He felt physically ill at the thought of crossing that bridge. It was mesmerising the way he was drawn to the side of it; the seductive impulse to step off the edge and fall to his death. He clenched his teeth and shut his eyes, his heart raced and he took a deep calming breath.
“Did he just run across that bridge with his eyes shut?” Serenion asked in disbelief.
“Yep, that’s our Captain.” Taurillion grinned as he followed.
Jerrol gasped for breath as he leaned against a tree on the other side of the bridge. His limbs were trembling furiously, and he tried to bring his ragged breathing under control as the men crossed, eyeing the deep drop below them. A few threw friendly taunts at him and at those who had been reluctant to cross. Taurillion approached behind them.
“It affects people sometimes,” he said as if making conversation. “It may fade, it may stay; the Unworthy Man’s Drop takes its toll on everyone. I think it’s more the fact that there is no bottom, so it plays on the mind even more.”
Jerrol shuddered as the image filled his mind.
“What you have to remember is the fact that you climbed back up, even though you knew death was below. You didn’t freeze; you didn’t give up.” Jerrol heard the smile in Taurillion’s voice. “You beat it. Most men don’t. Very rare is the man who survives the Unworthy Man’s Drop.” His voice was loud in the sudden silence.
Jerrol straightened as the jeering men fell silent and stared at him wide-eyed. Taurillion turned to face them. “Yes, beware who you insult. This man climbed the Unworthy Man’s Drop, which is that ridge over there.” Taurillion pointed to the sheer cliffs dominating the horizon behind them. “As you see, he still lives. When you have climbed it, you can claim your right to jeer. Until then I suggest you keep your big mouths shut!” He glared at the men, who shuffled and dropped their gaze to the floor.
“Taurillion, don’t, it’s fine. Everyone is fair game in the military.”
“Not the Captain,” he said.
Jerrol grinned, easing his aching shoulders. “Especially the Captain, when he displays weakness.”
“Is it true, sir? You climbed them cliffs?” a grubby private piped up.
Jerrol laughed. “Not by choice, you know. I was thrown over first, and to be fair, I did have help up the last ten feet. Otherwise, who knows ….” He shrugged. “I likely wouldn’t be standing here today. I do seem to have an aversion to heights now though lads, so if you could avoid putting me in a position where I have to deal with it, I would appreciate it.”
The soldiers laughed, a few clapping him on the shoulder as they dispersed. A couple lingered. “Sir, according to the map there’s another crossing up ahead, worse than this one. We could go around it, but it’ll take another day,” the soldier suggested.
Jerrol swallowed. “No, we cross. Thank you for your concern, but don’t worry about me. We have to get to the palace as fast as we can.”
The soldier nodded and turned away. “You got any spare rope in that pack of yours?” he asked his mate as they joined the end of the column.
Taurillion grinned at Jerrol. “I don’t know how you do it, but they are all looking out for you.”
Jerrol grimaced. “Unfortunately, not all.”
“Enough of them are, though,” Taurillion said under his breath as they strode up to the head of the column to join Captain Landis.
Deepwater
“My lord Jennery, there is a—a strange Sentinal here to see you, sir.”
Jennery looked up from the papers on his makeshift desk and frowned. “Strange?”
“Um, no one knows her. It’s a she, sir, and she’s asking for Sentinal Tagerill; says she’s from Captain Haven.”
Jennery straightened up abruptly. “Then don’t dawdle. Get her in here, now. And send for Tagerill.”
“Yessir,” the man backed out with alacrity and a tall, slender, silver-eyed woman with long platinum blonde hair was escorted into Jennery’s command tent under guard.
Jennery eyed his men. “Since when have Sentinals been escorted under armed guard?” he inquired.
“Since she managed to penetrate our front lines and didn’t know any of the code words, sir.”
Jennery stared at the Sentinal. He didn’t recognise her either, but if she was from Elothia, it was possible that Jerrol, if he was still alive, had awoken her.
“I’m afraid I don’t know your name.”
“Yaserille, from Retarfu. The Captain needs your help.”
“How did you get through our lines?”
