Malstisos moved his body between Maybell and Brandis.
“There’s no reason to be alarmed. I have no intention of harming any of you.”
Maybell seethed with rage. “You've killed innocent priestesses and monks. You are an abomination.”
Brandis laughed and shook his head. “I haven’t murdered anyone. Your own people betrayed you, not me, and not my master. All we have done is told people the truth.”
“And what truth is that?” asked Millet.
“The Gods are as corrupt as the people who serve them. Your elf friend will certainly agree with this. They have caused nothing but harm to man and elf. They are greedy and petty, and now thanks to the Reborn King, they are gone.”
“You assume that all elves believe the old tales,” said Malstisos. “Not all of us blame the Gods for the split.”
“You are wise,” said Brandis. “You do not take what you are told at face value. Sadly, in this case, you are wrong. It was the Gods that cursed the elves. But what you do not understand is they cursed man as well. They turned us into slaves. We were sent on a path of endless destruction without guidance. However, that horrible chapter of history is coming to an end. Soon the world will be at peace, and both elf and human will be able to live as they were meant, in peace.”
Maybell sneered. “You speak of peace and freedom, and yet here you stand, conquerors and invaders.”
Brandis laughed. “We have taken Hazrah without spilling blood. When in history has that happened? We allow you and your friends to leave in peace, even though you have sworn to destroy us. We give you Lee Nal’Thain’s family as a token of good will and still you accuse.”
“You have tried to have us killed,” replied Millet. “You’ve destroyed temples and the Gods only know what you’ve done to the clergy. Whatever your motivations are for letting us go, I suspect they are part of some grander design. You allow us to leave because it serves your needs to do so, though, I don’t yet know what they are.”
“The attempts on the lives of you and your friends were unfortunate,” he said. “The people responsible have been dealt with. Of course, I don’t expect you to believe that, and frankly, it doesn’t matter. You will think my master is your enemy until the very end. But when that end comes, you will see the truth.”
“I see the truth now,” Millet shot back. “And unless you force me to do so, I will hear no more of your lies.”
“As you wish,” said Brandis. “My soldiers and I will wait outside.” He spun on his heels and left the house. Markus and the soldiers followed close behind.
“Do you think they actually intend to let us just walk out of here?” asked Maybell.
“Millet was correct,” said Malstisos. “If it serves their objectives they will. This may be a deception, but I cannot divine the purpose. If they want us, they have us.”
“We’ll know soon enough,” said Millet.
Two hours later, the door opened, and Brandis entered. Behind him was a tall, thin youth, no more than twenty, with light brown hair that fell in loose curls to his shoulders. He was dressed in tan leathers and boots, and carried a pack over his shoulders. His face was strikingly like Lee’s except a bit more rounded at the chin, and his eyes were deep green and more widely set.
“I give you Jacob Nal’Thain,” said Brandis.
Millet looked Jacob over for several moments. “How do we know this is Jacob?”
“Who else would I be?” Jacob sneered. “And who are you?”
“I am Millet Gristall, the personal assistant to Lee Nal’Thain.”
“My father?” said Jacob. “So this is what you brought me here for? You drag me from my cell for this?”
Millet cocked his head. “Your cell?”
“Young Jacob has been somewhat of a trouble-maker,” Brandis explained. “We have had to lock him away for the good of the city.”
“I see,” said Millet. He turned to Jacob. “Where is your mother?”
Jacob glared. “This dog knows where she is. In Angrääl, where they took her.”
“How many times must you be told?” asked Brandis. “She went of her own free will.”
“I’ll never believe that. And if you expect me to go willingly with these people just so they can kill me when we're out of sight, then you’re mistaken. Kill me now, for all to see.”
Brandis sighed. “For the last time, if we wanted to kill you we would have done so long before now. You will either go with these people or leave on your own. Either way, I tire of you and will no longer tolerate your presence.”
“You will come with us,” said Millet. “I was sent to retrieve you and your mother. Being that your mother is not here, I will at least retrieve you.”
“Why should I believe you?” asked Jacob. “What’s to prevent you from killing me the moment we’re out of sight?”
“As much as I hate to admit it,” replied Millet. “Brandis is correct. If they wanted you dead, they wouldn’t need such an elaborate deception. In fact, we are in more danger from you, than you are from us.”
Jacob thought for a moment. “Very well, I will go with you, for now.”
“Good decision,” said Brandis. “I’ll leave you to it then.” He started to the door. “Please tell Lord Nal’Thain that we will allow him to see his wife any time he wishes. And as for Gewey Stedding, the Reborn King still wants his friendship. Please convey the message to both of them, if you would.”
“I’ll tell them,” replied Millet.
“Good,” he said. “You will not be hindered when you leave. I’ll wait outside until you’re ready.” He turned and left.
“I’m not sure what your game is,” said Jacob. “But if you wish me harm, even your friend the elf may find that difficult.”
Malstisos stepped forward. “If I wanted you dead, I would have killed you the second that door closed. It is not we that need prove our intentions.”
“I agree,” said Millet. “You look like my lord, but I have no way of knowing for sure.”
