“I am afraid, my friend, they would make poor mercenaries. They have no concept of the weaponry of our world and all the skill in both worlds with a sword will not avail you against a gun. No, they belong here.”
“It was merely a wishful observation. I would not take your men away from their world even if they would come. Micah, I have noticed, your men use no ranged weapons of any kind. I have seen men with bows and crossbows and elves with bows, but the Avari carry only swords. Why is that?” Colonel Bastise asked.
“It is a matter of honor and tradition,” Micah explained.
“I understand,” Bastise replied and let the matter drop.
As they conversed, men had rushed in to surround them and officers were spilling from their tents. Commander Salic saw Micah and walked toward him, ordering the men back to their posts.
“Lord Micah, we were not expecting your visit,” Salic said sourly.
“The best inspections are often surprise inspections, General.”
“General?” Bastise prompted.
“Commander General Salic, may I introduce Colonel Rimel Bastise. He is a close personal friend of mine and a brilliant military leader. Colonel Bastise, this is Commander General Salic, commander of the King’s Army of Branna.”
Colonel Bastise stood at attention and saluted Commander Salic.
“Be at ease, Colonel. Lengthy and official introductions, Lord Micah, what can I do for you?” Salic asked hesitantly.
“The good Colonel here has been complaining that he is too removed from the action, and I know you could use another sharp mind. He is well versed in small raid tactics and undercover operations. Might you find a place for him?”
Commander Salic looked Colonel Bastise over and nodded. “I am sure we can find something for him,” Salic assured.
As Salic finished talking, two Avari came up behind Micah and stopped a respectful distance away. Without looking back, Micah motioned over his shoulder for them to step forward. Both bowed and closed the distance. With his eyes locked on Commander Salic’s own, Micah gave instructions to the two.
“Trask, Attis, please take Colonel Bastise and introduce him to the other Avari. He will be in command in my absence,” Micah told them.
“Yes, my Lord,” Attis answered.
“Please follow us, Colonel.”
Micah leaned in close to Bastise and spoke to him in his native tongue. Bastise was a bit surprised since he didn’t know Micah knew his language, but he nodded at the instructions and walked off following Trask and Attis.
Commander Salic frowned at the exchange and crossed his arms over his chest. “What was that all about?”
“Could we speak privately, Commander?” Micah inquired.
Salic sighed heavily and turned, motioning to his tent. Micah walked passed Salic headed for the tent, but stopped just outside and held the tent flap open for the Commander. Once inside, Salic sat down heavily in his chair, indicating Micah should take the chair across from him.
“Now, you mind explaining why you pop into my command area, scare my men half to death, and wake every man able to sleep?” Salic asked hotly.
“You have no Avari in the guard around the command center. That is a grave tactical error on your part, Commander,” Micah explained calmly.
“Lord Micah, you are a highly respected warrior, but this is my command,” Salic began.
“And it may very well be your last command if you do not listen to what I have to say, Commander,” Micah fired back, his voice taking on an authoritative tone that Salic recognized. His King used the same tone when giving orders he expected followed without question.
Salic calmed himself and bowed his head slightly to Micah. “I’m listening.”
“Good,” Micah replied noting the change in Salic’s demeanor. “I have no intention of usurping your command. I merely point out a weakness that Mortow could exploit. With a couple Avari stationed in the area, anyone trying what I just did will find their lives and plans cut drastically short,” Micah explained.
Salic furled his brow and leaned in a little. “Go on.”
“Your men acted quickly and raised the alarm, but had I been an enemy wizard, they and you would now be dead,” Micah said with finality.
Salic paled a little, thinking back to what the young wizard Michael had done to all those enemies in the space of a heartbeat. “I see your point, Lord Micah,” Salic said with a chill.
“That was my intention, Commander. Now, as to what I said to Colonel Bastise, I gave him instructions, in the event of your approval, of course, to take a small group of Avari out into the marsh. They are to conduct raids on scouting parties and to make sure no intelligence makes it back to Mortow.”
“They have approval, but it may be too late already,” Salic commented.
“Oh?”
“Your two men, Attis and Trask just returned not long ago. They informed me of their encounter with a twenty man scouting party a few hours run from here. They managed to kill all but one,” Salic explained.
“If they encountered scouts that close, then I feel we are about to be in the thick of it. I had best inform Kantwell,” Micah said rising.
Commander Salic rose as Micah did. “Lord Micah, will you be fighting with us?” Salic asked hesitantly.
“Nervous, Commander?”
“I’m not afraid to admit it. One of my long range scouts returned shortly before you arrived,” Salic said lowering his voice. “We are facing impossible odds here. He couldn’t give me an actual count of the enemy, but he estimated forty to fifty thousand. Even defending a narrow pass like this, we cannot hope to hold against that many and the Ogres insist on fighting out in the open.”
“How reliable is this scout?” Micah asked.
“Above reproach. I have known Rand for a long time, and I have learned to trust him implicitly.”
“Forty to fifty thousand, backed by magic and reinforced by creatures of legend,” Micah commented reflectively.
