Sunstone - Dishonor's Bane (Book 2)

by Guy Antibes

  “You are a sorcerer. I would like to know to whom you swear allegiance. I do not choose to follow a sorcerer of the Dakkoran Empire.” Shiro felt that bluntness was called for in this situation. He toyed with the pouch around his neck.

  Anchor’s eyebrows rose. “I have no power as you likely know, my friend. You must have a great deal of it to see that I once had Affinity myself.”

  “Most of the men and women of my band can wield power. We are called the Red Roses.”

  “I am sure that has meaning to your troops?”

  “It does. Your allegiance?”

  Anchor looked out the window. Shiro hoped that the man’s thoughts were honest. “I am pledged to the rightful leader of the Red Kingdom.”

  “So you are one of Daryaku’s minions?” Shiro put his hand to his sword and put up a shield of power.

  Anchor stood and put out his bare hands. “You don’t have to do that. The rightful leader is the sole survivor of the King’s family, the Princess Sallia. I am her humble servant, although she doesn’t know the depth of my devotion.”

  Shiro could detect an emotional attachment. The man loved the woman?

  “I have heard of the princess. She resides in Gensler?”

  “She does,” Anchor said. “And now I have a decision to go to her or use my strategic talents to end this war.” The decision appeared to torment Anchor.

  Could Shiro trust this man? He needed to and decided to use his stone to make sure. “I have a stone that will prove that we both can be trusted.” He dropped the Sunstone onto the table showed it to Anchor.

  “The Sunstone? It can’t be. It’s been lost for centuries.”

