Lady Squire- Dawn's Ascension
Page 49
Corwin ran a hand through his beard. “Nor have we. The odd thing is that two Dragon Skull Knights reported her in Oculoth half a day later. She was doing the same thing. Not sure of the exact number preparing to march toward Hoffnung.”
“Does she want Hoffnung’s throne for herself?” Dawn asked.
“No. She’s gathering forces to take the throne while they search for you,” Yarrow said. “She seems very convinced that you’re alive.”
Caen smiled and glanced toward Dawn as Yarrow and Corwin led the way. “It seems, Lady Dawn, that the armies are building without yet knowing that you’re alive.”
“King Staggnuns of Icevale has armies moving north toward Highvale Plains to join Damdur and Nagdor’s armies,” Corwin said. “With Legelarid and Oculoth’s forces meeting in the south and heading north, they should eradicate any Vyking in their path. The Vykings will be turned back and cornered inside of Hoffnung’ walls, which makes it easier to pick off the Vykings.”
“So the armies of the southern kingdoms have agreed to head to war?” Dawn asked with a furrowed brow. “Why?”
“Yes. Gold is a great influence,” Yarrow said with a gentle smile. A ray of sunlight shone through the forest canopy upon his head, making his hair glisten like golden silk as they rode.
“This Taniesse,” Dawn said. “I wish I knew more about her and her intentions. Hoffnung will be indebted to her.”
“Perhaps she only wishes to right the wrongs?” Yarrow asked.
“I hope so.”
Corwin turned in his saddle to look at her. “Hoffnung has always been hospitable with all of the kingdoms. Your father saw to that many years ago, and your mother continued what he sought to bestow upon Aetheaon. Your father is the one who chose us. First to serve him and Hoffnung, but he also bid us to protect anyone who is mistreated. We exact justice, even though we grow fewer in number.”
“Once I’m on the throne, I promise to find more knights worthy to wear the pendant and the armor,” Dawn said.
Corwin smiled at her. “Your Highness, you are Queen Dawn already. You don’t need a throne to make such choices. By bloodline, you have all the authority to do whatever is necessary for the kingdom. And I speak for all of us; we will do whatever you bid us to do. We are your knights, your protectors, and we’ll sacrifice every drop of our lives’ blood to see you seated on the throne. But until you reach the throne, feel worthy of choosing more knights for your service. Agreed, Caen and Yarrow?”
“Aye,” Yarrow replied.
Caen nodded. “Aye.”
“But I am an exiled queen.”
“Not for long,” Corwin said with a stern smile.
Chapter Sixty-five
Where the two roads joined into Corwin’s Pass, Roble stopped his horse. Ahead in the shadows of the trees, he recognized armor like his own. The short yellow hair on the rider looked familiar, but this man was a lot thinner.
Was it actually Lehrling?
Roble tapped the flanks of his horse. The horse trotted slowly. He didn’t want to rush toward the man, as such were the approaches of an ambush by a highwayman.
“Lehrling?” Roble called with a slight shout. “Is that you?”
The man pulled back on the reins and turned the horse. With a broad gin, he chuckled softly. “Well, I’ll be. Roble? I didn’t expect to see you until I got to Woodnog.”
Roble’s horse slowed and stopped beside Lehrling’s. “You almost didn’t get to see me at all.”
“What do you mean?”
Roble explained Queen Istrell’s challenge for him to enter the Black Chasm to prove his worthiness to wed Shawndirea and how he had almost died.
“Heavens, lad,” Lehrling said. “What possessed you to do such a foolish thing?”
“I love her.”
Lehrling studied him for a few moments as they began riding toward Woodnog. “I’d almost say that you’ve been bewitched by the faery.”
“No,” Roble said, shaking his head. “I have no cloudiness in my mind. I know how my heart feels about her.”
“It’s impossible, lad.”
“What is?”
“To marry a faery. I mean, she’s this tall, and you . . . you’re a human.”
