The Line of Illeniel

by Michael G. Manning

  “What?” I asked. I hadn’t been paying attention.

  He sighed dramatically, “I was asking if you’re looking forward to getting back home.”

  “Not particularly,” I replied. The thought of home just reminded me that I had broken things off with Penny. My bed would seem extremely empty after more than a year of sharing it with her.

  “So what are you brooding about?” he inquired.

  The question irritated me. He knew bloody well why I was out of sorts. He would also know that a public conversation was unlikely to improve things. “I was considering various methods for killing people. If war is coming to our lands I’ll need plenty of fresh ideas. I’m certain I can’t use stones to kill them all one by one, so I was thinking of ways to kill men in large groups.”

  “That’s a really damned morbid way to spend your morning,” he commented sarcastically.

  “I prefer to think of it as pragmatic.”

  “It would be more practical if you spent your time trying to figure out how to make up to Penny,” he shot back.

  I noticed the others were watching us. The last thing I wanted was to discuss my situation with Penny in front of them. “Go on ahead,” I waved at them. “I need to iron some things out with my friend here.”

  “Sure,” Cyhan said. Penny pretended she hadn’t heard any of it. The two of them kept riding while I stopped my horse and faced Marc.

  “You presume that I want to make up with Penny,” I told him once they were out of earshot.

  He stared at me carefully, “Don’t give me that bullshit Mordecai. I’m the king of bullshit and I’ve known you far too long.”

  “Is your goddess worried that if I don’t make up with Penny it will spoil her plans?” It was nonsense but I wanted to throw him off balance.

  “The man I grew up with would never have acted like you did yesterday, not without a reason. Whatever you’re planning you need to talk to someone. How else will you know whether you’re being reasonable or deluding yourself?” he said, ignoring my insult.

  “Why should I trust a god-ridden cast off?”

  “Because I’m your goddamned friend!”

  Something gave way inside me, “Alright, if you want my thoughts you’ll have to promise this stays between us.”

  “That’s the first real insult you’ve given me today,” he answered coolly. There had never been any reservations between us before, nor had he ever betrayed my confidence.

  “I’m going to die soon Marc. Penny had a vision not long ago.”

  “What? Are you sure?”

  “She’s certain, and I believe her... that’s part of the reason I didn’t want to accept her as my pact-bearer.”

  Comprehension dawned visibly on his face. He chewed the thoughts over for a few moments before speaking again. It didn’t take him long though, he was a quick thinker. “So you think being a jackass will convince her to agree to end the bond?”

  “I don’t know. Either that or I’ll figure a way to undo it myself. In any case when I’m gone it will be easier for her if she’s not head over heels in love with me. It will be easier for me too,” I finished.

  “No it won’t. I swear, sometimes you’re the biggest idiot I’ve ever met,” he replied ruefully.

  “Sometime in the next six months I have to kill an army’s worth of people. There’s no way we’re going to get enough men and supplies in half a year to stop an entire nation. What do you think that’s going to do to me Marc? I should be glad I’m dying. Do you think anyone can do that and just go back to living a normal life?” I asked.

  “That’s precisely why you need her. You are going to need your friends and family. You’re going to need her support. If you cut yourself off from everyone you will turn into a monster,” he said emphatically.

  “It doesn’t matter! I’ll be dead! What part of that are you not getting?” I shouted back at him.

  “You don’t look dead to me. I don’t know what’s going to happen in six months. Maybe you will die, maybe you won’t. Recently I’ve come to believe in miracles, if you hadn’t noticed. But the most important thing, whether you accept that or not, is that if you cut yourself off from everyone you love, you might as well be dead already. Why rush things? Live! Make the most of the time you have!”

  “She’s more important than that,” I said simply.

  “Is that what it all boils down to? Her? Then you’re doubly a fool! This isn’t the way to get her to agree to break the bond.”

  “Fine! You’re such a damn genius when it comes to women, why don’t you tell me how to get her to agree to it!?” I snapped.

