Dawn smiled.
“Sleep well, my knight.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Taniesse followed the dark winding path through the forest with Boldair close behind. She kept her black dragon-claw sword drawn, tightly in hand.
Boldair wore his shield across his back and carried his ax loosely in his right hand. Weariness, hunger, and thirst weighed upon him more than his heavy shield. Under normal circumstances, he’d shrug off trivial aggravations, but since he had left Taniesse’s little prison they had yet found a place for him to fill his gut. Losing treasure he had long believed was his also kept him disgruntled. But the loss of gold and gems was worth staying alive.
“Where is the tavern you promised so long ago?” Boldair said in a tired hoarse voice.
“No tavern.”
“Aye. The drink makers’ trading post. Where are they?”
“Close by.”
“I suppose after we drink, you’ll be wanting me to lead you to your hidden treasure?”
She stopped walking and shook her head. “Not yet. Something more important must be done first.”
“What be more important than your treasure?”
“The Dark Orb.”
“Ahh, yes.”
“Be on guard. Our watcher is watching us.”
“Still?”
“Yes.”
“Why hasn’t the blasted thing revealed itself?”
“Spies gain more knowledge.”
Boldair ran his hand through his beard and nodded. He gave a shrewd grin. “That be true.”
Golden eyes bulged and peered down from a large tree branch that hung over the path ahead of them.
“There,” she whispered, nodding slightly forward.
“Aye. I see it. What is it?”
Scrunched behind a thick leafy branch, only its eyes were visible.
“Viorka?” Taniesse said. “Come down.”
The strange creature shrank back, trying to make itself tinier behind the leafy branch. Quickly closing its eyes, it blended into its surroundings.
“Too late,” Taniesse said. “I know you’re there. I have already seen you.”
Viorka opened its glowing golden eyes and gave a small grunt. “It really is you. I thought you were long dead, Ol’ Great Dragoness.”
“As have many throughout Aetheaon.”
Boldair cocked a brow, gazing up toward Taniesse and pointing toward the branch. “You know the beast?”
The creature hissed at the dwarf.
“Shh. You’ll offend her,” Taniesse said.
Boldair bellowed a long sigh. He set the head of his ax onto the ground and leaned upon the handle. He shook his head. “What is it?”
“A fynx.”
“I’ve not heard of it before.”
“Rare creatures. Maybe a half dozen even exist. They are from stray felines that cross with a wizard’s familiar.” She looked up at Viorka. “Come down. You’re safe with us.”
The golden eyes narrowed, glancing at her and then to Boldair. The catlike creature leapt from the tree branch and right before it touched the forest floor, it altered into another form. It was about half the size of Boldair, thin, furry, and stood like a human. Small furry catlike ears backed slightly, listening. Its small nose twitched, making its whiskers rise and fall with the movement. Other than the whiskers and golden eyes, her beautiful face looked human.
Her feet and legs were covered with leafy ferns and moss to blend into her surroundings. On her paw-like hands were long sharp nails that resembled thin dagger blades. Her fiery hair stood in a wild fashion. Sprigs of leafy vines tied strands of her hair together.
“What wizard familiar was her parent?” Boldair asked.
Taniesse shrugged and gave a slight frown. “Even she doesn’t know that.”
Viorka sprinted to Taniesse and raised her front paw-like hands up to take Taniesse’s free hand into its own. Viorka rubbed her face against Taniesse’s palm and then nuzzled against the dragoness’ leg. “I grieved so long after I heard of your death.”
“The guise was necessary . . . until now.”
“Then what has brought you out from hiding?” Viorka asked. Her eyes widened with keen interest.
“Queen Taube’s death.”
Tears swelled at the sides of the fynx’s round golden eyes, forming big droplets, and seconds later, they struck the ferns and pads of thick moss on the forest floor. The fern fronds stiffened and quickly withered. “The queen is dead?”
“Aye,” Boldair said, nodding. His eyes were heavy with sadness.
“Oh, the goddesses . . .” Viorka pressed her narrow chin to her chest.
“Lady Dawn lives,” Taniesse said softly. “We’re looking to find her and set her upon her rightful throne.”
