by Jordan Baker
"Come on," he yelled to Jax and Pike and he raised his sword and ran through the broken door.
In the corridor, outside the banquet hall, Brian found only two soldiers, who had been thrown by the impact of the door exploding to pieces. He knocked away their weapons, then he knocked out one of them and grabbed the other by the collar and picked him up off the ground.
"How many more?" he growled.
"How many what?" asked the soldier, clearly afraid of him.
"How many more soldiers is Cerric sending to this hall?"
"None," the man replied. "That was the last. He said to wait until the fighting was over and then send for him."
"That's it?"
"Those are our orders."
Brian dropped the soldier then he punched him in the head, knocking him flat to the ground.
"That's quite the punch you've got there," Jax said as he looked around the corridor and ran over to a large armoire standing against the nearby wall.
"It's the voices," Brian said, looking down at the soldier he had just hit, worried that he might have done more damage than he had intended. Then he looked over at Jax. "How do you fight like that? You move faster than should be possible."
Jax held up his sword.
"This isn't the first time I've used one of these blades," he said. "I might have stolen a few tricks from those I faced over the years."
"You really are a thief," Brian said.
"In more ways than one, I suppose," Jax replied and he tapped the bureau. "Help me with this in front of that door and then let's out of here."
Brian walked over and picked up the heavy, wooden armoire and dropped it in front of the doorway as several soldiers came running after them. They yelled and shoved their swords through the gaps but they could not get past.
"All right, Jack said. "Let's go."
"I want to find Cerric," Pike said. "You convinced me not to kill him, but after what he just did, I'm changing my mind again."
"Don't be ridiculous," Jax said. "You'll just get yourself killed, though I do think we should reconsider our little plan to infiltrate Cerric's army. The way he runs things, I don't think it would be very safe for very long, for anyone."
"So, what?" Brian asked. "We should just leave?"
"Um, yes," Jax said. "That's what we should do. Head back to White Falls and let Fergus know what's going on. I'm starting to think we might just have to organize a party to go help Kaleb directly. Pike, you should go there too. It's on the way back to the Xallan lands, but you'll have to find your own way there unless Brian wants to go with you."
"What about you?" Brian asked.
"I have some things to do," Jax said. "Let's get our weapons and then get out of this palace as quickly as possible. I doubt that closet will hold for very long."
As they hurried down the corridor, they felt the palace shake almost as though it was hit by a cannon or some kind of thunder, except the deep noise was a kind of dead, dull sound. They made their way to the palace kitchens where several cooks and palace servings staff were still cleaning up after having cooked for the feast. When they saw the three blood covered fighters enter, several of them turned and ran, while one of the cooks leveled a rolling pin at them.
"You fighters are not to be in the kitchen, especially in such a mess," he said. "If you are lost, the banquet hall is back down that hallway."
"Don't mind us," Jax said as he picked up a sugar roll from a large tray that was sitting out and stuffed it into his mouth. "Just popped in for a snack and to pick up a few things."
He reached in behind a tall shelf and pulled out Brian's axes and a leather roll of daggers, as well as the sword he had carried. He tossed the sword and scabbard to the cook.
"You might need that," Jax told him. "There are a bunch of really angry captains in Cerric's new army likely to come this way and they're probably going to kill everyone in the palace. Maybe it's just better to bar the door."
They exited the kitchen to a servant's corridor, then Jax turned to Brian and Pike.
"This is where we part ways," he said. "You should both get out of the city since Cerric's soldiers will recognize you and they will probably wonder if you don't show up at the Academy in the morning. Pike, if you'd like to join us at White Falls, you can meet some other lads who might become Rangers one day. Mind you, the keep is surrounded by Xallan soldiers at the moment, but it's as safe a place as any if you can get inside, and Brian can help you with that. Brian, tell Fergus to put together a small force to travel to the elven lands. I will meet you back at White Falls once I'm finished my business here."
Jax smiled, clapped both of them on the shoulders, then he took off down the hall.
"Did you hear all of what he just said?" Pike asked.
"I did," Brian told him. "What part did you miss?"
"I didn't miss any of it," Pike replied. "I just don't see why Jax thinks he can tell us what to do."
"Well, he is sort of the leader at White Falls," Brian said. "Him and Fergus are, since Lord Kaleb is away in the elven lands, fighting against Cerric."
"That's interesting and such, Brian, but it's got nothing to do with me," Pike said.
"He's also a Ranger, and you're one too, right?"
"And so are you, says Jax," Pike replied. "That doesn't mean we have to do what he says. I'm going to kill Cerric, like I planned."
"Really? But what about the stories of him being strong enough to kill a dragon? And he's probably got lots of guards."
"Brian, I don't know if you noticed, but I'm pretty good at getting in and out of places and managing to land on my feet," Pike said.
"I noticed," Brian said. "That clumsy act of yours is really good."
"I'm glad you like it, but it isn't my only act. I learned a lot of things in Xalla when I trained to be a Ranger."
"When did you become one?" Brian asked.
