When they arrived at the gates they found them shut and barred. The fury of the elves guarding them was obvious, as was the fear of the humans who were scattered amongst them. The gates cracked opened just sufficiently to allow the three of them to slip through.
Standing twenty feet away was a lone figure in the now all too familiar black cloak. It held the truce banner high, and there was no weapon apparent. Gewey reached out and touched its vile mind. It did not resist.
“As far as I can tell, it only wants to talk,” he told the others. “And I sense no one else nearby.” He took a step forward. “Speak, beast,” he commanded.
“My master sends a message to the mighty Darshan,” it said in the all too familiar foul hiss. “You have taken what was once his. He now offers that you keep it.”
Gewey burst into laughter. “He’s very generous. What else that I have taken from him does he offer me?” He could feel the malice bearing down on him from beneath the shadow of the Vrykol’s hood.
“My master has an army of one hundred thousand men ready to march from Kratis,” the creature continued. “These are not the weak townsfolk and farmers you have battled before. These are barbarians from the frozen wastes of Angrääl. They will burn every city to the ground and slaughter all that breathes air if you do not take his…kind offer.”
Gewey was no longer amused. “So what does he want in return?”
“My master wishes for you to return to the west,” it replied. “A new threat has arisen. One that requires your personal attention.”
“And what do you know about this?” Gewey demanded.
“I am but a servant and know nothing. But I have been instructed to tell you that he will not move against you until the matter is resolved. On that you have his word.”
Gewey stared hard at the creature for more than a minute. “And how do I know your master will keep his…word?”
Thin laughter seeped out of the Vrykol. “You don’t. But you do know that your beloved home, and every inhabitant of every city, town and village from here to my master’s doorstep will perish if you ignore him. Your attempt to draw him from his fortress has failed. He will remain in Angrääl until he chooses to do otherwise. He offers you the lives of those you love and a short time of peace so that you can deal with this matter.”
Gewey looked to Kaylia and Lee, but they offered nothing. “I will consider it,” he said.
“Do not take too long to decide,” the creature told him before turning and walking away with slow, even strides.
Gewey shouted after it. “And how will I deliver my answer?”
“There is no need,” it hissed without glancing back or pausing. “He will know what you decide.” Moments later, it disappeared from view.
“Do you think it’s telling the truth?” asked Lee.
Gewey rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. “I don’t know. But if there is really an army of one hundred thousand more soldiers ready to march, I have to take it seriously.”
“And if they are truly native Angrääl barbarians,” added Lee, “it is a force to be much feared. I’ve encountered these people before, but only in small groups. Even then they were formidable. A raiding party of twenty could sack a small city if it was unprepared. Should the Dark Knight have organized them into an army…” He did not need to elaborate any further.
“Tell Millet, Linis and Bevaris to join me at the manor,” Gewey told Lee. “I’ll find Lyrial. It looks like Jacob will be staying here after all.”
Lee nodded and headed off toward the temple of the faithful. At this time of day Millet was sure to be going through their records, hoping to uncover anything that could give them an advantage. The bolt that Lee had thrown inside, as well as claiming many lives, had also done considerable damage to the temple’s main interior. Fortunately though, the deep vault where all of the faithful’s records were stored had been virtually untouched by the blast and subsequent fire. The thousands of papers discovered there all needed to be thoroughly checked. If there really was anything of great value amongst them, Millet was determined to find it.
Lyrial was at the docks watching the ships being prepared. She spent as much time as possible studying the workings of the strange vessels, and had a seemingly endless number of questions for the crews. At the same time, Weila and the other sand masters were working mostly in conjunction with Bevaris, Tristan, and a small human force formed from those former city guards who had chosen not to join the Angrääl army. Only a lucky few of these had escaped being killed following the murder of the royal family.
Lyrial was reluctant to leave the dockside, but the seriousness of Gewey and Kaylia’s expressions silenced any complaint that might have been forming.
By the time they reached the manor, everyone apart from Bevaris was gathered in a small study just down the hall from the main dining room. A serving girl brought them each a crystal goblet of sweet wine as they settled down around a mahogany table opposite an elaborately carved marble fireplace.
No one spoke to relieve the somber mood until Bevaris finally arrived. Gewey then told the group of the Reborn King’s offer, as well as his suspicions regarding Melek.
Millet was the first to speak after he had finished. “Assuming the Vrykol is telling the truth, I would guess that you intend to return to Althetas.”
Gewey nodded. “If the offer is genuine, then I would be a fool to ignore it.” He turned to Lyrial. “I know your people are longing to be reunited with your kin in the west, but in light of this I must ask you to remain here for a time longer.”
Lyrial frowned. “You may need us if Melek is as powerful as you say.”
“If he really is there,” countered Gewey, “then there is nothing you can do to aid me. The fight will be between the two of us. There will be no battles. But if the enemy is being deceptive, you will be needed to hold this city until my return.”
“This will not sit well with my people,” she said. “But we will do as you ask. However, I would request that you at least allow Weila to go with you as a representative of the desert.”
“Agreed,” he replied, then looked to Lee. “You and your son will remain here as well.”