Viorka made a soft mewing sound and nuzzled her face against Taniesse. “A dragon leading an army could destroy any city and its armies.”
Taniesse placed her index finger beneath Viorka’s chin and tilted her head upward. “The fact that I am alive must remain secret for Lady Dawn’s wellbeing. You mustn’t tell anyone that you know I’m alive.”
Viorka nodded, purred, and rubbed her face against Taniesse’s muscled leg again. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Taniesse smiled. “There is a favor I do need from you.”
“Anything, Ol’ Great One,” Viorka said with a wide smile and loving eyes.
“You saw the traveler that left the old man’s shack?”
Viorka nodded. “Yes.”
“He has a magical artifact that he should not possess. It will require you and Boldair to take it from him.”
“What does he have?”
“The Dark Orb of Misthalls.”
Viorka rubbed her clawed hands together. A hint of mischievousness glowed in her golden eyes. “That’s worth heaps of gold.”
“It must be destroyed.”
Surprise made Viorka’s eyes grow. A small gasp escaped her tiny mouth. “Why? You could make a fortune by selling it.”
Boldair’s eyes widened. A sudden glint of greed curled a slight smile on his lips. “A fortune?”
Taniesse frowned. “Yes, a fortune from someone who possesses an evil corrupt desire to ransack a fortress or sacrifice yet another of my kin. Allowing the orb to exist is too dangerous. The priests that had protected it in the Misthalls Temple were slain. Now, it is a relic that wizards and sorcerers battle to possess.”
“And this traveler,” Viorka said, “is a commoner? Is he not?”
“He reeks of something far worse,” Taniesse replied. “Sissrow is a creation granted by the vile ghost sorceress, Baelress, who controls the Well of Misfortune. But I fear she has cursed him with her dark powers as well.”
Viorka’s brow creased. She wiggled her nose, making her whiskers rise and fall. She was deep in thought, probably thinking of the possible outcomes that might occur with this man having the orb.
“So this orb can summon a dragon?” Boldair said. “That’s not so bad. You don’t have too many of your kind left, right? You could release another to aid us.”
“No. You misunderstood, Boldair. The one who possesses that orb could take control of me or any other dragon and summon us to do his bidding. I cannot be anywhere near the orb, or Sissrow will be able to possess me and use me for whatever destruction he sees fit. That’s why I need the two of you to take it from him and then you must destroy it.”
“Can’t we bring it back to you so you can destroy it?” Viorka asked.
“No. The magic surrounding the orb will try to entice you to take control of me. That’s probably why he stood staring in our direction for so long. He seemed to sense the presence of a dragon.”
“He did act like he knew we were there,” Boldair said, nodding.
“He was probably looking for a dragon, and not me in my human form. Had we been closer, the orb would have insisted he enact its summoning power. I would have had no other choice except obey.”
“That’s
frightening,” Viorka said.
“More than you realize. But, with all we need to do in order to regain Hoffnung, that is one magical relic we cannot have in the wrong hands.”
“Aye,” Boldair said. He shook his ax vigorously. “I’ll smash it with me ax.”
“I will reward both of you greatly,” Taniesse said.
“With gold?” Viorka asked. Her eyes beamed with excitement.
“More gold and gems than anyone seeking the orb for unscrupulous actions would pay you,” Taniesse replied.
“How about food and drink to boot?”
Taniesse smiled. She reached into her belt pouch, pulled out a handful of gold coins, and handed them to Boldair. “That too.”
Boldair tightened his fist around the coins. A broad smile came to his face. He glanced down at the fynx. “Ready?”
She nodded.
“Will you wait here?” Boldair asked.
Taniesse nodded. “I cannot risk following you or getting any nearer to that orb. I will return to Wylard’s shack and check on him. We’re lucky Sissrow didn’t use the orb earlier.”
“Aye. With night settling in, he shouldn’t travel too much farther.”
“He might be at the trading post, so you’ll get food and drink there.”
