Greyrawk (Book 2)

by Jim Greenfield

  "Inviting place," said Hobart.

  "Dacu Belderag is from a long line of strongmen," said Jaele. "His family has controlled this area for centuries. Only the Greyrawk family opposed him and now they are gone, too."

  "Greyrawk Mountain is that one to the east?" asked Kerreth.

  "Yes, you can barely make out the remains of the castle. Loric said it was Adan's Hill before Men came. The home of the Celaeri kings for centuries."

  "That is where they will return?"

  "That is where they will go once they are fully in our world again. I don't know where they will crossover. That has to be determined. Loric said the blood and the stone would be far to the north in the Black Heath. It is a treacherous place with many dark creatures roaming in search of blood."

  "Very nice," said Elberra.

  "Does Loric always talk so much?" asked Jaele. "Ian is much less verbal."

  "Loric always tries to impress the ladies."

  "Oh. How many people are in the Talos Company?" asked Jaele.

  "Do you mean now, or in total?" asked Kerreth.

  "Now."

  "Those who you see here are most of the leader council. We have former members still living, but we've never had many members. There are not many like us who wish to do what we do and we have been doing it so many years. Some members have left for other pursuits. Some come back; most never do. Elberra, Hobart and Moria's mother Taina are pure blood of their races, but all the rest are mixed blood or altered by their magic. The first criterion is long life. Moria is the youngest, I am the eldest. When Navir walks with us, he is eldest, but his path is never certain. Our company has many squads of various races, Men and long lived. There might be a thousand all told in the Talos Company."

  "Dare I ask how old you are?" said Jaele.

  Kerreth smiled. "You can dare. I have seen five millennia of Landermass."

  "What keeps you going? Does living get old?"

  "Answer that yourself. Is living old for you?" asked Kerreth.

  "But I won't live a hundred years."

  "Nonetheless, is each day not a gem in itself?"

  The guards at the gate did not know what to do. Kerreth led the way, his hands resting on his sword hilts. Most eyes were drawn to the blue winged creature riding behind him. While Anetheans were well known in eastern Anavar, seldom had they traveled to Amloth and were only in stories for children. The guards sent a runner to the castle. Kerreth rode beneath the arch of the gate, nodding to the guards. Moria and Jaele followed Elberra while Hobart brought up the rear. Tuors were even more legendary in Amloth. Hobart smiled at the children and waved.

  When Elberra drew close, the people of Gornst backed away. Even the thugs outside the taverns moved quickly from her path. The company rode slowly down the streets trying to appear non-threatening, although Elberra did stop at a baker's and bought two loaves. The baker's hand shook so much he dropped the coins.

  By the time they reached the town square two dozen soldiers were waiting for them, several with arrows notched. A soldier walked to greet them. He saluted and smiled.

  "I am Captain Aran Picker. I am commanded by Lord Belderag to escort you to the castle where lodgings are prepared."

  "Well, captain, I guess we can follow your lead," said Kerreth. "It is our intention to speak with your lord. Caution your men to behave. Any one of us is worth many dozen soldiers. I wouldn't envy you explaining that to Belderag." He leaned on the handles of his sword. Picker smiled and nodded. He motioned to his men.

  The soldiers surrounded the Talos Company and moved with them. Townsfolk watched from windows as the strange procession wound its way to the castle gates. A man with braided loops on his shoulders stepped forward.

  "Picker, why are these people still armed?"

  "It didn't appear important at the moment."

  "How dare you speak to me that way? Disarm them now."

  "Do it yourself, Herkart."

  Herkart drew his sword but it clanged to the ground immediately and Kerreth's blade was at Herkart's throat. No one had the chance to move. Moria, Jaele, Hobart and Elberra had not changed positions. Only Kerreth hand weapons in hand. The soldiers took a couple steps back from the huge figure.

  "We will keep our weapons. We only wish to speak to Belderag. Please convey our greetings to him." Kerreth kicked the man in the direction of the inner bailey. Herkart rolled over landing hard. He scrambled to his feet and ran to the main hall.

  "Captain Picker, which direction do you want us to go?" asked Kerreth.

