by L. S. Gibson
He was interrupted by the muttering of the two guards and Suvran didn't need to hear their words to know what they were talking about. Why were they--or rather he--still up here when there was fighting going on down below?
"Silence!" Suvran commanded, furious when one of the soldiers disobeyed.
"Please, sir, shouldn't we be helping to defend the emperor?"
He snarled, "I said silence!" He waved a hand and the soldier who had spoken put a hand to his throat and turned to his colleague, his mouth opening and closing, but no sound emerged.
"Get out! Go! I need to think!"
The two men ran out of the room.
Suvran paced again, trying to decide what to do. Should he risk facing the Eynan without really knowing the truth of his power? Then again, if he was so powerful he would seek out and find Suvran anyway. Wasn't it better for the timing to be of his own choosing?
It was then that he felt it. Bardius had insisted over a year ago that Suvran use his power to create a spell so "his" mage would know if he was in urgent need of aid. Bardius had actually asked for a protection spell, but Suvran had managed to persuade the emperor it was very difficult to keep such a spell stable. Instead, he'd suggested an alternative, reminding the emperor he was constantly surrounded by his guards, particularly since he had made the Castle of Rugarold his base. The spell he'd created worked very well within the stronghold and its grounds. Bardius had wanted something to cover a much larger area, but Suvran had told him such a thing wasn't possible. In truth, he could have made the spell cover a larger area, but he'd had no wish to be at the emperor's constant beck and call more than he already was.
Suvran smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant expression. He was tempted to allow Bardius to meet the fate he so clearly deserved, but he also realized this might be the opportunity he needed. If Bardius was in such need that the spell had activated, it was likely his attackers were overcome with their success. What better time?
* * * *
All fighting stopped as every eye turned in the direction of the throne. Girau shoved the guard he had been fighting to the ground at his feet. The look Girau gave Patinus said it all.
Patinus watched as Gallia pushed a guard off the end of her sword. She must have killed him even as Patinus shouted for surrender.
Amired was on his knees over in the far corner, Mathias by his side. For a second, Patinus thought Amired was injured until he saw the body sprawled at Mathias' feet; it was one of the sailors. Patinus couldn't remember his name, but he knew what the loss would mean to Amired. Then Patinus remembered. Ekin, his name was Ekin. Patinus felt better that he'd actually managed to recall the man's name.
The last two imperial guards who'd managed to survive and continue the battle dropped their swords at the sight of the knife pricking Bardius' neck enough to draw blood. Bardius tried to speak, and Patinus tightened his hold across his chest and whispered into his ear, "If you want me to push the knife the rest of the way in, I'd be happy to oblige."
Bardius shuddered, but kept silent.
Girau approached them, smiling at Patinus. "We did it. Congratulations, my friend. If you don't object, I will take command of our prisoner."
Patinus hesitated and then conceded. "Very well. You do have more men with you, and I know you will secure him well."
"The knife," Girau said gently.
"Ah," Patinus said, feeling loath to remove it, which was probably proof that he needed to take it away before he went ahead and used it.
Patinus passed Bardius over to Girau and Bardius rounded on him. "You've made your last mistake, Patinus. Suvran will make you pay a hundred times over."
Girau laughed. "I think you'll find your pet mage has his hands full trying to survive his encounter with the Eynan."
Bardius' eyes widened. "That's a rumor, a lie. Suvran would've known if..." His voice faded and he glanced from one man to the other. In a shaking tone, Bardius continued, "He said, he told me..." Bardius stopped as his face paled.
Patinus and Girau were engrossed in the man's shock and disbelief, so Bardius' sudden wrench from Girau's grasp caught them both by surprise. Once again, Bardius tried to get to the door behind the tapestry, the only real avenue of escape possible to him. The rest of the throne room was full of the captured, injured or dead, or those wanting the ex-emperor to join them.
Patinus didn't even have time to think; he simply reacted. He threw his knife. There was no way he was going to let the bastard escape. He still had no inkling what lay beyond the tapestry. His aim was accurate. The long blade struck Bardius almost dead center in his back and he crumpled without a word.
