The mercenaries were situated in various positions. While they believed themselves to be the sole beings for many miles, none of them were ignoring their responsibilities or taking their safety for granted. ReShard had assured them that pursuit would be forthcoming and that they would eventually have to earn their pay with blood. Still, they milled about in their various positions, talking idly while keeping watch. ReShard may be correct, but many were confident that this would not be a night for bloodshed. Still, there was no sense in being arrogant and ignoring their responsibilities. Two men rested with their backs against the stones that made up the remnants of the well. From their vantage point in the distance the companions could see the head and shoulders of another appearing over the wall from inside the well. It was apparent that this man was stationed in the well in order to run messages to Boric and the others below ground. From Landis’ observations he speculated that they must be using a ladder of sorts. In order to keep the element of surprise in their favor, so that those down in Bytorron’s lair had little or no warning, Landis decided that this man would be his first target. Landis scurried a few feet from behind the brush where the others hid. He was not concerned with being exposed to the mercenaries, as he was certain that the several camp fires around which the men were positioned would sufficiently limit their view this far out. He readied his bow and waited without moving for his opportunity. To those concealed nearby, it appeared that the half-elf did not so much as breathe.
Weslocke and Eric surveyed the camp through the brush, waiting for the call to battle. Despite the cold, his palms were sweaty and he prayed that this would not affect his hold on his sword in combat. Landis’ warning replayed in his mind: “Stay out of the pathway between me and the mercenaries when you run into the camp. I would not want to accidentally put an arrow into your back.” Once the alarm was sounded, Eric and Weslocke would run in to join the others in combat while Landis would use his bow until it became necessary to drop it and join the fight. Natis and Katryn had been instructed to stay with Seebaul and to bring him in only after they had secured the area.
They had to wait for another thirty minutes before the man in the well made another appearance. Unlike the previous sighting, the sun had lowered far enough so that there was only the silhouette of his head in view. It would be an impressive shot at this distance, but Landis had made what he believed to have been more difficult shots and was confident in his skill to make this one. He wasted no time motioning for the others to get ready, trusting that they were remaining alert and not wanting to lose this opportunity. Landis pulled back the bow string, taking careful aim then he released the arrow.
* * * * *
Connel reached for his water bottle that had been requested by Timmon: the sentry inside the well. “Why don’t you just drink from the water in the well?” He asked after receiving his friend’s request.
Beside Connel sat Lor; his longtime friend who had first joined the Freeport Militia with him eight years earlier. They had both served under Captain ReShard and had traveled to the city of Alexon with him at the beginning of the war with the snow elves. When told by ReShard of the travesty of justice being brought against Boric the two men had agreed to join his efforts to free their Duke.
“I’m not drinking that muddy crap, especially after everyone has been trampling around down there.” Timmon replied. Timmon said nothing more as an arrow struck the left side of his face. The force of the blow buried the arrow into his skull and drove the point out of the other side of his head. Without making a sound, Timmon’s left hand relaxed its grip and the mercenary fell to the bottom of the well.
“Timmon!” Connel called out as he jumped to his feet upon realizing that the soldier had fallen. Lor stood and joined his friend looking down the well.
“He fell!” Connel declared as both men peered into the darkness below. Connel heard Lor grunt, and watched him slump forward, his body resting over the wall of the well with an arrow in his back.
“Oh no!” Was all Connel had time to exclaim before an arrow tore into his chest.
