Greyrawk (Book 2)

by Jim Greenfield

  Five soldiers cornered Elberra. She faced them; her great spear shaft in one hand and her long knife in the other. The spear tip remained snagged by the armor of one soldier, snapping the hard wood in a tremendous crack when Elberra tugged it free. Still, she wielded the hard wood against heads, cracking them like eggs. She moved forward, forcing her opponents backward. Her spear flicked out and her attackers flinched. The soldiers were wary and waited for her to make the first move.

  Loric cut down two more soldiers and turned to Picker.

  "Let us pass or it is your death, Picker," said Loric. "You serve a madman. The Celaeri threaten this land yet Belderag locks up the people who can help him most."

  "You fight well, Greyrawk," said Picker, between gasps of air. "But the three of you are outnumbered. Already more soldiers are heading this way. I heard the horn of the Red Hawk squadron. They are mighty fighters and you are too few. There is no way out except through us." The noise of approaching footsteps echoed behind him.

  Loric swung at him and Picker barely blocked the blow. Loric pushed him to the ground, pressing his blade to Picker's throat. Sweat pasted Picker's thinning hair across his forehead. He breathed heavily.

  "What is that room behind us?" asked Loric.

  "A gathering room for Lord Belderag. No other exit. You must surrender or die." Picker pushed Loric away and held out his sword.

  Suddenly, Dvorak's spell vanished. Picker's soldiers stood as stunned while their eyes adjusted to the real opponents. A thin man in a black cloak stood in the doorway tsking with his tongue. Dvorak sent a push spell at the man but he blocked it effortlessly. The man did not spare more than a glance at Dvorak and sauntered to where Picker stood.

  "Wizard Dathar, welcome," said Picker. "We have need of your skill."

  "So I see. Four opponents have your men overmatched, Picker? Typical. That fat one is their wizard? Pathetic."

  Dvorak sent a hail of hot needles at the wizard and sent him hopping around the room. Picker shook his head and grinned despite the setback. He had dealt with Dathar's contempt for years and Picker knew better than to insult an opponent that you haven't beaten yet.

  Elberra rushed her assailants sending three to their knees an impaled a fourth with her broken spear. A sudden rain of arrows pierced her wings and a spear glowing with magic ripped a hole clean through the membrane of her wing. She shrieked in pain and anger, her spear end crushing the skull of the soldier next to her. The others fell back from her rage. Loric struck Dathar with the flat of his blade, knocking the wizard out.

  "Elberra! Hobart! We shall defend this room and bar the door. It will give us a respite." Loric opened the door and motioned for them to join him.

  "We will be trapped there," protested Elberra. She looked at Loric. "You know I don't trust you." Picker staggered to his feet and rushed them.

  "But it is defensible." Loric nicked Picker's shoulder and stunned him with the flat of his blade. He sliced the wrist of another soldier who dropped his blade. Arrows found a couple more. Picker's soldiers backed away even as fresh swords entered the fray. Loric saw the red shields of the Red Hawk fighters and sighed. His muscles burned.

  They ran into the room shut the heavy door and pushed the oak table in front of it. The wooden shuddered as the Red Hawks hit it, but it did not weaken. Twice more the door thundered but it made no difference.

  The Talos Company sat on the floor to catch their breath and tend their own wounds. The soldiers pounded on the door and the distinctive sound of an axe shuddered through the wood. Dvorak stood up, muttered to himself and sealed the door with a spell.

  "Even if their wizard can break the seal we shall be warned," gasped Dvorak. "I can't catch my breath. Too much running."

  "It was thirty feet, if that," said Elberra.

  "For you, perhaps. I need my wind to wield my spells."

  "Then lose weight, wizard," snapped Elberra. "Should we be endangered because of your gluttony?"

  "Now what?" said Hobart. "We are trapped. No food or water. The windows are far too high to escape. How long can we stay? We can't get out the way we came. I cannot burrow through this stone."

  "But they cannot get to us," said Loric. "There were dozens more soldiers coming and we had only taken out half of Picker's men. No, we would not have survived if we had remained. We will wait for Kerreth to find us. This is not a good choice, merely the best one."

