Knights: Book 03 - The Heart of Shadows (28 page)

Chapter
18:
 
The
Savage Peaks

Nighttime
had settled over the land when Shennen, Lannon, Aldrek, and six masked Blue
Knights departed from Dorok's Hand. They were the first to abandon the
fortress, but they wouldn't be the last, as the rest of the occupants were busy
preparing to ride against the forces of Bellis.

They rode out through the gates into a moonlit night--which
didn't work in their favor, as it left them visible. An Elder Hawk circled
overhead, watching for spies in the rocks and in the sky. Their mission
depended entirely on them not being seen as they approached Old Hammer Hall.
There was no point in trying to turn invisible, as the range of the technique
was limited and they were more likely to be spotted from outside that range.
They navigated through the shadows as much as possible and did not talk.

After about an hour of travel through the peaks, the Elder
Hawk suddenly swooped down from the sky and landed. The large, black-and-silver
bird beat its wings four times--a warning that roughly a dozen Goblins had been
spotted. The hawk pecked twice at the snow, indicating that it had also
glimpsed a spy and that the spy had seen them. The hawk then motioned with its
head in the direction of a narrow valley between two rocky cliffs.

"This is unfortunate," Shennen muttered. "If
these Goblins are in league with the Blood Legion, they may flee to Old Hammer
Hall and warn them."

"We should strike quickly, Master," said a masked
Blue Knight. "Slay them all before any can escape."

Shennen nodded. "Yes, we must eliminate them!"

With that, the Lord of the Blue Knights drove his horse at
a gallop toward the valley between the cliffs. The others followed. Beyond the
cliffs, the valley opened up into a wide, snowy slope that held a Goblin camp.
A number of crude wooden lean-to shelters stood there, and the snow was
littered with gnawed animal bones. The spy--a fleeing Jackal--raced into the
camp screeching a warning. Four Ogres wearing studded leather armor sat by a
campfire roasting a deer, and when they saw the frantic Jackal and the
approaching riders, they seized huge clubs and leapt up. The four Ogres and
nine Jackals charged toward the Blue Knights.

Lannon reached for his sword, then took out his Glaetherin
throwing star instead. He wanted to test the weapon in combat.

The Jackals were swifter than the Ogres, and they reached
the Knights first. One Jackal bounded through the air toward Shennen, its claws
intent on shredding the Blue Knight's flesh, but Shennen's burning Flayer
slashed a bitter wound into its throat. The Jackal toppled into the snow,
bleeding its life away. Shennen's Greywind horse reared up into the air and
then came down with both front hooves, inflicting further damage on the fallen
Goblin.

Lannon hurled his throwing star at an approaching Jackal,
speeding it along with the power of the Eye. The star blade flashed in the
moonlight as it shot toward the Goblin. It ripped deep into the Jackal's chest,
and the Jackal paused in its charge, looking confused. It howled in pain and
rage, staggered, and then fell over.

Lannon summoned the throwing star back to his hand, but by
the time he plucked it from the air with his fingers another Jackal had slammed
into him. Lannon was knocked from his horse to the ground, and the throwing
star flew from his hand and vanished beneath the snow.

Lannon looked up into the Jackal's snarling face, and then
he shoved the powerful beast off of him and rose. He drew his sword. The Jackal
bounded toward him, but Lannon seized the beast with the Eye and then beheaded
it with a well-placed stroke.

Before the Blue Knights could finish off the Jackals, the
four Ogres had reached them. One of the Blue Knights went down instantly--smashed
from his horse by a massive club. He dropped to the snow like a stone, his
bones crushed. The Ogre struck the fallen Knight again, ensuring that the
unfortunate warrior's life was ended.

With a cry of rage, Shennen hurled his burning Flayer at
the Ogre who'd slain the Knight, and it lodged in the giant's skull. The Ogre's
humanoid face bore an expression of shock as it clawed at the long dagger. It
turned and stumbled away, dropping its club. It paused for a moment, as if
contemplating something, and then collapsed.

With the remaining Blue Knights occupied, Lannon found
himself facing an Ogre and two Jackals alone. The Jackals charged him first,
and he sidestepped them and cut one down. His Greywind horse drove into the
other one, knocking it over and seeking to stomp it. Lannon ducked as the
Ogre's club ripped through the air toward his head. He felt the whoosh of air
as the club passed over him.

