The Vlakan King (Book 3) (27 page)

"I hoped never to see a Celaeri again," said Teresa. "Especially after your foolishness years ago."

"I backed Belderag," said Nunderburg. "I didn't know he had anything to do with Celaeri. I did not expect Greyrawk to have such powerful friends."

"Neither did he," said Teresa. She brushed her hair with her hand but did not improve her appearance.

"No grudges Teresa," grinned Brandalay.

"No grudges, only the occasional nostalgia."

"Did the Celaeri split your lip Walter or did Teresa?" asked Brandalay.

"We must move," said Alarie. "Now."

Brandalay escorted their friends to the horses and mounted them. Alarie looked over the rise at her brethren and then rode slowly out of the trees to the road. They moved at a brisk pace until the horses tired and then walked them for an hour. They reached the walls of Gornst by dawn. The gates were shut and armed soldiers stood on the walls. When they were recognized a shout went up and the gears of the gates starting clanking. Brandalay looked around for a sign of the Celaeri raiding party but did not see any evidence that they reached Gornst. The city had been alerted and he hoped it had been Colly and Brandalay's men who had reached Gornst safely.

As soon as they passed through the gate the grinding of the gears began again. One of the guards helped Nunderburg and his wife to a healer in a shop not far from the gate.

"Did you see many of them devils?" asked a guard.

"A few. There was a squad of Celaeri riding a head of us. Did you see them?"

"No. Not one. I don't wish to. My father fought against them years ago and did not tell tales to hear at night."

"Your father survived didn't' he? Then don't doubt your own survival. They may be alien to you but they still bleed."

"Thank you for them words, Lord Brandalay. I needed to hear them. I'll spread them around to the others if you don't mind."

Brandalay saw the large shape of Colly making his way through the crowd.

"Well met," said Colly. "Glad to see you among the living."

"I'm pleased too. Found the Nunderburg's with the Celaeri. Ioane was going to wring some information out of them."

"You rescued them and got away clean?"

"You sound surprised."

"I am," said Colly. "Something is not right about this. Keep your eyes open for trouble."

"In what manner? Betrayal?"

"I don't know. I expect to see shadows in the bright sun and when I don't I get nervous. I related all we saw to Princess Linna and she and Beric Mallon are planning strategy for our defense."

"What happened to the advance squad of Celaeri?"

"That is another thing that worries me. We did not catch up with them and no one has seen any trace of them."

"Would they have continued south to Andara? Assassinate the King?"

"We have received news from the south and no Celaeri have been sighted. I do not like this. The only other direction they could have gone is west but I doubt they would have ridden to Masina. It doesn't make sense."

"Would anyone be coming from Masina? Maybe they were an escort or to cutoff help headed our way?"

"Your thoughts are the best I've heard yet, but we don't have the resources to send anyone after them."

The large Vlakan stood next to Ioane Adan as she spoke to her captains.

"Well, I did not expect to see you again, Ian. I thought you would never come back to Amloth."

"I didn't have a choice," was the gruff reply.

"No, I don't suppose you did. Your voice is already rough and hard to understand. You will be full Vlakan soon. Maybe I should put a jeweled collar on you so I know where you are."

The Vlakan growled deep in its throat.

"Come on, my dear, we have a war to plan."

The three Men kingdoms on Anavar are Curesia, Wierland and Calendia. Jespin is the capital of Curesia, Lathor of Wierland and Nantitet of Calendia. For most of their existence Wierland and Curesia have bowed to a High King in Nantitet. They broke from a few weak High Kings but strong High Kings have risen in times of great peril and pulled the kingdoms of Men together to repel their foes. For most of the years a descendant of Weracht de Arayr ruled as High King and their rule has proved remarkably just. Do these Arayr kings know Mauran de Arayr watches over them? I never heard one claim any knowledge of Mauran. It is difficult to believe a nearly unbroken line of Arayr kings could be so consistent and fair. Am I cynical? Or am I too familiar with power?

