Ruin Mist Chronicles Bundle

by Robert Stanek

  Galan and Vilmos quickly told Adrina what they remembered of the conversation, though much of it seemed a blur.

  "She spoke of choices being like the branches of trees and for right or wrong you follow one or the other, and of good and evil," concluded Vilmos.

  Adrina asked, "Did she tell you to remember something?"

  Vilmos was pacing. Adrina knew he was growing restless. She turned to Galan and found an unexpected expression in the elf's eyes. "What is it Galan, what do you see?"

  Galan was staring off into the distance, her eyes unfocussed. Seth upon the walls.

  "Really, you can see him from here?" asked Adrina.

  Galan didn't answer. She was apparently lost in what she was seeing and Vilmos explained what little he knew of her gift, which he deemed akin to corporeal stasis.

  It is not, Galan said, it is a projecting of thoughts. I can project feelings and images too.

  "Like an image in a dream," Adrina said.

  Galan didn't reply; she was again distracted by what she saw.

  "Is there a way we can see as well?" Adrina asked.

  Perhaps, returned Galan.

  Suddenly, Adrina saw Seth standing atop the upper battlements along Quashan's southern wall. She could feel the wind blowing through his hair and the despair ravaging his heart. Seth's emotions flowed to Adrina, mixing with her own, and soon despair ravaged her heart as well. The enemy had breached the southern gates of the city and a wave of humanity was pouring in. Torches were being distributed and many buildings were already burning. Cries of panic rose; she heard women and children crying as they ran from the homes they fled.

  When Galan broke the link, Adrina found she was trembling beyond her control and her cheeks were wet with tears. From their vantage point, they saw the billows of smoke, and eventually the flames as well.

  Adrina asked, "Is there no hope?"

  Neither Vilmos nor Galan replied.

  Adrina turned to the group of guardsmen who Valam had insisted remain to see to her protection in case the worst happened. Their faces were racked with anguish and lament. She knew they wanted to join the fight, though it would surely cost them their lives.

  She stood and wiped the tears from her eyes.

  "I order you into battle!" Adrina shouted.

  The ranking soldier said, "His Highness ordered us to remain."

  Adrina glared. "And I am ordering you into battle! Now, mount your horses and go."

  "We cannot," replied the ranking soldier.

  "If Quashan' falls, I will have no need for fifty guards. I will have no need for guards at all." Adrina turned away from the speaker. "I will count to five, when I turn around you will be gone, and I will speak never a word about this. One… two…"

  Adrina waited until the sound of hooves mixed in with the din of the battle before she turned back around. She was surprised to find that six guardsmen remained.

  She glared at them, but they held their ground.

  "We must stay," one of the men said. "If it comes to it, we will ensure you reach Imtal."

  "If there is an Imtal," Adrina said coolly.

  Vilmos seemed suddenly inspired by the sight of the retreating guardsmen and there was the same twinkle in his eye that Adrina had seen in her brother's eyes earlier. "Take my hand," Vilmos told Galan.

  Vilmos' eyes glossed over, and it seemed he was in a trance. Adrina and Galan waited. Adrina was unsure what to expect.

  After a time, Vilmos released Galan's hand. "In the foothills, the Wolmerrelle. Erravane." His voice betrayed dismay. "William of Sever, she certainly is seeking him out."

  Galan's voice whispered in Adrina's mind, You will find help in a most unlikely source.

  "To think, I once called him cousin," Adrina said, "If only we understood why he turned against Great Kingdom."

  "Perhaps we do," said a voice from behind them.

  The Kingdom soldiers rushed to protect Adrina. Adrina, Vilmos and Galan turned around and stared into the afternoon shadows. A man with gray hair and a distinctive salt-and-pepper colored beard slowly made his way from the shadows. Adrina said, "Keeper Martin."

  Recognizing the lore keeper now, the soldiers backed down.

  "You must excuse me," Keeper Martin said, "I have been listening to your conversation for some time. I circled back about an hour ago."

  Keeper Martin walked toward them. Adrina saw that his face was drawn and pale, and then she saw the deep stain of blood on the right side of his cloak.

