Zollin and Brianna rushed to the door, and Kelvich staggered to his feet. The light from the cabin spilled out into the darkness and illuminated Quinn’s pained expression.
“Is Mansel okay?” Brianna said, searching the darkness for a second rider.
“He’s fine, but we have a big problem.”
“Come in,” Kelvich said. “Zollin, get your father a bowl of stew. Brianna, get the ale.”
Kelvich had a small keg of ale, Brianna hurried to find a cup. Quinn came in and slumped into a chair by the fire.
“We found the wizards,” Quinn said. “They’re camped about an hour’s hard ride down the valley. But they aren’t alone. They have a full King’s Legion with them.”
“A legion?” Kelvich said in surprise.
“That’s right. There’s no way we can fight them. We need a new plan.”
“Are you sure the soldiers are with the wizards?” Kelvich asked.
“Positive,” Quinn said around a mouthful of stew. “The officers are camped with them. I can’t imagine why they’re here.”
“Zollin,” Kelvich said matter-of-factly. “In the days before the Torr, every kingdom had a wizard to supplement its army. A powerful wizard would be a huge asset to any of the Five Kingdoms.”
“Well, I have no intention of seeing Zollin become a slave to a war mongering king,” Quinn said angrily.
“What do we do?” Brianna asked.
“Nothing has changed,” Kelvich said.
“Are you out of your mind?” Quinn asked. “Everything has changed. We can’t take on the wizards with an army supporting them.”
“And we can’t hide from them either,” Kelvich said.
“I could surrender myself-”
“No!” Kelvich and Quinn shouted at the same time.
“Don’t you see that there is more to this than just you, Zollin?” Brianna said. “I don’t understand it all, but one thing is clear. You cannot allow these men to take control of you. They obviously think that you will be able to do something that is vastly important to them. We’ve already seen that they are wicked and cruel, you can’t add your power to theirs.”
“But if I don’t, you could all be killed,” he said.
“Never give up before the battle is over,” Kelvich said. “We don’t know what they will do yet, so we’ll have to wait and see. We’ll all take our chances and look for a way to escape.”
“I expect they will stay where they are and send a delegation to Brighton’s Gate,” Quinn said. “They’ll demand the town turn us over to them and then use us to get Zollin to surrender himself.”
“That’s a good plan,” Kelvich said. “The people of the Gate won’t hesitate to throw you to the wolves. They’ll be glad to be rid of you, I would expect.”
“Ungrateful bastards,” Zollin said angrily.
“Zollin!” Quinn said.
“Don’t let your emotions get the best of you, my boy,” Kelvich said. “Desperate times call for cool heads and good decisions. Let’s see what the army wants, then we’ll know what we can do.”
“I think Brianna and Quinn should hide in the woods,” Zollin said.
“No way!” Brianna said loudly.
“That won’t help,” said Quinn. “She’s just as safe here in the cabin as she would be alone in the woods.”
“But the townspeople might come here looking for her,” Zollin said.
“And if that happens, we’ll deal with it,” Quinn said.
“I can take care of myself,” Brianna said.
“All of this is wasted emotion,” Kelvich said. “We should get some rest. Tomorrow we’ll know what we should do.”
“I’ll keep first watch,” Zollin said. “I don’t think I can sleep right now anyway.”
“Alright,” Quinn said. “Mansel is keeping an eye on the army. If they send people into town tonight, he’ll let us know. If he hasn’t come in by morning, I want to be back out where I can keep an eye on the army at first light.”
“I’ll take the second watch,” Brianna said.
“And I’ll take the third. I’ll wake you an hour before dawn,” Kelvich assured Quinn.
They all settled down for the night. Quinn and Brianna stretched out by the fire. Kelvich retired to his small bed. Zollin went outside, letting his eyes adjust to the dim light of the starry sky that filtered down through the tall pines and cedar trees. It was cold out, but his emotions, which were agitating his magic, heated him from the inside out. He couldn’t sleep anyway, so being on watch suited his mood. After an hour or so, he heard the door open and saw Brianna step outside with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
“It’s not time for your watch yet,” Zollin whispered to her.
“I know, but I can’t sleep,” she whispered back. “Do you mind if I join you?”
He shook his head. Brianna crept out to the side of the porch were Zollin was leaning against one of the support posts. She stood close, shoulder to shoulder with him, a fact which Zollin was very aware of. He liked being close to Brianna. She had a way of calming him simply by being close.
“Aren’t you cold?” she asked quietly.
“I’ve got my heavy cloak on,” he whispered. “But the magic is also pretty hot, so I stay comfortable. I’m worried about you though.”
“I’ll be okay,” she said, although she was already shivering. The snow was melting steadily each day. There was none on the trees, and the only snow in the valley was in the places that didn’t get much sunshine. But at night the temperature still plummeted well below freezing.
