“Are we any closer?” Malik asked from across the fire pit.
Bran shook his head, “I can’t tell. I only can sense a direction with her hairbrush and even then I have to be holding it and concentrating on her.”
Malik nodded, “Well, it would be helpful if you could check a bit more often. I am worried that they are travelling far quicker than we thought possible.”
“I’m sorry,” Bran said sincerely, knowing that they had to take more rest breaks and stop overnight due to his lack of conditioning especially considering the injuries he took the last few months. He was still recovering and still out of shape.
Malik shook his head, “Don’t bother yourself with it. I’m actually happy to be out of that stinking town. I never liked it and never will. Seeing it in ruins doesn’t bother me but not seeing it all is preferable.”
Bran felt a desire to defend his town but let it go. He would not engage the rebel deserter and spy in another argument of who was right or wrong with regards to the governing of their realm. “I sense that the pull has been constant, perhaps even weakening a bit as if they were running faster than we were.”
“I find that hard to believe, especially with a woman amongst them.”
Bran’s patience did have a limit however, “I’ll have you know my wife can outrun me. She was a scout as were you long ago.”
“Nothing personal, Captain, but outrunning you right now isn’t exactly something that one would consider difficult.”
Bran shook his head and resisted making a sarcastic remark though he did return the favor by using the man’s title. “Very well, Scout, I’ll see what I can do to limit my breaks tomorrow.”
“And I will try to run at a more considerate pace.” Malik pledged.
“Are you still expecting company?” Bran asked.
“She’ll show up sooner or later,” Malik said, poking at the fire with a long stick and then turning to toss a log onto it. “The chief planner in all this won’t rest until his century long plan has come to fruition.”
“I thought it was a thousand years?”
“Whatever,” Malik said, taking a moment to peer intently at Bran from across the flames flaring overhead at eye level. “You know what I mean.”
Bran nodded, lowering his gaze, “No offense meant. I was simply wondering when to expect her.”
“Soon,” Malik said. “She’s up to something and I intend to find out exactly what it is.”
“Before or after she kills you?” Bran said, changing from a peaceful conversation to one more menacing.
“I’ll protect my own back and I suggest you do the same.”
“Wise advise at any time,” Bran said, “especially when dealing with back stabbers.”
Chapter 9
Wolves
The sun was about to set when the sign came. A small herd of deer arrived on the horizon giving off a scent that was bound to alert the wolves. Khan used and illusion of several fake deer to attract the attention of the hungry wolves and they gave chase to the east where the real herd of deer was located. Sensing the wolves the real herd took off at a fast gallop.
“That was too easy,” Cedric said, watching the last of the wolves crest a ridgeline and disappear from view.
Salina turned away to face Khan, “Do you think this will work for any meaningful length of time?”
“We will find out soon enough,” Khan said. “I suggest Cedric keep watch here and alert us should they return.”
Cedric protested, “Hey, what if you find something that needs explaining?”
“Then we will either bring the item to you or come fetch you and take you to the item,” Khan said matter-of-factly.
Salina quickly agreed, “Let us search the main estate first before coming back for you. You’ll be safe here.”
“You know, Targon there is barely older than I am, and no one worries about his safety.”
“That’s not true,” Salina said, holding both hands to her chest for emphasis. “We worry greatly about his safety.”
“Not really,” Khan disagreed. “There is little concern for the Ulathan considering his size and strength and the fact of the matter is that there should be more concern for those he opposes.”
Salina lowered her hands so that that rested on her hips, “Really, Khan?”
“What?” Khan asked.
Will chuckled, “Tell it like it is.”
Targon looked at Cedric and said, “Forget all that. We need you alive and well so that you can help guide us if this shield thingy isn’t here.”
“I don’t know what I could do to guide you,” Cedric said. “Mister Elister knows more about history and these artifacts than I do.”
“But there may something we come across and Elister may not be available to ask,” Targon tried again.
“Do it for me, son,” Salina asked. “We need a scout anyway and if not you then who?”
“What about you?” Cedric asked.
Salina smiled at him, “Spoken like a true gentleman, but you heard the druid. I need to help them find this shield.”
Cedric scratched his head then said, “I don’t remember Mister Elister saying anything about that.”
“Neither do I,” Khan said, truthfully.
Salina shook her head, “I’m disappointed in you Khan.”
Khan wasn’t deterred, “Tell young Master Cedric to stay here and we go. This is not difficult.”
“For us it is,” Will said. “Ok, let’s go.”
In the end, Cedric stayed put and promised to sound a small whistle that Will had given him. It wasn’t very loud, but it would let them know if the wolves, or something else, returned. Securing the rope, the group descended and headed toward the main building of what looked once to be a luxurious estate. Vines had grown over and then died the various walls of the building year after year until they massed like a second covering of skin. The stucco façade had mostly peeled or crumbled away leaving either brick or stone to show the original craftsmanship.
