An Empire Forged

by Michael Greenfield

  Kormick looked at him, “Direct blood ties, I think that’s only four of us. Dukes Vilstrom and Peres, Lord Marton and myself.”

  “Then we only have to convince three of the dire nature of the situation and the need for a stable kingdom, able to help the others at this time.”

  Myriana gave Cal an appraising stare, “Collett was right about you, wasn’t he?”

  “Sorry/”

  “We’ve been concentrating on getting the whole kingdom on our side once we’ve restored the rightful rule, but you’re quite right. In reality we only need those three to at least agree with what we’re trying to do.

  They don’t even particularly need to actually like us, though that would be nice, as long as they see the need for a co-ordinated response to the Mythraan threat.”

  “That’s the plan then. Once they arrive here, those are the three we must concentrate our efforts on. Once we’ve got more definite information as to the situation with regards to His Majesty, we make a plan for whatever eventuality arises, but we must have those three on board.”

  “Agreed Uncle. Once we know what we’re doing we can get a message to Jerito down in Dorn, bringing the main bulk of the army behind whatever we decide.”

  All four nodded at the statement. “So now we just wait.”

  Myriana pulled a face at Cal, “I know, that’s the bit I hate.”

  Pilgrims

  The Helmer Fastship had come to rest a few hundred metres from the shoreline. The coast itself had offered little in the way of easy access, miles and miles of towering cliffs formed a formidable barrier to any who wanted to come ashore there, but eventually the Captain had found a small inlet that led to a secluded gravel beach at the base of one such cliff. After further observation a rugged route up the cliff itself had been spotted.

  It had taken several hours for the Fastship’s longboat to drop them off and then to reach the top of the cliff, but Tamala and Luda had eventually made it. Camping atop the cliff on the leeward side of some large boulders, they had eaten cold rations provided by the Helmer crew and quickly retired to their tents. The weather was terrible, but they had no choice as to the matter.

  Fortunately, the following day had been slightly better, and they had quickly passed into the deep wood covering the foothills of the mountains. Going was slow as there was no trail to follow and it was another few days before they reached the base of the mountains proper.

  Here Luda convinced the redheaded sorceress to rest for a day before they started to ascend further. Although she had crossed the mountains to the far east of the Kingdoms, she also was aware that this time there would be no easy path to follow.

  If they had approached from the south, as would have been normal if Myriana hadn’t been taken by the Shalers, then the route was well known and even then required a three-day trek on foot. As it was, Luda estimated they could be in the mountains for anything up to two weeks.

  They needed to stay on the southern side of the range, in order to stand a chance of coming across the trail to the temple, but this also meant they ran the risk of meeting a Shaler patrol, so progress would be slow.

  For the most part Luda took the lead as he tried to seek out the easiest route for them to follow. Sticking as much as possible to the very upper reaches of the foothills, they had only once needed to ascend onto the mountains themselves during the first week. Smoke rising from what appeared to be a campfire had forced them to detour the area.

  Tamala found the going tough, but didn’t complain. There wasn’t much point as the trip had to be made anyway.

  It was on the eighth day in the foothills that Luda signalled for them to halt. Amongst the hills they were approaching there looked to be two that were distinctly higher and more pointed at their summits. Something that didn’t usually occur naturally.

  “I think we’re here.” The big man looked back at his young friend. “If that’s not the Gateway, then I’ve no idea what its going to look like.”

  Tamala let out a breath as she sat on a convenient log. “I’m not going to disagree, if only because it means we’re only three days from our destination.”

  “Aye, just three days. All uphill mind.”

  “Thanks. Do you think the Shalers will have guards set in the area?”

  “It’s the obvious thing to do, although I had a thought about that earlier.”

  “Oh?” Tamala was curious now.

  “All our directions detail passing between the Pillars of the Gateway to gain the trail that leads up to the Seers Temple.”

  “Yes.”

  “And I bet the Shalers will have hidden guards watching the route from the south to the Gateway.”

  “Luda,” Tamala sounded a little impatient with the warrior, “would you get to the point.”

  “Easy, we’re not coming from the south. So why do we have to pass through the Gateway? Can’t we just cut east from here and pick up the pathway to the north of our friendly Shalers?”

  “There’s no reason as far as I’m aware,” she gave it some thought for a moment, “no reason at all. What’s the worst that can happen?”

  “You tell me, you’re the sorceress.”

  Grabbing some loose bark from the log she threw it at him. “As far as I can recall, there is no mystical reason for passing between them. It’s purely a case of being the easiest way to find the trail.”

  “Then that’s the plan. We camp back that way for the night,” he pointed a tight cluster of trees and bushes a short way away, “then aim to find the trail and get some distance up it by nightfall tomorrow.

  The Shalers have no reason to be expecting us so as long as we don’t do anything to draw attention our way, we should be alright.”

  The night passed peacefully, and the pair were soon on the move the next day. Luda made a point of keeping an eye on the two mounds to their south, trying to make an educated guess as to when they should be approaching the trail.

