“What news of Briar?” Staggnuns asked the medic.
“Aye,” he replied, sadly shaking his head. “He was bitten by a Ratkin. We saved him, but his arm was lost. No saving it after the infection set in.”
Luxille said, “Ratkin? In the mountain passageway we carved out?”
“The same.” The medic nodded. “That’s what Nordun told me when they brought Briar to me. Briar was not in his right mind, either. Delirious, he was. Frantic. The poison was getting into his blood. Had Nordun been a few hours later in his return, Briar would have been lost to the toxin and died.”
Staggnuns rested his chin on his thick fist while he took in the information. “Ratkin are seldom seen in our mountains. Dwiskter reported seeing them jumping off the Vyking ships at Hoffnung’s port?”
“Aye,” Dwiskter said with a fierce nod of his head. He placed his hand on his bandaged shoulder while he talked. “There be hundreds of them, leaping from the oar holes of the ships into the ‘arbor and rushing onto the docks. Disgusting, disease-carrying vermin.”
“If these are the same Ratkin from the Vyking ships, they’ve moved inland in a hurry,” an elf stated.
Staggnuns and Luxille nodded in agreement.
The medic said, “Nordun said that there was also an ice mage with the Ratkin swarm inside the mountain passageway.”
“We cannot allow them to gain a foothold inside our passageways,” Dwiskter said.
“They’re more a nuisance than anything else,” Staggnuns replied.
The medic shook his head. “Not if their diseases afflicted us. Some are tainted with curses that once they infect a human, dwarf, or elf, there is no stopping its spread through an entire city.”
King Staggnuns frowned. His jaw tightened. “Then we send warriors into the tunnels and scour them. Kill every damned one of them.”
Prince Luxille nodded his agreement.
The redheaded lady glanced from each person seated around the table, and finally her eyes rested upon Staggnuns. Her cold gaze bore into him.
Staggnuns eyed the redheaded lady. “So, Odessa, you act like you have something you wish to say. What brings you to my kingdom? Something of great importance, no doubt, for you to have traveled so far and during the night alone.”
“The Ratkin are the least of your concern, King Staggnuns.” Her piercing blue eyes shimmered like ice. “Time for you to stop tinkering around like gnomes and get your best troops together for a greater cause.”
“Tinkering? Like gnomes?” Staggnuns asked, rising slightly in his seat. His face flushed red, as did his ears. His jaw tightened, and he gritted his teeth.
“Form an full-scale army and storm forward to the gates of Hoffnung. The arrival of the Vykings is nothing less than war. They brought the Ratkin for a reason. Disease first, then death. Once death occurs in great enough numbers, the Plague-bringer breathes life into the corpses to form undead armies. Such things we cannot allow to happen.”
“I’ve set things into motion . . .”
Odessa shook her head and extended a stern index finger, pointing directly at him in front of the astonished council members. “You’re organizing a small battalion. We need more than that. Much more.”
“We?”
“Hoffnung and Aetheaon.”
Staggnuns brow grew rigid. His face flushed darker. “And where precisely do you fit into all dat? Odessa, you’re a visitor here, and I’ve given you ample hospitality for one who doesn’t rule any kingdom. Your invitation to this council tonight was solely to gather your input. Nothing more.”
“That’s what I’m giving you,” she said with a shrewd smile. Her icy blue eyes darkened to near obsidian. “My input.”
“Why storm Hoffnung when we don’t have Lady Dawn or even know if she’s still alive? No one will properly assume the throne.”
“The hunt is on for Lady Dawn. She lives. I assure you, and we will find her. The longer you allow the Vykings to occupy Hoffnung, the harder it will be for you to eradicate them. Waxxon’s reign is minor to the threat the Vykings offer.”
“How do you figure?” Luxille asked, rising to his feet. He crossed his muscular stubby arms. His nose flared.
“Unrest has come to Aetheaon. Our lands mourn. Evil is rising.”
“You speak like a crazed prophetess,” Staggnuns said.
