The Chamber of Eternity, page 22
Renna gave Otto a pleading look. “Can you warn him?”
Otto’s smile held no humor. “Audin is well beyond my range. And even if I went there, what sort of greeting would I receive?”
She winced. “Fine. Everyone into the wagons. We’re moving.”
Otto drew his sword and finished the prisoner with a stroke to the neck. Everyone clambered back into the wagons and they got underway.
“Is this good for us, or bad for us?” Corina asked.
“Time will tell,” Otto replied.
He tapped his chin as he considered the possibilities presented by an approaching army. He could use that. The only question was, how.
Chapter 20
Eddred could hardly believe he was back in the City of Coins already. He felt like a failure coming crawling back to someone that offered him a solution to a problem he couldn’t solve himself. Before, the sights and sounds of the city had seemed enchanting and exotic. Now everything felt dull and lifeless. His failure had cost him something. A little piece of his soul died when he fled from Otto in Bandon.
He shook off his morose gloom and crossed the dusty street to take a seat at one of the innumerable cafes that filled the city. While the crew enjoyed some time on land, he’d come alone to contact Naja. Well, mostly alone. Lilly and Adam had followed him despite his orders. Stealth, clearly, wasn’t one of their skills. Eddred had spotted them five blocks from the ship. He didn’t bother ordering them back and instead pretended they weren’t there.
Eddred settled on an empty table and immediately placed the serpent-marked coin in plain view. A serving girl about sixteen came to his table and took his order for a glass of chilled wine. Her gaze lingered a moment on the coin before she hurried away in a swirl of billowing cloth.
Five minutes passed before a sultry voice asked, “Is this seat taken?”
He looked up into Naja’s dark eyes. She held a pair of frosty glasses filled with white wine.
“Please join me.” Eddred gestured at the empty chair across from him.
She set a glass in front of him and sat. “You look depressed. Business in Colt’s Land not what you hoped?”
“No. Bandon and all the other city-states refused to help me. So I came crawling back to you. Lord Valtan will have your payment waiting on South Barrier Island.”
Eddred reached for his drink. The moment he touched the glass, Naja’s soft, strong hand touched his. “Everyone fails from time to time. As long as you keep trying, nothing else matters. Once we have removed the heads of the empire, you will have another chance at victory. As long as you don’t lose heart.”
“It’s far too late for that. My heart died along with my wife. But your point is well taken. All those who wish to be free of the empire will be ready to act. And thank you for your kind words. When can we expect your agents to collect their payment?”
“Our people on the continent will be alerted as soon as I return to our headquarters. From there, it will be a quick sail to Markane. They may arrive before you do.”
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you have agents on the continent. Did you have anyone in Markane City?”
Her voice was hard and brittle as glass. “Two. Both of them died when the city fell. Had it been otherwise, our price would have been far higher.”
Eddred sighed. “Then you have my condolences. It seems everyone has suffered at the hands of that monster.”
“We will teach Otto Shenk what suffering is.” Naja stood. “I doubt we will see each other again. Be well, Eddred of Markane.”
He watched her until she vanished into the crowd. Eddred swirled his wine around and drank it in one long swallow. Getting drunk seemed like a fine idea just now.
Chapter 21
The walls of Audin appeared on the horizon. Though they weren’t visible at the moment, Otto had seen the approaching enemy army during one of his magical scouting runs. He estimated the force at about ten times the size of the one that besieged the fort. And they had way more magical armor, including five of the massive ones he’d seen in Audin’s armory. Whatever happened, August was in for a rough time. Hopefully he’d be smart enough to let Otto and his companions go and focus on his real problems.
Otto hated counting on people to do the smart thing. It seemed he was always doomed to be disappointed. Just to be on the safe side, he’d need to find an edge. What that would be, he wasn’t certain yet, but he’d know it when he saw it.
They were about half a mile out when Hans said, “Lord Shenk, the gate is closed.”
Otto frowned. It was the middle of the day. The only reason for the gate to be closed was if August knew the army was approaching.
“He’s smarter than I thought. Unfortunately for him, August clearly has no idea what a proper wizard can do.”
“What are you mumbling about, little brother?” Axel asked.
“He’s shut the gates, trapping us between the city wall and the approaching army. August will demand the artifact and probably a bunch more mithril in exchange for letting us in. That’s my guess anyway.”
“That’s a problem, isn’t it?” Axel asked.
“Not as big a one as you might think. Since we arrived, I’ve noticed all the cities’ defenses are geared around attacks from magical armor. They have virtually no wards. If he doesn’t keep his word, I’ll reduce that gate to so much rubble the approaching army will be able to march right through it. Corina, I have a job for you.”
“Yes, Master?”
“There will be archers over the gate and on the wall. I want you to destroy their bowstrings.”
Her face scrunched up. “How?”
“Simple. Run a thread through the strings then send a stream of fire along it. I’ve taught you all you need to know to accomplish that. Our survival depends on your success.”
She swelled up with pride and thrust out her modest chest. “I won’t let you down.”
Otto nodded. He’d been exaggerating of course. Arrows were no threat to him, though the scouts were another matter.
