Knights: Legends of Ollanhar

by Robert E. Keller

  "I will have the Eye for protection," said Lannon.

  "But with no sword," asked Bekka, "is the Eye enough? If you're facing hundreds of Hill Dwarves unarmed, how can you possibly escape?"

  "Lannon could do it," said Jace, looking thoughtful. "However, it would definitely be risky. You should weigh this decision carefully, Lannon."

  "I'm prepared to take the risk," said Lannon, "if it avoids a war. I don't want to die, but if I don't surrender, surely there will be bloodshed."

  "We could just give them our goods," said Dallsa. "We can replace those material things, though it won't be easy."

  "That's out of the question," said Aldreya, her tone firm. "We need our money to finance this quest. Money won't magically appear to us simply because we're Divine Knights, and we don't have time to take side jobs. And it wouldn't be fair to our hired help, who then wouldn't get paid anytime soon."

  "Nevertheless," said Dallsa, "it's too dangerous for Lannon to surrender. There has to be a better way."

  "There may be no better way," said Vorden. "I hate to say this, but I think Lannon is right. If he doesn't surrender, we'll surely be at war, and there is a good chance some of us will die. Right now the quest for the Green Flamestone is in great peril. Try as I might, I can't think of an easy way out."

  "Yet the Malrogs are brutal," said Saranna. "Their savagery is feared throughout the land. The thought of Lannon going to them alone and unarmed chills my soul. It would be like willingly going into the darkest pit of Tharnin."

  "I have to agree," said Galandra. "If you're not familiar with the Malrogs, don't do this, Lannon. You could come to a miserable end."

  "Truthfully," said Lannon, "I'm not very familiar with them. I don't know much about them at all. But they don't know much about me, either, and that works in my favor. They won't anticipate the power of the Eye."

  "Very true," said Jace, smiling. "Now you're thinking like a sorcerer."

  "I think it's foolishness," said Lothrin. "We're letting these hill dwellers push us around. If they want a war, we can give them one--and it will be their choice. I say we stand firm as Divine Knights."

  "Stand firm to what end?" asked Aldreya. "Our meager supplies will dwindle to nothing, and still the Malrogs will guard the bridge--if they don't attack first. Eventually we will be forced to confront them."

  Lothrin nodded. "Then maybe we should confront them now. We should go to them and demand to be let across. If they refuse, we will insist. We're Divine Knights, remember? And we have a right to use this road."

  "We're not all Divine Knights," said Saranna. "But I'm being paid to serve Dremlock, and if battle occurs, so be it. I didn't expect to complete this mission without having to draw my sword."

  Brakthas and Galandra voiced their agreement.

  Aldreya nodded to them. "It is good to know our mercenaries are loyal. That attitude will benefit you when it comes time to divide treasure."

  "If we stay alive," mumbled Brakthas.

  "I should probably keep quiet," said Jerret, "but I have to say that Lothrin makes a great point. Why should we back down?"

  "We have a right to cross," said Aldreya, "and they have no right to stop us. If it leads to their deaths, so be it. They choose their fate. But my concern is not their welfare, it is ours. What losses will we endure? Since the massacre in the Soddurn Mountains, we are few in number."

  "That's what I'm thinking," said Lannon. "We can't afford a war. And why should anyone have to die if it can be avoided?"

  "But can you really escape?" asked Bekka. "You will likely be bound in thick ropes or chains, surrounded by dozens if not hundreds of armed enemies. What if they club you? What if they decide to kill you immediately?"

  "Not likely," said Lannon. "They'll want me to suffer first."

  "Lannon is correct," said Jace. "They'll likely hold a feast and a ceremony before the killing takes place. They'll want Lannon fully intact so he will suffer greater torment. They certainly won't strike a blow to his skull, which could render him unconscious or unable to experience the horror of the situation."

  "Indeed," said Lannon, gripped by disgust. "I have apparently offended them so deeply a club to the head is too good for me."

  Dallsa shuddered. "This whole conversation is wretched! Lannon, you don't need to do this. Lothrin is right. Let's stand firm as Knights."

  "And let the bloodshed proceed?" asked Lannon. "How can you agree to that, Dallsa? You're supposed to be in favor of peace."