  "And to think I left my home to come here," said Elberra softly through her sharp teeth. "I don't who if I'd rather kill; Belderag's men or you, Loric."

  Dvorak came to her and gently examined her wounds. He probed with a healing spell.

  "You need to rest a while for that spear wound in your wing to heal."

  "Don't worry, Loric has provided much time for me to rest. Can you blast through the wall?"

  "I don't know," said Dvorak. "It's not my specialty. I've not concentrated that much power before. I'm not sure what will happen. Their wizard has warded this room to keep us in even as I warded it to keep them out. They will know if we attempt it."

  "But we will be out the back before they can catch us."

  "Possibly. I will think on it while you rest."

  "Thank you, Dvorak," said Elberra. "At least someone is actively trying to free us."

  "If you believe your words will cause me any ill, you are mistaken,' said Loric. "The return of the Celaeri causes me more pain than you ever could, Elberra. I would rather deal with your cutting wit than a Celaeri Army."

  "You really believe they will return in force? Only a few have returned according to your sister. A hundred, maybe."

  "But the worst hundred. My grandfather, Jerue Adan, is an ancient creature and any compassion he may once have had vanished centuries before I was born. He is hard and cruel. For him, the ends always justify the means. Do not find yourself in his way. I doubt if even Kerreth could take him in single combat. No one else has a chance. No one in this world."

  "Well, I am heartened. Our situation isn't so bad. We can wait it out here."

  "Elberra, now you are getting under my skin. Just be because you fled when that sorcerer took over Anethe, doesn't mean it's the route for everyone."

  Elberra leapt to her feet, but the fast reaction of Hobart saved Loric from attack. The little Tuor wrapped himself around her knee and gave Dvorak the chance to move and stand between them.

  "I think Jerue Adan would be pleased to have you two kill each other," said Dvorak. "Kerreth might be not be displeased himself, now that I think about it. Now, each of you sit down on opposite sides of the room and do not speak. Cool down. We must concentrate on our situation. Do not cause me to spell the two of you into silence. I do know how to do that very well. However, Hobart and I may decide that is the pleasant course of action while we are still here."

  "Message received," said Loric. He turned and sat against the far wall. Elberra glared at all three of them and moved to the opposite side of the room.

  The road was clear all the way to Greyrawk Mountain, except for a small group of riders who began the ascent to the top of the mountain. Kerreth rode with one sword drawn. Jaele rode next and Moria, her arrow notched, brought up the rear. They stopped a merchant on the road and asked what he had seen that day. Kerreth, Moria and Jaele stayed several yards back to give the man time to size them up. He glanced around looking for other bandits to join the trio.

  "I assure you, we will not rob you. We only want to know what you've seen on the road."

  The graying merchant rode on a small wagon, but his clothes were well made and his beard was oiled. He smiled and greeted them.

  "Hallo, travelers! Are you in the market for cloth? I have new woven blankets and bolts of cloth for the ladies there."

  "We are not interested in your wares, good merchant, but you could answer a question or two for us."

  "How about a jeweled hilt dagger? It would look fine with those swords of yours."

  When Kerreth would not look at his cloth or jeweled daggers, th
e merchant sighed and took a swig from a bottle next to him on the wagon seat.

  "Did you see anyone on the road?"

  "I don't rightly remember."

  Kerreth tossed him a coin. The merchant bit it and grinned.

  He told them of Belderag riding out with several soldiers toward Greyrawk Mountain and they had not returned. He did notice some strange horsemen, with blue skin ride from the direction of the Mountain. He was sure they were not Belderag's men for they did not wear Belderag's device. All Belderag's soldiers wore his device. They stopped where the forest ends and intercepted a man on foot.

  "This man, did he look like the others?" asked Kerreth.

  "A little," said the merchant. "But his hair wasn't so bright and he didn't wear the billowy clothes the others did. Looked a bit dirty like he had been hiding in the forest and he did not have a sword."

  "What happened then?" asked Kerreth.

