by J. M. Kearl
Enden tries to keep his temper cool when he stands. “Come, have a walk with me.”
Faustus treads beside Enden and they are trailed by a guard for each of them. “Let me make a few things clear,” Enden says. “You will not disrespect me in my castle. I understand that you did not want to come here and that Saveena being taken wasn’t part of your plans for her but that is what happened.”
“You’re damn right it wasn’t part of my plan.”
Enden sees that Faustus is calming down when his scowl relaxes. If he weren’t Saveena’s father and potential ally, he’d have him taken away for his outburst in the dining hall. “You are in Hesstia now, not Collweya and you are my guest. We have our own rules. First, what I say goes. Second, magic is outlawed here so you won’t be using it in public. Third, if you don’t like it, leave now and don’t come back.”
Faustus eyes Enden as they both stand in silence. The king of Collweya lets out a low growl then says, “I respect a man who has the stones to talk to me like that. Maybe you’re different than I thought, pretty boy.”
The insult is intolerable, but he must let it go. Allies, dragons, there is too much at stake to let pride get in the way. “Now down to business. I’m going to marry your daughter in a few hours and would like your blessing. I don’t know what your rules are on outsiders but they may have to change if you want to see her again. But you should know something, I never intended to use her to get to you for your military might. In fact, I didn’t want her to contact you until after our war with Delhoon because I worried I’d be fighting against two enemies.”
“I wouldn’t have come if I wanted to fight you, King Enden,” Faustus says and pauses. “Why are you at war now?”
Enden clenches his jaw. Faustus won’t particularly like the reason if he’s akin to magic. “You seem to be sheltered from the rest of the world and our intrigues so I’ll just say Delhoon and Hesstia are old rivals. They assassinated my brother, who was king, and made demands that I cannot abide.”
“This is exactly why we keep to ourselves,” Faustus says, folding his arms over his broad chest. Faustus narrows his eyes suddenly. “How was it that you saved my daughter from prostitution? Was she forced to sleep with many men before you saved her?”
Enden considers lying, but he’s been thinking about what he would say for over a week now. “No, she wasn’t with any other men. Out of respect for you, I’ll be honest, though you won’t like it. I paid to have her, I didn’t know she was sold as a slave. That is against our laws. But Saveena told me her story, and well, here we are.”
Faustus’s mouth hardens into a thin line. “So you buy my virgin daughter for a night of sex and even though she was a slave, you say she was willing.”
Enden is uncomfortable with this conversation now but decides he must go on to squash the king’s implications. “I didn’t force myself on her, if that’s what you’re saying. She did not want to be a prostitute but that’s not something I knew beforehand. She did as she was told by the person who bought her, otherwise she may have been killed.”
Faustus grumbles. “So you purchase her then decide to marry her? That’s unusual.”
Enden raises an eyebrow at the harshness of how it sounds. “I was taken with Saveena from the start. She’s beautiful and clever. And as you well know she’s not just any woman. She’s the daughter of a king.”
The shadows on Faustus’s face from the dim torchlight make him appear daunting, even more than he does in the bright sunlight. “I respect you being honest with me given the situation, Enden. You may marry Saveena, and maybe we can work out an alliance should either of us need the military force.”
Enden glances to Peter who’s been standing a short distance from them. Enden knows if he’s ever going into battle with this man he must tell him everything. So he explains Hesstia’s laws and beliefs, and its history and why the war was started.
Faustus listens without comment then finally says, “I agree with your enemy about magic. Why should we not take advantage of it?”
“My people fear it,” Enden says.
“They are weak and you should teach them a lesson then.”
Enden narrows his eyes. “It is our way. You do what you want in your kingdom and I will do what is best for Hesstia. We take magic users as slaves so their power is controlled. They don’t use magic stones like you and your people, they are born with it in them.”
Faustus’s eyebrows lower. “I will not be taken as a slave.”
“No, you are under my protection and here on diplomacy.”
