Severed Destinies (29 page)

The tyllasi looked down at the remnants of his smouldering clothes and the burnt skin on his legs. “Vortain…”

“
Vortain may ask what happened. Tell him the truth. Consider yourself the warning to all tyllasi
not
to disobey the orders of Sephonis. Now go.”

Shakily, the mercenary stood and staggered after his companions.

Balthus looked around, half expecting to see a dozen Tyllasi bearing down on him, but the street was empty. He imagined what Sephonis would say once he told him what had happened but a part of the invoker wished that he had kept the flames burning until the tyllasi had died. It was always difficult to halt the use of the invoking arts once he had begun but Sephonis had trained him how to control the power. Often he wondered what would happen if he gave in and released the full potential of the energy within his body but the high mage had warned that to allow the magic to take control meant there would be no way back for Balthus and he would perish.

Looking down at the charred stones in the street, he thought forward to the day when it would not be the tyllasi writhing on the ground but the young rotian who had scarred him back in Barentin. That day could not come soon enough.

Afaron rubbed at his temples, trying to ease the ache pounding at his skull. He glanced up at the five expectant men sat before him and drew in a deep breath.

“
This army now lurking north of the Ulmerien is an unknown entity,” he began. “We need to know who they are and why they are invading the kingdom. We need to understand their motive.”

“
We need to know where they have taken our people,” added Jolas.

Afaron gave him a tired look. “Agreed. This time yesterday, I was sleeping soundly in my bed with no worries as to the security of the kingdom apart from Naskador. Now, so many decades after the war against Skarda, we face another enemy.”

Jolas watched the king struggling to come to terms with what had transpired in the north without their knowledge. “Afaron, this force has hit us from near the Morassian border. Send word to Morassia asking for their help.”

Talgan, sitting deep in thought next to Jolas, looked up suddenly. “How would we send word to Morassia? These foreigners would be watching the borders.”

Ilkar had been asked to be involved in the meeting and looked across the table at Talgan. “You are correct. By now, I believe that they will be watching the roads.”

“
How many would you say attacked Turambar, corporal?” asked Afaron.

“
Hard to say, sire. I was below trying to get Gorric and the others away when they gained entry. By the time I joined the battle, they were already amongst us.” Ilkar painfully recalled seeing his fellow soldiers being massacred at the fortress. “They must have numbered at least two hundred.”

Afaron frowned. “From what Gorric and Kithia Orgillian reported, the force that moved from Barentin to Tamriel and onto Boraila did not number in its thousands.”

He looked at Toresin, who had been sitting silently with his hands clenched together since the meeting began. “How would the guards fail to repel an attack from outside Boraila?”

The captain of the guards shook his head. “They would not have. Something must have happened in the city itself.”

“
What do you mean?” asked Talgan.

“
I knew many guardsmen in Boraila. Guard Commander Vohlkern would never have dropped his defenses for a second.” Toresin stood and began pacing behind Karrid and Ilkar. “These invaders must have hit Boraila with a much larger force than anyone has seen. They must have infiltrated the city and attacked from the inside.”

Talgan swallowed hard. If anyone would catch him out as a traitor, it was Toresin. The wily captain was a growing concern for him. He took solace somewhat in the fact that the king seemed to be accepting him as a trusted advisor. His being asked to join them at this late night meeting whilst other councillors were sent home was proof of that.

“
How could an army hide in Boraila?” cried Karrid. “That’s like saying they could hide in Vylandor and we wouldn’t notice.”

Toresin came to a sudden halt and looked fearfully at the king. “Unless that is what they are doing. Infiltrating our cities and then striking when the time is right.”

Afaron raised his hand. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. By all means, Toresin, conduct searches across the city as you see fit but I feel that it would be a bad move for them to be hiding in the capital, where many of our soldiers, plus recruits, are based.”

“
Have you considered that your taking the army north is what they want?” Jolas asked him. “Empty the city of experienced soldiers before attacking.”

“
No.” Talgan instantly regretted opening his mouth. “I agree with you, sire. It is preposterous to think that an army of foreigners who look so different to us could hide away in Vylandor. Surely they looked at the north side of the river and saw it as a place to focus their attacks.”

Toresin’s gaze lingered on Talgan. “True, but I will still have my men conduct random searches.”

“
Sire, may I ask what you plan to do when we travel north?” Ilkar asked.

“
As I mentioned earlier, we need to gauge their force and try to determine their numbers. Whilst soldiers from the other cities and towns gather at Ashgar, I intend to take three thousand men and move to the bridge east of Turambar. If they are guarding the roads then we should encounter some of their soldiers there.”

“
With the forest so dense in the north, there are many places for an army to hide,” said Ilkar. “However, the woodland was cut back from the south side of the bridge some time ago so only a very small force could lurk there.”

Afaron nodded as he pondered this. “What of Turambar? It wasn’t destroyed.”

“
No, sire.” Ilkar could see where the king’s question was leading. “You believe that they would occupy it?”

“
It would make sense. The fortress is…
was
our defensive vantage point along the river. I’m sure that they would leave men there after they took it.”

Talgan looked from Afaron to Ilkar. “You’re not thinking of retaking Turambar surely?”

“
No,” replied Afaron, dismissively waving his hand. “Not yet anyway. Ilkar, the settlement you were taken to after escaping Turambar had a direct line of sight to the fortress, correct?”

“
Yes, sire.”

