Five Kingdoms: Books 01, 02 & 03

by Toby Neighbors

  “The other wizard?”

  “Yes, he will not be easily overcome.”

  “Where is he?” asked the Prince, his excitement both obvious and annoying.

  “He’s in the guardhouse,” Branock said.

  “Then victory is ours. We have him in our custody. We shall be unstoppable!” he shouted.

  “Don’t be a fool,” Branock said. “Your guards cannot hold him. He is submitting because he does not want to reveal himself. We must be ready for anything. If he learns that Brianna is not here, he will not hesitate to kill us all.”

  The Prince turned white, and Branock now had the Royal Guard’s attention.

  “Here is what I propose. We have one of his companions as well. I want the castle gates closed and men watching for anyone else who might try to gain entrance. I need two of the Royal Guard to detain his companion, here at the entrance to the castle. No one is to be in the courtyard except for me. If I cannot convince Zollin to join us, then the Royal Guard must slay him. Captain,” Branock said, turning to the man in charge of the Royal Guard, “I want your men in the front two towers, armed with cross bows. If battle is joined, fire your bolts at him until he is dead. Do not be fooled gentlemen, Zollin is a powerful wizard and we must not underestimate him.”

  “What if you are slain?” Simmeron asked.

  “Then you should do all you can to destroy the boy. If not, he will kill you all.”

  Branock knew that was a lie. In fact, it was hard to believe the guard’s report that Zollin had even killed a vagrant outside of the city. It could have been a ruse to get him inside the castle, but it was always better to face your opponent head on than to wait and allow them to foment plans for your demise.

  “Move,” Branock said.

  “Where should I wait?” Simmeron asked.

  “I don’t care,” said Branock.

  “I think the castle turret,” the Prince said. “It should give me the best view of the battle.”

  “Pray there is not a battle,” Branock said, lowering his voice. “If Zollin does not join us, we are doomed.”

  Chapter 38

  Once the order was given to have Mansel brought to the castle, two things happened at once. One guard went to the guardhouse, while a servant, who had been eavesdropping on Branock, went quickly from the castle and through the town. He spoke to Bron and then hurried down into the secret room where Brianna and Wilamet waited. There was no time to get either one back into the castle before the gates were locked, but Brianna wanted to know what was happening. She and Wilamet had slept late into the day in the dark room, but now they were awake and they made their way out into the bright sunlight. They raised their hoods and moved toward the castle, despite the danger of being seen or recognized.

  Brianna’s heart was racing; behind the towering walls, her beloved Zollin was about to face Branock. She knew he could defeat the wizard one on one, but the Royal Guard had been involved, and that changed everything.

  In the guardhouse, three men approached Zollin’s cell. He had been hoping to avoid any attention, but now it seemed he was going to be forced into action. But they didn’t stop at his cell; instead the soldiers went to Mansel’s cell.

  “You, boy,” said one of the men. “Stand up, you’re coming with us.”

  “Coming where?” Mansel asked.

  “You’ll find out,” the soldier replied. “Now shut your mouth and do as you’re told.”

  Zollin stood up. “I’m the wizard,” he said. “I’ve come for the girl.”

  “Sure you are,” said the soldier, shaking his head and laughing. “And I’m the King.”

  “It’s okay, Zollin,” said Mansel. “Just another day and another false accusation.”

  “Move!” shouted the soldier, pushing Mansel from behind.

  “Don’t touch him!” Zollin shouted.

  “Shut your hole, or I’ll shut it for you.”

  Zollin was struggling to keep from blasting the arrogant soldier. He strained to see what was happening outside the guardhouse, and Mansel was led out. There was a lot of activity, but it was impossible to see exactly what was going on. Zollin slumped down, clamping down on the furious energy writhing within him. He didn’t want to lose control the way he had in the alley. It wouldn’t help matters, he told himself.

  Outside, Mansel was led across to the castle’s main entrance. It was much darker inside the building than out in the bright afternoon sunshine. Mansel had to blink and wait for his eyes to adjust before he could clearly see the man in front of him. He was completely unfamiliar to Mansel, but the bald head and scarred skin gave the man an intimidating persona. The milk white eye didn’t help matters, and when the man smiled it sent a chill down Mansel’s spine.

  “Mansel, I believe, is that right? I remember you from the forest. You may not recognize me; a lot has changed since I healed your broken ribs.”

  “I remember that you attacked us,” Mansel said when he realized who he was talking to. He had known that Branock had attacked Zollin and kidnapped Brianna at Brighton’s Gate, but he had not personally seen the wizard. He had been busy fighting the Skellmarians.

  “It looks like the beating you took that day left an impression on you,” Mansel said.

