“You sent for the rest of your people?” he asked her when Annia spoke to him. “Why?”
She looked up and down the deserted streets, her expression uneasy.
“I don't like what is happening in my city, Guildmaster,” she replied. “We never found the other nobles who lived in this quarter, and now the goblins have disappeared. Something is building up around us. Can't you feel it? So I decided that it would be prudent to have as many of our people on the streets and ready to respond to an emergency as possible. I sent the rogues I had with me out to patrol the area. Just in case.”
Hallic nodded slowly as he watched Shandon walk down the front steps of the manor and begin speaking with the commander.
“I understand,” he told Annia. “I have the same uneasy feeling. Mel thinks that what happened below might have been a feint. She may be right. The goblins sacrificed a few of their weakest troops and kept our attention on them. Why? What else is happening? And where are Corbin and Cindra?”
The king was listening to Brokk as the commander assured him that the troops were still eager to fight the goblins, if someone could find them.
“Thank you, Commander,” Shandon said with an absent smile. “I am sure that they are. And since we can't seem to find the enemy, let's keep your warriors busy. Leave a squad here to keep an eye on the manor, just in case the goblins try to come back up through that tunnel. The others can be sent out to patrol the quarter. I will leave their deployment up to you.”
“It will be done, my lord,” Brokk replied with a salute.
Shandon nodded and turned away as the commander began barking orders.
“Should we turn out the city militia?” the king asked the others as he motioned for them to gather around him. “The rest of Cindercore seems to be safe for now, but if this was all just a ruse, it may not remain so.”
Jergen and Pieter agreed that it would be wise to get the militia on to the streets as a precautionary measure. Annia also thought that it would be better not to take chances.
“It's your choice, my lord,” Hallic told Shandon as the king looked at him and his daughter. “Both Mel and I are uneasy about this entire thing. The goblins retreated too easily. Something bigger is going on and more defenders on the streets certainly wouldn't hurt.”
“Thank you all,” Shandon told the group. “Pieter, tell Brokk to send someone to the militia headquarters and tell whoever is on duty to turn out their people. They can spread the news about the goblins' incursion around the city.”
Pieter nodded and hurried over to speak with the commander.
Odella had stayed back a few paces from the others, watching over the king. As he was making plans, Mel happened to glance over at the mage and saw her dip a hand into her pocket, pull out her small mirror and begin speaking into it.
“Something may be happening,” Mel whispered to Hallic.
He looked at her and she nodded at Odella.
“Our friend seems to be getting a message from someone,” Mel added.
The two of them watched as Odella's face suddenly paled. She spoke quietly into the mirror for a moment and then seemed to feel the rogues staring at her. She looked up and met Hallic's gaze and he hurried over with Mel close behind him.
“Problems?” he asked her.
“Perhaps,” she replied as she slipped her mirror back into her pocket. “That was one of our junior members in Kingstone. She has been visiting some friends that live outside of the palace and she was trying to contact her mentor, Josper. If you remember, he was assigned to protect the king along with myself, Larin and three other senior mages.”
“I remember him, I think,” Hallic said with a smile. “Isn't he the one who curls his beard?”
Odella chuckled.
“You noticed, did you? Yes, he does love doing that. The rest of us pretend not to notice his affectation. Anyway, Lunara, the young mage I was just talking to, wanted to speak to Josper about some minor matter and she couldn't reach him. So she tried to reach one of her friends inside of the palace. There has been no response.”
She looked shaken by the news and Mel gently patted her on the arm.
“Is there some mundane reason that communications might have been cut off?” she asked Odella.
“No, unfortunately there is not. Even if all of them were asleep, which I find highly unlikely, a sending from one mage to another would wake the recipient up immediately. It is part of our training, you see, to be aware of such things at all times, even when we are resting.”
Odella glanced over at the king, who seemed to be sharing a joke with Jergen and Pieter, both of whom were laughing.
“I am afraid, my friends,” the mage said, looking back at Hallic and Mel. “I am afraid that something terrible has happened in Kingstone while we have been away.”
Hallic stared at her for a moment and then turned to look at the king.
“My lord!” he called out. “We may have a problem.”
The king looked back at him in surprise and then saw Odella's alarmed expression. He quickly walked over to her.
“Odella? What is it? What's wrong?”
“I am not sure, my lord,” she replied hesitantly. “One of my people just called to tell me that they cannot reach my colleagues in the palace. She is very young, but experienced enough that I consider that news alarming.”
“My security team, you mean?” Shandon asked her. “Walkar and the others?”
“Yes, my lord. And other mages who are still living inside of the palace.”
The king frowned and glanced at Hallic, who could only shrug.
“Would you try to get in touch with them yourself?” Shandon asked the mage. “Just in case the young woman who contacted you made a mistake of some kind? Not that I'm doubting her skill, of course.”
“I am sure you aren't, my lord,” Odella replied with a wan smile. “Yes, I will make the attempt. One moment please.”