* * * * *
As Connel dropped to the ground, one of the men in the group nearby saw what was happening and sounded the alarm. At which point Bix gave the word and kicked his horse forward. As his powerful steed burst through the trees into the clearing, he was quickly joined by Jaylen and Jareel. The trio rode their horses directly at two sentries who were nearest them, Rather than face the three riders, they ran back in the direction of their cronies. “Cowards!” Bix cried out as his horse ran the slower of the two men down, trampling him onto the cold ground. The second made it only a few feet further before Jareel caught up to him, swinging his sword with his left hand and taking the man’s head off in one motion as they continued to advance on the thirteen remaining mercenaries who were regrouping to establish a defense against their attackers. Weslocke had already broke into a run, holding his axe ready as his short—but powerful—legs carried him into battle. Eric too ran forward, staying well to the left of where Landis knelt, gracefully shooting arrows at the mercenaries and killing three more before the risk of striking one of his allies became too great. He tossed his bow and quiver aside, then he stood and pulled the Sword of Alexon free as he gave chase after Weslocke and Eric. He had not gone far before discovering that Katryn had ignored his orders and was running alongside of him. “I thought I told you to stay behind!” Landis yelled to her as he raced to join his friends in battle.
“You do not think that I am going to let you have all the fun!” Katryn responded keeping pace with him. She held her dagger in her left hand and a sling in her right. Landis was not pleased by this development. Now he not only had to watch his back, he would have to watch Katryn’s as well. He feared that her knife was no match for the swords of the mercenaries and he did not want to lose another lover due to a trip into Sedau.
Bix’s horse crashed into the group of fighters. The well-trained warhorse stomped through them as Bix swung his sword into one of the men and continued on to strike a second before breaking through and jumping from his horse. Behind him Jaylen and Jareel did the same, each man killing one of the mercenaries before dismounting. Once on his feet Jaylen had both swords out and cut down the first two men who dared to come at him, causing the others to back away. Weslocke had killed the one man who had slipped past the elf. Now those who remained standing began to fear for their lives as they saw that more than half their number was already laying dead or injured on the cold ground. One of these decided that flight was his best course of action. Seeing Katryn, he chose to charge the tall female in an attempt to get past her and rush into the woods in hopes of finding sanctuary. Landis had just engaged another soldier when he saw the threat to Katryn. He sidestepped and drove his sword into the man, then pulled the blade free and spun around in preparation to run to her aid. Katryn was not in need of his assistance. She spun the sling in her hand and released the end, hurling a small stone into the man’s face. His momentum stopped as the blood began flowing from the wound in his forehead where the rock had struck him. Whether or not the impact was fatal would never be determined as Katryn’s next move was to raise her left arm across her breast and swing the dagger back across the fighter’s throat as she spun past him. With blood spurting from his open neck his body dropped to the ground.
Landis pulled his eyes from Katryn and returned his attention to the fight at hand, pleased to discover that all but three were dead or dying. The three who remained were on their knees with their hands behind their heads pleading for their lives.
“I never thought about prisoners.” Jaylen said as he came up short of the nearest man, his sword still ready to deliver a death blow.
Bix approached them. “I am General Bix!” He proclaimed, using his title for the first time in days. “I came with Boric and ReShard from Freeport. Is any among you a member of the Alexonian or Freeport militia?”
A man with short black hair and a full beard, kneeling at the right of the three c
aptives raised his right hand enough to be noticed.
“And you two?” Bix asked the other men.
Both answered in panicked voices that they had served in the military before, but were now free men, vowing that they would willingly commit to serving again if the General would spare their lives. Bix walked behind the three, holding his sword aloft. “You, what is your name.” He asked, tapping the blade of his sword to the back of the man’s neck who had attested to being active in the military.
“Jonathan, Sir.” The man answered.
“You are a traitor.” Bix announced as he swung his sword into the man’s neck severing his head from his body. “Bind the other two.”
Eric was appalled by Bix’s actions. “General Bix, that was not necessary!”
Bix faced the Prince of Birhirm. “That man was under my command. He has committed treason by abandoning his duties and partaking in a plot against Alexon and the Queen. The penalty for that is death.”
“And it gives those two men something to think about.” Jareel agreed as he watched Weslocke and Jaylen tying the prisoner’s hands behind their backs.
“We must go down after the others now!” Seebaul insisted as he and Natis approached them. Natis carried Landis’ bow and quiver which he handed to the half-elf.
