Alex sighed. It was a bitter defeat on the one hand, but his friend's lives and safety was far more important. It was a contest he would lose in an instant, Alex having no doubt that the inhumanly strong adventurer's blows, even pulled for a gentleman's duel could well break his bones, to say nothing of the risk of a protective Malek flying into a blood-rage, and the gods alone knew what a disaster that would be.
At least this way, Jess and Malek would get the gold they had risked their lives for. "My name is Alex de Velice," he sighed. "And my companions are Jera de Leon, Jessica de Calenbry, and Malek de Sousel."
Morlekai stepped back, agile face instantly transforming from ice cold killer to amenable partner in a dizzying flash. He chuckled warmly. "An excellent choice, my young friend. Now if you would be so kind? Thank you." He even had the grace to tilt his head in respect as Alex forced himself to hand over the freezing bone wand that looked so odd in normal daylight, as if it were both here and not, simultaneously, caught between multiple realms. "Bard?" With that the bard quickly hurried over to Alex, bowing deeply as he held out a sheet of paper covered with formal looking writing. "It is a Guild promissory note," the harried looking gray-haired man whispered, "Bring it to any Guildhall. They will match it to our report as fast as the dove flies, and the gold shall be claimable by any member of your band."
The massively thewed Alacabar immediately broke into a celebratory grin, rubbing his crimson beard fiercely as if summoning unholy exuberance before barking out a sharp burst of laughter. "An excellent end to our little venture! Come, dear Alex. Back to the Guildhall we go. Join us in celebration! Our bards would love to hear your tale. The softest beds outside the royal palace await your ease, I can assure you of that, and all the food, drink, and company an adventurer can ask for. Our local hall also hosts gentle healers and masseuse to bring succor to wounded friend or weary body, to relax you before you sink blissfully into your adventurer's sleep!"
Lucienda nodded warmly. "Come, dear Alex. Bring your friends. We have the most exquisite bards and musicians in the kingdom allied to the Guild. Their sweet harps and lutes will guide you softly and gently to the land of dreams, and summon you gracefully back to the land of the living days hence, when it is time to slip free of perpetual dream and embrace the realm of daylight once more."
Her voice, hauntingly beautiful, so sweetly seductive, made Alex shiver with exquisite longing and comfort both, soothing his soul with her gentle whispers. Lucienda's knowing gaze sensed all his flaws, all his foibles, even as her smile forgave and comforted, basking him in gentle understanding and acceptance.
Alex shook himself, smiling shakily. Only Jera's shivering form and frightened gaze kept him from drifting toward Lucienda as if she were a siren queen in truth. “I thank you for the offer. The noble offer, dear Lucienda, noble Alacabar. But my friends... my companions. They can only be fully healed back at the college.” This raised several curious brows.
Oddly, fierce and mercurial Morlekai alone seemed unsurprised by his stance, a soft nod of approval as he gazed at Alex and the still form of poor Jessica. Alex blinked, now certain of what he saw. Morlekai's expression was one of grave concern for the girl collapsed and unconscious before them. Whether it was a momentary infatuation or more than that Alex neither knew nor cared, grateful he had at least one ally, however tenuous and unexpected their alignment of purposes might be.
“As I'm sure you know, the College of Highrock has some of the best healers in the Kingdom. And they know us well,” Alex hastily amended, hoping to deflect too much curiosity. He shuddered under Lucienda's piercing gaze, her knowing smile. But she simply nodded.
“Well then, let us accompany you for a time. Our bard here would love to hear your tale.” Lucienda turned toward her companions. “Come, my brothers. Let us mount and ride with our new friends for awhile. Their tale will be an interesting one indeed, I have no doubt.”
Alacabar, mane bristling, smiled fiercely. Alex's gut lurched. The massively built man looked as ready to tear into one's throat as greet one with cheer with his madman's grin. "An excellent idea! Let's put some food and wine into these whelps as they tell their tale to our wonderful bards, and give them beds fit for heroes! Hells, we'll shower them with their well-earned gold, and they'll wake in wealth befitting an adventurer or a king!"