“Do I?” Odessa said. She stood and held her hands above her head. She spoke draconic words. The steel walls vibrated.
Staggnuns rose and reached for his axes. “What is this sorcery?”
“In time,” Odessa said. A smirk crossed her face.
“What spell did you cast?” Dwiskter asked.
Odessa stepped away from the council table. Her dark eyes fastened upon the king and his son. There was more behind her stern gaze than what appeared on the surface. Something dark. Powerful. A presence wished to emerge, but she kept it imprisoned inside. Her aura swelled and expanded like ripples after a pebble broke the glassy smooth surface of a lake. Her power brushed over each member seated at the table in undulating waves.
Fear settled in Staggnuns’ eyes. He glanced to Luxille and read the same.
“Dear lady,” Staggnuns said. His voice lowered to near pleading. “What is it that you want?”
“I told you.”
“An army? That’s it?”
She nodded but her demeanor didn’t lessen.
“But why? There’s no logic to storm Hoffnung at full force. I can only afford so much to offer to a kingdom that has no rightful ruler who is ready to claim the throne.”
“You’re content to allow Waxxon to rule?” she asked.
“No. Of course not.”
Her gaze narrowed once more.
Everyone seated around the table searched the room, still anticipating the end result of her cast spell and fearing what might appear or what devastating catastrophe that might soon occur. Thick walls of shimmering blue light surrounded each door like a pulsating force field.
A guard from the other side tried to push through the blue pulsating wall and was thrust backwards, collapsing onto the ground. Other guards gathered with fearful eyes, but none attempted to touch the glowing wall.
The dwarf medic cleared his throat. “We were never informed that you were a sorceress. What spell did you cast?”
“The spell is to hold everyone in this room to the utmost secrecy about what I am about to tell you. Anyone who dares utter a word to another outside this room will suffer a fate far worse than what the Plague-bringer leaves behind.”
“You’ve sealed the doors?” King Staggnuns bellowed.
“No one leaves this room until after I’ve revealed my secrets. Once you have the knowledge, those of you who know must never tell a soul outside this chamber.”
“You are giving us no choice in this matter?” Prince Luxille asked, resting a hand on the hilt of his ax.
Odessa smiled shrewdly. “In that you carry these secrets to your graves? No. Too much is at risk for all of Aetheaon if the news gets out before its proper time.”
The pulsating blue magical doors darkened. They turned to obsidian, preventing anyone from seeing in or out of the council chamber. She also blocked sound from exiting as well.
The room grew quiet. No one moved. Their attention focused upon Odessa. Finally, King Staggnuns leaned forward with his palms on the table and asked, “And what secrets do you value so important and essential?”
“To defray your costs,” Odessa said, “I’m willing to offer ten million gold pieces to hire your army.”
Staggnuns looked dumbfounded. His eyes widened, and he failed to suppress the greedy grin that spread across his face. His chin quivered. “You ‘ave that much?”
“I have much more than that.”
His eyes narrowed as he thought. He shook his head. “Not possible. You may have great wealth, Odessa, but no one has those kinds of riches in Aetheaon. How dare you come before us with this—”
She clapped her hands fiercely. The sound reve
rberated like thunder. The steel walls shook like flimsy linens. The floor vibrated and buckled, lifting the table into the air. Staggnuns grabbed Luxille and yanked him behind the tall royal chairs. Those seated around the table dove away from the table and the chairs, fearful, and covered their eyes with their hands.
Smoke filled the air with an unpleasant stench of brimstone.
Several minutes passed before the room stopped quaking. None of the rivets had popped loose, nor was the floor or walls buckled in any way. When the occupants finally felt safe enough, they peered up and gasped.
Where Odessa had stood was a glossy obsidian dragon. Her belly and underwings were fire-red. She filled the majority of the room, squeezing the heavy table and chairs up against the council members.
Staggnuns and Luxille helped one another to their feet. They stood angrily until they stepped around the royal seats and saw the dragon.
