Burden of Stones

by James Dale

  "The only thing I want is you," he said huskily, slipping his arms around her slim waist.

  "You shall have me as well," Annawyn said, wriggling from his grasp. "After...I give you this." She moved quickly to their bed and retrieved a long, slender object wrapped in linen. "Uncle Morgan found it just this morning locked in a trunk in Kiathan's room."

  "What could I possibly want that belonged to..."

  She unwound the linen and present it to him.

  "Dorad’s sword?" Jack smiled happily.

  "I though you would be pleased," Annawyn smiled, offering him the treasured blade. He reached for the sword Dorad given him but she pulled it back out of his reach. "What will you give me for it?" his wife asked teasingly.

  "I'm sure we can work out something," he grinned, taking the sword from her and setting it aside.

  "Perhaps we can," Annawyn laughed softly, helping him undo the remaining buttons of her dress.

  They were late for dinner.

  Chapter Eleven

  Muriel’s Revenge

  Their parting that night when it was time for Braedan to go was not an easy one.

  "I'll be back before you know it," he promised, stroking his wife's auburn hair as she clung tightly to him. From the way her shoulders shook, he knew she was struggling to hold back tears. "It'll only be three months."

  "Every minute will seem like a thousand years," Annawyn whispered.

  "Anna, I never knew love...true love...until I found you," he said quietly. "I...I..."

  "Shhhhh," his wife said, pulling his face to her and kissing him with a passion he would not put into words. Before her resolve to let him leave completely vanished, Annawyn pushed him away. "Go, Beloved," she whispered, turning. "I would not have you see the Queen of Doridan cry."

  "I love you, Anna," he said, moving aside her auburn hair and brushing her neck with his lips. Breathing deeply, filling his memory with her scent, Braedan left before the Queen of Doridan could see his own tears.

  Kirk and six Golden Lions were waiting for him in the stables. Braedan mounted Eaudreuil without a word and they rode from the palace under the cover of darkness, through empty streets and down to the city docks. The rest of their party had just finished boarding the ship that would take them to Wheslake and Muriel's Revenge.

  "Take care of Anna," he instructed the Val'anna as he dismounted, patting the stallion's flank. With barely room enough on the ship for all the human passengers, the roan would have to remain behind in Dorshev.

  "No harm will come to Fire Mane," the Val'anna assured him.

  "Don't get fat and lazy while I'm gone," Jack smiled. "Anna has promised to try and ride you every day, but she has a lot more to do besides looking after a broken down, old plow horse."

  Handing Eaudreuil's reigns over to a waiting groom, Braedan made his way up the ship's gang plank to find Tarsus waiting for him. The Amarian was dressed for travel, returning to his more familiar mail and leathers, but around his neck, suspended from a slender chain, he wore a large diamond that sparkled in the light of the ship's torches.

  "I see I'm not the only one who received a parting gift from Kiathan's trunk," he smiled, pointing to the Star of Issa.

  "Annawyn gave it to me this afternoon," Tarsus grinned. "Tereil will be pleased to learn it has been found. Having a king in Amar again would not be right without the Star of Issa around his neck. It is a good omen."

  "Is everyone here?" asked Jack.

  "You are the last," the Amarian nodded.

  "Then tell the captain of this tub to shove off. The sooner we get going, the sooner we get back."

  "She'll be fine, now that Kiathan is out of the way."

  "I know," Jack sighed. But where had he gone and how long would he stay out of the away? That was the question.

  "You'll be sharing a cabin with me, Gain and Ardel," Tarsus informed him as he led Braedan below deck. "I know it's a step down from the company you have been keeping lately," he grinned, "but it's the best you can get on this trip."

  The cabin was small, with barely enough room for the four men and their gear but at least it was clean. Gain and the Immerman captain were already asleep on the bottom bunks. When Jack raised a disappointed eyebrow, Tarsus laughed quietly.

  "You shouldn't have taken so long saying your good-byes."

  With a sigh, Braedan removed Grimrorr and hung the Ailfar sword over the post of his bunk and climbed into his bed. He covered himself with a warm, wool blanket, not even removing his mail and was asleep before the ship and been untied from its berth and left the dock.

  "Jack? Cousin?"

  As Braedan's eyes snapped open, he discovered he was lying on a carpet of thick, green grass, next to a warm fire. Overhead, the starry sky stretched from horizon to horizon.

