Burden of Stones

by James Dale

  The palace was breached.

  "Ho Thunderiders! Forward!" Colonel Dreuhil shouted, and the main assault began.

  Under a continuing shower of arrows, the Doridanians moved forward at a gallop without resistance along the Avenue of Kings; two columns of Thunderiders on the right, two columns Red Horse on the left. Dragon Guards and Ailfar Rangers had just finished pushing away the shattered gate as they arrived. Riding into the palace, swords drawn, the horsemen were met by Raashani defenders who had been protected behind the wall, out of reach of the arrows of the 7th Longbow.

  "Forward!" Colonel Dreuhil shouted. "Don't block the gate! Don't block..." The Thunderiders’ commander fell from the saddle, his throat pierced by an arrow fired from within the palace.

  They had taken their first casualty.

  Without hesitating, Colonel Valdaen took up the cry, urging the cavalry onward. By force of will alone, he refused to let their momentum slow. Soon the sheer volume of riders overwhelmed the shield wall the Raashani had established and the 1st and 9th began streaming into the palace.

  Braedan and the Golden Lions soon followed. Though the Raashani shield wall was scattered, the defenders quickly formed smaller squares, fighting fiercely against the mounted Doridanians. Their archers on the wall, desperate now, braved the diminishing shower of arrows and began firing down into the courtyard at the riders below. Fearful of hitting their own comrades however, their shots were sporadic and largely ineffectual.

  Yet their aim did find marks here and there. Erlwin val'Durn was struck in shoulder and lost his balance. Falling from his saddle, he was swallowed up by the fray. Braedan immediately turned to aid the Lion, but Kirk blocked his path.

  "I've got him!" he shouted, "Go find Kiathan! Go!"

  Vanar did not wait for a reply, but charged off into the thick of the fight, followed by Anghol and Michael. Sparing a last glance at where Erlwin had fallen, Braedan turned again and rode hard toward the palace.

  Up ahead, a squad of Raashani had taken up position between the two giant statues of the rearing Val'anna standing on either side of palace steps. Braedan urged Eaudreuil forward, the remainder of the Golden Lions and the High King's Hammer close behind him.

  Seeing the hopelessness of their plight, the Raashani broke ranks and ran, bounding up the steps toward the closed palace doors. Pounding on the door with fists and swords, they shouted to be let inside, but their cries went unanswered. Trapped between locked doors and the quickly advancing horsemen, the duke's men threw down their weapons and fell to their knees.

  "Quarter!" a Raashani sergeant pleaded as Braedan halted Eaudreuil before them.

  "Quarter?" Tarsus growled, vaulting from his saddle. "Raashani have killed twenty-three Galekindar in the last two days. Why should I give you quarter?" he asked, lifting the sergeants chin with the point of his sword.

  "Tie them up," Jack instructed. "We can haggle over their fate later."

  "I've a better idea," Tarsus suggested. "You want quarter?” he asked, turning back to the Raashani sergeant, “Grab the bench yonder and batter down the door. They locked it," he said, turning to Jack. "Why should we tire ourselves out getting it open?"

  "Sounds fair to me," Jack agreed.

  "Well? What are you waiting on?" the Amarian bellowed, every inch the perpetually surly pirate he’d first met. "And each stroke over three will cost one life. Starting with yours, sergeant!"

  The Raashani jumped to their feet and hurried over to the bench. It took four of them just to lift the heavy marble and the six had to jockey for room to get a good grip. As they carried it over to the door, men crowded behind them, preparing to rush in as soon as the way was cleared.

  "Stand aside!" Tarsus ordered. "Give 'em room!"

  "Ready," the sergeant said. "Two." They swung the bench, gathering momentum. "Three!"

  The door shuddered at the first blow, but held. It was stout oak, and though not well designed to withstand a siege, there was still strength in its making.

  "That's one," Tarsus counted.

  The Raashani sergeant swallowed hard. "Ready! Two! Three!"

  The stout door splintered and mortar dust flew from its mooring.

  "Two!"

  "Stand back!" Jack warned. "There may be archers!" But there were nearly two hundred men gathered now on the steps and the front ranks could only take a single step back.

  "Ready!" the Raashani sergeant shouted. "Two! THREE!"

