Secrets of the Stonechaser (The Law of Eight Book 1) (36 page)

Behind them, a detachment of horsemen were bearing down fast. Dist had resorted to pulling arrows out of the cart and shooting them back at their pursuers. However, these men were keeping a safe distance, and only one of Dist’s missiles found a home.

 Jhareth swore. “They saw what we did to the others and now they’re going to wait for our horses to tire. They know we can’t go anywhere.”

Nerris grunted, looking at the rocky terrain around them. “We’re going to have to make a stand.”

“If we do that, we’re dead,” Dist said.

“That’s not important right now,” Nerris said. “What is important is that Len-Ahl survives and finds the Elemental Stone. The world depends on it.”

Dist’s look was stricken, but his nod was determined. “I’m with you.”

“Surnal, if we give you some time can you keep Len-Ahl safe until your people find you?”

“I can try,” Surnal said, glancing at the arrow in his leg. “What about you, Nerris?”

Nerris shrugged. “I’m just the Catalyst. I swore to protect Len-Ahl, and that’s all I can do now. Our chances for success are small, I know, but we don’t have a choice.”

“There.” Jhareth pointed to a small outcropping of rock and directed the horses toward it. The reins snapped relentlessly as he gathered speed and left Qabala’s sabres behind. They came to a stop at a sheer rock face, and Jhareth drew two knives.

“I had to leave my favorite knives at the palace,” he said. “I took these off of some guards. They’re not the best steel, but they’re yours, Nerris. I’m with you.”

Nerris put a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, my friend.”

Surnal stumbled out of the cart and Dist helped place Len-Ahl in his arms. “What will you do?”

“I may not have the instruments of my magic, but I know a few tricks,” Surnal said. “I am the Nateus of the Earth Clerics, you know.”

“You need medical attention yourself as soon as possible,” Nerris said. He took Jinn’s medallion from his tunic and put it inside of Surnal’s own tattered garb.

Surnal nodded. “We’ll hide until it’s over. After that, I’ll have to rely on my own savvy to get me to Lesta.”

He limped to the rock face, still holding Len-Ahl. The Nateus closed his eyes and began chanting in Xenean. The rocks around him rumbled and scraped together. After a few moments, they broke open, leaving just enough room for two people to hide within. Surnal stepped inside the fissure with Len-Ahl, and the rock closed in around him.

Jhareth whistled. “That’s some trick.”

Satisfied they were well hidden, Nerris turned back toward the road as the riders came within sight. Others had joined them, making the force perhaps two score. A man in full plate led them. Nerris recognized the armor of Dume Quin and held his breath. Perhaps there was hope yet.

Dume Quin’s men formed up in front of them, and archers moved to the sides to prevent any attempt of escape. Nerris held up a hand and slowly approached his old comrade. “Quin!”

Quin put a hand up to stay his forces and lifted his visor. “Nerris. So it was you who escaped. I thought I was chasing stories until I saw what you did to my advance guard.”

“Qabala is out of control,” Nerris said. “Surely you can see that. It doesn’t have to end like this. Len-Ahl is beyond her reach now.”

Quin smiled. “No doubt she and that woodwitch are hiding somewhere. It’s over, Nerris. Even if you three somehow manage to cut through all of us, more will come and we will find the girl. Give her up now and we will spare your lives.”

“Why do they always say that?” Jhareth complained. “They know we know they’re lying.”

Nerris shook his head. “Qabala will fall, Quin. You’re a reasonable man. You’ve seen how she behaves in her position.”

“She behaves that way because you spurn her,” Quin said. “Why, Nerris? Come back to her and help make this country great again.”

“The rot began when she absorbed the Doom Rock,” Nerris said. “You witnessed it, same as I. Yagolhan can only be great again when she and her Tattered Man are gone for good.”

Quin shook his head. “Everything I am I owe to my Eternal. I will follow my orders.”

Nerris let his breath out. Quin had always been stubborn, and he could see there was no turning him. He raised Noruken as Dist and Jhareth prepared for battle beside him.

Quin cast them a regretful glance. “So be it, then. You’re a fine warrior, Nerris, one of the best I have ever witnessed. I hate to do this.”

“I hate to be done,” Nerris said. “Thrillseekers!” he called to his friends. “Battle on!”

Dist and Jhareth cried out and charged, with Nerris leading the way. The archers at the edge of Quin’s force took aim, but some foreign arrows suddenly thunked into the ground next to them. Their horses shied away as more arrows sailed into the Dume-General’s men. Some found their marks and the sabres shouted in surprise as their comrades were picked off.

