The Dragon's Champion (27 page)

“The prophecy is
not a rumor,” Gondok’hr cut in. “You should not insult warlocks so. The
prophecy will come to pass.”

“Yes,” Sir
Duvall said. “I meant only that I created dissent among House Lokton by
spreading it around. It has definitely affected the morale of the men Lord
Lokton commands, I can tell you that. It has gone around so much that I didn’t
even have to imply that the prophecy was behind the Magistrate’s murder. I
killed the magistrate and planted the knife of Cedreau’s eldest boy in the
man’s back and when I led Mr. Stilwell to it, Stilwell himself swore that it
was the beginning of the prophecy. The night after we spoke with Lord Lokton, I
arranged to set Mr. Stilwell free. I led him to House Cedreau and Mr. Stilwell
fired an arrow through Eldrik’s bedroom window.” Sir Duvall dug his thumbnail
into the wood of the table nervously. “Only, we didn’t kill Eldrik. Mr.
Stilwell slew Timon, Lord Cedreau’s youngest son.”

“Mmm, the irony
is delicious,” Gondok’hr said with a sneer. “I am sure the death of the
youngest son was enough to call up the armies of House Cedreau.”

“And Lord Lokton
has called his up in defense. They are to meet on the field tomorrow for a
parlay, but I will make sure that the two houses fight.” Sir Duvall stopped
digging the wood with his thumbnail and looked up with a grin of his own. “When
Lokton and I ride out to parlay with Lord Cedreau and his eldest son, I will
have Mr. Stilwell hiding in the trees nearby. He has instructions to fire his
arrow and kill Eldrik.” Sir Duvall sat back and folded his arms proudly.

“And what if
Eldrik is not involved with the parlay?” Gondok’hr asked.

“No problem,”
Sir Duvall said with a wave of his right hand. “Mr. Stilwell will kill Lord
Cedreau instead, and if neither of them show up for the parlay, then Mr.
Stilwell will slay Lord Lokton with the arrow. Any way it goes down, it will
look as though one house has betrayed the other. The knights will not stand for
it. There will be blood tomorrow, a lot of it.”

*****

Erik and Al rode
hard and fast, skirting the southern border of Lord Cedreau’s land and heading
for Lokton Manor as fast as they could. Both of their horses were lathered with
sweat, but neither steed showed signs of slowing. Goliath led the way, with
Erik on his back. Al was two horse lengths behind, but keeping up pretty well.
Since leaving the temple they had not stopped, except to sleep for just a
couple of hours and rest their horses. They either ate their meals while
riding, or skipped the meals altogether.

They arrived at
the border between House Lokton’s holdings and House Cedreau’s just before
noon. They rode to the top of a fairly large foothill, covered with green and
brown grasses, to afford them a look around. Erik stood in his stirrups and
looked out beyond the forest on the other side of the hill. His heart almost
stopped in his chest when he saw the two armies facing each other. He hoped he
wasn’t too late.

The two armies
consisted of several hundred men, most carrying spears, led by a score or so
men on horseback. Lord Lokton rode in front of House Lokton’s army. Erik could
tell because he could see the green cape flowing in the wind behind as Lord
Lokton trotted his horse proudly toward the center of the field. Another knight
rode with him, though Erik could not tell who it was. None of the knights in
Lord Lokton’s service wore distinguished capes or carried flags. Their armor
was all made by Demetrius, so there was no telling them apart, except for the
family crests they would display on their shields, and Erik was too far away to
see the knight’s shield.

Two men rode out
in front of House Cedreau’s army. Erik guessed that the one was Lord Cedreau,
as he also wore a flowing cape with the colors of his house. The other man next
to him looked to be one of the knights in his service, but Erik couldn’t tell
for sure.

“They are going
to parlay,” Al said.

Erik nodded. “I
know.”

“If that
prophecy is true, it could be that you get your father killed by riding down
there to help. The other army might see it as a sign of aggression,” Al said.

“I should ride
at my father’s side,” Erik said. “Perhaps if we come toward the back, from that
side of the forest over there we won’t look like a threat.” Erik pointed to a
far of section of the forest.

“Perhaps,” Al
said noncommittally.

Erik turned and
was about to say something when shouting erupted from the field. He snapped his
head back around to see what had happened. Lord Cedreau was on the ground. “Did
he fall from his horse?” Erik asked.

