Chapter 23
The next day was bright, with the sun shining and the sky clear, but it was bitterly cold. Zollin was surprised that it felt so cold as far south as the Walheta Mountains, but it had been a rough winter. The only positive effect was that the cold stopped the gargoyles, a fact which wasn’t lost on Zollin. He had tossed and turned on the soft bed of the inn. His room was warm thanks to the little wood stove, clean, and quiet, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Brianna. Whenever he closed his eyes he saw her with an assassin’s dart in her back, her face unnaturally pale, her eyes open but so dull it seemed that they had a film over them.
At the first sounds of the staff stirring below in the predawn darkness, Zollin got out of bed and double checked his belongings. Then, with his cloak wrapped tight around his shoulders and a loaf of day-old bread from the kitchens, he set off to find Brianna.
The snow had fallen until just after dark, then the clouds had scattered and the cold had set in. Everything was frozen in town, but once he got away from the city, Zollin could see the tracks his boots had made the day before. The snow was frozen and crunched angrily under his boots, sounding more like glass shards than snow.
The sun had just come up when he reached the place where he’d said goodbye to Brianna and the dragons. He built a fire from frozen wood, but his magic was powerful enough to set the wet wood ablaze. He stood by the fire, warming his hands and stomping his cold feet as he waited. Nearly an hour passed and he was on the verge of setting out in search of Brianna when he saw a tiny dot in the sky.
The sight grew and took shape. Two massive dragons and Brianna covered in flame perched on Sorva’s back. Zollin felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He knelt down by the fire, his mind numb and his thoughts a disjointed mess, but his emotions were no longer raw and aching.
Ferno dove almost straight down, then flared its massive green wings to land with a thump that Zollin felt through his boots. Sorva glided in more gracefully, circling twice before landing silently several yards away.
“You’re okay,” Zollin said, as Brianna walked toward him.
“Fine, why wouldn’t we be?”
Ferno growled and Zollin got a mental image of a small group of horrible-looking creatures rushing from a mountain cave. For an instant he felt fear, like cold steel at his throat, and then the image vanished, along with the emotion.
“You had trouble?” Zollin asked.
“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Brianna replied.
Flames still covered her body, a dancing orange garment that was as deadly as it was beautiful. Only her face and hands were free of the flames, her hair waved from the heat and her eyes flashed in a way that Zollin recognized as excitement.
“Tell me,” he insisted.
“Shouldn’t we get moving?”
“No,” Zollin said. “We have some decisions to make and I want to hear what happened in the mountains.”
“Alright,” she said, giving in. “We ran into some creatures that didn’t want us around.”
“Creatures?” Zollin asked.
“Groslings,” Brianna went on. “Jute warned us they would be roaming through the mountains. We found a cave to shelter in for the night, but it was occupied. I didn’t know they were there.”
“They attacked you?”
“They did, but I’m fine. They were scared. They just wanted us out of the cave.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes, now stop worrying.”
“You’d be worried if you were me,” Zollin said. “I didn’t sleep a wink all night.”
“Why?”
“I was attacked by Mezzlyn assassins.”
Ferno growled and Zollin sent the dragon a mental image of the men who had attacked him. The huge beast howled, causing smoke to come billowing from his fang-filled maw and large nostrils.
“I’m fine,” Zollin said as Brianna’s eyes grew wide with fear. “Two are dead. I let the other live in exchange for information.”
“What kind of information?”
“I had to know how many were sent to kill me.”
“And?” she demanded.
“And the truth is we need to be on our guard. The entire guild was enlisted, and there’s a reward for my death.”
“Who could want that?”
“Branock,” Zollin said. “He’s the only one willing to pay trained killers to hunt me down. It must have cost a small fortune. The assassin I spared was named Quench. He said there were members of the Mezzlyn guild in all the coastal cities.”
“Well then it’s good we aren’t going to the coast,” Brianna said.
“Actually, there are also rumors that a sea monster is destroying the large port cities.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes, but I recognized the description of the creature they spoke of. I’m afraid there has to be some truth to them.”
“So we have gargoyles in the east and a sea monster in the west. What’s next, Skellmarian raiders from the highlands?”
“I don’t know,” Zollin said. “But we have to find out.”
“We also need to make sure the army is ready to attack the gargoyles in Baskla. You made a promise to Lorik.”
“I know that.”
“He isn’t the kind of person we can afford to have as an enemy right now.”
“Well, I can’t just ignore the threat to the west either.”
“It’s a trap!” Brianna said. “Think about it, Zollin. Mansel said that pirate woman who captured Danella controls a sea monster. And Branock left Tragoon Bay with her.”
Zollin nodded as Brianna continued to make her case.
“It makes sense that they want to draw you to them,” she argued. “They want to lure you to where the assassins are, or worse still, they have something else in store for you.”
“I know, but I can’t just ignore what’s happening along the coast. The rumors were horrible. Angel’s Shelter attacked, the ships and ports in Lorye, Winsome, and the Twin Cities were destroyed. If we can’t move goods up and down the coast, the entire kingdom will suffer.”
“So what do we do?”
“We have to find out if the stories are true, but we have to watch our backs.”
