An Adept's Duty: The Scepter of Maris: Book Two

by James R Barnes

  "Well, Maikus?" came from Dhuren as he looked at one of the Dwarves standing next to the obstruction and talking softly with Alyssa.

  "Just a Secondary Seal. Easy to open. Thought we'd take a break here before we moved on. 'Til then, Master Wovis instructed me to show the Lady Camden how the Seals worked when she caught us up. I can do that after I've had a go at attackin' this parched throat." The Dwarf waited until he got a nod from Dhuren and then walked off to join some others lounging around on the floor nearby.

  Alyssa stayed standing in front of the doorway, arms crossed until she went to brush away a strand of hair. Brody thought there was a good chance that she might figure out how it worked before they showed her, judging by the look of concentration on her face. She was very smart, and though he was still unused to seeing a Human wielding magic, she seemed damn good at it. A fact that had probably saved all of the Humans' necks more than once since they started on this crazy mission.

  Turning his back on the entrance, he moved over to join Meric, Dhuren and Fastil as they made themselves as comfortable as possible. His fellow Rennickan had leaned back against the wall and slid to a seat on the floor with the two Dwarves sitting across from him. A flask was held up and he took it from Meric's outstretched hand as he stepped over the man's legs. Brody left the side closer to the door for Alyssa, in case she ever decided to rest. The sigh of satisfaction he let out after the hoppy mead slid down his throat received deep chuckles from the two Dwarves.

  "If you were not so tall, I might swear you had a Dwarf somewhere in your ancestry," Dhuren told him.

  "I will take that as the compliment it was meant to be, and drink to it... and your health." He raised the flask for one more swig and passed it on to Fastil.

  Brody did not really know how much time passed, partly because he spent some more time examining his new shield. It had been given to him by Dhuren before they started out, "This shield and your axe were once a matched pair and should be again," was the only explanation he got. It was round and might have been designed for a Human, or at least a Human sized warrior, since it was large enough to almost cover his entire torso. A metal, bronze or copper filigree overlaid a dark grey scale-pattern background. The embossing was beautiful, but had a martial feel to it; all abrupt corners and bold lines. An inch thick band ran around the edge and appeared to be made of the same material as the filigree, but was polished smooth even though a rune-like design could be seen at each cardinal point. Whether they were painted on or were some more of that fancy Dwarven etching that could be seen but not felt, Brody could not say. Because of the light weight of the shield, even though it appeared to be made out of metal, he assumed that it was some magic similar to his axe.

  Eventually, he turned his attention from the shield and back to his friends and they passed the time chatting about anything that came to mind (mostly he and Fastil talked about mead and ale recipes), before Alyssa settled down at Meric's side. She leaned into him, folded legs resting on his thigh, and thanked Dhuren when he handed her the second flask that had just been broken out, taking a healthy swallow before passing it on. That was one of the things he liked about her; for a noble, she did not need to be pampered or coddled. She would drink whatever was at hand, sleep on the ground, get her hands dirty with chores, and never a complaint. She and Meric had given up any pretense that they were not together some time ago, and he was happy for his brother. If any woman was good enough for him, she might be the one.

  Meric's voice shook him out of these wandering thoughts.

  "So... did you figure it out?"

  "I believe so. I will confer with Maikus, but I think I can open it myself."

  "Just like that? What stopped an Orc shaman from doing it?" Brody frowned as he spoke.

  "Oh, you have to be on the side of the Seal that it was created from... at least that is how I would do it." She looked to Dhuren and Fastil for confirmation.

  "Aye. From the outside it would look like any other bit of rock you see all around. They would have to see the runes to even try and open it... and they could blast away at it all day long without so much as chipping it. The magic not only keeps it closed, but also reinforced," Fastil told them.

  "Besides, I-"

  Alyssa was cut off by Maikus clearing his throat as he stepped up to them.

  "Sorry to interrupt, but we are ready to open the Seal. I thought Lady Camden might like to do the honors?"

  Dhuren nodded and they all shifted to their feet.

  "What should we expect when the way is open? Anything waitin' on the other side?" Brody asked Fastil.

  "Never know... best we be prepared." Brody's shorter companion spoke in a grim voice and loosened his war hammer from its belt loop. Then he grinned.

  "Maybe you should stand in front."

  #

  The yawning hole opened into pure blackness. Brody could see a few yards down the tunnel due to the light from the room, but beyond that it was all-concealing dark. Fastil was getting ready to throw one of the light crystals (it was actually two crystals in a holder that had a socket at either end) through the opening just as the Seal finished sliding into the left-hand wall. When the giant plug finally stopped moving the silence only lasted a second. Brody could hear a slapping, clicking, panting sound coming from the opening that raised the hair on the back of his neck and before he could ask, he saw it for himself. Or rather, he saw flashing yellow eyes, sharp teeth and wicked claws coming fast down the tunnel. Up went his axe and shield even as he started to shift in front of Alyssa to protect her from the slavering death headed their way, when suddenly the creature let out an eerie screaming yelp and was jerked backwards, disappearing back beyond the reach of the room's light.