“The Captain advised me of your protocols. They are excellent,” she said, her silver eyes gleaming in appreciation.
“Tell me about this captain. Where did you meet him?”
Yaserille smiled. “I first met him in Cerne when he awoke myself and Taurillion. We were a bit shocked at the awakening and didn’t believe who he was. He was travelling to Retarfu at the time with a woman. Later we helped rescue him from the Unworthy Man’s Drop. Some Elothian soldiers pushed him over the cliff.”
“They did what? Is he alright?”
“Yes, a little battered, but he is well. We found him climbing up the sheer rock face. Marguerite was watching over him that’s for sure; a more worthy man there can’t be. He needs your help.”
“Describe him,” Jennery said.
“Lord Jennery, we don’t have time for this. He said to tell you that if you didn’t help him and prevented me from returning to him, he would hit you over the head with a ladle.”
Jennery’s face broke out into a broad smile, and Yaserille smiled in response as his rugged face lit up. “That sounds like the Captain,” he agreed. “Where is he and what does he need? The last we heard he had been killed protecting the duke.”
“He has been protecting the grand duke as a captain of the Third Chevron. Right now, he is descending on the Summer Palace, attempting to rescue a guardian that the Ascendants abducted. But he needs you to create a diversion to draw their attention south. We are few and need all the help we can get.”
Jennery pulled out a map of Elothia. “When does he intend to infiltrate the palace?”
“In two days. It took me two days to get here, so he should be in position here.” She pointed at the map. “He intends to attack at dawn with two other Sentinals. The Summer guardian is restrained there. We have to get her out.”
“Two other Sentinals?” Jennery looked up at her.
“Taurillion and Serenion. He sent three others to a nursery in Marchwood to recover. They were in poor shape.”
“He found six more Sentinals?”
Yaserille smiled. “Yes, and we serve the Captain and his needs.”
Jennery sighed deeply. “Thank the Lady. Keep him safe; we need him.”
Yaserille nodded. “He told me to give these papers to you. It contains all that he has collected so far.”
Jennery took the papers and collapsed in his chair. He spread the maps out and looked up. “How do you feel about helping the enemy?”
“I am a Sentinal of Remargaren, in service to the Lady and the Captain. Their enemies are my enemies.”
Jennery nodded. “Well said.” He leaned back in his chair as Tagerill arrived. Jennery’s lips tightened at his friend’s haggard face, concern for his brother and the Captain taking its toll. Injecting a note of enthusiasm in his voice, Jennery introduced Yaserille. “Ah, Tagerill, this is Yaserille, a newly awoken Sentinal from Elothia. She has news of Jerrol.”
Tagerill clasped Yaserille’s arm in greeting. “Yas, glad to see you. What news? Is Jerrol alright?”
“The Captain is fine.” Yaserille replied as she gripped his arm in return.
A slow smile spread over Tagerill’s face. “That is good news. Is there any news of Birlerion?”
Yaserille smiled. “Apparently, Birlerion is in Retarfu disguised as a member of the Third Chevron. The Captain was alone when we found him. I left him with Taurillion and Serenion. I understand Marianille was commanded to stay and protect Scholar
Haven. Birlerion is with them in Retarfu.”
Tagerill hissed his breath out and shielded his eyes with a shaky hand. He cleared his throat and Jennery’s chest tightened at the gruffness of Tagerill’s voice. “Is Birlerion alright? Why didn’t he send word? We’ve been worried sick.”
Yaserille shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him, but he is alive. From what the Captain said they found each other in Adeeron.”
Jennery sat back down with a thump, his chair creaking in protest. He looked up at the Sentinals filling his tent. Tagerill screwed up his face and ducked back out of the entry. Jennery hurried to fill the gap and give Tagerill time to collect himself. Relief coursed through him as he grinned at Yaserille. “News has been slow. It’s been a worrying time. Taelia and Jerrol were joined? We weren’t sure if that was the case.”
Tagerill re-entered the tent and after a swift glance at him, Jennery ignored the Sentinal’s flushed face and over-bright eyes. “I’m surprised Taelia is still out there. I would have thought the king would have brought them home by now.”
