Ceth winked back. “You’re half-welcome.”
The two moved out of the building. Ceth grabbed his helmet by the door.
“Go double check that no one has seen Kaillum’s signal.” The Kitamite leader lowered his faceplate. “That brother of yours tends to wait until the last minute!”
“Right.” Dag nodded and took off at a run through the campsite while Ceth continued on toward the frontline.
“Sir!”
Ceth turned the opposite direction to find a soldier running toward him.
The soldier slid to a halt, holding up his finger. “Sorry sir,” He doubled over in front of Commander, trying to catch his breath.
“Take your time, boy.”
He shook his head. “I apologize, Sir, but there is no time. A scout from the northern Talurian campsite just rode into the city.” He stopped again, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “Something is terribly wrong. He was practically in shock, talking like a lunatic, saying a man made of shadows, with eyes of blood, fell from the sky upon the Talurians. He barely got out ahead of the retreating army.”
The soldier made another pause. “Sir, the Talurians are running back to Hillsford, and they’ll be here by morning.”
Chapter 14: The Haunting
Thandril flew over the valley that separated the campsite of the north from Hillsford. The land obstacle made the relatively short distance into an all day, roundabout journey for someone on foot.
He slowed, circling in the air, halting his travels in surprise.
The Talurian army marched in his direction, torchlight showing the long caravan along the road, making toward Hillsford. He dove to the ground, changing his form as he landed. Dirt and gravel whirled around him.
“What is going on?” He lurched forward, questioning the first soldier he saw.
The man dropped to the ground in fear, “Please, spare me!”
Thandril pulled him to his feet. “I am on your side! Calm yourself. Where are Captains Arteus and Barolas?”
Before the soldier could answer, a rider galloped over. “The men are shaken up enough as is without you coming in here with your exploding, light show.”
He turned to see a bloodied Arteus sitting atop the horse.
Thandril let go of the soldier. “What happened? What forced you from your position?” He studied the Captain’s condition with a mixture of curiosity and surprise.
“I don’t know if you’d believe me.” Arteus rubbed the back of his neck.
“Try me.”
Arteus jumped from his mount. “Alright, let’s talk away from the troops.”
The two moved from the gathering crowd. The Captain proceeded to recount the story of their attack and subsequent retreat, including the death of his long-time friend and comrade, and the impossible power they witnessed from the stranger in the sky.
“It was something from a nightmare.”
Thandril nodded his head in understanding and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I am going to see this for myself. You must continue on to Hillsford. Whoever this man was, he was telling the truth. Any minute now, the General might lose the Keep, and everyone inside will be slaughtered.”
“But Thandril, you can’t go—” Arteus was cut off as the druid jumped into the air, transformed into a falcon, and shot off into the clouds.
Arteus shook his head as Thandril flew out of sight. “Well, you heard him! The General is in trouble! Let’s move!”
* * *
Thandril crouched down behind a large rock outcrop.
He had flown to the former Talurian campsite and immediately sensed the evil, unnatural aura that permeated the air. An eerie silence and the lack of life sickened his senses. The campsite, set up along the torn down fortress, was gone. A few ripped tents and many bodies littered the ground.
He slowly moved from the cover of the rock, not seeing anything to hide from. The utter absence of life was haunting. The sounds of nature were muted. The sounds of the night that he had grown up around were gone. He fumbled down a gravelly hillside, almost losing his footing. The closer he moved toward the campsite, the darker the sky became. A shadow rested in front of the moon, blocking the light.
He noticed the edge of a wide crevasse in what would have been the center of the camp. He inched closer. An ethereal voice invaded his mind, making the hair on his neck stand up.
“I have no quarrel with you, Thandril.”
He thought the shadows were moving amongst the trees bordering the campground, but could not be sure. The mind is darkness’ biggest trickster.
“Who are you?” Thandril shouted.
“You will know, in time.”
Wind blew up out of nowhere and whirled around him. He felt cold touches on his face and arms like ghostly fingers gently pawing at him.
“You are important. You must protect the boy and his father.”
Thandril sensed emotion behind the voice.
“I fear you are the only one who can. The invaders of Hillsford are manipulating you. There are merely forty of them inside the town. Two of them have powerful magic, one which can duplicate himself.”
“Yes, I know the one. I chased him from the Keep a night ago.”
“Yes…” the voice hissed, “He is making thousands of copies of himself and putting them all around the city to mislead you.”
“You just want me to go back and tell Saris it is okay to attack?”
“No. Your army will be there soon; they can deal with those outside the Keep. More importantly, you must go back and look for the other magic user. He has already infiltrated your forces. He has the power to change his appearance into any other man, woman, or child. You must find him and stop him from killing Saris and the baby. Be watchful and do not lose focus. Pay attention to everyone.”
Thandril shook his head. “Why should I trust you?”
“Why shouldn’t you?”
“You killed our people!”
“I tried without. They wouldn’t listen! I had to make them listen. Don’t make me force my hand with you…”
For a moment, silence rung through Thandril’s head, then with a loud crack, “Now go!”
