Before reaching the back of the palace, Severus stopped and look up the wall. He pointed to a window twenty yards above and then to a vine-covered trellis beside it. After testing its strength, he climbed the trellis to the window and reached across, popping the window open using a thin-bladed knife. He waved Finn up and then disappeared through the window.
Finn followed but as he reached for the widow, four soldiers rounded the building’s corner and headed in his direction. He froze—straddled between the trellis and window. Wide-eyed, he watched the soldiers walk closer. One of their number spoke quietly and Finn heard the word ‘wizards’. The soldiers didn’t look up and continued on with their patrol, disappearing around the front of the building.
He released his breath. Wizards? Pulling himself through the window, Finn dropped into a low crouch and surveyed his surroundings. He was in a dark room dominated by a long table and many chairs. On the table there were several loose sheets of paper and two large maps. A larger map filled a complete wall. There were many countries marked on the map and many he had never heard of before. His country of Tarmia looked small and insignificant.
Severus was nowhere to be seen.
The room’s only door was ajar, allowing a thin line of light to shine into its darkness. At the door, Finn peered out. He looked onto an empty balcony lit by oil lamps. Opening the door further, Finn could see that the balcony overlooked the palace’s main entrance hall and the front doors. A large crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling above, while the balcony extended right around the entrance in a U-shape. Across the open expanse, Finn saw Severus’s dark shape disappear through a doorway.
Hey! Wait up.
Nervously, Finn glanced around—all was quiet. He crept along the balcony in the direction Severus took. As he moved along the balcony, he looked down, ten armoured soldiers stood at attention on each side of the front doors. I must be quiet—the door in front of him opened and an old woman carrying pile of blankets stepped out onto the balcony. She walked away from him and headed toward where he had last seen Severus. She hadn’t seen him!
Finn pressed himself against the wall and holding his breath, he willed himself to blend into the wall. The servant opened a door further along the balcony and entered the room without looking around.
That was close.
Moving quicker now, Finn entered the doorway where Severus disappeared. It led down a short dark corridor and at its end he could see the cloaked form of his father peeking through some thick velvet curtains. He moved to his father and reached out to tap his shoulder—but almost faster than he could detect, the cloak figure dodged his touch and moved behind him. Unconsciously, Finn reached for the black sword at his waist and turned to face the cloaked person. His face was inches from Mordan’s pale features.
It was the alp!
The alp seized Finn’s arm in a vice-like grip and smiled, revealing his long canines. “Still learning things the hard way, I see,” Mordan said with his heavy accent.
Chapter 49
“M-Mordan…” Finn stammered.
“You mortals are so amusing.” Mordan’s unblinking black orbs bore into Finn and he would have stepped back if the alp wasn’t still holding his arm. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and Finn feared for his life. “Why do you tremble? If I wanted your pathetic life it would have been mine months ago.” Mordan released Finn and the eldon staggered back, rubbing his arm. “Where is my First Born? I hope you haven’t lost her.”
“Her name is Anna.”
“I know who she is but not where she is. Have you failed to protect her again?”
“She’s here somewhere in this palace,” said Finn, tempted to grab the sword hilt but knew that would be a mistake. He had tried his best to protect Anna and he might have succeeded if she had stayed in Freewater.
Mordan’s steely gaze never left Finn—it was unnerving.
“How did you find us?” asked Finn.
“Magic can sense magic. And there are strong tentacles of power flowing throughout the land leading here. Anna is here.”
“Why Anna and why here?”
“You know why. Her heritage. The First Born were the chosen children of the six gods—”
“There are five gods,” interrupted Finn and he could feel Mordan’s black eyes boring into him.
“Why do I…” The tall alp leant down until his nose was almost touching Finn’s. Terrified, Finn closed his eyes but didn’t back away.
“There are six gods. The most powerful of the six is Belkavan. His name was wiped from your history books after he was imprisoned by his brothers and sisters. They have held him captive for over a thousand years.”
“This is interesting but what have the gods got to do with Anna?”
“I’ll make this simple for your little brain. Belkavan is the Lord of Shadows and the only god that can control magic. All who use magic will eventually fall under his…influence.”
Finn was stunned. “You mean Anna will be taken over by an evil god?”
“As are all who use magic…her soul will eventually belong to him. The more powerful the magic, the quicker a person will be drawn to Balkavan’s shadow realm. Even if they don’t know it yet, the Wizards of Solaris and even Tollis belong to the Lord of Shadow. There is no good magic—all magic is evil. You, too, have changed even if you can not see it yourself. Remember my warning about the sword.”
The sword? “We must save Anna from Tollis—before it’s too late!”
“It may already be too late. Tollis has brought her here and these wizards for a reason. She is doomed unless you take her away from here now. It may already be too late.”
“Where is she?”
“I can sense her magic now. She is strong, much stronger than she knows.”
