The Cavalier Trilogy: Book 03 - Glimmer in the Shadow

by Jason McWhirter

  “I just want to do my part,” she said.

  “And you are. There are many women who are stronger than you but lacked the courage to volunteer. You have something they do not, and it will carry you through life. Just keep working at it,” Allindrian said smiling. “Now everyone, let’s go again!” she yelled, bringing all the women scurrying from their resting spots back to the line.

  Tuvallis sat with Seli at a thick oak table in one of the mess halls located on the eastern side of the city. They were both enjoying a steaming bowl of stew accompanied by a thick hunk of bread and a savory round of goat cheese. They had been given an unofficial medal of honor for their service at the Gildren Garrison. It was this medallion, stamped with the king’s signet, which allowed them access to the mess hall and other military locations that would normally have been off limits.

  It was here that Jonas found him. Jonas had talked briefly with Tuvallis when he came in with Hagar, but his busy schedule hadn’t allowed for much conversation. He was now glad to have a chance to talk with him. Jonas slid into one of the heavy oak chairs next to the mountain man as Tulari curled up beside him. Even in her dog form she still looked intimidating, and most stayed clear of her. There was something wild about her that made her appear not only unapproachable, but very possibly dangerous.

  “Nice mutt,” Tuvallis grunted, looking down at the dog. Tulari lifted her huge head and growled.

  “Evening Tuvallis, I’m glad I found you,” Jonas said with a smile. “I see you are still the same well-mannered gentleman.”

  Tuvallis swallowed some stew soaked bread and looked at Jonas. He shook his head in bewilderment. “I still can’t believe 'tis you. You are not de same boy I met in de mountains. You’ve done well. Your ma would be proud of ya.”

  Jonas nodded his head in thought as his mind drifted briefly to his mother. Then he smiled quickly and looked at Seli. “I’m Jonas Kanrene, it’s a pleasure to meet a friend of Tuvallis as I didn’t think he had any.”

  “Well met, Jonas. I’m Seli of the Free Legion,” she said, laughing.

  Tuvallis dropped a chunk of bread into his stew and looked at Jonas menacingly. “And I didn’t know we be good enough friends to jest so.” Jonas’s smile momentarily disappeared as he feared he may have offended the mountain man. Then Tuvallis grinned back at him. “I’m jokin' as well, son.”

  They laughed briefly together and it seemed to relax them all.

  “If you don’t mind me saying you look different without your beard, almost human in fact,” Jonas said.

  “Now they won’t mistake him for an orc,” Seli added, laughing. Tuvallis glared at them both as Seli winked at Jonas.

  Tuvallis ignored them. “Jonas, I don't mean to pry, but I had heard that you were a cavalier. And now I see you are not. What happened?”

  “It is a long story, Tuvallis, a story that I will gladly tell if we make it out of this fight alive. But yes I was a cavalier and I am no more. But know that I am still in Shyann’s service.”

  “So you did not fall from her grace?” Seli asked.

  “No, Seli. I was captured by Dykreel agents,” Jonas said softly.

  “I’m sorry,” Seli whispered, clearly embarrassed she had brought it up.

  “Do not worry. I survived, but I came out of the situation tainted in a way that made it impossible for Shyann to find me, to link her magic directly to me,” Jonas said.

  There was an uncomfortable moment of silence as they tried to imagine what it must have been like for Jonas. They could not imagine what a cavalier would have to endure in the chains of the Master of Torments. They had both heard terrifying stories of what could happen to someone at the hands of Dykreel clerics, and neither of them would wish any of it even on their enemies.

  “I’m sorry, son. Seems a lot has happened since I saw ya last and not much of it good. What happened to your friend, Fil?”

  “Finarthian soldier, he is training to be a knight,” Jonas replied.

  Tuvallis grunted and downed the last of his water.

  “So what brought you here, Tuvallis?” Jonas asked. In their brief encounter several days ago Tuvallis had learned that Hagar and Jonas had met before, but they did not have time to discuss it further. Jonas was curious to know how two people who Jonas had connected with earlier in life had found each other and made it to Finarth together. He had seen the incredible armor that Hagar wore and he hoped that Tuvallis could shed some light as to how he came to own it.

