Lorik was given a wide berth as he walked through the city of tents and hastily erected shelters. The people of the camp whispered about him, but he ignored the hushed voices and focused on what he would say to the queen.
“May I enter?” he asked the ladies at the entrance to the tent.
“Of course, my lord,” they said, stepping aside.
Lorik had to duck slightly to come through the narrow flap. The interior of the big tent was spacious by camp standards. One corner had blankets hung to form a smaller room. Lorik guessed Queen Issalyn was within, since the rest of the tent appeared empty.
“My lady,” Lorik said. “Are you here?”
Queen Issalyn stepped out. Her eyes were red and her skin, which had taken color on the long march north, seemed pale.
“Are you well?” Lorik asked.
“I am, thanks to you,” she said moving closer to him.
“I am sorry that wretched man threatened you,” Lorik confessed.
“I admit I was terrified,” she said, “but I was more frightened for you than for myself.”
She was close enough that she put a slender hand on his arm. Lorik could feel his heart rate increasing. Just being close to Issalyn was intoxicating, but when she touched him it took all of Lorik’s self-control not to pull her into his arms and kiss her. He’d had his share of flings over the years, but no one had ever made Lorik’s heart race the way Queen Issalyn did. He wondered briefly if it was because she was queen. She should have been untouchable, and yet here she was, alone with Lorik and touching his arm.
“I’m not sure what to say,” Lorik managed.
“Say that you will stay with me,” Queen Issalyn said. “I feel the need for your protection every hour of the day.”
“My lady,” Lorik said.
“Don’t,” the queen interrupted, “don’t hide behind decorum, Lorik. The time for that has passed. I love you. I can’t stop thinking about you. My food is tasteless, I can’t sleep. Please, say you love me too and end my misery.”
“I...” Lorik hesitated. He wanted to confess his love, but he was afraid. He felt torn over his decision to leave and he was afraid that he was somehow shirking his task if he didn’t confront the witch’s army.
“I’ve seen the desire in your eyes,” Queen Issalyn said. “Tell it is more than that. Tell me you love me, Lorik. I have never felt this way about any man. I don’t care about what is right or wrong, I don’t care what anyone will think. I want you.”
“And I want you,” Lorik said, “but we must wait.”
“Why?” she asked; the pleading in her voice was hard for Lorik to resist.
“Because you must go to King Ricard and I must face the army that is coming from the south.”
“Lorik, don’t you see that your plan is suicide? You can’t fight an entire army by yourself.”
“That’s why you have to convince King Ricard to join us.”
“And what if I can’t,” she asked. “What if King Ricard won’t listen to me.”
“You have to make him listen. You are still the Queen of Ortis. You must do whatever it takes.”
“You don’t want me,” she said, turning away, but not before Lorik saw the tears in her eyes.
“Of course I want you,” he said. “More than anything in the Five Kingdoms, but I can’t turn my back on Ortis when the kingdom needs me most.”
“You care more about this kingdom than her king ever did,” Issalyn said. “Where does that passion come from?”
“I do not know,” Lorik said. “I have always been a protective person, but since my time with the Drery Dru, I’ve changed. Ortis is like an orphan child, alone, and in danger. I can’t ignore that, even when every part of me wants to be with you.”
Issalyn was silent for a moment, then she turned back to face Lorik.
“You are the true king of Ortis,” she said sadly. “I had hoped that you and I might run away. I had dreamed of living a quiet life of anonymity, but that cannot be.”
“Perhaps when the kingdom isn’t in danger,” Lorik said.
“No,” she said sadly. “A king can never turn his back on his kingdom, and a queen can never have his heart, not completely.”
“I’m not the king,” Lorik said.
“But you will be.”
“Issalyn,” Lorik said softly. “Chances are I won’t survive this war. And even if I do, there will be other men like Emry. Men with more claim to the throne than me, more ambition, and more support.”
“You must do me one favor,” she said. “Well, two actually.”
