The Godling Chronicles 02 - Of Gods And Elves (26 page)

“
Perhaps it's time we gave them a taste of their
own medicine,” said Dina. Lee turned and smiled maliciously. “I
intend to.”

They headed north through the delta roads for several
hours. Dozens of small bridges made good spots for an ambush, but
they passed unmolested. From time to time, they would see light from
torches several hundred yards ahead, but they disappeared before they
reached them.

“
They seek to unnerve us,” said Millet.

“
They only succeed in angering me.” Lee
slowed his horse allowing Jacob to catch up with him. “Are you
alright?”

Jacob glanced over, unaffected by their situation. “I'm
fine. Worry about yourself.”

Lee tightened his lips and spurred his horse forward to
retake the lead position. Millet joined him.

“
It will take time, my lord,” said Millet.
“He's had many years to form his opinions, but I know you can
make him understand.”

“
Thank you, my friend,” he responded. “I
hope I live long enough to do so.”

“
You've never failed before,” said Millet.
“You will not fail now. You will put your family together
again.”

“
I have to tell you,” said Lee. “This
Yanti person made a tempting offer. If I wasn't so certain that it
was a lie, I might have taken him up on it.”

Millet nodded with understanding and dropped back with
the others. They rode until it was near dawn, and Lee found a decent
place to rest and eat.

“
We rest for three hours,” he said. He
turned to Millet. “Tomorrow night, you'll take Jacob east. I'll
take Dina with me as far as Sharpstone.”

“
I really wish you would consult me about these
things,” said Dina, scowling.

“
I can't take you with me,” said Lee. “There
is a good chance I'm marching to my death, and I won't be responsible
for yours.”

“
I know I can't go with you,” she said. “But
I have no intention of being left in the middle of nowhere. I'm a
cleric in the Order of Amon Dähl, and I have my own duties. I
will go with you as far as Sharpstone, but from there I will return
to the temple.”

Lee nodded. “You're right, of course. I
apologize.”

Dina smiled, reached in her belt, and pulled out a small
flask. “Here.” She tossed it to Lee.

Lee opened the flask and the air filled with the scent
of plum brandy. “Ahhh!” He smiled, took a sip, and closed
his eyes, savoring the sweet taste. He offered it to Millet who
refused, and then called out to Jacob. Jacob turned and Lee threw the
flask to him. Without a word, Jacob took a sip and threw it back.

“
Manners, young man,” said Dina.

Jacob glared at Dina for a moment. “Thank you for
sharing your flask... Dina.”

Lee kept watch as the others tried to catch a bit of
sleep. As they were preparing to leave, he walked up to Jacob and
handed him a sealed letter.

“
What's this?” asked Jacob.

Lee pressed the letter in his hand. “Should
anything happen to me, or should Millet somehow be unable to fulfill
his promise to tell you everything, I have written it all down. Just
please don't open it until after you've reached Dantary.”

Jacob paused then stuffed the letter into his pocket.
“I'll wait.”

They kept to the road north until they reached a fork,
then veered to the right, heading northeast. By mid-afternoon they
neared the spot where they planned to split up. Up ahead, Lee spotted
a figure standing in the road. Lee scanned the area for signs of an
ambush, but could sense no one else nearby. When they were less than
one-hundred yards away, Millet sat up straight in his saddle.

“
That's Yanti.”

Lee nodded. “I'll deal with him.”

Yanti was dressed in a black shirt and trousers, with
black leather boots. His hair was tied back in a tight ponytail, and
a long rapier hung loosely at his side.

Lee halted his horse and slid from the saddle. “Yanti,
I presume.” His tone was dark and vicious. “Unless you
are here to tell me that you're on your way to retrieve my wife,
you've signed your own death warrant.”

Yanti smiled, unconcerned. “Lord Starfinder. At
last we meet. I've looked forward to this for quite some time.”
He tapped the hilt of his sword with his index finger.

