by Sean Clark
Charlstine squinted at Chin to examine him for deceit. “What did they find there?”
“They ran across something strange; a patch of rock that had a different makeup from anything surrounding it. I was called to investigate it, but even before I had arrived, I knew what it was.”
“The remnant.” Charlstine mouthed.
“The Sing Stone, some took to calling it. Delivered to this world by the gods.”
The Arcanus twisted up her face. “Tulefore and the Emperor would have people clamoring over each other for it if anyone had caught wind of your discovery.”
Chin let out a low snicker. “It wasn’t easy to conceal, especially with the miners wanting to spread tales. When we had enough of the surrounding rock cleared away, we were better able to examine it. The stone was brittle and easy to break apart by hand, likely caused by the multiple years of freezing and thawing. The magical forces, however, were still intact.”
“You could transport it home to your artisans bit by bit, then.” Charlstine nodded.
Chin sat up proudly. “That Sing Root, the one Zethurus used to abate the power of that dark armor… it was of great use to us in keeping its aura hidden. Not even the general knew then of it and the plans we intended.”
“And what were those plans exactly?” Charlstine asked.
“When the residual power in the old stone of the mountain finally was to fade, we knew that it would cause a commotion.” Chin explained. “We sent the four completed sets of armor to the front line as soon as possible to cause a distraction and further the notion that Xiandol was equally panicked about its absence.”
“Meanwhile, you could quietly do what you wanted with the fragments of Sing Stone.” Charlstine said, pacing about the room. “What then?”
“I was able to gather little news about it after it left my custody.” Chin admitted. “It was nearly the dead of winter, being snowed in at the base of the mountain.”
Charline raised her voice once again. “But you know now, don’t you?”
Chin pursed his lips. He stood and faced the direction of the mountain. “Xiandol has long been without a proper standing army, especially since the bloody battles with Tulefore in previous years have culled our numbers. King Halmalch sent his elite guard to the front, twenty men, bearing sets of radiant armor, each of them. The metal resonates with the same power I felt in the Sing Stone.”
“The power would be more abundant than that of mage blood by itself, then.” Charlstine sighed.
“And therefore, able to forge an invincible army. I informed the Tuleforians that if they were to return now, their settlement would likely no longer belong to them.”
“The nature of normal men seems to be that of never being satisfied.” Charlstine noted.
At the door, one of the guards quietly was conversing with another man who had approached them. Charlstine was urged to join them, and hear the conversation. “I see.” She said, nodding along with the men. “Mr. Chin,” she called back, “it seems things are moving just as you predicted.”
Chin moved to the door, following Charlstine’s gestures. Outside, they began the long walk down the cobbled road and to the main gate of the city. Held at bay by the watchmen was a group of distraught and dirty looking soldiers. The man in front provided a hasty bow to Charlstine as she approached.
“Are you the one they call Arcanus?” Silvus asked.
“Penelope Charlstine.” She offered. “You are from the Tuleforian settlement?”
Chin took a few steps back and turned his body away from the group.
“We request your aid, Lady Arcanus.” Silvus pleaded. “If anything, we must ask you to spare some healing, or even a horse, we-”
Charlstine raised her hand to silence him. “All in good time. I believe I am aware of what has happened.”
Chapter Thirty One: Betrayal of Bonds
Bently and Mandabus had stopped at the edge of the Arcadian forest to rest their horses. Bently led the two animals to the nearby stream to drink while Mandabus had moved to the edge of the tree line, from where one could make out the vague form of the timber walls of the Tuleforian Settlement.
Bently left the horses to graze and approached Mandabus. “It’s likely our forces have already taken it over.” He said, calling Mandabus to attention.
“What forces are those?” The dark armor asked.
“Seems they’re like us. More suits of armor bound with magic.” Bently explained, staring at the old captain’s back. “Where has your weapon gone?”
Mandabus pointed onward towards the settlement. “I had to forfeit it during a failed attack.”
“Perhaps someone has come across it. We may retrieve it.” Bently said, peering up at the sun slowly crawling over the edge of the mountain peaks. “You can give up this crazy hunt, join with us to fight the Tuleforians as a whole.”
Mandabus turned around and began to march back towards the stream. “How did you explain my absence when you returned to Edrian?”
Bently followed after, stuck close. “We said you had perished, as you asked us to.”
“Then the general would bear ill will if I were to return from the dead, suddenly.”
“You may explain first to him what you were doing out here.” Bently offered.
Mandabus turned suddenly and planted a heavy hand on Bently’s shoulder. “You must not announce my presence to anyone.” He growled. “Not even Kensley. I want you to find my sword and return it to me.”
Bently stepped back from the old captain and eyed the blank expression of the helm. “And Chin? How do you want me to explain to them how we left him behind?”
“The Arcanus wanted to hold him up, obviously.”
Bently shuffled to his horse, grabbing its reins in his grasp. He looked back and forth between the deep forest and the mountainside. The animal nibbled more at the tender green grass by the edge of the stream before looking to Bently expectantly. “Should I care to know what you have in mind, Mandabus?”
The captain had knelt down at the muddy bank by the water, staring into the blurry reflection at himself. “What would you do with the knowledge?”
