Lex waved his hand, “Take us there at once, the rest can wait.”
Looking over Radomil and Witek, Lorcán crunched his nose, “My instructions concern only you my Lord.”
“They will come with me to bear witness,” said Lex, pressing on this man’s mind. “They are Radomil and Witek the Dwarf.” His companions would be necessary for what he had planned.
Lorcán bowed, his eyes glazing over. “Follow me,” he said, his voice turned to wood. The man turned and led the three sorcerers into the palace. Lex knew the way, but his subterfuge at court required observing the proprieties. Leading them down a long corridor that was wider than the road they had traveled on and paved with marble tiles, Lorcán made good time. Reaching the double doors at the end of the corridor he rapped twice and stepped back.
A moment later the doors rumbled open to reveal two ceremonial guards in their polished armor. Decorative plumes of green crested from their helmets with a green eagle embroidered on their surcoats. Seeing Lorcán with Sterling Lex, they stepped back to allow entrance. Passing into the chamber, Lorcán announced his charges, “The Lord Iacchus and two witnesses, Radomil and the Dwarf known as Witek.”
“Come forward,” said a sonorous voice coming from an elderly woman standing to the right of the throne. The Chamberlain Tacita was a humorless soul, but excellent at her job. She had more power than most of the nobles left in Cynneweald and Sterling Lex had cultivated her carefully.
Striding down the aisle with Radomil and Tapani in tow, he noted the presence of key members of the king’s inner council. There was Dubhain, the Exchequer, seated beside Lord Birghar, ostensibly in charge of trade for the kingdom, along with General Mladen Vasco and an array of others. A young blonde woman stood apart from the rest, that would be the king’s fiance. Standing in front of the king giving petition, wearing one of their hallmark red robes, stood one of the Krenon.
“Lord Iacchus,” said King Ercanbald as Lex reached the base of the dais and bowed deeply. “We had not looked for your return so soon. This timing is fortuitous. A grave matter is before us and I would know your council. But perhaps you have news yourself?”
“My Liege, I am but your servant. My news can wait, I would learn what this Krenon has to say and why he is here. There has not been a delegation from the Krenon Brotherhood to your court in many years.”
“This is Brother Kestutis, newly anointed First of the Krenon Brotherhood,” said the king. “Let us hear your tale again, Kestutis.”
“Ercanbald,” he began. Murmurs of protest rose in the assembly. “I do not call you king because the Brotherhood recognizes no king, just our noble cause.” The murmurs redoubled and the Krenon raised his voice overtop them, “I will be short. The Criminals and Defiers of Uriasz have crossed the final line and their co-conspirators in Gabirel have joined with them. They killed the prior First of the Brotherhood and stolen from him that which was given to our possession, the Eligius Psuchia. We would know, does your kingdom declare war on the Krenon? Do you defy the precepts of the Ban? Or will you bring your dogs to heel? I have heard much talk from this council, but no answers to these questions.”
“Lord Iacchus, your ears are fresh,” said the King. “What do you say?”
Sterling Lex furrowed his brown beneath the high widow’s peak of his grey hair, giving the impression of thought. The Krenon's arrival was unlooked for, but would work to his favor. “My King, you should hear the tale from these two witnesses. It speaks to the matter before you.” Ercanbald inclined his head and Lex gestured Witek forward. “This is the Dwarf Witek of Hallvard, heed what he has to say.”
“King Ercanbald,” said the dwarf in his gravelly voice. “I am no emissary or such, just a humble dwarf, but I bring grave news. The Dragonstone has been stolen from Hallvard.”
The murmuring rose in volume and the king raised a hand to quiet the crowd. “It has been long since a dwarf graced these halls. You are welcome here, Witek. Now tell me, who could do such a thing, and why has the Gundarian Council not sent an official missive?”
“Thank ye for yer welcome. The answers to yer questions are the same. Only a wizard of great power could have taken the Dragonstone and that means Uriasz. If they’re involved, ye can bet Gabirel is too. The council don’t know it can trust you. What’s to say you aren’t a part of this.”
