by A. J. Searle
“We’ve no time for this. We have bigger problems to face right now. We can solve this later,” Ronan interrupted. Fiona was out there. He had to get to her. He had to make sure she was safe.
“What’s the plan?” Keegan asked, seeming to sense Ronan’s fear that they would not make it in time to save her if they lingered much longer.
“Ride in, rescue Fiona, and kill them all,” Ronan answered simply.
“My kind of plan,” Keegan said causing Ronan to look back at him. “It’s been many years since I’ve killed anyone. It shall be nice to do it now with the permission of a wizard and on the side of Merisgale.”
The hairs on the back of Ronan’s neck rose. The look in Keegan’s eyes was not like any he’d ever seen before. He’d tried to imagine Keegan Yore as the man he’d described once but couldn’t. Now he saw it clearly. He wasn’t the horseman today. He was Doane Vaughn.
“Give me your sword.” Ronan held out his hand and Keegan drew his sword as he approached, then placed it in the blacksmith’s grasp. Ronan closed his eyes. And when he opened them, he was staring down at a replica of the King’s Sword. Well, not quite a replica. The blade was made of regular steel, painted white.
“I want one of those.” Arien’s eyes glittered.
“I need you for something else.” Ronan motioned for Keegan to walk with him away from the others.
He lowered his voice so only Keegan and perhaps Monty could hear him. “If something goes wrong, they will capture you. Make them believe this is the King’s Sword. They will take it and present it to Thestian. Without the King’s Sword he can notcan’t bring the dark forces to take control of Merisgale.”
Keegan nodded, sheathing the sword. “What about the real sword. If something goes wrong, it means you are dead.”
“I have that taken care of.” Ronan turned and raised his voice as he began walking back toward the rest. “You just worry about killing as many of those guards as you can and holding them back long enough for Arien to get to Fiona and free her.”
“You want me to rescue her?” Arien stood a bit taller. “You trust me to do that?”
“I do. Bryan I will need you to help Keegan take care of the guards. You two are the muscle of this group.” Bryan nodded that he understood. “What kind of weapon do you prefer to use?”
“These.” Bryan reared up and punched his front hooves in the air. The muscles of his dark flank were impressive. Ronan was certain he could do some serious damage without the use of a sword.
“Effective,” Monty complimented, apparently as impressed as Ronan.
“It’s all I’ve ever needed. I would be clumsy with a sword,” Bryan said when his hooves hit the ground heavily.
“Ula,” Ronan faced the sorceress. He winced when she looked at him. He didn’t want her to come to harm. He wished he didn’t need her at all but he wasn’t sure enough of his own magic and how to use it effectively.
“Anything,” she encouraged, seeming to know the feelings inside of him. “I am no weakling.” She reached for his hands and Ronan nodded. No, she was probably the most powerful of them all. Her magic was strong and she knew how to wield it as well as Keegan did his sword.
“Can you create an illusion much like the one Yarro has surrounding his village?” Ronan asked and her hands slid away from his as she cocked her head to the side in thought.
Ula smiled slowly. “You don’t want them to see us coming. Yes, I can do that. Perhaps not as tightly woven as the spell Yarro uses but from the direction Diato will be facing, he will see nothing but the moor.”
“And once we are there, bring on the clouds. It might scare the guards enough that they will not give Keegan and Bryan much resistance.” Ula nodded.
“What of Diato?” Keegan asked leading the horses forward to each of the riders.
“He’s mine.” Ronan swung atop Sorcha’s back, clenching his jaw to keep from shouting his hatred for the captain. “Montecu, you know what to do if we fail?” Ronan looked at the dragon.
“I do,” Monty answered. “And call me Monty.” Ronan kicked his horse forward and the others fell in behind him, riding fast and hard across the moor.
Seventeen
“You draw the King’s Sword on me?” Diato scowled at the bearded blacksmith. They’d been taken unexpectedly. Ronan Culley and his friends had just suddenly appeared out of nowhere along with strange dark clouds of thunder and lightning. Doane Vaughn killed four of his men before Diato had even known what was happening. The centaur knocked one of the remaining three unconscious with his thick hooves.
“Arien, how is she?” Ronan called over his shoulder, his eyes never leaving Diato.
