Lusam: The Dragon Mage Wars Book Two, page 19
“No, I can't be certain of it. But what I can be certain of is this; if you try to contact anyone to tell them, I will kill you,” Zedd said menacingly. Cole visibly paled at his two choices; betray Lord Zelroth and possibly risk death, or betray Zedd and find certain death. Zedd knew the dilemma Cole now faced, but he felt little or no remorse for his situation. He knew Cole was easily controlled, and that he may yet need his pitifully small supply of magic in his pursuit of the boy, especially now he travelled with a paladin of Aysha.
“We can still kill the boy and return home to the Empire heroes. All you need is a little faith,” said Zedd, begrudgingly offering Cole a hand to stand up. He took his hand and pulled himself up to face Zedd.
“How can you be sure that we will be the ones to kill the boy, when there are so many others looking to do the same?” Cole asked.
“Because, they are all looking in the wrong place for him. Look at the city, tell me what you see?”
“A big wall,” Cole replied.
“And what do you see beyond that wall?” Zedd asked.
“I can't see anything beyond the wall, apart from that tower poking out over the wall in the distance,” Cole replied confused.
“Exactly! That tower is a temple of Aysha. A training facility for their paladins if I'm not mistaken. Where better to enter the city than directly into the temple itself, especially if you happen to be travelling with a paladin? If they were already inside the temple our people could not possibly find them. Nor would they risk a frontal assault on a temple full of paladins, even if they knew for sure they were inside,” Zedd said quietly, as the ferry-man finally reached their bank.
The ferry-man looked half scared to death as he encouraged them to quickly board his small craft. He never once made eye contact with either Zedd or Cole, but instead, constantly scanned the trees beyond for any signs of movement. The moment both men were on board he push off from the river bank, putting as much distance between them and the forest side of the river as quickly as he could. Once they had reached the centre of the river, the ferry-man slowed the craft and visibly relaxed again.
“How comes two fine gents such as yourselves end up stuck on that side of the river after dark anyway?” asked the ferry-man, trying to make conversation.
“I'd say that's none of your business, unless you think otherwise,” Zedd growled at the man.
“Sorry sir, I meant no harm, please forgive me,” replied the ferry-man averting his eyes from Zedd's, and bowing his head in subservience. Zedd failed to reply, and the remainder of the crossing was done in complete silence. When they reached the Stelgad side of the river bank they disembarked the small craft without a word, or payment of any kind. There were no complaints from the ferry-man.
Zedd could see six men guarding the east gate, and two town guards. No doubt the guards had been magically charmed not to take any notice of his fellow agents, possibly even to be on the lookout for the boy themselves. None of that, however, concerned Zedd. He knew the boy and the paladin would never likely pass that gate anyway.
If there was a secret entrance into the temple from outside the city walls, he needed to find it, and fast. But circumnavigating the outside of the city walls, whilst checking for hidden entrances on foot would take him hours; time he didn't have. He noticed another two agents on horseback further north on the road at a junction, and started walking towards them, Cole following closely behind.
When Zedd got close enough to see them more clearly, he smiled to himself. He out ranked both of them. Both of the men on horseback watched him and Cole approach their position, and both snapped to attention when they noticed his small silver skull pendant hanging below his sigil of Aamon.
“I require both of your horses for urgent Empire business,” Zedd stated, leaving no room for debate. The two men were obviously not happy, but neither dared deny Zedd's request, and surrendered their mounts without complaint. Everyone's rank within the Empire was dictated by the amount of magical power they possessed, and any subordinate ranked agent who refused to follow the orders of his, or her superior, often found themselves dead without trial.
Zedd and Cole mounted their new horses, and returned to the east gate without so much as a `thank you` to the two men they left standing on the road behind them. When they reached the east gate, instead of entering the city, Zedd continued riding south, following the city wall. They followed the wall until it turned to the west, and then continued following it in that direction.
