The Legacy of Skur: Volume One

by L. F. Falconer

  The din and congestion made me uneasy and I longed for the peace of the wold. But I had a purpose to fulfill. I could not retreat now.

  Rudne’s uncle did not pause in his course and we kept our steeds apace with his as we wound our way through the throng, toward a closed gate at the far end of the court. Upon our approach, the guardians of the gate opened it up, admitting us into the more private depths of King Tilla’s abode.

  The inner courtyard was much quieter, more elegant and kept, with trees and gardens and another, smaller well surrounded by stone-paved walkways and covered verandas, although still alive with activity. Men of rank walked here and there and pages and squires hastened on their errands. There were children being tutored beneath the shade of a large sycamore and several musicians filled the air with quiet strains of song.

  The atmosphere was clean, pleasant, and imperial, and I wondered what it would have been like to have grown up here. How different my life would have been. I could have dressed in fine linens and lace, and dined upon the finest and freshest of foods. I could have danced in the courtyard with elegant gentlemen, and learned more than just rudimentary reading skills. I would never ever have had to know Rudne. But I would never have known Skile or the wold or learned how to hear the secrets of the world, either. I would never have known Gwin. I would never have known his songs or the powerful, gentle beauty of our union. And I would not trade that for all the regal elegance in the world.

  It was then that I saw him. To be sure, he was older and heavier in girth than when I’d seen him last and it appeared that his blue had faded by some degrees, but it was definitely Papa, regally attired in black bejeweled armbands, a gleaming golden double-pointed coronet, and a cape of crimson, signifying his rank as First Captain.

  He was walking across the courtyard, rounding the king’s private well, coming straight at me. He gave Rudne’s uncle a polite nod and our captain nodded in return, though he made no move to stop and we followed on in silence. For a moment, the dragonslayer’s eyes caught mine before I quickly averted my gaze and turned my head away, but in that moment, I was certain he had recognized me, for the astonishment was evident upon his face. My Telling grumbled almost as loud as my empty belly. I deliberately kept my head turned, denying my urge to look upon him. It was not yet time for our confrontation. There were too many people about.

  When I did dare to glance back at him, he was walking on, slowly shaking his head. Only then did I exhale a long held breath, hoping to release the tension, but the rage I’d endured for the past ten years had begun to swell and I was shaking.

  Our captain led us through another gate that opened into the stable arena. Twenty other young men were assembled there and this is where we stopped. The captain dismounted, and bade us to follow suit. Among the three captains present was a tall redhead who strode forth when he caught sight of me.

  “What is your name, boy?” he demanded, standing directly before me.

  Looking unreservedly into his eyes, I answered, “Fane.” It was a name I could easily respond to.

  “Fane,” the captain repeated. “I’m afraid you’re not what the Service is looking for. You’re too small to be of any use to us, so you might as well get back on your little pony and ride home to your mama.”

  He was dismissing me out of hand! It didn’t matter if I could fight or not—he was judging me solely by my size.

  Rudne was whispering into his uncle’s ear.

  Do something, Rudne. You promised me this!

  “Sir,” I stated. “I want to be a warrior. I can fight.”

  “Give the boy a chance to prove himself, Evan,” Rudne’s uncle called to the captain before me. “Challenge him.”

  “Challenge him?” Captain Evan said. “Are you serious, Toban? My bloody tools are bigger than he is.”

  “Then I will challenge you,” I said. “I will prove to you that size makes no difference.”

  Captain Evan looked down at me in amusement and I glared back up at him. “Very well,” he said. “You do have determination, I’ll give you that. Consider yourself challenged.”

  The crowd of men about us stepped back, clearing the area. Captain Evan drew his sword. I stepped back and drew my own. He side-stepped, keeping his eyes on me, and I followed in kind. He had a much longer reach than I; it would be difficult to get close to him.

