Heroes Gone Rogue

by Jason Kenyon

  Mellara was asleep when they reached her. There was no sign of Anjilo, and as for Mellara herself, she’d apparently been in the middle of inspecting her bow, as she was sprawled at the foot of a tree with it in her arms, and her quiver had tipped over next to her. Archimegadon’s first suspicion was that she’d been attacked or that it was some sort of trap, but nothing happened when he approached her, and the group soon heard her snores as they closed in.

  ‘Dear me,’ Ithalna said. She reached out with her newly-retrieved staff, and gave Mellara’s ribs a poke.

  Mellara flinched and awoke right away, and she grabbed her bow and brought an arrow to bear with worrying speed, pointing it directly at Ithalna’s face. Ithalna’s eyes widened and she skipped back a pace, angling the top of the staff in an effort to block the arrow. Since Mellara didn’t fire, once her senses recognised that she had not been ambushed, Archimegadon took a moment to properly look at Ithalna’s staff.

  Still somewhat offended by the Cleric robe, Archimegadon had been mostly ignoring Ithalna since their brief spat at the palace, even to the point of snubbing her staff. Observing it now, he saw it was a quite unusual specimen, far more decorative than the gnarled wooden stave that had been his original weapon of choice, the Staff of Antagules. With arcane carvings that ran up and down the shaft, it was at first glance simply a regular mage’s tool, but with a moment’s further inspection Archimegadon saw that the pole was topped off with a long blade that would be ideal for slashing opponents, and was put in mind of Valia’s glaive.

  It was an unusual design choice for a mage’s staff, since for most magic-users the power abuse would tend to reduce their physical strength, making hand-to-hand combat something to avoid. As Archimegadon had only started using magic in recent years, and been a handyman before that time, he had become and remained relatively fit, which had served him well in the past when a swift punch had been an easier solution than casting flamebolt.

  In any case, it was odd to see a staff that had been designed for battle in this fashion. Ithalna had concealed it in the city by draping her cloak over it and acting like it was a walking stick, though Archimegadon had worried that the paladins might recognise the cultist robe instead. Fortunately, amongst the strange collection of people who lived in and visited the capital, Archimegadon’s band had not stood out, and had passed through unnoticed.

  ‘Whoa there, Missy Red-Eyes,’ Obdo said. ‘Let’s not assassinate the Queen.’

  Mellara held the bowstring taut for a few more seconds, her eyes fixed on Ithalna’s, before relaxing and laying her weapon to one side. ‘Uh, okay, that’s embarrassing.’

  ‘A truly historical moment,’ Obdo said. ‘Mellara Nightshot, caught unawares! The shame of it.’

  ‘You saw what I did to Zillon,’ Mellara said, face burning.

  ‘This is one I’ll tell my grandkids,’ Obdo said, chuckling.

  Mellara grabbed one of her daggers. ‘I am going to make that prophecy impossible if you don’t shut it right now, farm boy.’

  Obdo held up his hands in surrender. ‘Okay, I give up! We’re all friends here.’

  ‘Hmph.’ Mellara sheathed her dagger and looked over at Archimegadon, doing a bad job of concealing her discomfort. ‘Archie, why are these two here? The point was for us to reduce our numbers so we were less noticeable.’

  ‘We were running late so I needed her to show me the quickest route,’ Archimegadon replied. ‘Why were you sleeping?’

  ‘Shut it! I was bored. It’s boring out here. All I got to do all day was walk around the forest looking for ruins and being bored.’ She pouted.

  ‘I’m no expert on Valanthian, but I think she’s trying to communicate that she’s finding it dull,’ Obdo said.

  ‘We could always arrange for someone to stay out here and keep you company,’ Ithalna said. ‘You do not have to scout alone, but that was what you said you wanted.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I can handle it,’ Mellara said, staring stubbornly away from the others. ‘Just wanted a nap was all.’

  ‘No sign of Miss Anjilo?’ Archimegadon asked.

  ‘I haven’t seen her yet,’ Mellara replied.

  ‘Course not, you were asleep,’ Obdo said.

  ‘Go and die.’

  It was only another few minutes before the red-haired paladin arrived, though, looking energetic indeed. So excited was she that she walked straight past Ithalna and Obdo without noticing them and grinned at Mellara and Archimegadon.