  “And found in this one,” Shiro said. He picked up the stone and held it out. “Touch it, if you dare.”

  ~~~

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  ~

  ANCHOR GLARED AT SHIRO AS IF HIS MANHOOD was questioned, but then his gaze softened. “Of course. I have touched the Bloodstone and now the Sunstone. I should ask Princess Restella to touch her Moonstone.” He shivered. “I have no desire to touch Daryaku’s gem.”

  “Nor do I,” Shiro said. “Touch it, please.”

  Anchor extended his hand and Shiro closed his hand before Anchor had a chance to touch it. “Sit, Anchor. The exchange of minds might disorient you.”

  He sat and touched Shiro’s stone as soon as Shiro opened his hand.

  Knowing what to expect, Shiro sat back and gently sought what he wanted from Anchor’s mind. Where Chika and Lotto experienced shock, Shiro could feel Anchor probe back a little here and a little there. Shiro didn’t know what the man sought or what information Anchor received from the exchange, but Anchor’s mind was well controlled as if he were a much older man. Ah, indeed, he was.

  The link ended as Anchor withdrew his hand. He rubbed his forehead. “I am a little disoriented.”

  “I trust you, Wizard Unca,” Shiro said. Indeed, once Shiro had exchanged his thoughts through the Sunstone, he felt as if he had known the man that sat across from the desk for many years.

  Anchor shook his head. “In this body, I am Anchor. Now I can see why the Emperors of Roppon hid the stone. The one who wields the Sunstone must be above reproach and I am sitting in front of such a man.” Anchor bowed his head. “You understand my dilemma.”

  “I did not probe particularly far, but far enough. I cannot give you proper counsel, since your problem is one of the heart. I would go to Learsea with you, since it is the weakest point of your fight against Daryaku. Your princess needs her kingdom and you need your princess as a ruler to fulfill your pledge to the dead king.”

  “You have seen enough!” Anchor said.

  “Enough to pledge my people to your cause, but I would have done so anyway. We will accompany you to Learsea. Their leadership is weak and needs a strong advisor. I am not a Bessethian, but I will help you as I can. My first in command, a man named Tishiaki, is more seasoned at military leadership than I. You can be assured that we will stand by your side.”

  Anchor put his head in his hands. “You don’t know how much I had hoped for one such as you to help me. Without my power, I am only a strategist and need additional practical minds. I’ve corresponded with the King and they are good men, but don’t have the stamina to stand alone against the usurper of the Red Kingdom.” He put out his hand and Shiro clutched it, Bessethian style. He still wasn’t comfortable with the custom of shaking hands so he bowed as well.

  They walked back to an anxious group in the larger room. “We have resolved to work together. Shiro and his Red Roses will accompany me to Learsea. I have committed to be their war leader. I hope that your father will give me the southern forts as part of a joint command to take reclaim the Red Kingdom.”

  “I figured that would be your decision. I’m sure my father will agree. My companions and I will go to him as soon as possible.”

  “Sooner the better,” Anchor said. “With Valetan no longer as a possible ally, Duke Histron won’t delay once Happly’s forces reach him.”

  “I can help you with that. Chika? Do you want to go on a trip?”

  “You mean?”

  “Yes ,we will teleport Morio and his men to their capital city. I am sure I can find the way through a session with the stone and Morio.”

  ~

  Shiro exited from the small room grinning along with Morio. “This is a naughty boy, Chika. I won’t let you touch him on our way. Then again, I doubt that his companions are any better.”

  That comment brought laughter from Morio. “I like Shiro now that I’ve gotten to know him better.” He looked at Chika and winked.

  She turned red. “What did he learn?”

  Shiro patted her shoulder. “He knows nothing that you didn’t already know. I am confident that we can teleport together after you seen where to go in the stone.”

  He turned to Morio. “Get your things. You will have to leave your horses.”

  Morio’s face fell a bit. “Then transport us back after I’ve talked to my father.”

  Shiro smiled at the request and bowed. “Of course.”

  Chika and Shiro joined with the stone briefly.

  “Not as dramatic as our first link,” Chika said with a tinge of wistful regret.

  “Nothing is as good as the first time,” Shiro said. His comment elicited a kiss from her.

  They assembled in the room. “We will be back within a day,” Shiro said.

  “I wished that I could go with you, but I dare not. My responsibilities here, you know,” Anchor said, thrusting a sealed message in his hand.

  Shiro knew the yearning in Anchor’s heart to see Princess Sallia, but Anchor’s resolve would be put to an awful test if he went. He gathered Morio and his three men and Chika around him.

  “We will link hands. You might not be able to stand when we arrive at Crackledown.” He shut his eyes and opened them in the Crackledown courtyard.

  Shiro held Pillo Toras upright. Anton went down on his rear end and Morio held on, much too tightly, to Chika. She threw him to the ground, glaring at the Duke’s son.

