by Michael Karr
“It already has. The Castle Ahlderon is in my power, thanks to your friend and his tutor. Next time you would do well to perform a more thorough background check of your hired help.”
“What do you mean?” said Skylar, feeling a pit growing rapidly in his stomach.
“That so-called tutor you hired was no tutor at all, but the same traitor who helped murder your parents. He and your little school friend helped my soldiers seize your castle. They are there now, waiting for my daughter to take her rightful place on the throne and for my armies to crush anyone who stands in her way.”
Morvath…the tutor?
He refused to comprehend these words. It couldn’t be!
Morvath…how could he…
Too stunned to speak, he simply stood, completely dumbfounded. What of his mother? And Rolander? And Krom? Panic crawled from deep inside his gut, took hold of his heart, and began strangling it.
“But you won’t have to worry about that much longer,” the empress went on. “Daughter, would you do the honors of dispatching your little brother?”
The princess did not hesitate for even a breath of a moment.
“With pleasure.”
Retrieving a dagger from her desk, the empress handed the blade to her daughter. With a flash of hatred, the princess took the blade and advanced on Skylar.
“The devil you will!” growled Endrick.
With painful effort, he placed his full weight on his crippled legs, taking a step forward to shield Skylar.
“Your Majesty, if I might be allowed to make a suggestion…”
Rizain Du Kava’s voice cut through the scene like the dagger clutched in the princess’ hands. All halted and turned to the weapons master.
“What is it, Rizain?” asked the empress, impatience turning her words to ice.
“Only that it would seem a pity for the deed to be done with so few witnesses.”
“And why is that?”
“When news of it spreads, the popularity and favor of the princess with the people shall only increase. But consider if she were to end his life in open combat before the very eyes of your people. The Trials require she meet another challenger. Would such not be a fitting test? The strength of arm and will to kill her own brother for the sake of her people.”
“Yes, I see the wisdom in what you say, Rizain. Let it be done then. The other challenger shall be replaced by one…whom the people shall greatly enjoy watching die. We will make a grand spectacle of the event. Everyone must know that we have Ahlderon’s precious son. Rizain, I’m putting his guard strictly in your charge. Nothing is to happen to him between now and then. Nothing!”
“Yes, Your Eminence.” Du Kava bowed at the waist slowly.
“And see that his wounds are dressed.”
“And what of his companion?”
For the first time, the empress seemed to notice Endrick.
“Send him to the executioner and have him remove his head from his body. He is of no importance to me.”
“No!” cried Skylar. “He is Endrick, First Night of Ahlderon. I demand his life be spared. You have me. That’s what you want. Let him return to Ahlderon. Since your army is so powerful, what fear have you of one more? Let him fight you. Unless you are too afraid.”
“Be silent, you insolent little brat!”
The empress sliced her hand through the air as if to cut down an invisible foe.
“You have no power here. Call me a coward? Send the nuisance back to Ahlderon? No, if he’ll share your fate, let him fight with you, what little help he’ll be.”
“Send for the guards.”
“He’ll betray you,” said Skylar, his voice cracking from the raw emotions coursing through him. “Morvath—he’ll make you wish you had stayed on Gorgoroth.”
She turned and looked at him proudly. “Do you think I intend to let that perfidious liar live? I am only using him to get Ahlderon.”
* * *
The empress made better on her words than Skylar could have imagined. In the week leading up the proclaimed battle, Skylar and Endrick received special care. A physician visited every day to apply fresh bandages to Skylar’s back and to check Endrick’s legs. It turned out that but one of his legs was broken, the other only badly sprained. With a splint on the other, he could walk, though feebly. The companions suffered no want of hunger either. A maid brought them regular meals, with sufficient helpings to satisfy even Endrick’s appetite. They were bathed and clothed. Were it not for the bolted door and incessant watch of Rizain Du Kava, Skylar might have imagined himself a guest in the castle.
Any comfort they enjoyed at the empress’ hand was lost on Skylar, though. They might as well have been confined to the sweltering depths of the Inferno for all it mattered to him. The bitterness which raged inside him would not allow him any peace, any comfort or solace. Though death soon came for him, he might have felt at peace. The empress words haunted him. If she spoke the truth, then his defeat was complete. The Castle Ahlderon fallen. How long before the rest of the empire? Grüny and Kendyl were free. But how long before they too were captured?
The day of the battle arrived. Manservants came and dressed Endrick and Skylar for the fight. Skylar felt more like they were undressing them for all that remained covering their bodies after the servants finished. Except for leather bands encasing their forearms, their upper torsos were left bare. About their waists were short pants, cinched tight at mid-thigh. Their feet were shod with light footwear, made for nimble movement.
“I hope it’s warm outside today,” said Endrick. “We’re practically naked.”
Skylar felt too numb on the inside to feel either hot or cold on the outside.
Once garbed, the companions were escorted by four armed guards, with Rizain Du Kava as their master, down to the stable yard. It was there that Skylar saw his first glimpse of his sister since the night he and Endrick were captured. She did not look at him, but walked proudly across the flagstones and climbed into a carriage. Though more modestly attired, she was garbed in similar fashion. Endrick noticed.