  "To the right. There is a waiting room there. You will be under guard."

  "Of course."

  When Herkart was out of earshot, Kerreth turned to Picker.

  "Who was that man? What do his braided loops signify?"

  "He is the Captain of the Red Hawks, Lord Belderag's premier fighting force and nuisance to the rest of Gornst."

  Kerreth chuckled.

  The great hall was empty except for the man standing under a curved sword, mounted on the wall. His long white hair was braided in two strands by each temple. His shoulders were broad and his brown eyes still clear. He waited until they had crossed the room halfway. His sword was unsheathed and set on the table before him. He looked at each guest in turn, nodding his head in greeting.

  "Welcome to Gornst," said Belderag. "I am Dacu Belderag; northern Cresida is in my care. I am charged with the safety of its people and defense of its borders. That is my first and only concern. Please consider that before you speak. Well, well, this is quite the interesting group. It has been long since an Anethean graced this hall." He bowed to Elberra. "Daerlans, Tuors, and Men; seems an unlikely group. I hope my guards gave you no discomfort?"

  "No, they haven't," said Kerreth.

  "No, not that they could anyway," said Moria. The guards stood well back but blocked all exits.

  Belderag considered her words before he spoke. "Why have you come?"

  "I am Kerreth Veralier and we are the Talos Company. Perhaps you've heard of us."

  "Named for the legendary company?"

  "No, we are the Talos Company. I have led this company for thousands of years, Dacu Belderag. We have come because of a coming peril to this land. Are you familiar with the ancient Celaeri?"

  "How could I not be? They once ruled this land and did not suffer Men other than as slaves. What of them?"

  "One of our company warned us that the Celaeri are trying to break into the world again."

  "Impossible! They have died out. How could one of you know what they are doing? You are wasting my time."

  "Loric Greyrawk is half Celaeri and is connected to the Celaeri in some way and sensed their restlessness."

  "A Greyrawk! You are in league with the Celaeri!" He reached for his sword, but Kerreth's sword was already at Belderag's chest.

  "Peace! Or you shall see the skill of the Talos Company. Loric is scouting the area around Adan's Hill, the place you call Greyrawk Mountain, to discover how the Celaeri plan to affect their return. Loric is half Celaeri, in fact he was the first mixed race child of Celaeri over three thousand years ago."

  "You are all creatures out of legend and it is difficult to comprehend your presence. Still, the name Greyrawk does not inspire me with trust. I am the Marshall of the Dawn Brothers, an ancient society dedicated to keep the Celaeri from coming again. They were terrible creatures that enslaved the people of Cresida. They allowed Men to share the land for a time, and then they came and attacked. The Greyrawk's supported them and married them. I shall never let a Greyrawk occupy Adan's Hill again."

  "You would be interested in meeting Loric, I think. His father was the first Greyrawk to live on the Hill and built the castle there. At least, he started it but was killed before it was finished. Loric felt the coldness of the Celaeri as if he were Men and did not receive any benefit of his blood from the Celaeri. Loric left Cresida and never returned until now. You should know this: Loric is the founder of the Dawn Brothers."

  "Ha! I don't bel
ieve that. Your stories are for children. I will have my guards put you in the dungeon."

  "Re-think that, Lord Belderag," growled Kerreth. "My patience is worn. We allowed your guards to escort us. If they threaten us, they will be killed. Then we shall have a closer heart to heart."

  "Yes, I see. I wondered why you were not disarmed." He glared at his captain. "Four is not a company. Has the years been hard on the Talos Company?"

  "There are two more of us in Cresida. Several are elsewhere. Our membership does fluctuate from eon to eon."

  "What is it you want from me?"

  "Merely permission to move about the surrounding lands as necessary to stop the Celaeri."

  "Is that all? Why bother asking me at all?"

  "To save the lives of any who would try to stop us. We have no quarrel with you. We are here to stop the Celaeri."

  "Well, if that is true I must help too. It is my sworn duty to defend mankind against the Celaeri. You represent many races. How is it you feel compelled to take up arms against another long-lived race? Seems to me that you may have dual purposes."

