The Black Robe (The Sword and the Spell) (74 page)

Sadrin knew it was futile asking for the Goddess’s help; he’d called on her in the past when he’d been desperate, but she never spoke to peasant boys. He was wrong though, the Goddess didn’t speak to peasants, but she did speak to her servant, the High Master. There was a loud click and the secret door hidden within the bookcase swung open. For a moment he stared at it mesmerised, afraid to walk through the hidden portal which had so far eluded him, but too terrified to stay where he was. Gentle laughter tripped through his mind making him jump. It sounded like the way his little sister laughed when she was playing with her kittling, innocent and not the least bit threatening.

In its own way it settled him, and he crossed the room to peer into the space beyond but it was too dark to see anything clearly. What would happen to him if he stepped through the door and it closed behind him and never reopened again? He hesitantly stepped back and then stopped. Whatever happened to him in there it had to be better than what Borman would do to him when he discovered he’d lost his magic. Taking a deep breath he stepped through the doorway and the door closed ever so quietly behind him.

Once through the door he stood in a room so intensely dark that he could feel the weight of the darkness pressing down on him. Then slowly the darkness in the room changed until it was suffused by a soft, slightly pink glow which seemed to be coming from the walls and the dome high above him. The light appeared to be deeper around his crimson robe, and for the first time in days he felt warm and comfortable and at peace. He turned around studying the room. The sanctuary was completely round which was odd; he was certain that his own rooms and the others where the administrators worked took up at least half of the space in the circular building.

That wasn’t the only thing which was odd. He thought that the Goddess’s sanctuary would have an altar and places for people to kneel or make offerings, but the room was practically empty. There were some mouldering chests by the door which were covered in dust and looked like they had been there for a hundred summers or more. One had rotted away at a corner and wooden tokens lay scattered on the floor.

At the centre of the sanctuary stood a low stone pedestal surrounded by the remains of five broken chairs. There was another chair in front of the pedestal which was complete and was made of priceless weiswald. He wondered if the chair was meant for him to sit on whilst he talked to the Goddess. Cautiously he moved towards the chair, but then stopped and stared at it. He had the uncomfortable feeling that to touch the chair would be more than just an unpleasant experience.

Instead he studied the stone pedestal. It was a very simple structure of pitted grey stone, no different from the rock which could be found anywhere in the Silver Hills. The top of the stone was perfectly flat and smooth and completely black apart from the small, crimson disk at its centre. He knew it had to be significant and probably sacred but that didn’t matter; there was something in the symbol’s simplicity which called to him. Unafraid of the consequences he placed both hands on the smooth black surface with his fingers and thumbs touching so that the crimson disk lay in the centre of the heart shape they formed.

He was almost expecting it and didn’t startle at all when a voice echoed through his mind and through the air around him.

Welcome, Sadrin, my innocent one

and the child of my heart.

It grieves me that my people have

treated you so badly when all you have

ever wanted was to be loved and honoured.

Now your time has at last come

and all those who have mocked you

will cry out in wonder and marvel

at the power you possess.

I have taken your fire and your flames

but do not grieve for in my love I have

granted you a far greater gift

.

To you, Sadrin, I have given the power

 to call forth the Allkinds.

When he comes who has been tempered

in the fire of pain and loss

you will set the Allkinds free

to restore all things to as they were

and you will  fulfil a destiny for which

you will always be remembered

Sadrin stepped back slightly dazed but tingling with a new kind of magic he’d never felt before. It was like all the questions he’d ever wanted to ask had been answered, and the constant fear which had haunted him from the first day that fire had erupted from his finger ends had been swept away. He felt whole and complete and yet one small doubt still clung tenaciously to him.

“Sweet Goddess, how will I know how to use your gift?”

Bright laughter filled the room dispelling the last doubts he had. He knew then that when the time came, he would know exactly what to do.

*

The four of them rode forward together, Allowyn and Malingar at the front and Jonderill and Dozo behind. It was foolish really to expose their leaders to such danger, but if there was even the slightest chance that battle could be avoided and lives could be saved, then the opportunity had to be taken. At least Barrin had remained behind, and he would know how to deploy the trained men, the real soldiers in their small army, to form a defensive wall whilst the others, including the women, escaped as best as they could. Of course it shouldn’t be necessary. Borman had given his word that nobody would be harmed and all he wanted was a chance to find a solution without untold bloodshed. It was a laudable sentiment, but they all knew that Borman’s word meant nothing.”

Despite what they knew and expected of the King, he had kept exactly to their arrangement so far. There were just three of them waiting in front of the pillars and behind them, outside the city gates, a hundred mounted soldiers stood ready to come to the King’s aid if it were necessary. It wouldn’t be much help; if they had wanted to they could have killed Borman and retreated to their own lines before any of the soldiers could gallop within range. Of course the king had Sadrin at his side who could hold a defensive wall against any weapons they had or could burn them to ash in an instant if he wanted to. It was stalemate but only just.

None of them had expected to see Tarraquin there, sitting at Borman’s side, looking as if she had been invited out for a pleasant morning ride. It made sense though; they were hardly likely to attack the King and his magician with Tarraquin sitting in between them. Jonderill studied them from his position at the rear beneath the deep hood of his robe. Borman hadn’t changed at all since he’d last seen him, and Tarraquin looked just as lovely as he remembered her, only a little older and sadder.

Of them all Sadrin had changed the most since he’d last seen him up close at the second Crosslands Bridge. He looked like a man who had been ill with a fever, his features drawn and his skin waxy and pale. For a moment Jonderill wondered if Sadrin felt any remorse for the men and women he had turned to ash, but one look into the magician’s eyes gave him his answer. They were unnaturally wide and bright and Sadrin stared at him as if he was willing him to break the truce so that he could show off his powers again.

