The Vlakan King (Book 3) (26 page)

"Mostly they will, yes," said Salie. "But the coast will be windy and your hoods will not stay on all the time."

"We spend too much time talking," said Merie. "Let's get to Gornst with no more delays."

"Ha! The command of the Princess," said Salie with a bow. "I shall lead on."

It was late afternoon when they reached the coast. The cool wind snapped their cloaks and Salie led them through the long grasses and kept an eye on the dark hills to the east. The hills drew within two miles of the coast and seemed too far to be a threat. They walked in silence and ate as they walked. When the sun set Salie did not stop for Turucks could see well in the darkness. When the light had completely gone they heard the first howls. Long and arching like a wolf's howl but the whine of a cat mixed in.

"Vlakan!" hissed Salie. "We must move faster. Have your weapons handy."

Their hearts pounded as they ran, the girls stumbling here and there but they kept their footing and followed Salie. The howls continued to close in and the girls' lungs burned.

"Salie! The princesses need to rest!" called Raeind.

"We cannot, they are gaining on us."

"If we don't stop the princess will trip over their own feet. We make a stand here!"

Salie came forward and stared into Raeind's eyes. The Vlakan howled again.

"You take them and run. I will cover your tracks and try to elude them."

"That's risky."

"So is running. They will catch us. I will hold their attention as long as I can."

Krysta came to the old Turuck and pulled his face down to her and kissed his cheek. She took Merie's hand and they ran south. Raeind nodded and clasped arms with Salie and then turned and ran after the princesses.

Salie paused. He had wiped out fifty yards of tracks and hoped it would be enough. There was a low growl in the shadows to his right. He slid his hand to his sword. Another growl to his left and one behind him maybe twenty paces. The moon was sliding behind heavy clouds.

"Oh Salie. Is this where your long life ends?" He unsheathed his sword as the Vlakan came at him.

At the time of their defeat and banishment into the shadow world, King Jerue Adan and his daughter Ioane Adan who ruled as queen led the Celaeri. Although she never took a husband Ioane did have many children attracting many kings and warriors to her. One of the Talos Company Loric Greyrawk is one of her offspring; half Men and half Celaeri. She did not have 'children' as the term implied some maternal feeling and tenderness was never a trait of Ioane Adan. As ruthless and cruel as her father, Ioane led many raids against the Men of Cresida to win back their land. Her sword was lethal and few mortals could withstand her. Beautiful to behold but hollow within. Beware the Queen of the Celaeri.

From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

Alarie Skye rode in front followed by Brandalay and Colly. Her copper hair flowed from under her helmet. Since she left the Celaeri to live among Men she left her hair grow long as a sign of her rebellion. Brandalay's supporters welcomed her and at his side the ruins at Greyrawk Mountain were rebuilt and a small town grew up around the mountain. North of Greyrawk Mountain began the rolling hills that led into the Black Heath. The trails were overgrown slowing their progress and the air of the Black Heath was humid and expectant. They had left the farmlands behind and the hill country seemed an alien place. The trees were shorter and huddled in small clumps and the ground rocky. Three of Brandalay's Men rode with them armed with bows. Alarie's spear was in her hand as she slowed their progress. The gnarled trees were shadowed and silent. Colly thought he could hear himself sweat. The buzzing of the flies irritated him and each time he opened his mouth a fly tried to enter. He waved his hand constantly although he knew this action would slow his response if attacked. Distractions had killed many a man in war and Colly had been the beneficiary of a few of those distractions over the years.

Colly was surprised they had not seen any Hiataneti in the Black Heath. There were hard-shelled creatures the size of ponies and extremely hard to kill for one or two opponents. Their rough skin was hard as a turtle's shell and very thick. A single sword blow could not pierce it. Once there were scores of them and although many were killed in the war fifteen years earlier surely some survived. But the recent rumors spoke only of Vlakan moving with the night shadows. Colly had warned the soldiers accompanying them that such creatures existed and the men carried bows along with their swords. Each one had an arrow notched.

Alarie stopped them several times and she listened to the sounds of the heath for long periods. She led them forward without a word each time. They traveled in silence for half the day.

