The Exodus Sagas: Book II - Of Dragons And Crowns (59 page)

“As would I soldier, as would I.” Cristoff closed his eyes for a moment, trying not to think of his bloody days to come. He dreamt of Mooncrest and the thrill of adventure, a thrill he had once, long ago.

Exodus II:XIV

Castle L’Herrim, City of Harlaheim

Florin paced back and forth across the blue velvet carpet that was centered i
n the throne room of Richmond the Second. She had planned on raising the siege again to keep Kalzarius busy while she and her men found a way into the tower. The imposter queen had schemed up quite a bit with the sniveling king and on her own. Very little was going as planned. She swished her rapier through the air three times in anger, trying to force thoughts that would not come, answers to the dilemmas she found herself in.
The Crossguard Legion was reportedly crossing the Harlaheim border near Devonmir, which meant she had three days at most to have this mess cleared up. Once the cardinal was here with Agara’s most lethal army, she had better have a solid handle on everything in the kingdom. The only loose ends she could think of were Cristoff, the fugitives that assisted him from Chazzrynn, Karai, Leonard, and Kalzarius. Of course, the recent news that Kendari had
aquired
Queen Rosana
from her own agents
was disturbing at best for the lady assassin, as was hearing of Alec’s
death and that of nine other of
her own members of the underground guild
, Yari included
.

“You seem distressed my queen, how can I be of service?” Richmond had been watching her pace for nearly an hour now and was actually laughing out loud at her silent frustrations.
He knew all too well that it was all falling apart, so he drank dwarven whiskey from Fazurand and laughed at it out of a hopeless childlike demeanor.

“You could have planned
this better you know. I have your
pregnant queen
loose
with one of the deadliest and most wanted mercenaries on the continent. How that happened, I have no clue.”
Florin fumed and pointed her rapier at Richmond as she paced more, thankfully in an otherwise empty chamber.

“This, Kendari you speak of, how did he manage to get past all of your men anyway?” Richmond retorted with direct accusation.

“Why did you not just kill Rosana? Why all the dramatic flare to rally your people, Richmond? Your grandiosity with the populace has left us in more danger than you were
in
while she still sat on the throne! Do not place the blame with my contacts for your inability to kill you
r adulteress whore of a wife!” t
he domenarch of the White Spide
r
replied to the
bla
ming query that furthered her frustrations. She thought now of having to kill Kendari and take matters into her own hands, knowing this whelp of a noble had not the stomach
nor the skill
for it.

“Kalzarius in nullified, the knights of Saint Tarumin are dead or about to be, Cristoff will not last the next few days, the people have been placated, and you whine of a few loose ends? You were far more formidable as just my dirty secret weapon than in the forefront of the
barrage, Florin.” Richmond taunted again, knowing he would twist her into doing what he wanted one way or the other.

“Really?! Without me, you would have not had the ground to stand on to perform any of this! My supposed death and charges to the people gave you the power and leverage to do all you needed. In fact, you did very little, my men and my diversions did it for you. Do not bite the hand that feeds, Richmond!”

“Then do what you must to take care of the small loose ends, my queen. Take the army to Saint Erinsburg with Sebastian and Phillip. You know that she will seek Cristoff out, so raze the city and the castle to the ground. I will further the rumors of Cristoff’s betrayals and keep the fires warm here while you dispose
of the problems hiding there.
Very simple, Florin.”

“And what of the Legion? I have little time you realize
,
since they are days away now.”
s
he calmed herself as her mind began planning and releasing the angered panic.

“Then use the army as a diversion, and sneak yourself and y
our best assassins into Bradswel
l
e
n Castle at night and handle it that way if you must. I care not.” Richmond drank some wine
now
and smiled, sensing his manipulations working as planned.

