Chapter 46
Almost in the same instant, Alexander slipped beneath the firmament and saw the play of time in the coming seconds. His awareness floated beneath the surface of the infinite ocean of possibility and watched the firmament unfold into the future. He saw the crossbowman fire, saw the bolt strike him in the chest, and watched himself die. He wound time back in his mind’s eye and stepped out of the way. The bolt killed Abigail instead. He wound it back again and saw how time played out in each possible branch of the immediate future. Then he found the only course that would win the day. With a jolt, his awareness returned to the present.
He caught the Mage by surprise or his plan would never have worked. With his left hand he shoved the Mage hard toward his sister. Mage Gamaliel tried to catch his step, but he tripped on the top stair of the dais and fell forward into Abigail, sprawling on top of her. Alexander pulled a knife from the back of his belt and leapt for the floor at the base of the dais. The crossbow bolt missed him by inches and hit hard against the back plate of Mage Gamaliel’s enchanted armor. The glass tip of the bolt shattered, releasing a pungent-smelling liquid that did little more than leave a spot on the Mage’s reddish-black plate armor.
Everything became clear and simple to Alexander in that moment. He was in a fight and he had a blade in his hand. His focus narrowed down. Everything else in the world fell away. There was only the enemy and the blade. Alexander knew the perfect clarity of a singular purpose.
Sailing through the air, he hurled his knife at the enemy only he could see in the darkness of the balcony above. The blade struck home and the enemy fell backward before Alexander hit the ground. A moment later the crossbow crashed onto one of the chairs lining the wall and clattered to the floor.
The Mage was up quickly, hammer held high and scanning the room with his penetrating vision. Alexander could see the magic of the amulet concealed beneath his armor glowing brightly. The wizard with the staff spoke a word, and a ball of bright bluish-white light streaked from the tip of his staff to the arched ceiling, where it stopped and hovered, brightly illuminating the entire room.
One of the soldiers picked up the fallen crossbow. He looked at it closely for only a moment before turning to the Regent. “Palace issue,” he said.
The Regent took a quick breath. He turned to the commander of the guard detail. “Secure the balconies and summon a platoon at once.” The commander snapped orders to his subordinates and men started moving.
The Mage was apparently satisfied that the threat was past. He lowered his hammer and held out his hand for Abigail who was still flat on her back and somewhat shaken at having the huge Mage fall on top of her.
“Are you hurt?” Despite his size he spoke gently.
She rubbed her shoulder and winced while she regained her feet. “Nothing that won’t mend.” She hadn’t seen the crossbow or the enemy above and she was mad at being knocked to the floor. “You’d better have a good explanation, Big Brother,” she turned her ire on Alexander.
Before Alexander could defend himself, Mage Gamaliel answered for him. “He does. There was an assassin in the balcony.” He pointed to the position the enemy had fired from and then cast about and found the crossbow bolt on the floor. He picked it up, showing Abigail the blunt wooden tip with the remnants of glass affixed to it. “Glass-tipped and filled with poison. You can probably smell it on my armor. In reality, your brother saved your life. By some means that I do not yet understand,” he gave Alexander a meaningful look, “Lord Alexander saw the enemy coming. Clearly, he could have simply evaded the attack, but in doing so, the trajectory of the bolt would have carried it into you, so he pushed me into the path, assuming that my armor would protect me.” He looked at Alexander again. “Fortunately, his assumptions were correct.”
Alexander was astonished. The Mage was observant at a level of detail that Alexander couldn’t quite understand and his power of reason was quick and spot on. He understood immediately why Lucky held this man in such high regard.
“Have I missed anything, Lord Alexander?” he asked.
“No. Your account of the attack is correct in every detail, save one. I made no assumptions. I knew with certainty that your armor would hold. I would have found another way had I believed otherwise.”
“Later, I would like you to explain how you knew these things.” The Mage turned to Regent Cery, who was standing stone still and clearly angry at the breach of security in his palace. “Regent, may we find a more secure location?” he asked gently.
They made their way to a large room with only one door and no windows. The lamps were already lit and platters of breads, cold meat and cheeses with a variety of sauces were already on the table. Clearly the serving staff was quick and efficient.
Alexander took the chair at the head of the table to reinforce his claim to the throne. He knew the Regent would have normally sat there but Alexander wasn’t about to show any sign of weakness. He needed this too much. Once everyone was seated at the table, with a few bards sitting in chairs along the walls, Alexander began.
