“Fo...lando,” Harmattan said, as if it was his favorite dish.
“You are not going to Nethalburg,” Roland said. “I need you here. Old man, if you want the Hellirin, you go and fetch them; Harmattan is in no condition to parley. I am quite certain Shan Octavio does not want his daughter to go there, either.”
“Give him a few minutes to recover, Sir Roland. It is always like this when you raise the dead,” Zarnoc said as he walked toward a large chest. “Some return as zombies, and others as complete morons—which really isn’t very different, come to think of it. The ring made it possible to restore him to life. I do not like meddling in dark magic. I like even less turning old friends into darklings. Not that there is anything wrong with darklings, dear Jaelle; you are perfectly lovely and will make a fine ruler for Nethalburg.”
“Me? Replace Dolabra?”
“None of you have any idea what has happened in Nethalburg,” Zarnoc said in annoyance. “With Dolabra’s death and Navenna at death’s doorstep, it is utter chaos. The general has had a complete, emotional breakdown, and his sister is unable to gain control of the populace. I am not sending you to Nethalburg to bring an army here, Taliesin. We have Talas Kull’s army, and those who recently came here, looking for sanctuary, will fight as well. I send you, with Jaelle and Harmattan, to Nethalburg to gain control of the city before Navenna takes command of every dark and loathsome darkling within its domain.”
“They’ll need an army,” Roland said.
“Do not be so eager to go to the land of the dead,” Zarnoc replied. “A small force is all that is needed. Jaelle can control the Hellirin, once there, and Harmattan can lead their forces against Navenna’s army camped outside. However, Taliesin must first defeat Navenna. When she is ready, she may bring the Hellirins inside the Traveling Tower and return here.”
“Hawk and Khamsin want to come with us,” Taliesin said. “But, if anyone else comes with us, Zarnoc, they run the risk of turning into wraiths; the living cannot enter Nethalburg, and I can only because of Ringerike.”
The wizard smiled. “That is why the dead were brought into the tower. They may travel inside the tower and when you arrive in the city, you have only to open the door to release them. You have all the help you need.”
“But how did you and Roland and everyone else survive when Ragnal used the tower to bring you here?” Taliesin asked, wanting to know everything.
“For the simple reason that he brought us here first and then summoned the tower,” Zarnoc said in a huff. “Use your brain, girl. It usually provides logical answers, and this one seems obvious enough.”
“To you,” Taliesin snapped.
Roland pulled Taliesin into his arms. “Do not argue with him. This idea is not one that I approve. I do not want you to go,” he said. “Zarnoc, if Taliesin does not go, what will happen in Nethalburg?”
“Navenna will take command of the darklings and bring them here. Broa intends to send the dead Lorians to Nethalburg, where they will rise as darklings and join Navenna’s army. I assure you, Roland, Jaelle and Harmattan are destined to rule Nethalburg. The Hellirin will follow them here, but only if Taliesin defeats Navenna.”
“What if you send Taliesin to her death?”
“Death waits for all of us, Grand Master. It will be far worse for all if Taliesin does not go. What I need, now, is something to put a look of intelligence on Harmattan’s face—he is drooling.”
Zarnoc fished inside the trunk, tossed items onto the floor, and grumbled until he found a silver bracelet designed for a woman. He returned to Harmattan and placed it around the young man’s wrist. Three silver bands joined in the center to hold a large moonstone. Harmattan stared at the sparkling stone, and his expression changed from a dullard to his former cheeky smile. He let out a sigh of relief and kissed Jaelle’s cheek.
“How do you feel?” Jaelle asked.
“Much better. How did I come to be here?” Harmattan asked. “My skin tingles peculiarly, there is the taste of dirt in my mouth, and I feel cold, so very cold.”
“You have been raised from the dead,” Roland said without hesitation. “Now it seems you have been chosen to lead an army to help secure Nethalburg. If you three defeat the goddess Navenna, you and Jaelle will be crowned the new rulers of the Hellirins.”
“I was dead? I do not remember dying. In fact, I do not remember anything since I was locked in a cell.” Harmattan glanced at Jaelle. “You are cold to the touch as well. Is this what you want to do? Do you want to go to Nethalburg?”