Faustus stands quiet for a moment then says, “I would like to meet one of these magic born users.”
“I’ll take you to Jershon.” And the two kings walk down the hallway as new friends.
39. Madison
The clanking of metal on rock and abusive shouting is heard before Madison sees the mines. They’d been searching for days around Lanloc and finally, they are here. Madison hunkers down, and slowly peeks over the top of a rock. There are hundreds of people at the base of the cavern entrance, pulling wagons or carrying tools. Madison counts only twenty guards, all standing around doing nothing except for the occasional yelling commands or cracking a whip.
“We can take the guards. I only saw twenty,” Madison says with a wide smile, slinking back down to where Jordane and Nebba sit crouched. Her body is filled with excitement, she’s finally here. The place she’s wanted to find for so long, and she’ll be a hero for destroying this place.
“What are you smiling about?” Nebba asks.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, Nebba.”
Jordane gestures around them. “There may be more in the surrounding trees, in fact we must keep watch for any who might sneak up on us, and there is a camp nearby.” Jordane pulls out his sword and the sunlight glints off the blade. “And once we get close enough we won’t be able to use our magic. Kirune is in the soil—it’s everywhere.”
“Should we take the camp first?” Nebba asks, his eyes ever searching the trees around them. “We don’t want anyone sneaking up on us.”
Madison eyes Nebba warily. She doesn’t know how skilled of a fighter he is and she’s not confident that Jordane can fight as he once did. Without her magic this could go wrong very quickly.
“If we start killing the guards will the slaves turn on them and help us?” Madison asks Jordane specifically since he’d been here as one of them before. He will know the status of their morale and strength.
Jordane’s mind seems to be somewhere else as he stares off into the trees. Perhaps he’s reliving his time here. “Jordane,” Madison says, getting his attention. “Will they fight with us or not?”
“Some will,” Jordane replies. “Others will surely stand by and watch. Many of these slaves aren’t warriors and never were. They were taken as children and were sent here for one reason or another. They’re beaten down and exhausted.”
Madison taps her fingers on her leg trying to come up with something. They’d talked of ideas on the way but nothing stuck. The dam they found is an hours ride from here. Once they get the prisoners free of this place they will have to rush to release the dam.
“When we kill the guards the people are on their own,” Madison says sharply. ‘We can’t be heroes and take everyone with us. We’ll never make it out of Hesstia.”
“Agreed,” Nebba says and they look to Jordane.
“Where will they go?” Jordane asks. “If they’re caught, they’ll be slaves again.”
Madison knew this was going to be an issue with Jordane. He’s too good, too kind hearted. “It’s likely they will be caught again, but at least they won’t have to work the mines.”
Jordane’s face falls. “What if they kill them?”
Clearing his throat, Nebba puts a hand on Jordane shoulder. “We came to destroy the mines. And when we win this war people like them will be free. We can’t do anything more for them right now.”
After running a hand th
rough his hair, he says, “Fine.”
“To the camp,” Madison says and Jordane hops up and leads the way. They stand back behind a tree line watching some of the slaves sleeping on the ground and guards sitting around fires. The chill in the air is reason enough for campfires in the day time. Even Madison’s fingers are slightly numb from the cold. There are fifteen dirty tents, and seven guards. The tents must only be for the guards because there aren’t nearly enough for the slaves.
“This is it?” Nebba asks. “Seven guards completely unaware?”
Jordane half smiles. “Don’t forget about the twenty we saw earlier. And this place is supposed to be unknown and hard to find so it isn’t heavily guarded.”
“It is hard to find,” Madison says, pulling her swords. She’d gotten herself two shiny new blades and they’re sure pretty; deadly sharp too. “Seven here, we’ll take easily, and maybe a little more than twenty down at the mine entrance. Let’s make this quick.”
Madison charges in and the two men flank either side of her. They rush the oblivious guards, cutting most of them down but one makes a run for it. Jordane tears after him like a wild predator chasing down its prey.