“Regent Cery, Mage Gamaliel, war is coming. Prince Phane is on the march and he intends to consume the whole of the Seven Isles. If he succeeds, the world will fall into darkness and there will be suffering on an unimaginable scale. I have witnessed firsthand the netherworld beasts that are allied with Phane and I know from personal experience that he is without conscience. Life is a toy to him to be trifled with. I’ve come here to claim the throne of New Ruatha and to unite the Isle of Ruatha under my rule so that I can build an army capable of withstanding the forces Phane will bring to bear against those who love life and freedom.”
Alexander had a hundred questions he wanted to ask the Mage but now was not the time. He had too big an audience. Now was the time for broad strokes and sweeping rhetoric.
“I can’t fight this enemy alone. I call on all who would see their children grow up free to stand with me. Can I count on your support?” He looked at the Mage first.
Mage Gamaliel looked at him for a moment as if weighing the content of his soul. He spoke softly, yet his voice carried clearly to every corner of the room. “My order has waited for this day for two millennia. The Wizards Guild of New Ruatha was founded by Mage Cedric for the purpose of serving this cause. You are the one he has marked to lead us in this fight. I pledge my support and that of my guild.”
“Thank you.” Alexander had never meant any two words more. The Mage was a formidable ally. With his backing, Alexander was one very large step closer to reuniting the territories of Ruatha into a nation capable of fielding a real army. He looked to Regent Cery next.
The Regent looked a bit uncomfortable, but he was a man used to making decisions even when he didn’t like the options. “Mage Gamaliel has verified the mark and Glen Morillian has recognized your claim to the throne. I will recognize your authority but you must understand that I only speak for New Ruatha and the surrounding lands. Many of those who govern other territories in Ruatha will not recognize you unless you can present the Thinblade. Even then, I doubt Headwater will bow to your claim.”
“Thank you, Regent Cery. I will deal with Headwater another day. I would have you retain the duties of Regent of New Ruatha. I don’t have time to govern and you are clearly far more capable of it than I. I have only two instructions for the time being. Secure the palace and begin raising an army.”
The Regent nodded as an aid came up and whispered in his ear, while placing a knife on the table. “It seems that you killed the assassin. Your knife pierced his heart.” Regent Cery handed the knife to Alexander. “Also, your suites are ready.”
Alexander felt dead tired. It was well into the morning and he wanted to be clear-headed when he sat down with the Mage. He had so many questions.
Alexander stood. “We’ll talk more tomorrow.” He turned to the aid. “Please show us to our quarters.”
In spite of his fatigue, Alexander couldn’t help but feel slightly awed at the magnificent construction and design of t
he palace as he walked through the labyrinthine hallways. The floors were polished marble in many of the larger halls. Others were covered with rich, thick, artfully woven heavy carpets. Still others were inlaid with thousands of tiny one-inch, multicolored square tiles fitted together so closely that the grout between them wasn’t even visible. The tiles spread out in complex patterns or beautifully designed scenes of the city. The walls were adorned with rich colorful tapestries, remarkably detailed paintings that were clearly ancient yet held their vibrant colors flawlessly, and expertly carved woodwork either polished to a sheen or gilded in gold.
Ornate benches, chairs, and small sitting tables were placed along the walls at convenient locations. Elaborate yet functional chandeliers hung from the ceilings of the larger rooms and halls, while polished brass sconces held fine crystal oil lamps along the walls in those passageways where the ceilings were too low to accommodate hanging lamps.
Many of the arched ceilings were adorned with colorful frescos. The ceiling of one hall was painted to appear open to a partly cloudy sky in mid-spring. Big fluffy clouds broke the light blue of the background and the lamps were placed to make it look as though the clouds moved on the breeze as Alexander walked down the hall. It was a remarkable effect. Another hall’s ceiling was done in polished black tile with points of mirror to create the effect of a night sky overhead.
Everything was well kept, in good repair, and brightly polished. Alexander thought the palace must employ an army of servants just to keep it clean. It was much bigger than the palace in Glen Morillian and much more elaborately decorated.
