Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) (13 page)

"
Perhaps when this business is over I could arrange a tour of my land to make up for the present situation," Mortow offered.

"
And perhaps, when this is all over, I shall piss on your grave.  You have falsely assumed that my capture would cause Uncle Micah to withhold his Avari from this war.  Uncle Micah is a realist.  He knows one life is not worth the price to be paid."

Mortow took Joshua’s insult calmly.
  "Your captivity here will save countless lives."  Mortow chuckled at the incredulous look on Joshua’s face.  "Think on it a moment.  The Avari are excellent swordsmen.  By your Uncle keeping them out of the war, their lives will be spared and all the lives they would have taken on behalf of Kantwell will also be spared.  Without their aid, this war will be over in no time.  The men and elves and dwarves will see how hopelessly outnumbered they are; and if they are smart enough, they will surrender before they have lost too many of their numbers."

"
No matter how you try to rationalize the situation, you are still a tyrant killing for personal gain," Joshua told him calmly.

"
Tyrant I have been labeled and tyrant I may be, but my intentions are to bring the races together after this whole bloody affair is over.  For countless ages, the troll nation and the ogre tribes have been shedding rivers of blood in their race wars.  The elves and the Weres have been killing each other at every available opportunity. The same is true with the dwarves and the Weres.  The elves have closed their borders and refused contact with the other races.  All of this has been going on for a length of time that is inconceivable to our mortal minds.  In just three years’ time, this tyrant," Mortow jabbed a thumb at his own chest, "has brought the trolls, ogres and Weres together under one standard.  The elves have left their tree-lined homeland and joined with humans once more.  Though this war has divided Thelona along a very distinct line, it has brought so much together already.  It needs only a few final touches to bring them all together.  This world needs a strong leader.  One who is powerful enough to stop all the petty squabbles between the races and unite them; one who has vision enough to see what could be once all animosity is banished.  Fortunately, I have the power and that vision."

Joshua was so stunned by the blatant preposterousness of Mortow’s statement that he was momentary speechless.
  Mortow’s satisfied smile caused Joshua’s ears to burn and the blood of rage to color his face.  "Oh, spoken like a true crusader!  One who believes there is only one way to solve the issue at hand, and that way is his by divine right.  You are no different than countless others through the history of the world.  You believe you, and you alone, are right; and that belief gives you the right to commit any atrocity to achieve your goal.  The only thing you achieve is murder.  What is worse is that you turn others into murders as well.  If there were no others reasons before me, still I would not believe you, for you have done the one thing I can never forgive.  By your hand, you have made a murderer out of me as well.  Until you sent your men to kidnap me, I had never so much as struck another living person.  Now I have the blood of two lives on my hands.  I have murdered, and those two lives I place on your head," Joshua ranted angrily.

Mortow rose from his chair and sighed heavily.
  "I see that I have upset you.  I am sorry you cannot see things as I can.  The taking of life can sometimes blur the mind's vision with guilt.  I regret that you have been put in that situation.  I see that my continued presence further angers you.  I will leave you now.  I will have painting supplies sent up in the event that you wish the distraction.  I bid you good day, Joshua."

Mortow walked to the bedroom door and
, opening it, gestured for Rein to come back to the living room.  Rein walked in and stationed himself along the wall near the bedroom door.  Mortow turned to Joshua and bowed slightly.  He then spoke the words of transport and vanished from the room.

Joshua tried to let his anger go.  It would do him no good.
  He breathed deeply a few times, stretched his neck side to side, and then he let his eyes lite on Rein.  He had not known the man’s name before Mortow spoke it.  He was an odd looking fellow, what with his stark white hair and bright green eyes.  Rein was looking at Joshua impassively.  Joshua thought he detected a spark of intelligence in those eyes that he did not recall seeing in any of the ones he had encountered before.

"
I take it you are a Were.  If we are to be roommates for a time, I guess we ought to get to know one another.  Since you obviously know about me, why not tell me something of yourself?"

Rein
continued to stare at Joshua.

"
Surely you can talk.  I saw you move, so I know you are no statue."

Rein glanced at the door then returned his eyes to Joshua.
  "What is it you would know, human?"  Rein inquired in a surprisingly melodic voice.

"
See there, I knew you could speak.  Hmm, where to begin…I know, what other form can you take?"

