“Shush! People are trying to sleep,” Aurelia said, gesturing to the multitude of tents around them. “Don’t either of you have any decency?”
“Figured we’d already established that as a no,” Tarlak said. “And we take jobs at night because there are less witnesses at night, and besides, it’s not my fault that people won’t try to kill our charges during the day.”
Harruq suddenly straightened. He pointed deeper into the camp, to where a lone man with a torch walked among the rows of tents and smoldering fires.
“Go check him out,” Tarlak whispered. “And keep it quiet.”
Harruq ducked low and ran, Aurelia chasing after. Tarlak stroked his goatee and frowned. From his distance, it looked like a priest of Karak, but why would one wander so openly in their camp, with a torch so all could see?
“Son of an orc lover,” Tarlak said. “I’m an idiot…”
He felt a tingle of magic all over his body, his knees went weak, and then he collapsed as sleep tugged at his eyes.
“Hey stranger,” Harruq said as they neared the cloaked figure with a torch. “What brings you here so late?”
The torch shifted, and in its light they saw an old man with graying hair.
“Sleep is hard for one as old as I,” he said, his hand slowly waving before them. “But perhaps not for you.”
Harruq felt his eyes droop, and his whole mind blanked. He fell to his knees as beside him Aurelia slumped to the ground.
“You better be gone when I…” he said before succumbing.
A hooded man slipped inside the large tent, where the ten priests lay on various blankets. A wave of his hand and he cast another spell, deepening their sleep. He drew his dagger and waited. Moments later an old man stepped inside and pulled the hood from his face.
“Careful, Greer,” he said. “We must be quiet while we work.”
“I’m no fool, Hayden,” Greer said. “You take the left, I’ll take the right.”
“Actually, you’ll take neither,” Tarlak said, flinging open the flap of the tent. “Word to the unwise, sleep spells are pretty easy to ward against.”
He whistled, and at the sharp sound many of the slumbering priests stirred. When they saw the intruders they bolted awake, kicking and pulling at the others who slept. Hayden and Greer glared as they found themselves surrounded and outnumbered eleven to two.
“Won’t you two make a wonderful gift to the queen?” Tarlak asked.
Hayden laughed. It was a tired and ragged sound.
“After tonight, you won’t step foot in the castle without the guards striking you down,” he said.
Greer let out a vicious cry. Ethereal shadows stretched from his back, protecting him and Hayden from the other priests. Hayden grabbed his holy symbol with one hand and waved the other. Tarlak crossed his arms and summoned a shield as a bolt of dark magic shot for his face. He grunted at the impact. The priest was far stronger than he thought. The priests of Ashhur cast their spells, but could not penetrate Greer’s wall. Its creation appeared to pain him greatly, for he arched his back and screamed a long, constant wail.
“The queen will see the truth,” Tarlak said, still tensed and waiting for a second attack. Hayden only shook his head.
“She’s ours, wizard. It’s to us she prays. You’ll have no victory here.”
Tarlak uncrossed his arms, and from his chest a bolt of lightning leaped across the tent, swirling around Hayden. The priest raised a hand and let the bolt gather at his fingertips, having done no harm.
“Karak be with you,” Hayden said, returning the spell. Red electricity joined the yellow, and together the barrage hit Tarlak like a thousand hammers. He flew out the tent, smoke trailing from his robes. Before he landed, his body halted in air. Aurelia held him with a spell and gently lowered him to the ground. From the open flap Hayden made an ancient symbol with his hands.
“It was by my hand King Baedan banished your kind from our kingdom,” Hayden said. “And I will not let you insult our presence further.”
He hurled two bolts of shadow, but Aurelia batted them aside with her hands. She glared with sudden intensity, and all around her the dust rose into the air.
“You caused the war?” she said, magical power sparkling white in her eyes. “You banished us from our home?”
A pure beam of magic shot from her hands, a swirling rainbow of colors. Its raw power slammed into Hayden, who had no strength to shield himself. He screamed as his body shuddered and weakened. His robe ripped. His bones broke. He fell to his knees, his arms limp and useless at his sides.
