Soldiers of Legend

by Stephen L. Nowland

  “We live in a world filled with daily miracles,” Robert answered with a half-grin on his unshaven face. “Is it so hard to believe that a man of means could buy his way out of death?”

  “Yes, I saw your little necklace,” Aiden growled. “Those things are incredibly rare — how did you come by one?”

  “Anything is for sale, for the right price,” the mercenary replied cryptically.

  “I don’t understand, what was the necklace?” Nellise inquired, clearly shaken at the return of their old nemesis. Aiden explained how Alain Dufort had given one such item to Margaret Fairweather on their journey south and how she had used it to spare the life of Sir William.

  “Did you pay for it with the money you received from the castellan?” Criosa asked in a measured voice.

  “Is that who was paying me? How about that,” Robert mused. “But to answer your question, no. I’ve had that pendant for years. I bought it right after my first major command at the Battle of Burgspitze, where I’d almost been killed by a stray ballista bolt. It seemed like a practical use for my money. Which leads to the reason I came here.”

  “About bloody time,” Pacian grunted impatiently.

  “The Battle of Culdeny was the worst mistake in my life,” Robert said, ignoring him. “Bartlett dangled the prospect of immense riches in front of me and I threw caution to the wind. I ended up losing everything I built over the last decade — a company of loyal soldiers, wealth, influence… everything was under control until you showed up.”

  “So, you’re looking for revenge,” Aiden mused, levelling a threatening stare at the man. “I must say, this is a strange way to go about it, surrendering to the guards like that. No wonder we beat you.”

  “I’m not here for revenge, you idiot,” Robert spat, losing control for the first time. “You took everything from me and left me with nothing. No, I came here because I have something to offer you.”

  “Is it the clothes on your back?” Pacian wondered. “No thanks, we already have some of those.”

  “Information,” the mercenary grated, clearly hating every minute of this conversation. “And a good sword arm. In short, I want to work for you.”

  The room couldn’t have been more silent if Black had cut everyone’s tongues out. Aiden was at a loss for words for one of the few times in his life. The prospect of Black working for the people that almost killed him was unfathomable and judging by the disbelieving glances amongst his colleagues, they weren’t convinced of the mercenary’s sincerity either.

  “After everything that’s happened, after declaring that we took everything from you and left you for dead, you would still work with us?” Nellise asked suspiciously.

  “Regrettably, yes,” Robert muttered. “I haven’t come to this decision lightly, mind you, but the information I have is valuable to you alone. Besides, I’m betting you need every experienced soldier you can get your hands on.

  “You must understand that trusting you is going to be an issue, yes?” Criosa put to the mercenary after a moment’s consideration.

  “Oh, quite,” he answered. “But here’s something you need to understand. I’m a practical man. I don’t hold grudges and I’m completely loyal to whomever I work for. You don’t survive for long in this business if you cross your employer.”

  “You won’t divulge the nature of this valuable information until we agree to pay you, I take it,” Criosa added expectantly.

  “That’s the way it goes,” Robert replied with a wink.

  “I’m amenable to hearing more,” Aiden said, “only because your note hinted something about the dragon blocking the highway over the mountains. I don’t think we’re going to hire you for anything else, considering your last job was to kidnap the princess and sack Culdeny.” Robert’s response was to grasp the bars on the door and press his face against them, his one eye glaring at the visitors.

  “You’ve already tried to kill that dragon once before, and dozens of soldiers died,” he spoke with cold confidence. “The hard truth of the matter is, you can’t afford to squander any further resources in a pointless battle. You are going to need every able-bodied man and woman if you are planning what I think you’re planning, and I know how to make that dragon disappear without so much as drawing a sword.”

  “Fine, tell us and we’ll pay you for your efforts,” Aiden responded. “Then we’ll talk about whether or not to keep you in prison or just hang you right now.”