“Those are not words that inspire confidence, my Lord,” Salic replied frowning.
“Then hear these words, Commander. You also are backed by magic and reinforced by legendary warriors. The Avari are with you.”
“I mean no offense, but as good as your men are they still number less than one hundred. Reinforced as we are by the King, we number only seven thousand. Chieftain Karg has brought two thousand and the dwarves have been so decimated that they are only able to field slightly over one hundred warriors.”
“What has happened to the dwarves?” Micah asked with concern.
“They were attacked within their own lands by ogres; a surprise attack in the night on their city, aided by magic. According to Axethane Ralk, his race numbers less than three hundred now. Mortow made sure to take out the source of healers first. We have three, three to cover all our forces.”
“I will be bringing more Avari to you. In all we should number close to five hundred. Utilize Colonel Bastise. I have told him what to expect and he knows my wishes concerning my Avari. Give them their orders through him,” Micah said pulling his flask from his pocket.
“As you wish, Lord Micah,” Salic replied.
“Cheer up, Commander. We are far from beaten,” Micah grinned at Salic as he took a drink from the flask. Micah spoke the words of transport and was gone from the tent.
Michael looked up from his book as Micah materialized before him. Reek and Branik had moved into the library with swords drawn and had covered over half the distance before they recognized Micah. Both sheathed their swords and bowed to their lord. At a smile from Micah, both men returned to their vigil outside the entrance.
Micah looked questioningly at Michael, having noticed that he was not wearing the glasses. Michael returned the look in kind.
“The glasses?” Micah prompted.
Michael gently slid the little wooden box across the table. “They were giving me a bad headache so I took them off. I was trying to relax my eyes when I glanced down at the book an
d realized I could read it without them. There are some interesting insights in here. I can see your frame of mind in what you wrote as I read it.”
Micah sat down opposite Michael and unconsciously pocketed the box containing the glasses. “You can read it? All of it?” Micah asked stunned.
“Every word. You were right, some of the words were completely foreign to me, but as I read more, they became increasingly clear. The glasses worked perfectly.”
“Michael, that is not how they work. They do not teach you the language as you read. They merely translate it into one you currently understand. It generally takes me weeks to learn a new language with their aid, and even then it is a difficult process of manual translation,” Micah said incredulously.
Micah spun the book around so he could read it. He noticed that Michael was nearly three quarters of the way through the book. He had only been gone about an hour.
“What does this line read?” Micah asked pointing to a passage on the left-hand page.
Michael glanced at where Micah’s finger indicated, then looked Micah in the eyes. “Knowing what I do now, would I have chosen the same path? None of it brought Dainy or my sons back to me. I have become death, and in becoming death I have wreaked upon mankind destruction like no other in history. I am an abomination that my God can no longer tolerate to look upon. His very glance burns me like the coals of a forge.” Michael quoted from memory.
Micah did not need to look at the passage as he heard his own words repeated to him verbatim. Micah shook his head in disbelief. “That is uncanny, Michael. Do you have a photographic memory?”
“No, well, I didn’t have,” Michael replied with a slight frown as he spun the book around and reread the passage. “It must be because I just read it,” Michael offered.
“No, you recited that paragraph perfectly and with exact inflection; just as if you had written it yourself only minutes ago.” Micah shook his head again and pushed the mounting questions from his mind. “Have you learned anything that would be of use?” Micah asked.
“Many things. None that could be used against the Garoliths though.” Michael cast his eyes down at the table. “The man who wrote this book no longer exists, Micah. You know that, do you not?”
“The man who wrote that book sits before you,” Micah replied sharply.
Michael shook his head and looked into Micah’s eyes. “No, he does not. The one who wrote this took great pleasure in taking life. The man who sits before me goes to great length to preserve life. The Avari are living proof that you are not the same man.” Michael picked up the book and waved it at Micah. “The thing that wrote this had no honor and was consumed with a lust for killing and for blood. I know that I have never met a more honorable man than you. The Avari would never follow the creature that wrote this. If you cannot find it in yourself to believe you have changed, then you need look no further than the door to find that confirmation,” Michael said calmly.
Micah’s smoldering gaze dropped to the table before him then turned slowly to the door of the library. He could see Reek and Branik standing guard there like two statues.
“You know, Branik’s grandmother, so far removed as to be uncountable, was the reason the Avari exist today. She was the first to call me Lord and only the second one in untold centuries to offer me kindness. Her name was Shane. It was her cries of terror that brought me to that village so long ago. She stood before me, terrified, having witnessed what I had done to the Weres that attacked her people; yet she approached me and offered me food and called me ‘Great Lord’. Though she bore no physical resemblance, she reminded me much of my Dainy. Her courage was an honor to her people. They invited me to stay, not as a protector, but as a guest. In a way, I never left that little village, though long ago it turned to dust. I took them to the isle and helped them rebuild. I became their benefactor and they became my children. Many years later, when Shane finally passed, I returned her to her village to bury her with her husband and sons who died in the attack that day. Her surviving son continued her line, and that line stands before me in Branik. He has her courage and her strength though not her temperance,” Micah said quietly.
