The man stopped his horse from rearing again a moment before the other horse and rider popped out of the trees. The new arrival looked down at the two men, weapons drawn, and stopped dead, pulling his horse next to his companion.
Alek raised his bow to the first man and said, “Get off your horse, nice and slow, hands were I can see them.”
The man swung down and slid to the ground, the bow leveled at his head. Kevaan lifted his sword up to the second man’s throat. “Now you.”
He slipped down out of his saddle as well.
“Now, let’s see what information you can give us that will make us happy. Lie to me and you’ll find your head rolling on the ground by your feet. Who are you, and why were you following us?” Kevaan demanded.
The first man looked at him, eyes flicking from him to Alek, then back to him.
“We weren’t. My name is Zayn. My companion is Aldis. We are knights in Lord Ulric’s army of Danyl. We were enlisted to carry a message to King Dainard.”
“What are you doing this far north. It’s a fairly straight journey from Danyl through the Zairn Pass into the capital.”
“The Zairn Pass is too dangerous to travel through these days, so we went the long way. Fallon has taken Bardolf and Ashlan. We barely escaped. We had to barter passage across the Elanorrah Lake. When we got into Amaris we saw that it had been destroyed. As we were leaving another horde came through, and we were ambushed. I lost twenty of my men. The city is no more.”
So Alek was right about them returning. He had evacuated the city just in time. Kevaan lowered his sword and Alek his bow. “We know about Amaris. I evacuated the city myself. So Danyl does not stand with Fallon?” Alek said to the men.
The other man answered him. “No, Lord Ulric has refused to join Fallon’s duchy. He stands alone. We were on our way to Zhen. We had a garrison holding the fortress there, but it has fallen. The giants are on the march. They have already been through Ianna and are making their way toward the border. Fallon intends to take the Isamarian cities next. Lord Ulric stands against Fallon and, because of that, has lost a lot of men. Fallon seems to have no qualms about stepping where he has no place to, and the giants have only solidified his ability to bully the nobles into his cause. Lord Ulric knows that he won’t be able to withstand Fallon’s army forever. He needs more troops.”
Alek shook Zayn’s hand then Aldis’. “We are friends here, you have nothing to fear from us. This is Kevaan Breslin of Aaralyn. I’m Alek Morgan, King Dainard’s Royal Advisor. I have to ask. The Earl of Hallmar, Ruan de Gracy, was he with the garrison at Zhen?”
“No. He is helping to hold down the keep in Danyl with Lord Ulric. Why?”
“The king will be most pleased to know that his cousin is still walking upright.”
“At least from when we left him. It’s hard to say what’s happened since then. It was three weeks ago after all.”
“I will remain optimistic for His Majesty’s sake.”
Zayn nodded. “Where were you headed, Your Highness?”
“We were on our way to the Triple Cities to make sure the wall was secure, then on to Isamar to speak with the chancellor.”
“You won’t like what you find there. The wall at Ulam withstood the most, but it still has been breached. Like I said, Zhen has fallen, and it and Bohden are in ruins, the people fleeing into Lakendra as we speak, but there’s not much room for them. King Dainard may just have thousands come into Eston to escape hunger and death, and I don’t think the city can hold that many. It is a dire situation indeed.”
“The border has been breached? This is worse than I suspected. I’m sure the king was not expecting this either. That means getting into Kingswell will be nearly impossible from here. We’ll have to take the woods all the way into Barden, then cross into Kingswell from the Northeast.”
“It will take more time,” Kevaan said.
“It hardly matters,” Aldis said. “We heard that Fallon’s army is already marching toward Kingswell. He tried to take the castle once, but your men were ready and held them back. But you can bet he won’t fail a second time.”
“Damn him!” Kevaan growled. “You’re telling me I’m already too late, or will be by the time we get there?”
“I’m sorry for the bad news, Your Highness, but I fear Fallon may already sit on the throne.”
