The Crystal Legacy (Book 2) (39 page)

“Well, luckily for him, the captain’s aide at the time slipped on the battlements a few weeks after the new man’s arrival, so when his qualifications fit and the occasion arose, we promoted him. Good thing, too. The sally port gives us the opportunity of getting behind the enemy in case of attack.”

“Your grace, I think there’s been a plot here. I think the aide never worked for the King of Sengenwha. I think he was a plant sent to you by the Dark Lord. Most likely, he got employment here due to his record, which you never checked out. The courier will be able to verify that.”

“Who knows if the references were checked out? He seemed the man for the job.”

“I think he established himself, then
pushed
the captain’s former aide off the battlements. The aide’s requirements were the qualifications he claimed to have,” Saxthor continued. He’d stopped pacing and faced the duke with his analysis. “The man knew he was best qualified to get that promotion. As the captain’s aide, he had the run of the fortress, did he not?”

The duke began pacing, staring at the floor, trying to remember things. “Yes, he did.”

“I expect in that position, he had easy and unobserved access throughout the castilyernov. He was the aide that suggested the sally port, am I correct?” Saxthor asked.

The duke sank into a chair. “Yes, he suggested the sally port. He wanted the captain to take credit for it, but the captain told me it was really his aide’s idea.” Jedrac looked up at Saxthor then slammed his fist on the chair’s arm. “The captain is the most loyal man in this dukedom.”

“So the aide oversaw the sally port’s construction and then disappeared?”

“Yes,” the duke said. “What’re you suggesting?”

“The sally port was completed about two months ago, about the time the orcs started slipping over the mountains?”

“Yes,” He paused. “You think they’re coming through the sally port?” He jumped up, alert now despite the wine at dinner. “That can’t be! Someone would have to open the door, and they’d have to get past the guards.”

“The captain’s wife left and hasn’t been heard from since about that same time?”

“What does that have to do with this?”

Saxthor was again pacing.

“Suppose the captain’s aide gets into a position of trust in the citadel, notes the defenses, and builds the sally port. Then he convinces the captain’s wife to go to see distant relatives. When she disappeared, he either lured or kidnapped her and holds her hostage. Threatened with losing his family, they force the captain to open the sally port and let orcs through the citadel at night. He has keys, posts the guards, and knows their schedules. He’s the one man who could sneak the orcs through unnoticed and unsuspected.”

The duke hunched over in the chair wringing his hands.

“I want to think it can’t be, but the timing coincidences match up, I can see it. How could I have been so blind? I blame myself for all of this. Why did I allow myself to be talked into a sally port when the existing defenses were impregnable?” He stood up. “The Dark Lord knows every aspect of the Hadorhof fortifications now, doesn’t he?”

“Yes.”

The duke moved to a writing table and started writing out an order, then stopped, crumpled the paper, and tossed it into the fire.

“Better not write anything down. I’ll send a courier tonight to King Calamidese and see if this man ever existed there.” Duke Jedrac looked at Saxthor. “What made you suspect?”

“When the captain took us to the sally port, he said it hadn’t been used, but there were no cobwebs in the hall or the stairwell. On the floor of the hallway and stairs were small bits of heavy grass, like that used in orc sandals. Both you and he said boots were standard issue, and all your soldiers wear boots. I think you’ll note heavier boot usage by the captain than the other soldiers. You can verify that with the supply officer.”

“I’ll have the captain publicly executed.”

The duke was turning red and heading for the chamber door. Saxthor grabbed his arm to stop him.

“No, don’t do that. First, the captain is doing this to save his wife and children. Besides, we don’t want the Dark Lord to know we’ve discovered his plan. Then he’d change it. Better we know what he’s doing,”

“No, we don’t want to give him another edge.”

“Send the courier to Sengenwhapolis secretly for verification that the aide was never in Sengenwha,” Saxthor said. “Then you must get the captain’s family back, if they’re still alive.”

“You’ve figured out all the rest. Do you have a plan for rescuing the wife and children?” the duke asked.

“Pick guards you’re certain are loyal to you. Then tell the captain you’re going to be away from the palace for two nights. He’ll arrange for orcs to pass through the fortress. Station your personal guards at the exit to snatch and dispatch the orcs when they come through on the other side so the captain thinks they succeeded. Keep quiet about it. Keep doing this for a while until you can get the verification from Sengenwha.”

“At least it’ll stop the flow of orcs through the Hadorhof.”

Saxthor nodded. “Then, when you know, confront the captain in the presence of your guards only. Keep it secret. The captain will no doubt confess. He’ll be willing to help. Have him demand that he get back his family. Dreaddrac will comply. They think he's more afraid they’ll expose him for his treasonous activities now. Once the family’s safe, seal the sally port and let it be known in the city that the captain and his family deserted and no one’s heard from them since.”

“That’s brilliant. That’ll salvage the defenses, but the Dark Lord still knows our fortification details,” the duke said.

“Well, you can begin some quiet modifications. The captain won’t volunteer additional information to Dreaddrac. He hates Dreaddrac even more than you do, now. By the time you seal the sally port and let out the captain deserted, you’ll have changed the defenses. The Dark Lord won’t know if you've discovered his plans or if the captain really deserted. That way the captain won’t be exposed, either.”

The duke turned to shake Saxthor’s hand.

“You’ll never know how much I appreciate your discovering this, Prince Saxthor. You may have saved all Hador, even the whole peninsular.”

“It was fortunate I came along when I did. It’s good to help a friend and ally.”

Saxthor bowed; Jedrac returned it. They started for the door, when Saxthor stopped the duke with his hand on his arm and faced him.

“Don’t harm the captain. He hates himself for what he’s had to do. He hates the Dark Lord more than any of us does. Forgive him and send him into the interior under a new name. Better yet, send him to Sengenwha to serve the king there. This will be a very loyal soldier in the battle if we pardon him now.”

