Knights: Book 03 - The Heart of Shadows (26 page)

Aldreya
was overflowing with excitement. "Thank you, Master Taris!" Her dream
seemed to be coming true at last. Taris had chosen her out of dozens of
talented Squires. Just when she'd begun to question her place at Dremlock, a
new door had opened. Perhaps her work ethic and dedication had paid off after
all.

"Of
course, being my apprentice won't be easy," said Taris. "It takes
much discipline and sacrifice to become a great sorcerer. You could still fail
to meet my expectations. And right now there are still significant gaps in my
memory from the head wound. Many of my abilities are intact, as far as I can
tell. But I may have forgotten some important things. My injuries have
diminished me."

Aldreya
bowed. "I understand."

Taris'
gaze was piercing. "Are you sure? The first month or so will be very
difficult. If I see any sign of weakness in you, I might be inclined to look
elsewhere for an apprentice. You must be thoroughly dedicated to becoming a
Knight and serving the Divine Essence. Do you possess such dedication?"

Aldreya
hesitated, knowing Taris would see through a lie. As much as she hated to do
so, she had to reveal the truth. Honor demanded it. "I have been
questioning myself lately--wondering if life as a Squire is for me. Dremlock
has been a disappointment. I miss Borenthia, where things are so much easier."

Taris
nodded. "I appreciate your honesty. In fact, it is one of the primary
reasons I'm considering you as my apprentice. Had you lied to me just now, I
would have been disappointed. We all have doubts from time to time. But you
need to be certain of your future at Dremlock so my time is not wasted on you.
Therefore, I will give you time to ponder the issue. I will summon you again in
the near future, and if you're prepared to truly pledge yourself to Knighthood,
I will present you with the Trial of Shades. If you pass that test, you will be
my apprentice."

Again,
Aldreya bowed. "I will give it serious thought, but in light of your
offer, I'm sure I want to remain at Dremlock and serve the Divine Essence. I
just felt separated from my training lately, with all the traveling and
such."

"Nevertheless,"
said Taris, "I want you to understand what being a Divine Knight means. It
is not something that should be chosen lightly. You were sent to Dremlock to
serve, and you have done well for yourself--but how much loyalty do you have
for our god and king? Would you die to protect the Divine Essence? For that is
the true measure of your loyalty. When you can answer that question, you will
know whether or not you should attempt to become my apprentice."

Aldreya
contemplated his words. Was she prepared to die for Dremlock and its god, so
far away from her precious tree city of Borenthia? She hadn't become a Squire
to die, but to grow as a sorcerer and gain fame. On the other hand, when she
contemplated the threats to Dremlock, she had a powerful urge to defend the
kingdom and the Divine Essence. Was she more loyal to Dremlock, or Borenthia?
Or was she, above all else, loyal to herself?

"Have
some more tea," said Taris, with a smile. "And don't fret over your
beliefs. You will know where you stand soon enough."

Chapter
16:
 
The Secret of Invisibility

Now
that the Hand of Tharnin had been dealt with and the hostages were free,
Dremlock turned its focus toward the mission to retrieve the Black Flamestone.
Taris called a secret meeting in the Dining Hall, with only the members of the
Divine Shield present (and a trusted Orange Squire who was there to update the
official records).

"I
received a message from our Lord Knight today," Taris announced. "It
appears that Bellis has sent a large battalion in our direction, from Brothlor
Kingdom. At least, the spies believe they are on route to Dorok's Hand."

"They
bring stout siege engines," said Furlus, frowning. "If they can
manage to get them up here, the gates of Dorok's Hand will not hold."

Lannon's
heart sank at hearing that news. At last, Bellis was riding against the Divine
Knights and there was sure to be a vicious war. He'd been hoping somehow it
could be avoided even though logic told him war was inevitable.

"Bellis
rides against us?" said Daledus. "But why? This is just a rugged
mountain keep occupied by a small battalion of Knights. This move doesn't make
sense."

"On
the contrary," said Taris, "I believe it does. We have the Eye of
Divinity, the White Flamestone, and now, the Hand of Tharnin. That surely makes
us the prime target of King Verlamer. Once Bellis has dealt with us, it will
turn its attention to Dremlock Kingdom."

"Then
we must abandon Dorok's Hand," said Trenton. "We cannot possibly
withstand the might of Bellis."

"Their
battalion," said Taris, "consists of at least a thousand Knights on
horseback and three large siege engines. They will attempt to smash down the
gates and then engage us in close-range combat in the tunnels, where they will
hope to crush us with sheer force of numbers."
 

"A
thousand Knights?" said Trenton. "We are vastly outnumbered. And our
own siege engines are still resting on the shores of the Grey Lake. We have
only arrow and lance. And Bellis' siege engines are very sturdy."

"Sturdy,
and quite maneuverable," said Furlus. "I suspect they will indeed be
able to get them up the narrow mountain paths. I agree that we must abandon
this fortress, for it will not work to our advantage to remain."

