Knights: Defenders of Ollanhar (Ollanhar Series Book 1)

by Keller, Robert E.

  Lannon grabbed Taith’s arm. “Come on, young man. Time to go join the others.”

  “Wait a moment,” said Taith. “I’m trying to read what that says on the altar.”

  “You can’t,” said Lannon, tugging at him.

  “Then you tell me what it says,” said Taith. “Or can’t you read it?”

  “I can,” said Lannon. “But I am forbidden to tell you.”

  “Then I’ll read it myself,” said Taith. He squinted. “If…you…can…” He shook his head. “What is that next word?”

  For a moment Lannon stood in stunned silence, overwhelmed by the realization in his mind. Then he gathered his wits and said, “The word is read, Taith.”

  “Right,” said Taith. “If…you…can…read…this…you…are…a…something…something.”

  “A Dark Watchman,” Lannon finished, in amazement. “Then you are a Dark Watchman. And, well, that seems to be what you are.”

  “Me?” said Taith, raising his eyebrows. “No way is that possible. I don’t know anything about that stuff. Is that what you are, Lannon?”

  Lannon nodded. “Has anything strange ever happened to you? Have you seen things you shouldn’t be able to see?”

  “No, nothing like that,” said Taith. “I did have a friend once—a girl around my age. She used to move stuff around just by waving at it, like rocks and stuff. It made her really tired, though, so she didn’t do it often.”

  “Do you know where she lives?” asked Lannon.

  “Maybe,” said Taith. He struggled to remember. “She moved to the city of Kalamede, I think, a few years ago. Maybe like…five years ago.”

  “Are you sure it wasn’t you moving the rocks?” asked Lannon, wondering what this could possibly all mean.

  “No, it was definitely her,” said Taith. “She would fall asleep afterward. She even got sick a couple times and couldn’t stand up. It was weird. I told her to quit doing it. What’s this about, anyways?”

  “I don’t know,” said Lannon. “I will discuss it with Aldreya. Meanwhile, you will join the others and you will behave. Is that understood?”

  Taith nodded. “I suppose.”

  ***

  The air had grown colder, and it had begun to rain again, when Lannon and Taith arrived at camp, shivering. The Knights had set up tents for the evening, and Lannon met with Aldreya inside her tent while Jace looked after Taith.

  They sat across from each other on a quilt, sipping hot tea, as the rain beat down on the tent roof. After Lannon told his tale, Aldreya was quiet for a time, her face contemplative in the glow of a lantern.

  At last she said, “I think this is solid proof that young Taith bears the Eye of Divinity. Therefore, we must protect him from Bellis and the Deep Shadow in the days ahead and then send him to Dremlock to be trained.”

  “But what about his lack of character?” asked Lannon. “Surely training him would be dangerous. Look at what happened to…Timlin Woodmaster.” The memory of his dead friend again caused pain to flood through Lannon’s heart. He could never forget how he had slain Timlin in battle, ending Lannon’s desperate hope for the former Squire’s redemption.

  “True,” said Aldreya. “But many Knights start out that way. Some children are thieves and even, in rare cases, killers. But they learn the ways of honor. This Taith is no different. There is good in him waiting to be awakened.”

  “What about the girl he spoke of?” asked Lannon.

  “Dremlock will search for her,” said Aldreya, “when the time is right. If her parents are willing, she too will be trained. Unless Taith provides more information, however, she will be very difficult to locate.”

  “I thought the Eye of Divinity was rare,” said Lannon. “Yet now I find there could be two others who possess it.” He was still amazed by this turn of events (in contrast to Aldreya’s calm demeanor) and wondering where it was all going to lead. He was so used to being the lone Dark Watchman of Dremlock that he couldn’t imagine sharing the stage with others who possessed the Eye.

  “It is rare,” said Aldreya. “But when it does appear, it usually does so in clusters. Therefore, it is not surprising that two children who lived near each other would have use of it. I suspect that these children do not possess it as strongly as you do, Lannon. After all, the Divine Essence itself was able to find you. However, it seems they were invisible to our god.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Lannon. “Does that mean they will never reach the potential of fully trained Dark Watchmen?”

