The Gaellean Prophecy Series Box Set

by C S Vass

  After a time they began to settle down again. No werewolves or demons descended upon them. Whether because of elven magic or pure luck, there was no immediate threat to their well-being.

  The fire burned down to its embers, and both Yaura and Tzuri-kai were sleeping peacefully. Faela, unable to rest properly, was entertaining herself by sending ribbons of flame dancing through her fingers. She was still unaccustomed to the wellspring of magic that had been unearthed inside of her in Killer’s Rest. She felt powerful, and it made her smile.

  The footsteps made her head shoot up.

  Into the circle of light stepped the elf that had argued with Eljen during the meeting earlier. Faela watched him curiously as he approached, strangely calm.

  “Hello,” he said, bowing his head respectfully. “You are Faela, correct?”

  She rose. “Yes.”

  “My name is Hjarick. I have something to ask of you. Will you walk with me?”

  Faela looked carefully into Hjarick’s face. The elf was tall and muscled like an ox—very unlike the other elves that were notably thin and limber—but he still had the same bright eyes and pointed ears as the rest of them. She detected no malice. “Very well.”

  He took her to the outskirts of the camp where the edge of the fires began to fade, but no farther. Faela listened to the quiet sounds of the mountains: the babbling of a stream over rocks, cicadas rustling in the trees, wind whispering through the leaves of evergreens. After a time, Hjarick spoke.

  “I understand that you’re going to Valencia.”

  Faela nodded. “It is essential that all Shigata return to Black Wolf to rebuild Unduyo. I’ve agreed to help Yaura spread that message.”

  “But that’s not the only reason,” Hjarick said. “At least, I hope it’s not.”

  “What do you mean?” Faela asked. They had not spoken of King Kark to the elves, and she wasn’t sure that they should.

  “Surely you know what awaits there,” Hjarick said. “Human prejudice, mob rule, our people being attacked. It will only get worse.”

  “I understand,” Faela said. “If the elves there are in trouble, they should go north. In Coldclaw the people are much more understanding.”

  Hjarick scoffed, clearly annoyed with her answer. “Why should they have to leave their homes? Why is it they who should have to travel a dangerous road hundreds of miles because of the intolerance?”

  “They shouldn’t,” Faela said. “But what else is there to do, other than start a war?”

  “A war is already starting,” Hjarick said. “As you very well know. The elves here have unfortunately decided to bury their heads in the mountain. We will not be roused to move to the defense of our brethren. But that doesn’t mean I have to follow suit like an empty-headed puppet.”

  “Then what would you have of me?” Faela asked.

  “Information. There’s a reason that the dwarf is with you, and it’s not just to call on the Shigata to return home.”

  Faela shifted her shoulders. There was an eagerness in Hjarick’s face that made her uncomfortable. “Our business is our own.”

  “If it concerns our people, it’s not just your own,” the elf insisted. “Faela, he has a mouth that you can hear from miles away. I know that you’ve all come from Killer’s Rest. I know that means that you’ve walked with the bandit kings. Which one? Who is it that’s sending you to Valencia?”

  “You assume too much,” Faela said quietly. “With respect, Hjarick, I don’t owe you—”

  “King Kark sent us,” a low voice called out.

  Faela turned, surprised to see Tzuri-kai walking towards them. “King Kark is the one who is sending us to deal with that pecker-sucking scoundrel they call Shade. He wants us to inform the people of the city that he would take their concerns far more seriously than their current lord.”

  A wide smile split across Hjarick’s face. “That is very interesting,” he said.

  “And very confidential,” Yaura said, emerging from the shadows. “If it became known that I was part of an envoy to incite rebellion against Shade, the Shigata would be drawn in as well. It could make Boldfrost see us all as traitors.”

  “Is that what you are?” Hjarick asked.

  “I make no claim to love Shade or Boldfrost,” Yaura said. “Though I’d sooner see Shade go than the King. Either way, the Shigata are not supporting me in this. They don’t have the resources at the moment and are committed to neutrality either way. If they knew I was involved in this scheme, they would order my execution faster than Boldfrost would.”

