Battle calls for the Savage Badgers or the Crouching Wolves rang through the palace. The skirmish was over, but the bloodlust still hung in the air like a tangible entity. Scarlet clad bodies and servants in livery lay unmoving on the floor at every turn.
Maximus’ cherished tapestries, pulled from the walls, lay in slashed heaps. Soldiers picked through broken vases, furniture, and porcelain dishes for anything of valuable still salvageable.
“What did you say?” Davad asked Mendel.
“Excuse me, my Lord. I did not say anything.”
Davad twitched his head sharply. That was the second time he had thought he heard voices whispering close to his ear, invasive and filled with malicious undertones. The sensation was unnerving. “Never mind,” he snapped.
On the third floor of the palace, soldiers lined both sides of the corridor in front of King Maximus’ chambers. As they approached, Commander Mendel immediately ordered the guards to stand down, and they threw open the doors to the suite.
Davad strode through and instantly scanned the interior. There were several people in the room with Maximus, who currently had his back turned to the door and was gazing out of a window as if it were any other day. Bo Franck, the scarred Captain of House Everard’s army, a Saber, and three female servants, one of which was Belle, Maximus’ long-time house manager.
Davad smiled. “Maximus! I would ask how your day is going, but it is clearly not going very well.”
Maximus’ dark eyes turned to him then, and Davad suddenly felt the urge to kneel but, with some effort, he resisted.
“I know you are not a fool, Davad, so stop acting like one.”
He laughed. “A fool! I have control of the city and you are imprisoned! Who is the fool here?”
“And, how long do you think this will last? House Everard has twice the size of any standing army, and I still have the House support of Gregaros, Knapp, and Hamilton. You have two allied Houses.”
“Your House support and legionnaires are in custody, Maximus. You are finished.”
“The people of Iserlohn will never accept an unlawful attempt to overthrow a legitimate reign, Davad. Surely, you realize that.”
Davad nodded. “You are right, Maximus. The people would never accept this if it were not absolutely necessary.”
The King’s eyebrows rose in question.
“The people would never accept the illegitimate ousting of a sane King,” he replied. “They will, however, praise me for my actions once they learn of all of your crazy antics. In fact, the talk has already begun. They have heard how you have led Iserlohn’s largest port city to ruin, the children and women starving to death under your regime. Lord Winslow will testify to your erratic behavior during Court, and Lady Conry will tell of your attempts to rape her. Oh, yes, you have been a very naughty King, Maximus.”
“You disgust me.”
“And, you disgust me, Maximus! You and your vile shifter family!”
“That is what this is about, isn’t it? You have always resented the fact that my family can wield magic.”
“Of course, I do! As should any decent citizen of this land. You were much too powerful. But, the fact is, they will be of no help to you now. I have planned this very meticulously. Your daughter cannot shift at the moment and your son in marriage, well, let’s just say that we will not be seeing him around any time soon.”
“What have you done?”
Davad leveled his gaze squarely at his nemesis. “Not for you to worry about. Not where you are going in any case.” He slowly unsheathed his sword. “At the cost to your lives,” he said to the others in the room, but did not take his eyes off Maximus, “stand back and do not interfere.”
CHAPTER 7
A Child’s Tale
For the first time since Rogan had returned to the royal seat of Deepstone to live in the King’s palace, the magnificence of the great hall escaped him. On any other day, he marveled at the unparalleled skill of the intricate masonry carvings and Dwarven runes that encircled the room and the stone walls polished to a high sheen. The ceiling, easily two hundred spans high or more, was supported by square sandstone pillars mottled with veins of color creating a natural swirling motif. A crystallized marble floor sparkled richly in the light of several braziers placed strategically throughout the hall. Even in the blackest of night, muted colors from the stained glass windows reflected off the marble and provided a warm and inviting glow.
At this moment, he did not see any of it. It had been quite a long time since he had lost his temper, but he was getting very close now. An army was headed to Nysa, and his mild-mannered King refused to send military aid to King Maximus. Many people he called friends could potentially die if he did not find a way to convince Erik to change his mind.
