Shadow of the Unicorn

by Susan Skylark

3

  “That was unpleasant,” said Adan, as they suddenly found themselves somewhere else entirely.

  Baye shared a grin with Jace, “at least it wasn’t boring. How many can say they’ve succumbed to dragon fire?”

  Jace shook his head, “speak for yourself, I missed out entirely!”

  Adan shivered, “you could have had my share in the adventure!”

  Baye grinned all the more, “come lad, having your throat torn out by a wolf intent on using the dark arts to achieve vengeance is no dull fate either.”

  Jace smiled at the irony of their conversation and said, “I suppose it will suffice. Now what are we doing here?” The warmth and humidity of their surroundings suddenly minded him of the swamp where he had found Hawk and Scamp. His smile deepened as comprehension dawned, “we are going to free the imprisoned Akoni which is in the keeping of some great lord of the south.”

  Baye nodded proudly, “right you are lad, even the father of your one time beloved.”

  Jace’s smile grew rueful, “that is not much of a betrothal gift, first abandoning his daughter and now absconding with his prized bird, but we have little choice; we cannot leave such a creature in captivity nor can we reveal his true nature to his possessors.” He smiled eagerly as he took in their apparel, clad as the king’s own guardsmen, they should have little difficulty entering the castle.

  They were soon in their saddles and riding through the city, no one giving them a second glance as they passed. Baye shook his head in wonder, “people see only what they want to see. Peace and prosperity have dwelt here so long that no one even imagines danger or tragedy could come upon them at any moment.”

  Jace said quietly, “so too do most folk obliviously go about their lives, little knowing that there are greater things within and beyond life than they can ever imagine.” He grinned ruefully, “such was I! And but for the Master’s grace, so would I still be.”

  They rode on in silence until they clattered into the courtyard of the castle and drew rein. Just as they were dismounting, a great commotion erupted at a side door of the castle where the Steward appeared to be berating a young woman in a servant’s garb. She glared at the irate man as if he were the insolent underling and she the offended mistress. The trio of faux guards exchanged a slight smile and waited patiently by their horses until the Steward ended his tirade and summarily ordered them to escort the woman from the premises. She bore their interference well, one might have thought they were the prisoners and she the guard, but they obediently led her out of the Steward’s sight, presumably out a small side gate rather than out the grand main entrance of the palace.

  They retreated to a sunny courtyard abutting the kitchen gardens and the stables, where their only companion was an indifferent chicken searching for spilled grain or unwary insects. She rounded on them immediately, “unhand me you degenerate thugs! You have no right to treat me so.”

  Baye released his hold on their prisoner and bowed deeply, “we are at your service madam and our treatment of you a mere pretense for the Steward’s benefit.”

  She gaped at him, “how is it you have the decency to treat a lady as you ought?”

  Baye smiled slightly, “I believe we are here on similar purpose madam, but you must forgive the folk hereabouts, they know nothing of your peculiar people or dire quest, nor do they see more than a servant when they look upon you and your behavior is not in keeping with your attire. You would have done better to accouter yourself as a noble lady rather than a servant.”

  She studied him quietly, a thoughtful look in her eye, said she at last, “but a servant may go where ladies cannot.”

  Baye grinned, “true, but not servants who act the noble lady. Perhaps we may be of some benefit?”

  Said she with a frown, “how is it you know of my plight?”

  Baye said, “we have just returned from your homeland lady and know of your people and your imperiled offspring. We offer our services in retrieving the latter.”

  She shook her head, “do you know what it is you risk?” Her gaze became feral, like some great hunting cat at bay, hissed she, “how is it you have learned the truth and yet are allowed to return to this race of betrayers?”

  Baye said grimly, “that is a matter you must take up with your Council.”

  Said she, little mollified, “perhaps I shall not be so lenient.”

  Baye bowed his head, “do as you must, but first let us see to the young one.”

  She gaped at him anew, wondering at such an enigma; she had threatened his life yet still he insisted on helping her. Her frown deepened, “what are you truly after? Do you wish the prize for yourself?”

  Baye shook his head, “nay lady, I merely wish to see the captive free, and to that end I will pay whatever price I must.”

