by Frank Morin
A sudden fear struck Connor like a bolt of ice from Mister Five. "That would mean Alasdair's earthquakes might be caused by another one!"
"Oh, no," Hamish breathed.
Jean clutched his arm. "That's why Dougal wanted the army to go south again. He needs them closer to the border."
"Closer to Alasdair," Connor finished for her.
"I can't believe we left our families there! That's where Dougal plans to strike. Let's go!" Hamish exclaimed.
He led the way toward the exit at a run.
Chapter Seventy-Six
"The tallest mountain avails little when the path leads through canyons."
~Connor
Connor carefully slid forward on his stomach, inching to the edge of the wide Lookout Rock above the path leading down to Quarry Road. The others flanked him, and together they peered down at Alasdair from that distant vantage. The others had all donned long-vision goggles, while he tapped quartzite.
High Lord Dougal had beaten them to the town.
He sat at the high table in the town square, with the entire village assembled around feasting tables. Most of the townsfolk looked nervous. High Lord Dougal couldn't possibly miss the signs that he wasn't as wildly popular as he had been the last time he visited.
Lord Gavin, Lady Isobel, and their daughter Moira sat nearby, dressed in their best finery. Gavin's brown surcoat only made him look older and more sickly than ever. Isobel's many-layered hoop skirts prevented her from drawing closer than five feet to anyone.
Connor fumed that they hadn't arrived sooner. They'd pushed the Storm to its max speed. Even with a powerful tail wind, they had activated extra thrusters and Connor had burned through two entire pieces of marble adding the force of flames. The wind and altitude would have made it impossible to breathe without the protective shieldstone protecting them.
They were still too late.
Connor glanced at Aifric, who lay on the stone to his left, just past Jean. She gestured an okay signal with her pinky finger, indicating that she was blocking any sounds they made.
"I'm glad we came in from the back side of the mountain," Verena said softly.
Hamish had landed the Storm in a copse of small alder trees, touching down as lightly as a butterfly. Connor had tapped slate and extended a careful shield under them as they crept to Lookout Rock.
He was glad he did because Dougal had brought Gregor with him. Despite the distance and the fact that Gregor stood on solid stone, Connor still worried he'd sense them or realize someone was shielding that area.
"We should have had time to get here first," Hamish grumbled.
"Now we have to figure out how to get everyone away without starting another pitched battle in the streets," Jean said, looking worried.
Dougal stood as a large party entered the square, led by Captain Aonghus, who walked sheathed in crimson flames. People cowed away from him, but Connor's eyes were drawn to the group that followed him into view.
Their families.
"Tallan take it and grout it for dinner," Connor growled. "They're supposed to be hiding in the bolt hole."
"Those are rampagers shepherding them in," Aifric said.
Connor had been so focused on their families that he hadn't noticed the other soldiers. Aifric was right.
Three men and two women flanked the small party, and even when not tapping porphyry, they moved with a predatory grace, conveying a sense of coiled danger. It was as if they only barely refrained from leaping upon the helpless villagers and tearing them to pieces.
"There are more rampagers prowling around the perimeter," Verena pointed out. "I count a full dozen."
Hamish whistled softly, his expression grave. "That's a lot of rampagers."
"What are they saying?" Verena asked as they all leaned forward and watched the group approaching Dougal's table.
Connor was already applying quartzite to his ears. The lobes elongated and he pivoted them to better focus on the distant Alasdair. As usual, a flood of sound assaulted his mind as his enhanced ears seemed to suck in every sound for miles around.
Birds called to each other, trees creaked in the late afternoon breeze, and the Wick gurgled softly as it poured from the loch and began its long journey down to Merkland. After filtering out all of that, plus the sounds of his companions breathing and his own fast heartbeat, he finally caught the distant sound of voices from far below.
Dougal was speaking. "So good of you to join us. Where is your son, Ashlar?"
"He's safely away from here so you can't hurt him," Lilias declared, standing unafraid before the high lord.
"It is not my intention to hurt your son," Dougal said calmly.
One of the rampagers, a burly fellow with a wild black beard, prowled closer to Lilias, as if eager for Dougal to take offense so he could kill her.
"Then why did you have your general threaten to kill us unless he surrendered?" she demanded.
"Easy, love," Hendry cautioned. He too looked far from properly submissive standing in front of the high lord, but he gave Lilias a nervous look. She met Dougal's gaze, her chin lifted slightly.
Connor had never felt so proud of her, or so terrified. Challenging the high lord usually guaranteed a swift execution.
Dougal only smiled. "I see where Connor acquired his strong, stubborn attitude."
"Thank you."
His smile faded and for the first time he looked annoyed. "Don't be daft, woman. That boy needs training and guidance. His foolish choices have cost this nation dearly, and his rash actions have placed him in league with some of the most dangerous people in the world. If I can't rescue him, I'll be forced to destroy him. Is that what you want?"
Her defiance faded and she said softly, "I only want to see him safe."
"Here in this beautiful valley, you are sheltered from the brutal reality of the world," Dougal declared, his voice rising, every person hanging on every word.
