* * * * *
Later that afternoon, a light rapping at the door calls Iltar’s attention away from the ancient tome in his hands. Putting it aside, the necromancer swings his feet out of bed and walks over to the door, unlatching the lock.
“Yes?” Iltar grumbles.
“The others want to talk,” Cornar’s voice muffles through the wooden door.
Iltar slowly opens the door and looks at his friend with a raised brow, “About what? Our plan?” The irritation leaves his voice as he takes interest.
“It seems so. Hagen and Hex said you wanted to speak to them later today. I just ran into them while they were each on their way to the galley. They must have been sleeping all morning,” Cornar chuckles.
“We’ll use Kenard’s quarters. Eventually I want to talk to him and Tilthan, but I want the five of us to speak alone first,” Iltar turns from the doorway. He reaches for the book on the bed and places it in the opened chest, then locks it.
They walk single file through the narrow passageway. Cornar leads the way as they make their way to the galley and the stairwell leading to the main deck, where Iltar stops to poke his head into the galley. The necromancer sees Hagen and motions for him to follow from the galley’s doorway.
Once the mages reach the stairs, they can hear Cornar on the main deck hollering up to the captain, who is busy with his men at the helm.
“Where’s Hex?” Iltar asks Hagen as he ascends the steps.
“I don’t know,” Hagen responds, still holding food in his hands. “I think he’s probably on the main deck.”
“Well, find him, and get Amendal while you’re at it. We’ll meet in the captain’s quarters.”
As the two mages emerge onto the main deck, a lively commotion reaches their ears: Several of Cornar’s men are sparring on the quarterdeck with their bare fists while others watch, including Hex. The two warriors, Hemrin and Shen, are rapidly exchanging blows as their companions eagerly cheer for them.
Iltar raises his brow and shakes his head at the scene.
“There he is,” Hagen says with his mouth partially full and rushes past Iltar to Hex’s side, who has his back turned to the aft of the ship.
Hagen taps the wizard on the shoulder and motions with his head toward Iltar.
At this same moment, Kenard comes around the corner into the covered landing that leads below to his quarters. He fumbles about with a key ring as he passes Iltar, Cornar close behind him.
As Cornar passes, Iltar turns and follows the two men down the narrow passageway to the captain’s quarters.
The captain opens the door and is the first to step inside his cabin. He stands with the door on the inside of his quarters, holding it open with one hand.
“Thank you,” Cornar responds and walks past Kenard, looking for a place to sit.
“I want to talk to you later,” Iltar commands in a hushed voice. “Make yourself available.”
“As you wish,” the captain responds sarcastically. He shakes his head while Iltar is not looking and leaves the two men alone, letting go of the door, causing it to swing shut from the rocking of the vessel.
Soon after, Hex enters the room. The initial two men have already occupied the only chairs in the space, which leaves the wizard to choose the next best seat, the captain’s bed.
Hagen and Amendal come in together and separately move to either side of the room. The illusionist walks over near Cornar, still holding the food he took from the galley. Amendal eyes the bed as he closes the door and moves to sit on the opposite side from where Hex patiently sits. The oldest mage presses down on the cushion with both hands and then reclines back, folding his arms across his chest.
Seeing that everyone is comfortable and ready, Iltar looks at each man in the room before speaking, “Things have not gone according to plan. I hoped that the dragon we captured would give us more information; however, he gave us little more than what the council and myself discovered in the scrolls.
“He did, however, confirm that the amulet was in Merda, which was the other location marked on our elven map. That, accompanied by the loss of seven of our men to the island’s dangers, have truly set us back. I see no other course than to return to Soro–”
“You told us that already,” Hagen interrupts with his mouth half full. “What’s this plan you mentioned this morning concerning the council?”
“Quiet Hagen,” Hex interjects from the bed. “Let Iltar finish.”
“Each of those men are a threat to all of us, and to those closest to us,” Iltar looks to Cornar, the only man in the cabin with a family. “There is no doubt that when we return they will interrogate me. Their immediate suspicions will be that I took us to the Dragon’s Isle, which would be correct.
“Then they would hunt everyone down who was with me. We can only imagine what would happen to them.”
Iltar pauses and lets the image sit in their minds before continuing. He can tell each of his friends are considering the implications of his words, except for Cornar, who already knows where this meeting is headed.
“So I gathered you here to decide what to do. Returning to Soroth is our only choice if we are to succeed. Even though our charter could allow us to hide out in several port cities, we would only be giving the council more time to search the island we just left and Merda; not to mention those necromancers would know exactly where to find us. Then our adventure will be for naught and the men that died would have lost their lives in vain.”