  “I need to speak to her directly,” Robert explained, unfazed by the threat. “Your gear suggests you’re about to head west, and I’d bet a hundred gold sovereigns you think you can take her in a fight. If you don’t take me with you, you’ll die trying. Besides, you’re lacking some muscle — I understand your Akoran savage died weeks ago along with the elderly knight, and I somehow doubt that princess stick-figure here would be much use in a fight.”

  “Don’t get too cocky or I shall have you flogged,” Criosa stated firmly.

  “Just say the word, Highness,” the guard captain said reassuringly.

  “Relax, I’m simply pointing out the obvious,” Robert continued unperturbed. “Oh, did I mention I was the one who hired Azurefang to block the highway in the first place? Sorry, my memory isn’t as good as it was before you left me for dead.”

  “Oh, now it makes sense,” Sayana said to herself.

  “What does?” Criosa asked curiously.

  “When we fought her, Azurefang said she ‘sings and dances to the black one’s gold’.”

  “She doesn’t really have both oars in the water, if you know what I mean,” Robert remarked. “Still, she follows orders when you pay enough. You have no idea how expensive it is to hire a dragon, though. I’ll talk to her and let her know her job is done and the problem will be solved. If you want to handle it yourselves, go right ahead, don’t let me stop you. Be sure to give her a big sloppy kiss for me.”

  Aiden glared at the mercenary for a long moment, weighing the desire to punish the man for his crimes against the potential benefits on offer. It was Criosa who gave him the answer, however.

  “There’s nothing you can say or do that can excuse your past actions,” she informed him coldly. Aiden was about to say something when another voice suddenly spoke right next to his ear.

  Let him assist, it said in a familiar, deep voice. I will not tolerate another loss.

  “Salinder?” Aiden whispered, looking around for the source. His eyes were drawn to the sword on his hip, and he recalled the power it had exhibited earlier. The series of events from Aiden’s dream vision flashed through his mind, and he realised that the spirit of the dragon must have transferred through the crystal sphere into the sword. The particulars of this astonishing revelation bore further investigation, but for the moment, everyone was looking at him strangely.

  “Give us a moment,” he muttered to Robert, gesturing for the others to follow him back along the dank hall.

  “What was that about?” Sayana asked, eyeing him suspiciously. “I heard you say that dragon’s name — is he speaking to you now?”

  She never trusted my kind, the voice of Salinder said in his mind, distracting him further from the conversation. You cannot prevail against Azurefang, for I will not help you slay another of my kind.

  “I’m not entirely sure what’s happening,” Aiden confessed, gripping the hilt of his blade in an effort to shut Salinder up. “I do think we need to talk more about Robert’s offer before we cast judgement upon him.”

  “He’s a murderer,” Criosa protested.

  “He’s a soldier,” Aiden reminded her. “Robert was paid to attack a town, and that’s what he did. This sort of thing is occurring every other day in the south of Feydwiir from what I’ve read, and I’m not saying it excuses him, but can’t we at least get his help against Azurefang? Then we can decide if we want him to join in the fight at Highmarch.”

  “I know what you’re about to ask,” Pacian said as Aiden turned to him. “I vote we let him hang. We can take
this one dragon in a fight.”

  “Don’t be so sure about that,” Sayana said with a shake of her head. “She has the advantage of knowing the terrain and she’ll hear us coming a mile away. I don’t need to remind you of our last encounter, do I?”

  “That was being run by an idiot captain who went in thinking it’d be easy,” Pacian snorted. “Think about what we’ve faced, and the fact we’re still breathing. We can do this without his help.”

  “From what you’ve described, Azurefang is a lot bigger than Vindictus, the dragon we faced down in Feybourne,” Aiden mused. “And Vindictus was weakened from being confined in that place for decades. I’d prefer to avoid a fight if we can and if Black can help, all the better.”

  “You make a good point,” Criosa conceded reluctantly. “I don’t think we can trust him, but I suppose we can enlist Commander Black’s aid this one time… and then I will throw him in chains.”

  “Satisfied?” Aiden whispered, hoping Salinder could hear him.

  It will suffice, the disembodied voice spoke to him. When they returned to Robert’s cell, the mercenary was still leaning up against the bars, seemingly relaxed with his surroundings.