“At least she gets some covering on her upper half,” he muttered. “An unfair advantage, without a doubt.”
The guards forced them into a caged cart, not unlike the one Skylar had arrived in as a slave from Rajar Koon’s compound. Iron bars clanged shut behind them.
Within minutes the procession commenced. The carriage carrying the princess led the entourage, flanked by a squadron of mounted castle guards. Skylar believed the carriage must hold the empress as well. Their own cart brought up the rear, in front of which walked a crier, who proclaimed Skylar’s name through all the streets.
“Behold and make way,” he shouted, “for the royal son of Ahlderon, Prince Korbyn Ducädese. Bow before his mighty splendor!”
The people laughed when they beheld the mighty splendor trapped like a bird in a cage. Many cast aspersions at him. Others cast rotting fruit or mud at him.
Skylar did not care. How could anyone possibly hurt him any more than the irreparable damage he’d already suffered?
By the time they reached the arena, Endrick and Skylar were covered in bits of food and dirt.
“They couldn’t throw any pies?” said Endrick, wiping a green liquid from his cheek.
The procession entered through the arena gates and pulled into an alcove. Their guards immediate hauled Endrick and Skylar down a corridor and dumped them into an empty room. One of the guards pointed to a few buckets of water occupying the corner before bolting the door closed.
Using the water, the pair washed.
“I’m sorry I got you into this,” said Skylar when they had finished washing as best they could.
“I’m not. I’m looking forward to getting back at that sister of yours.”
“You? Look at you. You can’t fight. You can scarcely stand.”
“Can too. Just let her come near me, I’ll whack her toes off.”
Skylar sh
ook his head, unable to keep from smiling.
“This is hardly the time for your jesting, old friend.”
“Who said anything about jesting?”
“That’s very well for you. As for me…I can’t fight her. She’s my own sister.”
“Ah, don’t give me that! She’s your enemy, not your sister. She wants you dead. Besides, you don’t have to kill her, just chop off her arm so she can’t fight. And maybe her tongue, too.”
“It’s a moot argument, anyway,” said Skylar. “She’s ten times the warrior I am.”
“I’d say more like twelve.”
Skylar snorted. Who but Endrick could make levity is such bleak circumstances?
“I was hoping that…that she wouldn’t be able to go through with it.”
Endrick placed a strong arm on Skylar’s shoulder.
“I pray she cannot, Skylar. I wish nothing more than to one day call you king.”
“Good and faithful, Endrick. You’re more friend than any man desires. Though I wish you were safely free of here, it is a comfort to have you at my side to the end.”
Just then, Du Kava unlocked the portal door and entered with two guards.
“It is time,” was all he said, then led them out. Out to meet the grim fate that awaited them. Out to die at the hand of his own sister.
Of all the things that might have passed through his mind, Skylar simply found himself wishing that he could remember what day it was on Ahlderon, and if he had missed his mother’s birthday.
Twenty-seven
Skylar and Endrick approached the castle from the shadows. Its harsh form stood against the blood red sky like a great phantom, with its many amber eyes peering with menace into the darkness. Skylar shivered involuntarily at the sight of it. With every step that drew them closer to it, his confidence diminished. Not solely because of the threatening appearance of the castle. But because of the fresh memory it ignited within him. Fear that he might not escape again gripped him.
In spite of his fears, he maintained his resolve to go through with his plans. A resolve he could not have maintained without Endrick as his side.
The pair were better equipped than when they rescued Grüny. Wenna had been right about the value of the pendant. Endrick and Grüny had managed to sell it for a considerable sum. Sufficient to buy passage on a shuttle bound for Oon Vunda the next morning, with plenty left over to spare. They hadn’t needed to sell the matching bracelet. This they saved to sell at another time, if needed. A sizeable portion of what remained from the transaction would be reserved for the purchase of Endrick and Skylar’s passage, once that time arrived. Still, there was sufficient to outfit them with new clothes and gear. Each wore thick cloaks, with the cowls pulled over their faces. Hanging from their belts, shielded from view, were long daggers. Endrick also carried a grappling hook and cord—an item which Endrick had insisted they procure.
Between the pair, Skylar carried their most vital accouterment. At least, so far as their success in stealing into the castle was concerned. Beneath his cloak, under the crook of his right arm, swayed a quarter rundlet of mead. A bribe for the gatekeepers, who they hoped would feel disgruntled at being left out of the festivities, as well as less vigilant because everyone of importance was currently away from the castle, attending the General’s feast.
They stalked across the narrow bridge. The distant roar of the river far below them echoed in their ears, masking their footfall. Ahead, two bright torches cast an orange glow about the outer gates. As Endrick and Skylar glided from shadow to torchlight, a shout rang out from the somewhere above.
“Halt! Who trespasses at the castle gate?”
Endrick looked up in the direction of the voice, squinting.
“No one of any consequence,” replied Endrick.
“Then get away from here. Unless you want a couple of bolts in your necks.”
Endrick raised his hands defensively and took a small step backward.
“Fine,” he said. “We don’t want any trouble.”