“She’s alive,” Diato snapped. “Why would I kill her? I love her.”
“Arien?” Ronan called again in a strained voice.
“She lives but barely,” the boy finally answered. “The poison seems to still be her system. I can’t tell how much was used.”
“Ula, tend to her,” Ronan commanded.
“Why bother with her?” Diato clapped his hands behind his back, smirking. “You killed your own mother.” His fingers worked for the dagger he kept in his belt as pain flashed across the blacksmith’s face.
“That is enough!” The sorceress’ voice filled the clouds above them and Diato’s eyes slid to the old woman, surprised she had come to the blacksmith’s aid so quickly.
“Look at who you travel with. Fiona is a Serpentine Warrior, devoted to Merisgale. She would never travel with a killer and a sorceress, especially the very one who murdered her grandmother.” Diato frowned. His dagger was gone.
“Thestian is Sleagan. By doing as you’ve done, you are working for the dark forces,” the blacksmith said.
“If Thestian was Sleagan, why would he send Fiona to assist you?” Diato shook his head. “He wouldn’t have. And you are a liar.”
“He would if he wanted the sword brought back to him,” Ronan argued.
“Did you think of this yourself? You are just a blacksmith, Ronan Culley. All you have is that sword and you aren’t going to use it. You know what will happen if you do.” Diato laughed mockingly. “If you don’t, you are more stupid than I thought.”
“Nine King’s guards were killed. I managed to get this far alive. Perhaps on my stupidity,” Ronan snapped.
“Go back to your cottage with your boy apprentice. Stick with what you know best, making weapons. It doesn’t require much thought or magic. Do it now before you kill anyone else.” Diato ground out. “Like you did your mother.”
“I just want to take the sword to Merisgale…” Ronan Culley began but Diato laughed again.
“With the killer and the sorceress?” He shook his head. “Doane Vaughn killed eighteen people. Did you know that? Well, twenty-two if you count the guards he bled today. One of those he killed before was his own brother. I’d wager he didn’t tell you that bit.”
“I’m thinking of going for twenty-three,” Keegan Yore warned. “My brother was the only one out of those I murdered who deserved it.”
“And your little sorceress in her clever disguise. You wouldn’t even think about Fiona if you saw her real face. And that’s all it’s about, isn’t it, blacksmith?” Diato lowered his voice. “It’s about a pretty face.”
“Thestian is Sleagan. And I don’t believe you are of his dark forces.” The blacksmith spoke. He’d obviously gotten a grasp on the anger that had caused the sword’s blade to shake.
“For you to even say those words is an offense,” Diato snapped. “I am the captain of the King’s Guards.”
“What King? Merisgale is currently without king. Do you know why?” Ronan Culley’s eyes glittered darkly. “Because he is locked in a windowless cell where he withers away as we speak.”
Diato’s eyes narrowed. “Where?”
“I don’t know. He won’t tell me. Something about a code of wizard’s he said.” The blacksmith frowned, shaking his head. “He calls to me in my dreams and tells me that Merisgale is
in trouble.”
“You lie.” Diato had an urge to strike the blacksmith. He speaks the truth. Diato’s gaze widened and the blacksmith glanced back at the horses. Diato did not miss the chance and lunged, knocking the sword from Ronan Culley’s hand. Diato drew back his fist and hit the blacksmith hard.
“Where is the wizard Robusk?” Diato drew back his fist again but the blacksmith’s heavy paw caught his jaw and sent him from atop of him. “I heard his voice. He is here. What have you done with him?”
“He is not here!” Ronan yelled back, rubbing at the side of his head where Diato had made his strike. “I tell you he is locked away somewhere and is being starved to death!”
“How would you know he was starving unless you had seen him?” Diato didn’t move from the ground and neither did the blacksmith.
“I have seen him in my dreams and I would know he is starving to death because that is how my mother died!” Ronan pushed himself up from the ground. Then reached down and swiped up the sword. He speaks the truth.
Diato knew Robusk’s voice, probably better than anyone. “If what you say is true why do I hear him speaking to me now?”
Ronan blinked, then turned to look at Ahearn. Diato could hear Ahearn’s thoughts? And thought it was Robusk’s voice that communicated to him? Ronan shook his head. Yes.
