Under the pretext of visiting the Verdant Tower, which he hadn’t done yet during his reign, he arranged an escort of five Tower Guards led by his head guardsman Tukra, to protect him on the long and perilous three-day journey south.
The next morning, Myrthyd left the Black Tower at the light of dawn in a donkey-drawn carriage guided by Tukra. The other four rode horses, and the animals acted up when Myrthyd neared them.
After the first long day of riding, they set up camp under a stand of willow trees. The horses grazed on wild grass.
Tukra set up a tent for Myrthyd. “Got excellent weather for this journey, sir. I expect we’ll not see a drop of rain.”
Myrthyd nodded. “That’s true, Tukra, but that’s also part of the problem.”
The guard turned to him. His face was dirty, one of his eyes barely poking out of his twisted flesh, and paused his task of tying down the tent. “Problem, sir?”
“Have you not noticed? Our people are starving. Crops are failing. A scourge has come across our land. We need the rain, Tukra. We need it to nourish our fields.”
“Your point is well made, sir. My farm doesn’t yield as much as it used to, though we get by. My wife and our five children work hard to get what we need. My livestock aren’t quite as plump as a few years ago, but we’ve learned to adapt.”
“That’s it, though!” Myrthyd waved his hands frantically as he paced. “We’ve adapted! Why do we need to adapt to a terrible situation? Why can’t we be vibrant and abundant again? Why do we roll over and allow this to happen?”
Tukra wiped his hands on his trousers and stood. He let go of the rope and it slithered like a snake as the tent wall waved gently in the breeze. “Roll over? I don’t think so, sir.”
Myrthyd’s eyes narrowed. He considered casting compulsion on the man but forced the thought away. He needed to know what his people thought to gauge what his next moves should be.
“Why not, then?”
“The way I see it, good fortune comes and goes. Menos watches over us and sometimes turns his eye away. Eventually it will return.”
Myrthyd’s pacing quickened. Is this how his people felt? Ready to accept the problems hoisted on them from the Drakku?
“Menos cares about us. Menos guides me. But Menos does not turn his eye from us. The Drakku have done this to us. Don’t you see it?”
Tukra nodded. “Of course, sir. Drakku blood has done much harm to us. But—”
“But what? They are the true cause of our problems, not Menos!”
Tukra’s face turned down. He went quiet and then returned to his work. “I’ll have this up in a moment sir,” he called over his shoulder.
Myrthyd crossed the camp to let the moment drift away. He’d gotten too caught up with Tukra. The man was only expressing what he thought to be the truth. Did more of his people believe the same thing? They had to know it was all because of the Drakku. The evidence was clear!
A roar in the distance caught his attention. The guards must have heard it, too, as they all dropped what they were doing, grabbed their swords, and circled around Myrthyd.
“There!” one of the guards said.
Myrthyd turned to the sky and saw a Garnet dragon crossing the fading light of day. He felt the dragon and sensed its presence. It was much like being near Alushia. The dragon emitted a blast of flame that illuminated its grotesque shape. A sneer crept across Myrthyd’s face. “Our enemy. It comes to taunt me.”
“What are we to do?” Tukra asked.
None of the guards were slayers or had experience against them, as far as Myrthyd knew. If only he had the Blood Stone, he’d have a weapon to rid Rowyth of the beast.
“Stay close and prepare for an attack. I can offer some protection.” The stone around his neck glowed as he settled the spell on the men around him, hoping it was enough to save them.
The dragon roared again, spiraling in the sky. Then it let out a blast of flame, igniting trees and the fields around it. Flames reached high in the sky. The Garnet roared and shot off to the south, leaving a trail of smoke behind it.
Myrthyd let the spell dissipate and the men relaxed.
“Do you see? We must get rid of them before they burn it all!” Myrthyd’s anger grew bright as the fields that were now engulfed in flames. His task was clear.
He watched as orange and yellow flames died down, the scorched fields left behind.
