The last to enter had been Nemara. Again, Alador found himself speechless. He had seen her in casual clothing, armor and, well, with nothing. He had never seen her fix herself up for anything special. She looked as beautiful as any of the women that Sordith had escorted. Nemara had braided sections of her hair and let it fall in amongst the loose locks. The red strands gleamed with streaks of golden highlights. The most shocking thing was to find her in a dress. The brown gown had trimmings of golden ribbons and clung to every curve as she moved towards him.
She ran her hands self-consciously over the fine material as she looked up at him. “Do I look a fright?” she worriedly asked. Her eyes widened in possible horror at his fixed gaze.
He shook his head and took up her hand. “You look… amazing Nemara.” His honest words were low just for her ears, then for the sake of those looking he pulled her to him and kissed her. He could hear her nervous giggle as they pulled apart, the calls and teasing behind them expected and necessary for their plan.
He smoothed a piece of hair from her face. “I am serious. I have never seen you look lovelier.” His words were tender and intended to reassure her.
“Thank you,” she murmured then tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. She spoke with genuine happiness for all those about her. “So where is the food and the drink? We have a party to attend.” This brought cheers from her fellow guardsmen.
Alador led them into the dining room. The room was full of laughter, chatter of relaxed conversation, and the soft chords of music. Sordith stood up and called for silence.
“I would have us all salute our host for what is sure to be quite a party.” He held up his glass and downed.
Alador flushed with a bit of color as everyone echoed him. It amazed him standing here in his own manor, holding a party with his own slips, and surrounded by people who accepted him completely as he was. It was very different from where he had been when he first found the cursed bloodstone. He toasted back with a smile. It would be a much happier occasion if he did not intend to slip away to murder fellow guardsman to free the dragons.
Sordith called for the musicians to play something a bit livelier. Alador escorted Nemara over to him. Nemara and Sordith seemed to work well together and Alador did not miss the look Sordith gave Nemara as they conspired together. Alador shook away the momentary flash of jealousy.
The two would work together to pair up the men and women who needed to be with Alador so that they could slip away as if to tryst. Alador had ensured that Radney had opened up and aired the many bedrooms. All of those going with Alador would meet in his own room at the midnight hour. Thankfully, that horrid bed had been taken apart and sold off. He would have been horrified to have others think he was so ostentatious.
Alador left the two to work and continued to mill around. Sordith had attached a young blonde to him who was thankfully not the giggling or chattering sort. He learned her name was Chastity, an ironic name given her profession as a bed servant. She moved with him through the party and made appropriate comments here and there. So far, everything was going wonderfully.
As he was moving about, he happened to glance up towards the doorway of the large room. There, in the opening, was General Levielle and his wife. Alador’s glass paused halfway to his lips. While he had invited him, he had mostly thought the man would not attend. Carefully threading his companion through the crowded room, he approached the man and offered him his hand.
“I am so pleased the two of you could make it.” Alador’s greeting was genuine as he offered his hand. There were a few other invited couples throughout the throng, and so far there had been no offense taken by having members of a lower tier in attendance. General Levielle grasped his arm firmly in greeting before returning his hand to the back of the woman beside him.
General Levielle’s eyes moved from the colorful throng to Alador. “I see this will not be a mellow affair?” His casual question held an edge to it.
“I do not believe in mellow affairs, sir. I believe people should laugh, talk and dance to their hearts’ content without concern as to who watches.” Alador reached for the lady’s hand at Levielle’s side. “And who is this lovely woman, surely not your wife for I am quite sure such a lovely lady would have a hard time with such a formidable husband.” The lady was wearing a dress that spoke of wealth and status. It held gems much as Keelee’s did, and the pink was a vibrant color designed to bring a perceived flush to a lady’s cheeks.
His words had the desired effect. The older woman laughed good-naturedly. “You know my husband well, I see. I am Nakyra.”
“A lovely name for a lovely woman.” Alador kissed her hand, glancing over her knuckles as he had seen both Sordith and Henrick do a thousand times. As he stood, he slowly let loose of her hand. She was truly a lovely woman. The tinge of age had silvered her hair, but her face still held a genuine life of a younger woman. Her eyes were more like citrines, and her hair was black except for the shoots of silver.
He glanced at Levielle who was frowning at him. “Come now, sir. I meant no offense. You are truly a task master in the classroom. I can imagine more so on the battlefield. One cannot help but assume that this would filter into one’s home.” He smiled at the General.
“I see what you mean, Levielle.” Nakyra said with a grin. “He is quick to speak, and he does obviously know you.” She glanced at Alador with a conspiratorial wink. “I assure you he can be quite gruff at home as well.”
“Careful Nakyra, I can tell tales of our home as well.” Levielle seemed to relax a bit with his wife’s own acceptance of their company.
Alador winked back. “Let us get you both a plate and drink. There is couple of seats along the sides if you wish to eat. I am sure there are others here that you know. In addition, General, the High Master is here.”
Levielle looked about. “As is the Trench Lord.”
