by Charles Lamb
“You think the eggs are down here?” Abrianna asked, the hope clearly obvious in the question. Alex stopped and closed his eyes again before answering.
“I don’t think so, I’m not sensing anyone ahead. I seriously doubt Tantalus left them unguarded.”
With that, he continued to lead the group into the upper levels.
----*----
“My dear, wherever did you get that dress?” the Lady of the castle asked as Kelby entered her chambers.
The dress had been one of several she had been given the day before as appropriate for a lady in waiting. Kelby was positive they were old clothes from the Lady’s younger days, now unwanted reminders of a slimmer youth. One thing she had learned during her training at The Siren’s Song was: it’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it.
“My Lady, this is one of the dresses you gave me yesterday. Shall I change?” she asked, putting on her best innocent face in the process.
“Um, no. I suppose not. I just don’t remember it fitting me quite that way,” the Lady replied absently.
“I am sure it was far more glamorous when you wore it. I really don’t have the figure for such things,” Kelby replied dismissively.
“Well, never mind then. Come help me get ready for breakfast. That loathsome Tantalus has insisted on meeting my husband this morning to complain again,” the Lady responded as she wandered into her dressing room.
It took Kelby the better part of an hour to get the Lady ready, while surreptitiously reworking her look to add sex appeal. At first, the Lady was startled at the attempt, but within minutes she was surrendering to Kelby’s magical applications.
“Oh my, you are a wonder. I look ten years younger,” the woman commented as she reviewed Kelby’s handiwork in the mirror.
“Do you think his Lordship will approve?” Kelby asked shyly, knowing the answer before asking.
“Who cares? I love it,” the Lady answered before sweeping out of the dressing room. “Come along, we don’t want to keep them waiting,” she added as she led the way out of her chambers and downstairs.
----*----
Alex had led the group undetected up to the first floor of the castle’s lower levels. They stopped in front of a large set of heavy wooden doors. Placing both hands on the panels, he closed his eyes and stood there, letting his senses roam the area on the other side.
“Quick, in here,” he whispered as the led the group back down the hall and into a storage area, closing the large wooden door behind them.
With Cassie holding on to Kinsey to help keep her quiet, they listened to a pair of servants that passed by, making small talk as they headed to another part of the level. Motioning for Leander to stand watch at the door, Alex found a place to sit and calmly settled down.
Closing his eyes, he began the task of searching the castle floors above, going from place to place in search of several things. Number one on his list was locating the dragon’s eggs, the trade goods necessary for Lady Amelia’s freedom.
Second, he needed to locate Kelby and Leena, to ensure their safety before all hell broke loose in the castle above. The reason for the concern was the last object of his attention, or rather objects. All the packages he had the twins’ secret throughout the castle, needed to be located before he could begin his plan of action.
“Make yourselves comfortable, this is going to take a while,” he whispered to the group as he began to realize how big Gundor Stronghold actually was.
----*----
The Lady of the castle led Kelby down several flights of stairs before they finally came before an extremely large set of double doors. There were castle guards on each side of the portal, and they jumped to open the pair quickly before the Lady reached their threshold.
Not even slowing, the Lady passed into the room Kelby assumed was the great dining hall of the castle. At the far end of an enormous table sat a single occupant, who she took to be the Vassal King.
While Kelby took the Lady to be in her late 40’s or possibly even early 50’s, the king looked well past 60. He first looked at his wife, a smile appearing at her handiwork. The smile was only to be replaced with a leer when he noticed the mermaid.
“Who is this, my love?” he asked as he took his wife’s hand in greeting, only to pass over it all too quickly as she sat next to him, before motioning Kelby to come closer.
“Oh, she is my new lady in waiting. Come here, girl, and stand behind me,” the Lady replied.
Kelby could feel the King’s eyes on her as she passed by to stand behind his wife’s chair. She had to take a step back as the kitchen staff appeared with the morning’s meal. Kelby caught Leena’s wink as she passed between her and the Lady, serving her plate while another girl filled the cups of the seated pair.
With everything set, Leena went to a corner of the room, patiently waiting for the missing guest. Their wait wasn’t long as the doors burst open and Tantalus charged in.
“Sorry Dragon Master, but we had no idea when you might arrive,” the King said between bites as he motioned the man to a nearby seat.
“We have much to discuss. I fear we are in trouble,” Tantalus replied as he watched Leena slip a plate in front of him.
“Just a knife to the throat,” Kelby thought to herself as she saw her sister standing next to the object of all their hatred. Still, she relied on the promise from Alex that he would set things right and avenge their mother.
“I have lost contact with the Lindworms guarding the southern approach. I fear we may soon be under attack,” Tantalus said while ignoring his food.
“We have heard this all before,” the King replied as he waved off Tantalus’s concerns.
“Was it not just last week we had to stop allowing our men to relax in Nyland due to your fears of spies?’ the Lady asked in a very condescending tone.
“And your dragons have gone astray before only to appear once more,” the King said while pointing at Tantalus with his fork.
“Remember, Vassal King, it is those dragons that keep your lords in check and you in power,” Tantalus warned, finally lifting a fork of his own.