“What do we do?” said Maybell. “Certainly we cannot trust that this is not a deception.”
“We won’t,” said Millet. “There is one way of finding the truth. But in order to do so I must contact Lord Starfinder.”
“I’ve heard that name before,” said Jacob.
“Of course you have,” he replied. “That was the name of your father before you were born, and it is the name he goes by now. I’m sure your mother has mentioned it.”
“No,” he said. “I heard it when I was in prison. The Dark One wants him. They mean to kill him.”
“They’ve already tried,” said Millet with a wicked smile. “So far they’ve failed miserably.”
“Enough talk,” said Malstisos. “We need to leave while we still can.”
“Agreed,” said Millet. “We’ll head west for now.”
“Then what?” asked Maybell. “We can’t bring him back with us. At least not until we know with certainty he is who he says he is.”
“I have no intention of being taken anywhere,” said Jacob. “As soon as I’m able, I’ll be going my own way.”
Millet looked irritably at the boy. “I suggest you accept our company for the time being. At least until we’re away from here.”
Jacob looked disgusted and walked to the door. “I’ll be outside when you’re ready.” He slammed the door behind him.
Chapter Two
Millet, Maybell and Malstisos gathered their gear and left the house. Jacob sat on the front steps, fiddling with a small knife. Their horses were ready and waiting. Brandis stood a few feet away along with two guards.
“Here are your weapons,” said Brandis. He motioned to one of the guards who handed them over. “I trust you will not need them any time soon. And we have provided young Jacob with a sword as well as a mount. If you wish an escort, one can be provided, but I suspect you do not.”
“No escort is necessary,” replied Millet. “We know the way.”
“In that case
I wish you a safe journey,” said Brandis. He nodded to the guards who followed him, and he disappeared down the street.
Millet led them through the village to the west road. The street was conspicuously empty.
“Do you think they plan to ambush us?” asked Maybell as they mounted their horses.
“I doubt it,” answered Millet. “They could have killed us if they wanted. Malstisos was the only one who might have escaped. No, whatever their plan is, it involves us removing Jacob from Hazrah.” He looked suspiciously at the boy.
They continued until dusk and made camp along the road. Along the way, they had passed a patrol, but the soldiers ignored them.
“It would seem that Brandis intends to let us leave without incident,” said Malstisos.
Millet stared at the fire and rubbed his hands together. “So it would seem.” He watched as Jacob checked his horse and unpacked his gear. “We must find a way to contact Lee without giving away his location. Until then, I’m afraid we have no way to trust the lad.”
“I have exceptional hearing,” said Jacob. “From my father’s side of the family, I assume. Contact him if you must. As for me I’m headed for Baltria once we’re safely away from here.”
“You intend to abandon your mother?” asked Millet.
Jacob glowered. “There’s nothing I can do for her.” He placed his blanket near the fire. “They won’t send for her, I don’t care what they told you. I doubt she’s even alive.”
“They let you live, didn’t they?” said Malstisos.
“That may be. But I’m in Hazrah, and my mother is not. The house Nal’Thain still has a good name among the people. To kill me without scandal or reprisal, they would need to do it away from the city.”
“We were told that you helped Angrääl take control,” said Maybell huddled close to the fire, sipping elf brandy.
“That’s a lie,” spat Jacob. “I did everything I could to stop them.”
“That may be,” said Maybell. “But if the people believe it, I doubt your death would cause much of a scandal.”
Jacob pulled his blanket close and stared into the fire.
“What did happen?” asked Malstisos. “From what we have seen it didn’t take much of an effort for Angrääl to seize control.”
Jacob scowled. “It was the King,” he muttered in disgust. “He sold us out.”
“You’re not making sense,” said Millet. “Even the King couldn’t simply hand over control of the land to a foreign power without resistance from the nobles.”
“That’s not what happened,” replied Jacob. “They were far more subtle. A year ago an ambassador arrived at court with a message of friendship. He said he was from a kingdom in the north and desired to establish relations and trade. Naturally, the lords were skeptical. All the old tales of the northern kingdoms are of terror and war, but the ambassador assured us of his good intentions and suggested that we send an envoy to meet with his lord. After much deliberation, the King agreed. I wanted to be the one to go, but mother wouldn’t allow it.”
“Wise woman,” said Millet.
“In this case she was.” Jacob nodded in agreement. “The King sent his second cousin to gauge the truth of matters. Sadly, though loved dearly by the King, he has no skill with diplomacy. He returned two months later accompanied by a full entourage of representatives from Angrääl, enough to occupy a proper diplomatic embassy. At first, the King protested, but his cousin convinced him that relations and trade would be in the best interest for the kingdom. Before long they had bought a building near the palace and had established themselves as the embassy to the “Reborn King of Angrääl.”
“That didn’t send up warning flags?” asked Millet. “The “Reborn King” can only be referring to the Demon King, Rätsterfel. Surely the temples intervened when they heard this?” He retrieved a loaf of bread and dried meat from his pack and passed it around.
“I believe the temples had been infiltrated long before the arrival of the ambassador,” replied Jacob.
“Why would you think that?” asked Maybell, trying to contain her irritation.
