The woman spit and uttered something in the Draknoir tongue before she fled out of the palace courtyard. Baron felt his body grow numb and cold, but soon felt a searing heat near his feet. He looked down and saw the most terrible sight of his life. The orange dragon had landed in the courtyard. Baron pleaded for Yéwa to take his soul as the dragon opened its jaws wide. Flames and smoke engulfed Baron's body before a curtain of darkness fell over him.
TWENTY-SIX
The Approaching Army
The walk to Aldron had taken Silas and his female companions longer than he anticipated. They were still two days from reaching the city on their current course, but if they circumvented Tarshish, Silas estimated they could cut a half a day from their trek. He really saw no need for them to stop when their supplies were not lacking yet. And he really hated visiting the filthy port city. The place reeked of rotting fish and tanned leather, but he resigned himself to go to Tarshish if either Violet or Avani needed a break from their travel.
The past few days had been rough. They stayed away from the Barren Road to avoid any encounters with Draknoir or wandering rogues looking for coin, but journeying through the wilderness delayed their progress on foot. The two ladies were also in poor spirits. Violet had not spoken more than a sentence to Silas since the night of the Draknoir attack. She kept her distance from him, walking at the rear of the company while leading Homer along. It pained him to see their budding courtship fade away. Avani's characteristic warmth had also cooled since the night her identity was revealed. She spoke more often than Violet, but only of trivial matters like the weather or their supplies. The elf princess said nothing about Numa or her warring family, and Silas chose not to inquire despite his curiosity.
The dense forest landscape began thinning as the traveling company crossed the southern border of Marsolas into the Golden Plains of Joppa. Rolling hills and tall grasses gradually replaced the thickets and glades of the Marsolan countryside, making the travel considerably easier. Even Homer seemed to prefer the open fields, whinnying delightfully and stopping abruptly to nibble on some Joppan grass.
"I'm glad he enjoys the southern country," Silas said, stroking the horse's mane. Homer snorted loudly and jerked his head away from Silas' hand. "Whoa! Easy, Homer. I guess we're still not the best of friends."
"I still can't fathom why he dislikes you so much," Violet giggled as she patted the horse's neck.
Silas enjoyed seeing her smile again, after days of hard traveling and awkward silences.
"What's that on the horizon?" Avani asked, looking toward the southwest.
Silas turned to gaze in the same direction. Beyond the grassy hills, a thin black line stood out amongst the greenery. Without a spyglass, Silas could not tell if the line was a settlement or something else.
"Let's continue onward. I'll keep an eye on whatever it might be."
Avani nodded, walking ahead at a quicker pace.
Violet tugged on Homer's reins, and the horse followed them, but let out another snort conveying displeasure at leaving the grazing grounds.
"What do you think is out there?" Violet asked, marching up beside Silas.
"I'm not sure," Silas replied, glancing at the horizon. "But we should be wary."
Silas and the ladies walked in the grassland from morning into the early afternoon, taking short breaks whenever they reached a large hill. The taller hills allowed Silas to survey the mysterious line in the distance, which approached and increased in size at a steady pace. Silas led the women and Homer cautiously along the hills, endeavoring to both keep out of sight and find vantage points to survey from. After another mile of hiking, Silas crested a steep hill and finally deciphered the unknown line. Ranks of armored men and horses marched on and along the Barren Road holding familiar standards.
"It's the king's army!" Silas shouted. Relief and worry simultaneously struck him. Why were his father's soldiers marching to the north? They had no quarrels with Marsolas.
Violet and Avani strode up to the top of the hill next to Silas and watched the hundreds of Aldronian soldiers move closer in their direction.
"I've never seen so many soldiers," Violet said, mesmerized by the sight. "Where are they going?"
"I don't know. Why don't we go ask them?" Silas replied.
"Are you sure that is wise?" Avani asked, raising a brow.
"I'm the prince of Aldron; these men are loyal to me. We need not fear them."
"That's not what I meant," Avani chided. "We have a very sensitive errand, and I do not wish it to be jeopardized."
"Are you saying you don't trust my men?" Silas said, clenching his jaw.