Alex smiled weakly. It was as if the fiery haired man hadn't heard his refusal to go to the guild hall at all.
Yet it was the imposing Morlekai, gazing at Jess with such haunted eyes, who came to their aid. A quiet squeeze of a startled looking Alacabar's shoulder resulted in a surprised grunt from the man, even as Lucienda appeared suddenly shaken, gazing at Morlekai, Alex, and Jess with newly considering eyes.
“I think we must trust the young man's instincts in this. None save those who fought and bled together in the realm of dreams can know the trials and terrors that were faced, nor the pacts or oaths that demand a certain path be followed, even when emerging dizzy and delirious into the waking world once more.” His fierce gaze was almost gentle as he looked upon Alex. “Is that not so, lad?”
Alex smiled gratefully. "Honored Delver, it relieves me more than words can say that you can understand our plight. We are indeed tasked with bringing our beloved companion back to Highrock." Alex shivered. "I strongly sense that only safely ensconced within those familiar surroundings will my love and I have any chance of awakening at all, once we sleep, for I know already that the adventure we survived was a far deeper and darker pit of Shadow than Jera and I had any right to enter, let alone survive."
Morlekai nodded, gaze solemn. "It is a wise Delver indeed who is able to sense his natural limits, such prudence being as unlikely as an adventurer surviving from the Spring of his blossoming powers unto the Summer of his slow mastery of all the terrible gifts that dream and nightmare have twisted upon his form."
He turned then to one of the attentive looking henchmen waiting upon the Delvers with baited breath, all of them equipped in fine looking shirts of mail with swords at their waists and tabards of what were no doubt the Guild's colors, and Alex couldn't help but shiver, swearing he had seen no trace of them before that very instant.
“You there, man. See that our weary friends are comfortably set upon our spare mounts and render them all assistance needed in their journey back to their Academy!”
“Yes, Del Morlekai. It shall be done!” the man saluted promptly, and with a nod, the youngest looking among them began to bring several sedate looking mares Alex's way.
The bard still transcribing the events unfolding with quill and journal looked up, his beaming smile firmly in place. “And thus our dear Morlekai shows the munificence and compassion that is the hallmark of all those brave enough to explore Shadow itself for the sake of protecting our fragile realm of existence. You shall find the mares to be patient and steady, though I fear for you children greatly, should you collapse in slumber before making it to your destination.”
At that Alex gave a wry grin of his own even as the fierce looking hound unspooled several tendrils of crimson power to the collective awe of bard and servitor's alike, Morlekai and his companions only momentarily startled before focusing themselves once more. Within moments Jera, Jess, and Alex were comfortably seated upon their massive companion's back, his thick coat of fur strangely soft, at least to their hands, and somehow Alex knew they were in no danger of falling off Rage's powerful backside. “That will be quite all right, good sirs. As for mounts, we have all we need.”
Alacabar laughed in hearty approval, even as Morlekai whistled. “A fierce hound indeed!I sense before us a Delver with the potential for mighty bloodmagics as he blossoms into his own, the likes of which I have not seen in the waking world for a very, very long time. But can he keep the pace? Your companion's life depends upon it.”
Alex nodded solemnly at the warning behind Morlekai's fierce, approving smile. "Rage and I will get Jess back to Highrock at all cost. We owe her that much, at the very least."
Lucienda nodded approvingly, even as Morlekai saluted them. "Well said, young Alex. We shall meet again, I'm sure. I am anxious to hear your tale! As are the bards, I'm sure."
“And please remember to tell your tale before you sleep!” This the bard quickly yelled behind them, yet already his voice had fallen to a faint call, so powerfully did Malek spring forward at that moment, knowing exactly what he must do.
39
Alex found himself gasping in awe, heart hammering again, and heard Jera yelp as well, Jess carefully braced between them even as they tore through the countryside, the road flying under their fierce mount's paws faster than Alex had ever ridden before. Far faster. For a dizzying moment he feared he would slip off, before feeling the odd hot prickly touch of unseen tendrils of power holding them gently secure.
