Fallen Tiers

by Cheryl Matthynssens

  Keelee came off the couch in an instant. “You have a dragon’s egg?” she nearly squealed her words.

  “Yes, it is Rena’s. I must ask you both to promise me you won’t touch it. Nemara and I are caring for it.”

  “But we can look, right? we can look at it?” Keelee was practically bouncing with excitement.

  Sordith was just staring at Alador with a slack-jawed expression. Meanwhile, Keelee moved to Alador and grasped both his hands, her blanket falling away.

  “I promise… I am so excited…” she looked to Sordith and when he did not chime in she kicked him in the shin. “We promise we will not touch it… Right?”

  “Owww… yes, of course, we will not touch it.” Sordith managed to exclaim.

  “Alright. I am going with you to ensure it is all in order.” He led them out of the library and upstairs.

  “Through here,” he said when he got to the bath’s door, “and remember, no touching!”

  He opened the door and stepped into the room. The egg was out of its nest again. It was bobbing on its side in the warm water. “Dammit, it won’t stay in the nest.” He moved to the shorter side of the tub and carefully pulled the egg to him.”

  “Yes… eggs do that I suppose,” Sordith managed to murmur sarcastically.

  “My knowledge of eggs is limited to fowl, but I can tell you that no bird I watched over ever had an egg that continually moved out of the straw.” Alador carefully set the egg in its rock nest.

  “Maybe the problem is the ‘nest’ is not comfortable straw, but rock.” Sordith plucked a stone from the nest and inspected it.

  Alador reached over, took the stone away and replaced it, moving it twice before he was satisfied it was seated properly in the ring.

  When Alador looked up Keelee had peeled out of her dress and was already getting into the bath. He quickly turned away.

  “Keelee, love, perhaps you could have waited until Alador had left the room?” Sordith scowled at his wife.

  “Why? He has seen it before.”

  Sordith ran his hand over his face and inwardly complimented himself on securing Keelee as his wife prior to taking his little brother up on his offer to come stay with him.

  Keelee happily made her way to the egg, marveling at it. “It is such a beautiful color.”

  The two men looked at each other in awkwardness. Alador coughed politely. He placed his hand in the water and raise the temperature just enough to make the pair comfortable and not upset the egg.

  “I will leave you two to clean up.” He fled the room.

  Once out of the bathing room and the unsettling company of his brother’s nude wife he gathered his thoughts. They both needed something to wear.

  He carefully pictured Keelee and formed a dress over her in his mind’s eye. It was a deep green to match her eyes, the fabric crossing her breasts but most of her midriff exposed. The skirt was slit slightly to allow her movement and not hinder her still bandaged leg, but otherwise clung to her body. Smiling, Alador whispered the words and the gown appeared on the bed.

  He knew Sordith was more comfortable in leather. He created a matching shirt for Keelee’s dress. Then he formed the leather vest and pants as he had seen Sordith wear several times. Using Renamaum’s dragon greed for shiny things, he pictured and then called for Sordith’s flame like swords from wherever they were hidden or lost. They now lay on the bed beside Keelee’s dress. He looked at the two outfits on the bed and was satisfied.

  He went back to the door, being careful not to look at the pool directly. “You two need anything else?”

  “No, we are very good,” Keelee called.

  “I will have food and drink waiting when you come back to the library.” Alador turned to leave them.

  “Alador,” Sordith called.

  “Yes?” He turned to look directly at the man.

  “I am not sorry I hit you.” Sordith stated firmly.

  Alador wasn’t sure what to say to that. He shut the door and left them to the bath.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Keelee swept into the library, her face filled with the vibrancy of a hot bath and her excitement. The dress fit her exactly as Alador had imagined, and he smiled as Sordith followed her in with the matching green shirt.

  “Alador, I simply must know how you got it?” She moved to him, mindless of General Levielle standing at the fireplace, and Alador’s eyes narrowed at her careless statement as he looked pointedly at General Levielle, who had turned from his gazing into the flames at the exuberant voice of a woman.

