“You know your enemy well,” Balderon said.
“Uruks killed my parents,” Kyell said. By now they had reached the bottom of the main stairs, turned right and followed the hallway towards a large dining hall. Kyell continued his narrative. “Once inside the castle, we fought our way up to the library. In the throne room, we were ambushed by uruks with crossbows. Laris took a bolt to the chest, but we were able to stabilize him. He insisted we leave him and continue on.” He paused briefly. “We fought our way up the main stairwell and that is where we first encountered Lord Malik. He retreated to the library, so we smashed the door in and killed the uruk guards there. Lord Malik then retreated up the stairs to his study. We fought him there and he threw magic spell after magic spell at us, or mostly at Hawkblood. I pretended to be killed by his energy blast and he continued past me, trying to finish off Hawkblood. Once past me, I was able to drive my sword through Lord Malik’s back.”
By now they had reached the dining hall where the remaining staff of the castle had been rounded up and were being guarded by four rangers.
“Your lord,” someone stammered from the collection of prisoners.
All eyes turned toward the small old man who called out.
“Yes, what is it?” Balderon asked.
“That was not Lord Malik they slew,” he said, cowering.
“Please explain yourself,” Balderon said, approaching the man.
“About five years ago, the one he slew came here and took over the castle. He killed most of Lord Malik’s help and replaced them with his vile creatures.”
“What happened to Lord Malik?” Balderon asked.
“He keeps the baron and his wife in a prison cell deep under the castle. He would assume the baron’s form any time he had to travel to Ostar,” the man explained.
“So why did the usurper let you live?” one of the ranger officers asked, after signaling two of his men to investigate.
“I had pledged allegiance to him,” the man said, looking down as he did so. “Most of us you see here did the same. It was our only way to survive.” He lifted his head back up. “But I for one never gave up hope the usurper would die.”
The two rangers returned shortly thereafter, carrying a weakened person between them. “The woman was dead,” one of them informed Balderon. “She had been stabbed with a dagger.”
Balderon looked him over. “I recognize him from court.”
“What now, sir?” the ranger leader asked Balderon.
“The uruks can be locked up down in the prisons. The servants can be locked and guarded in one of the state rooms. I will take the baron and the old man,” indicating the servant who had told them about Lord Malik, “and head back to Ostar. I will let the emperor decide what he wants done here. Hawkblood, Kyell, your with me.”
“Sir, we have a companion waiting at the edge of the woods for us,” Esselles informed the mage.
“Fine, we will collect him first.”
“Her,” Esselles said.
“Fine, we will collect her first,” he repeated, emphasizing the ‘her.’
Balderon lead them out of the keep and up the stairwell to the top of the upper wall. It seemed both such a short time ago and forever since Kyell had jumped off that stairwell to start their assault of the keep. Once on top of the wall, Balderon asked the approximate location of their companion. Esselles pointed to the trees where they had left Tarra. Balderon looked out and after a brief search said, “Yes, I see her.”
He opened a portal and through it, they could see the woods and a surprised Tarra looking back at them. “Come through my friend,” Balderon said to her.
She hesitated a moment but then screwed up the courage and stepped through the portal to join them on top of the wall. The wolf pup squirmed in her arms until it wriggled free and jumped over to Esselles. He picked her up and pet her as she enthusiastically licked his face.
“She got increasingly antsy as time went on,” Tarra said with a smile.
“Is everyone ready,” Balderon asked. When everyone responded, he opened another portal. This time, instead of the woods, a well-lit stone chamber could be seen through the portal. Balderon led them all through.
*
“So Lord Malik had nothing to do with the assassination?” Pol asked after Esselles finished his tale.
“Apparently not. But the barons’ council decided that he should not profit from it either. Malik proposed a compromise. Toliver’s barony would be restored, however, the borders would be redrawn such that a few mines would now be part of Malik’s barony – as recompense for all he went through in this ordeal. Toliver’s fiancée would be baroness and the barony would pass onto her children. The uruk guards were offered a choice of exile or state servitude. As you might expect, they all chose exile. A few of the servants were exiled as well. Those who were determined to be innocent were set free.”
“Esselles,” came a shout from the door. Andor, Walket, Randol, and Flin all poured into the tavern.
“You aren’t dressed yet?!” Randol said.
“I was telling my brother the whole tale,” Esselles said.
“Only you would be late for a decorating ceremony because he had to tell the story first,” Walket said.
“I don’t know,” Andor said with a smile. “I can think of someone else who might do the same.”
Walket gave him a quick elbow to the ribs.
“I have my dress uniform with me. I’ll be right back,” Esselles said.
He quickly dressed and rejoined his brother and friends. “I’m ready.”
“Then we’d best get going,” Randol said, and led them out of the tavern and toward the castle.
The walk to the castle seemed incredibly short to Esselles. Before he knew it, he was walking through the main gate, along the terraced paths that led to the central doors, and up the broad stairwell. Both the east and west entrance halls were full of people, many of whom called out to him. He recognized some, others he did not.
