“Wait-hang on!” Magnus shouted. “It was nothing personal. Can you tell me you never killed anyone for money, Royce?”
Royce hesitated.
“Yes, I know who you are,” the dwarf told him. “I wanted to find out who beat my trap. You used to work for the Black Diamond and not as a delivery boy either. It was my job, I tell you. I don’t care about politics, or Braga, or Essendon.”
“I suspect he’s telling the truth,” Esrahaddon said. “I’ve never known a dwarf to care at all for the affairs of humans beyond the coin they can obtain.”
“See, he knows what I am saying. You can let me go.”
“I said you were telling the truth, not that he should let you live. In fact, now that I can see you have been eavesdropping on our conversations, I have to encourage the notion of ending your life. I can’t be sure how much you heard.”
“What?” the dwarf cried.
“After slitting his throat you can just roll his little body off the ledge here.” The wizard stepped up and looked over the cliff.
“No,” Royce replied, “it will be better to toss him off the falls. He’s not that heavy; his body will likely carry all the way to the Goblin Sea.”
“Do you need his head?” Esrahaddon asked. “To take back to Alric?”
“It would be nice, but I’m not carrying a severed head for a week while traveling through those woods. It would draw every fly for miles and it would stink after a few hours. Trust me, I speak from experience.”
The dwarf looked at both of them in horror.
“No! No!” he shouted in panic as Royce pressed his blade to his neck. “I can help you. I can show you how to get to the tower!”
Royce looked at the wizard who appeared skeptical.
“For the love of Drome. I’m a dwarf. I know stone. I know rock. I know where the tunnel to the tower is.”
Royce relaxed his dagger.
“Let me live and I’ll show it to you,” he turned his head toward Esrahaddon. “And as for what I heard, I care nothing about the affairs of wizards and men. I’ll never say a word. If you know dwarves, well then you know we’re a lot like stone when we choose to be.”
“So there is a tunnel,” Royce said.
“Of course there is.”
“Before I decide,” Royce asked, “what are you doing here?”
“I was finishing another job, that’s all.”
“And what was this job?”
“Nothing sinister, I just made a sword for a guy.”
“All the way out here? Who is this person?”
“Lord Rufus somebody, I was hired to make it and deliver it to him here, honest, no traps, no killings.”
Royce heard the sound of footfalls. Someone was running up the trail. Thinking it might be the dwarf’s associates, he slipped behind Magnus. He gripped his hair, pulled his head back, and prepared to slit his throat.
“Royce!” Tad Bothwick shouted up to them from down near the water.
“What is it, Tad?” he asked cautiously.
“Hadrian sent me. He says you should come back to the village right away, but that Esra should steer clear.”
“Why?” the wizard asked.
“Hadrian said to tell you that the Church of Nyphron just arrived.”
“The church?” Esrahaddon muttered. “Here?”
“Is there a Lord Rufus with them?” Royce asked.
“Could be. There’s a whole lot of fancy folk around. Must be at least one lord in the bunch.”
“Any idea why they’re here, Tad?”
“Nope.”
“You might want to make yourself scarce,” Royce told the wizard. “Someone might have mentioned your name. I’ll go see what’s happening. In the meantime,” he looked down at the dwarf, “your death sentence has been suspended. This kindly old man is going to watch you this afternoon, and you’re going to stay right here. Then later you’re going to show us where this tunnel is and if you’re telling the truth about knowing, then you live. Anything short of that and you’re going over the falls in two pieces. Agreed? Good.” He looked back at the wizard, “Want me to tie him up or just hit him over the head with a rock?” Royce asked, panicking the dwarf again.
“Won’t be necessary, Magnus here looks like the honorable type. Besides, I can still manage a few surprisingly unpleasant things. Do you know what it is like to have live ants trapped inside your head?”
The dwarf did not move or speak. Royce searched him. He found a belt under his clothes with little hammers and some rock shaping tools and a dagger. Royce looked at the dagger, surprised.