  “Not necessarily,” said Aldreya. “The Eye can grow stronger over time. Regardless, this is potentially good fortune for Dremlock—if indeed it was mere luck and not the power of the Eye itself leading Taith to us.”

  “How could the Eye do that?” asked Lannon.

  Aldreya shrugged. “The Eye is capable of many wonders. It could have been working through both of you. Why did you take Taith to the shrine? You could have chosen to ignore him and let others tend to him. After all, you’re the High Watchman and have your duties. Yet as much as he annoyed you, you dragged him along to that shrine, where he read the Sacred Text. Mere coincidence?”

  “I’m not sure,” said Lannon. “I guess I wanted to show him something, but he ended up showing something to me. Maybe the Divine Essence actually knew of Taith and was guiding my actions.”

  Aldreya nodded. “It is certainly possible. Regardless, I can guarantee that Dremlock will train Taith—and the girl too if she can be found. Having two more Dark Watchmen in our army would be very helpful against Bellis. Dremlock will ignore the dangers of the Deep Shadow and what happened to all of the previous Dark Watchmen. Times are that desperate.”

  “But won’t they want me to train Taith?” asked Lannon, not liking that idea one bit. He didn’t want to feel responsible for the lad.

  “Not likely,” said Aldreya. “It isn’t necessary. The Eye of Divinity is different for everyone, and everyone must discover it on their own. Taith would be better off at Dremlock, with Taris Warhawk to guide him as he once guided you.”

  Lannon found himself apprehensive. “But what if Taith and the girl turn evil? The odds are that they will. They could try to overthrow Dremlock, as the Dark Watchman did in ancient times.”

  “And so could you,” said Aldreya. “What if the Deep Shadow gets in your heart, Lannon? Are you so certain you can resist it?”

  “No,” Lannon admitted. “But I’m only one man. If Taith and the girl were trained, that would make three of us. There would be greater danger. Surely one or two of us would end up falling to evil. After all, every single Dark Watchman who ever lived turned corrupt somehow. That makes for horrible odds.”

  “Yet the greatest danger we face today,” said Aldreya, “is King Verlamer and Bellis. Dremlock is one of the last free kingdoms. We can’t afford to worry about other threats. If Verlamer defeats us, he could open the way for the Deep Shadow. Our land might be doomed to a horrifying and endless existence in ice and shadow. That must be prevented at all costs—first and foremost by the might of the Flamestones, and secondly, by having warriors like the Dark Watchmen on our side.”

  “You’re right, of course,” said Lannon. Yet he remained apprehensive. “I guess Taith should be trained at Dremlock, then. And when he is ready, he can join us at Ollanhar. But…I don’t want to be responsible for him.”

  “You won’t be,” Aldreya promised. “Taith will be on his own, like all Dark Watchmen are. You are the High Watchman until you retire, Lannon. No one can take that title from you, and you have your duties to attend to.”

  Lannon nodded, feeling slightly better about the whole thing.

  But only slightly.

  ***

  Taith was going to be a Squire of Dremlock, but the news did nothing to improve his attitude. As the Knights broke camp the next morning, Taith refused to ride on Lannon’s horse. It was still foggy and raining in the grey light of dawn, and Taith sat on a stump looking cold, tired, and sullen. He waved the Knights a
way.

  “Taith, it’s time to move on,” said Lannon.

  Everyone but the lad was on horseback and eager to depart. The Knights exchanged impatient glances. Not this again, some of them muttered. The rain and cold had everyone in a sullen mood.

  “That’s an order, Taith,” Lannon added.

  “What if I don’t obey?” said Taith. “Will you use your sorcery on me again? I know you want to hurt me with your magic.”

  “That’s nonsense,” said Lannon. “I won’t hurt you. But you’re not going to hold up this mission. You’re coming with us, one way or another.”

  “Of course Lannon won’t harm you, Taith,” said Dallsa. “Lannon would never do that. He is too kind and noble to do such a thing.”

  “Lannon will keep his sorcery in check,” said Aldreya. “Nevertheless, you will ride with us. We cannot leave you behind.”