Walking carefully with weapons drawn, they broke up and quickly searched the large estate meeting back at the main entranceway when they were done. “Well that was a waste of time,” Salina said, sheathing her slender sword.
“You didn’t feel anything, Khan?” Will asked.
Khan shook his head. “I tried to increase the power of my detection spell, but there is nothing special here.”
“Then what was pulling you in this direction?” Targon asked, also tucking his large axe back in his belt.
“The pull is still in that direction,” Khan said, pointing northwest. “Something there far away.”
“You mean to tell me we just happened to stumble across the correct location by accident?” Will asked, incredulity in his voice.
“No,” Khan answered. “The chance that this was or is coincidence is minimal at best. I would guess that something in this was designed but by who or what I do not know.”
“What do we do then?” Will asked.
“Let us retrieve our young record keeper and see if he has any ideas,” Khan said.
“I think you may need to contact Elister again,” Targon said.
It took a few moments for Cedric to climb down and they left the rope where it was in case they needed to ascend again. As the sun started to set, they moved throughout the estate performing a second search and this time Cedric noticed something that the rest of them had missed. “Do you see this?”
The group stood around the young man looking at a tapestry that looked faded and worn. It was, however, more visible than many others that had weathered beyond recognition. “What are we looking at?” Targon asked.
“That is the battle I think Mister Elister referred to,” Cedric pointed towards the top middle of the long, textile banner that was embroidered with several scenes including the one that Cedric referred to.
“Is that a red dragon?” Salina asked, moving a hand above her head to touch the outline of a dragon or other beast.
; “I do believe you are correct,” Khan noted, raising his staff and muttering words that caused a dim light to glow from his gemstone illuminating the area.
Targon walked closer as well and being taller his eyes peered directly at it. “The red is mostly gone, but there are a few threads visible that clearly show a red dye or string was used in its making.”
“Why is this important?” Will asked.
“The story was that Andrew, the nephew of the Duke of Ulatha, killed a red dragon in battle and died in the process,” Cedric explained. “He was carrying this shield and the story was that his body was brought back along with it and he was buried with the shield protecting him.”
The group looked closer and saw a figure, much smaller than the dragon, with a shield in one hand and a sword in the other. Neither looked particularly special or magical from what they were looking at. “Perhaps the artisan was lacking in either information or time in order to properly demonstrate the artifacts?” Khan ventured.
“Your guess is as good as any,” Targon noted.
“Interesting story, my son,” Salina began, “but I don’t see how it helps us.”
Cedric had already crouched at the bottom and was looking at the last scene. “We need to find this tunnel. It will lead us to his crypt.”
The rest of them knelt and looked at the scene at the bottom of the long, woven banner. The picture of a young man on a stretcher with a shield and sword resting on his body was clearly visible despite the more intense aging and fading of the tapestry at the bottom. An underground corridor was visible as was a stone room that was also illustrated to show it below ground. “That doesn’t look right,” Targon noted.
“I can tell you I won’t be looking for any crypt,” Will stated emphatically, “especially not with the dead walking about. That’s the last place we should be looking for.”
“It does appear to be a conundrum,” Khan noted.
“In the common tongue, please,” Will asked.
Khan nodded, “I mean to say that we should not be looking where a higher chance of encountering the minions of the undead lich exist, but it is precisely in such a place that we are expecting to find what we are searching for.”
“Yeah, better and shorter when you said codrumnum.” Will responded.
“Conundrum,” Khan corrected.
“Whatever,” both Will and Targon said in unison and then both men chuckled, though Khan did not appear to find it amusing.
“We best be on our way whether searching for this place, or leaving all together,” Salina said, bringing the men back to the reality of their situation. “I have great faith in both the druid and your abilities, Khan, but I do not trust those wolves to so easily break off the chase, at least not for us.”
Khan nodded, while the other men became silent. “Perhaps we need a different kind of divination.”
“Common?” Will asked.
“Let’s not go there again,” Salina said. “Khan, what are you referring to?”
Khan looked from Will then back to Salina. “Not everything needs to detect or find magic. Perhaps we need to search using our own talents and not only my own.”
“Well, not to offend, Mister Kesh,” Will began, “but I thought we were searching using our own talents.”
“Were you?” Khan asked.
Will frowned at the man but Targon interjected, “I think I understand what Khan is saying. We were looking around but more from an interested bystander perspective. I think Khan wants us to search as if we were looking for a hidden passageway or tunnel door.”
Khan nodded in agreement, “Exactly right.”
“Shall we spread out again?” Salina asked. “We’ll cover more ground that way.”
“What if those wolves return?” Will asked.
Khan looked at the entryway which was laid to ruin and wide open. “He is correct. We are exposed here and more so while we are occupied in searching. Someone should return and set a watch in case our adversaries return.”
“I’ll go,” Will said, having taken the whistle from Cedric earlier.
“Wait a second,” Cedric said, lowering his head and closing his eyes. Then suddenly he turned to face his mother and exclaimed, “We now most every secret passageway in Korwell, don’t we?”