He took a deep breath and tried again.
“You were very young during the Demon War, my King, but have you forgotten so soon what isolation did to this island? The Kings vowed at the end of that war to unify the lands and now is our chance to fulfill that oath. King Maximus is in need of our assistance.”
The young monarch shook his head. “This is not an invasion of outside forces, cousin. This is a civil war, and one for which the Dwarves have no interest or business taking part in.”
“My King! You must listen to reason!”
“Kal Rogan…,” growled General Klay Arsten in warning. The leader of the Iron Fists was planted directly behind his King and would tolerate no disrespect. His brown beard, parted into two plaits was decorated with a large array of gems. A glistening shirt of chainmail covered his chest and hung to his knees.
“But, Beck Atlan is now missing!”
“Are you somehow convinced the two events are related?” King Erik inquired.
Rogan nodded. “Sure as I am standing here, and so does his wife, the Princess of Iserlohn.”
As if on cue, Kiernan and Airron entered the great hall. Sympathy for Kiernan washed over him. He would never say it to her directly, but she looked ill from the dark circles under her eyes and the way she hunched over her belly as if in pain when she walked. Airron held her arm at the elbow and steered her toward them.
“Any news?” he quickly asked her.
She shook her head. “No.” She reached out to hug him. “I am worried, Rogan.”
He held her tight and whispered in her ear. “You have my word, Kiernan, we will find Beck. I promise you that.”
King Erik immediately rose from his seat and approached. “Princess, let me assure you that everything that can be done is being done. All available soldiers and the Iron Fists are actively searching for your husband.”
She nodded. “I know. Thank you, Erik.”
Rogan put a protective arm around her waist. “I was just discussing with my King the need for action from Deepstone.”
Arsten once again growled, but did not say anything intelligible.
“Kal Rogan speaks truthfully, Princess. We have discussed this matter, and I very much regret to tell you that my hands are tied here. I cannot commit military support to the civil disputes of other lands.”
Rogan grunted and threw his hands up in the air in frustration. Surprisingly, Kiernan put a hand out to restrain him. “King Erik is right, Rogan. I have been involved in the politics of Massa far longer than you, and I understand and support his decision. This is Iserlohn’s problem and for Iserlohn to handle.”
“Princess!” The shout drew their eyes to the doors of the great hall. Roman Traynor, his eagle eyes furious, stomped toward them ahead of two of his Scarlet Sabers, a third being dragged between them.
“Roman?” Kiernan asked.
“This is Saber Lino Brega, Your Grace. He saw Prince Beck last night before he disappeared.”
The Saber hung his head in regret and sported a bloodied gash on his cheek.
“Go on,” ordered Roman. “Tell the Princess what you told us.”
The Saber fell to one knee. “I…I saw Prince Beck last night, Your Grace. But, I had no idea t
hat Captain Tray…” Roman Traynor’s hand swept out and backhanded the man with tremendous force.
“Idiot! Just tell her what you saw!”
The soldier shook his head and when he looked up, a deep cut in his lip was bleeding profusely. “I saw Prince Beck leave the party last night. I…I was patrolling the outside perimeter and watched him approach a woman who was standing among the boulders.”
“Why did you not report this, Brega!” demanded Roman Traynor.
The soldier shook his head miserably. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I thought he was simply meeting with…with a mistress. My duty was to the perimeter, not to…” Again, Traynor hit the man and he fell over on his side to the marble floor.
“Roman!” screamed Kiernan. “Enough!”
“I saw him, too, Maman.” All eyes turned to the little girl standing just outside of their circle. Kiernan rushed to her, and Rogan was horrified that she had just witnessed Roman’s unusual brutality.
“What, darling? What did you see?”
Kenley was crying now, the tears streaming down her pink cheeks. “I saw Daddy.”