"Connor thinks he understands a complex situation that even many of the high lords don't fully grasp. I did use you and your family, and I recognize that the ordeal was terrifying for you. My intent was to force Connor to return to his senses and come home so I can teach and train him."
He smiled, a benevolent, understanding smile. "Connor is destined for great things. I can help him become the man who will in turn help bring peace to the continent for the first time in centuries."
"Connor is a fool," Stuart cried from his seat near the front.
"And a thief!" someone else shouted.
"Please give him another chance," shouted old Clifden.
Dougal raised a hand for quiet. "As your own venerable healer likes to say, think deep before making rash decisions. Consider my words while we enjoy this feast.
He gestured their families to take seats at an empty table at the front, and asked Hendry to sit at the high table with him.
Lady Isobel scowled at that breach in protocol. "My lord Dougal, that man is only a linn. Your generosity risks encouraging his lesser qualities, which we will be forced to deal with after you are gone."
Dougal said, "On the contrary, my sources have made it clear that you would have run this town into ruin and starved out your entire population if not for the talents of the Ashlar and his wife."
While Lady Isobel sputtered in indignant outrage that she couldn't vent upon the high lord, Dougal said, "The food looks delicious. Thank you all for making such a mighty effort on my behalf. Let the feast begin."
Hamish muttered, "Dougal could convince a drowning man that all he needs is a long drink of water."
"I wonder if he practices in the mirror," Connor said.
Jean said, "I believe he's convinced himself that his cause really is just."
"That's what makes him so dangerous," Verena said.
Connor said, "In a way that makes our job simpler. He's cracked. There is no way we could convince him to change his mind. All we can do is put him down like a rabid dog."
Verena rolled up onto one elbow, close
enough that he easily caught her clean scent, even without applying quartzite to his nose. "We can't do it without help, though."
Jean scooted back from the edge, far from view from any Pathfinder Dougal might have in his company. She sat in the grass and said, "I counted nearly a score of Boulders, plus the rampagers, Aonghus, and Gregor. Dougal brought a powerful force."
"They could kill a lot of people if they decide to," Connor said.
"We need to fetch Kilian and reinforcements," Verena said. "If we hurry, we could probably return by morning."
Connor shook his head. "I'm not leaving. We don't know what he plans to do with our families, or when he plans to raise the elfonnel."
"We need Kilian," Verena repeated.
"I know, but we need to save our families too. What do you think Dougal will do when he sees us swooping in to attack?"
"Hopefully he'll be too busy running."
Jean said, "Connor is right. They could start killing, or they could take everyone hostage to force us to submit. He has to know we won't risk their lives."
Hamish nodded. "You have to fetch Kilian, Verena. You're the only one who can."
"Why don't you go?"
"This is our home," Hamish said, his expression as serious as Connor had ever seen. "When people threaten our families, we have to deal with it."
"I don't like it. You can't promise me you won't do something rash," Verena argued.
"No, I can't," Connor admitted. "But that doesn't change the situation."
"I could just fly close enough to get into speakstone range," she offered.
Connor said, "Might as well go pick him up. The range isn't far enough through the mountains."
Hamish cursed softly. "That's the problem with the speakstones. They revolutionize communication, but they don't have enough range. If only we had a way to boost. . ."
His eyes widened and he laughed, then grabbed Jean and kissed her enthusiastically.
"Did you have a special reason for that?" Jean asked in a breathless voice when he finished.
"I know how to boost the speakstones!"
Chapter Seventy-Seven
"Swine trample and tear without thought or care. Impetuous tongues are silenced by the stern mistress of dire need."
~Evander
"How?" Connor and Verena asked together.
Hamish led the way back to the storm. "We need every spare thruster. In fact, let's just take them all"
Verena frowned. "You'd better have a good reason for disabling the Storm. Without it, we can't leave."
Hamish said, "Relax. I don't think we'll use up all their power, but I need all of them to make sure it works."
"Make sure what works?" Verena asked in an exasperated tone.
Hamish held up a small piece of quartzite and focused over it. Verena extended a hand to touch it, but Hamish licked it.
She dropped her hand with a frown. "Fine, be all mysterious."
After a moment he grinned and handed it to her. "See what you think."
She took it and held it for a moment. Her brows furrowed and she deliberately turned it over before pressing it to her lips. After another thoughtful moment, her eyes widened and she grinned.
"Brilliant! I should have thought of that."
"Yes, you should have. You're supposed to be the smart one."
"What are you talking about?" Aifric asked.
Verena pulled a small speakstone from a pocket of her flight jacket. "This stone is paired with one we left with Kilian. The problem is, it lacks the power to transmit our voices very far."
Hamish gestured at the Storm. "We're going to collect all of the quartzite we can get our hands on. We should be able to link them all together so they help boost the transmitting power of Verena's little speakstone. It's similar to the advanced Builder principles we've started using with that keystone. I think it'll help throw the sounds a lot farther, but still tuned into that single, activated pair."
Connor frowned. "Are you saying you're going to make the stone shout loud enough for Kilian to hear?"