  Normally Brody liked to use any kind of distraction or surprise to his advantage. He itched to charge forward and get to work with his weapon, but without any light and not knowing what just snatched up a beast that was a bit bigger than a really large dog with such ease, he went with caution instead. His eyes met Fastil's, who was on the other side of the doorway from him, and he saw just as much confusion as the Dwarf's arm was still poised to throw. Before either of them could speak, Alyssa did.

  "That was me." She spoke quickly, her eyes passing back and forth between their incredulous expressions. "What? I am tired of things charging at me. I doubt I killed it, just threw it back down the tunnel."

  She had not even finished her sentence when Brody snatched the crystal from Fastil and ran into the opening. He had seen Meric and Silas approaching out of the corner of his eye as he took the light from the Dwarf, and knew they would follow his lead so he did not hesitate.

  The creature was still dazed and trying to stagger to its feet when his axe split its skull, slicing through with ease. He was not yet recovered from the blow when one of Silas' swords shot past him and he heard another of the strange cries, like the beast had made, cutting off sharply. Silas had stepped forward, driving the blade in front of him and using Brody's shoulder for balance. Brody's eyes went a little wide when he saw that the sword was sticking out of the mouth of a twin to the creature at his feet. It was about two feet away, the blade having driven half its length through the animal's head. He nodded thanks to his friend just as Meric relieved him of the light source and moved past, closely followed by Fastil, Dhuren and a frustrated Maikus who was trying to get in front of the two other Dwarves.

  "Damn nobles," was the grumbling curse Brody heard from the Guardian Captain as he went by.

  Brody let out a breathy laugh, relieved to be in one piece. He had never even heard the second beast coming, and so his shield had been lowered uselessly to his side. The time it took him to shake it off allowed Silas to move around him even as more light, and Dwarves, entered the tunnel. Finally able to see the creatures more clearly, he took a moment to study them. Alyssa reached him just as he was squatting down for a closer look, and leaned over his shoulder. It looked like a cross between a lizard and a dog. Deep purple, leathery skin with random p
atches of dark grey and black covered lean muscles.

  "It is like a lizard with an almost canine head and feline claws," Alyssa said as she used her dagger to pry back one of those claws when Brody held one of its forelimbs up.

  "Strong too, I bet," he replied.

  "Wonder what else is lurking down here? There could be hundreds of different species of animals."

  He was chuckling as they both stood.

  "Always the scholar. I think you might have to wait on a return trip to do any studies."

  She rolled her eyes at him and replaced her dagger. They were both laughing when they headed after the others, slipping into line with the Dwarves marching past. Her laugh though, was more embarrassed, because she could not deny the desire to do that studying.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Rebellious

  The light snowfall began just as Dane Harker was preparing to give the signal. The footing was slightly treacherous on the hillside overlooking the road between Haven and Oakwood, as the two inches of snow from yesterday morning had melted a little during the day. Now, after a freeze again last night, it could get a bit slippery. Steam curled in front of him and out of sight as he breathed out in anticipation. Just a few more moments and it would truly begin. Creaking and thumping over the rough terrain, the supply wagon came rolling around the bend down to his right. As the lookout had informed them, it had a six man escort riding along with the two soldiers manning the cart itself. Only two members of the escort were carrying bows; one at the front and the other at the rear.

  Three of the men with Dane were archers, but only one of them was what he would consider skilled. The other two could not be counted on for a sure kill with the first shot, so he was putting both of them on the same target. They would take the archer at the rear of the party, leaving the one at the front for the man squatted higher up on the hill behind him. Once Dane gave the signal they would fire and he and the others would charge the soldiers, hopefully overwhelming them by sheer numbers. His group outnumbered the Rennick guards by more than two to one, but only he and two others had any real training with the weapons each was clutching. The handful of men wielding pitch forks, wheat sickles, or wood axes certainly had plenty of experience with them, but never as weapons used in anger.

  He let out a quiet sigh as he readied himself. Some of these men might not survive, but all of them knew the danger and a few had even helped him on the last mission. That had only been two half-drunk guards watching over a storehouse, so he was not going to rely on that for experience. They would try to keep the bloodshed to a minimum, sparing the lives of the soldiers if possible, but no chances would be taken. The last time they had trusted some guards to keep their weapons sheathed, they had lost two men as soon as their backs were turned. It had almost ended in disaster, and did end in all four soldiers present being killed.

  He hated the necessity of killing men in the uniform of the military he once proudly served, but most of his guilt was overcome by reminding himself what was being done to innocent people by men in that same uniform. He knew that not all of the soldiers were involved in the crimes against the people, but they had to know what was going on. In his book, that made them just as responsible. There were too many horror stories going around, and he had yet to talk to a person that did not hear about the town of Paradise being razed to the ground. Only a handful of survivors got away from that, but word had spread like wildfire.

  When the cart made it to just about the center of the area he had chosen for the ambush, he realized it was time. Dane cleared his mind of distractions and signaled his men before shoving upright. He charged down the hill at a reckless speed, somehow managing not to slip, and hit level ground even as the lead rider toppled out of his saddle. There was just enough time to make sure that it was the archer, seeing a bow lying in the muddy slush next to where the man fell, and then he was skidding in the slippery ruts and thrusting his sword up at the mounted soldier in front of him.

