"Yes, sir, he is former, and that how it will remain," Helfare replied, the disgust evident in his voice. "I still find it hard to believe that he was actually strong enough to do this."
"Take me to him at once!" Malander shouted.
"Never do I wish to return there. I can tell you anything that you wish to know to further your cause and perhaps lead you close to his realm, but I will never return to him. Already have I wasted fifteen years of my life in his kingdom, and that was quite enough!"
Randor intervened and reminded the general, "You swore your oath to me, and I will not let you break it, nor shall you depart from my side as long as I deem you under my service." Helfare hung his head at the wizard's strong words, for he knew the ones that would follow. "Your trust is bound with guiding us into your former homeland."
"As it is, Randor, you are correct on this account," Helfare replied. "Though it pains me greatly, and I know that the pain will increase on our arrival there…" He paused. "I will show you the path into Valadure, for I will never break an oath, not even to you. I should have known you would ask this of me."
"Precisely what I expected to hear," Randor smiled.
"On with your tidings," Gildan urged.
"Very well…" Helfare straightened his clothing and maintained the elegant appearance of an officer of Valadure. "I am a former general of Lord Adian in his vast realm far to the south of here. Six months ago he summoned me, his closest officials, and his high priests to his innermost keep and revealed to us his horrid plot of taking the moon from the heavens."
"Reason?" Arnanor asked impatiently. "There has to be one."
"He told us of a grand offer he received from the Enchantress. Though I have never seen her, I have heard many tales of her peerless powers and beauty that surpasses all that one could hope to understand." He saw that all were intrigued and shocked at his story, but more lay ahead to be told. "This offer would exchange Beldas for the enchantress's land, which Adian desired badly."
"And this Adian agreed?" Randor asked. "This is the most extreme barter I have ever heard."
"At first he did not agree," Helfare remarked. "Only after the enchantress offered Adian immortality and her hand to him in marriage did he so agree. The power promised to him only made the task easier to do."
"So now Londor suffers for his gain? What a selfish fool!" Malander laughed darkly.
"Did he not care how it would affect those outside his grasp of magic?" Seth asked, being the first voice of reason.
"No," the general replied. "All that concerns Adian are his armies and his citizens. The world could lie in ruin, but as long as he reigns on his throne, he would feel divine."
"Now the Banner of Aldrenos makes way to Valadure in the hands of Bharot," Randor said. "It appears that Adian's bane has caught the tail of his realm, and the banner will cure any illness that creeps in. He will now be invulnerable." He started toward the exit, followed by the company and Helfare. "We must reach Bharot before he can return to his master's side. I now regret our delay here."
"They will not escape us, even with our small respite," Gildan said.
"You may be correct," replied Randor.
"I know the very road they take, and by your grace I will lead you to a cutoff point," Helfare offered, and without a word, he sidestepped over to the wall and retrieved both his and Malander's swords. The chain fell to the ground and dissolved into smoke and was no more. "These steps ahead will take us outside this castle. Ready yourselves."
"Helfare!" a strong voice yelled from behind the company, still at a distance. All turned to see who spoke. "Helfare!" it called again.
"Who is calling you?" Seth asked the puzzled general. "Do you have a squad with you?"
"No. I came alone."
"I wonder who that is," Malander hissed. "Maybe it is Bharot, returning to play."
"I think not, but I will remain here and see," Helfare assured him.
Running toward them at great speed was a man clad in black, his shoulder-length hair whipping behind him. With sword drawn back, he locked eyes with Helfare, who brought his sword upward to greet him. "Lord Adian sends his greetings in my blade!" As he completed his declaration, he slashed with all his might at Helfare's head but was parried by the general's quick reflexes. Helfare managed to drive him back to the center of the chamber, where the attacker spun his sword by the long hilt as if it were a staff, thrusting and slashing at the general. But Helfare bided his time, putting forth only enough effort to keep from being struck.
