Knights: Book 03 - The Heart of Shadows

by Robert E. Keller

  Cheers arose from the Divine Knights.

  Trenton hesitated. "You are young, Daledus. But Taris did choose you for the Divine Shield, so I have to assume you are fit for this duel."

  "I strongly disagree," said Shennen. "Taris would not have chosen Daledus for this duel. He chose him for the Divine Shield because he is closer in age to the Squires--not because he is the best fighter amongst the Red Knights. If you won't choose me, I suggest you choose Velgar Steelheart."

  Trenton considered it, then shook his head. "The choice is mine to make, and I know Daledus is more than capable of winning. Besides, Velgar Steelheart is overconfident."

  "And Daledus isn't?" said Shennen.

  "Daledus knows his limitations," said Trenton, shrugging.

  Daledus grinned and bowed. "You're a wise man, Trenton. You won't be disappointed."

  "Yet some refuse to acknowledge my wisdom," said Trenton, with a glare at Shennen. "Regardless, I have made my choice, which should not be questioned. Daledus will fight the duel for the Black Flamestone."

  Shennen sighed. "This is a mistake, Trenton. Think carefully. I know you like Daledus for some reason, but we need an experienced Knight to defeat this foe. Don't oppose me simply because you can. Don't forget that I was on the High Council once, if only for a single day."

  "Enough!" Trenton snarled. "I'm not an idiot, Shennen, in spite of what you may think. Yes, you were appointed to the High Council--but you refused to take the Sacred Oath and were promptly removed. While I understand why you refused to claim Kealin Lightsword as your Council Brother--it shows that you aren't yet wise enough to make important decisions. You're too stubborn for your own good. Again, the choice has been made. Let the duel proceed at dawn."

  ***

  The Squires didn't sleep for the rest of that night (though dawn was only a couple hours away regardless). They were worried about Taris and the other injured Knights, and anxious over the coming duel. Lannon felt wretched for siding against Shennen, and he kept wondering if he'd made the right decision. He couldn't understand why Taris had rejected Shennen from participating in the duel, but Taris had wisdom far beyond that of Lannon. Lannon suspected it had to do with Shennen's former obsession with the Dragon bones. Perhaps Taris still didn't fully trust the Blue Knight. Lannon, however, was confident Shennen was firmly on Dremlock's side.

  "I think Daledus is a good choice," said Jerret. "He seems like a stout fighter." His anger and sadness over Thrake having diminished some, Jerret had taken a bit of a liking recently to Daledus and his brash attitude.

  "I couldn't disagree more," said Prince Vannas, with a disdainful expression. "Daledus is vastly overconfident--the doom of all Knights."

  "I guess you know all about overconfidence," said Jerret.

  Vannas glared at him but didn't respond.

  "I agree with you, cousin," said Lothrin, to the prince. "I think Daledus is the wrong choice. This Ulmason fellow is very experienced and full of tricks. Daledus is young and strong, but I suspect Ulmason will outsmart him."

  "I think Daledus can win," said Galvia, who was still lying atop her quilt and holding her stomach. Her breathing was heavy from pain. "His strength is unrivaled--except maybe by that of Furlus Goblincrusher."

  "I understand Taris had his reasons," said Aldreya, "but I would feel a lot more confident if Shennen was fighting the duel."

  "Because he's a Birlote?" said Jerret, sneering.

  "No," said Aldreya, looking annoyed, "because he has a great deal of combat experience and he is simply the best swordsman at Dremlock."

  "What about you, Lannon?" asked Jerret.

  Lannon shrugged. "I don't know much about Daledus. But I do agree that Shennen would have a great chance of winning the duel. It doesn't matter, anyway. It will be Daledus, at dawn."

  They fell silent for a while, focusing on staying warm.

  Then Aldreya said, "What if Taris never recovers? He had a very nasty head wound. That type of wound can change someone--make them strange or feeble until the end of their days."

  "I'm sure he'll be fine," said Vannas. "He survived a vicious attack from the Hand of Tharnin. He can survive this."

  "Taris' skills have been improving lately," said Aldreya. "He has reached levels that only the Birlote wizards have obtained. Who knows how far he could go? If he should die now...like this..."

  "Taris is very resilient," said Lothrin, "and I'm certain he'll be back on his feet soon enough."

