***
Well, we can’t change back here, now can we? Geldun observed, as the ravens scrabbled for a hold on the steeply pitched tile roof.
And if we fly through a window, they’ll likely kill us as we change, Barathol added.
We’ll go in through the roof, Aleron replied. Now look away this time, so I don’t blind you again. We’ll change back when we get somewhere with better footing. Ellie is somewhere in this upper level, so we need to go through the ceiling. A portion of the terracotta roof tiles glowed bight white and then dissipated into mist. Aleron hopped into the dark attic space, followed by his companions. Something made him glance up to see several small sets of eyes glinting in the faint light afforded by the opening Aleron made. He croaked at the bats, but they only kept staring at the three birds that had no business disturbing their rest. She’s over here, I think, he said, hopping across the open ceiling joists, right under here I’m pretty sure.
How can you tell? Barathol asked. You have the amulet, not her.
I bound the charm to Ellie and myself when I gave it to her. The spells I used connect us through the amulet, so it doesn't much matter which one of us has it, at least when we’re close to one another. I’m sure of it; she’s directly under me. Get separated and take a solid stance and then I’ll change us back. With each of them occupying their own joist, Aleron caused them to veer into their natural forms. Unfortunately for Barathol, the form was that of a very large, heavy man in chain and plate. A sick expression crossed his features as his joist first creaked and then gave way, with a resounding crack. He fell through the ceiling in a hail of plaster, lath and dust. A woman screamed as Aleron leapt through the jagged hole his companion made. He saw Barathol roll through the debris and back to his feet. As Aleron landed, the butt of Barathol’s glaive snapped out to catch the screaming woman in the left temple, knocking her unconscious. Not a sound, or you die, Aleron commanded into the other Kolixtlani woman’s mind, drawing one cutlass. A look of sheer terror came over her and she clamped her lips shut. Geldun swung to the floor right behind him as Eilowyn stood, knocking her chair over backwards, with a half stunned and half-elated expression on her face.
“Aleron, you came!” She shouted, as he crossed the room to gather her into his arms. She was unable to get another word out as he kissed her hard on the mouth. Finally, she pulled away, gasping and said, “The door, it locks from the outside and that room is full of soldiers.”
They could hear shouting in Kolixtlani from the other side of the door, along with the sound of a lock being cycled. Barathol had already taken position at the door, while Geldun held the conscious woman at the point of his sword. Aleron broke away, ran to the door and placed his hands upon it. In a blinding flash, the doorway became one with the stone wall. A faint scream from the other side might have been from one whose hands suddenly became part of a solid stone wall. Turning, he strode straight to the attendant Geldun held captive. She cowered and started babbling when Aleron reached out to place a hand on her forehead. She went limp as soon as he touched her and he caught her to ease her to the floor. He then went to the one Barathol had knocked unconscious and placed his hand upon her head as well. “You damn near killed her Barry,” he said, before concentrating to guide healing energy into the injured woman. The yellow glow of it suffused her and then dissipated. Her breathing became stronger and she rolled into a fetal position and a deep sleep. “Neither of them should wake up anytime soon.”
“Eilowyn, My Princess, what is happening in there? Are you unharmed?” they could hear, heavily muffled, from a thickly accented voice on the other side of the wall.
“Prince Ehacatl, I presume?” he murmured to Eilowyn.
“Yes,” she replied, “and how did you know?”
“The girl I put to sleep had it right on the surface of her mind, as if she was about to shout it out. Do you know him?”
“We just met. The King wants to marry me to him. He seems nice enough.”
“So you like him?”
Eilowyn’s face took on an annoyed expression. “Yes, I like him. He’s handsome, charming and has good manners, unlike some people I know, but I love you, you idiot.”
“I hate to break up this little reunion,” Geldun asserted, “but there’s a mass of soldiers on the other side of that wall and we’re sealed up in here. It’s only a matter of time before they bust through the wall or figure out the ceiling thing.”
“We’ll just make a hole and fly out,” Barathol offered.