With a quick look at Patinus, Girau marched across and twisted Bardius over as far as possible. One look at the body was enough and he sighed. "I would've preferred we'd kept him alive." Girau hesitated. "But this saves the drama of a trial and execution."
Chapter 37
"Damn, look at that!" Ninian cried, pointing to an area just north of the main gate.
Jhond cursed when he saw a section of Timendran troops being pushed back away from their defensive position by Illurian soldiers.
"If they can't hold, it could open the door for a fresh assault on Culier's position defending the remains of the main gate," Ninian added.
The colonel had already withstood one violent assault by the Illurian forces to take back control of the stronghold. Though Jhond knew Culier would do everything he could to protect Girau's attack on the fortress, Jhond couldn't take the risk that something might go wrong.
"I have to take some kind of action," Jhond said.
"But surely it's time we made our move on Suvran."
"It can wait a few minutes," Jhond replied.
Ninian frowned and glanced through the spyglass again. "Unfortunately, I think you're right. More of Bardius' troops have joined in the offensive from the north. It looks as though Culier is trying to recall as many men as he can back to his position."
Jhond sat cross-legged on the floor, closed his eyes and let his power flow through him. He envisioned the view he'd seen through the spyglass, the advancing group of Illurians. Their numbers were swelling as they broke through the Timendran defense, intent on taking back the stronghold. More enemy soldiers were advancing to join the attack. He just needed to delay them while Colonel Culier pulled his men back so they could hold the entrance. It was also important not to use too much of his energy. He had an idea and just hoped it would work because he hadn't tried anything on this scale before.
Vaguely, as if from a long way away, he heard Ninian's voice. "Oh my... I've never seen anything like it! The land is shaking and breaking apart, sections are lifting, forming hillocks breaking up the advance. Men--Illurians--are collapsing everywhere. Some of them are disappearing from sight." Ninian's voice rose. "I can't tell if they've just lost their footing or if they've fallen into the...rips in the earth. Lords of Light, Jhond, you've stopped the Illurian advance cold."
"Not for long, Ninian," Jhond said, climbing to his feet. "My small earthquake will hold them for a while and give Culier time to get his men into position."
Ninian was still looking through the spyglass. "Yes, the shaking has stopped, but the Illurians are confused." He looked at Jhond. "They have no idea what happened. It looks as if they're trying to separate the injured from the dead."
Jhond sighed with relief, confident he'd given Culier the time he needed to ensure the Illurian forces were kept at bay. Now to deal with Suvran. Jhond took one last look to confirm Suvran's location, only to pull back quickly and declare, "Damn it! He's no longer in the tower room. I saw him dash out the door and rush down some stone steps."
"It's what I was afraid of," Ninian said. "He must be going down to the throne room to help Bardius."
Jhond knew Ninian was correct and, not daring to spend any more time thinking, he said, "Grab on. We're going." He operated the pendant device and the next instant they were standing in the throne room.
* * * *
; Gallia smiled with relief at her husband. It was done. She was confident Jhond and Ninian had dealt with Suvran. All right, it was premature to think it was all over. The empire's forces still held sway in over half the known world, but once the news spread that the emperor and his mage were dead, she was confident the conquered states would rise and free themselves. More accurate to say, it was the beginning not the end.
She took a step toward her husband when the door behind the tapestry swung open with a bang. She jerked in shock at the loud noise and then froze when she saw the look of horror on Patinus' face when he saw the interloper. She realized it must be Suvran who stood there. She watched as Suvran's gaze took in the dead body of the emperor and at the same time, she watched Patinus dash at the mage, his sword leading the way. Gallia saw the fury spark in Suvran's eye and she never even had time to shout a warning before Suvran's arm shot out, words of an incantation spewing from his mouth.
A powerful bolt of light surged from Suvran's fingers to envelope Patinus, and when the light faded, he was encased in a block of some kind of transparent material. It looked like glass, except Patinus was held immobile, one leg lifted as he'd been moving forward, his right arm slightly ahead of him, sword angled forward with the tip pointing up, his expression tight with anger.
