Within the Hollow Crown (22 page)

Chapter
57: A Volunteer

“I will not trust in this sorcery,” Timothy Brimford said, once he was standing outside the tent. “This is the same magic that brought us all of these problems in the first place.”

“It’s not the magic but the application that you had a problem with,” Michael
argued. “This is the fastest and best way to help our cause.”

“He is Turin,” Timothy objected. “I will not follow him.”

“He has agreed to help us,” Michael said. “He has helped us along so far.”

“Of course he has,” Timothy said. “The alternative being locked up in your dungeons. What would you do, if you could offer such a gift and your enemy was as foolish as you?”

“Your Grace,” Michael said, “We must be men of the Kingdom.”

“He is not a man of the Kingdom. He is the enemy, as plain as the shade of his skin. As plain as the language on his tongue. As plain as the murder in his heart.”

“We are not all evil,” Halmir said. “We do not all think alike. I was taught to hate, and so I hated. But now that I see that, now that I can understand it, outside myself, I am choosing to try and fix the problem.”

“I understand what you say,” Timothy said. “I understand that you could be speaking the truth. But it is still, in my mind, too easy. It is still more likely that you are up to something else. Something more sinister.”

“Well, then we are at an impasse,” Michael said. “How will we proceed?”

“What if…” Vye started.

“I’m sorry, what?” Timothy said, turning to her. The others also turned.

“I was just wondering,” Vye said, “What if it wasn’t the Turin that did the magic?”

Chapter 58: Language Barrier

“Move away from the fire,” Corthos said, “It makes us easier to see.”

“Which way do we go?”

“Southeast.”

“Which was is that?”

Corthos pointed. They stepped away from the fire.

“What about the torch?” Thor said.

“The torch is almost dead,” Corthos said. “Throw it on the fire.”

“We’ll be in the dark,” Jareld objected.

“That be an understatement.”

Thor tossed the torch onto the fire, as the trio flattened themselves against the wall. The footsteps, which began as a sort of hint, had grown into a definitive approaching sound. It was accompanied by a low murmuring sound that might be described as conspiratorial.

“What language are they speaking?” Thor whispered.

“It sounds familiar,” Jareld said.

“Not to me,” Corthos commented.

“No, I’ve definitely studied it,” Jareld said.

Within seconds, they were surrounded. Twenty men emerged from every direction, bearing swords and clubs. One of them, presumably the leader, yelled something demanding at Corthos.

“I think he wants you to drop your sword,” Jareld whispered.

“Aye, I got the impression,” Corthos said, dropping his sword.

The leader said something to his companions. They all laughed.

“I think that joke was at my expense,” Thor said.

“No,” Jareld said, “It was at mine.”

“You understood them?” Corthos said.

“Maybe,” Jareld said.

“Try to tell them that we mean them no harm,” Corthos said.

“And that we don’t think they’re ugly,” Thor added.
Indeed, the twenty men who had joined the party were not the sorts you’d bring home
to your parents
.

“Hello,” Jareld said, in Kahlerian, a language from the continent of Khiransi, which Jareld had taken an introductory course on five years previous, before he realized nobody in the Kingdom of Rone spoke it.

Again, the group laughed, and again, it was at Jareld’s expense.

“We are guests,” Jareld said. “On trip.”

More laughter. Now there was pointing. The leader leaned in a bit, and said something very quickly in his language. Jareld could only guess what it was that he said, but he was sure that it made some reference to Jareld’s mother.

“We are friend,” Jareld continued, trying to translate quickly in his mind.

“We are not friends,” the man said. He leaned in even closer. Jareld noticed, even in the dim light, that he had an eye patch. “We are going to feed you to a friend of ours.”

“Thank you, we are hungry,” he replied.

“No, we’re not going to feed you as though you were our friend,” Eye Patch said. “We’re going to feed you to a friend.”

Jareld just smiled and nodded.

“What’s he saying?” Corthos asked.

“He’s going to have us fed to some pet of theirs,” Jareld said, maintaining a jovial facade. “Just smile and nod.”

“Alright,” said Thor, smiling and nodding, “But this doesn’t mean I like the idea.”

Chapter 59: Farsight

“What made you promise them this option?” Halmir asked of Vye when they had stepped away.

“We needed to get things moving,” Vye answered, “And you said I was powerful.”

“Yes, with training, I think you could become amongst the most powerful wizards in the continent. But the Gate Spell is not a beginner exercise. You should have thought about that before you spoke.”

“Well, they’re all watching now,” Vye said, looking over Halmir’s shoulder to the company. “Teach me quickly.”

“Fine, we will try this. But do not become frustrated or disappointed. It took me almost a month to learn the Gate.”

“Maybe you didn’t have a good enough instructor.”

Halmir gave Vye a stern look. Vye cleared her throat.

“Never mind then,” Vye said.

“Alright, first of all,” Halmir said, “Have you ever been where we’re going?”

“Yes,” Vye said. “Once. When I was
twelve.”

“And that was…”

“About ten years ago.”

“Do you remember it well?”

“It was memorable, I suppose. It was my only visit to the capital.”

“Alright. Close your eyes.”