“One problem with that,” Geldun countered, “remember how long it took us to learn how to fly? Lady Eilowyn here hasn’t had that opportunity yet. Al?”
“I may have overlooked that little detail,” Aleron conceded.
“What are you all babbling about?” Eilowyn demanded. “You’re making absolutely no sense! And how did you come through the ceiling anyway? This is the top story of the tower.”
“I turned us into ravens and we flew here,” Aleron told her, “but now we have to figure a way out of here. Geldun’s right, we don’t have the time to teach you how to fly.” A dull thud reverberated through the wall separating them from the Kolixtlani soldiers and it continued as a steady rhythmic pounding. Dust sifted from the joints of the stonework.
“What did I tell you,” Geldun commented. “They’re going to break down the wall.”
“It looks like I’ll have to blast a hole through the wall and take out as many as I can. Then we’ll have to fight our way down to the ground floor.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Barathol replied, wryly. “I’ll take the hundred on the left, like usual. You got the hundred on the right Gel?”
“Sure, just like usual.”
“Aleron,” Eilowyn interjected, “is there any way short of killing them all? They have not been unkind to me.”
“They hired those men to kill your retinue and kidnap you. I’ll kill them all if I can.”
“Then why did you save her?”
“I…I don’t know why I saved her. It just seemed like the right thing to do.”
“I think he’s a good man Aleron, just born on the wrong side. Try to find some restraint, please.”
The pounding continued and some of the stones moved visibly. Soon the Kolixtlanis would be through the wall and he would have to do something. “Cover your ears and look away,” he commanded the others. A look of intense concentration came over him and thrusting his hands, palm forward, he caused the entire wall to flash bright white and then followed with a blast of purple from his palms. The back blast of the concussion drove him back a step and caused his companions to drop to their knees. His own ears were ringing and he wished he had the opportunity to cover them as he instructed the others to do. As the dust settled and his companions recovered, they saw the entire wall absent, cleanly cut at the inside corners, from floor to ceiling. The room outside was littered with broken furniture and dinnerware. Wall hanging hung askew or dislodged altogether and bodies lay everywhere, some still, some moving slightly and groaning. It looked to be a platoon of around forty foot soldiers, all rendered unconscious by the concussive blast he projected through the wall as he converted it from solid to gas. Barely a pane of glass remained in any of the window openings. He quickly identified the Prince, in his fine horseman’s garb and pulled him from the rubble. His sword arm was obviously dislocated and Aleron placed his hands on Ehacatl’s chest and probed him for other injuries. Broken ribs and slight bleeding inside his skull were all he found.
“Al, let’s go!” Geldun shouted. “There’s sure to be more on the way.”
“Just a moment Gel,” he replied, as a golden glow enveloped the Prince. The glow subsided and the Prince’s eyes fluttered open. Aleron projected, Eilowyn is not for you, into Ehacatl’s mind, before putting him back to sleep. Meanwhile, Geldun kept watch on the doorway to the stairs, while Barathol wandered the room, knocking anyone who showed any trace of consciousness. “He will be fine Ellie, but we won’t be if we don’t get moving
soon.” She nodded affirmation and moved to follow him to the stair. “Barry, Gel, you form up the lead and I’ll take rear guard. Ellie, stay right behind them and in front of me.” They moved cautiously out of the room, but found no opposition in the stairwell. Apparently, the soldiers intended to ambush them inside Eilowyn’s quarters. They moved rapidly down the staircase, spiraling down the outer wall of the tower. Doors they passed on lower levels remained closed, but Aleron knew they would meet resistance somewhere, as there was no way the blast would go unnoticed. Quick glances out the windows they passed showed people gathering in the courtyard below, looking upwards. I have Eilowyn back, but this is far from over.