“I won’t let anyone near you,” she said defiantly.
“I know you wouldn’t, but we can’t avoid everyone. And the problem with the Mezzlyn is that you never know who they are until they attack.”
“So I’ll roast them alive when they do.”
“You could,” he said slowly, drawing Brianna close, “if they attacked openly. But remember what happened in Brighton’s Gate. I was hit with that poisoned dart before I even knew what was happening.”
“But you’re much stronger now,” Brianna said. “You can protect yourself.”
“Yes,” Zollin said. “I can, but I don’t want you anywhere near those cities.”
“You don’t want me with you?”
“I always want you with me, but I think it would be safer if I investigated things on my own first.”
“And who is going to help you if you get into trouble, Zollin? Don’t push me away. I’m not afraid. I can help you.”
“I agree, but the help I need is for you to go to Ebbson Keep and make sure all is ready there,” Zollin said. “You said yourself we have to attack Baskla like we said we would. The nobles will be arriving soon and we need to make sure all our forces are coordinated and ready for battle.”
“I don’t like it,” she said. “You’re taking on too much.”
“I’m just going to look into things.”
“Which is exactly what Branock expects you to do. You have to see that, Zollin. You can’t be predictable. There is too much at stake.”
“I know, and I swear I’ll be careful. I’ve given this a lot of thought. I can get a horse here and ride up the coast. The next major port is Bonom Bay. If Roleena and her creature are this far south, it’s probably where they’ll attack next.”
“Why not go with
Ferno?”
“Because I think that’s how the assassins knew I was in Selphon City. I didn’t give my name to anyone, but somehow they knew. If they are watching the skies outside of the cities, they’ll know when I’m close. Then all they have to do is look for a stranger that fits my description.”
“You take on too much risk. Let me fight this sea monster, surely it fears fire.”
“I won’t send you to fight my battles,” Zollin said.
“Think about it for a moment before you dismiss it,” she urged. “If the creature is controlled by some woman who wants you dead, let me deal with it. I won’t have any mercy on her.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t,” Zollin teased, but he couldn’t keep the smile from his face.
He admitted to himself that he liked Brianna being a little jealous. After the turmoil of her leaving, it felt good to know that she would fight for him. Still, the thought of her going into harm’s way without him was terrifying. He couldn’t let her get hurt, not after he had so recently gotten her back in his life.
“We’ll both go,” Zollin said, “but not together.”
He pulled a piece of parchment from his pack. He had ink as well, but no quills. He let his magic flow into the ink, syphoning just a tiny amount which he applied to the parchment in the form of words.
To the commanders at Ebbson Keep and Mansel of Tranaugh Shire,
Our task is to fight the forces of Baskla in four days. As we invade from the east, forces from Ortis will attack from the south. I will do my best to join you, but we must not miss the timeline, we must not let our ally go into battle alone.
It was a simple message, one Zollin hoped would ensure that Yelsia kept up its end of the bargain he had made with Lorik. Flying on the dragons Zollin had no doubt they could reach Ebbson Keep before the battle began, but he had no idea how long it would take to find and defeat the sea monster ravaging the coast. Mentally he felt pulled in both directions, but he knew he couldn’t be in both places at once.
He removed a candle and Brianna melted the wax with a flame from her finger. The golden wax dripped onto the parchment. Once enough wax had built up, Zollin pressed the king’s seal into the rapidly cooling liquid.
“That should be enough,” Zollin said. “But we have to get it to Ebbson Keep.”
“Sorva can take it, she’s the fastest of us all.”
“The soldiers won’t accept it from a dragon. They’re apt to attack Sorva on sight.”
“Fine, I’ll go, but we’ll come right back.”
“Take Ferno with you. I’ll buy a horse and ride up the coast.”
They split the rations and Zollin slung the pack over his shoulder as he watched Brianna leave. He knew they were doing the right thing, and he didn’t want her in danger, but he hated seeing her leave him.
Trudging back through the snow wasn’t fun either, and by the time he returned to Selphon City he was so cold that his feet were aching and tiny icicles had formed under his nose. There was a large livery stable on the north side of town. Zollin went straight to the large barn and banged on the wooden door. After a short wait it opened slightly. A short man peered out at Zollin, glanced to either side of him, then opened the door a little more.
“Hurry, don’t let that cold in,” the man warned.
Zollin slipped into the barn and the owner closed the door behind him. Zollin felt warm air and was hit with the odors of animals in an enclosed space. The owner hadn’t mucked out the stalls in some time, not that he could blame the man. The winter storm had most everyone lying low and waiting for warmer days.
“I need a horse,” Zollin said.
“In this weather?”
“It can’t wait.”
“It rarely can,” the man said, squinting in the dark building.
With the windows shuttered the livery was in a deep gloom. Zollin could make out the shadowy stalls and even an animal or two, but the man before him was nothing but a dark blob. Fortunately it was warmer inside than outside and he could feel the straw beneath his boots.
“I don’t have many horses that will abide this cold. We don’t usually have weather this severe.”
“I understand that, but surely you have something,” Zollin argued.
