King's Crown: Chronicles of the Dragon-Bound: Book 3, page 22
Dax had a special mission for Scarlet—find Snake, cum Holder, the head of Tazzelton’s underworld. Holder had been at the engagement reception along with Ias and Iette, the emperor’s daughters. Dax wanted to talk to the man. He was certain the two young women were in Tazzelton to subvert West Landly’s defenses. What better way could there be than enlisting Tazzelton’s criminal element? West Landly would be busy defending against the Tharans at the gates of the city. An insurrection within the city itself would be devastating.
Shortly after lunch, Dax and Frieanna had time to meet with Pollia Karr. They explained the circumstances and told her the carefully planned and closely scripted events for the days leading up to the wedding as well as the ceremony itself were cancelled. The elderly woman looked stern, but she said, “Even though it would have been a historic occasion, you are correct.” She sighed, and Dax tried to imagine the woman’s disappointment.
Frieanna smiled and took the woman’s arm. The queen’s charm was a formidable force, and she used it now. “Mistress Karr, we are still going to get married, but we want a different type of ceremony—one that will inspire the people of the city in this time of peril.” She went on to sketch some ideas about the public ceremony they had discussed with Treyhorn earlier.
The woman’s dour expression never changed, but she asked pointed questions. Although she was devoted to proper royal protocol, Dax saw Karr responding with the instincts of a showman. The opportunity to put on a spectacle for the whole city obviously appealed to her. Karr was distracted and talking to herself as she walked away. Frieanna gave Dax a wink. With Karr in charge of the marriage ceremony, they had one less worry.
#
By late evening their worst fears were confirmed when Kahshect got close enough to communicate with Dax. The Tharans had landed an army on the southern coast of West Landly west of Fasnel. Although Kahshect did not have an accurate idea of the numbers, their force was much larger than the one they had sent against East Landly—and this time they had three drakons. Those Kahshect could count. The dragon was not familiar with names on a map, but with Dax’s careful questioning, Dax managed to locate the area where the Tharans had landed. With that information, the time frame became clearer. Depending on how organized they were, the Tharans could be at the gates of Tazzelton in as few as two weeks—more likely three. It also confirmed Dax’s hunch that the invasion had been timed to match the wedding. If Kahshect had not seen the landing force, news od the Tharans would have arrived when the city was caught up in the celebration.
That evening Frieanna did not want to be alone, and Dax was thankful. He had missed her and the deeply satisfying comfort of being with her. They were intimate again, but they spent most of the time before they fell asleep cuddling for reassurance. They talked about many things that had happened in the years they had been apart. Dax was glad to avoid, for a while anyway, thoughts about what the next few days must bring.
#
Four days later Pollia Karr had the new wedding ceremony ready. She had done an amazing job of organizing a major spectacle in a short time while taking a minimal amount of time, effort, resources, and labor away from preparations to battle the Tharans. The day of the wedding had been cloudy, but as the sun neared the horizon that evening, the gloomy overcast broke up. The sun set in a blaze of orange that faded to a purplish rose.
That evening both Dax and Frieanna wore their respective royal crowns and dressed in the formal clothes they had prepared for the wedding. Dax, however, carried one more item. Just before they left the castle for the ceremony at sundown, Frieanna had come to him, carrying a long object draped with the royal West Landly ensign. She placed it in his hands and whisked away the cloth. Dax found himself looking at the royal sword of West Landly—the sword he had seen his father wear on many state occasions.
He looked at Frieanna, and she nodded. “I talked with the leaders of the council. They agreed you should wear the sword into battle. I want you to wear it tonight.”
“But I am not the West Landly sovereign. By rights, you should wear it.”
She shook her head. “In a few minutes, you and I will share the rule of the Kingdom of Landly, and you will have every right to wear that sword.” She took the sword out of his hands and buckled it around his waist. “Besides, while I may be good with a stick, this beastly thing is far too heavy for me wield. It is a war sword for a fighting man.” She finished and stepped back to admire her work. “You will wear it proudly for our kingdom.”
Ever since they had met, Dax had enjoyed giving Frieanna wonderful surprises. He hoped she had been half as pleased as he was now. He stood there for a moment relishing the feel of the sword firmly affixed around his waist. He put his hand on the hilt and drew the weapon. It balanced well in his grip. The sword was elegantly worked. Intricate etchings adorned the blade, the hilt, and the scabbard. Although it was a object of beauty, it was also a sword of war, strong and heavy. The blade had several nicks and notches. This sword had been used.
