Prophecy of Swords, page 21
“Vaurgar would want to bring Shadowhelm back to Allarun,” Romarin said. “You didn’t fail – I’ve never heard of anyone since Elsonre escaping those demon-wolves.”
Kelersil nodded slowly, but chewed his lip. “If Vaurgar takes the Shara’kaito Thalarmor, I fear all may be lost.”
“Allarun must know that Shadowhelm could be Lachlan.”
“What can we do?”
“Go to the Laddelfortress and send help. I can’t move as fast as you can carrying her.”
“What if the Yeth return?”
“I can take care of them,” he said. “Go! She hasn't much time!”
Kelersil nodded and ran towards the LaddelFortress.
Romarin paused and gazed at Kalena's pale face. He kissed her gently on the cheek. "Oh my kinsman," he whispered. "Live a little longer – help will be here soon." He carefully lifted her up and carried her towards Caer Ladren.
Kalena slowly opened her eyes. "Romarin?" she whispered.
"Yes – shhh!" he said as he carried her.
"Thirsty," she whispered. "Shadowhelm, I couldn't…"
Romarin laid her down and pressed his canteen against her lips. "Save your strength," he replied. "I’ll find him."
"He’s the Lachlan," Kalena whispered. She raised her hand and took his. She felt cold to his touch.
"I know," Romarin said. "I’ll find him. Rest, my kinsman."
"Romarin, I…" she began.
Romarin shook his head. "Shhh. I already knew. I could see it in your eyes. You belong with him."
Kalena began coughing. Then she returned to unconsciousness.
###
Romarin sat next to Kalena. He did not dare move her and had staunched the bleeding the best he could. The blood had already clotted around the arrows. He left the arrows in to avoid further bleeding and kept her covered with both their cloaks. Once or twice, he heard howling that set him on edge, but these were ordinary wolves, not Yeth Hounds.
The first rays of dawn had entered the forest when he saw a large gray wolf approach him. Romarin got to his feet and sheathed the Haellsword. "Laddel!" he said.
The wolf transmuted into the old Laddelking. "Romarin, my old friend, it has been a long time."
Romarin nodded. "It has been a long time," he agreed. "I wish we didn't have to meet again over such dire circumstances. Vaurgar attacked with the Yeth."
"And in my own forest," Laddel remarked, kneeling down to inspect Kalena. "You did well to keep her stable – I can still heal her, but she’ll need rest." He paused. "I didn’t foresee the attack – Allarun and Areyn Sehduk grow bold now to attack those in my own forest."
"Allarun is growing in power," Romarin replied. "I fear that he’ll soon be too powerful even for the Lachlan."
Laddel gave Romarin a knowing look. "You may be more right than you realize," he said, pulling the blankets off Kalena and resting his hand on her wounds. "Allarun has captured Ni'yah and holds him in Sehduk's Keep."
"Is that possible?" Romarin breathed. "Allarun has captured a god?"
Laddel did not respond. Instead, a light emanated from his hands and he pressed them against Kalena's wounds. The Chi'lanwarrior moaned in pain. "Pull the arrows out as I touch each wound," Laddel said. Romarin snapped the barbed arrowheads off each arrow that protruded through and then tugged at the first arrow. As the shaft slid out, Laddel touched the wound and it closed.
"Allarun captured a god?" Romarin repeated when they finished.
"These are troubling times," Laddel said. "Allarun has bent Lachlan’s power to evil. I warned Lachlan before he forged those swords, but Lachlan was rash and unwilling to listen to counsel." He looked down at Kalena's form. "That is all I can do."
"Will she live?" Romarin asked.
"Yes, but she’ll need rest," Laddel replied. "My skills as a healer are inherited from my sire, but I’m only half Ni'yah. She would be healed completely if I were he."
"Your skills are greatly appreciated," Romarin said.
"Let’s return to the fortress," Laddel replied. "We can decide what to do then."
"No," Romarin said. "I’m going after Shadowhelm."
The Laddelking gazed at Romarin. "Allarun's great army is massing along both the Haell and the Laddel borders. He’ll strike soon."
"Allarun won’t strike until the Lachlan is dead," Romarin replied. "If I can save Shadowhelm's life, there may be a chance."
"Or we may lose you both." Laddel gazed at Romarin. "As it was before, it is now."
Romarin shook his head. "I do not understand."
"Two brothers, sons of Rhyn'athel," Laddel said. "Lachlan and Elsonre. Romarin and Shadowhelm. The cycle is complete. Perhaps there is more to the Lachlan's prophecy than his return." He transmuted into a wolf again. Romarin gently picked up Kalena and laid her over the wolf's back.
"Talk to Joreid, the Haellqueen," Romarin said. "She will join forces with what is left of my army and you, if you’d join us against Allarun."
The wolf nodded. The Laddel will join you, he said. May Rhyn'athel guide you. With that, Laddelloped away, carrying Kalena.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ni'yah lay in the dark throne room of Sehduk's Keep. The Eltar had chained the wolf to Allarun's massive throne, leaving the god to lie muzzled and bound – and helpless.