“Your logic makes sense,” said the king. “But I find it difficult to believe Gabirel and Uriasz are capable of such treachery.”
“Then you should listen to my other witness,” said Lex, motioning for Radomil to step forward.
Bowing low, the wizard began the story they worked out on the way from Cinaeth. Weaving his tale, Radomil described how he had become privy to a conversation intimating that Gabirel sent an expedition to Ha’vehl’on and removed the Moonstone from its hiding place there. Lex pressed on the King’s mind through the link he formed many weeks prior. A link reinforced through the obsidian stone recovered from Cenric Brice. It was risky with the Krenon brother standing there, but Lex needed to be sure these events played out correctly.
“These are grave accusations,” said the King. “Iacchus, What advice would you give your king?”
“Just this,” said Lex. “Summon Gabirel to answer for their crimes. Let them stand before you. I fear what is coming. By these tales, they now possess four of the five Eligium. Why? Unless they plan to seize power? As I have said many times, Gabirel is jealous of power. A darkness grows in the Dazhberg, you must bring the light!”
“My Lord…” said the blonde woman, “if I may be so bold?”
“Tanjia, you are my affianced,” said Ercanbald. “Your counsel is always welcome here.”
“Whatever differences the Crown has had with the Krenon Brotherhood in the past, they have ever been steadfast in their purpose to prevent a recurrence of the depredations caused through the unfettered use of magic. If Gabirel and Uriasz are moving to accumulate power, they must be brought into line and reminded that you are their King.”
Sterling Lex considered the woman in a new light. She practically reeked of ambition. He would have to pay closer attention to her and how she might be used to further his purposes.
The king nodded, “You may be right. But Gabirel is strong. What if they come in force?”
Lex smiled thinly, “Another place, then. Do not summon them here.” He cocked his head and then raised his eyebrows as if the idea had just occurred to him. “As my Lord knows, I have taken possession of the fortress Cinaeth. It is strong and easily defended. I offer it to you, summon them there.”
The king nodded, “It has the feel of rightness to it, that place was the beginning of the end of the Dragon Wars. Perhaps we can prevent another war. Brother Kestutis, will that course give the Krenon satisfaction?”
The Krenon leader nodded in agreement. “It gladdens me to learn this court recognizes how Gabirel has overstepped.”
“Indeed,” said Lex. “Is it not as I had warned, my King? If your Grace agrees I will draft a missive to send by way of the royal Herald.”
“If only I had more loyal servants like you, Iacchus,” said King Ercanbald, signaling that the audience was at an end.
Sterling Lex left the chamber, Witek and Radomil close on his heels. “Return to Cinaeth and prepare for my arrival,” he ordered once they were out of earshot. “There is yet work to do here.”
Making his way down the hallway, Sterling Lex considered the presence of the Krenon Brother Kestutis in the palace. It would not do at all for that one to gain a hint of his true identity. The Krenon could be used and guided when handled properly, but they could also be dangerous when provoked. Nearing the last turn before his room, the flickering of lamplight from beneath a door caught his attention. Strange, as that chamber had been unoccupied for some time.
Instincts telling him there was something going on in that room which would be of benefit to him, Sterling Lex moved closer to the door. Weaving his hands, he uttered a short phrase to cast an eavesdropping
spell and cocked his head to listen. The voices were low and muffled, but intelligible.
“You have done well here my lady,” a man’s voice. He had heard it before, but could not place the gravelly intonation.
“With your guidance and counsel, Brother.” That high, lilting voice could only be the king’s fiance, Tanjia. “I fear that Gabirel’s still holds sway in the king’s heart.”
“Give it time. Their alliance with the wizards will ultimately prove their undoing. The Brotherhood will see to that.” Brotherhood…that’s who the second voice belonged to! The Krenon First, Kestutis. Why would the King’s fiance be meeting with him outside of court? Pulling back his spell, Sterling Lex backed away from the door. Much as he would have like to hear the rest of that conversation, he could not risk Kestutis detecting his spell. Retreating to his chambers, he considered how to best use the knowledge of an alliance between Tanjia and the Krenon.