Alek looked at Kevaan with concern. “What’s your move now?”
“I will need to get to Charbonneau to ready my garrison for war.”
Alek nodded sadly. He shifted his attention to Zayn. “How long do you reckon that Lord Ulric can hold the army back?”
“No more than a few weeks. He has lost a lot of men, but his keep is fortified adequately. Fallon has already taken all of the towns on his side of the Indriahs. He is moving some of his troops east into Azlyn and the rest of them north into Isamar. The coastal city of Kieran might be next. It would give him the advantage, with an armada of ships from there, to attack the east from the coast.”
“I can’t believe Fallon is bold enough to try and attack His Ma-jesty right under his nose,” Alek said.
Aldis answered, “With control of Lachlan Castle, I think he’s confident he will prevail. The giants and the creatures that he has in his ranks are enough for anyone to bend to his will. Most of the commanders are unaware of the influence he has. I don’t think they are in their right minds. Lord Ulric is strong minded and has up to now withstood whatever mind numbing Fallon’s creature has tried to create, but it’s only a matter of time. His creature is strong and will eventually wear him down.”
“The wraith.”
“Yes.”
Kevaan and Alek looked at each other and frowned. “We have witnessed his power first hand. He bent my father to his will, getting him to relinquish his hold on assets and accounts. My father could not withstand the push any longer. He is dead.”
Zayn frowned. He looked at Aldis and then back at Keevan. “My condolences, Sire.” Both men bowed to him. “Then it’s your throne that’s in danger,” Zayn said.
“Aye.”
Alek said, “I guess I will still go to Isamar. We need all the fighters we can get.”
“You will be hard pressed to get there before he does. He has already struck the village of Barksdale on the border and has moved into Xandra. Your best bet would be to move west from here into Salador and beat him there. The Tribal Council of Isamar have their headquarters there. It would be the fastest way of reaching Chancellor Jaxon before he does.”
“I think the elves could get there faster from Vallis,” Alek declared
The two guards looked at each other then back at Alek.“You can get in touch with the elves?”
“Sort of. I know how to get as far as their front door but don’t know if I can get in.”
“Would they help us?”
“Yes, they have already given their allegiance to us. The dwarves as well. I’m sure the elves would send a representative to accompany me to the Isamarian headquarters.”
“What extraordinary times these are. I never would have thought I’d see the day when the elves joined man.”
“This cause goes beyond just us, beyond anything we could ever have imagined. Fallon is in league with the Dark One, and the demons are helping him take down the realms. There is only one who can stop him. She has already been sent to Vallis to prepare for battle.”
“She?”
“Yes. The Tanith Prophecy is true, and the Chosen One is a female.”
“I didn’t even hear that the Chosen One had been born, much less that it’s a female.”
Alek and Kevaan looked at each other knowingly. “You don’t get out much, I assume. The rumors have been traveling for some time now.”
“We are a bit isolated from things on our side of the pass. News usually gets to us last. The Pass is not easily crossed through, especially not in the last few months. Most go around, and that takes time. So news gets to us rather slowly. We have heard of the rumor, but not that i
t was truth.”
“We were just as surprised. With Randor dead, Kevaan will be next. He needs to ready his army. I need to continue on. We have to enlist as many cities as we can. Every able body must prepare for war.”
“What can we do?”
“You can get to Drydon Keep like you planned and give the king an update. He will need to know that Fallon has moved east, and Lachlan Castle has been besieged. Tarak and Henri will accompany you. The rest of the men and I will make sure Kevaan reaches Charbonneau safely, then I’ll ride back to Vallis. It’ll take time but I won’t take any chances with his life. With Randor gone, Kevaan is the only hope for Aaralyn. After that I’ll go to Salador and see about getting to the chancellor before Fallon does. If the Isamarians know he’s coming, they can prepare. With an elf or two with me, I will feel safe enough to travel into unknown territory. You’ll need all the protection you can get in order to reach Drydon Keep with no incidents. That’s the plan. Make sure His Majesty gets the message.”