"I don't trust my own family, much less a mass of Aldronians. Memnon's spies are everywhere, and we must be discreet about our task."
Silas sighed. "Look, I understand your concern, but we cannot hope to overcome the greatest evil of our time without help. My men will likely have extra horses we can use to reach Aldron faster. And once there, we can meet with my father. He will help us reforge the Requiem Sword."
"None of this was part of our agreement," Avani protested.
"Agreement? What agreement?"
"You agreed to escort us to Aldron. Nothing was spoken about meeting with the King of Aldron. I only wish to retrieve what I need for the weapon and leave."
"Is she always this stubborn?" Silas turned to Violet, attempting to keep his temper.
"Enough. Both of you," Violet said, shaking her head. "Avani, I think we should consider meeting the Aldronians, if only to procure horses for the rest of the way to Aldron."
Avani crossed her arms. "Fine, but we say nothing about the Requiem Sword or about my royal lineage."
"Of course, Naomi," Silas said smirking, which elicited a scowl from Avani.
Violet retrieved Homer from the foot of the hill where the horse was grazing, and they all set out onto the Barren Road to meet the Aldronian army. The soldiers were less than a mile from them, keeping in a lockstep march behind a cavalcade of more than a dozen riders. When Silas and his company came within a yard of the army, one of the riders shot an arrow in their direction. The arrow landed ten paces in front of Silas. The red fletching signified it was a warning shot.
"Halt! Do not step any closer!" The leader of the cavalcade shouted from afar. "Move off the road or you will incur punishment by King Alfryd's sovereign authority."
"Remind me why this was a good idea?" Avani whispered to Violet.
"I'll handle this," Silas said. He raised his arms into the air and stepped slowly forward. "Peace! It is I, Prince Silas, son of Alfryd, who comes before you!"
"This will be your final warning, citizen. Step off the road!" the cavalry leader shouted.
Silas squinted as he scrutinized the rider. The man had a thick, bushy mustache and wore a silver helmet with eagle wings emblazoned on each side, denoting his rank as the field marshal. "Rainier? Is that you?" Silas whispered to himself.
The field marshal said something to one of the riders beside him then unsheathed his sword. He commanded his horse to run at full gallop toward Silas. Violet and Avani backed away as the speeding rider raced toward them, but Silas remained still. The cavalry leader suddenly pulled the reins, and the horse whinnied in protest as they stopped just short of the arrow on the ground.
"Heavens above! Prince Silas, it is you!" Rainier exclaimed.
Silas smiled. "Were you planning on beheading me, Rainier?"
"Forgive me, my lord. I thought you were some dissident posing as the Prince."
"Ah, but I am a dissident, Rainier," Silas laughed, but received a quizzical look from the cavalry leader.
"Lord Silas, the King will be so relieved to know you are alive. We've had scouts sent out across the Dulan and around Ithileo searching for you. We feared the Draknoir had captured or killed you, sire."
"They've tried to on more than one occasion, marshal," Silas replied. "Tell me, where are you leading these men?"
"We're headed to Ithileo, my lord. Your fat
her has ordered an attack on the Draknoir residing in that land."
Silas felt his heart flutter for a moment. The chance for a decisive campaign against Memnon had finally arrived.
"We are five thousand in number, sir. Another contingent will sail across the Sea of Lagrimas and march from the south of Ithileo."
"A two-pronged attack," Silas whispered.
"Yes, sire."
"Is Ithileo the only target? What about Nasgothar?" Avani asked, stepping up from behind Silas.
"I'm sorry, you are?" Rainier asked, squinting his eyes at her.
"This is...Naomi and her friend, Violet," Silas said, gesturing to both women. "They are responsible for my survival, Rainier, and I am repaying their kindness by escorting them to Aldron."
"Ah, I see," Rainier said with a nod. "Well, to answer the lady's question, no plans of a campaign to Nasgothar have been made. Our orders are to secure Ithileo."
"Is Baron Stendahl leading the force from the South?" Silas asked.
"Yes, sir. Two thousand of your Majesty's army."
