An Empire Forged

by Michael Greenfield

  It was almost with sadness that he slipped out the next morning, before breakfast was served, in order to avoid any unnecessary questions. His hope that the ruse of the previous night would buy him a relatively straight passage to Jerito seemed to be borne out, as the only people he passed in the street were the usual assortment of early morning workers and those that were still finishing off the night before.

  It was just shy of a mile through the gloomy morning mist to his destination and he found himself within sight of the building about a quarter of an hour later.

  It appeared to be a large townhouse, with a high walled courtyard to the front. The building itself stood three floors high and was painted a bright white which reflected the first rays of sunlight to cut through the mist. He could see two uniformed guards stood just behind the gate, both looking very much awake and alert.

  Moving to a narrow alleyway he took the opportunity to wait in the shadows and observe the buildings around his destination. He didn’t have a particularly good view of the ones on the same side of the street, but he was assuming that any hidden observers would be on the opposite side of the street, in order to gain a better view themselves.

  All the time he had spent as a youth learning the art of hunting came to his aid now as he stood almost perfectly still, totally unseen by passers-by as they went about their business.

  His patience was rewarded as he saw a curtain flicking sideways as someone approached the gate, only to carry on past it as they went on their way. It was enough for Cal, he knew that there was someone there, watching.

  Leaning against the wall he tried to think of how to try and reach the gate unobserved. He had toyed with the idea of climbing the walls when he first saw them but guessed that would not be the best way to try and convince the General of his good intentions.

  As he stood there, he noted that the traffic on the street was getting heavier, with more wagons starting to pass. He glanced back down the way he had come and saw exactly what he was after. A heavy cart being pulled by a pair of oxen was making its way toward him loaded with heavy looking barrels, probably of ale he judged.

  He glanced back at the window, noting that the curtain had slid back into position, and the waited for the cart to draw level. He knew he wouldn’t be able to completely stop the hidden observers from seeing him enter, but he could delay them long enough that they shouldn’t be able to interfere.

  He waited a few moments as the cart trundled up the street toward him, before stepping out of the shadows and walking casually beside it. He steeled himself to avoid looking toward the window where he suspected the house was being watched from, trying to almost will an appearance of total innocence about himself.

  He hadn’t really thought about it much, but he decided there and then that he much preferred applying his skills at being stealthy to situations involving woodland or open countryside. He really didn’t like trying to look inconspicuous in the middle of a built-up town.

  Almost before he realised it, he found himself almost level with the gate. The two guards had taken note of him, but still held their positions. Now that he was closer, he could see a small guardroom just behind the wall, and another two guards stood by the doorway leading into the house.

  He stepped away from the cover of the cart and moved to the gate in two, brief steps.

  “I bring a message for the General.”

  The nearest guard was about to say something when his eyes darted behind Cal, and upward. The young Baron didn’t wait for any cry of warning, but threw himself flat to the floor as a crossbow bolt whined through the space his body had occupied but a moment earlier.

  Cal heard the metal gate being dragged open as he saw another guard step from the guardroom holding a crossbow of his own. He brought it up in one fluid move and released. The tinkle of smashed glass and a scared yell from within brought a smile to the guard’s face.

  “Been wanting to do that for a while.” He looked at the still prone youngster, “Quick boy, before they reload.”

  Cal needed no further urging, pushing himself up to his feet and sprinting into the safety of the guardroom as the first two guards slammed the gate shut. Once locked, they joined him inside.

  The guard with the crossbow placed it on a nearby table and held his hand, palm upright. “The message?”

  “It’s not written down. I have a letter of introduction; the rest is up to my memory.”

  “Isn’t that always the way.” He ran his eyes over Cal’s appearance, “You look a bit underdressed for an ordinary messenger anyway. You move faster as well.”

  Cal found himself laughing at the comment, “You wouldn’t believe how fast I’ve learnt to move over the last few months.”

  Turning to the two guards from the gate, the one who Cal now took to be the more senior pointed back outside. “Keep an eye on them.

  They should leave you alone now that they’ve missed their chance.”

  “Sir.” Both spun about and returned to their posts.

  Cal shot the man a questioning look. “They’ve done this before. If they miss, they usually don’t try anything again until you try to leave.”

  “That makes me feel better.”

  “Come on, let’s get you to the General.”

  Cal was pleased to see that the guardroom backed on to the main building and there was a direct connection, meaning they didn’t have to go back outside.

  Following the man, he was led through a small room and into the corridor beyond. Moments later he was shown into a more reasonably sized room that appeared to be the library, before he was left alone as the guard went inform the General that he was here. Although there were several comfortable looking chairs arrayed about the place, he decided to remain standing as he waited.

  It must have been four or five minutes later that the door swung open again, admitting a short man, who looked anywhere between forty and fifty years old. His short cropped, blonde hair, topped a slightly pudgy face with a pair of opaline green eyes that seemed to bore straight into Cal.

  He was heavyset but moved briskly as he crossed the room and motioned for Cal to be seated.

