Quest's End: The Broken Key #3 (61 page)

“I know,” replied Chad. “Seems like we’ve been after this for a long time.”

Nodding, Riyan said, “Things certainly have changed since then. We are hardly the same as we were back when we told each other stories of wild adventures to pass the time.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Chad said. “But now when we tell a story, we’ll have lived it.”

“Then maybe you two should stop talking and get going,” Bart said as he came up behind them. “This isn’t over yet.” He and the others were finished with securing their horses and ready to depart.

“Alright,” said Riyan. “Let’s go open the Horde.” He took two steps when all of a sudden, his muscles froze. Heart and lungs continued to function, and his eyes could move, but the rest of him was stiff like a statue. Losing his balance, he fell face first to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chad tip to the side and fall. Other thuds were heard as Bart and the rest toppled over.

Unable to say anything, he desperately tried to make sense of what was going on. Then not far away, he detected movement as over two score men appeared heading in their direction. He was surprised to see not only Tribesmen bearing the distinctive color pattern of the Orack Tribe, but soldiers of Byrdlon as well. His heart sank when he saw who was leading them. It was the River Man. On his right walked the magic user, whose spell it must have been that had immobilized them. On his other side strode a red haired Byrdlon captain with a scar across the bridge of his nose. For some reason, the captain seemed strangely familiar.

“Bring them and their horses,” Lord Kueryn said to his men.

He moved forward and Riyan at first thought he meant to come to him. But instead, he walked past where he lay and out of Riyan’s view. “Is this the one?” the River Man asked.

“Yes my lord,” the magic user answered.

Thud!

The sound of someone being struck was heard.

“That’s for stealing from me,” Lord Kueryn said. A rustling was heard for a moment before Lord Kueryn said, “It’s not in his pack. Search the others.”

When Riyan felt his pack being opened, panic seized him for inside lay the circular key. “My lord!” the man searching his pack exclaimed. He felt the key being removed and then heard exclamations of awe from the men around him.

“So,” said the voice of Lord Kueryn, “what do we have here?” A moment’s pause then, “Bring them.”

The River Man moved once again into his line of sight, and Riyan saw that in his hand was the circular key. Then hands gripped him as three men lifted him off the ground and carried him after their lord.

Riyan’s mind was busy trying to figure a way out of this while he was being carried. By the time they reached where the River Man’s pack mules had been left, he hadn’t come up with any.

“We’ll camp here,” announced the River Man. Then to his magic user, he said, “Revive the thief.” Then turning to Riyan, he added, “And that one.”

“Yes my lord,” replied Geffen. Speaking arcane words, he came and touched Riyan on the forehead. The paralysis which had been gripping him vanished. More arcane words followed and Bart was freed from the spell as well.

“Get them to their feet,” ordered Lord Kueryn.

Rough hands took hold of Riyan and yanked him to his feet. Then he and Bart were searched and their weapons taken. Brought to stand before the River Man, they both remained silent. All Riyan could do was to stare at the key held in the River Man’s hand.

Once Bart stood next to him, the River Man held forth the golden circular key. “Tell me what this is,” he demanded. “I recognize one part of it as being that which was stolen from me.”

Riyan held silent as did Bart.

Whack!

A blow to their backs sent them reeling to the ground. Pain coursed through Riyan’s body as hands drew him back to his feet.

“I’m not a very patient man,” Lord Kueryn stated. “So I will ask you again. What is this?”

Again they remained silent.

“Perhaps if one of your comrades was to die, that might loosen your tongue,” he threatened. When again no answer was forthcoming, he nodded to one of his men.

Riyan saw the man draw his sword and cross over next to Chyfe. He raised his sword to strike, then looked back to his lord for the order to strike.

“Well?” Lord Kueryn asked the pair before him.

Knowing full well he’d carry through on his threat, Riyan gave in and said, “It’s a key.”

“A key?” asked the River Man. “To the Horde perhaps?” Motioning to the man poised to end Chyfe’s life, he signaled for him to back off and resheathe his sword.

“We aren’t exactly sure,” Bart told him.

“What exactly are you sure about?” questioned Lord Kueryn.

