Sword of Light (3 page)

“Once you have your people ready to go, I will lead you back to Sir Alleon.”  Werdan said shortly, but politely, while his eyes never stopped scanning the surrounding area.  “I will keep guard while you make ready.”

“We should be ready to move quickly.”  Jonas replied.  “How far to Alleon?”

“They will have begun to march by now, so we should meet them by mid-day.”  Werdan said.

“They are headed here?”  Jonas asked, surprised.  “They had taken the southern road.  What happened?”

“We found evidence that the princess was not on the southern road.  I will let Sir Alleon explain it to you, Brother Jonas, if you don’t mind.”  Werdan replied, clearly not comfortable with extended conversation.

“That will be fine, Sergeant Werdan.”  Dominic interjected.  “We will gather our things and be ready to move shortly.”

Werdan nodded, riding off a short distance to where he could better watch the road.

Dominic and Jonas made their way back to camp, arriving to see that Marcus had already hooked up the wagon horses and was saddling the other mounts in preparation to depart.  Hailyn and Keria had repacked and loaded the supplies in the wagon.  Dominic and Jonas went over and told them of the arrival of Sergeant Werdan.

Thanks to Marcus’ effort, they were moving out to the road in just a few minutes.  As they turned onto the road, Werdan rode over, giving Marcus a short nod and Keria a bow from his horse.  “I am glad to see you unharmed, Your Highness.”  He said politely.  “Sir Alleon will be relieved to see you as well.”

Werdan rode off to take the lead and they began to head west again.  Dominic took up the rear guard while Marcus rode next to Keria behind the wagon.

The weather was comfortable as they rode, with a light breeze and scattered clouds drifting in front of the sun as it slowly rose in the sky.  Dominic dropped back from time to time, seeking signs of their enemies, but the forest remained quiet.

Just as Werdan had said, they came upon three of Alleon’s outriders shortly after mid-day.  After a short conversation with Werdan, two of the soldiers took up flanking positions near the princess while the third rode back to relay the news to the main force.  After another fifteen minutes of riding, Dominic could hear the sounds of Alleon’s army moving along the road.

Werdan rode ahead to give his report to Sir Alleon.  Alleon, dressed in full armor, halted his forces and rode out to meet them.  He was clearly relieved to see Keria as he greeted her, a wide smile creasing his face despite trying to look serious.  He promised to return her to the safety of the city as quickly as possible.  He gave Jonas a hearty welcome, his good nature shining through.

Dominic rode over, Alleon giving him a salute as he drew near.  “I see that I should have followed you.”  Alleon said self-consciously, though his eyes still shone with good cheer.  “Next time, I will let you take command and you can just point me in the direction you think is best.”

“You did what made sense at the time, Alleon.”  Dominic replied.  “We have the princess back, that is what is important.”

“Truly.”  Alleon said with a smile, nodding.  “Let’s surround her with clerics and soldiers before my luck runs out.”  He motioned Keria to ride forward.  “Highness, if you will.”

They rode back into the army, the soldiers cheering and calling out greetings to Keria, the clerics gathering around Jonas and Hailyn.  As they approached the supply wagons, Dominic was surprised to see Keria’s carriage mixed in with the wagons.  He looked questioningly at Alleon.

“We found it along the southern road, abandoned, the afternoon of the second day after we parted.”  Alleon told him.  “There was a small enemy force waiting in ambush near it, but we quickly defeated them and turned around to follow your path.  I pushed the horses hard, trying to make up time.  The clerics were somewhat cross with me for that, as I all but exhausted them as they had to heal the horses every time we stopped.”

Alleon stopped, sliding off his horse with a clang, and motioning them down.  “We will have a quick meal and share our reports.”  He called over his officers and had them deploy the soldiers in defensive positions around the area.  Jonas sent the bulk of the clerics with the soldiers.

Several aides quickly set up a field table from the wagons while the cooks heated up some rations.  While they ate, Jonas and Dominic told Alleon about tracking down the kidnappers to the demons’ lair and the destruction of Creatos.

Alleon glanced over at Jonas’s wagon, where Hailyn was watching over Jake, and shook his head.  “I know he was training with you, Dominic, so I do not mean to give offense, but I didn’t think that he had that kind of courage.”  Alleon said, respect in his eyes.

