“Ride? Are we going somewhere?”
“We are not, but Nerti and I are going to get some air.” He wiggled his toes into the second boot and stood. “Sorry, you and your dwarves can’t come with me.”
Jagwin stepped back, and his expression changed. “Permission to speak bluntly.”
The request took Farrell by surprise. His captain never prefaced his other barbs like this. “If you think it’s needed, yes.”
“You’re being a fool. Just because no one has tried to kill you inside Haven before doesn’t mean they won’t try now.” Jagwin’s hand moved until it rested on his war hammer. “We can’t be sure all the dwarves who went into the void were on our side. It’s possible some of Neldin’s supporters went as well. And that’s not considering some of the human nations in exile. Do you trust all of them not to cut a side deal with Meglar?”
“They’d be fools to believe he’d keep his word.”
“Still, it’s been my experience that most leaders are convinced they are smarter, stronger, better than their foes.” He waved his thick fingers at Farrell. “I do not include you in that group but don’t expect the others to be half as smart as you.”
Farrell directed the dwarf to one of a pair of seats. Jagwin shook his head. “Though I often chide you, you are still my king.”
“True, but you are also my friend, and I’m not offering as your king.”
Jagwin swallowed loudly. “You honor me, Your Majesty.”
“Says the dwarf who would die for me without a thought.”
“Says the human who would die for us all without a thought.” Jagwin didn’t look away. “We may not comment, but we listen.”
“You need to understand that anything capable of hurting me will sweep you and the other guards aside before you could react.” It sounded worse saying it out loud. “I don’t mean to imply you’re all not capable warriors, because I know you are, but a wizard won’t give you the chance to hit him with your hammer.”
“Perhaps not, but he might think twice if he has to deal with us as well as you.”
Farrell hadn’t expected he’d get his wish. At least Jagwin had agreed not to post guards outside his door. A threat to send every guard who came near his rooms to the Southern Wastes might have helped. Miceral had convinced Farrell to allow guards at either end of the corridor leading to the apartment. “Nothing’s changed, has it?”
“Are you going to stop using your magic to avoid us?”
“No. Are you going to stop following me everywhere I go?”
Jagwin smirked. “No.”
“Glad we could have this talk and finally understand each other.” Farrell summoned his staff. “When you tell Father Aswick we won’t be able to make it today, ask him to submit any changes or additions he wants to make, and Miceral and I will consider them over dinner.”
“Is it necessary for me to rub salt in his wound?” Jagwin sounded amused.
Farrell laughed. “Tell him whatever you think prudent, so long as you let him know we are busy today.”
The dwarf snapped to attention and gave him an almost mocking salute. “I shall do my very best to convey your regrets with the appropriate level of respect.”
“I knew you would.” Farrell gestured toward the permanent Door in his room. “Can I speed you on your way?”
“Thank you, but no. I’m in no hurry to have Father Aswick apply his lash to me in place of you.”
Nerti was eager for their run when she met him by the western gate to Haven.
“If you’ll indulge me, I have a request for our route.” Farrell leapt onto Nerti’s back.
“Ask and I’ll listen, though I make no promises that I’ll agree.”
“South beyond the eastern gates to Trellham.”
“An interesting choice. Is there a reason?”
“Is being tired of the confines of Gharaha reason enough?” It wouldn’t be, but he tried anyway.
“You have no ulterior motives?”
The question caught him off guard. “None. Feel free to check my thoughts if you want to be sure.”
“That isn’t necessary. Your word is sufficient. That and I’d be able to tell if you were lying to me.”
Farrell laughed. “Are you sure? I’ve never lied to you. How can you be certain?”
“It is well you’ve not lied to me, and I suggest you never test me. Humans are very bad liars.”
He wondered if unicorns were good ones, but the day was cool for the summer, yet sunny—perfect for a ride. Debating it further would only delay them. “Shall we go?”
