The Peacekeeper

  “Clear the courts!” He obviously wanted this meeting private. He leaned to his two trusted guards on either side of his throne. “You two shall stay. Everyone else, out!” While they waited for the room to clear, he glared at Elspeth.

  She started to sweat and her hands were shaky. She didn’t have to play a part, she was literally downright terrified. She knew Ian felt her fear, but he couldn’t do anything for her.

  After everyone was gone, he looked at Ian. “Why have you brought her here, Heralth?”

  “My family is sick. I was hoping tae reap a small token for my efforts of capturing and bringing her here tae you.”

  “Brann,” the king said to his guard, “bring me the box. Mr. MacPherson deserves a reward for this traitor’s capture.” The guard left. “Where did you find her, Mr. MacPherson?”

  “I was travelin’ tae market here, King Rulm. Some soldiers met me on the way and told me tae look out for her. I saw her near the dragon cliffs. I immediately knew it was she you were lookin’ for from their description.”

  The guard, Brann, returned with a black box and handed it to the king.

  “Well, you deserve a reward for her capture,” he said opening the box. He handed two gold pieces to Brann and motioned for him to give them to Ian. “You may receive your reward with my thanks, and you can be on your way.”

  “King Rulm, if I may.”

  “What is it, MacPherson?” The king was becoming annoyed.

  “I’ve been traveling for weeks. Might I spend the night and be on me way in the mornin’?”

  The King sat back. “That is a fair request. So be it. Brann will show you to a room where you can get a bath and he’ll have some food sent to you. After you break your fast in the morning, you’ll depart.”

  “May I ask one more question of your highness before I leave?”

  “Yes, yes make it quick. I’m very busy.”

  “When will the trial be for the young lady? Will she be hanged if found guilty?”

  “Why should you care MacPherson? Is she somebody to you?” The king sat up straight with a snarl on his face.

  “Nae, not at all. I think a person found tae be a traitor should suffer, ’tis all.”

  The king grinned. “Oh, she’ll suffer. The trial will be the day after tomorrow. If she’s found guilty, which I’m sure she will. Her death will be painful.”

  “Two days? I thought it customary for a period of at least a week before trial.”

  “My court, my rules.”

  She shuddered. The king had the exact same look he had the day he killed that poor girl. Suddenly she found her courage. She didn’t know where it came from, whether it was the injustice of his killing the lady, or to find out the possibility her brother might still be alive, she didn’t know. “You killed that girl. Did you also kill my brother?”

  The room became dead silent. “Ah, I see you’ve found out some truths.”

  Athdar stood with a murderous look on his face.

  The king paused as if choosing his words carefully. “I saw a man kill your brother as a babe. He was dealt with. Athdar, this fine and good soldier, was just a babe at the time and needed a home. Your mother and father took him in. He is your brother.”

  Ian leaned toward her. He whispered. “He tells the truth, Els, he watched someone kill your brother. I’m thinking that Drakkor was the one. I’m sorry.”

  The king frowned. “What did you just say to the prisoner?” He didn’t miss anything.

  Ian blurted, “I said it served her right and I called her a traitor.” She felt him cringe.

  King Rulm’s patience was at an end. “Brann see Mr. MacPherson to a room. Guards!” he shouted. They quickly came through the door. “Take Elspeth McLellan to the dungeons at once. Trial for her treason is in two days. Court is in order again, let the people back in.”

  Athdar stood with a smile on his face.

  She was grabbed by two guards, each holding tightly to an arm. She glanced back at King Rulm and saw the look in his eyes. The ice-cold terror she felt at seeing how he looked told her he was going to have his way with her and that was not good. Not at all.

  Chapter 17

  Ian did not waste time resting in the room he was given. It wasn’t the greatest of the rooms by castle standards. It was a small windowless and unadorned room. Something he would expect a man of his supposed stature would get. He did not care.

  He ate quickly to keep up his strength and did not lounge in the small tub of hot water that had been brought for bathing.

