Eberon's Sword

by Rick Brown

  “Then why are we here,” Guin asked.

  I could only sigh. It wasn't like I had not explained that multiple times on our trip up. "I need to understand what is happening in the world. There have been whispers abounding about this ‘King Eberon.' I don't like Father's disinterest in events. Things are happening that I don't understand."

  “It ain’t our job to understand everything,” Guin pointed out.

  “It isn’t your job, a soldier’s job. Mine is the opposite. It is my job to understand everything,” I argued.

  “That would be your brother’s job,” Lodken pointed out. “Even your sister, you could argue, requires worldly knowledge, with her engagement. I see no immediate need in your future for such information.”

  “That’s just it!” I yelled. “Nobody cares! Nobody looks! We just listen to what Dommeran says and believe it!”

  "Yes, yes. Again. I understand your argument. I'm just saying this is someone else's job, not yours, Kayla. You are too young to be doing this alone," Lodken explained.

  "No one else will!" I growled. "I've tried and tried. They won't listen!"

  “And what have we to take back?” Guin asked. “The dwarves have evicted the Dommerian embassy?”

  “Much more,” I said with a glimmer of hope. “That there is a movement afoot. People are rebelling against the power of Dommeran. Something they tell us is impossible. I’ve visited Dommeran with Father. It is a dark and vile place. Anything is better than the future they offer.”

  Chapter 39

  (Lee)

  The night was going so nicely, before it happened. After my chat with Lenux, I had a nice glass of wine and settled into bed. My ancestors have won me over. A big soft bed was the only way to sleep. I was not sure how I ever doubted that now. However, sometime during the night, in the soundness of my sleep, my dreams took a disturbing turn.

  I found myself back in Alsselya, much as I often had. Either with the gods or not, I often dreamed of this place. It was an obsession that I was happy to entertain. As I walked along the now familiar halls, I suddenly found a huge figure standing before me. He wore only a loincloth. His massive chest swelling with each breath. Wavy red hair and a red beard encircled a face that screamed masculinity. Before me stood a god.

  “So, you’re the one. My priest prayed to me tonight, said you were in Olingard. I decided you were finally worthy of a visit. I am Mannoth,” the god intoned in a shocking deep voice.

  I quickly dropped to one knee, just what I needed was the attention of another deity. “Thank you, all mighty Mannoth for your acknowledgment.”

  “I see my brother has trained you well,” he replied, sounding smug. “You are causing quite the upheaval in the world.”

  “I wish only to reclaim Alsselya,” I defended.

  “A land lost many centuries ago. Do you accept responsibility for what is to come? What you do only guarantees the deaths of many, yet there is little promise of success. Already many dwarves have fallen just to remove a few Dommerians from Olingard. Will you bear the deaths of thousands to reclaim Alsselya?” questioned the god.

  His demeanor made me want to deny it all, but I knew I was right in what I did. “Mighty Mannoth, I don’t fight because I want land or power. All of Alsselya is tormented by their conquerors. Others will fall to Gorath’s lust for power. I am not fighting because I want a castle. I am fighting for a people I am obligated to protect. I fight for others that don’t yet know they are at risk of losing their liberty. That is why I fight.”

  Mannoth smiled. “My brother has chosen his champion well. I was casting my will upon you to deny what you are doing. That you fought back anyway shows you are strong. I like that.” The god walked around as he tested me.

  “But it is not just my brother, is it?” Mannoth asked. “I feel my sister too. Has Ayisha bonded you?” He said in surprise. “I don’t think ever before has one human been bonded by two gods. You are unique, little man,” he stated as he continued to circle me. “You are powerful, even for one of your kind. And the stone. I can feel its bond. It has accepted you. Yes, you have great potential, but can you defeat a god?” He wondered aloud.

  “I believe so,” Ayisha stated as she appeared before us.

  “Ayisha!” Mannoth stated in surprise. “I expected Alynon to appear first.”

  "I'm sure he is coming," Ayisha said casually. "Why are you taking an interest in this human?"