  "An arrow." Keeper Martin said simply as he eased to a sitting position.

  Adrina's eyes went wide.

  "Yes, I will live." Martin motioned for them to sit. Adrina, Galan and Vilmos sat.

  "I was in Gregortonn when King Charles was poisoned, and finally I understand why King William has joined with King Jarom."

  "King? What—" Adrina began.

  Jacob raised a silencing hand. "King Charles has passed on. The grippe took Phillip. William is heir. As you can see by the display in the field, there was no contest to his ascension. I am sure that it is with little pride and no love that the army of Sever sides with Vostok.

  "The truth is that I myself did not understand what I had seen in Gregortonn until some hours ago, but by then I thought it too late to act on what I knew. I can see the error of that now and you are responsible for opening my eyes."

  Adrina furrowed her eyebrows.

  "Babbling, aren't I? Perhaps—" Keeper Martin coughed and gripped his side. "—it is the wound. Yet, I tend to do that normally. It is the green and the gold."

  "Green and gold?" Adrina asked.

  "All along I was sure agents of King Jarom had somehow seized power in Sever's capital, for you see, I saw through the disguises and when I saw banners of green and gold—Kingdom colors—to me such colors were not out of place, but those of Sever knew at once the colors were foreign."

  Keeper Martin's face became extremely pale. He bit back pain, and then took a long drink from a winebag. "Do you understand?"

  "I am beginning to," Adrina said.

  "Brother Galan, as Lore Keeper of Great Kingdom, I know much more about your kind than the average Kingdomer, still your gifts are truly amazing. Can you truly project images into the minds of others?"

  May I? asked Galan, suggesting she wanted to take a closer look at Martin's side. Keeper Martin nodded approval and then seemed not to notice Galan's hands probing the outside of the wound. You did not remove the shaft of the arrow.

  "The shaft snapped."

  Shock crossed Adrina's face as Galan's hand melted into Martin's side. Keeper Martin gave no indication of sudden pain. In fact, he seemed at ease. Adrina, torn between repulsion and attraction, watched.

  The skin around Galan's wrist rippled as if fluid, and as if nothing was happening, Keeper Martin turned to Vilmos and said, "What little I know of the Watcher, through Father Jacob, leads me to believe that you are gifted with the forbidden as is he, and while I do not condone its use, I believe as does Father Jacob, exceptions must be allowed if they are for a greater good. You are also from Sever. Yes?"

  "My home is Tabborrath Village," Vilmos said.

  Martin said, "Your Highness, come here, let me look at you."

  Adrina didn't move. Galan was withdrawing her hand and in it, she held the broken arrow.

  "Your Highness," Martin repeated.

  Adrina looked up. Martin looked into her eyes. "You are the image of your mother, and Queen Elthia as well. Can you braid your hair in a triple braid and let it flow over your right shoulder?"

  Adrina caught a glimpse of a pink-yellow glow out of the corner of her eye. She looked back to Martin's wound to find it was gone, as if it had vanished. Adrina turned back to Martin and said, "I think you should rest, you are not thinking clearly."

  "On the contrary, I have never thought more clearly." Keeper Martin waved one of the guardsmen over. He was a short, thin fellow. "Soldier, change clothes with the lad here. He will have need of your uniform."
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  Chapter Thirty Two

  Xith kneeled beside Captain Mikhal and cradled the man's head in his hands. Most of the southern quarter of Quashan' was ablaze, and a full evacuation had begun. The Kingdom army was divided and they were now defending against two fronts. King Jarom's foot soldiers came from the west. The army of Sever pressed from the east. The horse soldiers of both kingdoms controlled the middle of the field.

  It all seemed so utterly hopeless.

  "Can you save him?" Xith asked Father Jacob, who also kneeled beside the fallen commander.

  "The wound is grievous, I can only ease his suffering."

