They rode on and finally found their way on a more traveled road, with wagon ruts imbedded in the dirt and the trampled down mud of many horses coming and going. They picked up their pace, and, as they neared the gate, they could hear the shouts of the sentries on the wall as they announced the approaching visitors.
The two gate guards closed the gap in front of the gate, the portcullis locked down for night. Visitors at this time of day was a rarity; the guards were more wary than normal. When they were close enough, Jedd sat up straighter in his saddle and looked down on the guard closest to him.
“Evening friend. The young man here asked me to escort him to you. He needs to see Alban.”
The guard looked up at Maddon who only stared down at him. “Is that so? You got a tongue boy or do you need the Bounty Hunter to speak for you.”
“I need no one to speak for me. I have been dispatched here all the way from Amaris to bring General Thorne an important message.”
“What message? You give it to me, and I’ll pass it along.”
“I may be young, but I’m not stupid. You may work for him, but unless your rank is general, my message remains with me.”
The guard humphed in surprise at Maddon’s sass. “Well, I see no dispatch in your hand, and there could not be anything hidden inside that thin cloak of yours.”
Maddon tapped his temple with a frozen finger. “It’s all up here, friend. Now I come here with message from King Dainard’s Royal Advisor, and I will deliver it to General Thorne. You can rouse him, or I can just run you through with my sword. I’ll get through the gate by force. What will it be?”
The guard looked at Maddon for a long time, staring at him. Maddon just stared back, his hand resting lightly on his sword. The guard looked back up at Jedd and scowled. Jedd was smiling, obviously impressed by Maddon’s moxy.
“I’d do what he says. He rode all this way from Amaris alone and has seen more action than you boys have in several years. Let Alban decide if the message is worth bothering him for.”
The guard looked at Maddon again and then turned and nodded to the guard on the other side of the gate. “Open it and let them through.”
They waited for a few minutes for the Petit-Porte to creak open, then ducked under when there was room, riding into an outer courtyard. The gate guard turned to another man and snapped. “Squire Jac, please rouse the general and tell him he has important visitors.”
The young man ran off into the keep. Maddon dismounted and grabbed the reins, looing up at Jedd. “Are you staying?”
“No. I will head back into town just as soon as you get to see Alban. I’m not a knight or a royal guard. I have no business insinuating myself in the kings business.”
“It concerns everyone.”
“I wanted to make sure you were escorted safely and gained access to Alban. I have done what you paid me to do, nothing more.”
“Don’t you care about what happens to the kingdom? You said it yourself, Fallon is bad for local business.”
“Using my words against me now are we? Very well, if invited I will listen to what news you bring, then decide from there what I must do. Fair enough?”
“Fair enough.” Jedd dismounted and waited in the cold bailey with Maddon.
About twenty minutes later, a short but stout man emerged from the keep, dressed in woolen hosen with a thick wool cloak wrapped tightly around his muscular frame. His leg muscles were large and strong, and his torso was broad. He had straw colored hair and was clean shaven with only a bit of stubble on his prominent chin. His eyes were alert, and he walked with a gait that commanded respect. He approached the two men waiting in the yard for him and stood in front of Maddon, eyeing him up and down.
“There better be a good reason I was pulled from my evening tea and forced to dress for the cold night to come down here for a couple of uninvited strangers.”
Maddon glanced at Jedd and he nodded. “There is, General Thorne. My name is Maddon. I have ridden all the way from Amaris to bring you a message.”
“Amaris is quite a jaunt from here, so you must be a hearty lad, but what matter is that to me?”
“I bring message from Alekzand’r Morgan regarding the movement of Fallon and his army.”
“Is this recent news, or something I have already heard?”
“I hope I’m not too late. We don’t have confirmation of everything yet, but Amaris has fallen, and Fallon has been taking over city by city.”
Alban looked at Maddon and frowned, then switched his gaze to Jedd. “Why are you here?”