  It was late afternoon and he was worried about Elspeth. He hoped she was okay in the dungeon, but what did he expect, he knew this would happen. He was unsure what King Rulm might try to do.

  But Merlin was watching and listening, if she should call his name for help, he’d be there with an open portal. He did not want to give himself away this early in the game, but Ian knew Merlin, safety of his people first.

  He waited for the tub to be picked up, and when it was, he went out to explore and see what he could find. He was on the first floor near the kitchens and he wanted to avoid the throne room. He knew the third floor was probably the King’s sleeping quarters.

  He figured Athdar was on that floor as well. If he was practicing magic and the castle was anything like the castle in Wesladus Veil, they probably did their dirty work on the fourth floor or the tower.

  He would cloak himself to get there without being noticed, but he didn’t want to waste time taking a tour. So, the fourth floor is where he’d start. Cloaked he headed for the gathering hall where the stairway was. He looked up and counted five stories above him.

  The fifth’s hall opening overlooking the great hall was much smaller than the other floors. There were towers that were higher, but he thought they’d be no use for what he was looking for. He started his climb.

  Each floor he passed had a long hall overlooking the great hall where the tables sat for feasting and meeting. Two sets of three twelve-foot tables took up the room. On a dais sat a table overlooking those below. That’s where the king and queen ate along with those they deemed important. It was probably where Athdar and Drakkor sat.

  The thought of Drakkor turned his stomach and made him angry. Bullocks they all made him angry. With a grunt, he increased his pace up the stairs. He passed the second hall, two more floors to go.

  When he reached the third floor he noticed the hall was empty. Maybe he should check this floor after all. He would stay up against the wall near the doors. Even though he was cloaked, he was still nervous. He guessed the middle door would be the King’s bedroom.

  The next room would be his lady’s room. He silently and slowly opened the king’s door. When he looked through his mouth dropped open. Gold everywhere. Statues, gilding, even two full length suits of armor enrobed in gold stood beside the marble fireplace. The king sure loved his treasures. A large marble tub was built in against the windows with three steps up but held no water like the rooms at Wesladus.

  He felt sorry for the ones who had to carry the water to that tub. It could bathe five people at once, he figured. He didn’t want to think about what might go on in such a large tub, especially knowing what he knew about the King. The tapestries had a lot of gold threading woven through the pictures. He thought he’d get a headache from the reflection if the sun was shining through.

  Red velvet adorned the canopy bed with embroidered gold edging. There was so much, he wondered how the people of the kingdom fared. There were probably a lot of hungry people. He never had much use for such opulence. Even his brother Finn who liked fine things would be appalled. He quickly shut the door.

  Curiosity got the better of him and he peeked in the Queens chambers. He wondered if she was like her husband. He was quite surprised by what he found. Everything was nice but done pleasantly in blues and greens. There were paintings of horsemen and hunting dogs, two of the same of a beautiful woman, and there was one of a young gentleman with black hair and blue eyes.

&nbs
p; There was a collection of dolls which he found amusing. He shook his head and silently shut the door. He passed two maids in the hallway entering the king’s chambers. It was close, but they did not even look his way. So far so good.

  He retraced his steps and headed back up the stairs. As he was going up two guards were coming down. He would not get past the two big men side by side. He turned around and ran down the steps. One of the men stopped. “Did you hear that?” he asked the guard next to him.

  “No what? Are you hearing things again?” He laughed. “I think you’re still in your cups from last night. We’re on duty Jax, don’t let the king see you.”

  “I thought I heard shuffling feet.” He shook his head and laughed. “You’re right. I better stay clear of King Rulm if I want to keep my head.”

  Ian stood holding his breath waiting for the guards to pass. It was probably their watch and they were checking floors. He waited to see where they’d go, when he saw them heading downstairs, he went up to the fourth floor.