  Xith said, "Do so, he has earned a peaceful passing from this life." Xith had been sore pressed to convince Captain Mikhal that his men needed his continued strength and guidance and that a single last rallying of his horse soldiers for a final charge would have been sheer folly. Xith found it a bittersweet irony that the commander had met the lethal blow while trying to return to the ranks of his soldiers a second time.

  "He is gone," whispered Jacob.

  "He was a brave man," Xith said.

  Father Jacob bent his head for a moment of prayer and Xith did likewise.

  Shouts erupted from not far off. "Fall back, fall back!" the voices screamed.

  The former sub-commander beside them stood and urged them to retreat. Xith and Jacob stood and followed the new commander as his forces fell back to regroup.

  Beside Adrina, Galan and Vilmos marched silently. Adrina could only vaguely see the silhouettes of the five soldiers who preceded them amidst the glare of the setting sun. Slowly though, more and more shadows shrouded the foothills and nightfall steadily approached.

  Vilmos, dressed in the guardsman's uniform, held tightly the prize Keeper Martin had given him. He was their eyes. He kept watch from overhead—using the eagle form as Xith had used—and Galan at his side directed him. She read his thoughts, and thus they were able to steer clear of any patrols set up in anticipation of an ambush as the field became blurred.

  Keeper Martin's plan had seemed bold as he had revealed it to them, but now as they moved ever closer to the ranks of Sever's army, it also seemed suddenly desperate and simple. They were to sneak into William's camp, find his tent and convince him that Great Kingdom had no part in his father's death.

  The guardsmen disguised as Sever soldiers and the banner Vilmos held but did not display would help them on their way. Still, the most difficult part—moving through the camp, finding William and convincing him—would fall to Adrina, Vilmos and Galan alone, and mostly to Adrina.

  Darkness fell, and still the battle for Quashan' raged.

  Prince Valam conferred with his field commanders, the captains of the Imtal and Quashan' garrisons. Only a short time ago his forces had finally managed to break through the enemy lines to join with the soldiers of Quashan', and he had just now learned of the death of Quashan's commander.

  Kingdom forces held the base of the southern and eastern walls of the city, yet the fire within the city still burned out of control. The enemy came at them along two fronts but fortunately could no longer attack from the rear or squeeze them into a killing zone. They had driven back the enemy horse soldiers and erected an inner and outer defensive line. In an ironic twist, they had taken control of the trenches dug by those that had besieged the city initially, and it was this that was helping them fend off the superior force.

  "The attack slows, Your Highness," Captain Adylton said. He wiped fresh blood from his face and sheathed his blade. "I answered the call as soon as I could."

  A soldier offered the captain water and he drank heavily. Captain Adylton continued, "It looks as if they'll soon fall back to their lines. The night comes."

  Prince Valam said, "That is indeed news worth waiting for." Valam surveyed his commanders. "Has anyone seen Captain Berre?"

  A sergeant with a soot-covered face answered. "He commands on the left flank, Your Highness. He sent me in his stead. He has the devil's own fury in his eyes. His home, a wife and three children, were along Cooper's Walk."

  "Stand at ease sergeant." Valam looked to the burning city, and then to Captain Adylton. "What of the other Imtal commanders?"

  The sergeant said, "Captain Ghenson's position was overrun. He was dragged from his mount, I believe he is dead."

  Valam turned to the sergeant. "What news from the left flank?"

  "Your Highness—"

  Prince Valam interrupted, "Save the pleasantries for another place and time. Be frank and quick."

  The sergeant spoke quickly then. "The line holds, the men are tired, hungry and thirsty. The wounded and the dying lie about the field. Their sappers are digging another trench line, and Captain Berre fears it is a sign they await reinforcements."

  Valam gripped the sergeant's shoulder, and then turned to Father Jacob. "Father Jacob?" he said.

  Father Jacob stood a little taller and nodded.

  "At last, we have a stable position. Care of the wounded is in your hands. I want all wounded who can still walk, but cannot wield a sword, on relief brigade. Without food and water, soldiers cannot fight."

  The soot-faced sergeant's downtrodden expression brightened.

  Xith stepped forward. "May I speak?"

  "Speak freely."

