Greyrawk (Book 2)

by Jim Greenfield

  From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

  They had found cover a dozen yards back where large rocks nestled close to a gnarled tree. Dvorak was bleeding steady but the wound wasn't deep nor in a vital place. Moria set to cutting out the arrow out of his shoulder; about six inches lower than the previous one back on Anavar. An arrow stuck out of Hobart's cap but no one else had been injured.

  "Why do they always hit me?" said Dvorak. "Archers on Anavar hit me and now archers on Amloth hit me. We shouldn't have come here. Petty bandits are killing me."

  "Fat men are an easy target," said Moria. "Besides, maybe they thought you were a rich merchant. They are hard to resist for a bandit."

  "I'd hired better guards than this lot," said Dvorak.

  "You couldn't afford the Talos Company," said Kerreth. "Now keep quiet, I need to know our situation."

  Kerreth scampered to where Loric watched the road.

  "How many?" asked Kerreth.

  "Ten at least," said Loric. "There is someone pinned down behind those rocks. I think we wandered into an ambush in progress. They haven't flanked us yet. I will go around the left and see who their intended victim is."

  "Good. Elberra, you have the right side."

  "Yes." Her voice was full of venom. Whoever attacked them would gain the full force of her simmering anger and for that, Loric was glad. Elberra had difficulty setting aside her grievances. Once it took her seventy years to forgive Loric for something long forgotten by everyone including Loric.

  Kerreth had both his swords in his hands and Hobart set out several arrows in the ground before his position for quick shooting. He tested his bow and nodded to Kerreth.

  They had traveled for less than two hours north out of Andara, the coastal capital of Cresida when the bandits attacked. This puzzled Kerreth, as the Talos Company looked to be a fighting band, not merchants. They had no trunks or mules laden with supplies. There seemed to be no logical reason for the bandits to engage them. Perhaps Loric was right and they had stumbled into someone else's problem.

  Elberra's war cry filled the sky and the bandits shouted as the blue demon rushed them. Loric and another sword wielder rushed from the other side. Kerreth stepped forward, twirled his swords and charged ahead, feeling the snap of Hobart's arrows pass him and strike two of the bandits. Kerreth spitted one bandit, but stopped. His shoulders drooped; all the bandits were dead. Elberra, Loric and the woman traveler dispatched them with precision. The woman was tall, lean and her tan freckled face was framed with wavy red hair. She held her sword expertly and was not breathing heavy. Kerreth noticed the rings on her fingers. The silver pinky ring was familiar to him, as he had fought against it and for it years ago. She was a mercenary. The ring was the sign of the Red Boars Company. It was a mostly honest business entity.

  "You have deprived me of what little enjoyment I find in life," said Kerreth, brandishing his bloody blade. "I think that is mutiny. What do you think?" He asked the woman next to Loric.

  "Depends on what you expect from your soldiers," said the woman. "For myself, if I was their commander, I would be pleased that the threat is gone and no one escaped."

  "Threat? Were we threatened?"

  "Only in theory," said Loric. "But our new companion would not know that."

  "Of course, she is blameless in this disrespect of your leader," said Kerreth. "I will have to take this under consideration."

  "Are you blabbering without introducing yourself to our guest?" asked Moria, walking up behind Kerreth. She pulled him to her and kissed him. She opened her arms in welcome to the woman. "I am Moria Albalen. This lump is Kerreth Veralier. Tall blue and beautiful is Elberra Turan. Dvorak Annis sits back there nursing another wound. This little Tuor is Hobart Hufflen. The rogue next to you is Loric Greyrawk. Watch his hands."

  "Greyrawk!"

  "Yes. Are you familiar with the name?" He brushed back his hair and offered his best smile. Moria rolled her eyes.

  "Obviously," said Elberra, shaking her head.

  "Are you related to Ian Greyrawk?" asked the woman. "There is some resemblance but he is darker and his eyes are grey not copper flecked."

  "Possibly. I've never heard the name, but I have not been in Cresida for many long years."

  "Did you know Aryar Greyrawk?"

  "I did."

