The High King: A Tale of Alus

by Wigboldy, Donald

  The princess looked unconvinced, but she replied, "I cannot stop you from going, sir admiral. You leave telling me that you hope your efforts will not be in vain, but I hope that you are correct. I fear that you will leave me and my father will die while you are gone, and then what will we do?"

  Gerid sighed, "If your father is going to die from this spell, I cannot halt it from here. If I stay here, all I can do is wait for one of your wizards to discover the cure. Leaving, at least, gives me a chance to do something useful."

  An uncomfortable silence took over the room. Even his toddler, seemed to know that he should not interrupt. After several minutes, Allisand looked at him again, "So be it, admiral. Unless you have more news for me, I think that our discussion is through."

  They made ready to leave Allisand when she added, "Karma Holtein, could you stay a moment longer? I would like to discuss some things with you."

  Gerid opened the doors for Catiya and his son. The guide was waiting and, without a word, he led them to find their new quarters.

  The Marisian camp sprawled across a great valley with woods to the west and north framing the tents and campfires with some protection from full scale assaults. To the east, another wide valley led into the enemy encampment. A pair of hills rose like sentries where the two met and atop them Terris spied what appeared to be several low towers on each crest. Stone parapets were impressive enough, but he wondered why they had bothered to build such things when the encampment appeared to want to stay mobile. There were no trenches that he could see as they approached from the northeast and that led him to believe that there was something suspicious about the towers.

  Iylin noticed his attention and grinned without saying anything. He was waiting for Terris to say something foolish, the fallen king thought. Being a diplomat and groomed to kingship, he would allow himself to say nothing. Finally, the sergeant answered the unspoken question, "The wizards have left their monoliths as guards. They are less of a threat than one might think, but they look impressive, especially at night."

  "Can they even see at night?" Terris questioned. It was a reasonable query given the first answer. "I couldn't say. The wizards seem to be the main

  reason that the stone has come alive. To what extent

  they have given the golems senses and intelligence, I

  wouldn't know."

  "Or would not feel comfortable sharing," Terris

  continued the unspoken.

  The sergeant smiled and pointed at his nose as

  the sign that his guest was on target.

  "If the wizards are the main reason for control

  and life for the stone, I hope that you have hidden them

  well from Merrick. He'll want a chance to find them with

  his assassins as soon as possible, I'd wager."

  Iylin didn't answer as a sentry stepped from the

  shadows laying beneath the northern hill. Terris hadn't

  been able to spot the man before he had revealed himself

  to them. The men of Maris were very skilled at the art of

  hiding themselves. Even if Merrick did destroy the main

  army, these men and others would probably serve to

  harass his armies for the rest of his rule.

  "Halt," the sentry ordered.

  Iylin paused before saying, "Iylin, sergeant of

  border patrol three. We have guests to bring before

  General Falack. They have news for him and requests for

  help as well."

  "Don't tell it to me then, sergeant," the sentry

  stated. "I just look for the enemy."

  "We aren't what you are looking for then," Iylin

  replied sarcastically. He turned to Terris and gestured for

  him to follow. "Come on."

  Two more sentries accosted them before they

  could finally reach the edges of the main camp. Soldiers

  in the faded purple of Sileoth blended among the more

  numerous green and orange plaids of Maris. The loud

  contrast of color almost hurt the man's eyes to look at

  them together.

  Thankfully, Iylin led them quickly to the center

  where two large tents sat with the purple and silver

  banner of Sileoth atop one and the blue celitrose flower

  sat on its plaid field. The colors would have made him ill

  if the darkness hadn't served to mute the flags despite

  the orange glow cast by the campfires only a few

  hundred feet away. Guards showing the uniforms of both

  allies stood guarding each tent.

  The yeoman took them to the tent of his kingdom

  and addressed the sentries so quietly that even Terris

  could not hear his words just a few steps away. After only a few moments, Iylin told Terris that only he could enter. The guards took his sword and dirk to hold until he

  returned from his visit.

  Inside the tent was the brightest lighting the

  man had seen in the camp. Several torches lit the edges

  and another pair hung in the center from the poles

  bracing the canvas two feet above them. The light

  allowed him to see nearly a dozen men moving about the

  interior. Most were aides to the man, gray haired and still

  looking strong. He was decorated with a plaid cape like

  many officers of Maris. With the brown of his leather

  armor, the cape was easier to look at than on some of

  the soldiers he had seen.

  The general stood up, towering over Terris by a

  few inches, shortly after their entrance and gestured for

  the visitors to come nearer. Iylin looked uncomfortable as

  the older man gave him a solid hug around the shoulders

  and greeted, "Welcome back, Iylin my son. Your old baron

  of a father has missed you since you took charge of the

  border."

  Looking about to blush, the yeoman pointed

  towards Terris, who was seeing the family resemblance

  now that it was revealed. The younger man’s hair was

  still brown though both had blue eyes and a similar face.