  She studied him soberly, nodded to herself, and said, “very well, but know it will cost you dear. Perhaps this will atone for the injury your kindred have wrought, at least in this instance. Come.” She led them around the back of the palace and crouched amongst a well tended grove in the castle gardens. Said she, gesturing towards a small door guarded by two grim looking soldiers, “that is our goal, the King’s Hawk Room. I tried to venture thither in a servant’s garb but only the most trusted of his menials are allowed anywhere near the King’s birds, and thus was I reprimanded, which I could not endure, so I told the Steward what I truly thought; thus my dismissal.”

  Baye shook his head in wonder, “and what do you propose madam?”

  She smiled wickedly, “I had thought to take the form of a red dragon, scatter or destroy those who stood in my way, and then abscond with my son, but I fear it is a little too dramatic.”

  Baye nodded, “we should also avoid injuring or otherwise imperiling innocents in this endeavor, though you see us all as guilty in this matter, my folk know nothing of your people and think the creature a mere bird. I suggest a slight alteration in your plan.”

  She listened thoughtfully, was not pleased with his plea of ignorance for humanity, but at last agreed to the idea. It was both dramatic and simple, which pleased her immensely. Baye and Jace crept from their hiding place and charged the guards minding the door, immediately engaging the pair in a vicious sword fight, the Brethren being careful not to injure their opponents, as they were not truly enemies but rather simple men doing their appointed duty. As the feint drew the guards away from their post, Adan and the lady crept towards the door, but found it locked. Said she in grim anticipation, “perhaps the dragon will avail us after all.” She suddenly shifted and a dragon sat incongruously in the palace gardens. Said she to Adan, “I will batter down the door, you run in and grab my son, bring him to me, and I will bear him away from here.” Adan nodded and she crushed the door with a single blow.

  He dashed into the room, glanced about hastily until he found the specified bird, and immediately threw a bag over its head as he began to cut the jesses. The various inhabitants of the room were screeching and hissing their terror and upset, which drew one of the keepers into the room. He was about to berate the insolent youth when he saw a great draconian eye peering in the window; he bellowed in terror and fled the room. Adan finished his task and brought the screeching and flapping fledgling out to its mother. Baye and Jace soon joined them, their foes having fled upon sighting the dragon.

  She looked fondly down at the writhing creature in her foreclaws and said in parting, “I appreciate your assistance, but you do understand there can be no witnesses.” Without waiting for an answer, her flames reduced all three of them to cinders. Content that justice had at last been satisfied, she took wing and vanished from the Kingdom, leaving the terrified populace to wonder if she would soon return or why a dragon would steal a hawk.

  “You are right,” said Jace, shaking himself, “dragon fire is not a pleasant experience.” He glanced about, wondering what their next mission would entail and hoping this sudden coming and going was not a routine part of his new occupati
on.

  Baye said in amusement, “nay lad, our recent adventures have been a bit uncanny, you need not worry that this sort of thing is all your future.”

  Jace smiled in relief, “that is good to know, I am getting a bit disoriented with all these sudden appearances and disappearances.”

  Adan asked with a frown, “how do such comings and goings work within the framework of time? It was still early morning when we left and now it is full dark.”

  Baye nodded, “occasionally we must defy the usual rules of time and space to accomplish what we must, but usually we are bound by them as much as any creature in the mortal sphere.”

  Jace smiled as comprehension dawned, “so that is how I could have my own adventure while you two chatted with the Akoni.” He then recounted his encounter with Hawk and Scamp.

  Baye shook his head grimly, “that was a nasty trick, no wonder the boy was near despair! To think you had inadvertently killed your own mentor! But he’ll soon have far better things to muse upon.” He smiled sadly, “so the swordmaster is retiring? He will be missed, but he has been at it since nearly the Beginning.”

  Jace asked with a frown, “has he a name?”

  Baye laughed, “probably, but I have never heard it. That leaves only Jared, the rest of us are relative newcomers to this service, especially you three lads!” He quieted suddenly and motioned for them all to crouch down amongst the tangled brush.

  The sound of hooves soon reached their ears, accompanied by the voice of a bitterly complaining man, said he, “let’s find somewhere to camp for the night. I don’t want a patrol stumbling upon us in the dark.”

  “Fine,” hissed a second voice, “we are close enough to our destination that we can make it in one final push on the morrow, though I prefer the cover the darkness offers. Though I suppose it might avail our enemies likewise.”