  "Ian is his grandson. He returned to Greyrawk Mountain recently to see the ruins. He hadn't returned to his ancestral home since his mother fled with him when a rival lord killed Aryar. We run an inn near Peradon on Anavar. Ian said he felt compelled to return. It became an obsession. He spoke of it often and frankly, I was getting tired of the subject. He had been dreaming of the old castle for months."

  Loric paused at her words and flicked his glance at Kerreth.

  "When did he return to Greyrawk Mountain?" asked Loric.

  "A few weeks ago he headed that way. I decided to follow him recently and ran into these bandits."

  "Yes, they appear to be just what they are," said Hobart to Kerreth. "No sign of wealth or military experience. Just low-life's looking for easy money."

  "What is your name?" asked Moria. "These men never get around to the important things."

  "Jaele Larke. I am a distant cousin of Ian's. Thankfully, just distant enough." She smiled at Moria.

  "I see," said Moria, nodding her understanding.

  "Do you have Greyrawk blood?" asked Loric.

  "No. I'm from his mother's side." She wiped down her blade and sheathed it.

  "Good."

  "Something wrong with your family?" asked Jaele.

  "Some of my family. We are interbred with Celaeri. I am fully half Celaeri although most Greyrawk's have very little Celaeri blood. I would suspect Ian felt the call of that blood, as I have, but he would have no idea what it meant. His father died when Aryar died?"

  "That's the tale. At least in the same struggle. I think Ian's father died in Belderag's dungeons."

  "Interesting. Just before Ian left to go to Greyrawk Mountain did he seem more preoccupied with the subject?"

  "Yes. It was all he could talk about and it got so bad I actually pushed him out the door. He's very little help around the inn anyways. Wasn't really cut out for it, but we make money and our children are well fed."

  "Hmm. Well, Kerreth, if Dvorak is through bleeding for now, may we press on?" asked Loric.

  "How did you know Aryar Greyrawk?" asked Jaele. "I never heard tales of Celaeri being around in recent memory and your coloring is unique even for a Greyrawk."

  "Do you like it?" asked Loric, preening again. Moria slugged him. "No matter. I am older than I look. Aryar was a descendant of mine. I don't recall how many generations."

  "A man's vanity," said Moria. "You have seen 30 centuries, Loric."

  Loric frowned and rolled his eyes.

  "I did not spend much time there when Aryar ruled Greyrawk Mountain. I am an outcast as far as the Celaeri are concerned. Too much Celaeri influence on Aryar although he knew it not."

  "Are you saying the Celaeri controlled him?" asked Jaele.

  "To a certain extent. You will ask what my agenda is, being half Celaeri, in returning to Cresida. I know the Celaeri better than anyone and I sense they are trying to reclaim their place in our world. The Celaeri returning would not bode well for the people of Cresida. They are fierce in war and cunning. They would drive Men under their heels again. I felt a pulling, a longing to return to Cresida, but I am wary of why. Now I fear Ian Greyrawk is involved with the Celaeri and far beyond his grasp of the situation."

  "Oh poor Ian. Are you sure about this? You will rescue him? Can I come with you?"

  "No," said Loric.

  "Yes," said Kerreth. "She will be of help to us."

  "Too dangerous," said Loric. "The Celaeri will kill her if they know she's nearby."

  "Why would they do that?" asked Jaele.

  "To keep you from distracting Ian for one thing. I fear for him."

  "But you never say why," said Moria. "Your
hints and riddles are worse than knowing the truth."

  "You think so?" said Loric. "Well, let us get going. The longer we wait the more difficult it will be, especially for Ian."

  "That's another one!" groaned Moria.

  "What danger is Ian in?" asked Jaele. "Will they kill him?"

  "Only if they have to. He should be in no danger of death, but he may be changed when you see him again." He plainly would say no more unless they returned to the journey.

  "All right," said Kerreth. "We press onward; Jaele comes with us, and before we reach Gornst, Loric will tell us everything."

  "In my own time," said Loric. "I am not a court ambassador. It will take time for me to form the right words. Otherwise, I may not explain things clearly. It's a long involved tale."

  "That's a given," said Moria. "I'm already confused."