Kiernan knelt in front of Kenley and grabbed her shoulders. “This is important. Where did you see him? What was he doing?”
“He left me alone at the party, Maman. He told me to go to bed, but I didn’t want to go by myself, so I followed him.”
“Where, Kenley? Where did you follow him?” she urged.
“Into the boulders, Maman. The Saber was telling the truth. He met a lady there.”
“And, what happened?”
The little girl paused. “He kissed her.”
Rogan heard Kiernan moan and gestured for Airron to take her away. The Elf immediately lifted Kiernan from her position kneeling in front of Kenley and, in her anguish, she offered no resistance.
Rogan took her place in front of the little girl. “Do you remember what this lady looked like, Kenley?”
“Yes.” Her bright green eyes rapidly blinked back the pool of tears settling in their depths like puddles. “She had a cloak on, but I could see that she had black hair. She also had something strange on her face.”
“Strange? What do you mean?”
“Well, there were three long scars on one cheek.”
There is a place deep in the soul where people carry their innermost fears like lead balloons. For the fortunate, these fears never materialize. They surface every once in awhile, but get pushed back down and tucked into place and never amount to much.
For the not so fortunate, they come in the form of Avalon Ravener.
Kiernan had always known that this day would come. From the little she knew about the sorceress, it had been easy to predict that she would never let things lie. She would need to settle the score, just like she did with Titus. There had been no reason for her to enter Nysa and kill the young Cyman all those years ago, but she did.
And, now she had Beck.
What did she want with him? Would she physically harm him?
Kiernan winced and reached out to grab her bedpost. It was impossible to stop the mental images that played across her mind like a sick and tortuous display. Titus told them about the depraved desires of this woman, and now her husband could be the focus of them. Both Rogan and Airron vowed to search until Beck was found, but Kiernan had her doubts. Avalon had many years to plan this abduction, and she was a sorceress and bodyshifter of incredible skill. If she did not want to be found, she most likely would not be.
Kiernan did not remember ever feeling so helpless before. Even when she spent those weeks with the Gems in Elloree and was kept behind a locked door, she always knew that she had options still available to her. This time, she had none.
Thinking of the Gems naturally caused her to think of Gemini. The sorceress who had been like a second mother to her would know what to do. She would know exactly how to track the woman who she had known over three hundred years ago.
The errant thought hit her then.
Was that why Gemini was now dead? Because she may have had the ability to track down and destroy Avalon? It seemed likely now.
Because of Avalon, two of the most important people in her life were gone—one permanently and the other’s future still undecided. The realization caused her heart to flutter until she felt like it would burst from her chest and take flight. Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she sat on the edge of the bed with her head between her legs. She stayed that way for a long time, until her panic eased and she could breathe evenly again.
Feeling like she finally had the strength to stand, she rose to her feet and finished packing the rest of her and Kenley’s clothes. She decided to leave Beck’s here, just in case he returned, and that seemingly harmless decision almost triggered another panic attack. Was she abandoning her husband along with his clothes?
A knock sounded on her door, and she walked into the sitting room on shaky legs. The panic would have to wait. She had a daughter to think about, and a father who could be in mortal danger if she did not go to his side.
Saber Anton LaFrae opened the door and announced Rogan, Janin and Airron.
Janin immediately rushed to her and held her in a tight embrace. “I am very sorry, Kiernan.”
Kiernan simply nodded. She did not trust herself to speak fearing it would come out incoherent.
Airron approached and took her hands as soon as Janin released her. “Kiernan, we will find him. Do you hear me?”
She nodded again and cleared her throat. “I…I have to return to
Nysa to help my father. I cannot abandon my realm and the people
I am responsible to protect.” She paused. “Beck would understand.”
“I know he would, Kiernan,” Airron quickly assured her. “You are making the only decision you can. King Erik still refuses to send aid to Iserlohn, so Rogan and I discussed our options and have decided to split up. I will stay here and search for Beck. My animal forms will help me to scent and track him better than the soldiers can, and Rogan and Janin will seek aid for Nysa and your father.”