She took out her mirror again and began casting a spell. While she did so, Shandon moved back a few paces and motioned for Hallic to join him.
“We've all been feeling uneasy about this whole episode,” the king said under his breath. “I was afraid that it was simply a feint, to draw our attention away while Corbin and his witch made a move elsewhere. Unfortunately, I may have been right.”
“Possibly,” Hallic replied quietly. “If Odella is also blocked, how do you want to proceed?”
Shandon watched the mage as she stared into her mirror. He fiddled absently with the beads woven into his beard as he frowned in thought.
“There is no way that Odella will be able to transport many of us back to the capital,” he said to Hallic. “What Larin did to save all of us was extraordinary and it may have killed him. But if necessary, she can certainly Gate a handful of people back to Kingstone. But if the palace has been attacked, landing inside of it might be suicidal. We need a safe place to regroup and find out what is happening back home. Any suggestions?”
“The guild headquarters,” Hallic replied immediately. “It is the safest place for us in all of Kingstone. My rogues will have heard of any disturbances in the city and, if there has been an attack on the palace, they will know of it.”
Shandon gave him a long look and Hallic raised an eyebrow.
“We are all loyal to the crown, my lord,” he said firmly, answering the king's unspoken question. “I give you my word on that.”
With a quick smile, Shandon clapped a hand on Hallic's shoulder.
“I know you are, my friend,” he assured the rogue. “I believe your people are as well. And I agree. If Odella cannot reach the palace, that will be our next move.”
Both of them looked over at the mage just in time to see her shake her head as she put away her mirror. She caught the king's eye and he waited as she walked back to him.
“I cannot reach them, my lord,” Odella said. She was visibly shaken and leaned heavily on her staff. “I can't reach anyone inside of the palace. All of the families, all
of my people, are cut off.”
“Including the children,” Mel said softly.
Shandon looked at her and his face darkened.
“Aye, the children,” he muttered.
He turned away and watched as the last of the troops marched off to patrol the neighborhood. He remained silent for a few moments, long enough that Jergen and Pieter, who had been joking with each other, noticed his stillness.
“My lord?” Pieter said as he walked over. “Is something wrong?”
The king nodded absently.
“Aye.”
He spun around and looked at Odella.
“How many of us can you Gate back to Kingstone?” he asked her.
The mage blinked at him several times in surprise and then she looked around at the others.
“I can take all of you here, my lord,” she assured Shandon. “But where do you want to go? If I am being blocked from communicating with my people in the palace, it is doubtful that I will be able to Gate there. And if I could, it may not be safe for you there.”
“We will travel to the rogues headquarters in the capital,” Shandon told her. “Hallic assures me that it is secure, and I will take him at his word.”
“Ah, of course,” Odella exclaimed with a startled smile. She looked at Hallic. “Can you describe a specific location, sir? I will need a clear target to lock on to before I can Gate to it.”
She pulled out her mirror once again and Hallic moved to her side and stared into it.
“Certainly,” he said. “I think that the main entrance hall would be the best place to go.”
He began describing the hall and Odella cast her Magic Mirror spell again as Hallic spoke to her.
Commander Brokk was standing with the handful of warriors he was leaving to guard the manor and the king called him over.
“We're going back to the capital,” Shandon told him. “There may be something dire happening there. We'll have to leave your troops here in Cindercore. Odella won't be able to transport any more than our small group. Do you want to stay here or come with us?”
Brokk's expression became grave as he listened to the king.
“I will come with you, my lord,” he stated. “With your permission. My place is by your side, especially if Kingstone is in danger. My officers here will be able to continue guiding this mission without my presence.”
“Good.”
Shandon looked around and counted heads. With Brokk included, Odella would have to Gate eight of them, including herself.
“I am ready, my lord,” the mage said as she finished speaking with Hallic.
“There are eight of us, Odella,” Shandon told her. “Is that too many?”
Odella smiled at him as she shook her head.
“No, my lord. I can manage. If you are prepared to leave, then everyone should gather around me and we will head back home immediately.”
Shandon motioned for the group to move closer to Odella and, when everyone had closed in, he nodded at her.
“Whenever you are ready,” he told her.
“Very well, my lord. Here we go.”
Chapter 33
When the group materialized in the entry hall of the Kingstone guild-house, Hallic was surprised to find a familiar face waiting for him.
“Strake? When did you get here?”
The leader of the Orelong guild gave him a quick smile. Strake was wearing a black leather tunic and trousers and looked healthy and alert. His beard was neatly trimmed, the tufts of silver barely visible. Only the scar on his cheek looked the same as it did when Hallic had rescued him from the warehouse in Orelong.
The circular hall was quite large, but sparsely furnished, with a few chairs resting against the walls and a low ceiling. The floor was bare stone and there were only two doors leading in and out. Strake was the only person in the room other than those who had just Gated in.
“Welcome home, Guildmaster,” he said as he looked around at the others.
His eyes widened as he saw the king and he bowed awkwardly.
“Your majesty,” Strake said.