“What about us?” Axel asked.
“I need you to keep an eye on the soldiers in front of us. If they do something stupid, it will be your job to deal with them. No misplaced mercy. If they draw their weapons on us, kill them all.”
“I know my job. Besides, they saw us fight. Only a complete moron would take on someone armed with mithril weapons.”
Otto hoped his brother was right. He didn’t fancy having to worry about the soldiers outside as well as the ones inside.
Their little caravan rolled to a halt in front of the closed gates. Just as he’d thought, fifty archers lined the wall and roof of the gatehouse. He glanced at Corina who nodded and began shaping the ether.
“Wait for my signal or any sign they’re preparing to attack.”
She nodded again.
Nerve-racking as it was, he trusted her to handle such a simple spell. Ahead of them, Renna climbed down from her wagon and shouted, “Open the gate! We need to get in before the enemy army arrives.”
“We will.” August stepped out from behind a pair of archers. Some magic augmented his voice so that it carried easily from his position far above them. “But first I need to speak to Otto about our arrangement.”
Otto stared for a moment. How could the fat fool be so stupid that he’d come to the wall himself? Any ruler with a brain would send an intermediary to deliver his message. This would make the job so much easier.
“My lord,” Renna said. “We have very little time.”
“No, Renna, you have very little time. We are perfectly safe behind the walls. Come now, Otto, let’s talk.”
Oh, they’d talk alright.
Otto forged three tentacles of ether and sent them racing toward August. He wrapped one around the lord governor’s neck, a second around his ample gut, and the third around his ankles. With a thought he yanked the idiot off the wall and carried him toward the wagon.
He felt Corina’s spell activate and in a flash of orange fire, every bow on the wall was rendered useless.
Otto lowered August to the dry dirt in front of him. “Now, what, exactly, did you want to discuss? As you said, the army is coming.”
August sputtered and swore. “How do you dare do this to me in front of my own city? I’ll have your arrogant head on a spike! I have thousands of soldiers. I—”
Otto tightened the tentacle around his neck, cutting August off in midthreat. “If I see so much as an inch of bared steel, I’ll crush your head like a grape. Here’s my offer. And this is a ‘take it or leave it’ sort of thing. You will let us in. We will go directly to the portal and travel home. You will receive no more mithril, but you will survive. Say yes or die where you stand.”
Renna stopped well out of reach of a sword. “Lord Audin, the army.”
Otto flicked a glance to his left and saw a cloud of dust approaching. “Time is running out.”
August’s face had gone red with fury. “Very well. I accept your terms. With the proviso that you take this worthless harlot with you. I have no use for a servant that can’t follow simple orders.”
“My lord?” The pain in Renna’s voice sounded genuine. Her devotion to the fat fool baffled Otto, but her choice of master was hardly his concern. Bringing a bitter former enemy back to Garen wasn’t wise, but he could always deal with her later if he had to.
August sneered at her then turned to the soldiers on duty. “Open the gate and for heaven’s sake, keep your weapons sheathed.”
The massive wooden doors creaked and clunked and then swung slowly open.
Otto turned to his brother. “Defensive circle. Stay close and keep a sharp lookout for snipers. Hans, put your sword at his back. Anyone tries anything stupid, gut him. Corina, you’re my spare eyes. Keep a close watch.”
Axel nodded and arrayed his men. Hans drew his sword and placed the tip in August’s side. Corina moved to stand beside him. Renna took a step toward the circle.
“You can follow along from the outside.” Otto raised his voice. “You men from the fort, go in ahead of us and keep well out of the way. Your lord governor’s life depends on your actions.”
The soldiers hurried to obey. When the last of them had passed through the open gate, Otto and his group advanced. The enemy army was close enough that the crash of their magical armor’s footsteps rang out loud and clear.
Otto peered between two scouts. The area between the outer gate and the open portcullis was completely free of guards.
“Corina, check behind the murder holes.”
A moment of silence then, “All clear.”
As soon as they passed through the outer gate, it began to clank shut. Since he had no desire to deal with a second army, Otto raised no objections. Once they passed under the portcullis, that fell with a crash as well.
Inside, the guards had pulled well back. “Looks like they want you to survive this, August. Be sure to thank them after I’m gone.”
“You will pay for this indignity, I swear it.”
“Yes, yes. Keep quiet.”
The group made their way through the streets surrounded by an even bigger force of soldiers. Behind them, the first heavy crash of something slamming into the gate reached them.
A moment later a soldier came running. “The enemy has begun their attack!”
“Deploy our forces,” August said. “Do not let them break through into the city. Tell Illsa to activate the new units.”
The messenger ran off again.
They were halfway to the portal and none of the soldiers shadowing them had so much as reached for their weapons. So far so good. There was nothing like having the ruler of the nation as your hostage to keep everyone well behaved.
After a long, tense walk, they reached the portal plaza. More soldiers were waiting, but they were keeping a safe distance. It was a wonder they could spare so many men given the army at their gates. Not that it was of any concern to Otto.
They all gathered at the base of the portal and Axel shifted his formation into a semicircle.
Otto reached into his robe to retrieve the control rod.