  “You will deal with the dragon,” Criosa stated, “and we will decide what to do with you afterward. Do not abuse my generosity with disloyalty, commander, or I shall have Pacian gut you.”

  “Oh joy, I haven’t been eviscerated before,” Robert replied blandly. “That sounds like a jolly good time. For what it’s worth, Your Highness, I give you my word of honour that I won’t harm you, or work against the interests of the Kingdom.”

  “Your words are meaningless, Robert Black,” Sayana said while looking up at him with her unflinching green eyes. “It is your actions that will prove your worth. Cross us, and this time I’ll take out your other eye as well.” Robert stared back at her, the tension between the two palpable as they both recalled how he had lost his eye. Criosa observed the uncomfortable moment and then nodded to the captain, who unlocked the cell and allowed Robert to walk free.

  “You won’t regret this,” he assured the princess, who maintained a blank expression as they turned to leave the jail.

  “You will not be paid for this service,” she informed him. “Consider it partial penance for your misdeeds.”

  “I wasn’t expecting anything different,” Robert grunted. “But you’ll need to buy me some gear if I’m to travel with you. I’m not much good to you armed with my sturdy boots and winning charm, am I?”

  He spoke the truth when he gave his word, Salinder informed Aiden, unbidden. You will need him before the end.

  “Excuse me a moment,” Aiden suddenly told them. “I need to check on something. I’ll join you outside in a minute.” He ignored Sayana’s curious gaze as Aiden looked for privacy. “Can I use your office for a few minutes, captain?”

  “Certainly, Sir Aiden,” the officer replied. “I’m going to make my rounds and will return in a few minutes.” Aiden nodded his thanks and stepped through a door into a small chamber furnished with a simple desk, chair and a lonely potted plant.

  “Salinder?” he asked as he drew the sword. It didn’t appear to look any different, and he was beginning to wonder if his suspicions were correct.

  You do not need to hold the sword to speak with me, the voice of the dragon spoke. But yes, my spirit is within this weapon. I apologize for not bringing this situation to your attention earlier. You have been rather preoccupied.

  “I… am at a loss for words. How did you even do this?” Aiden asked in bewilderment.

  I knew my energies were faltering as my body withered, the dragon in the sword spoke. I also suspected the Ironlord would break free before I perished, but I would then be killed shortly thereafter. I had noticed the sword you recovered from Feybourne recently and recognized its design instantly. It is an elven soulsword, dating back to their first golden age three thousand years ago. Only four were made before unfortunate events led to the destruction of their city-state, but three of them survived the destruction. You hold one in your hands.

  “I knew it was old, but not that old,” Aiden breathed, looking at the blade with new perspective. “The name, ‘soulsword’… does that mean what I think it means?”

  The idea was to empower a weapon with the life-energies of one of their kind, in order to fight their mighty foes, Salinder continued. It was never designed to contain a force as vast and magnificent as my own however, so I have staved off my demise for a few weeks, at best. In that time, I can aid directly your cause.

  “How, exactly?” Aiden asked curiously. The dragon’s answer came in the form of a glow of increasing intensity from the crystals embedded into the sword. The sword began to shimmer with power and the rough, chipped edge of the ancient weapon filled out with light until it appeared smooth and unblemished by time.

  My power is undiminished in this form, Salinder explained in a voice that grew with intensity in Aiden’s mind. On the contrary, I feel freer and more focused now than I have for a century and more. From here, I can reach out and alter the very fabric of reality to my will, and none shall stand before our combined might. There is no force on this world that can withstand the edge of this blade, and that is but a modicum of my powers. Any who stand in my way will be annihilated and when we face the Ironlord, it will taste fear and be sundered to oblivion, in the name of vengeance!

  Aiden held the blade before him, almost blinded by the light shining forth and numbed by the vibrations surging along the handle. The potted plant on the desk nearby skittered along the polished wooden surface as the entire room shook and the window shattered. Then, as quickly as it had happened, the light vanished completely, leaving Aiden staring in awe at the chipped and worn blade.

