by David Pauly
Half an hour later, Biramin appeared but could add nothing to the information already reported. Alfrahil bade him wait until Caelus returned with his brother.
Soon, Caelus appeared and introduced his brother, Alcar, who looked like an older version of his brother. He saluted the Prince and asked how he could be of service. Seeing the look of command authority in Alcar's face, Alfrahil could readily believe that the man had once led the guard detachment for the prince of Ackerlea.
'Alcar, I have it on good authority that you were once a Captain of the guard of Ackerlea,' said Alfrahil.
'Yes, my Lord,' said Alcar. 'But I no longer hold that position. I have been banned from Nen Brynn and serve now as a pikeman upon the walls.'
'Why?'
'I tried to stop one of Zarthir's close companions from forcing himself on a young servant girl, not even twenty, sire, and I was wrongfully convicted of assault. Zarthir's lackey bribed several soldiers under my command to verify his story, and my Lord Paladir had no choice but to dismiss me from his service.'
Alfrahil took stock of this man for a moment, watching Alcar's face go red with shame and anger, soon replaced by a pale purple color consistent with betrayal and thoughts of revenge as he tried to regain his composure.
'Well,' said Alfrahil, 'after seeing the actions of your brother and hearing him vouch for you today, as well as hearing your own tale, I am going to offer you a task more worthy than propping a pike upon the wall. I want you and your brother to assemble ten horses for my honor guard, plus ten horses for guardsmen from the Citadel, plus a horse for yourself. I also need my horse re-shod, and spare mounts prepared in case we encounter any problems along the way.'
'It shall be done, my Lord. Where are we going, so I can make certain the horses and men are properly prepared?'
'We leave on a short journey of a few days or less to Amarant. We need rations only for ourselves, not our horses, so lay in a supply of food and drink that will suffice for such a journey. Assemble pack animals and provisions as well. Here is some money. Bring me the receipt when you are ready.'
Hearing Alfrahil's plans, Biramin hastily took his prince aside. 'My lord, I must accompany you to Amarant; after the brazen assassination of the madam, I fear for your safety. In fact, better you forego your journey and return to the Citadel until this conspiracy can be unmasked.'
Smiling, Alfrahil told Biramin, 'I am currently next to the outer wall and near to the Great Gate; the chances of me being waylaid are actually higher if I return to the Citadel. I wish to consult my friend Beldar the scholar about these events. Go now and take this book and list to Mergin. Have him do his best to uncover the people and machinations behind these recent events. I will return in three days. Send word to me if there are any developments.'
'My Lord, that I will do and more, but please let me accompany you,' said Biramin.
Alfrahil reached forward and firmly grasped Biramin's shoulder. 'I need you to carry out these orders, for I can trust no other man with this news. Help Mergin and make certain there is a trustworthy guard around him and his quarters at all times. Look especially to the rooftops for hidden archers and to the surrounding buildings for arsonists. If they will risk so much to remove an ordinary proprietor of whores, they will risk much more once they determine that Mergin will start rooting them out.'
Reluctantly, Biramin said, 'It will be done, sire. Safe journey.'
Alfrahil bade Biramin farewell and mounted his horse. Quickly trotting out of the stables, he turned right, toward the Great Gates. The rest of the company followed.
Alfrahil's gaze became fixed upon the Great Gates. One hundred feet tall and fifty feet across lay each door, burnished steel overlaid with Platina wrought with Dwarven skill that presented a mirror few in Nostraterra could lay claim to own. In their surface was reflected back the images of all that moved along them, but by Dwarven art the background of the City and the tower was always reflected and magnified, making travelers stare about them as if they caught within a portrait frozen by time. If a traveler were to stand long enough and fix his gaze upon a particular part of the gates, he could glimpse for a brief moment the Last Bastion, mountain home to the Dwarves at the farthest end of the Ice Mountains far to the north and east of Eldora. In the images from the Gates, the Last Bastion towered above the river below it, a granitic battlement surrounded by young but hale forests that had re-grown after the Great War.