From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

The scout had ridden hard from Curesia through the wide plains of Wierland to Calendia and did not stop once through the gates of Nantitet. The city gate guards recognized him and waved him onward. His message was for the High King and his Captain commanded him to deliver it to no other. The streets were crowded and his horse trotted slowly as people moved aside warned by the clopping of hooves on the cobblestone. Several voices hailed him and he raised his hand in greeting but he would not stop to share news of the world beyond the city walls. He increased his speed when the crowds of people thinned. He rode up to the castle gates, dismounted and handed the reins of his lathered mount to an attendant. The guards greeted him and bade him haste to discharge his duty and meet them later at a tavern. He grinned in return and moved swiftly into the side passages to reach the king's private quarters; too many courtiers and noble with little to do except use their authority to detain him because they could. Using the side passages he only would be stopped by the King's Guard and questioned before allowed an audience with the High King. To be greeted individually by the High King was an honor he had enjoyed once before and the importance of this message carried the safety of the realm. His boots clacked on the back steps to the great hall in the castle but found his progress blocked by two Rose Knights. His pulse surged as he scanned for signs of other people, but he was alone with the Rose Knights.

"The Bishop wishes to hear your news," said a Rose Knight.

"My news is for the High King and no other."

"We must insist," said the Rose Knight who moved to his right.

"I will call for the King's Guard. His highness will learn of the Rose Bishop's interference with a King's messenger." He put his hand on his sword.

"Clearly, soldier, we all defend Nantitet," said the Rose Knight.

"Ah, but for whom? I serve the High King, not the Rose Bishop." He pushed the first knight out of his way but felt the tug on his cloak and tried to turn to disengage the knight behind him.

"Unfortunate," said the second Rose Knight as he slipped his dagger between the ribs of the scout. The scout gasped as the knife was turned and the other knight covered his mouth. They caught him before he fell and carried him down a servant's corridor to stairs leading to the lower levels, his hand thumping on the steps. He carried no written message but the tokens in his possession made their statement clearly. They removed his valuables and hid his body. They hurried to the Rose Temple with their report.

"Why haven't we heard anything?" asked the High King. "I instructed Captain Percane to send news whether or not this invasion was happening. I should have received news by now."

"I cannot guess," said Nar Tomak. "Percane is very precise in following instructions. I will send additional Men to find out. Percane is a careful tactician and I do not believe he would have walked into a trap. He would have sent word of his suspicions. His preparation is extreme and borders on paranoid. Baring a disaster we would have received some message."

"Perhaps the message was intercepted," said Artus Endria.

"That is what I fear," said Nar Tomak. "I have sent men to check the gates. I will keep a close watch on the Rose Knights. Can you send a spell to find a messenger if he is waylaid?"

"If I had something that belonged to the messenger or that he touched there is a chance I could find him," said Artus Endria. "But do we know who the messenger is?"

"No," said Nar Tomak. "No idea."

"Well, I still might be able to find him. Let me consider my options for a few minutes." Artus left the room.

"Check the gates," said Armana. "See if anyone recognized an army messenger."

"I have sent runners," said Nar Tomak. "We will know soon if he reached the city. Then we can move accordingly."

Nar Tomak nodded to one of his officers who hurried off. The Men stood in silence until Armana pounded his fist on the table.

"Where is Aulan?" asked the High King. "The Rose Bishop should be included in our councils."

"I do not trust him," said Nar Tomak. "I am your Warlord and my counsel is not intended for that viper's ears."

"And I am High King. It is to me to protect all of Calendia, not just Nantitet. And my responsibility goes further than Calendia; Curesia and Wierland fly my banner. We are no longer a city state but a kingdom and I need counsel from all my advisors to make the best decisions."

"But your Highness.."

"We shall not discuss this further, Nar. The Rose Bishop should be privy to our councils, but I will not command you to ease your suspicions. I do not know Aulan's mind and agree that the Rose Knights should be watched. Take care that Aulan does not detect your spies. He has far more spies than he should. I have not kept a close enough eye on his activities. If he is trying to increase his own power, that is one thing, but if he is in league with the enemies of Nantitet, then his life is forfeit. If that is the case, we need to discover his contacts quickly. I don't want them to have the opportunity to hide."