"Give yourself into my custody!" the wild man demanded. "Give yourself to Master Ghelok!" Helfare suddenly came alive, unleashing his reserve in one swift upswing of his blade, but Ghelok blocked it easily with mind and sword working as one. Ghelok laughed, "You shall fetch me quite a reward from Lord Adian. He will bless me with a promotion to high general and an undeclared amount of the enchantress's land! I will not allow you to escape and deprive me of my rightful earnings!"
"Then kill me if you can," Helfare taunted him.
"You will regret those words!" Again they closed in battle, and Bharot's lead on the company grew ever longer as time went on. Randor muttered a spell quietly to himself and held his magic inside, waiting for a clean shot at Ghelok. With the intruder in his sight, he let fly a little ball of blue flame, which streaked toward Helfare's unknowing back. Sensing the stealthy magic, Helfare leaped high into the air, over the path of Randor's projectile, which hit Ghelok full in the chest. Dropping his sword, Ghelok fell backward over a body length from where he was struck, skidding along his back for many feet. Giving one last look at his fallen foe, Helfare was the last to follow his new company out of the tunnel, and before Ghelok realized his situation, he was left alone, ravaged by pain.
Chapter Fourteen: Among the Granite Tombs
Determined to succeed, Bharot had escaped the traps and snares of the castle and prepared himself to return to Valadure--a journey long overdue. The light of the morning scattered high in the wispy clouds as the sun crept over the distant mountains. "Mount up and ride onward!" Bharot commanded, taking the reins of his steed.
As the squadron rode away, suddenly eleven horsemen crested the nearby hills to either side and bore down on Bharot and his remaining four. But seeing their own coat of arms on Bharot's men, they quickly broke off the attack and instead greeted him in Valadure fashion. Bharot, ever in control of the situation, rode forward. "One of you, I don't care who, explain to me what brings you here."
"Lord Adian dispatched us, sir, to aid Master Ghelok in his task of retrieving General Helfare," one spoke before silencing himself again.
Bharot was amused by this news, relishing the thought that these two men he despised were both in the vicinity. His hatred for Helfare had begun many years ago, during their many uncomfortable years in training together. It was a jealousy that ran deep in his cold veins, and the mere thought of his rival drove him into a quiet rage. He had always hated being considered second best to Helfare, and wanted only one chance to prove his superiority. "Lord Adian has blessed me this day," he proclaimed. "Not only do I get to humiliate the former general Helfare, but I can put the posturing Ghelok in his place as well. Finally will I receive my due." He surveyed the newly arrived soldiers under Ghelok's command, only recognizing three, though apparently they all knew who he was, detectingfear and respect in their bearing. "How many days have you traveled?"
"Seven days, General."
"Superb timing, my brothers," Bharot congratulated them. "You glorify what we have taught you these many arduous years." The distance from Valadure to Nar-Fhandon was far greater than seven days, but Of-Adians were hardy enough to travel far and fast under the most grueling conditions.
"Thank you, sir!" the eleven replied in unison. No one could ask for a better or more disciplined company of men.
"I cannot wait much longer for those two foolish souls to appear before me," Bharot said. "Perhaps I should wait a moment in hopes of one appearing."
"Perm
ission to speak, General?" one of his own men asked respectfully.
"Go on."
"Lord Adian would not be pleased with our lack of haste. I, for one, do not wish to see harm come to you or any of us."
Another of the general's men spoke up without permission. "If these two have come after you, we shall meet them on the Kaidren road ahead. Make them follow after us despite their weariness."
"My dear sirs, you speak true," Bharot answered with his head lowered in admiration. Though he longed for the downfall of his enemies, it would have to wait. "In my anger I had forgotten strategy, for my wrath had captured my sense." He turned his horse to the road ahead. "All who wish to follow me to Valadure are welcome. Those who are received by Lord Adian, bringing the Banner of Aldrenos to its new eternal home, shall be rewarded."
To his surprise, only the four men of his party came to his side. He took one last look at his compatriots and shook his head. "Very well. I respect your binding to Ghelok, since Lord Adian did command it so. I will not think differently of any of you, I promise." He paused. "Pray for us."
"Ride hard and ride well, General," one soldier called out as Bharot and his squadron hastened up the steep path before them.