The slow waning of Madison’s magic is a sign the kirune is somewhere close but it’s not completely gone yet. She stretches out her hand and halts the man, he falls back as if he ran into a brick wall. Jordane quickly stabs his sword into his chest and ends it.
The group of sick slaves begin to rise. “Run, if you can. You are free,” Nebba says and then without waiting to see what the slaves will do, the three of them make their way down the hill.
Madison takes deep steadying breaths as her feet pound against the ground, the clinking of her armor and weapons ring in her ears. By the time they reach the bottom of the hill Madison’s magical power is gone, her fate now rests in her swords.
Jordane stops and launches an arrow, hitting a nearby guard in the neck. The man next to him turns and shouts just before Nebba sticks a blade in his chest.
Alerted, the remaining guards charge, weapons drawn. Some of the nearby slaves stop and watch the fight. Madison ducks under a coming blow and then swipes up with her blade dragging it across the man’s belly. He lets out a cry and drops his weapons. She’s onto the next, blocking a man’s sword coming down at her. She kicks him back and he swipes at her leg, barely missing. Madison growls and drops to her knee, cutting both swords across his thighs and then jabs her left one into his chest with an angry cry. Blood spurts from his mouth when she rips her sword from him.
A yell comes from the side of her, followed by heavy footfalls, Madison rolls out of the way of an ax and swings her blade at the back of the man’s calf. He cries out and stumbles to the ground. More guards come from inside the tunnel. Madison braces herself for the rush but then a slave bashes a guard on the head with a rock and drops him. And soon many of them are fighting which helps against the few guards that come from the woods. They use their picks or shovels, some pick up swords from the fallen. Nebba lets out a loud battle scream that seems to inspire the slaves all the more and they mob the remaining guards.
When all Hesstian’s are dead, the slaves run over to the Delhoon warriors, crying out their thanks, putting their hands on them as if they are miracles in the flesh. Many even dropping to their knees in praise. Their touching makes Madison uncomfortable, she doesn’t like being looked at as a savior who deserves such admiration. She’s not good like that.
Jordane wears a grin wider than Madison has seen in years. He’s laughing while he grabs a man he must have known and pulls him into a hug. Nebba picks up a small boy and throws him into the air, the filthy little boy giggles.
Another reason Madison doesn’t want the appreciation of these people is because they’re going to leave them. Madison keeps a smile on her face but pushes passed the crowd and pulls Jordane with her. “We have to go.”
The man who Jordane had embraced approaches them. “How are you free, Jordane? Did you come back to save us?”
“We came to destroy the mines,” Madison says before Jordane can answer. “You are on your own now.”
Jordane gives Madison a glare. “You knew I was from Delhoon. We’re on a mission but we can’t help you further. I suggest you make for the Gap of Freeole and into Delhoon if you want to keep your freedom.”
Madison sees the determination on the man’s face. He might actually make it there even if some of the others don’t. “We’re letting the dam loose. Get everyone out of here.”
He gives Madison a curt nod. “Thank you. I’ll gather--”
“If you want to survive,” Madison says, cutting him off. “Split up. Don’t travel together or you’ll lead soldier’s right to you and they might kill all of you for what happened here.”
Nebba jogs over to join them followed by the little boy. “We must hurry. Someone told me that a guard got away. He’ll bring reinforcements from Lanloc prison.”
“It will take him days on foot,” the slave says, wiping his dirty face on his sleeve. “No one is close by and many of the soldiers are fighting at the front.”
“Well, then that buys you a little time,” Madison says. “But we don’t take any chances. Make sure everyone is out of this valley within the hour or they’ll drown. Let’s move.”
Jordane shakes the man’s hand and Nebba turns to the kid to say good bye. “Poor kid is only seven,” Nebba says while they hike up the hill to their horses.
Jordane looks to Madison and hands her a cloth from his pocket. “You have blood all over your face.”
Madison didn’t realize. She wipes her face and looks at her hands which are also covered in blood. “How are you so clean?” she asks, spitting into the rag to help wash the stains.