“I have a horse, but he’s not fast. Not that you’d want to go fast in these conditions. A horse can slip just as easily as a man on this icy snow. One false step and your mount would come up lame.”
“I’m aware of the conditions,” Zollin said. “Get the horse ready. I need a saddle, blankets, tack, and plenty of oats.”
“I can supply all that, but it won’t come cheap.”
“Five gold crowns should cover it,” Zollin said.
“Six!” the man countered.
Zollin knew that five gold coins was enough for any horse and tack, but he didn’t argue. He fished the coins from his purse and handed them to the man.
“Don’t dawdle,” Zollin warned.
“No sir, I’ll have Zane ready in no time.”
It actually took more than half an hour, but the horse was covered with a thick, quilted blanket, saddled, and all the muck cleaned from its hooves. It was shorter than Zollin expected, but thick and sturdy.
“I’ve had this horse a long time,” the man said. “I call him Zane.”
“Thank you,” Zollin said.
“If you get back this way I’ll take him off your hands. We’re old friends.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Zollin climbed into the saddle, doing his best to ignore the wind as it blew dry snow across his face in a stinging blast. The horse dropped its head and blew a cloud of hot air out of its mouth, making the thick lips flap.
“I feel the same way,” Zollin said, patting the horse’s neck. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll get to Bonom Bay.”
The horse nodded as if it understood what the young wizard was saying, and started walking through the icy snow. Zollin could feel the livery man watching him and he pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders, raising the hood and pulling his hands up into the wide sleeves. It was going to be a cold, miserable ride, but he knew there was no other choice. Once again danger was coming for him, and he was riding to meet it.
Chapter 24
The next day Mansel and Danella set off at dawn, riding hard and enjoying a slight lift in the temperatures. The sunlight was weak and didn’t provide much heat, but Mansel knew it was better than snow and frigid wind. They rode all through the day, only walking their horses as night began to fall. An hour after dark they spotted the large army camp and looming over it was the watch tower at Ebbson Keep.
Mansel felt a sense of relief. They weren’t challenged as they entered the camp, which had no sentries posted. There were dozens of fires, with soldiers gathered close to the warm flames, eating from small bowls or sharpening weapons. Mansel found an officer and was pointed to the command post, a large tent near the center of the camp. There were guards outside the command tent, but Mansel and Danella were admitted. They found the commanders lounging near braziers and sipping wine as they told bawdy stories.
“Who are you?” asked one of the men.
“I’m Mansel, from Orrock, with messages from King Zollin.”
“King Zollin,” the soldier said, raising his eyebrows. “The last orders I got were to kill him at all costs.”
Mansel wasn’t sure what to say. He must have looked surprised because the officers all began to laugh. Mansel shook off his dismay, waiting for the laughter to die down.
“So the wizard is king now?” asked one of the commanders, a tall man with short, gray hair. “I suppose he wants us to march back to Orrock?”
“On the contrary,” Mansel said. “We are to await him here, but prepare to attack Baskla.”
“That’s a fool’s mission,” said the gray-haired man. “We lost over a hundred soldiers to the monsters over there. Why on earth would we ever go back?”
“We have to defeat them or they’ll invade,
” Mansel said. “The nobles from Orrock are coming with their war bands. We’ll have fully armed knights on heavy horse. And then of course Zollin and the dragons.”
“If you’re from the king,” said a shorter man with a deeply lined face, “where is your proof?”
“Yes,” said the high commander, a striking man not much older than Mansel. “You have dispatches, I’m sure.”
“I had dispatches,” Mansel said. “They were stolen from me.”
“Good thing you’re not a soldier,” said the short officer. “Losing dispatches is a criminal offense. You could be court marshaled and hanged for dereliction of duty.”
“We aren’t going anywhere,” said the high commander. “But I’m not sending my men into harm’s way unless it is by order of the king. And as much as I respect the wizard for his help against the monsters over there, I’ll need proof that he’s actually the king.”
The others made similar remarks and Mansel felt his hope dwindling. If he had the dispatches he would have the support of the King’s Army, but without them he was on his own. Mansel reassured the officers that Zollin would return. He didn’t tell them that the young wizard was in Ortis recruiting Lorik to their cause. That fact might influence the nobles, but it would have no sway on the officers, so he promised to return the next day and set out for Ebbson Keep.
The village was nearly a mile from the sprawling military camp and the night was bitterly cold. Mansel felt sorry for the soldiers, huddled near the fires. Their tents would offer little protection from the elements and he doubted that most of the soldiers had even a blanket to keep them warm. They would stay by the fires, too cold to do anything else. He didn’t understand why they hadn’t taken refuge in the village. Mansel had expected to find the military commanders in the keep, but instead they were out in the snow, forced to brave the elements. It made Mansel wonder just how prepared the King’s Army would be if they were forced to fight.
“There doesn’t seem to be much life around here,” Danella said, as they walked down the muddy street that was frozen hard under their boots. “It’s almost like they’re afraid of something.”
“Zollin said they fought terrible monsters before he showed up in Orrock. I can’t say I blame them for staying indoors and keeping to themselves.”
Controlling Chaos (The Five Kingdoms Book 12) Page 16