  Not long before noon he signalled for a halt. At first Tamala thought he had perhaps discovered their route, but a sharp noise from ahead dispelled that idea.

  Both of them moved quickly into the undergrowth, barely breathing as they waited for whoever was ahead of them to appear. They didn’t have to wait long before a small group of men emerged from the cover in front of them.

  The men looked very uncomfortable, which was no surprise as they were dressed in the garb of the desert dwelling J’dar. They were obviously a patrol of some description, but they didn’t seem to be trying very hard to find anything.

  Cursory glances about them, without really studying any of the area hard belied their enthusiasm, and within moments they had disappeared in the direction the pair of them had just come from.

  “Interesting,” Luda spoke softly as they left their concealment, “it would appear that our adversaries aren’t all as dedicated to the cause as they might be.”

  “This backs up what we heard when we rescued Myriana. Not all of the J’dar are willing allies of the Mythra.”

  Luda nodded agreement, before turning and starting out toward where they thought the trail should be.

  Shortly after their near brush with the J’dar patrol Luda signalled again, although this time he was studying the ground before him. He stared hard down the slopes to the Gateway again before returning to considering the mud and grass.

  “Something’s not right.” He waved at the ground, “Look at it.”

  Tamala looked hard at where he was indicating but could see nothing out of the ordinary. “It looks like grass to me.”

  “I quite agree, and we’ve just seen a group of several men pass down from here.”

  “And?”

  “Where are their tracks?”

  “What?” This time she stared as the ground either side of them as well as directly in front. Luda was right, several yards in front of them they could see signs of the patrol passing, and again where they stood and behind them. But for a few yards directly in front the ground was pristine.r />
  “Stand still a moment.” She closed her eyes and let her mind relax, trying to feel their surroundings. After roughly ten seconds she started to smile.

  Pointing directly at the thickest part of the undergrowth to their left she spoke, “That way.”

  Luda looked confused, especially when Tamala strode purposefully at the brush, and promptly vanished. Luda leapt forward, as if trying to grab the young sorceress, only to almost fall flat on his face when he met no resistance from the branches.

  As he raised himself up from the ground, he saw Tamala a few paces away, stood with an elderly looking woman. Both were trying hard not to laugh.

  “Go on, say it!”

  “I wouldn’t dare say anything My Lord.” The amused twinkling in her eyes didn’t seem to agree with her statement.

  She returned her attention the woman next to her. “Revered Lady, is this the way to your Temple.”

  She shook her head, still in obvious amusement at the large warrior, “It is my daughter. We were told that a pilgrim would come, I have been awaiting your arrival.”

  “Isn’t that dangerous?” Luda considered the older woman, who couldn’t have stood more than five feet tall and probably weighed less than one of Luda’s sets of chainmail.

  “Not really.” She waved her hand and a milky wall spread across the foliage behind them. “Now none can pass this way. My sisters will ensure that other routes are similarly protected.”

  “Then we are expected?” This shook Tamala slightly. “Who told you?”

  “You don’t really need me to answer that do you? My name is Leeta by the way.”

  “It is an honour to meet you. Are you to guide us?”

  This time the Seer did laugh out loud, “No, you still need to make the trek yourself. I was just asked to await your arrival and ensure no-one passed that we might not like a visit from.”

  “Oh.”

  “I shouldn’t worry too much, just stick to the path.”

  “That’s not the worry.” She looked embarrassed as she continued, “I was hoping you had some secret way of avoiding three days walking up the mountain.”

  All three laughed at that.

  True to Tamala’s prediction, three days later they came within sight of the Temple of the Seers. The building itself was made of solid stone slabs, although dark windows could be seen dotted along the walls. From where they stood, neither Tamala or Luda could gain any idea as to how it had been constructed.

  The dark grey granite it was made from seemed to perfectly compliment the slate grey skies above them as yet another storm threatened to move in from the west.

  The structure had three floors to it, and a sloped, grey slate roof. A couple of chimneys atop the roof leaked thin trails of smoke into the sky, but apart from that there was no obvious sign of life.

  Large, iron bound gates sat squarely in the middle of the nearest wall. Standing over ten feet high they weren’t overly imposing, but they would give pause to any casual observer.

  Walking up to the gate, Tamala stepped ahead of Luda and banged her fist against the solid oak. There wasn’t any impressive booming as she did, in fact her fists made barely any noise at all, but one of the doors slid back as she drew away.

  After a moment a thin pair of hands could be seen gripping the edge of the wood, pulling hard. A youthful face appeared. A girl, only a few years older than Tamala, stepped back and motioned for them to follow.

  “Apologies, we don’t get many visitors and the gate isn’t really a priority as long as it’s still standing.” She motioned them through.

  “Apology accepted,” Tamala stared around the courtyard they had entered. Where the exterior of the temple was solid, drab stone. The interior was the complete opposite. Balconies faced into the courtyard decorated with delicately crafted wood edging, and not a few with flowers and other plants hanging from them.