  "I am," said Dallsa. "I hate war. I want to avoid it whenever possible--but this isn't the way. Surrendering to cruel savages is a foolish strategy."

  "But it could save lives," said Lannon. "I don't want to see any of you get killed over this absurd situation. Do you honestly think we can battle all those enraged Dwarves and come out unscathed? One or more of us will die. That's almost a certainty. I can't accept that."

  "It is a difficult decision," said Aldreya, "and one that I will not force upon you, Lannon. I will let you decide."

  "I have decided," said Lannon. "I'll go."

  Aldreya nodded, but she looked troubled.

  "That's it?" said Dallsa, her face pale. "No vote or anything?"

  "No vote is needed," said Aldreya. "Lannon has volunteered for a mission. He is the High Watchman. Who are we to order him to stay?"

  "You're the Green Knight!" said Dallsa. "You could call for a vote. You know that's true, Aldreya."

  "It is true," said Aldreya. "But I see no need for a vote."

  Dallsa nodded. "Because you would lose, and Lannon would have to abandon this foolish idea."

  Aldreya didn't reply. Her beautiful face seemed as hard as stone.

  "It will be okay, Dallsa," said Lannon. "I will return."

  "This isn't fair," said Dallsa. "As a member of the Ollanhar Council, I demand a vote. Yet I'm not getting one."

  "Someone has to second you," said Aldreya. "And I have yet to hear anyone speak up."

  Dallsa gazed at everyone with disgust. "Not one of you will second my call for a vote? Bekka? Lothrin? Vorden? Not one of you?"

  "I would second it," said Jerret, "but I'm no longer a Divine Knight. A lowly mercenary like me doesn't get a say in official matters."

  "What about you, Lothrin?" asked Dallsa.

  Lothrin sighed. "Lannon has decided, and I don't feel it's acceptable for me to try to order him around. Therefore, no vote."

  "I'm actually in favor of Lannon's idea," said Jace. "Yes, it is a bit unsettling, but I think it's the best way to proceed."

  Unable to vote, the three Rangers sat with bowed heads.

  "So that's it, then," said Dallsa, looking glum. "Well, goodbye, Lannon. I hope you don't get tortured and murdered."

  Lannon took Dallsa aside to talk to her alone. "Listen, try to relax and not worry about me. I'll be fine."

  "That's impossible," she said. "I'm going to worry. And why do you care? We're Divine Knights. There is nothing between us, right?"

  "We have friendship," said Lannon. "A deep friendship." He considered the implications of that, then put the thought out of his mind. He cleared his throat and then mumbled, "The Sacred Laws forbid anything more, of course. But yes, I do care about your feelings."

  "Then don't go," she said. "If you go, I'll be hurt."

  "I have to go," he said. "Duty demands it. I'm sorry, Dallsa."

  She nodded, then simply walked away.

  ***

  After switching swords with Prince Vannas, Lannon approached the Hill Dwarves. He walked alone, boldly facing the Malrogs who had many arrows pointed at him. "Don't shoot," he called out to them. "I surrender."

  They regarded Lannon with suspicion. After all, why would he willingly surrender to them, knowing the consequences? They didn't move, except for the swaying of their reddish beards in the breeze.

  "I'm being sincere," Lannon said. "I'm doing it for my companions, who are on an important mission. I'm making a sacrifice." He raised his hands. "Go ahead, take me prisoner.
Take my sword."

  The Dwarves glanced at each other.

  The Elder, Henati, spoke. "We don't trust you. There is no fear in your eyes. Why is there no fear?"

  Lannon shrugged. "Why should there be? You're not going to kill me, right? I'm assuming you're going to give me a beating or imprison me for a while. I could even work for you to pay for the loss of the house."

  "Earlier you feared being murdered," Henati pointed out.

  "I did," said Lannon. "But my companions have convinced me not to worry. They assured me that you Hill Dwarves don't behave that way." This last bit of talk was such a blatant lie that Lannon feared they would see right through it. But the Dwarves only gave each other another glance.

  "What if your companions are wrong?" said Henati. "What if they are lying to you, just so they can move on and leave you to die?"

  "I trust them fully," said Lannon, trying to sound naive. "With all my heart. They would never lie to me. They're Divine Knights."