The night sky opened and stars peered down. Nature’s sounds began to sing, and Thandril sensed he was once again alone.
Chapter 15: Searching
A knock came on the door, and a soldier hurried into the room.
“Sir, one of our patrols spotted the Talurian army. They stopped just before the northern ridge. They haven’t made camp so we can assume their rest is brief.”
Ceth leaned back in his chair, scanning the burnt-out room that he had made into his temporary command center, absently thinking. He stroked his mustache. “Four or five hours, I would say…” He twisted up the ends of his facial hair, then snapped back to focusing on the soldier before him. “Find me Dageros and, without giving away what we are doing, make ready our departure.”
The soldier bowed and left the Kitamite Commander alone in the room.
He shifted the maps around on his desk and pulled forward one filled with many notations and movement reports.
They should be here in two weeks. What chance do they have if we fail? Can they overrun this city with General Saris still alive, and his army fortified inside the Keep?
A rapid knocking once again fell on his door. Dag entered without being called in, “Sir? Are you leaving? We haven’t heard or seen anything from my brother.” He slammed his fists down on the desk. “We can’t leave him in there! This mission isn’t finished!”
Ceth stood from his seat and looked the young man hard in the eyes. “You will not speak to me in that manner.”
Dag’s eyes shimmered. “I will speak to you however I please,” he said defiantly, “Do you not remember who is royalty here? You are Kitamite, and I am of Merkadia, but do not be confused…” Dag crossed his arms, “You exist independently of our great kingdom because we let you! General Vyker will be here expecting to find one dead Taluria
n General and an army sitting on their asses up north.”
Dag took a step closer to the large Commander, “Now… We will wait for Kaillum to give the signal, then ignite the flame barrels, as planned. If we have to run with the Talurian army on our heels, so be it!”
Ceth looked down at Dag and said coolly, “I am leaving with my men. You can do whatever you want. I have known you for years, but today, you act like a fool. You have strained the alliance with our people. Now get out of my face.”
Dageros lingered for a moment, fighting the urge to lash out at the military leader. “Gah!” He threw his hands in the air and left the building. What are you doing in there, Brother?
* * *
Kaillum pushed through the crowd of people, trying to make up for lost time.
He entered the Keep alongside the last group of Talurian soldiers before the gates were sealed. When they arrived, they were quickly moved to the garrison’s infirmary for a checkup, and had to remain there, until ordered back to duty. He didn’t have an opportunity to duck out of the group on the way in there, and even less of an opportunity once inside the barracks. He played along, but that ended up getting him three assignments, before getting dismissed.
Now, he had a mission to complete.
He still looked like himself, save a slight change to hide the ridge along the center of his forehead, a strange bodily trait that he shared with his brother, and, until he started using his powers more significantly, his eyes would remain dull and normal-looking.
He made his way past the commissary and then through the food hall, pushing through the crowd of people buying up any remaining supplies.
I should be done and gone by now. Where are the General’s chambers?
People were lined up everywhere, getting fed and staking out space for their family. Many looked sick from the smoky air and all of them were covered with soot. He was thankful for the bath he had received in the soldiers’ infirmary.
While staring off into the endless crowd, a little girl reached up and touched his hand, “Sir, are we safe? Do those bad men outside want to hurt us?”
Kaillum stopped and looked down at the girl. She was maybe eight or nine, and her tattered clothes and unkempt hair made evident of a rough life on the streets.
“What is your name little girl?” He asked kneeling down to her level.
“Kari,” she smiled.
He couldn’t help but smile back, “Well, hello, Kari. My name is Kail.” The name he had given back at the barracks.
“And no, nothing will happen to you. I promise.”
“You can’t promise her anything! Her parents promised her they would be back someday! And where are they? Took off in a fancy-dandy carriage and never returned.” A rough, old voice griped from a pile of dirty blankets behind the girl. An elderly man threw back his covers. “I can protect her just fine. Now go! Shoo!”
He showed all the signs of a street beggar, although it was obvious in appearance that the man was related to the little girl.
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to—”
“Eh!” The old man threw his hands in the air. “Oh, it’s fine… it’s fine. Kari, go stand in line for more soup. You need the nourishment, and they are handing out seconds to the small children.”
Kari ran off with a smile on her face, waving goodbye to Kaillum.
“Again, I am sorry to interfere with you and your granddaughter.” He bowed to the man and went on his way.
As he walked off, he heard the man grumble, “At least you stopped to give her a minute of your time… More than any of the other soldiers.”
* * *
Eyes, may you see clearly.
Feet, may you move sure and swift.
Sword, may you strike with fury.
Shield, may you hold true.
The order came and, without hesitation, he was charging at the fortress.
Surrounded by his comrades, his friends, and his brother…Rurik shouted out a blood-curdling war cry, pulling his shield from his back as he ran toward the Kilgarian soldiers. He looked to his left and saw Klaric and, to his right, Aamin, his little brother—proud soldiers of the Talurian army, willingly risking their lives for Emperor Tymedious and their great Empire.