  “Ah, you mean my new look,” Branock said, waving to his face, which was mostly healed from the burn, but there was still scar tissue underneath the surface that gave his face an unnatural look. “Yes, it is a change, but not a bad one. In fact, I feel that our previous encounter changed my life. I’m not the man I used to be.”

  “Still a murderous coward who hides behind women,” Mansel said through clenched teeth.

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. I did what I had to do to ensure the future of our fair realm. What’s one life weighed against the balance of an entire nation?”

  “Don’t try to win me over; I know evil when I see it.”

  “I am not evil,” said Branock. “I do sometimes take drastic actions, but my motives are pure, I assure you. You do not understand the power of the Torr or the master’s evil intent. We must not let Zollin be seduced by them and coerced into joining them.”

  “Didn’t you come to Tranaugh Shire to recruit him for the Torr? You call those thugs at the Torr master for a reason,” Mansel said, flexing his hands and wishing he had a sword to use on the man before him.

  “No, he is not my master. Not anymore, and I came to save Zollin from the Torr.”

  “Or to kill him if he wouldn’t join you?”

  “I was wrong, I see that now. I was desperate and afraid. I have burned my bridges to the Torr, but Offendorl will not forget. He will gather armies and march against Yelsia to find Zollin.”

  “Sort of the way you did in the Great Valley.”

  “No, you twist the facts. I was escorted up the valley by the army because there were rumors of a Skellmarian invasion. Rumors that turned out to be true. I wanted to reason with Zollin, but he attacked me. I don’t know why. I only took Brianna because it was the only way to safely get the chance to talk with Zollin. I have treated her as an honored guest. She has not suffered in any way.”

  “I doubt that she would agree.”

  “You can ask her yourself, just as soon as Zollin agrees to speak peacefully.”

  “So what are doing talking to me if it’s Zollin you want to speak with?”

  “I was hoping that you might consent to go to him and assure him I mean him no harm. Tell him that I only want to talk and that I have the full authority of the crown to grant you and Zollin a full pardon for any crimes. Please, Mansel, I only want to talk with him. Won’t you help me?”

  “Yes,” Mansel said. “As soon as I speak with Brianna.”

  * * *

  “We have to find a way into the castle,” Brianna said.

  “You can’t,” said Jorkin, the castle servant who had warned them of Branock’s plan. “The gates are locked and the guards have orders not to allow anyone into the castle.”

  “There is one
way,” said Wilamet. “But we must hurry.”

  She led them through the crowded streets. They moved as swiftly as they dared without drawing attention to themselves. They circled the castle complex and went to the riverside city gate. They were not challenged as they passed through, and then Wilamet led them to the garrison house next to the docks. A small contingent of the King’s army was posted there to keep a watch over the river traffic and to help keep the peace along the harbor. Most of the troops were spread out through the harbor itself, most probably had orders to find Brianna. Wilamet went straight to the garrison house and went inside. Brianna followed while Jorkin watched from outside.

  “We are here on King’s business,” said Wilamet. “King Felix ordered that the tunnel be inspected every year.”

  “That’s strange,” said the soldier, who had been sitting in a wooden chair that was leaning back against the wall. He had been half asleep when Wilamet rushed into the small building. It consisted of a small room with cots for the soldiers to sleep on. There were around two dozen beds lined up in neat rows. There was a small guard’s cell in one corner and a thick, wooden door with an iron lock at the far end of the room.

  “I’ve never heard of any such order,” he said.

  “Would you like to return to Steward Homan and tell him that you refused to allow the King’s servants access and that is why the King’s edict had not been carried out?”

  Brianna doubted if all the words Wilamet was using really applied to the situation, but the soldier didn’t seem to notice. He did, however, pick up on the official sounding language and titles. He thought about what he should do, his forehead wrinkled in thought. Finally he nodded and pulled a strange looking key from the drawer of a small desk in the garrison’s entry room, where they stood. He led them back through the barracks and unlocked the door. A dark set of stone steps led down into what reminded Brianna of the secret passage under the city wall.

  Wilamet snatched up a torched from a wall sconce and waited while the soldier lit it. The oil-soaked torch crackled to life and spilled an oily looking smoke from the bright flames. She handed the torch to Brianna and motioned for her to go first down the stairs.

  “Thank you,” Wilamet said to the soldier. Then she followed Brianna into the darkness, closing and locking the door behind them.

  “That went better than I expected,” Brianna said.

  “They would never expect you to try to get back into the castle,” Wilamet said. “Now come along, this passage isn’t short. It may still take us a while to get to the castle.”

  * * *

  Mansel had been restrained and Branock was now waiting for Zollin. He had decided that the best place to meet the boy was in the courtyard. He stood with his cloak swirling in the wind as the guards returned for Zollin. They entered the guardhouse and went immediately to his cell.

  “Where’s Mansel?” Zollin asked.

  “We’ll ask the questions, thank you,” said the soldier. “Now stand up and approach the cell doors.”

