Black Kerthon's Doom, page 5
"Yes, Lord Kaell. I understand. There will be no mistakes." He began to inch away from the table.
"Excellent. Now, watch for a man and a woman waiting for a rendezvous."
"A woman? I don't know that I like killing women."
Kaell pursed his lips. His fingers waggled.
"You have been well paid, Thame. And it will be the Amogrihens doing the killing. Your clothes will be free of blood."
"But it will be me releasing them. It's the same thing."
"Do we have to have this tired old argument each time? Your hands are already very, very bloody. Can you count the victims of your Amogrihens? A little more will make no difference."
"But.."
"Enough! You drive me to distraction and my patience is failing. I can find another to handle the Amogrihens." He spat in the dirt, watching it bubble and trickle in the cracks of the floor.
"What about me?" whined Thame.
"What use will I have for you then?" He looked hard at the man.
There was a long silence as Thame weighed his options, his eyes darting between Kaell and the bag of gold on the table. On the table near Kaell was a short sword, but the man feared Kaell's magic more.
"I understand. It will be done as you request."
"I am so glad to have your approval. I will speak with you at dawn." Kaell watched the man walk away. He had so many methods of killing Thame, but he would take his time deciding. He took it as a challenge to fit the punishment to the victim. He passed many rainy days in determining the proper methods.
The couple had waited near the edge of the forest for over an hour past the appointed time and the messenger from Gareth still had not appeared. The night was passing swiftly and they had waited far too long they knew, given the circumstances. But the information on Calendian soldier movement was vital and without it the undermanned rebellion might fail. Parean repeatedly tried to convince Daura they should leave but she wanted to wait just a little longer. Daura, sister of Gareth and daughter of the former Imperial Secretary and cousin of the High King was very visible at Nantitet court and had much to lose if discovered as a rebel. She had spent years building up trust despite the exploits of her brother. Most of the court did not couple them in their thoughts and never considered that she was involved with the rebellion at all. It had been a difficult achievement and she had crushed her pride on many occasions.
Even the High King was fond of her despite Gareth's attempts to usurp the throne. And from all appearances, she did not embrace Gareth's beliefs. The wizards, especially Kaell, mistrusted her, and tried to influence the High King against her. But they had no evidence of treason. If she was found with a rebel spy, then the High King would have to act. Kaell always watched her for some act of duplicity. She felt his eyes whenever she was in the palace. As the time passed Daura found herself extremely agitated, worrying that she would give herself away.
The moon had released its cover of clouds and shadows of the trees were long and distinct in the grass. The danger of discovery would increase the longer they waited and their positions in Nantitet were too important to compromise with the rebel plans so far from ripe. They agreed that they must return soon to Rhath where the High King was staying and assume their posts. It was an awkward decision to leave without contact with the rebels because Parean and Daura would directly return to Nantitet with the High King and the difficulty to converse with Gareth would increase sevenfold.
"How much longer do we dare wait?" asked Parean. "I do not like this. We must return before we are missed. We are exposing ourselves to Kaell's suspicions."
"I agree," replied Daura. "But we are already under Kaell's eye. It seems like everywhere I turn the wizard is there watching me. But we must contact Gareth's messenger. He can do little against the High King without our help. He has no other eyes and ears in the palace. Only we can give him information on the High King's intentions in advance of execution. If he makes a move for which he needs our aid and we cannot help, the outlook will be very bleak."
"As it will be if we don't return soon. The High King wants to leave early in the morning and that draws fast upon us. Let us return."
"Kaell spends all his time on battling the rebels," said Daura, trying to ignore the remark. "While Prosty accompanies the High King everywhere. I don't see how Gareth can get by the vigilance of Kaell. And Kaell has the Calendian army at his personal disposal."
Parean grasped her elbow and tried to lead her away. She smiled, twisting out of his grasp.
"But you're right. We can't wait much longer. We must go soon. Another ten minutes."
"I am not a soldier," said Parean. "I don't want you to expect me to defend you against soldiers. I have seldom lifted a sword."
"I know. It is your mind that attracts me. And I didn't ask you to come out here. You are exposing yourself needlessly to Kaell's suspicions. Besides, I was just to exchange information. No physical danger. Kaell wouldn't risk it until he was sure."
"I hope you're right."
There was a snap of a twig and they fell silent. Daura wasn't sure if they had made the noise themselves or not. They waited but did not hear any other sound. Parean grasped her hand. The breeze had died and Parean swore he could hear himself sweat. It was difficult to see anything with the darkness growing. Images seemed to float in the shadows the longer they stared at them, making them doubt their own senses. They waited. Parean's breath began to shorten and he gripped Daura's hand fiercely. At Daura's signal they both moved off slowly to find their horses. The trees were close together and the thick underbrush made it difficult to see very far in any direction. They moved more quickly but they saw shadows dance and fade around them and when they stopped, the shadows did also.
"It's nothing but ourselves," whispered Parean. She prayed he was right.
"I am not sure. Look there." She pointed to a low spot just ahead of them where three long shadows reached up into the shadows of the trees. But there were more shadows than trees.
They waited but could discern no movement from the shadows.