  Unfortunately, the unstable footing threw his aim off. Instead of a clean strike under the ribs and into the heart, his sword went in a few inches and then jerked sideways. The result was still a serious wound to the man's side, cutting a six inch long furrow toward his back. The soldier swung his shield wildly at Dane, but it was ducked easily. As he moved back in he could see one of his men on the other side keeping the guard's attention. He darted forward and unhooked his foe's boot from the stirrup and shoved up and over, letting out a warning to his companion as he did.

  "He's comin' over!"

  The guard floundered, and tried to swipe his sword at Dane even as he lost his balance, but it was too late. Dane's fellow rebel yanked the man's helmet off as he fell and finished him with a swift sword pommel to the head. He was unconscious when he hit the ground.

  Dane took a moment to see how things were going with the rest of his men. Nine of the eleven men that attacked the front had all but one of the last three soldiers on the ground, and were already harassing the still mounted guard that was left. It would not take them much longer to get him down.

  "Try not to kill him, if you can."

  The reminder might not be needed, but these men were tired, scared, and hungry. Better to play it safe. Surveying the rest of the group, he found that the eight men that had the rear covered were done with the two guards there and had moved on the men in the wagon. Defeat was in the eyes of the man that did not have the reins, so Dane turned to the other even as the first guard leaned over getting ready to drop his sword. His partner's hands were white-knuckling the reins and Dane could tell he was tensing to do something. Dane was pretty sure they could stop the wagon from fleeing, but decided not to chance it. He whipped a throwing knife out of its chest harness and flicked it forward almost in the same motion. The blade flitted through the air and sunk into the back of the soldier's left hand, causing him to immediately drop the reins and scream out in pain. Dane approached the wagon as the man hunched over, clasping his injured hand tight to his chest.

  "You son of a bi-"

  Dane reached up, snatching a handful of the man's collar and pulled the guard off of the wagon. Dumping him none too gently to the ground, earning another scream. He eyed the partner.

  "You got anything to say?"

  The soldier shook his head rapidly, and kept quiet.

  "Good. Keep silent, do as your told and you might live through this. Aiden?" He looked around for the second in command of their ragtag bunch of rebels.

  "Sir!" Came from behind him.

  "Send the wagon on with some men. Then tie the survivors and leave 'em a camp shovel. By the time they get loose, we'll be long gone. They can bury their own dead." He turned to the man that had surrendered. "Tell your King the people are tired of his tyranny. Tired of his madness. We will take back what is rightfully ours, and we are prepared to fight to the death. Especially his."

  When he turned, he found most of his men watching him. Backs straight, grim faced, and full of deadly determination. They might not be real soldiers, but they had mettle. He felt the first true glimmer of hope, and even some pride, as he nodded to them respectfully and headed to one of the recovered horses. Hope and pride; things he had not felt in far too long.

  #

  Dane breathed hot air into his clasped hands and shifted in the saddle. The snow was now coming down in earnest and he was ready to get back to camp and sit in front of a warm fire. Now that the excitement of the fight had worn off, sweat was rapidly cooling and he could feel the burn in his lungs from heavily breathing in the freezing air. Now that Aiden had things under control, he pulled on the reins and began to head off. He almost immediately pulled up at a shout from behind.

  "Sir!"

  One of the soldiers had jerked away from the men holding him, ran a few steps in his direction and then dropped to his knees. Aiden, like Dane, was a former soldier and his old training had kicked in; he started moving as soon as the man got loose. His weapon was drawn and he was between his Commander and the prison
er before the Guardsman had taken his second step. Only the moaning hiss of the snow-laden wind could be heard for the next few seconds. Finally one of the rebels spoke up.

  "This one surrendered too, Sir."

  "Sir. Please take me with you. I... I never wanted to... this is all so wrong." The man was practically in tears from the sound of it.

  "Filthy traitor! You-"

  A heavy rap to the head silenced the outburst from an already bound guard. The pleading soldier never broke eye contact with Dane and he waited quietly, shivering as he knelt in the mud and snow.

  Dane exchanged a quick glance with his Lieutenant. The slush squished out from under his boots as he dismounted and approached the prisoner. He stopped well out of reach, not really worried, but why chance it. Aiden moved with him, sword still held loosely in hand, to further ensure there would be no trickery.

  "You wish to join us?"

  "Yes! The King, he's crazy. The things the Guard have been ordered to do... I been trying to get out, but they watch us close. The officers are all his. Loyal."

  The man was young and Dane could see he was nervous, or maybe scared. It made him feel old and tired, and he was only twenty-eight. Eight years of being a soldier (five of those in a hard-fought war) and three hiding out, sometimes made him weary. However, he refused to let it replace the hope from earlier.

  "Joining us wouldn't exactly be getting out. We plan to fight back, and it won't be an easy one."

  "I'm ready to help." The soldier took a deep breath, but then looked down and spoke softly. "My parents were from Paradise. They didn't make it out," he finished, practically breaking down.