“But how would they know we were on the island?” Amendal sits up and looks at Iltar, as if stirring from a nap.
“There were other dragons that saw us,” Cornar speaks up. “Iltar and I saw them from the mouth of the cave, and one flew over the mountain range. I wouldn’t be surprised if they saw the ship in the bay; however whether they would ever encounter and divulge that information to another expedition is purely chance. But it’s not something I want to leave open in our defense.”
“Why do we have to go back to Soroth?” Hagen asks, “Why not someplace else, what’s so important there?”
“First, and most importantly, we still need to go to Merda,” Iltar explains. “I know little about that place, nor did I have enough time to conduct a thorough research before we left on this trip. Like I said, I was planning on the dragon giving us more information.
“Second, we need more men. Men that will be loyal to us and not stab us in the back, so to speak. Those men are on Soroth. One of whom is, in fact, a half-elvish former apprentice of mine. He grew up in Keth, and his mother is an elf from Merdan. She probably is not old enough to have lived in the city Merda, but that connection might be benefi–”
“Why didn’t you bring him along in the first place?!” Amendal sputters angrily. “Were you even thinking when you put this expedition together?!”
Iltar laughs at the old conjurer who immediately resumes resting on the bed with pillows propped under his head. “If I could, I would have brought Balden. Unfortunately, he is employed by the Baron of Sereth. And it’s well known that the baron has a tight grasp on those he employs. Balden cannot even leave his castle until his contract is up, which is roughly thirty years from now.”
Hex’s eyes narrow at Iltar. “I can only imagine what you have in store for him, dear friend…” the wizard rubs his chin as he continues to stare at Iltar. “You’re thinking of an offensive aren’t you?”
“Whoa!” Hagen spits out the last of the food in his mouth, “You’re saying kill the council?!” he looks down at Iltar and then to Cornar beside him. The warrior looks up at him and returns a simple smile.
“Yes!” Amendal cries out as he sits up in the bed, a fire burning in his eyes. “I want those fools to wither in pain until they die!”
“Eliminate the council,” Iltar states calmly. “With them dead, I will be the sole survivor and the head of the Order.”
“What do you intend to do with that?” Hagen asks skeptic
ally.
“Restore balance,” Iltar looks up to the illusionist who is putting his bowl down on the table covered in sea charts. “Do you remember what Amendal told us that night in the tavern? He said that each seat of the council occupied only one master of each of the magical arts–”
“Finally, I can rip them limb from limb!” the crazed conjure interrupts Iltar, playing out an imagined scene with his hands.
Ignoring Amendal’s rambling, Iltar continues, “We can once again have a council representing all disciplines. Not only will we be doing Soroth and the Order a favor, but we will ensure our safety and allow us ample time to prepare to go to Merda. I will storm that place with an army if I must.
“By returning to Soroth and eliminating the council, we keep ourselves safe and ensure further expeditions. I don’t know how long it will take, but we will set out again to reclaim the amulet in its entirety.”
“But, how are we going to kill the council and get away with it?” Hex asks. “I mean, it’s a good idea, but I don’t see how it can be done.”
“I’m leaving that up to Cornar, but we’ll have to get them all together. It’ll be the best way eliminate all of them. Once we arrive, the council will summon me to our chambers. That is where we should strike.
“As far as getting away with it, all we must do is tell the authorities what we will tell Kenard and the others of the expedition. The evidence is already inside our Order’s halls. But before we move forward, I need to know that the four of you are with me on this.”
“I am,” Cornar responds resolutely.
“We’ve come this far,” Hex puts his hands on his knees and leans forward. “I can’t just back out now.”
Cackling on the bed, Amendal is clearly enjoying the thoughts of destroying the men that corrupted the Order he had been a part of for most of his life.
“Amendal?” Iltar asks, jarring the old man from his imagination.
“Of course! We must make this vessel go faster!”
“Well, Hagen?” Iltar asks, the only hesitant member.
“If I don’t go along with you I’m dead. If I do, I’ll probably die in Merda with the rest of you…” the illusionist says in his high pitched voice. “So, yes I’ll help.”
“Excellent,” Iltar smiles. “Now, we just need the captain and Tilthan to agree to our plot.”
“And if they don’t,” Hagen squeaks out, “Does that mean we’ll throw them overboard?”
The other mages laugh at Hagen’s sarcasm while Cornar, also chuckling, rises from his seat in anticipation of Iltar’s forthcoming request to gather the other men. The warrior opens the door and steps into the covered corridor, hollering for the captain.
