Alto nodded and cracked his head again a little harder. He rose up and nodded to Mordrim. Karthor opened his mouth but Mordrim's hammer smashed into the splisskin's face and ended the conversation.
"You heard him, let's go," Alto said. He went to the door just as Garrick opened it. The hallway was open in front of them but he saw splisskin guards wearing leather studded with metal rivets at the intersection. He smashed into them with his shield while he was drawing his sword.
By the time Alto had stopped and turned back around to kill the lizardmen he'd surprised and knocked aside, he found that Garrick and Mordrim had already finished them. Blue flames flickered from one of the corpses and leapt to another one that lay nearby.
Alto nodded and turned back around, and then continued down the passage. He ran until he found the ramp and started up it, and then had to retreat back down when a fresh troop of splisskin charged him. They used the ramp as a bottleneck and slaughtered the reptilian men, and then rushed up and emerged into a wide hallway with the promised metal door at one end and other halls and doors leading off in other directions. Between them and the door stood a force of a dozen splisskin, including one wearing a robe with some arcane runes worked into them.
"Humans!" the robed splisskin addressed them.
Alto and Mordrim snarled at them and charged. They'd managed to close half the distance when the ground beneath their feet turned to sand and tripped them up. They plunged into it and found their arms and legs trapped beneath the sucking sands.
The splisskin warriors cheered and charged forward, running towards them with weapons raised. Garrick and Patrina had slowed when Alto and Mordrim fell but now they started forward again, only to find themselves trapped with their friends by the magical quicksand.
"I'll take care of him," Kar growled as he reached into his pocket.
"Too late," Carson said. He released the arrow he'd drawn and was nocking a second when the first struck the splisskin wizard high on his chest, just right of his left shoulder. The wizard turned and stumbled, and then started to rise up again when the next arrow struck him in the back and knocked him to the ground.
Alto and Mordrim rose up from the sand, pulling their hands and feet free just as the splisskin reached the far side of it. Their weapons leapt out, parrying the splisskin or ignoring them, in Alto's case, and then cleaving into scaly flesh. Patrina and Garrick ran across the now firm sand to add their prowess to the battle.
It was over in moments, the splisskin warriors all dead or dying. Carson retrieved two of his arrows that he'd fired; the other three had broken in the fight.
"Wizardry," Garrick spoke the word as a curse.
"It's a powerful thing," Kar agreed. "Can save your arse as soon as it can set it afire."
"Keep your fire away from me," Garrick growled.
Kar waggled his eyebrows at the barbarian and walked ahead to where Alto was studying the metal door. Mordrim joined them and then reached out to trace his fingers over the handle. The dwarf grunted and twisted the latch. When nothing happened aside from an audible click, he pushed it open. Mordrim shrugged and looked at the others.
Alto pushed into the room first and looked around. He saw hallways with barred cells visible, as well as a few tables. He motioned about and called out for his friends to search the cells, and then he went straight ahead to the hallway that ended in a closed door. It was locked.
Alto brought his own key with him this time. He backed up and charged the door, leading with his plate mail-covered shoulder. The door burst under his force and he went crashing to the ground. When he picked his head up, he gasped. Blood spattered the floor in front of him, surrounding a platform filled with spikes of varying lengths that stuck straight into the air. His eyes continued to rise until he saw a bloody ruin of a man hanging from chains that ran through rings in the ceiling to wheels on either side of the room. Blood dripped from the man as he hung suspended.
Slowly the prisoner picked his head up and confirmed Alto's worst fears. It was Namitus. "Knew you'd come," he whispered before he passed out.
Chapter 30
"Well, Your Highness, it seems we've discussed about all that we can," Tristam said.
Rosalyn looked up at him from the paper in front of her. She offered a smile and embossed it with her seal. "I think this will benefit us greatly, and I'm appreciative of your understanding of our situation."