“No boy, he
didn’t. I think someone struck him with an arrow, but I can’t be certain from
this distance.” The two armies started sprinting across the field at each
other.

Erik’s mouth
fell open in horror as he watched Lord Lokton and the knight at his side flee
the scene. They were galloping back to the safety of the army. “Come on,” Erik
said. He urged Goliath onward. Al grunted and offered a quick prayer to the
Gods while trying to keep up.

“Erik, your
blade will not make a difference in this battle, we should sit it out,” Al said
as the two loped toward the tree line on their horses. Erik shot him a sour
look and clenched his jaw. He spurred his horse faster. Al’s horse stumbled as
its right foreleg went straight into a prairie dog hole. The dwarf launched
into the air and slammed into a half grown pine tree. He would have called out
to Erik, but the wind had been knocked out of him. At the pace Erik was riding,
Al wasn’t sure the boy would have heard him anyway. Mentally he berated the boy
and fumed about the impatience of the tall folk.

By the time Erik
entered the forest, sounds of battle had overtaken the entire area. Metal rang
out like thunder and the shouting and wailing of men rose and fell like great
waves of the sea. He hoped his father would be alright. Grudgingly, he slowed
Goliath down to a quick trot. The forest was too dense for galloping at full
speed.

He wound through
the trees as fast as he dared. He didn’t want his horse to stumble or lose its
footing on the thick underbrush or the dead tree limbs that cracked and snapped
below its hooves. Erik turned back to say something to Al, and then realized
that the dwarf was not with him. Erik looked all around, scared that perhaps Al
had been taken down by unseen enemies that had hid in the forest. Finally he
saw the dwarf standing near his fallen horse. The horse was obviously hurt.

“Can’t stop now,
Al,” Erik apologized in a whisper. Erik turned away from Al and went on with
Goliath. He made it about half way through the thick mass of trees when Goliath
stopped suddenly. Erik tapped the horse with his heels, but the animal did not
move. “Come on, boy, we can’t stop now,” Erik pleaded. “We are too close.”

A twig snapped
to Erik’s right. Erik drew his sword before his mind had even wrapped itself
around the noise. He was not alone.

*****

“It is done,”
Mr. Stilwell said with a smile on his face.

Sir Duvall
smiled. “That was a good shot, my friend,” Sir Duvall said. “An inch to the
right or left would not have been fatal, but then again, you always were the
best shot I knew.” Sir Duvall dismounted and motioned for Mr. Stilwell to
follow him to a small grove of trees. “There is someone I want you to meet.”

“Who?”
Mr. Stilwell asked. Sir Duvall just nodded toward
that grove. The two entered the grove and inside stood a man with senatorial
robes. “What is this?” Mr. Stilwell asked. His hand went down to his sword. Sir
Duvall took a few steps back and patted the air with his hands.

“Steady, my
young friend,” Gondok’hr, still in the form of Senator Bracken, said. “I have
asked to meet you only because I admire your courage.” Mr. Stilwell looked from
the senator to Sir Duvall. His face showed his distrust. “I understand your
trepidation, Mr. Stilwell, but it is unwarranted.”

“Mr. Stilwell,
this is Senator Bracken,” Sir Duvall said, for that was how he was told to
introduce Gondok’hr.

“What do you
want with me?” Mr. Stilwell asked.

“I understand
that you were able to take justice into your own hands, is this so?” Senator
Bracken asked.

Mr. Stilwell
looked back to Sir Duvall. Sir Duvall nodded and smiled, showing that Senator
Bracken could be trusted. “It is true. Lord Lokton would not enact justice, so
I did.”

“That is very
impressive,” Senator Bracken commented. “Have you told anyone else about this?”

“No, senator, I
am not a fool,” Mr. Stilwell said proudly.

Senator Bracken
looked into Mr. Stilwell’s eyes for a moment, as if searching for the truth of
the man’s words. Finally he nodded his head and smiled. “He hasn’t told anyone.
That is good.” Senator Bracken looked up to Sir Duvall. “And I trust you were
also equally discreet?”

“Of course,
senator,” Sir Duvall said. “I would not dare jeopardize my assignment.”

“Good, I am glad
to hear it.” Senator Bracken turned back to Mr. Stilwell and smiled warmly.
“Sir Duvall has struck a deal with an associate of mine. In return for causing
disharmony between the two houses, he has been promised a grand estate, with
vast holdings. What has Sir Duvall promised you, Mr. Stilwell?”

