Knights: Defenders of Ollanhar (Ollanhar Series Book 1) (16 page)

“But
won’t they want me to train Taith?” asked Lannon, not liking that idea one
bit. He didn’t want to feel responsible for the lad.

“Not
likely,” said Aldreya. “It isn’t necessary. The Eye of Divinity is
different for everyone, and everyone must discover it on their own. Taith would
be better off at Dremlock, with Taris Warhawk to guide him as he once guided
you.”

Lannon
found himself apprehensive. “But what if Taith and the girl turn evil? The
odds are that they will. They could try to overthrow Dremlock, as the Dark
Watchman did in ancient times.”

“And
so could you,” said Aldreya. “What if the Deep Shadow gets in your
heart, Lannon? Are you so certain you can resist it?”

“No,”
Lannon admitted. “But I’m only one man. If Taith and the girl were
trained, that would make three of us. There would be greater danger. Surely one
or two of us would end up falling to evil. After all, every single Dark
Watchman who ever lived turned corrupt somehow. That makes for horrible
odds.”

“Yet
the greatest danger we face today,” said Aldreya, “is King Verlamer
and Bellis. Dremlock is one of the last free kingdoms. We can’t afford to worry
about other threats. If Verlamer defeats us, he could open the way for the Deep
Shadow. Our land might be doomed to a horrifying and endless existence in ice
and shadow. That must be prevented at all costs—first and foremost by the
might of the Flamestones, and secondly, by having warriors like the Dark
Watchmen on our side.”

“You’re
right, of course,” said Lannon. Yet he remained apprehensive. “I
guess Taith should be trained at Dremlock, then. And when he is ready, he can
join us at Ollanhar. But…I don’t want to be responsible for him.”

“You
won’t be,” Aldreya promised. “Taith will be on his own, like all Dark
Watchmen are. You are the High Watchman until you retire, Lannon. No one can
take that title from you, and you have your duties to attend to.”

Lannon
nodded, feeling slightly better about the whole thing.

But
only slightly.

***

Taith
was going to be a Squire of Dremlock, but the news did nothing to improve his
attitude. As the Knights broke camp the next morning, Taith refused to ride on
Lannon’s horse. It was still foggy and raining in the grey light of dawn, and
Taith sat on a stump looking cold, tired, and sullen. He waved the Knights
away.

“Taith,
it’s time to move on,” said Lannon.

Everyone
but the lad was on horseback and eager to depart. The Knights exchanged
impatient glances.
Not this again
, some of them muttered. The rain and
cold had everyone in a sullen mood.

“That’s
an order, Taith,” Lannon added.

“What
if I don’t obey?” said Taith. “Will you use your sorcery on me again?
I know you want to hurt me with your magic.”

“That’s
nonsense,” said Lannon. “I won’t hurt you. But you’re not going to
hold up this mission. You’re coming with us, one way or another.”

“Of
course Lannon won’t harm you, Taith,” said Dallsa. “Lannon would
never do that. He is too kind and noble to do such a thing.”

“Lannon
will keep his sorcery in check,” said Aldreya. “Nevertheless, you
will ride with us. We cannot leave you behind.”

“I
don’t feel like riding,” said Taith. “I just want to sit here. So
please stop bothering me. I don’t care about your stupid mission. I’m cold and
tired, and that’s all I care about right now. Understand?”

“We
shall see,” said Aldreya, her eyes narrowing.

“No
one tells me what to do,” said Taith. “And unless Lannon is planning
to bully me with his weird magic, I’m going to be making the rules from now on.
I know that I have some special powers like Lannon does and you people need me.
So you’re going to wait until I feel like riding.”

“You
can’t hold that over us,” said Lannon, struggling to remain patient.
“We do need you, Taith. But we also need to complete our mission.”

Dallsa
motioned to the lad. “Come, Taith,” she said softly. “You can
ride with me, and I will see that you receive wonderful care.”

“You
eat too much,” said Taith, with a sneer. “You’re kind of fat. Your
horse might give out with the two of us on it.”