Rage and fear swamped Gallia and she made to charge Suvran, halted by the hard grip of Girau. "No!" he exclaimed.
Gallia turned on him, but it was Suvran who spoke. "Smart words, my dear. He's alive at the moment but it would be so easy for me to kill him." He paused, frowned as if thinking. "I could slowly withdraw what little air he has. Patinus does deserve it, you know. He betrayed his emperor and he betrayed me."
Girau said calmly, "Bardius was not his emperor any more than he was mine. He was an invader and a usurper and he paid a just price. As will you."
"I can't say I'm sorry he's dead," Suvran said, shrugging. "He never deserved to rule, but someone needed to fulfill the role until I had everything organized."
Girau stepped forward. "Are you saying you were really the one with the power? I did wonder. What I'd heard about Bardius didn't really fit with the picture of a powerful leader."
Gallia realized Girau had moved to place himself between her and Suvran. The mage seemed to be very much enjoying telling Girau how clever he had been, fooling everyone, including the now dead emperor, into thinking Bardius was the one in charge. Gallia wondered if the emperor had been aware of it. She edged sideways behind the two soldiers who had been fighting beside Girau, then behind Captain Amired, who now was standing nearer to Suvran than anyone other than Girau.
Knowing Suvran was still boasting to Girau, Gallia took her chance. She darted out from the side, her sword aimed directly at Suvran's chest. She didn't get within two feet of him before she was struck with a bolt of energy. It felt like a punch to her stomach and she folded over, staggering in pain. Girau and Amired both used the distraction Gallia presented by attempting to attack Suvran. Even as they moved forward, Suvran chanted a couple of words and another powerful bolt shot toward both men, spread out, divided and they were both thrown back.
Gallia rose to her feet and determinedly moved forward.
"Stop!" Suvran yelled, and automatically, Gallia obeyed, noting Girau and Amired had already rolled to their feet. "You didn't take my threat seriously enough, did you?"
The words were directed to all in the room, but Suvran's gaze strayed to Gallia. Swiftly, the mage drew a sigil and he spoke one of his words of magic. Gallia watched in horror as Patinus' expression changed and his mouth opened like he was trying to draw in a breath.
Gallia screamed as Girau shouted, "Don't! You're killing him."
Suvran shrugged. "Perhaps next time you'll believe me."
"Please," Gallia begged.
"He's safe for now," Suvran said, "but he won't survive another example."
* * * *
Jhond and Ninian appeared in the throne room and it was as if they had dropped into a frozen scene of pandemonium. Girau, Amired and other Timendrans had been in combat, but no one was moving. Gallia, tears running down her face, was on her knees in front of Patinus, who was trapped inside a solid block. And standing before them all was Suvran, his look of satisfaction morphing into surprise at their sudden appearance.
Other than the obvious field surrounding Patinus, Jhond could still feel the residual energy Suvran had discharged in the room. It surrounded Gallia and, to a lesser degree, his father and Amired.
Jhond raised a hand, intending to free Patinus, when Suvran's spoke, his voice calm and cold. "I wouldn't do that. Try to interfere with my spell and you'll find just how powerful I am."
Jhond met Suvran's steady gaze with one of his own. "I take it you haven't heard that I'm the Eynan. Your power is nothing compared to mine."
Suvran smiled. "You think so? I'd heard the Eynan had emerged, but I didn't know it was you. Suppose I oughtn't to be surprised, though. I knew there was something about you. However, it seems your much vaunted powers aren't that... vaunted after all or you would've sensed there was something about me."
"Jhond, do something. He can hardly breathe!" Gallia whispered.
"Oh, yes, please, do something," Suvran said. "I so want to see it surge and tear itself to pieces taking the traitorous prince with it."
Gallia gasped.
Without saying another word, Jhond launched a simple, strong energy burst at Suvran, a test to see how he responded. His reaction was instantaneous and powerful: Suvran stopped the surge inches from his body and it dissipated instantly. Jhond sent a second and third charge, each one stronger than the last, and each time Suvran dispersed them. Ninian also joined in so Suvran was assailed on two fronts at once, and still the mage met and defeated each attack.