Tagerill shrugged. “My sister keeps refusing to leave, she can be stubborn like that, which is fortunate considering the information they are sending us.” He paused, and then muttered under his breath. “At least she will be there for Birlerion.” He turned to Yaserille. “Did Jerrol explain how Birlerion became a soldier in the grand duke’s army? Because last we heard he was in bad shape.”
“I’m sorry, he didn’t. I assume they are waiting for the Captain to return.”
Shuffling the papers on his desk into a pile, Jennery heaved a deep sigh. “Too many unknowns. What we do know is that Jerrol needs a diversion. Fill Yaserille in on our situation, will you? She needs to get back to Jerrol as soon as possible.”
Tagerill looked back at Yaserille. “How is he?” he asked again, the concern plain on his face.
“He’s fine. Planning to infiltrate the Summer Palace. There is a guardian he intends to rescue. He needs your troops here to cause a distraction; only a distraction. He warns against a full engagement. Adeeron has reserves that they could send down on you, and the Captain believes the true target is the Watch Towers at Velmouth.”
“Who else is awake?” Tagerill asked.
“Taurillion and Serenion. The Captain sent the others to Marchwood to recover. All the details are in the information I gave Lord Jennery.”
Jennery waved the papers, and Tagerill nodded. “Very well, I’ll be back shortly. Yaserille, if you come with me, we’ll get you reprovisioned and on your way. I’d send some men with you, but I think you’ll be less conspicuous and travel quicker alone.”
Yaserille nodded. “The Captain intends to return to Retarfu. There is no point taking a squad of Vespirian soldiers deeper into Elothia.”
“Agreed; they have enough of our men already. What do you need?” Their voices faded as Tagerill led her away.
When Tagerill returned to Jennery’s tent, he was engrossed in the papers and maps spread out before him. He looked up and inspected his friend for a moment. “Did she get away alright?”
“Yes, no problem.”
Jennery sighed and indicated the maps. “We have all their positions, numbers, units; you name it.”
“At least we know he is well and guarded,” Tagerill said, his mind obviously still on Jerrol.
“He was well, but he is about to enter the hornet’s nest. The Summer Palace will not be lightly defended, and he has only three Sentinals?”
Tagerill grinned. “You’d be surprised how much damage three Sentinals can do.”
Jennery gave a huff of laughter. “I’m sure. What else did she say?”
“Lady Marguerite rides his shoulder. Her sister offers succour. The Lady is hidden, removed. The Captain struggles to forsake the Lady. That’s why he’s muted in our senses. It’s not that he is injured. He is trying to hide.”
“But why?” Jennery asked.
“Because the Lady told him to.”
Jennery stared at him. “For what purpose?”
Tagerill shrugged. “There are deeper currents at play than even we know.”
Jennery sighed. “No doubt. What about this diversion. What do you think we should do? Everything I can think of is more likely to trigger a strong reaction.”
“Maybe it’s time. I was going to suggest we strengthen the defences around Velmouth. If that is their true target, we should support Jason. They will react to us bolstering the defences. If we make it seem like we have reduced the defences here, it may draw them in, and they might take the bait.”
Jennery nodded, frowning at the map. “We can buy them time. But at what cost?”
Tagerill leaned over the table. “We try to mitigate the cost where we can, hold the front line as long as possible, then fall back to the true defensive position.”
Jennery stared at him steadily. “And who is going to lead that suicide mission?”
Tagerill smiled, a glint in his eyes. “Well, it won’t be the Lord of the Watch, now, will it?” he said as he pulled the maps closer and sat down.
39
Grand Duke’s Palace, Retarfu
Taelia gave the guard outside the grand duke’s chambers a blinding smile as she handed over her report for the fourth day in a row. She halted in surprise as the guard failed to take it. Instead, he turned to open the chamber door. “The grand duke is expecting you, Scholar.”
Taelia recovered and promptly entered the chambers. She paused on the threshold, unsure where the grand duke was, and Marianille hovered close behind her.
