Knights: Book 03 - The Heart of Shadows

by Robert E. Keller

Aldreya's heart sank. "You're leaving? When?"

  "I don't yet know," said Taris. "I'm still healing from my injuries. However, I doubt I will ever heal completely if I remain a Divine Knight. The dark sorcery from the Hand of Tharnin and the Specter still haunts my body, inflicting great pain on me at times. I require healing techniques that only the Birlote Wizards of Borenthia can provide. I must further my knowledge. Therefore, it has occurred to me that I must retire from service to Dremlock and return to our homeland."

  "But what about the Blood Legion?" said Aldreya. "And Bellis?" She barely tasted her tea. How could Dremlock make do without Taris?

  "I'm not leaving yet," said Taris. "In fact, I don't plan to depart until we turn things in our favor. So it could be months or even years before I make the journey. But inevitably it is a journey I must make--which is why I have summoned you. I don't have a true apprentice. I never chose one. But I think the time has come to begin training a true replacement for me at Dremlock."

  Aldreya was speechless for a moment. Then she blurted out, "Am I to be your apprentice?" Taris had provided her with significant training and wisdom since she'd come to Dremlock, but being his apprentice would give her access to knowledge he wouldn't otherwise share.

  "Possibly," said Taris, casually sipping his tea. "You are young enough and talented enough. You have a noble heart and the bloodline of the Elder Family. Royalty has its privileges in allowing me to share the deepest secrets of Birlote sorcery with you, and I will gladly share them with someone who is loyal to Dremlock and the Divine Essence."

  Aldreya was overflowing with excitement. "Thank you, Master Taris!" Her dream seemed to be coming true at last. Taris had chosen her out of dozens of talented Squires. Just when she'd begun to question her place at Dremlock, a new door had opened. Perhaps her work ethic and dedication had paid off after all.

  "Of course, being my apprentice won't be easy," said Taris. "It takes much discipline and sacrifice to become a great sorcerer. You could still fail to meet my expectations. And right now there are still significant gaps in my memory from the head wound. Many of my abilities are intact, as far as I can tell. But I may have forgotten some important things. My injuries have diminished me."

  Aldreya bowed. "I understand."

  Taris' gaze was piercing. "Are you sure? The first month or so will be very difficult. If I see any sign of weakness in you, I might be inclined to look elsewhere for an apprentice. You must be thoroughly dedicated to becoming a Knight and serving the Divine Essence. Do you possess such dedication?"

  Aldreya hesitated, knowing Taris would see through a lie. As much as she hated to do so, she had to reveal the truth. Honor demanded it. "I have been questioning myself lately--wondering if life as a Squire is for me. Dremlock has been a disappointment. I miss Borenthia, where things are so much easier."

  Taris nodded. "I appreciate your honesty. In fact, it is one of the primary reasons I'm considering you as my apprentice. Had you lied to me just now, I would have been disappointed. We all have doubts from time to time. But you need to be certain of your future at Dremlock so my time is not wasted on you. Therefore, I will give you time to ponder the issue. I will summon you again in the near future, and if you're prepared to truly pledge yourself to Knighthood, I will present you with the Trial of Shades. If you pass that test, you will be my apprentice."

  Again, Aldreya bowed. "I will give it serious thought, but in light of your offer, I'm sure I want to remain at Dremlock and serve the Divine Essence. I just felt separated from my training lately, with all the traveling and such."

  "Nevertheless," said Taris, "I want you to understand what being a Divine Knight means. It is not something that should be chosen lightly. You were sent to Dremlock to serve, and you have done well for yourself--but how much loyalty do you have for our god and king? Would you die to protect the Divine Essence? For that is the true measure of your loyalty. When you can answer that question, you will know whether or not you should attempt to become my apprentice."

  Aldreya contemplated his words. Was she prepared to die for Dremlock and its god, so far away from her precious tree city of Borenthia? She hadn't become a Squire to die, but to grow as a sorcerer and gain fame. On the other hand, when she contemplated the threats to Dremlock, she had a powerful urge to defend the kingdom and the Divine Essence. Was she more loyal to Dremlock, or Borenthia? Or was she, above all else, loyal to herself?

