by David Wells
Alexander withdrew his sword without cutting him further. The Regent slumped to the floor just as a dozen Southport city guard rounded the corner. They drew weapons the moment they saw the Regent on the ground and Alexander standing over him with his sword. Alexander kicked the man over on his side while fixing the guard force with his fury. He strode forward past Kevin and the Rangers who fanned out behind him, weapons drawn and ready.
Alexander stopped ten paces from the soldiers and pointed the Thinblade at them. “Landon is in league with Phane. He’s a traitor to Ruatha and an enemy of the Old Law. Surrender your weapons now.”
The sergeant of the guard hesitated for a moment before Regent Landon shouted at them, “Attack, you fools!”
Without looking over his shoulder, Alexander said, “Anatoly, kill him.” He heard the sickening thump of the axe fall across the Regent’s neck a moment later even as he met the charge of the Southport guard.
The sergeant reached him first. Alexander slipped to the side of his thrust and drove the Thinblade into the center of the man’s chest, then sliced laterally out his shoulder, bringing the blade across and extending his reach just enough to slice the next man’s throat. He reminded himself that he wasn’t wearing his armor as he lopped the tip off a spear with the flick of his wrist. The Thinblade moved with lightning speed back across the soldier and sliced a gash across his chest four inches deep. Alexander whirled into the mass of them and sliced in a broad arc, cutting three men in half with one stroke. The rich carpet soaked up the blood.
Anatoly, Kevin, and the two Rangers stepped into the fray and only moments later the dozen soldiers were nothing but scattered carnage. The fight ended as abruptly as it had started. Alexander was splattered with crimson across his bare chest and face. He looked like the fury of death itself.
He turned when he heard boots running toward them and was relieved to see a platoon of thirty Rangers thundering up the hall.
He headed back to the room where Isabel lay injured by an arrow meant for him. He shoved his worry aside and focused his thoughts on the precarious situation they were in. “Kevin, secure this hall and send orders to your forces to take Southport in my name immediately.” Alexander didn’t break stride or even look over at Kevin as he issued his orders. “Also send word to the commanders of the Southport legions that the Regent has been executed for treason. Any who wish to stand against me will suffer the same fate.”
Kevin issued orders to his men and two of them broke away from the cordon surrounding Alexander and set off at a dead run. Alexander walked into the room past the soldier who was now disarmed and sitting in a chair looking at Abigail and her bow. He started trembling when he saw the blood splattered across Alexander’s chest and face.
Alexander knelt beside Isabel. Kevin was there a moment later. She was still and her face was pale. She looked so peaceful. If he couldn’t have seen her colors, he would have thought she was dead. Lucky had dressed her wound and given her some healing draught.
“Is she dead?” Kevin asked with a hint of panic.
“No, she’s alive,” Lucky said, “but she’s been poisoned.” He turned Alexander by the shoulders to look him directly in the eye. His fear spiked into sickening panic when he saw the look of despair in Lucky’s eyes.
“My boy, I’ve given her something to slow the poison but I have nothing that can stop it. Eventually it will kill her.” A tear slipped down Lucky’s cheek.
Alexander sat down hard, staring in disbelief at his old mentor.
“She can’t die,” Kevin said, “she’s my little sister. This can’t be happening. You have to save her,” he said urgently, taking Lucky by the robe and starting to shake him as if that would change the reality of the situation.
He stopped when he heard Isabel’s voice. “Kevin? Is that you?” she mumbled.
He released Lucky and went to her side. She smiled up at her brother. “It’s good to see you,” she said, taking his hand.
“I’m here, Isabel,” Kevin said, his eyes watery and his voice cracking.
She smiled up at him. “Alexander and I are married. The Fairy Queen presided over our wedding. It was so beautiful, Kevin. I wish you could have been there.”
“Me too, Little Sister,” Kevin said. “Mom and Dad will be so happy.” His voice broke a bit in anguish.
Lucky put his hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “She needs to rest.”
