‘Hannea,’ I said, and they all stared at me. ‘Hannea will know.’
‘She might,’ Anja said. ‘I’ll leave before one of you call me Euryale’s lapdog again.’ She did. She got up and went out.
‘She did it,’ Dana whispered.
‘Shut up,’ Albine said. ‘But we do have a problem with leaving, don’t we? Personally I think we should fight here.’ We looked at her incredulously. She nodded as if she had expected us to doubt her. ‘There are millions of humans here. They think she,’ she nodded in my direction, ‘is the queen of all humans. Nothing better under the moons. They would eat bat droppings if you asked them to. From an ape’s ass.’
‘I should stay here and raise them to war?’ I asked her and sat down. ‘You don’t seem to know me, Albine.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘And I do know you hate to think about this. But it’s coming anyway. Perhaps this is a higher calling than your Hel.’
‘You are sixteen,’ I said. ‘Sixteen, Albine. What do you know of war?’
Lex looked uncomfortable and interrupted Albine’s heated answer. ‘She might have a point. We should find a way to the men’s hearts. And abandon the elves.’
I shook my head at them. ‘I know which elf Lex wishes to abandon. No. I have to go north. And I have no time for rebellions and bloodletting. I want to bring back the gods if possible.’
‘The gods might think this current situation is just a great state of affairs,’ Albine complained. ‘They likely spat on humans before. Perhaps they hunted humans in the woods for sport? Why did Freyr, lord god of this land allow humans to be humiliated to begin with?’
‘We don’t know,’ I said. ‘We don’t know he allowed it. I hope he did not.’
‘We don’t want the French Revolution here, and Shannon here is no Napoleon to lead such armies,’ Ulrich stated. ‘I saw what war did to Europe, Albine. It will not be controlled.’
‘If I return the Eye—’ I began.
‘If you do this; if you do that,’ Albine said softly. ‘If you return it. How would you return it? Eh? How do you return the eye to a goddess in Helheim? Will you send her a letter or a courier and ask her to pick it up?’
‘I might send her a courier,’ I growled. ‘After all, isn’t that where the dead end up? Want to go?’
She scowled at the threat but waved me down. ‘You don’t have it in you to fight. I get it. But I do. Ulrich and Lex could. Dana as well, but gods know what she wants to fight for. Probably against us all if it makes her rich.’ Dana smiled and raised an eyebrow.
‘Robbing elven castles might do her good, then,’ Lex said ferociously.
‘No!’ I yelled, and they went quiet. I gathered myself and spoke as calmly as I could. ‘No. I will not take part in this. I don’t want to. I don’t have the time,’ I said. ‘If this doesn’t kill me,’ I peeled down the armor on my left shoulder, ‘then something else will. I won’t stay here to take part in murder.’ There were the vicious stick men there, dozens. They were but strange, jaundiced things, gaunt skeletons, but they would feast well. The skin was irritated, red and rash, marked and evilly wet as the things twitched. They didn’t move so much as changed position suddenly. And they all looked like they were involved in a slow dinner. ‘I have six months, less. The Regent’s wife has this, and she has even less time left, much less, and only I can heal her. I cannot heal myself. Euryale’s venom could, but she is not here, and she will not likely hand it over. I have to go there and save Aloise and thwart Euryale. I don’t wish to run around in a jungle and kill elves. I would not wish that if I was not burdened by a god’s cursed spells, ferocious First Born, and evil dragons.’
Dana’s eyes glittered, and there was something akin to dread in them as she eyed the wet disease, but she smiled bravely to me. ‘If you get the Eye, you will be healed. One way or the other. Surely Hel can spare you. I agree with Shannon. Forget this damned war. Let them fight it on their own. Let Ompar fight it. In fact, the rest of you stay here. We have to get out of here.’
Albine frowned and looked distraught. ‘I understand. But now we have started this war. They will need help. These people. We cannot just leave this place. House Vautan’s lands are to the north? A hundred miles to the north?’
‘We are trapped, my young friend,’ Ompar said from the doorway. He looked drawn but still smiled. ‘Trapped and caught for now. We spent half the day putting out fires from those parrots that nested on this side of the chasm. We are well stocked with food, though. But I take it you already heard?’ He was asking me.
‘About your bird couriers?’ I asked him. ‘I know.’
‘It was not one of our men,’ he said darkly.