The aroma of musty books and fresh coffee lingered in the air. The rug was soft under her feet, her shoes sank into the deep pile but she hesitated, straining to hear who was in the room.
“Ah, the persistent Scholar Taelia of Vespiri.” The grand duke’s voice sounded tired.
Taelia turned towards the sound of his voice off to her left and curtsied. “Your Grace, thank you for seeing me.”
“It seems you were determined to give me your report. I thought it might be easier if you explained it yourself; it wasn’t making a lot of sense to me.”
“It would be my pleasure, Your Grace, after all, you asked me to find your Guardian of the Summer.”
The chair creaked as the grand duke moved. “I did?”
Marianille pushed Taelia forward so she could enter the chamber. “Your Grace,” she murmured, bowing. The grand duke was still unnaturally pale. He was dressed informally in shirt and trousers and seated behind his desk, his dark blue jacket slung over the back of a chair near the table.
“The Scholar’s faithful attendant.” The grand duke nodded his head, his eyes alert.
Marianille’s eyes darted around the chamber, alighting on Birler standing against the wall. “Are you alone, Your Grace? You should not be unattended.”
The room seemed empty but for the grand duke and Birler, and spoke tellingly of his lack of trust in the people around him.
The grand duke smiled. “I thought this conversation might be best held privately, for I don’t believe I have heard all that needs to be told, and for some reason, I don’t believe that the companions of Captain Finn or, for that matter, Commander Haven will harm me. He could have killed me any time this last month if he had wanted to. Instead, I find he has been trying to protect me and my country.” He indicated the chairs in front of his desk. “Please sit. Why don’t you begin by telling me who you really are?”
Marianille led Taelia forward. Taelia’s hands fluttered over the chair as she spoke. “My name is Taelia Haven, and I am a scholar of the Lady’s Order of Remargaren.”
“Haven?”
“King Benedict’s Ambassador, Commander Jerrol Haven, is my husband.”
“Your husband?” Taelia heard the surprise in his voice. “Did you realise he was also Captain Finn? Or so my advisors said, eventually.”
“Immediately, Your Grace,” Taelia admitted. “Once I got over the shock, I knew he wasn’t dead. It was only a matter of tim
e before he found a way to return.”
“And you were the only one who recognised him,” the grand duke said.
“No, Tor’asion and Var’geris knew who he was straight away. No one else really had a chance to see him when we first arrived.”
The grand duke winced. “Yes, my apologies for your reception, though as it turns out, maybe it was for the best. And you?” The grand duke looked at Marianille.
“I am a Sentinal, your Grace. The Captain awoke me in Terolia. My name is Marianille.”
The grand duke’s eyes widened. “A Sentinal? Truly? I thought they were a myth.”
Marianille smiled. “Obviously not, Your Grace. And Private Birler behind you is my brother, Sentinal Birlerion. Only, the Ascendants attacked and injured him. He ended up at Adeeron like the Captain.”
“Lieutenant Birler, have you been keeping secrets from me?” the grand duke asked, staring at Birlerion.
“I am sorry, Your Grace, but I don’t remember being a Sentinal. My name is Birler, and I am as you see.”
“Why are you here?” The grand duke turned back to Taelia.
“To be brief, Your Grace,” Taelia said. “The Ascendants are trying to take over Remargaren. They tried to overthrow King Benedict, they set the Terolian Families against each other, and now they are trying to cause unrest in Elothia. Your generals have caused tensions along the borders, sending incursions into Vespiri. We came to try to stop you from going to war with Vespiri.”
“But I have not ordered any such action.”
“The Ascendants have, Your Grace.”
“The Ascendants?”
“Tor’asion and Var’geris; they are direct descendants of the Ascendants who tried to destroy the Lady and Remargaren over three thousand years ago.”
Birler stirred by the wall, and Marianille cast him a worried glance.
“They are but two men. How could they possibly tell my generals what to do?”
“They have powers over the mind. They influence those who cannot defend themselves or threaten those who try to.”
The grand duke stilled. “Captain Finn tried to tell me something similar. Is that why they are ignoring my recall orders?”
Sentinals Justice: Book Three of the Sentinal Series Page 31