His rooms at the palace supported the fiction he was nothing more than Lord Iacchus, a wealthy nobleman who gained favor with the king through sound advice. A large armchair sat next to the heath and across from a wardrobe filled with the trappings of rank. Near the window, he had placed a small desk, ostensibly to maintain his correspondence and the affairs of his estate. If he could keep the servants out of the room without raising suspicion, he would.
Seated himself at the writing desk, he put the King’s fiance out of his mind and turned to his study of the Chronicles. The leather-bound tome sat in front of him now, opened to a treatise on the origins of the office of the Arch-mage. He deemed it prudent to understand the full scope of the power he was to assume.
A dark, obsidian stone lay beside the book. Light reflected off its glassy surface, catching the old sorcerer’s eye. Closing the Chronicles, he shifted in his chair to consider the stone itself. How fortunate it was that this fourth Elgium, the Soulstone, had fallen into his possession.
Stretching his mind out through the stone, he sensed the rhythms of the countryside pulse. In his mind’s eye, he saw the growing network of threads connecting him to an ever increasing number of the kingdom's populace. Most he needed to influence rather than control. Through that influence he would sow chaos and destruction, keeping those opposed to him off balance and susceptible to his machinations.
Turning his attention north, he tapped into the solid black thread connecting him to the dwarven leader, Finnguala. Her mind had not been an easy one to influence and he doubted he could manipulate her in the way he had without the Soulstone. As it was, he sensed she was under his control. The Krenon, fools that they were, had this power for so long and never used it to its fullest.
A rapping at the door brought his head up and he swept the stone into it’s pouch, hiding it from view. There were those in the palace who would recognize the Soulstone by sight and he did not wish its presence known. “Yes, who is it?” he called. The door to the chamber creaked open and King Ercanbald swept through. “My Lord,” he said, rising from his chair.
The king shut the door behind him and motioned for Lex to stay in his seat. “Sit, Iacchus. We are not in Court now. We are just men who need to talk.” Strolling to the armchair, Ercanbald collapsed into it.
With his recent study of the Soulstone, the tendrils connecting him to the King were clear to Sterling Lex. He was pleased they showed no sign of weakening. “What brings you here at this late hour?” he said.
Peering into the fire, the king did not answer for a long moment. Glancing over at Lex where he sat, the king pointed at the book resting on the wooden writing table. “What is that?” asked Ercanbald.
Looking at the book, Lex felt the time ripe. The suggestions he had been placing in the king’s mind were coming to fruition. “Those are the Chronicles,” he said. “I recovered them during my recent travels.”
“The Chronicles. I would not have thought to find them here. There is a question I must ask you Iacchus. It has been growing in my mind and, seeing that book there, I do not expect I can bear to hold it inside any longer.”
“My Liege, you can ask me anything.”
“Anything?” the king raised an eyebrow. “I wonder.”
“Do you doubt my loyalty?”
The king laughed, “Your loyalty? No. Never that. But I wonder about you sometimes.”
“Then ask your question,” said Lex, knowing what the question must be.
“Iacchus, are you a wizard?”
There it was. Ercanbald was ready. Lex turned to face him, “I am.”
The king nodded, “I thought as much. Tell me, why would Uriasz send a spy to my court.”
Lex shook his head, “I am a wizard, but I hold no loyalty to Uriasz.”
Ercanbald shrank back, “Then who?”
Smiling, Lex reached out through the Soulstone, “My only loyalty is to Cynneweald, my king. You have taken a risk asking me this in private. Were I of Uriasz, I would wipe your mind, leaving you with no memory of this conversation.”
“I had considered that,” said Ercanbald. “But it seemed worth the risk. If we are to face Uriasz and Gabirel, we will need wizards of our own. It gladdens my heart you are here.”
“Wizards you will have, that I can guarantee. With the Chronicles in our possession, an opportunity presents itself.”
“Opportunity? What do you mean, Iacchus?”
Sterling Lex laid his hand on the leather-bound book, “Within these pages are the rites and ceremonies required to anoint the Arch-mage. Perhaps it is time to wrest control of the Kingdom’s magic from Uriasz and restore it to those loyal to the crown.”