“I agreed to bring the boy here from town. I’m here for escort only.”
“Then git. I have things to say to this youth that don’t concern you.”
Jedd looked down at Maddon. The boy nodded his thanks. Jedd stuck out his hand and they shook. He mounted his horse and rode it back through the bailey and out the gate.
Alban looked down at Maddon again and scowled. “I don’t mean to impugn your honor, boy, as I’m sure you’ve ridden long and hard to get here, but I don’t rally my garrison for speculation.”
“I have brought you the message from Alexzand’r as I was instructed.”
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
Alban looked over to the two guards who had roused him from in front of the fire and smiled. “Hardly a man yet.”
“I have seen and done things in the last month that other boys my age could never dream. I have blood on my hands now. I think that makes me older than my years imply.”
Alban was taken aback but decided to play with him for a minute of two, just to see how feisty he really was. “Well, I suppose it could. But you could just be a boy on the run from Bounty Hunters after committing some crime of state. How do I know that the news you bring has come from reliable sources and therefore demand my attention?”
“You don’t, but if the Lady of the Valley had anything to say about it, she’d tell you to listen to me.”
“What has Salma anything to do with this?”
Maddon grinned from ear to ear. At least he knew that this man was indeed general Thorne and not some underling that he sent out in his stead so as not to be bothered.
Alban shot Maddon a look of annoyance, then smiled from ear to ear. “Ah, I got it. You were testing me. Yes, boy, I’m General Thorne and not some crony.”
“Then if you are really who you claim to be, you must take my news and see that I’m not a boy on the run, but a messenger that deserves to be heard.”
“Yes, I should say you do. Very well, come inside and let’s hear the whole of your news, not just the message. If I’m to decide what best actions to take, I need to know just how bad the situation has become.” He looked over to the two gate guards that had allowed Maddon entrance. “See that his horse is tended and get a page to bring in his things. We’ll be in the war room if needed, but for now leave us to talk in peace. I’ll call if you’re needed.”
They went inside the keep. Maddon followed him down a long corridor, then around a corner and down another hall. The walls were block and unadorned with finery, and the dim light coming from the few wall sconces cast eerie shadows on the floor in front of him.
They finally came to a door, and Alban went in. The room was not large but looked comfortable. There was a roaring fire in the big stone hearth, and there were two large chairs sitting in front of it. A mahogany desk near the back wall was covered in maps and parchment. A wooden, uncomfortable looking chair was pushed back from it. There was a hook near the fire that held a cloak, and a pair of boots were drying by the hearth. He motioned for Maddon to hand him his cloak, then told him to sit and warm himself. He hung the cloak on the hook then removed his and did the same. He now wore only a linen tunic with his hosen, but the room was warm enough to permit it. He then went to a cabinet just left of the desk and poured a drink, then another. He came back over to the chair and handed Maddon a mug. Maddon sniffed it. It smelled spicy, and a thin waft of steam was coming
from it. Alban plopped down beside him and took a sip of his own mug. He eyed Maddon smelling the liquid.
“It’s warm spiced cider, perfectly appropriate for your age.”
“I’ve had ale many times.”
“Yes, but you need a clear head tonight if you are going to recite your message. I only wanted to warm your bones after your bitter ride.”
“Thank you.” He took a sip and smiled at the pleasant taste. He took another.
“See, tasty eh?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now then, what news do you bring to ole Alban?”
“Alekzand’r evacuated Amaris. The city fell under the wrath of Fallon’s dreadful army. They took those willing to fight and killed the rest. They burnt the city to cinders. I, along with twenty other men, took the women, children and the old and infirmed into the aqueducts for safety. We hid for two weeks before Alekzand’r showed up. He sent word to Mercer to bring in wagons in order to get the survivors out of the city. He caparisoned the convoy in regalia in order to disguise them from whatever troops might return. He sent me here to warn you that trouble is coming. I’ve already heard news of the Triple Cities. He will come in from the sea and from there they will move to meet Fallon and his generals in the Triple Cities. Now that it’s secure, he can redraw the lines of the border and move into Aaralyn and Azlyn easier. If we can keep him from moving more troops out of Boones Ferry and into the Triple Cities, maybe we can stall him from marching into Kingswell.”
