The King's Ancestors
Page 24
A few were put forth and were answered as simply and quickly as Raven could. Then he sketched out the enemies camp and showed each Duke where they were to position themselves in the circle. When that was finished Raven dismissed the council with this token; “May we have victory.”
They all began to leave the large hall when Lorriel caught Raven’s arm and spoke to him. “Tell me once again how will I know to begin the time control for you?” Raven smiled and drew out the knife with Layton’s initials inlaid in its handle.
“I will return this to him. When I toss it into the air to Layton, that is when you begin the time control.”
Lorriel had a little panic in her voice when she said, “I do not know how long I can maintain your time acceleration Raven.”
He smiled at her and said simply, “It will not take long to do what I have to do, just do your best.”
As they headed out to join the others already mounting up for the ride to the Halfstaff, Raven said to her, “There is something very unpleasant I must prepare you for.”
No one said anything as the company rode quietly south. Time dragged on for all of them as they approached the river. Soon the smoke from Layton’s camp could be seen plainly by all so Raven did not have to indicate where they were to circle about the enemy.
“How confident he seems,” Raven thought, “not worrying about a surprise attack or anything. But why should he be with the weapons he had brought with him.”
As they neared the rise that hid Layton’s camp from view they stopped and Raven motioned for the Dukes to split and encircle Layton’s camp. As the Dukes started out, Raven, Sauron, Andrew, Master Fields and Lorriel rode up over the rise. Again there was a short scramble as Layton’s small band of troops took formation with their weapons ready. Raven rode slowly down the rise and soon saw the other Dukes circling around the camp. Layton’s group noticed it too, but seeing it was only a few more riders did not get overly excited but merely turned to form a small circle themselves. At the bottom of the knoll Raven and those with him dismounted and began to walk toward Layton’s group. When they were the proper distance from him they stopped and waited for the rest of the Dukes to take position. When they were all positioned where Raven wanted them to be he looked at Andrew who drew his sword and held it high for all to see. The Dukes did likewise with their swords in the circle they had formed.
Layton was eager when the third day dawned, eager to be done with this business of waiting. He was disappointed when the king of the land did not immediately appear that morning. He felt sure that they would be there eager to trade information that they surely thought useless to get their queen back. When the dew began to dry off the grass he began to be restless. Why were they not here, were they gathering a large force to attack him? He did not think so after the demonstration of how easily he could kill any of them with their weapons. Layton felt no remorse for killing the man a few days before, but he felt no enjoyment in the task either. It was something that needed to be done to get what he wanted, so he had done the thing that prevented the most bloodshed from occurring. Now they respected and were afraid of him and his power. He liked it that way so no more foolish things would waste his time. He had waited all these years to finally have victory in this intriguing pursuit. Now that the day was finally here he found himself impatient. He chided himself for his impatience, for that was not like him, but he could not help it this day of all days. Mid-morning came and just when he began to wonder if something was wrong with his plans riders showed themselves on the knoll and began to descend toward him. He smiled to himself with the satisfaction that he could always predict human nature so accurately.
As they came down the hill toward him he noticed other riders north and south beginning to form a circle about his camp. He expected these backwoods people to bring more with them the second time and was a little disappointed that there were so few. If they thought to intimidate him by circling about his camp to surround him, they were simpler than he thought they were.
“How odd,” Layton thought, the telepathic woman did not seem to fit into this ill prepared group of feudal people. Her mind was well developed, more so than any he had encountered. Maybe she was the power behind the throne and now that she was gone they were ill advised and unprepared. He spoke to his first officer to stand his men down from alert to ready, for there was no real threat. The group stopped their advance and then drew their swords. It was impressive, in a sort of humorous bravado to his band of trained soldiers and not one of them even flinched.
Layton looked at the King of this small band and said, “I hope you are not thinking of attacking us, remember what happened to one of your men last time.” And with that he motioned to the mound of stones off to the left of the King.
He saw the King glance at the mound of stones and then spoke again; “You see I am not as uncivilized as you think, we gave him a decent burial. But make no mistake, if you insist on a fight I will not bury your corpses as I did this one. Your special armor will not protect you from my weapons. Instead I will leave your bodies lying in the sun for the fowls to feast upon.” He paused here to see how this statement would move these people but shrugged it off when there was no response.
They are a brave people, Layton concluded. I will have to concede that to their credit.
“If you want your queen back,” Layton said loudly, “tell me what I want to know.” Layton could have read the mind of the King or others who were gathered around him, but felt it a waste of effort. These simple people would tell him what he wanted in exchange for their queen he was certain.
Raven watched unemotionally as his men drew their swords. He did not expect it to have any outward effect on Layton’s trained soldiers, but merely wanted it as a distraction to Layton’s mind. When Layton made mention of the grave where Jerddin lay he only looked in that direction and then back to Layton. When Layton threatened them Raven did not flinch, nor did the rest of the Dukes to Raven’s amusement, for they had seen battle and death before.