  "The Zidar, Anetheans, Tuors and Daerlan have not tried to enslave other races, unlike the Celaeri and Men too, if memory serves. Our motives are more pure than your own."

  Kerreth looked hard into the eyes of Belderag.

  "Very well," said Belderag. "I will send messages to the Dawn Brotherhood. We shall be ready to assist as necessary. And I would like to meet this Loric and hear his reasons for founding the brotherhood, if it is true. You should know there is another Greyrawk in Cresida, but I doubt he is as old as Loric."

  "Yes, we know. Ian Greyrawk. We fear he has been found by the Celaeri and may be used to advance their return."

  "I knew I should have killed him when I saw him despite the public arena. But I did not want to give my opponents something to hang over my head."

  "Very noble," said Jaele.

  "My young lady, if you have ruled a city and a land far from your king with no aid against supernatural creatures; if you have made countless difficult decisions that are for the greater good but still harm individuals; if you have done that, then you may voice your criticism. But do not pretend to school me in the lessons I have mastered."

  "We waste time," said Kerreth. "We need to prepare for the Celaeri."

  "Weary of my hospitality already?" Belderag called one of his men to him and spoke softly. The man hurried off.

  "I will have supplies prepared for you. Can you wait another hour or so until they are prepared?"

  "Yes," said Kerreth. "It is kind of you."

  The doors to the hall slammed opened and four people walked it. A guard drew his sword and Loric's sword flashed and disarmed him.

  "Greetings, comrades!" shouted Loric. "We have returned."

  "That's a Celaeri!" shouted Belderag, pointing at one of Loric's companions. Loric ignored the soldiers and strode toward the table.

  "Ah, you must be Dacu Belderag. I am Loric Greyrawk and I bring with me Alarie Skye, Warlord of the Celaeri, Dvorak Annis, Wizard of the Talos Company, and Tarlac Brandalay, a former noble of Cresida."

  "Brandalay! I must say, Kerreth, since you entered my door there is no end to the riff raff that follows you." He sensed the movement, rather than saw it.

  "What do you have to say to me?" purred Alarie Skye, her dagger at the throat of Belderag. She moved so fast that not one of the Talos Company registered it until too late. "I have betrayed my people and rejected the lifespan of the Celaeri. In a few decades I shall be just as dead as you will be. Do not turn your nose up to me and the help I can offer."

  "Charming," said Moria, to Loric. "At least she shares your manners."

  "Of course," said Alarie. "I am his sister."

  "Oh, lord," said Belderag. He looked closely at the serrated dagger blade Alarie retracted from his throat. "It keeps getting better. Bring wine for everyone and bread if it's fresh. Tarlac, come here. At least our issues are normal ones. I thought I saw someone of your stature with Arenna at the feast. Was I wrong?"

  "No, I was there. Your daughter hired me when no one else would."

  "Well, hardly surprising is it? Do you hate me Brandalay? Was it worse to strip you of your title and property or to execute you?"

  "I have come to terms with it. And I stay away from places I might be recognized. Dambert did have a price on my head for a time."

  "Cuckolded husbands can be so unreasonable," said Belderag. He sipped his wine. "Does Arenna still blame me for her fate? Does she really believe I harmed her? Do you know what really happened?" He looked at Jaele who shook her head.

  "Colin Greyrawk, Ian Greyrawk's father, the son of Aryar, last lord of Greyrawk Mountain. Colin was wounded and captured before I killed Aryar. Colin was left to rot in the dungeon. The jailors fed him but I told no one else he still lived. When Arenna was a child she wandered into the darkness of the dungeon. She was always a curious child; always poking where she shouldn't. She was attacked by a Vlakan. A Vlakan in this castle! The jailors drove it off, but the damage had been done. Arenna lost her arm, perhaps her mind and we were lucky she didn't die. Of course, she feels different about it."

  "Later, I took soldiers and hunted down the Vlakan, killing it. When it died, it turned back into Colin Greyrawk. It was terrible and fascinating. I couldn't turn away from the gruesome transformation."