Lee nodded in compliance but said nothing.
“I hope you do not think I will be left behind too,” said Linis. His voice was commanding and serious. “My home is in the west. If a mad god threatens my kin–”
Gewey held up his hand. “That is precisely why I would not suggest you stay. And as for Dina...I would not dare ask her to stay either.”
He turned to Bevaris. “I would like you here to aid in strengthening the defenses. I will deliver any message you may have for Valshara.”
Bevaris simply nodded.
Gewey sighed. “That covers just about everything. I’ll leave with the supply ships the moment they’re ready to depart.”
With that, everyone stood and left. Only Kaylia and Linis lingered.
“Why leave Lee behind?” asked Linis. “Surely he could be of better use where we’re going?”
Gewey sat back down and drained the wine left in his glass. “Melek is powerful. How powerful, I’m not sure. But I do know that if he were to somehow ensnare Lee in the same way that the Dark Knight has done to others…”
Linis nodded with understanding. “Yes. He could be used to terrible affect. I can see the wisdom in your decision.”
In spite of his words, Linis knew that Gewey’s true motives were to keep Lee with his son and as far out of danger as possible. But he was not going to challenge the issue.
“It occurs to me,” he added, “that Melek may possibly be more powerful than you – if he is indeed the father of all the gods. Also, if the Dark Knight is aware of this, he may be acting out of fear.”
Gewey nodded slowly. “That is certain. But fear of what? Is he afraid that Melek will destroy him, so wishes me to fight what he cannot? Or does he hope Melek will destroy me? Better still, that we destroy each other?”
“The Dark
Knight plays a dangerous game,” Linis pointed out. “Were Melek to convince you to join with him, it would undoubtedly spell the end for Angrääl.”
“If he really is in Althetas, that's exactly what he will try to do,” said Gewey. “But at the moment, we still don’t know if I’m chasing shadows.”
“I would say trust your instincts,” Linis remarked. “They’ve served you well enough so far.”
Gewey shrugged. “There are some who might say different.”
“And I would be one of them,” Kaylia told him with a smirk.
Linis rose. “Dina and I will be ready when all is prepared.” He turned and left.
The rest of the day for Kaylia and Gewey was spent walking the gardens and exploring the massive house. They could see that Lanson had been as avid a collector as Lee, though Gewey guessed that most of the treasures on display were purchased from ships importing goods into Baltria rather than from the man’s adventuring.
Lyrial reported later that afternoon that the ships would be ready to sail in two days’ time.
Just as they were heading for their room to take their meal, Millet arrived.
“There is a message for you,” he said. “It arrived by fauna bird a few minutes ago.” His shoulders drooped and there were dark circles under his eyes. He handed Gewey a rolled parchment. Just to the left of the unadorned wax seal were scrawled the words: ‘For Darshan’.
Gewey took the parchment and gave Millet a worried glance. “You should get more rest. You look as if you are about to collapse.”
“The faithful had thousands of letters and journals hidden away,” Millet explained. “And my old eyes aren’t as sharp as they once were.” He bent backward and groaned while stretching his knotted muscles. “My body isn’t in much better condition either.”
Kaylia stepped forward, allowing the flow to pass into his thin, fatigued frame. He instantly smiled and sighed with relief.
“Now don’t start thinking this means you can go straight back to work,” she said with false harshness in her tone.
“Ah, my dear lady,” said Millet. “I would not dare disobey.”
Noticing that Gewey had yet to open the message, he took his leave.
Gewey broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. Kaylia drew close. A sense of dread ran through both of them as they read the brief message.
Darshan,
I forgive you for leaving me behind in Shagharath. Join me in Althetas, where I am a guest of King Lousis. I give you my word that no harm shall befall you, or any in your company.
With warmest regards,
Melek
Gewey crumpled the note in his fist. “Well, I suppose that answers my question.”
He could feel Kaylia’s heart pounding furiously. He wanted to ease her fears, but his own doubts were on the brink of overcoming him.
For two days after that Gewey was unable to sleep. By the time the ships were ready to depart, his mind was scattered in a thousand directions. The docks were packed with elves and humans, all there to see the great Darshan sail west and wish him a safe voyage.
Lee, Jacob, Millet and all the others bid him a solemn goodbye. It was clear that they were acutely aware of the danger he was now facing. In that moment he wished that he had not told anyone other than Kaylia about Melek. Certainly not the bit about how powerful he thought the father of gods might be.
More than fifty ships were loaded and prepared for the journey. The vessel he would travel on was by far the largest and most seaworthy – or so he had been told. As he boarded, the crowd erupted into cheers and farewells that continued long after the ship had set sail and was moving with the rest of the fleet into open waters.
The trip would take several weeks. That meant several weeks to contemplate what might happen.
In truth, several weeks of apprehension and worry.
* * * * *
Lee had not wanted to appear as somber as he did, but he could not shake off a sense of foreboding and finality about Gewey’s departure. Jacob remained at his side for the remainder of the day as he wandered the city, and for that he was very appreciative. But his dark mood and unintended aloofness soon had his son worrying needlessly.