Ni'yah could not transmute, nor could he use any of his powers. He couldn't even speak with the muzzle on. As a god, he was unused to helplessness and he paced angrily back and forth. Several times he sought to break the adamantine fetters that bound him, but it was all in vain. It was as though the magic that held him was of the most powerful kind – the kind that was spawned only in the depths of the Sehduk's realm.
The massive door to the throne room opened and Allarun strode in. He smiled as his eyes fell on the wolf. "Well, I heard that my son had brought a pet," he sneered, aiming a kick at Ni’yah.
Ni'yah dodged, dragging the heavy chains to its limits to avoid the kick. He's mad if he thinks he can hold a god.
"Mad?" laughed Allarun. "I think not. For I am a god. The god of destruction. And soon, even Lachlan's powers will have no hold upon me." He smiled, his hand straying to the hilt of Hagalazat his side. "And those gods who dare defy me will meet the same fate as you. They’ll soon be worshipping me."
The wolf laid back down, his brass eyes filled with worry, as he watched the Dark Lord leave the throne room.
###
Shadowhelm lay asleep in a fevered dream. He was still in great pain, but the medicine Taryn gave him threw him into an uneasy rest. In it, Shadowhelm found he was once more on Darkling Plain, walking among the ghosts of the Eleionwarriors. Looking down, Shadowhelm realized that he was gripping Eihwaz's hilt.
"It’s good that you’ve come," said a voice.
Shadowhelm swung around, sword ready. Before him stood an Eleion warrior – a Lochvaur of impressive stature. He was clad in battle armor and held a broken sword in his hands. The voice was strangely familiar, but the figure was misty and unsubstantial. "Who are you?" Shadowhelm asked. "Are you Lachlan?"
The apparition smiled. "That is who I was."
"Am I dead?" Shadowhelm asked, staring at the vast legions of Eleionwarriors who gathered before him.
"No – this is a dream, but you’ve touched the path between life and death."
"Why? How?"
“I need you to complete the Prophecy.”
"Then I am the Lachlan," Shadowhelm said.
"It is more complex than that," Lachlan said. "But you will learn soon enough."
"How am I able to talk to you?"
"How do you think?"
Shadowhelm glanced down at the sword he held. "Eihwaz."
"You understand," Lachlan said. "First Eihwaz, then Hagalaz. Then Uruz. The Swords of Destiny were forged in that order."
Shadowhelm shook his head. "Where’s Uruz?"
"Ask Romarin," Lachlan said.
Shadowhelm drew a quick inward breath. "He knows?"
"Romarin knows more than he admits."
"Then he is a Swordwielder," Shadowhelm said.
"As you are," Lachlan said. "Go now – there’s much for you to do. You must take Hagalazback."
"Sehduk's Keep," Shadowhelm mused.
"Ni'yah is there," Lachlan said. "Free the wolf – he will aid you."
Shadowhelm nodded. "I’ll do this," he said. The Darkling Plain fell away and Shadowhelm was pulled back into consciousness.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Romarin watched as Laddel disappeared into the forest and then turned away. He sheathed his sword, his angry rising as he thought about Allarun and Vaurgar. Shadowhelm, Kalena, Haegl, and himself had become victims of power-hungry madmen. If anything, Allarun's hatred and desire to destroy the Eleionand the Lochvaur would ultimately bring about his own death. Not the Lachlan's prophecy. Not the Swords of Destiny. It would be Shadowhelm or Romarin who would deal the final blow.
Perhaps that is what the Prophecy was about, he reflected. In that brief instant before his death, Lachlan saw Allarun for what he was and saw well into the future. Lachlan's own life force was powerful – so powerful that not even Areyn Sehduk could claim him in death. Allarun had to know this, himself being the son of an Athel’cen,the most powerful of the gods.
There had been two sons of Rhyn'athel a thousand years ago; there were two now. It could not be coincidence – even Shadowhelm would admit to that, Romarin thought wryly. Now, Shadowhelm's life depended on Romarin. It was time to repay the life-debt.
These thoughts kept Romarin focused while traveling through the forest. Romarin refused to stop for longer than a few minutes as he tracked the Eltarwhile he still had light. Tracking them was easy – the horses’ hoof prints were visible in the soft dirt and frozen grasses – but at night, even with sharp Eleioneyes, he could overlook the subtleties of a trail over more rugged terrain.
The sun had set and the first stars twinkled overhead through the treetops when Romarin decided to rest. He had emptied his canteen an hour ago and hunger and exhaustion was creeping up with him. He had no food – his horse had taken his provisions when it fled, and the little food he had on him he consumed many hours before. Romarin knew he could live without food for days – if necessary. Water, however, was vital and he searched for a stream.
Romarin surveyed the forest. The land was not flat, but a series of rolling hills. Romarin knew he'd find water in the gulches between the hills. He stood on a ridgeline and followed a gully to where a small stream flowed. He approached the stream and tasted the water. It was cold and icy, bubbling from a spring. He filled the canteen and cupped more water in his hands.