One of the ceremonial staff saw him and hurried over to him, somehow still managing to look prim and proper in his haste. He took hold of Esselles’ arm and escorted him in.
“We can all walk towards the great hall together,” he said, “but your friends will need to leave you at the fountain.”
Esselles thought back to the last time he had passed the fountain. It was hard to believe it was just over a week since all of that happened.
“See you inside,” Walket said, shaking his hand one last time.
Esselles watched as his brother and friends continued on through the large central doorway and then his escort led him to the doorway just to the right of it, into the primary dining hall for the House of Tradesmen. Kyell was already there with his escort.
“Hawkblood,” he called out with a smile.
“Kyell, it is good to see you,” Esselles said as he clasped arms in the traditional Uranthian greeting.
Kyell turned to a middle aged woman to his left. “Hawkblood, this is Laris’ mother, Niva. Niva, this is Esselles Hawkblood.”
“I have heard a lot about you,” she said.
“I am so sorry for your loss,” Esselles said, still guilty over leaving him.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m just glad he was part of the team that brought these murderers to justice,” she said. “Defending the Empire was always his dream. I am glad he accomplished it before he died.”
“Me too,” Esselles said, clasping her hands. Though he immediately thought of how Renamir had escaped, he knew better than to mention it now.
After that, there was an awkward silence that his escort quickly broke.
“Please, everyone, have some hors d’oeuvres and drinks. It is going to be a bit before we enter the hall and then you will need to stand for a few speeches. We can’t have you fainting before they bestow the medals.”
He led them to a table filled with many delicious finger foods and a large selection of drinks and they each had their own attendant, in add
ition to their escort, to pour their drinks and get whatever they needed.
Eventually, the ceremony steward entered and told them that all the guests were in and seated and they would be heading to the hall soon. He stepped back out into the doorway and upon receiving a signal, turned to them and said, “Let us go.”
The walk down the hallway to the great hall seemed to take longer than it had taken him to walk halfway across the inner city to arrive at the castle. He could feel his nerves rising as they neared the doors to the great hall. When they finally arrived, a page opened each door wide. Esselles could see straight through the garden into the great hall and even to the emperor’s throne at the far end. But then his vision was captured by someone standing just inside the garden.
Just to the side of the path stood Callessa, Bracconius’ oldest daughter and the future empress, easily one of the most beautiful women in the whole empire. But that was not who captured his eyes, for standing next to her was her younger sister, Rashel. While admittedly not as classically beautiful as her sister, Rashel’s beauty eclipsed her sister in Esselles’ eyes.
It took him a second to realize his escort was trying to get him to move. And to close his mouth.
“Sorry,” he said, turning bright red.
Callessa took Kyell’s hand and began escorting him through the garden. Rashel took his hand and did the same. Their brother, Morhelm, then took Niva’s hand. Esselles only noticed he was there once his two sisters were no longer standing next to him.
“You look in shock,” Rashel whispered to him. The soft sound of her voice, her arm wrapped in his, and the smell of her perfume was intoxicating to him. It took him a few seconds to answer.
“Yeah, I guess I am,” he whispered back as they continued slowly through the gardens towards the great hall. “Not just the ceremony. It is you too. You are absolutely stunning.”
Now it was her turn to take a few seconds before answering. “Thank you,” she said. Then she looked down at her elegant gown and a smile touched her lips. “This old thing? I found it lying around in one of my servant’s chambers.”
“One of your servants?” he whispered back.
“You know how it is. One to cook, one to clean, one to lay out my clothes. You can never have too many servants.”
“I know what you mean,” Esselles said with a smile.
Then her face turned serious. “I could not believe it when I saw you leave that massacre. I did not know what to think. I was horrified. And I feared you were involved. I was so glad to learn you were one of the good guys.”
“You and me both,” he said. “And for quite some time, I thought your father was dead. I was so relieved to learn he was not.”
“You and me both,” she said with a smile.
By now they had reached the great hall. Kyell and Callessa were already walking through the ranks of the Twenty-Third who lined the main aisle, their right fist on their heart in a crisp salute. As Esselles passed each of his close friends, he winked at them. Most were able to hold their composure but a smile tugged at the corners of Walket’s and Randol’s mouth.
It was only then that Esselles realized that the hall was filled and they were all clapping and cheering. For him. Well, the three of them. His heart swelled with pride and he wished his father was still alive to see him and that his mother could have made the trip, although it was too far away for her to have gotten here in time.
They walked down the main aisle and up the steps to the throne dais. Waiting for them was Bracconius and Clarressa, Balderon, Landir, Clyne, and another captain who Esselles did not recognize. Rashel led them to the front of the thrones, whispered, “Congratulations,” and gave his hand a quick squeeze for luck.
Bracconius held up his hands and the crowd quieted down.