Bently let out a sigh and took his helm from atop the saddle before placing it back on his head. “I guess I won’t get anything from you, will I?” He said, mounting the horse. “I will return when I can.”
Mandabus watched as Bently rode off towards the mountain. He peered back at his image in the water before beginning to scrub away at the dried crimson markings that the Tuleforian mage had scrawled on the armor plating.
Bently arrived at the walls just as the sunlight turned to a deep orange. He yanked the horse to a halt just beside one the of side sections of wall, concealing himself at the base of the structure. Beside the front gate in one of the guard towers, he spied a man in the familiar colors of Xiandol scanning the eastern road. Bently rode onward, moving in front of the gate.
“You there!” He called up to the man.
The guard looked down at him, his eyes adjusting to the light. They examined him before offering a nod and turning around to signal below. The two doors of the gate slid open arduously, allowing just enough room for Bently to walk the horse through, then swiftly closing after.
The settlement appeared similar to the state in which they had left it after the early morning attack several weeks previous. Bently hopped down from his horse and tied it up to one of the fence posts before marching up the long dirt road in the center of the area.
Scanning the settlement, Bently noticed the troop of armored men, sitting quietly in formation. Up the hill, one of the intact Tuleforian buildings was guarded by a plain-armored soldier.
“There is that ridge on the horizon.” Boughlin explained, running his fingers over the markings on the map.
“It would be easy to form a defensive line, if the path down is really as narrow as it says.” Kensley said.
“Yes, for either side.” The captain added. “I will suggest to Edrian when he arrives t
hat we should depart at once to show up there before any forces can set up…”
A knock came to the door, and Kensley stood to peer out the window before opening it. Bently had removed his helm in preparation as he stepped into the room.
“Well, good to have you back.” Kensley exclaimed, holding out his hand.
“Mr. Bently, we welcome you to our new outpost.” Boughlin commented, hardly looking up.
“It seems you made swift work of the Tuleforians.” Bently said, placing his hand against Kensley’s.
“Is Chin with you?” Kensley asked, looking outside past Bently before closing the door after him.
“He was held up by the Arcanus.” Bently lied, glancing at Boughlin to judge his reaction. The captain blinked a few times quickly in thought.
“The Order is too nosy.” He responded uninterestedly.
“General Edrian would wish him back by the time he arrives.” Kensley said, pulling out a seat for Bently.
Bently waved the helmet in his hands back and forth. “I can’t allow myself to rest here, I believe the pent-up exhaustion would overtake me.”
Kensley nodded and took the seat for himself. “You should find some place to shack up then, yourself. There are many free beds around the settlement that Tulefore left for us.” He joked. “We should be able to rest for at least the night undisturbed.”
“Is Scar anywhere about?” Bently asked, touring the room and peering out some of the windows.
“Back by the northern wall.” Kensley said, jutting his head in the general direction. “He’s keeping eye on a guest.”
“I shall say hello, then, before anything else.” Bently announced. As he walked towards the door, he looked again at Boughlin. The captain was leaned back in his chair, bored with the conversation.
“Good evening, Mr. Bently.” He said gruffly, placing his hands behind his head.
Bently nodded and exited the room. He began to traverse the maze of buildings about the shallow hillside, looking for any signs of people. “Scar?” He called out.
Scarborough stood upon hearing his name, stepping out into the dim street. He waived down at the figure walking among the buildings before it came his way. He removed his helmet as he saw Bently approaching.
“Good travels?” Scarborough asked, taking Bently’s hand.
“As good as horseback could be. We have… a guest?”
Scarborough turned around and faced the opening into the dilapidated building. Kiaren had propped herself up against the side of the bed, her arms bound still uncomfortably at her side. “Their commander, supposedly.” Scarborough leaned in and whispered.
“Kensley’s had you sitting here most of the day, I would assume?” Bently asked, looking down at the crisscross of footprints in the dirt.
“Why, yes.” Scarborough nodded.
“I shall relieve you for a moment. Though, if I could ask of you, you could bring by some food?”
“I shall.” Scarborough nodded, glancing to Kiaren. “The woman should receive some, too.” Bently nodded at the thin man as he pranced off.
Kiaren peered up weakly at Bently as he turned and entered the building. He crouched down close to her level and carefully placed his helmet down on the dirty floor. He then meticulously removed each of his gauntlets and put them beside the helmet. “Tulefore’s commander, was it?”
Kiaren blinked slowly in reply, her body remaining limp inside the bonds.
“I must assume Tulefore expended all of its proper military leadership across the sea, leaving a woman to hold the fort at the cold, quiet edge of the Empire?”
Kiaren sat up and bared her teeth at Bently. “It’s far from quiet now, is it?”
Bently laughed and carefully sat down on his bottom, the gear beside his crossed legs. “So, I can get a reaction out of you? You somehow weren’t present when we first assaulted this settlement.”
“My bodyguard and I were surveying your very own settlement from atop one of the ridges.” Kiaren said. “Unfortunately, there was no army to look upon, that time or any.”
“Your bodyguard? You aren’t referencing Shiloh, are you?”
