“Given how valuable this is, why risk his flagship and chief wizard?” Peter asked. “Why not open a Door to Tunid instead of going by ship?”
“There is no honor among thieves,” Kel said.
“Indeed.” Penelope nodded.
Peter looked at Claire and then to Farrell. “What?”
“Neither side trusts the other,” Farrell said. “If Penelope wants to open a Door to Haven, I need to give her permission.”
“Right, I understand that, but if Tunid wants the gold, why wouldn’t they grant the access?” Peter asked.
“Prince Draneth’s wizard knew getting permission would compromise Spagrom’s safety,” Kel said. “If the wizard had opened a Door into Tunid, a powerful wizard could use that link to try to force their way into Spagrom.”
“And Spagrom is at best a reluctant ally,” Farrell said. “The wizard said Meglar has his family. I wouldn’t be surprised if he held some of Draneth’s family hostage as well.”
“Maybe we’ll find out soon,” Marisa said. “Markus sent notice to Draneth that we captured the Intrepid trying to supply our enemy with a large amount of gold.”
“Stupid cow’s ass. He’s caught between Zargon and Dumbarten.” Farrell snickered at that. “Is there any evidence Meglar is trying to buy ships to launch an assault on Dumbarten?”
Penelope shook her head. “None so far. As I said, the wizards weren’t talkative.”
“Markus’s military commanders believe that’s the case. Although there are a few dissenters,” Marisa said.
“Why?” Military tactics were not Farrell’s strong skill.
“If Meglar invades the kingdoms on Lourdria first, he’ll gain Chamdon fodder, plunder, and possibly ships,” Kel said. “But that could easily cost him more than he gains.”
“Why do you think his goal is Dumbarten?” Penelope asked.
“Two reasons. Dumbarten is the most powerful kingdom on Nendor. That alone would make it a target. But perhaps more importantly, the House of Vedri has not forgotten Hevnor, and his children sit on the throne of Kentar. Zargon has tried to foment trouble for Dumbarten in the past.”
“I hope Markus isn’t angry with me,” Farrell said. “I didn’t expect this to create a headache for him.”
“He isn’t angry,” Penelope said. “Quite the opposite. The capture of the Intrepid helped Dumbarten gain valuable intelligence. Now we need to figure out their next move.”
Farrell looked at his grandfather. “We need to go see Markus.”
“Yes, we should,” Kel said.
“Just like that, you’re leaving?” Penelope didn’t hide her annoyance.
“No,” Farrell said. “We all need to go.”
“Not the children,” Marisa said.
Farrell shook his head. “Peter needs to come. Belsport could be at risk from whatever Spagrom is planning.”
“And they might not be at risk, either.” Penelope shook her head. “And why are we planning to descend on the palace anyway?”
“I have an Eye for seeing things no one else can.” Farrell couldn’t hold back a smirk.
“And an Ear to hear things others miss,” Kel said.
“Oh.” Penelope nodded thoughtfully. “That would be helpful.”
“Glad you agree,” Farrell said. “As for Peter, we’ve already been through this. The Six have chosen him to be part of these events. Even you can’t deny that.”
“I agree,” Kel said. “Peter is coming with us. Whether you choose to join us is your decision.”
Farrell suppressed a groan. Why did everything have to be a confrontation with Kel?
Marisa put her hand on Penelope’s arm. “Agreed. Peter comes with us. I’ll send word to his chamberlain to expect a visit from Kel. That ought to get the cantankerous old fool to jump in line.”
“Stop fidgeting,” Marisa scolded Farrell as he adjusted his armor again.
He snatched his hand down. “Why is it always necessary for me to wear this?”
“Because that’s what you’re supposed to wear when you visit the king!” Marisa’s tone was barely better than a hiss.
“Wizards are not expected to wear armor.” He pointed to Kel and Penelope. “They’re not.”
“We’re not high king of the dwarves,” Kel said, looking amused at the exchange.