“Yes,” the gypsy girl said.
“We will rule as husband and wife?”
“I would like that,” Jaelle said touching Harmattan’s face. “I know this is not what either of us intended to do with the rest of our lives, but we are darklings now, Harmattan. If we can help our family and friends, then it is what we must do. I am ready, Zarnoc. Both of us are.”
The tower door opened and Hawk entered ahead of soldiers who carried the bodies of the dead. Corpses were placed on the floor and stacked on top of each other, their weapons placed beside them. Hawk approached the group with a look of disgust on his face.
“This seems like a risky venture,” Hawk said. “You send Taliesin to aid the Hellirins, when all you need do is raise these soldiers from the dead and let them fight with us once more. Prince Sertorius agrees the likelihood of success is slim. He told me to tell you that, and then he went to bed.”
The wizard snorted. “Taliesin has no other choice, Captain Hawk, so be quiet,” he said. “Taliesin, you must return to Nethalburg. The rules of the Traveling Tower are simple. It can take you where you have been before, provided it is above ground, and hold the living while in full form. However, when slipped into your pocket, it can carry the dead, or the living only if they are turned into enchanted items. Since you travel underground, you carry a chess piece. Place it inside Nethalburg and summon the army within when needed. If you are successful, you may bring the Hellirin back here without enchanting them, as they are already dead.”
Hawk scowled. “You take a great deal on faith, old man. I have brought the bodies as you asked; now I must see to the defense of this city. Roland, join me as soon as you can—there is much to be done.” He turned and left the tower.
* * *
“He’s bossy, now that you have promoted him,” Zarnoc said.
Roland laughed. “Hawk earned it, and I like the change in him.” Zarnoc opened a cupboard, removed a sword, and handed it to Harmattan. Taliesin recognized the blade, black as night and with a diamond at the end of the hilt. It was Brightstar, the wizard’s magical sword.
“This is something I might have used in the battle today, but I prefer magic,” he said. “You need to make a good impression on the Hellirin, my dear boy. Brightstar is a Lorian blade. In battle, it can light the way and summon allies into the fray. It can also heal its owner from any wound. As a darkling, this will be useful; you can only die once, or you are dead forever.”
“Why not give him Crusilix?” Jaelle asked.
“Child, this is the right sword for Harmattan. Trust me.”
“This is far too great a gift for me,” the young man said. “I am not yet a knight.”
“You will be a king, and I give it to you to rule Nethalburg,” Zarnoc said in a sharp tone. “Akyres Folando and his sister are not meant to rule the city; new blood is needed if the Hellirin are to survive. It is time the Lorian and Hellirin work together.”
“Thank you, my Lord.”
“I hardly think such a title is warranted,” the wizard chuffed. “‘Zarnoc’ will do. I don’t want anyone getting any ideas about placing the Lorian crown on my head—that is Tamblyn’s lot in life. I would no more enjoy being a king than I would being a footstool. No, a head master’s life is for me. Roland, it is time for you to go. Say your farewells and let Taliesin and her friends be on their way.”
“I still do not approve of this mission,” Roland grumbled. He opened the door and frowned as
Hawk entered with an irate look. “What are you doing back here, Captain? Did you forget something?”
Hawk pushed past the big knight. “Perhaps you should ask Taliesin why she turned my sister into a swan,” he said. “I just heard what happened at Tantalon Castle; Rook nearly died, and Taliesin turned him and Wren into swans.”
“Taliesin saved their lives. You should be thanking her instead of acting so ungrateful. Now pipe down, Captain Hawk. That’s an order,” Roland said before Taliesin had a chance to respond. “If the tower can do what you say it can, Zarnoc, you should bring the Black Wings here.”
“Yes, I could, I should, but I won’t,” the wizard grumbled. “Hawk, your sister and Rook are fine, I promise. Now, go outside with Jaelle and Harmattan. I want a word in private with Taliesin and Roland. Return a third time, and I may turn you into something small and furry, with whiskers and a tail.”
