Sword of Light (34 page)

“So, we are going to assault the palace from the inside?”  Marcus asked.  “Even if Helgrant can get enough Guardsmen to overcome my father’s men, fighting in the palace will put Keria at risk.  I will not allow that.”

“Stopping a demon running loose in the city is more important than anyone’s personal safety, including the princess.”  Jonas argued, though his face was compassionate.  “If we can control the palace, that denies the demon a strong location.”

“Let me go in first then.”  Marcus pleaded.  “I know my way around the palace.  I can reach Keria’s room and safeguard her when Helgrant begins his assault.”

“I will go with you, Marcus.”  Nathen stated.  “You will need someone to guard your back.”

“I will go as well.”  Daen said, looking at Helgrant.  “If the Commander approves.”

“We are all sworn to protect the royal family and have made a mess of it.”  Helgrant said.  “If you three believe that you can reach and defend the princess, then you have my permission and blessing.  I will gather as many of the Royal Guard as I can find to assault the palace.  We will seek out the king once we are inside.”

“I will send my clerics with you.”  Jonas said.  “If the demon is there, you will need their power.”

“What are you going to do, Jonas?”  Marcus asked.

“I am going to follow Nathen’s path back to the dungeons.”  Jonas said, face turning grim.  “With the Royal Guard dispersed, we do not have enough men to assault both the dungeons and the palace.  The palace must take priority for your men.  If the demon is still in the dungeons, I plan on confronting and destroying it.  If it is gone, then I will attempt to track it down.”

“I will go with you.”  Norlan interjected.  He had been sitting there silently, listening to the conversation.  “I am not a soldier, but I will not allow you go off by yourself.  There may be normal men there as well, so your power will not be enough.”

“You should stay with your family-.”  Jonas began.

“I have pledged myself to this cause.”  Norlan interrupted, voice firm.  “I cannot stand by while you all risk everything to save our city.”

Jonas could tell that Norlan would not be dissuaded.  “I will welcome your presence, Norlan, but you must agree to flee if I tell you to.”

“We can discuss that when it comes to pass, Jonas.”  Norlan stated, crossing his arms.

Even as Marcus thought of what Norlan had said the previous night, Norlan appeared from the Temple, walking next to Jonas.  Marcus was surprised when they stopped nearby.  Norlan was wearing a heavy breastplate, his thick arms bare, holding a large wooden maul in his hand, a single metal spike extending from each end of the head of the hammer.  He was holding the leash to Maxis in the other, the big dog staying close.

Marcus and Helgrant joined them.  “Where did you get your armor and weapon, Norlan?”  Marcus whispered.

“I made them following the attack on the city.”  He replied quietly.  “I was determined to be properly prepared to defend my family, if the need rose again.”

“Where are Madalin and Cherise?”  Marcus inquired.

“I sent them to stay with friends and told them to flee the city if I do not return by the morning.”  Norlan said.  He reached over and patted Maxis.  “Cherise insisted that I take the dog.”

“We are as ready as we are going to be.”  Jonas said, his staff resting in the crook of his arm.  “Let us do this and may the One grant us victory.”

At Jonas’ signal, Nathen took the lead, taking them back to the opening that he had come out when he escaped the dungeons.  The opening was fairly small, so they had to enter one at a time.  Helgrant ordered some of his men protect the area, watching for anyone that could give away their location, while they entered into the sewers.

Marcus went through the opening, nose wrinkling at the smell, seeing what looked like a black pit directly ahead.  The stone floor, slick with moisture, began to angle down, descending into the darkness.  He saw the Guardsmen ahead of him disappear as they crossed into that blackness.  He followed, shifting his shield to his back to free his hands.  As he passed into the tunnel, a bright light suddenly shone below, lighting the narrow walls as Jonas called up his power.  He was joined by the other clerics, filling the sewer tunnels with golden light.  Marcus saw Norlan below him, Maxis pressed against his leg, as they slowly made their way down.

After all of the party was gathered in the tunnels and Helgrant nodded to Jonas, they started towards the palace.  Jonas placed clerics at the ends of their line, prepared to defend against the demon.  The tunnels echoed their passage, despite their best efforts to move quietly.