Silas could not help but smile at the thought of seven thousand Aldronians decimating the Draknoir horde situated along the Feilon. Although the amount of troops his Father sent were a bit excessive for anything less than invading Nasgothar, it seemed fitting to drop the full weight of Aldron's army on the fiends who killed his Drachengarde brethren. Perhaps a successful campaign in Ithileo might be the perfect opportunity to persuade his Father to cross the Black Gorge—a prospect that never ceased to create tension among the royals and nobility. But Silas knew the time to strike was upon them. If Nasgothar could be sacked, then Ghadarya would be without allies and severely weakened. The dragons could finally be eradicated, and the memory of Kraegyn would fade from Azuleah.
"I'm coming with you, Rainier," Silas declared.
"What?" Violet said, mouth agape.
"It would be an honor to fight with you again, my lord," Rainier replied, bowing his head slightly.
"Cutter—I mean, your Majesty," Violet stammered. "You are not fully healed from your injuries in Ithileo, and we still need an escort to Aldron."
Violet's eyes softened as she waited for his response. Silas saw the longing in her expression, and he immediately recalled their kissfrom a few nights ago. He desperately wanted to kiss her again and hold her in his arms, but duty to his countrymen tore apart his newfound romanticism. Abandoning his Father's army before battle was not an option, no matter how much he desired to be with Violet. His mother and sister also deserved to be avenged. Destroying the Draknoir had to come first before any hope of love.
"I'm sorry, Violet, but as the Prince of Aldron, I must accompany my men to battle," Silas finally said.
Violet's shoulders drooped, and she averted her eyes. "Yes, of course, my lord."
"But I will do what I can to help you get to Aldron with as little trouble as possible," Silas said, forcing a smile. He then turned to Rainier, who sat on his horse awaiting orders. "Rainier, do you have horses to spare for these ladies?"
"I believe so, my lord. I'll check with the auxiliaries and bring whatever mares can be spared." The field marshal tipped his head at Silas then rode back to the front line.
Avani folded her arms across her chest and sighed. "It is very bold to engage the Draknoir in such close proximity to Nasgothar. D'arya be with you, Prince Silas."
"I believe we can make a successful assault on Memnon's forces—weaken his resolve and possibly turn the tide in this war," Silas replied. "It's worth a try anyway."
He glanced at Violet, who had occupied herself with feeding Homer an apple. Silas stepped up beside her and patted the horse's neck. "I will miss our adventures together, Homer."
"He will not miss them in the least," Violet said, grinning slightly.
"I suppose not," Silas chuckled. He let an awkward silence fall between them before his face grew stern. "I need you meet with my Father, Violet."
"Absolutely not—we already discussed this—" Avani interjected.
"I know, just hear me. You needn't say anything about who you truly are. My father can help us if he knows what is at stake. If the Draknoir find out about the Requiem Sword, all of Nasgothar will be hunting you both as well as Lucius and Siegfried."
"We risk being hunted by revealing our errand to a Sovereign," Avani argued. "I do not trust anyone in a royal court to keep quiet."
"Not even me?" Silas asked.
Avani opened her mouth to speak, but only a heavy sigh came out.
"Look, I am on your side. I want to help, and you can trust me. My Father will provide aid for this task. I ask you only to consider it when you reach Aldron."
"Silas, why would King Alfryd even consider an audience when you won't be there to vouch for us?" Violet asked.
Silas bit his lower lip then reached inside his chainmail shirt. He pulled off the silver necklace with his mother's ring attached and placed it in Violet's hand. "This ring belongs to my mother. It is precious to me, and my Father will recognize it. Take it to Gilead Palace, and you will gain an audience with the King."
"Silas ... I can't take this. Not when I know how much it means to you," Violet said, swallowing hard.
"It is not a gift. I'm only entrusting you to keep it safe for me while I'm away," Silas said. "Will you take it?"
Violet hesitated for a moment before she nodded then put the necklace around her neck.
Clopping hooves nearby signaled Rainier's return from the front line. The field marshal held the reins of two horses galloping alongside his own steed. "Two mares as requested, my lord," Rainier said, gesturing toward the two brown horses.