Zollin bent down and picked up two rocks, each about the size of a chicken egg. He concentrated on the movement of the rocks’ tiny particles. They were in constant movement, but as he focused his mind, he felt the magic flow into the rocks, felt the particles speed up and produce heat. He handed the rocks to Brianna.
“These should keep your hands warm for a little while,” he said. “Let me know if they get cold again.”
The warm rocks felt heavenly in the freezing night air. She held them close to her chest and could feel their heat through her clothes, warming her skin.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly. “You take good care of me.”
“It’s the least that you deserve. You should be in a castle, with the finest clothes and food. And servants to wait on you hand and foot.”
“No I don’t,” she said. “You say the strangest things.”
“Well, that’s the way I see it.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now than here with you,” she said.
“Even though it’s freezing?”
“I’m not cold, thanks to you.”
Zollin felt his own temperature rise. What he really wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her. Not that he had the first clue how to do that, but it seemed like the natural thing to do. Still, he knew that if he got distracted, she could be hurt, even killed. He focused on the forest around them, letting his perception flow out so that he could sense every creature around them. They settled into a comfortable silence as the night wore on.
* * *
Across the river, just out of sight in the foothills, another army was camped. This one had no fires, no horses, no little tents to shelter in. They were big men, and even some women, all wrapped in thick, furry hides, and many huddled together for warmth. Toag was the High Chieftain, and he stood on the crown of the hill that hid the army from the town of Brighton’s Gate. He was a massive man, with thick arms and a barrel shaped chest. His long beard hung down like a curtain over his chest, and he had a large, white, bear skin wrapped around him.
“We’re ready,” said the man who had come up behind him. The man was shorter and had a thick brow ridge. His hair, what little was left of it, was dirty grey and hung far down his back.
“Is the bridge ready, Bozar?” Toag asked.
“It is, Great One.”
“Good, I want to crush this little village and feast on their blood at firs
t light.”
“As you wish, Great One.”
They stood in silence; the great chief of the Skellmarians was accustomed to the night and to the cold. They were like old friends who were there to visit and encourage the warlord before his conquest. Toag had ambitions, not like the last High Chieftain, who was shrewd and cruel, but content to let the southern infidels, with their lonely god, grow rich and fat. Toag had slain the High Chieftain to take the man’s position and had immediately sent raiding clans south through the mountains. All had returned, save one. Skollack’s clan had been almost wiped out. Those that returned told stories of a devil who had cracked the ice and drowned their kin in the icy waters. Toag hoped to find this devil and sacrifice him to Quotar, the High Mountain God, who had sent them the sign of the dragon. Success was assured, but whether Toag could find the devil was still to be seen.
“The wives await you, Great One,” Bozar said at last, shaking Toag from his visions of conquest and blood.
“May your blood run hot,” Toag said to his companion.
“And yours, Great Chief.”
Toag returned to where his people lay resting before the battle. Most were already asleep, but sentries had been posted. Toag doubted that the infidels even knew they were coming; he’d made sure their sentries did not survive to send word back to the village. Once Toag had Brighton’s Gate for his base of operations, he could raid south through the pass and grow fat on the blood of the southerons. Their lonely god would not save them from the Skellmarian’s strong arm.
He approached what passed for his pavilion. There were two large casks of fermented goat’s milk and huddled on the ground were no less than 10 of his wives. He kept them well fed, and their naked bodies would warm his blood before battle.
He pulled off his clothes and draped them over the women, then burrowed into the middle of the little crowd. They were warm and huddled even closer to him. He followed the ancient custom of abstinence before battle and closed his eyes. He was the High Chieftain of the Skellmarians, and tomorrow he would become the scourge of the Great Valley and beyond.
Chapter 12
The third watch came early for Kelvich; he had grown accustomed to sleeping late in a soft bed. Isolation suited the sorcerer, but he knew that Zollin’s coming was no accident. He would not leave the boy on his own, even if going with him meant death. For too long he had hidden himself away, fearful of the Torr, but now there was a chance that everything could change. He could feel the world waking up around him, feel the power of magic growing in the land once more. He needed to be part of that, and so he would go with Zollin, wherever their road took them. If that meant waking in the wee hours of the morning to stand watch, so be it.
Brianna had gently shaken him awake, now she lay stretched before the fire, wrapped in a long blanket. When Kelvich stepped outside, the cold air was like a slap in the face. It was bitterly cold with a northern wind that rushed up the valley and chilled his bones. At least he wouldn’t have any problems staying awake, he told himself. That was one good thing about the cold. Zollin was waiting outside to be relieved.
“Why didn’t you go in after your watch?” Kelvich asked.