Chapter 33
Shilwezday, Day 26, Squash Moon. 8765 Sudean Calendar
Achcauhtli said, “Allow the messenger to enter.” He sat upon his gilded throne, already troubled by the news of Mahuizohm’s apparent disappearance, along with an entire platoon of garrison soldiers. He left word of something momentous about to occur, but since then, the High Priest communicated nothing and the doors to his laboratory remained locked and warded. None of the other priests had any knowledge of the wards Mahuizohm used to secure the room. Suspecting a connection to the Sudean Princess, he ordered soldiers to augment the tower guard and alert his son of the potential for danger. Now a messenger with more urgent news waited outside.
“Your Grace,” the soldier hailed, as he bowed deeply, still breathing heavily from his sprint to the throne room.
“Rise and give me your news.”
“Your Grace, there was some sort of blast at the top of the tower. Soldiers were dispatched immediately, Sire. We do not yet know what happened, or the extent of the damages.
“Ehacatl!” the King exclaimed, “my son!”
“Sire, what do you wish to do?” asked Matlal, the young Captain so pivotal in the first contact with the Arkans, who quickly became one of the King’s advisors.
“I need to find my son,” he replied, rising from the throne. “My armor, now!” Servants rushed to obey, while the King shed his royal robes.
“Your Grace, I can go with a contingent of the Royal Guard. There is no need to place yourself in danger,” Matlal implored him.
“That is my only son in that tower, Captain, I will go myself and you will accompany me. Don your armor Matlal and call up my escort.” Servants arrived with the king’s gambeson and armor, while Matlal sprinted to the guardroom to roust the King’s escort and don his own armor.
***
They rushed down the stairs, keeping Eilowyn between them for her protection. Aleron knew the tower occupied the south corner of the keep and that they would likely have to fight their way out of the keep and across the entire palace grounds, to escape into the city. Once in the city, they would need to go underground. Mahuizohm’s memories gave him extensive knowledge of the palace and the city, but the information remained somewhat jumbled in Aleron’s mind. He hoped to be able to sort it out in time to make use of it in their escape. They were nearly to the bottom and had yet to meet any resistance. He knew the stairwell opened into a large hall, adjacent to the kitchens and there were sure to be people coming that way to investigate the blast. “This opens up into a hall where we’ll probably find trouble. I’ll take the lead and you protect Ellie. I know the way out; we’ll try to go through the kitchens and out the back of the keep.”
“Got it!” Geldun and Barathol replied, in unison.
As they exited the stairwell, a group of palace guards trotted across the open hall. Aleron shouted, “Hard right!” and they cut towards the kitchens. Shoving servants out of the way as they passed, Aleron led them on a winding path through the kitchens, toward a back service door. Barathol paused to upturn a large pot of sauce into the path of their pursuers. Two guards barred the exit, while cooks and scullions scurried to get out of the way. Aleron cut them down without a second glance and they burst out into the back corner of the courtyard. “We need to get to the outer wall as fast as we can. I’ll make a hole and then seal it behind us.” As he said it, they looked out to a sea of armored men pouring from blockhouses on the outer walls. More came from around the south corner of the keep. Aleron paused to quickly seal the exit behind them, but that would do nothing to stop the flood of soldiers entering the courtyard. He led them further into the open and raised a dome of blue energy to surround the group, just as he had seen Hadaras do, so many years before. Aleron could see no easy way out. Upwards of two-hundred Kolixtlani, infantry surrounded them, separated only by the dome of magical energy he maintained around them. The soldiers hung back warily after seeing what became of the first lance to probe the dome. He noted the throng parting to admit a group of red-robed individuals and commented, “This is not good.”
“What, the fact that we’re surrounded, with nowhere to go?” Geldun asked.
“No, the fact that the priests just showed up; looks like a dozen.” Aleron felt the jarring sensation as the first volley of red energy crashed against the dome of blue. He sheathed his cutlasses and drew Andhanimwhid from the scabbard across his back. He felt the energy from the sword course through his body and the focus of his protective effort intensify.
“What are you planning Aleron?” Eilowyn asked. They could see the energy infuse him, causing his once gray eyes to shine blue.