“And it is my armies that keep the southerners at bay after that upstart Renfeld made such a mess of things,” the King countered.
“Your armies may be of little consequence, soon enough. I have received word from emissaries of the Dark Elves. They look for a counter to the disaster in the south,” Tantalus announced in a haughty tone.
“You think they look to you and your dragons for allies against the Woodland tribe?” the Lady asked, her interest obvious at the possibility.
“My dragons are a power to be feared,” Tantalus replied.
“And yet here you sit, driven from your home by a southern White Wizard,” the King answered, unimpressed.
“That was no Wizard, merely a mage apprentice of the Wizard of Great Vale,” Tantalus snapped.
“More’s the pity, then, that you were exiled by only a mage apprentice,” the King laughed.
At that, Kelby watched the three drop into silence; they continued their meal while Tantalus sulked.
“Alex, where are you?” she thought desperately.
Chapter 27
Alex had located just about everything he needed, except the twins. They had managed to place all of the packages, as he had requested, without the slightest idea of what they were for. He was particularly concerned about the one near the dragon’s eggs; however, he was able to confirm all was well there.
Several times during his search, they had heard servants passing by the storeroom that was their hiding space. Alex knew he was pressing his luck in delaying much longer, however, he owed it to the twins to ensure their safety before proceeding. They had risked much in performing their tasks.
He was just getting ready to give up the search when he passed over the large dining area. Inside he touched on the familiar warm sensations of the twins and a very dark, cold essence that could only be Tantalus.
“Get ready,” he told
those around him as he considered the best way to let Kelby know they were there. After a moment’s consideration, he came up with an idea that he was sure Cassie would not like one bit.
“Well, here goes nothing,” Alex said quietly as he went into action.
----*----
Kelby was standing just behind the Lady of the castle as the three seated in front of her returned to their discussion. As was her intent, the King continued to leer at her, completely ignoring the demands from Tantalus to increase castle security. Suddenly, she turned, as she felt someone touch her shoulder, but no one was there.
Returning her attention back to the table, she felt a sensation as if someone were caressing her. It began at her ankles, electrifying her skin, and slowly made its way up her body. She gave an involuntarily sigh of pleasure as it caressed her neck and back. Suddenly she felt a pinch on her bottom.
“Alex!” she almost cried aloud, jumping slightly. Only he could have pulled off the magic, teasing a mermaid so. Glancing over at her sister, Kelby gave the slightest nod, receiving a reply, before she removed the last of the packages from where she had hidden it in her dress folds.
His instructions had been specific. Throw the package into the fire from as far away as possible, and then take cover. She glanced at the fireplace just a few feet away and in one smooth motion, tossed the small box into the flames while dropping to the floor.
“What are you doing, girl?” she heard the King say before the deafening explosion rocked he room, throwing the seated occupants onto the floor.
Kelby scrambled past the Lady, with only a fleeting sense of guilt as she reached her sister who had been farthest from the blast but still knocked to the floor. Just as the two started to rise, several more explosions rocked the castle, the sounds coming from all directions.
Before either of the sisters could act, they watched as Tantalus scrambled past them and out the door, heading away from the unconscious Vassal King and his Lady, and up to his part of the castle. Scrambling to follow, the sisters came face to face with one of the guards. Apparently, Tantalus had said something because the man had his sword drawn and was intent on using it on the sisters.
----*----
Alex had been waiting for the explosion, satisfied he had given Kelby a sign she couldn’t mistake for anyone but him. Once it had gone off, he started on the charges placed in the guard quarters and watch stations holding both Tantalus and the Vassal King’s men.
They had decided early on that harboring Tantalus made the Vassal King just as culpable as the Master of House Drakon and Renfeld in the kidnaping. As such, Alex had asked the twins to spread the charges equally among the forces.
His conversation with Ben about cannons and gunpowder had given Alex the idea about planting explosives throughout the castle. Once hidden in place, he would be able to detonate them at his convenience, creating chaos, disrupting the castle guard and taking out Tantalus’s men.
Once he was satisfied that the major elements of the castle guard were incapacitated, he led the group out of the storage room and up into the first floor of the castle.
“Come with me,” Alex announced as he burst through the cellar doors and into a service area of the castle. The startled servants retreated in fear as the four charged through and out into the common area.
Alex and Leander appeared first, swords in hand, with Cassie using Alex’s bow and Abrianna his dagger. Kinsey wasn’t to be left out as she bolted past Alex to drag a hapless guard down from behind at the dining hall doors, where he had been threatening the twins.
“Tantalus went up there,” Kelby pointed, as she indicated the stairs to Alex’s right.
He turned in time to see three men in House Drakon colors charging down the flight of stairs. One sprouted an arrow while the other two engaged Alex and Leander with their blades. Alex’s elven blade made short work of his opponent, which confounded the man facing Leander as he fell on him.
Soon all six were charging up the stairs with Alex and Leander leading the way and the mermaid twins, unarmed, bringing up the rear. They encountered several more small groups of guards as they continued up the staircase, with Kelby shouting instructions from the rear as to the location of the eggs. Between the magic of Alex and the bow and blades of the three, they made short work of the opposition.