“I tried copying it,” the dwarf told him nervously. “It’s not very good, I was working from memory.”
Royce compared it to his own dagger. The two were very similar in design, though the blades were clearly different. Royce’s weapon was made of an almost translucent metal that shimmered in the light while Magnus’ dagger seemed dull and heavy by comparison. The thief threw the dagger over the cliff.
“That’s a magnificent weapon you have,” the dwarf told him, his eyes mesmerized by the blade that a moment before had been at his throat. “It’s a Tur blade, isn’t it?”
Royce ignored him and spoke to Esrahaddon. “Keep an eye on him. I’ll be back later.”
***
Arista took her seat on the balcony above the entrance to the great hall of the manor house, along with the entourage of the archbishop, which included Sauly and Sentinel Luis Guy. It was a very small balcony created of rough logs and thick ropes, where only a few could fit, but Bernice managed to squeeze her way in and remained standing just behind her. Having Bernice hovering out of sight was as irritating as a mosquito in the dark.
Arista had no idea what was going on-few people appeared to.
When they arrived, everything was in chaos. The lord of the manor was apparently dead and the place was filled with peasants. They were promptly chased out. Luis Guy and his seret established order, properly assigning quarters based on rank. She was given a cramped but private room on the second level. It was a ghastly place lacking even a single window. A bear rug lay on the floor, the head of a moose looked down at her from above the bed, and a coat rack made from deer antlers hung from the wall. Bernice was busy unpacking her clothes from the trunk when Sauly stopped by, insisting Arista join him on the balcony. At first, she thought the contest might be starting, but it was common knowledge it would begin at nightfall.
A trumpeter stepped up to the rail and blared a fanfare on his horn. Below in the courtyard a crowd formed. Men rushed over, some holding drinks or half-eaten meals. One man trotted up still buttoning his pants. The growing audience created a mass of heads and shoulders bunched together, all staring up at them.
The archbishop slowly stood up. Dressed in full regalia of long embroidered robes, he spread his arms in a grand gesture and spoke, his raspy voice barely adequate to the task.
“It is time to announce the details of this event and reveal the profound happening that you, the devoted of Novron, are about to take part in, an event so monumental that its conclusion will see the world altered forever.”
Several people in the back complained they could not hear, but the archbishop ignored them and went on. “I know some of you came believing this contest was to be a battle of swords or lances like some Wintertide tournament. Instead, what you will see is nothing less than a miracle. Some of you will die, one will succeed, and the rest will bear witness to the world.
“A terrible evil haunts this place. Here on the Nidwalden River, at the edge of the world, there is a beast. Not a great bear like Oswald that terrorized Glamrendor. This creature is none other than the legendary Gilarabrywn, a horror not seen since the days of Novron himself. A monster so terrible that even in those days of heroes and gods, only Novron, or one of his blood, could slay it. It will be your task, your challenge, to slay the creature and save this poor village from the ancient curse.”
A murmur broke out among those gathered and
the archbishop raised his hands to quiet them. “Silence. For I have not yet told you of the reward!”
He waited as the mob grew quiet, many pushing closer to hear.
“As I said, the Gilarabrywn is a beast that only Novron, or one of his bloodline, can slay and as such, he that succeeds in vanquishing this terror can be none other than the heir to the imperial crown, the long lost Heir of Novron!”
The reaction was surprisingly quiet. There were no cheers, no shouts of jubilation. The crowd as a whole appeared stunned. They remained staring as if expecting more. The archbishop in turn looked around equally bewildered by the hesitancy of the congregation.
“Did he just say the winner would be the heir?” Arista asked, looking at Sauly who appeared as if he’d just smelled something unpleasant. He smiled at her and, standing up, whispered in the archbishop’s ear. The older man took his seat and Bishop Saldur addressed the crowd.