Verena shook her head. "Not even Pathfinders can hear speakstones. If Hamish's plan works, we should be able to finally communicate via speakstones over greater distances."
"It'll work," Hamish insisted.
"Let's prove it works before celebrating," Verena said.
The Builders' excitement was contagious, and the group quickly pillaged every last quartzite block from the Storm. They piled them all on top of the storage box on the back of the Swift and strapped them securely in place.
"So do you just start speaking?" Connor asked.
Verena shook her head and pointed up. "I'm going into the clouds. That way the force of these stones will already be starting above the mountains before the speakstone starts casting the words north. It should increase the range even farther."
"If it works, it'll put all those pigeons out of business," Hamish said, rubbing his hands together. "And pigeon makes excellent pies."
Jean said, "If this works, I'll bake you the first one."
Verena handed the speakstone to Hamish, then slipped into the Swift and activated the thrusters. She took off gently, reducing the potential for echoes that might alert Dougal to their presence. Connor craned his head back to watch her and the nimble little craft zip around Wick Torr and up into the clouds.
A moment later, Verena's voice spoke through a second speakstone that Hamish held. "I'm way above Mount Ingram. I can see all the way into Obrion."
So Hamish held the speakstone paired with Kilian's to his mouth and said, "Kilian, can you hear me? Respond with Pastry if you can."
"You really have to stop using pastry as a code word. No one gets it," Verena said.
"You don't have to shout," Kilian's voice sounded abruptly from the speakstone, his voice sounding as clear as crystal.
"Ha!" Hamish cried, pumping his fist in the air, then saluting no one in particular with a breadstick.
Kilian asked, "Where are you? General Rory has massed his army in the pass for what looks like a determined last stand."
"Forget about that," Connor said, grabbing the stone from Hamish, who seemed more interested in his victory dance than in the actual conversation. "We're just outside of Alasdair."
"How is that possible?" Kilian asked, his tone surprised. "Speakstones don't have that kind of range."
"They do now," Hamish laughed.
"That's not important either," Connor said.
"Well, it is sort of important," Hamish objected.
Connor shushed him. "With Evander's help, we figured out what Dougal is planning. He's learned how to find hibernating elfonnel. He can raise them without sacrificing a Petralist or a sculpted stone."
Kilian's voice turned intense. "We've never been able to track them once they went to ground. Not even for the non-earth elementals."
"They seem to be drawn to quarries, possibly to replenish their strength from the power stones. We believe that the earthquakes at Emmerich Quarry were a sign of an elfonnel becoming restless. That's why Dougal raised it there."
"The earthquakes were unusual, but I never thought anything of it."
"Alasdair's been having earthquakes too," Connor continued. "Dougal is here with a company of Boulders and his rampagers. We think he plans to raise an elfonnel here."
"The fool!" Kilian exclaimed, such fury in his voice that Connor recoiled a little from the speakstone. "Has he no sense? There's no telling which one he might make contact with!"
"I think that's the point," Connor said, exchanging a surprised look with Hamish.
Kilian gained control over his anger and added, "His plan finally makes sense, but he is playing with risks he does not understand."
"I think he'd kiss a pedra if it helped him destroy you," Hamish said.
"There has to be more to the trap, though. Dougal must know that most likely I will succeed in defeating even an ancient elfonnel that he might raise there."
"He seemed convinced his trap w
ill destroy you," Jean said.
Kilian said, "I fear he may be planning to raise a second elfonnel once I am committed to the fight."
Connor's heart sank. "If he raised the one at Emmerich the same way, then he might have that marble sculpted stone we thought he had used there."
"That must be why Captain Aonghus is with him," Aifric said.
"Two?" Jean breathed, looking horrified.
Kilian said, "Even with the rampagers, victory is not guaranteed with a single elfonnel. Facing two, I would have no choice but to raise my own elfonnel."
Jean said, "You couldn't fight two at once. They'd destroy you."
"Perhaps."
Even though it sounded like he was agreeing with Jean, his tone and inflection left no doubt that he was not terrified about potentially facing two raging elemental creatures. When he grew up, Connor wanted to be like Kilian. Or at least make people think he was.
"The greater danger is that the elements are already wild and unstable. Raising three elfonnel there so soon after Harz and Altkalen could destabilizing the entire region. If Dougal is so rash, your precious valley could get buried under half a mile of stone. The devastation could spread all the way downriver to Merkland and threaten his home too."
Hamish and Jean shared worried looks, and Connor struggled to accept such a horrible reality. "You really need to work on how you deliver bad news."
"We have to get everyone out," Hamish said.
Connor's fear turned into anger, and he felt the beast stirring in his heart. Dougal had pushed and pushed, and now he was threatening everyone Connor cared for. "I think we're overlooking the most simple answer. I need to kill Dougal first."
Kilian said, "No. Do nothing until I arrive. Dougal has planned this too well. Together we might be able to stop him without having to raise an elfonnel. That's the safest way."
That made sense, but Connor decided he would do whatever it took to protect Alasdair, sense or no sense. "Find Dierk. Get the biggest windrider you can. You're really not that far by air."
"It would be faster if you sent Verena or Hamish to come get me."