  “Ha! You know why. Your fingerprints are all over this sister. Why did you manipulate Kayla into this without talking to me?”

  “Did I?” Ayisha teased. “Could she not have shown interest on her own?”

  “Not without someone presenting the information before her!” Mannoth accused. “Odd that the invite should have fallen into her hands, don’t you think?”

  “No harm has befallen the girl,” Ayisha defended. “She is just seeing what is really happening in the world.”

  “And it’s not her talents that interest you?” Mannoth asked.

  Ayisha shrugged. “It’s possible someone like her could be useful.”

  "She is useful!" Mannoth barked. "And she's not for you to just take!"

  “You know what is going on, Mannoth. If Gorath continues to grow, we will all be lost!” Ayisha argued.

  “Yes, but to put everything on this human, even if he is powerful. The gamble is far too great,” he replied, shaking his head.

  “And you have another plan?” Alynon stated as he appeared.

  “There he is,” Mannoth said as he turned to his brother. “Running to defend your pet?”

  Alynon glanced at me as I stayed on my knees. Three gods were more than I wished to deal with. I carefully kept quiet. “Pet?” Alynon stated. “What I see here is our one and only chance.”

  “All this on a human?” Mannoth asked angrily.

  “He and his team,” Alynon defended.

  “Which is why you are trying to steal my Kayla! You didn’t think I would notice?” He yelled.

  “Told you,” Alynon said to Ayisha.

  “And I said my loving brother would forgive me,” she said as she walked over and gave Mannoth a hug.

  “You think you can manipulate me?” Mannoth continued to argue.

  "We think we fight for all of us, even Gorath, though he cannot see it through his greed," Alynon continued his defense. "You see it, brother. I know you do. There's more to this than who is worshipped by the humans. We are hurtling for oblivion if we do not do something."

  Mannoth stared at me as he was lost in thought. “Send this one to my land. Let me see what he can do.”

  “As you wish, brother,” the beautiful Ayisha agreed.

  I woke in a sweat the next day. Three gods? I wondered. Is it too early to drink?

  Slipping out of bed, I made my way through the now familiar path that led me to the breakfast table. Already, Arthur and the priests were enjoying their meal.

  “Good morning, Your Majesty,” Arthur greeted. “I hope you slept well.”

  “I hoped for that too,” I admitted. “Sadly, it didn’t happen. Can you send an invitation to the Spellion delegation for dinner?”

  “Of course, Sire,” Arthur said, though he sounded perplexed. “May I ask why?”

  “Because someone who I thought was unimportant is apparently more than they appear. I want to know why,” I explained. How could I have missed that Kayla was important? I thought to myself. Of course, I initially felt that way about Abigail, and now I can’t stop thinking about her.

  “I take it you were visited last night,” Father Yagen guessed as Arthur left the table. “Our good god gave you some information?”

  “Our good god came to my rescue,” I corrected. “He and Ayisha. No, the problem is I was being interrogated by Mannoth.”

  “What!” the two priests said in unison as they leapt from their chairs. “You met Mannoth!?”

  "Indeed, I did — a beast of a god. And I thought Alynon was big. Mannoth is huge, not to mention his flaming r
ed hair," I said as I described the god.

  “Amazing,” Father Pild said as he sat back down. “You have met three gods!”

  “There were three there last night,” I agreed. “And that’s three too many. I don’t think we humans are meant to be in their presence.”

  Father Pild leaned in. “Is it as amazing as I imagine?”

  “Depends on your definition of amazing. Does it include terrifying?” I asked. “If so, then yes. It’s amazing.”

  The priest smiled. “Yes, I think I could include that in amazing.”

  “Then amazing it is,” I smile as I leaned back with my coffee. How did I ever start a morning without coffee? I pondered.

  It took some time for Lenux to crawl his way out of bed. I had been impatiently waiting to ask him more questions about last night. There was no reason to wake him, so I just paced the floors all morning.

  “Lenux!” I yelled as he walked from his room. “You’re awake!”