“I plan to carve us a path out of this city,” he replied, in a voice not entirely his own. As a second volley from the priests impacted, he adjusted his focus to capture the massive amount of chaotic magic. The hue of his protective dome took on a purple caste, as he incorporated the two forces into one.
***
“Your Grace, the foreigners escaped through the kitchens to the courtyard, as we arrived to investigate the disturbance in the tower. They somehow sealed the door behind them so we could not pursue,” The Lieutenant reported to Achcauhtli and Matlan, as they arrived at the hall adjacent the tower.
“What of the tower? Have you sent men to investigate? The Prince was there when the blast occurred,” Matlal inquired.
“Sir, The prince was found unconscious, but seemingly uninjured. Upon awakening, he immediately began supervising the evacuation of the wounded. Many soldiers were injured in the blast.” Indeed, the first of the wounded were now making their way into the hall, some walking on their own or with assistance, while soldiers carried those still unconscious. They could see that several bled from the nose and ears.
“Your Grace, would you like to proceed to the tower?” Matlal offered.
“No, if Ehacatl is well, I will go to the courtyard to see these foreigners for myself. They should be cornered or captured by now and I wish to know where they came from and how they penetrated our defenses.”
“As you wish, Sire,” Matlan replied and to the King’s escort he directed, “To the southwest exit! We will round the tower to the east courtyard.” He preceded the King, while the escort took the flanks and rear guard and they marched straightaway to the large double doorway. Guards stationed at the exit opened the ironclad doors before them and they stepped out into the bright sunlight and made a left flank to take them around to the east courtyard. They would march out in an orderly and stately fashion to confront these interlopers. The last sight for Matlal and his King was the wall of purple energy that swept them up and crushed them against the wall of the tower like insects.
Ehacatl felt the tower shake to its foundation as the last of the wounded left the upper chamber. “Hurry, get the men to safety!” he shouted, as plaster rained from the ceiling. The Prince had no idea what was happening, but he needed to get he and his men to safety before the tower came down around them.
***
Broken bodies littered the courtyard of the palace. The tower stood still, though pieces of stonework and roof tiles rained from the upper levels. Barathol was just trying to clear the spots from his vision when he turned to see Aleron lying on the ground, the great sword beside him now dark where it once shone with bright blue energy. Eilowyn stooped to crouch besid
e him and shake him by the shoulders, but there was no reaction. Barathol scanned the scene and saw a gap where the outer wall collapsed from the blast. He grabbed Aleron under the armpits, drew him upright and then slung him over his shoulder. With his left arm around Aleron’s leg and the same hand grabbing the man’s wrist, Barathol retrieved his glaive and said, “Eilowyn, grab that sword and stay on my left. Gel, you take point. We’re going for that gap in the wall.” He straightened under his load and they sprinted to the wall. Eilowyn had to hike up her skirts to keep up. “Slow it down Gel; neither of us can move as fast as you right now.”
Geldun slowed the pace slightly and they reached the wall together. “It’s all clear, so far,” he stated, after poking his head past the gap. “We need to find a way to go underground and fast.” He led the way across the open ground surrounding the palace walls and into a side alley. They saw a few individuals either unconscious or holding their heads. Apparently, the shock wave extended past the outer walls and into the city. Otherwise, they saw all the windows shuttered and the doors closed. They ran down the alley until he noticed what looked to be an open cellar door. “In here,” he said as he ducked inside. The stairs led down to darkness and unknown, but it was their only option before the inevitable pursuit. He felt his way carefully, with Eilowyn close behind and Barathol lumbering behind her, breathing heavily under his burden. At the bottom of the stairwell, he found scant light from vent holes at the top of the wall. They were in what looked to be a storeroom. Whispering, “Set him down here and I’ll secure the door,” he sprinted back up the stairs and drew closed the door, locking the deadbolt before he went back down. “Where’s Barry?” he whispered, upon his return.
The Halfblood King: Book 1 of the Chronicles of Aertu Page 24