  He checked every door on the fourth floor but could find nothing other than storage rooms and more bedrooms. He stood at the stairs wondering where to go next. Scratching his head, he looked up the remaining stairs. These were obviously unused and much narrower. At the top, they veered off and going to the right they wound around and up. The tower he thought.

  Magic wouldn’t happen there as there was not enough room. He’d check the doors on the fifth floor. He looked through two doors and found storage. One had the linens for the castle, old tapestries, and miscellaneous things gathering dust. The other room, a very large room had furniture stored in it.

  He was very confused now, there was no space large enough to conduct magic. There was only one door left, very narrow and small he almost let it go, but he figured he’d better check it. When he went to open it, it was locked.

  Fortunately, it had a key hole he could mist through, but he’d have to uncloak himself. Not a good idea, but something he’d have to risk. He looked around and saw no one. He turned to mist and traveled through the keyhole.

  When he returned to himself he was astounded. There were no windows in the small room, but it was light as day. There were shelves on the three walls, and on each shelf, were small, tall bottles. Inside each was ethereal smoke that glowed brightly with a greenish tint.

  The substance in each swirled as he looked at them. There were hundreds of them. He moved to study them more closely. Each bottle had a label. He picked one and held it in front of his face. The eerie glow made his blood run cold.

  When he looked at the label he almost dropped the bottle. It read Aiden Baird and underneath was the notation fae. He was afraid of what he’d found. Looking all around he felt he must be looking at fae, vampire, king’s, and soldier’s ethers.

  He went from shelf to shelf reading names and species. He took the bottle with Aiden’s name and tucked it in his boot. He knew Merlin would want to see it.

  Just as he tucked it away he heard footsteps and the agitated voices of two men. He couldn’t understand them, but they were getting closer. When he heard the key in the lock he hurriedly cloaked himself and backed against the wall closest to the door hoping to escape through the door after they entered.

  He held his breath. Athdar and King Rulm entered with a torch. Ian hurriedly went out. Athdar put the torch in the holder on the wall and moved to close the door.

  “Did you feel that?” he asked the king. “Somethings not right! I felt waves in the air!” He ran into the hall and threw up his hands toward the stairs.

  He froze mid step. King Rulm came running out. Athdar walked toward the stairs speaking an incantation. He felt his cloaking disappear. He could do nothing. He remained in position, one leg up, the other bent ready to take the next step. The only thing he could move were his eyes.

  Athdar walked closer to him, “Mr. Heralth MacPherson. What are you doing up here?” There was an evil gleam in his eye and Ian felt anger pour off him. He made it as far as the stairway, Athdar stepped away from him, and walked back down the hallway to the door they just came out of, he stepped up to the door to the room holding the ether bottles and shut and locked it. He slipped the key in his pocket, then returned to the hall.

  “What are we going to do now?” King Rulm asked nervously.

  “Do shut up Aifric.” Athdar went to the balcony. “Guards!” He shouted, and immediately three came running up the steps. Before they reached the top of the stairs Athdar released his hold on Ian.

  “Seize this man! He was caught thieving from the king! Search him! You’ll find gold he stole.” Two guards held a struggling Ian down, while the other searched his tartan. He’d forgotten the two pieces of gold the king gave him. Damn why did he ask for a reward? It was still in the pocket of his tartan.

  The guard found them and held them up. “Thief!” he yelled, “he has stolen from the king! What should we do with him?”

  “Have him tied out for the dragons, blow the horns and announce it! He will not live to see tomorrow. Hurry it’s almost dusk!” King Rulm had found his voice and took control.

  ****

  After they left, dragging the struggling Ian, King Rulm turned to Athdar. “What do we do now? What if he speaks of what he saw?”

  Athdar stood at the banister overlooking the great hall where they were still struggling to control Ian. His knuckles were white from his tight grip upon the railing. He turned to look at Rulm. “I’d be more concerned about who that man actually is.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That man is not Heralth MacPherson and he’s not a simpleton. Come let’s watch as the dragons tear him to pieces and eat him.” Athdar laughed. “A pleasure it will be. What a fitting end to a rather boring day.” Athdar roared.

