Knights: Book 02 - The Hand of Tharnin (4 page)

"Taris Warhawk?" said Lannon.

Jace smiled. "Yes, I have heard of Taris' legendary wisdom, but that's not who I had in mind." He puffed at his pipe.

Lannon waited, but Jace said nothing. Finally he asked, "Well, who are you talking about?"

"Tell me a bit about yourself," said Jace.

Lannon was annoyed that Jace had changed the subject, but he did as the sorcerer wished--revealing much of what had happened since he'd come to Dremlock. He felt totally at ease revealing his secrets, though he wasn't sure why. Jace listened quietly, giving only an occasional nod.

 
Jace looked deep in thought. "Tenneth Bard, huh? I suppose it's possible he could still be alive, but that would make him far older even than myself--and I've walked this land for nearly two-hundred years, which is an amazing feat when you consider that death lurks all around us. For Tenneth Bard to have lived that long, he must be quite powerful--far beyond anything I can imagine."

Lannon shuddered, thinking of the violet, insane eyes burning in the darkness amidst a mass of shifting shadows. Some voice whispered from deep within him that if Lannon lived long enough, he would have to face Tenneth Bard yet again. It was a destiny that only death would allow him to escape. Yet the threat of the demon man seemed even more immediate and terrifying. Lannon didn't feel strong enough or well-trained enough to deal with such monstrous foes.

"There is a lot going on here at Dremlock lately," said Jace, shaking his head in amazement. "It wasn't like this way back when I was a young Knight. I've just met you, but I already fear for your future, Lannon. It's a shame that a lad like you should bear such heavy burdens. You're just a young, frightened Squire, yet Dremlock is content to shove you into danger because of the power you possess."

Lannon nodded. The two stood facing each other, and the silence grew awkward between them. Jace sighed and scratched his head.

"So what should we do now?" said Lannon.

"I don't know," said Jace. "What to do...what to do...?" He mumbled something under his breath.

Lannon fidgeted, wondering if Jace was going to make up his mind. He seemed like he had no plan.

"Have you been doing some studying on me?" Jace asked, nodding to the two books Lannon held. "You won't find much in those. I wrote them a long time ago and a lot about me has changed since then."

"Gifts from my father," Lannon explained.

"Your father must be a wise man," said Jace, winking.

Again, an awkward silence followed. Jace stood staring off into space, as if deep in contemplation, pipe smoke curing around his head. Lannon fidgeted restlessly, wanting to do anything besides stand there wasting time.

Suddenly, Jace seized Lannon's tunic in one huge hand and pushed him against the wall. "Quiet and listen," he whispered, his eyes gleaming down at the boy. "We should consult with the Divine Essence."

"What?" Lannon gasped, wondering if Jace was joking or insane. The giant sorcerer seemed suddenly menacing to Lannon. "That nearly got me thrown out of the kingdom the last time I tried it, and a Squire died down there. No one but the Lord Knight is allowed to speak to the Divine Essence!"

Jace shrugged. "Being a Knight isn't everything. In fact, I'm rather glad I'm done with the whole affair. Too rigid, with those Sacred Laws and all. I value my freedom, and so should you. Anyway, we have to break a few rules if we want to get anywhere."

Two Blue Knights stepped into the room, hands on sword hilts. They gazed at Jace with suspicion. "Is there trouble here?" one of them asked Lannon. "Speak truthfully, Squire!"

Jace released Lannon and backed away, smiling. "The boy is fine. We were just having a heated discussion. Agreed, Lannon?"

Lannon hesitated, then nodded. "Everything is okay."

The Blue Knights glanced at each other. They were lean men with sullen eyes. One of them was a Birlote. Lannon had seen them many times in the East Tower, but had never spoken to them. "Why did the sorcerer have his hands on you?" one of them asked.

"As I said, it was a heated conversation," Jace replied. "Right, Lannon?"

Lannon gave a slight nod. "He wasn't attacking me."

The Blue Knights continued to stand there watching them.

"I need to get settled in," said Jace. He learned toward Lannon and said quietly, "Tomorrow we shall act. Be prepared."