A rain of arrows fell from the sky. Rurik dropped to his knees, thrusting his shield overhead.
Through a gritty smile, Rurik said to his brother, “So is this what you thought it would be like to fight alongside your big brother?”
An arrow tip stabbed through Rurik’s shield nearly digging into his shoulder.
Aamin let out a nervous laugh, motioning up at his thicker, sturdier tower shield. “Nothing a good shield can’t stop.”
The last arrow hit the ground and, in unison, the group was back to a sprint.
They leapt over the barricades and came down on the enemy with fury. Swords cutting flesh and bone, spears flying, trampled Kilgarian men lying dead under the weight of the deadly Talurian infantry.
Within minutes, the battle outside the gates of the fortress was over. Rurik and his men hid for cover underneath the overhang of the perimeter walls, waiting for the bombardment of siege weapons.
“Rurik! We took them in minutes!” shouted Klaric, waving his sword in the air in celebration.
Aamin let out a laugh. “Damn! That was invigorating! No wonder you guys get the girls with all these stories!” That made the men around laugh and slap Rurik’s younger brother on the back.
“Now you have tasted blood. No going back! Women and war… all a good soldier needs” roared an old veteran.
Rurik nudged Aamin, smiling underneath his helmet, “good job...”
“Brother!” Rurik lurched forward, hunching himself on his elbows. He was in his cot. Someone was knocking on his door, loudly.
“Coming… coming.” He sighed
He jumped to his feet and reached for his sword and shield. His hands were clammy, tunic damp with sweat.
I was dreaming...How long had I been asleep?
“Sir?” a voice came from outside his door.
“I’m coming damn it!” Rurik yelled as he unlatched the handle. “What is the matter?”
The soldier at the door promptly saluted. It was Galro, the man who had been on patrol with him and Klaric. “I am very sorry, sir. We didn’t want to wake you… but we need you down in the courtyard. It seems that some of the soldiers have found a small cache of spiced summer ale inside the barracks. They are causing a scene and, well, they won’t listen to anyone. Klaric is among them and says he will only stop if you come down and have a drink with him. We can’t really subdue them with force, they may do something stupid.”
Galro grimaced. “They are quite drunk, Sir.”
Rurik sighed and dropped his head backward. “Okay.” He blew out hard before settling his gaze back on the private. “Thank you for getting me. Go back to whatever you were doing. I will tend to my men.”
The soldier saluted again and left Rurik standing alone in the doorway.
* * *
Kaillum reached a long, heavily guarded ramp leading to a private wing of the Keep.
This had to be where Saris was staying.
He walked up the causeway with an air of importance, passing a handful of guards that obviously held back from questioning his presence. He gave them a quick nod and nothing more.
What man of rank needs to explain himself?
After walking through a maze of winding hallways, he found himself at a door being guarded by six soldiers. The same number of Saris’ personal guard. If I was on time, Dag would’ve made this easy. Damn replacements.
“Who are you?” one asked bluntly, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“I was sent to run orders to the General. I have urgent news.” Kaillum stood straight and authoritative.
The guard glanced at another, then back at Kaillum, “The only men allowed inside this door are Corporal Kaster and the slave boy. What was his name? Oh, yes, Gleb. Harmite names are
so boring and they always sound sad.” He laughed, and the others joined in. “So, if you are not one of them, you better turn around and walk away before I think of a reason to interrogate you.”
“Very well, I will be back with the Corporal.”
“Oh, you do that.” He laughed, “And you can wait out here while he goes inside.”
Kaillum turned and walked away, leaving the guards to laugh over their unintelligent attempts at making snide remarks.
Kaster or Gleb… I can do that…But where to find them? All I need is a quick glimpse.
He judged it to be three hours before sunrise.
The fires were starting to die down around the city and the smoke was beginning to thin. With the morning light, the Talurians would see through their façade and the mission would be a failure. Kaillum needed to find one of those men, quickly.
Upon reaching the courtyard, he ran headfirst into a crowd assembled outside the commissary.
Had there been rioting? He heard rations were dwindling, but there should still be enough for the better part of a week.
Kaillum pushed through the people, noticing they were intently watching some commotion amongst a group of three drunken men.
“We are all going to die here!” one of them yelled out.
“We were in the battle up north. They have come for revenge!” said another, pointing to the crowd, “And you will pay for our savagery!”
The three were still in uniform and were leaning on their weapons, using them to steady themselves. Six other, sober soldiers had fanned out around the three, waiting for a chance to arrest them without the risk of inadvertently injuring anyone.
The crowd split to let in another soldier. This man carried a higher rank, noted by a different insignia on the shoulder of his uniform.
“Ah! Rurik! You have come to have a drink! It took you long enough!” laughed the most boisterous of the three.
“Klaric!” the officer yelled, “You fool! What are you doing? Put down your weapons, and those damn drinks.”
Fate of an Empire (Talurian Empire Trilogy Book 1) Page 7
