“There are Dark Riders all over. They seem to be retreating. I tracked them for a little bit, but without Fleet of Foot. . .”
Nic waited for him to finish, but when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to he asked, “Where’s Fleet of Foot?”
Rock looked at the boy with deep sadness in his eyes. “Fleet of Foot is resting as best we could arrange him in this chaos. A Rider struck him with a curse, though with the sun out the Void power couldn’t do much.” Rock paused then said solemnly, “First Thunder’s dead body lies beside him.”
Yero remained quiet, looking at the ground. He had been with the Beagle and Rock when they found the two Coterie. It took Silas a moment to process Rock’s words; then he spoke out in shock, “First Thunder is dead?!”
Rock nodded and said no more. Everyone fell for a moment into their individual grief. Rock, however, knew there would be time for this later and spoke up, asking about the other children. Yero told them about the bolt hole.
“Makes sense,” Rock said after the explanation. “A natural formation like this so near the castle probably has dozens of such tunnels and caves.”
“It does,” acknowledged Yero. “My troops and I have cleaned it out twice. Once quite recently, so there should be no goblins or other creatures loyal to the Liar or the Void lurking below.”
Yero went over to Maraud’s body and cleaned his blade, then sheathed it. he looked over to Rock and asked, “Can you carry this thing so we can get it back to the castle and burn it properly with the others?”
Rock nodded. Yero turned to the boys. “We should head back. The angel will lead your siblings out of the tunnels and to your father. We shouldn’t tarry any longer, or they’ll worry about us.”
As they headed out, Silas took up the rear. When no one was looking he tossed his regular sword down the bolt hole before joining the group.
Chapter 31
The guard who had left the council tent to get help returned with a healer. David thanked the man. The healer surveyed the wounded, then saw to the guard’s injury first. She then checked on Mel, and lastly moved to the king’s side. As she was checking his vitals she looked up at David. With a little disdain the young elven healer asked, “What happened here?”
David answered matter of factly, “I hit the king after he shot my son with an electric mace.”
The woman nodded before she turned back to the king, “Both are merely unconscious. There must not have been much charge in the mace, just enough to knock him out. Depending on how long ago it happened, he may be out for a little while longer.”
“There probably wasn’t enough charge left because he used it to kill one of the councilors.” When David finished he pointed out the dead body of the councilor, which had been moved to a corner of the tent and covered. The healer didn’t bother looking over. She continued to look over the king.
“How is Lord Avrant?” This question came from the guard who had confronted David earlier.
The healer looked over briefly to the man then back down to the king. “Lord Avrant is in a similar state. I could tell more if I could get him back to the castle infirmary.”
David shook his head, “No, we stay here.” He and the healer locked eyes. “Perhaps there is something you carry that you may try first.”
The healer nodded and pulled a pouch from out of her robes. “I have smelling salts. They may jolt them back into wakefulness.”
David inclined his head, “Start with my son. Avrant is more palatable in his current state.”
David’s comment drew some chuckles, though there were quite a few shocked intakes of breath. The healer just looked a little more uncomfortable, but did as David ordered. Mel began to stir seconds after the healer broke a small crystal under his nose. David knelt down and helped his son sit up. The healer moved over to the king and took out another crystal.
“How are you, son?” David asked the blinking Mel.
“Sore,” he responded in a week tone. “Ouch.”
David let a small grin appear on his visage and patted Mel on the back. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Avrant standing with the assistance of the healer. It took David a moment to realize what was happening. When he did register what was going on he started to stand. There was a blade in the king’s hand and he was holding fairly steady, pointing it at David.
“Don’t move,” the guard still loyal to the king moved over to Avrant as he spoke. His blade was now drawn and also pointed at David.
“No,” this shout came from the wounded guard who scooped up his long forgotten weapon. He stood next to David. “They are part of the Word’s will, not Avrant.”
All of the guards began taking sides. Swords were drawn. Within a few minutes the tent was divided evenly. Avrant was smiling smugly, confident in the mass of supporters.
“I wonder,” the royal elf began, “how things are going outside this tent. Perhaps since my work is done here I’ll go see to the status of the outside world. You feel free to unite the former council members at your leisure, though I will let you know they will be of little use to you even should they choose to die with you. I’m sure more than one of them played a part in Brother Brogene’s death and would be more than willing to take part in yours as well. However, since they are still tied up I suppose you’ve already had that thought.”
Avrant stepped backwards, and the guards around him began folding in ranks to cover their king.
“Avrant,” David shouted and took a step forward. The king’s guards stepped forward in response. Avrant smiled and laughed as he disappeared behind his guards. Mel stepped up beside his father, sword at the ready.
“Dad,” he said in a hushed tone, “I think we have to let him go. We have to get back to Way House. We have to find out about our family.”
David looked over at his eldest son. Who he saw was not just a boy he’d raised for nearly seventeen years; he saw a man coming into his own, one with a better head on his shoulders right now than his father’s. David nodded and lowered his sword.