Tristam smiled in response. "I'm new to this leadership thing myself, Queen Rosalyn, so we have that in common. I've had a hard enough time grappling with the intricacies of an established city recovering from a war. I can't imagine how difficult it is to create a new kingdom."
Rosalyn turned and looked at Aleena. "I must confess, I'm somewhat disappointed. All this time we've spent discussing the intricacies of mining and transport and we've had no time to ourselves."
Aleena bowed her head from where she stood. Her back ached from standing for so long but it was her duty to do so. She'd been offered a seat many times, but she was an agent of Leander. A symbol of his strength and benevolence. She would not show any weakness. "I have offered what thoughts I have, Your Highness."
Rosalyn nodded. "Yes, I suppose you have. Still, there are many things I would have liked to speak of with you. Baron Highpeak and I may both be new to ruling, but I believe you and I have far more in common. It's rare that I find someone like that."
Aleena smiled and glanced at Tristam. "If it's all right with you, Baron, I could stay a bit longer and help oversee your men."
Tristam shrugged his shoulders. "Two weeks ago I'd have been concerned, but even an old warhorse like me has to admit that I've been treated well by creatures I once considered my mortal foes. They like their meat a little on the rare side still, but I imagine a woman's touch will civilize things up here nicely. And should that fail, I've heard enough to convince me that Dame Aleena has the strength and steel to set things right."
Rosalyn rose from her seat at the table. "I appreciate your offer," she said with a smile. "And as you've said, you've been gone from Highpeak for some time now. Surely your city must languish in your absence."
Tristam rose and laughed. "Languish? I should hope not, but I suspect there may have been a bit of relaxation."
"Well then, there is light enough left you can be well on your way if you so choose."
Tristam raised an eyebrow and then nodded. "I suppose you've got a point. I'll admit, I'm looking forward to my bed again. My body's not one for the trail anymore, I fear."
"About that." Rosalyn turned to a goblin that was sitting on a chair and carving at his fingernails with a knife. She sighed and shook her head, but ignored her minion's crude behavior. "Fetch the baron his gift."
The goblin jerked his head up and looked around, and then settled his eyes on her. He jumped to his feet and ran off. Tristam chuckled and said, "A gift? I hardly think that's necessary, Your Highness."
"My master was a wizard well known for his abilities with potions," she said, ignoring his protest. The goblin returned with a box and handed it to her. Rosalyn placed it on the table and continued. "I learned much from him, though I doubt I will ever be his equal. My interests lie in other realms."
"So what is this?" Tristam asked as he pulled the top off the box and saw a silver flask lying in it.
"Something to help you with your infirmity," Rosalyn said. "If nothing else, it should help to take the ache out during the many cold and long winters."
Tristam raised his eyebrow in surprise. "That would be welcome indeed! You've left me feeling the fool. I've brought nothing to exchange in return."
Rosalyn laughed and gestured out the door of the tent they sat in. "You've brought men with the skills to teach my people and construct my city. A hundred such potions could not repay your kindness."
"When you get to my age, you might not feel that same way," the baron said with a smirk. "But if you say we're even, I'm not fool enough to challenge you. I'll pass word along and look forward to not livin
g on a frontier threatened by hardship and raids at any given moment."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Tristam left with his personal guard and advisors. Aleena helped him break camp and saw him off, and then returned once he'd made it to the edge of the chaotic construction site. She rode through the men, ogres, and goblins that worked side by side and left Moonshine outside the entrance to the cave.
"My lady!"
Aleena turned, surprised to hear someone addressing her so soon. She was even more surprised to see Ketten striding towards her. "Ketten! I thought you'd ridden off on a mission for your queen?"
"I'm back," he said with a smile. He turned and swept his hand across the partially constructed town. "And I'm amazed. I never thought I'd see the day."
"Which day is that?" Aleena asked, her eyes turning to take in the foundations of roads, walls, and buildings that were well underway.
He laughed. "They day humans would work beside ogres and goblins, for one! Or the day when a real city would take shape here, not just a bunch of poorly built huts and tents."