“The wizard Robusk is using Ahearn to communicate with me,” Ronan said aloud. Yes.
Keegan blew out a breath. “For that I am thankful. I was beginning to wonder what kind of damned horses I was raising.”
“This is some kind of trick and one that will have you facing a prison sentence.” Diato spat but he was ignored.
“Merisgale is only a day’s ride away. You can make it there before dusk if you head out now.” Bryan gave one of the guards a soft kick when he started to rise. “Unless you want to end up like your friends, I’d suggest you stay put.” The guard immediately dropped back down.
“What of the guards?” Keegan shook his head. “If we release them, that one may try to stop us again.”
“Leave them here with me,” Bryan suggested. “You all go on. I’ll keep them here.”
Ronan glanced at the centaur, then his eyes dropped to Ula. She gave him a quick nod.
“Alright.” Ronan grabbed Diato by the back of his collar and hauled him roughly to his feet. Diato was clearly not expecting the punch to his face. Ronan hesitated and then hit him again before he could shake himself from the first blow.
“Come near her again and I will kill you.” Ronan warned and released him roughly next to the other two guards who knelt shaking with fear. Ronan turned to Arien who’d hefted Fiona across his horse. She wasn’t moving but he could see the slight rise and fall of her breast. She lived.
“Take them to Johran if I don’t return soon,” Ronan told Bryan who nodded.
“Let’s go,” Ronan called and swung onto Sorcha’s back. “We have no time to waste if we are going to find Robusk and stop Thestian.” He kicked his horse forward, leaving Bryan, Diato and two very scared looking guards behind.
Merisgale rose from the horizon like a giant of grey stone. Ronan swallowed loudly when he saw it. It was massive. The castle stood like a tower to the Gods, surrounded by a wall that made even the dragon Montecu look small.
Ronan glanced behind them. The dragon had not traveled with them but Ronan knew he was there, just beyond sight. He’d felt him during the entire rescue and afterward when they traveled across the moors.
“How is Fiona?” Ronan glanced over at Arien.
“The same. No better but no worse either,” the boy answered.
“She won’t die,” Ula reassured Ronan and he sent her a small smile. “I swear it to you.”
“When we get inside, Arien, you take Fiona somewhere safe where Ula can tend to her.” Ronan commanded and though both the apprentice and sorceress looked as if neither liked his decision, neither argued.
“Keegan, you will stay with me?” Ronan looked at the horseman, thankful when he nodded.
“I don’t think that’s going to work,” Arien said suddenly and pointed to the gates of Merisgale. Ahead Thestian stood, waiting for them.
“Dragon’s blood,” Ronan cursed then glanced behind him. “Sorry, Monty.” Keegan rode alongside Ronan’s right side.
“Give me the sword,” Ronan barely heard Keegan’s words.
“What?”
“Give it to me and take this one.” For a moment Ronan didn’t move. Could he trust that Keegan was not the one who betrayed him? Sensing his hesitation, the horseman turned and met his gaze.
“If I were the one I would have killed you the moment I met you,” He murmured. “Now give it to me before it’s too late.”
“Ronan Culley,” Thestian called in greeting and lifted a hand in a half wave as Ronan rode ahead of the others.
“Wizard Thestian.” Ronan dismounted and bowed low as if the wizard was already king.
“You have not failed me.” Thestian spoke after Ronan rose to his feet again. “Come. You must be weary.”
“I am but I have much more to do before I can rest.” Ronan met Thestian’s gaze. “Where is King Robusk?”
Thestian’s face saddened. “He is missing.”
“Where is he?” Ronan repeated and for a moment Thestian only stared at him.
Slowly a smile slid across his fair face. He shook a finger at Ronan. “You are a clever man to be a blacksmith.” Thestian clicked his tongue. “Almost too clever.”
“He is the Stone Wizard Ronan of Johran,” Arien corrected from his horse. Ronan did not look but could hear Arien scrambling down from Ahearn’s back.
“Stay back, Arien,” Ronan commanded.
“Yes, I had heard that you joined the Johran tribe to acquire safe passage through the hills.” Thestian crossed his arms. “And you even struck a deal with the Dragols. What now, blacksmith?”
