Knight of Shadows, page 31
He heard another small roar and looked down to see Seena attacking the roots that were wrapped around his legs. Her sharp teeth and talons dug into the fleshy roots to little effect. New roots shot out of the ground to wrap several times around the little dragon. Smoke billowed from her mouth as she roared again. A blade suddenly cut through the branches holding Rezkin’s left arm. Rezkin turned to look, but he could not see the wielder through the thick branches. The blade came down again, this time from the other side, freeing his right arm.
“Release him!” hollered a voice that Rezkin knew all too well. “I said release him, now! He is not the enemy.”
The rocks stopped pelting him, and the roots around Rezkin’s legs went slack. He untangled himself before snatching up his sword from the ground. Then Rezkin began hacking at the roots restraining Seena until she was free. Seena continued to attack the roots even though they were no longer animated.
Rezkin turned to his savior. “Tam, it is good to see you.”
Tam sheathed his Sheyalin and threw himself at Rezkin, wrapping him in a tight hug. He said, “I’m so glad to see you, Rez. I heard you were dead.”
Rezkin said, “I was, but I did not prefer it.”
Tam leaned back with surprise. “Rez, was that joke? I didn’t know you were capable.”
Rezkin sheathed his own sword. “The Sen Berringish brought me back from the dead. I killed him for it. It will not happen again.”
With wide eyes, Tam said, “Why would you kill him for saving you?”
“He tried to put a demon in me.”
“Oh, I guess that was a good reason.”
Rezkin waved around at the limbs and roots then the offending tree. “What is going on here?”
Tam appeared embarrassed. He said, “Sorry about that. They got a little excited. You are the first of the ahn’tep races they have encountered, besides me, of course.”
“Then they are ahn’an?”
“Yes,” said Tam. “Come. I will explain over tea.”
Rezkin followed Tam into the living cabin. It was a small, one-room affair with an equally living table and chair to one side. Tam offered Rezkin the chair and announced, “I need another chair.” Roots began growing rapidly out of the ground. Then stalks began to form on them, and these grew into a twisted frame of a chair. Tam went to the stone hearth and retrieved a clay pot that had been heating over the fire. Then he produced two wooden cups and filled them with steaming hot tea from the pot. When Tam sat down, he breathed out heavily.
“You got my beacon stone?” said Tam.
“I did. Where did you get such a thing?”
“From them,” he said, motioning with his head toward the fae creatures outside. “Where to start?” muttered Tam. “I guess it started back at the quarry. Maybe a little before that. It was all because of that hole in my mind. The one you had put there.”
Rezkin felt a pang of guilt slice through him. Tam had almost died because of him. “I am sorry about that, Tam. I never should have—”
Tam held up a hand. “No, no. If you had not, I would likely be dead right now. You see, that hole in my mind opened an entirely new world to me. I began to hear and see things, to know things that I didn’t before. It’s like the world is constantly chattering, sometimes even speaking to me, and I could understand it. I thought I was going mad. But it turns out it was all real.
“Back in the quarry, a creature came to me—one of the fae. I think I told you about it. It was a rock monster. At least, that’s what I thought at the time. Now I know it to be ahn’an. Its name was Goragana, and it is one of the Ancients. It spoke to me, and I could understand. It saved my life because of the deal you made with the Ancients.”
“Anyway, I thought I was done with the fae after that, but it turns out they weren’t done with me. I came to Gendishen like you asked, but things weren’t going well for me. I didn’t have the confidence to take charge of the army like you wanted. I realize that now. Anyway, one night, Goragana came to me—came right out of my bed chamber wall. Goragana said that I was part of the army you had promised them and that it was time for me to take my place. I thought it meant as general of the Gendishen Army, but it turns out that’s not what they wanted. Because of my ability to understand them, they had selected me to be their general. They stole me away through the pathways and brought me here where they made me the general of the fae army. I’ve been training with them here ever since. They won’t let me go. They want me to be the liaison between them and the rest of your army.”
Rezkin felt a burst of red-hot anger burn through him. The ahn’an had conscripted Tam without his consent into a position he was not meant to fill. Had he unknowingly given the fae the right to take his people for their own use in the coming war? He had promised them an army. He had not specified that it would be made of people of his own choosing or that he would be the one to lead that army. Now they had Tam. Who knew for how long or in what capacity?
Rezkin found himself apologizing a second time. “I am sorry, Tam. I never meant for this to happen to you. I did not fully consider my deal with the fae, and now you are at their mercy.”
Tam’s eyes widened. “Are you saying you can’t get me out of this?”
Rezkin shook his head. “No, I believe they feel that they are satisfying the terms of our agreement. They have claimed you as part of the army I promised them.”
“So I’m stuck here? For how long? What will they have me do? Rez, I can’t do this. I’m going insane here among them. They keep trying to make deals with me.”
“You must be very careful of anything you say to them, Tam. Do not agree to anything, even something simple. When I made the deal with them, I felt I had no other choice. They will try to put you in the position to feel the same way.”