Alador looked over at Sordith to see him laughing with a small group, mug in hand as usual. He looked back to Levielle when he continued with a softly murmured question.
“Odd mixture of people you have managed to gather tonight.” Levielle looked pointedly about them. “Special occasion?”
Alador led the three over to the tables. Chastity was being quiet, seeming somewhat intimidated by the presence of the other couple. “I’d like to think of it as the anti-ball party.”
“Ah, Lady Morana’s ball. Yes. We were not invited, but I am surprised that you were not.” Levielle eyed him curiously.
“Oh, I was. I prefer the company about us to that which a stiff ball with my Uncle and Lady Morana will hold.” He looked around the room then back to the man honestly. “I will have a lot more fun here, I assure you.”
Levielle seemed to accept this as Alador pressed a drink into his hand. “Please, stay as long as you like and if it gets, well too rowdy later… I will not be offended if you sneak away.” He indicated some of the guardsmen about that Levielle would recognize. “It is not often that my classmates get to attend such an affair so I am expecting it will get quite… loud.” He grinned at the man.
Nakyra looked around. “I think I will be able to discern when it might be proper for a married couple to slip away to their own quarters or ones closer by.” She tucked her hand around Levielle’s arm as she accepted a drink from Alador with the other.
“You should have introduced us sooner, sir.” Alador smiled from Nakyra to Levielle.
Levielle shook his head. “A man knows which adversaries to keep apart. Lest they gang up on him in a battle of wits. She is sharp enough and does not need your help.”
They all laughed and Alador spent some time just getting to know the man’s wife. Like her husband, Nakyra had a quick mind and a sharper tongue. It was truly a pleasure to get to know her. Chastity even managed to add a tidbit here and there making for pleasant time.
At some point, Nemara replaced Chastity. He had not seen it happen. Alador had looked away and when he looked back, Nemara was at his side. He introduced h
er to Nakyra. Once the pleasantries were finished, Nemara looked at the couple.
“I hope you will not mind, General Levielle, but I have been waiting to dance with Alador all evening. He has been so busy playing host that he is neglecting me.” She placed her lips into a small, pretty pout. As if on cue, the musicians struck up a slower song.
“Of course, Nemara. It was not our intent to monopolize our host. Besides, I have yet to dance with my wife either.” Levielle admitted. The two couples took the floor; Nemara and Alador slowly drifted away from them so that they could speak.
“It is time for us to slip away,” she murmured into his ear. She nodded towards the door where two guardsmen as close as lovers were slipping out of the room.
“Time has moved swiftly.” Alador admitted. “I need to hold one of these when I don’t need to leave.” He was surprisingly having a good time. He looked around for Sordith who was surrounded by various guests. There was some sort of avid discussion going on and obviously held an edge of seriousness.
“Yes, I would like it if we could stay,” Nemara admitted. “But there is work to do and we have planned too many factors to stop now.”
Alador nodded. “I did not intend to stop.” As they danced closer to the door, Nemara stopped them and leaned up and kissed him slowly. Alador was caught off guard for a moment by the sensuality of the kiss.
“Let’s find somewhere private for a while.” She spoke her words just loudly enough that a couple near them could hear.
“I would love that.” Alador answered, more than eager to play his part. Everything since he had found the stone was moving to this point. He placed an arm around her shoulders and led her from the room. Nestled close together, he was surprised to see how many other couples had paired off. Sordith’s women were doing their role perfectly based on the grunts coming from beneath his stairs. Alador shook his head and led the way up to his own master suite.
They both slipped inside to find ten other guardsmen in the midst of checking gear, tightening armor and such. Alador, like the others, used magic to switch. He grabbed his weapons from the closet. No one spoke as they readied themselves. The tension in the room was palpable; the sound of his sword sliding home into its sheath was echoed by others.
Nemara nodded to him, and Alador swallowed hard. He was leading these people into a mission that could mean their deaths. It would be the first time he had truly moved in a leader’s role, and he was nervous.
“For those of you that don’t know, I am Alador,” he said.
“We all know who you are, Guldalian,” one said with a dark tone.
Alador eyes focused on the man. “Is there a problem with who I am?” His tone was harsh. “Because if there is, maybe you should bow out now.”
“I am not losing a chance to give some pay back to Lerdenian snobs. I also believe in freeing the dragons.” The man looked Alador over. “Whether you are a man to truly follow remains to be proven.”
“Fair enough.” Alador admitted. “You are?”
“Ben,” came the short reply.
“Well Ben, here is the plan.” Alador knelt down and formed magic into a glittering representation of the mine using the images he had been given by Renamaum. “We will arrive here.” He indicated the cliff. “We will break into teams of two. These here,” He indicated the glowing ballistae. “They are all pointed at the dragons. They have kept the free dragons at bay by shooting the captive ones when attacks are formed. The free dragons have relented rather than bring about the deaths of their kin.”
“How we going to get there? Seems a long flight by lexital at night?” asked one of the women.
“I am going to use a travel spell to take us all.” Alador watched their eyes widen.
“You can do that, take us all at once?” Ben asked.