Roble explained how she had cast a spell to become his size.
“That I can see then.” Lehrling gave a wide smile. “How can you handle having her great beauty magnified even more?”
Roble shrugged and released a brief laugh. “She also refused her right to the throne, which angered her mother.”
“As would most royalty.”
“I suppose,” Roble said. He changed the subject. “You’ve lost weight.”
“Not eating for two weeks will do that.”
“I was concerned when you lost consciousness outside of Woodcrest. What happened?”
“I had busted up my ribs from a nasty fall outside of Icevale. I went against the medic’s advice, which I deeply regret now. I see you got my message to come to Woodnog?”
Roble nodded. “Odlon sent one as well. He is expecting us there.”
“From what I understand, all of the Dragon Skull Knights have agreed to meet there.”
“I suppose it’s time I found new armor.”
“Nonsense. You’re exactly the type of knight we need in the Order. We lost two in Woodcrest.”
“I know. I’d say that Riese settled the score for them.”
“Good to know. Did he head on to Woodnog?”
Roble nodded. “He and Prince Manfrid. They will eventually head to the Isles of Welkstone.”
“Not before our battle to retake Hoffnung, I hope?”
“I don’t know. My guess though is that he will join the battle since he has better opportunity to kill more Vykings. He has a dark need to kill them.”
Lehrling nodded. “He lost family due to their raids. You seem like one who is willing to exact his own kind of justice whenever it’s necessary.”
“When it comes to family, yes.”
“And what about Crukas? Did they take him to Woodnog as well?”
“No,” Roble said, shaking his head. “He traveled with me until I came to Elvendale. He said that he was going to Legelarid.”
“Really?” Lehrling’s eyebrows rose. “I never imagined Riese would let him go.”
“Crukas surprised us all by helping free Riese.”
“I suppose I missed quite a bit then,” Lehrling said. He studied Roble for a few moments. “You still look a bit under the weather, lad. You certain that you’re okay?”
“Much better than I was.”
“So you’re the first to enter the Black Chasm and survive. What’s the Black Chasm like?”
“Best that I can tell, the black mist is poisonous. I did see demons wandering around right before I lost consciousness.”
“How did you get out?”
Roble shrugged. “Don’t rightly know. Someone pulled me out. Shawndirea doesn’t know who did it, either.”
“Well, it’s good that you’re safe.”
“I’m rather fond of that myself.”
“I hope you’re fond of long rides,” Lehrling said.
“Why’s that?”
“We still have a good day and a half more before we reach Woodnog.”
Roble laughed softly. “Just gives me a bit more time for me to gain back my strength.”
“I’ve been riding fairly slowly since I left Woodcrest, but that’s mostly due to my age and new saddle sores. Plus, I’ve wanted some spare time to dwell on my thoughts.”
“I understand. I spent long hours like that when I lived . . . Let’s just say before I came to this area.”
Lehrling remained silent for a while. Finally, he said, “I don’t believe you wound up here in our realm by accident. Overlander, I know you’re secretive about where you lived, but I believe Fate had a hand in your arrival.”
“A faery did.”
“Don’t you see, lad? She’s a part of the whole fate issue. You’re here du
ring a time when Aetheaon is under duress. Bausch had just died. You found his body, took his armor, and hell, bloody saved my life in many ways. You’re more noble than most men.”
“Destiny falls in strange places, I suppose.”
Lehrling’s eyes widened. He pointed a firm finger at Roble and grinned. “It does!”
“But in many ways, I feel like I’m an imposter.”
“Not to me, you’re not. And certainly not to Shawndirea. She sought you out. After her wings were destroyed, you risked your own life to carry her back home where she could be healed. A lesser man wouldn’t have cared.”
“Perhaps. But there’s an issue about this armor,” Roble said.
“What about the armor?”
