***
Feraan did not stop.
Firnis must have known what had occurred or at least sensed Caelfel was in danger because he charged on without protest, even though the strong desert winds threatened to veer them off course. ?Feraan still did not stop and he would not be swayed. ?He had seen Caelfel for a moment, and that glimpse of her outlined in ghostly, azure light, haunted him. ?He could not erase her battered face from his mind even when the sand kicked up into his eyes. ?It burned in him.
Soon the landscape changed, the sand yielding to the stark basalt crags that signaled the home of the desert princeling. ?It was here that Feraan slowed. ?When he stopped, he secured Firnis in a hidden crevice in the rock before continuing on foot. ?He knew Grimault expected him and would be watching. If Feraan wanted to maintain what little surprise there was for him, he would have to stay undetected as long as he could, a difficult task in the barren desert.
Feraan began climbing the crags. Ahead of him was the plateau on which stood Grimault's home. ?There was an easier path that led to the front gate, but they would see him there. ?He searched for stable footholds and pulled away at loose pebbles. ?It was dark when he had reached the top, but the darkness did not trouble him, for it made it easier to hide.
He took a moment to catch his breath and plan his next move. ?He could make out the torchlight of the sentries that patrolled the high walls-
Then the skin on his lower back began burning. ?It took sheer force of will for him not to cry out in shock. ?He lifted his shirt to see two runes branded above his hip, and they spelled out his familiar name.
When Feraan went to touch the burns, they disappeared without a lingering mark. ?Then the sound of Caelfel's scream filled his head. ?Her pain obliterated everything else, and he was aware of nothing else but Caelfel.
Then she was gone from him again, and Feraan was left sweating and trembling in the wake of the sensation. ?He regained his composure and pushed on, trying to convince himself that the echo of screams emanating from the castle was his own imagination.
A direct approach would not be fortuitous, because that would all but ensure defeat. ?Against an entire fortress, Feraan's only ally was stealth and even that approach was likely anticipated by his enemies. ?Seeing little other choice, he moved silently through the growing darkness until he could press himself against the towering east wall of the fortress. ?He pulled out a handful of throwing knives and took one in his grip, gauging the distance away from the closest guard.
He arched his arm back and threw it. ?It landed where he needed it, ahead of the guard who predictably went to investigate the noise of metal scraping against stone, and Feraan was left alone without the worry of sentries.
He hurried while the guard was occupied. ?He backed away from the wall a few paces, took a running start, and jumped. ?He caught a protruding stone that was halfway up the wall and was left dangling a frightening height above the ground.
He used his weight to swing himself and when he had the right momentum, Feraan jumped high enough to reach the top of the wall. ?He pulled himself over the ledge and crouched in the walkway that led to the nearby turret.
Feraan skittered across the length of the wall, ducking his head below the height of the crossway's ledge. ?He reached the stairwell leading inside the fortress walls and hid behind a corner as an ironclad human passed by. ?He took the first opportunity to descend the stairs.
When he reached the courtyard, he watched troops marching across the expansive space he assumed was reserved for training grounds. ?Even at night, Grimault's army remained on alert.
Heavy footsteps told Feraan to take cover behind a nearby wall. ?He held his breath as the soldier climbed down the stairs after him and went to report something to his superior. ?Feraan saw the soldier hand over his own throwing knife. ?Grimault would know he was here soon.
Feraan saw the problem would be crossing the main courtyard. ?He didn't know if his personal wards would work against Grimault's soldiers or not, but if they weren't functioning, reaching the shadow of the soldier barracks across the walkway, undetected, would take nothing short of a miracle. ?Feraan didn't like to chance such things but saw he would have little other choice.
The moments he waited were long and painful. ?He kept his eyes trained on the superior officer that held Feraan's throwing knife as he strolled among the lines of training soldiers. ?Feraan was about to make his move when someone else approached the officer.
"There is a dust cloud in the east. ?Something large is coming this way very quickly."
"We're not looking for something large. ?Remember our target. ?His horse was discovered at the base of the mesa not long ago."