  "Dremlock isn't what it used to be," said Henati. "Yes, we hear things even this far from your homeland."

  Lannon turned his back to the Dwarves. He put his hands behind him. "Stop trying to scare me. I know you won't kill me."

  A Malrog quickly locked irons onto his wrists. They took his sword, then gagged him so he couldn't voice any protests.

  "Your so-called friends lied to you," Henati whispered in his ear. Lannon could smell the old Dwarf's sour breath. "You are going to die, and it will be painful. You wretched outsider! You filth! How dare you make trouble in our lands? Before this execution is finished, you'll beg for a knife in your heart."

  Chapter 9:

  The Joyous Execution Ceremony

  Lannon was blindfolded and led away, but he could still see. No simple piece of cloth could block the Eye of Divinity. As the Dwarves shoved him along through the hills, he was aware of everything around him--aware of the anger and hatred they felt for him and their desire to murder him. He was an outsider, a threat to their land and way of life, and they would show him no mercy.

  "How far are we going?" he asked. It had been at least three hours with no rest. Panting and grunting Dwarves were all around him as they trudged along the hillsides. When no one answered, he asked again. This display of persistence earned him a punch to the back, which he blocked with the Eye. Though the blow didn't hurt him, the Dwarf who administered it didn't know that.

  "How did that feel, outsider?" the Dwarf growled. "There's more where that came from. Try walking these hills with a wounded back."

  "No thanks," said Lannon. "It's hard enough walking them while healthy. Why would I want to make it worse?"

  "Your smart mouth will make it worse," came the reply.

  "I just asked a simple question," said Lannon. "I wasn't trying to annoy anyone. It just seems like we're on a rather long journey."

  "A long journey indeed, and your last." It was Henati who spoke. "Enjoy the fresh air and the feel of the earth beneath your feet, for soon you will know the wonders of life no more."

  "This is pointless," said Lannon. "What is there to be gained from my death? Why not just let me go. Do you enjoy cruelty, Henati?"

  Lannon received another blow to the spine.

  "Don't insult an Elder!" the Dwarf warned.

  "Let the fool speak," said Henati. "He obviously wants to anger us even further. Soon he will know only pain for his trouble."

  "The fool would like an answer," said Lannon. "Or maybe you don't have an answer to give, because you know this is wrong."

  "I don't enjoy being cruel," said Henati. "I enjoy preserving our way of life and protecting these hills from troublesome outsiders like you. What we gain from your death is our own survival. Even Bellis Kingdom is afraid to deal with us and leaves us alone. When your head is placed on a pole by the roadside, it will serve as a warning to tread carefully in these lands."

  "I think I understand," said Lannon. "You were just waiting for an excuse to execute an outsider. And when I accidentally knocked down the house, you found one. Congratulations, you must be overjoyed."

  "We weren't waiting for anything," said Henati. "You came to us and made trouble. It has led you to a bad end. It's not our fault. We're not thieves or invaders. We didn't go looking for you or ambush you in the road. All we ask is to be left alone, and you lacked the courtesy or wisdom to comply."

  Lannon fell silent for a moment, overcome with frustration. The ancient Dwarf seemed to have an answer for everything, but Henati refused to acknowledge that killing Lannon was wrong. Lannon wondered if he was wasting his time arguing with him. Henati was obviously firmly set in his ways.

  "You're an arrogant young Knight," said Henati. "You've already decided us Malrogs are lowlife savages. But you know nothing of our ways. We do what we must, and yes, we will celebrate your death--for it gives us life."

  "That's absurd," said Lannon. "Killing me won't prove anything. People avoid confronting you because you're fierce warriors like all Dwarves, and not because of your cruelty. You could spare me and nothing would change."

  "Over the centuries," said Henati, "we built a reputation for dealing harshly with outsiders who stray from the road. That reputation preserves us in these troubled times. Your death is a necessary thing. As a very old man, I understand the ways of life and death better than most. You are now part of our system, young Knight, and your forthcoming death is a natural part of that system. It is not evil at work--it is life at work, in all its glory, joy, beauty, horror, and sadness. Life is a great gift, and death is very much a part of it. It is the way of nature."

  "Wise words," said Lannon. "But murder is murder."