“Standing before you today,” he began, “are two heroes of the realm and the mother of a third. As you all know, enemies of the empire conceived a plot in an attempt to kill me and others in our court. They managed to transform a demon into the body of one of the guardsmen working the festival. When we were in council, he attacked. Fortunately, magical protections saved me that day. Others were not so fortunate. We lost a lot of great people that day.
“But even that day, Esselles Hawkblood, a member of the city guard and a legionnaire in training, pursued the demon through its magical portal, killing him as he reached the courtyard. He then pursued another perpetrator, following him all the way to the demon’s home world and back.
“He tracked the perpetrators to where they had imprisoned a baron and together with legionnaires Kyell Verbum and Laris Tanner made a daring assault on the castle and brought the leader of the plot to justice, defeating dozens of his uruk guards to do so. Sadly, Legionnaire Tanner did not survive.
“But we owe a great deal to these three and we now present them with the Forellin Hills Star, our highest military honor, commemorating the heroic sacrifices made by the Uranthian tairns fighting back Malustreure’s evil hordes as they descended upon Ostar in the Wars for Freedom.
“Gentlemen,” and he swept his arm towards the three captains.
Rigalli Clyne walked forward to Kyell, holding one of the medals. “For honor, valor, and service, above and beyond the call of duty,” he said as he pinned it to Kyell’s dress uniform.
Next Landir Falconer stepped forward to stand in front of Esselles. “For honor, valor, and service, above and beyond the call of duty,” he said as he pinned it to Esselles’ dress uniform.
Finally, the captain Esselles did not know stepped forward to Niva, repeating the same line as he handed her the medal, pinned to a small, ornate pillow.
The room erupted in applause and cheering. The three medal recipients all turned around to face the cheering crowd.
I have a surprise for you, Esselles heard in his head, instantly recognizing somehow that it was Balderon’s voice. I made a little trip this afternoon. Then his vision darkened slightly except for one small area. In that area he saw his brother Pol. And then it hit him. Standing next to Pol was the rest of his family!
Tears streamed down his face. Thank you sir, he replied back mentally.
It was the least I can do, Balderon answered. And when all this is over and things have settled down, I want you to come pay a visit to my guild.
I would love that. Then he smiled. But not until my legionnaire training is done. Nothing is going to keep me from finishing my service this time.
Bracconius and Clarressa walked to each of them, shaking their hands. Then they turned to the crowd and presented them once more.
“Go down and meet your adoring crowd,” Bracconius whispered to them.
None of them moved.
Rashel walked back to the center of the dais and between Esselles and Kyell, grabbing each of their elbows. “Come on. There are a lot of barons, noblemen, and tradesmen who will want to personally thank you,” she said, smiling at each of them in turn.
“I am mostly interested in seeing my family,” Esselles said.
“I am sure they are not going anywhere,” she said. “I will get you there as quickly as possible, but we do not want to start a major political scandal by skipping past all your admirers.”
“You are enjoying this far too much,” Kyell said.
“Yes, I think I am. It is fun to be able to see you two go through what I live with on an almost daily basis. But don’t worry. I won’t leave you with the wolves.”
“Thank you,” Esselles said. “Your generosity and protection are duly noted.”
They were then engulfed by the nobles and tradesmen. Some seemed genuinely interested in meeting them. Others seemed to be calculating how they could use them to their advantage. Still others seemed to only be there out of duty. Esselles could see how this could get old very quickly.
But then he spotted his friends and the rest of the Twenty Third making their way over.
“Hey, congratulations,” Walket said when they finally were at the front of the crowd.
“I’m so proud of you,” Randol said as he hugged Esselles.
Flin and Andor clapped him on the shoulder and added their congratulations.
“By the way,” Walket said after their fellow soldiers had congratulated him. “It seems you owe us all beers.”
“What do you mean?” Esselles asked.
“You never figured out who was Rashel’s father.”
“I still had one guess left.”
“Too bad,” Andor said. “You should have thought of that before the festival.”
“Come on, like you would have guessed the emperor,” Flin said.
Walket grinned mischievously. “I did say he was in the military. You are hard pressed to argue that the Urigrave is not.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll buy you all beers. Multiple rounds. Now let’s get over to where my family is waiting.”
“Yes, let’s go meet them,” Rashel said as she rejoined them. Behind her he could see big smiles on Walket’s and Randol’s faces.
Esselles was mobbed by his family when he got there and the tears were flowing on almost everyone’s face. He introduced them to his friends and to Rashel. They caught up on all the news, being constantly interrupted by people wanting to thank him for his service.
Eventually, the celebration came to a close, he walked with his family back to their rooms in the diplomatic wing of the castle, which led to another thirty minutes of talking. Then he said his goodbyes for the night and he and Pol joined his friends to head out to the Undertow Inn.
“Are you going to join us?” he asked Rashel.
“Not this time,” she said. “I have learned not to be around when soldiers get drunk,” she added with a smile.
Later, at the bar, he tried to buy them the rounds he owed them, but Tobias would have none of it.
Demonified (Hawkblood Chronicles Book 1) Page 32