The moment he looked away there was a scream.
His head snapped up in time to see Renna, a dagger in her right hand, quivering as lightning coursed through her body.
When she finally collapsed, Otto glanced at Corina and raised an eyebrow.
“She drew her dagger and went right at you the second you looked away.”
“Well done.” Otto finished drawing the control rod, charged the tip, and activated the portal. “I’m afraid you’ll have to keep Renna. I have no use for someone that would stab me the moment my attention shifts. Axel, you and your men go first. Corina, you next. I’ll send the carrier then Hans and I will follow.”
Axel and the scouts needed no further urging. They darted right through. Corina gave him a worried look then jumped through. At Otto’s mental command, the carrier flew through the portal.
“On three, Hans,” Otto whispered. “One, two, three.”
He shoved August away at the same time he transformed the tentacle into a shield.
Six arrows bounced off it before he found himself in the safety of the ether.
An instant later he stepped out into the fort.
A quick touch with the control rod and the portal went dark.
They’d done it. Somehow they’d retrieved the artifact and made it home in one piece. Otto wanted to collapse with relief, but he wouldn’t be satisfied until the chamber was locked up and secure.
“We’re going to the palace. Axel, you and your men are on point.”
“You’re not expecting trouble here?” Axel asked.
“No, but after everything we went through to bring the chamber here, I’m taking no chances.”
Epilogue
“It doesn’t look like much.” Wolfric had joined Otto that morning as he completed the final adjustments to the chamber in its new home. Three days had passed since Otto returned from Colt’s Land and he’d spent most of each day laying spells around the basement room he’d selected to house the chamber.
Otto couldn’t argue with his friend’s statement. The eight-foot-tall glass cylinder didn’t look like much. It sat on a raised, foot-high stone pedestal. Unless you knew how to open it, there didn’t even appear to be a door. At the top, a tripod made of mithril poked out. Once Otto acquired it in the Celestial Empire, the Heart of Alchemy would rest on that tripod. Aside from the chamber, the room held nothing in the way of furniture. It was as cold and desolate a room as you might hope to find.
“You’re right about that,” Otto said. “Considering what it’s supposed to do, you’d have thought the Arcane Lords would have added some sort of decorations. How fare matters of state?”
“Well enough.” Wolfric yawned. “Taxes flow in. We’re not under threat of invasion. The nobles and merchants are all happy. To be honest it all makes me a little suspicious. I keep wondering when everything we’ve built will come crashing down.”
“It’s not going to come crashing down. Once the chamber is complete, we’ll have the power to live forever. You will rule the empire for all time and I will learn all there is to know about magic. The people will know peace and prosperity. No outside threat will dare attack us and no internal threat will escape my gaze.”
“Peace and prosperity forever.” Wolfric sighed. “Father would have loved that. If we can truly make that happen, perhaps his sacrifice will have been worth it.”
Otto choked off his reply. Without the late king’s death, Garenland wouldn’t exist as a country much less the heart of an empire. Wolfric seemed a bit maudlin today and Otto didn’t want to say anything that might set him off on a grim rant about the late unlamented king. Let him regret if he needed it to sleep through the night. As long as he did nothing to upset the empire’s success, Otto didn’t care.
“Why don’t we go upstairs and have some lunch,” Otto said. “All the magic I’ve been using has left me famished.”
Wolfric seemed to shake off his mood and flashed his old grin. “Excellent idea. Let’s dine in the old side room, where we used to meet before Father died. It would be alright just this once, don’t you think?”
“You’re the emperor, my friend. We can eat wherever you’d like.”
Otto sealed the room behind them and they made their way upstairs. Palace guards formed up around them as they walked through the halls. Halfway to the dining room one of the pages came running toward them. “Message for you, my lords.”
Otto took it and cracked the wax seal. He read the first line and smiled. Captain Wainwright had reached Lux and was tied up at the dock. That was perfect. They could begin refitting the ship for her journey to the Celestial Empire. Hans would need to go and collect his squad as well.
The next stage of his mission would get underway soon enough. Hopefully as soon as the winter was over and storm season ended in spring.
“You seem pleased,” Wolfric said.
“Indeed, Your Majesty. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
A shudder ran through Arcane Lord Valtan. He sat cross-legged in his meditation room and tried to purge the memory of searching through the homes of the rich and powerful for gold to pay assassins to kill his enemies. He felt like some third-rate necromancer looting a moldy crypt. At least he’d gotten what he needed and then some. So much unclaimed wealth filled the homes of Markane’s notable citizens, he probably could have hired the assassins five times over.
Despite his best efforts, a hint of rot snuck through his barriers. The many dead had been stewing in the summer heat for months. What little remained of their melted bodies stank worse than anything he’d ever encountered. That was saying something for a man that had visited the flesh pits of Amet Sur’s black pyramid.
Something broke one of the wards he’d set on South Barrier Island. The assassins must have arrived. Valtan had ordered Eddred to remain in the City of Coins until the task was done. Until Otto and Wolfric were gone, restoring the old kingdoms would be impossible. Even afterwards, finding members of the royal houses and kicking out the empire’s governors would be a massive task.