Ercanbald settled back in his chair, “Is such a thing possible? I had thought there already was an Arch-mage resident in the Dazhberg.”
“There was an Arch-mage. Philon was killed during the Krenon assault and Uriasz had not appointed the next when I recovered the Chronicles.”
“I wonder how you managed that. Better not to know, I suppose. What are you saying? That we can anoint the Arch-mage of our choosing here?”
“Just that, my king.”
“And I suppose you have an idea who that should be?”
Lex reached out through his connection to the king sending a pulse of energy and opening Ercanbald’s mind to the idea. “Besides myself there are several candidates I can bring before you for your consideration. Those that I know we can trust.”
The king waved his hand, “There is no need for other candidates. You have proven yourself loyal. When can it be done?”
Sterling Lex smiled, he could have performed the rites on his own, but having the king’s blessing at the outset would add to the authority and power he would gain through his ascendancy. At long last that which was stolen from him would be restored. “I have studied the requirements and am prepared,” he said. “We can perform the ceremonies tonight. Tomorrow I will send to Gabirel demanding the return of the Eligium with the authority of the Arch-mage behind my request.”
“Make it so,” said the king.
#
It felt to Sebastian that he barely closed his eyes when Jarmo Dale’s voice yanked him back to consciousness to begin the new day. Sitting up, he groaned, every muscle in his body screaming from the previous day’s exertions. Looking over to the next bunk where Martino was rousing himself. His friend stretched and winced at his own aches. Martino caught his eye, “No more dreams?”
“None. Once it's done, it's done for the night.” The two hauled themselves out of their bunks and pulled on their tunics, preparing for the day ahead. “Wonder what torture they have for us today?”
Martino considered the question for a moment, “As long as it’s not archery. I don’t think I’ve got the strength to draw a bow.”
Following morning mess, the cohort assembled in the bailey awaiting their orders. They did not have long to wait before Jarmo arrived to bark out their assignments. “First Squad…to the stables. There’s a need for you to brush up your riding. Second Squad is on hand-to-hand, and I’ll not want a repeat of the l
ast session.” Sebastian braced himself, sure that their squad would be assigned to archery. “Third Squad is to report to the Maw. You’ve drawn gate duty today.”
Sebastian and Martino had a bounce in their step as they made their way to the main gate. “Real gate duty!” said Martino once they were out of Jarmo Dale’s earshot. “Only the Squads ready for advancement draw duty.”
“I’d not get my hopes up if I were you. As the Drill-master reminds us we’re ‘a bunch of snot-nosed recruits’ and it’ll be lucky if a one of us even passes the challenge.”
“Be that as it may, we’re still drawing a real duty assignment today. And did you not recognize they form the squad based on more than just luck of the draw? I reckon ours is marked out.”
Before Sebastian could respond, they found themselves at the main gates. They earned their nickname from the red stone used in their construction, which gave them the appearance of a gaping mouth. The gates had been one of the first sections repaired, which made little sense to Sebastian. Why fix the gates with those huge holes in the walls themselves? He’d heard an explanation, but he still did not understand.
Assigned stations along the wall, Sebastian and Martino were far enough apart to prevent further conversation. That left Sebastian mulling over what Martino said about the squadron assignments. Now that he put thought to it, each group had its own set of strengths and weaknesses. For instance, most of second squad came from farms and ranches; whereas Sebastian’s own squad primarily consisted of recruits that had been attached to one lord or another in their youth and some modicum of experience in warfare. He supposed his own training with Quiren Adelwolf, along with his participation in the recovery of three of the Eligium, qualified him for inclusion in the third.
After his first hour on the wall, Sebastian began to fidget. The more he found out about soldiering, the less glamorous it seemed. He had nothing to do, except stand waiting for something—anything—to happen. To make matters worse, a cold wind blew from the north, chilling him to the bone. Fighting to keep his mind from wandering, he surveyed the distant opening where the road to the Dazhberg came into view. Nothing. Not that he expected any different.
Eligium- The Complete Series Page 31