"But sir, this cloud-"
"We have no quarrel with a dust storm, boy."
The soldier squared his shoulders at attention and looked past his officer. ?"Whatever is stirring this cloud seems to have quarrel with us, sir."
The officer sighed. ?"Back to your post-"
"Something is coming! We are being attacked!" yelled another soldier from the wall. ?To prove it, the ground shook with sudden explosions, and orange light briefly illuminated the night sky. ?The soldiers in the courtyard instantly dispersed as they scrambled to their defensive positions. ?Feraan took the moment to blend among the chaos. ?He took slow, purposeful strides to Grimault's castle.
"Someone inform the admiral. ?They will be here within the hour." ?Feraan knew of only one thing that resided in the east but he was not sure who would visit the fortress from that direction.
He caught sight of the previous officer, a lieutenant judging by his shoulder markings, weaving his way against the current of pauldrons and breastplates. ?Feraan followed him at a respectable distance until they were before the great entrance of the castle. ?The lieutenant entered, and Feraan slipped between the doors before they closed.
He and the lieutenant stood in a shadow, and the princeling sat on his throne in the entrance hall. ?Grimault rose to see the visitor, and the lieutenant moved towards him. ?Feraan remained where he was, scanning the length of the room for Caelfel or Lisiek.
"What is the meaning of this noise?" Grimault demanded. ?"Have you found him?"
"We are being attacked by something-"
"Is it him?"
"No, my lord."
"Then where is he?"
"Sir, scouts sighted his horse earlier, and a guard found a missile of elvish make." ?The princeling stepped up to his lieutenant. ?Feraan shifted to the corner of the entryway's shadow and saw a figure off to the side lying motionlessly. ?A metallic rope leashed her to the darkly clothed Lisiek. ?The steward looked about the room as if he sensed another presence.
"Return outside until you have found him and dispatch whoever else is trying to attack us," Grimault ordered. ?The lieutenant hurried outside without another word, oblivious to Feraan as he passed him.
Grimault turned back around to return to his throne and combed his fingers through his sandy hair. ?Lisiek crossed the short distance to meet him, also turning his back to Feraan. ?The smell of burnt flesh hung heavily in the air.
"When is he coming, Lisiek?" Grimault hissed. ?Before Lisiek could respond, the sound of a chain moving caught the steward's attention. ?Feraan looked to see Caelfel stirring in the dimly lit hall. ?Feraan left the protective shadow and drew his sword just as he reached Grimault.
"Perhaps he is already here," Feraan answered in Lisiek's stead.
Grimault turned in time to meet Feraan's blow with his own sword, and the scraping of blades echoed through the castle. ?Feraan threw off his weight and took one cautious step back. ?Grimault struggled to regain his balance but then quickly righted himself.
"Feraan, you made it just in time. ?I was afraid she would not last for long."
"Why would she not?"
"Lisiek, the girl," Grimault commanded.
Feraan watched Lisiek deftly pull Caelfel to her knees and saw there was not much consciousness left in her eyes. ?Lisiek went to stand beh
ind her, and when he put his hands on her shoulders, the familiar blue light covered Caelfel's entire body. ?Feraan sensed a parasitic draw on her life force.
"I am here now. ?Release her," Feraan said, facing Grimault again.
"I don't believe you understand why we brought the two of you here." ?
Feraan's eyes briefly travelled to the bow resting above Grimault's throne and felt his sword humming in his hands. ?"You took her so I would come to you. You want to take your revenge from me."
"Nearly correct. ?I plan to do the same to you as you've done to me. ?I will kill the one you love while you witness her death, unable to help her."
"Your friend killed himself by dabbling in magic he did not understand."
"If I recall correctly, it was your sword that pierced his heart. ?Lisiek is going to kill your she-elf, and I will watch you suffer."
Without pausing, Feraan hurled a throwing knife towards Lisiek. ?It clipped the sorcerer's shoulder, and Lisiek released Caelfel to grope at his injury. ?The blue light around her vanished. ?She fell again to the floor, attempting to break the fall with her elbows. ?Feraan noticed the chain around her wrists.