Aleena nodded. "It does my heart good to see such things. To give the peoples of the mountains a chance to learn and become civilized means that so much hatred and bloodshed can be avoided. So many people can live in peace instead of fear. My only regret is that it did not happen sooner."
Ketten shrugged. "I suppose you're right. Is Queen Rosalyn in?"
"She was a few hours ago. I was just headed back to see her."
Ketten's brow furrowed. "Where've you been?"
"Baron Highpeak rode out this morning and I saw him away. Queen Rosalyn retired to her chambers to deal with her affairs."
Ketten's lips pressed together but he didn't explain his reaction. Instead, the mountain man turned seneschal said, "Well then, Dame Aleena, might I escort you into the queen's halls?"
Aleena smiled. "I'd be honored."
Ketten grinned and swept his hand in a gesture for her to walk with him into the cavern that led into the mountain. Aleena walked with him and let him lead her through the tunnels that wound up and into the chamber where Rosalyn was consulting a tome while she mixed ingredients into a simmering pot over a fire.
"My queen," Ketten announced himself. "I've returned and found a certain lady paladin in need of an escort."
Aleena's chuckle died in her throat when Rosalyn looked up sharply at them. Her cheeks looked shrunken and her eyes had a coldness to them. She blinked and smiled, straightening as she did so. That quickly, the foreign animosity was gone. "Baron Highpeak is safely on his way?"
"The only thing he has to fear is a mountain lion spooking his horse and throwing him," Aleena said. "I came to offer my thanks again for your hospitality and to offer my services."
"Your services?" Rosalyn asked. "But you are sworn to your church."
Aleena blushed. "Ah, not those services. I meant the things we'd discussed. Um, about talking more and sharing ideas."
"Of course, my apologies," Rosalyn said. "I'm looking forward to that very much. Indeed, spending these last couple of weeks with you and the baron were a wonderful reminder of how much I missed civilized contact. I look forward to the day when my people can hold themselves to such standards."
"They're coming quickly," Aleena said. "Like the baron, I've been amazed at the progress."
Rosalyn smiled and nodded and then fell silent. After several seconds, the silence grew uncomfortable. The witch-queen glanced down at her book and then looked around, her eyes going to the silver statue towering in the background.
"Well," Aleena said, breaking the growing tension. "I'll check on the construction then. Whenever you’d like to talk, send someone for me. I'll make myself available."
"I will," Rosalyn promised. She blinked again and offered another smile. "And thank you, Aleena, for everything."
Aleena curtsied and then excused herself. As she was walking out of the chamber, she walked slowly enough to hear a portion of Ketten's conversation.
"My queen, you look better than before," he said.
"These past weeks have forced me to neglect my studies," she snapped at him.
"Filled it with troublesome things like eating and drinking regularly?" Ketten said.
Rosalyn didn't respond to his quip but instead asked, "What of your quest? What have you learned?"
"Little," her servant admitted. "I can tell you that he went south and was in a spot of trouble and needed his friends to come and help him. Word on the docks from sailors from the south is that he was seen returning to Mira."
"Returning?"
"Aye, he'd left a few weeks before but never made it back to Holgasford."
Aleena had stopped moving and listened with her breath caught in her throat. Her stomach was twisted and she had a lump in her throat that nagged at her. Who were they talking about?
"Why would he do that?" Rosalyn wondered aloud.
"That, my lady, I do not know."
They fell silent long enough for Aleena to realize she'd overstayed her welcome. She hurried away, moving as quietly as possible. Her intuition told her they were talking about Alto, but for the life of her, she couldn't begin to guess why. She'd thought her trip with the baron had been successful beyond her expectations but now she realized there was more to it. She had to find out what was going on and what Queen Rosalyn was really up to.
Chapter 31
"Karthor!" Alto yelled over his shoulder. The warrior turned and ran to one of the wheels and disengaged the lock from it. He started to unwind it and lower the chain when he realized only one of Namitus’s arms was coming down. He swung by the other and, if Alto continued, he might end up dragging his feet into the spikes.