“A mistake,” he said, gasping for air. “That was… a mistake.”
Inside the tent, Greer finally collapsed, so weakened from his shield that he fell unconscious. In the sudden silence they heard shouting and rustling armor. From the city hundreds of soldiers of Mordan came marching, holding torches high.
“What nonsense is this?” Aurelia asked as the soldiers approached.
“Arrest her!” Hayden shouted, ignoring her. “She has struck a loyal servant of her majesty!”
“Keep your hands off me,” Aurelia said, lightning sparkling around her fingers.
“Just go with them,” Tarlak said as he struggled to his feet. His hat hung crooked on his head, and pieces of his goatee were still smoking. “We’ll get this sorted out in the morning.”
“I have only defended myself,” Aurelia said, her glare daring any guard to touch her.
“Killing a soldier will only get you in real trouble,” Tarlak said. “Just go.”
The elf sighed and lowered her hands. The magic left her fingers. The soldiers grabbed her, two to an arm, but they were careful not to hurt her. More guards surrounded them as the priests of Ashhur exited the tent.
“What is going on here?” one of them asked.
“Go get Bernard,” Tarlak told him. “And hurry.”
In one large mass the soldiers took Aurelia back to the castle. Tarlak limped over to where Harruq lay sleeping.
“Sorry, buddy,” the mage said as he dispelled the sleep magic. The half-orc sputtered and woke with a start.
“What the Abyss is going on?” he asked.
“They attacked the tent,” Tarlak said, helping him to his feet. “They cast a sleeping spell on all of us, but I had warded me and Aurelia against it. Now promise me you’ll stay calm.”
“Where’s Aurelia?” he asked, looking around.
“Promise me.”
Harruq stopped, put a hand on each of Tarlak’s shoulders, and pulled him close.
“Where is Aurelia?” he asked again. Tarlak swallowed.
“They arrested her.”
The half-orc shoved him aside and stormed off toward the castle.
“We can handle this,” Tarlak said, scurrying after him while trying to fix his robe and hat at the same time. “She’s an elf, and the queen practically kissed her butt when we arrived.”
“I’ll kill all of them,” Harruq said, his swords already drawn. “Every single bleeding one of them, Tar.”
“You will do no such thing!” Tarlak shouted.
Harruq meant to ignore him, but then he felt something sweep against his legs. His balance lost, he tumbled. As he hit hard on one knee he realized Haern stood before him, his sabers also at the ready.
“What happened here?” Haern asked.
“Where the Abyss have you been?” Tarlak asked.
“Forget it,” Haern said, frowning at Tarlak’s ragged appearance. “What happened?”
“They’ve arrested Aurelia,” Harruq said, still on his knee. “Claimed she burned down the temple.”
Haern grimaced, and slowly he shook his head side to side.
“This city is sick, Tarlak,” he said. “It’s poisoned and wounded, and none of them have a clue.”
“What do you plan on doing about it?” Tarlak asked.
“I plan on seeing just how deep the sickness goes.”
Haern turned and vanished into the night. The two wai
ted, unsure of what to say to one another. When Bernard arrived, Lathaar and Mira in tow, Harruq finally sheathed his weapons.
“Are you all right?” the priest asked.
“We’re good,” Tarlak said. “I just got a little singed. Were you guys attacked?”
“All quiet in our camp,” Lathaar said. “I take it you were not so lucky?”
“My priests told me what happened,” Bernard said. “But I fear things are more complicated than we thought. Someone burned down our temple, and left two priests of Karak mutilated. A third was killed.”
Harruq shot a glance at Tarlak, who glared at him to keep quiet.
“Do you know what they plan to do with Aurelia?” Tarlak asked.
“I will find out,” Bernard said. “Come morning, they will have to issue an official reason for the arrest, as well as her punishment.”
“Punishment!” Harruq shouted. “She hasn’t done a thing!”