A sly grin widened within Boldair’s beard. As hungry as he was, she might have been able to hire him to destroy the orb for a huge roasted boar and a sack of potatoes. But she was willing to part with gold and gems to ensure that she and her sisters would be forever safe from the orb’s control. The one thing no kingdom needed was the threat of a crazed dragon that was controlled by a greedy power-hungry wizard or rogue warrior. The amount of devastation could never be calculated until the aftermath. By then, it was too late to prevent such a catastrophe.
Destroy the orb. Remove the temptation.
Chapter Thirty-three
Bausch watched the flickering flames of the campfire. Shadows danced along the far wall. A few of the drunken dwarves clanged their large tankards together and downed the last of the keg. Their merriment, singing, and roaring laughter echoed throughout the open cavern room. He was surprised Lehrling was able to sleep through it at all.
Sleep avoided Bausch. His busy mind was always too occupied to rest. If the sun had risen, there was no way for him to know since they were deep inside the mountain. Strangely, he wasn’t sleepy. Annoyed? Yes, but not sleepy.
Near the fire, Briar moaned and shivered. The dwarves had moved him closer to the flames, but he was still freezing, lost in fitful nightmares and untold horrors, being a victim of the infection.
Nordun stepped to the edge of the fire alongside Drucis to check Briar’s condition.
“Aye,” Drucis said, holding Briar’s arm in the fire’s light to inspect the wound. The light of the fire revealed dark pustules along the dwarf’s thick forearm. Drucis shook his head and looked at Nordun. “He’s getting worse. It’s best you load up and head back to Icevale. He’ll never make it if you don’t. I will stay with Lehrling and Bausch and see to it that they reach Glacier Ridge. Draken and Sorgen will accompany us.”
Briar mumbled intangible words and cried out when Drucis eased the infected arm down. He covered his ailing friend with a thick blanket.
Nordun nodded. “Briar’s near delirium.”
Drucis said, “The poison’s taking effect.”
“It is. Time will not bless us, if we don’t hurry out soon.” Nordun clasped Drucis’ shoulder. “Safe travels. I’ll get everyone packed up so we can head back.”
Drucis gave a grim smile. “I’ll help.”
Bausch eased up into a seated position. Before Bausch rose to his feet, he shook Lehrling’s shoulder a couple of times to wake him.
Lehrling’s eyes popped open. He wheezed and cleared his throat. He sat up, clutched his ribs, and winced. “What is it?”
“Nordun is packing the wagon. They’re getting ready to head back to Icevale.”
“Ah, I see. So Briar’s getting worse?”
Bausch nodded. “Yes.”
“I suppose we should saddle up and get our gear together too?”
“Might as well.”
“You didn’t sleep well?” Lehrling asked. He acted like he wanted to stand, but instead he sat, fighting to breathe.
“No worse than normal.”
Lehrling shook his head. “How I long for the days of my youth. I could drink more, sleep less, and fight bare fisted against the best of them.”
Bausch shook his head. He wished his youth was responsible for his inability to sleep, but his growing fear and paranoia was what prevented him from finding rest after night fell. “Don’t envy me too much.”
Lehrling chuckled and immediately regretted it. He pressed his left hand against the lower part of his ribcage and held his breath.
“Are you okay?” Bausch asked.
“Aye, I’ll survive. Remember as you age, healing becomes more difficult. The injuries you sustain during your youth come back to haunt your bones in your later years.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
Lehrling extended his hand toward Bausch. “Help an old man to his feet?”
Bausch clasped hands with his mentor and helped Lehrling stand.
“Thanks.” It took Lehrling several moments to stand up straighter.
“Don’t mention it.”
Bausch didn’t wait for Lehrling to get his composure. He grabbed Lehrling’s blanket and pillow off the cave floor and set them on Bleys’ back.
“You don’t need to worry yourself over my things,” Lehrling said. “I’ll get them shortly.”
Bausch placed a hand upon Lehrling’s shoulder. In the dim light of the fire, Bausch stared into Lehrling’s eyes with a seriousness unlike anything Lehrling had seen in the young knight’s eyes before. “You’re like a father to me. More so, I suppose. I’m more than happy to lend you a helping hand.”
Lehrling swallowed hard. Tears crested in the old man’s eyes. “I appreciate the compliment. You’re like the son I’ve always wanted.”