Vye did so.

“Think carefully of the location. Picture it in your mind.”

“OK, I have it.”

“Good, now recite these words:”

Halmir started chanting words in a low voice. The words tied together, forming a string of syllables that went on for almost a minute. Vye tried to keep up, but Halmir had to say it twice more before she got it right.

“I can see it,” Vye said, opening her eyes. “I can see it!”

Indeed, she could see it, whether her eyes were opened or closed. It wasn’t as clear as if she were there, but she could see the fields outside the Castle Anuen in a sort of foggy haze. And she could see people moving about, though she couldn’t make out faces clearly, and the sky seemed dark, even though it must still have been day.

“What can you see?” Halmir asked.

“I can see the Castle Anuen. It is much as I remember it, but some things have changed.”

“Then you are seeing it as it is right now. That is indeed impressive.”

“See, I’ve already done it.”

“Not at all. This is a different spell. This will allow you to pick out a place for us to go. You have yet to open a Gate.”

“Well, it’s a start.”

“Indeed it is. Now, move about within the vision.”

Instinctively, Vye started to step forward, but the vision remained unchanged. Halmir put his hands on her shoulders.

“No,” he said, “Do not move about here. Keep your feet planted. Move about in your mind.”

“How do I?”

“I can’t explain it. There are some who have never--”

“I got it.”

Vye had forced the image forward with her mind. She managed to turn the image, so that she was facing a different direction.

“OK, I got it. I’m moving.”

“Alright, now, find a place that is out of the way of people.”

Vye moved to a group of trees away from the castle walls. They were relatively secluded, and none of the people in the area seemed to be going in that direction.

“Got it.”

“Alright, now, find something in the area. Something simple. Something that is not moving.”

“There’s a tree stump here.”

“Perfect. Go to it.”

“Alright.”

“Concentrate on it. See it clearly. Focus all your thought on it. Memorize it.”

Vye focused on the tree stump. It had been chopped down recently, the surface smooth and even. She realized that as her mind looked at it longer and longer, it became clearer and clearer. The world around it seemed to fade. Only the bark of the fallen tree, the pale wood, the concentric circles of its many winters, only these things remained.

“Do you have it? Locked in your mind?” Halmir asked.

“Yes.”

“Now close your eyes. And shut the vision out. Clear your mind completely.”

Vye opened her eyes. She was nauseous. Stumbling. Her eyes were dilating, trying to process full colors and lights again.

“I’m feeling a bit... uneasy,” Vye announced, grabbing Halmir’s shoulder for stability.

“You have anchored yourself,” Halmir said. “A part of your mind is now many miles from here, with the tree stump that you chose.”

“That doesn’t sound healthy.”

“It’s not. By a long shot. I’d say you have only about six minutes to make a Gate before you pass out.”

“We should get started then,” Vye said.

Chapter
60: Injury Report

Landos woke in the infirmary. He turned his head as much as he could. It wasn’t much, but he was able to see that four other beds were occupied. All by guards.

“Nurse,” Landos said in a hoarse whisper. “Nurse.”

“Yes, Lieutenant,” said the nearest nurse.

“How bad is it?” he asked.

“Oh, well…” she murmured.

“Don’t hesitate. Tell me the worst.”

“You’ll be up on your feet,” she said, cheerily, “In about a month.”

“How many…”

“Sir Calvin is on his way down,” she said. “Perhaps he can tell you the details.”

“How many did we lose?”

“I didn’t count,” she said. “Many. Master Gabriel...”

One of the guards coughed, hacking up a lung. She ran to his side as Sir Calvin entered the infirmary.

“Where were you during all of this?” Landos asked.

“It was my turn to lead the watch on the North Tower,” he said. “By the time I made it down to the castle, it was over.”

“How many…”

“Landos,
Gabriel is dead. Another thirty-three guards are also dead. Four more are here with you, but it doesn’t look good for them.”

“And for me?”

“The physicians have assured me that you’ll live, albeit you’ll be lame for several weeks.”

“Why didn’t he kill me?”

“I don’t know,” Calvin said. He knew Landos had one more question, but he waited. He was going to make him ask it.

“What about Sarah?” he said.

“She’s…missing,” Calvin said.

“Missing? Where did she go?”

“I don’t know.”

“How can you not…”

“This castle has one hundred, fifty guards. Thirty-seven of them are now dead or dying as a result of this attack. That’s not counting the forty we lost two days ago on the march. I don’t know which gate he left through. Too many guards are dead, and nobody saw anything.”

Landos sighed. He wanted to get up and work, but he felt weary. He felt defeated. The thought of Sarah in the hands of that monstrosity was unbearable.

“It’s alright,” Landos said, “I doubt he left through any of the castle gates.”

“What do you want me to do?” Calvin asked.

“Continue raising the army,” Landos said. “Have someone report to me in a few hours. I’m going to sleep.”

Calvin nodded and left. But Landos did not sleep. Not easily. Not until all the weariness and hurt of his body yelled against him. But until it did, he lay awake, vowing in his mind, over and over, that he would bring Sarah back from the evil that had taken her.