“Fine. I’m leaving,” Hawk growled. “Come on, you two.”
Hawk, Jaelle, and Harmattan left the tower. Zarnoc doused the fire with a wave of his hand and rearranged the items on a shelf with a snap of his fingers while Taliesin and Roland waited patiently. The knight kept his arm around her as if afraid to let her go, and when Zarnoc walked out of the room, Roland kissed her, and her knees turned limp as she clung to him for support. His warm, brown eyes conveyed concern as he tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear.
“I would risk all to come with you, but Sertorius and Kull argue like children,” Roland said. “I fear our fragile alliance will fall apart if I leave either in command. Here we will make our stand, but our victory is in your hands. I hope Zarnoc knows what he is doing; he knows more than what he has told us. At times, I think he orchestrated this entire civil war to rearrange crowns onto the heads of those he wants to rule.”
“Zarnoc means well, and I trust him, Roland,” she said, despite the butterflies in her stomach. She felt safe in Roland’s arms, and did not want to leave him. “It is my fault Dolabra is dead, and Nethalburg is under siege. If I do not return, we cannot hope to defeat the Maeceni, and I do not think Zarnoc would send me to Nethalburg if he foresaw my death. This is the only way we can defeat our enemy. You knew when we set out to find Ringerike we were destined to put an end to this war. And we will, one way or another, Roland. You will see me again.”
“As I said, make certain you do not return a darkling.”
She laughed. “Would you not still love me?”
“Of course, but I prefer a warm body next to me in bed.”
Holding hands, Taliesin and Roland walked outside to find a small group waiting. Jaelle stood with Harmattan, and his three brothers and Hawk looked upset they were not going to Nethalburg. Talas Kull, and Captain Ramla watched from afar. Zarnoc clapped his hands three times and the tower shrank to the size of a chess piece. Dipping low, the wizard retrieved the tower, handed it to Taliesin, and placed three gold coins in her hand.
“For the boatman,” the wizard said.
“I’ve already paid him, and he said he’d return for me,” Taliesin said.
“You now are accompanied by the potential new king and queen of Nethalburg,” the wizard replied. “He may give you a ride for free, but pay him anyway; a man has to make a living, even in the underworld.”
“What about the netherworld? Has that been destroyed since Heggen is now dead? Are my ancestors now free, Zarnoc? Are they…in heaven?”
Zarnoc smiled. “As soon as the other Maeceni are dead, my child, they will be, but not before,” he said. “Now hurry. The boatman is ready, and I have much to do. Your questions can all be answered later… if you are allowed to return.”
Taliesin caught her breath as the wizard walked away, not liking what he had said. With a nod to Harmattan and Jaelle, she led the way through the mountain to the pier to find the boatman waiting. She paid him, climbed into the boat with her friends, and hoped Zarnoc’s plan worked.
* * * * *
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The blue light from the Raven Sword surrounded Taliesin, who was nervous but not afraid as they traveled down the Shadow River. Jaelle and Harmattan sat in the front of the boat, chatting together and waving at the screeching ghostly shadows whenever they flew past. The eerie noises set Taliesin’s nerves on edge. Dark forms followed the boat, and the dead gathered on the shoreline, including Ghajaran Jaelle and Harmattan recognized. They all bowed to Jaelle and the gypsy squire, as if they knew royalty had arrived, yet Taliesin knew the reason for the reception; the Moon Ring sparkled on Jaelle’s hand, its power undeniable. Not only did it grant life to the dead, it was a symbol of power recognized by every darkling, dead or half-alive. When the dead waded into the river, Jaelle pointed to the west, the direction of Nethalburg, and the dead followed.
“There is Heggen,” Jaelle said as she pressed against Harmattan and pointed at a forlorn form on the shore. “Can he do anything to harm us, Master Oarsman? I do not want Taliesin harmed, and he carries a sword.”
“Only a shadow,” the man said. “Unclaimed. Unwanted.”
“Tell me, Oarsman. How long have you been in charge of this boat?”
“Forever and a day, Your Grace,” he replied.
“I am not your queen,” Jaelle said.
“Not…yet.”
“Why are you assigned to this boat?” she asked.