  "Is it?" said Henati. He spoke close to Lannon's ear. "In your culture, murder is one thing. In ours it is quite another. Every culture is different--how they think, feel, love, hate, kill, worship, reason, or create. You want to see good and evil in simple terms--universal terms. But the universe doesn't work that way. What is evil and corrupt to some is good and wholesome to others. Your torment and death has great meaning to us. It is wholesome and sustaining to our society."

  "Then you're twisted," said Lannon. "There are true standards of good and evil that can be supported by logic. You just deny them."

  "Is a pack of wolves evil," asked Henati, "because they decide to eat you and fill their bellies to survive?"

  "Wolves don't know right from wrong," said Lannon. "Therefore, your comparison isn't valid."

  "You're not too bright," said Henati, sighing. "Your ignorance makes you stubborn. A wolf knows that when it bites into your flesh, you will bleed. It knows you will die. And yet it chooses to proceed, because to the wolf there is no shame in killing you to preserve the pack."

  "This conversation is foolish," said Lannon, growing more frustrated by the moment. "Killing me is wrong. There's no way to justify it."

  Henati didn't answer.

  Lannon was left feeling defeated. The eldest of the Malrogs was obviously incredibly wise. Lannon was certain Henati was simplifying his argument so Lannon could understand it. Lannon wanted to show Henati that his beliefs were wrong, but how could one argue with someone who was hundreds of years old and had seen it all? Lannon felt like the young fool Henati accused him of being. He wanted to bring up the Divine Essence and its teachings, but he knew Henati would simply mock and dismiss such things. If Lannon couldn't use pure logic to refute him, he had no hope of swaying Henati to his opinion.

  It was an odd situation, because Lannon didn't need to change Henati's opinion at all. Lannon's only plan was to break free and escape, whenever he felt the time was right. But Lannon was compelled to argue his point--to show this ancient Dwarf that killing outsiders over petty transgressions was wrong. Yet Lannon was off to a poor start in the debate.

  "We shall argue again later," said Henati, "before you eat your final meal. You have at least tried, in your own pathetic way, to convince me to spare your life. And you are courageous--if not laughably stupid--for surrendering to us at
the urging of your companions. I have considered the possibility that you have some plan in mind. After all, you are a Divine Knight."

  "No plan," Lannon said, "except to stay alive."

  "Perhaps you are a trickster," said Henati. "A sorcerer, who knows how to escape chains or toss around fire. Tricksters are dangerous, with your pretend magic that fools the mind and eye."

  "Pretend magic?" said Lannon. It struck him as astounding that after centuries of being alive this Malrog didn't believe sorcery was real.

  "Yes, pretend magic," said Henati. "I'm well aware that all Divine Knights are tricksters to some extent--masters of fire. But the sorcerers amongst you are even more skilled and dangerous. You create illusions and have knowledge of potions that generate flame. You rub your blades with these potions and make them burn." He yawned. "All of this is well known."

  "Knightly sorcery is real," said Lannon. "It's given to us by the Divine Essence. There are no tricks involved whatsoever."

  "A god no one has ever seen," mused Henati. "You Knights are such amazing liars. I think you even tend to believe your own lies at times. Everyone beyond Silverland knows that Dremlock uses trickery to intimidate others. Bellis does the same thing, as do the Birlotes and Olrogs. Strange kingdoms filled with secrecy and magicians. Yet all you really care about is power and expansion."

  "What about your own history?" said Lannon. "Weren't the Malrogs corrupted by the Deep Shadow once? Didn't it give you strange abilities?"

  "Mere mythology," said Henati. "At least as far as the strange abilities go. We have no such powers. We're simple folk who live off the land. We have nothing to do with the Deep Shadow these days. That force of destruction is long gone from the world. All that remains are Goblins and a few stinking marshes."

  Lannon was baffled. "The Deep Shadow is still threatening our land, Henati. It's still making war on us. I can't believe you don't know this."

  "Another lie of Dremlock," said Henati. "You want people to believe the Deep Shadow is still a threat, so you can sell them the cure. Divine Knights--the great heroes of Silverland in your wealthy little kingdom." His voice was overflowing with mockery. "It's all one big ruse to keep yourselves in business."