The Unexpected Heir: A Tale of Alus (49 page)

"Finally, you are there," the voice stated sounding impatient.

While the voice didn't sound familiar, the tone did. "Caldrefan?" he asked as his feet took him towards the statue.

A quick metallic laugh barked out of the statue before it replied, "Well, leave it to you to see through this spell."

Frowning at the strange compliment, Karlaan said, "I am assuming that you are using your magic for this message."

A grunt of disappointment came from the statue before Caldrefan said, "Few know that I can use magic, so I suppose that this gives you an edge on the brothers who believe that Sordrian is speaking to them directly."

"You're using this trick on the brothers?" the younger man asked the statue without thinking how absurd it was until after he spoke.

"You would be surprised at how effective such a trick can be to help inspire others to follow a god, but that isn't why I have contacted you this way.

"An army is building for you in Tseult, but you need to gather with those near Yalan. You can't expect to lead a nation, if you don't first inspire them. Go to Edrin's Crossing. People are beginning to gather there already led by Sordrian. Your generals will show themselves to you and help train the army as it grows.

"When the time is right, we will begin taking the east while your army pushes into Yalan."

"How will I know the time is right? Are you going to keep speaking to me through these statues?"

"Duchess Pherena will turn her back on her brother and pull her children with her. When Teyas pulls away and the east falls to war, you will walk into Yalan to take Malaiy from Orlaan," Caldrefan said sounding like he was prophesying future events. "Now ask no more questions. Gather those already loyal to you there. I know that you have been working to build your own following. It is time to begin the work which will make you king, Karlaan."

The statue remained silent and Karlaan considered Caldrefan's words. He had worked with people, both within the temple and out. Most should follow him without question. There were those who owed him much. Some already treated him like their leader and the work of the brothers had continued drawing more men to Sordrian and in turn to him.

Soldiers already unsatisfied with their position in the king's militia had begun to desert because of the brothers' message. He had worked with many of them supposedly counseling the men, but in truth he was working to convert them to his side. Now was the time to see if his work had been worth it.

It was late enough in the day that Karlaan wasn't going to waste his time trying to pull everyone together now, whether Caldrefan had more or less put it that way. He would need at least some time to plan and pull people together anyway.

He would read for a little longer, the young man decided and went to pick up the book before sitting once more. His eyes strayed to the statue and wondered if his mentor could truly see through its eyes. Would Caldrefan see him and complain? It didn't matter. He couldn't be asked to just uproot and go on a moment's whim.

There was also the matter of Tareina. Should he ask her to follow him as well? Karlaan thought that the girl would come if he asked her, but taking her with him brought up other problems.

His eyes scanned the page of the book in his hands, but he retained nothing as his mind worried over other things. Trying three more times, Karlaan gave up with a sigh and closed the book. Rising, he took the book with him and went back to his room. Deciding to work on a plan before going to see Tareina, the would be king's mind continued to turn thinking of possibilities and consequences to his actions.

When the carriage slowed to a stop, Xerese could still feel the rumblings in her body. Nearly a week of traveling made her realize that the coach wasn't very well made. She had ridden in many carriages with her family, but they had well constructed shock absorbers and springs to make their ride much gentler. This coach was likely not the worst in that regard, but when they rested for the night Xerese always felt worn down despite not having to walk.

"Why are we stopping?" the blond haired woman sitting across from them asked in concern.

"Maybe they've stopped to water the horses," the man beside her replied before sliding towards the window to his left. There was a similarity to the look of their faces that made it easy to understand that they were brother and sister. Nico was the elder by a few years, while Oywen was still close enough in age that the difference was hard to make out.

Toman, like Nico, sat between the door and Xerese. Both men likely would try to protect the younger women if danger presented itself, but her guard had taken the position intentionally to do so. Xerese had figured that out immediately, but had said nothing. It was his job to protect her and everything Toman did seemed aimed to accomplish that task.

The big man leaned towards the window cautiously as he tried to see what had made the carriage halt. Their drivers hadn't warned them of the mid afternoon stop, but there they were and it seemed quite off to Xerese who edged towards her window. She didn't know what she hoped to see, but the riders outfitted in black with red sashes weren't what she expected.

"Those new militia are out there," the girl stated quietly and Toman nodded. Since the riders were both in the road before the coach and spread to the side restricting its movement unless the drivers chose rough brush, they were easier to see for those looking forward through the windows.

Her eyes glanced to the couple in front of them noting a look of fear in Oywen's blue eyes. Turning in her seat, the blonde haired girl was unlikely to have much of a view since the center beam and high backed bench masked much of the sight; but Xerese noted her shoulders stiffen before she turned back quickly to whisper in her brother's ear quickly. He tensed as well before reaching up for the sword set in the rack above his head.

Xerese hadn't even noticed Toman take one of his swords down as well, but the guard managed to mask both the maneuver and his change in posture. The weapon would be difficult to draw from its sheath, she thought; but Toman was likely to get the drop on anyone foolish enough to open the door.

"Hold yourself together," she heard Nico whisper to his sister fiercely.

Looking at Oywen, the lady wondered what, aside from her worried look, was so out of sorts to receive such caution.

A rider rode up beside their door looking inside the carriage windows as he did. The men held their swords low enough to avoid detection, but if one were to come from the opposite side Xerese was afraid that the weapons would be seen from the other angle.

"Come down, drivers," a voice ordered loud enough to be heard inside of the coach. "You inside, come out."

The front door opened and Xerese could see the brothers exiting first without fear.

