The Dragon's Champion (26 page)

“I will,” Marlin
replied with a humble bow of his head. “This order recognizes the Keeper of
Secrets as the agent of the Ancients. We will heed your counsel always.”

Master Lepkin
nodded. “There is still a vacancy in the tribunal,” Lepkin said as he pointed
back to the high-priest he had also told to step down. The high priest
immediately scrambled out of his chair and knelt before Lepkin. “The new
prelate shall pick a replacement that is honorable.”

Marlin nodded
and bowed again.

“I will step
down, as you have asked, but allow me to stay in the temple?” the high-priest
pleaded.

“I will let the
new prelate decide your fate,” Lepkin replied. Lepkin pointed to the ex-prelate
with his flaming sword. “I want this man cut off from the temple. Get him out
of my sight.” A pair of guards rushed in and swept the ex-prelate away. He was
still moaning and grabbing his head as he was taken out.

“What has the
Keeper decided about the test, and of Erik’s family?” Marlin asked.

“The test will
have to wait,” Lepkin decided.

“That was some
display,” Al said after they had all gone into a bed chamber to allow Lepkin to
rest. Erik nodded silently.

“Erik,” Lepkin
said softly. “No one can force you to take the test. If you decline to take it
then your decision must be respected. Know that neither I nor Al will ever
force you into this.”

“I know,” Erik
said. “I’m sorry I broke into Al’s study.”

Master Lepkin
chuckled softly. “Yes, I thought you had promised not to do that sort of thing
anymore after you were caught in Lady Dimwater’s study.” Lepkin lay down on his
back and placed a wrist over his eyes. “Are the healers on their way?”

“Yes,” Dimwater
said softly. “They are coming.”

“Why can’t you
help?” Erik asked innocently.

“I was in a
great battle recently. Most of my energy was expended. It will take me several
days to recover.”

“So, will either
of you be coming with me?” Erik asked.

“I am afraid we
will have to wait,” Dimwater replied. “I am too weak, and Lepkin must have time
to recover from his wounds.”

“It sounds like
the two of you ran into some warlocks,” Al guessed.

“Yes,” Dimwater
replied. “They were of the same order as Tukai. The one I met was much more
powerful though. I think he had been using a Shadowfiend’s help to supplement
his magical abilities.”

“Could it have
been the work of Be’alt the Black?” Lepkin asked.

“It’s possible,
but it could have been another.” Dimwater sat on the bed next to Lepkin and
gently wiped the man’s forehead with her sleeve. “Why didn’t you tell me that
you tried to leave the monastery?”

“You knew why I
couldn’t come. The horde was there,” Lepkin replied.

“But I never
knew that you had tried to come before you saw the horde,” Dimwater said with a
tear sliding down her cheek. “That makes a world of difference to me.”

Lepkin peered at
her from under his wrist and smiled faintly for her.

The door opened
and in walked Marlin, the new prelate, flanked by six other men in white robes.
“I have brought the healers.”

“Shouldn’t you
be in the council chamber,” Al scolded playfully.

“The new bishop
is very quick to take to his position. He is whipping everyone into shape as we
speak.”

“Good,” Lepkin
said with a chuckle. “I am sure he will do well.”

“I must ask
everyone to leave. Lady Dimwater, three of these healers have come for your aid
if you would like.”

“Does the new
prelate not see me in the same light as the last?” Lady Dimwater asked.

“Even when
judging by auras, some are too blinded by the first colors they see to notice
the heart within. Forgive the others.”

“It is
forgotten,” Dimwater said.

“As for me,”
Marlin continued. “I see only an ally to the cause. I am honored to have one
who engenders the love of the Keeper in the temple. Perhaps I could be so bold
as to ask for the honor of officiating at the wedding, if there is to be one.”
Both Lepkin and Dimwater turned red in the face. “Forgive me,” Marlin said. “I
see the love each of you carries for the other. I just assumed that it might be
a desire for you both.”

“The only way I
can earn the right to Dimwater’s hand is if Master Orres draws his sword
against me. As I failed to show up for the duel, I have lost the right to
initiate any challenge for her hand.”

“And Master
Orres did not want your hand after he won it?” Marlin asked puzzled.

“For the same
reason your order thinks I defile the temple, Master Orres holds the right to
my hand but refuses to either marry me, or let Lepkin marry me,” Dimwater said
quietly.

“Ah, forgive
me,” Marlin said. “Is there any other way?”

Lepkin sat up
and propped his elbow underneath to hold himself up. “Would everyone excuse
us?” he asked. Dimwater and Al gave Lepkin questioning looks but they both
nodded their heads. The healers all stepped out first, then Lady Dimwater. Al
grabbed Erik’s shoulder and started to lead the boy out but Lepkin protested.
“Erik can stay.”