  "Ailicia!" he hissed, sitting up quickly to confront the Ailfar princess sitting cross-legged on the grass next to him. "We shouldn't be here!"

  "We not will be staying long Great Lion," Long Tooth beamed, appearing out of the night. Both Ailicia and the old wolf appeared to be made of gossamer and Jack immediately surmised they had somehow brought him to an outer dream.

  "Why..."

  "A parting gift," Ailicia smiled. "From Morning Flower and Long Tooth."

  "Beloved?" whispered a voice he'd not expected to hear again for three long months. Annawyn stepped into the glow of the campfire and sat down beside him with a pleased smiled. Braedan reached out a hand to touch her face, but both he and his wife were as insubstantial as Long Tooth and Ailicia and his hand passed right through her.

  "It is a poor substitute, I know," Ailicia sighed. "But you can see each other at least. And talk."

  "Thank you, cousin," Jack smiled, "Thank you both."

  "Be swift, Great Lion," the wolf said with a canine grin. "Fire Mane cannot hold the dream long, but she is learning."

  Jack awoke with a smile the next morning and the first thing he did was find Ailicia and give her a big hug.

  Though the trip down the River Whesguard was cramped and crowed and missing the one person in two worlds Braedan wanted at his side, the surrounding countryside was beautiful and best of all, passed quickly. Two days found them docking in Raashan where Gain Ellgereth was officially recognized by the people as their new duke. After hurried instructions to the city's council on the changes he expected to be made, new Duke of Raashan boarded the ship and they were sailing down river once again. Three more days found them at the mouth of Wheslake, and another docking at the thriving port city of Dorihil where Muriel's Revenge lay at anchor.

  "Damn she's a monster!" Tarsus nodded appreciatively, upon seeing the dreadnought. The king of Annoth's flagship dwarfed the other vessels in the harbor. "With such a ship, we would be the scourge of the high seas."

  "I don't think it's what Kaerl had in mind when he said we could borrow her," Jack grinned.

  "It was just a thought," the former captain of the Brotherhood laughed.

  "She is a beauty," Braedan admitted. "I bet she can out sail anything on Aeralnen Widewater."

  "I don't like the way you two pirates are looking at the Revenge," Kaerl An’Kaera smiled, walking up to the pair.

  "It was just a thought," Tarsus grinned.

  "Just a thought," Jack agreed.

  "Do me a favor and don't loot any Annothian ships before heading out to open sea," the king sighed. "I'd have a devil of a time explaining it to my merchant guild."

  "We'll try and restrain ourselves," Tarsus promised. "Damn she's big!" he remarked again.

  "The mayor of Dorihil sent word he has prepared a formal dinner," Kaerl informed them. "Interested?"

  "I don't think so," Jack replied. "I'm kind of anxious to get under way."

  "It will be a couple of hours before Captain Anaekin is ready to sail," the king of Annoth replied. "There won't be another chance to enjoy decent meal until you reach Lordsisle. What do you say? I promise not to let him pester you too much."

  "It will be a long voyage," Tarsus add
ed.

  "Okay," Jack relented. It would be a long voyage, and he was hungry. "But no speeches, no receiving lines, and everyone gets a place to eat. Golden Lions. Dragons. Rangers. Everyone. And the mayor pays for it."

  "Do not think unkindly of your host,” An’Kaera informed him. "My family stays with him when-ever we pass through Dorihil. He is an honorable man. I will pay for their meals. At the finest inn or tavern of their choosing. The mayor is by no means a pauper, but with the banquet he’s likely planned…such a cost would burden him. He'll be disappointed you don’t want him to make a fuss over you, but I'll see to it."

  The mayor was indeed disappointed, but he consoled himself at not being allowed to make a show over the queen's husband and the new Swordmaster by showering his attention of the royal family of Annoth. The food was plentiful and delicious, and Braedan consoled himself during the feast by glowering at one of the guests, Captain Devin Ellgaer. The look on his face when he saw his two former prisoners made the entire affair worth the delay. Watching Kiathan’s cousin squirm every time he looked at him, Jack decided to pen a letter to Duke Morgan and have him investigate whether the Captain had any part to play in the former Duke of Raashan’s treachery beyond being related to him.