They soon came upon a cross tunnel and halted.  After glancing down the tunnel, Nathen spoke quietly to Jonas, who nodded and called them to gather closer.

“Nathen tells me that this is the tunnel that leads to the palace.”  Jonas said quietly.  “Marcus, your team will go first, followed by the rest of the force after ten minutes.  Five of the clerics will go with that force.  The other five will remain here, to protect your rear if the demon appears.  Norlan and I will continue on to the dungeons.”

He raised his hand in benediction.  “Go with the blessings of the One.  May He keep you safe and in His Light.”  With that, he, Norlan and the dog continued on, disappearing into the dark tunnels.

“Luck to us all.”  Marcus said to the others, lighting a small torch, then motioned Nathen and Daen to join him.  They started forward, the light of the clerics fading behind them.

After around five minutes of walking, they reached a set of stairs like the one Nathen had mentioned.  Marcus looked the question at Nathen, who nodded.  They paused, listening for any sounds.  Hearing none, Marcus tossed the torch into the slowly flowing water, plunging them into darkness.  He strapped on his shield and drew his sword.  Daen and Nathen followed his lead, arming themselves, and then they started up.

As they climbed, the stairs made several turns, but there was no exit that they could find.  They continued up, moving quickly, but quietly, listening for any sounds.  They were approaching another turn in the stairs when there was a sudden light ahead.

They flattened themselves against the walls, trying to stay hidden.  They heard the low sounds of men talking, and then the light faded, followed by the sound of a door closing.

They moved ahead, ascending the stairs until they came upon a wooden door.  Marcus put his ear against the door, listening.  He could not tell if anyone was on the other side.  He took a deep breath, slowly lifting the latch, the metal squeaking slightly as it rubbed against the doorframe.  Lunging forward, he threw the door open and leapt into the opening.

He saw that he was in a storage room, with tools and boxes scattered around, and some straw covering the floor.  There were several torches lit and hanging on the walls.  Across the room, he saw two palace servants, the men backing away in surprise, eyes wide and disbelieving.  Marcus quickly crossed the room to confront the servants as Daen and Nathen followed him in, moving to block the door against the far wall, preventing their exit.

“Do not cry out.”  Marcus told the men firmly, raising his sword.  The men backed away until they were against the wall.  “We are here to defend the princess.  The Royal Guard will be following us shortly.  I have to prevent you from warning the others, so we will confine you here.  If you are true servants of the royal family, you have nothing to fear.  You will be released when we have accomplished our mission.”

The men complied when Daen found some rope and ordered them to kneel.  He tied off their arms, then gently laid them down and bound their feet.  Nathen tore some strips from their clothing and use it as gags.  They shifted the men behind some boxes, and then moved on, exiting the room.

They entered the hallway beyond the room.  They did not see signs of anyone else.  Moving swiftly, they went to the end of the hallway, where there was a connecting hallway, this one lit with many torches.

“Do you know where we are?”  Marcus asked, not recognizing the area.

“You have got to start interacting with the common people, Marcus.”  Nathen said lightly, though he was watching the tunnel for movement.  “This is the connecting tunnel that allows the servants to move quickly and unseen from the kitchens to the royal suites.  We need to go right.”

Nodding, Marcus led them down the hall, fully expecting to run into some servants along the way.  Surprisingly, they made it to the staircase at the end of the hall undetected.  Nathen motioned to go up.  Marcus headed up slowly, his companions right behind him, his sword ready.  When they reached a door near the top of the stairs, Nathen put a hand on his shoulder, halting him.

“This will open into the hallway that leads to the royal suites.”  Nathen whispered in his ear, so low that Marcus could almost not hear him.  “We are likely to run into guards on the other side.”

Marcus nodded and grasped the latch.  He slowly opened the door, looking out of the growing gap down the hallway.  Several feet away, he saw the backs of two of his father’s men-at-arms.  He gestured to Daen and Nathen, indicating two enemies.  When they nodded, he pushed the door open and surged forward.  The men had barely begun to turn at the noise when Marcus plunged his sword into the back of the man on the right, driving it through him, the point exiting the man’s chest.  The other began to cry out, but Daen slammed his shield into the man’s head and thrust his sword into his chest.  The man fell next to his companion.