With that, Jace bowed to the Blue Knights and strode from the room. Lannon stared after him in disbelief. He wondered if the High Council members of Dremlock knew what kind of man they had hired, for Jace seemed to have lost his wits at some point in his excessively long life. It was their first brief meeting, and Jace was already suggesting the unthinkable.

The next day, Lannon couldn't find Jace. He wandered around the kingdom asking about him, while two Blue Knights followed along. They were content to trail after him everywhere in silence. In fact, they didn't say a word to him the entire day. Lannon was grateful he was being guarded, but it also made him feel odd and drew many stares. But Lannon was determined to try to talk Jace out of his plan to visit the Divine Essence. However, no one seemed to know where Jace could be found. It was as if the former Knight had simply vanished from Dremlock.

 
Lannon searched all day long until the evening shadows grew thick, walking from tower to tower, and then finally he gave up and returned to his room, with the two Knights standing guard outside of his door. It had been a slow, boring day. Lannon sat on the bed and sighed. He missed his routine, his training, and he felt detached from everyone in the kingdom. He wondered if he would ever be allowed to go back to his lessons. He was caught somewhere in between being a Squire and a Knight. He didn’t have the experience or status to command respect, but his skills were so valuable to the kingdom he couldn’t function as a true Squire either.

Lannon hoped that wherever Jace was lurking, he'd gathered some information about the demon man's gauntlet. Vellera had tried to kill Lannon once already, so Lannon assumed he would try again at some point--and Lannon doubted the pair of Blue Knight guards could stop him. He felt the only thing that could protect him was the Eye of Divinity (though the fact that it had failed him during the last encounter with Vellera did nothing to shore up his confidence).

He noticed a folded piece of paper on the bed next to him. He hesitated, dreading the words it might contain. Then he read it.

Lannon,

When you hear me talking loudly outside your door, put some clothes under your quilt and make it look like you’re sleeping. Then, leave your room (you will find that I have distracted the guards and led them away) and meet me on the trail, in the woods, that leads to the Temple. When the guards return to check on you, they will think you’re asleep under the covers. Good plan, don’t you agree? Of course you agree! Now listen for my voice.

Jace the Wanderer

Lannon groaned. It was hardly a good plan. Would the Knights really be stupid enough to think a pile of clothes under a quilt was a person? Lannon wasn’t sure about this Jace fellow at all. Aside from being a good writer, Jace seemed to have few respectable qualities. He'd been thrown out of Dremlock, and although cheerful in personality, he was a bit odd--perhaps even insane. But Lannon had not forgotten Furlus' words--that he should take the fight to his foes if he hoped to survive. Hiding out in his room would not save him. He needed to take action.

Moments later, Lannon heard loud conversation outside his door. Reluctantly, he stuffed clothes under the quilt. Vorden and Timlin--the only Squires who shared a room with him--were asleep, but Lannon accidentally knocked a book off a stand while he was arranging the bed and woke Vorden up.

"What are you doing?" said Vorden, yawning.

Lannon motioned for him to be quiet, and Vorden gave him a knowing look. "Good luck with whatever you're planning," Vorden whispered. "Need any help?"

"Not this time," Lannon whispered back. He would have welcomed the company, but he didn't want any of his friends to get in trouble.

Lannon entered the hallway. As Jace had predicated, the guards were nowhere in sight. Lannon hurried downstairs and left the keep. The East Tower usually appeared unguarded, but Lannon knew that hidden spies were watching. However, he was not restricted to the tower, so he wasn't breaking any rules. At least not yet.

The night was very dark, aside from a scattering of stars in the heavens. Lannon had no light source, and when he entered the forest of Knightwood, he was moving along almost blindly. He knew he shouldn't be stumbling along in darkness when he possessed the Eye of Divinity, but the fear of using it gnawed at him and so he left his power buried. He was also terrified that the demon man might be lurking in the woods, waiting to ambush him.

 
Lannon had left the relative safety of the East Tower and exposed himself to attack because he knew he needed to do anything but hide in his room and wait to be assassinated. Yet he still felt like a huge fool.

As usual, wolves howled in the woods. A shadow momentarily blocked out the stars above--some large winged creature soaring above the forest. Knightwood held a powerful, ancient feel that was both captivating and fear inspiring. It seemed that anything could happen in that forest. The pines were enormous, with trunks as wide as cabins, their huge, knotted roots making the trail uneven.