  "I've brought a guest along as well, general. I think that

  he has some important things to say to you. An offer of

  alliance and some news out of Hala."

  The general gave both men an appraising look

  before turning to his son. "This must mean he is more

  important than you lead me to believe. Whenever you call

  me general, Sergeant of the Guard, it is always important

  business. Who is this man? What does he have to offer?" Terris sent a piercing stare to Iylin. The general

  made the younger man's position sound more elevated

  than a normal sergeant's. He had also leaked that the

  general was a baron of Maris. He asked coolly, "Sergeant

  of the Guard, Iylin? What kind of authority does that rank

  really entail?"

  The general looked amused and answered

  instead, "Said he was just a sergeant again, eh?" Iylin glared at the general, "It isn't nearly as high

  as your former rank, King Terris. As I said before, I am as

  much a regular soldier as you are just a rebel." Terris said nothing, but cocked his head awaiting

  the answer.

  "I am Sergeant of the Black Guard, the king's

  border guards and sometimes personal bodyguards. A

  sergeant's rank that, in your realm would be roughly..." "A colonel, I think, though I had no such separate

  force for my guards. I have heard of your Black Guard

  though. The rumor is that you are the best snipers in all

  the lands."

  Iylin shrugged, "We train only the best men we

  can find. Years of training make them better
. Now, if we'll

  return to why you are here, resistance leader Terris?" The general nodded, "Yes, what has brought a

  man like you here? I thought that Merrick had killed you

  already. You seem alive enough."

  "General Falack, I am here to discuss an alliance

  that can benefit both of us. You need information and,

  more importantly, help against Merrick's armies. We

  need arms if we can get them as well as a safe haven for

  some of our people who are in desperate need." The general sat down on his chair and shrugged.

  "We have the monoliths. Merrick won't defeat us too

  soon, sir."

  Terris moved forward and took the most

  comfortable looking chair left and sat opposite the man.

  Iylin remained standing and ushered out the other men

  that hadn't already left the room. Standing at the

  entrance as guard, Iylin waited for Terris to justify

  himself.

  The former king's eyes narrowed slightly,

  "Merrick brings more of the dragons and gargoyles to

  fight you even now. How long do you think that your

  wizards can keep up with the monoliths?"

  "Long enough," Falack replied gruffly.

  "It takes magic to craft and bring the creatures

  to life, more to renew that life each battle and even more

  to guide them from afar. That is what I have heard of this golem magic. If the rumors are accurate, Merrick's assassins have already killed a few of those wizards

  needed besides.

  "His sorcerers keep themselves safely hidden

  away deep in the mountains of northern Marshalla where

  they continue to bring over the gargoyles and dragons.

  His creatures may have lost some of their lives to your

  creatures, but I'll wager that they learn from each

  mistake and bring a greater loss to your armies each day.

  Is this assessment correct, general?"

  The general answered carefully, "I do not know

  how much magic is used and I would hardly tell you if

  they are succeeding in hurting us, if they were!" he added

  quickly. "Our forces are strong enough to keep Merrick at

  bay, Terris. Unlike your knights, the stone is nigh

  invincible in battle."

  Terris knew that the last statement was said

  merely to get a rise out of him. He smiled evenly, "The

  gargoyles were stronger than any man made defenses we

  could raise. My knights are among the finest soldiers as

  the Black Guard are among the finest guardsmen. I hear

  reports that those that fight under Merrick still kill

  almost three to one against your men not protected by

  the stone warriors. You have no forces except the

  monoliths and maybe the Black Guard that can outfight

  them. With the dragons and gargoyles gradually stopping

  your golems, your human forces are losing too many men.

  Deny that, general." Terris knew that the general would

  not appreciate his words and he was correct.

  "You sorry excuse for a king!" Falack growled

  and jumped to his feet. "You dare insult me in my own

  tent among my own troops! I'll kill you, do you

  understand?"

  The man swept aside the table between them

  and went for Terris' throat. Hardly moving in his seat,

  Terris countered the attack with a twist. After sending

  the man sprawling, the general made to try again and

  was similarly rebuffed. He was about to draw his sword

  when Iylin caught his father's wrist stopping him. "Father, don't! If you do this, we lose him and his

  knowledge. Listen to him now, calmly, and ask the

  questions that will help us win this war."

  Falack returned to his seat, though he glared at

  his son in the process. "How did you throw me so easily?" Terris smiled coldly, "That is just one of the

  things that I can teach you. If you are willing to listen and

  to help us, I can teach you a better way to fight the

  knights and the other soldiers. Maybe, just maybe, I can

  teach your men enough to win."

  The general's face suddenly fell. He looked tired

  and worn. "I think that we will need more than just your

  teachings. You were right in saying that our magicians

  are weakening, though I do not know if they will falter

  before Merrick's demons will.