It took a few minutes before the guards returned to their work, Myrthyd nudging them with a touch of compulsion.
Tukra gathered his men. “We’ll watch through the night. The Kull cannot be harmed. Is that understood?” They nodded.
Myrthyd entered his tent and laid down to rest knowing his men would alert him if the dragon returned. The disturbing sensation he felt with the dragon in the sky unsettled him. What did it mean? How could he sense the thing? Was it something made up in his mind?
“Soon I will have the means to destroy you. I will return Tregaron to its glory. And when I do, we’ll rid Rowyth of the Drakku for good.” He closed his eyes and forced his thoughts into the black nothingness as he sought rest.
When Myrthyd woke, he left the tent and approached the small fire in the middle of the camp where the guards warmed themselves.
“Any sign of our foe?”
“No, sir. The night was calm,” Tukra said stifling a yawn. The guards grumbled in their tiredness.
“Have you all been up?”
Tukra nodded.
“Aye, sir. We lot didn’t sleep much overnight, but we’ll be ready for anything.”
“That, you will,” Myrthyd said with a slight wave of his hand, casting a spell of endurance on the man. It was another spell he discovered while reading Drexon’s tome. He didn’t quite understand why it was a forbidden spell if it helped soldiers with a boost of strength. It was another spell he added to his collection of lost abilities that he was slowly unlocking.
He pushed them hard that day, casting endurance and compulsion on all the men, forcing them to their limits and covering a lot of ground. Had he cast those spells when they set off, he expected they’d make the journey to Woodpine in two days instead of three, if the animals held up. He’d have to test it out on their return.
Constantly he scanned the skies, expecting to see the Garnet return. They must hurry; the Blood Stone awaited. It had to. There was no room for failure. Menos was on his side. He was sure of it.
CHAPTER
Thirty-Three
By the time they approached Woodpine with its wooden walls, the men were exhausted and the horses and donkey seemed beat.
They were greeted at the gate by a small retinue of Verdant Magus who had been alerted to the coming of the Kull Naga by snowdove.
“Kull Naga Myrthyd, so good to see you. We welcome you to our city. The Tower is yours,” a short man in dark green robes said with a deep bow, nearly kissing the dirt ground.
“You must be—”
“Magus Menathon, the Keeper of the Verdant Tower,” the man said. He held out a hand to Myrthyd and helped him out of the carriage.
“Menathon, I appreciate your kind welcome. My men and I will require rooms and food. It’s been a while since we had a good meal.”
“Of course. Whatever you require. We are here to serve. Come, this way.” He held out a hand and gestured for Myrthyd to accompany him. They walked side by side through the dirty streets of Woodpine.
At every corner people begged for food. Near a tavern, Myrthyd’s heart broke when he witnessed a boy with a grimy face wearing tattered clothes begging a woman walking by. Instead of helping, she smacked him on the head and kept walking.
“Do you see that, Menathon? Look what the Drakku have done to our people.”
Menathon turned to look.
“That boy has been reduced to nothing because he has no food. Look at that family over there,” he said, pointing toward another corner. “It’s deplorable. How are your stores holding up? Can you feed them?”
“We’re run
ning low, and even with our powers assisting us, we cannot break the rot and drought. I fear we don’t have much time left before the situation grows dire.”
“Isn’t it already? When there are this many people starving, how can you survive? I’ve even witnessed Garnet dragons setting fields on fire! Something has to change.”
Menathan said nothing and they continued toward the Tower.
The guards that accompanied Menathon led Myrthyd’s guards to an entrance on the side of the Tower. Menathon and two other Magus who Myrthyd didn’t know led him to the Tower’s main entrance. Once inside, two lines of Magus, novices, and apprentices lined either side of them, cheering him.
“Welcome, sir.”
“We are here to serve.”
“He’s much younger than I thought.”
Myrthyd listened to all their concerns and comments, not once stopping to acknowledge them. Menathon wiped his brow several times on the sleeve of his dark green robe.