  "Why didn't you explain it to Arenna?" asked Brandalay. "You risk her trying to disrupt your government or kill you."

  "I know. It is a line I've walked for years. Her rage does not allow me close enough. I tried a few times; nearly got spitted for my troubles. Nay, the Celaeri are ever the curse of Cresida."

  "Celaeri turn into the Vlakan?" asked Loric. "What causes it and why hasn't it happened to me?"

  "You are Loric Greyrawk, the founder of the Dawn Brotherhood I understand," said Belderag. "You would know better than I. But I have another question. Why would you betray your own people?"

  "My people? I was never one of them. I was no better than a dog to them but I watched them and grew to know their desires. They are a cruel people who believe every other creature is beneath them. Once they faded from the bright world I decided to keep watch for their return. Men live such short lives and their memories are shorter. Without the lore bequeathed to them, humankind would fall in their ignorance."

  "I understand. Long have the Dawn Brotherhood guarded that lore."

  "I am of the Talos Company. They are my family; I know no other. Most of my life I have lived and worked with the Talos Company. I set aside any association with Celaeri until I sensed a change in the world. To me they are just another threat."

  "Even me?" asked Alarie Skye. Loric looked down.

  "My righteousness is pierced. It is hard to build armor to protect yourself. There is always a way to find the weak spot. No, Alarie, you are blood to me and I don't think of you as Celaeri."

  "But I am Celaeri," she snapped. She walked to Moria, turning her back on Loric.

  "Well, hmm. Let's discuss what we need to do at Greyrawk Mountain," said Belderag.

  "The Celaeri are already there in force," said Brandalay. "They will be using something they call the Mother Stone to call forth their people. They need the blood of a Greyrawk to activate it. I'm afraid Ian may not survive any more bleedings. They tried several times at their home in the Black Heath. He is already weak."

  "Ian must be saved," said Jaele. "For our children's sake."

  Brandalay looked at the tanned strong face of Jaele. "We won't let him die, but we cannot wait too long."

  "It will take a day at least to clear the area around the Mother Stone," said Alarie Skye.

  "I have a question, Celaeri," said Belderag.

  "Her name is Alarie," said Loric.

  "Pardon me, Alarie. When I fought with Aryar Greyrawk years ago, where were the Celaeri? I presume some of you could have moved about this world without difficulty. Where were you that day?"

  Alarie did not answer.
<
br />   "As I thought - always their own agenda. Well, Kerreth, watch this one and your Loric too. If she's really his sister she may have some dark influence over him."

  "Watch what you say!" said Loric.

  "Never trust Celaeri!" cried Belderag, rising.

  Kerreth held Loric back. Alarie left the great hall.

  "I think we should leave you for now," said Kerreth. "We will rest and return when the supplies are ready."

  "Yes, yes. That is fine. Picker! Show them where they can rest. You know the rooms."

  Belderag left the table and exited a door behind him. Picker waited patiently until the Talos Company noticed him and followed him to the east wing of the castle where each of them was offered their own room. Kerreth and Moria chose to stay together, but the others all were shut into individual rooms.

  Picker shut the last door and turned to his men.

  "You know what to do."

  Chapter 12

  Several gods tried to emulate the craft of Cothos and create their own races. Both Altenguds and Jungeguds felt the conceit to follow Cothos' path but the results often mirrored the cracks in the minds of the gods and the gods' flaws were their creations' flaws too. Even the Zidar suffered from their superiority and were distrusted and separate from the races of Men.

  From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

  Kerreth heard the thud of the bolt and reached for the door and pulled. It held fast. He slammed his fist against the heavy wood door. Jaele sat on the bed.

  "Belderag locked us in," said Moria. "He never intended to help us at all."

  "I fear you are correct. He fooled us. I think Loric and Alarie's presence turned him against us at the end. He will deal with us after he settles with the Celaeri, but I am not sure he can do either. I fear the Celaeri have been moving their chess pieces long before Loric sensed their activity. If we don't escape, then it will be Celaeri who next open these doors." He sat down and sniffed the jug of wine. He drank a mouthful and closed his eyes.