"When I was born," Pike told him. "I've been training my whole life."
"You are determined to kill Cerric, then?"
"I intend to try," Pike said.
"And how do you plan to escape after?" Brian asked.
"I hadn't really thought that far ahead," Pike told him. "If I had more time, I would have learned more about the halls and rooms of this palace and figured things out better."
"I know a secret way out," Brian told him. "I can show it to you if you want."
"Why don't you come with me," Pike said. "You can stand guard while I kill Cerric and then we can escape using your way out."
They saw a group of fighters fighting with several soldiers further down the hall.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea," Brian said.
"Look," Pike said, pointing at the ongoing skirmish. "Things are chaotic right now so it's the best chance. I'm going whether you come or not, and you don't have to do anything except wait for me."
"All right," Brian said. "But where do we find Cerric?"
"That I do know," Pike said, turning and heading down the corridor away from the fighting. "Come on, this way."
*****
Draxis walked down the wide corridor toward the royal apartments and he saw two soldiers standing guard outside the doors. They were both under the death spell that Cerric and his mage priests had cast at Kandara and Draxis could smell the faint stink of their slowly rotting flesh. Given their obvious loyalty to the king, he expected them to cause trouble for him, but they snapped to attention at his approach, their dead eyes facing forward and not even daring to look at him.
Draxis pushed open the doors to the royal chambers and made his way through the outer sitting room, which was empty, and he saw that the door to the bedroom had been left open a crack. As much as it repulsed him that his mother might be in congress with the despicable king, he wondered if it might prove useful to catch him off guard. Draxis could not care less about killing Cerric in an honorable fashion, but he was surprised by what he saw when he slowly pushed open the door.
Cerric sat slumped against the wa
ll next to the enormous, royal bed with his shirt open and his pants around one ankle, and with a dagger jutting from his gut as a pool of dark blood spread around him. Calexis stood naked before a tall mirror, holding up a long, elegant black dress that glimmered with fine silver thread that had been woven into it. She turned and smiled at her son as he entered the room.
"Draxis!" she said. "Your timing is impeccable. Which do you prefer, the black one or this red one?" She picked up another dress from the large sitting chair next to the mirror, its fabric a crimson color that shimmered both black and red, much like freshly spilt blood.
"They are both very elegant, mother," Draxis said, glancing over at Cerric. "I take it you are in a good mood, and I can see why."
"Perhaps the red one," she said as she put down the black dress and picked up the other one. She turned and looked past the bed to where Cerric sat, still bleeding. "Yes, the opportunity finally presented itself. It turns out that patience does have its virtues."
Draxis walked over to where Cerric sat and noticed the jewel at the end of the dagger's hilt and he realized that his mother had done exactly what he had planned to do, and he had no doubt that she would now be far more powerful. With a closer look, he noticed that Cerric was not entirely dead, and the jewel at the end of dagger seemed to glow and pulse with a faint light. Out of idle curiosity he reached down toward it.
"Do not touch that," Calexis said.
"It is one of these weapons of power," Draxis said. "It seems that Cerric still lives."
"Yes, it is, and yes he does," she said. "If that dagger is removed, Cerric will die."
"Why not kill him and be done with it?" Draxis asked.
"I want him to suffer," Calexis said. "I want him to suffer for his arrogance, for daring to make himself greater than I, for his thoughtless actions, and the disrespect he has shown to me and to you, Draxis."
"That dagger must never be touched or be removed from Cerric's corpse, for it holds him, bound in its power, just before point of death, when the pain is at its greatest. We will arrange for him to be entombed with it for all eternity."
"A fitting fate for a fool," Draxis said and he reached down and picked up Cerric's sword belt and slipped his blade a few inches from its scabbard then slammed it home once again. "These weapons offer great power."
"They do," Calexis said as she slipped into the crimson dress and picked up a pair of tight fitting, heeled leather boots. "I wonder how our fighters are enjoying their newfound power."
"When I left it was little more than a slaughter."
"Good. It is best that they blood themselves before the real battle begins."
"The soldiers set to guarding the hall were having trouble keeping them at bay," Draxis told her. "I would not be surprised if some of them were to get into the palace, and a number of them were angry about having to fight. They could come seeking revenge."
"Let them come," Calexis said and she held out her hand toward the sword Draxis had taken. He handed it to her and she drew the blade, and swung it in a few arcs, testing its balance and holding it up toward the mirror. "I fear them not, especially with you at my side." She turned and grinned at him, then she slid the sword back into its scabbard. "I suppose we should deal with them. It would not do to have them running loose in the palace, and it is time they met their new Lord General, who will lead them against elvenkind."
"Then I will command the army?"
"Of course, my son," Calexis replied. "You are Prince Draxis, son of Calexis, Empress of three kingdoms. It is only fitting that you should lead."
"He will destroy you," spluttered a voice and they both turned and saw Cerric sitting with his eyes open and blood dripping from his lips.
"Nonsense," Calexis said as she strode toward him. "Draxis would never hurt his own mother." Calexis placed the heel of her boot between Cerric's legs and bent down and grabbed him by the hair. "Your failings are your own, Cerric, and you will have plenty of time to reflect on that."