“Nor am I visiting as the king of Trellham. I’m the wizard who possesses the Eye of Honorus and the Ear of Lenore who came to offer his services.”
“Why are you complaining?” Peter asked. “I’ll wager ten gold crowns your armor is much more comfortable than mine, and you don’t hear me whining.”
“Whining?” he said louder than he meant.
“Don’t shout, Farrell,” Marisa said. “It’s unbecoming for a king.”
“It isn’t for a dwarf king.” Kel smirked. “Among the dwarf nations, shouting is the hallmark of a good monarch.”
Farrell pointed to Kel with both hands and raised an eyebrow at Marisa. “See?’
“A child,” Marisa said to Penelope. “The fate of the world depends on a child.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you.” Penelope shook her head.
“As for that ‘whining’ comment,” Farrell said to Peter, “asking about the need to wear armor to a meeting with my ‘cousin’ is not whining. Whining would be wondering how long the king planned to leave us waiting outside his door.”
“Did you try to sneak in a complaint about how long we have been waiting?” Peter asked.
“Yes, he did,” Kel said with a frown. “Someday I need to work on his etiquette.”
Farrell made a sour face. “I think I’ll leave. With friends and family like this, I don’t need detractors.”
Farrell took two steps back the way they’d come and stopped. “Wait, I’m the one with the Eye and the Ear. I’m the one who really needs to be here.”
“Subtle,” Kel said. “How about you pretend to leave again, but ‘forget’ to come back as an encore.”
“Keep it up and I just might.”
Before anyone could reply, the door to the throne room opened. “Sorry I kept you waiting. I couldn’t end my meeting with the ambassador from Utremth without creating an incident.” Markus gestured for them to head back the way they had come.
Still dressed for court, Markus wore an expression as serious as his attire. He led them along a long corridor Farrell had never been down before.
“Where are we going?” he asked Kel.
“It has been several centuries since I was last here, but I believe we are headed to Dumbarten’s war room.”
“Your memory serves you well,” Markus said without looking back. “I want my military advisors to hear what you have to say.”
“Markus, stop for a moment.” Farrell put his hand on the king’s shoulder. His guards grabbed for their weapons, but Markus waved them down. “I don’t know I’ll have anything of value to report. My plan was to use the Eye and the Ear to spy on . . .”
He stopped talking. It was so obvious. How did he miss it?
“What’s wrong, cousin?” Markus asked.
“The Ear.” He snapped his head toward Kel. “Do you think I can hear someone’s thoughts using the Ear?”
“I don’t know. I never possessed the Ear.”
“But in theory, I should be able to hear Spagrom’s wizards’ thoughts. Why didn’t I think of this before?”
“We don’t know if what you suggest is possible, that’s why,” Kel said.
“But it makes sense. If no image can hide from the Eye, shouldn’t I be able to hear anything with the Ear?”
“What you suggest is logical,” Kel said. “But—and I sound like you now, always a but—even if it’s possible, we don’t know how to do it. I suggest you move with caution.”
“The only way we’ll know if it’s possible is to try,” Farrell said. “I’m the first person in untold centuries to possess the Ear. Since there are no instructions, I need to learn by using it.”
&nb
sp; Kel silenced any protests by raising his hand. “I agree you will need to discover how to use it by doing it, but there’s no real need to do so right now. My concern is if you test it on an unwilling subject, you may be flooded with thoughts you can’t control. Since we’re learning as we go, it is prudent to make a first attempt with a willing volunteer in a controlled test. If that’s successful, you can move on to hostile minds.”
“Am I hearing this?” Penelope said with mock surprise. “The great and mighty and reckless Kel, preaching caution to his equally reckless progeny?”
“My reputation for acting impulsively is overblown, Grandniece,” Kel said sweetly. “That I’m not afraid to try new things does not make me irresponsible. Had I been reckless as you say, I’d never have survived to be three thousand four hundred and twenty-eight.”
“All of this is wonderfully enlightening,” Markus said. “However, based on your message, I summoned my admirals and generals to hear what you have to say. Don’t make me look like a fool by doing nothing.”