  Marc gave me a dark smile, “Think Mort, remember the past.”

  “Huh?”

  He leaned in closer, till our faces were barely a foot apart and explained, in detail, exactly how to get her to agree. The audacity of his idea shocked me.

  “There’s no way I can be sure that will happen!” I exclaimed.

  “You don’t have to be sure. Just lie; you’re the powerful wizard after all. No one has a clue what you can and can’t do... or know,” he gave me another of his most dazzling smiles.

  “Lie to her?” I had never considered such a thing. “It doesn’t seem right.”

  “You’ll be doing it to save her life remember?”

  “That’s the same reasoning she gave for lying to me. How is this different?” I asked.

  “It isn’t. Perhaps that will make it easier for you to forgive and forget in the meantime.” He leaned back in his saddle stretching as he looked to see how far down the road our companions were. “Just remember one thing Mort.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You have always been my best friend. I think of you as a brother. Hell, I’m closer to you than I am to my brother. I’m on your side so don’t shut me out again. If there is anything I can do to change the outcome I will, and I’ve got a pretty strong ally now. Don’t give up hope while you still have life in you,” he got down off his horse and walked over to mine.

  I dismounted and gave him the hug I should have given him when I first saw him in the capital. Whatever else he was now, he was still my friend. We remounted and rode after Cyhan and Penny, urging our horses to a faster pace so we could catch up.

  Neither Cyhan nor Penny asked us what we had talked about, and I didn’t volunteer any information. We rode the rest of the day listening to Marc’s stories about his adventures among the ladies of Albamarl. For a holy man he certainly had some wicked tales. Penny and I both laughed at a few of them, though we still weren’t talking. My heart was a bit lighter now that I had some hope, at least hope for her.

  Chapter 18

  The rest of our trip passed uneventfully and two days later we rode into Washbrook. I was surprised when we found two men at the outer gate. They seemed to be taking their job seriously as we approached.

  “Ho the gate!” I called.

  “Ho yerself! Who goes there?” One of the two men responded. I recognized him immediately, it was Cecil Draper.

  “If you don’t remember me after a few short weeks I’ll have to question the wisdom of putting you on gate duty!” I responded amiably.

  “Your Lordship! Sorry, I was jus’ doing my job. I trust all is well with you and the lady?” he nodded at Penelope.

  “We’re fine,” I said, not daring to look at her. “How have things been since we left?”

  “We’ve had quite a bit of excitement,” he said.

  “What happened?” I asked immediately.

  “I think you’d better talk to Lord Dorian or Joe McDaniel your lordship. They’ll want to tell you about it themselves,” he answered uncertainly.

  “Do you know where they would be at the moment?”

  “Most likely at the castle,” he replied.

  I thanked him and we went through the gate. Not much had changed since we had left but there was an air of frenzied activity within. Children were working on bundles of torches in the main yard and men moved back and fo
rth at their assigned tasks. The few women I saw seemed to be extremely busy.

  “Let’s head home,” I announced, turning my horse to head for the main keep.

  “You mean your home,” Penny said bitterly.

  “About that Penny, we need to talk...”

  “Don’t worry Mordecai, I’ll move in with my father,” she stated.

  “Actually that won’t do,” I responded. “The requirements of the bond... remember? You and Cyhan will be staying at the keep. There should be plenty of room.” I had meant to talk to her about this, but I didn’t want to do it in front of the others, especially Cyhan.

  “As long as I don’t have to sleep near you,” she said bluntly.

  I held my tongue and we continued on. The gate house leading into the castle was unmanned, which wasn’t surprising. There were barely enough people to manage the gates. Honestly I was surprised they were even doing that. People had to eat and every man had something else important to be doing. We were almost to the main door when Dorian came barreling out.

  “Mordecai!” he shouted in greeting, and then he looked at everyone else. “Penny, Marcus… am I ever glad to see the two of you! Who’s your new friend?” He indicated the giant warrior.

