by Rick Brown
"No, and it bothers me too," I replied. "If there were a prize for being offensive, Barad would have it, but Hannen seemed unfazed."
“Well, there’s nothing to do about it now,” Lenux replied. “Most the conversations I’ve heard are pro-Alsselya, but there always seems to be one or two dissenters.”
“Those are Hannen’s men. They are trying to sew seeds of doubt.” I answered.
"Well, the good news is the majority seem just to ignore them. So far I think our side is having a good night."
“The night is still young,” Barad stated pessimistically.
I turned and saw Master Phelps and Mistress Jacobs. Mistress Jacobs gave the 'meet’ signal to me and turned to an area with dining tables.
“The masters want us to meet them,” I told Barad and Lenux.
“Where?” Asked Barad as he looked around. He never would have made it as a sneak.
“Just follow my lead,” I said. I took a circuitous route over to the tables, sitting at one adjacent to the instructors. I sat so my back was to Mistress Jacobs.
The mistress was a pro, she started talking to Master Phelps, but loud enough that I could overhear. “We’ve been all over tonight. King Eberon is certainly the newest celebrity, but there are some in the crowd working against him.”
"We've observed the same," I spoke aloud while facing Barad. "In fact, we've just had a run-in with Lord Hannen himself."
“What exactly happened to low profile?” The mistress chastised.
"It was pure chance. We didn't see him in the crowd."
“We’ll discuss that tomorrow,” The mistress responded.
“Yes mistress,” I just sighed. You never outgrow your instructors. I thought to myself.
Chapter 30
(Lee)
After talking to King Kendrick, Ryan, Farloc, and I along with our guards rejoined the party. I was busy trying to find one of our sneak waiters. I desperately wanted a drink before more socializing. So preoccupied with my search, that I did not notice Lord Hannen had placed himself in my path, and I nearly bumped into him.
“King Eberon. So nice to run into you.” Hannen said with a sneer.
“And we very nearly did,” I said as I noticed him in front of me. The one person I wished to avoid tonight, and I nearly walk right into him, I thought to myself. “If you’ll excuse me,” I said as I started to pass by.
“Please, a moment of your time,” Hannen stated as he once again moved to block me. Whilhoit started forward, but I blocked him with my arm.
“And what would you like to do with that moment of my time?” I asked casually.
“Why, thank you for saving our king, of course. That was very heroic. I am sure there will be songs written about you and your magic.”
“I appreciate you caring for your king,” I lied.
“Speaking of magic, I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine, another magic user, so to speak.” I heard Farloc hiss as a gray-robed man stepped towards us. His hood pulled so far forward I could not see his face. “This is Priest Goedan, an emissary from Dommeran.”
My eyes looked back at Hannen. "I wasn't aware the king invited any Dommerians." This was not good. With a thought, I placed a shield over my party.
“No? Just an oversight, I am sure," Hannen said, not realizing my shield was up. "Surely the king would have invited our strongest allies. In fact, I have invited a number of them here tonight." He stated as he nodded his head to the servants' entrance. Instead of waiters in red livery, men in gray uniforms were pouring into the room.
Hannen looked at me, "I wonder, your majesty," He said with a snarl, "how will your little magic compares to the power of Gorath!"
With that, the priest stepped forward shooting a torrent of fire at us. My shield held as the heat leaked around the edges. I could hear the guests nearby screaming. As the flames stopped, before me stood Hannen and the priest, both looking shocked that we were not dead. Hannen recovered first and ran towards the exit. Before anyone else could move, Farloc leapt at the priest with two daggers drawn. He caught the robed man off guard and pinned him down with both blades through the chest.
All around us I could hear screaming as the Dommerian soldiers made their way through the crowd.
"Whilhoit, meet me at the king's dais!" I shouted. With that, I used my magic to lift me up over the crowd and towards the king. I landed quickly and put a shield over us just as two arrows hit it.
“What the hells is happening!” Kendrick shouted.