Kiaren perked up slightly. “You were at Arkyan, as well? What did you have to do with him?”
“He decided to attack me, barely provoked.” Bently laughed. “The Arcanus herself came to break up the fight.”
Kiaren struggled against the bonds, wincing from the pain in her rib. “This is no laughing matter.”
Bently picked up one of the gauntlets and played with the rivets atop of the finger plates. “Of course not. He’s a respectable man, for a Tuleforian. He picked up a weapon, too, when that dark armor attacked… even before I was present to aid him.”
“At Arkyan, too?” Kiaren leaned forward, still struggling slightly. “You should know it says it no longer wishes to side with you or your land.”
“He was our captain.” Bently diverted his eyes and peered off into the direction of the forest where Mandabus was located. “Even if the influence of the armor corrupted him, he is still in there. I was told that he attacked you here, leaving his sword behind. I need to know where you have it.”
Kiaren turned her eyes back down in a scowl. “If you want it so bad, find it yourself. I will not aid you.”
Bently sighed and began to gather up the bits of armor from the ground. “I guess I shall tell Scar to leave any food for you behind.” He said, standing.
“Wait.” Kiaren called out, stopping him. “I… have to… make water.”
Bently turned away and attempted to stifle his laugh. “Fine, then.” He turned back to the Kiaren and tugged at the tight bonds before grabbing at her shoulder to help her up. He looked around before pushing her around to the backside of the building.
Kiaren stood against the wall, breathing heavily, before looking back to Bently. “You’ll need to turn around.” She stated.
Bently sighed loudly and placed himself at the corner of the building, his back facing the woman. Kiaren undid the buckle on her pants and crouched down, relaxing her abdomen to relieve herself. Her eyes remained locked to Bently’s shoulder as she finished her business. She loudly scuffled her feet as she pulled her pants back up, before suddenly rounding the far corner and taking off in a sprint.
Bently rounded back from the opposite way around the building and cut her off, clotheslining her with his bare hand. Kiaren tumbled to the ground, the breath knocked out of her and the pain in her side throbbing. He slowly helped her up as the breath returned to her lungs.
“Did you wish to run off before hearing of the whereabouts of Shiloh and your mage… Zethurus, was it?” Bently asked, gripping at Kiaren’s wrist roughly. “I could have easily let them die in the attack. You probably know it was that mage whom our captain was after.” He carried her slowly back to the room and plopped her down on the hard, dusty floor.
“Tell me.”
“Tell me where the sword is, first.”
Kiaren hesitantly pointed down the hill to a petite square building, with white window coverings on the inside. “In there, my quarters.” She said.
“Good.” Bently smiled. “Shiloh and Zethurus departed from Arkyan after they heard of our army on their way to attack. I’m concerned what might become of your people should they wish to retaliate against us as we are.”
Scarborough marched back up the path, carrying a steaming bowl of watery soup, soaking into a piece of old bread that had been placed on top. Bently allowed him to pass and offer the food to Kiaren.
“Don’t let your guard down with her.” Bently offered advice to him as he knelt down to offer the food. “She’s already relieved herself, just now, too.”
Scarborough turned back as Bently began to walk off back down the hill. The cramped square building had yet to be touched by the Xiandolans. The dying daylight was just bright enough to light up the room through the curtains. Bently pushed past the discarded items on the floor as he forced his hands back into the gauntlets. As he pushed aside the be
d, he heard a clatter upon the floorboards below it. Flipping the lumpy mattress revealed the dull glow of the sword below.
Bently looked over his shoulder at the door before retrieving the sword. It was heavier than his own, and the tarnished metal seemed to resonate with a strange energy. He ripped into one of the sheets and entombed the sword in the fabric before sneaking back outside of the building, looking both ways down the street.
He continued northward towards the tall wall of the settlement. He first put his helmet back on before tossing the sword over. It landed with a dull thud on the dirt outside. Bently’s grip found traction between the bark-stripped logs, and he gingerly hoisted himself up and over the pointed tips. The armor clinked loudly as he landed back down on his feet before retrieving the sword. In the distance, he could see the edge of the forest. He checked one last time behind him to make sure nobody had followed him before setting off.
The darkness had encompassed the land by the time Bently had reached the tree line. The enchanted armor allowed him to see slightly better in the near pitch blackness, but Mandabus was nowhere to be found. He marched down to the stream where he had last seen the old captain. The babbling of the water disguised the sound of the dark armor sneaking up on him. Bently jumped as the heavy grip landed on his shoulder.
“Don’t do that.” Bently called out, turning around promptly.
“You have it.” Mandabus acknowledged, holding out his hand expectantly.
Bently unfurled the sword and tossed the cloth aside. “As you asked.”
Mandabus took the wide blade in his hand and examined the faint glow of the enchanted metal. “Good.” He said, shifting the handle into his grip. He recoiled from Bently, reeling the weapon back and releasing the full power of the swing into the man’s side before he could react.
The side plate of the armor buckled from the blow, and Bently tumbled away, landing limply in the stream with a loud splash. Mandabus calmly tucked the sword into the sheath upon his back before marching back to where he had tied up the horse.