“Assassins? What would give you the idea I have—“

“Do not pretend that I am an idiot, Florin. I do not know who you worked for, but there is someone or something you are connected to, that much I do know. You have resources that often surpass my own, and finding out about them has
been nearly impossible to achieve
. I have tried. I am well aware that you hold some position of power within something, that much I am certain of. I need not know, but do not play innocent with me here and now. So, take your best blades and
do it the old fashioned way.” h
is eyes never left hers, his last cards of knowledge layed out to stun her and give him the upper hand. All he wanted her to know is that he knew, and that would be enough to get her to do what he wanted; to destroy and
silence any who opposed him within his own kingdom, no matter the risk.

“And when I get caught in Saint Erinsburg, surrounded by the Crossguard Legion, you will be laughing all the way from your throne. I am not an idiot either, Richmond. I think it better if I keep my plans to myself, your majesty, the old fashioned way.” Florin bowed, sheathed her blade and strode out of the chamber to finish what they had started, her way.

“By the
way, Karai and Leonard have gone missing
.
I would suspect they are in hiding with the Order of Saint Tarumin.
If you were half a man, you would at least draw your sword and order the charge into Saint Erinsburg
yourself and let me hunt them down while you pretend to lead
.” h
er words bit hard, even Florin knew she was pushing it a tad too far.

Richmond, half drunk already, drew his sword with a childish smile. He pointed it behind his head toward the north and let the blade tip stab an innocent and ancient tapestry behind the throne. “I hereb
y order the charge, my queen.” h
is laughter rolled like the tears from his eyes as he nearly fell forward from his seat.

“You are pathetic, Rosana was right. I go to kill your enemies once more, before they ally with the legion from the church. Try not to wreck what we have acheieved in the few days I am gone Richmond.” Florin marched out of the throneroom, deciding whether to charge in or cash out and run.

LCMVXI
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Shinayne stepped up in the stirrup of her painted stallion, followed by Gwenneth, James, and Azenairk doing the same. The elven noble looked down to Saberrak and nodded, then to Norrice who was waiting ahead with an escort of ten mounted soldiers.
The newly appointed capitan of the
personal guard to Lord Bradswellen
bowed from his steed to all five of those about to embark on their journey to the west. The elven swordswoman noticed his nervousness at leading the escort to the free city of Bailey in Willborne. The elf surmised it was more to do with what would be happening in Saint Erinsburg when he returned than the actual few days of mounted travel back and forth with Shinayne and her friends.

Norrice turned his horse to the west, as did his men, keeping the pace slow until the travelers had their moment alone and chose to join them. James Andellis turned to the castle, hoping that Cristoff would come riding out of the gates to join them
,
to find the lost city and
the fabled
mines.
The sun was high in the afternoon sky and the clouds spread slowly over Saint Erinsburg as the knight of Chazzrynn procrastinated.
All was silent for uncounted moments until Saberrak huffed and began walking west toward the escorts.
Zen and Gwenneth followed on horseback. Just then, Cristoff walked out onto the battlements high on his castle walls. James drew his broadsword the same instant the the lord drew his blade, each saluting high then bringing the edge close to their faces and sheathing them together. No words were exchanged in the distance between them, none were needed.

“Come on James, your bravery and honor are needed with us. Cristoff will cross your path again, I can feel it
. Let us go.” Shinayne patted J
ames on the shoulder and turned her steed to trail the others. She kept a slow trot until she heard the whinny of the steed behind her that let her know her friend was not far behind.

The five companions caught up to their Harlian escort, Saberrak the gray was the only one on foot, which he much preferred and had little choice in since there was not a beast big enough to carry him.
Gwenneth and Zen rode ahead with Norrice and the ten soldiers of Saint Erinsburg while James stayed in the rear alone. The elven noblewoman cast her gaze down to the jogging minotaur, her aquamarine eyes squinting with difficulty on her horse. Saberrak squinted back, confused, with his dark eye
s behind the shadowy horn tattoo
s across his face.

“Problems, elf?” he huffed his steady breaths in and out as his steel scale armor jingled and chinked with every heavy step.

