“Boaberous, Anatoly, raise the bars.”
The giant and the man-at-arms raced for the portcullis. They each took hold and heaved on the tremendously heavy iron bars. Between Boaberous’s natural strength and the magical strength conferred on Anatoly by the belt he wore, the bars came up several feet. Jataan darted under into the dozen soldiers.
At first they were incredulous that one man would face them all, but then he killed two men with blinding speed, leaving them to bleed out on the floor as he moved toward his next target.
Lucky came to Alexander’s aid a moment later. “You’ll be all right, Alexander. Use the Thinblade to lop off the head of the crossbow bolt so I can pull it back through your arm and the shield.”
With gritted teeth, Alexander did as he was told. Lucky gave him a look that spoke volumes and then pulled the bolt free. Alexander screamed at the pain but composed himself quickly and unbuckled the shield.
A dull grinding sound echoed through the gatehouse hall over the sounds of combat between the battle mage and the overconfident soldiers. Alexander looked up to see the portcullis lift out of Anatoly and Boaberous’s hands. He glanced across to the other side of the gatehouse and saw Jack’s colors at the portcullis winch.
Boaberous and Anatoly didn’t miss a beat. Both slipped under the heavy iron gate and joined the battle beside Jataan. Alexander let Lucky wrap a quick bandage around his wounded left arm, then turned and found the pull cords for the locking pins at the top of the doors. Once they were released, he shoved the doors open and sheathed the Thinblade, handing Lucky his bow and a whistler arrow. With the signal sent, he turned to see the inner gates opening for a company of enemy soldiers that had mustered to defend the gatehouse.
“Withdraw!” Alexander commanded.
His friends fought an orderly retreat until the sound of hoof beats could be heard coming from behind. They pressed against the walls as a column of heavy cavalry poured past them and into the city. The enemy infantry were driven back quickly, leaving the soldiers atop the walls of the gatehouse as the only organized resistance left.
Alexander raced along the wall toward the staircase. His friends, seeing his objective, fell in line behind him as the soldiers continued to pour past on horseback. Once they reached the top of the gatehouse, Boaberous and Anatoly took the wall to one side of the gatehouse while Alexander and Jataan took the other. They crashed into the line of soldiers firing arrows down into the column of cavalry.
Within a few moments the archers tried to turn their bows against them, but lined up along the wall, only the nearest archer had a clear shot. Alexander cut the first in half with a single stroke. Before the man behind him could get his shot off, Jataan darted past him and neatly cut his bowstring and then the left side of his throat before moving on to the next man in line.
On the other side, Boaberous rushed the first man and tossed him off the wall, then barreled into the next with a sweeping blow from his hammer. The archer’s broken body fell twenty feet to the ground below. Within a very short time, the remaining archers broke and ran, leaving a clear path for the cavalry charging into the city.
Chapter 33
By morning the battle was over. What resistance the enemy was able to mount was quickly overpowered by the superior numbers of the Ithilian Army, leaving only small pockets of holdouts. The soldiers of Grafton were only too happy to surrender and pledge their undying loyalty to Abel once it was clear what had happened. The soldiers from the Regency were less willing to give up but that suited Alexander just fine. He had long since decided that those who chose to side with Phane deserved what they got.
Most of the people of Grafton were relieved to be back under the banner of Ithilian—the rule of the Regency soldiers had been less than gentle. Abel put General Kishor in charge and left a legion of infantry to ensure Grafton would remain under his command and to root out what enemy remained in the outer parts of the province and on Grafton Island. The other two legions left the next morning for the Reishi Gate.
It would be a long walk for the infantry and archers, probably taking the better part of two weeks, so Alexander and Abel rode ahead to Ithilian with an honor guard of a thousand cavalry. They arrived several days later to the sound of the city’s horns blaring notice of their return.