  I started to answer him but Penny was quicker, “Oh Dorian this is my new teacher, Master Cyhan.”

  “Teacher?” Dorian was puzzled.

  “I had to form the bond with Mordecai. I am Anath’Meridum now. Anyway the important thing is I’m learning to fight under Master Cyhan’s skillful tutelage. He’s really quite amazing. You two should compare notes. I’m sure even you might learn a few things Dorian. He’s been training the Anath’Meridum his entire life,” Penny said, practically gushing.

  I couldn’t recall her ever acting so excited about someone in my entire life. Certainly it had to be for my benefit. That’s what my rational mind said; the rest of me was turning green.

  Dorian strode up to Cyhan and offered his hand in greeting, “It is an honor to meet you. The fighting skills of the Anath’Meridum are legendary. Their teacher must be extraordinary.” The older warrior clasped his hand and they shook. I noted that they stood eye to eye, and it was anyone’s guess as to who was bigger.

  “Well met Dorian. You do me too much honor, I am but one of a long line of teachers,” Cyhan answered.

  “You’re too modest. Honestly Dorian, he’s taught me so much already,” she put her hand on Cyhan’s well-muscled arm in an almost proprietary way, as if she were claiming possession. Then again perhaps my jealousy was overreacting. Dorian caught my eye for a second, an unspoken question was written in his gaze. Even he could tell something was going on.

  “Let’s go inside,” he said. “Marc I haven’t seen you in ages. You must have a hundred stories to tell by now.”

  A few minutes later we were seated at the high table in the feast hall. I had never presided over an official dinner at the castle yet but the table’s size and prominent position proclaimed its future role. “Before we catch up on casual matters tell me what’s been going on Dorian. Cecil indicated that there has been some excitement since we left.”

  Dorian’s expression grew dark, “I finally got to meet your monsters.” That got our attention and Dorian spent the next half an hour relaying the story to us. He downplayed his own role in the battle but my father came in before he was done and corrected the omission.

  “Don’t listen to him son, Dorian here fought like a lion. If it hadn’t been for him we’d have been overrun by the hell spawn!” Royce said as he came over. I got up to hug him.

  “I would have guessed that even if you hadn’t told me,” I said.

  “Your dad saved my ass Mort,” Dorian added. He proceeded to describe Royce’s plan to extract him from the mob of undead who had overpowered him. Between the two of them I got a reasonably complete account of what had happened.

  “So this was almost a week ago, has there been any sign of them since?” I asked.

  “We’ve had nary a peep from them,” my father replied.

  “I think your dad scared them off,” Dorian laughed.

  “I only wish that were true,” I said. I gave them what I had learned regarding the shiggreth and their dark origins.

  “How’d you learn that?” Dorian asked.

  “Marc told me, though Rose knew about them too. Apparently it’s one of the finer points of history that I missed out on.”

  Dorian looked at Marc, “I don’t recall you being that keen on history.”

  “My information came from a higher source,” he answered solemnly. That led to a detailed discussion about Marc’s new vocation. Dorian was pleased by the news. The Thornbears had long been devout followers of the Lady of the Evening Star and Dorian was no exception. Finding out that one of his best friends had become a saint of the Lady was a thing for celebration in his mind. Royce just grunted noncommittally. He had never had much use for the gods.

  “By the way Dorian,” Marc went on, “Lady Rose sends you her greetings. She was most interested in your doings since she last visited. She sends her apologies that she had to remain behind.”

  Dorian’s face lit up. He had always been terrible at hiding his emotions. “Is she well?”

  “She said to tell you that she is in excellent health and looking forward to seeing you soon. She will be coming to stay here in a few months,” Marc replied. He was enjoying his role as messenger far too much.

  “Why are you telling me though? Shouldn’t she be giving such messages to Mort?” Dorian had gotten so flustered at news of Lady Rose he had completely forgotten I had been there when she gave Marc her messages. I smiled inwardly.