‘We heard. But how do you know?’ Lex asked, scowling at the elf.
‘Because it happened after we entered. And the guard was killed by magic,’ he told us darkly, looking from one to another. ‘Fire.’
‘Seems there is a traitor with us, indeed,’ I said.
‘One that is out to put you in my father’s hands,’ Ompar stated. ‘But I will guard you.’
‘We will guard her,’ Lex said, and Ulrich rolled his eyes. They all did, in fact.
‘That traitor does not wish to hurt me,’ I said. ‘They want to give me over to the enemy.’
‘My father,’ Ompar said, walking to the window. ‘My enemy.’ He was agonized over his rupture from his kin, after all.
‘Has he called out?’ I asked softly. ‘What do your people think?’
He laughed wearily. ‘They? What do they think? Well, my soldiers, first of all. They are all scoundrels. They know there will be very few good options left, now that we are surrounded. They are good fighters, and under me, they have grown prosperous and happy. They will fight for me, for their loot and also for you and won’t complain too much. But the women?’ he said and shook his head. ‘Their women hate me for this situation. Mothers especially. They have children and homes here.’ Lex snorted, but Ompar looked at me. ‘Danar Coinar does not negotiate. He wants you. He would spare my life, but never my subjects.’ He looked around the room glumly.
‘Do you have any plan?’ Albine asked. ‘Any at all?’
He nodded reluctantly. ‘Yes. Do you think I am planning on sitting here and drinking myself senseless? No, I’ll do so after we are safe. They are guarding all the bridges. They have guards left and right, all over the place, probably hanging from trees and under tufts of moss. I sent men out there last night, hoping to breach their lines. They sent back their hands. They are building siege lines across all the bridges, and maa’dark will watch us for magical escape attempts.’ He was rubbing his shoulders, contemplating what was likely a desperate plan.
‘Go on,’ Albine said, seeing it. ‘It will be crazy, no doubt, but we will help.’
Ompar nodded and stepped towards me. ‘Yes, we will do something crazy. What we must do is the unexpected. We have to kill my father. And Strife. And any other relative of mine that is out there. We must try. At least we need to fight them over the north bridge and try to get people across the land to Vautan and ultimately to Trad to get help. It will be perilous. But possible if we give them battle.’
‘I think she is more important than the people,’ Dana said and nodded at me.
‘I agree,’ Lex said.
‘So do I,’ Ulrich whispered.
Albine shook her head, frowning. ‘We should beat them. And then go north.’
Ulrich laughed in surprise. ‘There are thousands of elves surrounding that … ’ He stammered.
‘Black Ring,’ Ompar said helpfully. ‘A dark hill, old grave. Just by the northern bridge. Father is there indeed with thousands.’
Albine went on patiently. ‘This Black Ring. Attack them? Is it possible to win?’
Ompar smiled ruefully. ‘We have to be aggressive. At least once. We have to find a way to get the word out. They have a terrible amount of siege there. And many maa’dark with three thousand elves. It’s not possible to win. But we have you.’
&
nbsp; ‘We will die before we cross the moat from the tower,’ I said.
He nodded. ‘And that is why one must sacrifice their life. I have something that might help. A spell. We need someone to burn the siege before we attack.’
‘We could burn it from the tower?’ Ulrich asked.
‘There are some maa’dark with the siege,’ Ompar said. ‘They are guarding it. They will douse all the fires with their might or kill people Embracing the Glory on the walls. It’s not that simple.’
‘What did you mean with one sacrificing their life?’ I asked.
‘One has to burn up those maa’dark and then the siege. One has to get close, right there in the middle of them,’ he said softly. ‘One maa’dark has to go. One of you.’
‘You want one of us to sacrifice our life?’ Lex asked with a laugh.
‘Yes, perhaps you?’ Ompar said with all seriousness. ‘You seem unhappy all the time. Perhaps—’
I slammed my hand on a desk. ‘You are asking one of us to die? Truly?’
Ompar waved his hand. ‘I know. It is a terrible thing to ask. We need to do two things. One has to get there and do this burning bit. And—’
‘How will he … they get there?’ Lex asked and cursed himself.
‘I see you are thinking about volunteering,’ Ompar said with a smile. ‘Hannea has a spell that will help with that. She can get one of you there. I promise.’
‘What is the other thing?’ I asked.
