by Guy Antibes
“Beckondale,” Lotto said. “They still seek the Moonstone. Might I remind you that the Bloodstone is currently in Beckondale as well? They didn’t know, however.”
“So all of this is about the Warstones?” Lessa said.
Lotto nodded. “Sallia knows. I told her through the Bloodstone, so Restella knows as well.” He grinned.
“Thanks. I guess I did get pretty beat up,” Anchor said. Lotto’s use of Sallia’s name without her title still grated.
“I don’t know if you realized it, but Shiro and you led the Gensler forces more than halfway across the camp. You two are legends,” Lessa said. “Lotto is a legend too,” he patted Lotto on the shoulder. “Aren’t you?” Lessa mumbled some made up song about the battle of Mountsea. He was a terrible singer.
Lotto just took the good-natured abuse and blushed. “Enough. So we’ve stopped another onslaught.”
Anchor was relieved just to stand in their midst. “When the princess is restored to the throne, we have to take the fight to the Dark Lord. If we are successful, then Daryaku is certain to make his way across Ayrtan. I still think he’ll land along the Learsea coast and we’ll be fighting Dakkorans again. I’d rather not fight him on Besseth soil. Our people have been through enough.” Anchor felt like he was rambling. He was so tired. The healing must have muddled his mind.
“Histron’s not going to step down,” the duke said.
Shiro appeared. “The boats have been sunk with all of the men. The sorcerers didn’t even put up much of a fight. We were able to destroy them from the shore. My people didn’t even find anyone on watch, only a couple of men minding a temporary corral for their horses.”
“It doesn’t change our Besseth strategy. I have unfinished business to the south and then we will crush Duke Histron and finish restoring peace to Besseth. I know Histron has Dakkoran battle mages.”
“Good luck my friend. In a few seasons we may be celebrating a great victory,” Lessa said.
“Peace for a time, then?”
Lessa laughed. “Agreed!”
The scene darkened. Anchor looked towards the sun, which still shone.
“Wizardry!” Lotto said, I can’t move.”
“Neither can I, Shiro said as the air around them thickened.
Anchor felt unaffected, as did Lessa and the duke. “Step out!” Anchor pulled Duke Jellas and Lessa from the dark mist. This mist attacks those with Affinity.”
Shapes began to form in the darkness. Lotto and Shiro couldn’t move. Lessa brought his sword up, but the vapor repelled his sword and threw him down to the ground. Anchor would have to try. He raised his sword and it easily cut through the murk. He swung at the shapes and could hear faint cries as he quickly released the trapped men.
“The Sunstone. They grab at my pouch.” Shiro struggled to get the words out.
Anchor continued to plunge his sword into the shapes until the vapor began to disappear and the muffled cries of pain subsided.
Lotto grabbed both of them and the next thing Anchor knew, Lotto rolled against a wall in Beckondale castle. Shiro helped him up. Lotto put his hand to his head and moaned. “That’s my second time trying teleportation. Find Sallia!”
Anchor heard screams coming from Sallia’s quarters. He followed the sounds to her apartment just around the corner and ran through the open door. Shiro slashed at the mists of darkness, but his sword bounced off like Lessa’s had. Anchor waded in and laid waste to the shapes. They disappeared with the same faint cries of pain as the others. He hoped whatever powered the black fog had been killed.
Sallia stood sobbing with her hands to her face. She ran into Anchor’s arms. “Thank you for saving me. How did you know?”
Lotto leaned against the doorjamb, sword in hand. “We were attacked in Histo. Now we’ve got to go to Oringia.” He groaned. “I—”
“We must go,” Anchor said. Taking her arms off him. He didn’t want to, but the Moonstone needed to be protected.
Shiro used his Sunstone to find Restella’s location in Lotto’s mind and they confronted another gathering of the dark shapes surrounding a struggling Restella. Anchor went back to work. Lotto had recovered enough, but the magic in Lotto’s sword had no effect. Shiro and Lotto looked on as Anchor fought
The specter’s hands tugged on Restella’s sword, but it appeared that their own spells had frozen Restella’s arm. She screamed more loudly than Sallia. Anchor continued to hack away at the figures. They were even more corporeal in Oringia. He slashed at the hand on Restella’s sword and thrust his sword into figure after figure. The cries were stronger, but the blackness only dissipated until the last spectra had gone. The sorcerers left no evidence of their appearance.