  ‘Hi guys!’ she said. ‘Sorry ‘bout the lateness, but guess what! I found a supplier. And he had loads for me to buy! More than I could carry here. So I did a couple of trips back to the inn with it all, and by the time I’d finished I kinda had to run here. Cheated a little, mind you.’

  Anjilo shook a foot pointedly, and Archimegadon suspected that she’d probably abused a paladin spell that allowed them to run faster, something that Neurion had used to good effect a few times in the past.

  ‘Sorry, I missed that,’ Obdo said. ‘Supplier of what?’

  If Anjilo was surprised to hear Obdo, she didn’t show it, and continued looking between Archimegadon or Mellara as she answered. ‘Explosive powder! I’ve got enough to bring down the entire royal palace! Isn’t that awesome?’

  Sadly, Anjilo was not in very responsible company, so she was met by approval all round.

  ‘Now, I have most of the containers ready,’ Anjilo said. ‘I’ve been showing the others how to use them, so when we find out where the Syrakh is being kept, we should be able to deploy the explosives fast and then take the monster down!’

  ‘That is of course the pressing question,’ Ithalna said behind Anjilo. ‘Have we found out where the Syrakh is being kept, yet?’

  ‘I’ve not seen any sign of these fabled ruins in the forest,’ Mellara replied.

  ‘Man, you’re really falling behind,’ Obdo said. ‘Asleep on the job, didn’t get the Knights of Valanthas to help us, can’t find the Syrakh hideout… what a let-down.’

  ‘About that earlier suggestion, Ithalna, you’re welcome to leave Obdo here with me,’ Mellara said, reaching for her short sword.

  ‘You were asleep on the job?’ Anjilo asked.

  ‘Enough!’ Mellara replied. ‘I hate all of you!’

  Anjilo blinked. ‘I feel like I missed something. Should I keep asking?’

  Mellara made an incomprehensible sound of rage and stalked off into the trees.

  ‘Well, okay,’ Anjilo said. ‘So… uh, you guys! You’re all here!’

  She turned around to face Ithalna and Obdo for the first time since she’d arrived, and her eyes widened as she took in the sight of Ithalna. Her cheerful grin was replaced with an unusual expression of confusion, and then her eyes darkened.

  ‘Where did you get that?’ she asked.

  Ithalna sighed and held her Cleric robe closer to herself protectively. ‘I just dropped by the palace and picked it up. I am a Cleric, after all – Master Forseld and I have already argued about this.’

  ‘Not the robes – the staff,’ Anjilo said.

  ‘Oh, this?’ Ithalna gently laid the robes to one side and then held up the staff for inspection. ‘This is the Staff of the First Archmage. It was my father’s.’

  ‘No, it was not.’

  Ithalna glanced over at Archimegadon, who shrugged.

  ‘Ah, yes it was, actually,’ Ithalna said. ‘He gave it to me several years ago.’

  ‘Give it here,’ Anjilo said.

  ‘My goodness, I had been running under the delusion that you Godslayers were a friendly bunch, but I am fast being forced to adjust my opinion today!’ Ithalna said. ‘No, it is my staff. You have taken my magic away, so you can just be happy with that.’

  ‘Look, Unette, that’s my mother’s staff,’ Anjilo said. ‘I’d recognise it anywhere. What was your father doing with it?’

  ‘Your mother..?’ Ithalna pursed her lips. ‘You said she was the mage hero Eryu, yes?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘I
do not know about that,’ Ithalna said. ‘My father had this staff for many years, and passed it on to me when I reached the First Eld.’

  ‘Let me see it,’ Anjilo said, her voice strained.

  Ithalna sighed, but relented and handed over the staff to Anjilo, who inspected the runes and then seemed to regard her own reflection in the blade. Archimegadon noticed tears developing in Anjilo’s eyes, and felt a rush of dread. Orgus Alhamis, secret benefactor of the Clerics, had the staff that had belonged to the missing mage hero Eryu, who had once been expected to become the archmage? The mage who had disappeared and left a void in the Mage Order leadership, until Orgus had essentially sold off his daughter to the King in return for the vaunted position? From the look on Ithalna’s face, she had come to the same dread conclusion that he had.