“
I am saddened that you have chosen to refuse my
offer. Unwise.”

Lee slowly drew his weapon.

Yanti cocked his head. “I see you are in no mood
for idle talk. Still, I would be remiss if I didn't give you one more
chance to abandon this course of action.”

Lee turned to the others. “Should this go badly,
ride hard. Follow Millet. He knows where to go.”

“
What say you, Jacob,” called Yanti. “Will
you follow Millet?”

“
Leave my son alone,” Lee roared. “You...”
He stopped short as Jacob walked past, holding the letter he had
given him.

“
He gave me this,” said Jacob, handing Yanti
the letter. “Probably no more than sentimental drivel, but
there might be something useful.”

“
What is this?” Lee demanded.

“
I'm sorry,” said Yanti. “Jacob and I
are old friends. He's been quite helpful to our cause. Without him,
Hazrah would have been much more difficult to subdue.”

“
Jacob... you can't do this?” Lee appealed.
“Your mother—”

“
Is weak,” said Jacob cutting him off. “If
she had her way, Hazrah would still be under the yoke of the
temples.” Hatred poured from his eyes. “You know, she
never stopped believing you would return one day. She probably still
thinks you're going to save her. But she is as big a fool as you
are.”

“
As you can see,” said Yanti. “The
things you fight for are in fact fighting against you. By now your
dear wife has joined us and as you see, your son has been with us all
along.”

“
She would never betray her people.” Lee’s
face burned with fury. “And whatever you've done to my son to
make him this way... for that, I swear you'll pay with your life.”

Yanti drew his weapon and took a step back. “Come
then. Let us see if your reputation is deserved.”

Lee sprang forward, slashing through the air in a wide
arc, attempting to end the fight in a single blow. But Yanti spun to
his left with speed Lee had never encountered. If not for Lee's
training and physical power, his momentum would have sent him
sprawling.

“
Hasty, Starfinder,” taunted Yanti. “Mind
the things you have learned.” But he made no move to counter.

Lee cursed himself for such an arrogant and foolhardy
attack. Yanti was no ordinary opponent. He should have suspected as
much.

This time Lee attacked with more caution and finesse.
Short, powerful strokes rained down on Yanti, as he attempted to
throw him off balance, but to Lee's dismay, Yanti parried each blow
easily. Lee became concerned by Yanti's lack of aggression. The man
had not made a single move to attack, seeming to be content to fight
off Lee's onslaught.

“
You're trained well,” admitted Lee, taking
a step back. “But if you think to tire me out, you'll find that
will not happen.”

“
No, no,” replied Yanti, still smiling. “I
only wish to admire your skill. You have indeed been well educated in
the art of the sword. It is a pity you won't allow my master to make
you even more powerful... as he has done for me.”

With those words, Yanti charged, bringing his sword down
on Lee’s. A deafening clang of metal on metal shot through the
air, causing a flash of sparks to fly. Lee was only barely able to
raise his sword in time. The second blow whizzed by his ear and he
was forced back, nearly losing his footing.

Now Yanti began to toy with him, slashing and feigning.
Lee tried to regain advantage, but Yanti kept forcing him back and
back, until finally, Lee dropped to one knee from the force one of
Yanti's blows. Lee pushed with all his strength and gained his feet,
but he knew Yanti could finish him at any time. He glanced over long
enough to see Dina and Millet still on their horses, staring in
horror.

“
Ride, you fools,” he shouted. “Before
it's too late.”

“
It is already too late, Lord Starfinder,”
said Yanti, pointing to Jacob, who had a bow drawn and pointed at
Dina's head. “At that range he won't miss.”

“
If you let them go, I will do what you ask,”
said Lee bowing his head.

Yanti laughed softly. “Being that you are in no
position to bargain, I cannot help but be amused. Still, you have
shown courage. A quality my master values greatly... as do I. Still,
I am not foolish enough to simply kill you and allow your companions
to roam free.”