A traveler might instead get a glimpse of the ancient lamps of the Dwarves as they hung in Nerea, long before the fall of the Dwarves and the coming of the Fire Demon. Others could see the wizened faces of the smiths who had wrought the doors, the creased lines in their stern faces belying the inner joy that they were making an artifact that would stand long after they and their progeny had turned to dust, buried in stone coffins in their mines as was the custom of Dwarves. Platina mixed with secret Dwarven metals; created a perfect surface immutable from stains or rust. This outer mirror overlay an inner core alloy of Platina and steel constructed in a honeycomb made the gates marvelously light but strong, intertwining all of the properties of the metals by the secret Dwarven smithing techniques.
Returning to the present, Alfrahil and his men took the road to the Southern-most gate of the Out-walls, bound for Amarant and a quiet evening. Alfrahil wondered if his brother had enjoyed such a remarkable day or if he was whiling away the hours in his tedious inspection tour.
#
Daerahil was indeed as bored as his brother could wish, having risen early and proceeded northward to the first forts along the Out-walls. There he inspected the men as quickly as he could and slowly proceeded to the next tower, noting that he was expected to spend at least a week examining these fortifications before riding to inspect the customs men and the border forts along the river. He regretted only having a light breakfast and was determined to enjoy lunch at an excellent inn a mile or so from the Out-walls, adjacent to the eastern road to the bridge at Estellius.
His meal was interrupted by a messenger bearing the markings of the Prince of Ackerlea, who presented a scroll for Daerahil's review. It proved to be a message from Prince Paladir asking him to secretly ride to meet with him in Ackerlea. The imprint of Paladir's signet ring was stamped into wax at the bottom of the scroll. Daerahil wrote a brief message to the King, informing him of what had happened, and handed it to a member of the messenger corps with orders to deliver it to the Citadel.
Rolling up the scroll, Daerahil tucked it into his shoulder bag, and then finished his meal before mounting his horse and, in the company of his honor guard, galloping off to Nen Brynn.
CHAPTER FIVE: ANATOMY OF A PLOT
Alfrahil arrived in Amarant in time for a luxurious late dinner with Beldar. It fascinated him that a man intelligent enough to be inducted into the Brotherhood of the Cold would insist on preparing their dinner himself. His servants prepped the meat and vegetables, but he did the cooking himself, making complex sauces with meat stocks and wines.
Beldar was tall and thin, with short grey hair and the sharp eyes of the academic that he was. Now, retired from the Brotherhood, he was content to enjoy a peaceful life, conducting research and problem-solving at his leisure while enjoying his favorite pastime, cooking. Anyone who wished to spend time with Beldar had to spend time in his kitchen, no matter the heat or the smoke. But any discomfort in this regard was more than made up for by the quality of the meals, at least in Alfrahil's opinion.
The two friends had met several years ago when Beldar was chief liaison between the Brotherhood and the King. Established over a millennia ago; the Brotherhood was the largest collection of scholars in the world of Men. They would solve nearly any problem for anyone who could afford their price. Their emotionless relentless dedication to problem solving had earned them their nickname, as their only humane attribute lay in dedicating their profits to the needs of the poor, otherwise they were ruthlessly logical. The Brotherhood supported many different charities that were in opposition to the will of Eldoran kings, b
ut they were wholly independent, refusing to bow to any authority outside of their order. The Brotherhood was never violent, but they were loyal to each other, and if the sanctity of their world was jeopardized, they all stopped working, and no more clever solutions would be forthcoming from them.
Unique in all of Nostraterra, each brother took a vow of poverty when they entered into that world, surrendering their worldly possessions. Beldar was one of the few brothers who had ever left the order and returned to the world, as the brothers put it, seeming none the worse for wear. But Alfrahil knew that his friend had renounced his vows after a diplomatic crisis in Shardan, during which the influence of King Creon had, in Beldar's view, intruded impermissibly on the ancient perquisites of the Brotherhood. Beldar’s wealth was the result of inheriting from his father’s estate after he had left the Brotherhood. Eldoran law forbade the transfer of money and property not yet conferred upon a donor, so Beldar benefited by leaving the order prior to his father’s demise.