By the time they reached the level Tantalus had made his temporary home, they had encountered a good many Tantalus guards, though not of the quality Alex and Cassie had experienced in the west. Alex assumed these must be local recruits, and hastily assembled at that.
Their luck ended, though, as they approached the hallway leading to the eggs; a half dozen armed men stood in their path. Alex had barely enough time to throw up a shield to deflect the flight of arrows that greeted them upon their arrival.
“Alex, behind us!” shouted Kelby as another group of armed men appeared at their rear. A second shield prevented them from closing the distance and attacking the rear of the six. While Alex could shield himself in armor, permitting him to attack, he couldn’t protect the rest of the party at the same time.
“Stay behind your invisible walls, pretend wizard,” they heard Tantalus say as he stood behind the men in front of them. Alex heard Kinsey growl at the sound of the man’s voice.
“It will give me time to secure my treasures and be gone, leaving you to face my dragons,” he finished as he waved more men toward the chamber holding the eggs.
“I think not,” Alex said calmly, as he sent the fleeting thought to the package Kelby and Leena had placed in the linen chest.
The explosion ripped through the assembled mass, sending men flying in all directions, some solidly into the invisible wall protecting the six. Alex paused before pressing forward, never dropping the boundary to their rear, where Tantalus’s men were pounding in an attempt to assist their fallen comrades.
As they moved to the egg chamber, Alex allowed the bodies of the fallen to pass through the boundary. Those not killed had been rendered unconscious and were left unharmed. Alex could see Tantalus had been thrown back, landing farther up the hallway. He lay on the rug, rolling slowly from side to side as he attempted to shake off the effects of the explosion.
Once at the door to the chamber, Alex waved to the others, indicating he wanted them inside.
“Alex, the door is bolted,” Leander commented.
Taking his eyes off Tantalus, Alex motioned Leander back and then concentrated a small charge of energy around the lock. As they watched, the lock shackle melted away, allowing the bolt to be lifted free. With that completed, he waved the group, minus Leander, inside and then formed a shield over the entrance, insuring only he could access the contents.
Turning, he was just in time to see Tantalus regain his feet and stagger away from the fight.
“You ready?” he asked Leander, before he dropped the shield between themselves and their adversaries at their rear, not waiting for a reply. With a second push, he slammed a new shield into the surprised men, sending them flying while he waved to Leander.
“This way, Tantalus is escaping,” he shouted as he turned and sprinted off, Leander and Kinsey at his heels. Behind, he could hear the very unladylike comments coming from Kelby as she discovered they had been sealed in.
----*----
Kelby was furious! She had done everything the damn wizard had asked of her with only one request. She wanted to kill Tantalus. Now, here she sat, sealed in a small room with three others, and a bunch of small crates.
“I can’t believe he did this to us! Sealing us in here like that,” she screamed in frustration as she turned to the others.
“Better believe it, sister. It’s not the first time for me,” Cassie said absently as she inspected the nearest crate.
“We had a deal. Do you have any idea what Leena and I have been through? The things we have had to endure?” Kelby ranted.
“Yeah, I think I do,” Cassie replied as she took the time to expose the leg mauled by the dragon. Kelb
y could see it had healed a little, but it still bore the signs of the event. She knew in time it would be almost undetectable.
“Help me with this,” Cassie said as she changed the subject. Kelby stepped over to inspect the crate Cassie was attempting to open.
A sudden thud behind them caused all four to jump. They turned to see several of Tantalus’s men pounding at the shield Alex had put over the entrance. Try as they might, they made no progress in breaching the barrier.
“Trust me, you won’t get through. I’ve tried,” Cassie said sympathetically, while Kelby simply made a rude gesture at the men before returning her attention to the crate.
Under closer examination, she realized these were actually finely constructed boxes and quite old. Each one had a particular dragon carved in its top and was latched closed with some kind of internal locking mechanism.
“You think that’s the dragon the egg belongs too,” Leena asked as she ran her hand over the carved relief.
“That’s a Sea Dragon,” Kelby spat as she recognized the image on the box before them.
“This is the Red Dragon, and that one too,” Abrianna said as she inspected others nearby.
In all they counted two Red Dragons, two Sea Dragons, one Lindworm and one dragon they had yet to encounter.
“So the Lindworms in the tunnel were just fighting to defend their egg,” Abrianna commented sadly.
Kelby considered that the Sea Dragon that had killed her mother had been under the same burden. While it softened her feeling about the creature, it inflamed her rage at Tantalus even more.
“Let’s open one,” Leena said, breaking the spell of Kelby’s anger and bringing her back to the present.
“I tried, it’s locked somehow,” Cassie replied.
“Here, try this,” Abrianna said as she handed Cassie the elven dagger Alex had lent her.
Kelby watched as Cassie attempted to wedge the blade between the edges of the top and bottom of the box. Slowly she was able to work the blade in until they heard an audible snap, causing the box lid to pop up about an inch.