They quickly dragged the dead men into the stairwell, closing the door behind them and continued on.  Marcus hated having to strike a man from behind, but he would do it over and over if it meant protecting Keria.  He knew the way now and hurried towards her rooms.

When he reached the hallway that led to her rooms, he paused, looking down the hall.  He stiffened when he saw Rolas and two soldiers approach her door.  Rolas said something that caused the men to laugh roughly, and then strode into Keria’s apartment.  He saw the soldiers lean against the door, listening.

“Rolas is here.” Marcus told his companions, voice cold and hard.  “There are two soldiers at the door.  I want you to deal with them while I confront my brother.”  When they nodded, Marcus charged down the hall, Daen and Nathen moving with him.

The two soldiers jerked back from the doors, hands going to their swords, as the three headed straight for them.  Marcus drove his shield into the closest one, knocking him back into his partner.  Spinning away from the impact, he charged through the doors while Daen and Nathen engaged the soldiers.

Glancing around the sitting room, he saw that Rolas was not there.  He heard Keria cry out from behind the closed doors of her bedroom.  His mind suddenly red with rage, he ran forward and slammed into the doors, shattering the locks and splintering the wood.  He stumbled briefly, but caught himself.

Across the room, near the bed, Marcus saw that Rolas had Keria by one arm while his other hand was pulling at her dress.  Marcus saw a red mark on Keria’s cheek where she had been struck.  His brother pushed her away as he spun to face Marcus.

“So, my dear brother returns.”  Rolas said mockingly as he drew his sword and stepped away from the bed.  “Playing the hero until the end.  This time, Father will not be around to save you.”

Teeth clenched in fury, Marcus closed the gap with his brother.  His brother moved quickly to counter him, his sword moving.  Marcus took the blow in his shield, slashing with his sword.  His brother danced out of the way, and then attacked.  Marcus barely deflected the stroke with his sword, and then swung his shield.  His shield clipped his brother on the shoulder, knocking him off balance, but he was able to move out of the reach of Marcus’ sword before he could strike.

The sound of the clashing steel echoed in the room as the two brothers fought.  They circled each other, stalking like predators, one attacking while the other defended.  There was no thought of quarter, the hate between them overwhelming any sense of chivalry.  They continued to attempt to land a decisive blow, but they were evenly matched.

Daen and Nathen burst into the room and moved to support Marcus.  They were closing on Rolas when Marcus shouted at them.

“No!”  He yelled.  “He is mine.  Protect Keria.”  His friends shared a look, but went over to the bed, placing themselves between the combatants and the princess.

Rolas sneered at Marcus’ warning.  “It is the other way around, little brother.  You are mine!”  With that, he surged forward, his sword spinning and darting in, attacking all out.

Marcus was forced back by the savagery of the attack, barely keeping Rolas’ sword at bay.  He stumbled against a piece of Keria’s furniture, losing his balance.  Rolas struck quickly, his sword slipping past Marcus’ guard, the point driving into the chainmail.  Marcus felt the sword tip slide into his flesh, sudden pain blooming in his upper abdomen.

He spun away, bringing shield up to deflect Rolas’ next attack.  As he did that, Rolas swung his forward leg, catching Marcus near his ankles, sweeping his feet from under him.  Marcus rolled, dodging a heavy swing that rang as the blade struck the floor, trying to get his footing.  Rolas followed, a fixed smile on his face, his sword coming down again.  Marcus was able to get his shield up in time to catch the blow.

But Rolas was overconfident, stepping too close in his approach.  Marcus desperately swung his sword, the tip catching Rolas just below his knee.  The sword bit deep and Rolas stumbled back, howling in pain.

Marcus got to his feet and charged, shield up.  Rolas tried to move, but his injured leg slowed him.  Marcus slammed into him, driving him from his feet.  Marcus thrust his sword downwards and struck Rolas just below the heart.  His brother convulsed, a strangled scream coming from his lips, and his sword tumbled free.  Marcus yanked his sword out and fell back, going to one knee and clutching his wound.

Rolas looked over at him, his visage racked with pain, but eyes filled with hate.  “You think you have won, brother, but you have already lost.”  He gasped, then shuddered once more and lay still.