  Striding across the courtyard was a much older woman. Long, silvery hair cascaded past her shoulder and her blue-grey eyes appeared to drill right to the very heart of the redhead. Her plain grey robe was decorated with light blue trim about the neckline and sleeves, but aside from that, there was no great difference between her attire and that of several other women who now began to appear.

  “Welcome, I’m Arlena. I suppose some would call me the head Seer, although we don’t think of it quite like that.

  It’s my privilege to greet you and bid you enter our Temple.”

  Sightings

  Edir and the brothers had ridden hard since leaving Talek, camping only at dusk and rising at dawn to start over. They had changed mounts several times at villages and small towns en route to keep them fresh and manage as much speed as possible.

  Skirting the northern edge of the great forest that was Kal’s Deep, they had been travelling through the foothills of the great range of mountains that border the northeast of the kingdom for two days when they came across the first border forts.

  Skellarsgate wasn’t the first fort in the chain that followed the range’s length but was actually one of the smaller forts that provided links between the larger, garrisons.

  It performed that job no longer. Smoke could be seen rising from the wooden fort, fires still burning inside. Edir motioned for them all to stop, as she gazed over the devastation. Even from a distance bodies could be seen hanging from the wooden wall that surround it, the fort’s gates hung from their mounts.

  “Recent.” Golt grunted, “I’ll bet that the main garrisons don’t know yet.”

  “But why?” Edir scanned the area around the structure. Apart from the fort itself, everything appeared normal.

  “We know the J’dar have been probing to the east, along the other side of the range. Perhaps they wanted to probe further and these,” he indicated the fort, “were too close for comfort.”

  “It would take some time for news to spread and re-enforcements to arrive.”

  Reglan nudged his mount forward, “They don’t plan on being in the area long enough for re-enforcements to make any difference.”

  Edir regarded him for a moment, “Go on.”

  “We know they’ve been scouting the area, yes. They have to know that we’ve seen them, so it reasonable for them to believe that if they push too hard, we’ll react and react quickly.”

  “You’re right. We need to move, and fast.”

  “What about them?” Tarron pointed toward the dead.

  “Much as I hate to say it, they’re gone. We need to find out what’s going on so we can protect those that are still here.”

  None of the brothers looked happy at Edir’s statement, but none disagreed either. Slowly at first, then with a quickening pace, they passed Skellarsgate and proceed eastward, toward the pass that would lead them through the peaks and down to the J’dar side of the range.

  The journey through the high pass was surprisingly quiet. On the Leefs’elm side they saw no sign of any others, though as they descended the eastern slope, they began to see signs of routes being travelled back and forth, but initially no clear sign that one route was being preferred to another.

  “This makes no sense.” They had dismounted so they could look at the tracks more closely. Tarron was by far the best of the brothers at tracking but looked nothing more than very confused.

  “There seems to be tracks from multiple groups here, some heading in differing directions, some heading the same way.” He looked about them, “There appears to be several groups heading north, up that trail.” He pointed to a faint mud track leading up the northern slope of the pass.

  “We think they’re looking for something, could several groups heading in the same direction mean they’ve found it?” Edir was still studying the ground about them. “This was the starting point.”

  “Sorry?”

  “Whatever they’re looking for, they know its in this area. They simply started here and just began looking everywhere. Its not as if they haven’t got the manpower.”

  “You think they’ve found
whatever they’re looking for?”

  “Why else attack Skellarsgate, it buys them time to move whatever it is.”

  “Then we need to move.”

  “There was a small clump of trees and bushes back the way we came. We should leave the horses there and continue on foot.” The tall blonde remounted her horse and turned it back up the pass.

  They made good time to begin with, but the trail quickly became a rough route through crumbling rock. By the time the four of them reached the top of the trail they were all breathing heavily. The route had led them to a short saddle of rock between two distinct peaks, and the view from the top was spectacular.

  More than just the stunning scenery though, from their vantage they could see more smoke rising into the air. Unlike before, they knew that no fort was situated here, and for the first time they also saw J’dar on the move.

  Halfway down the side of the peak they were near the top of, they could see movement. A few minutes of observation revealed three patrols, all within a mile of their location. Due to the time of day and position of the sun above them, they were in no danger of being seen themselves, but it was ample warning that they still needed to be cautious.

  Past the J’dar patrols they could see a high alpine meadow, leading to the base of a cliff. Around that base there was a hive of activity and, although at this distance Edir couldn’t be sure, some sort of structure built into the rockface itself.

  “I guess this is the right place.” Reglan hunched down next her. “I suppose the next thing you’re going to suggest is that we need to get down there and find out what’s going on?”

  The blonde smiled at him, “What a superb idea, I’m so glad you thought of it.” Golt clipped Reglan across the back of the head.

  “Idiot.”

  “But she would have suggested it anyway.” The older man managed to put a lot of hurt feelings into his voice.

  “True, but then I wouldn’t have had an excuse to clip you.” Golt grinned, “Are we going to do this or what?”

  “I’m surrounded by children,” Reglan complained. He glanced at Edir, “and you’re worse that the other two.”