Enemies and Allies (Bound to the Abyss Book 3)

by James R. Vernon

  "Of course, master." Ean ignored the giggle she let slip out.

  The audience chamber was a room almost as large as one of the main halls of the temples in Lurthalan. A single red carpet led from the entranceway up to a dais of at least two dozen stairs. Besides that, the room was bare except for a single door in the back right corner and the dozens of lit sconces and candles that illuminated the room. At the top of the dais, Raneth stood next to a simple iron throne.

  And in that throne sat The Silent King. While the inside of the castle appeared devoid of decoration and grandeur, The Silent King more than made up for it.

  Even seated, Ean could tell their host was a giant of a man. His knees jutted out past the throne while his head towered above its back. Robes of the sharpest red and deepest blue covered his thick body, but Ean could only guess what was under it–fat, muscle, something other? The most striking part of the man was the marble white mask that covered his face. The only part of The Silent King that showed was his jet black eye, which seemed to take in the scene with utter indifference. Despite the king's impressive size, his small reaction to their arrival was more than disappointing.

  "Welcome, most honored guest." Raneth said from the dais. Gone was the almost grandfatherly tone, replaced with one that was all seriousness and show. "Please approach."

  "Guest?" Azalea whispered. Ean shushed her.

  They moved towards the dais, the slight patter of their footsteps the only sound in the empty room. Ean found it quite unnerving that no one else was there. He had expected other servants, citizens vying for The Silent King's favor, at the very least a few extra guards. Even the servant and guard that had escorted them had withdrawn and closed the door. It almost felt like a trap, except that there was nowhere in the room for anyone planning on ambushing them to hide.

  Ean forced a smile to his face as they reached the bottom of the stairs. He gave a short bow, his body stuttering as he tried to decide how deep of a bow would be appropriate. When he lifted his head, he caught a small smile playing at Raneth lips for a moment and then it was gone.

  "Thank you for your invitation and hospitality," Ean began. Gracious words did not come to him easily. "We are also grateful for the aid that your soldiers gave us while we were under attack by some of the creatures of your land. They saved our lives."

  The Silent King's head turned slowly to the side and his right arm lifted in acknowledgment. The movements were rigid, like the man's joints were rusted with age. Raneth leaned towards the man for a moment, nodded, then addressed Ean.

  "The Silent King says it was the least he could do. It would not look favorably on him if he could not protect guests he himself invited into these lands."

  Raneth let out a casual laugh that Ean joined, even though he didn't see the joke. Azalea and Zin remained quiet. He felt a small knot of tension coming from both of their bonds that only added to his unease.

  "Well," Ean began, "we are here and ready to discuss many of the things mentioned in your invitation to the benefit of both your lands and Ven Khilada."

  "Straight to the point," Raneth replied. The grandeur attitude disappeared. "Alright then."

  The tension in his companions grew. It took effort for Ean to keep himself from tensing.

  "If we are being candid, I must say we have been a bit misleading about the true reason you were brought here," Raneth said. The man slowly began to descend the dais stairs. "You see, since the Plague ravished our lands and The Silent King took control and saved this city, we've had an idea of what would benefit our people the most."

  "Which I thought was re-establishing an influx of fresh food for your people."

  Raneth waved away his comment with an annoyed look. "More fresh food would just weaken our control over these people. Now that we have refined our fishing techniques, we can provide just enough to keep the demand high. Bringing in an outside source of food would disrupt that demand."

  "Then why am I here? Were your promises about providing me with the Plaguebringer's library a lie as well?"

  "Yes. We don't have the books from the Plaguebringer's library. I actually had the majority of them destroyed. All of that information was too dangerous."

  Ean took a step forward, anger driving him forward even though he was unsure what he was going to do. He paused, though, when Raneth raised a hand.

  "What we do have, though, is the information about how the Plaguebringer booby-trapped his own body to release the Plague when he died. With the right amount of research and experimentation, The Silent King and I believe that you can repeat the process. Without the unfortunate side effect of your death, of course."