  “Durin' de winter I began to get a feeling, a feeling to leave the mountains and come here,” Tuvallis said.

  “A feeling?” Jonas queried.

  “Hard to explain really, but it was very strong, like I was needed here. It felt like there was something inside of me driving me here. I didn’t think much of it. Just thought it was me conscience tellin' me to do something different. So I listened and made me way down the mountains and that be when I found Seli.”

  Seli then spoke up, “Fifty of us had been picked to lead the refugees from Cuthaine before Malbeck’s army arrived. I was one of those chosen. Late one evening, while we were all sleeping, an orc patrol attacked us, taking me as hostage. I was knocked unconscious and I woke to find myself tied to a post and surrounded by ten orcs.” Seli swallowed in disgust as she thought again about what had almost happened to her. “Tuvallis found me and killed the beasts. It was very impressive,” she said as she reached across the table and touched his hand.

  Jonas didn’t miss the gesture and it caused him to smile. It felt good seeing that people were still enjoying some pleasures in life while the world was in chaos around them. “I know…I have seen him fight. Years ago he too saved my life. Did he tell you about that?”

  “He did,” she said with a grin, gently tapping his hand before withdrawing it. She could tell that he was embarrassed by the praise and her touch. They had only talked briefly about his earlier show of affection by the river. It seemed that act had fractured the dam of emotions that they felt for each other, but the wall was still up. Seli promised herself that she would work on chipping away at it. After all, who knew how much longer they would be alive. It was a precarious time and it made you think about your life in a different way.

  “Then you found the Free Legion column again I assume. What about Hagar, how did you connect with him?”

  “On da way to de garrison our scouts found an orc army with siege engines. They were an advance group hopin' to take de garrison,” Tuvallis said as he poured some more water.

  “So it is true? You and several others snuck into their camp and destroyed the engines? You are quite a hero among the Finarthian army you know. They say you warned the garrison and burned every engine, allowing the defenses to hold out.”

  “I was not alone. We almost died that night and probably would have if not for Hagar. He just appeared from de darkness and killed three orcs and their dire wolves. One of de soldiers was badly injured and Hagar carried him the last few miles to de camp.”

  “And the armor and weapon he carries?”

  “The Ekahal said Hagar had found de armor and weapon and he was led to it by a giant stag,” Tuvallis said focusing his eyes on Jonas. “Sar-gathos had cast some spell that enabled him to talk with Hagar.”

  “A stag? You mean a huge deer led him to his armor?” Jonas asked incredulously.

  “Yup,” Tuvallis grunted.

  Jonas’s mind was whirling as he thought about what Tuvallis had just said. “But you had been led to us by a stag many years ago, do you remember?”

  “Of course I do. It was de biggest deer I had ever seen.”

  “Sar-gathos thinks that Tuvallis and Hagar have been guided by Shyann, that her hand has been pulling strings for many years with the result being the culmination of you all here, at Finarth,” Seli continued.

  Jonas nodded his head in agreement. “I think he is right. She has had a plan for us all. I thought it strange that you had been tracking a massive stag before you met us those many years back.
And then it just disappeared and you happened to arrive to save us from those two boargs. And now, years later, you are here and Hagar wears armor with her God Mark. She also used a stag to guide me to her tomb where she gave me my cavalier armor and weapons. Obviously all of this cannot be a coincidence.”

  “Nope, I reckon not,” Tuvallis said.

  “What now?” Seli asked.

  “We do our duty and hope that fate keeps us alive,” Jonas said seriously.

  “I don’t believe in fate,” Tuvallis growled as he leaned back and gripped the pommel of his sword.

  Jonas just smiled. “Sharp steel works too.”

  Tuvallis finally ran into King Kromm one day while training with Seli in the practice yard outside the king’s inner castle. The courtyard there was reserved for the knights that guarded the king, and Tuvallis and Seli, being honored guests and living in the inner castle, had free reign of the area. Kromm had come down with his wife, Queen Sorana, and their son, Prince Riker, followed by a small contingent of guards, four Finarthian knights. They were there for the same reason; all armed with blunted practice swords.