Lee tensed, ready for another assault. “Then we
end this.”

“
Indeed we do,” Yanti agreed.

In a flash Yanti raced forward. Lee attempted to side
step and counter, but Yanti was too fast. His own blade had barely
moved when he felt Yanti's blow strike home on the back of his skull.
He fell to his knees with a grunt and his sword flew from his hand.
Lee's head swam, as he looked up to see Dina weeping and Millet in
silent prayer. He marveled that he still lived. His head should have
been split in two. Then he realized that Yanti had hit him with the
hilt of his sword and not the blade.

“
You fought well.” Yanti's voice sounded far
away. Then he felt his entire body jar as Yanti delivered one final
blow. His last thoughts before darkness took him were of his wife. He
had failed her.

Chapter Twenty-One

Consciousness came slowly... and painfully. The world
around Lee spun violently. Realization washed over him. Feeling
anything at all meant he was still alive. Yanti must have spared him.
But why?

He opened his eyes and let the light filter in. The
wound on the back of his head throbbed, but he knew he had to sit up.
He had to find out if Millet and Dina still lived. He took a deep
breath and struggled to his knees. As his vision cleared, he saw that
the horses had been tied to a fallen log and their gear neatly placed
beside them. Millet and Dina were tied and blindfolded just off the
road. Jacob was bound and blindfolded just like the others, only
judging from the bruises on his face, he had been beaten.

“
Millet... Dina,” called Lee. “Are you
hurt?” He struggled to his feet and stumbled towards them.

“
We are both fine, my lord,” said Millet.
“Yanti decided to leave us unharmed.” Lee was about to
search for a knife in the gear, but saw that his weapons had been
placed beside Millet. He cut their bonds and helped them to their
feet. Dina immediately noticed Jacob and ran over, seething with
fury. She stood over him momentarily, then spat on the ground.

“
If he wasn't your son,” said Dina. “I'd
slit his throat here and now.”

“
I wouldn't blame you,” admitted Lee,
gingerly touching the back of his head. “But his fate is in my
hands, and I alone must decide what to do with him.”

“
Well, that can wait,” said Millet. “First
I must treat your injuries.” Lee didn't protest and allowed
Millet to examine his wounds.

“
Your skull is made of stone to have taken such a
blow,” Millet muttered. He retrieved some medicine and bandages
from their gear and finished the dressings.

“
What happen after I was knocked out?” asked
Lee.

Millet's face twisted in anger then relaxed as he
regained his composure. “He told Jacob to bind and blindfold
us. After that I heard Jacob arguing with him that he should kill us
all and be done with it. But Yanti just laughed at him. Next thing I
heard was a thump and what sounded like a body hitting the ground. I
can only assume it was Jacob. After that, he must have tied off our
horses and searched through our gear. Before he left, he told us that
you were still alive and once you woke up there would be a gift
waiting for us. I suppose he was referring to Jacob.”

“
How could your own son betray you like that?”
asked Dina, still furious. “And his own mother...”

“
I know
,” snapped
Lee. “I know,” he repeated, this time more calmly. Millet
placed his hand gently on Lee's shoulder. “What will you do?”

“
I'll keep my word,” Lee replied. “I
will save my wife.” His eyes fell on Jacob. “And he will
go with me.”

“
You can't be serious,” Millet protested.

Lee never took his eyes off his son. “I've never
been more serious. Yanti knew what he was doing, leaving me alive.”

“
What do you mean?” asked Dina.

Lee glanced sideways her. “He wants me to go
north, and wants me out of the fight. If I am captured attempting to
rescue my wife, then they will try to turn me. If the Dark One was
able to empower Yanti so much as to make short work of me, his own
power must be unfathomable. If I went with him willingly, he would
worry about treachery along the way. This way I deliver myself into
their hands. And he knew exactly what he was doing by leaving Jacob
behind.”