  “Why, magic, of course.” The tension in his voice did not match the playful words, a fact not lost on the watching General.

  “Oooh.” To her credit, her hands went over her mouth at her near slip of his secret.

  Sordith flashed Alador a look of apology and shrugged helplessly. Alador moved around the desk and poured a glass of wine for Keelee and a stiffer drink for Sordith. He handed each their drinks and indicated the chairs by the fire. “Feel free to rest, we merely are waiting for Lady Aldemar and then we will go into dinner; she shouldn’t be long.

  Sordith walked over drink in one hand, his other arm going out to clasp the General’s. “Good to see you survived, General. I hope your losses were minimal?”

  “Mmm,” Levielle grunted shortly, but he grasped Sordith’s arm with a comfortable grip. As he released it, he looked about the room to those gathered around, letting out a heavy sigh, then he moved to a more comfortable position next to Sordith’s side. “Hopefully the same for the Trench? You were safe, it seems.” Alador watched the exchange with the careful eyes of the battle-trained, noting that the general was dressed in a simple brown tunic and black pants – a sharp contrast to Alador’s mage robes, and even the elegant clothing he had conjured for his brother and sister-in-law. He wondered briefly if it was a calculated statement, but decided that it probably had more to do with the hard work Levielle had dragged himself away from to be present at this gathering.

  “No,” Sordith was answering, “I have no idea how we survived. The wave hit as we were climbing out to the first tier. Then, it was swirling angry waters and a swiftly approaching wall of rock.” Sordith words were almost to himself, his eyes far away as he spoke.

  Levielle did not seem to notice, looking toward Alador and Keelee. “Then you are lucky to be alive.” Clearing his throat, he spoke a bit softer. “You would have thought we could have saved more lives.”

  “Yes, well. Bastards walk among the best of us. I would have had them all out, but maybe it makes no difference. They were all taking refuge on the first tier anyway.” Sordith’s gaze sharpened, his attention coming back to the here and now. .

  “Quite.” It was Levielle’s turn to gaze off into the distance. “I was shocked to see the gates were blocked, walled off by stone.”

  “Yes, well I was on the other side of that wall. The trench’s occupants were terrified, like cornered cattle. Many were hurt or injured just by the pushing and shoving.” Sordith stated, taking a sip from his glass.

  Alador coughed politely. “There are two others in the room, gentlemen. Perhaps we could have an inclusive conversation?” Alador had placed himself out of sword and fist reach just in case.

  Levielle smiled, more a slight tightening of the lips than anything. “Just a small conversation about the events earlier this week. My apologies.” He took the first step forward, his movement comfortable.

  “Levielle, I asked you here not as a council member, mage or Blackguard. I am speaking as your friend.” Alador took a deep breath. “You are no longer safe in Silverport.”

  To this, Levielle chuckled. “Oh? Was I ever safe in Silverport?” A bemused look crosses his features as he crossed his arms.

  “It is not a time for jokes.” Alador looked at him with genuine concern. “Luthian will not allow you to live long, knowing you were asked to block the tiers.““And where exactly do you expect me to run off to?” the general shot back with a slight growl. “He aske
d me to protect them, to keep people from becoming a mob running up the tiers, and to keep order.” He shook his head mournfully. “Nothing more.”

  “Approach him head on and tell him you serve the council no matter the cost. Ask to take the army to the coast and other outlying villages to help the people of Lerdenia.” Alador insisted. “Take Nakyra with you before she becomes leverage.”

  Sordith nodded, “I would not put it past him to place a threat upon your wife. He seems to prefer an upper hand if he feels his control has slipped.” Sordith took a long sip of his drink, then moved back over to refill it. Keelee had curled up in the corner of the couch and was just listening to the men.

  “I don’t expect him to let go of such an obvious token of control.” Levielle admitted evenly. “But to go with the army was my original plan anyway. Nakyra was to be delivered out to one of the less affected coastal towns.” He paused a moment before speaking again. “Besides, as far as the High Minister knows, I am completely loyal to his designs.”