Rein stepped from the wall and leaned forward.  His body stretched and his legs grew shorter and more heavily muscled.  His face widened and his nose and mouth bulged forward.  The shock of white hair on his head spread rapidly over his body as he
touched, what a moment ago were hands, now massive clawed paws, to the floor.  Faint ghosting of stripes appeared along the length of his body, barely discernible from the rest of his fur.  Moving a couple of graceful steps closer to Joshua, Rein sat back on his haunches, a long tail swished lazily behind him.  Joshua beheld a solid white tiger, bigger than any Bengal he had ever seen in the zoo.  The front paws of the animal would have covered a dinner plate and his head would not have fit into the open end of a barrel.  The bright green eyes had acquired slitted pupils.  Sitting as he was on his haunches, his eyes were on a level with Joshua’s even as he sat at the table.

"
I dare say you are a much more handsome beast than any of those that came after me.  Can you still talk in this form?"

Rein gave a deep purring growl and shook his great head
from side to side like a dog shaking water from its ears.

"
I’ll take that as a no.  Does it hurt when you change forms?"

Instead of answering, Rein began the shift back to human form.  It seemed only
to take about thirty seconds for the transformation.  When he was once again a white haired man, he stood and cinched the drooping loin cloth snuggly about his waist.  "The change does not hurt as long as I take my time.  If I have to change rapidly, there is a certain amount of discomfort involved," Rein replied rather stiffly.

"
Can you assume any other form?"

Rein raised an eyebrow in irritation.

"Forgive me if I overstep the bounds of propriety, but you are the first of your kind that has spoken to me.  If I tread into restricted areas, just let me know," Joshua said sincerely.

"
My
kind,
have only two forms, our human form and the animal form of our family."

"
So your family are white tigers, all the way back to the beginning of your line?"

"
No.  They are tigers, but I am the only white one that has been born in over five generations.  I am the pride of my Pride, if you will forgive the pun."

Joshua chuckled lightly.
  "Ah, a sense of humor even.  We are not as different as I had first thought.  Do you enjoy art?"

"
It depends on the art."

"
I am a painter, and not a bad one at that.  Perhaps you would model for me, there being little else around worthy of canvas."  Joshua looked down at himself and sighed.  "I don’t suppose there is a shower near at hand and some fresh clothes?"

Rein
looked at Joshua quizzically.  "I am not familiar with that word.  There are plenty of clothes in the wardrobe in the bedroom."

"
Ah yes, well, a shower is kind of like a standing bath.  Water falls upon you from above so that dirt is washed away."

"
There is a wash basin and soap in the other room as well."

"
Seeing as how I can smell myself, I can’t possibly see how you can stand to be in the same room with me if your sense of smell is as acute as your alternate form would suggest," Joshua exclaimed after sniffing at himself.

Rein actually smiled.
  "I would not be opposed to your bathing.  I could then stop taking such shallow breaths."

Joshua s
truck the table with his fist.  "I knew there had to be a reason for your standoffishness.  What man could be civil in the presence of such a malodorous stench?"  Rising from his seat, Joshua headed toward the bedroom.  Turning at the door, Joshua bowed to Rein.  "I shall return, less offensive, to continue our conversation."  He then entered the bedroom and closed the door. 

Chapter Thirteen

"Merric, we need to talk.  I looked for you at Kantwell, but Martin said you had come down here with Micah.  Where is he, by the way?"  Michael asked looking around.

Looking Michael up and down, Merric asked
a question of his own in reply.

"
Michael, why are you dressed like that?  Where is your robe and sash?"

"
These are mine…now.  I can’t explain it to you, I don’t understand myself."

"
Where did you get such an outfit?"  Snapping out of his surprise at actually seeing Michael, Merric grabbed him by the shoulders.  "Michael, are you alright?  We know you were taken to Gratton.  You’re not hurt are you?"

Michael turned his head away and looked up at the brightening sky.
  "Not on the outside.  Listen, Merric, I have something to tell you, and it's not going to be easy to hear," Michael replied, bringing his eyes back to Merric’s.

"
I think I know what you want to tell me, Michael and I already know," Merric said softly, dropping his hands from Michael’s shoulders.  "Mieka is with Mortow.  I think she has been from the beginning.  I just refused to see it."

"
Merric, I am sorry.  As betrayed as I feel right now, I cannot even imagine how you must feel.  She is his.  She took me to Mortow.  I should have known a woman like that could never have been interested in me.  I thought maybe I had gotten lucky twice in one life time.  Now I realize she was only interested in what Mortow could gain from me.  I have been so appallingly blind that it embarrasses me."

Merric studied Michael’s face for a bit, noticing t
he pain evident in every line.  "Michael, you should never be embarrassed by someone else’s duplicity; angry and hurt, yes, but never embarrassed.  We cannot know what truly lies in another’s heart and mind.  All we can do is hope that what we see is real.  She fooled me too, Michael, and for much longer than you.  That is twice now that someone close to me has been other than what they appeared.  Fooled once and learn, fooled twice and become a fool.  I of all people should have known better."