“That near here is an underground crypt,” explained Bart. “At the bottom of which is a sigil inscribed wall.” Indicating the key, he added, “Within that wall there is a circular indented area, an exact match to the key you are holding.”

“And you believe this key will open the Horde?” he asked.

“Yes,” replied Riyan.

“Hmmm,” murmured the River Man. He glanced to the Lords Hurrin and Geop and could see the anticipation of riches untold dancing in their eyes. Returning his gaze to the two before him, he asked, “Where is the entrance?”

At that, Riyan and Bart balked.

Signaling his man near Chyfe, he said, “Tell me or your friends die.”

Bart knew they were dead in any event once the River Man knew the location. “We’ll tell you where it is in exchange for our lives,” he said.

“Tell me now, or I’ll kill them one by one,” replied Lord Kueryn.

Bart locked gazes with him and said, “Give us your word that you will let us go, unharmed, and I’ll take you there myself. Otherwise, let the secret die with us.”

Staring into the defiant eyes of the thief, Lord Kueryn knew the man before him would not give in. “Very well,” he said. Indicating Bart and Riyan, he said, “You two shall take us to this sigiled wall that you claim is the entrance to the Horde.”

“What about the others?” asked Riyan.

“They shall remain here,” the River Man replied, “as they are until we return. If you are cooperative, then you and your friends shall go free once the Horde is opened.”

“Very well,” replied Riyan. Glancing to Bart, he saw him nod. “We agree.”

“Bind their hands,” Lord Kueryn said to the men holding them. Then to Captain Lyrun he said, “Have your men guard them until we return.”

“As you wish my lord,” Captain Lyrun replied.

Moving closer to Lord Hurrin, Lord Kueryn said quietly, “Leave twenty of your men here as well to keep an eye on the northerners.”

Lord Hurrin nodded. “Yes my lord.”

Turning to Geffen, Lord Kueryn gestured to the paralytic men on the ground and asked, “How long will they remain this way?”

“Two hours,” he replied.

“Good,” he said. Turning back to Bart and Riyan, he said, “Now, show us where lies the Horde.”

“It’s this way,” Riyan said as he began walking along the bank of the stream. He feared for his friends they were leaving behind. But at the moment, there was nothing they could do for them.

Lord Kueryn, Captain Lyrun, his mage, the two other lords, and ten of their soldiers fell in behind the two men. They walked in silence as Riyan led them ever closer to the entrance of the Horde.

When the meadow which held the berry patch appeared, Riyan turned into it. “It’s here,” he said, walking toward the edge of the intertwined berry vines.

“Here?” Lord Kueryn asked. Looking around the meadow, his mood began turning dark. “What kind of game are you playing?”

“No game,” replied Riyan, “I assure you.”

Next to him, Bart said, “It is here.” Turning to look back over his shoulder, he gazed at the River Man and said, “It’s beneath the leading edge of the berry patch.”

Lord Kueryn looked toward the bramble of vines and then nodded to one of his men to take a look. As his man hurried over, he and the rest followed with Riyan and Bart walking before them.

Knowing that something was there, the area Riyan had cleared to gain access to Black Face last summer was clearly evident. The soldier gravitated toward it and looked around. Picking up a stick, he pushed back the leading edge of vines that had overgrown it over the last year.

“There’s an opening,” he hollered. Turning his head back toward his lord, he said, “It looks deep.”

Lord Kueryn looked questioningly to Riyan who nodded. “That’s the way we have to go,” he said.

“Break out the torches,” Lord Hurrin ordered. “We’re going down.”

In the passage below the opening, the equipment that had been left behind last summer was scattered all over the place. Once everyone had made their way down, Lord Kueryn directed Riyan to lead the way.

“How did you find this originally?” asked Lord Geop.

“One of my sheep had a weak spot for berries,” Riyan explained. “While he was helping himself, he must have fallen through.”

“Interesting,” replied Lord Geop.

Riyan led them past a smaller passage that intersected theirs on the right, then down to the main intersection where he turned to the right. Had he turned left, he would have led them to two bier rooms, one of which held a chest full of copper coins they had deposited there last time when their packs had grown too heavy. Not far past the intersection, they came to the collapsed passage on the left. Then a short distance past that was the stairs leading down to the next level.