  There came the sounds of dismounting, unpacking, and the setting up of a rough camp, all of which the three intruders watched from their hiding place. Once the unnamed party was settled in for the remainder of the night, with all save the sentry sound asleep, the three crept from their hiding place thinking to explore the camp, but Adan nearly stepped on one of the villains and took a sword through the heart for his inattention. Jace and Baye had their weapons immediately in hand and were soon lost in a swirl of swords and curses. As Jace tangled with one villain, he struck a mortal blow to his foe but fell beneath the man as he toppled forward. He lay on his back, under the dead man, staring his sister full in the face. She sat beside a slightly older woman, also of the Brethren, both wide-eyed, bound and gagged. He rolled over, pushing his dead foe aside, and immediately began working to free his comrades.

  He had just freed them both when he felt a sword pierce his flank, he fell with a groan and ordered, “run!”

  Brie gave him a heartbreaking look of gratefulness and horror before vanishing after her mentor into the shadows. He sought their unicorns with his mind, the creatures eagerly answering his query and agreeing to carry their riders far away from their captors, regardless of the ladies’ intentions. The next moment he felt a clout upside the head and the world went dark. He awoke to find Baye beside him, also bound and nursing an injured shoulder. They exchanged a grim smile and then focused on the surviving villains, the foremost of which was standing over them and glowering fiercely. Said he in fury, “what were you fools thinking? You may have freed the women but at what cost? You have traded three lives for two!” He glanced about in dismay at his decimated company, saying grudgingly, “though I must say we have not escaped unscathed either, but it matters not. Your blood will suffice in their stead and I can always hire more minions. On your feet, we ride at once.”

  There were now plenty of spare horses, so the captured pair was easily mounted though they found riding while bound rather awkward. As the day brightened, they gaped to recognize the country through which they rode. Someone was bold indeed to mount such an expedition within the very bounds of Astoria, less than a day’s ride from the city! Jace’s heart sank as he realized where these fellows must be heading and wondering what fell sorcery they could accomplish in that wretched fortress and what it would mean for Astoria if they were successful. A grim smile grew on his face as he realized his blood was of no use to these particular fiends, now he could muse upon their surprise when their plans suddenly went awry. He glanced at Baye and they exchanged an eager smile.

  They kept to the little used cart paths, abandoned this time of year, and game trails, avoiding the road and the potential witnesses thereupon, nearly frantic at the thought of discovery. As evening fell, the woods opened into a clearing Jace knew all too well along with the fortress therein. Said their guide triumphantly, “welcome home lads, your blood is going to consecrate this ruin and make it a haven of evil within the very heart of Astoria.”

  They were unceremoniously pulled from their horses and forced to their knees as a shadowy figure loomed out of the encroaching darkness, hissed the fell voice, “excellent! We will proceed immediately.”

  Their throats were cut as casually as if their captors were slaughtering sheep and every last drop of their blood was collected in two separate basins. The corpses were drug aside and forgotten as the chief villain stood over his grim prize, chanting in an awful tongue, while his minions cowered in absolute terror, praying to any gods there might be for rescue. A cloaked figure ghosted furtively along the wall and knelt beside the prone forms, laying a firm hand on each unmoving chest. The pair stirred to life and smiled up at the hooded Adan, quickly turning their attention to the senior fiend. Content with his vile rites, he then ordered his minions into action. Even more terrified of the fiend than of his sorcery, they suddenly roused to life, each taking up a bowl or bucket and filling it with the consecrated blood. They hastened to the walls, each carefully pouring the contents of his vessel along the entire perimeter of the crumbling structure.

  Once the task was completed, the fiend stood forth once more and began intoning in his dreadful way, “now let this place be a haven for evil and may our master gain a foothold in the very heart of our enemy’s territory!”

  The earth began to tremble in response to his words, but it was not triumph that covered his face but terror. An earthquake shook the ruin to its very foundations, casting men and stones alike to the ground. When the world resigned itself to stillness, the place was a ruin indeed and never more would it serve as a haven for anything more villainous than pigeons and mice. The villains lay dead, scattered about and crushed by falling debris. Baye exchanged a grim look with his apprentices as all three picked themselves up and dusted themselves off. They quietly buried the dead and then abandoned the silent ruin once more to the whims of time and weather.