"It's Hannen. He has snuck Dommerian soldiers and at least one priest through the servants quarters," I yelled back. As I looked around, another flame impacted my shield. "Make that two priests," I corrected.
I could feel my shield weakening as arrows continued to impact it. "Your Highness, come stand behind me. This large shield is using up all my magic." He quickly moved behind me, and I was able to shrink my shield significantly. Below the dais, there was a one-sided battle taking place. Most of the lords were unarmed and were easily being slaughtered by the Dommerian soldiers. I spotted Bri, Barad, and Lenux fighting their way to the dais. "Bri!" I shouted. "Build a barricade with the tables and get as many people behind it as possible!" She nodded understanding and started pushing people to the tables and away from the Dommerians.
“Your Highness, we are going to join them at the tables to create some kind of a defense.”
The king nodded looking over the scene. “How do we get there?” he asked.
I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Like this." With that, I levitated us both past the crowd and over the barricade that was just being created. "Good Ayisha!" He prayed as we landed.
Party guests were still scrambling over the barricade. I used my magic to reinforce the defense, leaving just one opening that allowed people to still enter. I looked over the crowd and spotted Ryan, Farloc, and Whilhoit just entering. Bri, Lenux, and Barad were still adding tables and chairs to the barricade.
I ran over to Farloc. “Ambassador, are you ok?”
He nodded. “I killed a priest!” He said with pride. “There is great honor among my people for that.”
Ryan looked upset, “Have you seen my father?”
Glancing around, I realized I had not seen Lord Albright. "No, I haven't. Hopefully, he is ok."
I ran back to King Kendrick, who was peering through the barricade. “What do you see?”
“Death. A lot of death. I think they are scared of your magic. There is an argument on the other side of the room. Probably on how to safely attack. How long can you hold the barricade?”
“The tables help, I only have to reinforce, but I cannot hold this if they attack it in earnest. Is there a signal for the castle being under attack?”
“The tower bells,” he pointed to the ceiling, “but we can’t reach them from here.”
I looked at the ceiling, why not? I wondered. Reaching up with my magic, I tugged at the rafters, pulling a portion of the ceiling down. Rain and pieces of roof fell onto the Dommerians below. Through the hole, I could see the tower bells illuminated by lightning. Looking at them, they seemed so far away. Stretching my magic, I tried to push on the bells, released and pushed again. I kept trying until slowing the ringing sound could be heard over the storm.
The Dommerians realized what was happening too late. They stopped arguing and pointed up to the ceiling while yelling at their men to charge.
King Kendrick saw the danger. “Weapons to the front!” He ordered. Anyone carrying a weapon stepped up to the barricade ready meet the attack. The outside of our barricade looked like a porcupine with various swords and daggers protruding. Some held broken off table legs as a club. I saw flames appearing from the far end of the barricade. It must be where Master Phelps was defending.
"Here they come!" The king warned just before I felt the impact. The entire barricade pushed inward as the Dommerian soldiers slammed into it. I wiped away the sweat from my forehead as my magic held the barricade together. I could hear the
screams of the Dommerians as Vaelins stabbed at them through the gaps.
I felt relief as the soldiers retreated away from the barricade, but now I could feel my magic was almost completely depleted. “They are re-gathering,” said the king as he kept me informed of the situation. I could no longer stand and lay down across one of the tables. “Can you defend against another push?”
I shook my head, “Right now a fly could break down this defense.”
“Well, it’s more than a fly, here they come again,” warned the king. This time I felt my shield break as they struck again at the barricade. There was nothing left that I could do. I could hear the fighting as the few armed defenders protected those without. I didn’t even have the energy left to get off the table.
As I lay there, I heard a crash from somewhere else in the room. "It's Max!" Yelled the king. "And it looks like he brought the entire Fox guild with him!" A moment later and there was another crash from the other side. "Thank Ayisha! Colonel Smith is here." The fighting against our barricade quickly subsided as real soldiers attacked the Dommerians from behind. I could hear a battle on the other side of the barricade. The sizzle of the guilds magic user’s flames joined by the clash of sword hitting sword. It took only a matter of moments before the Dommerian soldiers were either captured or dead. The king announcing we were safe were the last words I heard before passing out.