  "Wait." Shock and surprise displaced Ean's anger. "You want me to restart the spread of the Plague?"

  "Yes."

  "You must be joking," Azalea said, stepping forward. "I'm all for Ean taking over the world, despite his protests against it. But to make the entire land like your own?"

  "I am quite serious. And as a sign of good faith, we have a gift I'm sure you will appreciate."

  The Counselor clapped his hands together so loudly that it echoed around the room. A few moments later, one of the doors at the back swung open. Two guards entered carrying a limp form by the arms between them. All Ean needed to see was the short, dark hair with a pink strip at its front to know who it was.

  "I present to you Kaytlin Aubrune, Seeker of the god, Alistar, disarmed, and at your mercy."

  "And," Ean said slowly, "what do you expect me to do with her?"

  Raneth gave Ean a look like he gave to any of his Crux when they mentioned their desire to enslave all of Rottwealth.

  "Why, I expect you to kill her, of course."

  Kill the Seeker.

  Ean had heard those words from multiple people now. But the Seeker's future was a minor concern compared to what Raneth and The Silent King wanted him to do. And there was something about Raneth that Ean hadn't noticed before . . .

  "Why do you want me to release the Plague on Ven Khilada?"

  "Ean," Azalea said, taking his arm. "You can't possibly be considering . . . "

  "Quiet, Azalea." He made sure his tone was as serious as death. It worked. The Yulari fell quiet, although her hand gripped his arm tighter.

  Raneth smiled at the exchange before speaking.

  "Control. The most important thing in this world is control. Control over people. Control over land. We are on the verge of having complete control over everything the Plague has touched. But that’s just the beginning. We want to control everything. Our lands. Your lands. Even the savages far to the south. We want to bring the same order and peace we enjoy here to everyone else."

  "Order under The Silent King's rule." Ean glanced at the stoic man on the throne for the briefest of moments. Then he started to laugh.

  Chapter 39

  It began with a few chuckles then expanded to a great, guffaw that filled the room. It was the kind of laughter that made your stomach hurt from the effort and made breathing difficult. Ean hadn't laughed that hard in . . . well . . . ever. It felt good, like laughing at this foolish man's plan made all of his other fears seem foolish as well. When his laughter finally died off, he found everyone else staring at him with wide eyes. Raneth's face was flushed, and he gripped his staff with white-knuckles.

  "You can't be serious," Ean said, barely able to hold back another chuckle. "Your plan is, what? World domination?"

  "I am quite serious," Raneth said through grated teeth. "The Silent King wants to unite the lands--"

  "Then he and Azalea should get along quite well. Maybe the two of them can even come up with a better plan."

  "Ean." Azalea’s tone took a sharp edge but he felt more confusion than anger through their bond. "I don't think this is a joking matter . . . "

  "Of course it is! You," he said, trying to put as much affection in his tone as he addressed the Yulari, "want me to summon armies of monsters and take over the world."

  "So?"

  "While I appreciate
your desire to see me raised up, I can barely handle leading a few dozen creatures from the Abyss. And now these people"–he gave a wave towards his hosts– "want me to unleash a Plague so that they can rule the world. And they've offered me one of my enemies to try to sway me to do so. Like her one life could pay for the horrible things they want me to do."

  "We are, of course, ready to offer you more--" Raneth began but Ean cut him off.

  "You have nothing you could offer me. Even if you hadn't destroyed all of the Plaguebringer's books, I wouldn't even consider doing what you asked. Both of you vastly misunderstand the type of person I am. Azalea I can excuse because of where she came from, the life she had to live in the Abyss. You and The Silent King, on the other hand, have seen what the Plague does to people. What eternal life costs them. And yet you still want to force the Plague on people just so you can have more people under your control?"

  It had been a rhetorical question, but Raneth's face went blank and he replied anyway.

  "Yes. Your people are weak. It doesn't matter whether they live here in the Deadlands or down in your precious Ven Khilada. All they do is flounder about, making small grabs at power or contenting themselves under the control of those in power. They have no direction or purpose. They all need to be ruled."