  When Braedan received word all his troops had eaten their fill, he excused himself from the table and said his good byes to the An’Kaeras.

  "Highness," Jack bowed, kissing the lovely queen Mirique's hand.

  "Take care of Kirstaen," the queen smiled. "And Tarsus too," she added in a conspiratorial whisper. "Maerinna would be heartbroken if anything happened to him."

  "I'll do my best," he promised.

  "Try and bring my ship back in one piece," Kaerl An’Kaera asked. "If it will help, tell Tarsus I'll will consider giving it to him as a wedding gift, if he is agreeable to the union." The Amarian and the youngest Annothian princess had been together almost constantly since leaving Dorshev. It helped that there had been no place for Tarsus to hide aboard ship.

  "You’ll agree then?” asked Jack. From the minute he had learned or the princess pursuit of Tarsus, he knew an alliance between Amar and Annoth would be good for everyone involved. And good for Tarsus as well. “I know you were hesitant when I suggested it, but you could search all of Aralon and not find a better man. He will be a fine king as well when all this is…settled. And Maerinna will be a fine queen. The Amarian’s will adore her. I will see the glory of Amar restored and a palace built to match her beauty.”

  “Aye,” Kaerl nodded. “I agree. Though I think my agreement is a moot point. Maerinna seems to have already made her mind up on the matter.”

  “Now all I have to do is convince Tarsus,” Jack grinned.

  “Oh, I do not think will be so difficult a task," Mirique smiled, inclining her head down the table where Tarsus was saying his fare well to the blonde, Valkyrie beauty. To their delight, they saw him remove the Star of Issa and fasten it around her slender neck.

  "No," Jack laughed quietly, "I don't think it will."

  "Aren't you missing something," he asked Tarsus as they gathered up everyone and departed the feast.

  "She's just keeping it safe for me," the Amarian replied gruffly. "I wouldn't want to lose it again."

  "I see," Jack nodded. "And have you given any thought to what it's going to cost you to get it back?"

  "I have," Tarsus replied, a slow grin appearing on his rugged face. "But I think...it might just be worth the price."

  "Maerinna did look exceptionally lovely tonight," Braedan observed, struggling to keep a straight look.

  "She did," the Amarian admitted, quietly.

  "You can always close your eyes and pretend she's Teala."

  "I'll pretend...you didn't say that," Tarsus replied.

  "Tarsus Aernin!" Jack laughed. "If I didn't know better, I'd believe you were falling in love."

  "Welcome aboard Muriel's Revenge, my lords," Captain Anaekin saluted as he and Tarsus arrived back at the docks some minutes later. Prince Kirstaen was right behind them, smiling broadly.

  "It's not the Seawolf," the prince of Annoth said, "but I think you'll find she's a worthy ship."

  "How long until we reach Lordsisle, captain?" asked Jack.

  "Two days will see us at Yh's Finger," Anaekin replied. "From there we'll pick up Erlik's Stream and head southwest to open sea. With favorable winds, eighteen or twenty days more will see us at Lordsisle."

  "Then let's get going," Jack nodded.

  Yh's Finger was the western most point of Doridan, a slim peninsula of land stretching five miles out into Aeralnen Widewater like God hand placed it there to point to open sea. Many centuries ago, a lighthouse had been built upon the finger of land, first only as a warning for early sailors plying the coast of Aralon to beware of the low-lying peninsula, but sometime later after the discovery of the ocean current a few miles further off the coast, it became a marker to find Erlik's Stream. Later still, after the death of Ljmarn Bra' Adan had dictated a need to find a safe depository for the Highsword Yhswyndyr, the Lords of the Staffclave used the ocean's invisible river as a means to locate the island which would become home to Ljmarn's blade until his heir returned.

  When the lookout spotted the lighthouse on Yh's Finger near sundown on their first day from Dorihil, Jack made his way to the bow of Muriel's Revenge and searched the horizon with gladness. The lighthouse was more than a marker pointing to open sea, to him it was a signpost signaling the beginning of the end of his long journey. From this slender point of land, it was southwest on Aeralnen Widewater and ride Erlik's Stream straight for Lordsisle and his appointment at the Temple of the Sword. In Dorshev he could feel Graith stirring beneath his dark lair in the east. He was awake now and slowly regain his strength. Out here on the edge of Aralon, facing west toward the open sea, Braedan could feel the Highsword awakening as well.