  “Then why?” Hjarick asked. “Why are you going to Valencia? Nobody will hold you accountable to a killer like Kark. Surely it’s not because you’re frightened that you’ll anger the dwarf.”

  Tzuri-kai bristled, but Yaura spoke before he could. “Because the Shigata kill demons. I see no reason why we should make an exception for the Demon of the South.”

  Hjarick smiled. Faela felt a growing discomfort at the swift direction the conversation had taken. She wondered what Brett would say if he were there. “Yaura, are you sure—”

  “The enemy of my enemy,” Hjarick said. “This is good to know.”

  “You can’t travel with us,” Yaura said at once. “I know you’re going to ask. We can’t be seen with you on the road. Not after you’ve made your position so clear. Apparently I’m the only one who can exercise some strategic silence.”

  “It matters not,” Hjarick said with a wave of his hand. “My road takes me elsewhere before Valencia anyway. I’m setting out to do something this very night. There’s no more reason for me to stay here with my sleeping brothers and sisters in a pit of vipers. But I do plan on being in Valencia. Perhaps we’ll see each other there. Is it safe to say I’ll have an ally in you?”

  Hjarick extended his hand to Yaura. The Shigata looked at it, carefully considering.

  She didn’t take it.

  “We’ll have to see under what circumstances we meet,” she said cooly. “I trust you’ll not be overly familiar when that day comes.”

  Hjarick chuckled. “Indeed. Strategic silence. I’ll look forward to seeing you there. All of you.”

  Without so much as another word, Hjarick turned on his heel and disappeared into the wilderness.

  “What in great Goruck’s beard was that?” Tzuri-kai asked, amazed.

  “Yaura,” Faela said. “Was that wise? I don’t know that he is one to trust.”

  “I didn’t take his hand, did I?” Yaura snapped. “You needn’t be concerned, Dragon. If you want to run back to Boldfrost and whatever idiocy he wants to use your powers for, nobody is stopping you. As for me, I’m getting some sleep. Before the sun rises, I’ll be well on my way out of these mountains. Valencia awaits.”

  Chapter 16

  Piles of snow lay before them in every direction. An endless expanse like white sand with only spattered blood drops mingled with footsteps to mark their path. The frozen waters of Ice Bay stretched behind them. Every time Brett glanced towards it, he felt as if his heart iced over. How was it possible that they had made so little progress?

  Their escape had been nothing short of miraculous—or at least it would have been had it not been the product of such aggressive sorcery. Logun wielded a magic that somehow navigated the synthesis of fire and shadow. Leading their escape, he had made it the alternation between deadly explosive force and swift subterfuge. More than once Brett felt a strange, dark substance grip him from head to toe and funnel him down a long hallway dotted with combative swords that had sworn allegiance to King Boldfrost’s men. The dizzying effort turned the ordeal into more than his conscious mind could process. Had the situation not been so desperate, Brett would have had time to be properly angry with the Shigata for not revealing the extent of his sorcerous abilities.

  “Come on you whoreson!” Logun grunted. “We’ve more than a short while to go before we can touch anything that’s even remotely safe.”

  It was with a sort of surreal disbelief that Br
ett realized the words were not directed at him. Logun was dragging Benjiko Boldfrost. The captain’s heart sank into a pit so deep he had not known such depths were inside of him. Memory of the terrible incident flooded his mind.

  Shaking himself, Brett snapped back to attention. This was no time to get lost in thought. His lord needed him.

  “Stop!” Brett urged. “We need to head eastward, towards the Dark Sea.”

  “What are you talking about?” the Shigata grunted.

  “There’s a plan for this. We can go to a group of caves where we can hide.”

  “Are you mad?” Logun shouted. “They’re hot on our trail. We need to make for the wilderness. They’ll track us through the snow easily and kill us like rats! In the woods we can at least hope to disguise ourselves.”

  “He’s right, Logun” Benjiko coughed. Brett’s stomach clenched at the sight of his lord’s black hair knotted with blood. “There’s a cave system near here. Hidden by magic. An illusionary charm. If we can get to it, we will be safe for a time.”