  Guards ran to them, extending their spears as they saw their ruler’s son unceremoniously thrown to the ground.

  “It’s all right, they’re friends.” Morio said. “Take us to father and find Sally.”

  “Sally?” Chika said.

  “The Princess Sallia of The Red Kingdom,” Shiro said.

  “Oh,” Chika said, helping Anton up. Morio struggled up by himself.

  They were shown into the Duke’s private chambers.

  Morio brought his father up to date. Duke Jellas had just received a bird from Valetan and they exchanged information.

  “It would please me to see Anchor command the Eastern forces. Valetan and Prola will invade the Red Kingdom through Gensler. Morio will stay with me.”

  “Actually, we’re going back to the fort and ride our horses back. I need to check our troops along the border and tell them what is to come.”

  “Che
ck our troops or the condition of all of the taverns from there to here?”

  “A little civic tour at the same time wouldn’t be out of the question,”

  Duke Jellas looked oddly at his son. Evidently Morio’s rakish behavior was nothing new.

  “I’d like a few minutes with Princess Sallia. I have a private message to deliver from Anchor. Chika will join us.”

  The Duke rose from his seat. “Do so in here. The princess will show you to the dining hall when you are through. It’s time for our evening meal.”

  Chika, Sallia and Shiro stood awkwardly in the Duke’s private chambers.

  “Here is a note from Anchor.”

  Sallia brushed her pale hair out of her face and looked sideways at Shiro.

  “Anchor’s message is between only you two.” Shiro pulled out his Sunstone. “Anchor told me that you wear the Bloodstone. This is one of its siblings.”

  “The Sunstone,” Sallia stared at it. She didn’t take her eyes off of it as she pulled the Bloodstone from around her neck and took it out of an ornate pouch. She held it out for Chika and then showed it to Shiro.

  “Close it in your hand and think of the Sunstone. I will do the same. I want to see if they still can be used to communicate.”

  Sallia shut her eyes. Shiro concentrated on the Bloodstone and tried to project a message.

  “Can you hear my thoughts?”

  “I can,” Sallia said in his mind. She giggled like a little girl. “This is wonderful.” She said it aloud and projected it through the stone.

  “I wanted to see if the legend is true that these are communication devices. They are.” Shiro smiled.

  “Hello?”

  Shiro heard another’s voice. That was something he never expected.

  “I am Shiro.”

  “I am Princess Sallia of the Red Kingdom,” Sallia said.

  “Shiro, I’ve met. Princess Sallia, we haven’t talked since we were children. I am Princess Restella of Valetan.

  “And I am Lotto.”

  “Lotto, you aren’t even holding the Moonstone,” Princess Restella said, faintly heard through the connection.

  Shiro got the impression of laughter from Lotto. The stones allowed some measure of nuance. He could clearly hear both Princess Restella and Lotto Mistad. He had to smile as he remembered that this was what the stones were reputedly created for. The thought excited him. He now had a better understanding why the Dark Lord would want these stones in ancient times. The teleportation technique must not have been discovered back then. He could see more benefits from face to face meetings or written missives might miss part of the physical aspect of communicating. Unfortunately, he feared that all methods would be used thoroughly before this war had ended.

  “We’re linked, remember?” Lotto said.

  “Oh, that!” Restella responded in what Shiro could sense as exasperation. Evidently the pair still needed to work out their linkage. Shiro looked at Princess Sallia and noted the corners of her mouth twisted up, just a bit. She must see the same bit of humor in the pair’s discussion as he did.

  “Listen. Anchor and I are headed for Learsea and will help the king defend his kingdom against Duke Histron. We will coordinate our maneuvers through the stones,” Shiro said. “We can meet again tomorrow night at this time and talk about strategy.”

  Princess Sallia nodded. “I will include the Duke.”

  “What about Armand?” Restella said.

  “Armand? You mean Lessa?” Lotto said. Shiro caught a flash of anger, or was it jealousy?

  “I did. Armand.” Restella said, defiantly.

  The Valetans’ emotions did come across through the stones, so Shiro hid his amused feelings as best as he could. He hoped that Princess Sallia would do the same.

  “I will teleport to Happly and bring Lessa to South Keep in time to include him.”

  “Good,” Lotto said. “It’s time we put an end to this war.” There was a pause in the discussion. “You’ll have to teach me how to teleport.”

  Shiro nodded, but then realized that Lotto couldn’t see him. He thought of the war and realized that reclaiming The Red Kingdom wouldn’t end the war with the Dark Lord. He didn’t want to dampen the young man’s enthusiasm, but he had to.

  “Our real enemy is Emperor Daryaku. I’m afraid he won’t accept an easy defeat.”

  His comment met with silence, but he could feel the determination to win build among them all. Finally, he had found the direction that he sought and true allies for the first time in his life. He wouldn’t rest until they all had ended the reign of Emperor Daryaku of Dakkor.

  End of The Sunstone.

  ~

  The Story Continues in Book Three of the Warstone Quartet -

  Bloodstone | Power of Youth