“It's still just 'my lord', Strake,” Shandon corrected him with a smile. “How are you doing? You look well.”
“I am well, my lord. Your cleric did a good job healing my wound.”
He looked back at Hallic and his expression changed.
“Walkar Gated me here not more than an hour ago. He was with me in my quarters and we were discussing the fire at the Orelong guild-house when the palace was attacked.”
“What? The palace was attacked?” Jergen exclaimed. “By whom? How?”
Strake shook his head.
“I don't know, sir,” he replied. “You will have to speak to Walkar for the details. All I know is that we heard the sound of a huge explosion and then a lot of screaming. Both Walkar and I hurried to the door just as it was smashed in and a bunch of creatures tumbled into the room. The mage took one look at them, grabbed my arm and transported us here.”
He looked at Odella.
“I didn't know you mages could react that quickly,” he said to her.
“Not all of us can,” she replied. “Walkar is very talented. He must have had a Gate spell memorized and ready in case of emergencies. He has always been a cautious one.”
“Well, his caution saved my life today.”
“What kind of creatures are you talking about, Strake?” Shandon asked him.
“Horrid little armored things they were, my lord,” the rogue replied, his face twisted with disgust. “Walkar tells me that they were goblins, but how is that even possible? Goblins down here, in our realm? They may be diggers, but they are still surface dwellers, are they not?”
Jergen began cursing savagely, while Pieter face paled and he squeezed the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white.
Hallic and Mel exchanged grave looks and Annia looked as angry as Jergen was.
Brokk's expression grew cold and he stared at the king, awaiting his orders.
“Goblins again,” Shandon growled. “So now we know why the noble quarter in Cindercore was attacked. It was a diversion, to keep our attention away from Kingstone.”
He walked away from the group with his head down, and Jergen and Pieter watched him with obvious concern. Hallic moved closer to Strake and lowered his voice.
“How are things here?” he asked. “Are we secure?”
“We are, Guildmaster,” Strake assured him. “All points of entry are under guard. All of the city's rogues have been recalled and their families are safe down below. You have at least a hundred of our people at your disposal, awaiting your orders.”
“They were expecting me to return so quickly?” Hallic asked, surprised.
Stake grinned at him.
“You have a reputation of turning up at the right place and at the right time,” he replied. “The rogues all trust you and are waiting for your commands. As am I.”
“I appreciate that,” Hallic told him. “If I know the king at all, I think that things are about to start moving quickly. So be ready.”
“I am more than ready,” Strake stated as he touched the brace of daggers on his belt.
“Good.”
Shandon spun around and looked at Strake.
“Where is Walkar?” he asked him. “I need to speak with him immediately.”
“He is down in the guildmaster's quarters, my lord. It is the deepest and safest spot in the entire place and Walkar said that he needed some place quiet to try to spy out what was happening at the palace.”
“Ah, good. He's wise. Hallic? Would you lead us down there, please?”
“Certainly, my lord. Follow me.”
Hallic crossed the room and opened the door that led into the guild-house. The king followed him and then stopped and looked back at everyone.
“Well, what are you all standing around for?” he asked them sharply. “We've come this far together. Let's see it through to the end, shall we?”
Jergen chuckled and ever
yone moved to follow Shandon.
“It is so hard to find good help these days,” the king said with a teasing grin.
Even Commander Brokk had to smile at that comment.
All of them paraded down through the levels of the guild headquarters. They passed many rogues, all of whom were armed and alert.
Hallic was greeted with relief by many and he had a quick word for several of them, reassuring the rogues as he went.
Shandon remained silent, but he watched Hallic's interactions with his people approvingly.
He's a good leader, the king thought. Just what these people need right now.
Instead of trying to force the group into a crowded elevator, Hallic led them down the spiraling ramp that made up the main floor around the central core of the guild-house. Jergen and Pieter both looked over the railing into the depths below several times and exchanged mystified glances.
“What's that all about?” Jergen whispered to his friend at one point.
“I have no idea,” Pieter replied as he hitched up his belt to keep his sword from scraping on the ground. “Why dig a pit in the middle of your headquarters and then build rooms off of it and stick a corkscrew of a ramp leading from top to bottom? Beats me.”
“Rogues,” Jergen muttered as he rolled his eyes. “I've never understood them.”
“I doubt that they understand you either,” Pieter joked.
“Hmph.”
Neither warrior was particularly quiet even when they tried to be, and Annia and Mel both had to stifle their laughter at the comments.
“Just how deep does this go, Hallic?” Shandon asked at one point. “In case you hadn't noticed, several of us are wearing armor and it is getting hotter the deeper we descend.”
“Almost there, my lord,” Hallic assured him.
He pointed across the wide gap.
“You can see where the ramp ends down there. That is my office.”
The king looked across and nodded as he saw where the spiraling floor finally ended.
“Good. It's been a few years since I was forced to march a long distance in armor and, frankly, I may be a bit out of shape.”
The Dwarven Rebellion Page 42