“This is all speculation, I assume.”
“Yes, but several master strategists feel it’s an accurate assumption.”
“Fallon has not followed any particular pattern up to this point. He seems to be flitting from one place to another. How can we be sure that will be his next move?”
“We can’t, but isn’t it better to be prepared? Better overly cautious and be wrong, than ignore the warnings and be too late.”
Alban eyed the boy, seeming much older than his eighteen years would imply, and shook his head. “You’re a smart lad and much instructed on strategy and warfare.”
“My grandfather taught me well.”
“So it seems. Well, then I suggest we start making plans on how best to set up a garrison and where. Can’t just send a bunch of men out there to lollygag around the city. The garrison must be heavily fortified if we plan on stopping Fallon’s giants. It’s getting a bit late to start discussing all this now. I suggest you get some food in ya and get some rest. We have a long road ahead of us. In the morn we’ll start our campaign.”
“Okay. I am kinda hungry. I was so focused on getting here that I forgot to eat my rations.”
“I would think you would be hungry then. Let’s get you some food and a comfortable place to lay your head. Tomorrow will come quickly enough.”
“Thank you, General Thorne.”
“It’s Alban, for now.”
“Thank you, Alban.”
He ruffled the boys hair and led him out of the room toward the kitchen.
CHAPTER 33
When she finally arrived into the city of Vallis, there was much fanfare. The sky was darkening when they reached the city gates, and the houses and main thoroughfare were glittering with brightly colored lanterns. Ribbons adorned the pathways, and there was music playing somewhere off to her left, down a path to somewhere she could not see from her vantage point.
They dismounted on the other side of the gate, handing their reins over to three elves who were waiting just inside. Two more elves were also waiting to escort them to Theron, the Elvin King of Vallis.
Melenthia stared openly at her surroundings. Elves stood in doorways watching her pass, and children laughed and skittered around her while she meandered down the lane. The city was not like anything she’d ever seen. Simply constructed houses, most with thatched roofs, and gardens with flowers abundantly flourishing on the properties and lining the dirt pathways. Some houses were situated in the tall ancient trees with bridge paths leading to and fro. Some of the houses had smoke billowing from the chimney stacks, some had doors and windows opened wide to let in the cool but comfortable night air. She could smell good things cooking from somewhere close, and the sound of music she heard earlier was growing louder the further into the city they went.
After traveling for at least ten minutes, they turned down another path, this one lined with small trees on either side, and instead of dirt, there was some kind of bark pressed together to keep the path free from mud. There was a large but simple house looming in front of her now, and the windows were lit with a soft yellow light. There were two guards standing on the bottom step of the entrance. They nodded to the visitors as they passed.
They entered the house, and the escorts stopped and opened a set of double doors, motioning them to step inside. Once they had, the doors closed behind them, the escorts gone. Tomaz went forward and motioned Sol and Melenthia to do the same.
Another elf sat on a large chair on the top of a three stepped dais. He had a long thick black braid of hair running down his back, and his eyes were the color of emeralds, with crinkles in the corners every time he smiled. He looked down on them with kindness; she felt the same peace inside she had felt when she first met Tomaz, warm and friendly. The elf had on a robe of white, with silver sparkles that shimmered every time the light hit it just right, and a simple crown of silver on his head.
Tomaz genuflected on one knee, head bowed; Sol followed. Melenthia looked at both of them, then back at the elf on the dais and did the same. She suddenly realized this must be the king.
After they had knelt for only moments, he spoke. “Arise, my friends, we have anxiously awaited your arrival.”