"But to include him.."

"Go and find Aulan and bring him here. I want to know why he has not come to me with all the rumors in the city; he should be concerned. We must plan in haste, ere the noose slips tight around us. Baer, send out as many agents as you can find. Mobilize the Guard. We need to account for every Rose Brother in the city. Do we have a census of their number?"

"It was difficult to produce. Aulan put up obstacles for every attempt but at last I do feel that we have a good estimate of their numbers."

"Good. Nar put your soldiers on alert. I want you to personally escort Aulan here."

Several minutes after Nar Tomak departed Artus Endria hurried into the room. Armana stood facing the window.

"I think I have detected one of your soldiers. Someone who had ridden a horse for a long period of time is in the proximity of the castle. Of course there are several recent riders closely but for this one I detect the horse sweat still clinging to him. He was riding for a long period. But I can't narrow it down more than that."

"In the castle?"

"I cannot tell for certain," said Artus. "The image is very faint."

"Well, that's something anyway. We'll search the castle."

"Excuse me, your Highness," said Sergeant Caara, standing in the doorway breathing hard. "The guards at the castle gate say Corporal Pester rode through less than an hour ago. We are searching the castle for him."

"Thank you Sergeant." The guard turned and dashed away.

"Pester? I think I know him. He is a young promising soldier and a dependable messenger, which is why Percane would send him. Artus how did we miss this betrayal by Aulan? Can you not sense these things?"

"It doesn't work that way. I can sense subtle changes but Aulan was ever cankerous which hid his true thoughts. I think in his planning he even allowed for the chance that I might try to read him. His bickering with Nar turned our attention from his activities."

Armana kicked a chair over and glared at Artus. "Must I do everything? I am the High King and I expect my advisors to be thorough. You are very informative now that the danger is upon us."

"Sire, you did not give credence to Aulan's betrayal either. You were very supportive of him."

"Because I relied on your information."

"Aulan wanted me out of your court so I wouldn't see what he was doing. I did not have access to determine his motives."

"Always an excuse Artus. Leave me now. Get your mages ready to fight."

Sergeant Caara came running into the room; the High King's guards nearly drew their swords at his appearance.

"Sire! We have found the messenger from Captain Percane. He is dead."

"Was there any message on him?"

"No, your Highness. All his valuables were taken. His body was left in a storage room under the kitchen level. We found no weapons or letters on him. Looked to be a robbery but the blade wound was from a large dagger. If I were a wagering man, I'd say it was a curved Rose dagger or at least made to appear that way. Very distinctive cutting pattern."

"Thank you, Sergeant. Go back to your post."

"It begins," said Artus Endria. "You have been too lenient with the Rose Brotherhood. They are bold."

"Do not criticize my judgment now. Help me end this threat."

The screams reached the windows of the High King's study. Armana looked out and found the source; the barracks of the King's Guards was in flames. Several figures with bows ringed the building shooting whoever tried to flee the flames. Their livery was unmistakable; Rose Knights. Aulan had made his move. Armana ran from his study and sent for Nar Tomak and Baer Patros both of whom were running in his direction.

"I have gathered the remaining soldiers," said Nar Tomak. "They are joining what is left of the Guard. Leram Kolac leads them. I could not get into the Rose Temple. There were Rose knights surrounding it forcing people away. They are prepared to fight."

"I do not know how the Rose Brothers were able to cut off the barracks," said Baer Patros. "They must have had inside help to take control so quickly. We have sealed the city- they cannot get out."

"Neither can we," said Armana. "Aulan is very deliberate so he must feel secure in his chances. What are we missing? Did Captain Percane's message make him show his plans? Why did we not see Aulan's true nature before this? Why did my spies fail?"

"Could Aulan have a connection to the army marching on Curesia?" asked Baer Patros in his gravel voice. "Might his plans support our attackers? He is drawing our attention inward when we should be looking to our defenses."