“For centuries the church has struggled to find the true heir, to restore the bloodline of our holy lord Novron the Great,” Sauly’s voice was loud and warm and carried well on the pine scented afternoon air. “We have searched, but all we had to guide us were old books and rumors. Speculation really, hopes and dreams. There has never been a means of finding him, no absolute method to determine where the heir was, or who he may be. Many have falsely claimed to be his descendent, many unworthy men have striven to take that lofty crown, and the church has sat helpless.
“Still, we have faith he is out there. Novron would not allow his own blood to die. We know he lives. He may be oblivious to who he is. A thousand years have passed since his disappearance and who of us can accurately trace our lineage back to the days of the Empire? Who knows if one of us might have an ancestor who went to his grave with a terrible secret? A terrible, wonderful secret.
“The Gilarabrywn is a miracle Novron has sent. It is a tool to show us his son. He has confided this to the patriarch and told his holiness that he should hold a contest and if he did, the heir would be among the contestants, the truth of his lineage, oblivious even to himself.
“So you see, you-any one of you-may be the Heir of Novron, possessor of divine blood-a god. Have any of you sensed a power within? A belief in your own worth beyond that of others? This is your chance to prove to all of Elan that you are no fool, no mere man. Place your name upon the roster, ride out at nightfall, slay the beast, and you will become our divine ruler. You will not be a mere king, but emperor, and all kings will bow to you. You will take the imperial throne in Aquesta. All loyal Imperialists and the full force of the church will support you as we usher in a new age of order that will bring peace and harmony to the land. All you need do is destroy one lonely beast.
“What say you?”
This time the crowd cheered. Saldur glanced briefly at the archbishop and stepped away from the balcony to take a seat.
***
When Royce reached Dahlgren, the village was in turmoil. People were everywhere. Most of the villagers were heading toward the common well. There were plenty of new faces, all of them men, most carrying some sort of weapon. Royce found Hadrian at the well mobbed by villagers. None of them looked happy.
“Where do we go now?” Selen Brockton asked in tears.
Hadrian once more stood on the well, standing over the crowd and looking like he wanted to break something. “I don’t know, Mrs. Brockton, home I guess, for now at least.”
“But our home has a thatched roof.”
“Try digging cellars and getting as low as possible.”
“What’s going on?” Royce asked.
“The Archbishop of Ghent has arrived and moved into the manor house. He and his clergy, as well as a few dozen nobles, have taken over the castle and driven everyone else out. Well, except for Russell, Dillon, and Kline, whom he ordered to fill in the shelter and the tunnel we were digging, saying they could repair the damages or hang for destruction of property. Good old Deacon Tomas, he stands there nodding and saying, ‘I told them not to do it, but they wouldn’t listen.’ They kept most of the livestock too, saying it was in the castle so it belonged to the manor. Now everyone blames me for losing their animals.”
“What about the bonfires?” Royce asked, “We could still build one here in the commons.”
“No good,” Hadrian told him. “His lordship declared it unlawful to cut trees in the area and confiscated the oxen with the rest of the animals.”
“Did you tell him what will happen when the sun goes down?”
“I can’t tell him anything.” Hadrian threw up his hands, running his fingers through his hair as if he might start pulling it out. “I can’t get past the twenty or so odd soldiers he has at the castle gate. Which is a good thing too or I might kill the guy.”
“Why is the church here at all?”
“That’s the kicker,” Hadrian told him. “You know that competition the church has been announcing? Turns out that contest is to slay the Gilarabrywn.”
“What?”
“They intend to send contestants out to fight the thing at nightfall and if they die, they’ll send the next one. They’ve got a damn list nailed to the castle gate.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright,” Deacon Tomas shouted.
Everyone turned to see the cleric coming down the trail from the castle approaching the crowd at the well. He walked with his hands raised as if in blessing. He had a great smile on his face, which turned his eyes into half-moons. “Everything is going to be fine,” he told them in a loud confident voice. “The archbishop has come to help us. They are going to kill the beast and save us from this nightmare.”