  The palace door swung inward with a crash and two of the Raashani went down immediately, feathered by arrows. The sergeant was struck half a second later because he had nowhere to run as the men gathered behind him rushed forward. Two of the High King's Hammer fell, as well as a pair of Captain Eraehart's men, then troops began pouring into the palace.

  At least half a dozen more men died before the assault forced could close with their enemy, then a pitched battle began. Pushing his way inside, Braedan surveyed the chaotic fight for control of the hall. There was no way to count the Raashani. In truth, he was unconcerned. His only thought was they stood between him and the throne room. He could see the long hallway directly across from him, and he leapt into the fray.

  Though the fighting was fierce, he pushed forward, Tarsus at his side, with Borg Cassaban and the Golden Lions doing their best to protect him. Several of the High King's Hammer, with Captain d'Kenna in the lead, surged ahead and fell upon the Raashani with a fury, and a way was suddenly cleared through the press of bodies.

  With a shout, Jack hurried into the opening. A pair of Raashani appeared before him, but he would not be denied. Leaping Tiger swept aside the hurried thrust of the first man. Wind Upon the Mountain disarmed the second. Then Jack was running down the hallway at a sprint.

  He could hear Cassy behind him, shouting for him to slow down and cursing at the Lions to hurry up. Arriving at the entrance to the throne room, Jack found the door locked. He raised Grimrorr to hack through the wood, but before he could swing, Borg caught his arm.

  "And what," Cassy breathed heavily, spinning him around, "do you think you're doing? There might be a hundred Raashani waiting on the other side!"

  "And there might only be Kiathan," Jack argued, "cowering in a corner."

  "Either way, you'll not be going through first," Borg insisted. "You've had enough fun for today. The Lions and the Hammer will take it from here. Graeg, ward the High Prince," Borg commanded, forcibly pushing Jack away from the door. "He tries to follow...take his sword from him."

  The young d'Vis paled at the thought of trying to disarm the Swordmaster, but apparently, he was even more fearful of his what Borg might do to him if he disobeyed. "Please, m'Lord," he said, taking Jack by the arm. "Do as he says."

  "d'Kenna!" Borg shouted, as he watched Jack reluctantly allow young Lion to pull him aside. "I've got something for your boys to hammer! Get this door open!"

  "Four men," the Hammer's captain commanded, pointing to a nearby bench. "Everyone else against the walls! Shields to the front!" d'Kenna had been near the front when they battered down the palace door. He had seen what worked well and what went badly.

  As Jack watched the four men bring a stone, petitioners’ bench forward, an evil foreboding suddenly filled him. Archers weren't their only concern. "Wait!" he cried.

  "m'Lord?" Graeg d'Vis said quietly.

  "Wait," Jack insisted, handing Grimrorr to the young Lion, then pushing his way back to the front.

  "What is it, Jack?" Tarsus joining him.

  Raashani were the least of their concerns. If the na'Hhoul was waiting on the other side of the door...another blast of Hell's Wind would burn everyone in the hall to ash.

  "Jack?" Tarsus asked again.

  "Quiet," Braedan hissed. Reaching out, he touched the throne room door with his palms and opened his mind. He could feel... something, some wrongness, on the other side. But what, he wasn't sure. There was no heat or hint of sulfur. Only a dark, lingering evil. Not as if something was waiting for them, but as if something, some...dar
k necromancy had already taken place.

  "Open it!" Jack shouted. "Open it now!"

  The four men with the bench came quickly forward. d'Vis brought Jack Grimrorr, then un-ceremoniously pushed him aside, using his own body to protect his lord from whatever danger waited on the other side of the door.

  The Hammer's men swung the stone bench and struck the door once, shattering timber. The second blow knocked loose its hinges. With raised shields, two men rammed the door and rushed into the throne room. Ignoring the protests of d'Vis, Jack pushed his way past the Lion and after them.

  What they found were a dozen Raashani lying scattered around the room, bloody and dead, and a circle of scorched marble before the throne. The na'Hhoul had been here...and by his dark art was gone once more. The Raashani left behind to guard its flight, maddened by the touch of Sa'tan's servant and with no one to fight, had apparently turned their rage on each other. Except for the dead, the throne room was empty. Kiathan Ellgaer had escaped them again.

