by Brian Murray
“Are you sure you want to do this, Zane?” asked the admiral.
“Yes, I have to.”
The admiral shook his head and simply responded, “Fine.”
“Remember, you need to go back to Sandall and collect the axe-wielders, if any remain, and sail back here. Speed is crucial; we must now gather a force in Teldor, to attack from the inside. We need to get the gates opened for our army.”
“I will be on time, Zane,” Rendel assured his king.
The six men descended a rope ladder and sat in the small launch. Taking the four oars, Dax, Gammel, Thade, and Zane rowed silently towards the docks, with Gan-Goran manning the rudder, next to Tanas.
The Admiral waved the launch away, watching as it silently glided into Teldor Bay across the calm, rippling water. Slowly turning the Gliding Falcon around, Admiral Rendel headed back for Sandall at full sail and prayed that some of the axe-wielders had survived.
***
Zane, Dax, Thade, and Gammel watched the Gliding Falcon gracefully turn away, while Gan-Goran watched the shoreline loom closer. There was no movement at the docks and the launch soundlessly cruised up to a mooring point.
Reaching the shore, the men silently sank the boat. They then moved through the docks of Teldor, following Zane’s lead and staying in thick shadows and dark alleyways. The men avoided the City Watch offices as they edged closer to their destination. They reached the building they sought, and Zane gazed around into the blackness that surrounded them like a pending, impatient death, then quietly knocked on the door.
***
For seven days, Rayth and Zorain had led clandestine missions in an attempt to repel the invaders. Zorain and Conn sought and reaped revenge against those City Watchmen who had betrayed their fellow constables. They found out the men’s names, and without mercy, swiftly dispatched them, leaving their bodies as a bloody warning for other traitors.
During the day, the city had an atmosphere of fear. At night, a dusk curfew kept people off the streets. Very few ventured out after dark as most of the citizens were terrified of the black clad warriors. This was the time when Rayth, Zorain, and their men went about their business. They attacked guards and ambush street patrollers, and when the black-armoured warriors appeared the men took cover in the shadows.
As agreed, Zorain visited the city reserves’ homes, passing on the queen’s message. All of the men were seasoned veterans who agreed they would bear arms when the time came. He estimated he would have about five hundred able men to fight beside him.
One evening, Zorain arrived back at the Flying Vessel and knocked on the back door, using the secret tap. Rayth opened the door. To his surprise, Zorain saw Felix, the baker’s son, sitting in the kitchen, holding hands with Christie. Frowning, Zorain pulled Rayth into the common room to talk.
“Are you going mad?” hissed the captain.
“What do you mean?” replied the innkeeper, frowning.
“The boy’s father is part of the Temple of the Path and they’re linked to the invaders.”
“You don’t think the boy will tell his parents where Christie is?”
“If he tells his parents, they will tell the temple priests, and they may realise that the queen is here.”
Rayth looked into the kitchen at Felix and cursed. “I knew we should have let her go, the day after you arrived.”
“So what do we do now?”
“Call the boy in,” said Rayth rubbing his chin.
“Felix,” called Zorain.
Felix entered the common room to face the two huge men.
“Sit down, boy,” said Rayth softly.
Felix sat down, his gazed shifting between the two men.
“We have a slight problem,” continued Zorain.
“If I can help with anything, I will. You have saved my bride’s life; so name it, anything.”
“You cannot tell your parents you’ve seen Christie.”
“But why?” asked the young man.
“Your parents are members of the Temple of the Path.”
“Yes they are, but I’m not,” announced the young man. “What they preach there I do not agree with, but they are still my parents, and I love them dearly.”
“You cannot, under any circumstances, tell them where you have been, or that you have met Christie. The safety of the queen and the others depends upon it.”
“But my parents would never tell.”
“If they don’t know, they will have nothing to tell. If the temple priests find out the queen and her friends are here, they may not have enough time to escape. The queen will be captured and our mission to save Teldor will fail. Most people in Teldor know that the queen is free and that is why they battle on. If she is captured, it would be a huge blow to morale. Do you understand?”
Felix fell silent for a moment with his head bowed. Then he looked up and nodded. “I will not tell them.”
“Good boy,” said Rayth.
The boy left the room and Rayth nodded to Zorain. The City Watch captain seemed unconvinced, but he trusted the innkeeper.
***
Business was quiet at the Flying Vessel, and the scarcity of people moving in the streets meant a lack of trade. However, the tavern came to life at night. It was one of the secret meeting places for the ‘Teldor Underground’, as Zorain called it. On this particular night, Rayth was planning an excursion with Dank, his former axe-wielder partner, Kolos, one of his bashers, and Conn and Felix. Elam, another one of Rayth’s bashers, was already on the way to complete his own task. Zorain stayed in the common room, keeping the women entertained. Aurillia was in the darkened kitchen making coffee; she jumped at the sound of a knock on the back door.
Rayth walked into the kitchen, put out the lantern, and listened. He heard whispering outside the door, but they used the wrong rap. The knock came again, and this time Rayth heard a voice call out a name, his daughter’s. Rayth turned to face his daughter and in the gloom saw her face whiten with shock.
