“It was horrible,” Strake moaned. “And I couldn't do a damned thing to help them! I was their leader and I was helpless.”
He stopped speaking and Hallic reached out and gripped the rogue's shoulder. He shook him gently.
“And then?”
“When I realized that I couldn't get through the door, I ran back down the stairs and crossed the cellar to the emergency tunnel. Even that door took forever to open.” He grimaced. “It hadn't been used in years and the hinges were rusted tight.”
Hallic glanced at Mel who shook her head, but neither of them said anything.
“Once I got that damned door open, I ran along the tunnel to the exit across the street from the guild-house. I climbed out and raced through the alley into the open. And that's when I saw it. The inferno.”
Strake's expression was one of disbelief.
“Dragon fire could not have been more intense than the conflagration that had engulfed our house. The metal of the doors had melted! The stone walls had shattered from the heat. I have never seen anything like it.”
“Survivors?” Hallic asked.
“None. Not that I could find, and I circled the guild-house several times. It was too fast and too hot, Guildmaster. My only hope is that some of the children were away at school at that time of day. I'm sure that some of them must have been. And at least one of the parents would have been with them. That has always been the guild's practice, to watch over our youngsters when they are away from the safety of the guild-house.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Safety. Yeah, some safety.”
Strake picked up his glass and drank noisily. When he had emptied it, Mel walked over and took it from him. He shook his head when she offered to refill it again.
“How were you injured, Strake?” Shandon asked the rogue.
Strake looked over at the king.
“That's what drove me away from the house. I wouldn't have left it if I hadn't been attacked, my lord. I want you to know that.”
“No one doubts your courage,” Shandon assured him. “We just need as much information as we can get.”
“Yes, my lord. Well, on about my third circuit of the blaze, I saw a...I don't know what it was. A shadow of some kind. The streetlights were bright at midday, and something caught my attention from the corner of my eye. I turned to look and saw something skulk into an alley, out of sight. I thought that it might have been one of the enemy, whoever they were. I foolishly ran over to check, forgetting all of my training. Like a totally green apprentice, I leaped into the alleyway instead of approaching it with caution. I guess that luck was still with me, because I got a blade in the guts for my stupidity and still lived.”
“Who attacked you?” Hallic asked him urgently.
“Like I said, Guildmaster; a shadow. I was as close to it as you and I are now and all I saw was a dark outline. It was shaped like dwarf, but taller and thinner. I didn't even see the blade it used to stab me. But as it moved again to attack, I dodged and ran back out of the ally. For some reason it didn't follow me. That was crazy. It had me cold and it just let me go.”
“Daemon,” Shandon said, his eyes smoldering with anger.
“Undoubtedly,” Larin agreed. “The monsters seem to be everywhere now, don't they?”
“Cindra's troops,” Hallic sneered. “She is good at sending others out to do her dirty work.”
Strake was listening, a confused look on his face.
“What are you talking about?” he asked Hallic. “Who is Cindra? And what's all this about daemons? Aren't they just in children's fables?”
“I'll explain later,” Hallic replied. “Finish your story, Strake.”
“There's not much more to tell, really. I was bleeding badly at that point and I decided to put some distance between myself and whatever had attacked me. The entire area had cleared out after the attack and I stumbled through the empty neighborhood until I reached the warehouse where you found me. I climbed the stairs to the second floor, bolted the door of the office I found and ripped up my shirt to pack my wound. Then I guess I passed out. After I came to, I didn't have the strength to move very far, so I just waited. Either death or aid would arrive in due time, I thought, and that was that. Every once in a while, I would use the guild's secret call to let any of our people who might be in the area know that I was there, but by the time you found me, Guildmaster, I had about given up hope. And that is all I can tell you.”
“Seems like your luck is serving you still, Strake,” Shandon told him with a smile. “Thank you for your report. It's much appreciated.”
“But I couldn't save them,” Strake said, tears standing in his eyes. “My people. All dead. I pray the children, at least, are safe, but I don't know for sure that they are. Everyone could be dead and me, their leader, alive and well. It's not right!”
He clenched his hands into fists and stared at them, quivering with pent-up rage. Hallic tapped his knee and Strake looked at him.
“No, it's not right,” Hallic said gently. “But it is also not your fault. You did what you could, Strake, and you almost died for it. I do not blame you for any of this and you shouldn't either. We will find out if anyone survived and we'll bring them back to guild headquarters for safekeeping. But for now, I think that you need to rest up and finish healing.”
He stood up and looked at Mel.
“I'm sure that there's a page stationed outside. Could you go and ask them to find some quarters for Strake?”
He glanced at Shandon.
“With your permission, of course.”
The king nodded at Mel and she quickly left the room.
Strake was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed again. His color was better, but he seemed to be drifting off to sleep.
Hallic stood up, carried his chair back to the king's table and saw down again.
“I'm being pulled in several directions at once,” he told the others grimly. “I've got a list of things to do and all of them need to be done immediately.”
He held up his hand and counted them off on his fingers.
“Orelong needs to be searched in case there are any survivors hiding out, waiting to be rescued. I think Strake might have been right about the children. They are probably safe, but we need to get them back to Kingstone immediately.”