Ten minutes later came the first requests for help from within the city. The boy had been spotted, but he was now with two girls instead of the paladin. Cole wheeled his horse around ready to race back to the east gate, but even before he was fully turned, he was ordered to stay where he was.
“We must return to the city sire. They've found the boy, and are requesting the help of everyone,” Cole said desperately.
“I know, I'm not deaf. We aren't going back to the city,” Zedd stated.
“Why not?”
“The boy didn't enter the city through a gate, so it stands to reason he won't leave through one either. I think he found a way into the temple from outside the city walls. All we need to do is either find the secret entrance, or wait until he reveals himself outside the city walls and kill him. Follow me,” Zedd said, and continued following the southern city wall. Cole turned his horse back around and followed without complaint.
From the communications within the city Zedd knew that there were now at least six agents in pursuit of the boy, but they were so far unable to penetrate his shield. He didn't understand how an untrained mage was able to even generate a shield, let alone one capable of withstanding the attacks from six trained magi. He also heard one report that said the boy was shielding not only himself, but the two girls now with him. He dismissed this report as highly improbable, as not even a fully trained mage would be able to extend their shields so far, and hold out against what was now at least eight agents attacking him.
Zedd became increasingly more concerned that the boy would be killed within the city by his pursuers, and his plans to return to the Empire and his family would be in ruins any moment. But only seconds later, he once again had renewed optimism as reports of a dozen paladins joining the battle filtered out of the city. Several Empire agents had been killed by the paladins already, and now they stood between his countrymen and the boy, shielding him, and retreating towards the very temple Zedd had suspected of having a secret entrance leading out beyond the city walls.
What was reported next shocked Zedd deeply, and also many of the agents within the city too, if their reactions were anything to go by. Two of the paladins had been badly injured and their defensive shield line was vulnerable to attack, but instead of being able to easily pick off the paladins through the opening, the boy had managed to shield them all from a distance far greater than should have been possible. Not only that, he managed to hold his shield against over a dozen agents' concentrated attacks. Surely the reports were inaccurate. Maybe the paladins' blessed shields had absorbed much more of the force than they thought?
Shortly afterwards, the reports came in that the paladins had made it safely back to their temple. Several of the agents pounded the temple doors and walls with their magic, but were soon ordered to cease fire.
“Why have they stopped attacking the temple?” Cole asked confused. Zedd rolled his eyes, staggered at the lack of knowledge of the imbecile standing beside him.
“Because the temple is blessed by Aysha, same as the paladins' weapons and shields. None of our magic will have any effect on it. The doors could only be opened with battering rams, and we have neither the rams nor the men for an all-out assault on a temple full of paladins,” Zedd replied.
“So the Empire will just let the boy escape?” Cole asked shocked.
“No. I expect they will now begin a round the clock surveillance of the temple, until the boy attempts to leave it again. But if I'm right, they will be wasting their time. Come on, let's find this secret entrance, then maybe we can both return back to the Empire heroes yet,” Zedd replied, resuming his course along the southern wall.
“So, any ideas where to start looking for it?”
“Well if I were digging a secret tunnel out of the city, I'd want it as short as possible, so I'm guessing it would emerge somewhere outside the city's west wall, not too far from where the temple is located,” Zedd replied.
Chapter Twenty Seven
“Hershel, I must leave now, I'm sure Renn will be there waiting for me by now,” Lusam said.
“Who's Renn?” asked Neala confused. Lusam had completely forgotten that Neala knew nothing about Renn, or the promise he had made to him in exchange for his help in rescuing Neala. He needed to explain everything to her, but he didn't want to do it in front of Hershel's men. The fewer who knew his plans, the better.
“Hershel, is there somewhere quiet I can speak with Neala please?” he asked.
“Of course. If you go through that door and turn right you will find a small prayer room on the left,” Hershel replied, pointing at a door on the far wall.