  "Have some more tea," said Taris, with a smile. "And don't fret over your beliefs. You will know where you stand soon enough."

  Chapter 16: The Secret of Invisibility

  Now that the Hand of Tharnin had been dealt with and the hostages were free, Dremlock turned its focus toward the mission to retrieve the Black Flamestone. Taris called a secret meeting in the Dining Hall, with only the members of the Divine Shield present (and a trusted Orange Squire who was there to update the official records).

  "I received a message from our Lord Knight today," Taris announced. "It appears that Bellis has sent a large battalion in our direction, from Brothlor Kingdom. At least, the spies believe they are on route to Dorok's Hand."

  "They bring stout siege engines," said Furlus, frowning. "If they can manage to get them up here, the gates of Dorok's Hand will not hold."

  Lannon's heart sank at hearing that news. At last, Bellis was riding against the Divine Knights and there was sure to be a vicious war. He'd been hoping somehow it could be avoided even though logic told him war was inevitable.

  "Bellis rides against us?" said Daledus. "But why? This is just a rugged mountain keep occupied by a small battalion of Knights. This move doesn't make sense."

  "On the contrary," said Taris, "I believe it does. We have the Eye of Divinity, the White Flamestone, and now, the Hand of Tharnin. That surely makes us the prime target of King Verlamer. Once Bellis has dealt with us, it will turn its attention to Dremlock Kingdom."

  "Then we must abandon Dorok's Hand," said Trenton. "We cannot possibly withstand the might of Bellis."

  "Their battalion," said Taris, "consists of at least a thousand Knights on horseback and three large siege engines. They will attempt to smash down the gates and then engage us in close-range combat in the tunnels, where they will hope to crush us with sheer force of numbers."

  "A thousand Knights?" said Trenton. "We are vastly outnumbered. And our own siege engines are still resting on the shores of the Grey Lake. We have only arrow and lance. And Bellis' siege engines are very sturdy."

  "Sturdy, and quite maneuverable," said Furlus. "I suspect they will indeed be able to get them up the narrow mountain paths. I agree that we must abandon this fortress, for it will not work to our advantage to remain."

  "What of the White Flamestone?" Prince Vannas asked. "Surely Bellis' siege engines aren't strong enough to resist that power."

  "Correct," said Taris. "As far as we know, nothing can withstand the White Fire. Not even Glaetherin, it appears. Therefore, we can destroy the siege engines before they ever reach Dorok's Hand."

  "Ride out to confront them?" said Furlus, his eyes blazing. He sat at the head of the table, and his beard was the width of the tabletop. He wore a full set of Glaetherin armor, including a spiked helm. "Indeed. Why should we hide out in here and wait to be slaughtered? We can set up an ambush for them."

  "How long do we have?" asked Trenton.

  "They could reach us in about a week," said Taris, "though it's impossible to know for sure. It all depends on their speed of travel. So the question is do we ignore the threat of the Black Flamestone for now--or try to strike quickly and gain possession of it? Old Hammer Hall is only a half-day's journey from here. And if we decide on a quick strike, should Lannon be involved?"

  "We will need the Eye of Divinity," said Trenton, "if we are to have any hope of overcoming Bellis. To send Lannon away, as Bellis approaches, would be folly. I suggest we send only Shennen and his Blue Knights."

  "We don't need Lannon," said Shennen, "but his power would allow us to locate t
he Black Flamestone more quickly and easily, and with less risk. The mission is suitable for the Eye of Divinity. This is why Lannon was recruited by Dremlock. He is most effective when used in this fashion."

  "Yet Lannon would be very helpful in defeating Bellis," said Taris. "And defeating Bellis is our top priority."

  "Will all due respect," said Vannas, "what can Lannon do? He is a great warrior, no doubt. He proved that by defeating Vorden and his Hand of Tharnin. But can a single warrior--however great--make much of a difference?"

  Lannon was wondering that himself. The Eye of Divinity seemed terribly limited compared to the power of the White Flamestone.

  "Lannon could help us immensely in this war," said Taris. "The power of the Eye could, for example, break a single gear that could stop a siege engine. And the Eye could discover the intentions of our foes, giving us a significant advantage. But aside from that, a great warrior can inspire other warriors on the battlefield. There is a reason the Dark Watchmen struck terror into the hearts of their foes."