"Soldiers of Sordrian, what is the problem here? We go to Daria as the god has commanded and you are slowing us down rather inconveniently."

Toman slid his sword to Xerese and the guard said quietly, "Be ready to give it to me."

Nico watched the exchange and heard his words. The man did the same with his sword while Toman released the door's latch. Using the handle, the man controlled the door's movement calculatedly.

"Hello, brother, we are sorry to inconvenience you, but we have information that someone coming this way escaped the justice in Marta. We need to see your passengers."

Xerese moved closer to the edge of the bench while Nico followed her guardsman. Oywen followed her lead keeping hold of the sword and hiding it on her bench behind the folds of her dress.

The old man looked confused and responded, "We went through the authorities at the gate. If there was a problem, why were we allowed to pass?"

Finishing her slide to the carriage bench by the door, Xerese held the scabbard for the sword in her left hand and gripped the end of the bench with her right hand strategically placed in front of the handle of the sword blocking it from any straying eyes. She could see more of the riders on this side and noted that not every man was dressed in the black uniforms. The leader speaking wore a breastplate copper in color, but a red sash went from his left shoulder to his waist just above the sword belted at his hip. His hand rested on the ball of the pommel making up the hilt of the weapon.

Three other men and a woman were dressed more like the battle mages she had seen in Southwall. Two of the men had swords as well, but their clothing matched one of the other two without weapons. With no more than long knives at their waists, the other two still felt very dangerous.

Xerese tried to remember something about the people of Tseult and their military. If she remembered correctly, Annalicia had mentioned the strange connection of Tseult's wizards with swordsmen called bondsmen. The two were a team and that meant the virtually unarmed wizards were also weapons of greater destruction than any swords could hope to create.

"Word got out that two of those sworn to Sordrian decided to break their oaths and flee. We were sent to catch them and return them to Marta for punishment," the captain of the pursuit force stated without bothering to sugarcoat their troubles.

"Captain, I have seen no examples of magic during our time together. After nearly a week, could a wizard hide their talents so long?" the older man asked again.

Xerese wanted to shake her head at the obvious fault in his logic. There was little reason to use magic while riding in a carriage. Perhaps using it to light a fire when they had stopped for the night could have been useful, but the drivers were skilled at lighting it the common way.

She had ridden with Annalicia and the other wizards to Southwall and they had trained at least a few hours a day; but that was mostly from boredom and the wanting to be ready for the tournament. Surely a wizard could contain her urge to cast any spells for a week, if they wanted to anyway.

The captain shook his head and countered the old man quickly. "Our team tracked them and our wizards confirm that you have them with you. You will stand aside, brother, and we will remove them to take these two back to Marta as I said. Now be quiet and the rest of you had better come out now as ordered or there will be trouble!"

Toman glanced to Xerese shaking his head minutely. The girl used the step pulled down by her guardsman, since the drivers were held beside the team of horses to ease the animals. So many soldiers and horses nearby were agitating the team in spite of the blinders they wore. Their scent and those that could be seen were enough to make them fidget in their harness.

From the front, the other couple climbed down leaving Oywen the only one hesitating to leave her seat. There was fear in her eyes.

Xerese moved just in front of Toman and shifted the man closer to the door with a touch of her hand. To distract the soldiers, she asked, "Why are you forcing them to return? If they chose Sordrian on their own, you should have no fear that they will return; and if they haven't, isn't that their choice to make? A god shouldn't have to force people to serve him, should he?"

The captain frowned at the dark haired lady. Her steady blue eyes locked on him, though Xerese managed to watch those closest to him without deviating from her stare.

"I am under orders. The brothers of Marta have sent me to fetch them back. I don't make the decisions as to punishment or their right to change their minds."

He broke the deadlock in their gaze and glanced over to the four who weren't typical soldiers.

"The wizard isn't coming out," the man without weapons stated simply. His eyes seemed to look through the carriage walls. We may need to make her."

Xerese didn't know Oywen well, but for some reason she felt empowered to try and protect someone willing to flee from those who would force her to join them unwillingly.

Before the girl could think of what to do to distract or convince the obstinate captain, Oywen lunged forward tossing Nico's sword to the man. As the sword cleared the sheath, it began to glow with orange light as if it had been heated by a powerful fire.

"We will not go back with you. We are going home. Just let us leave peacefully, Atan," Nico stated holding the weapon ready before him. Xerese looked from the weapon in his hand and back to the girl still hiding behind the door of the carriage. While she didn't have the senses of a wizard, she thought that it was still Oywen whose power he seemed to wield.

"You can't hope to withstand us, Nico. You and Oywen have to surrender and come back for your punishment," the wizard sitting on his mount proclaimed.

Xerese felt the static grow in the air touching her skin making the fine hairs on her arm begin to stand up from the power of magic.

Stepping down the carriage stair, Oywen was already chanting a spell. The other woman among the soldiers began forming a counter spell and the man wearing the same color of clothing pulled his sword at the same time as his counterpart. Atan's fingers and hands were already moving in a complex array of gestures designed to fire a spell towards the carriage.

Toman had his sword in hand and pulled Xerese back lifting her from the ground with one arm wrapped around her waist. The guard put the coach between them and the soldiers before the first spell was released.

Oywen finished her spell and Xerese thought that she heard the girl scream incoherently at first, but the scream increased to a roar as the sound of thunder rolled away from her spray of lightning. It leaped from the ground towards the soldiers. A barrier came up; but not quite in time as the closest men and horses were tossed aside by the might of the wizard's spell.