I awoke laying across the same table. As I glanced around, I saw no living soul. Just the dead. As I looked up, Alynon appeared before me.
“Oh, I’m dreaming again,” I said as much to myself as I did to him.
"If you insist, we'll call it dreaming." He looked over the room and sighed. "Such destruction. Such a loss of life."
“I’m sorry. I tried to heed your warning, but I didn’t know what to expect.”
The god sighed. “It was my fault. Mine and those of my brothers. Our rule against communing with humans is jeopardizing us all.”
“An antiquated rule, I think,” I heard in a woman’s voice behind me. I turned to see the most stunning woman, her blond hair falling over a pale dress. Her beauty could not even be flawed by the tears that flowed unchecked down her cheeks.
“Lee, allow me to introduce my sister, the Goddess Ayisha.” I immediately slid from the table and bowed before her.
“You may rise,” She stated in a melodic voice. “You’ve already done so much for my people. Gorath would have succeeded tonight if he had not underestimated the magic of the Eberon’s.” She smiled through her tears and brushed her hand across my cheek. I felt a healing warmth pass through my body.
She turned and started walking amongst her dead people. It reminded of how I first met Alynon.
I followed her and realized she was kneeling next to Lord Albright. His perfect uniform smeared in blood.
“Oh no,” I said to myself covering my face in denial.
“He was one of my best,” the goddess mourned.
“He truly was,” I agreed. Poor Ryan, I thought.
"Tell your friend not to fret. I will be taking good care of his father's soul," The goddess stated as if reading my mind.
I looked around and saw other unlucky lords who died in the fight. Some of whom I had spoken with mere minutes before.
“Will Vaelin be ok?” I asked. So many of their leaders lay dead on the floor.
“We will survive,” The goddess stated as she stood. “Many may not remember, but we have had tragedies like this in our past. Most of the dead already have offspring, trained since the day they were born to take their place. Offspring that now have a hatred of Dommeran in their hearts. My brother Gorath does not know what he hath wrought.”
Alynon stepped forward, "I will avenge them, sister."
“You! I have a part in this too!” Ayisha snapped. “I will bestow my blessing on King Eberon as well!”
"But I have always held his people!" Alynon frowned.
“And that will not change, brother,” Ayisha said with a smile. “But, his people are no normal humans. I will not try to pull him from you or keep him from his rightful place in Alsselya, but as the centerpiece of this vengeance, I will bond him!”
Alynon looked for a moment like he might argue, but nodded. Ayisha walked over to me and placed her palm on my head. “King Eberon, I offer you my blessing and protection.” I felt warmth running through my veins as calm overtook me.
Ayisha looked worried. “He is unwell.”
Alynon looked at me. “You haven’t spent enough time building your reserves. More magic, less sword,” the god chastised.
“So what shall I do now?” I asked of the gods. After all, I might as well get what guidance I can while I had two gods at my disposal.
“To Tiber,” Ayisha said.
“Before that,” Alynon corrected. “He must go to the elves and the dwarves.”
“Ugh, Ayisha groaned. “You and your elves. There aren’t enough of them left to impact the war.”
"They hold the stone. The one human's call ‘Alynon's tear.'" He said to his sister.
“Is that where it went?” She asked thoughtfully. “And I suppose the dwarves have the sword?”
“You didn’t think I would leave them together so Gorath could find them?” Alynon snorted. My own people had no safe place to keep them, so I gave it to our allies for safekeeping. Separated and useless.”
“You could have given them to me.”
“It would not be you sister that I would worry about, but the humans. All cannot be trusted.” He stated as waiving his arm across the room for emphasis.
She sighed. “I guess I can no longer argue with you about that. What about funds?”
“Well, there is a problem there.” Did Alynon look embarrassed? “I entrusted it with another non-human, but that one may be more of a challenge to recover.”