“I can,” Alador stated firmly.
Ben knelt down beside Alador. “Well, now you have my attention.”
Alador grinned. “As I was saying, we will break into teams of two and our first goal will be to take out these ballistae. We will have to kill any guardsman we come across.” He looked around the gathered circle. “If you have a problem with this, you need to say so now.”
They all shook their heads and Nemara spoke up. “If they are helping to hold the dragon’s captive, they deserve their fate.”
Alador nodded. “There is one on the inside that may be working with us. How many of you remember Jon, the death mage?”
Several around the circle indicated that they knew who Jon was. That would make things a bit easier, thought Alador. “If you come across him, don’t kill him unless he attacks you first. I would hate to lose our one potential inside man.”
Alador stood and went to the closet. There he pulled out the specially made tabards. He began to hand them out. They first appeared as the tabards they all wore on duty, symbolizing the Blackguard. “This will allow you to get close in the fog and weather to the men guarding the ballistae. You will seem as one of them.” Alador separated two pieces of cloth on the back portion of the tabard. “These have a third panel in the back. Once you have secured your ballista, pull the back cloth over your head.” He demonstrated showing how it would change the tabard to blue with a silver dragon. “This is how the dragons will know if you are friend or foe. Be sure you change the tabard, it is your only protection against the flight of dragons.”
“Nemara mentioned there would be dragons helping us. I… I was a bit reluctant to believe her. Are we really getting help from dragons?” Another man asked.
“Very angry ones so be sure to stay out of their path. They won’t care about accidentally flaming one of us if we are in the way of the freeing of their fledglings.” Alador cautioned.
He pulled the amulet from his chest piece, holding it both to cast the spell and gaining a bit of reassurance from it. “Okay, gather around me. For this to work, each of you has to be touching me. When we get there, I might need a minute to gather myself as it will take more power to move us all.”
One by one, they slowly put their hands on him. Nemara stood before him. Her hair was now pulled tightly back, the lady from downstairs seemed to have disappeared in the ferocity of her expression. “Let’s go kill some bastards,” she hissed.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The world formed around them as the spell delivered them to the cliff top just as Alador had envisioned. The air around them was moist and cold. Fog swirled around them so thick that Alador could barely make out the enclosure below them. He stood in quiet awe for a long moment as did those around him. None of his companions had ever used a travel spell let alone heard of one that could bring a group. They stood close to him wide-eyed as they looked around.
For Alador’s part, it was not that he had found the spell and power to bring them all. He had come to expect the sudden insights of spells and knowledge that had not previously been his. For him, it was the wonder of finally standing above the mines. He had seen this place in various dreams and memories from a dragon’s eyes. To stand here of his own accord, his geas fully laid before him after all this time was a little overwhelming.
He moved to the edge and the others clustered about him. Alador eyed the valley and the skies. He could not see the dragons, but there was no doubt in his mind that they were here. He could sense Rena close by, and he could feel the power in the wind.
Alador pointed down below them as he spoke, his voice low so that it did not carry on the stillness of the night. “We will drop down from here. It is a natural wall to the grounds below. It is not patrolled as they know dragons cannot drop straight down without a great deal of noise.”
“I think the distance is longer than our ropes, Lord Guldalian,” Ben whispered.
Alador flinched at the use of title. “Alador, please. I am not my uncle or my father.” He looked about. The man was right, it was too far for their ropes. “You will have to use a featherfall spell.”
He realized that the spell was one of Renamaum’s memories by their blan
k stares. Alador swiftly gave them the words. He had everyone memorize the words then cast the spell. He had each jump off a near rock to make sure the spell worked properly. It took about fifteen minutes, but the people Nemara had chosen were strong with magic and intelligent.
“All right. I will go first. Say the spell and step off. You should fall slowly to the ground below. Once we are all down, we will split up from there. Remember, once your ballista is aflame, do not forget to change your tabard.” Alador took a deep breath and pulled his own sword. While there was a thick fog, there was no guarantee that they would not still be spotted floating to the ground.
“Everyone ready?” He looked around at the team then at Nemara. They all nodded and Nemara readied her bow with her own nod.
Knowing there was no more time to waste, he whispered the words of the featherfall spell then stepped off the edge. It was a bit disconcerting at first as there was still a sense of falling. However, his slow descent allowed him to keep his eyes open for anyone close by. He could smell the scent of animal waste, the strong whiffs of sulfur, and the fires of the guards. There were two towers on the far side by the entrance to the mine, but he could not see them in the fog.
He lightly hit the ground and moved out of the way, crouching down along the rock face waiting for each of the group to land. Fortunately, no one misspoke the spell and each landed as lightly as he had. They split into two teams: Six went one way and Nemara, he, and four others went to the right. Once the first set of guards were neutralized, the hope was for the four to move on to the next target. Once they were spread about the compound, the plan was to set fire to the ballistae simultaneously. There were diffused lights coming from locations around the compound. In the thick fog, they looked like beckoning swamp lights.
Pseudo-Dragon (The Blue Dragon's Geas Book 4) Page 34