The three of them stood, and Tomaz went forward up the stairs. The older man lifted his hand revealing a ring with a simple milky white gem in it. Tomaz leaned down and kissed the ring. “The road was long but fortunately we had no trouble, Grandfather.”
Melenthia blinked at that. Tomaz was not only the highest ranking warrior in the city, but also the grandson of its king.
“A blessing to be sure, but perhaps more due to the adept sorcery of your traveling companion.”
Sol bowed to the king. “You flatter me, Your Majesty. I do what I can.”
“Your humility is wasted on me, Sol. I know better than anyone, except perhaps Pyramus, just how worthy you are of the title Sorcerer Master.”
Sol smiled and Tomaz laughed. “Let me introduce you to Melenthia Eyrn, Grandfather, Princess of Aaralyn, daughter of His Majesty, King Randor Breslin.”
“Approach my child. Let me look at you closer.”
She looked at Sol who nodded her forward. She went up the stairs and stood in front of the old elf, whose green eyes were twinkling at her in the rooms light. He took her hands in his and smiled up at her. His hands were soft, and she felt a wave of warmth wash over her entire being. She felt safe and calm.
“You are just as lovely as I’ve been told and just as feisty, I would imagine as well.”
She blushed slightly, but said nothing.
“You do not need to worry about anything while you are here. This is a day we have waited for for more than five hundred years. Here you will be safe. Protected by the spells that have kept Vallis hidden from outsiders for thousands of years. Tomaz will train you well, and you will fulfill your destiny before the year has come to a close. This is the beginning for you, of your life to come. What you make of it is up to you.”
She looked deep into his kind eyes and wanted to speak, but something held her back. This was the king of the oldest race of beings this world had ever seen, and he was probably much older than he looked. She felt respect and therefore a loss for words.
“I was very saddened when I heard the news about your father, Melenthia. Your father was a good king, and a good man. I have no doubts that your brother Kevaan will rule Aaralyn with the same just hand, but Randors death is a loss to the kingdom nevertheless.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Your
respect for my father is appreciated, and your willingness to ally your people with King Dainard is also a great honor.”
“This is a difficult time for everyone. People are suffering greatly at the hand of the evil one. The only way to vanquish him will be to stand together and fight as one, with you at the lead.”
She suddenly felt uncomfortable under those piercing green eyes. “I still think that your faith in me is premature. I have only just found out about who I am; I’m not even sure I can accomplish the fate that has befallen me.”
“You do not yet understand your importance or your strength. In time you will. That is why you are here. Together, we will make you believe in who you are.”
She did not answer again. He smiled at her and squeezed her hands gently. “You must be tired. Tonight there will be no talk of evil or of what lie before you. We will feast and dance and make merry. Tomorrow you will rest and explore the city which will be your home for an indefinite period of time. I want you to feel comfortable here, Melenthia, and think of us as your family. We will care for you just as if you were our own, and we will protect you. There will be nothing you shall need or want while you are here. Trust us.”
His smile was infectious, and she found herself smiling back. He winked at her, and she became totally enamored with him. The cares and worry she felt on the trip here melted away.
“That’s better. Now, if my grandson will be so kind as to show you where you will be staying, I would appreciate it.”
“Of course, Grandfather.” He bowed and then discreetly nodded to Sol to head out, that he’d be close behind. When Sol and Melenthia were out of hearing distance, he turned back to the king. “She has already been burdened so much. I am afraid it will be too much for her to handle. Perhaps telling her about her past should wait until we feel she is more ready.”
“I do not plan on revealing anything just yet, but it is more than time she find out about her heritage. Randor was a good man. I would not have allowed things to happen if he was not, but he should have told her things sooner. He did not trust enough to see that she was mature enough to handle it. Now the news will be more painful. Let us give her a chance to get settled and become more aware of her strength. Once she is secure in the fact that she is indeed the Chosen One and can handle what is to come, then we will tell her who she really is.”
Dark One Rising Page 40