“What?” Lorik asked.
“You must promise to survive,” she said. “I don’t think I could go on living if I lost you.”
“I can’t promise that,” Lorik said.
“Then promise that you won’t take undue risks,” she pleaded. “Remember that you have someone to live for. I will bring the army from Baskla, even if I have to drag them kicking and screaming. You don’t have to do this alone.”
“You would do that...” he hesitated, his voice seemed to have fled his throat, “for me?”
“I would do anything for you, my love,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.
“You don’t know how happy that makes me,” he said. “What other favor do you want?”
“Kiss me,” she said. “I want—”
Lorik pulled her up into his arms, lifting her off the ground and kissing her passionately before she could finish what she was saying. For a long moment nothing else existed, just their love. The queen clung to Lorik’s massive shoulders and he held her easily, her body pressed tightly to his.
Then he gently set her back on her feet, and pulled away. Queen Issalyn looked up at him, her cheeks now pink, her eyes glistening with tears.
“I must go,” he said.
“Return to me,” she begged. “Please.”
“I will,” he said. “I promise.”
Then he ducked back out of the tent. One of the shieldmaidens smiled at him and he realized that everyone would know about his kiss with the queen soon. He had to shake his head to refocus on the task at hand. He trusted Stone to prepare for their departure. Lorik had another task that needed to be seen about before he left.
“Where are you going now?” came Vera’s voice from behind him.
Lorik turned and saw his oldest friend. She was as familiar to Lorik as his own reflection and just seeing her gave him a sense of comfort.
“I’m going to take care of loose ends before we leave.”
“When are we leaving?”
“Tonight,” Lorik said.
“You may be tireless, but we’re not,” she scolded. “Don’t make us march through the night. We can leave at first light.”
“Fine,” Lorik said.
He had been expecting her to push back a little and giving her a small victory was no real sacrifice. He waited until she was caught up beside him to continue walking.
“What are going to do with Emry?” she asked. “I assume that’s the loose end you were referring to.”
“Yes it is,” Lorik said. “The man must be tried for threatening the queen.”
“Tried by who? There’s no court, no nobles or king to enact justice.”
“Then it is up to us.”
They walked in silence for some time. Eventually they came to a small cattle pen where the few animals that were used in feeding the camp were kept. Gunther Emry was chained to a post and forced to sit in the foul mud. The big man that Lorik had fought was nearby, chained to another part of the cattle pen. Two of the volunteers were watching the prisoners, who looked miserable and cold. Emry’s fine clothes were filthy now, his jowly cheeks and bald pate were covered in muck, and his watery eyes squinted in the glare from the winter sun.
“Go and fetch Trinad,” Lorik told one of the men guarding the prisoners.
Then he squatted down. He was still several feet away from Emry, but he was at eye level with the ruined noble who was on his knees.<
br />
“Tell me everything,” Lorik said. “Perhaps we’ll find some mercy to extend to you.”
Emry cleared his throat and then spat at Lorik, who didn’t move. The spittle didn’t even come close to hitting Lorik; most of it clung to Emry’s fat lip before oozing down his chin.
“Nice,” Vera said. “It’s good to see a noble living up to his title.”
“Why did you try to have me killed?” Lorik asked. “What was your quarrel with me?”
“Do not speak to me, you oaf,” Emry said, his voice cracking. “Once the king finds out what is happening here, you’ll all be put to the sword.”
“The king is dead,” Lorik said. “Surely you know that.”
“I know nothing of the kind,” Emry said. “All I see is a camp full of wretches, led by an oaf who thinks himself above the law.”
“This is a waste of time,” Vera said.
Lorik stood up and walked over to the other man. The prisoner had a large knot on the side of his head were Lorik had bashed him with the axe handle, but his eyes were clear.
“Tell me everything,” Lorik said. “Starting with your name.”
“Vyrnon,” the man said. “I was Lord Emry’s stable man.”