“What about our livestock?” Vince Griffin asked.
“They will need most of them to feed the troops, but what isn’t used will be returned after the beast has been slain.”
The crowd grumbled.
“Now, now, what price do you put on safety? What price do you put on the lives of your children? Are a pig and a cow worth the lives of your children? Your wife? Consider it a tithe and be thankful the church has come to Dahlgren to save us. No one else has. The King of Dunmore ignored us, but your church has responded by sending not just some knight or margrave, but the Archbishop of Ghent himself. Soon the beast will be dead and Dahlgren will be a place of happiness once more. If that means one year of no meat, and plowing without an ox, surely that is not too high a price to pay. Now everyone please, back to your homes. Stay out of their way and let them do their work.”
“What about my daughter?” Theron growled and pushed forward looking like he might kill the deacon.
“It’s alright, I’ve spoken with the archbishop and Bishop Saldur; they have agreed to let her stay. They have moved her to a smaller room but-”
“They won’t let me in to see her!” the old farmer snapped.
“I know, I know,” Tomas said in a soothing voice, “but I can. I just came down to explain things. I am heading right back and I promise you, I will stay by her side and watch over her until she is well.”
Hadrian slipped out of the crowd that now shifted around the deacon. He turned to Royce with a bitter look. “Tell me you found a way into the tower.”
Royce shrugged, “Maybe. We’ll need to check it out tonight.”
“Tonight?” he asked. “Shouldn’t such things be done in the daylight? When we can both see and things with complicated names aren’t flying around?”
“Not if I’m right.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“If I’m wrong we’ll both certainly die-most likely by being eaten.”
“The thing is, I know you’re not kidding. Did I mention I lost my weapons?”
“With any luck we won’t need them. What we will need, however, is a good length of rope, sixty feet at least,” Royce told him. “Lanterns, wax, a tinderbox-”
“I’m not going to like this, am I?” Hadrian asked miserably.
“Not at all,” Royce replied.
Chapter 9: Trails by Moonlight
&n
bsp; “Back in bed.” the man shouted. “Back in bed this instant!” Arista was wandering the hallway of the manor house in as much an attempt to get to know her surroundings as to evade Bernice who was insisting she take a nap. Initially she thought the yelling was directed at her, and while she put up with Bernice and her pampering, she was certainly not about to allow anyone to address her in such a manner as this brassy fellow seemed to be doing. She was no longer in her native kingdom of Melengar where she was princess of the realm, but she was still a princess and an ambassador and no one had the right to speak to her like that.
With a fury in her countenance, she marched forward and turning a corner, spotted a middle-aged man and a young girl. The girl was dressed only in her nightgown, her face battered and bruised. He held her wrist, attempting to drag her into a bedroom.
“Unhand her!” Arista ordered. “Hilfred! Guards!”
The man and girl both looked at her, bewildered.
Hilfred raced around the corner and in an instant stood with sword drawn between his princess and the source of her anger.
“I said get your filthy hands off her this instant, or I will have them removed at the wrists.”
“But I-” the man began.
From the other direction, two Imperial guards arrived. “Milady?” the guards greeted her.
Hilfred said nothing, but merely pointed his sword at the man’s throat.
“Take this wretch into custody,” Arista ordered. “He’s forcing himself on this girl.”
“No, no please,” the girl protested. “It was my fault I-”
“It is not your fault.” Arista looked at her with pity. “And you needn’t be afraid. I can see to it that he never bothers you, or anyone, again.”
“Oh dear Maribor, protect me,” the man prayed.
“Oh no, you don’t understand,” the girl said. “He wasn’t hurting me. He was trying to help me.”
“How’s that?”
“I had an accident,” she pointed to the bruises on her face. “Deacon Tomas was taking care of me, but I was feeling better today and wanted to get up and walk, but he thought it best if I stay in bed another day. He is really only trying to look out for me. Please don’t hurt him. He’s been so kind.”
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