Nerris, Dist and Jhareth stopped in their tracks as a torrent of arrows sailed over them to fall amongst the horsemen. Many fell with multiple shafts protruding from their hauberks.

Another force of men rushed out of the trees to the east. They were dressed in leather painted to look like the colors of the forest, and brandished swords and clubs. They fell into the group of riders, hacking and slashing at the startled horses. The sabres began to fight back, but Dume Quin was a practical man to the bone and saw they were outnumbered.

“Fall back!” he ordered as an arrow bounced off his plate.

After sharing a relieved look with Nerris, Quin shut his visor and wheeled his mount around, galloping back up the road. Many of his men followed him, while their rescuers cut down the few who remained.

Nerris looked at these men and estimated their force to be four times that of the Dume-General. One of the foresters approached Nerris, Dist and Jhareth. He was a thick-bodied man with short, brown hair, and held up one hand in a peace gesture.

“Well met, Nerris Palada,” he said. Nerris lowered Noruken as Dist and Jhareth relaxed beside him.

“Are you Surnal’s friends we’ve been hearing so much about?” Jhareth asked.

“That we are,” the forester said. “I am Captain Kerin, officer of Prince Lahnel Y’Ghan, the true King of Yagolhan.” He looked around. “Where is the Nateus?”

The rocks hiding Surnal and Len-Ahl opened once more, and Surnal emerged. “Kerin!”

“By Yala’s sharp teat,” the captain said, observing the prone and bloody Len-Ahl. “What have we here?”

“This is Len-Ahl,” Surnal said. “The Stonechaser.”

Kerin gasped. “Are you serious?”

“Captain Kerin, it is imperative we reach Lesta as soon as possible,” Nerris said. “Len-Ahl’s life hangs by a thread until Surnal can properly heal her.”

Kerin nodded. “Of course. Surnal mentioned he would have the Stonechaser when he set up his capture, but I never imagined...” He shook his head and called for his attendant. He issued a few orders, and gestured to the Thrillseekers. “The hospitality of Prince Lahnel is offered to you, Thrillseekers. I set out with over fifty men to collect Surnal once he escaped, but those opposed to the rule of Qabala have swelled our ranks to over a hundred. My men will discourage any pursuit while you make your way to Lesta.”

“Whew,” Jhareth said, shaking his head. “I thought we were done for sure.”

“We must leave quickly,” Surnal said. “More men will no doubt be upon us once the Dume-General regroups.”

“Right.” Kerin cupped his hands. “Listen up! The battle we were sent to fight is upon us! Our only purpose is to keep this cart safe! I don’t want anybody wearing the sash of a sabre to come within ten leagues of these five people! Any man who dies better get up and keep fighting, or I’ll send you to Hell myself! Now move!”

Kerin’s men saluted and melted back into the forest. “That should do it,” he told them.

“Thank you, Captain,” Nerris said.

Kerin shrugged. “Protecting the Stonechaser is paramount. I hope to rejoin you in Lesta soon, Nerris. I am sure you and his Highness have much to discuss.” The attendant arrived with Kerin’s horse, and he mounted up, galloping into the trees with his men.

Chapter Thirty-Six

MEN IN ARMOR cowered and stepped over their own cloaks to get away from the seething Aeterna. Qabala had just learned of the Thrillseekers’ escape from the commander of the City Watch, and thrown the officer across the room with strength unnatural to her lithe form. That would have been horrible enough, but her touch had also lit the man on fire.

The other guards in the great hall fidgeted at the commander’s screams as their queen paced back and forth. No doubt they wanted to run, but were afraid to turn their backs. Qabala pondered how this could happen. She had taken great care to surround herself with the elite, and not only had Nerris gotten away, he had taken his friends, the Stonechaser, the woodwitch, and Jinn’s medallion with him. Even now they were speeding toward Prince Lahnel’s territory, where she could not reach them.

If Dume Yorne or Dume Valez had been here, things might have been different. Those men were born commanders, and adapted at a moment’s notice. However, she had sent them to the southwest four days past, on the word that a force of Prince Lahnel’s men were massing near Hesmuth. That left her with two Dume-Generals when ten hells had broken loose.

Falares had been in the Fury Pit with her, and proved useless in stopping Nerris. Dume Quin had been a bit more resourceful, and gathered some of the men under his direct command to pursue the Thrillseekers. However, he had left with too few and had not reported back yet. If you wanted to catch the Thrillseekers, you took an army, not a squad.

Dume Lukas had been killed in the riot, she learned. He had been knocked off his feet, and his helm removed. One of the prisoners proceeded to rip a rusted iron bar from one of the group cells and impale the former informant through the eye.