  "We were hoping that Kardor would help us, but

  their king waits to see who will win. He hopes that both

  sides will wear themselves out before he needs to face

  either. Without them, we may run low on soldiers if the

  war lasts too long."

  Nodding quietly, Terris said, "And that is why we

  need to start helping each other. Are you interested?" The general looked stronger once again and

  nodded.

  Chapter 35-In the Face of a Storm

  "We're not gonna be able to avoid the storm, sir." Gerid looked at the dark clouds closing in on his small ship, the Trotter, and nodded to his helmsman. The wind gusted strongly causing the rigging to crack like

  whips with its strength. They had already been forced to shorten the sails for fear of tearing the canvas as they tried to outrun the storm that he knew now that they could not.

  "We're going to have to risk putting into the next island if we can reach it in time, Artes," was his reply.

  The helmsman looked fearful and stated, "But the nearest island is known to be filled with pirates, sir. We were lucky to find no one at the first isle. I doubt that we can be as lucky a second time."

  "Quardib had been reported as abandoned, Artes. I had only hoped that some may have remained rather than approaching the larger islands. I only want to get ashore to get information from them right now. Unfortunately, this storm kicked up so quickly that we're going to have to pray that we can reach Quardic." Gerid tried to smile at the other man to attempt to instill some confidence back into the helmsman. The smile was a weak attempt at best, however, so he tried again, "Look on the bright side, man. The pirates will have pulled their ships back to port as well so we should be able to put in without being attacked. That was more than I could promise when you volunteered."

  Artes smiled weakly and nodded. Gerid ignored the man as he watched his small crew trying to keep the merchant ship ahead of the rolling storm. The Trotter had been made for the ocean, but it was still on the small side.

  A strong blast of wind tore at him hard enough to make him adjust his feet or stagger. The ship listed to the right a moment with the cross wind, but his helmsman had the Trotter level again as they climbed the next twenty foot wave. It had become a rollercoaster ride over the past couple hours as the raging weather raced after the tiny ship and her crew.

  Any ship would be considered tiny before the anger of Mother Nature and this was a day of great anger indeed.

  Turning to look towards the dark clouds which were beginning to roll over them, a flash of lightning arced through the clouds only to be lost again in the swirling black masses. The sea behind them looked as if the night itself chased them as dark as the air had become.

  "Land ho!" the cry came from the crow's nest.

  Gerid looked up in surprise. "Good work, Jahkob, now get down from there before you get yourself killed. This mission is dangerous enough that you don't have to add any more to it."

  The admiral shook his head. Artes and Jahkob were two of the nine men that he had allowed to join him aboard the Trotter. They were all half crazy, he knew, but they were good men. Gerid hated to think that any of them would be killed by pirates or the weather.
r />   The giant stumbled as the deck shook from a wave collapsing against the hull. Catching himself, he quickly checked to see if they had lost anyone. The sea was getting worse and their leader was beginning to regret his decision to use the fetrii merchant ship. He wondered how much of a beating she could actually take. Unlike his larger warships, the fetrii's hull was somewhat weak. Only about half as thick as the typical warship's hull, the merchant would soon flounder from a breach if they didn't reach that island soon.

  The commander saw Jahkob had reached the base of the mast he had climbed and strode carefully over to ask, "How far was it?"

  "The island? Two miles maybe."

  Gerid cast another wary look at the clouds climbing above his vessel. Almost as if in warning, the rain began to spatter down with the sound of a thousand little slaps. The rain was cold where it struck his skin. Jahkob was already moving to help Friggard, another of the sailors aboard, as he struggled to tie off a rope that had slipped free of its knot.

  Artes looked at him as he returned to the wheel box. "Two miles, Artes. That's all we need to take of this weather to make the island."

  With a worried look to the sky, the helmsman nodded acknowledgement. The man's face echoed Gerid's own. Could the Trotter last that long? Neither of them could know for sure, of course, but two miles wasn't that far and they were moving quickly enough thanks to winds generated from the threatening sky.

  The rain drops changed from scattered fat droplets and suddenly struck like a solid wall. Like a waterfall plunging hundreds of feet to its lower level, the storm let them know that it was with them for real now. The drop from their wave into the trough between it and the next, nearly made him lose his stomach as the Trotter valiantly attempted to survive a forbidding sea. If the rain hadn't been enough, bits of hail began to strike the ship as well.

  The men already wore slickers and hats to resist the rain. An occasional curse told that the protection was not perfect. Gerid felt the stings also, but they meant little to him as he kept close watch on his ship and crew. Waves were coming over the rails to swipe at legs and bodies now. The deck was slick enough and the added danger caused several of the men to lash ropes around their waists to prevent any chance of being swept into the raging water.

  "Admiral!" It was only one word from Artes, but Gerid knew the man was having trouble.

  He leaped to the man's aid. The two of them fought the wheel and tried to keep the ship headed for the island they knew to be nearby.