Elf Lords: 02 - Last of the Elf Lords (18 page)

Kataard removed the key that had been given him by Torla. He unlocked Reldoor’s shackles and placed the key on a side stand before pulling both of Reldoor’s arms up to the head of the table, where he secured each wrist with manacles affixed to the table. Kataard then moved down to the foot of the table and repeated the same action with Reldoor’s feet.

“Leave him alone!” Megan shouted at the elf.

Kataard had a maniacal look on his face when he turned to face the princess. “You are the lucky one. You get to watch as I torture everyone.”

Megan shivered at the elf’s mutated guttural voice. “You are a sick, mutant, son-of-a-troll!”

The sound of Kataard’s laughter was disturbing. “I happen to be very fond of trolls. They are special to me.”

“They are probably the only thing that does not look as ugly as you.” Megan insulted.

Kataard approached Megan, holding his fist ready to strike her.

“Go ahead,” she dared, “leave a mark on me. It will lower my value on the slave block and anger that piece of dung master of yours.”

“Megan, stop it!” Jordan warned.

Kataard lowered his hand. “You assume that you are meant for the slavers. Well, perhaps that may end up being the case. It all depends on what information I gather before it is your turn to be questioned. Even so, there are many ways that I can hurt you without ever leaving a mark on your tender flesh.” The elf threatened.

“Touch her and I will tear you limb from limb.” Reldoor promised. He had recovered in time to overhear Kataard’s threat.

“Ah, you have rejoined us.” Kataard said to the young man. “You are a strong one. It will be enjoyable to hear you scream and beg for your life.”

“Let us go and the Queen of Alexon will reward you greatly.” Jordan called out.

Kataard laughed once more, “I do not need any human queen to grant me my rightful reward.”

Jordan needed to buy time. He was hoping that Landis and the others would find them. If he could just keep the elf busy long enough, then perhaps they might have a chance to survive. At least he could keep the attention on him, and give Megan and Reldoor more time. “I just figured that a worm like you would betray his mother for enough gold.” He taunted.

Kataard sneered. “You petty humans may be greedy, but not me.”

Jordan pressed on, “What makes you so special? You are nothing more than a freak of nature that should have been drowned at birth. Your mother probably killed herself after seeing you for the first time.”

Kataard walked over and struck Jordan across the face.

“You hit like a girl.” Jordan accused.

“Dad, stop it!” Megan cried out. She turned her head away, unable to watch as the elf began to beat her father.

Jordan continued the insults, doing his best to buy time for his daughter.
If only I could have gotten her back to Seebaul’s sanctuary safely,
he thought.

The beating stopped.

The rook flapped its black wings and leapt from its perch. It landed on top of the bookcase. “Find Seebaul, find Seebaul.”

Kataard grinned, “You have been there. You know where it is. Tell me and I will permit your daughter to live!”

Jordan stared into the red eyes of the elf then spat in his face. Kataard slapped Jordan before using the sleeve of his red robe to wipe his face. He looked into Jordan’s mind, probing his thoughts. “Yes, you have been there, but only once. You do not know the way, but there is one among you who does.”

Kataard hurried over to where Megan was bound. “Tell me how to find the Sanctuary!”

As he had done with her father, Kataard dug into Megan’s thoughts, seeking the information he wanted. “It is not you, it’s the boy!”

He ran to Reldoor. As he looked down at the teenager, the elf began to laugh. “Yes, you know how to get there.”

Reldoor struggled against his bonds as Kataard slipped his hand into the young man’s tunic. The wizard withdrew the small, green gem and held it up to the light as he observed it. “Oh, this is just fantastic. You have brought me the key to navigate through the magic of the Tilsaw. I must send word to Trian at once!”

“We are not leaving you.” Megan insisted.

They released Jordan from his constraints. The Prince-Regent pushed Megan and Reldoor towards the door before turning back to Natis. The rook was flying about the room as Jordan ran to the mage. “What have they done to you?” He removed Natis’ gag. “Are you all right?”

“No, I am not all right.” Natis gasped, “Look at my hands!” Seeing the bird fluttering about he said, “Kill that damned bird before it communicates to the wizard that you are free.”

The rook landed on the table, looking at Jordan and Natis. Reldoor picked up a large book and slammed it down on top of the bird. “Will that do?”

“Thank you.” Natis whispered.

Jordan spotted the pry bar that the wizard had used to beat Reldoor with. He grabbed it and looked at the spikes in Natis’ hands. “This might just work. Hold his hand in place.” He said to Reldoor.

The boy grabbed Natis’ right wrist and held it down.

“This is going to hurt.” Jordan informed the mage.

“Just do it.” Natis spat.

Jordan jimmied the end of the pry bar beneath the head of the spike, then leaned the bar over the edge of the pillar. He gave it a downward shove, causing the spike to pull up and out of Natis’ hand. The mage cried out in agony as the metal pulled through his flesh and bones. Megan gasped at the sight and sound of what she was witnessing.