Tam hung his head. After a moment, he looked up and said, “I guess it’s not all bad. I mean, I always wanted adventure. He tapped the table then stood. Pacing the floor, he rubbed his hands together as he thought. Then he turned to Rezkin. “Yes, this will be good. No, it’ll be great! I’m the leader of the fae army. How much more adventurous could it get?”
“I am truly sorry, Tam. This was never my intention. I will try to come up with a way to get you out of it.”
“Don’t’ be sorry, Rez. This is exciting, isn’t it?” He looked down to where Seena was attacking part of the living table leg. “Now, are we going to discuss the dragon?”
Chapter 22
After a week, Rezkin left Tam with a gnawing guilt he could not ignore. It was his fault Tam was stuck with the fae, and he had no idea how he would get Tam out of it. The pathway to Caellurum was a long one, not due to the distance but because of the burden he carried in his heart. First, he needed to make sure Yserria was safe, and he had to thwart whatever plans Caydean had for Lon Lerésh, then he needed to find a way to free Tam, even if Tam did not presently want to be freed. He stopped in Caellurum to get the latest news. He needed to know where to find Yserria. According to the latest report, she had been summoned to the queen’s court in the Leréshi capital city of Kielen and had traveled there during the time Rezkin had been searching the forest for Tam.
He had Seena open the portal directly into a storeroom he had once visited in the queen’s palace. He disguised himself as a Leréshi servant intending to go in search of Yserria. Since animals were not common in the palace, Seena had to travel in the sack at Rezkin’s hip. She did not like being cooped up in the sack and protested by shifting around as much as possible. At least she was quiet. He could cover up her movements with illusion, but it was much harder to hide the noises.
Upon stepping out of the storeroom, Rezkin was nearly run over by a team of guards. The guards paid no attention to him as they ran past. A commotion at the other end of the corridor caught Rezkin’s attention. A maid was crying, and several other servants stood around looking pensive. The guards rushed into the queen’s chambers at the end of the corridor. Then Rezkin heard a shout.
“The queen is dead!”
Rezkin’s blood ran cold at the proclamation. If it was true, and Erisial was dead, that meant he was now the ruler of Lon Lerésh. At least, he would be if people did not think him dead. Another queen would soon take Erisial’s place, and there was no guarantee she would be sympathetic to his cause or that she would adhere to the agreements made between him and Erisial. If Rezkin was to maintain control of Lon Lerésh’s military, he would need a supporter on the throne.
Footsteps thundered toward him from the opposite end of the corridor. Erisial’s consort Serunius dashed toward the queen’s chambers. Rezkin waited to see the battle mage’s reaction to whatever had happened in Erisial’s quarters. The servants hurriedly vacated the corridor as Serunius arrived. A moment later, there was an explosion, and the doors to the chamber flew off their hinges to slam against the wall on the opposite side of the corridor. That was all the confirmation Rezkin needed. Erisial was dead, and now he had a choice to make. He could either come forward and seize the throne for himself, or he had to ensure the right person took the throne.
News of the queen’s death spread like wildfire throughout the palace. Already servants began scurrying through the corridors covering portraits and statues in black fabric as the guards searched the entire palace for the assassin. With all the commotion, it was not difficult for Rezkin to move about undeterred. He questioned a few of the servants and learned that Yserria was at the palace and had gone to the practice yard that morning. Malcius had gone with her. Rezkin was pleased the two were maintaining their Skills, and he longed to practice with them. He realized that he missed training with his friends.
Rezkin hurried toward the practice yard so that he would not miss them. When he arrived, he found that news of Erisial’s death had already reached the grounds. The guards normally training there were quickly vacating the yard. Yserria and Malcius were heading into the small building near the practice yard used for storing supplies and for resting and recuperating, and they both looked distraught. Rezkin waited until no one remained in the practice yard, then headed for the building. When he entered, his attention perused the storage area where practice weapons and padding were stacked and piled and then turned toward the seating area. He found Yserria and Malcius alone. He spoke in Leréshi.
“Pardon me, Matrianera Yserria. May I have a word with you privately?”
Yserria glanced at Malcius, but of course Malcius had not understood him. Rezkin could tell that Yserria was suspicious of the unusual request, but she nodded graciously.
Rezkin said, “Might we speak alone?”
Yserria responded, “What you have to say to me, you can say in front of him. He won’t understand you anyway.”
Rezkin stared at Malcius for a long moment rethinking his chosen course of action. Finally, he nodded and allowed his illusion to drop away. Yserria and Malcius both jumped as he changed before their eyes. Malcius found his voice first.
“Rez! You’re alive! But … how?”
Rezkin looked at Yserria, who stared at him speechless. He turned back to Malcius. “A Sen retrieved me from death. I live again.”
Malcius suddenly closed the distance and threw his arms around Rezkin. “Oh, thank the Maker, we are saved.” Then he reared back, and his face screwed up in anger. “It’s been nine months! And you’re just now coming forward. How could you do that to us? How could you let us believe you were dead all this time?”
“I realize you are upset—”
“Upset?! Upset does not begin to cover it!”
“But I had my reasons, and I still do. I am only showing myself to you now because circumstances demand it.”
Yserria released a squeak and pointed at his satchel. “It’s moving!”
Now that his illusion was gone, they could see where Seena was shifting around irritably.