“What—”
“Sshh!” Mordan moved to the curtain and drew it a side. Finn followed the alp and was surprised that from their vantage point, they looked down into the throne room. Upon a raised dais, a fat, grey-haired man sat on a tall, ornate throne. He could be no other than King Ferdinand himself, Princess Maria’s father and king of Krystoria. On each side of the king’s throne was five armoured soldiers leaning on drawn swords. They were the fabled royal guard—elite soldiers sworn to protect their king at any cost.
Below the king’s dais stood the master, Wolfgang and four other people that Finn didn’t recognise. Three of the four wore colourful robes—red, orange and blue. They looked like wizards. The fourth wore a plain grey hooded cloak.
The master stood on the bottom step and bowed low as he addressed the king, “Your Highness, as promised I have returned with aid—new allies that will help with your glorious effort to defeat your enemies that gather at our borders. This is Frederick Eichmann—” He indicated the man in the orange robe. “The high sage of the Wizards of Solaris. His organisation has kindly offered to aid us in the noble defence of—”
“Enough, cousin. The hour is late and it will be morning before you get to the point,” said King Ferdinand. “Why must we meet so late?”
“As you know, I have returned from the north where I have saved your daughter, my beautiful niece, from the wilderness and certain death—”
“The point!” commanded the king.
“Yes, the point…I have also returned with a young woman that contains the ability to summon an army of fearless soldiers. All willing to die in the defence of Krystoria.”
The king sat straighter on his throne. “Who is this person?”
“She is a Tarmian—a person of little importance. But she wishes to aid us.”
“How?”
“She has the power to summon an army.”
“Summon?” asked the king. “What do you mean?”
The master moved beside the man wearing the hooded grey cloak. From their balcony, Finn could not see his face. The master continued. “In her blood is the power to summon the dead.” And with a sweep of his hand, the master removed the man’s grey cloak a
nd threw it to the ground. A rotting corpse wearing ancient armour was revealed, taut leathery skin covered its face and arms.
The king cried out in alarm and shielded his face with his arms. His guards readied their swords and formed a wall in front of their king. They were prepared to defend him at any cost.
“No need for alarm, Your Highness,” said the master. “This zombie is totally under my control.”
King Ferdinand lowered his arms but still looked worried. “What is the meaning of this? Why have you brought this foul creature into my throne room?”
“To show you the potential of your new army. Please, let me demonstrate.” The master drew his fine crafted sword and after swishing it through the air several times, he drove it into the zombie’s stomach right up to the sword’s hilt. The zombie did not move, flinch or make a sound. It just stood motionless.
Without removing his sword, the master walked several steps to the base of the dais and commanded, “Follow.” Slowly, the zombie staggered forward and stopped two yards behind him.
“You see, Your Highness, totally under my control and almost unstoppable in combat. The start of your glorious new army. An army that does not feel cold, get hungry or thirsty, and will never stop fighting.”
The old king stood and stepped down from his throne to stand in front of his cousin at the base of the dais. His bodyguards flanked him and suspiciously watched the zombie. The king’s gaze studied the standing corpse with keen interest. “You say you can create an army of these…things?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Do I need to know how? No. Don’t tell me—just do it. We cannot afford for our neighbours to get the upper hand. When will my new army be ready?”
“In a few months. A year at most.”
“You have six months, cousin. Make it happen.”
“As you command, Your Highness.” The master bowed, hiding his smile from the king. His power in the kingdom had just increased.
The king turned and walked out of the throne room through a door behind of the dais. His guards sheathed their swords and followed him.
“Let’s stop them now,” Finn whispered urgently.
“That is not wise, mortal. I sense great power amongst the three men down there. They have traces of First Born blood in them. Even this master has power. A direct confrontation would not end well for us.”
They watched as the master pulled his sword from the zombie’s stomach and wiped it on the creature’s cloak. The men and zombie moved off to their left.
Finn’s hand strayed to his sword hilt and instantly his confidence grew. He looked to the alp who returned his gaze—the feeling passed and the master and the wizards moved out of sight.
Finn sighed. When will this nightmare end?
“This world is different to the world I knew before my long imprisonment,” said Mordan. “But the Wizards of Solaris are still the servants of the Lord of Shadows and the enemy of all living beings.”
“What can we do?” asked Finn.
“There is nothing I can do. I am weak in comparison to the dark god and his servants. Remember, all magic corrupts. Including that sword.”
Finn looked down at the black sword hanging from his belt and when he looked back, the alp was gone. He stood alone on the dark balcony and looked down in the empty throne room.
Am I doomed?
Chapter 50
The young eldon crept back down the corridor to the balcony that overlooked the palace’s entrance. There was no sign of Mordan or his father. The soldiers still stood guard beside the main doors but there was no one else in sight.
l must find the master and he will lead me to Anna.
The only stairs leading to the ground level was positioned near the soldiers, so he couldn’t go that way. With no other choice, he backtracked back to the throne room again.
It was several yards below to the throne room floor. A far enough drop that he would risk an injury. As he weighed up his options, a small black grappling hook clunked onto the handrail nearby. Finn leant over the handrail and looked below to see who was at the other end of the thin black rope. A shape moved out of the shadows and beckoned him to climb down. It was Severus. Finn threw his leg over the handrail and climb down the rope.