  Kromm looked over casually as Tuvallis and Seli sparred with similar weapons, his gaze stopping momentarily before looking back at his son, who was also preparing to spar. The queen, wearing casual light breeches and tunic, also carried a small short sword, and she too looked over at the two combatants, smiling warmly at them both. She kept her gaze on Seli, watching her intently as she went through various sword positions with Tuvallis. It was rare to see a female warrior in these parts, especially one as skilled as Seli, and Sorana enjoyed watching her skillful moves and powerful strokes.

  Kromm lifted his sword towards his son, but was distracted by something familiar about the swordsman. The man looked familiar, and he searched his memories from long ago.

  “What is it?” Sorana asked as she moved next to her husband.

  “I don’t know, there's something familiar about that man.”

  “Actually, I thought the same thing,” the queen said, looking again at the stockily built man. He was strong and quick, his movements reflecting those of a skilled swordsman, one who had been trained in an elite military unit, and yet he did not wear the uniform of a soldier.

  Tuvallis had seen the king and his family enter the training ground and his heart began to beat faster. He had known that he would face them at some point, but now the reality of it began to overwhelm him, releasing twenty years of pent up anxiety. The events that had happened long ago as a Tarsinian warrior had scarred him for life, forcing him to leave Tarsis and go into exile. He had not seen his liege since then, and even though he had traveled to Finarth knowing that the confrontation was sure to happen, he was nonetheless unprepared for it.

  Seli saw him falter and glanced over her shoulder to see the king and his family. She slowly backed away from Tuvallis. “It’s okay, you knew this would happen sooner or later,” she said softly. “Everything will be okay. You should go talk to him.”

  Tuvallis lowered his sword and gazed at Seli, his eyes filled with emotion. “Me heart says I should, but me brain is tellin' me otherwise.”

  “Men,” Seli mumbled, “so brave in battle, but so timid when emotions are involved!” Then she turned and marched right towards the king and his family. Tuvallis had no choice but to follow.

  “Your Highness,” Seli announced calmly as she neared the monarch, “I am Seli, one of the few members left of the Free Legion and I wanted to introduce myself. You’ve always been a friend of Cuthaine and I didn’t think it fitting to fight next to you without introductions.”

  Kromm turned to face them both, lowering his sword and smiling in greeting. “Well met, Seli of the Free Legion; this is my wife, Sorana, and my son, Riker.” As Seli greeted them Kromm looked directly at Tuvallis. “I know you, don’t I?” he asked.

  “Indeed, my Lord,” Tuvallis replied. The emphasis on the word my did not go unnoticed by Kromm, and his eyes narrowed with interest as he looked more intently at the burly warrior. “I am Tuvallis.”

  Kromm’s eyes widened as his memories, sorting through images long past, recognized that name. “I remember you,” he said softly. “You are Tarsinian, and you were one of my soldiers.”

  “I was,” he said.

  Kromm’s eyes softened. “I have often wondered what happened to you, and the others,” he said.

  “Really?”

  “Yes, that decision was very difficult for me,” Kromm replied. “You were trained by Kernan, right?”

  “Yes, sir. I would have had me mark if ya hadn't kicked me out,” Tuvallis said matter-of-factly.

  Queen Sorana stiffened at his words, stepping forward and touching her husband’s arm. “I saw you only once, Tuvallis, at your trial, but I want you to know that he was troubled for months about that incident long ago. The king in him knew he must punish you for your actions, but the husband and father in him understood what you did.”

  Tuvallis shook his head. “It was wrong, I know that now. I was so angry at me loss that I welcomed de order from me captain, even though I knew it be wrong to kill those whom had nothing to do with our losses. I was even angry at you for what ya did to me, but I know now that ya did what ya had to do. I do not place blame on ya, not anymore,” he said with a weak smile.

  “I am very grateful to hear that, Tuvallis. Kings are frequently forced to make difficult decisions, and that one, for me, has haunted me all these years. It is good to see you. Where have you been over the years?” Kromm asked, genuinely interested.