“Right this way, sir,” he said, his voice shaky. Making others uncomfortable seemed to be what Myrthyd did best, and he quite enjoyed the spectacle. It made it easier to get them to see reason.
Menathon droned on about advances in gardening techniques by the Tower and the discovery of new poisons. “By accident!” he claimed, and their continued vigilance of the Dragonback Mountains.
“We spotted our first griffon only two weeks ago. Quite the surprise to our guards. It didn’t do anything but fly along the mountains roaring before heading back south.”
“A griffon? This far north?” Myrthyd asked. He stopped walking and cocked his head.
“It’s been a long time since one travelled this far, but it was alone and we figure it was curious to see how the true people live.”
“Interesting. Or it could be wanting to witness what the Drakku are doing to us. If this ever happens again, I must know of it immediately.”
“As you wish,” Menathon said, bowing.
“Here we are. Your rooms while our guest.”
“Thank you, Menathon. If the rest of your Tower is as welcoming as you, we shall truly praise Menos for your hospitality. I’ll be needing rest and silence for the day. Please make sure I am not disturbed until dinner time.”
“Of course. I’ll have guards posted at each end of the hall to repel any who would seek an audience with you. I’ll send an escort when dinner is served. I’m sure the entire Tower will turn out for this. Good day. Until later.” Menathon held the door open and waited for Myrthyd to enter, closing it gently and leaving him be.
Several hours later, a soft knock on his door told him Menathon had returned. He opened the door and the Magus grinned back at him.
“Kull Naga, I hope I’m not disturbing you. It is time for the feast, and the Tower is overjoyed to have you as our guest. This way.” He held out his arm and Myrthyd followed his lead.
The Tower was unusually empty on their walk to the Great Hall. Menathon was right; the entire Tower must have crammed into the Great Hall for his visit. That suited him well. If he needed to coerce them into action, that made it much easier.
As they approached the grand wooden doors to the Great Hall, two Tower guards bowed and opened the doors. Menathon entered first and the crowd silenced. He smiled and addressed the assembled Magus.
“My fellow Magus, novices, apprentices, and friends. I present to you Kull Naga Myrthyd, leader of the Order of Eschar!”
The crowd erupted in applause. Myrthyd stepped forward and waved to those inside. He was escorted by Tukra and his own Tower guards to the dais at the front of the Hall where a large table with other high-ranking Verdant Magus sat. When he reached the dais, he turned to the Hall and raised his hands. The crowd grew silent.
“Thank you for the kind reception. I’m honored and humbled by your greetings.” They cheered wildly at hearing his words. He was here for the Blood Stone but bringing them to his side in preparation for what was to come had to start now. His plans were grand, and the more he convinced them to see his reason, the easier it would be when the time came.
“I come to enjoy your company and to unite our Towers. Our people are hurting. They die of starvation and our crops fail. The Drakku destroy our land!” The applause ceased, replaced by an uneasy quietness. He wasn’t going to make this easy on them. They needed to see the truth.
“It is my hope to remove the source of our plague.” Some of the Magus at his table shifted, murmuring to each other. “The Drakku have long lived among our people and their blood permeates throughout. It is my ardent belief that they have brought our lands to ruin. Have you not seen their effects? How many beggars line your streets? How much harder must you work to help those in need? Your skills are tested daily. The time has come. With the Towers united, we shall overcome this menace once and for all. With the Towers united, we can work together for a greater future. Can I count on your support? Can I trust in you as you trust in me?”
He was prepared to cast compulsion on the Hall if they refused his logic. It was a drastic step, but he’d do what needed to be done.
A Verdant Magus from a table midway through the hall stood and applauded. “We support you, Kull! You can count on us!”
Myrthyd had no idea who the man was but was grateful for his show of support. Soon, other Verdant Magus joined him in a series of affirmations and applause. The entire hall descended into a call of support. Not a single Magus remained seated.