"Is that the best you can do?" Suvran asked derisively.
"Hardly," Jhond said as he sent a thunderbolt to strike Suvran, who staggered as the lightning hit, but he quickly recovered.
However, Suvran's calm demeanor changed and he looked angry as he sent missiles at Jhond, one after the other, with little time to respond. None of them even reached him. Most of the people in the room had backed away to a safe distance leaving a cleared space around the mages, only Gallia staying near to her husband.
Next, Jhond called on the power of earth and the very stones of the tower shuddered as they erupted around Suvran. The mage vaulted away from the danger as part of the floor and the wall behind him exploded outward in a shower of shattered rock.
Jhond sent another lightning bolt at the fallen Suvran, who blocked the attack by dint of throwing one of the royal guards who had moved to help him rise into the path of the lightning. The man had no defense against Jhond's power and collapsed, the energy still flowing over his body as he died.
While Jhond and Suvran were occupied with each other, Ninian decided to act. He didn't believe Suvran's threat regarding the block encasing Patinus; the mage had just said it to throw Jhond off kilter. Ninian had used the spell necessary to create such an effect before and knew how it worked...and how to undo it. He drew the sigil and spoke the incantation under his breath that would shatter the block.
The sound of the tiny explosion filled the momentary silence in the room between the energy blasts, and both Jhond and Suvran stared at Patinus as he collapsed to the ground in front of Gallia. No one moved for an instant, shock and fear on many faces, relief on Jhond's and fury on Suvran's. Gallia gathered her husband in her arms, whispering to him as he fought to fill his lungs with air.
With a glance at Ninian, she murmured, "Thank you."
"I knew he was lying," Ninian said with satisfaction.
Jhond flicked his gaze from Ninian to Patinus and Gallia and back again. Ninian lowered his eyes in acknowledgement and made to move in their direction, obeying Jhond's wish that he keep a close watch on them.
Ninian had hardly had chance to move when Suvran directed an attack at him and abruptly Ninian was enveloped in an orange web of energy that t
rapped him like a net. Ninian's body froze in the action of walking, one hand outstretched to Gallia, his expression one of compassion. Jhond could see Ninian was trying to fight to free himself, but it seemed the more he struggled, the more the web held him. Ninian was gasping for breath and his eyes were full of alarm.
Suvran moved closer. "I can assure you I'm not lying this time when I say if any energy other than my own touches the net, then your friend will die an immediate, and"--he smiled--"a particularly horrifying death. Let me add that you're not the only one with greater power this time. I knew I'd have to face the Eynan one day and I took precautions." He fingered a ring on his left hand. "If your friend here was able to speak, he might tell you he recognized the fabled ring of Triert."
Jhond was seething with rage and he fought to keep it under control. His first desire was to tear apart the net surrounding Ninian. However, one thing his friend had taught him was not to act in anger, but to consider each action. And Ninian had made it clear that gathering information was one of the most important things.
"Ring of Triert? Should I know what that is?" Jhond looked at the ring on Suvran's left hand index finger. It was silver set with a large gemstone, which, on first glance, resembled an opal, but, as he watched, its surface undulated with changing colors. Jhond had never seen a ring like it.
Jhond was aware of voices coming at him from those watching, his father and the others, shouting at him to act, asking why he was wasting time talking. He heard Gallia's voice, too, but he had to ignore them, had to concentrate on Suvran.
"You mean you don't know? Tut-tut, your, er...tutor failed you there, didn't he?"
Jhond knew very well what the ring of Triert was. Ninian had searched the Reeve library for information on anything involving the Eynan; the legends and the truth, advantages and disadvantages, strengths and failings, anything and everything. The ring of Triert was something Ninian had hoped was only a legend, but now it appeared it was real. It seemed that at last Jhond knew Suvran's family name; he belonged to the House of Triert. If Suvran wasn't lying--and Jhond didn't think he was--and if everything the legend about the Triert ring claimed was true, then Jhond would have a fight on his hands.