A commotion at the back of the fleeing king’s group caught David’s and Mel’s attention. The guard loyal to Avrant began turning their heads. They all suddenly stumbled toward David’s group. David motioned for his men to stand ready, though give a little bit of way.
Shouts came from the king’s guard as did sounds of sword on sword combat. Then came a roar that would have startled a bear. A large staff rose high into the air and then fell, cleaving through the group and knocking aside the right half of the king’s guard. Those still standing tried to back up, but the staff was swinging again. Nearly all the rest of the guards fell. Those that didn’t were met with slight pokes of swords from behind. Too late they remembered David’s troops. David smiled as he saw the form of Rock stride forward. Without being told, Avrant’s guards began to drop their weapons and raise their hands in surrender.
As David’s guards took the others in hand, the group dispersed enough for David to see Rock, Yero, and several of his children. Rock made a path and the Beagle walked up to David with the man’s littlest children trailing behind. David sheathed the Sword of Truth and knelt to embrace his dirt-covered darlings. After allowing them a moment of reunion, the Beagle softly spoke up.
“David, Way House has been burnt to the ground. We all got out; however, First Thunder has crossed the mortal threshold.”
David, still holding several of the girls in his arms, looked over to the Beagle. The angel continued, “Fleet of Foot has been wounded, though he will recover.”
Yero stepped up and David shifted his gaze upward to the man. The captain bowed slightly before he spoke, “General Kolk leads an offensive against the council’s troops. When I left, the council forces were rallying around Illdwar the Misfit.”
David broke his embrace and stood, shock easily read on his face. “Illdwar? What is Illdwar doing with the council forces?”
Yero shook his head. “After the Season of a Thousand Crossings, he and his band had taken up wor
king with the avian and their patrolling of the Crossroads. They’ve also helped the Eighth Kingdom with our primary mission. However, when the avian stopped patrolling nearly a decade ago, the Misfits have been the only uniform defense force other than the royal guards of the other kingdoms. Illdwar’s band has done their best, though many Misfits have been lost. Few still remain. Perhaps sensing a need here, Illdwar joined one of the councilor’s groups or wandered in with the sell swords.”
David rubbed his chin as he processed all this. Finally, he said, “I’m sure if we could speak with him, Illdwar would prove an ally. I’ve never met him, but I have fought alongside plenty of Misfits.”
Yero was shaking his head. “With him fighting against General Kolk, nobody with a royal sigil is going to get close to him.”
David suddenly started to look around. Then, not seeing who he was looking for he asked, “Did you not apprehend Avrant?”
The Beagle replied, “He fled just as we arrived. We were going to pursue him; however, the guards nearest pushed at us. We pushed back, feeling it better to get in and check on you four.”
David sighed heavily. “That man is going to be a problem. . .” He trailed off and looked down at the Beagle. “Four? Only Mel and I are here. Deborah and Hogan ran out when Avrant first attacked. I figured they were with you.”
The Beagle shook its head the looked up to Yero. Yero likewise shook his head. Rock stepped forward and spoke. “We’ve not seen any sign of them. If we missed each other and they showed up to Way House, they would have come back here.”
“Yes,” Yero affirmed, “Hogan would know to return here and assist you.”
David clenched his fist and stared daggers at the exit Avrant had used to flee. “I’m going to find her.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Mel, who had been listening in. Nic stepped forward, too. Silas was right behind him.
“No,” David said forcefully. Then only slightly softer he continued, “No, you stay with your brothers and sisters. The council tent is our only rallying point now. Beagle, you stay with them.”
Before David could go on Yero spoke out. “I’ll go with you. I’m a fair tracker and know Hogan’s scent well. You and I can move fast together. The others can secure the tent.” Yero looked around as he spoke the last part and nodded, noting the various guards on their side.
David sighed once more. “Very well then, let’s stop wasting time and get after them then.”
Yero turned, nostrils flaring, and walked out the very side of the tent Hogan had fled through some time ago.
Chapter 32
Deborah was the first to wake up. She tried to move and quickly realized she was tied to a thick beam. She was on her knees, her ankles bound to either side of the beam. Her arms were pulled behind her and her hands were wrapped tightly with thick cord. There was a heavy pressure on them and a hard knot pressing on the center of her back. She tried to crane her neck around, but could not get a view of what was behind her. Finally, she leaned forward to take the pressure from the mass pushing on her back.
She began to look around again, trying to further assess her situation. She could see little in the dim light. What she could make out was a small single bed near where she was and the outline of a table on the far side of the room. She strained her eyes and was able to see the source of light. There was a window mostly covered by a thick piece of cloth. There were small holes here and there throughout it, letting in the light.
She took a deep breath and realized how stuffy the air was. It reminded her of an attic during the summertime. The sudden thought about the long crawl space, the musty smell and all the various boxes hidden up there brought a pang of homesickness. Her mind drifted from the room and she wondered what was happening back on Earth with their now abandoned house. She felt sad, thinking about the house being empty and never seeing it again.