“I want out!” Seena shouted into his mind.
“Not now,” he replied with his thoughts. Receiving her thoughts had been easy, but responding through thought had been more challenging, and she did not always hear what he was saying. This time she heard but was not cowed. She popped her head out of the satchel then sprang onto a nearby table. Malcius jumped away, knocking over a chair, and Yserria drew her sword. Seena stretched her wings and neck and tail to their full extents then shook herself like a wet dog.
“Is that a dragon!?” shouted Malcius.
Rezkin reached for Seena, but she scurried away from his grasping hands. “Yes,” he said, “this is Seena. She is my companion.” He reached for her again and just missed catching her. “She is usually better behaved, but she has been cooped up in the satchel for too long.”
Yserria hesitantly sheathed her sword. “You’ve been keeping a dragon in your satchel?”
“Well, I cannot very well walk around the palace with her frolicking in the hallways, and she cannot be left alone. She is only a baby and does not yet have adequate defensive capabilities.”
Malcius said, “Just when I think I know you, Rez, you rise from the dead and capture a dragon. No one will believe this.”
“You can tell no one about me,” said Rezkin. “You must maintain the secret for a while longer.”
“You want us to pretend you are dead?” asked Malcius. “You want me to lie to our friends? To what end, Rezkin?”
Yserria finally spoke. “Erisial is dead. We just heard. That means you are now the ruler of Lon Lerésh. You must come forward and claim the throne.”
“I cannot do that. I must remain hidden a while longer.”
“But you will lose Lon Lerésh,” said Yserria. “It will no longer be a part of the empire.”
“That is why I have come to you now. I must ensure that a loyalist wears the crown.”
“How do you intend to do that?” asked Malcius.
Rezkin looked to Yserria. “I need you to claim the throne, Yserria.”
Yserria’s eyes widened. “What? You want me to become queen?”
“Yes.”
“How do you expect me to do that?”
“I think you will find you have more support than you know. You are already the leader of two echelons. You have more clout than most at court.”
“But without you backing me, I am less of a threat. I’m surprised I haven’t already been assassinated.”
“That is why I need you to claim a new consort.”
Yserria cut her hand through the air. “Absolutely not.” She glanced at Malcius from the corner of her eye and said, “As far as I’m concerned, I have one too many.”
Malcius scowled at Yserria but did not argue the point.
Rezkin said, “There is something else you need to know. Someone is coming for you, someone against whom your blade will have little effect. It will be a battle mage, and likely a demon. You need the protection of a mage and not just any mage. You need a battle mage. You must claim Serunius.”
“But I don’t want Serunius!”
“This is not right,” interjected Malcius. “You cannot force her to take a consort.”
Rezkin returned his gaze to Yserria. “What you do—or do not do—with him is your business, but you need his protection. He is the most powerful battle mage in Lon Lerésh.”
“What makes you think he will accept my claim?”
“He loved Erisial. He will be in mourning, but he is experienced at court. He will see the wisdom and necessity of your claim. He is attracted to you. He would rather have your claim than that of another, and he will not remain unclaimed for long. You may have several challengers for him. If you secure Serunius as your consort, your claim to the throne may go unchallenged. Serunius is the key.”
Yserria’s jaw tensed. “You are forgetting that I don’t want the throne. And I don’t want Serunius. Why should I do any of this?”
“You must do it for the empire and the fight against Caydean.”
“Your empire. None of this would be necessary if you just came forward.”
“As I have said, I cannot at this time. Only a few people know I am alive, and it needs to stay that way for now. You cannot discuss it with anyone, even amongst yourselves. Caydean must not find out. Besides, even if I came forward, the queendom would be thrown into turmoil. It would be civil war. The queendom needs a queen. Will you do it?”
“It seems I have no choice.”
“You always have a choice, Yserria. If you decide against this, I will find another way—one that likely will include much more bloodshed.”
Yserria took a deep breath and released it slowly. She looked at Malcius, who appeared anxious and almost fearful. Then she turned back to Rezkin. “I will do it, but I know nothing about running a queendom.”
“Serunius was with Erisial during her entire reign. He will help you. The echelons are largely independent and will run themselves. It is up to you to keep them under your thumb. You do not have to do this all on your own, Yserria. I will remain here working in the shadows until you secure Serunius and the throne.”
Rezkin turned to go, but Yserria called out to him. “Wait. This battle mage you said is coming for me. Why? Why me?”
“That I cannot tell you without risking your life.”
“My life is already at risk. Tell me.”
Rezkin turned back to her. “Very well, but even knowing this could put you in more danger. Are you sure you want to know?”
“If it is so important, I think I should,” replied Yserria.
Rezkin nodded solemnly. “Back on Cael, when you were being held for that demon ritual, something happened to you. Your soul was being drawn into the bonfire to allow for the demon to enter you. I stopped the ritual by trapping the fire inside some crystals. Unfortunately, part of your soul was drawn into one of the crystals as well. We believed that had you known, the process would have continued until your entire soul was trapped.”
“You’re saying my soul is trapped in a crystal?”
“Only part of it. If it was your entire soul, you would be dead.”
