On Blackened Wings

by James E. Wisher

  Perhaps he could just leave this Mole King rooting around in the dirt. No, if he did that, he wouldn’t truly have full control of the empire. Just because the Mole King was content to stay underground for now, there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t change his mind. Plus it set a bad example for the rest of his future empire.

  Either he ruled the entire world or he didn’t. There was no room for middle ground.

  “What of the final satrap?” Binder said. “The one that killed my knight. That was near the coast.”

  “If it happened near the coast then it could only have been Lady Shiv,” Dai Han said. “She commands a fleet of twelve hundred ships and nearly sixty thousand warriors.”

  “Not to mention dozens of sorcerers and hundreds of warlords,” Cho said. “If Lady Shiv had any interest in the interior of the empire, I doubt all of the other satraps working together could stop her from claiming the throne.”

  “She never strays from the coast?” Binder asked.

  “Sometimes her raiders sail up the bigger rivers,” Dai Han said. “But other than that, no.”

  Gaining the allegiance of Lady Shiv would bring with it the ships and many of the soldiers he’d need to expand the empire. Dozens of sorcerers would certainly be enough to deal with a single Chain Knight, but they wouldn’t last a second against Binder himself. The trick was bringing her around without damaging her resources.

  Ling approached the throne. “The merchant lords are here, Master.”

  He put the final satraps out of his mind. There would be time enough to deal with them later. For the moment he needed to focus on his guests.

  The throne room door opened and a line of ragged, filthy men and women entered. They had followed his instructions precisely, arriving in the dirty, blood-stained clothes he left them in. None of them were willing to meet his gaze, instead they kept their eyes trained on the floor. He had seldom seen a more beaten group in his endless years.

  Perfect. None of them would dare offer a challenge.

  When they reached the space directly in front of the throne Binder rose and said, “Satraps and merchant lords, we have come together to begin a new era, a new empire. An empire that will span the globe. The chaos of the past centuries will end and a time of peace and order begin. It starts right now. Kneel before me.”

  They obeyed with alacrity. As soon as everyone had taken their place, chains shot out, touching each of them.

  “Do you swear to obey he who sits on the throne?” Binder asked.

  As one they replied, “I do.”

  There was a jolt as the throne’s magic did its work. When it was over he said, “Rise, and take your place as my vassals. As my reward for your loyalty, the merchants shall retain all their wealth and networks, less twenty percent for the royal coffers. Your agents shall also serve as my eyes and ears throughout the empire. You will meet weekly with Ling. Be sure to hold nothing back.”

  They bowed and Ling guided them out of the throne room. Binder dismissed them from his thoughts and turned to the satraps and their lieutenants. “For you I offer power. I grant you the rank of Lesser Chain Knight.”

  Before they could ask what that meant chains wrapped around them and infused them with a tiny fragment of Binder’s power. He gave them about half what he gave his true knights, enough to make them a match for all but the strongest human, but not so much that they got improper ideas, not that they could follow through on them.

  The warriors looked at each other and him in awe. Most of them had probably never felt power like what rushed through their bodies. He let them enjoy it for a few seconds before saying, “Your task will be to bring this land under control. Bandits will be eliminated, either through them joining your forces or death. No farmer will need fear for their life in my empire. Roads will be maintained. All will be as it was meant to be. Which of you is nearest Trocar’s domain?”

  “I am, Master,” Cho said.

  “You will absorb his lands and set them in order. Go now and serve me well.”

  The satraps raced out of the throne room, each more eager than the other to prove his worth.

  Binder glanced up at Fann. The former satrap had served his purpose. With a snap of his fingers, Binder reduced the man to ash. No doubt Qang would complain about having to clean that up as well. He should consider himself lucky. At least he didn’t have to clean up the entire world.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  The sun was just touching the horizon when Jen heard the rapid pounding of feet running at warlord speed. Thrashing in the underbrush drew her gaze as she reached for her sword. Whoever was coming would find her ready.

  A moment later Al Elan sat up, nearly getting his head cut off in the process. “I found them.”

  Jen relaxed as Edward and the others appeared in the middle of the clearing. They looked a little rough from lack of sleep, but no one was hurt and that was what really mattered. She got to her feet and Edward picked her up and spun her around before realizing what he was doing.

  “Sorry, Commander,” he said, looking at the ground.

  “It’s fine.” Jen forced herself not to smile at Edward’s embarrassment. “I’m glad you’re okay too. What happened to you guys?”

  “We were on our way back from patrolling the area around the battlefield.” Edward found the wherewithal to lift his face and look her in the eye. “Talon spotted a group rounding people up and forcing them to disarm at sword point. Didn’t take a genius to know something was wrong. We fell back and kept an eye on things, mostly hoping for a glimpse of you, until they started searching the woods. I decided we’d better retreat and wait until we knew more. We’ve been hiding out ever since.”

  “That was a good call.” Jen buckled her sword belt on. “We’ve got big problems and it’s our job to get them sorted, starting with freeing Princess Karrie.”

  They stared at her. Clearly they had no idea just how big this mess was.

