From Darkness Won Part 37

"My lady!" someone whispered, angry, like a hushed yell.

She blinked away from the past and met Noam's brown eyed gaze. "Forgive me, Master Fox." She pointed out the crack. "This corridor pa.s.ses between two half flights of stairs that separate the first and second dungeon levels. We are already past the gate. We must watch for guards who might be patrolling. Are you ready?"

"Suppose I'll have to be," Noam said.

"Gren, wait here. If anything should happen, go back for Master Poe."

"As if I could find my way out of that maze. I'm coming with you. I'll pretend to be Sir Rigil's sister."

Averella choked back a laugh. The very idea of this peasant girl being mistaken for Lady Viola...

"That's a good idea," Noam said. "But Lady Averella would be more convincing, don't you think? Do you know whether Sir Rigil has siblings, my lady?"

"Well, yes. His elder sister is married to my cousin. She is not much older than I am. I suppose I might pa.s.s as her. Sir Rigil also has a half-brother, my fath..." A gust of knowledge rushed through Averella. Her father was Sir Rigil's half-brother. When had she learned this?

"Think I could pretend to be the brother?" Noam asked. "What is his name?"

"Sir Eagan Elk. I don't think it would be wise to claim to be him, Master Fox. He is in his late forties and is a famous knight from King Axel's reign." Averella took a deep breath. These sudden memories made her feel like a woman in the Veil, floating between two realities. "I shall be Lady Viola. And since you are dressed as such, you both will be my servants. First let me call to Master Rennan. Perhaps he can help us find his cell sooner."

Master Rennan? We are in the dungeons of Mahanaim, past the guard. Can you tell me where your cell is?

How in all Er'Rets did you get past the guard?

Never mind that. We must make haste.

Of course. Well, once you are past the guard, turn left at the foot of the stairs. Follow that corridor to the corner, turn right, and go to the end of the next corridor. Our cell is on the right. I shall watch for you.

Averella squeezed through the crack. Her skirt scratched against the rough rock. She walked along the corridor as if she had done so all her life. She descended the steps, her skirt dragging behind her. The stench of urine and body odor a.s.saulted her senses.

At the foot of the stairs, she turned and continued down to the third and final level. When she reached the floor, she picked up her skirt to keep it from dragging on the filthy floor and turned left. Their footsteps scuffed along. She reached the end and turned right. At the end of the corridor, a guard turned the corner and walked straight toward them.

Arman, help us!

19.

Achan's head still throbbed two hours later as he sat in yet another meeting of the war council that Sir Gavin had called to discuss his discoveries from his scouting mission. Only this time, Sir Eagan and Captain Demry were absent.

The coin Sir Gavin had given him at his coming-of-age ceremony sat on the edge of the table in front of him. Achan sipped his tea, staring at his father's profile on the gold, numb at the knowledge he now possessed.

Had Sparrow's accusations been right? Would Achan go the way of the other kings of Er'Rets and indulge in whatever pleased him? Or would he find the strength to flee, as Sir Caleb suggested he could? Would he even remember Arman when such enticements turned his head?

He took another sip. The morning air was cool so near the coast, and Matthias's tea kept him warm and would hopefully soothe his headache. "What did you discover on your scouting mission, Sir Gavin?"

The old knight leaned forward until he met Achan's gaze. "Four hundred soldiers, ten black knights, four cham riders, and two tanniyn."

Achan choked on his tea at the mention of sea beasts. "Tanniyn are real?"

"Aye. They almost never come near sh.o.r.e. The only one I've ever seen-until last night-was when I sailed from Tsaftown to Armonguard aboard one of Lord Livna's s.h.i.+ps."

Achan could only stare. "You saw one last night?"

"Two of them, between the Reshon Gates. The mere fact that the gates still stand is proof enough that the beasts are being controlled. Without careful instruction from a man, they would easily knock down the gates. I messaged you to look through me to see them, but you didn't respond."

Achan lowered his gaze back to the coin, ashamed of his behavior the previous night. Sir Gavin had needed him, and he had been caught up in Kurtz's games. His father's games. Yet he was almost grateful he had missed the opportunity to see the sea beasts. The cham bear still gave him nightmares.

"And we mustn't be forgetting the G.o.ds," Inko said. "The Hadad will be conjuring every idol he can. Barthos, Dendron, Dalakesh, Thala.s.sa, Zitheos-"

"Unless Sir Eagan succeeds in his mission to kill the Hadad. Besides, you know how to fight the idols now, right, Your Highness?" Sir Gavin asked.