Dallsa’s
mouth dropped open. “That’s not very nice, young man. I’m trying to help
you, Taith. Where are your manners?”

Taith
shrugged. “Just being truthful.”

For
a moment, there was silence as the Knights contemplated what to do. Then some
low, muttered words came from Daledus’ throat. The Dwarf had sat scowling in
silence long enough, and he could no longer contain himself.

“Get
on a horse!” Daledus growled. “Or I’ll jump down there and take my
hand to your rear until you can’t sit down!”

Aldreya
glanced at Daledus and shook her head—a warning for the Dwarf to stay out of
it. “I can handle this,” she said.

Daledus
ignored her. He raised his hand in a menacing gesture. “Don’t think I
won’t administer a fierce spanking, lad.”

Taith
glowered up at him. “Go ahead and do it then, bully.”

Daledus’
face turned crimson. He leapt off his horse and seized the boy, lifting him off
the stump. “When I give an order, you do it. Understand?”

His
face pale, the boy nodded.

Daledus
carried him to his horse. “Now we’re going to ride out, and you’re not
going to slow us—or I’ll spank your rear good and hard.”

Aldreya
looked displeased, but said nothing.

Lannon
was reasonably sure Daledus wouldn’t harm the boy and was just trying to scare
him into riding with them, but the Grey Dwarf’s gruff manner and unpredictable
behavior made for a tense moment.

“Daledus
is too harsh with him,” said Dallsa. “The boy can be troublesome,
yes, but he has just lost his father and needs comfort.”

Daledus
sat proudly in the saddle, his fierce eyes daring anyone to challenge his
authority to order the lad around. The boy sat with him, holding the reins and
looking baffled.

“I’ll
make a man out of you yet,” Daledus growled in Taith’s ear. “You want
to ride with Knights, then you’ll learn to act like one.”

“I
never said I wanted to ride with you people,” Taith replied.

“What
did you say?” Daledus snarled.

Taith
swallowed. “Nothing. I didn’t say a thing.”

Daledus
laughed. “I thought as much. Now guide that horse right and proper before you
spoil my good mood. Maybe later I’ll let you swing my axe.”

“I
can’t swing that thing,” Taith replied. “It’s too big.”

“Have
faith in yourself,” Daledus roared—loud enough that Taith covered his
ear. “I don’t want to hear you talk like a weakling ever again.”

“Okay,
I will,” Taith said quickly. “I mean, I won’t. Whatever—just don’t
shout in my ear. Sheesh!” Taith’s hands trembled as he held the reins.

“Daledus
is treating that boy rather poorly,” said Dallsa.

Aldreya
didn’t reply. She seemed content to let Daledus continue to display a Dwarf’s
style of parenting to Taith.

“What
if Daledus beats him?” asked Dallsa.

“Our
Sacred Laws forbid such punishments,” said Aldreya. “Besides, Taith
endured enough of that at the hands of his father. And it isn’t necessary. In
time, the lad will come to learn our ways and his behavior will improve.”

Dallsa
gazed at Lannon. “Watch over him, Lannon.”

Lannon
nodded. He knew little about raising children, but he vowed to do his best
until Taith was delivered safely to Dremlock. In many ways, his own childhood
had been miserable in dealing with his father—who bore a dark illness of the
mind and soul that sprang from the Deep Shadow. Lannon hadn’t received
beatings, but he retained scars from his childhood nonetheless from watching
his mother and father fight endlessly over every petty thing imaginable. Lannon
was simply relieved that someone else was looking after Taith and he could
relax a bit, though he intended to keep an eye on Daledus and make sure the
Dwarf didn’t deal with the lad too harshly. After all, Taith wasn’t a Grey
Dwarf and wasn’t used to their ways.

“Can
I ride with Aldreya?” Taith asked.

“Ask
that again!” snarled Daledus, leaning close to the boy so that his bushy
beard was practically smothering him.

“Can
I…” Taith cleared his throat. “I’m fine right here, actually.”

“I’ll
make a Dwarf out of you yet,” said Daledus.

“I
can’t be a Dwarf,” said Taith, disgust in his voice “because…”

Daledus
leaned close to him again.
“Because
why
?”