“Why did you try to kill me?” Lorik asked.
“It was just a job,” the man said. “Master Gunther said we would all be paid in gold. All we had to do was kill you. He said you were holding the queen captive.”
Lorik looked back at Emry who was glaring at his former servant.
“It seems you were misled,” Lorik said.
“That’s putting it mildly,” Vyrnon said. “He said you’d be easy to kill. That you were just a big, clumsy oaf and we’d all have ale, meat, and women to serve us.”
Vera laughed out loud.
“I’m sorry that you were disappointed,” Lorik said.
“I would’ve never done it if I’d known the truth,” the man said miserably. “I’m no traitor, my lord.”
“And what is the truth?” Lorik asked.
“Well...” the man hesitated. “I didn’t know what Master Gunther was doing. I... I didn’t know who you were.”
“And who am I?”
“King of the Wilderlands,” the man said, his timid voice a stark contrast to his size. “At least, that’s what they’re saying around the camp. Rumor has it you saved the queen and half of the people from Ort City. I didn’t know, sire, I swear I didn’t.”
Lorik looked at Vera, who smiled at him and nodded.
“You were a stable man?” Lorik asked.
“I kept all of Lord Emry’s horses,” Vyrnon said. “My father was head of the stable before me, and his father before that.”
“So you know horses. Can you ride?”
“Of course I can, sir. I’m more comfortable in a saddle than on my own two feet.”
“Would you fight with me,” Lorik asked. “Would you defend the camp?”
“I would, my lord,” Vyrnon said, nodding.
“Good,” Lorik said.
Trinad was just arriving as Lorik stood up. He motioned to the volunteer standing guard.
“Release him,” Lorik said, pointing to Vyrnon, before turning to speak with Trinad. “He was just following Emry’s orders when he attacked me. He can join my volunteers.”
“As you wish,” Trinad said, though the look in his eyes made it clear that he didn’t trust the man. “And what of Lord Emry?”
Lorik turned to Vera.
“The crime is unforgivable,” she said.
“Yes,” Lorik said. “And the punishment is obvious, but what isn’t obvious is how we should carry it out.”
“A public execution?” Trinad suggested.
“I don’t want to make a spectacle of this,” Lorik said. “I don’t want to do something that is going to make us look like bloodthirsty outlaws.”
“Or an angry mob rebelling against the local lord,” Vera said. “That is wise of you, Lord Lorik.”
“Don’t tease,” he chided. “This is serious.”
“So just kill him and be done with it,” Vera said. “The longer we wait, the more risk we take in letting him spread his vile lies around the camp.”
“But won’t a private execution send the wrong message as well?” Trinad asked. “People might feel like anyone who disagrees with you could just disappear.”
“Justice isn’t always so easy to find,” Lorik said. “I know we don’t have a better place to hold him, but I don’t like that he’s covered in mud. We need to clean him up and hold a public hearing so that everyone knows what he’s done.”
“Won’t that just give him a platform to spread his lies about you?” Vera asked.
“It might, but there is nothing I can do about that,” Lorik said. “The camp needs to know what he did and why he’s being punished.”
“Who will preside over this hearing?” Trinad asked.
“Not me,” Lorik said, “or Queen Issalyn. We were the ones who were attacked, we can’t possibly decide the guilt of the man who tried to kill us.”
“So draw names at random,” Vera said. “It will make no difference. The bastard was caught red-handed.”
“And if there is to be an execution?” Trinad asked.
“Then do it quietly, and not in the camp,” Lorik said. “Take him out at night, and bury the body in an unmarked grave.”
“As you wish, my lord,” Trinad said. “Should we hold this hearing tonight?”
“No,” Lorik said. “Do it tomorrow, or the next day. I’ll be gone and so will the queen, that way we won’t have any accusations of unfair treatment. Clean him up and let him make a plea. Whatever the people of the camp decide, carry it out.”