Afaron leant forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I suggest that we take a look at Turambar then from the settlement to try to gauge the enemy presence there. It may also give us a good position to be able to view their movements along the river, if any.” He noticed the look on Jolas’ face. “I will send scouts ahead to ensure none of these foreigners have already moved south of the river.”

“
What of our soldiers at the border?” Ilkar asked.

“
We should consider them lost at this time,” Afaron said grimly. “Once we know exactly what we are dealing with, then we can plan further and try to determine what has happened to our people in the north.”

“
Do not forget that we are talking about a force with magic users amongst them,” reminded Jolas. “It is not simply soldiers we are facing.”

“
We don’t know how many magic users they have.” Afaron stroked his beard slowly as he pondered the dilemma. “Only one has been seen so far and he was nearly beaten by a boy wielding a knife.”

Ilkar cleared his throat. “Although I did not see him use magic, the robed man we encountered outside the temple in Boraila eminated power. I believe him to be of importance.”

“
Magic is an unknown commodity in this,” Jolas warned Afaron. “We don’t know how much power they command.”

Afaron drew in a deep breath then rose from his seat. “There are many dangers to consider with this new threat to the kingdom but we will focus on the first task of getting the soldiers ready here before heading north to the river.

Toresin, conduct your searches around the city. Your men must keep alert. Even the slightest oddity must be investigated.”

“
I understand, sire,” nodded the captain.

“
Talgan and Karrid, conduct your city business with confidence. The people must not see the worried expressions you currently wear.

Jolas, visit the recruits tomorrow and gauge whether any of them can be added to the army ranks yet. There may be some who are ready.

Ilkar, make your preparations to join the Vylandor army. You will be close to me at all times during the coming days and when we move to the settlement.”

“
Yes, sire.” Ilkar did not believe that he would be heading back so quickly and the thought of encountering the foreign soldiers again in battle twisted his stomach.

Afaron looked around the room at the others. “My friends, it seems that the time has come to once again repel those who would destroy this kingdom. I will not let the people down and am ready to lead the fight against these foreigners.

That is all for tonight. You have your orders.”

Afaron watched as Toresin bowed and marched from the room, followed by the nervous-looking Talgan and Karrid. Ilkar saluted him and, with a nod to Jolas, left to begin his preparations.

“
No doubt you will try now to persuade me not to lead the men north,” Afaron said to the elder councilor.

Jolas smiled. “Not this time. You are your father’s son, Afaron, and he would be proud of you. He never backed down from a fight either.”

“
Thank you.” Afaron walked to one of the windows and looked out over the city. “The kingdom will prevail, Jolas. It has to. We have worked too hard after the damage the Skardans did to let another foreign army walk in and try to take the land from us.”

“
This army may be small,” shrugged Jolas. “As you say, we don’t know what we are dealing with…or who. Your plan to gauge their forces is a good one. Not without risk of course but I trust you to not charge blindly in.”

“
I know that I believe a man’s destiny is his own but I wish I knew what waited for us in the north.” Afaron turned to the councilor. “The city will of course be under your watchful eye whilst I am away. I trust that you will not have too many arguments with Toresin.”

Jolas chuckled. “One or two perhaps. The council will watch over the city in your absence. When you return, it will be just as you left it.”

Afaron nodded. “I would like to be alone with my thoughts now, my friend, if you don’t mind.”

“
Of course. Goodnight, Afaron.” With that, Jolas strode from the room.

Returning his gaze to the city, the king began considering his actions and hoped that war would not come to Vylandor. Lost in his thoughts, he stood at the window until the light of first dawn appeared on the horizon. However, despite his body telling him to retire to bed, Afaron headed out to walk the streets of his city until fatigue forced him to return to sleep. In the warmth of his bed though, he dreamt of a dark army eating away at the Rotian Kingdom from the north and of a lone silver-armoured figure standing against it.

Chapter 26

Rynn tried to keep up with Kithia but lost her for the third time in the crowd of people filling the market square in the centre of Vylandor. He came to a halt and scanned the square for any sign of her.

“
Come on, Rynn.”

The acolyte heard her voice above the clamour of the market and finally saw her waving at him ahead. He saw her smile and push her chestnut hair away from her eyes. He could not help but stand and watch her. He had never been in love before but knew now how it gripped men and turned them back into foolish boys. Kithia was a beautiful, strong and fiery woman but he was a weak acolyte who had been saved by others several times over the past days. What could he offer her? Besides, ever since he healed Ilkar, he had no doubt that she was wary of him. Since that time, no magical ability had come to the surface but he could feel it inside him still and the last thing he wanted was to accidentally harm Kithia if he could not control it.

“
I would like to see my brother before night falls,” Kithia shouted to him.

Rynn shook the thoughts from his head and quickly dodged through the crowd to reach her. “Sorry, I was just…thinking.” He felt the blood rush to his face.

Kithia laughed. “Careful, thinking can be dangerous.” With that, she sped off again across the square.

As the two of them left the bustle of the market and began traversing the labyrinthine streets, heading in the direction they had been told the training barracks were located, they admired the city of Vylandor but, despite not saying as much, both felt homesick.

“
Where did you say Varayan went?” Kithia asked.

Rynn shrugged. “He was bound to want to explore the city so by now he will be getting into trouble no doubt.”

“
Surely even Varayan wouldn’t throw the king’s personal hospitality back in his face by breaking the law.”

“
Despite having some redeeming qualities, he
is
a thief,” sighed Rynn. “Its been his life for so long that he would find it hard to be anything else.”

“
Perhaps he might just surprise us. He seems to watch over you like some older brother.”