  "Nevertheless," said Shennen, "the Dark Watchmen favored stealth and precision over outright warfare. It was the fact that they were often hidden behind the scenes that made them so feared. Lannon's power would be wasted on the battlefield. He should come with us to Old Hammer Hall."

  "If I may add my expert opinion," said Jace, with a wry smile, "Shennen is correct. I know well the history of the Dark Watchmen. They were sometimes referred to as The Invisible Blades because they stayed in the background. Aside from being Blue Knights--warriors of stealth--the bearers of the Eye are certainly best suited to focused missions. To place Lannon in heavy combat would be a poor use of his abilities."

  Taris sat in silence for a time. Then he nodded. "Yes, Lannon should help locate the Black Flamestone. We must get that device away from the Blood Legion at all costs. We already witnessed the evil power it can unleash in the form of that Specter. The rest of us will ride forth and set an ambush for Bellis."

  "I assume," said Trenton, "that our Lord Knight is planning to send reinforcements."

  "No," said Taris. "I sent a message informing them that we will deal with Bellis alone."

  Trenton's eyes widened. "What? Without a vote?"

  Taris grimaced. "Must we vote on everything? Furlus was in agreement, so the vote wouldn't have mattered. Had you opposed us, you would have been overruled. If you wish, you can enter an official objection into the records."

  "But why did you do that?" asked Trenton. "We are vastly outnumbered, so why not ask for some help?"

  "Dremlock cannot afford to spare any Knights," said Furlus. "The kingdom is sure to attacked in the near future."

  "So what of Dorok's Hand?" asked Daledus. "If we ride forth, the Blood Legion may return to occupy the fortress."

  "That doesn't matter anymore," said Taris. "We came here to eradicate the Blood Legion, and we failed. We had been aware of the threat of Bellis for years, and when Bellis' shadow grew longer recently, we tried to finish off the Legion so one threat to Dremlock would be dealt with. But Bellis has moved swiftly and now demands our full attention. Sadly, the Blood Legion has avoided destruction once again--just as they have so many times over the centuries."

  "Yes, we failed," Furlus muttered. "Dorok's Hand was one of three fortresses we intended to capture. The other two were Blombalk and Old Hammer Hall. The Blood Legion destroyed itself at Blombalk, doing our work for us. That leaves Old Hammer Hall as the last important Legion fortress. Yet with Bellis on the move, we dare not risk an assault on Old Hammer Hall. That's a difficult fortress to break into and would surely cost the lives of many Knights."

  "So we're that close to victory over the Blood Legion," said Daledus, "and we can do nothing? What a shame."

  Taris shrugged. "Bellis likely has an alliance with the Legion. So now they are one and the same. All threats to Dremlock are one force against us, under the power of the Deep Shadow."

  "Dorok's Hand was difficult to secure," said Daledus. "It seems a wretched thing to have to surrender it."

  Furlus nodded, his expression bitter. "Yet Dorok's Hand must be abandoned. We don't have the Knights to spare to keep it occupied."

  "Is there a way we can destroy it?" asked Daledus, "as we did Blombalk fortress?"

  "Short of bringing down the mountain," said Taris, "I know of no way it could be done. And even if the White Flamestone could do it, it would take far too much time. We don't have weeks to stand around blasting at rocks. But we can, and will, burn down the gates. They will not be easily rebuilt."

  "If we're abandoning Dorok's Hand," said Trenton, "is it necessary even to confront Bellis at this time? Perhaps we should ride for Dremlock."

  "It is necessary," said Taris. "The war with Bellis has begun. We have a chance to show them the power of the Divine Knights."

  "Then the issue is settled," said Shennen. "We will ride out for Old Hammer Hall under cover of darkness. Meanwhile, the rest of you will burn the gates and take your chances on the battlefield."

  Shennen fixed his stern gaze on Lannon. "Well, Blue Squire, are you ready to become invisible?"

  Lannon nodded, though he wasn't sure what that meant.