"Eaen Ada ven maladen!" the five shouted as they disappeared over the hill, and the remaining soldiers echoed the call, an Of-Adian Brotherhood proverb of victory known to all who came to their way of life.
As the eleven soldiers watched their departing comrades disappear over the hill, their ears were suddenly filled with the grinding screech of the castle door swinging open. Randor stood in the open doorway, taken aback by the sight of almost a dozen drawn swords; the soldiers covered all avenues of escape except for the grim, ill-starred castle behind the company. In the corner of his eye, the wizard noticed Helfare drawing nearer to his old kindred. "I gather they are not with Bharot," Randor said.
"They are here for me," Helfare answered, "and led by Ghelok." Far enough away now from the rest of his new company, Helfare sought the full attention of the soldiers. "Why have you come?"
"We came for you, vile traitor to Lord Adian!"
"Following a mercenary?" Helfare asked, laughing. "What has come over your master? It looks as though he is slipping in his old age."
"Do not degrade my master again with your foul words! We follow Ghelok without question or regret. He is a superb leader, much more so than you."
"Your 'superb' leader now lies on the floor of the castle." His gray eyes glared coldly at them as he pressed on, "Not so mighty now, is he? Ghelok is a foolish man."
"What have you done with him?" cried the soldier, obviously distraught.
"Let us pass," Helfare demanded. "I do not wish to harm you. Though I am no longer of your brotherhood, I still care for those within its ranks."
"We cannot let you pass." Sympathy from an outsider of Lord Adian was never welcome. The only things mattering to Adian were the affluence of his beloved Valadure and of his High Order, now and continuing into the next age of the world. "Our orders are to arrest you at once."
"You will have to overthrow us first," Randor added. "Helfare is in my service, and I fight dearly my companions--which now include him."
"Let him remain here, Randor," Malander advised. "Prolonging this only creates a colder trail for Aldrenos. We do not need a traitor."
"I will not let Helfare out of my service, and this, Malander, is final."
Helfare surreptitiously scanned the area, looking for a weakness in the surroundings. There, to his far right, along the castle wall, he could just make out a smaller path through the deep pines. "I will only ask you once more to stand aside," Helfare spoke to his captors--none responding to his sincere threat. "You are leaving me little choice," he said as he reached into his jacket.
But before he could grab firm hold of his weapon, Helfare and the rest of his new companions were shoved forward by an abrupt force coming from the castle's exit. As the company found their balance once again, they looked upon Nugalas, who now stood between the mounted soldiers and Zelok's party. The monk snarled, turning his attention to the soldiers first, thinking these were the same ones who had infiltrated his home.
Randor kept watch on Nugalas, who moved away from him, and in this moment, Randor slowly led the company towards the castle once more. "This is our chance to flee," the wizard whispered as he slid his hands and back against the dark, rough stones of the castle.
"That is one sneaky priest," Gildan said. "Looks like he waited for everyone to leave before showing his ugly face again."
Nugalas lashed forward against the eleven horsemen, and rage consumed him like never before. As the priest dove into the middle of the dark collection of soldiers, he clawed the air, dividing their ranks. Quickly he drove back six of the horsemen onto the path where Bharot recently departed. At first the soldiers hesitated in their own attack, never before having seen a creature like this--though it was not much longer before they began to fend off Nugalas.
The remaining five soldiers met Nugalas' back and, they too, began battle with the red-cloaked devil. Nugalas controlled the clash with his mighty attacks, and the evil radiance he generated caused the steeds to grow unsteady.
Without so much as a sign to his companions, Helfare darted away, making a desperate bid for freedom. Along with the rest of the company, they slipped away from the soldiers, soon finding themselves on the path seen earlier by Helfare--free of obstacles. In great strides Helfare sprinted on ahead, the company following hard on his heels. In the near distance, to the south of Nar-Fhandon, stood a small range of snow-capped mountains, Helfare's intended safe haven.