  "Well, I'll have no part of it. And I certainly won't stand idly by while you come up with a way to accomplish your goals without me."

  "Is that a threat, boy?"

  "Absolutely."

  "Pity." Raneth shook his head. "I had such plans for you. You die at the end of each of them, but I was hoping to get more use out of you before that. Ah, well."

  The Counselor clapped twice, the sound reverberating around the room. The massive wooden doors creaked open, allowing a dozen soldiers to march in. Their blood-red armor reflected the light thrown off by the candles that decorated the room. When they had all entered, they took up a semi-circle around Ean and his group. Each drew a sword and leveled it their way.

  "This doesn't look promising," Zin said at his side.

  "It rarely does," Ean replied, letting his gaze slide over the men gathered in front of him. "But for once, I'm going to be the one that starts the fight."

  "That's my boy," Azalea said with a laugh. Despite the situation, Ean joined her with a chuckle of his own.

  Raneth's voice shouted out from behind them. "These creatures have threatened your king! Kill them!"

  Azalea took a step forward but Ean held her back.

  "Wha--"

  "These men don't all need to die," he said, stepping forward. "I'll handle this."

  The semi-circle of guards began to tighten, and Ean walked right into the middle of it.

  "I'm sure you know who I am," Ean, said, raising his voice over the clatter of the soldiers' boots marching across the floor. "Which means, you've also heard how I can rip the Plague from your bodies and reduce all of you to ash."

  The guards stopped.

  Good. Fear, in this case, was a good thing.

  "I cannot begin to guess," Ean continued, "at how loyal you are to your Silent King. But you don't need to die for him. You don't have to live by his rules."

  Ean looked at each man in turn, making sure to catch their eyes. They were just pieces in a game. Azalea had said the Crux were just pawns used in the Abyss by stronger creatures. The Silent King and Raneth would sacrifice pawns. Ean wouldn't, even if they were the pawns of his opponent.

  "Any one of you--"

  One of the guards charged. His armored boots made a clacking noise with each step as he bore down on Ean, the tip of the blade in his hands angled at Ean’s chest.

  An easy attack to avoid compared to the mighty swings of a Crux's arm.

  Ean stepped to the side at the last moment. The blade tore at his shirt, and he winced as its edge grazed his skin. Maybe not that easy. Ignoring the pain, he grasped the man's arm and shoulder and bore him to the ground. He had to be quick before the other soldiers got the same idea.

  Ean let the energy of the Abyss flow out of him. It poured into the man, bypassing his armor like water through a sieve. The energy sought out its rotted counterpart, the Plague that infested every piece of the man. The two energies merged and Ean could feel them thrashing about inside the guard. There would only be one winner and Ean knew which it would be. After all, he had witnessed it in Ulundkin. That time had been an accident. This time, Ean controlled the reaction and gave it strength.

  His energy overwhelmed the Plague inside the man in a matter of moments. Burning it away to nothingness.

  And then Ean drew it all back into himself.

  The man let out a terrible scream. It chilled Ean to the bone but he hardened his heart. This was the first man he had intentionally killed. He hoped it would be his last, but he wasn't a fool. Better this one man die if it kept the others from joining his fate. His grip on the man's armor tightened as he felt the body inside wither away. When the armor hit the ground with a hollow clank, Ean rose and turned towards the remaining guards.

  "My advice to you," Ean said, his voice as cold as the pit in his stomach. "Is for you to march out of here. Find Haavian Joor, tell him that the throne is about to be vacated. He seemed a sensible enough man. Let him decide who would be best to step in as leader."

  "Or . . . " He glanced down at the empty suit of armor at his feet and left the rest of the sentence hanging in the air.

  Five of the guards didn't hesitate. They turned and did their best to march towards the door. When one of them stumbled, it sent the rest running. They had the door thrown open and were out in a heartbeat. That left Ean staring down six men in full armor with weapons still drawn. Their heads swiveled between The Silent King, Ean, and the empty suit of armor at his feet.