“By the gods, Malek. You are incredible!” The hound barked happily at that, though it sounded more like the cough of a massive hunting cat, and Alex realized to his awe as their mount broke into an incredible ground eating stride that he had only been warming up.
"Amazing, isn't it, Jera?" Alex's heart lifted high as the scenery played before them, the landscape flying by as they raced with the speed of eagles flying high above. He couldn't help but grin wildly as they tore past produce-laden wagon and mounted horsemen alike, receiving more than one gasp of surprise, even fear, though they flew past too quickly for anyone's surprise to mount to panic, and were specks in the distance before anyone could think to pursue.
“It's wonderful!” Jera laughed. “Oh, Alex, as much as I want to forget this journey with all my heart, this, at least, I want to remember. And the fact that I love you!”
Alex's laughter joined her own. "Yes, my princess. Always! Hopefully, since we are out of the Shadowrealms, free of the land of dreams, this we will remember!" And Alex did his best, eyes wide, to remember every detail of their surroundings as they all but flew through the kingdom, loping down main roads, racing down dirt tracks, retracing the very path that led to the College of Highrock, their home away from home, and Alex forced himself to keep alert as sleep slowly fought to overcome him, to focus upon the mystic tree nestled within the rooftop garden that was Jess's only hope.
A tree that Alex was strangely certain he could visualize, for all that he had never seen it before. It was of modest size, roots firmly lodged within the soil and rocky face of the mountain, the garden having been carved deep into the mountainside as much as atop the roof of the largest of Highrock's structures. Even now he could visualize the oak-like leaves blowing gently in the breeze. He could visualize it all so clearly, for all that he had never actually set foot within the fabled rooftop garden. He shook his head in bemusement, only in that moment realizing how very odd it was, how few people actually climbed the staircase leading to the roof of that grand structure, for all that the herbs grown there were among the most potent and valued in all of Erovering.
Yet as soothing as the image of that garden he had never seen was upon his mind's eye, every time he focused upon Jess his breath hitched, even as he sensed her edging ever closer to death.
With an abrupt mournful howl that seemed to echo across the very heavens above, Malek tore along the road at a pace not even a hawk could match, Alex thought, caught between terror and exhilaration. For Rage no longer bothered even to dodge around slow moving caravans, or king's patrollers, instead taking off in great soaring leaps far above stunned looking travelers below that left Alex and Jera breathless as panicked caravan-masters or soldiers gave alarmed cries that quickly faded in the distance, so fast did they go.
They raced through Erovering at blinding speed, leaving the wondering faces and alarmed horns of guardsmen far behind as they flew past great walled towns and quiet villages alike, past farms and forest, blazing their way to the foot of their destination at last, until Malek, mighty hound that he had been transformed to, was himself filled with weariness.
Great flanks now heaving, the hound's fierce powerful run had transformed to a steady lope, and at last, as the massive gray-white walls of Highrock College rose before them, their terrible steed's stride was little more than a fast walk, and still he endured, relentlessly carrying them forward to the college gate, barred and fortified before them, for the first time that an exhausted Alex could recall.
Nor had Alex ever faced the helmed faces of a score of crossbow-wielding soldiers peering down at them from the parapets by the great gate as if he were an enemy soldier before, either. Troops serving directly under Eloquin, Alex thought, as none save commanders training at Highrock had permission to make use of bowmen or crossbowmen without risking the headsman's block, save for those forces acting directly under the auspices of the Crown. At last Malek stopped before the gate guarded directly by half a dozen nervous looking guardsmen protecting a circle of mages behind them, and gave a mighty, forlorn howl.
“Rens!” an exhausted Alex shouted at the prominent figure in the half circle of mages secure behind spearmen and a hastily constructed ward of power. “It is us! Make way, we must get through!”
"Alex? By the gods, it's you!" With that Rens gave forth a relieved belly laugh, and Alex saw several of his fellows grinning sheepishly, even several of the guardsmen nodding their heads in recognition. But, Alex noted, no one left the circle and no guard lowered his spear.