Taliesin did not think the oarsman would answer, but she was in for a surprise. The Moon Ring offered Jaelle far more privileges and rights, and she might as well have been queen, for the boatman was eager to answer.
“Long ago I was sentenced to this task for disobeying General Folando’s order to kill my brother, who was accused of trying to seduce Duchess Dolabra. When I refused, Folando did the job himself, and I was ordered to row this boat to and from Mt. Helos forever. But, Heggen is dead.”
Taliesin had not considered the oarsman might be out of a job. The river’s current grew stronger around the next bend and brought them close to shore. Osprey, Minerva, and the twin boys, Talon and Falcon, sat on a rock. It took all her resolve not to meet Osprey’s eyes. A large, scaled tail smacked the surface as they passed the waterfall.
“I hear the sounds of battle,” Harmattan said, and gripped his sword tightly. Brightstar gleamed with a white light that chased back the ghosts that surrounded the boat. He stood, balanced, as the light revealed utter mayhem in the underworld.
The dead fought on each side of the river. Ghostly knights clanged swords and monstrous creatures swallowed bodies caught in their claws. Taliesin drew Ringerike, and its blue light joined the white glow from Brightstar to provide a wider view of the carnage as darklings warred against each other. The Hellirin troops fought Navenna’s army from the shore to the walls of Nethalburg. Three undead dragons stood on top of a tower and spewed green vapors at everything that moved beneath them. A group of sorcerers and witches on the bridge used wands and staffs to blast soldiers off the battlements. Scores of soldiers in black stormed through the front gate to be met by Hellirins in silver helms. The Hellirin captain in his black-plumed helmet led troops from the city, but General Folando was not in sight.
“Taliesin, you must find Navenna,” Harmattan said. “Jaelle, locate General Folando, while I join the captain in the defense of the city. Give me the tower, and I will release the soldiers within.”
The oarsman tied the boat to the dock. With reluctance, Taliesin handed the small chess piece to Harmattan as a bell tolled in the distance. Harmattan jumped from the boat, ran up the stairs, sword held high, and was joined by a detachment of armored skeletons. The dead responded to Brightstar and flocked to him. Jaelle climbed out of the boat and held out her hand to Taliesin. She pulled Taliesin from the boat as a blinding red bolt of lightning slammed into it; the oarsman and boat vanished, and red flames spread across the black water.
“I will find General Folando,” Jaelle said. “Do you know where Navenna is?”
Taliesin nodded as she ran with Jaelle to the stairs. She released the girl�
��s hand and watched her ascend. Scimitar in hand, Jaelle raced into the battle and vanished from sight. Taliesin reached the platform and turned toward the bridge. Bathed in blue light, she attracted the attention of enemy soldiers who swung their blades at her. Ringerike repelled the attackers, gave a tug on Taliesin, and pulled her toward the bridge. It was not the Hellirin magic guild who used their wands, but those who served Navenna. Her sword, eager to clear the bridge, sliced into the nearest body as dark spells bounced off the blue orb and zapped the nearest magic users.
Several cloaked forms fell. Three wizards banded together and aimed their staffs at Taliesin. She waved her left hand as green and purple lights swirled at the tips of their staffs, and sent them flying into the air. One after another landed in the water and disappeared beneath the black surface. Colorful lights swirled underwater and a scaled tail slapped the surface as a ridged back rose. The lights vanished and a monstrous head lifted above the water, the leg of one wizard caught between its giant teeth. With a roar, the creature dove beneath the water.
Wolfmen, goblins, ghouls, and lizardmen with silver spears pressed together to form a blockade on the far end of the bridge. More enemy soldiers poured out of the cave entrance and spread along the shoreline. Taliesin sensed Navenna and caught her breath as the soldiers parted for a woman dressed in gold armor.
“So, you would fight me,” the goddess said in a bitter voice. “It was not long ago you worshipped me, child. Had you but sided with me, I would have given you Nethalburg and Duvalen to rule. You could have been the Queen of the Magic Realms.”
“I am the Raven Mistress. And I have come for you.”
Queen of Magic Page 43