The north wing was the set of quarters reserved for visiting heads of state and it was secured by providing only one entrance. Alexander and his companions made their way up a flight of stairs that opened onto a stone bridge leading across an artificial chasm built into the palace. The bridge ran the fifty or sixty feet across a fall of easily a hundred feet to the courtyards below and it was enclosed in an arched wrought-iron cage set with crystal-clear panes of glass. The lamps lining the glass tunnel were all glowing brightly.
Alexander stopped for a moment to take in the sight. When he looked around, he noticed that there were six guards on a platform just behind the opening in the floor where the stairs came through. All were armed with crossbows and they had a number of long pikes that could easily reach the staircase below. When he looked to the other end of the glowing crystal tunnel, he saw another six guards standing watch over big double doors.
He marveled at the artistry of the enclosed bridge. He could see the lights of the city all around and the stars overhead as he walked down the softly glowing bridge. He took Isabel’s hand and she gave him a warm smile while she too marveled at the beauty around her.
When they reached the doors, a young, burly-looking guard with markings of rank on his breastplate bowed to Alexander. “I am Captain Sava, commander of your guard force, Lord Alexander.”
Alexander looked at his colors and liked what he saw, so he offered the man his hand. Captain Sava was a little surprised but took it enthusiastically.
“Captain Sava, thank you for taking this duty. I have enemies who are ruthless and cunning. I urge you to take great care in your duty. The enemy will not hesitate to kill your men to get to me. My companions may come and go from these quarters as they please without question or challenge. The Regent and Mage Gamaliel are welcome without invitation. Stop all others who wish to pass and obtain permission for them to enter before allowing them to cross this threshold.”
The burly captain bowed. “As you command, My Lord.” Then he stood straight and proud and nodded to his men to open the doors.
The suite of rooms was more than Alexander would have expected or ever asked for. The heavy, brass-bound, engraved oak doors opened to a large oval receiving room with a high vaulted ceiling and a brass-railed semicircular staircase winding up along the left wall of the room to the level above and ending in the railed balcony of an open hallway. A giant crystal chandelier hung from heavy chains in the center of the arched ceiling forty feet overhead and filled the room with warm clear light. Large arched passageways led out to the left and right and an even larger archway straight ahead passed under the balcony above. Along the right wall of the oval room were three large, ornately engraved, brass-inlaid armoires each with a cushioned bench resting before it. The floor was a mural of inlaid tiles, each of a different shape and color and each fitted perfectly in an impossibly complex puzzle that produced an image of the Ruathan coat of arms.
The Regent’s aid stopped in the middle of the floor. “On your left is a dining room with the servants’ entrance. Your staff is quartered in the levels below. There are six trusted servants, all of whom have served in the court for their entire lives. The servant and food preparation areas for this wing are entirely self-contained. The only way for them to leave is through the main door. The door leading to the quarters below can be locked and barred to ensure privacy and security.
“On your right is a council chamber with a meeting table and several writing desks complete with lamps, parchment, ink, quills, and sealing wax for any correspondence you may wish to send. Directly ahead is a sitting room and lounge area with a balcony overlooking the square below. Eight bedchambers line the hall on the second floor. The chamber at the end of the hall to the right has been prepared for you, Lord Alexander. Each chamber has its own water closet with a bath and each has a direct line from the heated cistern in the main palace so our guests can have hot water whenever they like. If you need or want anything, use the pull cord in each chamber to summon the serving staff. If they are unable to fulfill your needs, please make your request to the security staff just outside the door and they will see to it that your wishes are met. May I be of any further assistance?” Minister Savio asked.
“No, thank you, you’ve been very helpful. Please convey my gratitude to the Regent for his hospitality.” Alexander wanted to be polite but more than anything he wanted to sleep.
The aid bowed and left the large entry hall, closing the door on his way out.
Anatoly grunted as he looked around. He put the heavy bar in place on the double doors and set the locking pins into the floor, then gave the door a tug to be sure it was secure. “I’m going to have a look around before we settle in for the night,” he said before he went about securing the already very secure suite of chambers.
Alexander wearily climbed the stairs and went down the hall to his room, saying good night over his shoulder. His room was actually two rooms: a sitting room that doubled as an entry room, and a bedchamber. Alexander barred the door and took a quick look around to make sure he was alone before undressing and quickly washing the trail grime away. He was asleep before his head hit the very fluffy goose-down pillow.
Thinblade (Sovereign of the Seven Isles: Book One) Page 48