Lannon slashed the giant's leg, and the beast dropped to
one knee. Its black eyes were full of rage and hatred, and it pointed at Lannon
and bellowed something that sounded like "Kill you!" Lannon drove in
and pierced its chest with his blade, but the Ogre wrenched the weapon away
from Lannon flung it aside.

The Ogre stood up, raising the club, and Lannon seized the
giant with his power as he leapt for his blade. Lannon twisted aside on
instinct, as a wounded Ogre charged past swinging its club and bellowing.
Lannon whirled around to find the Ogre he'd injured closing in on him. The
giant's club slammed down toward Lannon and he didn't have time to move. He
froze the club with his sorcery--only a few inches from his forehead. He gazed
at the gnarled tree trunk in shock, realizing how close he'd just come to being
killed.

In desperation, Lannon drove the Eye into his blade and
slashed out at the Ogre. Enhanced by his power, his sword was too swift for the
giant to avoid. Lannon cut the beast down with two perfect strokes. The Ogre
groaned, tried to rise again, and then lay still.

Meanwhile, blazing weapons tore through the air, as the
Blue Knights slaughtered the remaining Goblins. They struck with fury over the
death of their comrade, and soon the last of the Ogres went down, black smoke
rising from its wounds.

One of the Greywinds had fallen as well--slain by a blow
from a club. Shennen surveyed the scene with disgust, as he removed the dead
Knight's mask. The face of Ulnsan Silverclaw was revealed. Cries of dismay
arose from the Blue Knights.

Shennen shook his head in disbelief. "How could Ulnsan
have been caught off guard like that? After all these years of fighting
Goblins..."

Lannon groaned. In combat, it seemed that anything could
happen. He hadn't known Ulnsan very well--considering Lannon was usually under
guard and separated from most of the Knights of Dremlock--but he knew Ulnsan
had a reputation for being cunning in battle. So what had happened to make him
lose focus? The chaos of battle was such that one slip in concentration could
mean one's death, no matter how experienced or clever a warrior was.

"What shall we do with his body?" asked another
Knight.

Shennen hesitated. "This death is unexpected, and our
mission is too vital to be delayed. We will have to leave his body here."

"For Goblins or animals to carry off and devour?"
said a Knight, his voice full of disgust. "Ulnsan deserves far
better."

"We will bury the body beneath logs and snow,"
said Shennen, sighing. "It is all we can do right now, unfortunately. We
must continue on."

Lannon hated it when a Knight fell in battle. It always
weighed heavily on his heart, even if he didn't personally know the warrior who
was slain. He scanned the snow with the Eye and retrieved his throwing star. He
realized the weapon wasn't his best choice for close combat, as it took too
much time to throw it and retrieve it.

"You fought well, Lannon," said Shennen.
"Ogres always make for brutal combat, but you kept your fear in check and
showed great poise."

Lannon bowed. "Thank you, Master Shennen."

"Yet that was only a small test," said Shennen.
"Far greater dangers await us in Old Hammer Hall. More of us will die. But
if even one of us escapes with the Black Flamestone, our mission will have been
a success."

Lannon nodded, but he didn't like the sound of that at all.

***

Back at Dorok's Hand, the Squires were restless--unable to
sleep even though the fortress was to be completely abandoned at the crack of
dawn. Aldreya found herself missing Lannon's presence. Aside from Lothrin, he
seemed the most mature and humble of the group and the easiest for her to
relate to, whereas Vannas and Jerret seemed arrogant. She was anxious over the
coming battle with Bellis--and anxious over her pending decision concerning
becoming Taris' apprentice. She hadn't yet informed the other Squires of what
Taris had told her.

Aldreya sat on her bed and closed her eyes, imagining she
was in her tree city of Borenthia--high above the ground amidst the leaves and
branches. She pictured herself in a warm bath in the gardens of her family
dwelling, surrounded by flowered vines and twisted limbs. She could almost hear
the birds chirp and feel the soft, heated rainwater against her skin. The
longing for home was almost painful. Was this the life she wanted? Hiding out
in cold caves and preparing for endless, bloody battles?