“Why?” Natis wanted to know, “You said that they could not open the gate without all four pearls. And since Landis has the fourth pearl they will fail. So all we have to do is to wait here for them to return and capture them without a fight as they exit the well.”
“It is not that simple.” Seebaul told them. “The white pearl that Aaron had created is a near-perfect replica. Why else do you think that it has not been discovered to be a fake by Renald? It may not be the true pearl but it does contain many of the same properties that give it power. As such, the gateway may partially open. It will not open enough to permit dragons access, but it will unleash the magic once again. And it may provide my brother with greater access to this world in which he can send his demonic creatures more freely into the world to do his bidding, which will be to find a means to capture the last remaining pearl and complete the task of opening the gate. Even if we succeed in capturing or killing Boric and his men we will still have to go back down and use the white pearl to finish opening the gateway completely in order to reverse it and close it again. And that would provide Artaexer the opportunity to escape. So we must try to stop them before they can open any part of the gate.”
“I think that some of us had better go down.” Landis reluctantly agreed with the Elf Lord. “Bix, you Eric and Katryn can stay here and watch the prisoners.”
“Oh no you don’t, Landis,” Katryn objected, “I served by Twaller’s side and was deceived by him long enough that I will not miss this opportunity to confront him.”
“Very well,” Landis accepted, “Bix, if they get past us then you and Eric have to kill them before they can get out of this well.”
“If they get past us, then General Bix and Prince Eric had better run.” Seebaul corrected.
Weslocke looked at the rope ladder hanging down the side. “At least it will be easier this time. Tell me something, will we have to risk that blasted illusion spell again?”
“Knowing that it is there should be all we need to dispel it, assuming that Renald has not already disabled it for us.” Natis advised.
“Then what are we waiting for?” Landis said as he swung over the side and began climbing down the ladder. Jaylen followed his son then Weslocke went down. Seebaul stood beside Katryn as they watched Natis and then Jareel climb into the well. “When this is over you will have to make a decision about leaving with me.“ Seebaul told her just before she took her turn on the rope ladder.
“I plan on staying with Landis.” She informed him.
“Think that over carefully. Landis is about to see the truth behind my brother and his granddaughter. I have heard the tales of Landis’ encounter with Triana and his closeness to her. When he sees what she really is, it will have a serious effect on him. Imagine his thoughts afterwards when he discovers that you are a creature of faerie and magic. It may be difficult for him to accept you as you truly are.”
“I will take my chances.” Katryn explained.
Seebaul handed her a small crystal and said, “Very well, but if you ever choose to leave just hold this in your hand and call my name. Close your eyes as you speak and then stay wherever you are when you open them. Wait there for me to come and get you.”
Katryn accepted the crystal and shoved it into her pouch. “Thanks, but I am certain that I will never need it.” As Katryn climbed down the ladder Seebaul sat on the edge of the well and dangled his legs over the side. “It has been a long time since I did this.” He said, just before pushing himself over the side.
The last of climbers were reaching the bottom of the ladder and were beginning to follow Landis and Jaylen through the opening into the secret passage when Seebaul floated softly down into their midst.
“How did you do that?” Jareel asked in awe as he watched the Elf Lord touch down softly beside him.
“Please allow me to go next.” Seebaul said, shouldering ahead of the others before dropping down onto his hands and knees in the cold water and climbing through the hole. “Do not light a torch.” He said as he came through the other side.
Landis, Jaylen, Weslocke and Eric were standing in the darkness when they heard Seebaul’s voice. Then the darkness was expelled by a bluish light that emanated from a stone the Elf Lord held. “This will provide us all the light we need.”
* * * * *
“There, that did it.” Renald said as he succeeded in prying the bracelet mounts away from the red pearl to free it from the piece of jewelry that had held it for an untold number of years. “Now we can put it into the gate.”