  “I believe you have a letter of introduction young man?”

  “Yes, Sir.” Cal reached inside his tunic to a pocket that was own there, and produced a letter, sealed with blue wax.

  The General stared at the seal for a moment before speaking again, “Duke Kormick?”

  “It’s countersigned within by his niece as well.”

  “Niece?”

  “Queen Myriana of Boraan.”

  That caused the older man to pause for a moment. “The King?”

  “Killed at Holdur, Sir.”

  Jerito decided to read the letter before carrying on the conversation. He broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. It didn’t take him more than ten seconds to scan the contents. Cal already knew what it said.

  “Well that’s different, I’ll give you that Baron.

  Couldn’t he have written a bit more than ‘This is Baron Calmagyr of Boraan. He knows everything you need to know. Come soonest’?”

  Cal smiled, “There wasn’t much more to say.

  Through no intent of my own I’ve been involved in what’s happening almost since the beginning. I can let you know how things stand in Galorn, and what’s planned for Boraan and beyond.

  The short version is that Chancellor Baridon is in league with the Mythraan in an attempt to, at the very least, disrupt the Southern Kingdoms, whilst they are trying to do something to the north.

  I don’t know exactly what, but I believe that King Maargsson was looking into what’s going on in the northern mountains.”

  Jerito grunted, “And now that everything gone tits up, they think it’s time to call for me?”

  “Close, though to be fair, Duke Kormick wasn’t aware of some of what was going on in Mid’gra.”

  “Then I guess we need to talk.” He crossed to the wall where a bell-pull hung. Jerking it down he waited for a serv
ant to appear at the door. “Drinks and refreshments Gul, I think we could be here a while.”

  Attack

  Brilliant sunlight cut through the crisp mountain air, providing the occupants of the temple an opportunity to enjoy the unseasonably good weather. Many of those that stayed there were taking advantage to give things like bedding a chance to get a proper airing after being laundered, rather than the usual of trying to leave them near fires within the walls. They got dry that way, but it wasn’t the same as getting them out in the fresh air.

  Tamala was taking a break from her studies and wandering along the cloisters that surrounded the central courtyard, enjoying the fragrances being given off by the hanging plants placed carefully about them.

  Luda had taken the relaxation to another level, having found a bench somewhere that he had dragged into the courtyard and was now dozing on as others went about their business.

  To be fair to Luda, she thought, there really wasn’t much for him to do here. A couple of weeks before, he and some of the younger kitchen servants had decided to head out of the temple and see if they would have any luck trying a bit of hunting.

  Apart from several grazed knees, the entire enterprise hadn’t produced much for the men to show off about, though both Sorceress and Seer had found the entire thing highly amusing.

  Tamala’s musing was interrupted by a low rumble, sounding distant, but the tremor she felt through her feet did not. She glanced at the sky but could see no sign of any storm clouds gathering that would herald one of the violent thunderstorms the area was renowned for.

  Luda had swung his feet from his bench and was swivelling his head back and fore as he tried to figure out where the sound was coming from. His eyes met Tamala’s and the two of them started toward one of the entrances to the building.

  Meeting by the doorway, Tamala spoke first.

  “The cellars?”

  “That’s what it sounded like.” Luda’s sword was upstairs, in his room, but his hunting knife was strapped to his side. He drew it as they entered the temple, heading for the stairwell that led to the library beneath them.

  About them several of the temple’s residents were hurrying past, also searching to find the source of the disturbance, though none were heading for the stairs as yet.

  The pair reached the top step and glanced down. From where they stood, they could see a faint glow at the bottom, slightly flickering.

  “Fire!” Luda screamed as loudly as he could.

  Tamala had already started downward, whilst Luda grabbed a nearby acolyte. “We need a bucket chain, now!” The youngster nodded their understanding and raced off to get assistance and start the chain that would hopefully dowse the flames below.

  Tamala reached the bottom and stared in horror at what she saw. The passageways beneath the temple spread out in several directions and she could see the dancing light cast by flames down most of them. Her horror at the damage being done to the library was intensified by the fact that there was no way a fire could break out like this naturally. Someone was down here, starting the blazes.

  She heard Luda step down behind her and without turning held her hand up for him to stop. “This is deliberate.”

  Luda rested his hand on her shoulder in acknowledgement, his other hand returning to the dagger he had replaced in its sheath.

  “Where in your room did you leave your sword?”

  Luda didn’t need to think before he replied, “Under the bed.”

  Tamala closed her eyes a moment in concentration, visualising the interior of the room Luda used. She had been in there often, as they spoke late into the night about what they were doing, and other things in general to relive the monotony.

  Her lips moved rapidly, but silently, as she drew in the power of the source and then Luda’s sword was in her hand.

  “No scabbard?”

  She turned and flashed an impudent grin at him, “I’m still practising.” Although, despite the potentially dangerous situation they found themselves in, she was slightly annoyed by the comment. Essentially because it was true, she needed to concentrate a bit harder next time, she thought.