“That won’t happen, Cousin,” Farrell said, irritated. “Even if I find nothing of value, I’ll be sure to use the Eye and Ear to put on a show fit for your august person.”
Markus gave Farrell a sheepish grin. “Sorry, that was rather pompous of me.”
“Even for you,” Penelope said. Markus motioned for the guards to start walking. They completed the journey in silence.
Dumbarten’s war room was two levels below the main floor of the palace. Although never tested, the room was built to protect the royal family and provide a means of escape, if needed. Farrell felt the protective magic and saw two permanent Doors built into the back wall.
A dozen bluish-white wizard globes illuminated the windowless room. An enormous polished granite table sat in the center of the rectangular room. Thick as Farrell’s forearm was long, the massive table was supported by eight legs.
Several military officers snapped to attention when Markus entered. The guards led the king to an ornate chair at the head of the table. Farrell and Kel sat to the king’s left, while Penelope, Marisa, and Peter took seats to his right. When the king sat, his officers followed suit.
The doors were shut, and six palace guards assumed a position in front of them. Penelope tapped two of the guards with her staff and motioned for them to move aside. Stamping the end of her staff hard on the stone floor, she generated a blue nimbus that enveloped the stone doors. Satisfied with her work, she returned to her place beside the king.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Markus said, “in centuries past, Kel, elder brother to my distant sire, Hevnor the first, came to Dreth in times of crisis to offer his assistance to the crown. Though we all know his prowess as a wizard, it was another talent that proved most useful—”
“Bah.” Kel stood up. “You talk too much. Hevnor understood the value of brevity.”
If the interruption bothered Markus, he didn’t show it. “My apologies, Uncle. Would you care to explain this to them?”
Kel inclined his head. “Certainly. Since the founding of Yar-del, I’ve possessed the Eye of Honorus. With it, I could see what our enemies planned. Even the most powerful spells cannot conceal something from the Eye.
“My last, dare I say best, student, Farrell, has inherited my mantle as Champion of the Six and with it, possession of the Eye. We’re here today to use the Eye again on behalf of Dumbarten.”
Kel sat and motioned for Farrell to continue. “I believe everyone has been briefed on the capture of the Intrepid?”
“They have,” Markus said. “We don’t know much more than there is a lot of gold on the ship and it was headed for Tunid. Royal marines are sailing it toward Dumbarten.”
“I would caution against bringing the ship to Dumbarten, Your Majesty,” a gray-haired, portly man with a bushy mustache said. “Pirate vessels are rigged to magically explode or worse when they arrive in port.”
“Admiral Tiket,” Penelope said, “after Farrell captured the vessel, Kel and I neutralized any harmful spells.”
“How can we be sure we found them all?” Admiral Tiket didn’t sound convinced.
Markus pounded his fist on the table. “Tiket, were you listening? Princess Penelope said both she and Kel ensured the ship was safe. Do you think even Meglar could hide a spell from either of them, let alone both?”
The man opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and shook his head.
“General Hurog.” Markus motioned toward a reed-thin man with intense eyes. His pitch-black hair, pulled back in a ponytail, gave him a sinister appearance. “Can you update us on what the intelligence branch has learned?”
“Not much, I fear, Your Majesty.” He spread his hands wide and shook his head. “Though our spies have scoured the world to find out what Meglar is doing, all we have are vague rumors culled from back-alley sources. Word is, Zargon’s agents will buy any ship seaworthy enough to sail. They are offering double the going wage for sailors and will buy slaves, no questions asked. He’s especially interested in young women.”
“We know why he’s buying slaves,” Penelope said. “He plans to turn them into Chamdon or send them to his breeding pens.”
“Perhaps not.” Hurog tapped his finger on the stone, either oblivious that he’d contradicted the princess or he didn’t care. “Slaves pull oars. If he’s planning to attack Dumbarten by sea, he’ll need slaves to man his rowing decks.”
Farrell nodded. “And when those ships get here, he’ll turn slaves and sailors into Chamdon.”