  Brett nodded. “Benjiko, do you have the xiagon?”

  “I do,” Benjiko said before Logun could interrupt. Pale-faced but determined, the Prince of Iryllium reached into his cloak and took out what appeared to be a tiny circular mirror. He handed the device over to Brett.

  “What in th—”

  “No time,” Brett cut in before Logun could ask another question. “They’re sure to be on our trail. You have to trust us. Will you come?”

  Logun’s expression betrayed no emotion, but Brett could sense powerful feelings churning behind his small blue eyes. He knew what thoughts he was fighting. What about Paetrick? Would his younger brother still be safe within the walls of Iryllium?

  “Quickly, Logun,” Benjiko said, his voice almost a whisper.

  “Damn it all, fine,” the Shigata said at last. “But as soon as we catch our breath and patch our wounds, we’re going over every damned thing that’s happened since I first put my eyes on you. Something smells foul.”

  Brett nodded. “Fine then. We haven’t much time.”

  They hurried over the hilly terrain that trailed north. Though it was day, the landscape seemed strangely timeless. Cloudy grey skies blended with grey snow so perfectly that it was nearly impossible to distinguish between the two. Brett wanted desperately to stop and tend to Benjiko’s wounds, but it was impossible. Enemies could appear behind them at any moment, and it was crucial that they reach safety.

  He fought well, Brett found himself thinking as his mind began to wander again. It had been a wise choice after all to bring the Shigata in to defend the Prince. Logun had every opportunity to flee during the chaos, but he had stood his ground and behaved honorably. Without him Benjiko may well have not…no, he wouldn’t think of such things now while they were still in danger.

  The trio continued on for nearly another hour, moving slowly yet never stopping. At last a large group of snow-colored rocks appeared as they reached the peak of another hill.

  “There,” Benjiko croaked. “Safety awaits.”

  “Nobody following us knows of this little hideaway?” Logun asked suspiciously.

  “It wouldn’t matter if they did,” Benjiko said. “There are a thousand entrances and exits to this cave system, and once one is used, it cannot be reopened within a year’s time.”

  “Quite a fancy bit of sorcery,” Logun mused. “I wonder who conjured this all up for the royal family, and how much it cost the fine citizens of Iryllium.”

  “Defense of the Prince is paramount of public safety and—”

  “Enough!” Benjiko said before erupting into a fit of coughing. “We’re not there yet.”

  They moved towards the rock formation, but not before Brett shot Logun a nasty glance and said, “You won’t be complaining about how we use public funds when it keeps you from being ripped apart by demons.”

  Logun was unimpressed. “I’m Shigata, Brett. There is only one way I die, and you just named it. Whether that death comes now or later…mere details.”

  “Come on!” hissed Benjiko.

  They approached the boulders cautiously. Brett had Logun stand back with Benjiko in case by some foul luck or sorcery their enemies had discovered where they were headed and cut them off. After waiting several moments without being pierced by arrows or set upon by demons, he removed the xiagon from his cloak and angled it so that the boulders were reflected perfectly in its circular surface.

  More precious moments ticked by with nothing happening. Beads of sweat formed on Brett’s neck and rolled down, freezing before they got beneath his clothes. “My lord, if it doesn’t work…”

  “Hold the xiagon,” Benjiko said with conviction.

  “We need a plan B, Prince?” Logun asked.

  Benjiko did not respond.

  When the tension in Brett’s stomach neared a climax, something happened. The surface of the boulders rippled, and the xiagon shone bright blue.

  Logun whistled. “Haven’t seen magic like that since my last trip to the Blood Wood.” Reality peeled before them. The boulders were still there, but the middle one now had a large opening at its base.

  “Come on,” Brett said. “We haven’t time to lose.”

  They walked inside where the path quickly descended. Shortly after Logun and Benjiko were inside, the cave entrance disappeared leaving them shrouded in darkness absolute.

  “Shit,” Logun muttered. “We need one of those potions that Godwin can make. He showed me once. Lets you see through perfect darkness.”

  “No we don’t,” Brett said as all three of their faces suddenly appeared before the fire of a flickering torch. “These caves were planned. There are supplies.”