At first, Ayisha looked as confused as I felt. Then she figured it out. " YOU DIDN'T!"
“It was the only one that could get to the gold and remove it before Gorath’s army recovered it!”
“But it will never give that back!” She exclaimed.
"Lee is resourceful, and if he can get the sword and tear back, it shouldn't be a problem, well not an insurmountable one," Alynon said while averting his eyes.
“I’m afraid I don’t follow,” I stated confusedly. Where was the gold?
“My all-knowing brother had it rescued by a dragon!” Ayisha sniped.
My head started to ache. That’s the first for a dream. “A dragon? It…it will take an army!?” I stuttered.
“At the minimum.” Ayisha agreed.
“Yes, but if he can best it, there’s more gold there than Alsselya had even before the war!”
“If brother... if.” Ayisha pointed out. “No human has ever bested a dragon.”
"Well, Lee hasn't tried yet, has he?" Alynon argued with much more faith in me than I had.
"A dragon," I mumbled to myself. My headache increasing.
“Ayisha looked at me concerned. “Brother, I think Lee has been here too long. He was already so weak when he arrived.”
"Indeed," Alynon said while looking at me. "His body has already been taken to his bed, but while here he cannot heal."
"Return to your body, our guardian, Alynon and I shall bless your healing. When you are ready, we shall meet again." she reached out and touched my forehead. I quickly felt myself falling, and was absorbed into darkness.
Chapter 31
(Lee)
This time my dreams were more subdued. Probably thanks for Ayisha’s blessing. Breaking my own record, I woke for the first time in just three days. Once again I could feel a cloth tied over my eyes.
“Is he stirring?” I heard Lenux ask.
“I think so,” This time it was father Yagen. “Lee? Can you hear us? I’m going to put a wet cloth in your mouth. Try to drink some of the water.”
I could feel the cool wetness on my parched tongue. Oh, the bliss.
“He’s doing it!” I heard Lenux. “Should
I send a message to the Kendrick?”
“Just send it saying there is improvement, but that he is not awake. We can buy our king a little more time before he has company," Yagen responded. Bless him. Yagen rewet the cloth two more times before I fell asleep.
This time when I woke I felt much better. Reaching up, I tried to grab the cloth.
“Hold it!” I heard Father Pild as he grabbed my hand. “Let me close the shades before you blind yourself.” After a moment he returned and removed the towel. I blinked a few times as the room came into focus.
I was indeed in my bed, for a moment I had expected to be back in the monastery like the first time I used my magic to heal Brianna. Ahh... this bed was much better. Then I remembered the horrors of the ball.
“How many died?” I asked.
“For Alsselya? Just one. Poor Kyle who was the guard assisting Whilhoit with your protection.”
I felt terrible that I had not asked his name that night. There was just too much going on. "And for Vaelin?"
Father Pild sighed. “Too many. They will be years in recovery.”
Arthur stepped through the door from my office “I thought I heard your voice, how do you feel, your majesty?”
“Not very majestic really,” I replied with a slight smile.
“Heroes rarely do,” Arthur laughed. “But last week you almost single-handedly saved most of the nobility of Vaelin. Like it or not, you will go down in stories as the great savior of Vaelin!”
“Last week? How long have I been down this time?”
“About eight days this time.” Father Pild responded with a smile.
“Hells, I thought I was healing faster this time.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, your sleep was much more peaceful this time.” I gave a quick prayer of thanks to Ayesha for that. I felt a warmth through the coin as a response. I guess it wasn’t just Alynon who could do that.
I had a sobering thought, "How is Ryan taking his father's death?"
“As well as can be expected. We had intended to keep that from you till you were better,” Father Pild said with his eyes narrowing. “Maybe we aren’t the first one you’ve spoken to since the attack?” Pild new of my previous meetings with Alynon and seemed to be figuring it out. "Ryan is spending a few days with his family. Arthur offered him a chance to leave, but Ryan refused. His brother is taking his father's place as the family had planned."