  "Light skirmishes and raids will continue through the night, the enemy hopes to keep us expecting an attack that will not come and to wear us out. An all out attack will not come until just before dawn, but if we switch to a defensive and do not continue to press the attack, all will surely be lost come morning."

  Valam was puzzled. "How can you possibly know this?"

  Father Jacob said, "There are those who have divine gifts of sight, and Master Xith is one of them. You trusted him before; you must trust him again. Without him Quashan' would have already fallen, and none of us would be standing here now."

  Valam extended his hand to Xith's shoulder. "I am sorry, it has been a trying day. You must know that you have my eternal gratitude and when this is all over, one way or another, I will repay you."

  Xith said, "If you want to repay me, do what I say." He paused then and for a moment, it seemed as if he heard something far off. Valam heard it too, perhaps it was the call of an eagle from high overhead but he couldn't be sure. "Before moonrise, every available man must be mustered and assembled for an all out assault against Sever's army. At precisely moonrise, the attack must begin."

  "We cannot desert the left flank," interrupted the sergeant. "There are two enemy armies—"

  Valam raised a silencing hand and Xith continued. "Yes, it is very important that the enemy not know we have stripped our left flank. Moonrise is not for some hours and the night sky looks to be dark and clouded. We can use this to our advantage…"

  Chapter Thirty Three

  Vilmos unfurled Sever's banner. Adrina tried to imagine that she heard it flapping in the wind instead of pitiful moans and screams of agony. She forced herself to maintain a steady pace. Her heart pounded in her ears and she bit her cheek to remind herself to stay calm. Frantic thoughts flashed through her mind and more than once she almost cried out at the ghastly sight of the dead and the dying that littered William's camp from end to end.

  For a moment, Adrina thought of Emel and wondered where he was amidst the fighting, and then the thought was gone. Ahead lay a tent with many guards posted around it. Adrina was sure it was William's. Expectantly, she inhaled a breath and held it, but when Galan continued past the tent without even turning an eye toward it, Adrina let the breath slip out.

  "You passed his tent, is something wrong?" Adrina whispered.

  There is nothing wrong, said Galan, carefully directing the thoughts.

  After passing the last tent on the end, Galan paused. This is William's tent. The other was meant to catch the eye of anyone bold enough to sneak into the camp.

  Galan did not hesitate long, instead she continued until she found a place with few campfires and no torches. There were two guards just insid
e the entrance, but cleanly out of view. William sits at a table with his back to the guards. There was another in the tent, but he was preparing to leave.

  Vilmos tossed aside the banner. "You read their thoughts?"

  In a way, yes, replied Galan curtly.

  Adrina asked, "Is there a chance we can replace the guards with our own?"

  One of the guardsmen stepped forward. "We will try. They are surely hungry or tired, or both. I can tell you there have been many times I wished for relief and would never have questioned it if it came."

  Galan smiled, seemingly approving the show of bravery. She closed her eyes for a moment. They are both hungry and tired. You are quite wise.

  "I am but a simple soldier who knows what it is to stand watch." The soldier broke off, his face showing concern.

  "Go quickly," Adrina said, "may Great Father watch over you."

  Two soldiers slipped away.

  While they waited, Adrina took in the activity around them. Everywhere soldiers hurried about the camp, singly, in pairs, and in large groups. The camp was in a state of confused frenzy, but this was changing, order was being restored from chaos. The sound of the battle was fading. More and more fires were raised both along the camp's perimeter and its interior, and lines of torches were being put in place to mark hastily cleared paths.

  Princess Adrina?

  "What is it, Galan?" Adrina whispered.

  They are inside.

  Adrina saw two figures leave the tent. "Is it safe to proceed?"

  Galan said, It would seem so.

  Quietly the small group moved toward the tent.

  "What would you have us do, Your Highness?" asked one of the three remaining guardsmen.

  "When we reach the tent, we will go in, you three will continue past. Do not stray far though. We may have need of your sword arms. Keep a close eye on the tent, and do not start a fight unless it is absolutely necessary. If an alarm is sounded, we will surely never leave this camp."