Queen Sofia was standing at the gate with tears streaming down her face when they arrived. Evelyn bounded off her horse and ran to her mother. Alexander smiled at the emotional reunion. This was at the core of his fight: protecting people’s right to live and love as they chose and protecting the innocent from experiencing the heartache of needless loss at the hands of would-be tyrants.
Not long after Alexander and his friends were shown to their chambers, a messenger arrived with an invitation to a private banquet in celebration of the return of Princess Evelyn. Alexander was tired but knew it would be impolite to refuse, so he reluctantly changed into his finery. He felt a little conspicuous strapping two swords to his belt, but he wasn’t about to let either of the weapons out of his sight.
When they arrived, it was just the family along with Mage Lenox. There were no courtiers or delegates and the dining hall was much smaller than the banquet hall they used for the more formal gatherings. Alexander was grateful for the informality. He had no desire to put up with the self-importance and pretension of nobles or delegates. Matters of far greater importance were weighing on his mind and his anxiousness was beginning to build.
The meal was simple and well prepared. Lucky seemed to enjoy himself as usual and offered effusive praise for the chef, which Sofia was only too happy to accept. Conversation revolved around Evelyn’s retelling of her adventure. Alexander thought she embellished just a bit but he was content to listen to the young woman recount her view of the ordeal she’d just lived through.
Sofia gasped and cringed when Evelyn told about the first revenant attack. Abel was far more stoic about the story. It was clear to Alexander that the Ithilian King knew just how close he’d come to losing his daughter and there was an undercurrent of anger boiling just beneath the profound relief he felt for her return.
The dishes were cleared and the wine poured when the doors burst open and Cassius Ithilian strode in, trailing an aid and two palace guards. The soldiers looked nervous as they hurried after the Chancellor.
Cassius was furious. He came to a stop with his fists planted on his hips and stared at his brother with rage flashing in his eyes.
“I’m told you’ve invaded Grafton without the approval of the assembly and after you promised in good faith to negotiate a truce with them.”
Alexander remained silent and watched Abel’s colors flare into anger. Before anyone else spoke, Evelyn stood up and faced her uncle.
“Hello, Uncle Cassius,” she said sweetly.
He looked stricken and surprised all at once. Alexander saw a flare of fear wash through his colors before he quickly regained his composure. His furtive glance took in all who sat at the table.
“Evelyn, I’m so happy you’ve been returned to us,” he said with feigned relief. “We’ve all been so worried about you.”
Alexander glanced to Conner who looked like he was angry enough to draw his sword. He caught the prince’s eye and shook his head subtly to stay his hand.
“How is it that you came to be returned to us?” Cassius asked his niece.
“Lord Reishi rescued me,” she answered with a smile of gratitude for Alexander.
He returned her smile innocently.
Once again, fear and guile shot through the Chancellor’s colors. Alexander schooled his expression and let the exchange play out. He wasn’t sure if he could still use Cassius against Phane but he decided that keeping the option available was better than dispensing justice immediately.
Cassius frowned and his initial anger started to return as he faced Alexander. “I don’t understand. The assembly was told that you would be leading soldiers from Ithilian through the Reishi Gate to Ruatha. How is it that you changed your pl
ans so abruptly and risked my niece’s life with an ill-advised rescue?”
Cassius was shrewd and experienced at dealing with liars. Alexander realized that the circumstances would soon reveal the truth to Cassius regardless of Alexander’s attempts at deception and any chance of using him against Phane would be lost. If he was to use the Chancellor, he had to act now. His mind raced to find a way to make use of the situation. When it hit him, he almost smiled.
“Abel and I felt that the fewer who knew of our plan, the better the chances of it succeeding,” Alexander said with a casual shrug. “No one knew our intent until we were well on our way.”
Cassius shook his head with feigned sadness. “I should have been apprised of the plan. If I had been, I could have given you legal sanction to act as you did. Even though I’m grateful that you’ve returned Evelyn to us, I must report your actions to the constable for investigation. I fear you are in violation of several very serious laws. I trust you will surrender your weapons while the situation is looked into.”
