soldiers scaled the walls with ropes and hooks while others used small battering rams to break down the smaller gates and burst inside. As fighting commenced within the cobblestone compound, a fierce group of Enâri creatures stormed out of the main gate with several Island soldiers behind them, their cries rising in the air above swinging swords as they charged at the enemy. Despite the intense opposition, Prince Gregory knew he had outnumbered Caldurian’s troops and urged his men onward.

  “Break through to Red Lodge!” he cried, directing his men from atop his horse amid the swirling mob. Tolapari was near his side. “We must find King Rowan!”

  “If he is alive,” the wizard grimly commented before thrusting his sword into an Island soldier who had slipped through the onslaught of men and rushed at him with a crazed look in his eyes. The wizard removed his bloody weapon from the dead soldier who collapsed to the ground, and then shot a warning glance at Prince Gregory. “We must also find Caldurian before he causes any more mischief. He can’t get away.”

  “He won’t,” the prince replied, pushing his steed onward as his men finally flooded through the main gate into the sprawling courtyard. The fighting soon spread out among the trees, shrubbery and buildings in the frosty gloom. “To Red Lodge!” he shouted, directing a large contingent of men to the main building where a throng of Enâri gathered near the wide front steps, waiting with swords drawn. The windows in all the buildings were now fully aglow as the centerpiece of Triana came to life.

  “Let’s not keep them waiting,” Tolapari said as he and Prince Gregory jumped off their horses and joined the rush to Red Lodge as the Enâri guards sprang at them.

  But after a brief battle near the front doors where a few of Prince Gregory’s soldiers and several Enâri had been wounded or slain, the main entrance to the building was breached. Even the addition of several Island troops who had rushed over from the nearby garrison had done little to stop Prince Gregory’s progress. He, Tolapari and many of his soldiers burst through the thick wooden doors and fanned out through the building as the fighting continued outside. Enemy troops stationed within continued to resist as scattered fights erupted among the various rooms and corridors.

  “Find King Rowan and his daughter-in-law,” the prince instructed his troops. They spread out down several hallways and up a stairwell leading to the two upper floors.

  “We’ll find them, sir!” one of his captains replied, rushing past with some of his men and disappearing down a side passageway.

  Prince Gregory hurried along the main corridor with Tolapari and several soldiers at his side, searching a number of rooms as the sound of sword fighting echoed within the royal residence. The prince grew more moody and silent as they moved onto another section of Red Lodge.

  “Patience, Gregory,” Tolapari said, noting his friend’s growing unease. “We will find them.”

  “Will we? I’m beginning to wonder,” he replied as he glanced out a window at the fighting across the compound. A hint of daylight painted the eastern horizon. “Princes Brendan and William have been missing for weeks since they left the Citadel. If anything happens to their mother or grandfather in the meantime…”

  “It would be most unfortunate,” the wizard replied. “But don’t let your imagination determine their fates. It’ll drive you mad. Continue the search.”

  Prince Gregory nodded as they left the room and moved on to the adjacent one. “You’re right, of course, which is why my father and I keep you around for your calm advice as often as we can.”

  “As you should,” he quipped. “And if your father were here right now, he’d say–”

  “We found him!” a soldier cried out. He bolted around the corner and ran toward Prince Gregory. “By the north entrance.”

  Prince Gregory’s eyes lit up. “King Rowan?”

  “No, sir,” the man replied, out of breath. “It’s the wizard. Caldurian and a dozen of the Enâri have just fled Red Lodge. A few Island troops are with them. Five of us found them and tried to prevent their escape. I was sent to get reinforcements.”

  “Take us there,” ordered the prince. “Quickly!”

  The soldier led Prince Gregory and the others around the corner to the left where they hurried past a line of fluttering torch lights attached to the walls. After rounding the next corner to their right, they headed directly toward the adjoining outer corridor along the west side of the King’s residence. The window panes passing alongside them were still tinted charcoal black from the fading night’s last gasp. When they turned right again into the north corridor, a cold gust of air pinched their faces as it poured in through a wide open door. An Enâri creature lay dead near one of Prince Gregory’s wounded soldiers who stood against the wall to prop himself up. His left shoulder was stained with blood.

  “Caldurian and his followers fled outdoors while we fought off several others,” the soldier told Prince Gregory, appearing pale yet eager to assist. “Three of my fellow soldiers went after them.”

  “Let me see your wound,” Tolapari said, gently taking hold of his arm.

  “I’ll be all right once it’s bandaged,” the soldier said, wincing in pain. “You’d better go after Caldurian. He seemed in an awful hurry to get his troops out of here.”

  “He won’t get far,” the prince replied, signaling to one of his men to stay behind and assist the wounded soldier. He led the others out the door into the cold dawn.

  “I’d cast a spell to ease the pain,” Tolapari explained to the soldier as he hastened through the doorway. “But right now I can’t spare the time. Or the magic.”