Myrthyd smiled. He hadn’t had to nudge them. They supported him so willingly and that was more valuable than blind obedience forced by a spell.
He raised his arms high. “Please, let us eat and enjoy each other’s company.”
The crowd cheered his words.
He sat at the head of the table and all in the room waited until he was served first before they enjoyed their meal. Musicians set up in the corner of the Hall began playing and a joyous, festive atmosphere filled the area. Ale flowed freely and soon Magus upon Magus approached the head table to have a word with the Kull Naga.
Myrthyd smiled and nodded, not caring what they said or petitioned him for. He was here solely to acquire the Blood Stone. He’d stay as long as needed until he possessed the greatest weapon ever created by the Order.
CHAPTER
Thirty-Four
“Now Brida, stay close by. I wish you could come with me, but they don’t allow animals like you inside the city,” Alushia said to her snowcat. The large white cat hung her head and slowly stalked away. Alushia felt that Brida understood her; she had ever since they met, though in the past few weeks it had grown stronger.
Alushia turned from the sulking snowcat and entered Woodpine, hoping to find her father and stop him from delivering the Blood Stone to Myrthyd.
It was late afternoon and already the three taverns in the city were full. Music drifted across the busy streets and people were anxious. It was like the mid-summer celebrations she knew back home but well past time for that. More than once she had to force her way through a throng of poor, destitute people that clamored at her for a coin or piece of bread. They were worse than in Kulketh! She found an inn that didn’t look too rundown and entered.
“Aye. How can I ‘elp ya?” the old man behind the counter asked. He was tall and fat. Sweat pasted his thinning white hair to his scalp and ran down his cheeks and. One eye was nearly closed and the other was milky white.
“I’d like a room, please,” Alushia replied.
“Don’t we all, dear…don’t we all? All I got is a little space upstairs. Seems like everyone and their brother come into town on account of the Kull’s visit. I swear, people ain’t got no sense at times. Ya want it or not?”
“The Kull? He’s here?”
“Look, dear, I got a house full o’ strangers arguing over every little thing. I ain’t got time to chat. You want the room?”
“Oh. Yes, yes please.” She felt her skin warm at the mention of Myrthyd and had to control herself to temper her anger.
“This way, then,”
the old man said. “My name’s Rufus. Call on me if ya need anything. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
She followed him up creaky stairs and all the way down a narrow hall and waited while he unlocked a door on the left side.
“Here ya go. Ain’t much, but ya can have it. Dinner is at six, breakfast is at six, and lunch is at—”
“Six?” she answered with a giggle. Rufus didn’t smile.
“Lunch is at noon. Enjoy your stay,” he grumbled and left to attend a man and his partner at the end of the hall. The two men were complaining about rats and Rufus grumbled.
“I’ll be kickin’ yer arses out of my inn unless you stop talking nonsense about the vermin. People’d be lucky to eat ‘em.”
Alushia closed the door and went to the small lumpy bed. Dust puffed from the mattress when she sat on it.
Myrthyd is here. He must know that my father retrieved the gem, or maybe he’s close to getting it. I might have to go into the mountains to stop Father. She closed her eyes and focused. She’d been driven this far by a feeling, a notion that dragon blood filled her veins and the mysterious ghoul of a dragon named Avess spoke truth to her. Why was she so accepting of these truths when she was raised to abhor halflings? Avess hadn’t appeared to her in over a week. Was it all a figment of her imagination? Did she leave her homestead for nothing? Something deep inside made her think that wasn’t true. Too many coincidences pointed to the truth: she was a halfling. Her mother was a dragon. She could never speak those words aloud. Ever.
That evening after a meal of bland soup and stale bread, Alushia left the inn in search of Myrthyd. She wove her way through the people-filled streets until she approached the Verdant Tower. Guards blocked her entrance.
“What business do you have with the Tower?” one of the guards asked. He was a muscular man with piercing blue eyes and looked to be close to her own age.
The Blood Stone Page 19