Jataan started to tense. Alexander stilled him with a glance.
“That’s not going to happen and you know it, Cassius,” Abel said hotly. “Alexander is my guest and he was acting under my authority. There will be no investigation.”
“I’m afraid, dear brother, that your authority doesn’t extend to pursuing criminals, even if they abducted your own daughter. Apprehension of such criminals is the exclusive purview of the constable. Vigilantism cannot be tolerated, even to save my own niece.”
Alexander smiled at Cassius even as his golden eyes glittered with building anger.
“You forget my authority,” Alexander said.
Cassius looked almost startled but quickly covered by shaking his head. “You have no authority on Ithilian. We have not recognized your treaty and so you are a visiting dignitary, nothing more. The law is the law.”
“Indeed it is,” Alexander said. “But I wasn’t speaking of the treaty, I was speaking of this.” Alexander withdrew the Sovereign Stone from under his tunic and allowed it to fall against his chest. “I am the Sovereign of the Seven Isles, protector of the Old Law and I claim authority over all who would choose to govern others—including you, Cassius.”
“Well, that’s just absurd,” Cassius sputtered. “That old relic hardly counts anymore. The Reishi Empire fell millennia ago. You can’t expect such a ridiculous claim to be taken seriously just because you happened to find some ancient trinket.”
The air was growing tense. Alexander could see the anger building within both Abel and Conner. Anatoly was carefully assessing his surroundings the way he usually did before violence broke out, but it was Jataan who stood.
“You are mistaken, Chancellor Cassius,” he said calmly, which only served to heighten the menace in his voice. “Lord Reishi is the Sovereign of the Seven Isles. The Island Kings are subject to him, as are you.”
“Nonsense,” Cassius said. “Guards, take this man into custody until a constable can be summoned.”
The two soldiers who’d followed Cassius into the dining hall looked around like they didn’t know what they should do, clearly not wanting to refuse the Chancellor’s order but unsure if obedience was the correct course either.
Abel stood up, unable to tolerate his brother any longer. “Wait outside and close the door,” he said to the guards.
They nodded curtly and obeyed their King without hesitation.
“You are interfering with my authority to enforce the law,” Cassius said to Abel. “This will not be tolerated.” He turned to his aid. “Go and fetch a constable, tell him to bring a sizable force immediately.”
“Stop!” Abel commanded the aid.
The man looked around a little wild-eyed until he saw the look of fury Cassius directed at him. He nodded quickly and hurried for the door only to stop dead in his tracks when Abel drew his Thinblade and barred the man’s path. The aid’s eyes went wider still.
“Sit down,” Abel commanded quietly, pointing to a chair at the table.
The aid scurried to the chair without a word, trying to avoid the furious look Cassius was giving him.
“You won’t get away with this,” Cassius said. “I’ll see to it that you’re brought up on charges and stripped of your title.”
“Enough of this,” Alexander said as he stood and faced the traitorous Chancellor. “How long have you been in league with Phane?”
“What? Why that’s just ridiculous,” Cassius said. “I’m a loyal servant of Ithilian. You can’t make such a baseless claim without evidence.”
Alexander smiled at the man’s arrogance. He still thought his laws and rules would save him from his treason. He clearly lived in a fantasy world where he believed reality would conform to his wishes simply because he wished the world to be a certain way.
Alexander knew better.
“I know you’re working with Phane because my familiar watched you talking to his little demon,” Alexander said.
“Wait—what are you saying?” Evelyn asked with urgency in her voice.
Alexander saw Conner silence his sister with a hard look.
“What did he promise you?” Alexander asked amiably. “The throne of Ithilian? The Thinblade?”
Cassius suddenly realized that the rules had changed. He looked around a little wildly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have to put up with this. You’re the one who broke the law.”
When Cassius turned toward the door, Abel shook his head slowly, still holding the Thinblade. Cassius stopped and looked around in genuine fear.