Roble explained how Darrath had entered the tavern to kill Crukas and had brought several sorcerers to help her but she was injured and carried away before they had a chance to kill her.
“She was an elf. Her dark hair and mysterious eyes were captivating. She had one of the most beautiful faces I’ve ever seen. If I were not smitten by Shawndirea . . .”
“Dark and mysterious, eh?” Lehrling said with a sly smile. “Those are the most dangerous wiles of a woman that most men find irresistible.”
“True. While in Ironwood, we were forced to kill either a mage or a wizard that had accompanied Darrath. I’m not certain which he was. But, his corpse suddenly began to talk.”
“You don’t say?” Lehrling looked concerned.
Roble nodded. “It was a god that is somewhere within the Woodnog Swamps. His name is Lez’minx.”
“And what does this god want?”
“He told me that he had blessed this armor and that I should seek him out in the swamps. If I did, he’d bestow more gifts upon me.”
“And if you don’t?”
“He never said in words, but I have a sense—”
“It won’t bode well.”
Roble sighed. “That’s how I interrupted it.”
“It’s odd, though.”
“Why?”
“The armor was Bausch’s. He never did tell me where he got it or who crafted it for him. He was very secretive about it. As cold as the weather was in Glacier Ridge, he never once complained that he was cold.”
“The armor acclimates, adjusting to keep the wearer comfortable no matter how extreme the temperature is. The armor almost seemed to come to life within his presence. Like it was breathing.”
“Interesting. What else did you learn about this god?”
“The topaz ring and ruby ring that I’m wearing. He blessed them, too.”
Lehrling’s brow furrowed. “You wear them?”
“Shawndirea discerned the spells upon them. She found nothing sinister cast upon them.”
“There’s a price that comes with accepting gifts like that. I suppose that might be what Bausch learned the hard way.”
“You think his death is related to this god?”
“Depends. He never told me about where he got the armor. He was overly secretive about that. If this god demanded that he paid retribution of some sort and Bausch never did . . . Yes, his early death might have been due to his foolishness.”
“I’m not much for believing in good or bad omens.”
“Curses are real, Roble. Not believing in them doesn’t change it. Naïve people die young. It’s best never to taunt a god or goddess, or those who have great knowledge of magic. It’s a deadly fool’s game. The consequences are great.”
“I didn’t say curses. I’ve seen the results of curses. Believe me, I’m not one to take those lightly.”
“Good. Good.”
Roble scratched his beard. “I was never one to believe in magic or sorcery, until I met Shawndirea. I’ve seen things I never imagined to be possible.”
“Dependent upon the wizard, nothing’s impossible.”
“I have no doubts of the dangers.”
“Your rings,” Lehrling said. “Any idea what attributes they hold?”
“No.”
“That’s risky.”
“Could be. Perhaps not.”
Lehrling smiled. “I suppose they could be in your favor.”
“The armor kept me from freezing to death. If this god meant to do evil toward me, he would have by now, wouldn’t he?”
“Hard to say. There’s another way of viewing this.”
“How’s that?”
“Let’s say that the rings grant you certain useful powers or save your life, how apt are you to ever remove them?”
“Good question.”
“Well?”
Roble smiled. “I probably wouldn’t.”
“And who holds the power over you then? The god would, wouldn’t he?”
“I see your point.”
Lehrling nodded. “It’s something to take to heart. The more reliant you are upon magical or blessed objects, the less dependent you are upon trusting your own instincts. Therein lies the danger.”
“I agree.”
“Woodnog is a city of elves. Of course, like other kingdoms, they allow free passage to humans. They do allow dwarves, but sometimes, grudgingly. There has always been some sort of divide between the two.”
“Why the contention?”
“I’m not certain. But the good thing for you is that you can meet the smith that crafted the sword you carry.”
Roble’s hand went to the hilt of the bastard sword. “Beren Tiwele?”
Lehrling nodded.
“That would be good. Perhaps he can design some throwing knives for me.”