  They waited until he complied, then the soldier unlocked the door. Guards took hold of each of his arms, and another walked behind Zollin with a drawn sword pointed as his back. Zollin’s magic was swirling like mad. He was angry and scared, it was volatile combination.

  They led him outside, and the sun was beginning to set. It was shining in his eyes and blinding him from the person who waited for him. Branock had planned every detail, even the time of day he wanted to make the confrontation. The soldiers released Zollin and moved away. He didn’t bother to look at them, they were just the messengers. He wanted to end the threat to himself and to his family.

  “Zollin,” Branock said. “It’s so nice to see you again. I’m sorry for your treatment. It seems that you killed an innocent man today.”

  “I was defending myself.”

  “Yes, but your power got away from you. I felt it. Doesn’t it bother you that you have so much trouble with self control? I was like that once. But I learned to control my magic. I would be glad to show you, if you’d let me.”

  “I don’t need you to show me anything,” Zollin said. “I’m not planning on abandoning my friends or kidnapping women.”

  “Please don’t patronize me, Zollin. I warned you about the men from the Torr. You haven’t faced all of them. And they won’t stop until they have your complete obedience or you are dead.”

  “Sounds a bit like you.”

  “No, they are nothing like me. I only want your help Zollin. Yelsia needs us. You can join me here and help protect the realm. I can show you how to take control of your magic. You can assist me in creating a more harmonious kingdom. There are threats coming, Zollin. The dragon isn’t the only threat to Yelsia.”

  “Right now, I’m only concerned about one threat, and that’s you.”

  “I’m no threat,” he said, chuckling. “Your power is much too great for me. Although it seems you’ve misplaced your staff. That is truly a shame, but I assure you, we will bring every resource to bear to find it.”

  “I don’t care about the staff; I only want my friends back.”

  “And you shall have them. I sent for you, but they brought Mansel by mistake, he’s just inside the castle there,” he said, waving one arm at the massive castle doors, which swung open so that Zollin could see Mansel.

  His friend was still chained and escorted by three guards. Zollin concentrated on his friend, reaching out with his magic to find the lock on the shackles around Mansel’s wrist.

  “Where’s Brianna?” Zollin asked, as if he didn’t know that she had escaped.

  “She’s well,” Branock said. “She’s also inside the castle. If you’ll agree to join me, I’ll take you to her.”

  “I don’t think so,” Zollin said.

  “Why not? Think of all the good we could do together.”

  “You’re a liar, Branock, and my father taught me to know the difference between an honest man and a liar.”

  “I am deeply wounded that you would slander my reputation like that. I am no liar.”

  “Then produce Brianna. You took her, against her will, from Brighton’s Gate. Now she has escaped, and you stand there promising to reunite us.”

  “My promise was sound. I have half the King’s army out looking for her now. I only want to keep her safe. There was a dragon in Brighton’s Gate, and I only wanted to protect her. You can ask her yourself when we find her; I’ve treated her with all due respect. Not a hair of her head has been harmed.”

  “And I will take her to be my Queen!” shouted a voice from the top of the castle.

  “What?” Zollin said.

  “Ignore him,” Branock said angrily.

  “She shall have every luxury,” Simmeron shouted. “I swear it on my father’s throne.”

  “You promised her to the Prince?” Zollin said, aghast.

  “We’re wasting time here, Zollin. Come inside with me. We can help each other. There is no reason not to.”

  “Except that you lie and cheat at every turn. I can’t trust you and I won’t join you. Release my friends, and we will leave the city peacefully.”

  “That sounds oddly like a threat,” Branock said. “This is not the frontier, Zollin. Here the rule of law reigns, the King’s law, and you have broken it. I cannot let you just leave.”

  “I have done what I had to do, and I will do what I have to do now.”

  He sent an impulse toward Mansel, just enough to click the tumblers in his shackle. The lock popped open and Mansel nodded ever so slightly.

  “This is not what I want,” Branock said, but he was smiling. He assumed that Zollin had sent a spell against him, and that the young wizard was powerless without his staff.

  “Then let us go.”

  “I can’t do that. Can’t you see there is simply too much at stake here?”

  “Then I have no choice,” Zollin said.

  He unlocked his own chains and they fell away. Immediately, he raised a shield around himself, but nothi
ng happened. No attack from the rear, no shocking blast from the older wizard. Zollin waited but still nothing happened.

  “Please, Zollin” Branock said. “I need your help. It would not please me to destroy. Join me instead.”

  “No.”

  “Yelsia needs you.”

  “No.”

  “You don’t know what you’re saying,” Branock pleaded. He was no longer afraid of fighting Zollin, but he knew that wouldn’t accomplish anything. He needed the boy to join him.

  “I know enough not to trust you,” Zollin replied.