Michael gazed at Merric
.  Seeing his slumped shoulders and hanging head, Michael reached out and clasped Merric’s arm.  "I know he is your son, Merric.  He told me as much.  But, as you say, if someone should not feel embarrassment for another’s duplicity, then also one should not feel responsible for another’s crimes."

"
How so, Michael?  I brought him into this world.  I trained him.  I am responsible for him as I am now responsible for you.  If you had been hurt or killed in Gratton, it would have been my fault for not seeing Mieka for what she truly was, a spy."

"
I am an adult, Merric, as are Mortow and Mieka.  I am responsible for my own actions, as are they.  I do not need your conscious nagging me as well.  You have no more control over them than you do me.  We make our own decisions, Merric.  You did not tell Mortow to conquer the world.  You did not tell Mieka to choose his side, and you did not tell me to go with Mieka to Gratton.  Your responsibility ends where our decisions begin.  All you can do is guide and hope that we are smart enough to make the correct decisions.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case."

"
Maybe you should be Headmaster, Michael.  You are far wiser than I," Merric said with a ghost of a smile.

Michael made a snorting sound.
  "That is not wisdom, it is merely common sense.  I am no leader, Merric, and I make bad choices," Michael looked up behind Merric and saw Branik and Reek stalking toward them.  "And here come the consequences of those choices."

Merric turned to see the two Avari approaching.

Michael walked around him and stood in their path.  He hitched up his robe slightly and went to one knee before them, bowing his head and remained that way.

Merric saw that Reek’s face was expressionless when he stopped before Michael
. Branik’s face, however, was a storm of anger.

"
Does your word mean nothing to you, Michael?"  Branik asked, his voice held firmly in check.

"
It means everything," Michael replied not raising his head.

"
Then why did you break it?"  Branik retorted hotly.

"
Have you never made a mistake, Branik; a mistake that left you feeling empty inside?  You are Avari. I am not.  I am simply Michael, a human, and I make mistakes.  I apologize for leaving you two behind.  I cannot, in truth, say it will never happen again.  All I can say is that I’m sorry, and I will try my best to make those times as few as possible," Michael said sincerely.

"
That is not good enough, Michael!  I require your oath that you will go nowhere without us," Branik said flatly.

Michael raised his head
and looked Branik in the eyes.  "That, I cannot give.  There may be places I have to go that you will not be able to accompany me.  All I can do is tell you before I have to leave."

Branik lurched forward and grabbed Michael by the collar of his robe.  He lifted him off the ground and brought Mi
chael’s face close to his own.  "You are to go absolutely nowhere without us.  Is that understood?"  Branik said in a barely restrained rage.

Michael sighed and placed his
right hand on Branik’s chest.  "That will not be possible, Branik.  You will have to trust me on this.  Now please, put me down.  This robe is very old and I do not want it damaged."

Branik’s face twisted with
anger and he brought Michael in closer. 

Michael said quietly,
"
Pulsus,
" and Branik went sliding back several feet, releasing Michael as he struggled for balance.  Michael landed on his feet and straightened his robe, never taking his eyes from Branik.

Reek looked at Michael in astonishment, as Branik recovered and launched himself at Michael.

Michael held his hand up palm facing out and said, "
Retineo
."

Branik froze in mid-stride and could not
, move no matter how hard he tried.

Michael continued to regard Branik for severa
l seconds then turned to Reek.  "I have told you how things must be going forward.  I suggest you speak with Branik and convince him against his present course of action.  I will not harm him, but if he does not calm down, I will return him to the Avari Isle and leave him there.  I do not wish for things to be this way.  I value your instructions and the company of you both.  I will understand if neither of you wish to continue our lessons in light of what has happened.  I will speak to Micah about replacing both of you, if that is what you both decide."

"
We do not wish to be replaced, Michael.  I will speak with him.  Will you not release him?"  Reek said calmly.

"
As he is still struggling against me, no, I will not.  Merric and I are going to return to Kantwell.  I will release him after we have left."  Michael lowered his voice so only Reek could hear him.  "I do not want you two replaced.  Please talk to him.  Convince him that I do not do this out of spite nor disrespect, but out of necessity."

"
I will, Michael."

Still speaking o
nly for Reek, Michael continued.  "I will release him about five minutes after I leave.  You have until then to persuade him.  If he is not calm by the time he returns to Kantwell, I will return him to the isle and, though he may run all the way back here, I will simply take him back again and again, as many times as is needed."

