by Sam Ferguson
“What do you mean?” Orres asked.
“The other man called Senator Bracken by a different name.”
Orres leaned forward eagerly, planting both hands on his desk. “What did he call him?”
“It was a strange name,” Lady Arkyn commented. “He called him Gondok’hr.”
Orres sat back in his seat and stroked his chin. “Gondok’hr,” he repeated aloud. He pulled out the note found in B’dargen’s office and looked at the signature again.
“Shortly after that, the guard came up the stairs and I had to make my escape or risk being caught,” Lady Arkyn continued. “So I thought I would attend the tribunal and see if I could figure out why they had been talking about Lord Lokton.”
“Did you?” Orres asked.
She shook her head. “Not really. I did ascertain that the tribunal was completely unfair though.”
“How do you know that?” Orres asked.
“I hid near the ceiling, on one of the beams that holds a chandelier. I could see and hear everything. I expected the tribunal to last for several hours while the evidence was presented and the parties involved gave testimony, but it wasn’t like that at all. Senator Bracken came out and presented evidence along with his testimony and then tried to call for a verdict.”
“Without Lord Lokton being allowed to defend himself?” Orres asked.
Lady Arkyn nodded. “Senator Mickelson put up quite an argument though. Not only did he denounce the evidence, but he tore into Senator Bracken directly in an extremely vicious tirade. He accused him of tampering with the evidence and not following proper procedure during the investigation. He even called for a vote to have the matter reinvestigated by a team of senators he assumed would be impartial.”
“What happened then?” Orres asked.
Lady Arkyn sighed. “Senator Desepp brought out another prisoner. He announced the man as Braun, one of Lord Lokton’s men at arms. He explained that Braun had been caught trying to sneak into the senate hall during the night and that he was presumed to be trying to help Lord Lokton escape.”
Orres nodded. “So, because the senate believed Lord Lokton was trying to escape, he lost his right to defend himself.”
“Exactly,” Lady Arkyn affirmed. “Desepp ordered Mickelson to refrain from speaking while he presented the evidence against Braun. The senate was just about to call for a verdict when Master Lepkin walked in with a dwarf.”
“Al,” Orres corrected.
“Ah, you know him too?” Lady Arkyn asked.
Orres nodded. “I have met him before.”
“Well, I don’t remember all of the exact words. Everything started to move so quickly after they showed up. Lepkin argued with Senator Bracken over the protocol. Apparently the tribunal had started a day earlier than Lepkin was informed so he missed the proceedings. Lepkin said he would demand a review of the tribunal. Bracken pushed the senate to vote anyway and they reached a guilty verdict. Then Bracken insinuated that Lepkin was there not to fulfill his role in answering the summons, but to help Lord Lokton escape. He said the only way Lepkin could prove his honor was to execute Lord Lokton.”
“That is outrageous!” Orres shouted. He jumped to his feet and pounded a fist on his desk. “Had I been there I would have given that senator a piece of…” he stopped and looked to Lady Arkyn. She stood there, looking at the floor and biting her lower lip. “Oh no,” Orres said. “Lepkin is the one?”
She nodded. “But it wasn’t without cause,” Lady Arkyn added quickly. “Senator Bracken was not really the senator. He was an imposter, a warlock deceiving everyone with magic so they thought he was Senator Bracken. When Master Lepkin realized the danger he shifted into a dragon and ripped the senate hall apart. Several senators died, as did the executioner.”
“And Bracken?” Orres asked.
Lady Arkyn nodded. “While Lepkin was in dragon form he ran his tail spikes through the imposter.”
“So what happened afterwards?”
“Next we went to the king. Master Lepkin and the dwarf told him all that had happened. Senator Mickelson was there with us as well. The king believed Lepkin. He wasn’t pleased with the situation, but once he found out that Bracken was really a warlock, he was a lot more understanding. Lepkin then went to investigate Senator Bracken’s house. I told them to check the library. They were going to see what other connections the warlock had and who he might have been working with. I came directly here to give you the report in person.”
Orres let himself fall back into his chair and he slapped a hand to his forehead. “By the gods, this is a mess.”
Someone rapped on the door and poked their head in. “Master Orres, the others are assembling in the auditorium.”
Orres flipped his head up to see Wendal. “Thank you,” he said.
“Hello Lady Arkyn, I didn’t realize you had returned,” Wendal said.
Lady Arkyn gave a half smile. “I have only been back for a few moments.”
“What news?” Wendal asked.
“You don’t want to know,” Orres said. He rose to his feet and waved for them to go into the hall. “Let’s go. This is going to be a long night,” he said.
“Why are we going to the auditorium?” Lady Arkyn asked.
“We have been asked to close Kuldiga Academy,” Orres said. She stared at him blankly until he walked around his desk and gently pushed on her shoulder. “Come, I have to inform the staff that they need to get their students ready to leave the school.”