"Perhaps they are only shadows. An odd angle or two."
"Can we take that chance?" asked Daura. She was sure they had been discovered. But what would Kaell do? What were those shadows?
Parean shrugged. His throat was barely moist enough to speak.
"They are between us and the horses," whispered Daura. "If they are more than shadows, I do not know what they are. My hair standing on end."
"Stay here. I will try to draw them off."
"No," she said. "We will do what we must together."
"It does the rebels no good for both of us to die."
"And it does me no good," replied Daura. "For you to die."
He looked at her and smiled. Even in the darkness she knew he smiled and kissed him.
Parean's pulse raced. He did not want to confront Kaell. He was not a fighter and Daura had dragged him into a difficult situation. If they were caught they would certainly be executed, but how could he fight armed men? He had no training, no experience. He had never handled a long sword. Surely Daura could not despise him for that?
Their horses were silent which puzzled Daura. Surely they would have made some noise if someone approached in the dark. She strained her eyes but the darkness would not reveal the horses. They might have been led away. But by whom? Would Kaell's wizardry work on horses?
They moved away from the mysterious shadows and the long shadows drifted after them. So it seemed. When Daura turned to check on the shadows the night was still. If something was following them it could see it the dark better than they could and it stopped each time one of them tried to spot it. Daura thought she saw pointed ears on the shadows but their shape changed too often. But they never saw them move. Parean was nervously pacing and tried to speak but she but her finger to his lips. He shook his head violently and let go of her hand. He picked up a rock and threw it at the shadows. Daura tried to stop him; the shadows may not have seen them yet.
There was a sudden yelp when the rock struck. It did not sound human.
"Now, run for it," she hissed. She punched Parean on the arm as his reward for his foolishness. She prayed it would not cost them their lives.
The sudden noise of their flight was slight but it was enough to bring the trio of shadows to life and they fell in behind the fleeing pair. The pursuers did not speak and their footfalls were light and quick and they gained on their quarry. Parean and Daura ran in a straight line through the brush and held up their arms in front of them to shield their faces from the whipping branches. Then they began to change direction but their pursuers still gained on them. Parean noticed it and dropped off to one side and waited for the trio to catch up. He did not know what he was doing. He did not know why he had picked up the rock and thrown it. He just felt he had to. He told himself over and over. "You must fight or die, fight or die." He worked up an adrenaline rush and prepared to act in Daura's defense. He planned to jump them; he carried a short ornamental sword and held it ready but when they passed, his blood froze. He did not move to intercept them as he had planned; he did not move at all. He saw the sharp teeth and the feline eyes and they sped by him silently, ignoring him. The moment hung in his mind; the huge creatures with the gaping mouths lined with endless teeth that seemed to swallow even the darkness. They had never failed to catch their quarry according to the legends of his childhood. The lurking shadows waiting to take disobedient children away to eat them. His older sister always whispered to him of the Amogrihens waiting outside the window.
They were Amogrihens, here, now, and Daura was their prey. They did not see him or else the fleeing figure of Daura was too tempting. The tall cat creatures stretched their long toes in front of them like fingers and were noiseless in passing. He stared at their long fangs jutting up over their upper lips. Then he bolted after them but the lead was too great and there was nothing that could catch the lean forms of the Amogrihens from behind. The Amogrihens had been bred for speed and stealth for the nobles of Nantitet. At first the wild creatures were tamed for hunting deer. Then warfare brought adaptations of their use and they were used often and cruelly. They were highly efficient killers. It was rumored they finally died out, yet here were three.
Daura sensed Parean was not with her but there was something behind her and she began to shake. She chanced a backward glance and saw whatever it was behind her had erased much of her lead and was almost upon her. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and she knew they were gaining with every step. She veered from her course and the branches whipped her as she passed. The ground was uneven and jarred her and she stumbled. But she was on her feet again, heedless of her bleeding knees. She found a rope bridge and she ran across without stopping until she reached the other side and her sword severed the bridge supports and it collapsed with her pursuers on the other side. But she did not wait to see what they would do. The sounds of something splashing in the creek the rope ladder had spanned rose up to her. They were across. She headed down a hill and found a gully but she wouldn't be able to reach the top of the other side before they caught up with her. Daura had to lose them. She followed the gully downward faster and faster she ran and she collided with something, another body in the darkness and screamed.
"Who?" said the other, gripping Daura hard. She could not pull away.
"A traveler." Her heart pounded. They looked closely at each other in the darkness. A woman, dressed in dark green, a pouch slung over her shoulder.
"Daura?" asked a familiar voice.
"Cara, is that you?"
"Yes. Sorry I'm late. You gave me quite a fright. What do you have for me?" She patted Daura on the shoulder, but Daura grasped hers and jerked her to attention.
"No time. I think Kaell has someone tracking me. Parean and I separated but I know something is on my trail." She pulled Cara to her feet. They both looked behind Daura, hearing the slight noises in the thicket.
"Something's coming behind you," said Cara. "Is it Parean?"
The tall tuft eared shapes came bursting through the darkness. Both women screamed. Daura turned immediately, her legs churning.