  An excerpt of Chapter One follows

  Bloodstone

  Power of Youth

  CHAPTER ONE

  ~

  The flickering light of torches together with the sounds of hoarse shouting broke through the blissful slumber of Unca, Wizard to the Court of the Red Kingdom. How dare revelers disturb his sleep! Unca began to shake off the lovely dream that flittered away from his memory, as he realized there was no revel in Foxhome castle tonight. It quickly dawned on him that some cataclysm had visited his home and he might be physically at risk. He threw on his robes and buckled a rusty sword to his bony hips and began to hustle out of his rooms until the cold floor reminded him that he should put on his boots.

  The singing and clashing of swordplay seemed to be growing closer as Unca reached the royal chambers. Ten royal guards, weapons drawn, stood guard and parted for the wizard.

  “Unca!” the king said, motioning him to quickly join him as the queen helped her husband into the crimson armor of the Red Kingdom monarch. “You must find Sallia and take her to safety.” He thrust a black suede pouch into his arms. “The Bloodstone must go with the princess. I’m afraid it won’t be long until Duke Histron’s forces reach us. He won’t let us live and I’ll be damned by all of the gods if I won’t defend my castle to the death.”

  “Duke Histron is behind the fighting?” Unca said, beginning to feel a little sick. He leaned against the wall, suddenly weak. “Come with me. You three can flee.”

  The king and queen shook their heads. “They have taken Foxhome and somehow he knew of a whole section of the castle’s secret passages and used them to invade us. We are undone, old friend.”

  ‘Undone,’ the King had said. Unca heard the defeat in the king’s voice and looked at the tear-stained face of the queen. Worst of all, his heart beat in his throat since he had unwittingly caused this debacle. Duke Histron convinced Unca to give him the plans to the passages. He told Unca that, as a birthday present, he would clean out the cobwebs and filth that had built up for centuries in one section of the secret ways and present a feast such as King Billeas had never known. Evidently the Duke’s method of cleaning included usurping the throne. He clutched the pouch and felt the teardrop shape of the Bloodstone, the ancient amulet that defined the line of Red Kingdom kings.

  “Don’t just stand there man, find Sallia and hide her!”

  Unca could barely stand to look at the King’s face. “I know of a way out of the castle that the Duke couldn’t possibly know. We can retrieve the princess and all find safety.”

  The King narrowed his eyes. “I will not run! Neither will the Queen.” They both looked at him defiantly.

  Unca glanced at the Queen, who nodded, and then lifted her chin, with tears running down her face. “Save my daughter for the good of the kingdom!” These two would not let Duke Histron define who they were. He didn’t have the time to convince them otherwise.

  “Go and do as I command.” The King laid his gauntleted hand on Unca’s arm. “One last commission, my most trusted servant, tell Sallia that her mother and father have always loved her.”

  “We love her,” the Queen echoed.

  Guilt turned Unca’s face to flame as he ran out the do
ors and through the back corridors to Sallia’s quarters. The usurpers hadn’t yet attacked the wing of the castle that housed the quarters of the princess. He wiped away the tears from his own eyes and wished he now stood with the King in his chambers. Magical powers still were at his command, although they had weakened over his sixty-odd years.

  He met the Princess at the open door to her suite of rooms. Her white-blond hair looked as disheveled as Unca imagined his to be. She stamped her bare foot on the cold stone.

  “I demand to know what is happening!” How did such a sweet face hide such a self-absorbed temperament? The twenty-year-old Princess Salliab put her hands on her slim hips and tapped her toes on floor.

  Unca swallowed. The implication of his massive mistake clogged his throat, but he forced through the words he needed to say. “Duke Histron has overrun the palace. Your father has ordered me to take you to safety. Come.”

  She withdrew her hand and refused to touch him. “Don’t you dare touch me! What will he do to my parents?” Her violet eyes seemed as bright as an exotic flame.

  Unca shuddered at the implications behind those words as she spoke. “They will certainly be killed tonight and soon.” He tried to find some kind of reaction in the Princess’s face, but his words hadn’t yet registered. “I have the Bloodstone.” He waggled the pouch at her and grabbed the sleeve of her robe and pulled… hard.

  The young woman gasped behind him as the sounds of battle intruded on their conversation. Unca sighed with relief as he dragged her through the door to the Princess’s rooms and slammed it behind them, locking it, and then pulling as much furniture as he could to block the entrance. No one had ventured into this section into the palace, but it was only a matter of minutes before the intruders arrived at her door. He breathed the scent of roses and took in the white and pink decorations of Princess Sallia’s rooms. Unca imagined her her blood splattered on the walls if he hadn’t arrived in time.

  “Now we’re trapped,” she said, with hands on hips, but Unca could see fear on her face.