“Is it him?” he whispered, frowning.
Aurillia nodded.
Rayth slowly opened the door. He peered outside into the darkness.
“Rayth, is that you? It’s Zane, and my companions.”
As Rayth opened the door, Zane stepped inside. Aurillia ran into his arms, tears flowing down her face. Zane hugged the girl tightly, as his friends entered the room. Last to enter was Dax.
“It’s been a long time, Rayth, you ugly warhorse,” said Dax with a broad smile.
“Someone light a lantern and let me look at this rogue’s face. No, it can’t be!”
Zorain entered, holding a lantern and Rayth boomed, “Dax, you son of a mule!”
“Aye, Rayth, you ugly whoreson.” The two men embraced.
“Is there anyone you do not know, Dax?” asked Thade.
“None who are not worthy. I’ve missed you, Captain Zorain of the City Watch.”
“I have missed you too, you scoundrel!” replied Zorain, shaking Dax’s hand.
Ireen appeared from the cellar and her mouth fell open. “Thade, is that you?”
“Aye, it is.” Ireen ran into his arms and kissed him.
Then out of the cellar came Megan. She did not say a word, but ran straight into Tanas’s open arms, weeping as she hugged her man.
Next came Queen Larene. She looked at the couples embracing one another. Aurillia saw the queen and let go of Zane, then turned him around so that he faced his mother. He saw tears flowing freely down her face and smiled. The queen walked up and tenderly touched her son’s face.
“You look older, son,” she said softly.
“You look exactly the same, mother.”
She brushed his black hair over his ears and said, “Have you seen your father?”
Now, tears rolled silently down Zane’s cheeks and for the first time he mourned the death of his father. “I’m sorry, Mother, Father’s gone,” he whispered softly.
New tears flowed down the queen’s face. Gone were the tears of joy,
transformed by the news to tears of grief. Then Sasha emerged from the cellar, and looked around at everyone, feeling confused. Zane pulled his mother into a hug. Everyone else left the kitchen, to allow the royal family to be together in privacy.
After several minutes, the tearful royal family entered the common room. Zane walked over to sit next to Aurillia and put his arm around her shoulder, drawing her close.
***
After eating a meal of dried beef, cheese, and bread washed down with frothy ale, the men were ready to discuss recapturing Teldor. Zane informed the men gathered of the murder of his father, and every man in the room pledged his allegiance to the new king, making his mother very proud.
“Zorain, what has been happening in our city?”
“Well, your Highness,” started Zorain, then quickly corrected himself, seeing Zane’s stern look. “Sorry. Zane. Your palace is under the control of the Dark Brethren, as they call themselves, and Megan informs me that a certain Darklord leads them, together with three powerful warriors. Both the inner and outer walls are manned by mercenaries calling themselves the Horde, led by a man named General Carash.”
“I know this man, he is no general, just another bandit who has given himself a title,” informed Dax, turning to look at Rayth and Dank, who just nodded silently. They both knew who the man was.
“The good news is that we have about five hundred men who will arm themselves and bear arms under your banner.”
“That’s good to hear,” said Zane, nodding.
“How soon before the army arrives?” asked Rayth.
“About another three weeks,” answered Dax.
“So what do we do until then?”
“We will cause these whoresons as many problems as possible and when the time comes, we will retake our city.”
For the rest of the evening, the men plotted and schemed the best ways to disrupt the enemy until the Rhaurn army arrived.
***
At dawn the men, content they had some sound ideas, either went home or hid in the cellar of the Flying Vessel. The plans could only be completed at night and so they rested during the day.
***
For two more weeks the men led mission after mission, avoiding capture. On several occasions they were nearly caught by the Dark Brethren, but as they had more knowledge of the city than their enemy, they always managed to slip away into the night. This infuriated Malice and he ordered General Carash to double the patrols, though that did little to stop the attacks. During the second week, three men were captured and sent to the palace for questioning. After several hours of torturing, the men still did not speak. They were finally killed, to the annoyance of Malice, and their bodies hung from the inner gates to rot.
Tales began to spread around the city, from the queen remaining in the palace leading the black-clad warriors, to rumours of her death.
***
The common people helped the men attack the invaders, but the city still had a fearful atmosphere. Public hangings were commonplace in the main market square and the bodies were not removed until they decomposed and fell apart.
In the Flying Vessel tavern, the men constantly planned new missions. With every new hanging, the men avenged the deaths by killing ten of the enemy. Zane and Dax came close to being captured, but they hid in an old woman’s home while the Dark Brethren rode past. Thade and Tanas also had to hide under the docks, in the water, while more black-armoured warriors rode over them. Regardless, the men continued – they had no choice.
***
Generals Brooks and Gordonia made their way across the Steppes. As with the first journey east, the army crossed the Steppes westward without incident and again remained intact. On reaching the western edge of the Steppes, Brooks gave his orders. The cavalry and Brooks would march ahead of the footmen and reach Teldor at the earliest possible time to assess the situation there. The foot soldiers with General Gordonia would follow and reach Teldor after the horsemen. There, the army would wait.