“What is he
talking about, Sir Duvall?” Mr. Stilwell asked. His hand hovered back over his
sword.

“What are you
doing?” Sir Duvall asked Senator Bracken.

“Ah, so Sir
Duvall hasn’t told you that it was really he who killed your cousin, the
magistrate?” Senator Bracken pressed. The warlock could feel the rage rising
within Mr. Stilwell. To Gondok’hr, the smell of a man’s rage was better than
the smells of a feast. He enjoyed toying with people in such ways.

“That is crazy, I
would never do anything like that,” Sir Duvall lied. Mr. Stilwell loosened his
sword from its scabbard and took two steps toward Sir Duvall. The knight pulled
his own sword free and held it at the ready.

“I trusted you,”
Mr. Stilwell shouted. “I killed those people.”

“Ah yes, Lord
Cedreau and his young son,” Senator Bracken cut in with a laugh. “They were
completely innocent, I can tell you that for sure. I’m sorry Mr. Stilwell, but
it looks like you are very much the fool.”

“Enough,” Sir
Duvall yelled at the false senator.

Mr. Stilwell
lunged forward and swung blindly with his sword. Sir Duvall blocked the wild
swings and came in low with a stab to Mr. Stilwell’s midsection.

Gondok’hr
watched the scene unfold with delight. His elation peaked when Mr. Stilwell
fell on his back, clutching the mortal wound in his stomach. The man tried to
curse Sir Duvall, but there was not strength enough left in him for it.

“That was
lovely,” Senator Bracken said after Mr. Stilwell’s life had seeped from him.

“Why did you do
that?” Sir Duvall asked. “We could have used him. That was completely
unnecessary. Besides, you put me in danger with that stunt of yours.”

“My, my, Sir
Duvall, quite the temper you have there. But I am afraid that this man was no
more than a loose end that needed tying off. As for the danger, let me ask you
something. Which man in this grove is the most powerful?”

Sir Duvall
scrunched his eyebrows into a knot above the bridge of his nose. Then, as if
realization had dawned on him his mouth opened wide and he dropped his sword to
the ground. “Wait, I’m not a loose end. I can still be of use. Don’t do this, I
beg of you.”

“I like it when
men beg for their lives,” Gondok’hr said with a smile. “Though, it is not as
pleasing to me as when they become angry enough to fight for their lives. That
is a much sweeter entertainment for me. But I shall make do with what I have
before me.”

“No, please, I
won’t tell anybody. I can still help.”

“That won’t be
necessary anymore,” Gondok’hr replied with a wicked grin. The warlock stretched
out a bony finger and pointed at Sir Duvall. The knight turned and fled. The
last sound he heard was the cackle of lightning.

*****

“Erik, is that
you?” a familiar voice called out from the nearby brush. “It’s me, Janik,” the
man said.

“Janik?”
Erik asked, lowering his sword just a bit. A smile
creased his face when his crippled friend limped out from the bushes. Erik
wondered why he was here, and how he had gotten here. Janik’s forest garb and
sword attested that this was no chance journey. “What are you doing here?” Erik
asked as he jumped down from Goliath.

“I came to check
on you and your father. I heard you were sent away from Kuldiga Academy, so I
thought you might be here. It looks like I came in the nick of time.”

“You did,” Erik
replied. “Come on, we have to get to my father, he is in the battle.”

“I’m afraid I
can’t let you do that,” Janik said with a frown. “I have heard about the
prophecy that Tukai gave at your Konn Deta feast. I don’t want to risk it
coming true.”

“But my father might
die out there right now. We have to go to him.”

“Don’t worry, my
friend,” Janik said with a big wave of his sword. “Lady Dimwater is here, and
she has woven a protection spell around your father.”

Erik’s heart
skipped a beat. Could it be true? Could Lady Dimwater be here already? She had
said she needed to rest. But, then again, if she had been able to rest a little
bit she could have used her magic mirror to get here even before he and Al
arrived. He was about to ask about it when Janik spoke first.

“Is Master
Lepkin with you?” Janik asked.

Erik shook his
head slowly. If Lady Dimwater had come, surely she would have told Janik about
Lepkin’s condition. Something wasn’t right. “No, Lepkin is not with me.”

“Where is he,
Erik, is he alright?” Janik pressed.