Achan nodded. He only hoped the Hadad would not call them all together at once.

"I will lead my men to the eastern Reshon Gate," Sir Gavin said. "The remaining soldiers will pack up camp and be ready to move on my command. Your Highness, you will enter the Veil with d.u.c.h.ess Amal and deal with the black knights and beasts by means of storming. Captain Demry and his fighting five hundred are already nearing Mahanaim."

"He's five hundred now instead of fifteen?" Achan asked.

"Aye. Captain Demry has claimed the Ice Island men and a portion of the Tsaftown army for his own. Their purpose is to distract the Hadad, make him think we're attacking Mahanaim. While the five hundred attack, Sir Eagan will find and a.s.sa.s.sinate the Hadad."

An insane mission. "He volunteered, didn't he?" Achan asked.

Sir Gavin nodded. "Aye, he did."

The same man who had told him that vengeance belonged to Arman. Achan took another drink of tea. "How will he find the Hadad with all the fighting?"

"We know he hides in his tower, issuing commands and using his mind to influence others. If we can take him out now, the next battle will be smoother."

"When do you ride out?"

"As soon as we're done here."

"Where will I go to meet the d.u.c.h.ess?"

"You will go to your wagon. Your guards will stay with you. Sir Shung will watch over your body as you work with d.u.c.h.ess Amal. Should the army move while you are in the Veil, you will be ready for travel. If all goes well, you'll awake on the southern sh.o.r.e of the Lebab Inlet."

It all seemed so easy.

After the meeting, Sir Gavin and his army rode off. Achan returned to his wagon with Shung, Cortland, Kurtz, and Manu at his heels. As he made himself comfortable on one of the sofas and waited for d.u.c.h.ess Amal to contact him, he thought of Sparrow. He hoped she would be out of harm's way when Captain Demry attacked.

Arman, keep Sparrow safe. Help her to remember and to change her mind about me. I know that's a selfish prayer, but I offer it with the faith that You can do anything. If it's not Your will, let the pain pa.s.s quickly, for I have much to focus on. May it be as You decree.

He grabbed an apple and bit into it. If Darkness claimed the rest of Er'Rets, no more fruit would grow. What would they eat? Gowzals? He took another juicy bite. I do not understand what You want of me, Arman. Why You've chosen me. What can I do that others cannot? I am just one man.

He lay back, humming Yumikak's song in hopes the tune would comfort his fears. The wagon rocked. Achan glanced at the entrance to see Shung climb inside.

He walked to where Achan lay on the sofa and scowled. "Where did Little Cham learn that song?"

Achan pushed up onto one elbow. "In Berland. Yumikak sang-"

"Yumikak had no right. It is tradition."

Achan recalled Sir Caleb's explanation. "That a woman sing it to her betrothed?"

Shung nodded. "Song not to be sung carelessly."

Achan lay back. "I'm sorry, Shung. I'll try not to hum it anymore, but it's a catchy tune, and Sparrow sang it often. It reminds me of her." Achan sat up, suddenly and swung his feet to the floor. "Wait a minute. Lady Gali sang that song to you, Shung. Did you ask her to marry you?"

"Must ask her father first, but..." Shung grinned, exposing his yellow teeth. "Too strong, I guess, Shung's pull on women."

Achan laughed. "Of that I have no doubt."

Shung fell onto the sofa on the other end of the wagon. "Little Fox sang song to Little Cham?"

"Aye, she did." Achan sighed. "But she doesn't remember, Shung. She's forgotten me."

Shung frowned. "But how can-"

d.u.c.h.ess Amal.

Achan held up a hand. "It's the d.u.c.h.ess. You ready?"

Shung nodded.

"Good." Achan lay back on the sofa. "Because I'm not sure I am."

"The little cham is a warrior. Will defeat many before taking the throne."

"Thanks, Shung." If only he had as much confidence in himself. He opened his mind to the d.u.c.h.ess. h.e.l.lo, my lady.

Your Highness, we have quite a task ahead. Are you feeling well-rested?

Achan winced, scolding himself yet again for his overindulgence of wine the previous evening. I'll do my best, my lady.

Then come to me, for I sit at your side.

At his side? Achan's stomach sprung. How much had she heard him say about Sparrow? Then he remembered it did not matter, for Lady Averella had broken their agreement. "I'm off, Shung."

