Heirs of Vanity- The Complete First Trilogy Box Set

by R J Hanson

  They approached a shop that was little more than a collection of wagons parked in a row.

  “How much for four bushels of grain?” Roland asked the merchant.

  “Forty-six silver, good sir,” the merchant replied.

  The price seemed high to Roland but Skult was clearly a seller’s market.

  “I think you mean to say thirty-two silver,” Marnie said from behind Roland and Eldryn.

  “I mean forty-six,” the merchant said with a scoff.

  “The grain cost you maybe three silver a bushel in Vanthor,” Marnie continued. “It likely cost another silver per bushel for transport to Skult. That means with a reasonable markup you should be charging seven silver per bushel so the cost of four would be twenty-eight silver. Twenty-eight is likely the selling price you are paying taxes on, if it is even that high. Wishing to pocket say four silver per transaction would put the price at thirty-two silver.”

  “Just who are you?” the merchant said as his face began to turn a dark shade of red.

  “My companion here is likely already counting out the forty-six sliver, so you can just throw in two more bushels of grain and half a bushel of apples for our troubles,” Marnie said. “Unless, of course, you would prefer my Silver Helm friends to inspect your taxing scrolls.”

  “Take your bushels of grain and apples and be gone from here,” the merchant said, quite flustered.

  The trio carried their six bushels of grain and full bushel of apples toward their cart and Roland could not repress his grin.

  “That was well done,” Roland said.

  “You mean, for a girl?” Marnie said.

  “I mean for anyone,” Roland said. “Seeing a merchant put in his place like that. That was well done.”

  “I’ll see that the extra grain and apples go to some of the people here who need it,” Marnie said. “Father always said food and coin are the best lubricants for tight lips and cold shoulders.”

  “Sounds like he was a wise man,” Eldryn said as he rested his hand on her shoulder.

  “Wise man indeed,” Roland said as he tousled her hair.

  Anger flashed for a moment in Marnie’s eyes at Roland’s gesture. She remembered what Eldryn had said about Roland meaning well but being thoughtless at the same time. She was beginning to understand what El’ meant by that.

  “I’m going to change my accommodations, if that’s alright with you, El’,” Marnie said. “The Inn you reserved a room for me is nice but there is very little talk there and none of it loose.”

  “The other places are a bit rough,” Eldryn said.

  “A bit rough, yes,” she said. “But there’s more talk and more people moving in and out for a drink or a meal. I may even see about getting a job there. It would give me a reason to move among the tables.”

  “That sounds like a fine idea,” Roland said, just happy they had finally convinced her to stay in the city.

  “Roland, do you mind gathering the rest of what we’ll need?” Eldryn asked. “I think I’ll make sure Marnie has what she needs to get settled.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Roland said.

  Roland gathered their supplies. He talked with different scouts who were in need of a drink or two and who also had information about the interior. He mentally prepared himself for what lay before them.

  That evening they spent a quiet time back at the tent with Tindrakin and Kodii and all had a large meal. Roland was surprised that Marnie had not joined them.

  “The girl?” Roland said to Eldryn.

  “She understands well that we need information and that it was her job here,” Eldryn said. “She has already made herself busy with settling in and making friends where she could. We argued about it, but I agreed to let her scout the area around Skult as well. She’s to ride no more than half a day in any direction from the city. If the fighting comes here again, we will need a detailed layout of the surrounding area anyway.”

  “If she has money to spend, then she’ll likely fall in with the wives of the knights and officers here in the city,” Tindrakin said. “Some do what they can for the injured that come through and help to care for the refugees, but there is always gossip to be had.”

  Roland awoke to find Eldryn still fast asleep across the tent from him. He rose and began to dress himself. When he started putting on his armor Eldryn stirred. They exited the tent to find Tindrakin and Kodii preparing breakfast. They had already retrieved and saddled the horses and packed what was not still in use on the cart the mule pulled.

  “Good morning to you, Tindrakin,” Roland said.