  “I don’t feel like riding,” said Taith. “I just want to sit here. So please stop bothering me. I don’t care about your stupid mission. I’m cold and tired, and that’s all I care about right now. Understand?”

  “We shall see,” said Aldreya, her eyes narrowing.

  “No one tells me what to do,” said Taith. “And unless Lannon is planning to bully me with his weird magic, I’m going to be making the rules from now on. I know that I have some special powers like Lannon does and you people need me. So you’re going to wait until I feel like riding.”

  “You can’t hold that over us,” said Lannon, struggling to remain patient. “We do need you, Taith. But we also need to complete our mission.”

  Dallsa motioned to the lad. “Come, Taith,” she said softly. “You can ride with me, and I will see that you receive wonderful care.”

  “You eat too much,” said Taith, with a sneer. “You’re kind of fat. Your horse might give out with the two of us on it.”

  Dallsa’s mouth dropped open. “That’s not very nice, young man. I’m trying to help you, Taith. Where are your manners?”

  Taith shrugged. “Just being truthful.”

  For a moment, there was silence as the Knights contemplated what to do. Then some low, muttered words came from Daledus’ throat. The Dwarf had sat scowling in silence long enough, and he could no longer contain himself.

  “Get on a horse!” Daledus growled. “Or I’ll jump down there and take my hand to your rear until you can’t sit down!”

  Aldreya glanced at Daledus and shook her head—a warning for the Dwarf to stay out of it. “I can handle this,” she said.

  Daledus ignored her. He raised his hand in a menacing gesture. “Don’t think I won’t administer a fierce spanking, lad.”

  Taith glowered up at him. “Go ahead and do it then, bully.”

  Daledus’ face turned crimson. He leapt off his horse and seized the boy, lifting him off the stump. “When I give an order, you do it. Understand?”

  His face pale, the boy nodded.

  Daledus carried him to his horse. “Now we’re going to ride out, and you’re not going to slow us—or I’ll spank your rear good and hard.”

  Aldreya looked displeased, but said nothing.

  Lannon was reasonably sure Daledus wouldn’t harm the boy and was just trying to scare him into riding with them, but the Grey Dwarf’s gruff manner and unpredictable behavior made for a tense moment.

  “Daledus is too harsh with him,” said Dallsa. “The boy can be troublesome, yes, but he has just lost his father and needs comfort.”

  Daledus sat proudly in the saddle, his fierce eyes daring anyone to challenge his authority to order the lad around. The boy sat with him, holding the reins and looking baffled.

  “I’ll make a man out of you yet,” Daledus growled in Taith’s ear. “You want to ride with Knights, then you’ll learn to act like one.”

  “I never said I wanted to ride with you people,” Taith replied.

  “What did you say?” Daledus snarled.

  Taith swallowed. “Nothing. I didn’t say a thing.”

  Daledus laughed. “I thought as much. Now guide that horse right and proper before you spoil my good mood. Maybe later I’ll let you swing my axe.”

  “I can’t swing that thing,” Taith replied. “It’s too big.”

  “Have faith in yourself,” Daledus roared—loud enough that Taith covered his ear. “I don’t want to hear you talk like a weakling ever again.”

  “Okay, I will,” Taith said quickly. “I mean, I won’t. Whatever—just don’t shout in my ear. Sheesh!” Taith’s hands trembled as he held the reins.

  “Daledus is treating that boy rather poorly,” said Dallsa.

  Aldreya didn’t reply. She seemed content to let Daledus continue to display a Dwarf’s style of parenting to Taith.

  “What if Daledus beats him?” asked Dallsa.

  “Our Sacred Laws forbid such punishments,” said Aldreya. “Besides, Taith endured enough of that at the hands of his father. And it isn’t necessary. In time, the lad will come to learn our ways and his behavior will improve.”

  Dallsa gazed at Lannon. “Watch over him, Lannon.”