‘I told you. We have to kill Danar Coinar. My father.’ He said it coolly, with no doubt in his voice.
We stared at him. I smiled. ‘I asked you if you have any plan, and you have perhaps too many?’
He snorted. ‘No. We can take the siege out. We have to. If only we had someone with a spell of … invisibility. I hear some few maa’dark learn to be stealthy. Some say it’s a combination of fire and ashes and dust. Hannea once told me that. If we had a spell like that, we could do more than sacrifice the maa’dark. We could burn the siege, and we might actually try to kill him after the siege is gone. That would surprise Father, perhaps. An attempt on his life. More so if it succeeds. I’d love to see his face as he bleeds in the mud. But for now, Hannea’s spell can get us started. We will fight a battle up the hill, and kill father if we kill his army. If only we could kill him before, but—’
We all looked at Cherry. She grinned, the daredevil that she was. Ulrich pointed at her. ‘Actually—’
‘What? She knows one?’ Ompar asked, breathing hard. ‘A spell like that? It’s so rare.’
Cherry channeled a spell of fires and fumes, low and simmering. She disappeared with a puff and appeared behind Ompar, holding his sword. She handed it back with a huge grin. ‘Dangerous little imp, isn’t she?’ he whispered. ‘How long can you hide?’
‘A while,’ I said for Cherry, and Cherry nodded.
‘Long enough to sneak into the camp and kill him?’
She shook her head. ‘Perhaps not that long,’ Ulrich said.
‘I got it,’ Ompar said angrily and thought about it.
‘It’s a draining spell,’ Dana explained with reproach. ‘Very draining. They have guards on the hill. Perhaps if the siege is burning, he will be careless. Close.’
‘Yes. He will be near when the siege burns,’ Ompar said.
‘What spell is this Hannea’s spell?’ I asked suspiciously.
‘Wait,’ he said happily. ‘You fine with trying this?’ he asked Cherry. She grinned. She would do it.
I breathed heavily, worried for her. ‘Fine. You have a plan ready?’
Ompar nodded, uncomfortable. ‘Yes. I’ll ready the troops. And we must all do great deeds and more. We need all of you in the battle. And I have one more idea that will make the Red Heart Brigade, the elven troop on the Black Ring shake a bit.’ He hesitated. ‘It’s a bit tricky. Not very honorable.’
‘Will you share the idea?’ Lex coaxed him. ‘And, in fact, do tell us what spell Hannea will use?’
Ompar nodded at me. ‘With her. I’ll share it with Shannon. The battle plan I will share happily before we start, but the rest, only with her.’
Lex pushed him. ‘With all of us. You are hounding her. Surrounding her with smiles and sophistication—’
‘That you lack,’ Ulrich said with reproach, pulling at him. ‘As well as tact, cousin.’
‘Sophistication?’ Ompar smiled. ‘I am a pirate. I eat with my hands and get so damned drunk I cannot tell where the ship ends and the sea begins. Ask Bulathon, it’s true. And while I am sure I’m more sophisticated than your average gutter-born friend, Lex, I’m here thinking about this dilemma because I like the gutters and the people elves often despise. Respect Shannon and trust her to plan with me alone. She is your friend.’ He struggled to stop there, but could not. ‘Though perhaps not more than that.’
‘Not more?’ Lex raged. I felt him gather powers, fire and molten stone entwining together. I stepped in front of Ompar. Lex hesitated and shrugged as if trying to decide to go ahead with it anyway. Ulrich grabbed him in a headlock; the spell disappeared, and he dragged Lex out of the room.
Ompar was rubbing his forehead in deep thought. ‘I really have to keep an eye on that boy, don’t I? Please send your sister away.’ Dana scowled at that but got up.
‘You really should stop coaxing him,’ I answered. ‘And I will decide what he is to me.’ Ompar’s eyes twinkled with merriment at that, and I blushed. He was very sure of himself. ‘We are not a happy group of people,’ I whispered. ‘Dana? Albine? Cherry, would you mind?’
They nodded, not happy to leave. ‘Let them stay,’ Ompar said and nodded at Cherry and Albine. ‘Sorry, Dana. We need them both. We will have to trust them. And I do trust you, Dana, to a degree, but would you leave?’ She did, with a huff while the others stayed, confused.
‘Why?’ I asked. ‘Why do they stay?’