Brandalay turned back to speak to Colly when the first attack came. Alarie bloodied her spear before any of the men could react. The Celaeri attacker fell and the other attacked Brandalay. Colly's huge sword blocked the Celaeri's path to Brandalay and Alarie killed her kinsman. Colly was fast but the Celaeri moved faster. Colly's strength was the only thing that kept him from a deep bite from the Celaeri's sword. As it was his arm and side bled freely. Brandalay joined in the fight and backed their opponent toward Alarie who ended the battle with a spear thrust.

"Alarie! Was that sporting?" asked Colly.

"What do you mean?"

"Give it up Colly," said Brandalay. "I'm afraid my dear girl will never pick up some of the nuances of human humor."

"Did you want to fight more?" asked Alarie.

"No. Let's forget I said anything," said Colly. "Should we expect another attack?"

"There are no others close by," said Alarie. "They had been tracking us for some time."

"You sensed them?" asked Colly. He rubbed his arm; the impact of the swords had jolted his elbow was no longer young. He wrapped his wounds.

"Yes. Each time I stopped I read their presence gaining on us."

Brandalay waved the soldiers to him.

"Men, you would have died," said Brandalay. "Without Alarie we all might be dead. However, none of you even moved before the battle was over. If this old tavern owner hadn't got in the way I would be dead. How could such a man move quicker than trained soldiers half his age?"

"Tarlac, let them be," said Alarie. "Celaeri are a difficult opponent for Men and you know Colly is not to be compared as if he was a mere tavern owner. You shame your men."

"They need to toughen up or die. We can't afford mistakes. There may be more than two next time."

"Most assuredly there will be more. Let us continue."

"We do know they have returned," said Colly. "Those Celaeri soldiers were fully armed. They weren't dressed as a people making a living off the land."

"I agree," said Alarie. "They looked to be scouts from the Royal retinue."

"Royal? Does that mean your mother is leading them?" asked Colly.

"I do not doubt that Ioane Adan has returned," said Alarie.

Colly and Brandalay exchanged looks and took a better grip on the reins of their horses.

"Do we know enough to warn Princess Linna?" asked one of the men, Baruck.

"No Baruck," said Brandalay. "We need to see their preparations. Are they preparing to march soon or can we return with a larger force and contain them in the Black Heath? I don't imagine we have much farther to go if they followed us for a while and didn't attack until now. We must be close to the main camp."

"I will ride ahead," said Alarie. "I will sense them before they can attack. If you are well back you should not be caught unawares."

They traveled another three miles but no other Celaeri. Alarie dismounted near a hill and crept up the side. Brandalay and Colly joined her.

"This is where we drilled the soldiers. The open space is large and nearly flat." They peered over the top.

The view from the hill gradually revealed rows of Celaeri armed for battle and on the far side of the valley the dark shapes of the Vlakan waited. A woman stood on a rock in front the army. It was Ioane Adan, Queen of the Celaeri and mother to both Alarie Skye and Loric Greyrawk. She spoke and gestured but was too far away for her words to reach the hill where Alarie watched. A large Vlakan stood to her side and began speaking when Ioane had stopped.

"I've never seen a Vlakan like that one," said Alarie. "It doesn't move like a beast. There is more than Vlakan intelligence in that one. I can't hear what it is saying but this Vlakan is dangerous and unexpected. We must be wary."

"Looks too human," said Colly.

"Or too Celaeri," said Brandalay.

"You know what I meant."

"Sorry, old habit."

"Yes," said Alarie. "I was going to talk to you about your habits one day."

"Look! A squad is moving out. Must be two dozen," said Colly.

"A strike team," said Alarie. "To bring death and chaos ahead of the army. Well, we have our answer; we need to get word to Princess Linna."

"Look to the west," said Brandalay. "Soldiers are bringing in prisoners."

"Just great. Colly take the soldiers and ride hard to Gornst. Don't try to intercept the strike team; there are too many. Tarlac and I will see if we can help the prisoners."

"Make it quick," said Colly. "We will need you at Gornst when the Celaeri arrive."

"We'll do our best."