  ‘I did not know what the staff meant,’ Ithalna said after a long silence. ‘I had hoped to use it when we take on the Shield, but… if it has value to you…’

  ‘No, take it back,’ Anjilo said, wiping her cheeks. ‘I guess I was stupid to think…’

  ‘I don’t know how he got it,’ Ithalna said.

  ‘Just… take it.’ Anjilo pushed the staff back into Ithalna’s hands and turned away.

  ‘Perhaps she simply entrusted it to my father before she went travelling,’ Ithalna said, but the lack of faith in her voice was clear to all.

  *

  Back in the city of Arenfel, there was a buzz of excitement. Paladins in ceremonial answer were calling out announcements on street corners, and people began to swarm towards the grim execution courtyard outside the royal palace. After months of little news, finally there had been some developments!

  Amongst this crowd walked a woman in a green cloak, pushing between people with a sense of urgency. She kept her hood up and her face shadowed, though as she hurried through the tight gatherings there were several occasions where the hood threatened to fall back entirely. Nobody paid much attention to her, however; she was one amongst a huge number of people who were focused entirely on what was going to take place.

  As the cloaked woman came close to the courtyard, it became impossible for her to push past everyone, and she let out a cry of frustration that went unheard beneath the clamour. Losing patience, the woman violently barged people aside, risking starting a few fights as she did so, but she carried on regardless.

  A large group of fully-armed paladins stood around the scaffold, and there was no sign of the usual group of executioners. Apparently the Order was taking this very seriously, as they’d even deployed archers around the courtyard and surrounding walls, and they were keeping a close watch on the proceedings.

  Upon the scaffold itself stood Sir Malthanes of Azentarth, clad in his heaviest suit of armour, and his oversized shoulder pads made even his ceremonial helm appear several sizes too small.

  There was another man on the scaffold, dressed only in featureless grey. He had thick, rusty hair and a beard, and despite his humiliating garb he was standing proud next to Malthanes, with a far more professional air to his stance. Nonetheless, he was overshadowed by the noose that hung before him, waiting silently.

  As the cloaked woman made it to hearing range of Malthanes, the Shield Commander raised a hand, and as though by magic the crowd hushed.

  ‘People of Arenfel!’ Malthanes called out. ‘Rejoice! I am here to deliver a message to the enemies of Valanthas today. In answer to the vile actions of the traitor knight Valia Relassis in the east, we have this message to deliver to her.’

  The cloaked woman’s hood fell back slightly, and had anybody seen her, they would have noticed the clear anguish on her face as her crimson eyes fixed on the bearded man on the scaffold.

  ‘This is the disgraced soldier Kherim Relassis,’ Malthanes continued. ‘Brother and accomplice to the traitor Valia. He was captured in the village of Felendras, secretly planning further sedition against Her Radiance, Salestis de’Cirana, and aiding the rogue activities of his sister.’

  Malthanes ran his gaze over the crowd, and while he did not see the cloaked woman, she flinched as his eyes passed her.

  ‘Valia!’ Malthanes shouted. ‘If you are here today, then see this! The price of your crimes.’

  He shoved Kherim towards the noose, and the former soldier lowered his head with dignity to allow Malthanes to tighten the noose around his throat. Once Malthanes was done, Kherim’s mouth moved a few times as his eyes met those of the Shield Commander, his words inaudible to the spectators. Malthanes froze with fury, and then he turned to the paladin whose plated fist grasped a lever on the scaffold.

  ‘In the name of Light, the sentence is carried out,’ Malthanes said.

  The other paladin pulled the lever, and the floor panel Kherim was standing on fell away. Cries of dismay and satisfaction ran through the crowd in equal measure, while the cloaked woman, Valia, just froze dead, staring as her brother dangled lifeless on the scaffold. By some small mercy, the kill had been quick, but that was no comfort to her as she stood powerless.

  Malthanes smiled darkly as he watched Kherim’s body swing on the rope.

  Valia couldn’t watch any longer. She turned to leave, and bumped into the person directly behind her. She felt her heart freeze as she started into the chestnut eyes of Yuriath Synarin, the former companion of Archimegadon, who Valia had killed while in the service of Marr. Unable to speak, Valia stood motionless, one hand grasping her hood to keep her face shadowed.

  Then she blinked, and saw that she was wrong – this noblewoman looked similar, but it wasn’t Yuriath. Of course it wasn’t, what was she thinking? Valia barged the surprised and indignant lady to one side and fled the courtyard, while behind her the paladin guards raised a cheer for the glory of the Supreme Commander.