  Chapter 18

  The guards drug Ian by the arms. He fought them with everything he had. He was losing his head, the only thing he could think about was Elspeth. How was he going to rescue her now? He knew this damn idea was a bad one. He could not yell for Merlin, because Athdar was here.

  He did not know what would happen to her tonight, but he felt King Rulm would live up to what Elspeth knew him to be. He was near panic. He could not call the elements while in the castle, it would bring down the walls.

  Athdar’s spell had weakened him and he could not turn to mist or teleport. Even if he could, he could only go as far as the dragon cliffs, anywhere else and he’d be too far from Elspeth. He needed to stay as close as possible.

  Whatever spell Athdar used had basically turned him human. Perhaps he could pull together enough energy to call on the elements once they cleared the castle walls. He did not want Ator to come. He was afraid the guards would harm him when he failed to devour him. He didn’t know what to do. He’d never felt this way in his life, this useless, this hopeless. Bullocks he knew this scheme wouldn’t work. What the hell was he going to do?

  He roared out and renewed his fight against the guards, even in his weakened state he was a source to be reckoned with. All he could think about was Elspeth. It took four guards to tie him down. The chains were heavy, with four iron rings attached to a barbed bar driven in the ground. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t budge one. He looked at the cloudless sky It was already turning red and shouted, “Ator!”

  The men at each corner of the arena blew horns signaling the dragons. People were already packed in the stands shouting. “Dragons! Dragons! Dragons!”

  Ian thought of the mighty Ator and his friends. He wondered who would come. Then he heard the first dragon roar and the sky filled with dragons. Ator out front. He landed near Ian as the other dragons circled, waiting for Ator’s instructions.

  The crowd stood and roared. “Eat him! Eat him!” Then they stomped their feet. The roar of the crowd was immense and the noise was more than he could handle. His mind was in a jumble from the spell, his head ached, and the noise was like knife blades to his skull. Until he looked at Ator, his friend, then peace washed over him. He felt s
afe.

  He closed his eyes then opened them again. Ator stood tall, huge, proud, and roared. He roared at the injustice of his friend. The red sky gave him a shimmery glint of red and rainbows. There would never again be another dragon as grand as Ator, and he, Ian, alone wore his mark. They were united. The sounds of the crowd died away. Ian thought to Ator, “Elspeth! Ator, she’s in the dungeon.”

  “We’ll save her Ian. Don’t worry. I have a plan. Right now, let’s give this crowd and their evil king a show. Okay?”

  Ian smiled. “It’s your stage Ator. Show ’em what you’re made of.”

  Ator roared and blew fire high toward the sky. He flew up and low around the crowd roaring and giving them a sense of his gigantic size. Some screamed, some clapped, some froze. Ator flew back to him, gliding in for a landing.

  The other dragons still circling. They took turns roaring and blowing fire. Finally, the crowd screamed, “Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!” Ator went to the first chain and clipped it in two with his mouth. The crowd wasn’t catching it yet. When Ator bit the second chain in two and had both legs released the crowd became quiet. They watched as Ator broke the third chain.

  The king and Athdar stood up. They didn’t know what was happening, but they didn’t like it. “Archers!” yelled the king. “Make ready!”

  The archers made ready their bows and mounted arrows, waiting for the king’s orders to shoot the dragons. He was instantly terrified for his friend, but laughter came from Ator. “Don’t fear for us, Ian. This will be handled quickly with no harm to us. Watch and learn the true courage that makes a dragon.”

  Before the king could give his command, the dragons descended en masse. The crowd was silent but fascinated. They were waiting to see what happened next. The dragons circled low just above the crowd. Before the archers could even react, the dragons in line roared and blew fire directly upon them. Every archer turned to ash. The king screamed. “Seize him!” But no one moved, their fascination and fear of the dragons keeping everyone spell bound.