  "I gave on order!" Raneth screamed from his spot halfway up the dais.

  Still no one moved.

  "Cowards," Raneth grunted. He pointed to the other two guards holding Kaytlin. "You lot. Let the Seeker go and put a sword in her hand. She can do the job you fools are too frightened to attempt."

  Free of the threat of a death at Ean's hands, the two guards were quick to set Kaytlin down and lay a sword at her feet. Before she had even settled into a limp form, the two men had retreated towards the door at the back of the room. The Seeker remained motionless on her knees, her head slumped forward on her chest.

  "Get up, Seeker, and do your duty!" Raneth commanded.

  "You really think she is in any condition to do your dirty work for you?" Ean growled at the man.

  "My condition is well enough, boy." The Seeker's voice echoed through the hall. With a shaky arm, she dug the end of the sword into the stone and pushed herself up onto unsteady legs. When she got to her full height, Ean got a full view of the damage that had been done to her. Dark stains covered her shirt and pants, some resembling dirt while others were the darker reds and blacks of dried blood. Her face was equally covered in blood and grime while tiny cuts slashed through bruises along her cheeks and chin.

  Her eyes, though, were glittering emeralds that shone in the candlelight.

  "I've destroyed countless creatures from the Abyss," she continued. "Sometimes in worse condition than this. I faced down the Crux you set on me and my people a few seasons ago. It broke a few of my bones as well as causing serious injuries to my friends, but in the end, its life was the one snuffed out. Don't begin to think a few beatings from some peons would slow me down from removing your head from your neck."

  Ean could only gape at her.

  "That being said," she murmured, "I'd rather spend the next decade in the Abyss than help the man that set the peons on me while I was bound like a common prisoner. You two can settle your own problems." She collapsed back into a sitting position. "I'll just stay here and watch. Maybe kill you afterwards."

  Ean gave her a smile and nodded. He received a cold stare in reply but didn't mind. Then he turned his attention back to the Counselor.

  The smirk that had appeared on Raneth's face slowl
y dissolved as her words sunk in.

  "You're through," Ean said. He started walking towards the man. Behind him, he heard the remaining guards start to clatter towards the door. "You and The Silent King."

  "You think you can ruin plans I've weaved together over the past century?" Raneth growled. "That scaring a few soldiers will loosen the control I have over these people? I will destroy you. Hang your broken body from the castle walls. The people will fear ME, and not some shadow of the Plaguebringer."

  "Well, I've heard enough," Azalea said.

  She leapt at Raneth, the speed of her attack making her movements a blur.

  Raneth's expression didn't change as he raised a hand and caught her easily by the throat. It wasn't human fingers that gripped her. A gray-skinned claw of three bony digits and black nails wrapped around Azalea's neck and held her out in front of him.

  "Oh no . . . " Zin gasped at Ean's side.

  "Run, Ean!" Azalea managed to get out with a gurgle. Terror flowed from her like a storm. "He's a Nar'Grim!"

  Chapter 40

  Ean watched as a shimmering heat seemed to overtake the Counselor, similar to whenever Azalea masked her true form. But instead of Raneth's appearance slowly changing, it blurred and grew to three times its original height. When the shimmering disappeared, a monster unlike anything Ean had ever seen, took its place.

  The face of a bat glared down at Ean, with dark red eyes set deep behind a wide snout and wrinkled gray skin. Its thin pink lips were pulled back in a snarl, revealing two rows of jagged teeth. Pointed ears stuck out behind him, flanked by three yellow horns that stuck out the center and sides of his head. They curved up and behind the creature disappearing behind broad shoulders. Its torso was shaped like an upside down triangle, its body thinning out so that its waist looked almost emaciated. The arms hung at its sides and stretched down past squat, muscular legs only as long as Zin was tall. A thick tail only slightly longer than the creature's leg flopped about on the steps behind him.

  Raneth was more terrifying than anything Ean had seen either awake or in his nightmares. He also had Azalea in his grip.