* * *
After many long, grueling moments of battle, Nugalas came to realize that these particular soldiers did not possess what he desired most. The priest released his chain into the air and swung it over his head in a circular motion, granting him a large space of safe ground. The eleven soldiers, now able to take hold control over their horses, kept well out of the way of the whirling metal, which showed no sign of slowing. Nugalas let out a hellish scream, and a bright flash of white light filled Nugalas' circle, forcing the soldiers to shield their eyes from the intense glare. The light faded, and as the soldiers attempted to spy Nugalas' next move--the priest was gone.
As the soldiers finally pieced together what, exactly, had gone wrong, they noticed right away that Helfare and his companions had fled.
"We must go after Helfare," one soldier spoke, frustrated.
"Seven of you take out after him, then," another soldier replied. He pointed to the three soldiers nearest him and continued, "You three will go with me into the castle. We must find Master Ghelok at once." He and the other he appointed for Ghelok's extraction all dismounted their steeds and held swords out at the ready. With haste, the four passed through the threshold of the castle and were gone.
The remaining seven bolted away to the south on horseback, galloping after Helfare and the fleeing company.
* * *
"Where are you taking us, Helfare?" Seth gasped as he ran.
"Far from the reaches of Adian," was his response as he surged onward toward the line of mountains. "I cannot let them apprehend me or any of you now that you have parleyed with a traitor."
"I leave the escape in your hands," Randor panted. The grand, green fields of Cenara rolled past under their swift feet as they endured almost a solid hour of running.
Lorn looked over his shoulder to see the soldiers coming over the last hill just as the company finally took refuge in the deep woods. Luckily for Randor and his followers, the soldiers were still at some distance, but it would not take them long to close the gap.
The trees were thick and plentiful at the foot of the three mountains that reached high into the sky, and the morning fog rolling down the mountainside enveloped the travelers. Seth, exhausted from the race across Cenara, wanted to sit down for a brief moment while Randor and Helfare decided the next action, but all he found were sharp stones scattered about the d
ark forest floor. This strange, inhospitable place was called Eln-Radah, or "Elven Spikes," by the elves.
Helfare watched his one-time friends barrel down the last half league of Cenera with no sign of slowing; the seven riders from Ghelok's squad would stop at nothing to have him in custody and escort him back to Valadure. He well knew that Lord Adian's soldiers were among the finest in the world and that no other military force on Londor could defeat them--and he knew it from experience. Glancing about, Helfare realized there was no other place they could now turn. In frustration, he pounded his fist into his open hand.
"Is there a problem?" Muron asked.
"None to be spoken of," Helfare replied quickly, not wanting to break his concentration.
"Remaining here is not safe," said Seth. "We need to take cover in the mountains. I don't think it matters where, just as long as we can avoid this evil."
"Correct," Helfare replied. "Let us head forth." Something within him took over as he led the company along the base of the mountain, careful so as to not disturb their surroundings. "I feel a way coming to me very soon," he whispered, throwing himself open to his intuition. Although Beldas was gone, the gifted young warrior felt the power of insight still strong within him, and he would use it until it ran dry.
"Is this the way that will supposedly spare us?" Malander asked, not believing in the general's powers.
As luck would have it, around the next large bend in the black rocks a section of the mountain face slid open like a door, some ten feet wide and twenty feet high. Dust boiled up in thick gray clouds, and massive boulders plummeted to the ground from the tremors. Without even considering what might meet them through the unexpected passage, Helfare darted through the opening.
"The soldiers are upon us!" Lorn shrieked.
Arnanor, Geil, and Muron remained behind as the rest of the company fled into Eln-Radah; the Northern elves were prepared to fend off the attacking swordsmen, who began the assault immediately. Geil sensed disorder among the frustrated soldiers, who were unable to line themselves for a proper attack against the elves. The three trod carefully against the great steeds, giving the horsemen almost no room to maneuver. Arnanor cleverly began to lead his brethren through a thick patch of fractured boulders, making it nearly impossible for the soldiers to pursue. Working his way toward the passage into the mountains, he managed to stall them, keeping the pathway clear of threat as Geil and Muron kept the horsemen occupied from atop the mounds of rocks. Geil swung his blade from side to side, angering the horsemen, who were fast losing their chances of apprehending their quarry.
The White Shadow Saga: The Stolen Moon of Londor Page 25