  "A woman talked to him for a few minutes, and then pointed to a horse. The man hesitated and woman put her hand on her sword. The man mounted the horse and they all rode away back toward Greyrawk Mountain."

  Kerreth flipped another coin to the merchant.

  "Thank you for your time," said Kerreth.

  "Thank you for not being bandits," replied the merchant.

  "You think it was Ian?" asked Jaele when they had passed out of earshot.

  "Could be. Many Celaeri would have copper hair; brighter than Ian's and the skin would be a real blue. Ian's Celaeri blood is thinner and his Celaeri features less pronounced."

  "But I met Loric, and he's only half Celaeri. His skin is bluish."

  "Yes, he looks much closer to Celaeri than Ian would because Ian has very little Celaeri blood."

  "Yes. I never knew Ian was different until we had been together a long time." She fell silent.

  "You think he had escaped from the Celaeri?" asked Moria.

  "Yes, but to no avail," said Kerreth. "He may be closely guarded now. We may have to wait until the others catch us before we try to rescue him. But we can move forward to see his situation. We shall ride to the south and approach the summit on foot, leaving the horses near the base of the mountain. That is the least likely direction for attack and it may be the least watched. That is my hope."

  Brandalay supported Alarie Skye as they slowly moved through the still corridors. Brandalay determined they had but one level to go to reach the main hall. He peeked behind him at the translucent shape of Prince James. He no longer felt surprised by anything that happened. Since he met Ian Greyrawk his life took on a new and unwholesome aspect. Ghosts, Celaeri, monsters and the deathless Talos Company had turned his view of life up and over, despite the rough handling Belderag had given him six years ago.

  "I hear noise from the upper levels," said Alarie Skye.

  "Your voice sounds stronger now," said Brandalay.

  "I heard steel."

  "I think it is our new companions and Belderag's soldiers. I hope they can fight their way out for Belderag has scores of soldiers in the barracks and at least one elite fighting squad who will join the battle before too long. Even the skill of the Talos Company is limited by sheer numbers of opponents."

  "We have Prince James," said Alarie Skye. "His thoughts are clearer and starting to focus."

  "Yes, I feel it too."

  They both watched the ghost walk past them to the stairway in the next chamber. They quietly reached the top of the stairs where their view into the great hall was unimpeded. Belderag's soldiers milled about while a few stayed near the door across the hall. Several soldiers had red jerseys and gauntlets. Their leader was speaking to Captain Picker.

  "They must be in that room. There was a great battle here but none of our friends died," whispered Brandalay. He turned to Prince James.

  "Prince James, can you tell them we are here?"

  The ghost looked at Brandalay for a moment, and then nodded slowly. He moved into the hall and vanished. Brandalay pulled Alarie back into the shadows.

  Hobart stared at the wall, catching his breath. Dvorak was tending to his wounds. Hobart felt the numbing sensation where the wizard's spell cleansed the seal the open wounds.

  "I will need to rest myself, after this last healing," said Dvorak. "The effort to force a way through the back wall will be taxing."

  "You thought of a way?" asked Elberra.

  "Yes, I know how to do it. The question is of my strength. I may not have the energy to escape myself, if I am successful."

  "We will worry about that when it happens," said Elberra. "I will carry you myself if you free us. No one else will put forth the effort to escape."

  "I told you, we are waiting for Kerreth," said Loric.

  "What if Kerreth went on to Greyrawk Mountain? What if he is fighting Jerue Adan? Will he come back for us then?"

  Loric sighed and turned away. Dvorak finished with Hobart and leaned back to rest. Hobart watched the others drift away on their own thoughts. Then he stared at the stone before him. Two wizards had spelled it but he saw no difference in the wall. On the other side were soldiers ready to kill them, but the stone waited patiently, uncaring. Hobart thought he saw his reflection in the stone, but that couldn't be! He stared hard at the face that stared back. There was a familiarity to it, but it eluded him. Then the face came forward and Hobart rolled backward with a squawk.

  Loric and Elberra were armed and on their feet. Then Loric laughed.

  "Hobart, you gave me a start. Its only Prince James, come for a visit."