“Thank you. We won't be long,” Lusam replied, heading towards the door Hershel had indicated. It wasn't until they were through the door, that Lusam realised Alexia had also joined them.
“Oh, I'm sorry Alexia, but may I have a private word with Neala please?”
“Sure, no problem,” Alexia replied.
“It's okay Lusam, whatever you need to say, you can say in front of Alexia. She's like a sister to me, and I trust her completely,” Neala said.
“Okay, well I don't really know where to start, so I guess I'll start from the time you were abducted in Helveel,” Lusam said. He began to recount his story of how the man in the black robes had finally caught up to him and attacked him with magic, and how Renn had appeared around the corner just at the wrong moment only to be blasted by his magic. He told her who Renn was, and why he had been sent to find him, and ultimately take him to the High Temple in Lamuria to complete his training. He explained the promise he'd freely made to return with him to Lamuria in exchange for his help in rescuing Neala. How they had travelled through the forest battling Netherworld creatures, and coming face to face with Aysha herself.
When he finally finished recounting his story he waited a moment before continuing.
“There's much more I need to tell you, but I'm very short of time right now. Renn will be waiting for me on the other side of the wall with the horses. I must hurry before he's discovered by any Empire agents,” Lusam said.
“What do you mean `waiting for you`, Surely you mean waiting for us. You're not thinking of leaving me here!” Neala exclaimed.
“Neala, I can't ask you to risk your life for a promise I made to Renn. You just witnessed for yourself how dangerous those men outside are, and who knows how many of them are out there waiting?”
“You only had to make that promise to Renn because of me! So if you think I'm going to let you face whatever's out there alone, after you risked your life to save me, then you're crazy! I'm coming with you. Let's go,” Neala said with absolute conviction.
“Neala, I'm not sure I can protect you against all the Empire agents that are trying to kill me. We only just made it to the safety of this temple with our lives last time. In fact, if it hadn't been for the paladins helping us, I'm not sure we would have made it at all. I was planning to ask Hershel if he would allow you to travel to Lamuria with the next group of paladins he sent. That way you would be safe, and we could both reunite there,” Lusam said.
Deep down Neala knew Lusam was only trying to protect her, but she also knew that she loved him, and that she never wanted to be separated from him again. And certainly not under these type of circumstances, where she wouldn't know from day to day whether he was still alive or not. She'd had enough of that kind of mental torture already on her long journey to Stelgad with Skelly, and had no intentions of ever repeating it, if she could avoid it.
“Lusam, I understand the risks, but it's my life to risk, and whatever you say won't make me change my mind. If I did die, then I'll die happy knowing I was able to spend my last days with you. I love you, and I'm coming with you … it's that simple,” Neala whispered. Lusam hugged her tightly, gently kissing her lips, and then whispered,
“I love you too.”
“Eww! Did you really have to drag me in here to watch you both slobbering over each other like that. I think I'd rather have stayed in my cell back at the Hawks' guild-house than watch you two much longer,” Alexia said mockingly. Neala and Lusam had both momentarily forgotten all about Alexia being in the same room, and were slightly startled by her playful interruption of their blossoming passion for each other. Lusam felt his cheeks redden, but Neala dealt with her own embarrassment in her usual manner; by playfully punching Alexia on the arm.
“I'm sure we can arrange to drop you back at your old cell on our way out of town if you miss it so much,” Neala said, grinning at her old friend.
“Yes, I bet you'd like that. But then you'd miss all my witty banter on our journey to Lamuria,” Alexia said, holding up her hand towards Lusam, “and before you give me the same speech about all the dangers lover-boy, I've already heard it. Neala is the only family I have left, and unless she asks me to stay here, I'm coming too.”
“You know Lusam, as much as I hate to admit it, she's the best shot I've ever seen with a bow, and she might actually be useful to us. If we can both put up with her annoying personality that is,” Neala said winking at Lusam, who just rolled his eyes at their verbal jousting.