Chapter 61: The Gate

“You’re not concentrating!” Halmir said.

“That’s only because you keep yelling at me!” Vye retorted.

They had been trying to open a Gate for nearly five minutes, but so far, Vye could only produce a small wisp of smoke. Halmir assured her that this was a good beginning, but that from the time he had produced his first wisp of smoke to the time he had first opened a Gate was several days. And that had been after years of honing his general magic skills.

“You have to concentrate,” Halmir said. “I didn’t think it could be done, Vye, I didn’t think anyone could make this happen so quickly. But if anyone can, it’s you. All you need to do is concentrate. Just focus.”

Vye couldn’t help but be reminded of Tallatos. “All you need...” was a phrase he liked all too much. And for all his years of teaching, his renown, his expertise... And for all of Vye’s success and martial prowess, Tallatos had finally failed her. There is nothing but steel. Yeah. That and this crazy magic shit that nobody told her about.

Tallatos had accounted for everything. He had an answer for every objection. He had heard most of those objections already before Vye had started training with him. But she had never had a chance to ask about this.

If there is nothing but steel, where does this fit in? She imagined a conversation with Tallatos. As she concentrated, trying to open that Gate, she imagined what he would say, if he were right there with her.

“There is nothing but steel,” she imagined him saying.

“Yeah, I got that,” Vye thought, “What about farsight and portals?”

“You are being distracted by the fabric of the steel. There is nothing but steel.”

“Steel isn’t made of fabric.”

“Vye, did we or did we not practice what to do if you were disarmed?”

“I’m not disarmed right now.”

“Being an imaginary voice in your mind, I noticed.”

“So what’s your point?”

“We practiced with tree branches, stones, blacksmith tools, riding crops, and even a cape. We practiced with all manner of things, and not all of them were steel.”

Vye was starting to see his point. Which was really her own point. Well, it made sense to her. She imagined that Tallatos continued his lecture...

“You can dress it up any way you want, but even this ‘magic shit’ that you’re complaining about is just another way to change the battlefield. It’s another point of steel. But unless you use it correctly, it won’t help or harm you. It’s an unsharpened blade. Now, hurry up. You’re looking woozy and your instructor is growing impatient. He is a dashing fellow. Do you know if he’s single?”

“Not now,” Vye complained in her mind.

“Right you are,” Tallatos agreed. “Good luck.”

“Vye!” Halmir shouted, bringing her back to her present situation. “If you don’t open the Gate in the next few moments, you will exhaust yourself. You will most likely fall unconscious. Then I will have to revive you and we will have to start from scratch.”

“I know, I know,” Vye objected, “Wait! Of course! Why didn’t I think of it before?”

“Think of what?” Halmir said.

Vye drew her sword.

“This is no time--”

Vye closed her eyes and swung the sword in a downward sweep.

“One!” she shouted.

She lifted it and swept from left to right.

“Two!” she continued.

And then it came naturally. A breath with each swing. Down. Right. Down. Left. Up. Right. Up. Left. It fell into a routine. A meditation. A centering. And she cleared away all other thoughts, all pressures, all concerns. The magic needed to open the Gate just required concentration. The same kind of concentration she used when training with her sword. There was, after all, nothing but steel.

“You did it!” she heard Halmir shout, from what seemed like a long way out. Vye opened her eyes. She was standing before a billowing door of smoke. Perhaps it wasn’t as refined as Halmir’s had been, but she knew in her mind that it would take them to Anuen. To that batch of trees beyond the castle walls, to that tree stump.

“Wow,” Vye said, “I did it.”

Michael, Flopson, Emily, and Timothy approached the Gate.

“Well, good work, Lady Vye,” Michael said.

“Are we sure it works?” Timothy wondered.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Halmir said.

“I’ll go first,” Michael said.

Michael stepped up to the smoking door, took a deep breath, and went through. Flopson followed with no hesitation. Timothy took Emily’s hand, and they stepped through togethe
r. Finally, Halmir and Vye stood beside the portal.

“Thank you,” Vye said.

“I did nothing,” Halmir frowned. “And you have done something... extraordinary.”

Halmir marched through the Gate. Vye admired her handiwork for one more moment before she stepped through...

It had worked better than she had hoped. Her feet were squarely in the middle of the tree stump. Halmir had only stepped off a moment before she had arrived, and the others were scanning their surroundings.

“Hey stinky.”

“Yes, Flopson,” Michael responded.

“A bunch of heavily armored soldiers are riding this way.”

“Thanks,” Michael said. “Alright, everyone: Stay calm. Palms open, no sudden moves.”

A dozen dragoons were approaching. They had split from the road, from their normal patrol route, to investigate the sudden arrival of four Noblemen, a Foreigner, and a Jester.

“Who goes there!” the riders demanded.

“We are Men of the Kingdom,” Timothy said, before Michael could speak.

“Why do you wear the colors of the enemy?” the chief rider demanded.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” Timothy said, “I am Lord Timothy Brimford, of the County of Brimford, and I am here to seek an audience with His Grace, Castor Rone, and to offer my surrender.”

Timothy turned to Michael, “There,” he said, “That ought to shut them up.”