  Chapter Thirty: Decisions

  Archimegadon was the last to get out of bed, as usual, and by the time he joined with the others for breakfast they had almost finished. They also had a guest.

  ‘Mellara?’ Archimegadon asked.

  It was indeed Mellara, wearing Anjilo’s spare goggles to cover up her red irises. Archimegadon supposed it would be easier to get away with wearing them in Arenfel, where people of all sorts of crafts were wandering about unchallenged. Ithalna had apparently left Obdo and Mellara to talk, as she was in the middle of eating a large muffin, and looked particularly cheerful.

  ‘Mmf, hello Ardon,’ Ithalna said through the muffin.

  ‘Morning Archie,’ Mellara said. ‘Got some news to discuss.’

  ‘That doesn’t sound promising,’ Archimegadon said.

  ‘Nothing sounds promising to you,’ Mellara said. ‘However, this time you’re right. I wouldn’t have risked these stupid goggles otherwise.’

  Archimegadon sat down and stole Obdo’s last remaining strip of bacon. ‘Very well, let’s have the bad news.’

  ‘So you know you were saying that Valia is in town?’ Mellara asked. Archimegadon nodded. ‘Well, Malthanes sent her a message yesterday. He hung her brother in front of the royal palace.’

  ‘Valia has a brother?’

  ‘Apparently,’ Mellara replied. ‘But not any more – it was over fast.’

  ‘So, aside from this being unpleasant for her brother, why has this brought you into the city?’ Archimegadon asked.

  ‘Think about it,’ Mellara replied. ‘Valia isn’t one to cross – remember what happened when Tharanor broke the staff. The tournament starts today, and I’m worried that Valia is going to hit Salestis and Arenfel hard while it’s taking place, in retaliation for what Malthanes did.’

  ‘Oh, balls.’ Archimegadon considered the strip of bacon in his hand. ‘Why on earth would that ass Malthanes provoke Valia?’

  ‘My thinking is that he feels untouchable here, with the Order’s main army close by,’ Mellara replied. ‘I’d guess it’s also out of spite, since she made him look pretty stupid when she took Stornis Hold and handed it over to the Blade.’

  ‘What an absolute pain,’ Archimegadon said.

 
‘Let us not forget that with the tournament beginning later, that only gives us today and tomorrow to find where the Syrakh is being held,’ Ithalna said. ‘Otherwise, we shall either have to deal with it on the tournament field, or simply leave the matter to whoever is present.’

  ‘If it goes that way, I’m just going to warn the Knights of Valanthas, and Lyssina can forget saving her Order’s reputation,’ Mellara said. ‘I’d rather not, though. Even without upsetting poor Lyssina’s feelings, revealing this sort of corruption is likely to turn the whole situation into another Ferrina.’

  Archimegadon swallowed hard. He could imagine what might happen if the various opposed factions in Valanthas did get provoked into open conflict. Like Mellara, he had no desire to be the person who set that off.

  ‘So what’s the plan?’ Obdo asked.

  ‘I’m giving up on the paladin tunnels,’ Mellara replied. ‘It’s a bit of a waste of time to find out where they are, because most people don’t even know the Order has them, so short of catching a member of the Shield I have no idea what I could do.’

  ‘Ah, I did that, once,’ Ithalna said. ‘Perhaps it might be time for me to hunt Shield members again.’

  ‘Last time you did that, it brought Salestis down on the Blade,’ Mellara said.

  ‘This time, I would be certain to leave no trace,’ Ithalna said.

  ‘Well, for now, let’s not go with that,’ Mellara said. ‘What I’m actually going to do is go looking for Valia. Anji was telling me that Valia was with her during your troubles with Lord Bartell, and that she knows about the paladin tunnels as well, so I got to thinking that maybe she knows more about where the Syrakh is being kept.’

  ‘And, you know, Valia has that whole “connection with demons” thing,’ Obdo said.

  ‘That may be a good idea,’ Ithalna said. ‘You had something more in mind for the rest of us?’

  ‘Yeah, I was thinking since it’s likely that Valia is going to attack the tournament, we should keep an eye on things there,’ Mellara said.

  ‘So we can be slaughtered with everyone else?’ Archimegadon asked.