  “Oh my,” he said as he rubbed his eyes. “I’m not awake enough for this! What’s going on?”

  “I need more information on the spy, Kayla,” I explained as I sat with him at the breakfast table. “Anything you have.”

  Lenux frowned. “I don’t think I know more than what I’ve told you. For whatever reason, she was spying on us last night.”

  “Yes, but what else?” I pressed.

  "What else?" he asked confused. "Nothing more than what you saw. She was pretty, blond with a ponytail. Nails cut short, so likely does something with her hands. Fairly certain she had a dagger tucked in her robe on her right side. She cut her meat with her left hand, so that is likely her primary hand. She kept her mouth shut and just listened during dinner, which is a sign of someone with intelligence. Not like that Guin fellow."

  “Ha! Lenux you are a marvel. I didn’t notice half of those things,” I stated excitedly. “I’m inviting them to dinner. I need to understand why she is here.”

  Lenux nodded. “Just put Bri and me on it, we’ll figure it out.”

  I smiled at my friend. “I know y’all will.”

  Chapter 40

  (Kayla)

  “Why do you think they invited us?” Lodken asked. “They didn’t seem very keen on our company last night.”

  “Likely, they hope to open up some form of negotiations,” I answered as I adjusted my gloves. “Just try to keep them talking.”

  "And what do we do if you're discovered?" asked Guin. "Should I kill them?"

  “Guin, we don’t kill the King of Alsselya,” I said as I shook my head in despair. There was no one else, remember? I told myself. “Not to mention the rumor that he killed a dragon.”

  “Pffft... Just a rumor. No one can kill a dragon,” he answered dismissively.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t get caught. I never get caught,” I said with a smile. “Maybe you can expand the conversation beyond the weather tonight? I don’t need anyone getting bored and going to bed early in the room I’m searching.”

  “This seems unbecoming a princess,” Lodken pointed out. If he only knew.

  Setting a chair on top of the table, I quickly unscrewed the grate covering the air vent, letting it hang down from its hinge, I leapt up into the vent, wedging my shoulders into the carved stone tunnel, I inched my way up into the shaft, pulling my bag up on a rope behind me. “Good luck,” I heard shouted from the High Priest.

  So, the dwarves believed these shafts were too narrow for anyone to fit through, eh? I thought as I shift through the stone. Ugh, Maybe their right. I’ve crawled through a lot of tunnels, but this one might be the tightest. Luckily, it was only for a few feet before it opened into a larger shaft. Taking a piece of chalk, I marked the shaft I had just crawled from. This new tunnel was wide enough that I could crawl on my hands and knees.

  I crawled against the air as it was pumped through the shafts, these narrow tunnels focused the air, making it a challenge to move against. Finally, I made it to a maintenance tunnel. Reading the dwarven runes, it directed me to the left for the corridor that the Alsselyian Embassy was on. In this large tunnel, I was able to run above the city easily. Getting around much faster than I could on the streets below.

  After a few more turns, I found my way to the Embassy’s vent. Unfortunately, a grate was welded to metal bars lodged deep inside the stone. I guess the dwarves didn’t assume no one could fit through these narrow shafts after all.

  Calling upon my magic, I started to cut through the metal with a tightly controlled flame. Within a few minutes, I broke the welds and was able to remove the cover. The first tunnel was narrow enough that I was back on my hands and knees. Unlike in my own apartments, the air shaft here suddenly made a turn to a straight drop. Even with the sides being as smooth as glass, I was still able to wedge my feet onto either side of the walls and slowly work my way down.

  After about twenty feet, my feet finally found the bottom. From here the vents spread out like a spider's web. Each one was likely leading to a different room in the Embassy. Unfortunately, all the vents from here were narrow. Grabbing my tool bag, I shoved it before me as I snaked down a random shaft, my shoulders curved in as tightly as I could make them.

  Slowly, I wiggled my way through the narrow shaft until I found the grate. I sat and waited as I listened into the room. Below me, I could hear the voices of two people talking.