Jordane taps the bow and arrows on his back. “I got most of them from a distance.”
Nebba has some blood on his chest and arms but his face is clear. Madison looks to him for an explanation. Nebba shrugs. “I guess I’m just tall.”
Madison breaks into a smile. “I can’t believe we are going to do this. This has been my mission for so long.” She feels giddy at the thought of a wall of water gushing down the hill and filling this place with hundreds of feet of water. The Hesstian’s will never be able to recover the mine.
40. Enden
Enden stands in front of the mirror combing his hair for at least the fifteenth time. It doesn’t need it, not a single hair is out of place, but waiting for the wedding ceremony is making his heart jump like it never has before. He can hear the orchestra playing, and Peter waits inside with him standing beside the door. “She looks beautiful,” Peter says. “I saw her in the dress.”
Enden dabs some cologne on his neck and looks at Peter in the mirror’s reflection. “I’m sure she’s radiant.” He tugs on the bottom of his royal blue top and straightens the crooked crossed swords badge on his chest. Then his eyes fall to the crown in front of him. He only wore it on his coronation day but it’s customary to wear during the wedding ceremony as well. He slowly places it on his head and has a vision of his father, remembering when he wore the crown.
“Enden, you’ll probably never be king since you are the youngest, but if anything should ever happen to Rolland, you wear this crown with dignity.” His father stared at himself in the full length mirror. Enden admired his father standing with the straight back and high chin a king always seemed to have. At the time, Enden only reached his father’s hip. “You keep our kingdom strong the way our ancestors have always done.” He paused as if thinking of some distant memory. “And should you ever take a queen, you make sure she is worthy of the title. Nothing will make your life harder than having a weak, disobedient wretch for a wife. Your mother is one of the strongest women I know.”
“Yes, father,” Enden answered. He never thought he’d wear the crown but for some reason that conversation stuck with him. Maybe on a subconscious level he believed that one day he would be king.
A quiet knock sounds at the door. “I think it’s time
, Sire. Are you ready?” Peter asks.
Enden turns from his reflection and nods. Peter pushes open the door and they walk into the crowded ballroom he’d chosen for the ceremony. If he wasn’t royalty, Enden would have chosen a smaller gathering but he has people to please and a reputation to uphold so there are hundreds sitting before him. Blue and gold ribbons wrap around the pillars in the room and bouquets of white flowers line the aisle way. Hushed words are exchanged among the crowd when he takes his place next to the ceremonial leader, Berg. The man is dressed in white robes with a blue sash tied around his waist. He’s an older gentleman with pure white hair and steel blue eyes.
The wrinkles on his face deepen as he looks at Enden with a gentle smile. “I’m pleased you’ve chosen such a wonderful bride, King Enden. I think she will make a fine queen. Your father would be proud of you making an alliance with Collweya.”
“Yes, I think he would,” Enden says. He’d known Berg since he was a young boy, this man had performed his brother’s wedding and some of his cousins, too.
Looking out among the finely dressed people, many of them acquaintances of his fathers and brother who he’d only seen in passing if at all. He only invited them on ceremony, it was expected that the wealthy and privileged should come.
He spots a small gathering of Saveena’s people in the back, the men that had traveled with Faustus. Enden’s guards stand along every wall, and a few beside him, just in case anyone wants to attempt something rash.
The music changes and then all stand, anticipating Saveena’s arrival. Moments later she appears from the hallway down the aisle with her father at her side. She’s wearing a light gold colored gown as is customary in Hesstia. He should notice the details of the dress but his eyes are on his gorgeous bride’s happy smile. Her blue eyes are locked onto him, he can see that even from this distance.
Saveena’s walk down the aisle seems to go by fast and before he can really catch his breath, she and her father are in front of him. Faustus kisses his daughters cheek and places her hand in Enden’s. They gaze at each other as Berg speaks, but Enden doesn’t hear the words. His mind is too scattered, he’s too focused on Saveena and the way she is staring at him.