"What
of the White Flamestone?" Prince Vannas asked. "Surely Bellis' siege
engines aren't strong enough to resist that power."

"Correct,"
said Taris. "As far as we know, nothing can withstand the White Fire. Not
even Glaetherin, it appears. Therefore, we can destroy the siege engines before
they ever reach Dorok's Hand."

"Ride
out to confront them?" said Furlus, his eyes blazing. He sat at the head
of the table, and his beard was the width of the tabletop. He wore a full set
of Glaetherin armor, including a spiked helm. "Indeed. Why should we hide
out in here and wait to be slaughtered? We can set up an ambush for them."

"How
long do we have?" asked Trenton.

"They
could reach us in about a week," said Taris, "though it's impossible
to know for sure. It all depends on their speed of travel. So the question is
do we ignore the threat of the Black Flamestone for now--or try to strike
quickly and gain possession of it? Old Hammer Hall is only a half-day's journey
from here. And if we decide on a quick strike, should Lannon be involved?"

"We
will need the Eye of Divinity," said Trenton, "if we are to have any
hope of overcoming Bellis. To send Lannon away, as Bellis approaches, would be
folly. I suggest we send only Shennen and his Blue Knights."

"We
don't need Lannon," said Shennen, "but his power would allow us to
locate the Black Flamestone more quickly and easily, and with less risk. The
mission is suitable for the Eye of Divinity. This is why Lannon was recruited
by Dremlock. He is most effective when used in this fashion."

"Yet
Lannon would be very helpful in defeating Bellis," said Taris. "And
defeating Bellis is our top priority."

"Will
all due respect," said Vannas, "what can Lannon do? He is a great
warrior, no doubt. He proved that by defeating Vorden and his Hand of Tharnin.
But can a single warrior--however great--make much of a difference?"

Lannon
was wondering that himself. The Eye of Divinity seemed terribly limited
compared to the power of the White Flamestone.

"Lannon
could help us immensely in this war," said Taris. "The power of the
Eye could, for example, break a single gear that could stop a siege engine. And
the Eye could discover the intentions of our foes, giving us a significant
advantage. But aside from that, a great warrior can inspire other warriors on
the battlefield. There is a reason the Dark Watchmen struck terror into the
hearts of their foes."

"Nevertheless,"
said Shennen, "the Dark Watchmen favored stealth and precision over
outright warfare. It was the fact that they were often hidden behind the scenes
that made them so feared. Lannon's power would be wasted on the battlefield. He
should come with us to Old Hammer Hall."

"If
I may add my expert opinion," said Jace, with a wry smile, "Shennen
is correct. I know well the history of the Dark Watchmen. They were sometimes
referred to as
The Invisible Blades
because they stayed in the
background. Aside from being Blue Knights--warriors of stealth--the bearers of
the Eye are certainly best suited to focused missions. To place Lannon in heavy
combat would be a poor use of his abilities."

Taris
sat in silence for a time. Then he nodded. "Yes, Lannon should help locate
the Black Flamestone. We must get that device away from the Blood Legion at all
costs. We already witnessed the evil power it can unleash in the form of that
Specter. The rest of us will ride forth and set an ambush for Bellis."

"I
assume," said Trenton, "that our Lord Knight is planning to send
reinforcements."

"No,"
said Taris. "I sent a message informing them that we will deal with Bellis
alone."

Trenton's
eyes widened. "What? Without a vote?"

Taris
grimaced. "Must we vote on everything? Furlus was in agreement, so the
vote wouldn't have mattered. Had you opposed us, you would have been overruled.
If you wish, you can enter an official objection into the records."

"But
why did you do that?" asked Trenton. "We are vastly outnumbered, so
why not ask for some help?"

"Dremlock
cannot afford to spare any Knights," said Furlus. "The kingdom is
sure to attacked in the near future."

"So
what of Dorok's Hand?" asked Daledus. "If we ride forth, the Blood
Legion may return to occupy the fortress."

"That
doesn't matter anymore," said Taris. "We came here to eradicate the
Blood Legion, and we failed. We had been aware of the threat of Bellis for
years, and when Bellis' shadow grew longer recently, we tried to finish off the
Legion so one threat to Dremlock would be dealt with. But Bellis has moved
swiftly and now demands our full attention. Sadly, the Blood Legion has avoided
destruction once again--just as they have so many times over the centuries."

"Yes,
we failed," Furlus muttered. "Dorok's Hand was one of three
fortresses we intended to capture. The other two were Blombalk and Old Hammer
Hall. The Blood Legion destroyed itself at Blombalk, doing our work for us.
That leaves Old Hammer Hall as the last important Legion fortress. Yet with
Bellis on the move, we dare not risk an assault on Old Hammer Hall. That's a
difficult fortress to break into and would surely cost the lives of many
Knights."

"So
we're that close to victory over the Blood Legion," said Daledus,
"and we can do nothing? What a shame."