His eye caught movement. Romarin turned and saw a doe walk slowly to the water. Romarin watch her in wry amusement. He was upwind of her and she hadn't spied him. He had no means of shooting her, so she was safe from him.
Thwang! An arrow whistled by the doe, just above her back and lodged into the pine nearby. The doe started and took off, bounding away into the dark forest. Romarin dropped his canteen and drew his sword. Just uphill from where he had come was a rider with a bow.
"Romarin? Is that you?"
Romarin relaxed and frowned. "Kelersil?"
The Laddelrode a sorrel horse and had another horse's reins tied to his pommel. "I was wondering when I was going to catch up with you. You move as fast as a Laddel."
Romarin grinned, picking up his canteen and capping it. "I move when I have to."
"Laddel sent me with a horse – said you’d be needing it if we're going to Sehduk's Keep."
"We're?" Romarin repeated. "I won't drag you into this."
"You won't get the horse otherwise," Kelersil remarked. "Come on, let's make camp. I would've liked venison, but I caught two rabbits earlier today."
###
They made camp, chancing a small smoldering fire to cook the meat. Romarin put the flames out with water from the creek after eating.
"I don't think the Eltarbelieve anyone is following them," Romarin remarked. "They are so cocksure of themselves that a blind man could follow their trail."
Kelersil nodded. "They will probably rest for the night."
"I wish we could track them in the dark, but it is just too risky," Romarin said. "I'll risk the trail turning cold before I follow a false lead."
"You don't have to," Kelersil remarked. He pointed to the north. "Can you see, just beyond the forest?"
Romarin's gaze followed Kelersil's hand. There, in the distance was a flicker from firelight. He grinned. "They're stupid and overconfident."
“They'll still be awake,” Kelersil observed. “Both you and the horses need rest. I'll keep watch and wake you in a couple hours. You can then find Shadowhelm when there are only a few sentries.”
Romarin nodded. As much as he wanted to rescue Shadowhelm, he knew that for the moment, the Shara’kaiwould be all right until they brought him to Allarun.
"What about you?" Romarin asked.
"I'm all right. Rest now," the Laddelsaid.
Romarin lay down, wrapping his cloak around him for warmth. His last thoughts before he fell asleep were of Joreid.
It felt as if seconds had passed when Kelersil was shaking him awake. "Come on, time to move," the Laddelwhispered. Romarin gazed into the sky to see the first moon had already risen and the second was peering through the trees low on the horizon.
"How long?"
"I gave you an extra hour," Kelersil confessed. "They're not moving and we should reach them well before dawn."
They broke camp and rode towards the Eltarcamp, keeping the fire visible in their line of sight. As they drew nearer, Romarin motioned to Kelersil that they should dismount and walk. They tied their horses to the nearest tree and crept towards the camp.
Romarin surveyed the camp. The Eltarhad posted two guards but they were engrossed in a game of dice rather than watching their prisoner. Shadowhelm lay next to a tree with manacles around his wrists and ankles and chains wrapped around the tree.
"Cover me with your bow," Romarin whispered to Kelersil. "If the guards make a move towards me, shoot them."
Kelersil nodded, notching an arrow and keeping his eyes on the Eltar guards. Romarin crept towards Shadowhelm. The Shara'kailay wrapped in a cloak asleep. Romarin noted that Shadowhelm's wounds were bandaged carefully and the Shara'kailooked better than he had expected. He placed a hand on Shadowhelm's arm.
Abruptly, Shadowhelm leapt up, one hand closed around Romarin's throat.
Shadowhelm, it's me, Romarin!
The Shara'kaihesitated for a moment as his silver eyes tried to focus on Romarin's form. Shadowhelm's hand released and he smiled. "Romarin!" he whispered. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard you had been captured," Romarin said softly, "I came to find you."
Shadowhelm grinned. 'Thank you, my friend, but I need no help yet."
Romarin considered the Shara'kai. "They must have drugged you."
"Actually Taryn did give me something for the pain," Shadowhelm admitted. "But things are not as they seem." He opened the binders to Romarin's amazement.
"How?"
"There are Eltarwho fight against Allarun."
Romarin glanced at the two guards who were still engrossed in their dice game. "I don't understand."
Shadowhelm's expression grew serious. "I don’t understand either, but I must go to Thalarmor and take Hagalazaway from Allarun. I must do this before I find Uruz."
"Shadowhelm – I know where Uruzlies," whispered Romarin. "I can lead you to it."
A silence ensued between them. At length, Shadowhelm shook his head. “No. First Eihwaz, then Hagalaz. Then Uruz. That's the key to bringing back the Lachlan.”
“How do you know this?”
"Because Lachlan told me, himself."
“Lachlan, how?”
“Through a dream or a vision – or whatever you call it,” Shadowhelm replied. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but he told me that the key to returning him is to take the Swords in order of their forging.”
Romarin stared at Shadowhelm. “By Rhyn'athel's sword, I would’ve never believed it. Shadowhelm, you’re in great danger if you stay here with Vaurgar. He’ll kill you for sport if he learns you are indeed the Lachlan. You don't yet have his powers to defend yourself.”