He banged a fist against his chest. "Shung will not leave your side."

Achan closed his eyes. When he rose up into the Veil, he found d.u.c.h.ess Amal on the couch beside him. Achan blew out a quick breath and offered his arm. Shall we?

She smiled, sending a small jolt through his stomach. There was something about her smile that got him every time. He could not place the reason. She took his hand, and before he could ask where they might go, she pulled him through the roof of his wagon and into the bright sky.

He held tight, knowing he was safe with her, but still unsettled by the sensation of flying. Especially when Shamayim's pull tugged at his heart. The speed at which they traveled blew their hair flat as if they were drenched from rain. The land spread out below like a map. Achan could see his camp, his wagon a small dot below his feet. The prairie gra.s.ses covered the ground in a soft green blanket, edged with a sandy coastline. Straight ahead, in the distance, the Lebab Inlet narrowed between the two Reshon Gates. The southern coast consisted of rocky cliffs. To the left, Darkness painted the horizon like a layer of black ash.

My lady, if we can see where Sir Gavin rides, won't the Hadad see him as well?

Certainly. But we hope Captain Demry's diversion will distract the Hadad enough so that Sir Gavin can take the gate and lower the bridge. Our job is to deal with the tanniyn.

Achan's stomach tumbled. How will we do that?

Storm the one who controls it and send it back to sea.

Will the tanniyn listen to us?

Tanniyns are peaceful creatures when left alone. It will be happy to leave. If not, we can influence it.

But I thought we weren't to control anything?

It is not advised, but we are not doing so to use the creature for harm. We are trying to help it. Arman has given us dominion over all the creatures of this land. He will not fault us for returning them to the sea.

Achan could see the gate clearly now. Two pillars of stone towered on either side of the water. An iron portcullis stretched across the sea between them. A small garrison sat beside the northern pillar. Behind it, a ma.s.sive drawbridge stood erect like a door without walls. That was what needed to be lowered if the army were to cross here.

From the air, it was easy to see both armies. Before the entrance to the drawbridge, Esek's soldiers sat atop horses, side by side in rows of fifty or more, five rows deep. At the end of each line were two chams, saddled and each carrying a rider. The front row was made up of archers. Directly in front of the gate, at the back of the line, ten black knights stood conjuring orbs of green light that hovered overhead. A jousting field's distance out from the gate, another three rows of black knights- or so it appeared-stood in a line across the prairie.

How many of the black knights were flesh and blood, and how many were illusion? And since when could chams be trained to carry men?

Another jousting field away, Sir Gavin's army approached. They too moved in formation. Two long rows of men in red cloaks on horseback. Archers in front followed by men with lances. Then, fifty feet beyond, came three groups of soldiers in square formations, six across and six deep.

The d.u.c.h.ess and Achan approached the water. Across the inlet, the coast was a cliff of craggy orange rock. A yellow dirt road extended from the southern pillar into a thick forest and on to Armonguard.

To the west, Darkness hid the second Reshon Gate and the city of Mahanaim. Achan knew it was there, though. Had Sparrow arrived? Or was she still on the road?

Do you see the tanniyn? the d.u.c.h.ess asked.

Achan turned back toward the gate and searched the grey waves. At first he saw nothing. The waves seemed rougher here than on the coast of Sitna. Then, like a thread pulling through fabric, a dark loop ran through the water until the tip of a tentacle sank beneath the waves.

Is it like a big fish? Achan stared at the place he'd seen it, then scanned the surrounding water for where it might appear next. He had seen drawings of tanniyns, but no two were the same. Some resembled chams with the body of a fish. Some looked like fish. Some water snakes.

d.u.c.h.ess Amal tugged him closer. I will take you to it.

They soared over the sea. The sunlight shone on the gla.s.sy surface, reflecting the clouds above. Achan and the d.u.c.h.ess were invisible and produced not even a shadow.

There! d.u.c.h.ess Amal pulled Achan to the right.

This time he saw a greenish-grey body spin through the waves. Keeled scales roughened the skin and darkened its appearance until smoothing out into three separate tails.

It has three tails?

d.u.c.h.ess Amal smiled, her ivory skin greyed by the water behind her misty form. Do not panic. It cannot see us or hurt us while we are in the Veil.

She dove into the water, dragging Achan along. The water instantly cooled him, though that was probably an illusion provided by his mind. Everything darkened.

See there? d.u.c.h.ess Amal's hair and gown floated up around her. She pointed behind Achan.