Restella, now unfrozen, slashed at the empty air. “What in all the hells were those?” she said in anger, looking directly at Lotto.
“You figure it out,” Lotto said.
Restella sheathed her blade, breathing heavily. “The sun sets and I have duties. If you’ll excuse me.” The woman walked away purposefully.
They had teleported into a cold, cold keep. Anchor kept his eye on her as she staggered for a bit, leaned against a wall, took a deep shuddering breath, and turned the corner.
“Is she always like that? She didn’t even ask about Histo.”
Lotto nodded his head. “Restella already knew of our victory. I would have thought she would be happier about how things turned out, but she has a problem with proximity.”
Shiro rubbed his chin. “I knew about your issues with the link, but her behavior today… I didn’t think she could get worse.”
Anchor looked at his hands rather than see the embarrassment on Lotto’s face. He understood that Restella’s actions would draw him to Sallia. She represented a person with a lot softer edges. But then, what did Sallia see in him? Lotto had power and youth. Anchor had one or the other, but he didn’t know how he’d end up after all of this. He wished he could cease to think of Sallia and their relationship, but he just couldn’t.
Shiro pursed his lips. “Magic of the Dark Lord. I have no idea how he did it, but he sent three sets of sorcerers to get the three war stones. The cloud froze anyone with a Warstone, steel, or with power. The shapes must have been physical manifestations of the sorcerers.”
“They’d have to be to take possession of the war stones,” Anchor said. “I cut into more than thick smoke and heard them cry out as I cut them. I hope they are all dead.”
Shiro rubbed his arms the cold of the keep seeped into all of them. “They’d need to be very powerful to manipulate Affinity in such a way. Perhaps a last resort by the Dark Lord?”
Lotto shivered. “I hope so. At least I got us to Beckondale.”
“Practice more, my friend,” Shiro said.
Anchor clapped Lotto on the shoulder. “Still, quick thinking. We were lucky the sword worked when no other could.” But then, Anchor’s long Dakkoran sword might have done the trick as well. His skin crawled at the thought.
Lotto gazed at his blade and then Anchor’s. “How could you have figured that out? You’re right. My father’s sword has power as does the Sunstone sword, but your Dakkoran blade parted the mist as if it wasn’t there.” Lotto put his hand to his head. “I need to sit down.”
“Let’s go back to Beckondale and check on Sallia. I’d rather sit and talk someplace that’s warmer.” Shiro said. “I’ll teleport.” He looked sideways at Lotto.
The powers in the swords came from different sources, Anchor thought. If the sword had killed all of the sorcerers and they were Daryaku’s most powerful, then the sword had struck a mightier foe than all of the soldiers in the night’s battle. Anchor’s musing stopped as the air suddenly became warm as they appeared in the Beckondale castle.
Princess Sallia ushered the three heroes into her apartment. “I’ll have some wine brought.” She wrapped herself in her arms and still shivered. “I couldn’t move! They were tugging the pouch that held the Bloodstone and nearly succeeded when you three broke in
and made them go away. Who were they?” She took a deep breath and wiped away a tear.
“Sorcerers,” Lotto said. “They attacked Shiro and me in Histo. All of this happened after we destroyed the Dakkoran forces in a dawn attack in Histo. I was concerned about Restella and you, so we came here first and then proceeded to Restella in Oringia. The same thing happened in all three places. Luckily, Anchor had just picked up an enchanted Dakkoran officer’s sword. Whatever they did to it allowed him to cut down the sorcerers.”
“I was terrified. They looked like demons from one of the hells coming to drag me back with them.” Sallia said. She shivered in the warm room.
“Spells,” Anchor said. “Men like Shiro or Lotto, but the minions of Lord Daryaku. We think they had to be powerful in order to complete the spell as it happened. The mist acted as a shield for common steel and was selective enough to focus in on a Warstone. Daryaku has the Darkstone and he might have just used it to find the others. The stones are all safe, for now.”