  ***

  Later, Lannon stood alone with Shennen in a secret training room for the Blue Knights. Shennen wore an outfit Lannon had never seen before--one that seemed to be made of dark blue, lightweight armor plates that moved fluidly with his body. He also wore a mask, with a headdress set with blue sapphires, that left only his eyes exposed. Hanging from his belt was his Flayer and a short sword, along with a number of throwing daggers. The belt also held several pouches.

  "This is the real armor of a Blue Knight," Shennen explained. "Reserved only for special missions." He pointed to an oak chest. "I had some crafted just for you. You will also find a throwing dagger with it."

  "I have a throwing weapon," said Lannon. He showed the Glaetherin star to Shennen.

  Shennen inspected the weapon and nodded. "This will suffice. Guard it well, for it is a good blade."

  Lannon put the armor on. It was a full suit, including boots designed for stealth, protecting him from neck to feet. The headdress, however, did not contain jewels as Shennen's did. Lannon put his Birlote cloak on over the armor, but he found he didn't need his fur cloak. The suit of armor kept him warm.

  "That armor was crafted by Olrog Blacksmiths," said Shennen. "It resists both excessive heat and cold and can deflect some weapon attacks. It is not exceptionally strong, however, so your goal is to avoid getting struck in combat."

  Lannon attached his Dragon sword to the belt. The armor was so light and fluid he barely noticed it, and it made him feel powerful--like a true warrior. However, Lannon disliked all armor and would have preferred not to wear it.

  "Now you must learn the secret of invisibility," said Shennen. "It is the ability to become unseen that gives a Blue Knight his true power. Look around this chamber very carefully and tell me what you see. Do not use the Eye."

  Lannon looked around. He saw a circular room with stone walls, about forty feet in diameter, lit by two lanterns that sat on crates. The room contained three practice dummies, some weapon racks, and a bench. Lannon scanned the room slowly, looking for any hidden details, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

  Suddenly, a Blue Knight was standing before Lannon with a Flayer pointed at his throat. Lannon took a step back in shock.

  The Blue Knight sheathed the blade.

  "He was standing in this room the whole time, Lannon," said Shennen. "In plain sight. Yet you failed to catch even a glimpse of him."

  "How is that possible?" asked Lannon, still gazing in shock at the Blue Knight who'd materialized before him.

  "The sorcery of the mind," said Shennen. "The easiest path to invisibility is simply to make someone believe you're not there. This Blue Knight projected his will into your mind and made your gaze move right past him. A true master of invisibility can walk into a crowded room and no one will notice him. However, once
someone becomes aware of you, the sorcery will cease to work. You can unlock this ability with extensive practice."

  "But my Knightly Essence is weak," Lannon reminded him. "I can't even create fire in a blade."

  "Perhaps the Eye can help you," said Shennen. "The Eye can act as a much stronger version of Knightly Essence at times."

  "How long would it take me to master the technique?" asked Lannon. He doubted he could learn it before their mission to Old Hammer Hall.

  "I don't know," said Shennen. "I myself have not mastered it. However, there is one who has--a Birlote sorcerer on loan from Borenthia. His name is Aldrek Windspear, and he is a true master of invisibility. In fact, he is in this room right now--though you could never glimpse him without the Eye. He is a guardian of the East Tower, and you may have sensed him watching you many times."

  Lannon nodded. He'd occasionally sensed an unseen presence in the East Tower, but had never really investigated it.

  "Aldrek will attempt to make you invisible," said Shennen. "However, his power works best if you can assist him. In a moment, an Orange Squire will enter this room. She is a highly trained observer who is supposed to take note of anything unusual and report it. You must begin projecting your will into her mind before she even sets foot in here. So get to it!"

  Lannon moved close to the chamber wall and summoned the Eye. He projected it out in a field, sweeping the chamber, and he focused on being unseen. He'd never used the Eye in this fashion--trying to force his will into someone's mind--and it felt awkward and uncomfortable.

  Shennen and the other Blue Knights stepped out of the room. Then the Orange Squire entered. She was a plump Norack girl with black hair and very pale skin, and she wore her Orange sash over a blue dress. She had an aura of importance for an Orange Squire.

  She scanned the room slowly--and paused when her eyes moved toward Lannon. His heart racing, he focused the Eye directly on her, insisting she not be able to see him. She hesitated, and then her gaze moved past him. Having examined the room in detail, she left.