Nerti’s answer was to start running. He opened a Door in front of her and was reminded of the day they had met; Nerti running for the hills, trusting Farrell would open a Door in time but not sure he could do it. This time she knew he could, and she didn’t warn him when they got closer.
They exited east of the entrance to Gharaha and were pointing south. Nerti accelerated and found a small, seldom-used path. No matter how many times he’d ridden with her, Farrell was always amazed that her gait was so smooth and free of bone-jarring bounces.
Summer was quickly moving toward fall in the southern hemisphere, but the sun was strong enough to make Farrell sweat inside his leather riding clothes. Fortunately their pace cooled him.
Soon they rounded the small spur of mountains that enclosed Gharaha. The forest of western Honal didn’t stretch this far south. The rolling hills were covered in high grass that swayed in the breeze.
Nerti kept to a path only she could see, and they paralleled the Trellham Mountains. West of their route and still a bit south, the two massive stone doors of the main gate to Trellham had been flung wide for the first time in three thousand years. Dozens of dwarves scurried about, checking to make sure the doors hadn’t suffered damage like the northern entrance had.
“I didn’t realize the main entrance to Trellham was this far south,” Farrell said.
“All the Doors you use to get around skew your sense of distance. What you call Haven was the northernmost part of the kingdom. Trellham was the largest kingdom on Nendor at the time. You don’t expect its northern boundary would be a stone’s throw from the main gate, do you?”
“No. As you said, it’s harder to judge distance inside the mountain.” Farrell stared at the massive doors. He’d always thought the one that opened into the city itself was the main entrance. Now he felt foolish. Of course there had to be an exit leading outside. But if there was a huge gate like this, where was . . .? He looked at the ground rushing past. Nothing unusual. However, he noticed something in his peripheral vision. When he tried to examine what he saw, it disappeared. He tried staring directly in front of him and saw nothing, but when he looked ahead, the outline was visible. The contour of a wide road stretched beyond his vision. “Amazing!”
“Your dwarves are quite resourceful. Magic isn’t the only way to achieve something impossible.”
“Where does it lead?” He couldn’t imagine why anyone would build a road south. Arvendia had always been a collection of tribes, and even more scattered and nomadic people populated the Southern Wastes.
“As I told you, Trellham was not only the largest kingdom on Ardus, but in all of Nendor when it fell. All roads led to Trellham. They were renowned for their engineers and their artisans. Both of which brought them great wealth. Why do you think Neldin sought to conquer it before all others?”
A shout to his right drew his attention. The dwarves had stopped working. They cheered and waved as he and Nerti rode past.
“Do you wish me to ride toward them?”
“No. Keep to our original plan.” He wanted to see more of this unknown road before he had to turn back. To acknowledge the cheer, he waved quickly, then leaned forward to encourage Nerti to run faster. “If we stop now, we may not get to continue.”
As he’d hoped, Nerti increased her pace until the wind whipped his hair behind him.
“Did you visit Trellham before its fall?” Farrell asked.
&
nbsp; “I was here during the war.”
Of course she had been. “Did you meet Kel when he was a young man?”
“Yes, though he did not remember me when I was sent to Yar-del with the Holy Mother’s message.”
Nerti’s pace soon moved them beyond sight of the entrance. Racing with the wind in his face, Farrell forgot everything else except the joy of riding. With no set destination, he let Nerti decide how far she wanted to run. If it got too late, he’d open a Door back to Haven.
The rolling hills of grass were interrupted here and there by small clumps of scrub trees or low bushes. A hawk called out overhead. The bird circled, squawking a greeting as it caught a draft of wind beneath its wings.
Farrell was about to reply to the bird when he heard powerful magic being used.
“Nerti! Stop!” He pulled his staff from his back as she slowed to a halt.
“What’s wrong?”
“Door magic.” A big Door, if he sensed correctly.
“Doesn’t Meglar create Doors often?”