“Agreed,” Shandon said firmly.
Hallic tapped a second finger.
“Crystal Main was still burning when we left. That area should also be searched. Maybe Strake wasn't the only one to have gotten lucky during an attack. There may be survivors in that city as well. The magical traps left there have probably faded by now.”
“What else?” Jergen asked him.
“Cindercore,” Hallic told him, tapping a third finger. “Annia said that there was a mass of daemons there, not just one or two. And learning that fact almost got her killed. It is quite possible that Cindercore is where Corbin and Cindra have their base of operations. If so, we have to find it. If not, those daemons still have to be dealt with.”
“Anything else?” Shandon asked with a wry grin. “Surely there are more than just those three crises?”
Hallic closed his hand into fist.
“Fourth, fifth and whatever other number you choose. Corbin has to be stopped. He is your son and your responsibility, my lord, so I leave him to you. But he must be stopped now. And the witch Cindra has to die.”
He looked intently at Larin, Odella and Walkar as he spoke, waiting for their reactions, but the mages simply looked back at him expressionlessly.
Larin began nodding slowly, surprising the rogue.
“I agree,” the mage said. “She has gone too far. If there had ever been a time when she could be redeemed, that time has long passed. If any of us has the chance to stop her, we can not hesitate to strike, because Cindra surely will not. She is no longer one of our people. She is a monster.”
“Aye, that she is,” Jergen said with a scowl. “And Hallic may have a point,” he added
to Shandon. “With a host of daemons gathered in Cindercore, the witch and your son may be hunkered down in that city and using those creatures to guard them. The rogues guild alone won't be able to clear them out, not after the losses they've incurred recently. You will have to respond directly, old friend.”
The king remained silent. He acknowledged Jergen's comment, but seemed to be lost in thought.
“He's planning something,” Pieter said with a grin at Jergen. “I know that look.”
At that moment, Mel returned to the room, a young page in tow. She looked at her father.
“Glorie here tells me that there is a guest suite available if Strake needs a place to rest. Falder has left orders that a handful of rooms are to be kept prepared should any unexpected guests drop by. Is Strake strong enough to get there on his own?”
Hallic got up and went over to Strake. He gave the sleeping rogue a gentle shake and he woke up with a snort.
“Wha..? What is it?” he asked blearily. “What's wrong?”
“Easy, Strake,” Hallic said with a smile. “They've found a bed for you. Can you walk?”
“Walk?”
Strake lumbered to his feet and stood there, swaying a bit but seemingly in control of himself.
“Guildmaster, after thinking that I was going to die alone for two days, I could run,” he said with a weak smile.
“Excellent. Mel, would you go with him and make sure that he's comfortably settled in?”
“I'd be happy to. Glorie, you can lead the way. Come along, Strake. You've earned your rest this day.”
The three of them left the room and Shandon watched them go, his expression unreadable.
Hallic sat down again and everyone waited for the king to speak.
“Larin, how are you feeling?” Shandon asked the mage. “Has your strength returned?”
“Completely, my lord,” Larin assured him. “What can I do for you?”
“Come with me, please,” the king replied as he stood up.
He looked around at the others. Jergen, Pieter, Hallic and Walkar looked back at him. Odella was watching Larin as the mage joined Shandon. She looked mildly concerned for him, but said nothing.
“I'm going to have Larin scout out Cindercore. Hallic, please join us. Jergen and Pieter, go have a chat with the commander of the guards, would you? Hopefully he hasn't gone back to bed yet. I want a few dozen of his best archers ready to move out in an hour.”
The two warriors both smiled in anticipation.
“I told you he was planning something,” Pieter exclaimed, giving Jergen a clout on the shoulder.
“Aye. Well, let's get to it then,” Jergen replied as he stood up. “We might have to wake up the commander and if we do, I'll need your glib tongue to help keep him calm.”
Pieter chuckled as he got up as well.
“What do you want us to do after we speak with the commander?” he asked the king.
“Head over to the throne room and wait for me,” Shandon told them both. “Tell Brokk to join us after he's issued orders to assemble those archers. I'll meet you there.”
His two old friends nodded and headed out of the room.
“Odella, I know you are still on duty, so please wait here. We are just going to use the mirror in my bedchamber.”
“I will, my lord.”
“But Walkar, you should head to your quarters and get some sleep. I have a feeling that we are going to need your talents very soon and I'd like you to be well rested when we do.”
The mage glanced at Larin, who nodded.
“Yes, my lord,” Walkar said to the king. “I will do that.”
“Excellent,” Shandon said. “Larin. Hallic. Let's go.”
When they had left the room, the two mages looked at each other.
“What do you think he is planning?” Walkar asked Odella.
“I have no idea, but whatever it is, it's going to happen fast,” she mused. “I have a feeling that the king is sick of inaction. Things are about to change quickly. Go and get some rest while you can.”
Walkar smiled at her as he stood up.
“And how am I supposed to sleep knowing that things are now moving quickly, hmm?”
“Think happy thoughts,” Odella teased him. “Go on now. I have to focus on guarding the king. Sleep well.”