  "But his mind may have been damaged," said Aldreya. "I studied the wound, and it had penetrated his skull." She shuddered. "I fear greatly for him. If Dremlock loses Taris Warhawk, how will it endure?"

  "Good question," said Lannon, his heart gloomy. He couldn't imagine losing Taris. The sorcerer seemed more important even than the Lord Knight. He was the wisdom of Dremlock, and his power was unmatched. Lannon thought back to when Taris had seemed to be dying from the injuries inflicted by the Hand of Tharnin. Now it was happening all over again. Aldreya knew a thing or two about wounds and healing, and Lannon trusted her opinion on the matter. If she felt Taris was in grave danger, she was undoubtedly correct. Who would Lannon turn to for guidance if Taris passed on? No one else seemed to know as much about the Eye of Divinity.

  "Everyone should try to get a bit more sleep," said Lothrin, pulling his quilt over him. "Worrying will do us no good."

  But no one, including Lothrin, took that advice.

  ***

  The next day, warmer spring weather crept back into the land. The sky was still overcast, but the snow was beginning to melt again, water dripping from the rooftops and log walls. It was warm enough that some removed their fur cloaks to reveal armor and color sashes. The duel arena was the fortress grounds, in an area apart from the Knightly tents. As before, the Knights and Soldiers formed a circle around the two combatants, with Trenton and Timlin on either side. Daledus Oakfist and Ulmason Deathhand faced each other in the circle.

  Ulmason towered over Daledus, his horned helm dark against the grey sky and his huge, heavily armored body looking like it possessed the strength of a bear. But the stout Dwarf was very wide in the shoulders and his limbs were knotted with muscle. Daledus' battle axe was even bigger than that of the Blood Legion giant. And perhaps most meaningful of all to Daledus--his beard was longer and thicker than Ulmason's beard.

  Daledus matched Ulmason's sneer of arrogance with a broad grin that showed just how cocky the young Olrog was. It was clear that Daledus firmly believed he had no chance of losing.

  "This is not a duel to the death," Trenton reminded them. "If either warrior submits, his life will be spared. Is that understood?"

  Daledus nodded.

  Ulmason laughed. "It might be difficult to speak words of submission when one lacks a head atop the neck."

  Daledus roared laughter of his own. "True enough!"

  Trenton turned to Timlin. "Are you in agreement with Dremlock's rules of fair combat, Timlin?"

  "I am," said Timlin. "Let's get on with it."

  Trenton held up the Black Flamestone. "We all know what this is. We have identified it, and both Dremlock and the Blood Legion seek to posses it--even though its rightful place is at Dremlock. Rather than bloody the grounds with a war, this duel will settle the dispute--at least temporarily. So let combat begin!"

  The Squires glanced at each other anxiously. Galvia had emerged from the tent and stood watching, though she still appeared to be in great pain. Lannon hated duels and would have preferred not to watch, but it would have been dishonorable for him to not be there to show support for Daledus.

  The two warriors pressed close to each other--beard to beard, their eyes fierce with bloodlust. They stood locked in a struggle of wills, oversized battle axes ready to clash. They stared each other down, and Daledus stroked his beard to draw attention to the fact that it was broader, while the Knights of Dremlock cheered. But Ulmason wasn't intimidated and only gazed down at the arrogant Dwarf with a glint in his eye that promised death.
r />   Then Daledus balled up his fist and smashed Ulmason in the jaw, knocking his helm half off and sending him reeling backwards. The Knights roared laughter and howled with delight, as Ulmason adjusted his helm and spat blood. The two foes circled each other.

  Daledus grinned. "How does your jaw feel?"

  Ulmason didn't reply. His one remaining eye was narrowed with focus. As Daledus turned briefly to wink at the crowd, Ulmason lunged forward and swung viciously at his neck. Daledus barely got his axe up in time to deflect the blow, and the cocky grin vanished from his face.

  Daledus struck at Ulmason's legs in retaliation, but the Dark Knight easily blocked the blow and swung his fist at the Dwarf's nose. Daledus evaded the punch, and their axes clashed together several more times.