Al glanced
between the two and then shrugged as he walked out.

“What can I do
for you?” Erik asked.

“We shall see,”
Lepkin said with a smile. “Forgive me for not telling you about Gelleirt
monastery before. I did not want you to find out about it like this.”

“It is alright,
Master Lepkin,” Erik said with a smile.

“There is a
journal in the saddlebag sitting on the floor by the wall. The pages are blank
on the inside. Can you go and get it, Erik?” Erik nodded and rushed to get the
journal.

“Is this it?”

“Anecdotes of
the Forgotten Traveler,” Marlin said as he caught a glimpse of the title.
“Might I ask whose journal it is?

“First I must
ask something,” Lepkin said. “How good is Erik? Can he discern between truth
and error?”

“Most of the
time,” Marlin said.

“Could he tell
if you were lying, or trying to hide something?” Lepkin asked. Marlin frowned,
but nodded that Erik would know.

“I have been
training with Marlin, er I mean the prelate,” Erik said.

“You may call me
Marlin,” Marlin said with a smile. “We are first and foremost, friends, never
to be separated by titles and offices.” Marlin roughed Erik’s hair and then
looked back to Lepkin. “Erik would know if I tried to lie. What is it you ask
of me?”

“There is one
way that I can win back the right to Lady Dimwater’s hand,” Lepkin said. Hope
glinted in his eyes as he held up the book. “If I find proof of misdeeds by
Orres, or if I can find anything that disputes his honor, I will have the right
to challenge him again.”

“Ah, so this is
Orres’ journal then?” Marlin asked.

“It is locked
with a spell. The words are invisible. I can not unlock it, but I can’t have
someone else unlock it either unless I am certain that the person doesn’t
tamper with it.”

“Ah, so you
would have me unlock the journal for you, with Erik here to verify that I have
not tampered with it. Is that it?” Marlin asked.

“That is what I
want. Can it be done?”

Marlin looked
back to Erik. “I must explain that if we do this, and Orres proves to be in
fault, he and your master will duel to the death. If you help me unlock this
journal, you will be partly responsible.”

Erik mulled that
over in his head for a moment. “I will do it on one condition,” he said. “After
this, I am allowed to return to my house and help my father. I think I know
what the prophecy means, and I think I can beat it.”

“Erik, the
prophecies of warlocks cannot be beaten, they will always come true. Perhaps
not in the way we expect, but they’re always fulfilled,” Master Lepkin replied.
His smile was kind and gentle, helping a little to take the edge off of his
words. “But, if that is your wish, then I grant it. However, I ask that you
allow Al to accompany you. He is a fine warrior, and will put your life above
his own if need be.”

“I could send
some members of the temple guards as well,” Marlin offered.

“The temple
guards are not looked upon well by most citizens of the realm,” Lepkin
countered. “Besides, two horses are quieter than six or eight. And, I will need
the guard here.”

“I understand,”
Marlin said quickly.

“So, I can go
right after this journal is unlocked?” Erik asked.

“As long as Al
goes with you,” Lepkin said with a nod.

“So, what do we
do to unlock the book?” Erik asked.

*****

Janik stretched
his left leg and rubbed behind the knee with his right hand. Senator Bracken
sat across the table from him, with his attendants sitting well out of earshot
at another table in the back of the little inn.

“The pain is
still there?” Senator Bracken asked.

“Demons inflict
wounds that have ways of sticking with you,” Janik replied with a crooked grin.
“But you know all about that, don’t you?” Senator Bracken smiled back and
nodded as he sipped some of his ale from the dark ceramic mug before him. “How
did your meeting with King Threntonsirai go?”

“Better than I
had hoped,” Senator Bracken said. “As you know, the dwarf king has turned away
from the ways of the Ancients. He has also vowed to stay in Roegudok Hall, no
matter what kind of enemy attacks King Mathias.”

“He said that?”
Janik’s eyebrows shot up and he leaned back in his chair with a pleased smile
on his face.

“Well, he said
it in so many words,” Senator Bracken replied. “Your friend Lepkin showed up
too. He can vouch for my story, if he’s still alive that is.”

“I wouldn’t
underestimate him,” Janik said. “He’s harder to kill than a cockroach made of
stone.”

“So I have
heard. Either way, if he is not dead, he is certainly not in good shape. How
are things going on your end?”

“I was able to
get the knife from Orres’ safe. He had confiscated it from Eldrik only the week
before for wearing it at Kuldiga Academy. I gave it to Sir Duvall, who promptly
stuck it in the magistrate’s back.”