Taris
shrugged. "Bellis likely has an alliance with the Legion. So now they are
one and the same. All threats to Dremlock are one force against us, under the
power of the Deep Shadow."

"Dorok's
Hand was difficult to secure," said Daledus. "It seems a wretched
thing to have to surrender it."

Furlus
nodded, his expression bitter. "Yet Dorok's Hand must be abandoned. We
don't have the Knights to spare to keep it occupied."

"Is
there a way we can destroy it?" asked Daledus, "as we did Blombalk
fortress?"

"Short
of bringing down the mountain," said Taris, "I know of no way it
could be done. And even if the White Flamestone could do it, it would take far
too much time. We don't have weeks to stand around blasting at rocks. But we
can, and will, burn down the gates. They will not be easily rebuilt."

"If
we're abandoning Dorok's Hand," said Trenton, "is it necessary even
to confront Bellis at this time? Perhaps we should ride for Dremlock."

"It
is necessary," said Taris. "The war with Bellis has begun. We have a
chance to show them the power of the Divine Knights."

"Then
the issue is settled," said Shennen. "We will ride out for Old Hammer
Hall under cover of darkness. Meanwhile, the rest of you will burn the gates
and take your chances on the battlefield."

Shennen
fixed his stern gaze on Lannon. "Well, Blue Squire, are you ready to
become invisible?"

Lannon
nodded, though he wasn't sure what that meant.

***

Later,
Lannon stood alone with Shennen in a secret training room for the Blue Knights.
Shennen wore an outfit Lannon had never seen before--one that seemed to be made
of dark blue, lightweight armor plates that moved fluidly with his body. He
also wore a mask, with a headdress set with blue sapphires, that left only his
eyes exposed. Hanging from his belt was his Flayer and a short sword, along
with a number of throwing daggers. The belt also held several pouches.

"This
is the
real
armor of a Blue Knight," Shennen explained.
"Reserved only for special missions." He pointed to an oak chest.
"I had some crafted just for you. You will also find a throwing dagger
with it."

"I
have a throwing weapon," said Lannon. He showed the Glaetherin star to
Shennen.

Shennen
inspected the weapon and nodded. "This will suffice. Guard it well, for it
is a good blade."

Lannon
put the armor on. It was a full suit, including boots designed for stealth,
protecting him from neck to feet. The headdress, however, did not contain
jewels as Shennen's did. Lannon put his Birlote cloak on over the armor, but he
found he didn't need his fur cloak. The suit of armor kept him warm.

"That
armor was crafted by Olrog Blacksmiths," said Shennen. "It resists
both excessive heat and cold and can deflect some weapon attacks. It is not
exceptionally strong, however, so your goal is to avoid getting struck in
combat."

Lannon
attached his Dragon sword to the belt. The armor was so light and fluid he
barely noticed it, and it made him feel powerful--like a true warrior. However,
Lannon disliked all armor and would have preferred not to wear it.

"Now
you must learn the secret of invisibility," said Shennen. "It is the
ability to become unseen that gives a Blue Knight his true power. Look around
this chamber very carefully and tell me what you see. Do not use the Eye."

Lannon
looked around. He saw a circular room with stone walls, about forty feet in
diameter, lit by two lanterns that sat on crates. The room contained three
practice dummies, some weapon racks, and a bench. Lannon scanned the room
slowly, looking for any hidden details, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Suddenly,
a Blue Knight was standing before Lannon with a Flayer pointed at his throat.
Lannon took a step back in shock.

The
Blue Knight sheathed the blade.

"He
was standing in this room the whole time, Lannon," said Shennen. "In
plain sight. Yet you failed to catch even a glimpse of him."

"How
is that possible?" asked Lannon, still gazing in shock at the Blue Knight
who'd materialized before him.

"The
sorcery of the mind," said Shennen. "The easiest path to invisibility
is simply to make someone believe you're not there. This Blue Knight projected
his will into your mind and made your gaze move right past him. A true master
of invisibility can walk into a crowded room and no one will notice him.
However, once someone becomes aware of you, the sorcery will cease to work. You
can unlock this ability with extensive practice."

"But
my Knightly Essence is weak," Lannon reminded him. "I can't even
create fire in a blade."

"Perhaps
the Eye can help you," said Shennen. "The Eye can act as a much
stronger version of Knightly Essence at times."

"How
long would it take me to master the technique?" asked Lannon. He doubted
he could learn it before their mission to Old Hammer Hall.

"I
don't know," said Shennen. "I myself have not mastered it. However,
there is one who has--a Birlote sorcerer on loan from Borenthia. His name is
Aldrek Windspear, and he is a true master of invisibility. In fact, he is in
this room right now--though you could never glimpse him without the Eye. He is
a guardian of the East Tower, and you may have sensed him watching you many
times."

Lannon
nodded. He'd occasionally sensed an unseen presence in the East Tower, but had
never really investigated it.