  I swung. My blade slammed against his and he twisted his sword around, nearly causing me to lose hold of mine. If I lost hold of my weapon, I would lose. I gripped tighter and swung again, my weakness compounded by my hunger, for I’d had nothing to eat since I left the wold.

  He countered the blow, reeled about, and smashed his blade against mine so hard the tremors bounced up my arms and rattled my teeth. I held onto the hilt so tightly my arms began to cramp and I knew I would lose this fight. This captain was well skilled and I didn’t have the physical prowess to disarm him. I would lose, be sent on my way, and the dragonslayer would walk free.

  In desperation, I glared at the captain’s hands, swung my blade against his, and forced his grip loose with my mind. The captain’s sword sailed off, landing softly upon the earth nearly a body’s length away. Swiftly, I rushed forth, jabbing the tip of my blade against his shielded chest.

  “Concede, sir.”

  He stared at me and then at his empty hands in disbelief.

  “Concede,” I said again.

  He cleared his throat and grumbled, “I concede. You have proven yourself.”

  As I lowered my sword, I felt ashamed. He was a man of honor and I had not beaten him fairly.

  “Welcome to the King’s Service, Fane,” Captain Evan said as he retrieved his fallen weapon.

  After we each had our jerkins stamped with the king’s insignia, a blazing red escutcheon on the upper left side, we gathered again in the center of the arena to take our oath. King Tilla came to swear us in, escorted by advisors and various ranking officials, one of whom was the dragonslayer.

  With our swords raised to the king, we repeated the oath as he spoke it. As we vowed to obey and defend our king and kingdom, to uphold the laws, and serve justice to those who did not, I could feel the dragonslayer’s eyes keep creeping upon me and I avoided looking at him, hoping he thought me just another boy.

  After we were sworn in, the captain who I had challenged came to stand before us. “I am Captain Evan,” he spoke. “I will be your captain during your duty on the southern border. You will be quartered tonight in the east bunk and we will depart for our posts at dawn. Dinner is being served in the palace courtyard. I suggest you eat hearty, for the fare will not be as plentiful in the course of our next year together. Enjoy your first night as warriors in the palace and be back here at dawn, ready to move. You are dismissed.”

  The crowd began to disperse and I watched the dragonslayer curiously, wondering if he would approach me to ease his obvious interest, but he turned and left the arena with the other men of rank and I followed, some distance away, as they made their way to the courtyard.

  Rudne came beside me. “I did it, Elva.” He grinned in his self-satisfaction. “I told you I’d get you in and I did. And I expect a proper thank you from you later.” He raised his eyebrows and winked before darting off to catch up to his fellows.

  “Oh, I’ll thank you all right,” I growled beneath my breath. He had done nothing that I couldn’t have done myself. I needed him no more. I would deal with him soon enough, but first, I had more urgent matters to attend to. And they had to be resolved before dawn.

  A great meal was laid out in the courtyard and the musicians continued to fill the air with song. I ate my fill, grateful for the renewed strength it provided, and disregarded the inquisitive and mirthful looks given me by my fellow warriors. I overheard the tales of how quickly I had defeated my captain in combat and the speculations were made that perhaps the captain had merely allowed me to win.

  It didn’t matter what they thought of me. I wasn’t one of them. Not really. I never would be. They w
ere boastful and rude, gorging themselves on the king’s food and the attentions of the attending courtesans. Skile had been right. They were crude and common and trained to kill, and I almost felt sorry for them, for they would never know the real wonder and beauty of the world they took for granted, giving only in to their most primal needs.

  Across the courtyard, I kept in sight the dragonslayer as he conversed with several advisors, and when he turned to leave, I began to follow. The time had come to act. I would get this deed done quickly and hasten back to a quiet peace and a gentle soul. I’d had more than enough of the frivolous banality in this world of men.

  I weaved through the crowd, keeping a steady pace behind the dragonslayer. I couldn’t let him know I was following, but dared not lose sight of him. He strode briskly down the breezeway before turning down a passage for the south side.