  The road was clear for miles and they made excellent time northward. Jaele and Moria became fast friends but Jaele did not seem comfortable around Loric. Every time he spoke to her, Jaele's response was short and she turned her attention back to Moria.

  "How long were you a mercenary?" asked Moria.

  "Over ten years, but that isn't much to a Daerlan."

  "No. Nor to the half-Daerlan as myself."

  "Are you all half breeds? Sorry, not a nice term."

  "Hobart is full Tuor and Elberra is full Anethean, but the rest of us are mixed. I guess we just wanted to have a place of our own. We are not warmly welcomed in our homelands. My mother was a Daerlan and part of this company. Her father founded the Talos Company along with her uncle and Kerreth. I don't know what their reasons were although Kerreth is bereft of magic, a mainstay of the Zidar culture, although he is immune to it. He would have been a servant had he remained on the Isle of Cothos."

  "Jaele, I recognized your ring," said Kerreth. "Are you still working with the Red Boars Company?"

  "No, I am retired from that life. I run an inn with Ian now. In the years when I was a mercenary I worked with them most of the time. No city companies would take me on and besides the Red Boars pay better. I can come and go as I please and I am judged by my skills. I was never doubted because I am a woman."

  "Who's in charge?"

  "That's confidential," said Jaele.

  "It used to be Farland Dukes. Do his sons run it now? Does Farland still live?"

  "He does, but he's an old, old man. His grandson, Farklen is in charge. How did you know of Farland? He's always been secretive about his involvement with the Red Boars."

  "I founded the Red Boars Company, before I joined with Altair Talos."

  "But that was thousands of years ago!"

  "Seems more recent to me," said Kerreth. "I visit once in a while, but it seems it has been too long. Perhaps after this task I shall see Farland if he still lives."

  "As of last month, he still tended his garden and bounced his great-grandchildren on his knees. His vision is poor, but he still laughs as often as breathing."

  "That is good. He was a very fair man and generous with his wealth. How were you recruited?"

  "Ian joined them and brought me along. Old Farland had a twinkle in his eye when he met me. At first I thought he was an old lecher, but he was very kind and made sure all the men treated me the same."

  "His first wife had red hair. She was killed very young in a raid. He loved her very much and she remained youthful in his memory. Perhaps you reminded him of her."

  "It would be nice to think so," said Jaele.

  "Loric, I believe it is time for you to enlighten us," said Kerreth. "We shall break here for lunch. It should take two more days to reach Gornst, if my reckoning is true."

  "Gornst?" asked Jaele. "You are going to Belderag?"

  "Yes, that seems the place to start. He is the power in the area and we might need his assistance and it is proper to ask his permission to stir up trouble."

  "From what I've heard, Belderag isn't to be trusted."

  "Most powerful men should not be trusted," said Kerreth.

  "What about powerful women?" asked Moria.

  "I knew it would bite me as soon as I said it. Get the food out, I'm hungry. When we have eaten, Loric you start speaking."

  "When I was a teen, things began to change. Not for me, as I was always an outcast by both races, but for the Celaeri. Some of the adults began to disappear and by that I do not mean they left; they began to fade. They could stand in front of you and you could see right through them. The Celaeri had already abandoned Adan's Hill to the Men and we lived deep in the northern hills. I was not clear of the reasons, but something left behind on Adan's Hill was needed to keep the Celaeri from vanishing. It was a stone. Riders returned with a shard of the stone and Jerue Adan thought much over it. As the weeks past the population continued to dwindle. Jerue Adan, the king of the Celaeri sent riders on errands to find a cure for this magic.

  "One day some riders returned with a Man, bound and gagged. They dragged him over to the sacred stone. The king's daughter spoke some words and raised her knife. The knife began to glow and she opened a vein of the Men. Blood splattered on the stone shard and it was magic. The colors around us deepened and all the Celaeri's flesh was ripe with life. The man's arm was bandaged and he was led away.