“He can smith almost anything.”
“So should I seek out this Lez’minx while we are in Woodnog?”
“That’s entirely up to you. But, I’d await the news that the Dragon Skull Knights issue first. We might be heading into battle sooner than even I expected.”
Roble thought about going to war in the Underworld of Aetheaon. It wasn’t anything like fighting in the Overland where missiles, tanks, and bombs were primarily used. In so many ways he was thankful to leave all the modern technology behind. Battle here was face to face with swords, axes, knives, arrows, and magic. Death wasn’t necessarily sudden here. Getting maimed or dying a slow death was probably much more common.
In the other realm, Roble had never thought he’d have to kill a man, and since he had passed through the rift with Shawndirea, he had already done so several times. Other races like the Ratkin he had killed as well.
Death was death, regardless of the race. But from the deadly confrontations he had endured, he viewed the deaths of those he had killed as nothing more than self-defense and a part of life. Shawndirea had specifically told him that he needed to harden himself enough to understand that he now lived where it was kill or be killed. A rule he had already taken to heart.
Other than Riese and Prince Manfrid, Roble viewed all of the Vykings as the enemy. Lehrling had done the same. Although Roble didn’t know Queen Taube, nor had he yet entered the great City of Hoffnung, he viewed the restoration of the throne as a top priority, like the other Dragon Skull Knights had sworn to uphold and protect. Lehrling was right. Roble had been destined for this battle. For whatever unknown reason, his timing to enter Aetheaon was fate, which made him wonder if an oracle had told Shawndirea. Perhaps she was capable of seeing into the future?
She was full of surprises, but he doubted that she had such foreseeing knowledge.
Roble listened to the sounds of the lush green forest. Flowering vines hung between the trees and deep layers of soft mosses covered the rocks, tree branches, and decaying logs. The tranquility was worth more to him than all of the technology he had left behind in the Overlands. He couldn’t imagine ever crossing the rift to get back to his homeland on the surface. But one thing was certain: He’d fight to his last breath for the glory of Hoffnung.
Chapter Sixty-six
Sarey sat upon the roof of Pig-Sty Tavern, watching the sun fade from view. Nightfall was approaching and Sarey’s heart hung heavy.
She wished Bausch would return, but she knew that was unlikely, at least until after the battle to eradicate the Vykings’ occupation of Hoffnung ended.
Sarey knew Caen would make certain that Dawn was protected, but she wondered if Dawn’s decision to keep her true identity a secret was actually the best thing. If Caen knew she was Lady Dawn, he’d do everything in his power to keep her safe above all else.
The horizon was a mixture of pink, purple, and brilliant red as the sun disappeared. To the north of Esgrove the sounds of constant drumming sounded like rolling thunder, but the sky was clear of any impending storm clouds. Eventually, she recognized the sound to be war drums.
Dwarven armies?
Nothing else made any sense.
Sarey took her bow in hand and stood. With a clear view of her hamlet, she noticed that most of the peasants stood facing the north. They recognized the thrumming, too.
War was coming.
Sooner than she ever imagined.
Did Lady Dawn know the Dwarven armies were approaching? Had she revealed herself and requested the aid of the neighboring cities?
She turned and faced south, preparing to climb down from the roof when she noticed a man with a round shield approaching from the forests. His sword was sheathed, and his bow was swung over his back, but his stride was quick, urgent.
“Sarey?” he shouted, hurrying his pace toward the tavern.
Slinging her bow over her shoulder, she replied, “Trevor?”
“It is I!”
She took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. He was the last person she ever expected to see return to Esgrove, especially after how he had reacted to her outdoing him in the weapon tournament.
Before she could get to the ladder, he had already hurried up to the roof to meet her. Sweat coated his long brown hair and beard. His breathing was labored.
“Where’s your horse?”
Panting, he pointed back toward the forest path. “I tied him to a tree at the junction after you get off the main road.”