"Thank you, Rainier. Here you are, Naomi," Silas said, offering the reins to the elf princess.
Avani took the reins and climbed up on the saddle of the mare. Silas turned to hand the other mare's reins to Violet, but she had already mounted Homer.
"Don't worry, he'll be able to bear me and our supplies," Violet said with a bemused smile. "I think Homer might also get jealous if I rode another horse in his presence."
"Fair enough, my lady," Silas said. "I'll take the other mare, marshal. Go wait with the men while I bid my farewell."
"Very well, sire," Rainier said, tipping his head before galloping back to the waiting army.
When Rainier was out of earshot, Silas turned to both women. "Please be wary on the road to Aldron. I doubt you'll encounter any bandits this far south, but the Draknoir still lurk about."
"We will be cautious," Avani said. "You should leave now before your men grow restless without their leader."
Silas nodded. "I bid you farewell, ladies. I do hope to see you in Aldron before long. And I hope my Father is helpful to you."
"Yéwa be with you, Silas. Come back to us safely," Violet said softly. She did not look at him, but he heard her sniffing and knew she fought back tears. Violet dreaded this parting as much as he did.
The two women steered their horses southward, and with a final farewell, Silas watched them ride off past the scores of soldiers and into the horizon. He climbed the saddle of his mare and rode toward the men, preparing his mind for the great battle to come.
TWENTY-SEVEN
The Wretched One
Darkness and a heavy fog settled onto the Grey Swamps as the midnight hour approached. Marsh lizards skittered through twigs and weeds, frantically searching for insects to devour. Lucius watched the lizards closely before an owl swooped down to snatch them up in its talons. He scanned the gloomy landscape while pacing on the porch of Alistair's cabin, longing to be in the bright greenery of Evingrad again. Sleep had eluded him inside the cramped bedroom Alistair offered to him, but not due to the usual nightmares.
The revelation of Yesu's resurrection had kept him awake. He pored over the Ultimum for hours, learning more of King Yesu and his immortal reign to come. An unexpected feeling of comfort entered his mind when he learned Yesu saved the descendants of the Terrín—the Aldronians— from the wrath of Nergoth by forging th
e Requiem Sword. The blade was used by Yesu to cut down the demon and end his terror in the province of Ragnara. But Nergoth endured in a spiritual form granted by the Wretched One, and the demon became a powerful deity to the Draknoir.
Alistair had revealed the origins of the Wretched One, but much about the demon lord was shrouded in mystery. Lucius managed to find a few passages in the Ultimum that provided more details. Yesu had called the demon lord, the Accuser, and the sole reason for the suffering of mankind. The Wretched One had been responsible for the Terrín's betrayal of Yéwa and the death of Yesu. Lucius grew more unnerved with each passing reference to the Wretched One, and dread filled his heart when he realized the Accuser now resided in the Grey Swamps. Despite his fear, Lucius also felt an inexplicable urge to face the tormentor of men. Whether this was mere curiosity or utter folly, he was not sure, but the desire to challenge the dark creature kept Lucius awake and searching for any signs of the Wretched One outside the cabin.
While he paced the damp mossy ground, he noticed a strange light emanating beyond the eastern shore of the lake. He stared at the soft gray light for a minute, wondering if it was a will-o'-the-wisp, but he couldn't be sure in the dense fog. Against better judgment, Lucius pulled his sword from its scabbard and approached the light. Frogs croaked along the stagnant shoreline as Lucius trudged through the swampland and into a glade of dead trees. The gray light shone bright beyond the trees, and when Lucius approached, it shifted further away from him. Caution and sense pleaded with him to turn back, but he could not will himself to do so. Lucius called out to the light, hoping it was merely the glowing lantern of a lost traveler. But no reply came. The light moved faster with every step he took, and he jogged through the haze to keep up. Excitement and dread pulsed through him as he wandered past gnarled trees in the ethereal ambiance of the marsh. The rush of adrenaline slowed considerably when he lost sight of the light after entering a glade. Lucius searched the glade for any sign of the gray light, but he saw nothing.
The Blade Heir (Book 1) Page 23