Kiernan shook her head. “But, how? Where?”
Rogan smiled slyly. “If I cannot raise the Deepstone Army, I will raise one of my own.” Before she could question him further, he held up a hand. “Don’t ask.”
She looked at the two Dwarves. “But you two have just been married.”
Janin snorted. “I have been married to this man for six years. We just happened to make it official yesterday.” She looked directly in Kiernan’s eyes. “There is nothing we would not do to help your family or to help find Beck.”
Kiernan was touched. “Thank you, Janin.” She looked at her best friends. “I thank all of you.”
A loud commotion sounded in the hallway. Kiernan hurriedly walked over to open the doors, but they slammed opened before she could reach them.
“I said let me in!”
A beautiful Elven woman stormed into the room and looked around, her violet eyes furious. Finally, her gaze landed on Airron. “There you are! You will not get away from me so easy again, you lout!”
Kiernan waved away the angry Sabers at the door and looked at Airron. “What in the Highworld is going on here?”
Airron burst out in laughter.
“Airron! Who is this woman? Why are you laughing like that?”
“I am only laughing because otherwise I will be crying.”
Rogan glared at him. “What did you do now?”
Airron shook his mane of white hair and then held out his arm toward the woman. “Kiernan, Rogan, Janin. Let me introduce you to the Lady Melania Shael. My wife.”
Davad Etin stopped short in his intention to run his sword through King Maximus’ heart when Bo Franck, the Saber, and the servants stepped up together to form a line in front of their King. Even the stout house manager, Belle, looked like she was ready to take him on single-handedly.
Raj Mendel spoke over his shoulder. “My Lord?”
Davad shook his head. “Stand back, Commander. I will hand
le this.”
The soldier moved to the door.
“So, you are going to allow these people to be cut down in your defense, Maximus? Are you that much of a coward?”
Maximus calmly pushed through to the front of the line. “Oh, they have no fear of being cut down, Davad, because you are just about to leave.”
Davad tilted his head. “Oh, I am? You do not give the orders any longer, Maximus. Are you really that arrogant that you cannot see what is happening? Or, are you really as crazy as I have suggested?”
Maximus ignored his comments. “Before we part company, Davad, think on this. The people of Iserlohn will never accept your lies. They will never accept you. Find it in yourself to give up your schemes now so that more innocent people are not killed.”
“I have no intention of giving anything up, you fool! And, for the record, the innocent do not die under my rule—only those that stand in my way. My schemes are really quite simple. You will be dead momentarily, and I will be sitting on the Iserlohn throne by the end of next week. I will have no problem rallying the support of the other Houses once they face the reality of their limited choices. You have lost, Maximus! I have won!”
Maximus snorted. “I should have known you would not listen to reason. A King protects his people, Davad, he does not walk across their backs to obtain a higher position. I implore you one last time to have mercy on them.”
“Enough of this! Stand back!” he once again ordered the line of people.
“As I said, you will now be leaving us. Goodbye, Davad, and think on what I said.” Maximus turned to the side and gave a terse nod. Suddenly, one of the servants, a blonde woman, thrust her arm out and pointed.
“Reversi!”
Davad’s body involuntarily wrenched upright and his sword fell from nerveless fingers. The door slammed open, and he turned to the cry of surprise from Raj Mendel behind him as the man backed out of the room with unnatural, jerky movements.
Davad issued his own shout as his body began to move backward. He felt like a marionette powerless to fight against an invisible puppeteer. His arms flailed wildly as his feet took step after step toward the back of the room. With a final yelp, he was yanked through the doors and slammed up against the wall on the opposite side of the hall. The soldiers in the corridor, finally realizing something was amiss, rushed to enter the room, but the doors crashed shut. As soon as they did, Davad felt the magic dissipate, and his body convulsed once in a repulsed shudder.
Island Shifters: Book 02 - An Oath of the Mage Page 7