Salina nodded, “Yes, but what’s that got to do with this place?”
“We should know what to look for,” Cedric explained. “You and I will be best suited to find the crypt if it is anywhere near here.”
“It could be miles away,” Targon noted, returning his attention to the tapestry. “This drawing doesn’t exactly show a scale.”
“Agreed,” Khan said. “It also does not illustrate his burial as being related to this place. The family crypt could be leagues from here.”
“So now what?” Will asked.
The next sound brought a chill to their spines. The distinct howl of a wolf broke the silence of the new born night. The twin sisters would not rise for a short while and so it was fairly dark once the sun had set. Khan looked at Targon, “Distance?”
“I’d say a league at most,” Targon noted, tilting his head.
“Ten or fifteen minutes?” Khan asked.
“Less,” Targon said, “Based on what I saw of their speed today. We need to hurry.”
“Light up your staff and hold it down at the floor so we can see the stone floor clearly,” Cedric ordered.
Khan looked at him then the rest and then complied, “What are we looking for?” he asked.
“The dust will have covered everything, so we’ll need to sweep it away when I tell you to,” Cedric said. “Let’s start in this main lobby.”
“Why here?” Will asked.
“The burial was a public affair,” Cedric explained. “They would hardly let participants into a private room in order to access the crypt.”
“Wait a moment,” Salina said. “I think you discovered it.”
“What?” Cedric asked his mother.
“They would never allow a group of people into their personal dwelling,” Salina explained. Turning to Will she asked, “Will, do you remember the burials we had back in the day for the king’s grandparents? They would have been before Cedric was born and I’m not sure if you were in the guard at that time.”
Will nodded, “I was enlisted early enough, though I was not allowed to attend.”
“No, but do you remember that they held them in the royal garden, at least before they were interned.?”
“Vaguely,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
“I think we need to search for the garden here, that is where we will either find the crypt or the entrance to one.”
“I didn’t see such a place when I looked,” Targon said.
“It won’t be very recognizable since there won’t be flowering plants visible in it, but there should be some stone bench seats or at least the remnants of iron bound wooden ones.” Salina said.
Another howl, much closer this time, came to their ears. “Mighty considerate of them to announce their return,” Will said full of sarcasm.
“Should we go back to the outbuilding?” Cedric asked.
“We may not get another chance at this,” Khan said. “If Targon is correct and they are being urged on by an outside influence, then our ruse will now be known to them, and the chance of distracting them successfully again are considerably lower.”
“Remind me never to gamble against you,” Will said, looking at Khan.
Khan shrugged but then Targon pulled him and said, “Let’s go around back and have a quick look see.”
The group ran outside with Khan’s light illuminating the area and both helping them see in the dark as well as making them feel vulnerable to any enemy within visual range. It didn’t take long before they found what could have been a garden or at least an area of meditation and contemplation, though the many vines and weeds choked out whatever distinguishing characteristics it may have had.
“You search and I’ll retrieve our ro
pe,” Targon said.
“Is that a good idea?” Salina asked.
“We may need it and I hate to leave it since rope is hard to come by. Who knows when we’ll get another chance to raid a Kesh convoy.”
Khan didn’t seem to notice the reference to his home country and responded, “Make it quick then. You do realize that by removing it you will have to reset it again if we fail here?”
Targon nodded, “I’ll keep a look out as well for a few minutes and see if I can determine how much time we have.”
“That should help,” Salina said.
Targon quickly ran to the opposite side of the estate and the four companions spread out searching for anything resembling a grave or tombstone. After a few minutes, Will called out to them, “Over here.”
They ran quickly to the very rear of the walled area that stuck out into a slight rise in the terrain to their north. Barely visible was a small, ornated stone structure with a dual set of thin iron bars covering the entrance. Only a peek of rusted metal was visible as the entire area was overgrown with weeds and vines. “What is it?” Salina asked.
“Looks like a sitting area or maybe a greenhouse?” Cedric ventured.
“Greenhouse?” Will asked.
Khan shook his head, “It would be made of glass, not stone. This could be what we are looking for.”
“You think this is a crypt?” Salina asked, moving some vines and trying to peak inside. The attempt was futile in the dark. “Bring your staff and shine it in there.”
Khan moved next to her while both Will and Cedric pulled at the vines to give them a better angle of viewing. Sticking his staff through the bars, the light dimly illuminated what appeared to be a statue in the rear and two benched on either side facing one another. Murmuring the arcane words again, the staff grew brighter so that the entire inside was visible to them. “That looks like a tomb,” Cedric said, a tinge of awe in his voice.
The sound of the wolf started them since it growled only a few yards away. Pulling his staff from between the bars, Khan held it down low illuminating only the immediate area and greatly reducing its visibility. They could still see the wolf clearly enough and it was grey in color while its eyes glowed a dim red. Drool dripped from barred fangs giving it both a menacing appearance as well as indicating that it was about to attack. “Stay behind me,” Khan ordered.
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