Deborah was brought back to reality as her hands began to ache from the strain she was putting on them to lean forward. She slowly leaned back against the beam, trying to arch her back so as not to press against the knot. However, her muscles were weak and sore and soon she was leaning on the knot, the mass pressing into her spine.
Time trickled past. The light poking through the moth-eaten curtain changed marking the sun’s progress. Deborah did her best to shift her position several times, yet no position was tolerable for long. She was now hurting all over. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she fought to clear them away.
“God,” she whispered. Her voice sounded small to her and cracked with pain and unshed tears. “God, please help me.”
The knot behind her shifted slightly, moving off of her spine and into her back right ribs. She then heard a groggy hollow voice.
“Who’s. . . who’s there.”
The voice came from behind her on the other side of the post. Before she could respond it spoke again. “I heard you. Don’t pretend you’re not there.”
The voice was getting stronger, and the knot in her back kept shifting. Then her brain registered the familiarity of the voice even as he spoke up again. “What have you done with Deborah?”
“Hogan,” she breathed, desperation and joy mixing into her voice. “Hogan, is that you?”
“Deborah!” Hogan exclaimed, though he still kept his voice low. “Thank God; where are you?”
“Hogan, please help, I’m tied to a post or something. Where are you? Can you help? Hogan?”
She couldn’t stop saying his name. She desperately needed him to be real. Then he spoke again. “Deborah, I’m right here. Wait.”
Just then the knot at her back pushed out and the pressure on her hands increased. Both simultaneously said, “ouch.” Then they both let out a brief, bitter laugh as they realized they were both tied up to the opposite ends of the same beam.
After a moments silence passed, Deborah spoke up once more. “Hogan, do you know where we are?”
“My dear,” said a deep ominous voice seeming from in front and off to the side of her. “You are in one of my lairs.”
Deborah looked alarmedly in the direction she thought the voice had come from. Nothing was there. Then she blinked, and a stout little man was squatting there. She blinked again and the man was right in front of her. She yelped in surprise and no small amount of fear. She tried to back away from the figure and was rewarded with pain from the press of Hogan’s hands and the unyielding wooden beam.
“Deborah,” Hogan called out in desperation. “Deborah, what is going on?!”
The squat man stood, not gaining much height. A grin spread across his face.
Deborah, not taking her eyes off of him answered, “There is a...”
“Demon,” came a warm whisper in her head. She stared at the short man and two things happened. First, she realized that the thing in front of her was not really a man, it was in fact a demon. Secondly, Deborah knew for certain the voice she had just heard didn’t come from the creature before her.
Deborah took a deep breath hoping to calm her rapidly beating heart. She began answering Hogan once more. “There is. . . some. . . thing here with us.”
The demon smiled broadly at Deborah’s stress of the word ‘thing’. When the demon spoke it next it didn’t move its lips. “You are such a clever girl aren’t you. So, insightful.” The words started just outside her head, then oozed into her ear and rubbed against her brain.
Deborah shivered as the words swam up her ear canals and seemed to coat the inside of her skull. Then a small spark of light flashed behind her eye and the warm voice sang out, chasing away some of the demon’s words. “Call on the One.”
“God,” she whispered the word as a question out loud. The demon in front of her sneered as a warmth drove more of the demon's words out of her head.
“No, I really don’t think calling on Him will do much good. You see, to truly have power here, you need a name.”
Since the demon spoke aloud, its words didn’t have the same sickening effect as before. As Deborah was processing thi
s thought the demon continued.
“You know how I am delighted with the opportunity that you presented me by coming here first on your way to the Central Kingdom. There are so many new delicious possibilities open to me now.”
The demon had begun to wander around the room. It walked over to the covered window and appeared to be looking out through the frayed holes in the curtain. Without warning it pulled the cloth away, flooding the room with light. Deborah, who had been looking right at the window, was forced to close her eyes in order to shield them from the sudden glare.
“I must admit,” the demon rambled on, “I was upset when I first heard of your coming. I have laid such plans upon this kingdom. I thought your coming would ruin them. The righteous are in hiding, praying for intervention, or complaining about the state of things. The simple are reveling in the sins my compatriots are plying amongst them. My hand and my voice are upon so many here. I am the true ruler of this kingdom, not some elf.
“This is all I thought you would mess up. Alas, no. While you may have accelerated some plans and destroyed others, you have provided me with so many new options. Then, of course, you fell for the fool behind you.”
The demon turned from the window and began to chuckle. Slowly it walked around to the side of the pillar where Hogan was tied up. She felt him tense. Deborah closed her eyes and could almost picture the man-like demon hunched in front of Hogan. When the demon spoke again it was still addressing Deborah alone.
“My dear, there are so many possibilities opening up and depending on the outcome of this day, so much more to do.”
When Deborah opened her eyes the demon was in front of her once more. “I knew your namesake,” it said. “She tried to destroy many of my plans. I actually had to hide from her.”
“It has a name. Names have power.”
“Who,” Deborah began to ask, but stopped herself remembering the voice was in her head. She thought her question instead, “who are you?”
The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1) Page 25