Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Two (25 page)

Neala nudged Alexia with her elbow and said under her breath with pride, “Told you he could do it.” Alexia only nodded, still speechless at what she had just witnessed.

Chapter Twenty Six

Zedd and Cole emerged from the forest well after dark and crossed the river using the ferry service opposite the eastern gate of Stelgad. The ferry-man refused to cross the river to pick them up at first, but Zedd had contacted the closest Empire agent on the other side of the river using his ring, to help change his mind.

While they waited for the ferry to come and pick them up, Zedd listened in on the many communications that were being conducted around, and within the city by his fellow agents. He found it very strange that there was no mention of the boy, or the paladin he was travelling with. He knew they were at least a couple of hours in front of them, and would have probably made it to the city just before dark.

He made some discreet enquiries as to how many of his brethren had made it to the city already, and was surprised at the answer. Every gate into the city was
currently guarded by at least four of his fellow agents.
Patrols freely roamed the streets within the city, and every road in or out of the city was also well guarded. The information seemed to confirm his suspicions; either the boy and paladin were not yet inside the city, or they hadn't enter via a gate.

“Shouldn't we let someone know that the boy came through the forest and should still be somewhere nearby?” Cole asked. Zedd gave him a withering look of contempt, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him close to his face.

“We're not telling anyone, anything, do you understand me? You may not have anything worth returning to the Empire for, but I do. And I refuse to spend a moment longer than I have to in this cold, wet, god-forsaken land,” Zedd spat at him, still half strangling him with his own collar.

“But... Lord Zelroth knows all, he can read our thoughts through our rings, everyone knows that!” Cole exclaimed. Zedd burst out laughing and released his collar, dumping him on the ground at his feet.

“You fool! If he knows everything, why are all our men searching for the boy inside the city, and on the roads, instead of just waiting at the edge of the forest to kill him when he came out. Don't get me wrong, I've no doubt that Lord Zelroth could read our mind if we were standing in
front of him, but through our rings... that's just a story told to keep us all in line.
Think about it, how better to ensure our complete loyalty than to spread the rumour that every thought can be heard by him?” Zedd said looking down at Cole still on the ground at his feet.

“How can you be certain of that? Everyone knows he can kill us any time he wants by using our own rings against us. We all pledged our lives to serve him knowing failure meant certain death,” Cole replied sheepishly.

“No, I can't be certain of it, but what I can be certain of is this; if you try to contact anyone to tell them, I will kill you,” Zedd said menacingly. Cole visibly paled at his two choices; betray Lord Zelroth and possibly risk death, or betray Zedd and find certain death. Zedd knew the dilemma Cole now faced, but he felt little or no remorse for his situation. He knew Cole was easily controlled, and that he may yet need his pitifully small supply of magic in his pursuit of the boy, especially now he travelled with a paladin of Aysha.

“We can still kill the boy and return home to the Empire heroes. All you need is a little faith,” said Zedd, begrudgingly offering Cole a hand to stand up. He took his hand and pulled himself up to face Zedd.

“How can you be sure that we will be the ones to kill the boy, when there are so many others looking to do the
same?” Cole asked.
“Because, they are all looking in the wrong place for him. Look at the city, tell me what you see”

“A big wall,” Cole replied.

“And what do you see beyond that wall?” Zedd asked.

“I can't see anything beyond the wall, apart from that tower poking out over the wall in the distance,” Cole replied confused.

“Exactly! That tower is a temple of Aysha. A training facility for their paladins if I'm not mistaken. Where better to enter the city than directly into the temple itself, especially if you happen to be travelling with a paladin. If they were already inside the temple our people could not possibly find them, nor would they risk a frontal assault on a temple full of paladins even if they knew they were inside,” Zedd said quietly as the ferry-man finally reached their bank.

The ferry-man looked half scared to death as he encouraged them to quickly board his small craft. He never once made eye contact with either Zedd or Cole, but instead constantly scanned the trees beyond for any signs of movement. The moment both men were on board he push off from the river bank, putting as much distance between them and the forest side of the river as quickly as he could.
Once they had reached the centre of the river the ferry-man slowed the craft and visibly relaxed again.
“How comes two fine gents such as yourselves end up stuck on that side of the river after dark anyway?” asked the ferry-man, trying to make conversation.

“I'd say that's none of your business, unless you think otherwise,” Zedd growled at the man.

“Sorry sir, I meant no harm, please forgive me,” replied the ferry-man averting his eyes from Zedd's, and bowing his head in subservience. Zedd failed to reply, and the remainder of the crossing was done in complete silence. When they reached the Stelgad side of the river bank they disembarked the small craft without a word, or payment of any kind. There were no complaints from the ferry-man.

Zedd could see six men guarding the east gate, and two town guards. No doubt the guards had been magically charmed not to take any notice of his fellow agents, possibly even to be on the lookout for the boy themselves. None of that concerned Zedd, he knew the boy and the paladin would never likely pass that gate anyway.

If there was a secret entrance into the temple from outside the city walls he needed to find it, and fast. But circumnavigating the outside of the city walls, whilst checking for hidden entrances on foot would take him hours, time he didn't have. He noticed another two agents on
horseback further north on the road at a junction, and started walking towards them, Cole following closely behind.
When Zedd got close enough to see them more clearly he smiled to himself; he out ranked both of them. Both of the men on horseback watched him and Cole approach their position, and both snapped to attention when they noticed his small silver skull pendant hanging below his sigil of Aamon.