When Layton demanded the information in exchange for the queen, Raven smiled and then replied; “I will tell you what you want to know, Layton Teal. But first I have a message for you from Merry Sheldon and Uriah Kallestor, for I am Raven Kallestor their descendant.”
Alarm and warning rang in Layton’s mind at the mention of his name and that of Merry and Uriah. So powerful a surprise it was that for the first time in many years he was shocked and confused for a moment. Layton’s mind was racing, he had underestimated these simple folk. They knew who he was and the names of those he sought. And the information that Merry and Uriah had descendants was shocking. The truth of Merry and Uriah together having descendants settled upon him immediately. It should have been Merry and him having children and not Uriah. His anger burned at that thought, hotter than it had since they had fled his presence. But that soon was replaced by a feeling almost forgotten to Layton, fear. For the first time in his life he felt like he was loosing control of a situation. Somewhere in his mind a little voice was telling him he had wholly underestimated these people and was going to pay for it. Every sense in him was alert and he was trying to figure out what would come next, but his ability to predict human response had been lost in his confusion.
Raven took out Layton Teal’s knife that had been given to Merry Sheldon as a gift. It was sheathed in its scabbard and Raven held it up for Layton to see.
Then he said, “Merry wanted me to give this gift back to you, and to tell you no thanks.” With that Raven tossed the knife underhanded in a nice unthreatening arc toward Layton Teal, and in the same instant he began to draw his sword.
Layton tried to concentrate and read the King’s mind to find out what was going on, but there were to many conflicting emotions in his mind to focus his telepathy. Things were happening too fast and the King was speaking again, holding up his knife and telling him Merry wanted the gift he gave her returned to him. Then like the bolt of a locked door opening, the logic
of his brilliant mind caught up to the events around him. A time shifter, they had to have a time shifter or they could not have known that many details about him. His eyes swept to the woman behind the King and he knew at once she was the one. He saw the King drawing his sword and then he began to vanish. An almost imperceptible streak raced across the distance that had separated them. As he turned his head to follow it, what he saw caused a lump to begin rising in his throat. It was as if a giant scythe was slicing through his men toward him so quickly he knew he could not move out of the way.
As Raven tossed the knife toward Layton he felt rather than saw time around him slow down. The knife he threw was almost still in the air in its journey back to Layton. Raven did not waste time for he did not know how long Lorriel could maintain the time shift around him. He ran to the farthest of Layton’s men and began to swing his sword through them one by one. It bothered him because they were so still and unable to protect themselves from his fast sword. The only thing that kept him from stopping was the knowledge that Layton and his men would kill them all if he failed. Plus the added fact that the lives of the ancients depended on him. Raven had struggled with this moral dilemma the whole evening before and that morning as well. The original plan was for Raven to disarm everyone with Layton and take them prisoner. But if he missed even one hidden weapon, a laser pistol, or an explosive device that the ancients had warned him of, he could doom them all. Raven knew it would take too long to search each individual soldier and discover all their weapons. Lorriel, he knew, could not maintain this time control for a lengthy period of time. So with no other option he could think of, he had decided the only course of action that protected the ancients and the kingdom of Glenfair was the death of Layton and his soldiers. And what kept his emotions in check while he carried out this terrible task was the fact that Layton would kill the ancients just as easily, only he would enjoy it.
Lorriel saw the signal to start the control of time within the stones’ perimeter as Raven tossed the knife into the air. Although there were more stones than when she practiced, they were a greater distance apart and she almost faltered. She felt her control slipping and increased her concentration on Raven. She had to watch Raven for he was the main object of her time control. She was glad he had prepared her for what he was going to do, for she surely would have lost control otherwise. She remembered questioning him if this killing were necessary and the look he gave her showed all the turmoil and sadness in Raven’s decision. She knew then that the King knew of no other alternative. She recalled the ride to Layton’s camp and the thoughts that silently went through her mind. How terrible it must be to make the decisions a king must make at times.
Since Lorriel was the one shifting time, she was not insulated from the sight of what Raven was doing like the others. She winced as Raven killed the first soldier and almost quit concentrating on Raven, but somehow she continued knowing Raven’s life was at stake if she failed. She had never seen killing or war personally, only the results of the Wickshield war. Now forced to watch, her revulsion grew as Raven’s sword brought death with each blow . As Raven approached the end of the band of soldiers and where Layton was, Lorriel knew that she could not maintain the time shift any longer and felt it slipping from her grasp.
Raven felt the accelerated time began to slow as he approached the last two soldiers. With all of his effort he sprang toward them and cut through them both as they were turning toward him. Layton was a couple of steps away but already he was raising his weapon toward Raven.