  At last, Ulmason threw down his helm and axe and raised his hands, indicating that he wanted to engage Daledus in a test of strength. The Dwarf dropped his own weapon and, looking delighted, locked up with the giant. The two fighters grunted as they grappled. They fell down and engaged in a wrestling match that went on for some time, but neither could manage to get the other in a submission hold. Their muscles bulged beneath their armor and their faces turned crimson from strain.

  "Is this a wrestling match or a duel?" Trenton complained.

  Some of the Knights and Soldiers jeered, including Jerret, not liking this form of combat.

  The two fighters rained blows on each other, and soon both were bruised and bloodied. Weaponless combat or not, it remained brutal. At last they gave up on bare-handed fighting and retrieved their axes. They were tired and panting, and they took a moment to rest to the sound of more jeering from the crowd.

  "This is the worst duel I have ever witnessed," Shennen muttered.

  "I wholeheartedly agree," said Trenton, with a grimace of disgust. "It is shameful."

  "How long must this drag on?" said Jace, yawning.

  Lannon marveled at the stamina of the two warriors. They had both taken quite a beating but continued hammering each other.

  Yet the fighters seemed almost too tired to go on--the intense grappling having sapped their energy. They swung their axes slowly at each other, and spent a lot of time circling. Ulmason landed a glancing blow to Daledus' shoulder that staggered the Dwarf, but otherwise they made no progress.

  "It has gone on far too long," said Shennen. "It should have ended quickly. Now they fight like old men. What an embarrassment!"

  To the utter disgust of the crowd, they threw down their weapons again and grappled with each other. They fell down and lay on their backs for a moment, completely exhausted, chests heaving. Then they rolled over and battered each other with weak punches for a while that drew a bit of fresh blood.

  "The duel should be ended," said Shennen.

  "That isn't allowed," said Trenton, with a sigh. "They are required to fight until submission or death--no matter how long it takes."

  Ulmason accidentally yanked Daledus' beard. Daledus cried out in rage and headbutted the giant, leaving a new gash in both of their foreheads.

  Shennen turned his back on the duel, refusing to watch the combatants continue to disgrace themselves. Trenton's face was red with humiliation.

  As a Grey Dwarf, Daledus had more stamina than his foe. But he was also failing miserably to conserve that stamina. He threw everything he had into every blow and chokehold, while Ulmason seemed to pace himself and spent a lot of time defending against the enraged Dwarf. At last, Daledus began to wear down to the point where he could barely move, yet still he went on trying to viciously hammer his foe. Even the Knightly energy that helped sustain his strength was depleted.

  The duel's conclusion was the biggest disgrace of all for Dremlock, as Daledus simply ran out of energy and Ulmason (who'd been slyly conserving his strength) took control of the fight. Ulmason managed to get Daledus in a firm chokehold, and he squeezed the Dwarf's neck until Daledus was nearly unconscious. Having no choice but to submit or be strangled to death, Daledus tapped his foe three times to signal that he'd had enough.

  Ulmason staggered up from the snow and raised his arms. As he struggled for breath, he bellowed, "Victory is mine once again! The Black Flamestone goes to the Legion! I am truly invincible!"

  Shennen glared at Trenton, then walked away.

  Trenton knelt, clutched his head, and groaned.

  ***

  Trenton retreated to his tent, as the Blood Legion gathered their supplies in preparation for the journey back to Old Hammer Hall. Dremlock's Knights stood around looking defeated, as gleeful Soldiers scurried about loading wagons. The Black Flamestone was going back to their mountain stronghold, and Dremlock could do nothing about it. The Knights soon took to muttering that the duel had been a bad idea--that they should have taken the Flamestone by warfare.

  But the complaints meant nothing, and the Knights could only watch in frustration as the Blood Legion rode forth from Blombalk. The Legion didn't care if Dremlock occupied the fortress, for they knew the Divine Knights didn't have enough warriors there to secure it indefinitely. Taking the Black Flamestone to Old Hammer Hall--where it would be well defended--was their primary focus.

  Trenton called the Divine Shield together for a meeting in his tent. They sat in a circle, waiting for the Investigator to speak. Trenton looked embarrassed and gloomy, and his hand trembled as he sipped some water.

  "What is Taris' status?" asked Trenton.

  Shennen looked troubled. "He has awakened in his tent, but he doesn't remember who he is or why he is there. He also seems to be partially blind and deaf, and he can't move one of his arms properly. He talks with slurred speech and some of his words sound like babble."