Now Alfrahil sat upon a large patio that was covered with a cloth tarp against the late afternoon sun, enjoying the spectacular view of the river to his south and the city to his east. Beldar's mansion sprawled behind him. He had originally planned this visit to his old friend simply as a break from the stresses of his duties, a chance to enjoy a fine meal and fine conversation. But now that had changed. If his instincts were correct, what he had stumbled upon that morning was just the tip of the iceberg. Thus he gently asked his friend for help, knowing that while Beldar would not betray any confidence gained from his twenty years within the Brotherhood, he would listen and apply his accumulated wisdom when asked.
After listening to Alfrahil's description of the corruption and moral dry rot he had uncovered, Beldar chuckled. 'You, my friend, have probably not heard the ancient phrase that “absolute power corrupts absolutely?'''
'No, I have not. Can you clarify?'
'Now that Eldora has emerged as the greatest military and economic power in Nostraterra, there is little that can stand in her way. Therefore, the only competition to the King's authority must come from within rather than without. Eldora has conquered its dangerous competitors, such as Shardan, or made certain that the military powers of other Men and even the Dwarves are much smaller in scope and scale. Only the Lesser Elves could represent a possible threat to Eldora, and so long as their king, Albericus, and your father remain friends and allies, whose worlds do not overlap, Eldora has no real enemies anymore.'
'So you are saying that we must look exclusively inside our own realm for answers to my questions regarding corruption?'
'Not exclusively, Alf.' Only Beldar called Alfrahil by this nickname. 'You really must learn to order your thoughts more clearly and precisely. There very well maybe foreign parties involved in this corruption, profiting from it and encouraging it. These parties may include any and or all of the races, from anywhere. I do not know, and as you know, now that I have left the Brotherhood, I have no more exclusive knowledge. But without betraying confidences from prior clients, I can say that the outer filaments of this web that you have stumbled upon are just the first strands of a vast interwoven maze of money, influence, and politics that very well may threaten the primacy of Eldora and the stability of your realm. As the one who has first decided to take on this coalition, you are in personal danger. Make certain that you get home to Eldora safely, and have Mergin and the King spend more time worrying about internal enemies rather than focusing on the Shardan people they so openly despise.'
With those words still echoing in his mind, Alfrahil woke early the next day. It was difficult to regard the dark warning from Beldar as real and present in the soft, moist morning air. Alfrahil was uncertain as to whether or not he should stay an extra day to enjoy the quiet comforts of this country estate or return to the City and see if progress had been made regarding the conspiracy to murder the madam and burn her house of ill repute.
After he had refreshed himself and dressed, Alfrahil was enjoying a large breakfast served on the patio with Beldar, when Alcar presented himself. ‘Two of the scouts that I dispatched at first light have returned, my Lord, with tidings for your ears alone'
'I will hear them,' said Alfrahil.
Alcar gestured, and Alfrahil saw the two guardsmen from his retinue approach in the company of Caelus and four guardsmen he did not know.
'Captain Caelus, I confess I am surprised to see you so far from your post,' Alfrahil said. 'Is there trouble at the gates?'
'No, My Lord,' answered Caelus. 'There is nothing unusual at the gates, but I bring a private message for your ears alone.' Glancing at Beldar, his friend nodded and rising from the table left Alfrahil with his men.
'Very well, but who are these guardsmen? I do not recognize them.'
'They are Shadows in disguise,' said Caelus. 'Dispatched on the personal orders of Lord Mergin to assure your safety.'
'Thank you, Captain. Which of you Shadows is the leader?' asked Alfrahil.
'I am, my lord Prince. My code name is Dark Mist.' said a non-descript man with blonde hair and cemetery eyes.
'Very well, Dark Mist, please take your place amongst my men. I will inform you when we are leaving.'
Then, addressing Caelus again: 'Come, Captain, you and I shall walk along the garden path, and you will tell me your news.'
'Yes, Lord.'
'Alcar, prepare for our departure,' said Alfrahil.
Alcar saluted smartly and strode off toward the stables.