"
I understand, Michael, but his anger is not what it appears.  There are matters involved of which you are unaware.  Just as there may be places to which we may not accompany you, there are things which we may not tell you.  His anger takes root in those very things.  The anger you see is born of fear.  Not fear for himself but fear for others.  It is important that we be near you to keep you safe."

Michael looked at Branik again, still s
truggling to move, and nodded.  "I can appreciate what you say, but I am not the same as when I left.  Things have changed, and I find that intimidation angers me."  Michael walked up to Branik and looked up into his eyes.  He could see that Reek spoke the truth.  Branik was afraid, and Michael was sure it was not because he could not escape his present situation.  "Branik, please stop struggling.  I have no wish to continue this confrontation with you."

Branik’s low rumbling growl made Michael sigh.

"I am going to return to Kantwell with Merric.  You are going to be stuck to this very spot until you settle down and cool off, even if that takes a week.  Just remember, if you wish to be near me to protect me then you must be free to move.  The longer you continue this, the longer we will be separated; and I can hold you this way indefinitely."  Michael leaned close and lowered his voice.  "Not even Micah can free you from this spell if I do not permit it.  I do not want to be at odds with you, Branik, but you are giving me little choice in the matter."

Branik continued to strain against the spell for a few seconds more, then looking into Michaels’ eyes he straightened and visibly relaxed.
  "You do not understand what is at stake, Michael.  You do not comprehend what your actions cost."

"
I have an idea and, though Reek told me that he could not provide me the details, I know you are afraid of something.  That alone gives me some idea of the gravity of your situation.  I will make you a deal, Branik.  I will release you and take you and Reek to Kantwell with Merric and myself.  I will do everything possible to make sure I take you with me everywhere I go unless it is forbidden to me.  And, for your part, I would like you to keep training me, both of you.  Truth be told, I feel safer when you two are by my side.  As I said before, I am human. I make mistakes.  I act before I think sometimes.  With your help, maybe I can change that.  What do you say?  Can we put this behind us?  Will you forgive me for causing you this anguish?"

Branik’s face cooled and he nodded once curtly.
  "I will hold you to this deal, Michael.  While we are in Kantwell, I will expect you in the rock garden in the mornings for training and meditation."

"
I will do my best."

Merric cleared his throat to get Michael’s attention.
  "Michael, there is still the problem of getting more men to the Slot.  Mathis and I took as many as we could, but they still need more. I do believe you promised Commander Salic you would bring him reinforcements."

"
Oh, I forgot about that.  Yes. I need to go to the King."  Michael waved his hand at Branik and the big man was able to move again.

"
Feel like taking a trip?"  Michael asked him.

Reek walked around M
ichael to stand beside Branik.  "We are ready."

"
Merric, I could use you, if you have time.  I don’t know the King, and you do.  It would expedite matters considerably if you were with me," Michael stated, turning to face Merric.

"
Of course.  After we are finished with this business, there are some questions I would like to ask you," Merric pointed out, eyeing Michael’s robe again.

"
I will tell you what I can.  Are we ready?"

At their nods, Michael spoke the words of transport
that would take them to Castle Brannin.

Collapsing into the chair in front of Merric’s desk, Michael sighed and slouched down.  He was tired but
, once seated, a lethargy came over him like a warm cascade of water. He yawned and blinked his eyes trying to clear them.  "I think I could sleep for a week."

"
With all you’ve been through these last two days, I could well imagine," Merric replied with a slight frown from behind his desk.

"
You had better ask your questions fast.  I’m not sure how much longer I can stay awake," Michael said, yawning so wide his jaw popped.

"
Ok, what’s with the robe and sash?  You are a wizard not a traveling noble."

"
They were given to me by someone who saved my life yesterday.  They are the outward symbol of what I am.  I am no longer a wizard, Merric, I am something else entirely.  I am a Myrkron."

"
What is a Myrkron, Michael?  I have never before heard of such a thing," Merric said, leaning forward and narrowing his eyes.

"
I am not surprised.  I am the first one in twenty thousand years.  A Myrkron is what one is called when their powers exceed that of a wizard.  I was told that only one is born every ten thousand years and that the one before me never came to be."

"
Who told you these things?"

"
His name was Mason.  He was the last Myrkron.  It was he who saved my life in Gratton and gave me this robe and sash.  The robe belonged to his predecessor, a man by the name of Miron.  The sash has been handed down from Myrkron to Myrkron throughout the ages."

"
Michael, if another exists like you, that is good news.  To have two with such power as you have would be of immense help to our cause.  The man must be like Micah if he is truly as old as you say.  I wonder why he never made himself known to us," Merric mused.