Lost Souls

by John Van Stry

  As soon as he finished he ducked for cover again and I heard the soft twang of the bows as the wall suddenly came apart and collapsed, falling down almost in slow motion, the two bodies on top crumbling as each one suddenly sprouted an arrow from their neck.

  I signaled the group that was hiding in cover behind me and watched as they silently swarmed up past me and dashed for the new opening in the wall. I kept my eyes open but saw no signs of any others who might be watching. They got to the wall's wreckage and there were no alarms sounded or raised. I waited until they signaled that all was clear, then stood up on all fours and tail waved the rest of the unit forward as we moved on to our next objective.

  It took two hours to get to the next outpost, and another two hours of observations before I was ready to move again. This outpost was the main nexus for the outer ring of defenses in this area. There were two more smaller outposts like the one we had just destroyed that reported back to this one. Once we cut off this one we could take the other two at our leisure rather easily from behind.

  That also meant this one should have a lot more soldiers in it, though the amount keeping guard seemed to be about the same as at the last one. This outpost was an actual tower, two levels with a roof the guards patrolled on, but it was situated on the edge of a cliff to give it better visibility across the eastern approach, as well as to make it harder to attack. The target was easier to hit, though it needed a bigger spell. Once I was confident with the situation I signaled the mages to go to work. Ten minutes later with a low rumbling noise the structure collapsed into the ravine below killing everyone inside it.

  "Damn, that was too easy," Clint said coming up to me.

  I snorted, "With the way that place was built, it would have taken all day to win it. I'm just happy whoever has moved in hasn't been smart enough to carefully examine their defenses."

  "That or they just don't care," he pointed out.

  "Now you're just feeding my paranoia. Take ten troopers and head up that way to take out the outpost up there, I'll send Jonus with another ten to the other one. I'll keep the remainder here to ambush anyone that might happen to show up before you each get back."

  He nodded and gathered up his men while I got Jonus and gave him his marching orders. It was three hours to sunrise; I expected them back in five. I spent the next hour sending out scouts and preparing for anyone who might come this way. We'd spend the morning here, sleeping in shifts. By now the king’s group should be engaging the edges of the defenses. I wish I knew what kind of reception he was getting. I didn't want him going in any further than that, but if they failed to come out and meet him, he just might have to.

  Elsewhere

  She cursed to herself as she went over the message from her guard commander once again. The king’s army had stopped just on the edge of their positions, and was picking her forces off piecemeal whenever they attacked him.

  Damn that Elf! What was he up too?

  She went over what Rammart had told her, he had actually returned, and provided some worthwhile information after capturing a sentry from the camp a few nights ago. The information they'd pried out of that poor unfortunate was interesting. There was no doubt at all that he, Jareth, was among the forces. He'd been seen several times in town, and rumors where flying where he was concerned. Apparently the local Shreans and a lot of Elves were a bit anxious when around him; they claimed he had lost his ability to shift and was actually a Human now.

  Also that the king was leading this army, and not Jareth or Clint, which made it sound like there had been a lot of faith lost in Jareth by his former friend, and perhaps in the current commander as well. She smiled as she thought of how that apparent loss of faith in Jareth must be hurting him, as well as the other loss he appeared to be suffering. It was only fitting that he suffered considering how he had caused her so much pain, she thought. Pain that had led to so much more when she’d turned to her master in anger and desperation. Sadly the sentry didn't have access to the king or his tents, she'd love to know just what those two damn cats were up to, or one cat and one human now? Even if they weren’t in charge, she still didn’t trust them not to be behind the planning that was undoubtedly going on.

  Unless perhaps the king didn't fully trust either of them anymore? If Jareth had changed, she could see the king worrying about his counsel. It was obvious that he considered Clint too inexperienced to deal with this as well, witness his sending for Jareth as proof of that.

  Her master had rubbed his hands at the information, thinking this all worked well for his plans. He'd praised Rammart extensively for the good work, putting the human at such ease that he didn't even realize when her master had slipped the blade into his chest, and died looking both happy and surprised.

  Her master had eliminated anyone who knew anything of who he was or what his plans were by this point. She felt sorry for some of them, they had served well and loyally, but her master was immune to such concepts. She knew truly the depths of his evil, and often wondered how he had hid it so well, for so long, from even his own family. She herself had not even begun to suspect it, until that fateful day some eight years ago.

  She shuddered and cursed again thinking about it. When he had heard Jareth was back he was definitely upset by it, but once he'd heard of the rumors surrounding the former Captain, he smiled just a little. However, he still sent out two assassins with instructions to kill the bastard or die trying.

  He'd then cleaned up the loose ends, like Rammart. He knew she still wasn't at ease with killing in cold blood like he was, so he'd taken care of those details himself. Besides, she suspected that he actually rather enjoyed it, she knew from personal experience that he enjoyed torturing those who fell into his grasp or crossed him.