“I bet that did
not sit well with Mr. Stilwell,” Senator Bracken chuckled.

“No,” Janik
replied as a barmaid came over and refilled his mug. “They certainly keep good
help around this inn,” Janik said, looking over the woman’s figure.

“Yes, they do,”
Senator Bracken agreed. He eyed the short, blonde woman from head to toe with
thirsty eyes. “I shall have to make a point of returning here after our
business with House Lokton is concluded.” The barmaid blushed shyly and
skittered away quickly once she was done filling their mugs. “Back to the topic
at hand,” Senator Bracken said after watching the barmaid leave. “What do we do
about Erik?”

“Ah, yes the boy
still walks among the living,” Janik said. “We can’t have that.”

“No, we can’t,”
Senator Bracken replied wickedly.

“Not to worry my
friend. I have Sir Duvall bombarding Valtuu Temple with pleas for Erik to
return home and defend House Lokton’s honor. The boy did go through the Konn
Deta after all, so he is bound by honor to answer the call.”

“You forget,”
Senator Bracken interjected, raising a finger in the air. “Lepkin will never
let Erik see those messages. He knows the boy would run back. Lepkin is not
that foolish.”

“Perhaps not,”
Janik replied with a nod. “But I know Erik very well. I have befriended the boy
over many months. I know that sooner or later his curiosity will get the better
of him. He will get his hands on one of those letters, and then it is game
over. Not even Lepkin will be able to talk sense into the boy. Erik will go
back in hopes of stopping that prophecy, if nothing else.”

“You would know
better than I what will work on the boy,” Senator Bracken said with a shrug.

“Yes, I would,”
Janik agreed. “And then, once Erik, and Lepkin if he is alive,
walk
into our trap I will dispose of them.”

“Erik first of
course,” Senator Bracken put in.

“Of course,”
Janik said. “And you will be there too, to pick up the pieces of the two houses
after they clash. After all, a senator must keep order in the kingdom.”

“Indeed,”
Senator Bracken chuckled devilishly. “And all the while, Wizard Erthor will be
marching on Valtuu Temple to retrieve Nagar’s Secret. Without Lepkin or Erik
there to stop him, it will be like taking candy from a baby.”

“Especially with
that overzealous prelate in charge of the place,” Janik put in. “Perhaps if we
are lucky, the prelate will already have sent Erik through the Test of Arophim
and the boy will be dead. No matter though, for if Erik is alive, the prophecy
of Tukai will nag at his core until he finally returns.”

“Mmm, I suppose
that might work,” Senator Bracken replied. “Let us drink to the memory of
Tukai.” Senator Bracken raised his mug into the air. “His sacrifice will not be
in vain.”

“Truly, he will
receive his reward when the book is found and opened.” Janik clicked his mug to
Senator Bracken’s and then the two drank deeply. The door to the inn opened
then. The night air swept in like flooding water. The two looked up and smiled
at the sight of Sir Duvall.

“Greetings,
gentlemen,” Sir Duvall said quietly as he removed his cloak.

“You are late,”
Janik said as Sir Duvall sat in a chair next to him.

“It is harder to
get away with all of House Lokton running patrols and drills all day long. You
wouldn’t believe what I had to say to get out of drills for this meeting.”

“No matter, we
will be finished with House Lokton soon.” Janik motioned with his hand toward
Senator Bracken. “Have you been introduced?” Janik asked Sir Duvall.

“I know of Senator
Bracken, though I have not had the pleasure of meeting him.” Sir Duvall
extended his hand in greeting, but Senator Bracken did not take it.

“The senator
has, regretfully, been dead for months now. I only take the form of his body.”

“Then, who are you?”
Sir Duvall asked.

“His name is
Gondok’hr,” Janik said. “He is a member of the Order of the All Seeing Eye. He
was well acquainted with Tukai, who came to Erik’s Konn Deta feast.”

“I did not know
we were keeping company with warlocks,” Sir Duvall grumbled.

“It does not
matter who we work with,” Janik said. “It matters only that we win, and that
our allies have goals that are in line with our own.” Janik finished his ale
and smiled as he clapped Sir Duvall on the back. “Gondok’hr has been working
the senate over the last few months, and the king of the dwarves as well. We
are almost perfectly poised to make our move.”

“Except for
House Lokton and House Cedreau, that is,” Gondok’hr added with a wicked grin.
“Tell me, Sir Duvall, will the two houses fight each other?”

Sir Duvall
looked from Janik to Gondok’hr with a somber expression. He leaned forward on
the table, resting on his elbows and looking at the table for a moment before
he began speaking. “As I have sworn, I have done all that has been asked of me.
I spread the rumor of the prophecy-”