  Swiftly, I kept pace, rounding the corner into the passageway. Just as I turned, a hand grabbed my arm.

  I glared up into Rudne’s face.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

  “It’s none of your concern,” I spat, attempting to wrench free of his hold.

  “Oh, but it is my concern,” he said with a smirk. Tightening his grip, he pressed me against the wall with the hulk of his body. He ground his groin against me. “It is my concern because we have some business to take care of and I’m ready.”

  “What would someone think if they were to see you molesting a fellow warrior in this manner, Rudne?”

  He stepped back but did not release my arm. “Come with me.” He began pulling me beside him as he pushed his way down the passageway. In the far distance, the dragonslayer disappeared around a corner where the passage forked. I had lost sight of him. I had lost him because of Rudne.

  I tried to wriggle free. “Let me go. I promise I’ll come find you later.”

  He squeezed my arm painfully tighter, forcing me to walk beside him. “You’ll come to me now,” he said, turning down a side passage. “You’ll come to me anytime I say, because you belong to me, so get used to it.”

  I would not get used to it. I would just have to deal with Rudne first.

  We entered another, wider corridor. A bandy-legged guard and two ladies of the court stood conversing near an arched doorway. Abruptly, Rudne turned, leading me through the doorway that opened dimly onto a rising stairwell.

  “You there,” the guard in the gray kirtle shouted, reeling around. “Where do you two think you’re going?”

  Rudne stopped and said, “I merely wish to instruct this new recruit in proper battlement defense. With your permission, of course.”

  “Very well. Carry on.” The guard waved a dismissal, turning his attention once more to his lady companions.

  “Imbecile,” Rudne muttered beneath his breath as he forced me up the stairwell. “But he’s left this post unmanned. We’ll be alone up here.”

  We reached the top of the gray stone staircase and emerged into a half-circular tower battlement in the fading sunlight. Rudne shoved me against the wall and began unbuckling my sword belt.

  “Does it make you feel powerful to take a woman by force?” I jeered. “Does it make you feel like a man?” My sword belt clattered to the stone floor.

  He grabbed my chin, pinching it hard between his fingers. His golden eyes were livid. “I always feel like a man, Elva, because I am, unlike that armless worm you were with last night. Don’t think I can’t figure out what happened. I saw him go upriver last night and you came down this morning. Were you with him last night? Did you let that bloody worm crawl inside you? Did you?”

  “Yes,” I hissed. “Yes, Rudne, I did. Last night, for once, I had a real man inside me, and I liked it.”

  He slugged me, knocking me to the floor, sparking pain exploding inside my head.

  “You belong to me!”

  I pushed myself up from the cold stone beneath me. Blood trickled from my nose.

  “I swear,” Rudne said with a brutal kick to the ribs, “as soon as I’m through with you here, I’m going back and take his stinking feet.”

  He knelt on top of me, hitting me again.

  I brought my knee up, smashing it into his groin.

  He gasped and gurgled, doubling over and I scrambled away, clambering to my feet.

  Glaring up at me, he attempted to rise while drawing his sword. “You bloody wench. You will die for that.”

  “I will not die by your hand.” I locked my eyes onto his, thrusting my will upon him with everything I possessed.

  “Stop it, Elva,” he warned, slowly stepping backwards. “No magic. No bloody magic.”

  I did not let up. A dark fire raged inside, compelling me on. He staggered backwards until he was up against the low, crenelated wall. Then, by slow inches, he laid his left hand, palm down, upon the ledge of the stone embrasure.

  Tremulously, he began to raise his sword.

  “What are you doing?” he cried. “Oh, no. Stop. I beg of you. Please, Elva. Stop!”

  But I would not stop. I would not stop until I was finished.

  “This is madness, Elva! For the love of the king, please, I won’t lay a hand on you. I promise.”

  I concentrated harder, a warm gush spiraling up from just below my heart.