King Staggnuns quickly bowed to one knee, his mouth gaped, and he nodded his allegiance. Cocking a brow, he rose and whispered, “How?”
“Magic. How else?”
Dwiskter ran a thick hand through his beard. “You’re a real dragon, or is this an illusion from your magic?”
“I’m a dragon. My magic makes me appear in human form,” she replied.
Staggnuns cleared his throat and eased back onto his throne. “For years we have known you as a Countess, or at least that’s what you’ve led us to believe you are. And yet you’re a dragon?”
“That deception was necessary for a time.”
Staggnuns stared incredulously at her. “All this time we’ve also been led to believe that all dragons had died. Apparently this wasn’t true.”
“Many dragons were killed but some of us have chosen to go into hiding, assuming human form for the time being.”
“How many of you are left?” Staggnuns asked.
“The number of dragons is not certain. But my two sisters and I are actively recruiting eager warriors, archers, mages, and trustworthy wizards for battle. Waxxon will never keep his reign over Hoffnung.”
“Odessa,” Staggnuns said, rising. “We will assemble a great army, but we do not seek your gold.”
Luxille gave his father a perplexed stare.
“That is noble,” she replied. “But you shall be compensated. A battle of this magnitude will cost kingdoms much gold and lives. But can you place a price on true freedom?”
“Very well,” he said. “Pay only our expenses, O’ Great One. Nothing more. You are too generous with the amount.”
“Offer met. And to boot, three dragons will also fight alongside your troops. We may not destroy the entire Vyking race, but their numbers will be greatly reduced, preventing them from ever wishing to attack our cities or ports again.”
Luxille and Staggnuns exchanged stunned stares, whispering amongst themselves.
Odessa exhaled a puff of smoke, allowing her fierce gaze to set upon the council members. “What I’ve shared with you in this room are the secrets that mustn’t be told.”
King Staggnuns stood and took a step forward. “You have my word that what you have shared will not be revealed.”
“Same here,” Prince Luxille said, stepping beside his father.
“Aye, O’ Great One.” Dwiskter bowed and then he hammered his chest with his fist. “Me and me ax are at your service.”
All the others bowed and vowed their silence as well.
The dragon cocked her head to the left. Her eyes peered at each individual as though she was able to detect their sincerity or whether any of them was lying. After several long painstaking moments, she finally said, “I must journey to Oculoth to gather more troops. King Staggnuns, do what you can to gain the aid of Damdur.”
“Aye. They will aid us.” He glanced toward the two Damdur ambassadors.
They nodded.
“But do remember,” Odessa said, still in her dragon form. “No one tells another of who I truly am. Otherwise, death befalls you.”
Chapter Fifty-six
Dawn stared at the dried blood on her hands. The browning blood coated the edges of her rough fingernails and outlined the creases on her palms. She searched internally for any guilt, sadness, or shame for having killed Eegrubb, but nothing, not even remorse, surfaced. She felt cold and indifferent, and that disturbed her greatly.
Her innocence of youth was dying, slowly being replaced by apathy, which made her wonder if she’d ever be a queen as stately as her mother had been. Would she be able to rationalize fair punishments? Was she capable of mercy?
Dawn didn’t want to become hardened with a calloused heart. She was beginning to think she had no way to avoid it.
She stared at the pool of blood on the floor. She wanted to shed tears to at least wash away her anger, but none sprang upward. The well was dry or refused to release any tears. She felt numb inside.
It wasn’t as though she had premeditated to kill Eegrubb. She had to defend herself and Caen, which was what she had done. Either that or she’d be dead. Caen, too.
When she had listened to her mother judge decisions in the Royal Chambers, she had always thought her mother had clear black and white decisions to make. Either something was right or it was wrong. Then the punishment was issued based upon the presentation of the facts. But things weren’t always that simple. She realized there was a gray area; reasons why actions that ended with bad results weren’t necessarily evil when something good came out of it in return.
War held no firm rules. Nor did love.