  “He was there Dorian,” Marc sighed, “and she was most specific. She wanted me to let you know personally that she would be coming and looked forward to continuing her conversation with you.”

  Penny laughed at Dorian’s confusion, “Give it up Marcus. He’s never going to get it. Not until she brains him with a large club and drags him back to her den.”

  Dorian glared at her. Uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going he sought to change it, “Penny you’ll be pleased when you see your rooms. We finished setting up the furnishings and the workmen completed the rest of that floor as well.”

  The light in her eyes went out, “I’m sure it’s very nice Dorian but I won’t be staying there. Mordecai has decided to terminate our engagement.”

  “What!?” Dorian’s shout was exceptional. He managed to draw that one word out into a ten second exclamation of shock and dismay. Across the table my father’s face also showed surprise but he kept his silence. He was wise enough to wait till later to question me about it. Dorian recovered his voice and went on, “What did you do!?” Naturally he was addressing me. I worried for a moment he might try to throttle me.

  “Whoa! Calm down Dorian. We can talk about it later, this isn’t the time,” Marc interjected, hoping to forestall a messy argument. Dorian looked from Marc to me and back to Marc again. His face was clearly communicating the message that we would need to talk... and soon.

  Penny broke the awkward pause, “I’ll need alternative sleeping arrangements Dorian. My master...,” her eyes shot me a look of utter disdain, “requires that I stay within two hundred yards of his presence at all times.”

  That riled me up, “Now hold on here, Penelope!” I spit her name out as if it were a curse. “The two hundred yards is a result of the bond you lied to me about, so don’t go trying to hang the blame on me for that!”

  “I stand corrected. Please forgive me your excellency,” she replied in mock obeisance. “As you can see Dorian I am no longer worthy of being in his lordship’s exalted presence so I will require a different room.”

  Poor Dorian was caught in the middle, and ill-equipped to deal with it. “Well, there’s not much extra room at the present. I was going to offer to have Cyhan and Marcus stay in your old house, but if you need it...”

  “That’s too far for her,” Cyhan put in, “
but for me it would be fine.”

  “What about the other rooms?” Penny asked. The floor that held our suite also had a number of rooms for guests.

  “All the villagers are sleeping inside the walls at night. The rooms have been occupied though I suppose I could put one of the families in the barracks...,” Dean suggested.

  “No that’s fine,” Penny said. “Cyhan won’t mind the barracks; he’s a military man after all. We can both stay there.” Cyhan’s eyebrows went up at this.

  “I don’t mind the barracks either,” Marc said.

  “You can stay with me,” I said. “I will have room after all.”

  Once everyone had settled upon the sleeping arrangements they started to head out but I had one more announcement, “Before you go… I have some bad news.”

  “Haven’t we had enough bad news for one evening?” Dorian replied.

  “I’m afraid this is even worse. The kingdom of Gododdin will invade Lothion come spring. Arundel, Cameron and Lancaster will be the first to feel the brunt of the assault,” I informed them.

  “How do you know this?” Dorian asked, furrowing his brow.

  “One of Penelope’s visions and some timely information from the Lady of the Evening Star,” I nodded at Penny and Marc.

  Everyone began talking at once and I was forced to shout to be heard, “I know this is unexpected but hear me out!” After they had quieted I began detailing what we knew, which wasn’t much, other than the time and place. I also shared my conversation with King Edward; they needed to know that help wouldn’t be forthcoming. When I had finished the conversation rapidly fell into chaos again.

  Royce interrupted. Though he spoke calmly everyone stopped to hear what he said, “I have a suggestion. Why don’t we sleep on it? You’ve told us what you know, but we’re still getting a handle on it. We should wait until morning to start making plans, our heads will be clearer then.”

  That sounded like a good idea so I seconded the notion. Soon people began to drift out and Penny took Cyhan by the arm, “I’ll show you where the barracks are.”