Shandon and Hallic watched Larin as he invoked the Magic Mirror spell. The mage performed graceful gestures as he chanted and the large, gilded mirror fogged over as he directed it to focus on the city of Cindercore.
“Can you look down from the highest point above the city?” the king asked him.
“From the ceiling of the cavern, my lord?” Larin asked in surprise. “Yes, of course. But you will not be able to see much detail from that height. I believe the ceiling is almost a thousand feet above Cindercore.”
“That's fine. I'd just like to get some perspective.”
“As you wish.”
As the mirror's surface cleared, those watching felt an brief rush of vertigo as they looked down at the city far below.
“This must be what a cave bat sees every day,” Hallic observed with wonder. “Breathtaking, isn't it?”
“It is,” Shandon replied, his voice hushed. “Look, it's almost perfectly diamond-shaped. I wonder if the founders planned it that way or if it just grew organically over time?”
The city of Cindercore extended for miles below the distant ceiling. Artificial lights dotted it like jewels twinkling in the darkness, defining its edges, and the king was struck by how precious it seemed to be. And it was, at least to him.
“Look, to the northwest,” Larin said as he pointed at the mirror. “There's an entire section of the city in complete darkness.”
They all focused on that portion of Cindercore and Shandon's expression became grim.
“Is that the area where Baroness Entissa has her properties?” he asked.
“Yes, the noble's quarter,” Hallic replied. “Ominous, is it not? It seems that Annia was right. The entire neighborhood must be infested with daemons.”
“And perhaps my son and his witch are there as well,” Shandon said as he frowned at the mirror. “Surrounded by their evil servants, it would be the perfect place to locate their headquarters.”
Larin looked over his shoulder at the king.
“Isn't that a trifle obvious, my lord?” he asked. “If Corbin wanted to stay safe and not draw attention to himself, then this is achieving the opposite effect.”
Shandon stared at the black patch and fiddled with the gold beads woven into his beard.
“Perhaps it is,” he told the mage. “But I'm starting to believe that my son is no longer in charge of this rebellious scheme. Is this,” he nodded at the mirror, “something that Cindra would allow? You know her better than anyone. Is it in her nature?”
Larin contemplated the mirror for a moment and then shrugged.
“I cannot say, my lord,” he replied. “The Cindra that I once knew is gone. Would the creature who took her place really care if we knew where her lair was? Probably not. Her power has made her arrogant, obviously. Why else would she attack the rogue guild-houses as she has done? They were senseless and cruel acts that have only served to enrage, not just Hallic and his people, but you as well. If you are hunting a tunnel snake, you do not poke a finger into its hole, lest you anger it. But that is exactly what Cindra has done. Yes, she might be down there. Or this might be a diversion to throw us off of her scent. I have no way of knowing.”
“I think she's there,” Shandon stated. “You're right, Larin. She is arrogant in her power. And why not? What have I done to counter her and my son? Nothing. I have sat here in this palace and allowed them to scheme and connive and run rampant across the empire. They now exert influence in many places, influence that I was not even aware of until recently. And that is on me. It happened under my watch. I am the king and that means taking responsibility, not just for the good things that happen under my reign, but for the bad as well.”
>
He scowled at the mirror and pointed at the darkened section.
“Could you zoom in on that area?” he asked the mage. “I need to see what is happening down there.”
“I can try, my lord,” Larin replied hesitantly. “But if Cindra is actually down there, she might sense my spell and block me. And that would also warn her that we have found her and the prince. Of course, she may not be there. You were wise to have me observe the city from a distance. Not even Cindra's magic could sense mine from this height. But getting too close to her will definitely set off an alarm. Do you want to take that risk?”
“Don't do it,” Hallic said quickly before Shandon could reply. “If we want to clear out those daemons, we need to take them by surprise. That might be our one advantage. Tip Cindra off and she will be ready for us, and who knows what other nasty surprises she will have waiting when we arrive.”
The king glared angrily at the mirror, his hands balled into fists. But he took a moment to calm himself and not allow his emotions to cloud his judgment. He let out a breath and nodded slowly.
“You're right, both of you,” he said. “My warriors are not experienced when it comes to fighting against magic and creatures like daemons. We need to take every advantage that presents itself.”
He waved dismissively at the mirror.
“Shut it down, Larin. I've seen enough. Whether Corbin and that witch are in Cindercore or not, our goal remains the same. We have to cleanse the city of those monsters and take it back under our control. And if my son is there, well, so much the better.”
“So what's next?” Hallic asked the king as Larin canceled his spell. “What are you going to do now?”
Shandon smiled at him.
“As Pieter said, I have a plan. It is dangerous and possibly foolhardy, but I will no longer wait to react to the traitors. Now I will take the fight to them. They've gone unchallenged for too long. It is time to change that.”
Chapter 27
The noble quarter of Cindercore stood dark and silent. It was usually brightly lit with tall, ornate streetlamps shining cheerfully down upon its mansions and manor houses. Its streets were paved with rare marble bricks that were swept daily by an army of servants from every house. Each street corner held at least one shop selling expensive items such as jewelry, fancy clothing or delicious dishes not available to the average dwarf.
The Dwarven Rebellion Page 34