The human bonfire in front of her blazed on, though the commander’s screams had stopped, replaced in the air with the stench of burning flesh and melting iron. The commander’s body hissed and popped as it cooked, bringing nauseated looks to the faces of the men present. The flames of her fury were searing, it would seem.

The doors to the great hall opened, and a dusty-looking Dume Quin entered, helm tucked under his arm. He bowed to Qabala after noticing the burning commander to his right.

“Never mind that,” Qabala said. “What have you to report, your Constancy?”

“We cornered the Thrillseekers, but were ambushed,” Quin said. “The same foresters who have been harrowing our returning troops since we took the city. They overwhelmed my men and we were forced to retreat. I don’t know how, but they knew the Stonechaser was coming. One of my wounded was left alive, and he confirmed this force works for Prince Lahnel. They were under the command of a Captain Kerin, and had been stationed there to collect the Nateus once he had acquired the Stonechaser and the Catalyst.”

“Your sabres could not handle a small force of militiamen and commoners?”

“I was only able to rouse two score men on such short notice,” Quin said. “Any longer and we would have lost the Thrillseekers to the forest. And Kerin’s forces seem to have grown since they last attacked us.”

Qabala had to turn away for a moment. This was all on that damned woodwitch. She should have realized last autumn that a Nateus would never allow himself to be caught so easily. He knew where Len-Ahl would be, and had positioned himself to receive her. When next she saw him, he would burn as well, but the fire would be hotter and he would live much longer to suffer it.

Falares took a tentative step forward. “My Eternal, what is your will?” he asked.

Qabala rubbed at her eyes. “My will, Falares? Could I but will it, I would will into existence an army of supporters that could keep five prisoners in the dungeon. I would will that my powers had been awakened before this incident so I could have prevented it myself. I would will that Nerris did not despise me so, that I did not concede to bestow generalship on lickspittles and incompetents, but most of all, it is my will that all of you get out of my way right now!”

Falares, Quin, and the guards parted as if she carried the plague. Qabala stormed from the great hall, where she had thought gathering her most important officers would help think of some solution to the situation, but had enraged her even more. She told herself if she wanted to salvage anything, obliterating her officers would not help.

The south courtyard still looked as if a tornado had rampaged through. Smashed stone and trampled bushes littered the cobblestone paths. The prisoners had gotten that far before the Aeternica’s guards had converged on them in full force, driving them back and beating them down until they surrendered. Slaves were still cleaning up the blood as she passed by.

She arrived in her quarters and immediately took to the balcony, gazing down on her fair city, where the sun now dipped below the horizon and the brightest stars appeared in the violet sky. There was no denying it; the Thrillseekers had gotten one over on her. That was why she wanted them held in separate quarters. They were too dangerous to be allowed to plan and scheme. She had heard the stories; been intimately involved with one of them. Yet her network of incompetents could not even achieve that much.

Her anger had gotten the better of her. Her hatred for the girl Len-Ahl provoked them into action, and they had let loose every occupant of the dungeon to cover their escape. She had not been on hand to lead her men against the prisoners, for she had been trapped in a cell courtesy of Nerris Palada.

Once Nerris had left the Fury Pit, she seethed and raged for nearly a quarter of an hour. Falares had tried to help her once he made it to his feet, but Nerris had severed the chain which connected her cell door to the windlass, and the portcullis was too heavy for Falares to lift by himself.

At that point, all the anger and rage Qabala had felt since learning of the liaison between Nerris and Len-Ahl welded into a cold focus. She felt the Doom Rock stir within her, felt the power course through her body and let out a scream which almost gutted the Fury Pit’s torches. The portcullis flew across the room and crashed to the floor, bent beyond recognition. Falares stared at her with a mixture of awe and fear on his face.

The riot had been quelled by the time she arrived, and what a cost that quarter of an hour had taken. Dume Lukas and many guards, killed. Important hostages were also dead, Lord Petaka Bosmick amongst them. Now his son had no reason to hold back his forces, and was free to join with Prince Lahnel.

She slumped on the balustrade. The power of the Doom Rock continued to course through her, and she knew she had achieved the unity she hoped for. But what use was it? She was alone now, and her chances of finding the Elemental Stone dashed.

“That is a face I have not seen for quite some time,”
said the voice of the Tattered Man.
“Not since you were a small child have I gazed upon a look of such hopelessness.”

Qabala gritted her teeth. “Leave me alone, Pale One. You are the last... person... I want to see right now.” He was not a person, and she could not see him, but she hoped he would take the hint.

“I have done nothing but...”