“I do not like horses. This is why I run alongside you or ahead most often, horses are most unstable beasts. How armies of men ride these things, I will never know.” Shinayne struggled to get comfortable on the stallion from Lord Cristoff. Given the emotional moments and his great generosity, Shinayne had decided not to be rude and decline the magnificent animal, and give the large creature a try once more.

“You should try riding one of those brahma things I rode in Chazzrynn. Much worse, more hair, slow, and dumb. I was relieved when it ran off in the night.” Sab
errak chuckled as the horse ridden by
his elven friend fought against her keeping it next to the minotaur.

“I paid good coin for that thing in Southwind Keep you realize. Had you kept in til Vallakazz, we could have gotten plenty for it.”

“You’re rich anyway, Shinayne. What’s a few coins here and there for a bit of trial and error?”

“Well the purse is running low, low for me anyway.
What I wouldn’t give to have a trained griffon from Kilikala here and now to ride.” Lady
T’Sarrin clenched her legs in the saddle, hoping the horse would reali
ze her discomfort and steady it
s pace for her.

“A griffon? What is that?” the gray gladiator grabbed the reins from the elf and kept the steed on course with him. He had had enough of being bumped into and having his feet almost tripped by swerving hoove
s and
elven steering.

“Griffons, the most graceful steed one could hope for. As large as a horse, just not as tall and wobbly. The head of a hawk with a curved beak, body and tail feline in nature, and a majestic wingspan of w
hite feathers sometimes trimmed
or dyed with blues and purples.”

“You ride them on the ground or in the air?”

“The air, usually two elves in a double saddle in times of war. One archer in the rear facing away, and the lancer in the front keeping formation. I was a captain in the Griffon Wing of Kilikala and led an army of three hundred avian cavalry.
Griffons are also far more
loyal and protective when trained right. These,
horses,
are just inferior in comparison.” Shinayne was gazing at the cloudy skies, recalling her years in the airwing, then a sudden jolt of
her
angry stallion brought her back to the moment.

Saberrak smiled through his rough and intimidating visage. “Someday, if this place truly exists to the west, perhaps you will have some of your own.”

“It exists, I have heard stories in my youth about Mooncrest
and the elven forests south of those mountains. Tintasarn was supposedly a place of great peace and solitude for the Agarian elves, before the inquisition of Altestan that divided them and led to their downfall.” Shinayne thought of how her elders would sit and talk of what could be done to restore the great elven cities that had been lost. She was young, over a century ago, but her mind recalled how great sadness prevailed at those noble meetings of the different elven races.

“So, it exists then.
Fine.
So what do we do when we get there?”

The elven noble thought from her uncomfortable pace on the horse that the minotaur led for her. “I am not sure Saberrak.
I think we will know when we get there.
I am more worried about James at the moment.
”

The gray gladiator said nothing, lowered his horns, and quickened the pace of he and the steed. He let out a grunt of displeasure and exertion as he ran with the small band on horseback.

Shinayne acclimated herself to th
e saddle over the next few hills
, and retrieved the reins from her horned companion. Her senses began to expand over the horizons, mostly due to the repetitious and rhythmic beat of hooves. She was surprised at herself for being at such a peaceful center of being while on the back of such an awkward beast. The elven noble could not feel Lavress, wherever he had journeyed to had overstretched her connection to her beloved savage hunter.
But
Shinayne could feel the conflict in James, a sadness mixed with guilt and honor. He was remaining quiet as he stewed and stormed inside over religion, God, and his purpose in life
,
and on this very road west. His thoughts of wine and battle came quick and strong, only to be dismissed with his willful banishing and struggle. She breathed in deep and tried to relax and send that calm aura to the knight of Chazzrynn. She had not ever done it before, but many older elves of Kilikala could calm others with deep focused meditation. Not wanting to see his inner pain torment him an
y
longer, she tried, not knowing if it would work or not.