Alfrahil drew Caelus into the garden. When they were alone, he asked, 'What news, Captain?'
'Biramin bade me ride to you and inform you that it would be safe to return today at the fourth hour after noon. He guards the bridge over the Escarpment. And Lord Mergin gave me this sealed scroll for you to read.'
Alfrahil broke the seal and recognized Mergin's terse handwriting, outlining the route that Alfrahil and his escort should take through the city to the Citadel. The first part was rather circuitous, winding through neighborhoods in the Sixteenth District that travelers in a direct line would not take. From there it was a straightforward dash through the Escarpment back to the Citadel.
'Why the delay? Why should I not leave now?' asked Alfrahil.
'The delay is to afford Lord Mergin time to arrest all of the miscreants who stand ready to waylay your return home,' said Caelus.
Shocked by this news, as Alfrahil, despite Beldar's warning, had not thought there was a credible threat to his life, he stood quietly for a moment, trying to absorb it as stoically as possible. 'How many men does Lord Mergin suspect are involved?' asked Alfrahil at last.
'Twenty, at the least, my Lord; all at various choke points along your expected path back within the City and to the Citadel,' replied Caelus. 'Lord Mergin wanted to make certain that this information would only be revealed in person, to prevent his plans from being discovered were I killed or ambushed on my way here. That is why none of this is written in the scroll.'
'What else has Mergin learned?'
'Traps have been set for you in three separate congested areas in the Sixteenth District. There are archers stationed on rooftops and incendiary devices disguised as refuse. Lord Mergin asks that you betray no awareness of these traps. He asks that you ride close to the first and let the trap be sprung. Fear not—you will be in no danger. But this way, Lord Mergin's men will move in and seize the conspirators in the midst of their treason.'
'A well-ordered conspiracy, for so many men to be assembled in so short a time,' said Alfrahil. 'Are we certain that Lord Mergin has discovered them all?'
'No, my Lord, so far Lord Mergin has only discovered men in the Sixteenth District. He believes the Third and Second Districts are safe, along with the Citadel, and has seen no one upon the First Hill that seeks to waylay you.'
'Thank you, Caelus. You have done well.' Alfrahil then returned to the house, where he reviewed this new information with Beldar.
Beldar thought for several minutes, and then disappeared briefl
y to consult a scroll in one of his libraries. When he returned, he shook his head and stated darkly, 'Things have changed a great deal in Eldora if there are men willing to assassinate the Crown Prince over the contents of a joy house and the embarrassment of a senior minister. There must be far more at stake for them to risk so much and move so openly against you. What that is, I cannot begin to fathom. Tell Lord Mergin that I am willing to aid him if I can, but I will need much more information on the current political state of the realm to be of any use. Perhaps he will consider contracting with the Brotherhood.'
'You know how much Mergin and my father distrust the Brotherhood,' Alfrahil said. 'Give me your best guess, Beldar. Who is behind this?'
'Zarthir is the most likely candidate for the ringleader of any general conspiracy, but he has no military experience, and I can't see how he would profit enough by your demise to make the risk worthwhile. He is not a risk taker politically, even if his personal life is tawdry. No, there are others involved, you may be sure of it. But who they may be, I cannot say.'
'Should I remain here, Beldar?'
'I have thought that through as well. This is a house, not a fortress. We are vulnerable here, isolated and remote as we are. If you remain, it would take hundreds of Men to safeguard your stay. No, the Citadel is the best place for you now. You need only reach it. As to that, I recommend following Mergin's plan rather than remaining here.'
'Very well, I am sure you are correct. I will not discover the answers here, at any rate. I shall return to the City according to the plan.'
#
An hour before noon, Alfrahil took his leave, thanking Beldar for his hospitality. He was too preoccupied to notice the beautiful day unfolding around him or how the breeze blew down off the mountains, cool and dry, refreshing and light. He did, however, take note of the Shadows, Mergin's messenger assassins disguised as ordinary guardsmen, and he took confidence in their constant vigilance.
The journey passed without incident, and soon the group was approaching the Great Gates. Alfrahil ordered his men to tighten up their formation.