  Rammart now dealt with he'd then left to assume his role as the male captive in the chambers upstairs once again. From this point on, she was the one apparently running the show; any who survived to be questioned would only be able to tell of the witch in the robes, whose face they'd never seen. They would never know that her father, former councilor Elantisfey was the one really running things here.

  And the princess, of course, would vouch for all of his story, how they'd both been held captive and tortured, questioned and punished by the witch. The princess had been so easy to deceive, she hadn't ever realized that the one in the cloak during her punishments was her fellow captive, nor realized that she was being slowly conditioned to trust him more than anyone else through this whole “bonding” experience.

  Yes, soon the princess would be the queen, and her most trusted advisor would be the elf who went through hell with her and survived, where so many others had not. All of the party who had been captured had died at her father's hands, slowly, painfully.

  She shuddered at the memory, she had known some of them, and wished she could have saved them from it, had even tried with one, killing her cleanly before her father could extract a vengeance for a minor slight he recalled all too clearly. Oh, how she had paid for that, the marks on her back had taken weeks to heal for all that she was an Elf and usually immune to permanent scarring.

  Then, when the time came and the king died, Lelani would turn to Elantisfey and seek solace in his arms. Shortly after that, they would marry and Elantisfey would use more of his potions to reduce Lelani to nothing more than a parrot, one that did his bidding. Alini had never suspected the anger her father had harbored for the last four hundred years, not having been anointed king as he felt was his due, instead seeing his half sister, whom he despised, getting the crown instead.

  Alini didn't know what kind of ruler her father would make, or rather she did know, but just no longer cared. She had argued with her father over the assassins, telling him truthfully that she wanted to kill Jareth herself, for what he had done to her, abandoning her as he had, writing that letter, and carrying on with the princess behind her back. Who would have thought it? She hated that two-timing cat and wanted to gut him herself.

  On top of that,
the dreams had been getting worse; it seemed now that the closer he got to her, the more that the dreams of what they once had, or rather of what she thought they once had, came to her at night. From the moment she closed her eyes now until she opened them, they were filled with images of him, and memories of the times they had shared. It did nothing but fuel her anger and leave her drained in the mornings, when she should be fresh and alert, ready to deal with all the things that must be taken care of in the endgame of this little rescue play her father had arranged.

  Damn him, damn him to the seven hells, and her father as well. She'd didn't really need any of them, and had her own plans to get free and away once this little farce was complete. Her father may claim that he loved her and needed her help, and that family was sacred. She however wasn't going to be taking any chances on if he truly meant what he said to her.

  He'd have his hands too full for the next few years to worry about his daughter as he consolidated his hold and dealt with the king. By the time he was done with that, she'd be well beyond his influences once and for all. She hoped that once he had what he wanted, he’d leave her be if she was far away and not able to mess with his plans in any way.

  She made her way through her daily duties, her reviews of the guards, the magic, and of her own little plans and traps. She had little faith in the assassins, she was still sure that Jareth would make it through, would survive until the planned rescue. She’d spring her own traps on him then, and get her due. She suspected he’d not stand up long to the full might of her power and fury with his abilities gone. She started to pity him that, then brought herself up short. It was no more than he deserved after all.

  She looked up as another guard came in with another message, suddenly hating the damned hood and wishing to be rid of it.

  "What?" she snarled.

  "Mistress," the guard quickly bowed, she'd killed an Orc yesterday when inspecting the troops; it had been too slow to show respect. Such things always helped remind the rest who was in charge. "The assassin's appear to have been successful, there was a large commotion in the enemy camp this morning and their bodies were hoisted on pikes. We could see a shrouded body by the king’s tent."

  Her mind swam for a moment then settled, she knew he was still alive, and she finally realized just how she knew. That damnable oath they had sworn all those years ago. She was of the art, a Mage, they had warned her back then that the oaths of a Mage carried a price. Back then, she had thought it a nice gesture, that he'd tie himself to her, that she'd always know how he fared and where he was. She'd thought his betrayal had broken it, but apparently not. It was obviously behind his loss of his abilities, eating away at his powers and skills. He should have known better than to swear such things to a Mage, even a fledgling one. She had a second thought then and wondered if he felt any thing from her? She hoped not, she wanted her hate to be a surprise when she finally sprang it on him.

  "I don't know who they killed," she almost growled at the guard, who started to look like he wanted to be elsewhere, "But it wasn't the one they were sent to kill. That I know!" She considered a moment, if he wasn't there, where was he? She knew he was near; she'd just have to kill him herself. But it was time to force the issue her father wanted taken care of as well. His orders had been painfully clear on that point. "Go back to your post and tell them to attack." She ordered the guard. "Take them while they're wondering what other traps might lay in their midst!"

  The guard bowed dutifully and ran out the door, undoubtedly happy to be leaving.

  She stood and headed for her workshop, she had more spells to prepare. She waved over one of her personal guard and gave him orders on what she wanted done with the band of guards in the tower and outside of it. She had a feeling they would be busy sooner than they had expected.