Kevin looked over and nodded, sniffing back more tears. “I’ll be here when you wake, Isabel,” he said. She was unconscious before he finished speaking.
Alexander sat staring in disbelief. He knew Lucky was very good at his craft and he would never have made such a pronouncement unless he was certain. Alexander just couldn’t make himself accept the reality of the situation. They had just gotten married. He loved her with his whole heart; he knew that losing her would break his spirit.
“Lucky,” he croaked, “There has to be a way to save her.” His statement was the embodiment of misery. The look on Lucky’s face reflected his own suffering and only served to confirm the diagnosis.
“I’m sorry, I wish there was more I could do.”
Chapter 38
“How long does she have?” Alexander asked.
“A few days, maybe a week,” Lucky said quietly. The pronouncement was so final and so immediate that Alexander had a hard time accepting the truth of it. He knew Lucky would never mislead him about something so important, but he wanted to believe his old mentor was just plain wrong. He struggled to face the truth of the sentence, but every time he looked directly at it, he couldn’t help but reject it. It felt like his sanity was unraveling.
Chloe buzzed up to him. “Do you still have the fairy dust?”
He could feel her worry for him. He nodded numbly. She buzzed over to Lucky. “I will guide you. With fairy dust you can make a much more potent healing draught. It may not save her, but it will give her more time.”
Alexander shot to his feet at the sound of hope and rushed to his pack. He tore through it until he found his coin purse and held it out to Lucky like it was the most important thing in the world. Lucky looked skeptical but he took it with care and opened it to reveal the iridescent white powder. He smiled at the sight. “Alexander, this is worth a king’s ransom. Fairy dust is very powerful. If anything can save her, this can.”
A Ranger entered in a rush. “The commanders of the legions from Southport and Highlands Reach are here,” he announced. “General Fabian of Southport is demanding an explanation. He’s seen the body of the Regent and his guards and he’s furious.”
“Send them in,” Alexander commanded, then turned to Lucky. “What do you need to make this potion?”
“A lab with glassware and some time,” Lucky said. “I have all of the ingredients I need.” He patted his bag.
Alexander strode over to the terrified, one-handed aid. The Rangers had collected him from the hall and brought him into the room. He was sitting on the floor in pain and fear. “Where can we find a laboratory with glassware?” he asked urgently and in a tone that would not accept anything less than an honest answer.
The aid looked up and stammered, “Three floors down. The court wizard has a workshop.”
“Where is the wizard and what’s his name?”
“Wizard Ulick is with the legions making preparations to defend Southport against Kai’Gorn,” the terrified aid answered quickly.
“Good, you will take Master Alabrand to the workshop. Get up,” Alexander commanded. “Kevin, assign a squad of Rangers to provide security for Lucky.”
Kevin motioned to his Second, who quickly gathered a squad of ten men and gave them their orders. They were ready in the hall when Lucky left. He passed the commanders as they were escorted into the room.
General Fabian looked furious. He was a big man with closely cropped salt-and-pepper hair and a well-groomed thick black mustache and goatee. He was accompanied by his aide-de-camp and a subordinate officer. His fury morphed into caution when h
e saw Alexander. The blood splattered across his chest and face coupled with the glittering rage dancing in his eyes was enough to give anyone pause.
The next to enter was a man of medium height and build with short dirty-blond hair and grey eyes. He was clean shaven and fastidiously dressed in the uniform of Highlands Reach. His eyes were filled with intelligence and looked like they took in every detail. He wore the stern expression of a man who demanded a great deal from himself and from those under his command. He appraised the scene in the room at a glance, briefly noting Alexander’s appearance, before his penetrating gaze settled on Anatoly. A slow smile broke across his face and all his sternness faded away.
“Anatoly Grace, you’re looking well, my old friend,” he said, striding over to the big man-at-arms and extending his hand.