After several minutes Cornar and Captain Kenard enter the room. Kenard closes the door, anticipating that what they have to say to him is important.
“Please come and sit down,” Iltar motions to the seat beside him.
Kenard steps forward and sits, slightly tense.
“I’m guessing this is important, since all of you are gathered here,” Kenard observes, examining each of the mages.
“Smart man,” Hagen quips quietly as Iltar relates the purpose of their journey.
He tells Kenard the same story he told the mages on the beach; how the council found a record of a powerful artifact, and how Iltar sought to beat the others at finding it. He also relates their plight and the importance of returning to Soroth, while emphasizing the danger he and his crew would be in.
“There you have it Captain! Now, I propose that you work with us. However, what we tell the citizens of Soroth will differ from the truth I have just told you.
“Everyone else aboard who is not in this room doesn’t know what really happened. They thought we were going on a trip to find apprentices. What we will tell them and the rest of the people in Soroth is that the council gave you, Cornar, and myself a secret mission, masked by finding apprentices. We were given a fake charter to travel to the mainland. While we were out on this expedition, all of us had a change of heart. The council’s plot would only bring war to Soroth, and destroy our nation. We decided to expose the council, due to the dangerousness of the task they charged to us.
“All you have to do, Captain is follow corroborate our story.”
“What if I refuse?” Kenard asks, assuming a bargaining stance.
“Then I’m afraid you won’t be getting your ship back. I will ensure that the Magistrate Rosten always keeps the bail of the White Duchess above your reach,” Iltar lets the words sink in before continuing.
“If you play along, though, I will release your ship from the impound. I will be the head of the council, and I will have more authority and power; power that will enable me to free your ship.”
Captain Kenard’s lips twist as he thinks over the proposal. Having his ship back would mean a great deal to him. With hesitation he asks, “What else, Iltar? There has to be something to this bargain that you’re not saying.”
“Let us use your ship. Of course, we will pay you for any future trips,” Iltar offers, leaning forward while eyeing Kenard, expecting an answer.
“You have a deal,” the captain barks, rising from the chair. “Now I must get back to the helm. Just tell me when to talk and I will.”
With the captain gone, the rest of the men sit in silence. Each are deep in thought as they contemplate their situation. Only one more member of their expedition’s help is required for them to put their plan into motion.
Without any command from Iltar, Cornar leaves the room again and after a moment returns with the leading thief.
“Okay… what’s going on?” Tilthan asks cautiously as he enters the room and looks around at the four mages.
Cornar shuts the door, and the sound startles the thief. He immediately raises his hands to his face, his palms facing the others.
“Whatever it is, I didn’t do it!” Tilthan swallows hard as he looks at the mages, all giving him stiff looks. “Really, I’m telling the truth!”
“How do you feel about assassinations, Tilthan?” Iltar asks quietly. His eyes narrow at the thief.
“Phew, I thought you guys were looking for someone to blame for the mess in the galley!” Tilthan breathes a sigh of relief. He then straightens up and with a changed demeanor asks, “Who do you need me to kill?”
“We need you to help us eliminate the council of the Necrotic Order, all except myself of course,” Iltar grins malevolently. “Cornar will tell you what to do exactly, but we need to know if you and your friends will assist us.”
“Why? Are they getting in the way of the treasure we’re after?” the thief asks, oblivious concerning the true nature of their expedition. He had not been within earshot of the dragon during Iltar’s interrogation.
“Yes,” Iltar goes along with the thief’s worries. “They threaten the continuation of this expedition, my friend. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to lose out on your share of the treasure…”
“Alright, we’re in! But I want to get paid an additional sum for my time, and for each head I take off!”
“Don’t worry, you will. Now leave us,” Iltar dismisses him, then waits for Tilthan to hurry out the door before he continues.
“Once Cornar formulates a plan we will meet again, but for now I think we should inform the others of our intentions. I want everyone to be onboard with us.”
“What do we tell them?” Hex asks
“Tell them what we told Kenard. Make it clear that the council is a threat to their lives, and that they will be safe with me.”
With that said, each of the conspiring companions quietly leaves the room, heading back to their respective quarters or returning to the amusement on deck.
Iltar walks down the passageway to his cabin and unlocks the door. Once inside his small chambers, Iltar unlocks the chest and removes the old tome, ready to continue reviewing its contents in search for clues that would point to that mysterious ancient order.
The Dragons' Legacy Page 22