“Good, that's settled then, I'm coming with you both to Lamuria. Talking of bows … I don't suppose your friend Hershel has a spare one does he? I lost mine when I was captured by Shiva's men.”
“I guess I can ask him before we leave. By the way, we're not going directly to Lamuria because the road south will be crawling with Empire agents. We plan to ride west to The Forest of Dannar, and then head north to Helveel. Apparently Renn knows the harbour master at a small sea port just east of Helveel. We plan to book passage aboard a suitable vessel, then travel south to Lamuria via sea,” Lusam said. Neala and Alexia both nodded their agreement without adding anything further.
“I guess we better get going then. If we're lucky we might make the forest before sunrise, and avoid any further unwanted attention from the Empire,” Lusam said. Neala and Alexia both agreed and they all headed back to the main room.
When they reached the main room they found Hershel patiently waiting for them to return. He'd already dismissed his men back to their regular duties within the temple, leaving the room feeling strangely quiet.
“Hershel, before we all leave I need to ask something of you,” Lusam said.
“All, you say? I expected the young ladies would be staying within the safety of the temple for a while. I have arranged for them to have their own private chambers in the west wing, well away from the men,” Hershel said.
“That won't be necessary, but thanks for the kind offer, we appreciate it. It's regarding the fact that they'll be joining me as to why I need to ask you for something. Alexia apparently favours the use of a bow, and I was hoping that you might have a spare one we could take with us?”
“I'm sure we can find something for you in the armoury. Bows aren't the weapon of choice for a paladin, but we do have a couple we use for hunting game in the forest, you're welcome to take one of those with you. Please, wait here a moment, and I'll go get one for you,” Hershel said, and he quickly disappeared through a door at the opposite end of the room. Moments later he returned with a standard looking bow and a quiver of arrows. Alexia thanked him for the weapon and began to strap the quiver of arrows to her back, and then placed the bow across her shoulder.
“Thanks for all your help Hershel. I hope we meet again in the future, but for now I'm afraid we must be going. Renn will probably be wondering where we are by now,” Lusam said.
“I'm sure we'll see each other again, but in the meantime, stay safe, and may Aysha watch over you all, as I know she will.”
“Thanks Hershel. I hope we haven't put you or your men in danger by coming here. There are a lot of Empire agents outside these walls right now,” Lusam said.
Hershel laughed and patted Lusam on the shoulder. “And outside these walls they shall stay boy. No magic of theirs could ever breach these blessed walls, and they know it. Not to mention the fact that they probably think we have at least two hundred paladins in here. No, they won't dare attack us here, we're quite safe, so don't you worry about us,” Hershel said.
“I'm happy to hear that. Then I guess it's time we were off. Thanks again for everything Hershel,” Lusam said, shaking his hand. Neala and Alexia both bid him farewell, and then all three made their way to the tower room.
Once they entered the tower room the large doors were once again closed and barred from within the temple, plunging them all into darkness. Lusam created a small light orb and began climbing the stone staircase.
“Why are we in here?” Neala asked.
“I was about to ask the same thing,” said Alexia.
“Sorry, I keep forgetting you don't know everything. This is where Renn and I first entered the temple. We crossed from the top of the city wall, and then came in through the top windows of this tower. We need to go out the same way, so hopefully we aren't seen leaving the temple. Renn should already be waiting for us on the other side of the wall … with a bit of luck,” Lusam said.
“So, I guess now isn't a good time to tell you that I'm afraid of heights,” Neala said, looking up into the darkness above.
“Don't worry, I'll hold your hand at the top before we jump off the tower onto the wall,” Lusam said, struggling to hide his smile.
“Careful lover-boy, or she's likely to throw you off the top of this tower herself,” Alexia said. Neala didn't respond to either of their jokes, instead she continued looking anxiously up into the darkness above. Lusam began to climb the stairs again, closely followed by Alexia and a very reluctant Neala.