Carson and Mordrim arrived first and the ranger ran to the other wheel. The others piled into the room quickly, each of them pausing to gasp at the abuse their friend had endured. Patrina was so distraught, tears fell down her cheeks and she tried to climb onto the platform. Garrick pulled her back in time to stop her from impaling herself on the spikes.
"Trina, stay back," Alto warned. "Carson and I will lower him. Garrick, can you grab him?"
"Be gentle," Karthor warned.
Alto and Carson unwound the chains slowly, lowering the battered rogue until Garrick grabbed his boot and pulled him forward. Soon the barbarian held the blood-soaked man in his arms. The chains had given all the slack they had to give and if Garrick had not kept a tight grip on the unconscious man, Namitus would have fallen back onto the spiked dais.
An echoing clang of metal against metal jerked Alto’s attention back down the hallway. His eyes narrowed and he turned to see Patrina and Mordrim looking his way. Patrina’s eyes were red and puffy and she bit her lip to keep it from trembling.
"Go," he said in a voice thick with emotion. "You and Mordrim both. Guard that doorway."
Patrina nodded and hurried back down the hallway. Mordrim nodded to Alto and ran after her. Alto watched them go and then turned to head over to where Karthor was passing his holy symbol over Namitus’s body while he chanted. Garrick shifted once and stood still, holding the wounded rogue fast.
Carson jerked his head back when Alto glanced at him, earning the man’s attention. "These manacles aren’t made of any metal I’ve seen before," the woodsman said. "They look like that ramp below. We need a key to get them off."
"Sand." Kar snapped his hands.
"Sand?"
"Yes, fetch me some. Hurry!" he ordered.
"Do it," Alto said. Carson nodded and ran off, heading back out the hall to where Patrina and Mordrim stood guard. The wizard’s spell had turned much of the stone floor of the room outside the jail into sand.
Carson was back a few minutes later with both of his hands full of sand. He held it out for the wizard but the ranger looked at Alto. "They’ve found us."
"What happened?"
"Be silent!" Kar hissed. "I must focus."
Alto’s nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply. Kar ignored him and chanted a spell that
sounded like a counterpoint to the priestly magic being employed by his son. The sand in Carson’s left hand lifted in a steady stream and floated through the air to the keyhole on Namitus’s left wrist. The wizard focused while he spoke the words of magic, turning the shifting sand into a solid mass that slowly turned until a click announced the manacle swinging free of the rogue’s left wrist.
The sand fell to the ground, inert and lifeless again. Kar focused on the other handful of sand and coerced it into doing his bidding. In moments, the other locked clicked free and Garrick had to shift again to keep from overbalancing as Namitus fully slumped into his arms.
Kar backed away and let out a deep breath. "Tricky stuff, those chains," he said. "Not too tricky for me, mind you, but that was neither a simple lock nor regular steel."
"What were you saying?" Alto asked Carson and ignored the wizard.
"Some of those snakemen were keeping to the ramp and peering over when I came out. That wizard I thought I killed with my bow was gone, too."
Alto nodded. He opened his mouth when he heard Trina’s voice cry out a warning. He shook his head. "Time to go," he said.
"I don’t expect Namitus can go," Kar cautioned while his son continued to pour his healing magic into the man.
"Garrick, set him down—you’ll be needed for this," Alto said. "We’ll all be needed, but we’ll make do without Karthor and Namitus if we must."
Garrick watched Karthor as he lowered Namitus slowly to the ground. The priest moved with him, proving he was aware on some level of their conversation. In moments he straightened, the rogue lying on the bloodstained floor while the priest knelt above him and prayed.
Alto motioned with his hand and turned away. He led the rush down the short hall to the main room of the jail and saw Mordrim and Patrina both pressing up against the heavy metal door.
"Are they trying to break in?" Alto asked as he ran up.
"Not yet," Mordrim answered.
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