  Chapter Seven

  Long live the Queen

  Two days they had chased Kiathan farther and faster than anyone could have imagined. Men who had followed him because they trusted him were dead, more were dying at this very moment. They had entered Dorshev by force, risking a civil war, and still Kiathan managed to escape. Jack Braedan swallowed a curse, taking Grimrorr back from d’Vis and slamming it into its sheath.

  "Take the Hammer and search the palace for Kiathan," Jack ordered Captain d'Kenna. "Just in case the bastard is still here. Cassy, get me someone who knows how to find the king's quarters."

  "I know the way," Arrgenn Dunnahel volunteered.

  "Then let's go," Jack nodded. "Lions, on me!"

  Dunnahel led Jack, Tarsus and the seven Lions from the throne room, back to the main vestibule of the palace. There they found the fighting done. A group of perhaps a dozen captured Raashani were on their knees, hands on their heads, being watched over by a squad of the 2nd Home Guard. More of the 2nd were busy tending wounded and searching the bodies of the dead. Sergeant... Senior Sergeant Haldor, was receiving a report from a corporal with a hasty bandage wrapped around his head. When he saw Jack, he patted the man's arms and came to relay what he knew.

  "The Heavy Horse have routed resistance outside the palace," Haldor reported. "The archers of the 7th now man the battlements. We are preparing for a counter attack, though without a gate...if the Raashani come in force, we'll be hard pressed to hold them without more men."

  "Thanks, Haldor," Jack nodded. "We're heading to the king's quarters. Let no one in the throne room to remove the dead Raashani. Maybe Cilidon can figure out what happened in here."

  "Watch yourself," Haldor advised. "The Rangers are roaming the palace but they have yet to find the...the..." He couldn't bring himself to name the fell creature of legend.

  "The na'Hhoul has fled," Braedan informed him. "Taking Kiathan with him most likely." Though he didn't explain how he knew this, Haldor accepted his word without question.

  "Watch yourself just the same," the guardsman warned again. "The palace is not yet secure. There are rooms here a company of Raashani could hide."

  "You do the same," Jack nodded, and turned to resume his way to the Ellgenn's quarters.

  "Sir," Haldor said hesitantly, stopping him.

  "Yes sergeant?"

  "Sir," he began again, "I...I know who you are...who you were, but if you are the one who finally convinced the princess to throw off Kiathan's yoke, all of Doridan is in your debt. The Home Guard serves the crown, but if you should ever have need..."

  "Continue to serve the princess," Jack replied, giving the man a firm clap on the shoulder. "And you will serve my needs perfectly."

  "That, we will do gladly," Haldor nodded.

  "Which way Arrgenn?" asked Jack, turning back to the young Dunnahel.

  "This corridor on the right," Arrgenn said, pointing the way.

  Following Arrgenn, the group made their way through the palace. Twice they heard sounds of fighting off in the distance, but the only Raashani they encountered were already dead. At the first intersection they crossed, a frightened servant almost ran straight into Arrgenn as she rounded the corner. Skidding to a halt, she gave a cry and ran back the way she had come.

  "Must have seen your face Cassy," Tarsus grinned.

  "Or yours," Borg smiled.

  "Should I follow the lass?" Cyran asked. "Ummm....just to make sure she doesn't run into trouble?"

  "The only trouble she's likely to find is you," Jack muttered. "Arrgenn?"

  "This way," Dunnahel said, pointing in the opposite direction the servant had fled.

  "Figures," Cyran sighed.

  At the next intersection, the group turned left again, then climbed a flight of stairs, and turned right. There they ran into a pair of Captain Eraehart's guardsmen.

  "My Lord!" he said, seeing Jack. "Duke Morgan sent us to find you! The king...the princess..."

  "Is Anna...okay?" asked Jack, pushing his way past Graeg d'Vis, who was still acting as his own human shield.

  "The princess is unharmed," the man said quickly, "But she needs you."

  "Go!"

  Following the pair to the end of the corridor, they came to a door guarded by several more of Eraehart's men. They opened it without a word and allowed Jack to enter, but quickly barred it against the others.

  "Tarsus comes with me," Jack informed the lieutenant standing in their way. "He's the King of Amar. It's time he started acting like it."