Bausch gave a stern nod. “So it pains me to offer this suggestion, Lehrling.”
“What’s that?”
“I want you to ride back to Icevale with Nordun and the other dwarves. I will ride on to Glacier Ridge and round up any of the Dragon Skull Knights that are there and return to Icevale with them.”
He shook his head, his eyes filled with hurt. “No—”
“I insist. Your health is getting worse. I admire your enthusiasm to aid in retaking the Hoffnung throne, but even the dwarf medic insisted that you stay long enough to heal. King Staggnuns did as well. I lost one father. I don’t wish to lose you, too.”
Lehrling smiled, in spite of the tears meandering down his cheeks. He placed his hands on Bausch’s shoulders. “I swore an oath before King Erik. As a knight of the Dragon Skull Order, I cannot renege on my words to him.”
Bausch’s eyes narrowed. “Our numbers are few, Lehrling. The Order needs every member to be physically fit and able to bear a sword and shield to defend the crown.”
“I can stand. I breathe. I can ride.”
Bausch expelled a heavy sigh. His jaw tightened. “You’re as foolish and stubborn as a starving miser.”
“I refuse to allow you to ride ahead without me,” Lehrling said, almost angrily. “We’re in this together. The Hoffnung throne has bled enough. It’s time for us to restore and repair the kingdom.”
“That’s if Lady Dawn is still alive.”
Lehrling’s jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed and darkened. Spittle frothed the sides of his mouth. “She lives.”
“We have no proof.”
“I feel it inside my soul, son. Lady Dawn lives. By the goddesses, she’ll be found.”
“If you’re looking for the three goddesses to aid our cause, you’re more blind than Moorsis.”
Lehrling was taken back. He frowned and shook his head slightly, trying to place the name. “Who?”
Bausch looked
away and started searching for his pack and blanket. “Never mind.”
Lehrling opened his mouth to speak, but Nordun stepped between them. “Sorry that we have to turn our escort team around.”
“We understand,” Lehrling replied. “Briar is a hearty warrior. The loss of his arm would probably kill his spirit and ultimately kill him.”
“Aye, I believe it would, but he’s still creeping close to losing more than an arm, if we don’t make these horses work overtime in getting us back to Icevale quickly.”
“Thanks for accompanying us this far,” Lehrling said.
Nordun laughed softly. “At least we cleared out most of those Ratkin. That, in itself, made the journey quite enjoyable. They’ll be leery of poking their heads through any holes for some time.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Nordun extended his head. “Gods and goddesses be with you lads.”
“And with you.”
“Rightly so,” Nordun said. “Once Briar is with the medic, we’ll head back after we hitch up fresh horses. But you may well be out of Glacier Ridge by then.”
“Our visit to the thief town will be a short one. I hope we can find more Dragon Skull Knights there. If not, we head south, out of the frozen mountains. To Woodcrest and then to Oculoth and Legelarid.”
“Here’s to hoping your journey is successful and safe. Lots of enemies roaming about. Vykings and Ratkins, but now that we’ve seen goblins on occasion, we must be on guard at all times. Whenever goblins arise, Orcs aren’t too far behind.”
Bausch tied down his blanket to the back of his saddle. His gruff voice was stern and barely above a whisper. “You need to load Lehrling up and take him back to Icevale. He’s in no shape to head into Glacier Ridge.”
The hurt reflected in Lehrling’s eyes. He shook his head, sorrow overtaking him.
Nordun read the pain in the old man’s expressions. “Is this true? Have your injuries grown worse?”
“I hurt. That much is true. But, I cannot suppress my duty.”
Nordun gave a solemn nod. His gaze flicked to Bausch. “A true knight or warrior will fight to continue going forward regardless of an injury, especially against an enemy that refuses to sleep. Not just Hoffnung is under attack, young knight, but all of Aetheaon. For us to survive, we all must rise together and hold back the aggressors. Kill them before they kill us. This is why your mentor understands the urgency that is required of you, him, and all the knights and warriors throughout the kingdoms. Be vigilant, young knight.”
Lady Squire- Dawn's Ascension Page 26