“How do you know about this wizardry?” Lotto said. “I’ve made a study of such things, but you are the one to come up with a solid analysis of the situation.”
“I’m not a dummy, Lotto. I can read and study as well as you,” Anchor said. He didn’t like Lotto’s accusatory tone, but the time hadn’t come to reveal his identity.
Shiro stood and put out his hands. “Anchor and I have talked about the Affinity. He is knowledgeable and that’s where it ends. He has no power and you should be able to see that. He wasn’t affected by the mists.”
Lotto didn’t look entirely convinced. “Let me see your sword.”
Anchor passed him the sword but his eyes turned to Sallia. “How are you, really?”
Her eyes watered a bit more. “I wish Unca was here. He would tell me what just happened. Now I’ll have to wait until spring.”
“He wouldn’t have been able to help you. The cloud froze anyone with power,” Anchor said. “He’d be glad you’re safe, though.” He longed to tell her that she looked at Unca, but he couldn’t.
“Thank you, Anchor. It’s all rather upsetting, but I had you three to rescue me. Thank you all. If you’ll excuse me, I’m still upset and would like to rest. Finish your wine before you leave.” Sallia walked from the sitting room.
Lotto continued to examine the sword. “I think I saw the same spells as on the other blade. Where is it?”
Anchor shook his head. “In the alliance’s armory. I gave it to a soldier. It will be hard to find.”
“Not really, for someone who recognizes enchantments,” Shiro said.
“Remember when I told you about the anti-magic spell that Peleor cast on the lock while I was in the dungeon at Beckondale? I think I can see a layer of it here. Perhaps the sword carries a ward that defends the holder against magic.” Lotto handed Anchor’s sword to Shiro. “What do you think? You are the man with the experience with wards.”
Shiro closed his eyes and opened them again. He touched the blade and then held his hand against the flat surface. “I see what you mean. I don’t know if I can duplicate the ward, but I could remove it. The surface reflects my power. Its effect is hidden beneath other wards. I’ve never seen anything like it. Power practiced on Dakkor, Roppon and Besseth have evolved so that each one is different. Whatever protected the mist attackers from steel edges must have been nullified by this ward. The creation of this required a very powerful sorcerer, perhaps Daryaku, himself,” Shiro said.
The three men looked at each other and drank.
“Shiro and I get to lead the next fight. We’re going to do much the same thing to Antzen in Teryon,” Anchor said.
“Then we fight Histron in the spring,” Lotto said.
Anchor nodded. “Then it’s on to confront Daryaku before his power destroys us all.”
That silenced all three of them. At least Anchor now held a weapon of Emperor Daryaku that was used against the Dark Lord three times. He hoped the mist warriors were very important weapons of Dakkor. He had to have destroyed at least fifteen of them. He shuddered to think if he had been by himself. Lotto’s quick thinking had saved both Princess Sallia and Princess Restella.
Anchor didn’t know how to take Sallia’s reaction to the attack. This time he really did save her and Lotto had been the one to be repelled by the dark mist. He thought he might be even up with Lotto, but then Sallia threw Unca into the picture. Why? Anchor threw up his hand and pushed it away. He had to banish such thoughts from his mind. His thoughts were more suited to young suitors, not a war commander. His hopes about any kind of a relationship with Sallia fell closer to the certainty of rejection.
Shiro and Lotto looked at Anchor strangely.
He shrugged his shoulders and gave them both a sheepish smile. “Just wool gathering. Thinking about how I could have acted differently.”
After a few moments of awkward silence, they stood in Sallia’s sitting room and returned to Histo.
~
Sallia opened her door to apologize to Anchor. She shouldn’t have blurted out for Unca when he had saved her from those horrid sorcerers. They had left. Sallia ran her tongue over her teeth. She grabbed a pillow and sat down on her bed and leaned over, letting a tear or two drop to the rug.
At Crackledown, she thought she had put everything together and now? Even though she had been saved by Anchor, she had all but rejected his actions. What would Lotto and Anchor think of her now?
“Princess?” She heard the king’s voice.