 
In spite of his fur cloak, Lannon shivered in the chill spring air. He tripped over a root and skinned his knee, and in his anger and frustration, he nearly summoned the Eye of Divinity. But then he noticed torchlight drawing closer from the way he'd just come. He hoped it wasn't the guards.

 
It was Jace. "Ah, there you are," said Jace. The tall sorcerer was breathing hard. "I told you I would distract the guards. And I've managed to catch up to you as well. Not bad for an old man, wouldn't you say?"

Lannon shrugged. Jace didn't look like an old man. "I'm just thinking this plan isn't wise, considering what happened last time I tried this."

Jace waved dismissively. "I know the story. The Divine Essence gave you knowledge, so the venture was actually a shining success. And we need knowledge now--so very desperately, my friend. I believe if we sneak down there, the Divine Essence will speak to you again and tell us how to proceed. I think it would love to converse with you. It's silly that you cannot visit Dremlock's god. This kingdom secures its own doom with its foolish laws. But we will ignore those laws tonight and good things will come of it."

"But it's forbidden," said Lannon. "The Divine Essence created the Sacred Laws, and I'm sure it had a good reason for doing so. And I could face being thrown out of the kingdom. And you could end up in a dungeon."

Jace laughed. "Nonsense, lad. Do you think the Knights would expel someone who possesses the Eye of Divinity? Were you thrown out last time? Of course not. As for me being put in a dungeon, it wouldn't be the first time. I'm prepared to face the consequences."

Lannon hesitated. "It just seems like a wretched idea."

"You're afraid," said Jace. "I can see it in your eyes. Well, you need to swallow your fears and act like a Knight. We've been charged with solving the mystery of the demon man and his gauntlet, and we'll do what we must to accomplish our task. I'm not getting paid to fail."

"I can see why you were expelled from the Order," said Lannon. "You're kind of reckless." He knew his words would probably anger Jace, but he didn't care. Jace's plan seemed like pure folly.

Jace's eyes held a strange gleam in the torchlight. He was a towering, shadowy figure who made Lannon feel small and weak. "So you've got me figured out, lad? That's amazing, because I'm not sure I have myself figured out. Not in the least. I've lived a very long time. You have no idea what scars and knowledge lie beneath this purple cloak--the things I have seen and endured."

Lannon shuddered, suddenly gripped by fear. "I probably don't want to know. I prefer to think of you as a writer."

Jace nodded. "I am a
former
writer. And a former Knight. And, last but not least, a former fool who still retains some of my old flaws. Does that make sense to you? Former fool, but still a fool?"

Lannon shook his head. He was growing more certain by the moment that Jace was crazy--or worse, possessed by the Deep Shadow.

 
"Rest assured you will find trouble with me," said Jace. "I am the essence of trouble, and Tharnin trembles in terror at the mere mention of my name. Why? Because I'm always digging my fingers into something. Yes, I am a very dangerous man. You might find your doom under my guidance. On the other hand, you might find your doom quite easily on your own. If you don't take action, young fellow, you
will
be assassinated. Are you prepared to die?"

Lannon shook his head. He wasn't prepared to die--not in the least. He felt he was far too young to die. "I want to live."

"Of course you do," said Jace. "Who doesn't? The only person who wants to die is a fool who can't wait to return to that which he was granted an opportunity to leave in the first place. You're a wise lad and not about to waste your opportunity at life. Now prove me right and we shall do what we must."

Lannon knew that on some level, Jace was right. Lannon needed to take drastic action for the sake of his survival. Yet he continued to hesitate.

Jace placed his hand on Lannon's shoulder. "I've been charged with looking after you while he work on solving the mystery. The Knights know of my reputation and I have their trust. Well, some of them trust me, and a few don't. Regardless, I will take full responsibility for this venture, should we be caught."

"But what if someone saw me leaving the East Tower?" said Lannon. "There are hidden spies in there. In the absence of Taris, they report to my trainer and Lord of the Blue Knights, Garrin Daggerblood, and he doesn't like me at all. If he knows I fooled the guards, I'm probably already in serious trouble. I'm certain the spies must have told him by now!"