When Frieanna poked him, Dax finally realized he had been staring at the blade for too long. He tore his eyes away from the sword and looked at Frieanna. “Thank you.” The words were too little to convey what it meant to him to wear his father’s sword, but he could think of no better way to say it. So he said it again. Quietly. “Thank you.” He put the sword back in its scabbard and hugged her carefully so as not to disturb her finery.
#
Two large bonfires burned well to either side of the amphitheater’s platform. Fueled with wood from the first buildings demolished for the city’s firebreaks, the fires roared in the darkness, casting plenty of light on the ceremony. Kahshect and Namkafnir perched at either end of the broad stage near the bonfires. The royal orchestra and chorus were already in place on risers behind the raised platform where Dax and Frieanna would stand. Dax had expected an audience for the ceremony, but he looked out over Old Town Park in amazement. There was a sea of people. He could see individuals near the amphitheater who were illuminated by the large bonfires, but a torch-lit crowd filled the entire park. Every avenue leading to the area was jammed with people.
The royal procession marched down the Serpentine Road by torchlight. Dax went first, and as he approached the turnout to the amphitheater, the welcoming strains of Meadows of East Landly rose to meet him. People in the crowd cheered in welcome. He heard the chant, “Boy king! Boy king!” He smiled and waved in recognition. Not far behind, Frieanna entered the stage to the music West Landly to the Sea. Dax had been impressed by the crowd’s welcome, but their salute to their queen was just as boisterous and heartfelt. Her fire-lit beauty as she crossed the stage made his heart flutter. His breath was tight as she joined him on the raised platform at the center.
Dax and Frieanna stood together before the high priestess. Scarlet and Telly stood with them. Treyhorn and Renshau had returned from their missions and were there to represent Dax’s family. Frieanna’s aunt, Rennela Deighen, and her son were the queen’s family. Looking around at the score of people who attended them, Dax smiled when he saw Suse—Ma Cookie. Both he and Frieanna had insisted she come, but it had taken Dax a moment to recognize her dressed in formal clothes without her ever-present apron.
Few from the nobility were there. Changing the date of the wedding on short notice spoiled many travel plans, but the fact that Tazzelton would soon be a war zone kept many others away. Dax was secretly pleased. It made the service feel more personal.
In spite of the dire outlook for the near future, Dax was as happy as he had ever been when he pledged himself to Frieanna. His voice was strong, but a tear rolled down his cheek as he saw young Anna in the woman before him. When he finished, Kahshect sent a roaring blast of flame into the sky behind him.
Dax was glad he had gone first because when Frieanna pledged herself to him, his throat constricted with emotion, and tears flowed freely from his eyes. Another eruption of flame burst from behind her as Namkafnir announced her vow to the world.
Once their vows were complete, the high priestess stepped forward and lifted their arms into the air. “As you have pledged yourselves to each other,” she announced in a loud voice that echoed into the air over the city, “I declare that you are now husband and wife. May you have love, laughter, and long life.” She brought their arms together, and they joined hands. The priestess stepped back. Dax and Frieanna stood there holding hands, arms raised in salute to the crowd. Fire from both dragons roared into the air, combining in a dazzling pillar of light rising above their heads. After the dragon fire died away, Dax took Frieanna in his arms, and they kissed. The crowd roared, but Dax scarcely noticed. He would have been happy to just keep on kissing Anna—his wife—forever.
Music started behind them. Dax was focused on Frieanna, but in a moment, the music captured their attention. They parted, still holding hands, and looked back at the orchestra. Cojur Nast had pledged something special for the ceremony, and now the royal musicians performed her promise. Dax and Frieanna faced each other and held hands as they listened.
The song started with the familiar strains of West Landly to the Sea, but now the melodic theme of Meadows of East Landly appeared. The music continued blending the two songs, first separately, then woven together in a delightful harmonic round. The music built to a rousing climax, then quieted. A second, softer verse began. Three women stepped forward, and with the two anthems weaving together in one theme, they began to sing. Their voices were high and pure, blending to almost sound as one. Their melody soared in a powerful, lofty new theme over the accompaniment of the joined anthems. The tune was familiar, a children’s song. The title was Landly, My Landly. Children learned it with their letters in school, but since there was no longer a Landly, the song had not been a part of any formal performance, East or West, for longer than anyone could remember.
Until this moment.
The descant melody floated over the anthems of West and East. It promised a new Landly—one united by the marriage of West and East. Unexpected emotion seized Dax. Fresh tears stung his eyes. He looked at Frieanna. She wept openly. When she met his eyes, she smiled and started to sing the old song. Dax smiled back and joined in. They stood hand in hand and sang the familiar words together. He glanced out at the multitudes before them. They were all singing as well. He and Frieanna raised their hands in recognition of the shared moment. The amphitheater reverberated with the united voices singing the traditional hymn to old Landly.