  “Very well,” Logun said.

  “My lord,” Brett said, approaching Benjiko. “Let me see your injuries. How badly are you hurt?”

  “I’ll live,” Benjiko said. “Albeit with some pain for a few days. I took a nasty cut on my head and another on my arm.”

  “Allow me to help you. Logun, hold the torch.”

  Logun obliged, and Brett quickly went to work. After several minutes of examination, he concluded that Benjiko had a gash on his head but no concussion, and a more substantial wound on his right arm from a blade. There was no hope of stitching anything. Instead he simply cleaned and bandaged the wounds with supplies from a chest at the cave’s entrance.

  “That will have to do for now, my lord,” Brett said when he finished. “We will be safe. Though they can track our footprints, it will appear as though we simply vanished into thin air. The boulders marking our entrance are no more.”

  “No gunpowder or bombs can blow this path open?” Logun asked.

  “No,” Benjiko said, confidently. “This is no mere tunnel carved into a rock. The way was created with magic. I’m confident the spell is irreversible until a year’s time has passed.”

  Logun nodded. “Then we have some damn questions to answer, don’t we boys?”

  “Indeed we do,” Benjiko said, frowning. “Things must be far worse in Iryllium than I thought. But why? How?”

  “It’s time to go over some details,” Logun said as he eyed Brett suspiciously. “I don’t have the faintest idea where this one was. He shows up in the middle of a slaughter. I’d like to hear how your day went before the bloodbath. Captain?”

  “I don’t know what you’re implying, Shigata,” Brett said icily. “But now is not the time to start pointing fingers. If you want to get Benjiko back to court and Paetrick out of that cursed Temple, then we need to work together.”

  “Brett,” Benjiko said, placing a hand softly on Brett’s shoulder.

  Brett stared into the Shigata’s icy eyes. Perhaps the comment had gone too far. Maybe he shouldn’t have brought up Paetrick. But all the same, questioning his honor should also have been out of line!

  “Drop it,” Logun said, breaking away from Brett’s gaze. “We both have stories to tell. I’ll be happy to let you know what happened.”

&n
bsp; Brett nodded. “Very well. How did this all get started?”

  “Benjiko,” Logun said. “I’ll do the talking. Save your energy. Just jump in if I muck something up.”

  Benjiko nodded.

  “All right,” Logun started. “It was like this. Benjiko had finished up in the library after staying there all night. I was by his side the whole time. Then, after a few hours sleep at the crack of dawn, he had a meeting with some nobody—”

  Benjiko said, “He was the Lord of Diplomatic Relations for the entirety of Tjeri Province—”

  “Some nobody who was there to talk about converting coins,” Logun went on. “Didn’t seem to have a terribly large impact on what followed.”

  “Well, what did follow?” Brett asked.

  “It went down like this,” Logun said.

  Logun was standing outside of the great chamber filled with nattering bureaucrats that smelled like musk. He had tried to insist on staying exactly by Benjiko’s side as he was instructed to, but the Prince was adamant that the Shigata could not enter the secret meeting. Instead Logun was to wait outside of the meeting hall and entertain himself with a flask of some fine eastern vodka.

  “Buying me off with cheap drink,” Logun mumbled to himself as he took a swig. Realizing at once how very not cheap it was, he quickly screwed the lid back on the flask and stuffed it inside his jerkin, vowing not to touch it again that day. Such a treat should be enjoyed before slaying demons, not waiting at the heels of businessmen like an obedient dog.

  Though the impressive hall was alive with fires set in massive braziers every twenty paces, a cold chill had taken hold of the castle. Logun ignored it, allowing the smell of burning cedar to fill his nose. He was tempted to wander off and find Paetrick. The little bastard wouldn’t speak to him, but he could at least try to make sure he was safe. Eating his meals and such.

  How could his little brother have taken up with those temple fools so quickly? If the gods of ice and shadow existed, they certainly didn’t give two squat shits about the men who prayed to them. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence could see that such temples were nothing but a place for second sons to sit quietly until they died. The easterners had their own version with Sacred Jeresemeno. Any dolt could recognize it.