***
For two weeks, Emyra spent many of her hours planning. She sent out her bashers to meet some of the other small gangs in the city. Agreements were made, and their men were pledged to the Nightband, to be available when the call came.
***
The Gliding Falcon sailed into the port of Sandall. Rendel did not have high expectations as he got into his small boat and rowed to the docks, then was taken by carriage to the barracks. When he arrived, the place was deserted apart from the axe-wielders who had not been able to march with Captain Jamie. Rendel decided to wait. That night he walked from the barracks and looked out to the east, towards the Glass Mountains. Hoping, just hoping.
***
The Rhaurn cavalry headed through the treacherous Glass Mountains as Zane arrived in Teldor. General Brooks led the men and left the foot soldiers under the command of General Gordonia. He now trusted the man to lead his army to Teldor, as he pushed the army on, day and night, trying to make up as much time as possible without overtiring his horsemen or their mounts. Once through the mountains, it was only a week’s hard march to the capital and to the defence of the young king.
***
In the palace in Teldor, Chaos grew more and more restless. He knew his nemesis, his brother, was in the city – he could sense him – but he was under strict instructions not to leave the palace nor venture into the city. He watched another sunrise colour the sky in shades of pink and orange and cursed aloud when someone knocked at his door. “Come!” he snapped.
Davron entered the room and bowed in front of his master. The man’s face had become ashen and his hair had turned silvery white. “Can I be of assistance today, my lord?”
“No,” growled the seated warrior without looking round.
Davron stood in the room waiting.
Chaos looked up. “Remember I told you the story of the warrior who scarred me,” said Chaos, idly rubbing his finger along the length of his facial scar.
“Yes, my lord.”
“He’s in the city, I can feel his presence, like a cancer eating at my heart.”
“Then why do you not kill his man and be done with him?”
“I have been ordered not to leave the palace.”
“But I have not.”
Chaos stood and looked the man in the eye. “You would not last a heartbeat against him.”
“I’m growing stronger each day. I can take any warrior,” hissed Davron.
“We will see soon enough. Come, let’s break our fast.”
***
Later that day towards dusk, Chaos joined his brethren with the Darklord in the throne room.
“Now that I have all the pieces, I can test the power of our master. I will call forward another of our master’s minions to test these mortals.”
Chaos smiled, while Malice just looked on with Fury.
“I will call forward the Shadows to stop the little rebellion we have here in the city and bring back a prize.”
“My lord, I believe He is here,” whispered Chaos his breath hissing slowly, rhythmically.
“That I know, my friend.”
“Should we not go and get what is ours?”
“Have patience – everything comes to those who wait. I intend to test him again and show him the power that is now ours.”
The Darklord bowed his head and started to chant in the ancient tongue. He placed the relics on the table, forming a hand which then started to glow white. The temperature in the room dropped and the Darklord’s words formed in the mist before him.
***
Outside in the palace gardens, the ground started to rumble and crack. Through the cracks, black smoke billowed out.
***
The Darklord continued to chant.
***
The smoke grew into three columns and started to solidify, forming shapes. The smoke columns grew larger and larger, filling and billowing out.
***
At the Flying Vessel, the men prepared themselves for another night
of disruption and confusion. They divided into two teams. Zane set off with Dax, Tanas, Thade, and Gammel. Then Rayth, Zorain, Conn, Dank, and Felix left the tavern just after the first group moved into the darkness. Zane was going to cause problems for the patrollers Up Town, while Rayth would work his trickery Downtown.
***
In the palace gardens, the smoke columns grew to a height of seven feet. After several minutes, the dense smoke started to crystallise and the Shadows took on dark, eerie forms. Holding aloft their weapons, the three beasts of darkness hissed in anger and loped off into the night, instantly blending with the blackness.
***
In the palace, the Darklord smiled inside his hood and whispered, “Go, my pets. Go and bring one of the Children of the Light to me for the ritual.”
***
Back at the Flying Vessel, Gan-Goran woke with a start and bolted upright into a sitting position. “Have they gone yet?” he asked Ireen. The old man looked worried and a cold sweat glistened on his baldhead.
Ireen felt suddenly fearful. “Aye, they left about an hour ago. Why?”
“Oh my, oh my, they are in trouble.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can feel the Darklord’s black magic. He has cast a spell of immense power and I believe has called forth the Shadows.”
“What are Shadows?” asked Megan, hearing the old man’s words. She now worried for her love, who was out roaming the dark streets.
“They are beasts that make up the bulk of the Dark One’s Dread – his army. They will not be the strongest of their kind, but even their weakest can rip a man in half without much trouble.”
“We have to warn them.”
“You cannot leave the tavern. The Shadows move with the speed of the wind and at night they are near impossible to see unless they are killing you. They are almost invisible in the darkness, hence their names – the Shadows.”
The old man sat silently, rocking back and forth.
***
Admiral Rendel sat in the axe-wielders’ barracks in Sandall, waiting for the men to return and trying to decide whether to wait or leave. Rendel knew he had to be back at Teldor very soon, but it was pointless without more men. He rose from his chair and walked out into the night.