She wiped the tears from her eyes and rose from the bed, smoothing out her dress. The king and queen stood at the door to her apartments.
“Come in. Please. I’ll tell you what happened.” She proceeded to tell them of the mist, the sorcerers and her rescuers.
“I would like to meet this Anchor. I seem to always miss him,” King Goleto said. “He seems to rise among the other two wizards. Lotto, the Ropponi and Anchor. Besseth’s future seems to be in their hands.”
Sallia agreed with him. “Duke Jellas helps.”
The king laughed. “He’s there to make sure the details are attended to, but it’s those men who are saving Besseth.”
“Restella has her role,” said the queen.
The king nodded, “I know, I know. She has been an excellent general, if she didn’t scare her officers so much. I’m glad to have her in the field. Here it’s been less than a week of your break and you’re still in the thick of it. I’m glad they weren’t after me.” King Goleto shivered. “Jane and I have had our share of horrors in this war with Daryaku. I wish he’d just go away.”
“I can see you’re still upset with it all.”
Sallia nodded her head. She had to push through her own personal feelings. “I’ve been invited to breakfast with Mander Hart and Anna. I’d like to let them know what’s happened. Although it’s still early and a little more sleep sounds very good.”
~~~
CHAPTER THIRTY
~
THE DINING ROOM REMINDED SALLIA OF UNCA’S HOUSE. Anna seated her as soon as she arrived.
“We have already heard many things today. Success in Histo and a sorcerous attack on the holders of the Warstones?”
Sallia nodded as a servant served a savory porridge. “I can’t give you any news about your friend, Kenyr, but Lotto would have said something. There was a night attack and Lotto said that the Dakkoran forces were obliterated. Some time after our victory, sorcerers, using some kind of magic I don’t understand, tried to grab Shiro’s Sunstone, my Bloodstone, and Restella’s Moonstone. They were simultaneous. Anchor had picked up a Dakkoran officer’s sword that had been enchanted. The mist would not let steel pass, but the magic in his sword allowed him to cut the sorcerers down. They just disappeared.” Sallia clutched at the pouch, now in a pocket of her dress.
Anna reached over and patted her shoulder. “You’ve had too many traumatic experiences, Sallia.”
The princess fought off tears. She wanted to be here with friends who didn’t demand
anything of her. Crying into her pillow for the rest of the day didn’t appeal. She took a deep breath and lifted her chin. “I have to rise above it. It takes practice.”
“A life of practice,” Mander Hart said. “It never stops. I took a different path.”
“We did. Mander could be a courtier, trying to avoid all emotions, but he didn’t want to ‘practice’ as you call it. I’m afraid that you don’t have a choice.”
Sallia smiled. She could tell both of them understood. She couldn’t step down from her role as heir and walk away.
“Let’s talk of other things,” Anna said. With breakfast finished, they went into the sitting room. As they talked about life in Beckondale, someone knocked on the door. Their servant answered.
“A messenger,” the servant presented an envelope to Mander.
“Lotto and Kenyr have returned and are debriefing the king. My presence is requested. Why don’t you spend the rest of the day here, Sallia? I can let King Goleto know.”
“Please do,” Anna said.
Mander collected his hat, cloak and gloves and left after kissing his wife.
“So. There is more than the brush with wizardry that is upsetting you, isn’t there?” She beckoned Sallia to join her on the sofa.
Sallia appreciated the proximity. She took a deep breath and told her about her encounter with Anchor.
“He intrigues you?”
She nodded. “He’s still a mystery man, coming out of nowhere. He rose from an inept swordsman to the Marshal of the southern alliance. He saved Lotto, Shiro, Restella and me today. He had needed an enchanted sword, but you should have seen him.”
“Oh,” Anna pursed her lips. “Do you like him?”
Sallia looked across the room at the fire. “I do and I like Lotto as well. They are both special men.” Sallia felt uncomfortable talking about Anchor and Lotto, but she couldn’t go on bottling up her feelings.
“But Anchor?”
“He might be a little more special. I think about Unca helping me rule the Red Kingdom.” Every time she visualized addressing an audience, she held the hands of both men. That had to tell her something. Sallia appreciated Anna just letting her talk more.