  "Very well," the lieutenant nodded, "but only him."

  "My Lord?" Graeg d'Vis said, his voice full of concern, actually reaching for his sword, as if preparing to fight his way into the room. "Cassy?"

  "Stand down Graeg," Borg said, laying his hand on the young Lion's sword arm. "I think this is as far as we commoners go."

  The door opened into a grand suite where Jack found Marten du'Gail, Captain Beltaran, several Ailfar Rangers, and Captain Eraehart. The Doridanian looked shaken, and the others all wore grim faces. Even the usually unreadable Ailfar.

  "They are inside," Marten said, inclining his head toward a door across the suite.

  The door opened into another spacious room; the king's bed chamber. Theros, Cilidon, and Duke Morgan stood quietly at the foot of the king's bed. Kneeling at bed side, holding her father's hand against her tear stained cheek was Annawyn. She looked up when Jack entered and held out a hand to him, her eyes pleading. Jack strode quickly to her side, willing her strength as he took her hand.

  "Is he..."

  "No," Theros whispered.

  "Not yet," Duke Morgan added quietly.

  King Ellgenn’s eyes fluttered open briefly at the sound of voices. The King of Doridan had looked aged beyond his years when Jack had seen for the first time during his farce of a trial, nearly a year ago, but now it seemed he clung to life by a tenuous thread. "Daughter?"

  "I am here father," the princess replied, kissing his withered hand tenderly.

  "Morgan?" the king whispered.

  "I am here as well, my liege, my brother," the Duke of Dorshev said, moving to stand by his side.

  "I have been a fool," the king said. "I have..."

  A fit of coughing seized him. Anna squeezed Jack's hand, anguished at seeing her father in such distress.

  "You have been many things in your long life, Ellgenn son of Daelgenn," Cilidon said, when the coughing had run its course, "but a fool? Not you, my friend."

  "Cilidon?" the king asked, searching the room with clouded eyes. "Is that you?"

  "Yes Ellgenn," the Ailfar king smiled. "I am here. And Theros as well."

  "Then...then I must be...nearing the end," Ellgenn said, haltingly. "Bring...bring me the sword."

  "Tarsus," Cilidon said, turning to the Amarian, "Fetch Siegebreaker. It rests yonder," he said, pointing to a gilded stand on the far side of the room.

  The Amarian quickly retrieved the broken Highsword, a danger now only to those careless enough to test the
sharpness of the ancient sword’s shattered blade. He laid the sword carefully on the king's chest and Ellgenn's hand grasped its hilt. As he did so, a measure of strength seemed to return to him. His eyes opened wide, as if a veil had been drawn aside, allowing him to see clearly for the first time in a long while.

  He looked around the room, a smile coming to his face at seeing those whom he held dear. When they lighted on Jack, they grew troubled. "I...know you." he said. "I have seen you before."

  "Yes sir," Jack said hesitantly. “You have sir.”

  Another coughing fit, worse than the one before wracked the king. When it passed, a trickle of blood was on his lips.

  "Hush father," Anna said, releasing Jack's hand so she could wipe away the blood on her father's chin. "You need rest... you need..."

  "I have been a fool," Ellgenn repeated, reaching up with a shaking hand to touch his daughter's face. "A fool to ignore Morgan's council. A fool to exile...to exile my only son! To trust Kiathan!"

  "Kiathan will trouble Doridan no more," Braedan replied. "He has fled."

  King Ellgenn sighed in relief, but everyone else looked at Jack. Annawyn with sudden fear.

  "He has fled," Jack assured her again. "He and his…companion."

  "Where?" Anna whispered.

  "Wherever he has gone," Tarsus informed her, "His designs on your father's throne went with him. Whatever evil he may still plan, that threat at least is over."

  "Did you hear father?" Annawyn said, turning again to the king. "Father? Father?"

  Morgan placed two fingers on the king's neck, checking for a pulse. After a moment, he reached up and closed Ellgenn's unseeing eyes.

  "Father?" Anna whispered.

  "The king...is dead," the Duke of Dorshev said quietly. "Long live the queen."

  "Father!" Anna cried, collapsing.

  Jack caught her before she fell and easily swept the unconscious princess up in his arms. "Where's her room?"