Brandalay watched Colly and the others mount their horses and ride south. They traveled a mile or so before they started to ride hard to lessen the pounding of the hooves to keep their presence unknown to Ioane Adan.

He nodded to Alarie and they moved to the west to follow the path of the prisoners into the Celaeri ranks. The prisoners were chained to a tree on the north side of the camp and Alarie halted and dismounted. She pulled Brandalay down next to her.

"A man and a woman," said Alarie. "I think that's Walter Nunderburg."

"And Teresa I think. Can you guess their condition?"

"A bit battered. Walter's shoulder is bloody and the arm tied to his chest. Teresa is limping but looks fine otherwise. Only one guard but I do not think that is all. There is some menace surrounding them."

"Vlakan?"

"Could be. There are some shadows to their left."

"I see them."

"Something might be there. It seems too dark but I can't see what might be creating that shadow. I would think it could hide three or four Vlakan."

"Why would Ioane want the Nunderburg's?" asked Brandalay. "What is your mother's thinking on this?"

"I am not sure, but since Walter is on Princess Linna's council Ioane may wish to find out what the Princess may guess about the Celaeri activities."

"Walter hasn't been in the latest meetings."

"Yes, for our sake it is lucky he knows little about our suspicions, but it may prove unlucky for the Nunderburg's. Ioane will not believe ignorance. We will need to rescue them or they will die, eventually."

"Do you think you can get to the far side of the shadow?" asked Brandalay. "I will come in direct to the guard drawing their attention."

"I will signal you when I'm in position," said Alarie. "Tarlac be ready. If it is Vlakan they will move fast. You haven't faced that speed for years."

"It is nice you know you still care."

"Of course I care. What do you mean?"

"Never mind."

"Another human joke? What does it do for you, this laughter?"

"We don't have time to discuss it here. And all this time I thought you were laughing at my humor."

"I was laughing with you," said Alarie.

"Yes, but you didn't know why. All these years you've been humoring me."

"I have not."

"No, I don't mean it that way."

"You are confusing me, Tarlac Brandalay. Is that what Men do to their wives?"

"Now it is you who are joking. Let's get the Nunderburg's out of there and back to Greyrawk Mountain before we continue this discourse."

"As you wish my husband."

"Argh. Has Colly been talking with you?"

"I will signal you." She moved quickly but soundless. Brandalay snapped back to attention; looking over the area and marking where the Celaeri soldiers were. There was a single guard watching the Nunderburg's but no other Celaeri within sight. He moved down the hill several yards to be able to reach his fastest pace quickly. He didn't want to give the Celaeri any extra time to react although the soldier would be too fast for him. Brandalay knew how to fight a faster opponent for he sparred with Alarie nearly every day.

He felt his pulse race as he waited. He was no longer young and the aches and pains that accompanied his sparring or even lengthy horseback rides foreshadowed physical failure in the not distant future. He hoped it wouldn't be today.

He heard the twitter of Alarie's signal and he got to his feet, his knees popping. He grimaced and moved forward quickly. The Celaeri guard saw him and grinned. The Celaeri readied his lance and stepped forward. A shape came out of the shadows leaping forward; a large Vlakan with its fangs glistening. Before it could roar a spear drove through its spine and it rolled over near the Celaeri who spun to see Alarie draw her sword. Brandalay struck from behind cleaving the shoulder blade of the Celaeri and Alarie drove her sword through his throat. Brandalay rushed over to the prisoners.

"Tarlac?" whispered Nunderburg. His lip was split and he spoke without moving his mouth.

"Evening Walter, Teresa. Care to join Alarie and myself on a ride to Greyrawk Mountain?"

"You are most courteous," said Teresa. Her gown was torn and bloody and a long smear of dirt started on her forehead running between her eyes to her left cheek.

"Er yes, thank you," said Nunderburg.

"Move quickly," said Alarie. "The Vlakan will sense the death of one of their own." She pulled Teresa to her feet. Nunderburg rose without help.

"I'm afraid we have only two horses," said Brandalay. "When we headed this way we did not anticipate picking up riders. We were scouting only. We don't have much food."

"No need to apologize," said Nunderburg. "We are in your debt."