  The area outside the north entrance contained several gardens, many trees and a large pond blanketed with a thin layer of ice. The din of battle raged mainly to the east, west and south sections of the compound as dozens of skirmishes erupted and diminished in strength as the minutes drifted by. Vague morning light continued to intensify behind clouds along the eastern horizon. It slowly illuminated the gray outline of Arrondale soldiers battling the Enâri and Island troops upon the cobblestones, among the trees and by the stone wall.

  To their left in the near distance were the King’s stables. Prince Gregory had just glanced that way when over a dozen horses shot forth through the doors of the main stable house and charged toward the western gate. Atop the galloping steeds were a group of Enâri creatures holding tightly to the reins as they leaned forward. Two soldiers from the Northern Isles accompanied them, bundled in their long, brown coats against the morning chill with hoods draped over their heads. Prince Gregory and his companions were taken aback by the brash escape, but only for a moment as they charged toward the stables. When they reached the main stable house, their lingering astonishment turned into bewilderment. There, standing outside the doorway with a thin smile upon his face, was the wizard Caldurian. Gwyn stood loyally at his side, scowling and silent. Prince Gregory’s men unsheathed their
swords and circled about.

  “So glad you stopped by to pay us a visit,” Caldurian said to the prince when recognizing him in the receding gloom. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “Well, I’ll give you credit for standing your ground,” Prince Gregory grudgingly replied. “I had expected you to be fleeing on one of those horses.”

  “Why, when I’m having so much fun here?”

  “That is about to end,” Tolapari said, stepping out from behind the men into the pale light. “Where are those riders going?”

  For a split second, Caldurian showed genuine surprise and a hint of trepidation when he recognized his fellow wizard. “You were the last person I had expected to see here, Tolapari. It’s been far too many years.”

  “Not enough. Now answer my question,” he gruffly replied. “Where are those riders going?”

  Caldurian glanced at the western gate where the last of the riders were disappearing through the stone archway in the wall, the same gate that William and Brendan had escaped through just over sixty days ago. “They have their orders,” the wizard coolly replied, “and they will dutifully follow them.”

  “Where is King Rowan?” Tolapari persisted, gazing intently at his foe as if trying to read his thoughts and facial features.

  “In a safe place,” Caldurian said. “And if you ever want to see him alive, you will extend to me the utmost courtesy and respect.” Gwyn softly chuckled at the comment.

  “We don’t have time for this!” Prince Gregory said with growing disgust.

  “No, we definitely don’t,” Tolapari muttered, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips. He focused a stern eye upon his fellow wizard, and then as quick as a heartbeat, he extended both arms at Caldurian, palms upward, and shouted. “vin éska!”

  A brief gust suddenly washed over Caldurian, tousling his hair and garments as he involuntarily inhaled a deep breath of the cold morning air. He stood there as if paralyzed, his face contorted with shock and surprise. He teetered drunkenly on his feet for a brief moment and then collapsed to the ground in unconsciousness.

  “Caldurian!” Gwyn cried out, rushing over to him. He knelt at the wizard’s side, frantically trying to awaken him.

  Prince Gregory spun around, gazing at Tolapari in dismay. “What have you done?”

  “If I performed that spell correctly,” he replied woodenly, “Caldurian should recover shortly. His powers, however, will be diminished for some time,” he softly added, his face turning pale, his eyelids unblinking. “As will mine.”

  Tolapari’s knees buckled and he crumpled to the ground. The world darkened around him as echoes of warfare faded to silence in his head.

  CHAPTER 76

  The Chase

  The two wizards regained consciousness minutes later as the initial impact of the âvin éska spell subsided. Prince Gregory knelt over Tolapari as his eyes slowly opened and darted about. He sighed in exhaustion, though a faint smile crossed his face.

  “Are you all right?” the prince asked, his voice unsettled.

  “I’ll recover soon,” Tolapari replied, sitting up with difficulty as Prince Gregory and another soldier assisted him. “I just hope my magic abilities will, too.” He noted the questioning look upon the prince’s face. “There’s no time to explain now,” he said, standing up with help from the others. He glanced at Caldurian who was only beginning to stir. He appeared ashen and dazed, having endured the brunt of the spell. Gwyn stood dutifully beside him. “You had better send soldiers after the Enâri who just bolted through the western gate. I have an uneasy feeling about them.”

  “As do I,” he replied, signaling to one of his captains. “At the very least they are off to find reinforcements. They must be stopped.”

  A young soldier hurried over. “Your orders, sir?”

  “Captain Grayling, gather some of your fastest riders and pursue the Enâri who just fled west,” the prince ordered. “Stop them at all costs.”

  “My pleasure, sir!” Grayling picked three soldiers with him and they sped off around Red Lodge to recruit more riders and retrieve their horses near the main gate.

  As the morning light and the sounds of fighting grew around them, Prince Gregory called for his men to move out. “We’ll be exposed here soon. Make for the garrison,” he said, pointing west. “It appears we have reclaimed that building. Bring the wizard and his Enâr with us, under a vigilant eye, of course. Despite Tolapari’s claim that his powers have diminished, I still don’t trust the man.”