  “Good,” Alador stated. “Lady Aldemar will be here any minute. Do we tell her of what he has done?” Alador looked between the two men, both rulers of Lerdenia in their own spheres of control.

  “What does it gain us to tell her?” Levielle asked with a heavy tone.

  “I am considering her as a replacement for the High Minister of the city. She is well received by all, seems to have a level head, and she saw through Luthian a long time ago.” Alador counted out the reasons on his fingers.”

  Sordith nodded. “She would be a fine choice.” He moved over and sat with Keelee. “I have never heard a bad word spoken of her. And I hear a lot of bad words,” he added with a chuckle.

  “A mage for a mage? Seems like a choice that is obvious and will only last as long as Lady Aldemar remains uncorrupted.” Levielle crossed his arms and planted a foot heavily.

  “What do you suggest, then? The mages would never accept a non-mage.” Alador tipped his head, his curious expression focused on the General.

  “Change the rules then.” Levielle shrugged. “But you are correct, it would be difficult to see another being accepted. Getting back to the point, however, what purpose does it serve to tell her now?” he asked, his tone calculated and slow.

  “I think we will need her to spread the rumors of Luthian’s involvement. Between her and Sordith, the rumor should take hold.” Alador stated the beginning of his plan. “Right now, Luthian is the noble benefactor; we need to get him out of that position.”

  “Hmm. An interesting approach. That rumor being what?” Levielle tapped his finger on his lips before stroking his goatee.

  Sordith spoke from where he was on the couch. “That Luthian actually put Lady Caterine, the bronze mage, up to her foul actions.”

  “Oh? Could the populace not see through that lie already?” Levielle asked coldly. “Perhaps it is because I saw it first hand, but one rogue mage could not have done that much damage without help.”

  “Although I suspect you are a mage, the fact that you keep it hidden has left you unused to what can be done if you’re willing to spend a lot of power, general.” Alador looked at him seriously. “If stone had been my sphere, I could have done it alone. Start at one end, move swiftly to the other.” He was not bragging; it had become simple fact to him.

  “In addition, sometimes people will believe a lie when they wish it to be true. They see what they hope to see.” Sordith added, running a hand over his face. He still held his drink in one hand but he laid his arms across his leg, hunching over to stare at the floor. “In my case, it is what I do not want to believe.”

  “I never claimed to be without magic.” Levielle retorted to Alador with a small smirk. “But still, if that is a rumor you believe will spread like wildfire and turn the populace against the High Minister, then I would not want to stop you, not in the least.” His tone was one of dark humor; something was very fitting about the means to an end here.

  “If I am to leave Silverport on an errand of peace, the High Minister will still know where I am and what I am up to. It is not difficult to send a man with a knife to see to my end in a tent.” Levielle laid out logically.

  “I was thinking more of Lady Nakyra. Surely you can separate her under a veil of deception so only you and those you send to guard her will know where she is.” Alador had not thought about a sent assassin. It was not unreasonable to consider that Luthian might try to just send such a man. This train of thought was interrupted as Radney stepped through to announce their final visitor. “Lady Aldemar has arrived and dinner is ready, Lord Alador.”

  The lady in question stepped over the threshold to the library. She looked exhausted, and her usual silver robes had been exchanged for a straight gray smock. Alador moved to her right away and took her hand.

  “Thank you for coming. I would not have sent if it were not urgent.” He looked her up and down and turned to introduce her to the others. He knew that she and the General kept company now and then, but she wouldn’t know Keelee and he wasn’t sure as to Sordith.

  “May I introduce Lady Aldemar. And there before you is the General, the Trench Lord, and his wife, Keelee.”

  “Lady Aldemar.” Levielle bowed a bit, his tone lowered and softened. Levielle stood back up to his normal height, keeping his watchful stance and watching the healing mage carefully with his hands clasped firmly behind his back as Alador continued.

  “I know we have much to discuss, but I am doubting any of you have eaten properly since the wave hit. Let us have a meal together and speak there.” Before she could protest, he escorted the lady to his dining room. He left it to the rest to follow. After all, they had been through his manor before.