‘Cherry can save us indeed. Have you killed before?’ Ompar asked Cherry cheerfully. ‘Have you stabbed anyone in the back? Can you do it to an old, evil elf? Saw a blade into a spine and spit in the wound?’
She grinned. She could. She had.
‘Now we will only need Hannea and her special spell,’ he said. ‘We will ask her some questions. That’s Albine’s job. To tell us if she lies. And then, we will fight a hard battle on the Black Ring. And I do have an idea that might give us victory. Listen.’
We listened to the plan and gods knew it was a dangerous, mad plan. But one we would attempt anyway.
CHAPTER 9
We walked the Lowpass Castle ramparts. The air was humid, and the night was odd. There was heat but also some rain as a front of clouds rushed through the sky from the west. A lightning strike lit the sea for a moment, and then another, and I walked on. I wore my armor and a heavy cloak, and they kept me warm, but some soldiers were shivering in their chain mail, huddled around cauldrons of burning wood. ‘That way, your highness,’ a young man said with a grin and pointed at a tower on the east side of the compound. I hesitated. Your highness? Then I nodded and walked that way. I’d not get used to being called such.
‘They only need a leader, Shannon,’ Albine said with a self-satisfied grin as she walked with me. ‘That is all they need.’
‘I’m hoping to give them a god,’ I whispered. ‘A pantheon of them.’
‘If that plan fails, as it should fail, as the idea is more than half mad, then you must know there will be freedom won with spells and swords,’ she said darkly as she went past a nestled guard, hidden in an alcove. ‘I might stay here.’
‘You do, if you must,’ I told her. ‘I’ll miss you. When did you grow so full of fire, Albine? You just rushed to this cause with no heed for safety and sanity.’
She shrugged. ‘Dana tortured your Lex and Anja on the ship. She drove them mad. But she also spoke to me. She made sense. We are stuck in Aldheim, she said, and she told me she will find something to do after all is settled. Something worthy. Exciting. She said perhaps she will sell her skills, fighting ski
lls. She is right in the fighting part. But I will do so for humans.’ I glanced at her. Dana would be after a kingdom. She had pushed Albine to start thinking about wars and glory. Damn her, I thought.
‘I don’t see myself leading them in such a war,’ I told her. ‘And as long as they have no magic, it will be a deathblow to the land. All the lands. A few human maa’dark will do nothing against an army of casters. We will see soon when we go up the hill. And we have no idea what we are doing, what history will be broken, how many innocents might die. Many elves might very well be like Ompar. There might be plenty of humans who do not deserve freedom. I am no expert, but war is unreasonable and full of wrongs. Perhaps more wrongs than it sets out to make right.’
‘Most elves might not be evil,’ Albine said sullenly we walked up some stairs. ‘But they must change their ways. Let the ones like Ompar join the humans and prove their worth. Revolution will be a birth of a new life, and the land will burn to grow it. Fire is indiscriminate but what follows will be better than what was. Healthier. Revolution is what is needed.’
‘Like the one you had in France,’ I said tiredly. ‘It got many people killed, Albine. A lot. Ulrich told you. It cannot be controlled. Most of the victims of the guillotine were likely innocent. Father said your revolution killed more poor folk than rich ones.’
‘They needed the shake up,’ she glowered, her dark face glistening in the heat of the night. ‘Both poor and rich. And it shook up Europe. Even Britain. Kings fell.’
‘Not our king,’ I told her. ‘What these people need are their god. Something your revolutionaries of Paris killed in the 1790s? They abolished religion, god, church?’
‘You have done your reading,’ she said with a small grin. ‘Yes, that’s what they did.’
‘I wasn’t a good student,’ I allowed. ‘But Father had many books. I do not want to kill elves. The ones we have already killed? I will have nightmares about them just like I have them of our fellow students. And your dead brother Able might not like your ideas. He seemed like a gentle soul. Grow gentle as well, Albine. Don’t listen to Dana.’ Her dead brother had helped us before. I saw the dead, sometimes, people who lingered, and I could even touch them, where none else could. Able had been much calmer than Albine, but perhaps Albine had been as well before Able died in her arms the day we arrived. I glanced at her as she stared ahead, not wishing to speak about Able.
Eye of Hel: Stories of the Nine Worlds (Ten Tears Chronicles - a dark fantasy action adventure Book 2) Page 12