They repeated the process with Natis’ left hand. Once free, the mage collapsed onto the floor.

“We’ll have to carry him.” Jordan suggested.

Megan screamed as the Kataard’s brown robed apprentice entered the room. “What is going on here?” He demanded.

Jordan spun around. Seeing the young wizard begin the incantations of a spell, he charged across the room, waving the pry bar above his head. Jordan swung the metal bar, striking the young wizard upside the head. Torla staggered back a few steps, but was still intent on completing the necessary words to his spell. Jordan turned the bar and swung it again, this time slamming it into Torla’s throat. This time the wizard fell against the wall, choking from the blow that had crushed his wind pipe. Try as he might, he could not breathe, let alone form the words to his incantation. Torla grabbed his throat just as Jordon struck him in the head, splitting his skull open. Torla fell to the floor.

“Reldoor, get Megan out of here!” Jordan yelled as he rushed back to help Natis to his feet. “Come on, Natis.”

Natis mustered up what little energy he had and ran out of the room, leaning much of his weight on Jordan. The two men followed Reldoor and Megan up the stairs which appeared to be the only way out of the wizard’s lair. The top of the steps led to a drab, unfurnished, foyer. Reldoor saw an exit to their right. Pulling Megan’s arm, he ran to the door.

“Look outside first!” Jordan warned, as he half dragged Natis across the floor.

Reldoor opened the door a few inches and peered out into the darkness. Seeing nothing, he opened the door wider and risked stepping outside. “It is clear.” He said.

Jordan handed Reldoor the pry bar; it was the only weapon that they had. “Protect my daughter.” He ordered as they fled the building.

Reldoor was somewhat familiar with Ducaine. He recognized the street just ahead as one leading away from the Keep, going towards the southwest side of town. “We can leave the city that way.” He announced.

Jordan looked about the streets. There were very few people about this time of night. “Take Megan and go on ahead of us. Pretend to be a young couple out courting. When you get beyond the town limits, hide out in the trees. We will catch up to you shortly. But promise me that if you hear any call to arms, you will take Megan back to the Sanctuary without us.”

“I promise.” Reldoor vowed.

“Go.” Jordan said to his daughter when Megan hesitated.

The two began casually walking down the street, arm-in-arm, as if they were two young lovers looking for a place to be alone.

Natis shook his head as he tried to ignore the pain coursing throughout his body. “I can walk, but not steadily.” He mumbled.

Jordan put his arm around Natis’ back. “Why did you have to drink so much?” He said at the top of his lungs, as he began helping the mage to walk. “Your wife is going to wring your neck for coming home so drunk.”

* * * * *

Jaylen was the first to see Megan and Reldoor walking out of the city. “What in the abyss is going on here?”

Landis looked ahead to see what his father was talking about. “Megan?”

The princess looked up, as she heard her name spoken. She was about to run, until she recognized Landis coming out of the darkness, followed by the rest of the party that she had left behind early that night. She released Reldoor’s hand and ran to them. “They captured us. Reldoor is hurt.”

Tessa rushed to Reldoor’s side and began examining his injury.

“Father is coming; he has Natis.” Megan said.

Landis was surprised. “Natis, he is alive?”

“He is hurt bad.” Megan informed him.

Landis spun about and peered into the city. He could make out the images of two people coming their way. It was obvious that one of them was being assisted by the other. He began to go to their aid when Jaylen grabbed his son by the arm. “Wait for them. You might give them away if you rush in.”

Landis stayed put.

Tessa wiped her hand on her pants, “You will be all right,” she told the young man, “it will hurt worse tomorrow, but you will live.”

Reldoor’s eyes were brimming with tears as he looked at Seebaul and Seth. “I have failed you.”

“What do you mean?” Seth asked.

“That wizard found the charm that Seebaul gave me. Thanks to me, he can lead the Warlord to the Sanctuary.”

Megan intervened on Reldoor’s behalf, “It was not his fault. The elf can read minds. Reldoor did not say anything; none of us did. But he was able to read our thoughts, and because of that, he discovered the gemstone.”

Seebaul have a grave look on his face. “Oh dear, the children are in danger, and Trian now has a way of locating the Dragon Gates.”

“We must leave at once.” Seth declared.

Jordan began to hurry as he spotted his friends. Even Natis became more energetic when he saw Landis and the others.

“Are you okay, Nate?” Landis asked.

Jordan answered for the mage, “Do not ask. He has been through a lot.”

Landis and Trevor took Natis from Jordan and placed him between them, holding an arm over each of their shoulders as they assisted him to walk. Natis objected to their efforts, “Leave me behind. I will only slow you down.”

“Nonsense,” Landis retorted, “we have horses hidden in the trees. Once we get you on one of them, we can make our escape.”

“What about Trian and Marlow?” Trevor asked.

The Elf Lord turned to him. “We no longer need to go hunting for them; soon they will be coming for us.”