“I will make sure no harm comes to her,” the priest said, patting him on the shoulder. “Have faith in me, and Ashhur.”
The half-orc swore and kicked. Furious, he stormed away, Tarlak at his heels.
“This isn’t a big deal,” Tarlak said as he followed. “We’ve handled far worse, and…”
“No,” Harruq said, spinning about. “You know damn well Haern is the one responsible. I won’t have anything happen to my wife because of something he’s done.”
“Yes, because it’s not like we haven’t suffered because of your mistakes,” Tarlak said, immediately regretting it. Harruq staggered back, looking as if he’d been stabbed in the heart.
“Get away from me, Tar,” the half-orc said.
“Look, I didn’t mean to…”
“I said leave!”
Tarlak threw his hands to the air. “Fine. I’m sorry. I’ll go. But you better be here in the morning. We’ll fix this, I promise.”
He returned to Bernard and his priests.
Harruq simmering in his anger and pain. He felt tears welling in his eyes, and an aching scream building in his chest. He felt betrayed, he felt weak, he felt furious and unbearably sad. He looked up at the stars and wondered what brutal god tormented him. His wife imprisoned, Haern alienated, Tarlak speaking hurt, the city twisted and listening to Karak’s priests…
“Come get us, Qurrah,” Harruq whispered to the stars. “We’re ready for you.”
He returned to his tent and did his best to sleep.
12
Harruq was the first up the next morning. He kicked Tarlak in the side to wake him.
“Get up,” he growled. Tarlak muttered something unintelligible, opened a single blood-shot eye, and then saw the half-orc.
“Oh yeah,” Tarlak said. “Aurelia. Right.” He got out from the blankets and stretched. “Go get Bernard and Antonil. We’ll need their clout.”
Harruq did as he was told, fetching the others. As soon as they were ready they set off for the castle.
“If your highness would allow me, I would ask I do the bulk of the talking,” Bernard said to Antonil.
“You understand what is going on far more than I,” Antonil said. “But remember, nothing is to happen to Aurelia. Even if we have to leave the city.”
The guards at the gates let them through. Inside the throne room the queen waited, her many advisors at either side. Hayden was at her right hand, his arms bandaged and wrapped tight in front of him.
“Greetings, King Copernus,” the queen said, standing at their entrance. “I welcome you, though I wish the circumstances were better.”
“We’ve come to hear the charges pressed against Aurelia Tun,” Antonil said. “And the proof of these charges.”
“Are my broken bones not proof enough?” Hayden asked.
“No,” Antonil said, glaring at him. “They’re not.”
“Aurelia has not denied striking him with her magic,” Queen Annabelle said as she slowly sat back down on her throne.
“The priests of Karak came into our tent prepared to kill us,” Bernard said. “I have ten of my brethren that can attest to this.”
“I came because someone had set fire to your temple,” Hayden said. “And when my priests tried to put it out, they were assaulted, burned, and mutilated. When we hurried to tell of you of this travesty, I was assaulted, and defended myself.”
“Why would we lie?” Bernard asked. “Why would we burn down our temple?”
“I have long told you,” Hayden said, lowering his voice and turning to the queen. “I told you of their vile tactics, their insidiousness. The elf seeks to turn us against one another, to destroy both temples so her heathen goddess can be made stronger.”
“Hold on, Aurry hasn’t done any of this,” Harruq nearly shouted.
“She burned the temple and assaulted my priests,” Hayden cried. “She attacked me on sight. With open arms we have welcomed her, and she sows chaos in return.”
“Enough,” the queen said, raising her hand. “I have heard enough. King Antonil, unless you can provide me with the name of one who might have killed these priests of Karak, I have no choice but to place guilt upon the elf.”
Harruq felt Tarlak grab his arm. He pulled away from him, but when Antonil turned, he shook his head.
“We don’t,” the king said.
“Then she is to be hung by the day’s end,” the queen said. “My heart will ache at the sight, but I will not allow lawlessness and murder into my city.”
“You can’t!” Harruq screamed.