  “Been away, mostly livin' in de mountains. I trapped most of da last twenty years near the town Jonas Kanrene be from. I knew da boy when he was a cripple,” Tuvallis added.

  “Small world,” Kromm said. “You know, when this is all over, I plan on rebuilding. I’ll be needing some good men. You interested?” Kromm asked.

  Tuvallis turned to Seli, her face lit up with a wide smile. He looked back at the king, “I might be,” he paused briefly, “You have room for two?”

  Kromm, smiling in return, nodded his head. “Of course, and I hope you are referring to Seli, as I could use another strong sword arm. We’re certainly going to need more good soldiers. Care to spar with us? My son needs to learn from the best.”

  “I would be honored, sir.”

  Eleven

  Siege of Finarth

  Word had spread like wildfire when the scouts had arrived with the news that Malbeck’s army was on the move, and that the Dark One would arrive at their gate within the week. If things were chaotic before, they now paled in comparison to the atmosphere of anxiety permeating the city. The time was upon them, and no one knew if they could withstand the might of the Forsworn and their most powerful general, but those questions would be answered soon, and that thought alone added to the tension that seemed to be everywhere.

  Everyone had moved inside the outer wall, including Hagar, who by now had become tolerated if not accepted by most people. Some still feared the beast and they tried to avoid him if possible, but for most people the anxiety of the impending battle seemed to erase any doubts about who this giant creature was. They saw him as a valuable ally that would surely help in their struggles. Alerion, the Finarthian court wizard, had been negotiating with Shyval to send battle wizards as reinforcements, and the reclusive school of magic readily agreed to send several wizards to aid them against Malbeck

  Thus, Finarth gained a few more assets in their fight against the Forsworn. Shyval was far to the west, over the Tundren Mountains and all the way to the Algard coast. It was a school for wizards, providing a place of solitude away from the politics of the world. To become a wizard you had few choices by which to learn your trade. The cost of schooling and the time that was required to learn the intricate art was beyond most people's reach. Kings employed court wizards, but those positions were usually hereditary and those wizards passed their skills down the line to their heirs. If you weren't lucky enough to be the son or daughter of a court wizar
d, you had to find a school or another wizard to teach you. Since wizards were rare outside of a king’s castle, you were usually stuck with a school, which was very expensive and that few could afford.

  Shyval was ruled by a council that did their best to maintain their neutrality. Neutrality was difficult to maintain, however, since kings and other rulers were continuously vying for control of the power that could be found at Shyval. But this time the needs of the land were impossible to ignore. This battle would require the help of wizards to fight Malbeck, and if the defenders of Finarth didn’t stop him, then who would? This was not a Finarthian problem, or a Tarsinian problem, it was a problem that was affecting everyone, and because of that three battle wizards were sent to Finarth to help. All three had volunteered for the job.

  One of them was an elderly wizard who had taught most of the offensive spells at Shyval. His name was Boranthos and his sharp piercing eyes did not reflect the hunched-over gray haired man behind them. He was quick of wit and sharp of tongue, and many an enemy had mistakenly took his aged physique for weakness, a mistake they only made once. The second wizard was a heavy set middle aged woman from Onith, south of Shyval. Lizarcus was steady under pressure and sat on the council at Shyval. Her calm demeanor and superior skill was well respected there. The third wizard was a young but precocious man from Osrigard, a town located several weeks travel southwest of Shyval on the Ronith River. Talic was a handsome young man who exuded an arrogance that by all accounts was mostly justified.

  As soon as the wizards arrived they took turns, along with Alerion and the two remaining Ekahals, patrolling the battlements day and night. Kromm had informed them of how Malbeck had breached the walls of Tarsis, and they did not want to repeat that scenario. According to the Tarsinian king, in the middle of the night Malbeck had cast a powerful spell that had created a deadly fog that killed any who breathed it. The mist had quietly drifted into the city, instantly killing all the guards and leaving the gate unmanned. After that it was a simple matter of getting the gate open and overrunning the surprised defenders. The power of the Shan Cemar, the elven book of magic, surely had played a part in creating such a powerful spell. The wizards from Shyval would hopefully provide a magical presence and keep a constant eye out for Malbeck and any other tricks that he might employ.