  Jen gave them the abbreviated version. “So the enemy controls the capital, Port Valcane, and the main force of the army. The rest of the kingdom’s had problems, but those are the main areas of rebellion. The problem is the king isn’t free to act as long as his daughter is a prisoner. So my plan is to grab Duke Carmichael’s son and take him to the king. After that he and the archmage can decide what to do.”

  “You mentioned the princess,” Rhys said. “What about the queen?”

  The veteran never missed a thing. Jen was usually delighted about that, but explaining about Queen Audra wasn’t something she looked forward to. Maybe if she practiced with the guys it wouldn’t be so hard to tell Uncle Andy later.

  “The queen is a Binder worshipper.”

  They all asked questions at the same time and Jen raised her hands. “I didn’t know either, no one did. It doesn’t matter right now. We need to focus on grabbing the duke’s son. Others can worry about what comes next.”

  “So what are we waiting for?” Talon asked.

  For once his blunt nature came as a relief. “Not a thing. Let’s move out.”

  They had a long run ahead of them and not a lot of time to make it.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  The cool spray smelled of salt and seaweed. Overhead sails snapped in the brisk wind. Marie-Bell had never been out on the ocean before and she found the experience agreed with her. She stood at the very front of the ship and sighed.

  It was nice to travel without having to use her soul force. The others must have thought so as well because most of them were taking advantage of Sir Collin’s illness to sleep in and recover from the difficult journey.

  If the sea agreed with Marie-Bell, it certainly did not agree with Sir Collin. They’d barely left the docks when he began vomiting violently. That was hours ago and he still hadn’t emerged from his cabin. She’d felt healing energy flowing when she passed by, so hopefully Mallory and Jenkins were getting him set to rights.

  Sir Collin was difficult enough when he felt good. Sick, she wanted to keep as far a
way from him as possible.

  She sensed someone approaching and turned just as Captain Morrow stepped up beside her.

  “How do you like the sea?” Captain Morrow asked. Her long hair danced in the wind and a few strands tickled Marie-Bell’s ear.

  “I like it a lot.” Marie-Bell smiled. “How long do you think it will take to make the crossing?”

  The captain thought for a moment. “This time of year, if the winds are with us, two or three weeks I’d say.”

  “Have you made the crossing many times?”

  “We make about four trips a year. There are a few things you can get in the Old Empire that bring a good price back home. Gems especially. Somewhere in the interior there’s a mine that produces the clearest deep-blue sapphires you’ve ever seen. I have no idea where it is, but I know the broker that sells them. I made enough in two trips to completely refit the Wing.”

  Marie-Bell wiped the water off her face. “I figured this was a warship since the Fire King offered you up to transport us.”

  Captain Morrow laughed a great, booming laugh. “In the Fire Kingdom, even if you don’t work directly with the government, you work for the dragon. It’s not like the Voice of the Fire King landed on my ship and asked if I’d mind carrying twenty foreigners across the ocean. She informed me to lay in supplies and be ready to sail the moment you arrived. I bowed and said it would be my pleasure. She didn’t especially care about that either. I promise you if I said ‘That’s not terribly convenient, perhaps you could find someone else to do it,’ the Wing would be nothing but smoldering wreckage right now.”

  “I’m sorry,” Marie-Bell said. “It wasn’t our intention to make your life difficult.”

  She waved off the apology. “You didn’t. True, the Order moved up our timetable by a few weeks, but we were planning to cross the ocean again anyway. Granted we’ve got a little less cargo than usual, but we’ll still make a nice profit this trip. Earning the dragon’s goodwill is a bonus.”

  Marie-Bell smiled. Captain Morrow’s attitude made a nice change of pace from Sir Collin. “Aren’t you supposed to be driving the ship?”

  “Sometimes the captain steers, but generally the helmsman does it. I handle navigation while at sea and negotiation in port. My crew’s been together for years and generally the best thing for me to do is trust them to do their jobs. I’ve seldom been disappointed.”

  “Have you been very far into the empire?” Marie-Bell asked. As long as the captain was feeling chatty, she intended to gather as much information as she could.

  “Nope, never been out of Port Tiger. It’s the only city with a harbor deep enough to handle the Wing. That’s where we’ll drop you off and wait for your return.” Captain Morrow grinned. “Don’t worry, we won’t sail off without you. It was made perfectly clear to me that if we didn’t return with you, we’d best not return at all.”

  Marie-Bell hadn’t been especially worried. Captain Morrow seemed like a good person and no corruption stained her soul.

  “If you don’t mind my asking,” the captain said. “What exactly are you doing that’s so important the dragon himself would take an interest in it?”

  “We’re looking for the Fire King’s sister.”

  Marie-Bell giggled at Captain Morrow’s goggle-eyed reaction.

  When she’d collected herself the captain said, “There’s another one of those dragons in the Old Empire?”

  “Yes, a great golden dragon. A being of pure light, not evil like the Fire King. We need her help to deal with the Binder in Chains.”

  Captain Morrow ran her fingers through her hair and looked anywhere but at Marie-Bell. Perhaps she regretted her decision to ask questions.

  After a long sigh the captain asked, “What does the archangel have to do with all this?”