“I require both of your horses for urgent Empire business,” Zedd stated, leaving no room for debate. The two men were obviously not happy, but neither dared deny Zedd's request, and surrendered their mounts without complaint. Everyone's rank within the Empire was dictated by the amount of magical power they possessed, and any subordinate ranked agent who refused to follow the orders of his or her superior, often found themselves dead without trial.

Zedd and Cole mounted their new horses and returned to the east gate without so much as a `
thank you
` to the two men they left standing on the road behind them. When they reached the east gate, instead of entering the city Zedd continued riding south, following the city wall. They followed the wall until it turned to the west and then continued following it in that direction.

Ten minutes later came the first requests for help
from within the city.
The boy had been spotted, but he was now with two girls instead of the paladin. Cole wheeled his horse around ready to race back to the east gate, but even before he was fully turned he was ordered to stay where he was.

“We must return to the city sire, they've found the boy and are requesting the help of everyone,” Cole said desperately.

“I know, I'm not deaf. We aren't going back to the city.” Zedd stated.

“Why not?”

“The boy didn't enter the city through a gate, so it stands to reason he won't leave through one either. I think he found a way into the temple from outside the city walls. All we need to do is either find the secret entrance, or wait until he reveals himself outside the city walls and kill him. Follow me,” Zedd said, and continued following the southern city wall. Cole turned his horse back around and followed without complaint.

From the communications within the city Zedd knew that there were now at least six agents in pursuit of the boy, but they were so far unable to penetrate his shield. He didn't understand how an untrained mage was able to even generate a shield, let alone one capable of withstanding the attacks from six trained magi. He also heard one report that
the boy was shielding not only himself, but the two girls now with him.
He dismissed this report as highly improbable, as not even a fully trained mage would be able to extend their shields so far, and hold out against what was now at least eight agents attacking him.

Zedd became increasingly more concerned that the boy would be killed within the city by his pursuers, and his plans to return to the Empire and his family would be in ruins any moment. But only seconds later he once again had renewed optimism as reports of a dozen paladins joining the battle filtered out of the city. Several Empire agents had been killed by the paladins already, and now they stood between his countrymen and the boy, shielding him, and retreating towards the very temple Zedd had suspected of having a secret entrance leading out beyond the city walls.

What was reported next shocked Zedd deeply, and many of the agents within the city too, if their reactions were anything to go by. Two of the paladins had been badly injured and their defensive shield line was vulnerable to attack, but instead of being able to easily pick off the paladins through the opening, the boy had managed to shield them all from a distance far greater than should have been possible. Not only that, he managed to hold his shield against over a dozen agents' concentrated attacks. Surely the reports were inaccurate, maybe the paladins' blessed shields had absorbed much more of the force than they thought?

Shortly afterwards the reports came in that the paladins had made it safely back to their temple. Several of the agents pounded the temple doors and walls with their magic, but were soon ordered to cease fire.

“Why have they stopped attacking the temple?” Cole asked confused. Zedd rolled his eyes, staggered at the lack of knowledge of the imbecile standing beside him.

“Because the temple is blessed by Aysha, same as the paladins' weapons and shields. None of our magic will have any effect on it. The doors could only be opened with battering rams, and we have neither the rams nor the men for an all out assault on a temple full of paladins,” Zedd replied.

“So the Empire will just let the boy escape?” Cole asked shocked.

“No. I expect they will now begin a round the clock surveillance of the temple until the boy attempts to leave it again, but if I'm right, they will be wasting their time. Come on, let's find this secret entrance, then maybe we can both return back to the Empire heroes yet,” Zedd replied, resuming his course along the southern wall.

“So, any ideas where to start looking for it?”

“Well if I were digging a secret tunnel out of the city, I'd want it as short as possible, so I'm guessing it would
emerge somewhere outside the city's west wall, not too far from where the temple is located,” Zedd replied.

***

Chapter Twenty Seven

“Hershel, I must leave now, I'm sure Renn will be there waiting for me by now,” Lusam said.

“Who's Renn?” asked Neala confused. Lusam had completely forgotten that Neala knew nothing about Renn, or the promise he had made to him in exchange for his help rescuing Neala. He needed to explain everything to her, but he didn't want to do it in front of Hershel's men. The fewer who knew his plans the better.

“Hershel, is there somewhere quiet I can speak with Neala please?” he asked.

“Of course. If you go through that door and turn right you will find a small prayer room on the left,” Hershel replied, pointing at a door on the far wall.

“Thank you, we won't be long,” Lusam replied, heading towards the door Hershel had indicated. It wasn't until they were through the door that Lusam realised Alexia had also joined them.

“Oh, I'm sorry Alexia, but may I have a private word with Neala please?”

“Sure, no problem,” Alexia replied.

“It's okay Lusam, whatever you need to say, you can say in front of Alexia. She's like a sister to me, and I trust her completely,” Neala said.

“Okay, well I don't really know where to start, so I guess I'll start from the time you were abducted in Helveel,” Lusam said. He began to recount his story of how the man in the black robes had finally caught up to him and attacked him with magic, and how Renn had appeared around the corner just at the wrong moment only to be blasted by his magic. He told her who Renn was, and why he had been sent to find him, and ultimately take him to the High Temple in Lamuria to complete his training. He explained the promise he'd freely made to return with him to Lamuria in exchange for his help in rescuing Neala. How they had travelled through the forest battling Netherworld creatures, and coming face to face with Aysha herself.

When he finally finished recounting his story he waited a moment before continuing.