“Rens, we have to get through! Jess is sick, and she must go to the garden!” Alex's voice was urgent with concern.
Ren's look was filled with worry, but grave as well. "I understand, my young friend. And we shall have her looked at right away, I promise you." He turned his gaze upward and Alex noted again the score of crossbowmen, weapons at the ready, overhead. "Armsman Kinct!" he called out sharply. "Send for the healers at once!"
“Yes, my lord.” One of the men left the parapet above, but the rest still had weapons at the ready, even if their stance was now more relaxed.
“Don't worry, lad,” Rens assured. “We shall make sure that Jess is well looked after, I promise you.”
Alex's voice turned urgent, even as their fierce steed began to growl softly, causing the men to fall back, spears raised, eyes glancing at the monstrous creature before them anxiously, the flames of their uncertainty rekindled. "Rens, you don't understand! It is vitally important that Jess get to the rooftop garden immediately! You know that's her retreat. You know the potency of her herbs."
Alex thought desperately of a way to say what needed to be said without saying too much. "Look, we all know Jess has talent, great talent with unlocking the potency of herbs. That's her magic. That's why she can't cast spells. The gods have already gifted her with power! Think of that garden as being invested with a bit of Jess's life-force. There, perhaps more than any other place in the kingdom, is where she may best rest and recover!"
One of the guardsmen wearing a plumed helmet gave Alex a sympathetic shrug. "I am sorry, lad. But our orders are clear. No one is to pass through these gates, not until their humanity and allegiance can be assured." He gave their panting hound a baleful glare and Alex could only imagine how it must look from a soldier's eyes, gazing upon a massive creature out of nightmares and legend suddenly appearing before them, covered in glowing sigils of blood.
"We had received word from the capital itself by means best left unmentioned that a fell creature could be seen heading our way," Rens explained, arm gently laid on the lieutenant's shoulder, guiding him gently back. "Indeed, half the countryside around the great city is now flush with rumors and the first embers of panic. It is pure fortune itself that we have our arcane channel within the capital, and that this fell beast had been spotted within sight of Krona, or word would never have been sent. Any other location would be hopelessly vulnerable, for your fierce looking mount, my dear Alex, appears to have torn across the land faster than even the birds flying high above. General Eloquin himself has given the order that no one is to be allowed entrance into Highrock without his or Dean Echobart's approval.”
He gave a sympathetic shake of his head
. "You, of all people, should recall the dire threats our college recently faced, the treacheries committed by those serpents nestled within our very bosom. And you may be assured, dear Alex, we are taking Jess's grave condition most seriously. Our healers are making their way here with all haste, and Eloquin himself is no doubt heading this way even as we speak."
At that moment Jera cried out. “Alex! I think Jess has stopped breathing!”
A tingle of dread shivered down Alex's spine, overwhelmed by a crescendo of heart pounding panic.
Malek howled a cry so piercing several men began to shake and clench hands to ears, even as his cry turned to a bloodthirsty growl and Alex saw to his despair two blood red orbs began to hover about the great hound, buzzing through the air at terrible speed, emitting trails of bloodred flame.
Alex's cry of warning was fierce. "Back away now, all of you, if you wish to live!"
The terrible hound began to pace forward, terrible blazing eyes and growl so fierce Alex could feel it in his bones. Arrows were shot and Jera gasped, even as Malek's crimson balls shattered them to kindling. At that moment Alex felt the weight of Jess's body collapse against him entirely. The jolt of terror he felt coursing through him added the power of passion and terror to his might, and the guttural word that tore past his lips roared through the air in a terrible crescendo that blasted through the massive oak doors, shredding the defensive wardings like mist as they shattered stout oaken logs to kindling.
Carefully aimed despite his terror and rage, the guardsmen nearby were knocked senseless, though very much intact, and Rens and his students were left stunned and senseless by the uttering of a Primal word, their defensive wards shattered like dross, making no further move to stop the fierce hound as he strode across the shattered wards and darted through the blasted doorway with a great howl.
Oblivion's Queen Page 45