The walk to the Bellwood auditorium seemed to take three times longer than usual. Orres’ feet felt heavier and harder to move also. Arkyn and Wendal occasionally glanced back to him, but he remained silent. The halls he walked through were colder than normal as he made his way, following the other two. Colder and darker. The sun had all but disappeared behind the horizon now and the incoming night was almost palpable. He stopped at the door of the auditorium and looked in, scanning the forty masters as they mixed and mingled while searching for seats.
A few of the more stoic masters had taken their seats in the front and were sitting dutifully, facing the podium silently. Most of the others were clustering with friends and talking. Some laughed while others leaned in close to each other in whisper. A sour feeling crept into Orres’ stomach.
“Standing here won’t get the job done,” Orres told himself. He stepped through the doorway, returning nods and handshakes as he passed through the others still in the aisle. He tried to put on a smile, but he couldn’t. It only took a moment for the others to catch onto the fact that something was terribly wrong. The men and women ceased greeting him and moved out of his way instead, scrambling to take a seat and hear what he had to tell them.
He plodded up the few steps to the stage and marched to the podium. He stuck his jaw out to the right and chewed lightly on his tongue. Speaking at times like this had never been his strongest talent. Of all the tips he learned about overcoming nerves, he found biting on the tongue to be among the best. Nobody could see him do it, and it caused saliva to come into his dry mouth so he could wet his throat and loosen up a bit.
Placing his hands on either side of the podium he scanned the crowd. His eyes stopped on Master B’dargen for a moment. Could the ‘G’ stand for Gondok’hr? Then again, if Lepkin had killed the warlock, perhaps it was not so important now. Surely there would be much to occupy them once the king called them up. He looked down at the podium, wishing he had prepared remarks.
“I apologize for summoning all of you here at the last minute,” he began. “I am afraid I have some disturbing news. However, before I start I must ask for your discretion and temperance.” He paused for a moment and looked out over the sea of faces in front of him. “I have received a message from the king that the senate hall has suffered an attack.”
Murmurs ripped through the auditorium.
Orres knocked his knuckles on the podium and the people quieted down quickly. “The king has asked me to close down Kuldiga Academy and send the stu
dents back to their homes. We are to remain here and stand by for further instructions.” A hand shot up from the front row. Master Orres nodded, allowing the question.
“Have any senators been killed?”
Orres nodded. “I do not have all of the details, but there have been some casualties.” Pockets of whispers sprang up, and again Orres knocked on the podium to quiet them down. “I have sent a reply to the king. I told him we will have the school closed down tonight. The students are to leave by first light, after a light breakfast. Then, the rest of us will remain here. Remember, as professors at Kuldiga Academy we are here to train students, but our first commitment is to the king and the kingdom. Just as the first masters who opened the academy, we have always known we could be called upon to lend our talents to the king’s aid. We represent some of the finest warriors, healers, and mages our land has to offer. If we stand together now, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome.”
There was silence in the auditorium for the first time since Orres had arrived. No one moved, whispered, or even sighed. He swore had there been a cricket in the room, its chirping would have been deafening. He surveyed the crowd for additional questions, but when no more came he nodded and slapped the podium.
“Well then, let’s get to work. Remember, use discretion when preparing your students. Some of them have long journeys ahead.”
“How will they get home?” someone shouted from the back. “We only have five carriages here at the academy.”
Orres nodded. “The academy has some preparations in place for just such an event,” Orres assured him. “We will send our students south to Fort Drake. There they will be able to receive additional horses and escorts as they make their way from Fort Drake to their homes.”
“But, Fort Drake is two days walk from here,” someone shouted. “Surely there must be a better way?”
Orres shrugged. “Lady Dimwater is not here at the present time, and she is the only one capable of sending others through magical teleports.”
“I can take students with me through a teleport,” Master B’dargen called out. “It would take a while, because I can only take one at a time, but it could help.”
Master Orres shook his head. “At most you would only be able to transport ten or twenty before the night ended. It would be better to keep them all together and then send them with our carriages. We can also send one or two healers, just to make sure everything goes smoothly.” The shouts grew louder and Orres had to rap the podium repeatedly to quiet the crowd. “As I said, sending the students to Fort Drake is our evacuation plan. I will send a message to the fort commander immediately and from then on we can start sending messages to each student’s family. That way, if a family would like to make different arrangements, or perhaps meet their child at Fort Drake, they may do so.”
The front row stood up all at once. They each bowed slightly to Master Orres and began leading the way out of the auditorium.
“This is going to be a long night,” Orres told himself.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Master Orres raised his head from the back of his couch as the first rays of sunlight poked in through his window. He lurched forward, bones creaking with effort. He had only just barely closed his eyes a few moments ago. He pushed onto the couch with his hands and propelled himself back to his feet. He was exhausted, but he had to make sure the students got on their way. He went to the window and saw each of the five carriages in the main courtyard. A few men were scurrying back and forth like a trail of ants carrying boxes from a doorway to the carriages. It was the food Orres had ordered sent with the students.
Master Wendal opened the door and announced himself. “Master Orres, I brought you some coffee. I thought you might need it.”
Orres waved it off. “I never much liked the stuff,” he said.
Wendal set the pitcher and cup on the desk. “I didn’t say I thought you might like it,” he replied.