  They started to make their way down the nearer corridor. Without knowing more, any direction was as good as any other. Before they had moved more than a few feet they heard commotion behind them.

  Tamala didn’t need to close her eyes this time. A brief look of concentration was followed by, “I’ve told Arlena, she’ll keep everyone upstairs until we know it’s safe.”

  Luda nodded, then continued onward.

  The first room they reached only contained a few small fires. Once again, the young sorceress frowned as she drew her powers together and with a wave of her hand the flames died down and stopped, leaving faint plumes of smoke rising from where they had been.

  “Do we still need a bucket chain?” Luda smiled as he spoke.

  “I can’t put it all out at once and it would take time for me to get around to everywhere.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “I’ll let them know that they can start to come down but stick to the corridors we’ve been through. It saves me having to stop at every room and extinguish the flames and allows us to seek out who’s causing this quicker.

  I’ve let them know. Arlena knows what she’s doing. Between her acolytes, herself and the bucket chain, hopefully we can contain the damage, but it’s still going to be substantial.”

  Their progress continued onward for another ten minutes, Luda checking rooms as they passed and Tamala quickly smothering any flames that looked as if they were verging on becoming uncontrollable.

  It was as they moved down another stairwell to the next level down that they became aware of sound other than the roar of the blaze. It sounded bestial, as if some animal was trapped by the fire.

  Luda rapidly advanced toward the room the sound was coming from, his sword held ready. His mind was not ready for the sight he beheld when he entered though.

  “This isn’t possible. You’re dead. I saw you burn.”

  Stood in the centre of the room, grinning manically, was the Koldari warrior Cor’dell. Behind him another figure moved through the smoke-filled room, pointing at shelves of books and igniting them with the power of his mind.

  Cor’dell stepped forward, pulling his own sword clear of its scabbard and standing ready. Keeping himself between the figure behind him and the big warrior from Holdur, Cor’dell studied his opponent.

  “I know you?”

  “I saw you die on Cal’s sword.”

  “Cal? The wielder of the Fireblade?” With that the dark-haired swordsman stepped forward, snapping his blade out. Luda had been told what happened to Cal the first time he had faced the Koldari, but he also knew that he didn’t have much choice. His own blade swept up to block the strike as he braced himself for the expected blast of power from the clash.

  Surprisingly, it didn’t happen. But that did not stop Cor’dell from spinning quickly and launching another vicious blow. It dawned on Luda that the blow that knocked Cal out during their first confrontation must have been to do with the swords. Now Cor’dell only had a normal sword, not that it made life all that much easier for the big man. Cor’dell was still incredibly fast and strong.

  Luda could only maintain a defence against him, he struggled to launch any attack of his own.

  Then he saw Cor’dell’s eyes light up, literally, as he saw something behind Luda. Tamala had stepped into the room and taken the scene in at a single glance. Her first surge of power was aimed at knocking Cor’dell backward, to give Luda room and time to take the fight to the dark swordsman and allow Tamala to go after whoever was at the other end of the room

  She was almost rooted to the spot in surprise when the Koldari didn’t stagger back as she intended. Instead, his eyes started glowing a bright red as he squared himself up and faced the sorceress.

  “How?” Tamala stepped back, trying something she had read only a few days previously.

  The warrior s
eemed to shimmer, and to Luda’s eyes it looked as if two beings stood in the one place. He could clearly see the man he faced, but almost as an afterimage there was something else. Something monstrous.

  The spell seemed to confuse whatever it was for a split second and Luda was able to launch a furious offensive, driving it back through brute strength rather than skill.

  Tamala took the opportunity to dart past the pair and confront the second figure they had discovered. The figure was cloaked, with the hood drawn up about its face, offering no clear view as to who it was.

  Tamala’s hand flicked out, extinguishing the flames that had just leapt into life amongst the books, causing the figure to whirl about to face her. Her jaw dropped as she realised who it was.

  “Eshek!” Although she had never met him, the similarities between himself and his brother made his identification obvious, though no less stunning. “But you can’t…”

  She stumbled backward at the Source Guide threw a magical surge at her. Only her subconscious saved her as she had erected an invisible barrier about her without even thinking about it.

  “Why?” Her eyes took on a wild caste as she struggled with what she was seeing.

  “Because I no longer care about balance, I want power.”

  Tamala threw a surge of her own, but Eshek deflected it easily. “The Mythra have promised you power, that doesn’t sound like them.”

  “It doesn’t, does it.” Eshek threw back his head and laughed a high, almost hysterical laugh. “Perhaps they know as little as you.”

  Tamala cast her gaze toward where Luda and Cor’dell still struggled together. Willing her vision to shift she saw the scene anew, and with that fresh knowledge she knew true fear.

  “You can’t have?” The figure she now beheld fighting the big Boraan Lord stood taller than the body it occupied. Its skin was a ragged texture, shade a deep red, with tight muscles straining to be contained across its body. The redhead had only ever read of these creatures, and then only in texts that most wrote off as being works of fantasy, not to be taken to literally.