  Roland nodded to Kodii and Kodii returned the nod. Roland had learned that Kodii wasn’t much for any sort of conversation and usually a look or gesture conveyed all he required.

  “Just call me Tin, sir. We have a light breakfast prepared. I have already eaten. If you would like, while you and Eldryn finish your breakfast I shall collect the tent and other things.”

  “Very well,” Roland said.

  “We should have looked into hiring a guide a long time ago,” Eldryn said as he rubbed the mistress sleep from his eyes.

  “Indeed, we should have,” Roland said. “Tin, do you have any other companions that you trust that would be willing to go with us and fight at our side. I would be willing to pay five gold to any man you choose for the two months’ work.”

  “I may know of a few,” Tin said. “I’ll see to it while you finish your breakfast.”

  Tin finished with the tent and packed it on his horse. Then he made his way off to the streets of Skult. Roland and Eldryn took their time eating, both knowing that it might be the last comfortable meal they would have for some time.

  They finished a fine breakfast of ham, bread, and eggs, and had the rest of the supplies packed and ready by the time Tindrakin returned. He came into the camp with four weary, but experienced men.

  “These four men are willing to go for the five gold,” Tin said as he returned. “They are good men and I trust them.”

  “Very well,” Roland said. “Do each of you have your own supplies?”

  “We do,” came from the small group.

  “Will you be needing rest before we travel?” Roland asked.

  “We look rough, Sir Roland,” one Roland would later come to know as Cambri said. “But we are rested and fed. Our time of service is up, but for the gold you offer we are willing to march on.”

  “There is no ‘Sir’ to it. It’s just Roland. You will have one hour before we leave,” Roland said. “Here is half your pay in advance.”

  Roland gave each man two gold coins and five silver.

  “I suggest you collect whatever else you feel you might need.”

  The men left for the market place straight away. No discussion, no questions, and no dawdling. Professional soldiers. Roland liked them.

  “Tin,” Roland said. “This is for you.”

  Roland handed him ten gold coins. Tin took them gratefully.

  “I assume you may want the hour to write to your family and perhaps send them a package or two. We will leave within the hour.”

  “Yes sir,” Tin said as he sped off toward the post master’s office.

  “Do you think it’s wise to pay them before we even leave?” Eldryn asked.

  “Those men have already earned that money,” Roland said. “Perhaps it is not our responsibility to pay them, but they have earned it. The coin came to us out of good fortune as much as hard work. If they do not return, they will have cheated no one but themselves. If they do return, then we have a better idea of the men we’ve hired.”

  Roland and Eldryn strolled the market place selecting a few last-minute items including more rope, and lamp oil. Kodii followed leading their mule and cart.

  Roland and Eldryn finished gathering supplies and the three led their mounts to the gate that led north out of the city. They had learned that Daeriv’s forces typically attacked the nearby farms and ranches at night coming across the river due north of the city. They
had decided, based on Tin’s advice, to ride due west for a few leagues and then cut north to cross the river there. They were a bit surprised when Tin and all four of the soldiers arrived at the gate ready for travel.

  “Well, Guide,” Roland said, “lead the way.”

  Tin smiled and began out the northern gate of Skult. The small group of warriors followed.

  The group traveled west for five hours before turning to head north toward the river. The ground and lands around them had been scorched and scoured by months of battle. They traveled past the remains of several farmhouses that had been burned. Roland stopped and dismounted after he noticed something laying in the road. He retrieved a child’s doll from the roadway that had been partially burned and trampled. Eldryn recognized the look that came to Roland’s face as he looked at the damaged toy. He would die here if necessary, but that look showed he would spill a great deal of evil blood before it came to that.

  Tin showed them a place in the river that was not too deep and the horses were able to cross. The cart would be another matter. They ran a rope across the river and looped it around a nearby tree. The cart was then unloaded and the barrels of supplies were tied to the line. With men working on both sides of the river the barrels were pulled across three at a time much like a ferry. The cart was broken apart and they hauled the intact bed of it across the river as well. Once on the eastern side they began the work of altering the bed of the cart into a sled.