“If you murder her, we will leave,” Antonil said. “My soldiers and my people. You may fight the coming darkness alone.”
“Wait!” Bernard shouted above the others. He looked pointedly at Hayden.
“The blame for the murders,” Bernard said. “The blame for the fire, and the blame for Hayden’s injuries; you may place it all on me.”
“You will accept responsibility?” Hayden asked, his eyes lighting up with joy.
“I will,” he said. All around the others quieted, staring at him in shock.
“What are you doing,” Tarlak whispered, as he pulled on the priest’s robe to bring him closer. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Hayden will not refuse,” Bernard whispered back, then, louder, “What is it you say to this, high priest?”
“For what reason would you burn your own temple?” the queen asked, keeping Hayden silent with a wave of her hand. “And why would you do such ghastly things to priests of Karak?”
“I offer no reason,” Bernard said. “No explanation. But I accept the guilt. Hang me in Aurelia’s stead.”
Queen Annabelle’s face narrowed into a look of displeasure. She looked to Antonil.
“Will this be acceptable to you?” she asked. “For I don’t want the people I seek to aid turning from me in anger and hurt.”
Antonil turned to Bernard, who just nodded his head.
“It is,” Antonil said. “I do not agree, and I do not approve, but I trust Bernard and Ashhur.”
“Take him,” Hayden said to the nearby guards.
“Aurelia is to be released?” Tarlak asked as the guards came and shackled the priest.
“She will remain in your camp,” Annabelle said. “Should she commit a single transgression, my dungeon will be waiting.”
King Antonil knelt as guards escorted the rest toward the door.
“I would like to speak to her majesty,” he said, glaring at the advisors. “Alone.”
“It is not wise,” Hayden whispered to the queen, who would hear none of it. With a wave of her hand they were dismissed. The throne room cleared out, with only guards on the far walls remaining.
“What is it you wish to say to me?” the queen asked, visibly relaxing with all the people gone.
“It is no warning,” Antonil said. “No threat. Take this as a message, and a heartfelt one.”
“You think the priests control me,” she said. Antonil only shook his head.
“Just know this: when the legions of dead storm
your walls, and warriors with crimson wings fill the skies, you’ll hear a whisper in your ear telling you to throw open your gates and accept their bloody mercy. It is then you’ll know you executed an innocent man.”
Antonil stood, saluted, and left. The queen watched him go, her arms crossed and her mind troubled.
With Aurelia released, the Eschaton gathered in the Neldar camps, called together by Tarlak.
“All right everyone,” he said. “We need to make a decision, and we need to make it soon.”
“I’ve talked to several of the guards,” Lathaar said. “Bernard’s set to hang at dusk.”
“Not much time to plan,” Haern said.
“Better than you running off on your own,” Tarlak said. “We’ve got enough problems as is. We all know Bernard’s dying for something he hasn’t done. What are we to do about it?”
“Is there anything we can do?” Harruq asked. “At least, not without putting Aurry and the rest of us in danger?”
“We interfere with a hanging and we all join Bernard on the gallows,” Lathaar said.
“What if he doesn’t want to be saved?” Aurelia asked. “It does no good to save him if he will just turn himself in again.”
“And what about Antonil?” Harruq asked. “Won’t he leave if we do this?”
Tarlak swore and looked around. He had made sure Antonil was not invited to their little gathering because he knew that’s exactly what the king would do. He’d been hoping no one would mention that fact, but of course, the half-orc had a knack for ruining his plans.
“Yes,” Tarlak said. “He probably will. And if we fail, we’d all get an appointment with a rope.”
“We don’t have a choice,” Aurelia said. She did not wither under Tarlak’s glare. “We have to accept the gift we’re being given.”
“You all may do nothing,” Haern said as he tied his hair behind his head. “But I won’t.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Tarlak said.
“Try and stop me,” the assassin said. “I’m no longer an Eschaton, remember?”
“So what is it we do?” Aurelia asked as Haern walked away.
The Half-Orcs: Books 1-5 Page 113