  “He’s fallen. The Binder’s soul has become corrupt enough that Heaven spit him out. Now he’s here and if the other angels are right plans to conquer the entire world.”

  “Right. Well. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not asking you anything else.”

  “I understand. It’s a bit overwhelming, isn’t it? I thought questing across the Haunted Lands for the holy sword and armor was going to be the task of my life, but it turned out to be just a prelude.” She reached up and patted the hilt of her great sword. “I’m almost afraid to think about what might happen next.”

  As if summoned by her thought, Mallory and Jenkins came stalking toward them. The captain made herself scarce before they arrived.

  “Sir Collin requires your presence,” Mallory said, not bothering with a good morning.

  So much for enjoying the journey.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  With each heave and crash of the ship Sir Collin’s stomach roiled and sent him fleeing to the half-full bucket in the corner of his tiny cabin. The sour stench of it filled the air, doing nothing to improve his nausea. He’d long since stripped off his armor and weapons. They were secure in the sea trunk with his holy shield resting on top.

  After nearly an hour of trying, neither Mallory or Jenkins could do a thing to cure whatever ailed him. He’d ordered them to fetch Marie-Bell. Surely with the power of both armor and sword she had the power to calm his twisting insides. He tried not to think about what it meant that his shield wasn’t powerful enough on its own to cure him.

  Sir Collin collapsed on his narrow bunk and took shallow breaths. That helped a little, at least until the ship hit an especially large wave. He scrambled for the bucket and gagged, but nothing remained but a mouthful of bitter acid.

  There was a soft creak behind him. He spat and turned to find Marie-Bell standing in the doorway watching him retch. No doubt the sight of him puking his guts out pleased her immensely. Probably figured it was some divine punishment.

  Bitch! Why did he have to get stuck with her on his quest?

  “You sent for me, sir?” Marie-Bell asked.

  Much as he wanted to, he could find no fault with her tone or bearing. “Yes. My guards lacked the strength to heal whatever has turned my insides upside-down. With the combined might of the sword and armor, surely you can.”

  “I’ll do my best, sir. Perhaps you should lie down.”

  That was the single best suggestion she’d made in their time together. He dropped on the bunk and swung his legs up. She leaned over him, her hands surrounded with golden light. Power poured into him, strong and warm. He felt better at once, but he’d learned to his disappointment that the momentary improvement might not last. Her healing felt no different than Mallory or Jenkins’s.

  She stopped and stepped back. A moment later the ship lurched and his stomach reeled with it.

  “I told you to heal me!” Sir Collin wanted to slap her or maybe stave her head in. Couldn’t the woman see he was dying?

  “The thing is, sir, there’s nothing wrong with you I can heal.” Her tone was even, but he heard the condescending pity running just under the surface. “I read about seasickness in a book at the fortress before I left. The problem is the ship’s movement has upset your balance. The only cure is time. Once you get used to the movement you’ll be fine.”

  “Give me the sword.”

  “Sir?”

  “Give it to me!” If she wouldn’t use its power to heal him he’d do it himself.

  Marie-Bell pulled the sword from its sheath and offered it to him hilt first. He snatched it out of her hand. The hilt felt like frozen lead in his hand.

  Give me your power!

  The sword remained cold and inert, mocking his command. He was the Grandmaster of the Order. How dare some length of steel ignore him? The sword was made to serve paladins and all paladins served him. By that logic, the sword should serve him as well.

  But apparently logic didn’t apply to artifacts. Or at least not this one.

  Damn the sword and damn her too. He flung the weapon at Marie-Bell’s feet. “Get out!”

  Sir Collin felt the sword flare to life when she picked it up and returned it to
her back sheath. She bowed once and left him to his misery.

  He reached down and pulled his shield over him like a blanket. Power flowed into him, relieving the discomfort for a few seconds. It seemed sluggish. Maybe he’d drawn too much during his initial attempts to cure himself. The shield felt heavier than usual too. Or maybe he was just weaker after hurling his guts out for the past few hours.

  That had to be it. Once he got over this illness everything would be back to normal. He repeated that to himself over and over until he almost believed his lie.

  Chapter Forty

  After two days of hard running Jen and the guys reached the Wild River. The name was a joke since the wide, shallow river never got at all wild, not even during the spring thaw when snowmelt came gushing down from the north. Still, it was deep enough that some duke back in the early days of the kingdom decided a bridge would be nice. Made of rough-hewn timbers and measuring ten feet across, it only allowed one-way traffic.

  That bridge was their target. When Carmichael’s coach reached the halfway point they’d strike. With the railings limiting the guards’ mobility, Jen and her team should have the advantage. Or so she hoped.

  Al Elan had lain in the grass off to her left and gone scouting. He was supposed to let them know when the target got close. Having an invisible spy felt like cheating, but she didn’t intend to pass up the advantage.

  “What do you think?” Jen asked.

  Edward studied the lay of the land for a moment longer. “Looks good to me. Say two on this side, two on the opposite bank, and two underneath. Hit ’em from three directions at once.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Jen said.

  She didn’t say anything, but his time leading the squad without her had given Edward a confidence boost. A badly needed one. He didn’t question her orders, but he did offer his thoughts more freely.