  Roland looked back on the river and tried to remember each detail of the crossing.

  “What are you doing?” Eldryn asked.

  “I want to know where this crossing is in case we have to return this way at a fast pace.”

  They walked into a thick forest as the gloom of night settled around them.

  “We should camp soon,” Tin said.

  “That we should,” Roland agreed. “We have enough men. Each man will take one of four watches per night. Three men the first night, a different three the next. I will keep the fourth watch each night. Kodii, be in the woods as you see fit.”

  They found a clearing in the trees and began to set up a cold camp. Tin and the other four soldiers, Cambri, Pala, Tyll, and Facl, had three horses to share between them. They took turns riding as well as watering and picketing the horses at camp. Kodii led and cared for the mule. They all laid out their bedrolls close to one another. Every man there was tired. They ate dried fruits and jerky in the quiet of the dark forest. The watches were organized and seven of the eight men slept. The men cycled through their time on watch in silence.

  The men awoke, gathered their gear, and rode on the next morning. While traveling very little was said. Each man knew the danger he was riding into and was not looking forward to the battle they knew would come. Each but Roland.

  Roland was eager for the chance to face Yorketh again. He carried the burned doll in his hands while he rode. His selfish desire for revenge had changed with the affect these lands and its peoples had on his heart. He no longer wanted to avenge himself on Yorketh or prove anything to the world by besting him. Roland wanted to make Yorketh pay for the evils that had been wrought here. He vowed he would see justice done.

  The next several days passed without much talk and with no incident. Kodii occasionally ranged out from the group and would return with a fresh rabbit or large bird to supplement their food stuffs. On the night of the sixth day the small group rode into the burned out village Tindrakin had told them of. Roland had never seen bodies so misused. Eldryn’s own conscience now desired the blood of the creatures that would do this. Tin and Kodii circled the village searching for tracks.

  “Roland,” Tin said as he approached the group once again. “We have found something.”

  Roland and the others followed Tin to the west side of the village where Kodii waited. Tin showed them the tracks they had found. He pointed out the tracks of the ogres, the dark elves, and the slaves.

  “I am no tracker,” Roland said. “But I am no fool either. Those footprints of the slaves. They are the prints of children.”

  “They are,” Tin confirmed. “They march them not toward Daeriv’s stronghold to the north, but rather west, toward the mountains.”

  “Why would they march children into the mountains?” Eldryn asked.

  “When we searched there,” Tin said, “there were many places in those tunnels that a grown man could not go.”

  “They plan to use the children to help them search for the weapon that you and your men sought?” Eldryn asked.

  “It would seem so,” Roland said. “Do you think we can catch them, Tin?”

  “Yes. If that is indeed where they are going. They can travel no faster that a child can walk and the drow will only travel at night. They have over a two-week head start on us, which should put them a little more than a month’s travel from the tunnels. If we can maintain our pace and head straight for the tunnels, we could reach it by that time.”

  “Very well,” Roland said. “We will stop for only six hours a night with each watchman taking two-hour watches. If we can beat them to the tunnel’s entrance then we can rest there and await them in ambush. They will be tired from the road and we will be rested.”

  They pushed hard for several more days with Tindrakin and the other soldiers telling Roland and Eldryn what they could remember of the drow tactics, how the ogres were used, and how the wizard positioned himself among the troops.

  These soldiers had seen more battle than Roland and Eldryn, however, were very interested to hear the tales of Nolcavanor and meeting the infamous Gallis Argenti. Eldryn, being the talker of the two, regaled them with those stories as well as the tale of the flash flood that nearly killed Roland and Petie. Until then, Roland hadn’t realized how desperate Eldryn had been to find them or what a toll the possibility of their death took on Eldryn’s heart.

  “Petie?” Tindrakin asked.