“Courage can be found in anyone, Sir Alleon.”  Jonas said.  “The One provides us all with the capacity; it just takes the right kind of motivation for it to come out.”  He glanced meaningfully at Keria.

Alleon told them what happened with his force.  He expanded on what he had already told Dominic.  The army had followed the passage of the half-men and demons south until they came upon the abandoned carriage.  He had sent several search parties into the surrounding hills, looking for signs of the princess.  One of these parties stumbled onto the waiting half-men and demons.  They lost two clerics and ten soldiers before they were able to gather enough forces to crush the demons.  Once the fighting was done, Alleon had ordered the dead soldiers’ horses hooked up to the carriage and turned the army back towards the crossroad.  They moved as quickly as possible to try to catch up.  When they had bivouacked near the miners’ camp, Alleon had spoken with their leader and learned that Dominic’s group had come and gone.  He sent Werdan ahead to see what he could find while the army followed.

“You made quite an impression on the miners, Dominic.”  Alleon said with a short laugh.  “I heard them debating whether they would open their gates if you returned!”  Dominic smiled grimly at that.

Suddenly, Keria, who had been sitting next to Marcus simply listening, stood and spoke.  “I want to thank you for all of your efforts, Sir Alleon.  Please relay my deepest thanks to the soldiers and clerics under your command for their courage and commitment in the attempt to rescue me.”  She said.

“Of course, Your Highness.”  Alleon replied.

“What is your plan now?”  She asked.

“To get you back to the city as quickly as possible, of course.”  Alleon stated.

“Seeing the size of this force, I am thinking of something else.”  Keria said, her face neutral.

“What would that be?”  Alleon cautiously asked.

“I want the demons and their followers punished.”  She stated.  “They took me hostage and killed the members of my escort, including Costuas and poor Nataly.”  Her voice broke briefly, but she recovered.  “I want you to go and clear out that nest of demons where I was held.”

“Princess, I would gladly mete out justice to those that have harmed you, but, with all due respect, my mission is to recover you and return you safely to your father, the King.”  Alleon said, looking uncomfortable.  “He will hang me from the walls of Sanduas if I don’t immediately bring you home.”

“My father is not here, Sir Alleon.”  Keria stated primly.  “Also, there were others trapped in that place; I heard their cries while I was confined.  When it was just our small group, I knew there was no option but to leave them to their fates.  Now, with this many soldiers and clerics, we should be able to overwhelm the demons’ forces and rescue those poor souls.”

“I cannot risk your safety now that you are free, Princess.”  Alleon protested.  “I am sure the king will allow us to return and destroy that place
after
you are back home.  I will ask the king for the honor of leading that mission in the names of the lost.”

“I will not abandon those people trapped there, now that the means to rescue them is here.”  Keria said stubbornly.  “Consider this a royal command.”  Alleon frowned and slowly shook his head, looking for a way out.

“Princess, I understand your grief and desire for retribution, as well as applaud your compassion, but Sir Alleon is under orders from the king.”  Jonas said, joining the conversation.  “Do not place him in a position to have to defy you or your father.  Let us return to Sanduas.  I will support Alleon to return with as many clerics as can be spared.”

  “I can’t believe that you would leave those people in bondage, Brother Jonas.”  Keria responded, shaking her head. “If not for me, would you simply depart knowing they were there?”

“No, Your Highness.”  Jonas said reluctantly.  “But you are here.  That changes the equation.”

“I will always be grateful to you for rescuing me, Brother Jonas, but, in this, you are wrong.”  Keria stated, a defiant look on her face.  “I cannot force you to support me, but the soldiers fall under royal command.  I will send them against the demons without your clerics, if I must, but I will not leave those people.”

Jonas frowned at that, his face tightening, but before he could reply, Dominic spoke.  “I may have a solution that will satisfy both sides.”

Both Jonas and Keria looked at him for a moment, then nodded that he should continue.

“How many clerics are here?”  He asked Jonas.

“Thirty-eight, plus Hailyn and myself.”  Jonas replied.

“Give me eighteen of your strongest clerics; Alleon can spare thirty soldiers.  I will lead that force against the demons; I have a feel for the place now.”  Dominic replied.  “The clerics will be better weapons than soldiers in the warrens at the demons’ fortress.  That will leave the bulk of the soldiers and half the clerics with Alleon.”