“Don’t listen to Erstad and the others. Meglar isn’t an idiot. Zargon is every bit as shielded as Haven.” He reached into his endless pocket, and his hand hit the bottom. “By the Eight Gates of Neblor!”
“What happened?”
“I left the Eye in my quarters.” He knew enough that it was time to turn back. “This was the exit of a Door, and it’s much closer than Zargon.”
“You are too dependent on Honorus’s Gift.”
Farrell tamped down his irritation at a nonwizard commenting on how he did something. “Unlike magic, the Eye is undetectable. Had I been able to use it now, I could see what I need with no risk of Meglar knowing I’d come looking.”
Nerti didn’t respond, and he concentrated on an alternative. He put his hand on the tip of his staff and drew out a small, clear bubble. Infusing it with enough energy, Farrell sent it to find the Door. He repeated the action and created a second, large sphere that he stared into.
Inside the bubble, the ground whooshed past. “Higher,” he whispered.
The view pulled back as the smaller globe did as instructed. Turning the ball in his hand, Farrell panned up, down, left, or right. Before the seeker found the Door, a detection spell he’d set in western Arvendia signaled someone’s arrival. The fact it kept alerting him meant it was a lot of someones.
Knowing which spell had been tripped, he sent the little bubble south and east. Several tense seconds later, he saw a moving speck of black on the otherwise grassy prairie. His heart raced as the globe sped forward. Was this it? Had Meglar decided to attack now? It didn’t follow his usual plan, but that couldn’t be a reason to rule it out.
An instant later the images disappeared with a flash. “Honorus’s Balls!” He steeled himself for the minor feedback he knew would come.
“What happened?”
“Whomever is coming sent a wide-ranging pulse that dismissed any seeking spells like mine.”
“Can you send another?”
“I could, but anything strong enough to survive that counter would allow the spellcaster to trace it back to me.” Since he had a better way to spy on them back in his quarters, he didn’t need to risk it. “They are hundreds of miles south, so we have time to retrieve the Eye.”
“Did your brief glimpse show you how large an army approaches?” Nerti lurched into a full sprint.
“Nothing more than it was larger than a company. And the detection spell is still being activated, so I’d say it is not small.” More reason to worry this was a full-out assault. “Can you ask Erstad and Wesfazial if they’re monitoring this? The spell is keyed to them as well.”
“I am communicating with them now.” Her presence left his mind, and Farrell’s body tingled. Using breathing controls Heminaltose taught him as a novice, he calmed his anxiety. He’d prepared for this. He could . . . would handle his father.
While he waited for an answer, Farrell considered how to shut the Door. If it were left open, Meglar could bring his entire army to bear in time. Assuming he didn’t open any more. He wouldn’t be able to do what he’d done in Belsport—he’d never get that close. Maybe Kel would know of a way.
Concentrating on a solution, Farrell nearly missed the Door magic disappearing. “It closed!” If Nerti heard him, she didn’t react. “Did you hear me? The Door closed.”
“I heard you, Little One. I am speaking with Kel. He said to tell you the force is large, but not Meglar’s entire army.”
Farrell nodded. It couldn’t be with the Door closed. But . . . “Does Kel believe this is the start of a full assault?”
Nerti paused again, and Farrell’s thoughts flew to several different things at once. How did Meglar open a Door in the middle of Arvendia? Would there be more? How many wizards were with this army? Was Meglar with them? The last seemed improbable, but given the size of the force, he couldn’t be sure.
Perhaps this wasn’t an invasion but merely an expedition to establish outposts closer to Honal and Trellham. He was about to have Nerti ask Kel his opinion on that when she reappeared in his thoughts.
“Kel said he would need the Eye to be certain, but at the present, Meglar isn’t preparing a major campaign.”
“Why does he think that?”
“You will need to ask him yourself when we get back. He has told me that he does not like communicating to you through me.”
“That sounds like him.”
“Indeed. He did ask if you’d hidden us from detection.”