Anatoly smiled warmly for just a moment. “General Talia, it’s good to see you as well, sir. I wish the circumstances were different.” His expression turned serious. “I’d like to introduce Lord Alexander,” he said, gesturing toward Alexander with an open hand.
General Talia bowed formally and precisely. “Lord Alexander, your father led a regiment under my command during the border wars. He’s an excellent commander and an even better man. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you, General,” Alexander said, offering his hand.
General Talia didn’t seem concerned about the blood drying on Alexander’s bare chest and arms. He took his hand and returned a firm grip. Alexander appraised the colors of each of the new arrivals and determined that they were all professional soldiers, long accustomed to ordered and regimented lives. They were ambitious but only within the limits of their chosen profession.
“Gentlemen, we have much to discuss. You no doubt saw the scene of battle and the corpse of the Regent in the hall. I killed Regent Landon because he ordered an assassin to murder me.” He held General Fabian’s eyes for a moment with a hard look.
“It seems the Regent was working for Phane. His assassin failed, but only because my wife threw herself in the path of the poisoned arrow.” Alexander had to school his voice to keep it from breaking. He withdrew into that place in his psyche where the witness lived, where emotion and feeling were distant and less important.
General Talia’s eyes danced with sudden anger. “Lord Alexander, you have my condolences. Assassination is the way of the coward.”
General Fabian looked shocked at the revelation of his regent’s treason. From his colors, Alexander could tell the man had no idea of Landon’s secret alliances. “I was unaware of Regent Landon’s divided loyalties. You have my condolences for your wife’s injury as well, My Lord.”
“Anatoly, please brief them on the situation in Kai’Gorn while I finish getting dressed,” Alexander said.
He spent a few minutes cleaning the blood off himself and putting on his shirt, armor, and tunic. He looked in the mirror and struggled to hold back the tears. Everything seemed so pointless without Isabel. If she died, he knew his drive to win and even his reason for fighting would die with her.
When he emerged from the washroom, Abigail and Jack were sitting with Isabel. She was still unconscious. Abigail gave him a worried shake of her head in response to his questioning look. Anatoly, Kevin, and the generals sat around a table talking quietly. Alexander took a chair at the head of the table.
“You have roughly four legions at your disposal. Will that be enough to take and hold Kai’Gorn?” Alexander asked.
“Given the loss of Cain and his brother and the unrest among the populace, I believe our force strength will be more than adequate to the task,” General Talia said.
“I concur,” General Fabian said. “Although, I believe we will suffer heavy casualties at the hands of the Andalian Lancers.”
“The Lancers are formidable, but their strength rests in their mounts and force lances,” Alexander said. “I recommend you engage them in terrain and circumstances where they can’t make full use of their rhone. I trust that you’re more than capable of finding and exploiting the Lancers’ weaknesses. Once you do, kill them to the last man.
“Kai’Gorn must be taken. We cannot allow Andalia to continue landing troops there. If you can take the city intact, then by all means do so. But if you have to burn it to the ground, so be it. Once you’ve secured the city, commandeer every ship you can find, arm them and begin intercepting the Andalian troop transports on the water. Sink them without mercy or quarter.”
General Fabian and General Talia shared a look.
“Say what you have to say, gentlemen,” Alexander commanded gently but firmly.
General Talia smiled without mirth. “We have both served territories led by men who would rather not fight. When forced into battle, they choose limited engagement and half measures. As soldiers, we tend to see things in more absolute terms. For myself, I am relieved to find that my new King understands that warfare is an all-or-nothing proposition.”
General Fabian nodded. “I’d rather not have to send soldiers into harm’s way, but once the decision to go to war has been made, the only honorable objective is total victory.”
“Outstanding,” Alexander said. “I’m glad we understand each other. General Talia, you will take command of the Ruathan forces south of the Great Forest. My father, General Valentine, is the commander of all Ruathan forces; you will take your orders from him or from me. If you need reinforcements, send your request to New Ruatha. Also, send word to Highlands Reach informing your governor of the situation and my expectation of his continued cooperation.”