  Chapter Three

  “What was that about?” Pacian asked suspiciously when Aiden joined him out in the crisp spring air. Pacian was leaning casually against the wall, watching the crowds of people go about their daily affairs.

  Tell them nothing.

  “Nothing, really,” Aiden replied with a quivering voice. “I just needed a moment to compose myself after seeing Robert alive.”

  “Yeah… smashing windows calms me down too,” his old friend remarked sarcastically.

  “Where are the others?”

  “Sy’s keeping watch on Black while he gets some travelling gear,” Pacian explained. “Hopefully he’ll try and make a break for it and she’ll burn him to a crisp. That’d really brighten my mood.”

  “What of the other ladies?”

  “They went to fetch the horses,” Pacian answered with mild disinterest. “You know, I have to say I’m in agreement with the princess about that bastard. Well, what she said before you went and changed her mind, that is.”

  “Robert’s going to try and get rid of it without a fight,” Aiden pointed out. “You fought this dragon once already, Pace. Do you really want to have a second go at it?” Pacian shifted uncomfortably against the wall, speaking louder than words about his true feelings on the matter.

  “Maybe not, but do you really think this bloke is going to just ask for her to leave, and she’ll go? Azurefang isn’t just unstable Aiden, she’s completely mad. She’s just as likely to eat us as say hello. Take it from me — this is going to end in a fight whether we like it or not.”

  “Well, Robert’s going to be the one doing the talking, so if he gets eaten you won’t be too upset about it, right?”

  “I suppose,” Pacian murmured, losing interest in the conversation. Aiden looked at him askance and pondered whether or not to press him on his recent attitude. The decision was made for him when Robert and Sayana returned, the mercenary protesting loudly as they approached. He was wearing a new black longcoat over warm travellers’ clothing. There was no sign of armour or weapons on his attire.

  “The mountains can be dangerous,” he was saying. “By keeping me unarmed, you’re risking my life. There’s no point taking me along if I’m just going to get killed in some ra
ndom skirmish, damn you.”

  “We’re more than capable of protecting you,” Sayana pointed out, unfazed by his argument. “If you need me to hold your hand when we’re out in the big, dangerous mountains, just say so.” Robert stifled an angry retort when he saw he was being observed. At over six feet, he towered over the slender woman, though Aiden wouldn’t put money on Robert to win if a fight broke out.

  “I’m not much good to you if I can’t fight,” the mercenary insisted, turning to Aiden when it became obvious he wasn’t going to win the argument against Sayana. “At least buy me some armour — I feel naked walking around like this.”

  “Now there’s a mental image I didn’t need,” Aiden drawled. “I think I speak for all of us when I say that trust must be earned, not given. Even gauntlets can be used as weapons, and I don’t want to give you any ideas about smashing my head in tonight.”

  From down the street, he could see Criosa and Nellise approaching on horseback, with four mounts trailing behind them. The princess was astride a magnificent black mare that looked like it was more of a show horse than a practical mount, but the rest of them seemed to be sturdy beasts.

  “Pick a horse and climb on,” Criosa ordered when she came to a halt right before them. “I intend to make MacKenner Plateau before nightfall. During this journey, I must ask you not to refer to me as ‘princess’ or ‘Your Highness’, lest I draw undue attention. I trust you have everything you need?”

  “Yes, we’re all set here,” Sayana replied before Robert could speak up. “I uh… I’ve never ridden a horse by myself before, though,” she added shyly.

  “I wish I’d known about that earlier,” Criosa remarked. “You could have spent the past few weeks taking lessons. We really can’t delay, so you’ll have to ride with someone else.”

  “I suppose I could hang on to the back of Aiden,” Sayana wondered.

  I will not abide the touch of that sorceress, Salinder spoke in Aiden’s mind, just to make things a little more difficult.

  “Before you decide on that,” Aiden said, thinking quickly, “consider that Robert will be riding by himself with nobody to keep an eye on him. If you were to ride with him, you could quickly react to anything he might try.”