“What’s the wizard’s name?” Alexander asked. “The one who summoned Phane’s imp.”
“How . . . I don’t know what you’re taking about,” he said. “This is absurd. I’m the Chancellor of Ithilian. Any thought of a treaty is dead without my approval.”
Alexander chuckled at his bluster, shaking his head. “Did you help the enemy abduct Evelyn?”
Cassius’s head snapped to look at Alexander and then to Evelyn. Her face was stricken with betrayal that slowly morphed into fury. He did his best to school his growing fear, but Alexander could see the turmoil in his colors.
“Of course not. I would never do such a thing,” Cassius lied.
Alexander nodded to himself. “Did you know that I’m a wizard?” Cassius blanched at the question. “In fact, one of my talents is the ability to see when someone lies to me.”
“You have no proof of any of this,” Cassius sputtered. “All of your allegations are your word against mine. No court would convict based on the unsubstantiated word of a guest of Ithilian.”
Alexander nodded again with a mirthless smile. “You’re exactly right, Chancellor. But fortunately, I don’t need a court because I am the protector of the Old Law. And I don’t need proof because I can see the truth.”
Cassius shook his head back and forth in denial of what he was hearing, almost as if by refusing to believe it, he could negate the reality of it.
“I find you guilty of conspiring to abduct Princess Evelyn for use as leverage in war against the Old Law and the people of the Seven Isles. By violating her right to liberty, you forfeit your rights to life, liberty, or property.”
“You can’t do this!” Cassius shouted.
“You are mistaken,” Alexander said. “Now, I will spare your life under two conditions. First, you will tell me the name of the wizard who summoned Phane’s imp and where I can find him. Second, you will confess your crimes to the assembly.”
“This is madness,” Cassius said as he moved toward the door, only to stop in his tracks when Abel leveled the Thinblade at him.
“We were friends when we were boys, Cassius, but you have betrayed me. You have betrayed my family. You have betrayed my country. I highly recommend you accept Lord Reishi’s generous offer.”
“You have no right!” Cassius shouted. “This is a violation of the law of Ithilian. I am entitled to a trial before any punishment. Take me before the assembly. I
’ll see you dragged out in chains.”
Alexander grasped the hilt of Mindbender with his left hand. He was angry, but more than that he felt the rush of a fight coursing through his veins even though there was no real threat from the Chancellor. He formed the image of a revenant in his mind’s eye and released it into the sword. The air before the Chancellor swirled in blackness, then coalesced into the seven-foot-tall form of the ancient beast, complete with batlike wings spread wide, a crown of horns, and long fangs protruding from its mouth.
Everyone in the room froze. Alexander stilled his friends with a wave of his right hand, but the Chancellor saw nothing except the monster standing before him. He cowered up against the wall and started to whimper.
“Your niece was bitten by a creature such as this,” Alexander said. “You will answer my questions or it will tear you apart.”
Cassius wet himself as he sank to the floor in abject terror. “Please don’t let it kill me. I did it. I helped Phane’s agents abduct Evelyn. I told them how to get her out of the city unnoticed. I sent Phane word of your plans. Please, I don’t want to die.” He broke down in tears, cowering under the threat of such a horrible death. “I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t let it kill me,” he sobbed.
Alexander willed the illusion away and it vanished in a swirl of black smoke. The room fell deadly silent.
“That looked so real,” Evelyn said.
“You mean it wasn’t?” Sofia asked, visibly shaken.
“It was just an illusion,” Alexander said.
Cassius looked up with a mixture of confusion and defeat that quickly morphed into blind rage. He surged to his feet, drawing a knife from his robes and lunged at Alexander. In a blur, Jataan darted into his path and caught his hand by the wrist, twisting hard and forcing his knife hand around behind his back, wrenching his shoulder in the process. The Chancellor gasped in pain, then froze when Jataan put a blade to his throat.
Mindbender Page 44