“From the moment they arrived they showed their contempt for the Gods. They refused to have their embassy blessed, and turned away any offer of friendship the temples made. On the streets they openly mocked the Gods, and said that anyone that trusted in them was a fool. A few of the temples were even vandalized. Everyone knew who did it, but there was no proof. More than that, the temples did little to stop it.”
“All this and the King did nothing?” said Millet.
“There was nothing to do,” said Jacob. “The temples made no complaint. Not to the King or anyone else. In fact, it was widely known that many of the high priestesses and senior monks had dealings with them on a regular basis. I myself saw the chief librarian of the Temple of Gerath riding with the ambassador, talking and laughing as friends.”
“That means nothing,” said Maybell. “You can’t know why they were speaking.”
“True,” he answered. “But the next day the library was robbed and nearly every important text stolen. The culprits were never found despite the fact that I told the magistrate what I had seen. Of course, after that life became more difficult for my mother and me. Several of our trade caravans were attacked, and our interests in the copper mine were suddenly audited. I went to the magistrate to complain, but I fear he had already been bought. The chief finance minister manufactured reasons for our mining assets to be stripped away. Of course they were sold to an unknown party, and by unknown I mean Angrääl.”
“Was anyone else attacked like this?” asked Millet.
“Oh, yes, I was not the only Lord of Hazrah with the courage to stand up to these interlopers. But our resistance was short lived. With the King and the temples against us, we were reduced to simple acts of defiance and petty acts of vandalism. Unfortunately, in my case they found my weakness.”
“And what might that have been?” asked Malstisos.
“My mother. As I became more brazen in my resistance, they threatened to kill her if I didn’t fall in line. My first reaction was to send her away. We have friends in Baltria, and I thought she’d be safe there, but they got to her before I could make the arrangements. I was told that she had volunteered to attend court in Angrääl as the personal representative of the King, but the truth is they are using her as leverage against me. It was a week after she left when the first Angrääl troops arrived. The King announced that there was a growing threat from the southern kingdoms, and they were only there to assist in our defense, but it was soon clear that it was an occupation.”
“It’s difficult to imagine all this,” said Millet. “The people of Hazrah would have risen up and fought in my day.”
“Some tried,” he said. “But any who took up arms were slaughtered and called a traitor to the throne. Most were arrested before they could organize and be send north.”
“Is that how you ended up in prison?” asked Maybell.
Jacob nodded slowly. “At first they said I was being held for questioning about a raid on a grain shipment. There was, of course, no such raid. It was clear I was framed to get me out of the way. They made it seem as if I was cooperating in order to coerce me into furthering their goals, but I refused. I think the only reason I’ve kept my head is that my mother has agreed to work with them.”
“I can’t believe Lady Nal’Thain would side with the Dark Knight over her own people,” said Millet. “She would rather die.”
“You’re right,” said Jacob. “But it was my life and not hers she was protecting. That’s what they do. They use the people you care for against you.”
“How long have you been in prison?” asked Maybell.
“Six months,” he replied. “I was released once but immediately rearrested. When I was jailed the first time, troops were just arriving. Now they are at least two-thousand strong.”
“What do you intend to do?” asked Millet. “If you go back you’ll be imprisoned…or wors
e.”
“Like I said earlier,” said Jacob. “I’m heading to Baltria. I have friends there who can help me. Then I’m going to get my mother out of Angrääl.”
Millet thought for a moment. “I’ll go with you.” He turned to Malstisos. “You and Maybell go back and tell Lord Starfinder what has happened.”
“I don’t need you slowing me down,” said Jacob.
Millet laughed. “If you are who you say you are then you will need my help. I traveled with your father for many years and am far more capable than you might think.”
Malstisos smiled. “You should listen to your elders, young one. Millet is far more traveled than you. Besides, I doubt they left you with any coin. How do you intend to eat and lodge?”
“I can hunt,” said Jacob stubbornly. “I’ve learned to survive on my own.”
“That may be,” said Millet. “But I serve the house Nal’Thain and have an obligation to see to your well-being.”
Jacob met Millet’s eyes. “You serve my father, not the house Nal’Thain. He gave up his right to use that name when he abandoned us.”
“You speak from ignorance,” said Millet. “But now is not for me to enlighten you.” Millet straightened out his bedroll. “I am going with you. We’ll take the road east to Manisalia. There is a crossroads a few days from the city. We’ll split up there.”
Maybell’s eyes lit up. “Perhaps we should see the Oracle.”
“You can try,” said Millet. “But I would not tarry long. If she will not see you right away you should move on.”
“I would relish the chance to see the Oracle,” said Malstisos. “She is well known to my people.”
“I think you will be disappointed,” said Jacob. “The rumor is she has left Manisalia to escape the armies of Angrääl. I even heard that she is dead.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” said Maybell, settling into her blanket. “It would be a great loss to the world. Her wisdom has helped guide the world away from destruction for many decades.”
“Decades?” said Malstisos. “My people have tales of her that go back before the Great War. I have always assumed her to be more than one person, the title passed down but perhaps not.”
The Godling Chronicles 02 - Of Gods And Elves Page 3