  The ghost had fully entered the room and nodded to each of them in turn.

  "He knows us," said Dvorak.

  "Did you come alone?" asked Loric. James shook his head. "Kerreth? Moria?" Again, James shook his head.

  "Alarie, Brandalay," was the hissed reply. It sounded like the last exhale of a dying man. They looked at each other. Loric shrugged.

  "Okay, that's two more. We need to coordinate with them."

  "Just tell them to meet us outside this wall when Dvorak knocks it down," said Elberra. "No need for any of your 'plans'."

  Prince James watched the discussions. At length there was no agreement. James glided to Loric and shook his head, then disappeared.

  "Where did he go?" asked Hobart.

  "I think he is disgusted by our cohesion," said Dvorak.

  "That's an awful big word for you," said Hobart.

  "He's right," said Loric. "James went back to Brandalay."

  "What's he going to tell him?" asked Hobart.

  "That we are idiots," said Elberra.

  "Well, he certainly can communicate," said Dvorak. "Wait, I know a spell that might help us, if we can take their wizard out of the way. I can duplicate James' image and flood the great hall with ghosts. That should confuse them enough for us to escape. But the wizard will be the key. He could dissipate the images or he could spell James to his service."

  "He can do that?" asked Elberra.

  "We do not want to risk Prince James," said Loric. "He is finally becoming useful. He may know secrets of the dead that should stay secret."

  "Why didn't you think of finding out such things?" asked Hobart.

  "Blackthorne warned me not to," said Dvorak. "There are entities on the other side waiting for the curious to open the door. Blackthorne wasn't sure I would have enough strength to close the door on unwanted guests. I don't want to find out that I'm too week to shut that door. I have lived a long life and if I live a thousand more years how can I face unleashing a demon on this world?"

  "You worry too much," said Elberra. "Some would call me a demon."

  "True," muttered Loric.

  There was a sudden shout and the clash of steel outside the room. They couldn't make out the words but someone had attacked Picker's men. The fighting continued for several minutes then silenced. They listened to the silence and could discern only the footfalls of boots on the stone.

  Someone rapped on the door.

  "It's clear," said Brandalay. "We drove them off
for a short time. Let's go."

  Dvorak released his spell and the door open. Brandalay stood before them, slightly bloodied. Alarie Skye pulled her sword out of the wizard's chest and grinned at her brother.

  "Just the two of you?" asked Elberra.

  "Prince James was a great help," said Brandalay. The prince bowed to his companions. "No time for tales, Prince James said Belderag has returned to the city. We must find a better sanctuary and that means we must ride north."

  He led them to the stables. They could see Picker's soldiers gathering again. There were several Red Hawks with them. Alarie grinned and waved her sword at them.

  "They are ashamed to be beaten by a woman!" said Alarie.

  "You do not fight as a human woman," said Loric.

  "No, you fight like a demon," said Brandalay. "No man will stand and defeat you, but Belderag will send archers with poison to keep you from the next battle."

  "Let's ride now!" said Loric. "Kerreth will find us and I would rather he not find us trapped again."

  "For once, I agree," said Elberra. "Lead on Brandalay. The Talos Company rides."

  Chapter 15

  The Jungeguds became jealous of their Elders and hunted them down, destroying them if they could, maiming them as their strength permitted and took dominion over Landermass. Only Cothos remained hidden from them and they cursed him and hunted him endlessly. Cothos defied the Jungeguds, trapping and destroying them and driving them into hiding. For a time there was peace and Men, Zidar, Daerlan, and Celaeri flourished. It was a golden age for the races of Landermass. But it proved brief.

  From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

  The riders rode through the castle gate into the Gornst streets, the blue winged one leading them. People hurried out of the street when the pounding of the hooves drew near to find refuge in doorways and alleys. Shouting came from the castle as Belderag's soldiers ran after the riders but the riders were too far ahead. They would reach the city gates long before the soldiers could mount up. The soldiers watched the dust fade and a dozen soldiers on horseback came from the castle stables following the riders. The foot soldiers went back through the castle gate.