“I’m too keyed up to sleep.”
“You should get rest whenever you can; you never know when you might not have that chance again.”
“I’ll try,” he said, stretching. “You want me to warm some stones for you?”
“No, the cold will help me stay awake.”
“Should I wake my father?”
“No, not yet. I’ll wake him an hour or so before dawn. Judging by the position of the moon, there’s a couple hours before that still.”
“Alright, if you get tired come get me. I’ll stand watch with you,” Zollin said.
Kelvich nodded. He’d been having a nightmare when he was woken up. He didn’t remember the dream, just the sense of fear and foreboding that had lingered. Now he sensed that fear again, only more strongly than before. It was as if there was something palpable in the air that foretold of something ominous. The elderly sorcerer assumed that his dread was because of the danger they were in. It was a feeling he would have to get used to. He knew that while Zollin’s power was a wondrous thing, it also made him a target. He would be hounded and hunted all his days. People would manipulate him and use him, always striving to control him and use his abilities for their personal gain. He was glad that Zollin had people around him that loved him and knew him as a person first, not just as a wizard.
A magical life may seem wonderful and full of adventure in a bedtime story, but the reality was a lonely existence. Zollin needed to survive the dangers he faced and remain independent, his magic allowed to grow and revive the magic of the world around him. He needed to move through the Five Kingdoms, bringing life back to the world. He couldn’t do that with the Torr hounding his every step. He would have to be strong, to resist the urge to give into the bribes and seduction of the rich and powerful. He would be the flame that draws every magical creature, good and bad, from their place of hiding and into the world. He would need help, and Kelvich was determined to give him all he had.
The moon was dropping rapidly toward the mountains, and Kelvich watched it descend. He was cold and his bones ached from it, but it kept him alert. Not that there was really anything to be afraid of. Mansel was watching the army, Zollin would feel the Torr wizards approaching. The townspeople were blissfully unaware of the precarious position they were in. Kelvich envied them their ignorance. He had often wished that he could have been normal, just living a single lifetime, but that one life filled with love and happiness. Of course, he was wise enough to know that no life is without trials and hardships, but the thought of having a family, a loving wife, children, even grandchildren, was a happy thought.
Once the moon had disappeared behind the northern mountains, Kelvich went inside and started heating water over the coals. He wanted some hot coffee, and Quinn probably would, too. He went back outside to check everything, but it was dark and quiet. It seemed that even the forest creatures had finally taken to their beds.
“I’m the only one foolish enough to be awake at this hour,” he said quietly.
He went into his little shed, where they had stabled the horses. They had all left their gear on, but the girth straps had been loosened so the horses could rest comfortably. None of them seemed to be asleep when Kelvich came inside. It was cold in the little shed, but the horses’ body heat kept the cold to a tolerable level. Kelvich rubbed down Quinn’s horse and then tightened the saddle, before leading it out to the front porch. The horse snorted in the cold air, its breath puffing little clouds around his head. Kelvich lashed the horse to the front porch post and went back inside. He gently shook Quinn awake, then poured a large basin of water for the carpenter to wash in. While Quinn splashed the cold water on his face, Kelvich quietly made coffee. He poured himself a large cup and then put the rest in a metal flask. He then wrapped the flask in wool. He also sliced some bread and apples.
“It isn’t much,” he whispered to Quinn. “But the coffee’s hot.”
“Good, that’s enough for me. I haven’t had coffee in ages.”
“It’s hard to come by,” Kelvich agreed. “Especially this far north. Hopefully it’ll give us both a little pep in our step today.”
“Aye,” Quinn agreed. “I’ll be back as soon as we determine what the army is going to do. Have these two up and ready.”
“Sure, no problem.”
“And pack any more of that coffee, if you’ve got it.”
“Already done,” Kelvich said with a smile. “Be safe.”
Quinn nodded and then headed outside. The cold was waiting for him, searing any exposed flesh it could find. He wrapped his cloak tightly around him as he settled into the saddle of his horse. He took the reins in one hand, and the flask of coffee in the other, before setting off through the woods. He rode as swiftly as he dared in the darkness. The stars were mere pinpricks in the heavens above him, givin
g no light to the road he was trying to find through the woods and out of Brighton’s Gate.
The coffee warmed him as he rode, and he was truly grateful for it. He’d gotten used to the warm bed in the Valley Inn and forgotten just how cold it was out on the trail at dawn. When he finally found Mansel’s camp, there was just a hint of lightening to the sky.
“Anything?” Quinn asked his apprentice.
“Nothing, they haven’t left camp yet. But they’re forming up. I was just getting ready to ride out and find you.”
“Who is forming up?” Quinn asked.
“Everyone.”
Five Kingdoms: Books 01, 02 & 03 Page 39