  Aldreya groaned. "Then it is as I feared--his mind has suffered damage."

  "Yes," said Shennen. "The wound went into his brain. The healers have already partially closed it and soon nothing will remain but a scar. But he has lost some memories--possibly forever--and clearly some of his other functions are compromised. He may never return to normal."

  Lannon and Aldreya exchanged a sorrowful glance. Lannon couldn't imagine Taris in the condition Shennen had described.

  "Taris shall undoubtedly receive Dremlock's highest honor," said Trenton, "the Silver Sash. He sacrificed his body in an effort to slow the Specter down so we could slay it. His heroism will be long remembered."

  "Yet the Black Flamestone goes with our enemies," said Shennen. "You have command now, Trenton, until Taris regains his wits. What are your orders?"

  "We cannot pursue the Blood Legion," said Trenton, "for three days. But we can return to Dorok's Hand and plan our next move. We will prepare for the journey immediately. We must abandon Blombalk Fortress."

  "I agree," said Shennen. His eyes narrowed. "But the Legion made an error. They assumed we would ride from the fortress and leave it as it is. After all, it cannot easily be burned because the logs are treated to protect against fire. Also, the Legion assumes we are greedy and will eventually want to claim the fortress for Dremlock. But I have another idea. I suggest we burn it to ash."

  "But as you said," Trenton pointed out, "it cannot easily be burned. It would take some time to bring down such a large, stout fortress."

  "Prince Vannas will take care of it," said Shennen. "It is not immune to the white fire."

  "Burn the whole fortress down?" said Vannas, a hint of excitement in his voice.

  Shennen nodded. "Unleash the White Flamestone, until nothing remains but ash. That is--if Trenton approves."

  Trenton pondered it for a moment, then said, "It is an ancient fortress, and it could be very useful to Dremlock. But we can't risk the Legion seizing control of it again. Yes, we will gather our supplies and ride out. Then our eager prince will bring it down."

  "So it's back to Dorok's Hand," said Jace, looking displeased. "I assume Dremlock will plan a mission to retrieve the Black Flamestone."

  "Yes," said Shennen, his eyes gleaming. "In fact, I've already planned it out. A small group of Blue Knights will sn
eak into Old Hammer Hall and retrieve the Black Flamestone before the Blood Legion ever learns how to unlock its full potential."

  "Will I be included?" asked Vannas.

  "No," said Shennen. "It would be too risky, as you're not properly trained in the arts of stealth. However, Lannon has enough training for the mission, along with his sorcery, and he can help us locate our target."

  Lannon nodded. He wondered if they would be forced to confront Timlin at Old Hammer Hall. Timlin was a prime target of Dremlock, and if he got in the way, the Blue Knights would not hesitate to slay him.

  "And the situation with Bellis?" asked Trenton.

  Shennen shook his head. "It will have to wait. Surely you agree that we must retrieve the Black Flamestone as soon as possible."

  "Quite a dire situation," said Jace, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Bellis closes in, as the Blood Legion rides off with their deadly prize."

  Chapter 13: The Journey North

  As he guided his horse, Timlin gazed at the Black Flamestone. It felt warm in his hand and seemed to pulse as if with a heartbeat. It was a beautiful gem and seemed to fit perfectly in his palm. He gazed at the sparkling dark blue surface and the red veins that were spread out over it in a pattern. It was delightfully perfect, and he felt as if it had always belonged to him--that it had come home at last.

  "My lord," said Ulmason, who rode next to Timlin, "you've been staring at that gem for quite some time. You look lost in thought."

  Timlin's hand closed around the Flamestone protectively, and he thrust it into a pocket of his cloak. "Just marveling at its...appearance."

  "Perhaps you shouldn't get too attached to it," said Ulmason. "You may not be the one who is best suited to wield it. Perhaps you should give it to one of the priests, as they are immune to its charms. Remember, it was a priest who was beginning to unlock its secrets--who opened the portal to Tharnin."

  "Sure," said Timlin, rolling his eyes, "and look how well that turned out. The fool thought he could control a Specter."

  "Nevertheless," said Ulmason, keeping his voice low so the others wouldn't hear, "it seems the Goblin Lords are best suited to possess it."