"Amogrihens! Run for your life!" cried Daura as she saw the faint shapes through the trees. She ran without knowing the direction and without a thought for Cara who fell to the ground in terror, unable to run. Daura ran and ran and she would not stop until daylight when she would be safe. She heard the screams of her savior, the messenger from Gareth, Cara. The screams were terrible and Daura could taste the pain in that voice and felt sick to her stomach. She ran and ran. The screams continued and then stopped. Why couldn't Cara have died at once? She tried to push away the images that came to her, but the sounds remained in her mind. Daura was safe. She would not think about Cara. Poor Brice! Who would tell him? She must find the rebels. But she could not go back toward Rhath. She should find Gareth and tell him what had happened. Kaell had never used Amogrihens against the rebels before. Parean would have to return to the High King without her. And if they had been discovered, which was likely, since Kaell controlled the High King's Amogrihens then she could only go to Gareth. Poor Brice! She would not think of Cara. She would not. She wiped the tears from her eyes and ran.
She ran as far as she could before her legs betrayed her and she rested briefly and then moved on toward the mountains and the rebels. But the death cry of Cara would always haunt her dreams.
The chase was short. Parean heard the screams and the terrible silence that followed. It was several minutes before he could bring himself to push aside the bushes. It was worse than he expected. There in the trail were the bloody remains of Daura. He could not move closer. Flesh and clothing red-soaked covered the leaves. He had run in pursuit of Daura's ghost but there was nothing there but her shell, her face was gone, there was nothing to remind him of her. The Amogrihens had moved on and he screamed to them to come and get him. But he found no reply. He cradled his head and wept.
Kaell found him early in the morning. The wizard had brought several soldiers with him and they buried what remained of the body. Kaell frowned at Parean.
"I am disappointed in you. I thought you were a more formidable adversary. But I am in error. Pity Daura was too. You were the only one who could have saved her from the Amogrihens but you hid."
"I came after they had....killed her. I screamed to them to take me."
"Of course they would not return. They only kill once a night. They were no longer hungry. You knew that. You once lived near the Cathtrag Mountains where the Amogrihens are native. It looks like murder to me."
"NO! I tried to save her!" cried Parean.
"They why are you not scratched? I think the High King will frown on this behavior. He was fond of Daura. She almost had him convinced to oppose me. A few more days and the High King might have thrown me out. But that won't happen now, and Gareth loses a spy and a sister. It will cripple him. Come, let us visit the High King and tell him you allowed his favorite lady to perish. Pray that he will be merciful. It is more than you deserve."
Parean screamed at the wizard who had turned away. Two burly soldiers lifted him and carried him to the cart and tied him to it. They climbed up and started back to Rhath.
"Fansot!" called Kaell to one of the soldiers on horseback.
"Yes, sir."
"Take a message to Prosty. Tell him to urge the High King to keep Parean under tight security. I will return later after we have pieced together this puzzle."
"Yes, sir." The page raced to his horse and sped off after the cart and soon passed it and disappeared over a hill. Kaell watched grinning.
The wizard sat on a stump and tapped his fingers on his sword. He smiled at the bloody grass and pulled from his pocket a small flute and he put it to his lips. He played a slow tune that he had learned as a boy about a man who had given everything for the woman he loved only to lose her at the last moment and then miraculously she would come back to him. But Kaell always stopped the song before she came back. He did not believe in miracles. And his experience had always proved him correct.
Kaell was a young man in appearance but his black soul was old and rotten. His thin goatee was trimmed to a point and he filed his teeth that gave him the image of a satyr, which Prosty privately thought Kaell was. Kaell had plans for Parean, but where did Daura go? And who died here? Parean had not Kaell's power and could not know the remains were not of Daura, but Kaell would not tell him.
Kaell picked through the effects and found a green arrow, one of Gareth's peculiarities, evidence enough that the rebels were involved. He smiled and mounted his horse to return to the High King.
Kaell caught up with the High King's van late in the day as he had promised. It moved slowly over the road due to the uncommon size of the wagon that carried the High King. There were several wagons of servants and cooks to keep the enormous appetite of the High King sated. As Kaell rode up to the lead wagon, Prosty climbed out and mounted his horse. He appeared older than his partner and his hair thinned to the top of his head giving him a tremendously high forehead. His body gained weight quickly and the comfortable life they had been living recently bulged under his tunic. He noticed Kaell and rode to meet him. Their voices were low and fast.
"I did not see anyone. I believe they must have met with the rebel before the Amogrihens found them. Daura must have escaped. It was a rebel scout whose body we found."
"But it helps them not," said Prosty. "The messenger is dead and the man is in our hands. Daura cannot reach the rebel camp without supplies and the land is harsh. She will soon perish and one more threat is removed."
"Do you have Parean safely tucked away?"
"I'm afraid our High King has a mind of his own at times. He is trying to extract information from Parean."
"We must alleviate that situation," said Kaell quickly. "We must not have unforeseen events cross us up."
"Let Michak be for a while. He has Parean with him and tries to question him but he will gain nothing. When the High King tires of the game he will return the prisoner to us. So there is no worry. Parean will eventually be executed and it will be nearly impossible for the rebels to plant new spies."