  “Can’t we just skip tonight,” the male voice groaned. “Lee won’t need us.”

  "He'll need me," a woman replied, "this is my job. Yours is to kill what he points at. Mine is to identify whom he should point at."

  “Well, he won’t be pointing at any of these people for killing, maybe I’ll just plead sick,” the man said. No! if he stays here, I’ll have to find another room.

  “Oh no,” the redhead said with a shake of her head. “I go, you go.”

  The man stepped into a place in the room that I could see him. He was the stocky blond one. These two must be a couple, I thought as I made a mental note.

  “Come on. Lee’s suspicious of these people. Let’s go see this spy,” the girl said as they both walked from the room.

  Spy? I thought in shock. How could they possibly be suspicious? I lay there dumbfounded as I tried to work out my mistake. They knew there was a spy, but not who. So, they still haven’t identified me yet. At least I hope they haven’t.

  Reaching into my tool bag, I found my curved screwdriver. Pressing it through the grate, I twisted it around until I felt the raised screw head. This part always took a while, as I could only make a small turn each time. Slowly, I worked the screw from the vent. Finally, the screw came loose, sitting on the magnetic head of the tool. I carefully lifted the screw up and dropped it into my bag.

  I repeated the process until I had the second screw loose. I dropped it into my bag and gently lowered the vent until it hung from its hinge. Sliding out, I twisted in the air and landed on my feet.

  With a proud smile, I looked around the room. There wasn’t another sneak alive that could have broken into this room. After enjoying my moment of glory, I quickly grabbed a chair and put the screws back into the vent so it would no longer hang down.

  I carefully wiped any dust from the floor and swept it under the bed, hiding any evidence that someone entered this way. Gently, I started to open the drawers and search the room. These people travel light, I considered as I found little in the room. Oddly, each had a large opal tied to their packs. I couldn’t determine why they would do that, so I just made a mental note to consider later.

  Creeping up to the door, I listened for any conversation. I could hear Lodken's voice from the room outside. Laying on the floor, I looked for anyone within eye line. Seeing nothing, I opened the door a crack, peering into the room, I could see Lodken sitting at a table across from King Eberon and his staff.

  “I’m sorry to hear Priestess Kayla was unable to attend,” the King said as the servants poured wine. “I had hoped to get to know her better.”

  Why? I wondered
. Why would he want to talk to me? Even though I haven’t found anything yet, I felt there was a great mystery here. Seeing that no one was paying attention to this side of the room, I quickly slid out and quietly closed the door behind me.

  Using the furniture to hide my presence, I made my way to the next room. Looking under the door, I could see the room was clear. With great patience, I slowly opened the door and let myself in. This one was a reader. Must be the young one, Ryan.

  He too had the odd opal tied to his backpack. What could the purpose of these be? I was impressed by the books he carried, one of which I wanted desperately to read. Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time to steal it.

  Hidden in the books was a contract with Prince Orlik for the transportation and protection of gold. I wonder where the gold is coming from?

  Finding nothing else, I made my way to the next room. Disappointingly, this person had nothing but travel clothes. The next room though. That’s where I found my prize.

  This room was shared by the two priests. There were a number of documents involving the Church of Alynon. Most important though, was the journal. Glancing through the pages, I was stunned by what I read. The journal was recording the history of King Eberon. Apparently, he got his start as a Captain in the famous Fox Guild.

  There was too much information to read it all here. This time, I would steal the book. It had everything I had hoped to find and more — no reason to risk going back to the original room. Instead, I used a chair to release the vent. Putting the chair back, I leapt up and grabbed the hanging vent, swinging my legs up into it. Shimming up, I pulled my tool bag with the journal in it up. Supporting it against my body as I screwed the vent back.

  Like a spider pulling its victim into a tunnel, I wiggled my way back with the treasured journal. Maybe now I would know the truth about what was going on.

  Chapter 41

  (Lee)

  “Good evening, High Priest Lodken,” I greeted as he walked through the door. “Father Guin. It is a pleasure to see you again.”