  The sword dropped in a rush. His severed left hand fell to the floor. He wailed. Blood spewed from his wrist. But I did not relent, forcing him now to crawl atop the embrasure.

  Still clutching his sword, he pressed the tip to the base of his throat, uselessly struggling to resist. His right hand trembled, golden eyes wide in terror.

  The dark fire urged me to complete what I’d begun. With my last bit of strength, my mind drove the sword forth.

  The blade sliced through his neck and Rudne fell backwards off the battlement wall, disappearing from view. All that remained was his severed hand upon the cold, stone floor.

  The fire retreated.

  I collapsed in an exhausted heap, totally drained and drenched in sweat. It took great effort to cause a man to kill himself. Silently, I cursed Rudne. I hadn’t wanted to waste my power tonight on him! But I had avenged Gwin, and Rudne would never hurt anyone again.

  But they would find him soon. They would find him and arrest me. And then they would hang me.

  I was so weak, but there was no time to rest. I had to find the dragonslayer before they found me. This night of death was not over yet.

  Wiping the blood from my nose with the back of my hand, I forced myself up on quaking legs, retrieved my sword belt, and staggered down the stairs.

  9

  The Curse of the Dragon

  Hurrying past the guard at the bottom of the stairwell, I wound my way back through the passageways, absently brushing the blood from my nose to my hand to my trousers. Finally, I reached the place I had last seen the dragonslayer. Another long hallway, alit with torches, loomed before me and I cursed the king who had deemed this wretched maze necessary. A lone page was coming my way and when he drew near, I grabbed his arm.

  “I am looking for the first captain. Could you tell me where to find him?”

  “He does not like to be disturbed in the evening, sir,” the page said self-importantly, before glancing down at my hand upon his arm. “But … if it is vital I will ask if he will see you.”

  Too late I realized there was still blood upon my hand. Not to mention, my trousers as well. I was unsure of the status of my face. “It is vital,” I said, quickly taking my hand away. “Tell him it concerns Fane.” I hoped that name might seem important enough to the dragonslayer to warrant being disturbed in the evening.

  The page disappeared into a small alcove off the side of the hall, returning a few moments later. “He has agreed to see you, sir,” the page told me, pointing the way.

  My belly was a constriction of knots, my palms drenched. Wiping them dry upon my pants, I pushed through the door, stepping into a room large and bright with ornate tapestries in blue, pink, and cream upon the walls. A warm, live
ly fire danced in the ingle. One side of the room was graced with a large, polished table where a finely dressed young boy and girl sat with open books before them.

  They stared at me with curiosity and a stinging stab pierced my heart. Oh, I would have liked to have known them, but I knew I never would. My brother and sister would remain forever strangers.

  In the center of the room stood the dragonslayer. Still blue, his pallor beneath the dark beard was ashen, and he watched me mutely, as if seeing a ghost. There was no sign of Mama or any other children and I wondered where they might be.

  Nodding my head toward my brother and sister while staring into the dragonslayer’s astounded eyes, I said, “Send the children away. This does not concern them.” I would not make them watch their father die.

  The dragonslayer spoke sharply. “Lundin. Sashi. Go to Miss Dina’s until I send for you.”

  They would be there a very long time, I mused as the children obediently arose and left. I was alone with the dragonslayer at last. For many moments we stared silently at one another.

  “Where is your wife?” I asked, breaking the silence.

  “My wife … died. Ten years ago.” His eyes narrowed in confusion. “Who are you?”

  Mama had died? Oh, I had wanted the pleasure of killing her myself. Now I would have to be content with just killing Papa.

  The dark fire flickered.

  “Do you not know me?” I asked in a low, steady drone.

  “You look very much like my brother, and I thought that when I first saw you today in the courtyard. But I know you are not my brother.”

  I slipped the hood of my jerkin off my head and pushed the hair back behind my ears. “Do you know me now?” The astonished recognition upon his face was the very one I had envisioned in my mind for so long, giving me immense satisfaction.