Borman waited until they had come to a standstill and had settled before he broke the tense silence. “Allowyn, this is a surprise. I thought protectors were meant to be loyal to their master in this life and the next, and yet I see that you have deserted Callabris in favour of someone more powerful. It seems betrayal runs in the family.”

He didn’t wait for a response but switched his attention to Malingar and gave him a mocking bow. “On the other hand it could be Malingar here who has put the idea into your head. He too vowed to be loyal but turned out to be foresworn, a liar and a deserter. And what of you, black robe, lurking in the rear? What are you doing in this low company, associating with turncoats and peasants when you should be standing at the side of a king where you belong?”

Jonderill pushed his horse forward next to Allowyn. “I am choosing my own path as all free men should.” He shrugged back his hood and watched for Borman’s reaction. He wasn’t disappointed at the impression he had made.

“Well, well, well. What have we here? Jonderill white robe turned to the black. The boy who accepted my hospitality and then stole the lady from me turns out to be another traitor. It would seem that you are in good company after all. Poor Callabris would turn in his grave if he had one for such betrayals.”

“Your Majesty,” Jonderill replied coldly. “I’m sure you didn’t ask to meet with us just so you could insult us. Please get to the point.”

Borman smiled and gave a mocking bow. “No, you’re right. I came to make you an offer, what was to be a simple exchange. Malingar and your lives in exchange for the lives of all your followers, but I see that the stakes have increased and I need to think again.” He glanced at Tarraquin and gave a cynical laugh. “Ah, I see the way of it now. I thought it was Malingar the lady hungered for, but she cannot take her eyes off you, magician. Now what do you think to that, Malingar? You gave away your honour and your fortune for the lady, but all she wants is to open her legs for the black robe.”

“If that is all you have to say, Borman,” snapped Jonderill, “then we will leave.”

“Oh no, please don’t, I have a really good idea. Why don’t you join me, Jonderill? Swear loyalty to me and do as I say then you can fuck the lady whenever you want. My first command to you will be to dispose of Malingar, so that he will be out of your way when you take the lady, but out of respect for Callabris, who was always mindful of his duty, I will let Allowyn and this peasant go. That is as long as they disperse their pack of rebels, I will not pursue them.”

Malingar looked at Jonderill, jealousy rising within him, almost expecting him to accept the offer, but Jonderill looked as cold and as angry as he had ever seen him. “This conversation is over, Borman.”

Borman nudged his horse forward slightly and took hold of the decorative bridle on Tarraquin’s horse. “You were always a fool, Jonderill. You have turned down a perfectly good offer which would save the lives of everyone except Malingar and, believe me, he isn’t worth saving. Think about it, Jonderill. My army outnumbers yours three to one, and Sadrin and the grey robes from the Enclave are more than a match for you. If you turn this offer down thinking you can use your magic against me then think again. One offensive spell from you and Tarraquin dies instantly. Stand against me and I will slaughter every man and woman here and make you watch whilst your friends are dismembered before I hand you over to Sadrin to burn piece by piece.”

Dozo took a pace forward next to Malingar and spoke for the first time. “That, Your Majesty, is why we have to fight. The six kingdoms can never be free whilst people like you rule.” He turned his horse around and rode back up the valley, relieved that the others were following close behind without stopping to question or argue.

“You’ll pay for that insult, peasant!” screamed Borman to their retreating backs. “I’ll kill you myself and make sure your death is a long and painful one.”

They rode in silence until they reached Barrin and the hundred men who waited for them. Barrin didn’t have to ask how the negotiations had gone, he could tell by the grim look on their faces. “How long do you think we have?”

“A candle length, two at the most.” Allowyn looked at the two slopes that led up from either side of the valley floor. They had already discussed their battle plan, all that was left was to decide on which slope they should place their command post and reserves. There wasn’t much to choose between the two, except the southern slope was slightly steeper and would give any of their people who survived the best chance to escape when they lost.

Barrin interrupted his grim observations. “Will Borman attack or do we go to him?”

Sometimes Barrin was just too eager to fight. “No, he will come to us, Dozo made sure of that.”

“Good, I’ll get everyone into position.”

Allowyn nodded and watched him ride away before looking to see where Jonderill had gone. It seemed that he too had decided that the south side of the valley was the most advantageous, as he had already positioned himself half way up the rise and was staring back down the valley in the direction of the Enclave. He walked up the hill to join him and then realised that it wasn’t the Enclave he was studying but the Pillars of the Allkinds. His heart fell a little. When he reached Jonderill he went on one knee and waited for the magician’s permission to speak but his master’s attention was elsewhere, as if he was listening to something and Allowyn didn’t exist.

Protector’s didn’t usually question those they served but he had to know. “Lord, will you stay with us or will you return to the pillars to find what it is you seek?”

“I thought we were friends, Allowyn.” Allowyn flushed at the gentle reprimand and stood. “I will stay and do my part to protect you all from Sadrin and the power of the grey robes. The pillars will still be there when this is all over.” He gave a deep sigh and turned away from the distant city and the army which was gathering in front of its gates. “In the last days, as we approached the Enclave, I thought I felt the pillars call to me, but when I stood close to them, I felt nothing at all, no call or sign that they have the power I seek. It’s as if they are just stone and nothing else.”

“I’m sorry, master, I know how much you had hoped to find something here, I just wish I could help.”

Jonderill smiled. Allowyn was as good a friend as anyone could ever want. “You can help. What is to come will be as bloody as anything this land has seen, and I fear that drastic action will be called for. If the time comes and all appears to be lost, will you help me set the six kingdoms free, no matter what the cost?”

He knew what Jonderill meant; the life of the woman you love was a heavy price to pay for victory and seeing a dream fulfilled. “Yes, I will do whatever it is you ask of me.”