Keeping them in the lead, Lord Kueryn followed Riyan and Bart down the steps. At the bottom, they emerged into a passage running to their left and right. Riyan turned to the left.

Lord Hurrin turned his gaze toward where the passage disappeared into the darkness on their right. “What’s down there?” he asked.

“The dead,” replied Bart.

“Do they have weapons, armor, and the like?” questioned Lord Geop.

Bart hesitated a moment before replying. The scenes of desecration he had witnessed near the Wrath of Hennon came to mind. Realizing they’ll know soon enough anyway, he said, “Yes, but it’s in poor condition.” Behind him, whispered conversations passed between Lords Hurrin and Geop.

Up ahead, their torchlight revealed another descending flight of steps approaching on their left. When they reached it, Bart and Riyan turned into it and took them down.

“How are we going to get out of this?” Riyan whispered to Bart.

Moving down the steps side by side, Bart leaned closer and said, “I’m working on it.”

As the steps ended and Riyan emerged into another passage, he didn’t think their chances of making it out of this alive were very good. Moving to follow the passage to the left, he struggled to think of a way out. Not far from where they exited the steps, an opening appeared on their right. Entering, Riyan again looked upon the body of the King laid out in reverence.

The room was diamond shaped with a stone bier resting against each of the four walls. Laid upon one was the King, the other three held what they believed to be lords that held fealty to the King. Above each of the four biers were a sword and shield bearing their respective coats of arms. Those coats of arms had played a critical role in the recovering of the key segments. In the center of the room was the opening of the stairwell leading to the final level, and the Horde.

“The King,” breathed Lord Kueryn in awe. Moving toward the bier upon which the King lay, his eyes were fixated on the sword and shield hanging upon the wall.

One of his soldiers came to him and laid a hand on his arm. “No uncle,” the soldier said. When Lord Kueryn turned eyes of anger upon him, he removed his hand. “Do not disturb the King.”

“What do I care for a man long dead?” he asked. Turning his eyes back to the sword and shield, he said, “I must have them.” Unblemished by rust or the passage of time, they had to hold magic of great power.

“But this is not right!” urged his nephew.

Lord Kueryn again turned his attention to his nephew. “Do not try my patience Haran,” he said. Glaring, he held his gaze until Haran looked away. Then he moved toward the bier and pushed the King’s body aside in order to climb onto it. From there, he stood up and removed the scabbard from the wall.

“Magnificent,” he said as he drew the sword. He waved the sword about, testing its balance and grip before resheathing it. “Unparalleled craftsmanship.” Turning a grin toward the other two lords, he hopped down from the bier. He then unbuckled his old sword belt and tossed it aside before donning the new one.

“What about the shield?” asked Lord Hurrin.

“We’ll take it when we leave,” he replied.

His nephew Haran had a very disapproving expression and he turned it toward Captain Lyrun who was removing the sword and shield bearing the dragon-sword coat of arms.

“You are correct my lord,” Captain Lyrun said, turning back toward the others. “These are remarkable.”

Riyan and Bart stood near the steps leading down. Riyan had a fleeting thought of trying to escape while Lord Kueryn and the others were distracted. But then he thought, where would they go? They were in a hole in the ground. It wasn’t as if there were many places to hide down there.

“Should we make a run for it?” he finally asked Bart.

“No,” he replied. “I think I may have an idea. It’s a long shot.”

“What is it?” Turning toward his friend, Riyan hoped it would be a good one.

“No time to explain,” he replied. “Just make sure I’m the one to put the key in the wall down below.”

Riyan looked questioningly to his friend. It didn’t make any sense, but he had long since learned to trust Bart’s judgment in such things. “Okay,” he said.

The group spent the better part of ten minutes in that room before Lord Kueryn decided to move on. “How much further?” he asked them.

“It’s down below,” replied Riyan. “We’ll pass through three rooms of the dead before coming to the sigil inscribed wall.” Motioning for them to precede him, they began descending to the lowest level.

At the bottom, they emerged into a large room with thirty biers, each bearing a corpse of a warrior. Three pairs of two massive columns stretched from the floor to the ceiling.