  "I asked what had happened. The king's daughter told me they needed blood from a half-breed, Men and Celaeri. She said I was lucky I had so much Celaeri blood otherwise I would be the sacrifice instead of Eddan Greyrawk, my father's grandson. His blood carried a small amount of Celaeri blood and thus was suitable for the magic. They needed him to anoint the other seven stones of the Celaeri. It was unlikely he would survive, and he didn't."

  "You think this is what Ian's danger is?" asked Jaele.

  "I do. The king's daughter also said that one day they would return to Adan's Hill and the stones would run with Men blood."

  "You say the king's daughter like it was a title," said Kerreth. "Had she a name?"

  "Ioane Adan. She is my mother."

  "Oh, Loric, how awful," said Moria.

  "That is why I left and never returned. I have remained watchful for this day, hoping the blood of the Greyrawk's would fail. I began a brotherhood of Men to watch the Greyrawk's and pull them down if necessary. It became necessary. This Belderag may be a member of the Brotherhood."

  "You asked Belderag to kill the Greyrawk's?" asked Jaele.

  "I never spoke with him. It has been many generations of Men since I contacted the brotherhood. They might not have any record of me and try to kill me too. But that will not be easy."

  "Loric, I am sorry about your past. You should have told us earlier," said Moria.

  "I want no pity, Moria. I just want to be accepted for who I am."

  "That's the difficult part. You are so arrogant."

  "Must be the Celaeri in me."

  "Time to ride," said Kerreth.

  They continued well into darkness before they camped. The company was silent for the most part, digesting what Loric had told them.

  The next was uneventful and passed slowly.

  They made camp a day's ride from Gornst. Loric and Hobart took the first watch. Dvorak Annis was walking around the camp trying to regain movement in his arm. The others had settled in to sleep. Jaele stayed near to Moria and Kerreth. Loric watched her from the edge of the camp until he noticed Elberra watching him. He turned his attention to his duty and Elberra eventually eased her vigilance and went to sleep.

  Loric stood in the shadows of low branches unmoving except for his eyes. He watched for Hobart, but the Tuor could never been seen when he was on watch. Loric felt edgy, his hands clenched and unclenched. Something was wrong out in the darkness but he couldn't pinpoint it. He heard the others murmuring in their sleep which was unusual. Hobart's low whistle sounded from the other side of the camp. Hobart was alert too. Loric glanced at the sleeping figures and saw Kerreth's hooded eyes reflect in the dying campfire.

  The air did not cool yet it felt damp and mists began to close in about
them. He sensed rather than heard movement to his left. Slowly, he unsheathed his sword and waited. He no longer heard the deep bass breaths of Elberra and guessed she, too, was awake. The mist thickened and he felt something standing a few paces from him. He struck with his sword, hitting something solid and heard the guttural snarl of surprise. The woods came alive with roars and shouting as dark shapes rushed the camp. Kerreth's swords were greeting the invaders and killed them quickly. Loric found himself surrounded and felt the rough claws dig into his flesh as he pushed them back to clear his sword stroke.

  Dvorak Annis shouted something and the campfire flamed up twenty feet of white and blue flame, illuminating the area. The gnarled black shapes were animal like but moved their arms like people. Kerreth had not allowed the shock of their appearance slow his swords. He was on his feet in a heartbeat and rushed forward with both swords singing. The rest of the company followed even as the creatures attacked the camp. Moria stood back to back with Hobart while Elberra raised her own hell among the shapes. Her appearance daunted the creatures and her spear used their hesitation to deliver death. The sharpness of the steel and the brightness of the flames drove the creatures back into the night.

  "Were those the Vlakan?" asked Moria.

  "Yes," gasped Loric, his arm weary and bloody. "They wanted to test our strength."

  "I hope they learned enough," said Kerreth.

  "At least I did not get wounded this time," said Dvorak. "Come here Loric; let me look at that."

  The bodies of the Vlakan lay around the camp. Some changed back into the fine features of the Celaeri; other remained feral. Loric and Elberra dragged them away from the sleeping area.

  The next morning the bodies of the Vlakan had vanished; those that changed to Celaeri as well as the ones that remained Vlakan. There were no signs of the bodies being dragged away; they simply vanished. The company searched the near area quickly, and then broke camp.