The two men mounted their horses again and nodded down to Alek and Kevaan. “Good luck to you.”
“To you as well.”
The four men disappeared into the trees again, heading back toward Eston.
“What are the odds that they’ll make it in time?” Alek asked.
“If they can avoid most of the main roads, and if the troops in the Triple Cities stay put, they have a good chance. If Dain gets that message, he’ll make sure he dispatches his army into the west and spreads them out along both borders.” He grimaced. “Fallon is getting bolder”
“He knows that with the help of the giants, and whatever other creatures he has enlisted, he can instill fear, and when people are afraid, they will bend.”
Kevaan frowned. “What do you think happened to my men and my staff?”
“He probably has them locked up and out of the way.”
“If they are dead….” He let it hang.
“He wouldn’t do that. They are more valuable to him alive than dead. I wish I was Melenthia. She gets the fun of killing that bastard.”
“I wouldn’t put too much stock in my sisters ability to kill someone. She may be the Chosen One, but I think she’ll have a hard time going through with it when the time comes.”
“I think you underestimate her. She’s grown more mature since you left her on our doorstep and stronger. I think she’s ready to do what is needed for the kingdom. Sol and Tomaz feel she’s ready, so I for one will take their word for it. And with her training there, I’m sure she’s even more ready.”
“I hope you’re right, or we could all be doomed.”
“Let’s get on the road. I want to be through the Dark Woods and into the valley before morning, and we need not tarry getting to Charbonneau. The faster I get you home, the faster I can get back to Vallis. Having an elf or two with me will strengthen our chances of getting the chancellor to join us.”
They mounted their horses and headed out into the woods. It was dark now. They stayed within the trees, even though the darkness made seeing difficult. The moonlight shone its light occasionally through the break in the canopy, but mostly they had to use instinct to find their way. All was quiet until Kevaan said, “Can I ask you something?”
Alek looked over to his friend, their stirrups practically touching in order to stay together and not get separated in the pitch black.
“Of course, Kevaan, you’re my friend. There’s nothing you can’t ask.”
“I know he’s your friend too, but I really need you to be honest with me.”
He knew what Kevaan was going to ask, so he asked the question for him. “You want to know if Dain really loves Melenthia.”
Kevaan tossed him a look even though Alek could only see an outline of him. “Yes. I don’t mean to doubt him, especially in front of you, but I need to be sure that his intentions are honorable and true. He said as much, but I’m still unsure. My sister has never been one to fall for a handsome face, or a flattering tongue, but after all this time and everything that has happened to her, she could’ve let her guard down. She’s had too much heartbreak to have to endure more.”
“At first I was unsure myself. I, more than anyone, know how Dain works. I’ve seen him get a woman to succumb to his charm with nothing but a smile, but this time it’s real. Your sister has done something to him, changed him in ways I can’t explain. I watched him change since your sister was placed under our roof, and I can honestly tell you, with every truth in my soul, that Dain is deeply in love with her. I worry that he won’t be himself while she’s away from him. I don’t fear that he will seek other company to wile the time away. His love is true, and she is the only one now.”
“I never thought my sister had it in her to charm someone such as he. She can be endearing when she wants to be but has never been able to charm anyone like that.”
“I think that being herself, and in doing so, getting Dain to once again be himself, was the way she charmed him. He had forgotten who he was for a long time. I think he saw a lot of his mother in her, and he loved her like no boy has loved his mother. I assure you, Kevaan, that Melenthia will never have to worry about Dain finding another while she is away, or otherwise. He is true.”
“Thank you for telling me. Even though I could see a different woman before me, I needed reassurance that once all this was over, she’d have something to come home to.”
“This will be the most difficult challenge she’ll ever face. Her road is going to be long and hard. She can do it, but she can’t do it alone.”
“I hope she’s alright.”