"I doubt Garrin knows," said Jace, "or the Knights would be out searching for you. Jace motioned toward the abandoned trail. "Do you hear or see any signs of pursuit? Obviously, you managed to slip out unnoticed."

Lannon listened, and hearing nothing but occasional animal noises, he had to agree with Jace. If Garrin knew he'd duped the guards, surely the Knights would be closing in on him.

"Furlus and Taris are wounded," said Jace. "Your famed Tower Masters--struck down. Your life is in grave danger, should the so-called demon man choose to go after you, which he probably will. The Knights can't stop him. Soon they will order a Divine Shield placed around you--a group of Knights sworn to defend your life, who will guard you night and day. They are probably choosing the members of this Divine Shield even as we speak. Soon you will lose your freedom and perhaps lose your chance at finding a way to survive."

Jace's words seemed to reach deep into Lannon's soul, demanding he obey or pay a grim price. "Okay, I'll do it," Lannon said.

But Jace had already started along the trail. Lannon hurried after him, stumbling over a root. Lannon heard a strange, fluttering noise and whirled around--to glimpse a dark shape move swiftly across the trail and into the woods. He'd caught only a glimpse of it, but it had seemed almost man-shaped. He stood trembling for a moment, chilled to the bone and wondering what he'd seen.

"Did you see something?" Jace asked casually. "The woods are full of animals. It's nothing to be concerned about."

Still, Lannon hesitated, watching the shadows of the woods.

"Are you coming?" Jace asked, sounding annoyed.

Finally, Lannon turned and followed. Yet his back felt terribly exposed, and he kept glancing behind him.

Soon they reached the huge clearing where the Sacred Temple stood, with the North Tower rising up in the distance behind it. The sound of running water from the fountains that adorned the Temple grounds was loud in the still night air. The huge bronze statue of Kuran Darkender (the greatest Knight and foe of Tharnin who had ever lived) that stood atop the temple was a shadowy bulk beneath the stars.

The Temple door was locked, and Jace motioned to Lannon. Lannon hesitated, not wanting to summon the Eye of Divinity.

Jace frowned. "Aren't you a Blue Squire? Are you telling me you don't know how to pick a lock?"

"Huh?" said Lannon. "Oh, of course." His face red with embarrassment, he took out his tools and went to work on the lock. It was a difficult task and took some time, but at last he managed to get it open.

They crept into the Temple. The smell of incense hung thick in the air, a leftover scent from daytime gatherings. Lannon marveled, as he always did, at the sacred feel of the atmosphere in the Temple. He always felt like he was under the intense scrutiny of some higher power when inside there--as if the Divine Essence itself were watching his every move and judging him. Deep feelings of guilt gnawed at him, and a voice whispered in his mind that he was violating the Sacred Laws of Dremlock. This wasn't how an aspiring Divine Knight should behave.

Jace didn't seem troubled in the least by what they were doing. In fact, he whistled a merry tune as he studied the altar in the torchlight. The lid on the altar was sealed with a new, sophisticated lock.
"Looks like a tough one," he said. "I think you'll have to use the Eye of Divinity."

Lannon cringed. "Maybe we should try again later."

"Would you mind closing the door?" Jace said.

Lannon heard something quietly scrape against stone behind him and he whirled around, but the door frame stood empty in the torchlight. Lannon wondered if he'd really heard anything or if his imagination was getting the best of him. He pulled the door shut and approached the altar.

"I don't think I can handle that lock," said Lannon, though he wasn't being entirely truthful. Though it wouldn't be easy, it was certainly possible he could pick the lock. He was simply hoping Jace would give up.

Jace sighed. "Give me your tools. I know a few tricks for a complex lock like this. Tricks of sorcery. I'll see what I can do."

Lannon tossed him the bag of tools and Jace went to work. Chills crept over Lannon's flesh. He turned and saw something shining in the darkness--a pair of small, crimson lights. He moved the torch, but the glow didn't extend far enough to reveal anything. Lannon drew his Dragon sword--the powerful weapon made of bones from a rare type of Goblin.

"I need torchlight to do this task," Jace muttered.

"I see something," said Lannon. "Lights." He blinked his eyes. The red lights were gone, and he wasn't sure he'd actually seen them.