Layton watched as the scythe slowed down and the form of a man began to take shape before him. His last two soldiers were already falling as he began to swing his weapon around toward the king of Glenfair. Layton knew he had one shot and he could not miss or all was lost. The laser pistol came to bear on Raven and his finger began to tighten on the trigger when the king’s sword came down quickly across his arm. Layton raised his arm but there was no weapon there and then he realized what had happened.
“So this is how it all ends,” Layton thought as Raven’s second swing came around and into the body of Layton Teal. As Layton fell to the earth dying, the knife with his initials inlaid in the handle landed beside him.
Raven took a step away, dropped his sword and fell to his knees crying in a loud, mournful cry the name of his beloved wife, feeling he had closed the door forever to her return. Almost at that same moment Lorriel collapsed back into Andrew’s arms fainting from the sight of death and the exertion it took to shift time in that manner. Everyone else was in confusion and shock, not fully grasping all that had taken place in the blink of their eyes.
Master Fields was the first to realize all that had happened and ran to the king, seeing Lorriel was being ministered to by Andrew and Sauron. When he reached Raven he saw the anguish on Raven’s face and hesitated before asking.
“Why, Sire? I thought you were going to take them prisoner and make them return our queen.”
Raven looked up at Master Fields with tears in his eyes and replied, “I could not take any chances with Layton. One mistake and all would be lost for everyone, not just Rebekka.”
“Sire,” Master Fields asked once again, “how will we get her back? Only Layton knew where she was taken to.”
Raven shook his head sadly, “I do not know,” was all he could say.
The other dukes were riding up at that time and Raven realized he had better deal with the situation. He stood, and setting aside his grief picked up his sword, cleaned it and resheathed it at his side. He then faced the others who were surveying the dead laying on the small battlefield. He saw the questions in their eyes and waited patiently for them to be asked.
Finally Terry Rollins asked, “How, King Raven did you kill them all so quickly?”
“The stones you wore helped Lorriel make me almost faster than the eye.”
Now Mason Zandel spoke, “They did not attack, nor move to fight, yet you killed them all. I do not judge you for they took our queen and I heard with my own ears their leader admit to killing Jerddin. I believe they deserved to die, but with the stones they stood no chance at all.”
Raven stepped forward and picked up one of the laser rifles, took aim at a nearby rock and fired. The rock exploded and turned to dust before their eyes. Raven then turned the power setting to its highest and aimed at Tor grazing in the distance and fired once more. A bolt of light went streaking to the Tor and it exploded into flaming bits. Raven looked at his Dukes and their mouths were open in wonder at the weapon Raven held.
“If we were to allow them,” Raven emphasized, “to use these weapons against us, we would all be smoldering bits on the ground right now just like that Tor. Mason, you were right, what I did to these men was not fair at all. But the evil enemy knew our weapons were no match for his, and he would not hesitate to use them on us if it served his purpose. He would not use swords against us to be fair, he would use these weapons. I will gather the weapons so no one gets hurt, and then we will bury the dead.”
Bandon Prescott asked Raven as he started to collect the laser rifles. “What will you do with these weapons once you have collected them?”
Raven stopped and looked at them all. “I will destroy them, for these do not belong in the hands of anyone of our time. Improved swords and armor are one thing, but these should never be used again.”
Raven was surprised at the amount of weapons Layton’s soldiers had on them as he searched, pistols, knives, and round exploding devices were found on each one. He knew then that he would not have been able to disarm them all in the short time Lorriel maintained the time shift around him. He felt no remorse for having to kill them, but an emptiness at the loss of life still persisted in his soul.
At last all the weapons were stockpiled and the burying of the dead was finished, then the dukes gathered to receive further instruction from their king. Raven stood before them not knowing how to start what he wanted to say to them all, and so began with the stones.
When that was done, Mason Zandel asked, “With the evil enemy dead, how will you get the queen back?”
Raven shuddered at the question he knew must be answered. Looking at them all he said truthfully; “I do not know where the enemy has taken Queen Rebekka. I can only hope for her safe return to us. But let it be known that your actions today and the sacrifices made by Lorriel and the queen have saved the kingdom from its destruction. You may return to your dukeships and I will remain here in case the queen arrives.”
“Will you need arms to rescue her? asked Mason.
“No,” Raven replied, “if she is returned, it will be with only a young woman, there is no need for you to stay.” Slowly the dukes began to depart with Bandon hesitating.
“Return home,” Raven spoke to Bandon. “I will bring you word in a few days.” He saw Bandon sadly turn away and mount his horse and begin to ride south. As he watched him and the others go Raven felt someone at his side grasping his arm. He turned to see his faithful friends all standing behind him, Master Fields, Andrew, Lorriel and Sauron. They all had questioning looks in their eyes that caused Raven to feel the guilt of not confiding in them that he had decided to kill Layton instead of simply disarming him.
“I am sorry my friends for not telling you what I had decided to do. I was afraid that I could easily be talked out of what needed to be done in order to get my beloved Rebekka back safely.”