“You’re right about that, as well,” the duke said. “The captain has been an excellent soldier and loyal until all this happened. We can’t blame him for trying to save his family, but he should’ve told us. There’s a dukedom at stake here.”

“What would you have done?” Saxthor asked. “If he had told you, could you have gotten his family back? Once it was known, they would’ve killed his wife and children.”

“Yes, we’ll send him to Sengenwha,” the duke said. He started for the door again.

“We must leave in the morning, Your Grace,” Saxthor said. “We have to go to Prertsten, and we’re late already.”

The duke stopped and turned back to Saxthor. He took Saxthor’s hand in both of his and shook it firmly.

“We understand. We thank you for your visit and your help. If ever we can be of service to you, you’ve but to let us know.” The duke took off his crest ring. “Take this ring. If ever you need us, send us this ring and let us know where and when.”

Saxthor accepted the ring and returned to his apartment. When he arrived, he said good night to Tournak, who immediately fell back into a sound sleep.

The next morning Saxthor and Tournak joined the duke in his quarters on the next floor up. There they had a lavish meal and more compliments and expressions of appreciation. Following breakfast, the duke personally saw the men off from the Hadorhof’s massive gate.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Grace.”

“Should you have any problems with anyone in the city, in all of Hador, just show them the ring,” the duke said. He waved still as they disappeared into the plaza traffic.

“What’s the ring about?” Tournak asked. “I see you have another one. The dragon ring not enough power for you?”

“The duke gave me the ring in appreciation for some help last night,” Saxthor replied.

“Why do I always get half the story?”

They made their way through the city to the wizard’s shop on Okken Street, where a mob surrounded Astorax, touching, feeling, and asking endless questions. Ever the opportunist, Persnella was selling the shop out to the walls. Hendrel was at the door to control the curious and looked over to see Tournak and Saxthor coming toward the shop. All the members of the old troupe now reunited, they greeted each other with hugs.

Then Saxthor and Astorax looked at each other for a second, neither seeming to know what to say. Astorax didn’t care about conventions; he stepped forward and hugged the prince, as well.

“You stood up for me in front of the duke, when other men have maligned me. You saved my life when you knew nothing about me. It says a lot for your faith in Hendrel. I think we three will be bound for life by the relationship formed in those moments in the audience hall.”

Saxthor was speechless and could only return the hug.

“He’s right, you know, you saved us from a terrible ordeal back there,” Hendrel said.

“Have you had something to eat?” Persnella asked, blowing frazzled hair back from her face. “We still have some food on the table if you’re hungry.”

“I thought you sold that, too,” Hendrel said and got a frown for it.

“Yes, thank you. We ate at the Hadorhof,” Saxthor said, turning to the others. Persnella seemed to have warmed up to the invading flock of guests.
“It’s time we got on the road. Tournak, did you get enough supplies, or do we need to buy something else for the journey?”

“I think we have everything. I’ll go and check. Bodrin, you and Tonelia come help me pack.”

“We thank you for your kind hospitality, madam,” Saxthor said to Persnella, who now seemed sad to see them leave. She dried a tear.

“I find I like having all my husband’s crazy friends around. Just as I get used to you, you save his life and all run off.” After a quick, fragile smile, she looked Saxthor in the eye and added, “I can’t thank you enough for saving my Hendrel’s life. I’ll always be grateful to you for that.” She held his hand a moment, squeezed it, then turned back into the shop. The others prepared to move on.

“Hendrel, perhaps you should stay here and mind your store,” Saxthor said. “Your wife has been too long without you, and it’s left her frightened, I think.”

“She understands. I’ve left her with enough money to keep her comfortable for a very long time. The duke’s messenger came first thing this morning and delivered it. I don’t know what you said to him, but it sure made him generous. Besides, Astorax and I’ve discussed it, and we’ve decided that where you’re going, you’re going to need friends.”

“I have nowhere to go in particular,” Astorax said. “Things seem to go better when I’m with you people … well, not
always
, I mean that dungeon, well …”

“Okay, enough of that now,” Hendrel said. He slapped Astorax on the back and turned him into the shop, much to the disappointment of the herd of children swarming outside. The travelers went inside and packed their gear.

“This pack is too heavy,” Tonelia said. She tried to heft it from the left then the right, but dramatized the strain.

“You have the two new outfits,” Bodrin said.

She stopped fussing and bit her lip. “That does lighten the load considerably.”

“We have warmer clothing for the next leg of our journey,” Tournak said, stepping to the door. “There’re plenty of dried foodstuffs packed in the haversacks and some fresh fruits for the first day’s trek. I even bought new arrows for my bow, and we’ve checked everything twice to be sure we’re not missing anything.”

“It’s midmorning and we need to go, my friends,” Saxthor said. The group put on their knapsacks, took their staffs, and loaded, made for the door.

“Which way, Saxthor?” Bodrin asked.

“We go to the Hadorhof.”

“I never did get to see the castilyernov up close. Is it as impressive as it appears from the outside?”

“I think you’ll find it so,” Tournak said.

Hendrel and Astorax looked at each other. Their less favorable impression showed. They said nothing, knowing they were secure under Saxthor’s protection. Hendrel said goodbye to his wife, and the group moved out behind Saxthor.

When they arrived at the Hadorhof, Saxthor showed the duke’s ring. The guards immediately admitted them and took them to the central audience chamber. Informed of their arrival, the duke came to assist them.

“How may we help you, Prince Saxthor?” the duke asked, again shaking Saxthor’s hand.

Saxthor whispered to the duke, who nodded his agreement. “We’ve already sent the captain on an errand this morning, getting him out of the fortress for the day,” the duke said in Saxthor’s ear.