Jonas considered it for a moment.  “I will send fifteen and go myself.”  He said.  “Like you, I have been inside and I will be best able to organize the clerics.”  He looked at Keria.  “If this is something you are insisting on?”

Keria nodded.  “I am, Brother Jonas.”

“As for you, Princess, you will go with the rest of Alleon’s force back to Sanduas.”  Dominic said.  “That way, your father cannot fault Alleon for not returning you as quickly as possible.  Also, you can look after the boy until Jonas returns.”

Keria nodded her acceptance and turned to speak to Alleon.  She could see the disappointment in his eyes, knowing that he would miss the fighting.  “Sir Alleon, I would ask you to go with this expedition as my champion.  I wish for you to deliver the justice you mentioned.”

“I would gladly accept such a charge, Highness, but your safety was placed into my hands by the king.”  Alleon said, rising and giving her a bow.  “I am not sure how I can satisfy both demands.”

“Put your second in command.  With all of the soldiers and clerics arrayed around me, you have accomplished all you can to keep me safe.”  Keria replied.  She gave Alleon a brief smile.  “Please go for me.  I will explain things to my father.”

“It will be my honor, Your Highness.”  Alleon said, a smile crossing his face as he bowed again.  “I will bring your justice to those foul creatures and succor the lost souls.”

They moved quickly to organize their respective parties.  While Dominic went to the supply wagons to get another breastplate, Alleon called for volunteers to join him and ordered his second, Captain Grashin, to get the rest turned around and ready to move.  Jonas called the clerics together, explaining the situation.  He picked out his fifteen, then put the remaining clerics under the direction of an older female cleric named Silvan.  He took Silvan over to the wagon where Hailyn was still sitting, explaining what had happened to Jake.

“Do not allow any of the clerics to attempt to heal him; it may be fatal to any who attempt it.”  Jonas said as they stopped, gesturing at Jake.  “Just keep him comfortable and have the soldiers help move him, if necessary.  Once you arrive at Sanduas, send a messenger to Tomaris’ Keep.  Inform him of Jake’s condition and ask for any help he can provide.  If I do not return, you may need to send Jake to the Keep.”

“We will care for him, Brother; you worry about yourself and those with you.”  Silvan replied.  She looked over at Hailyn, who had climbed down while they were talking.  “I will see Hailyn safely back to the Temple.”  She said kindly.

“Master, I also have been inside, perhaps I should go with you-” Hailyn began.

“No.”  Jonas stated firmly, shaking his head.  “You have done more than I should have asked of you.  I do not doubt your courage or skill, but you will return to Sanduas.”  He gave her a knowing smile.  “I want you to help Silvan with Jake.  If he wakes, he will likely wish to see a familiar face.”

“Of course, Master.”  Hailyn said, quickly glancing over at Jake.  She looked back at Jonas.  “Please be careful.”

“I always try to be careful.”  Jonas said with a soft laugh.  “Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out for me.”

The sounds of approaching horses interrupted them.  Dominic rode up on Shadow, leading Dontas.  He had a new breastplate on, though it did not seem to fit particularly well.  Jonas looked meaningfully at it, a slight smile on his face.

“It was the best I could find.”  Dominic said with a shrug of his shoulders.  “I will have Norlan make a new one, if we return.”  He handed the reins of Dontas to Jonas.  “We are ready to go.”

Jonas climbed into the saddle and faced Silvan and Hailyn.  He raised a hand.  “Go with the blessings of the One.  May He see you safely home.”

“As with you and our brothers and sisters as well.”  Silvan replied, nodding her head.

With that, Dominic and Jonas rode over to join Alleon and his soldiers, the chosen clerics falling in behind Jonas.  Amid the shouts of encouragement from the assembled soldiers, many raising their swords or spears in salute, the smaller group rode through the rest of the force and headed east on the road, quickly disappearing around the bend.

Captain Grashin called the rest of the solders back into order and began to turn everyone around.  It was cramped on the narrow forest road and took nearly thirty minutes to get the wagons turned around and his force deployed as he wanted it.  Once he was satisfied, he rode over to Keria, who was back in her carriage.

The carriage had two soldiers to drive it, both armed with bows.  Silvan had arranged ten of her clerics around the carriage for protection; the rest were dispersed throughout the formation.  Along with Marcus, who was on his horse next to the carriage, twenty soldiers were assigned to guard it directly, staying as close as the road would allow.