He made as if to turn around. Then added, almost as an afterthought, “We had thought you might be interested in some mead, but…”
Shrugging innocently, Endrick motioned to Skylar for them to depart. Doing his best to act disappointed, Skylar followed Endrick’s lead. They’d taken but two steps when the voice called back to them.
“Hold there!”
Endrick stopped and turned back.
After a few moments, the guardhouse door next to the gate creaked open. From its open mouth, two armed sentries strode out, crossbows leveled at the companions.
“What’s the talk about mead?” growled one of the sentries.
In response, Skylar pulled back his cloak to reveal the miniaturized cask under his arm. The closest sentry jerked his crossbow at Skylar.
“What’ve you got there,” he demanded.
At the sight of the cask, however, the two men relaxed a little. One of the sentries motioned with his head for the other to investigate. Lowering his weapon, the second sentry moved to follow the order. Unstoppering the cask, the sentry brought his nose up to the hole.
“Smells like the good stuff,” he reported to his comrade.
“Let’s have a taste,” replied the other. “Have you a tap?”
From somewhere within his person, Endrick produced a metal tap and handed it to the guard. Using the butt end of his crossbow, the guard drove the tap into the keystone with one blow. While his comrade held the cask, the one who seemed to be in charge opened the tap enough to let some of the liquid spill over his fingers. He tasted it, mouth twisting up, as he examined the flavor on his tongue. With a satisfied nod, he tasted some more. Then some more.
Handing his crossbow to Endrick, the sentry took a knee and brought his open mouth underneath the tap.
“What!” cried the other. “You think I’m gonna hold this all night for you?”
“Fine. I was just making sure it weren’t drugged.”
The sentry rose to his in feet and took back his crossbow.
“What do you two want?”
Endrick shrugged innocently.
“My friend and I were hoping…” he began, letting out an awkward laugh and casting a glance at Skylar. “That is…there’s a couple serving wenches that we were hoping…er…to see.”
The sentries chuckled knowingly.
“Oh, ho! Is that it?”
The guard holding the cask nudged Skylar with his elbow, the way boys at the Academy on Haladras had often done when they spoke about girls. Those types of conversations had never interested him. Still, he did his best to play along. For his part, he wondered when Endrick became such an excellent actor. If Skylar didn’t know any better, he would have believed Endrick did have a sweetheart waiting for him on the other side of that gate.
“So, what’re the names of these lucky dames?”
“Names, eh?” said Endrick, scratching the back of his head. “Well…er.”
The sentries burst out laughing again.
“Anyone will do, is that it?”
The two laughed heartily, with Endrick joining in, as convincing as he’d been thus far. One of the sentries wiped a tear from his eye.
“Alright, you two can come inside. Just don’t cause any trouble, and be out before midnight. And don’t tell anyone how you got in.”
Nodding vigorously their assent, the companions followed as the gatekeepers led them through the guardhouse entry and out into the open inner bailey. After instructing the companions on where to find the unlocked service entry around the side of the castle, the sentries went back inside to enjoy the gift of mead.
The inside of the castle was not as cold as Skylar remembered. But then, the last time he’d walked its corridors, his clothes were but rags clinging loosely to his frail body. They walked past the wooden door, which opened to the stairwell to the Inferno. He walked quickly past it, wanting nothing whatever to do with that part of the
castle.
In the kitchen, they found an intimate huddle of kitchen maids jabbering in low voices around a table, a single candle providing them light. The women turned when they heard the companions enter and shot them cold stares. The women said nothing, though, and soon returned to sipping from their mugs and chattering quietly. The companions followed one of the corridors leading out of the kitchen. As best as Skylar could recall, it was the same through which Cartwright had led them on that day he first saw the Empress of Gorgoroth.
As he hoped, the corridor led them into the wider corridor, which led to the throne room. At the opposite end of the corridor from the throne room, they found a stairwell. He didn’t know where to look, but he felt that the empress’ own apartments were as good a place as any. Unless the empress hated heights, or stairs, only one of the uppermost levels of the castle would be lofty enough for her. And he knew, from his brief exposure to her, that she was far too proud to acknowledge either weakness, much less make accommodations for them.
“So, you want to move as far away from our escape route as possible?” said Endrick, when he told him where he wished to look.
“Isn’t that why we brought the grappling hooks and cord?”
“The hook is just for show. The cord is to tie up a crazy prince and drag him out of this castle.”
They climbed seven flights of stairs before they found anything which looked promising. At the end of a lengthy corridor, the walls broke away into an open antechamber. At the far end of the antechamber, a pair of double wooden doors stood, flanked by a pair of elaborate iron sconces. A scarlet red flag, bearing the black silhouette of a crossed sword and fisted arm, hung above the door. The Tor’s national flag. A few steps led up to the doors. These Skylar mounted.
He found it peculiar that no sentries stood outside these doors. Perhaps, it wasn’t the empress’ apartment, as he hoped. Or maybe the guards were all on slacker patrol with their mistress gone. Whatever the reason, he expected, at least, that the door would be locked. He tested it. To his surprise, the latch clicked and the door swung ajar. Skylar glanced up at Endrick.