“I’m fine,” Lee lied, forcing a smile. “Just tired, that’s all. Being a half-man does not give me infinite strength.”
“I can tell that you’re lying,” Jacob responded. “You’re worried that Gewey is quite possibly racing off to his death. As a matter of fact, so am I.”
“Yes,” Lee admitted. “But there’s more. I had hoped that you would go west where you would be safe. Or at least, safer than you are here. But these days it seems there is nowhere safe. The world is closing in, and I don’t think I have the power to hold it back.”
He knew what his son was going to say and held up his hand to silence him. “I know you think it’s your duty to stand by my side. And when there is no other way, I would agree. But you are all that survives of me and your mother. I would have you one day worry over your own children, not perish fighting beside an old man who has cheated his fate far too many times.”
“The difference between us, father,” began Jacob, “is that I still have hope for us both. You hope only for me and keep none for yourself. You act as if you were already dead. Well, you still live. And until that changes, I will continue holding my hope close to my heart. So if you cannot find any of your own…share mine.”
A tiny smile formed at the corners of Lee’s mouth. “Not long ago I would have said that you reminded me of myself as a young man. But now I see you are far wiser than I ever was. For that, you can thank your mother.” He slapped his son on the shoulder. “Pay no attention to my foul moods and moping. But for now, I think I need some time to myself. I’ll see you in the morning, and then we will banish my melancholy together. Baltria is a large city with many distractions. Tomorrow you can help me remember my youth - just the two of us.”
Jacob smiled, hugged his father, and then disappeared into the crowds of people that were now a constant sight on the streets of Baltria.
Lee had remarked on several occasions how the elves had breathed new life into the city. With each passing day the humans were becoming ever more accommodating. He agreed with Millet that soon it would be as if the elves had always been there.
He wound his way through the streets until arriving at a small tavern close to the western market. The sound of a lute and singing drifted out from the worn front door. He reached into his pocket and jingled the coins he had with him.
“Perhaps some wine and song,” he muttered to himself.
The interior was quite shabby and old, but the faces of the patrons were friendly and the musician playing and singing pleasing enough. The small bar ran along the wall to his right, while two rows of tables were to his left. Here, the musician was perched atop a small stool.
Lee ordered a bottle of wine and found an empty chair beside two drunken sailors. Across from him was a party of elves. He was certain they recognized him, but to his relief they only nodded and smiled a greeting.
As the night wore on, Lee managed to finish off three bottles of wine and a pitcher of ale. By now he was well aware that if he didn’t eat soon, his head would pay the price in the morning. Unfortunately, the tiny tavern had no kitchen. He drained his final mug and tossed the young serving maid a copper. Not wanting to insult the musician, he leaned back in his chair to wait for the song to end before departing in search of a late meal elsewhere.
As the music stopped and the crowd burst into ale fueled applause, the maid brought him over another bottle of wine.
“No thank you, my dear,” Lee told her.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she replied. “But the lady at the bar sent it over.” She placed her hand back on the bottle. “Should I take it away?”
Lee looked across the room to the bar. Only one woman was seated there. Though her back was turned to him, her sleek raven hair caused him to struggle for breath. He rose to his feet and slowly made his wa
y toward her. She was wearing a simple blue cotton dress, tied at the waist by a thin white belt. The floral pattern on the cloth was unmistakably northern weave.
Lee’s heart began to race with each step. He knew who she was, even without seeing her face. When standing just behind her he opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat.
The woman, sensing that he was there, turned around.
Even though he had already known that there could be no mistake, a loud gasp of surprise still shot from Lee’s mouth. There, right before his eyes sat Penelope...his darling wife.
He reached out with an unsteady hand and touched her bare arm, as if to make sure she wasn’t simply a specter.
“It is me, my love,” she said. “I am here.”
“How?” was the only word he could manage.
“We must talk,” she replied. “Soon, everything will become clear.”
Chapter 21
They had only just sailed out of sight of Baltria when Gewey spotted Dina storming toward the bow, her face red and her eyes ablaze. Linis followed a short distance behind her, smirking.
Dina spun around to glare at him. “If you think it’s funny, you can just leave me alone.”
Linis stopped and backed away. After staring hard at him, Dina marched to the rails on the port bow and began screaming curses at the sea.
Linis joined Gewey, who was sitting on an apple barrel near to the center mast. “She has just found her mother,” the elf explained.” He could see Gewey’s confusion. “Dina instructed her most firmly not to come. But a few minutes ago she saw Nahali in the galley helping the cook.”
“I can understand why she’s upset,” said Gewey sympathetically. “I too wish I could keep those I love safe. And remember, they are only recently reunited.” He laughed softly to himself. “And to think she’s off on a quest to challenge a mad god…two mad gods, in fact. And in the company of a third.”
Linis grabbed his shoulder and shook it fondly. “Mad? You? Not entirely. A bit moody from time to time perhaps. But considering you went from being a young farm boy to the hope of the world in such a short span of time, you can be forgiven a little bit of madness.”
The Godling Chronicles : Bundle - Books 4-6 Page 56