  Sordith saw Keelee properly seated before taking a seat himself. Alador did the same for Lady Aldemar, leaving the general to fend for himself.

  Waiting for the other gentlemen to take their seats, Levielle took one of the open chairs near Alador. Keeping an eye on Lady Aldemar, he continued to listen.

  Alador waited until Radney had directed the dishes onto the table. There were roasted game hens, tubers, fresh hot bread, and a few other delicacies. It was better than he usually ate, but he didn’t know the preferences of his guests. Sordith was busy filling his plate and Keelee was setting a few tidbits on her own. Lady Aldemar seemed unwilling to add anything to her dish .When the servants withdrew and the door shut behind them, Alador finally chose to speak.

  “I am just going to be blunt. There is no way to broach this but to lay it out. If I have been wrong in trusting each of you, well I am sure this will represent my last meal.” His words had the desired effect as they all looked at him. “I am going to kill my uncle.” There he had said it. It strangely didn’t feel wrong to do so. It was actually a bit of a relief.

  “Well shite man! Why didn’t you just let me do it?” Sordith exclaimed throwing a bird leg down onto his plate. .

  “I didn’t want him to die a martyr, as I have told you. He needs to fall from grace before I can act.” Alador explained. He looked about the table nervously.

  Levielle kept quiet, watching the reactions of all of them before speaking up as he calmly took parts of dishes and loaded up his own plate. “And your plan is what, exactly?

  Lady Aldemar finally added a few bites of vegetables and some bread onto her plate. She did not speak, but she was watching Alador closely. She picked at the bread as Alador continued.

  “Well, it will start when you pull the army out to help the various villages. You will let Luthian know that by working with the Blackguard, and with no present threat, the city should be good hands with Bariton’s command,” he said to Levielle.

  Alador took a breath and rambled out the rest. “Lady Aldemar will pull all mages she trusts down to the fourth tier and hold a line between there and the third tier; the Blackguard will assist. Then I and a few hand-picked guards will assault the top tier with the help of dragons, to ensure that the mages supporting Luthian are hewn down. While that is occurr
ing, I will face my uncle.” Everyone was staring at him open mouthed; he remained silent till one of them spoke.

  Levielle wiped his mouth, a bit of sauce from one of the dishes catching against there. “That sounds like a good plan, one that is well thought out and could be executed well. However, even though it sounds good on paper, what are the safeguards for this action?” Levielle’s tone was one of command and experience.

  “In addition, what makes you think I would sanction killing him?” Lady Aldemar asked quietly.

  “My lady, I remember the day of the challenge, when you were a bit afraid of him.” Sordith pointed out.

  “That doesn’t mean I can sanction killing him. I am a healer for the gods’ sake.” She said, wringing her napkin.

  “And how do you get the dragons?” Keelee added with a glimmer of excitement.

  “Safeguards? I don’t understand.” He could only handle one answer at a time. He took a bite of hen and waited for Levielle to answer.

  “Safeguards meaning if you fail, this coup fails, and we all are tortured and perish beside you. What is your backup plan to make sure this succeeds?” Levielle took a bite of his own hen, his gaze never leaving Alador.

  “The red dragon, Keensight, will personally remove him if I fail.” Alador stated softly. “I have no doubt in my mind of this.”

  “Why would one of the dragons care about our petty squabbles?” Levielle demanded, looking rather curiously at Alador. “Why should we trust it to do what we need?”

  “May I ask how you came to align with dragons?” Lady Aldemar interjected.

  Alador took a deep breath. It was all on the line or fail before he started. He began his tale from the harvesting of the bloodstone to the fall of the bloodmines and Rena.

  “That is where the egg came from, isn’t it. You saved it when Rena died.” Keelee’s words were soft and admiring.

  “Nemara did.” Alador stated quietly.

  Lady Aldemar sat back in her chair. “Unbelievable.”

  “Yes, but true!” countered Keelee, “Sordith and I both have seen it. It is beautiful.”