“And that is why I know you are not the same man. You still remember her after all this time. You cherish the memory of her courage, not the memory of the battle. No, my Lord, you are as far from this person as one could get,” Michael said with a smile.
“I have done so much evil in my time, Michael. Too much to ever be able to atone for it,” Micah replied still looking at Branik.
“You cannot atone for the sins of another. It is impossible to do and impractical to try.”
“The wisdom of the Myrkron?” Micah asked, finally looking at Michael.
“The words of a simple man,” Michael explained.
“I know the words and the man, but I did not want to hear them at the time.”
“I learned a lot from Father Barthold,” Michael told him.
“I should have, but how could I believe the words of a man who’s job it is to forgive?”
“By believing in the man, and not the words,” Michael said with conviction.
“Back then, neither of us believed the other. He was too young and head strong in his faith. I, on the other hand, was too old and had seen and done too much. Neither one of us were ready for the truths we offered each other,” Micah explained.
“And those truths were?”
“They were a story for another time. I have already used too much time. I need a favor.”
“Anything you need,” Michael responded quickly.
“Two Avari I had assigned to The Slot ran into a scouting party close to the encampment there, earlier this evening. I need you to transport the Avari left here in Kantwell, the ones down at the elven camp along with the elves and King Westan and his men, down to Commander Salic in The Slot. If my feelings in this are correct, then we are about to begin this war in earnest.”
“What will you be doing?” Michael asked.
“I have to gather the other Avari from their posts and take them there as well. They are scattered around Branna, and I have little time left this night. Please inform Merric of the situation.”
“What about Joshua?” Michael asked with concern.
“I have fulfilled one of his life’s dreams. I transported him to Avari Isle. He will be safe there. I hate to interrupt your reading, but this needs to be done immediately,” Micah informed him.
“I’m already on it. Reek! Branik!” Michael called out.
Both Avari came in at a run. Micah was already speaking the words of transport as they came to a stop. As he disappeared, they both looked to Michael.
“Reek, please go and gather the other Avari and take them down to the elven camp,” Michael paused as he thought for a moment. “On second thought, ask for a dozen volunteers to remain behind. I do not want to leave the students and staff completely unprotected,” Michael explained.
Reek dipped his head in acknowledgement and took off at a run.
“Branik, I need you to go to King Westan and have him gather his men as well. Get them all to the elven camp. From there, we all go to The Slot. Lord Micah believes the war is upon us,” Michael explained.
“That is a lot of people, Michael. You plan on transporting them all?” Branik asked in concern.
“No. That many people would likely wipe me out. I am going to get Merric and Mathis to help me.”
Branik nodded his approval, and ran from the room.
Michael transported himself outside Merric’s study and knocked on the door. “Come in,” came Merric’s voice from the other side of the door.
Michael entered quickly.
Seeing Michael’s face, Merric came instantly to his feet. “What is it?” Merric asked.
“Micah has ordered me to transport the Avari, the elves, and King Westan’s men to The Slot. I need your and Mathis’ help to get them there,” Michael informed him.
“It has begun then?”
�
�Not yet, but Micah believes it will be soon.”
“Then we had best get going,” Merric replied.
“I have Reek and Branik gathering everyone down at the elven camp. Please get Mathis and meet me there. I have to get some things from my room first. Oh, and I instructed Reek to have a dozen Avari volunteers remain behind in Kantwell to watch over the students.”
“Thank you for that. I will be much more at ease knowing they are in capable hands,” Merric confided.
“See you down at the elven camp,” Michael replied and instantly disappeared.
Merric stood in stunned silence for a moment at Michael’s abrupt departure. “Now how, in the name of the Great One, did he do that?” Merric said out loud. Merric sent out a mental call to Mathis and transported himself down to the dining hall.
King Westan’s men were on the move. The King was standing at a table situated at the center of the dining hall, speaking with Branik, so Merric walked briskly to him. As he neared, King Westan motioned for Merric to approach. The men there moved to make room.
“What news have you, Merric?” Westan asked anxiously.
“Lord Micah has recently returned from The Slot and brings news that the war is at hand. We are to gather at the elven camp just outside Kantwell,” Merric informed him.
King Westan nodded, turned to Prince Rein, and instructed him to oversee the exodus to the camp. Prince Rein bowed to his father and pointed to two other men, motioning for them to follow him as he rushed from the hall.
“So it is time, eh Merric? We are once again embroiled in a battle not of our choosing. Though others may have started it, it falls to us to end it,” King Westan declared.
“Aye. And as it was last time, things will never be the same” Merric said, sighing.
As they were speaking, Mathis walked up behind Merric and waited respectfully for the two to finish. When they had, he cleared his throat.
Merric turned to Mathis and began filling him in on what needed to be done.
Michael was in his room, had set Micah’s book on his little table, and had begun untying his golden sash before he realized what he'd done. His hands froze and began to tremble. He pumped them into fists and shook them out. He had been tired when Micah returned, but now he was so keyed up he couldn’t hold still. He thought a moment about how he got to the room.
Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) Page 29