  The Outer Defenses

  Alini called to me and I answered. "I'm here, my love! I'm close! I'll be with you soon...."

  "I'll be waiting, Jareth! Hurry, I can't wait for you to hold me once again!"

  I awoke suddenly, shivering with an imaginary chill. I'd been having dreams of Alini constantly the last few days, but this was the first one to give me chills, to put me on edge.

  Something was not right, but what?

  I got up and planting my forepaws, stretched. It was almost noon, and I'd decided to take a quick nap as my scouts checked out the road ahead while the rest of us waited here and took a short rest.

  "Clint, Tam, Jonus," I called.

  "Yes, Jareth?" Clint said as they came over.

  "Get the troops on their feet, we're moving." I ordered, I followed Tam's eyes and noticed my tail was lashing.

  "Something up?" She asked.

  "Yes, something is. We need to get moving, now."

  They nodded and went to pass the word for everyone to get ready to move. Less than a minute later we were heading down the path towards the keep. It was only three miles to it so we'd be picking up our scouts on the road now as they came back to us. I sent out another set to range to within sight of the tower. My original plan had been to attack at night, giving myself and my troops the advantage of stealth to move up close to the tower and outbuildings that made up the keep, but no longer. Now my plan was to attack as soon as we got there.

  We moved down the road towards the keep quickly and surprisingly without any signs of any defenders at all. True this was an unlikely invasion route for the area, but you'd expect to see someone, anyone, on the way, yet my scouts reported no signs of anything living. The few buildings along the way were empty, and had been that way for a good many years. The force in the valley must not be a large one if it had not expanded up into these hills except to man the outer sentry points.

  I had chosen this route a long time ago because it didn't meet up with any of the other roads in the area until it got to the tower keep. I was glad for that now, as my growing feelings of foreboding made me want to attack immediately, rather than wait for darkness.

  "What's the plan when we get there, Jareth?" Clint asked coming up next to me as we trotted.

  "The same as before unless our scouts report a large number of defenders. I think we still have some element of surprise, so the two Battle Mages will deploy to either side of the gap once we're out of it, on the rises I marked along with the archers. Put four men with each of them to protect them. I'll take you, Tam, and my squad into the tower once we get inside the walls, the rest can deal with the outbuildings in any way they see fit as long as they keep our line of retreat open. Tell them not to set fire to anything until we're ready to leave, but then to torch it all. I don't want to let any of the other defenders out in the field know that we're attacking until we’re done."

  He nodded.

  We had covered more than half the distance to the tower when one of the Battle Mages told me that someone was trying to scry us.

  "Can you block it?" I asked.

  "More or less, but...."

  "But what?" I asked her.

  "They must know we're around here somewhere if they're scrying for us this close."

  I nodded, "It would seem so." I turned to look at the troops behind me. "Time to pick up the pace!" I called and started to double time it. "Details carry your Mages!" I called next. The elven archers I wasn't worried about, they could keep up with us in cat form at this pace for almost as long as we could keep it up. The elven Mages however were not in such great shape and arriving out of breath would make spell casting almost impossible. Fortunately they were not too heavy to ride on our backs, as long as we switched them fairly often.

  Clint loped up along side of me, "So much for the element of surprise."

  I ducked my head in assent. "It would seem so. Let's hope that we get there before they can prepare too many surprises of their own."

  "Well, here comes Kiane, let’s see what she has to say."

  I waited for our scout to reverse and match our pace; she had been in the second group I'd sent to scout the tower.

  "Sir," She panted, obv
iously she'd run hard to get here. "Apparently there has been some sort of alert sounded; all of the enemy is turning out to meet us."

  "Damn," swore Clint.

  "How many?" I asked.

  "Eighty or so, Sir. I left almost immediately so I don't have an exact count. Gerren should have a better reckoning when we get there."

  I nodded.

  "That's all?" Clint said surprised, "I'd have expected a great deal more."

  "So would I, apparently all of their strength is deployed towards the king." I thought about the small size of the defenders, of course they could always threaten to kill the princess, which would be bad, but that wouldn't buy them much.

  Or would it? Alini was the next in line due to the rather complicated way that the Elves figured succession. Could this be a ploy to set her up for the crown? If so, then why had she disappeared? I shook my head, that didn't make sense, but suddenly I was certain that Alini was near.

  Could our enemy be holding both of them? That could answer some of the questions I had, but it also raised a lot more. Like why had my last dream of her awoke some serious concerns about her in my mind? Why did some part of me suddenly think that her knowing I was here was a bad thing?

  I saw the end of the gap we had been loping down up ahead, the time for thought was over, the time for action had begun. Gerren saw us coming and ran down to meet us half way as we slowed.

  "I make it about a hundred defenders, Sir, I don't know how many are in the tower, though I did see at least five go in."

  I nodded "Clint, order out the mage's details. Josun, order your squads not to change until they're in among the defenders. My squad, fall in!" I turned and gave a quick look as everyone snapped into position and the mages started casting their defensive spells.