  “A fine boy,” Roland said.

  “We found him fleeing the village that Gallis was attacking,” Eldryn said. “He traveled with us and we grew to love him. Strong, smart, and brave. Roland adopted him as his son. He’s now enrolled in the Silver Helm Academy in Modins.”

  “The Silver Helms?” Tindrakin asked.

  “Yes,” Eldryn said. “As I said, he’s strong.”

  “Sounds like he was fortunate to meet you,” Tindrakin said.

  “The fortune was ours,” Eldryn said. “He’ll grow to be a fine young man and likely serve as a Silver Helm someday. The Kingdom will be a better place when he is old enough to serve it.”

  Roland and Eldryn’s thoughts turned back to the day when Petie ran the course at the Silver Helm Academy. They thought of how much they missed him. Those thoughts led them both to thinking about children being marched in chains toward the mountains. They both fell silent.

  After a time, Roland spoke.

  “Tin, you’re confident you know what cave they’ll head for?” Roland asked.

  “Yes,” Tin said. “It’s a bit up the rise at the foot of the mountains. There’re a few trees about, but not enough to consider them cover. That’s why I think they’ll charge for the cave when we engage them.”

  “Their mage stayed toward the back before,” Tin continued. “He had six or eight guards that stayed with him when they attacked us.”

  “We’ll need to be swift then,” Roland said.

  Chapter VIII

  Shrou-sheld Blancet ‘A Leader’s Justice’

  Tindrakin returned to the tunnel’s entrance within an hour. They had ridden hard and slept short hours in the night. Cold meals and cold camps had begun to take their toll on the men gathered at the tunnel’s entrance. However, they were all fighting men. All knew the life of hard travel. Still, their muscles and bones ached with weariness.

  “They are not far,” Tin said, gasping from the run. “They should be here in two hours.”

  Tindrakin did not see the four drow scouts that were even then approaching their position from the west, farther up the mo
untain side. Four drow scouts armed with crossbows and skilled in the fine art of the ambush.

  “Prepare your bows,” Roland said. “Remember, release your arrows toward the drow first. Arrows will do little damage against the ogres, and if we can hurt enough of them in the first few volleys then the larger beasts may rout. El’ and I will both aim for the mage.”

  Tyll, Cambri, Pala, and Facl took different positions among the rocks. Kodii had taken to the nearby forest, disappearing like a ghost among the trees. The sun would be rising through the forest to the east within the next three hours. Rising behind the dark elves as though chasing them. The drow would be desperate to get under cover before then. Roland hoped that their desperation would aid him and his small group. He didn’t like the idea that the sun would be in his eyes if dawn were to come before they arrived, or if it rose during the battle. Some tactical disadvantages were unavoidable.

  “Tin, why is this weapon so sought after?” Eldryn asked.

  “The Prince thinks that the sword of Mandergane, the White Paladin of the Infinite Father, is buried here. His mages have detected a power in the tunnels, but the mountains are riddled with veins of some ore that disguise it. That is why Yorketh cannot find it. But, as I said before, there’s a reason a paladin was sent to the marshes and a ranger to the woods to the east. The power sensed here could be just about anything.”

  “Shrou-sheld Blancet?” Eldryn asked. “’A Leader’s Justice’ is here, in Lawrec?”

  “That is what the Prince believes.”

  “Roland, that is a magnificent tale,” Eldryn said. “It is said that while a leader carries that sword into battle his men will not flee, nor will any allied with the sword show cowardice. It is also said that while a leader carries the sword in peace time, age will not touch him.”

  “I am aware of the legends,” Roland replied. His thoughts were on the children marching on bloodied feet toward them. Roland took the burnt doll from his pack and looked at it again. His teeth ground together as he strung his bow and placed his arrow on the string.

  You wear your impatience like the brightly colored hat of the town fool! The time for blood will come when it comes. Do not be eager for it! Roland could hear Velryk’s voice in his mind as he thought of the lesson.