Dawn wished both had guidebooks that detailed everything she needed to know about war strategies and the same for love. But a book about love would have to become volumes because of everything that needed to be weighed and taken into account. She was young and had just gotten a mild smattering of what she believed to be love—again, how could she be certain if it wasn’t black and white—and so many conflicting emotions brought what she thought should be easy and erupted it into total chaos, making her uncertainty grow.
She walked to the washbasin and plunged her hands into the water. The dried blood loosened and formed crimson threadlike tendrils that expanded through the cold water. She wrung her hands over and over, washing away the caked blood, but for some reason, she didn’t feel like her hands were getting any cleaner. The water became a brownish red.
After a few minutes, she grabbed a rough cloth and dried her hands while examining them near the lantern for the slightest blotch of blood. Once she was certain that her hands were free of blood, she returned to the door, and waited for Sarey.
Caen snored.
She couldn’t believe he was already asleep again. Although her eyes weighed heavily and she wanted to sleep, she didn’t know that she could doze off too readily. Her adrenaline was spiked from having killed Eegrubb, and Caen’s news that she could continue squire training and learn basic weapon tactics come morning also kept her too excited.
Joss came down the hallway first with Sarey following closely behind. The agitation in Joss’s stern features indicated that he wasn’t happy about how this situation had unfolded in his tavern.
He looked at Sarey and gave a slight smile. “I told you, didn’t I? A long night.”
Sarey nodded. “But at least it shall end sooner than later now.”
“Thank the goddesses for that.”
Two men dressed in drab peasant clothes joined Joss and Sarey in the hallway. They waited for Joss to tell them what to do.
Joss grabbed Eegrubb’s feet and pulled. He turned the dead man around in the hallway and shook his head. He stared at Sarey. “I never liked these two men from the moment they first stepped into the tavern. Of course, I’m always a bit suspicious with travelers I’ve never seen before.”
“I felt uneasy with them, too,” Dawn said. “Something in their eyes made me believe they were up to no good. Now, they won’t be a problem for anyone else.”
“Well stated, squire,” Joss said, motioning to the men with a nod.
The two men
grabbed Eegrubb’s arms and helped carry him down the hallway.
Sarey set a wooden tub of water down and dunked a mop into it. She winked at Dawn. Dawn stepped into the hall.
“Get some sleep, Dawn. You’ll need to be well rested. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
“I’m too awake. Let me help.”
Sarey shook her head. “No. Go lie down.”
Dawn opened her mouth to speak and Sarey pointed a stern finger toward the bed.
“While I appreciate your offer to help, this is my duty. Trust me about tomorrow. Even though you’ll be doing basic maneuvers, you’ve not done much for the past few days. You’ll be stiff and aching by the end of the day. Besides, my father won’t like seeing you do my work. He’s odd about things like that.”
Dawn nodded and reluctantly returned to her cot. She didn’t turn down the lantern because Sarey would need what little light it offered to clean the blood off the bedroom floor. In spite of all the excitement inside Dawn’s mind, after a few minutes of lying with her eyes shut, she drifted off into a deep sleep. Her dreams would not be pleasant, as she would relive hearing her mother’s fateful scream as she fell out the castle window.
Chapter Fifty-seven
Lehrling awakened on a soft cot with a thick lumpy pillow under his head. He wore a nightshirt and cotton pants. He rubbed his eyes and glanced around the room, uncertain of where he was. The last thing he recalled was being on his horse in the forest outside Woodcrest. Bits and flashes of memories about Glacier Ridge were like puzzle pieces not connected clearly. He tried to recall what had happened, but a mental haze prevented it.
He ran his hand through his yellow beard and realized someone had trimmed it much shorter than he normally liked to wear it. His hair, too. He eased up slowly, trying to see where he was.
The small bedroom was quaint. The soft thick quilt upon his bed was patterned with yellow suns and wheat fields.
The floor creaked, and he turned toward the door.
Lady Squire- Dawn's Ascension Page 42