“With you gone, who will testify about the attack?” Trinad said.
“One of the queen’s servants can do that. Just make sure the entire ordeal is just. We want to send the message that crime won’t be tolerated, but also that we’re keeping everything out in the open. We need to do all we can to keep people’s spirits up.”
“I will make sure of it,” Trinad said.
“Thank you,” Lorik told him, then he turned back to Emry. “I hope I never see you again.”
“I’ll see you hanged for this, oaf!” Emry snarled. “My father won’t stand for it. You’ll be hunted down and killed like a dog.”
“He’s lost his mind,” Vera said sadly.
“Along with everything else,” Lorik agreed.
Chapter 11
The next morning, the sun was forced to fight its way through a thick layer of gray clouds. The ground was covered in frost, and the world seemed bleak. Lorik chose twenty-two men to ride with him, including Vyrnon who had gotten cleaned up and proved himself to be an expert horseman. Vera and one of the camp’s cooks, an older man with a bad leg named Vanz, drove a large wagon with a meager complement of medical supplies and spare weapons. They would fill the wagon with food as they moved south and foraged for food among the abandoned farms and villages.
There were two dozen riders, including Stone and Lorik. They were all experienced fighters, each having trained with Stone. The only exception was Vyrnon, but Lorik knew from personal experience that the man could fight. The volunteers all carried spears, small shields, swords and daggers. There was no real armor to be had, although some had improvised greaves for their lower legs and some wore old battle helmets that were dented and rusty.
They left the camp quietly, riding through the weak light of dawn, the horses’ hooves crunching on the frosty ground.
“It could snow,” Stone said, as he adjusted his heavy cloak.
“Might,” Lorik agreed.
“You think the camp will be okay if it snows?”
“That’s Trinad’s problem,” Lorik said. “There’s nothing we can do about it.”
“You aren’t much for conversation in the mornings,” Stone complained.
“Sorry,” Lorik said. “I guess the weather has fouled my mood.”
“It is a ble
ary day to be riding off to war.”
They rode for two hours before coming to the first village. Most of the small town had been razed by the Norsik, but a few of the buildings were intact. They didn’t stop, since Lorik guessed that the foragers from the camp would have picked the small community clean of any sustenance. They had enough rations for two days, and Lorik wanted to make as much time as possible on the first day.
Shortly after they left the abandoned village behind, it started to snow. The snowflakes fell slowly, swirling on every breath of wind. The world went from bleak gray to white. It didn’t take long for the ground to get covered in a thin layer of snow, but luckily it didn’t seem to accumulate more than that. Just a snowy gilding that make the desolate winter landscape seem magical somehow.
They stopped at midday, or what they guessed was midday, since the sun was lost behind the thick clouds. They ate cold rations and walked their horses. Stone and Lorik tied their horses to Vera’s wagon and ranged ahead of the group.
“What are we looking for?” Stone asked. “Surely you don’t think the enemy will have made it this far already.”
“No,” Lorik agreed. “I don’t think they will have, buy I can’t say that for sure. Those flying horse monsters were still collecting people as recently as a week and a half ago. I would think that transforming them and then sending them north would take time, but who the hell knows. Maybe they’ll have wings too. I just don’t want to be caught off guard.”
“And what’s your plan once we do find them?”
“Ideally we could hit them and fall back. Make them cautious without really engaging in pitched battle. But we won’t know what we can do until we know what we’re up against.”
“How are you feeling about Queen Issalyn?” Stone asked as they jogged along.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Rumor has it that the two of you are in love,” Stone teased.
“Shut up. You sound like a little girl.”
“Hey, I’m just trying to be supportive.”
“It sounds like you need to focus on keeping up. You’re starting to suck wind over there.”
“Hey, we can’t all be super king warriors, endowed with great powers from the forest elves.”
“I was always in better shape than you,” Lorik said.
Lorik The Defender (The Lorik Trilogy) Page 9