“Greetings,” whispered Severus. “The master went through that door and we should follow.” Finn nodded his agreement. Severus flicked the rope and the grappling hook came free from the handrail. He skilfully caught it before it hit the ground. Quickly, he coiled the rope and folded the grappling hook flat before he made it vanish beneath his cloak.
They padded across the tiled floor and listened at the door. Finn heard nothing. Opening the door revealed a dark corridor.
“This leads to the palace’s lower levels and the dungeons,” said Severus. “That must be where Anna is being held.”
“Dungeons? How do you know?”
“I was here years ago.” Severus stepped into the corridor and used a hand to guide his way through the darkness. Finn drew his sword and followed. The black blade enhanced his sight and allowed him to make out the outline of doors along the corridor as they passed.
They travelled for some time in silence before Severus stopped at a heavy wooden door. He indicated that it was the entrance to the palace’s dungeon. By Finn’s calculation, they must be close to the rear of the palace and the sea.
Severus tried the door but it didn’t budge. “Locked,” he said softly. He fumbled in his cloak and produced the small candle and some small tools. By the candle’s glow, the old assassin pushed a thin piece of steel wire into the lock and started to manipulate it.
By the candlelight, Finn observed footprints in the dust and bent down for a closer look. They led further up the corridor. “Look here.”
Severus brought the candle down to ground level for a closer look. “They’re recent tracks.” He moved further along corridor. “One walks with a strange sliding action. That’s the zombie.”
“Where does this go?”
Severus thought for a moment. “If my memory serves me, this should lead to a door on the cliff. I escaped this way many years ago.” He noticed Finn’s look. “I will tell you about it one day.”
The two eldon hurried along and after a few twists and turns, came to a sold timber door, reinforced with steel. Finn’s heart sank. It looked impossible to force open. “We have lost them—” He tried the latch and it was unlocked. He sheathed his weapon and they both pulled on the heavy door. Slowly, it creaked open, squeaking on its dry hinges to reveal stars twinkling in the clear night sky. A cool, salty breeze blew into their faces and it felt refreshing after the night’s exertions.
Stepping through the doorway, Finn surveyed their surroundings. A steep path wound in and out of the rocks, leading down the cliff to a small rocky beach below. They could see a small boat heading out across the harbour with a small lamp hanging on its bow. There were five cloaked people aboard but no one seemed to be rowing—the boat moved under its own power. It sent a chill up Finn’s spine and his thoughts recalled what Mordan had said. Magic!
Severus placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and pointed to the small beach below. A lone figure stood there motionless. He acknowledged his father with a nod. It was the zombie—left behind to stop anyone from following.
Even though he couldn’t see clearly the cloaked forms in the boat, Finn’s heart told him that one of its occupants was Anna. He was close but far enough away that he couldn’t grab her and run. As each moment passed, she moved further and further across the harbour and further from him. Finn dropped to his knees in desperation as the energy drained from his lean body. There was nothing he could do.
“Don’t give up hope,” said Severus as they watched the bobbing light get smaller as it crossed the harbour. There were no ships in its path—it was headed for one of the small islands.
“We’ll needed the dwarf and another boat if we’re going after her,” Severus said calmly.
Finn�
�s hand rested on the black sword’s hilt. Its magic energy flowed into his body and bolstered his confidence. “Yes…we have wizards to kill,” he said coldly.
Chapter 51
A strong smell of rotting vegetation assaulted Anna’s nose, causing her to cough which she struggled to bring under control. Eventually the coughing subsided, leaving her with the sensation that she had been punched in the stomach. She groaned. Every part of her body ached.
Anna tried to raise her head but she couldn’t move. The grogginess in her head slowly cleared and she became aware that she was lying on a hard, cold surface. Straining, she tried to sit up but couldn’t muster the energy—something was very wrong. It felt like a massive weight was holding her down.
She realised she had been drugged.
A shaft of light high above her created a spotlight in the centre of the cell floor—and a cell it was. The room was only a few square yards with a handful of straw scattered across its stone floor. A solid looking timber door was the cell’s only feature.
Gathering all her strength, she pushed herself up against the wall into a half sitting, half lying position with her face resting uncomfortably against the rough stone wall.
The fog in her head slowly cleared and Anna’s last memory came to mind. She entered a carriage...it was the master! It was slowly coming back to her now. It was the master in that carriage! The image of his sinister face smiling at her leapt into her groggy mind. There was someone else with her…Finn? No, it wasn’t Finn…it was Maria. Where was she now?
The door groaned as it swung open and a man walked in and looked down at her. Anna forced her head to look up at the newcomer and her worst fear was confirmed. It was the master and behind him was another man she didn’t recognise. A man in an orange cloak. At the sight of this man, she bit down on her lip in fear, drawing blood. Her blood went cold as she sensed he was truly evil. A demon in a man’s skin.
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