Alek reached across and touched Kevaan on the shoulder. “She’ll be fine. Sol is an adept sorcerer and from what I felt from Tomaz, I know she will be safe. They will train her with everything she needs to take down Fallon and his army.”
“How did this happen? How did we lose control of our kingdom so easily?”
“Security. Things have been peaceful among our realms for millennia. We were secure in that fact and dropped our guard.”
“No longer. If we don’t stop Fallon before his troops move across the entire kingdom we’ll be destroyed. Maybe time is what matters. Maybe you should go back now. I’ll take the men. I will be safe with them.”
Alek glanced at the other men and smiled. “I don’t doubt the strength or their adequate training, but I won’t feel secure until I see you escorted safely myself. I and these men are not enough of a cortege for a king, but, under the circumstances, it’ll have to be. I won’t lose you, my friend.”
“I learned long ago not to argue with you. You’re as stubborn as Melenthia.”
Alek smiled at that. “I take that as a compliment. Let’s get you home before you have no home to get to.”
“Here, here.”
When they reached the Valley of Echoes, they changed course slightly and found a place to stop for the night. Once the sun was barely above the horizon, they set out again. They traveled all day and stopped only to refill their water bladders and water the horses. They ate on the road and slept little. It took three weeks to reach Charbonneau, and except for a small skirmish of bandits on the outskirts of the city, their travel was uneventful. Fallon’s troops seemed to be holing up for awhile to prepare for war. With a throne to sit on, Alek was not surprised that Fallon was taking his time now, and suspected that he felt confident enough that he wouldn’t lose his place in the immediate future. He was arrogantly enjoying the victory, if only for a while.
Alek stayed only one night in Kevaan’s estate, enough to sleep a little and refill his supplies. The men who had escorted them would stay with Kevaan and offer added assistance. Kevaan was not happy with Alek’s solo departure, and at night, but did not argue with his friend. Alek had been a Bounty Hunter way too long for Kevaan to question his decisions. Alek had been traveling this kingdom for almost two decades and knew the back roads and the woods better than anyone. He would blend in, disappear, move through the kingdom like a ghost, unseen, unnoticed.
/> Kevaan took a few minutes to say his farewells to his oldest friend and wished him a safe and speedy journey. He knew the next time they saw each other it would be in the heat of battle, and it saddened him, but knew neither could change it. They embraced, and Alek mounted his new destrier. “Is there anything I should tell your sister?”
“Only that I love her.”
He nodded to his friend and turned his mount to exit under the gate and out onto the road. Kevaan said a silent prayer as he watched Alek ride away, then went into the house to eat and sleep. Tomorrow the real work would begin.
CHAPTER 35
Brogan and his party dismounted in the outer bailey of the Keep a couple of hours before dark. The gray sky had been threatening rain all day, and although there were a few spatterings here and there, the sky had not yet opened up. The gray clouds were heavy and hid the sun, causing the cold to settle in. He was afraid the darkness was finally upon them.
He was anxious to get some warm food and some blood warming ale, and he was looking forward to greeting his king again. He was very happy to be down from that mountain, with its narrow switchbacks and precarious ledges. He wanted to kiss the solid flat earth of the bailey, but thought it better to remain stalwart.
A page from the guard tower led the tired and dirty men from the bailey into the castle to Dain’s war room. When the door opened and the page entered, Dain was bent over some maps and papers strewn everywhere across the large table. There were two other men in the room with him, men who Brogan didn’t know.
Dain looked over his shoulder at the new company and turned to greet them. He approached Brogan first, sticking out his hand for him to shake. Brogan took it, then bowed to him.
Dain brushed the gesture off. “There will be none of that formality here, my friend. Welcome home.” They embraced.
“It’s good to be back. I can’t tell you how glad I am to be on level ground again. And those tunnels inside the mountain…” He shivered. “I’ll take the open air of the sea if you please.”
Dark One Rising Page 42