Farrell’s stomach twisted when he realized he hadn’t. He quickly cast an invisibility spell around them just in case someone was watching them. “Yes.”
“Erstad has asked how soon we will be back.”
“Tell him I won’t risk opening a Door unshielded. We’ll be at Trellham’s main gate soon enough.”
“I do not believe that will make him happy, but I agree.”
Farrell leaned forward and let her run. Unlike on the trip south, he didn’t have time to enjoy the ride. He knew Haven was in an uproar. Everyone had a task, even if it was to take shelter in their home with their children.
Defending Trellham presented a problem. No one anticipated the city would be occupied when they drew up the plans to defend Haven. He’d have to make arrangements to find housing for the dwarves once he returned. The dwarves might not like moving, but Trellham wasn’t as safe as Haven, no matter what the citizens thought. More importantly, he doubted Meglar realized Haven was so close to Trellham.
That alone made it imperative they evacuate the nonessential dwarves. Haven’s wizards had spent considerable energy ensuring Meglar would find it nearly impossible to reach the survivors if he ever found the refuge. Much like Farrell did at Northhelm, every entrance into Haven could be turned back into solid rock.
By the time they could see the front gates, the dwarves had begun to close them.
“Someone must have alerted them to the pending danger.” Farrell tried to calculate the distance between them and the fast closing doors. “If they close those before we get there, we’ll have to ride around to Gharaha to get home.”
“I’ve alerted Father Aswick, and he is sending word to the guards to keep them open for us.”
Slowly the massive door inched closed. Despite the situation, Farrell marveled at the craftsmanship that went into making such massive slabs of stone. The left door closed completely, and even with the right side open, he couldn’t see the outline of the one that had been shut.
The guards left only enough room for their king and Nerti to ride through. Even before she crossed the threshold, the dwarves continued the process of closing the towering doors. As he watched the light disappear, a sense of foreboding sent shivers down his spine.
Chapter Seven
Trellham’s doors were an amazing gateway to a magnificent city. The entrance began with a thirty-foot-high corridor lined with statues and finely wrought sconces holding flickering torches. The inside of the gates was etched with scenes i
mportant to a dwarf: Khron, a forge, weapons, armor, jewels adorning a crown atop a stoic-looking dwarf. Along the top, in silver lettering, were words in the dwarf language of old.
“May your travels bring you good fortune and a safe return,” Farrell read out loud.
“I was not aware any humans understood the old language,” said an officer in the city guard.
“Master Heminaltose made certain I could read and write many languages. ‘Magic does not belong to any one culture,’ he used to say. And superior ideas might come in a language other than the common tongue that has been adopted over time.”
The guard captain smiled. “Khron chose well for us. You are a worthy king for the dwarves, Your Majesty.”
Farrell laughed. “That remains to be determined. But thankfully it was Honorus who told me I was to be king and not Khron. As between the two, the Sky Father is easier to deal with than the Eternal Warrior.”
“You speak to the gods?” The captain’s eyes grew wider.
“As little as I can.” Farrell tried to make it sound like a joke, but it was too close to the truth.
“I do not understand why you say that,” Nerti said. “Lenore speaks to me often, and I find the experience uplifting.”
Farrell didn’t say anything. Nerti knew she was different, but she’d never admit that, especially not in the company of others. Besides, he had other things to do.
“Miceral?”
“Where are you?” The urgency in Miceral’s voice left Farrell feeling guilty he hadn’t contacted his life partner sooner.
“Inside the main gates of Trellham. Where are you?”
“In the council chambers. Father has converted it into our war room.”
“Who’s there?” Not that it mattered, but Farrell was curious.
“Father, some of the generals, Kel, Erstad, and Wesfazial. Jursten just arrived with Kerstand.”
Farrell heard the sound of booted feet coming closer. Dozens of dwarves moved rapidly inside the vestibule, as Greigel and a company of guards headed toward him. With a word, they assumed a defensive position around the king.
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