"You could never silence me," he said, gritting his teeth.
"Shall I cut out your tongue?" Calexis asked and she slapped him across the face, leaving him reeling and barely conscious. "Perhaps I should."
There was a light knock at the outer door and Calexis turned, her eyes taking on a faraway look for a moment.
"What is it?" Draxis asked.
"It seems that the banquet has finished," she said, stepping away from Cerric. "Let us greet your new captains."
"And what of him?"
"He can do nothing," she said. "We will deal with him later. Come."
Calexis strode from the room and Draxis followed.
"One moment," he said before they reached the door and he walked over to the window, then leaned outside and retrieved his axe from where he had hung it earlier. "I have come to prefer this weapon, and it is my prize from Kandara, where I defeated the Duke."
"And a fearsome weapon it is," Calexis said as they exited the apartments. Once they were through the door, Calexis turned to the guards. "Cerric rests. No one is to enter. Is that understood?"
"Yes Empress," they said in unison, each of them stamping a foot as they snapped to attention.
From a nearby alcove, Pike and Brian watched as Calexis and her son Draxis walked away from the door to the royal apartments.
"How do we get past the guards?" Brian whispered.
"That part is easy," Pike said. "Watch."
Pike hung his sword loosely alongside his leg and slipped out of the alcove, and shuffled down the hall, walking clumsily like he had in his fights. Brian watched as Pike suddenly tripped and fell right in front of the two guards, who looked down at him, curiously.
"You are not permitted to be here," one of them said.
"Oh," Pike said as he pushed himself up from the floor. "I got lost on the way to the pots."
Suddenly, the sounds of steel cutting through chainmail rang through the hallway as Pike shoved his sword into one of the guards, a killing blow in the chest. But, instead of falling, the guard reached out and grabbed Pike's sword and pulled it through himself then grabbed Pike by the collar. Brian was shocked to see the guard begin to age, as though his face was drying up like a piece of meat left out in the noonday sun. He leapt from the alcove as the other guard moved toward Pike, but then the hallway flashed with a strange purplish light and Brian was knocked backward.
As the first guard shriveled to skin and bones with the sword still lodged between his ribs, the second one grabbed Pike by his head and stared at him with his pale, glowing eyes.
"It seems we have caught a mouse," Brian heard him say in a strange voice that sounded like the queen, who had just been there a few moments ago.
There was another flash, then the guard released Pike, and turned to stare down the hallway in Brian's direction as he got up from the floor. Brian felt a chill run down his spine when he saw three pairs of eerie, glowing eyes staring at him and his stomach turned when he saw that the third set belonged to Pike, who pulled his sword from the guard.
"There is another one, there," Pike said, pointing his sword at Brian.
Brian raised his axes and ran toward them, his first blow cutting the second guard while his second attack was blocked by Pike.
"What are you doing, Pike?" Brian asked as his Xallan friend pressed him back.
"I don't know, Brian," Pike said, and Brian saw the frightened look on his friend's face. "I can't stop."
"Another little mouse," said the shriveled guard, voice that again sounded like Calexis, only dryer and rasping from the skeletal throat. "Traitors in our midst."
"She is in my head!" Pike yelled as he attacked Brian, his sword whirling and moving expertly. "She wants to know things. Make it stop!"
Brian blocked his attacks as the guards joined in and drove him down the hallway.
"What do you mean she is in your head?" Brian asked Pike.
The second guard smiled.
"He fights me," Calexis said through his mouth. "It is i
mpressive for one with no power."
"Stop!" Pike yelled. "You have to make it stop, Brian! She wants to know things."
"How?" Brian asked as he blocked Pike's sword and knocked aside another attack from one of the guards.
"Kill me, Brian," Pike said. "You have to kill me."
"No, Pike," Brian said. "I'm not going to kill you."
"She will find out about the others, about the rest," he said, grimacing as though he was in terrible pain. Pike yelled as he knocked aside the swords of the guards then he lowered his blade. "Do it now, quickly. I can't stop her."
"I don't know what to do," Brian said.
"Kill me," Pike said. "Kill me now or everything is lost."
"No!" Brian said, and he did the only thing he could think of and swung his fist at him. Pike spun around from the force of the blow and fell to the floor, unconscious, and Brian leapt at the soldiers, fighting them as hard as he could, but every time he wounded them, they kept on attacking.
*****
"What is it?" Draxis asked, noticing the faraway look in Calexis' eyes as they neared the entrance to the banquet hall, stepping over several fallen soldiers.
"A few little mice, sneaking around the palace," she said. "They should not be a problem, though they are somewhat interesting."
"Would you like me to investigate?"
"No," Calexis told him. "I will send more guards. Let us greet your new captains."
Inside the hall, on the other side of wall of soldiers, who numbered several hundred strong, stood two dozen fighters, most of them holding more than one sword, and behind them the banquet hall was a scene of carnage as bloody as a field of battle.