“Where is Robusk?” Ronan repeated.
“Soon he will be in the Great Sea of Death. Perhaps you’d like to meet him there?” Thestian’s eyes glittered. “The game is over. Give me my sword.”
No. Robusk used Ahearn to speak thoughts to Ronan.
Thestian clicked his tongue. “Robusk, that was a very weak attempt. Save your energy old man. It is over.”
Ronan drew the sword from his sheath and held it out threateningly. “Yes, it is over. Where is he?”
Thestian laughed maniacally. “You are going to use the fake sword on me?” Ronan frowned and looked back at Keegan.
“The sword.”
Keegan tossed it in the air and Ronan caught it. He faced Thestian again. Slowly SleaganSleagan smiled and pulled open his shirt, exposing his pale chest.
“Do it, blacksmith. The result is the same either way.”
Ronan didn’t blink. “Robusk, what wizard do you name as the next King of Merisgale before you die?” Ronan Culley. Ronan smiled as Thestian’s eyes widened. The blade of the sword began to glow and Thestian danced backward.
“Ula,” Ronan called but she didn’t answer. “Ula.” Still she was silent. Ronan did not want to take his eyes off of Thestian so he glanced to his left. His heart stopped.
“No.” Ronan felt tears brim in his eyes. “No, not you. It can’t be you.”
“Of course it is me. Did you think SleaganSleagan would have gone to so much trouble to be named and not send someone to stop you in case you caught on to what he was doing?”
Ronan’s eyes dropped to the dagger, Diato’s dagger, pressed to Ula’s throat. “I am no fool. You may have feelings for the Serpentine but it is this one you are willing to die for.”
“I…I trusted you.” Emotion welled in Ronan’s chest as Keegan started to circle around.
“Because you are a foolish man. Tell that killer to stay back or I will slit her throat.” The blade pressed firmly and tears welled in Ula’s eyes. She wasn’t using her magic to save herself, Ronan realized. She couldn’t. Not against Arien.
“I’m warning you.” Ro
nan said.
“Warning me?” Arien laughed. “I’ve seen you use your magic, Wihr. You can do nothing to me. Now give that sword to Thestian or I will cut out her throat.” Ronan’s hand trembled.
“No, Ronan,” Ula croaked. Ronan cursed loudly, but threw the sword to the ground. Arien smiled and glanced at Thestian when he hurried to pick it up.
“I told you. He is weak.”
“Finish them,” Thestian ground out.
Ronan turned as SleaganSleagan started back inside the gates.
“Which one first?” Arien’s face twisted in a sneer that made him unrecognizable to Ronan. “I think I’ll start with Ula Baen. I’ve put enough poison into Fiona’s arm that she will be dead in a few hours anyway.”
“Nooooooooo!” A shadow at the gates crouched, snarling, and leapt through the air onto Arien’s back. Ronan watched Arien cry out and twist as the claws of the small creature dug in and drew blood. Ula ducked but not quick enough and Arien’s blade dragged across her throat as she freed herself from his grip. A red line appeared on Ula’s neck but she shook her head, pressing her fingers against it.
“It’s not deep,” she whispered.
“What is that thing?” Keegan stepped to Ronan’s side but Ronan shook his head. It looked like a large rat but the claws and teeth resembled that of a wildcat. And it moved so quickly that Arien could not catch it. It scratched, bit, and then scurried to a new point of attack.
Arien finally grabbed the small beast by its leg and slung it away from his body. It hit the stone wall of the keep with a yelp and in an instant transformed into a man, one that Ronan was surprised to recognize as Mikel the Hort.
Ronan started forward as Arien spun, raised his dagger, the blade creating an arch over Fiona’s limp body. “Monty!” Ronan bellowed and as if waiting for that moment, in a rush of wind the wizard swooped down, knocking Arien away from Fiona and to the ground. The dagger hit the wall of the keep.
“Give me your sword!” Ronan shouted and Keegan handed him the sword. He bent down and picked up Arien’s dagger, turned it in his hand.
“Nice blade. Make it yourself?” Keegan struck quickly, thrusting the dagger into Arien’s stomach.