Renald handed the pearl to Boric. “Go ahead and insert it into the matching slot on the bottom of the frame.”
Boric swiped the pearl from the wizard’s hand and bounded over to the Gate of the Dragon. Seeing the correct hole he gave the red pearl one final look before pushing it securely into the slot. The pearl leapt from his fingers as he inserted it to become affixed into the stone structure so firmly that he could not have pried it out if he desired to do so. The portal began to making a feint humming noise and the open space in the center of the archway all around the X-shaped stone beams grew lighter in the torch lit room. “It is starting to work!” Boric said as he stood back and looked at the structure in wonderment.
Renald was growing even more excited that Boric. “ReShard, insert the Black Scepter.”
ReShard lifted the scepter off of the table and walked to the opposite side of the stone arch from where Boric stood. Holding the scepter in his right hand, he placed the black pearl into the vacant opening. The scepter slid forward in his hand as it became securely fastened to the structure. Once done, the humming became a little louder and the light brighter.
“Now your staff, Twaller.” Renald instructed the druid.
Twaller Oakleaf stepped in front of the Gate of the Dragon. “It is finally your time to be free.” He spoke to Old One as he raised his staff.
“Halt!” Seebaul’s voice interrupted from the corridor entrance to Bytorron’s lair.
Chapter 40
Twaller Oakleaf’s Green-Pearled Staff was only inches away from the Gate of the Dragon when Seebaul’s voice interrupted his actions. The druid instinctively turned his head in the direction of the voice and faltered as he watched the ancient, bald-headed Elf Lord crawl through the opening and spring to his feet with ease. Behind him Landis rolled into the room, rising with the Sword of Alexon in his hand. Twaller then spotted Landis’ father, Jaylen, entering behind his son. Realizing that his time was short, Twaller pressed the pearl into the socket as quickly as he could. He felt the Gate of the Dragon latch onto his staff, pulling it the final inch as it became securely fastened to the stone archway. Power surged into the staff, forcing Twaller to reluctantly let
go of it and back away. The humming sound emanating from the gate grew louder and the light behind the stone crossbeams increased to the point that it was difficult to look at. Then Twaller could see a figure appearing behind the crossbeams. “Renald, insert the white pearl now!” Twaller shouted as he turned back to face the intruders who were threatening to prevent the release of the Elf Lord that Twaller was sworn to serve.
“Stop them!” Renald ordered as he grabbed the top half of the broken staff with the white pearl at its top.
Weslocke scrambled into the room behind Landis and Jaylen. Natis was crawling through when he saw Boric and ReShard advance on the trio who were already prepared to do battle. Seebaul stood off to the side, staring intently at the figure that was forming within the gateway. Jareel shoved Natis forward as he forced his way into the room to take part in what he determined would be the final battle of this adventure: Behind Jareel waited Katryn, holding onto Landis’ white bow and quiver of arrows. Landis had originally thought to leave them topside but had brought them along at the urging of Seebaul.
Boric’s rage was evident in his bulging eyes, as he pulled his sword and advanced on those who would dare deny him his opportunity at ultimate glory. Seeing Jaylen—the elven Sword-Master who he had always detested—he moved against him first, knowing that his twin swords were their biggest threat.
Landis was on his feet just as ReShard crossed the room. The two men parried swords with neither gaining the advantage as the Captain pushed the half-elf away from what his brother was doing at the arch. As he concentrated on fighting Landis, he failed to notice Weslocke; until he felt the sharp pain of the dwarf’s axe striking him in his left hip. ReShard screamed in agony as the dwarf tore his axe free, taking with it a good portion of the Captain’s flesh. Landis used the moment to run past the injured man, in hopes of tackling Renald before the wizard succeeded in pushing the white pearl into place. He knew that the pearl was a fake, but he trusted Seebaul’s word that it would still provide enough of an opening to permit Old One to take action. And that had to be prevented.
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