“By your command, Lord Alexander,” General Talia said. “The governor and I are on very good terms, friends even, so I feel comfortable assuring you that he will provide our forces with all of the support he has to offer.”
“Excellent. Thank you, General Talia.”
Alexander took a deep breath and turned to his brother-in-law. “Kevin, you will serve as temporary Regent of Southport.”
Kevin blinked in surprise. “Surely there are others more qualified, Lord Alexander.”
Alexander nodded somberly. “I’m sure there are, but right now I need someone I know I can trust. The post will only be temporary. For now, keep half your legion here and send the rest south under General Talia’s command. Protect the people of Southport, keep the port open, and protect the flow of commerce. Coordinate with Highlands Reach to keep our southern army supplied. And send regular reports to General Valentine. Everything else will take care of itself.”
“As you wish, Lord Alexander,” Kevin said. His mind was clearly still on Isabel. Alexander understood completely.
“Now, gentlemen, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to sit with my wife,” Alexander said as he stood up.
Anatoly walked the military men out into the hall where they talked for a few minutes. Rangers took positions in the hall to provide security.
Alexander sat with Isabel late into the night. Kevin stayed as well. They didn’t talk much but occasionally shared a look of fear and anguish. Lucky returned in the dark of night with Chloe. He entered quietly after a brief discussion with the Rangers standing guard outside.
Order had been restored in the keep and the city. General Fabian had called all of the officers of the Southport city guard together and informed them that Regent Landon was dead and Regent Alaric would be assuming command of the city. They were a bit surprised and confused but they followed their orders without too much question. By midnight, Kevin’s legion had secured the city and was working with the city guard to maintain order and ensure a smooth transition of power. There were rumors of a petty noble or two making noises that they should have been consulted prior to a new regent being named, but they didn’t pose any credible threat, so Alexander ignored them. Instead, he focused his energy on Isabel.
Lucky came up beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I have the potion. It won’t eliminate the poison, but it will prevent it from doing any further damage for a while. I have to caution you though, it’s
not a cure. Without magic of greater power than mine, she will eventually die. This potion will keep the poison from killing her until she develops immunity to the potion’s magic. Once that happens, the poison will do its damage.”
Alexander nodded with a mixture of hope and despair. At this point he would take what he could get. “How long will this buy her?”
“A month, maybe five weeks,” Lucky said.
“Who might have the magic to heal her?”
Lucky shook his head. “I know of no healer on Ruatha who is accomplished enough to extract such a virulent poison. Perhaps Kelvin might know of a way. The wizards may have found something within Blackstone Keep capable of healing her.”
Alexander nodded. “I’ll send a message tonight. Will she be able to travel?”
“I don’t see why not. The poison will be held in check so it won’t incapacitate her until the effects of the potion are no longer potent enough to keep it at bay. As soon as her shoulder mends, she’ll feel as good as ever.”
“Should we wake her so she can drink it now?” Kevin asked.
Lucky shook his head. “The healing draught I gave her is keeping the poison from harming her for now. It would be best to let her sleep until morning and then give her the potion.” He handed the heavy glass vial filled with milky-looking liquid to Alexander.
Before Alexander tried to sleep, he sat down to meditate. It took him longer than usual to find the place where he could enter the firmament, but eventually he found it. He coalesced his awareness in Kelvin’s workroom deep inside Blackstone Keep and looked at the message board; there were no new messages.
Next he went to the sleeping chamber of the Rangers assigned to receive his dream whisperings. His message was simple and to the point. He told a sleeping Ranger of Isabel’s poisoning and asked that Kelvin make it a priority to find a way to save her. Then he explained that General Talia was leading the southern army to attack Kai’Gorn, Regent Landon was dead, and Kevin Alaric was taking his place for the time being. He didn’t give the Ranger a chance to ask any questions before he extracted himself from the man’s sleeping mind and returned to his own body.