  Lannon nodded. He knew little about raising children, but he vowed to do his best until Taith was delivered safely to Dremlock. In many ways, his own childhood had been miserable in dealing with his father—who bore a dark illness of the mind and soul that sprang from the Deep Shadow. Lannon hadn’t received beatings, but he retained scars from his childhood nonetheless from watching his mother and father fight endlessly over every petty thing imaginable. Lannon was simply relieved that someone else was looking after Taith and he could relax a bit, though he intended to keep an eye on Daledus and make sure the Dwarf didn’t deal with the lad too harshly. After all, Taith wasn’t a Grey Dwarf and wasn’t used to their ways.

  “Can I ride with Aldreya?” Taith asked.

  “Ask that again!” snarled Daledus, leaning close to the boy so that his bushy beard was practically smothering him.

  “Can I…” Taith cleared his throat. “I’m fine right here, actually.”

  “I’ll make a Dwarf out of you yet,” said Daledus.

  “I can’t be a Dwarf,” said Taith, disgust in his voice “because…”

  Daledus leaned close to him again. “Because why?”

  “Come to think of it,” said Taith, “that would be a great honor. Dwarves are wonderful.”

  Daledus leaned back, a smug look on his face.

  ***

  The towns and farms were soon left behind, as they entered a wild and dangerous region. The weather cleared, the sun breaking through the clouds and casting a golden glow across the land, and at last they could see the peaks of the Soddurn Mountains in the distance, marking the edge of Silverland. Once beyond those peaks, they would be in strange lands governed by strange laws, and Dremlock’s authority would be severely diminished. It was a sobering realization.

  When they stopped for lunch and were all seated in the grass, Jace paused in his eating, rose, and spoke a warning to everyone. “I have visited the Soddurn Mountains before,” he said, “and amongst those crumbling peaks I encountered hideous creatures more dangerous than Goblins. The mountains were thoroughly corrupted by the Deep Shadow in ancient times, for within them lies a fortress that was once occupied by the Barloak Demons who made war on all life. However, this route will save us many days of travel.”

  “I can smell the stench of evil from here,” said Aldreya, her gaze fixed on the mountains. “This will not be easy.”

  “Let me take the lead,” said Prince Vannas. “I will burn the shadows away, leaving only barren rock along our path.” He rose and glanced about at the small army of Knights. “I see a bit of doubt in your eyes, but pay it no heed. The Divine Essence has blessed us with the ability to survive anything. Even Bellis considers us a dire threat. What is there to be afraid of?”

  “I beg to differ,” said Jace. “We have much to fear, my good prince. A Flamestone is only as good as the hand that holds it.”

  “What does that mean?” asked Van
nas, looking offended.

  “It means you are flesh and blood,” said Jace. “You can be tricked, or slain. We must guard you well, for your Flamestone could draw the evil out of the dark places. They will come for you, oh prince. Mark my words. The fortress is still active after all these centuries.”

  “And I will be ready,” Vannas said, his face stony. “No one will ever pry this gem from my hands again. I am now alert to such trickery. My failure against Bellis has done nothing but strengthen my resolve, and no one will capture me again—for they will burn in white fire if they try. I am proud to announce that my skills have reached a higher level. I won’t go into detail, but take my word for it.”

  Some of the Knights applauded.

  But Lothrin rose and grabbed the prince’s arm. “You better sit down and eat, my cousin. You’re getting yourself riled up.”

  Vannas pulled away from him, glaring. “I don’t need the advice of an opinionated Ranger. You’re not as wise as you think, Lothrin.”

  “Never said I was wise,” Lothrin mumbled. “But once again you’re letting your power cloud your judgment. That is the path of doom.”

  “The path of doom,” said Vannas, shaking his head. “How very dramatic. That’s all I ever hear from you, and it grows tiresome. Who are you to question me? Are you a Tower Master of Dremlock? Are you even the Green Knight of Ollanhar or the High Watchman? No, you’re none of those things. You’re just a lowly Ranger who thinks he is superior to those around him.”

  Their eyes smoldering with anger, the two cousins confronted each other so that their faces were only inches apart.

  “Calm yourselves,” said Lannon, pulling them apart. “This won’t accomplish anything. We need to stay focused on our mission.”