“Instead of speculating,” Kel said, “now would be a good time to use the Eye.”
Farrell had the blue gem out and stared into the deep cobalt surface. He asked the Eye to show him threats to Dumbarten, where Meglar was buying ships, the ships he had already, and who was acting on Meglar’s behalf. It took several minutes, and he tried to remember which questions resulted in the information he wanted to share.
When he’d finished, he looked up from the Eye and found everyone staring at him. “I wish I had a joke at the ready. You all look so serious.”
“As one who uses humor often, I fear it wouldn’t dispel the gravity of the moment,” Markus said. “But it would have been nice.”
“I’ll remember to keep one handy for next time.” He put the Eye down and rubbed his temples. “Do you have any water?”
“Yes.” Markus snapped his fingers, and a guard brought Farrell a cup.
“Thank you.” He drank most of it, massaged the back of his head, and drank the rest. “Meglar is gathering ships—lots of them. He is also holding slaves near every port along the east coast of Ardus. These are not Chamdon pens, either.”
He nodded at General Hurog, who returned the favor by asking a follow-up question. “Can you estimate the number of slaves and ships?”
“Let me show you what I saw.” He picked up the Eye and reestablished his link. “You may ask questions, or ask me to move the view, but one at a time, please.”
“Perhaps it would be best if you raise your hand and wait for Markus to give you permission to ask,” Kel said. “Though I don’t mean to treat you like children, I know how difficult this is, and being orderly will help.”
“An excellent idea, Grand Master Kel.” Markus scanned the room. “No blurting out questions. Wait until I recognize you to speak.”
An hour later, the chamber doors opened. Dumbarten’s military leaders rushed out to use the information they’d learned. Farrell was the last to leave. His shoulders drooped slightly as he blinked several times to clear his eyes.
“Tired?” Penelope asked from his right.
He snorted. “Just a bit. It’s been a difficult few days.”
“To be sure.” She put her hand on his shoulder and waited until he faced her. “What you just did . . . that was extremely helpful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I wish I could do more.”
“More?” Marisa said. “How much more can you do?”
“If he woke up before
half the morning had passed, he could do quite a bit more.” Kel rubbed the back of Farrell’s neck. “I only get a full day’s work from him if we hop around the world to different time zones.”
“Are you about to regale us with tales of how much more you and your fellow wizards did during the last war?” Farrell winked at Penelope and Marisa. “The good old days?”
Kel rapped him gently on the back of the head. “Petulant child.”
They all laughed and waited for Markus to finish speaking to his generals.
“Thank you for not embarrassing me.” Markus grinned and gave Farrell a mocking bow. His smile disappeared a moment later. “And thank you for all that you did in there. Dumbarten will be safer for your efforts.”
“You’re welcome, Markus.” He held out his arm, but Markus refused. Instead he pulled Farrell closer and hugged him.
“Be careful, Cousin,” he whispered in Farrell’s ear. “I would miss you terribly if something happened.”
Farrell pushed down the lump in his throat and stepped back. Markus snapped to the guards and was off.
“What was that about?” Penelope asked.
“He told me to be careful. I guess he didn’t want the world to hear it.”
“Or he likes you quite a bit because you are an equal and you treat him like a person,” Marisa said. “He seems to let his guard down a bit around you and that is good.”
“Very,” Kel said.
Uncomfortable with the attention, Farrell faced Penelope. “This war is going to tax you and your abilities. Meglar clearly has more powerful wizards than we knew. If you need anything, please come see me.”
Penelope snorted. “As if you have nothing to do?”
“I do, but I have Gifts you do not. If you feel the need to use the Eye yourself, let me know. Filtered through me is not the same as seeing for yourself.”
Penelope’s eyes opened wider for a fraction of second. “Thank you, Farrell. I will do that.”
He hadn’t meant to make the offer, but after Markus’s show of concern, he’d realized Dumbarten was dear to him. He knew he wouldn’t have time to worry about its safety, but Penelope would.
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