"What are you pondering?" Lothrin asked. He was
seated on a bed across from her. The lean Birlote with the leaf-shaped
birthmark on his cheek also seemed anxious.

Aldreya shrugged. "Nothing important." She was
going to leave it at that, but she suddenly was compelled to reveal her
thoughts. "Taris is considering making me his apprentice, provided I'm
totally loyal to Dremlock."

"Will you accept?" asked Lothrin.

"I don't know," said Aldreya. "A year ago I
would not have hesitated, but things have changed. I miss Borenthia
terribly."

Lothrin nodded. "As do I. However, I became a Squire
to serve Dremlock and eventually become a Knight, and I won't be changing my
mind."

"Nor will I," said Prince Vannas, who was seated
on another bed with a book in hand. "I'll be at Dremlock until the bitter
end. My older brothers were so overbearing that I'm glad to be away from them.
Let them worry about the affairs of our kingdom. I'll be busy fighting Bellis
and gaining fame and fortune. You should consider yourself very fortunate,
Aldreya, to be chosen by Taris to receive his knowledge."

"I do," said Aldreya. "It's just that...life
was so good in our homeland, so different. I just need more time to think it
over."

Jerret yanked off his boots and sat down on a crate.
"What do you think will happen to your homeland if Bellis defeats
Dremlock?"

Aldreya gazed at him, startled by the realization.

"That's right," said Jerret, seeing the look in
her eyes. "Borenthia will be the next target. Do you think the Birlotes
can stop an invasion?"

"I don't know," said Aldreya, horrified at the
thought. She imagined the sprawling forestlands crawling with armored Knights
and siege engines, the great tree city scarred and burning, and she shuddered.
"I guess I don't want to think about it."

"You're not just defending Dremlock," said
Jerret. "You're also defending Borenthia by serving the Divine Essence.
You had a great life back home, but who is going to protect your precious city
if not you? Someone has to do it."

"Jerret speaks true," said Lothrin. "We are
defending all of Gallamerth against the Deep Shadow--including Borenthia. If
you return home, Aldreya, then you must bear in mind that others are fighting
and dying so you can enjoy the comforts of home. I know that sounds harsh, but
that's the reality of it. Are you prepared to accept that reality?"

"No," said Aldreya, and she meant it. She didn't
want others suffering and dying so she could eat the delicious fruits of the
forest and bathe in the blessed waters. She had the skills to make a difference
in the world--to help win the war against Tharnin.

"War is not for everyone," said Lothrin.
"You could do great things in our homeland as a member of the Elder
Family. It is always possible to find a way to be productive. I was just
pointing out the truth of things."

Lothrin was right. War was not for everyone, and no one
would think ill of Aldreya for returning to Borenthia--especially if she
dedicated her life to helping her people. But she couldn't turn her back on the
threat of Bellis and the Blood Legion. Too much was at stake, and her skills
were too valuable not to be put to use.

"I'm feeling inclined to become Taris'
apprentice," Aldreya said. "I believe I can make a firm commitment to
Dremlock."

"I'm not surprised," said Lothrin. "I think
it was inevitable."

"A wise choice," said Vannas. "You won't
regret it."

"You'll be the greatest sorcerer at Dremlock,"
said Galvia, smiling. Galvia seemed fully healed from her injuries and restless
for combat. Her mood was very upbeat. She'd been sparring with Jerret only
moments before with wooden weapons.

Aldreya felt herself blush. "Taris will always be the
greatest. If I can even be half the sorcerer he is, that will be enough."
Taris seemed to hold her talent in high regard, but Aldreya doubted she
possessed his vast potential (yet she was eager to find out).

"Maybe he can teach you a few new tricks," said
Jerret, "before we encounter Bellis. We'll need every trick we can summon,
to win that battle."

Jace had entered the room quietly and was listening to the
conversation. "New tricks, huh? First, my dear, you'll have to pass the
Trial of Shades, if my memory of Birlote sorcery is correct. And that test is
rather difficult and unpleasant."

Jace sat down next to Aldreya and seized her head with his
huge palm, giving it a playful shake. "The Trial of Shades will rattle
your brain!"

Aldreya laughed. Jace always made her feel special and
warmed her heart with his odd antics. She loved it when he chose to visit.
"What do you mean, Uncle Jace?"