  “The feeling is mutual,” Caldurian muttered, appearing as if he had just awakened from an all-day sleep. He shuffled forward with Gwyn at his side under the watch of several armed soldiers, strands of gray hair dangling in front of his eyes. His back was bent as if he had been transformed into an old man.

  Soon they arrived at the garrison which was heavily guarded by Prince Gregory’s troops and several of King Rowan’s soldiers just released from captivity inside. The harsh clash of swords echoed throughout the air from nearby skirmishes. The men at the garrison were excited to see their leader and equally astounded that Caldurian was his prisoner. As the prince ushered everyone inside, Captain Grayling and nearly two dozen armed soldiers sped by upon their horses, making for the western gate in pursuit of the Enâri creatures and the two Islanders who had fled a short time ago. The soldiers standing outside the garrison cheered on their fellow warriors as they disappeared through the archway in the growing milky light.

  Captain Grayling led his men northward when they reached the main road outside of Red Lodge. He noted fresh tracks upon the hard dirt surface and could easily follow the Enâri creatures. The captain, never having heard a single story about the riding prowess of Vellan’s willing slaves, was confident that he and his men would catch up to them shortly.

  “What of the terrain ahead?” Grayling asked, speaking to a man named Grezza who was riding next to him. Grezza, a soldier of Montavia, had been training alongside King Justin’s men in Morrenwood when his native land was attacked.

  “This road stretches on for many miles north,” he replied, “following the natural curve of the Keppel Mountains and the woodland tract near its foothills.”

  “Then we shouldn’t have trouble following them,” Grayling remarked as the rhythmic pounding of horse hooves disturbed the somber silence of a brand new morning. The tips of the towering pines to their left and the awakening peaks of the nearby mountains reached for the iron gray clouds sailing overhead.

  They had ridden only a few minutes when the tracks of their foe veered to the right along another tree-lined road, this one much narrower and weathered with wheel ruts and dry puddle holes from previous pounding rains. The soldiers now rode in pairs, slowing their gait out of concern for the horses’ footing.

  “We can’t lose them!” Grayling shouted.

  But just when his hopes had begun to dim, the trees suddenly thinned out and the open meadows and hilly terrain beyond filled his vista in the growing light.

  “There, captain!” Grezza shouted out, pointing left. “They’re making for those grassy mounds across the field. They’ve turned off the rode just up ahead.”

  “And so will we,” he replied. Moments later, he signaled for everyone to veer to the left into the frosty meadow. They now pursued their quarry to the northeast, swiftly gaining on them to the soldiers’ delight.

  “They have badly miscalculated,” Grezza told the captain moments later. “We can slow down and allow our horses to rest.”

  “Why would we do that?” Grayling skeptically replied.

  Grezza pointed out two grassy hills just ahead and the narrow valley between them that the Enâri troops had entered. “Those two hills converge into one very shortly. The Enâri are trapped! They must turn around and confront us or abandon their horses and climb over the steep hill beyond. I’m guessing they’ll do the former.”

  Grayling motioned for his men to slow down as they approached the valley entrance. When they arrived, he halted the line
, allowing the horses to briefly rest. The thin, brittle grass lay brown and speckled with hints of frost in the growing light. The captain rubbed his whiskered face, momentarily lost in thought as a light breeze swept across the meadow.

  “You look troubled,” Grezza said, looking askance at him.

  “More curious than troubled,” he replied. “It’s apparent that the Enâri did not know the layout of this terrain, so I’m guessing they were not rushing to get reinforcements or they would not have gone this way.”

  Grezza nodded. “They would have stayed on the road and gone to the next village where more Islanders are stationed.”

  “Exactly. So what are they planning?” Captain Grayling said. “Why have they traveled out here in the middle of nowhere on Caldurian’s order?”

  “Perhaps they will soon tell us,” another soldier commented as he pointed ahead into the valley. “Look.”

  Slowly emerging around a curve in the narrow passageway between the hills were the Enâri creatures, still atop their horses with the two Island soldiers tucked in among them. When they saw Captain Grayling and his defiant line of soldiers blocking the entrance, the Enâri halted and talked among themselves. The two sides studied one another in silent curiosity, analyzing their options. Grayling’s men, however, were better armed and outnumbered their opponent. Though barely able to distinguish the faces of the enemy from this distance, Captain Grayling sensed that the Enâri were apprehensive about their next move.

  “They don’t know what to do,” Grezza said.

  “Or they’re eliminating their options,” Grayling replied.

  In a unified display, the Enâri forces drew their swords and raised them high above their heads, the metal blades dully reflecting the tame morning light. The two Island soldiers with them sat silently upon their horses, hooded and impassive, as if unintimidated by the events that were about to unfold.

  “They’ve made their decision,” one of the men whispered.