“Come
to think of it,” said Taith, “that would be a great honor. Dwarves
are wonderful.”

Daledus
leaned back, a smug look on his face.

***

The
towns and farms were soon left behind, as they entered a wild and dangerous
region. The weather cleared, the sun breaking through the clouds and casting a
golden glow across the land, and at last they could see the peaks of the
Soddurn Mountains in the distance, marking the edge of Silverland. Once beyond
those peaks, they would be in strange lands governed by strange laws, and
Dremlock’s authority would be severely diminished. It was a sobering
realization.

When
they stopped for lunch and were all seated in the grass, Jace paused in his
eating, rose, and spoke a warning to everyone. “I have visited the Soddurn
Mountains before,” he said, “and amongst those crumbling peaks I
encountered hideous creatures more dangerous than Goblins. The mountains were
thoroughly corrupted by the Deep Shadow in ancient times, for within them lies
a fortress that was once occupied by the Barloak Demons who made war on all
life. However, this route will save us many days of travel.”

“I
can smell the stench of evil from here,” said Aldreya, her gaze fixed on
the mountains. “This will not be easy.”

“Let
me take the lead,” said Prince Vannas. “I will burn the shadows away,
leaving only barren rock along our path.” He rose and glanced about at the
small army of Knights. “I see a bit of doubt in your eyes, but pay it no
heed. The Divine Essence has blessed us with the ability to survive anything.
Even Bellis considers us a dire threat. What is there to be afraid of?”

“I
beg to differ,” said Jace. “We have much to fear, my good prince. A
Flamestone is only as good as the hand that holds it.”

“What
does that mean?” asked Vannas, looking offended.

“It
means you are flesh and blood,” said Jace. “You can be tricked, or
slain. We must guard you well, for your Flamestone could draw the evil out of
the dark places. They will come for you, oh prince. Mark my words. The fortress
is still active after all these centuries.”

“And
I will be ready,” Vannas said, his face stony. “No one will ever pry
this gem from my hands again. I am now alert to such trickery. My failure
against Bellis has done nothing but strengthen my resolve, and no one will
capture me again—for they will burn in white fire if they try. I am proud to
announce that my skills have reached a higher level. I won’t go into detail,
but take my word for it.”

Some
of the Knights applauded.

But
Lothrin rose and grabbed the prince’s arm. “You better sit down and eat,
my cousin. You’re getting yourself riled up.”

Vannas
pulled away from him, glaring. “I don’t need the advice of an opinionated
Ranger. You’re not as wise as you think, Lothrin.”

“Never
said I was wise,” Lothrin mumbled. “But once again you’re letting
your power cloud your judgment. That is the path of doom.”

“
The
path of doom
,” said Vannas, shaking his head. “How very dramatic.
That’s all I ever hear from you, and it grows tiresome. Who are you to question
me? Are you a Tower Master of Dremlock? Are you even the Green Knight of
Ollanhar or the High Watchman? No, you’re none of those things. You’re just a
lowly Ranger who thinks he is superior to those around him.”

Their
eyes smoldering with anger, the two cousins confronted each other so that their
faces were only inches apart.

“Calm
yourselves,” said Lannon, pulling them apart. “This won’t accomplish
anything. We need to stay focused on our mission.”

Daledus
grinned. “This needs to be settled with fists.”

Jerret
laughed. “Same old thing with these two.”

“Not
again,” said Vorden, rolling his eyes in disgust.

“Enough
of this nonsense,” said Aldreya. “Why can’t you two seem to get
along? You aren’t Squires anymore but respected Knights of the Council of
Ollanhar. You will both sit down and enjoy your lunch.”

Lothrin
bowed and sat down. Prince Vannas hesitated, then took a seat in the grass. Yet
they continued to glare at each other.

“Now
that that’s finished,” said Jace, looking amused, “where was I?”
He seemed deep in contemplation for a moment; then he shrugged. “I was
going to say something brilliant, but I forgot what it was. Ah well. My lunch
is getting cold anyway.”