Orres turned a sour face on Wendal and Wendal shrugged. “Forgive me, I don’t mean to be rude. I’m just tired.”
The two of them stood and watched as several masters filed out of the academy, leading a line of students behind each of them. The procession only lasted for a few minutes as the students lined up by class and the role was taken.
“I’m impressed,” Orres said. “I didn’t think it could be done so quickly.”
“We managed to catch most of the student body before dinner last night. Once we told them what was happening most of them were quick to pack up. Of course, they are leaving a lot of personal effects behind. We instructed them to take only an extra change of clothes and some biscuits and food for the journey.”
“That is good,” Orres replied. The two of them watched as the first carriage lurched forward under the driver’s whip. The others followed and led the students out through the southern gates. “I never thought I would see a day like this,” Orres commented as he watched them go.
Wendal stood silently, sipping a cup of coffee.
Master Berr appeared in the doorway. “Master Orres, all of the students have been accounted for and are on the road.”
Orres nodded. “Very well. Tell the others that they should get some rest, if they can. We need to be ready when the king calls upon us.”
Master Berr nodded his bald head and walked away.
“Then, if there is nothing else I can do…” Wendal started. Orres nodded and waved him away.
“Go and rest.”
“What about you?” Wendal asked.
“I am already up,” Orres said with a shrug. “I’ll stay here.” He glanced out to the perch outside his window. “I am still waiting for a response from a few families.”
Wendal smiled and walked out of the room, calling over his shoulder. “You know where to find me if you need me.”
Orres walked over and closed the door behind Wendal. Then he returned to the window and continued to watch the exodus of students. He stood at the window long after the last student had disappeared from his view. He offered a prayer to the gods, asking them to protect the apprentices on their way home, then he went to his couch and slumped down on his side.
He was snoring in less than a minute.
*****
Heavy pounding ripped Orres from his slumber. He sat up on the couch and stretched his sore back. “Come in!” he yelled.
“Master Orres, you need to come outside,” Lady Arkyn shouted quickly.
“Calm down, what’s the matter?” Orres said as he wiped a hand over his eyes to take the sleep away.
“Senator Bracken has arrived with a company of king’s guards,” she replied.
“Senator Bracken…” Orres dropped his hand and stood to look at her. “I thought you said that Lepkin—” Lady Arkyn cut him off.
“I did,” she said quickly. “I saw it with my own eyes, but he is here. His carriage just arrived and he is waiting for all of us to assemble in the courtyard.”
“No, we can’t go out and meet him. You said he was a warlock. If it’s really him, then we will be walking into a trap.”
She nodded. “I know, but B’dargen and several others have already assembled in the courtyard.
“B’dargen,” Orres snarled. He walked closer to the window, peering down across the courtyard where a large carriage stood, flanked by a score of horsemen and several ranks of men on foot.
“Master Wendal told me you were investigating B’dargen,” Lady Arkyn said.
Orres nodded. “And now he is leading the others out to meet with a dead senator.” He turned back to say something and stopped as Master Wendal came running through the door.
“Did you see?” he asked.
“I see it,” Orres replied.
“What do we do?”
Orres looked to Lady Arkyn. “You stay here. Watch through the window. If something happens, we will want to warn the king immediately.”
She nodded. “I will see to it.”
Orres then looked to Wendal. “You and I will go out to
see what we can do.” Orres turned abruptly, reaching up to a mount on the wall and pulling his sword down to attach it around his waist. He heard Wendal walk away, but he didn’t bother to watch the man. Something was wrong. Orres stole one last glance at Lady Arkyn and pointed to the writing instruments on his desk. He took his ring off and set it on the paper. “Use my seal,” he instructed.
He made his way down the spiral staircase, passing Groundskeeper Rick on the way down.
“We have visitors,” Rick announced.
Orres nodded at the man and continued down, two steps at a time before jogging out the door and into the courtyard. Orres squinted in the afternoon light until he made out the purple and gold pennants flying above the carriage. One of the riders galloped ahead of the carriage and waved a greeting to Orres.
The horseman wore black platemail with red silk trim lining the edges of his cuirass and pauldrons. A golden dragon was emblazoned into the breastplate. Orres recognized it as the battle dress of the king’s guard.
“Hail, Master Orres,” the horseman shouted out. He brought his horse to a stop just two yards away.
Orres could see the wet lather on the animal. He knew they had been travelling hard and fast for a long time to reach him. “Well met,” Orres replied. “To what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
The horseman pointed to the carriage. “Have you heard the senate has been attacked?”
“Aye,” Orres said. “I received a message from the king last night.”
The horseman leaned forward. “Did the message contain any details of the attack?”
“Not exactly,” Orres said. He glanced to the carriage, wondering who was inside. Had the warlock somehow survived only to retake the form of a man others knew was dead?
The horseman relaxed in the saddle and nodded. “Senator Bracken is here to make a formal address.”
“Senator Bracken?” Orres repeated before he could catch himself.
The horseman nodded and pulled his horse off to trot back to the carriage. “Please ensure all of the masters have been assembled,” he shouted over his shoulder.