  It was strange being on a ship again, smelling the salt air, feeling the wind in his hair, hearing the rhythmic boom as the bow Muriel's Revenge crashed through the waves. Having no crew to command, nor any duties aboard ship, Jack passed his time thinking, talking, and planning for the future. He took every opportunity to pick the minds of his fellow passengers; Thonicil, Kirstaen, Arrinor, Ailicia, and Lady Ara’fael, about anything and everything they knew of the Highswords, especially Yhswyndyr. The most amazing source of information proved to be Malik Gamrin. Though when Braedan remembered the mercenary general had spent three years on Lordsisle studying under the Staffclave, he almost kicked himself for not thinking to come to Malik first.

  "Well of course I can tell you about Deathbane," the Razorback's general nodded. "What do you want to know?"

  "Everything," Jack sighed. "No one ever told me the Highswords could shoot bloody flame from their blades! Theros and Cilidon blew away the doors of Doridan palace like they were made of balsa wood. I wish I'd thought to talk to them while I had the chance, but after the fighting was done, I was busy with Dorshev's High Council then...well, other things."

  "A man who would think of Highswords when he has a Horsemaiden waiting in his bridal bed," Malik chuckled, "is no man at all as far as I'm concerned."

  "She does command your full attention," Jack agreed.

  "No need to make excuses to me son," the general laughed, "I was young once. There was this pretty little novice my first year on Lordsisle, from Caladin, had the biggest brown eyes and the firmest...but that's another story. You were asking about Deathbane. So, you want to know every-thing?"

  "The more I know the better prepared I'll be when I draw the sword."

  "Let's make this clear first off," Malik said. "You've no doubt heard it already, but I'm going to tell you again because it's the single most important thing. No matter how much you know about the Highswords, none of it will make a flaming bit of difference. All you will ever need to know is flowing in veins."

  "I know..."

  "I'm just making sure," Malik interrupted. "Because if you're not Ljmarn's Heir, which I think you are, don'
t misunderstand me, but if you're not...you'll be dead before it clears the scabbard. From the Staffclave's accounts of the only two men ever...deluded enough to try and draw Deathbane without Ljmarn's blood in their veins, it wasn't a pleasant way to go."

  "I've heard. Boiling blood, bones melting..."

  "Something like that."

  "I'm not worried," Braedan replied. Though Graith said his blood was no longer pure enough, Ljmarn himself had acknowledged him as heir.

  "Because of the Elohara," Malik nodded, perhaps reading the thoughts behind his eyes. "Let me ask you, did you drink anything before your Amarian Spirit Walk?"

  "Yeah," Jack said hesitantly. "Why?"

  "Forget I asked," the general said quickly, seeing the beginnings of doubt on his face. "You came through the Temple of the Door, you returned the Talon of the Hawk. No one but Ljmarn's Heir could have done those things. Let's move on."

  "Let's," Jack agreed.

  "You saw Dragonslayer and Grimblade shooting flames and knocking down the palace doors? Deathbane can do the same, and more. Ljmarn breached the gates of Gorthiel with Deathbane, and they were made with the power of the Bloodstone. You've used the Talon of the Hawk and Grimrorr, both powerful weapons in their own right, both forged by Ailfar smiths with the aid of Spellweavers. You know their strength."

  "I do," Jack nodded. The one time the emerald stone of Bin'et ardendel had come to life to battle Morgamaal, he'd felt no fear. Ailfar words of power had flown unbidden from his lips to counter the demon's own dark spells. Grimrorr had done the same to a lesser extent when faced with the demon possessing Jurden Salazaar. He knew their power.

  "Take those two swords," Malik replied. "Throw in Grimblade and Dragonslayer as well, and you still would not come near to matching the power of Sunheart. Use the Bloodstone as an example. It and Sunheart were made as equals. Look at what Graith did with the Bloodstone. He raised up the Margalags. He formed the Iron Tower. He freed the Seven Dukes of Hell. He transformed the Hiru, no matter what the legends say about Yh’Adan cursing them, it was the Bloodstone that made them beasts. He almost conquered Aralon with it. It protected him from the flames of Mount Sheol and kept him alive for eight hundred years. Shall I go on?"