“Exactly,” Qabala said. “You did nothing while Nerris escaped. Where were you? Where was your cult?”

“I recall you sent the Cult of Eversor from the city some weeks ago at the behest of Dume Yorne and your beloved Nerris. They cannot help you if they are not here.”

“They were getting out of hand,” Qabala said. “Terror was never my intention when I took the throne.”

“Every ruler needs a bit of terror. If your people always see you on the street handing out food to starving children, they eventually see you as weak. Had I been allowed free reign, were I not confined by the sacrifices of Angelica, the Thrillseekers would have known true terror.”

“I know better than that,” Qabala said. “You didn’t interfere because you never liked the idea of me and Nerris together. Don’t deny you wanted this.”

“He was an unwelcome distraction from your destiny.”

Qabala sighed. “I am tired of destiny, and prophecies and all that cryptic nonsense. Nerris was the only destiny I ever needed.”

“All he did was betray you.”

“He loved me.”

“Precisely. Love and betrayal are two sides of one of those coins you humans prize so much. You say you want the power to fix this world. To do that, you need to become one with the Fatexion, to use its power to make the world as you see fit.”

“Your point?”

“I watched you struggle endlessly with the stone, your thoughts always returning to one man, his face foremost in your mind’s eye. Tell me, without his betrayal, without the anger and hatred that came with it, do you think you would have ever awakened the way you did in that cell?”

“You’re saying anger and hatred are the children of power,” Qabala said.

“I see you are finally learning. You may realize your potential yet.”

“I thought I was to be the Stonechaser, the one who reunited the Fatexion and the Exemplus. If this girl finds the Elemental Stone—”

“Your mastery of the Fatexion will destroy her, for one such as her can never focus power as you will.”

“Still, I cannot risk it,” Qabala said. “The Stonechaser Prophecy must be broken.”

“Then I surmise a journey lies in front of you.”

“You mean follow them, and take the stone?” Qabala asked. “How? Wherever they go will be from the port of Lesta, and I cannot follow them there.”

“Your army cannot go there, but you can. Take whatever companions you deem necessary, but endeavor to keep your cortege small. Whoever has the desire can join the journey, but the Law of Eight must be upheld if you are to find the Exemplus.”

“Abandon my people? I am their leader, Pale One!”

“Surely there are others who would command just as well in your absence.”

He was right, she realized. Dume Yorne or Dume Valez both made for brilliant generals. She would take Dume Yorne with her, though. In spite of his loyalty to Nerris, she felt a certain attachment to the old man, one which could prove important. But who else?

“Thank you, Pale One,” she said. “We may be at odds at times, but you have always been there to afford me wise counsel. I shall do as you suggest. After all, I have no ties to Nerris anymore. I severed those for good when I nearly whipped that innocent girl of his to death.”

“If hatred is the child of power, gratitude is the scion of weakness,”
the Tattered Man said.
“The emergence of Eversor is all the thanks I will require.”
At that, his presence was gone, though his words still echoed in her mind.

“You’re welcome,” Qabala muttered.

“My Eternal?”

Qabala whipped her head around. Meeka stood in the room behind her, half hidden by the curtains.

“Who were you speaking to?” the slave girl asked.

Qabala turned to face her. “No one. Meeka, send word to the grooms to prepare my horse. I’ll also need a packhorse and supplies for a trip. Pots, pans, foodstuffs, shelters, and the like. Then get word to Falares and Quin that I need to see them. I mean to begin as soon as Yorne and Valez return from Hesmuth.”

“Are you going somewhere, my Eternal?” Meeka asked.

Qabala nodded. “The most important journey I’ll ever take. And you will attend me. How would you like to see the rest of Tormalia, Meeka?”

“If that is your will, my Eternal.”

“It is,” Qabala said. “You’ll be happy to know your friend Nerris has fled me. We will be going after him and his friends, and they will all suffer dearly for what they have wrought.” Meeka did well in covering up her gladness. The look she wore was stricken at the news of Nerris’s escape. “How does that make you feel, Meeka, to know when I next meet Nerris, I will kill him? That you will be a party to it?”

Meeka’s eyes became watery. “I... don’t... he betrayed you, my Eternal. Spurned your love. Left us... you. I know what has to happen will come to pass.”

Qabala nodded. “You may go.”

Her slave practically fled the room, and Qabala stared out over Palehorse, a warm breeze blowing through her hair. Spring was giving way to summer, and she could tell this season would be a hot one. The entire world would heat up until it reached a boil, right at the moment she lay her hands on the Elemental Stone. With the help of Eversor, she would show the world a torrent the likes it had never seen. Only then, after the storm, could she finally make it right.