Grimault growled with rage, lifting his sword above his head. ?Feraan dropped to his knees and rolled out of the way, stopping himself when he was next to Caelfel.
He rose to his feet and swung his sword in the same movement, breaking the chain that bound her to Lisiek. ?It fell slack and dropped to the floor.
Grimault barreled toward him, and Feraan had just enough time to throw him back with the hilt of his sword.
Feraan looked around to see Caelfel struggling to move herself and noticed that Lisiek had recovered from his attack. ?He did not heed the blood dripping from his shoulder as he strode deliberately toward Feraan, blue fire engulfing his hands.
In a fight against a single human, any elf would easily succeed, but Feraan did not find himself fond of facing an admiral of the Umfang army and one of the few humans that possessed a magical aura. ?Feraan took calculated steps back as he measured the distance between Grimault and Lisiek.
"I'm curious, Grimault. ?Why is Lisiek assisting you in this revenge?"
"The man you killed? ?They were brothers."
"It's strange, because I recall Lisiek helping me to kill his own brother."
Grimault's eyes shifted uneasily to his steward who in turn kept his features placid. ?"You're stalling and trying to distract me."
"Think about it, Grimault. ?How did I know so much about your friend in the first place? ?Why would any elf be compelled to leave the forest to kill a human that means nothing to them without first being invited?" ?
Grimault turned his attention to Lisiek this time who smirked at Feraan's words. ?"I don't believe you. ?Lisiek would never betray me."
"What is the only thing that interests Lisiek?" Feraan asked. ?
Lisiek was grinning widely and he answered for the admiral. ?"Myself." ?
Grimault turned his stunned gaze to Lisiek. ?"Your own brother?"
The blue fire dissipated, and Lisiek folded his arms. ?"My brother was an idiot-"
Feraan charged Lisiek with his sword. ?The sorcerer reacted and reached out with a lash of fire that singed the weather cloak on Feraan's shoulder.
But Feraan still brought Lisiek to the ground by sinking his blade deeper into Lisiek's battered shoulder. ?Feraan drew back his sword once more.
Then something sharp sliced his back. ?Feraan whirled around as his now broken bow and shredded weather cloak fell to the floor. ?Grimault prepared for another attack as Feraan sensed Lisiek getting to his feet behind him.
Feraan dropped to the ground and rolled away again. ?When he got to his feet, he ripped his now useless side quiver from his belt and tossed it away. ?It landed near Caelfel.
He lowered his sword and, calling upon his own aura, raised his hand. ?Black smoke billowed around Feraan's arm, and he sent a spray of tiny ice shards plunging toward the sorcerer. ?Lisiek's reflexes were delayed in his defense, and pinpricks of blood dotted his face. ?The ones that pelted his wounded shoulder made him claw at the open sore in pain.
The black smoke swirled away, and Feraan turned his attention to Grimault. ?They parried blows for a while, but Feraan was nearly always distracted as he kept his eye on Lisiek.
When Lisiek finally straightened, he pumped his arms from side to side and wiped at the blood on his face. ?His right arm sagged slightly but it didn't stop him from summoning a wave of blue fire that he hurtled toward Feraan's face.
Feraan retaliated, and the black smoke reappeared to extinguish the fire with a wall of thick frost. ?Meanwhile, Feraan narrowly dodged another attack from Grimault, and the princeling's blade nicked him in the ribs. ?The sting of the metal resulted in a wet, red stain that rapidly soaked his clothes and drenched his armor, but Feraan didn't allow himself to think of that.
***
It was hot and then it was cold. ?She blinked to see a quiver inches from her face-
***
He pushed Grimault away from him again. ?The princeling stumbled and fell to the ground with the force. ?Feraan stepped back and raised his blade over his head for a high guard. ?The black smoke curled around the Bastard's sword, and Feraan sent streaks of electricity running down his blade.
***
-Her hair prickled with the energy in the room as she struggled to maintain consciousness-
Archer of the Lake Page 32