At the end of the song, the orchestra finished with a flourish, and everyone burst into applause. However, instead of letting the moment die away, Dax realized that the crowds in the park were still singing. He turned to wave and shout to get Nast’s attention. “More, please!” He gestured toward the park full of people. “We sing to Landly!” Nast nodded, and in the remarkable way musicians have of knowing the music and their instruments, the orchestra was there supporting the singing again.
Six times the crowd sang Landly, My Landly. That last time Dax signaled. Kahshect and Namkafnir once again sent a united column of fire into the night sky. When the flames died away, Dax and Frieanna raised their joined hands and waved to the crowd. They started the long procession back up to the castle. Behind them the people still cheered and waved their torches. In a moment the cacophonous shouts became a recognizable chant, “Landly! Landly! Landly!” The torches below swayed in time to the words. Tears coursed down his cheeks. Dax looked at Frieanna, and she wept as well. They turned back to wave one more time to the crowd below before they kissed again. The roar of the crowd sent them on their way back up to the castle.
#
Although they now were married, Dax and Frieanna scarcely saw each other during daylight hours, as each kept up a brutal schedule to prepare for the coming attack. Treyhorn, having returned from her mission to the Ugori for the wedding, had left immediately to meet with the Kotkel to keep them informed. Dax and Renshau worked tirelessly with Castellan Tabod Farr, commander of the city’s defenses, getting the city ready. It took a week to empty all the structures outside the outer wall and prepare them for burning. The eighth day after the wedding, although they were ready, a strong wind blew from the northeast. They had to postpone the fire. The wind would have pushed the flames toward the city, threatening a conflagration equal to any the dragons might cause.
The next day they caught some luck from the weather. During the night the wind died, and when dawn brightened the sky, a light, misty rain fell from the clouds. The fires outside the wall were lit, and by late afternoon, the land beyond the outer wall was a flat plain of ash. Tazzelton’s defenders had been digging a trench along the outside face of the outer wall to make it more of an obstacle to advancing troops and any horse the Tharans might have. Once the ash cooled, they went back to work.
Toward evening the drizzle intensified to a solid, soaking rain, which continued on into the night. The next morning Kahshect reported that the Tharans had bogged down crossing the Radkim River. The increased flow from the rain had made the ford impassible. They were scouting upriver as well as trying to get a rude, temporary bridge across the river. The elements had given West Landly at least an extra two days.
The next day the weather cleared, but the temperature dropped behind a cold wind out of the North. Dax decided he needed to see for himself what the Tharans were doing, and this time he could. When Treyhorn returned from visiting the Kotkel, she brought word that because the Tharans were using dragons again, the Kotkel were more flexible about what the dragon-bound could do for West Landly. Although their dragons could not attack the Tharans’ human troops, they could attack the Tharans’ dragons, and they could use dragons to gather intelligence.
One of the dragon-bound’s drakons was available, and Dax invited Scarlet, Renshau, and Castellan Farr to ride along on a scouting mission. Rather than bring the monstrous beast to the castle where the entire city would see the size of the great dragons that would soon be outside their walls, Dax and the others rode out the river road to the east. In a clearing they climbed onto the drakon and strapped themselves on its back. Kahshect and Teycuktet went along to guide the drakon, but they were prepared to defend the humans in case the Tharans had some other nasty surprise.
After an all-too-short flight, they found the Tharans with most of their force across the Radkim River. That was not too surprising, because the Radkim River in its normal flow was more of an ambitious swamp than a large waterway; it was not a major barrier to a determined army. On their first pass over the Tharans, Dax only counted two drakons.
“They kept one with their ships. I was not certain before,” Kahshect noted.
“Tell Teycuktet to tell Renshau,” Dax thought to Kahshect. In a moment Dax saw Renshau look at him and nod. With a drakon to back them up, only a small force of Tharans would be sufficient to protect their ships.
“I would like to go lower,” Dax thought to Kahshect. “We want to stay well out of range, but I would like to see what kind of siege equipment they are bringing against us.”
“Why bring a catapult when you have dragons?”
“My thinking too, but I would like to know. If we are not pinned down by their catapults, our stone slingers and other weapons behind the outer wall will have enough range to do damage to their troops as they bring their drakons to the wall.” Dax had a slate that he used to inform Scarlet and Farr to look for siege engines and other war equipment.
After two passes low over the Tharans, Dax had not seen any evidence the army was transporting any large pieces of equipment. Scarlet waved at him to get his attention. then motioned for Dax to pass him the slate. Scarlet was just out of reach, and Dax flipped the slate toward him. Catching the lanyard, Scarlet hauled it in and scratched, “Royal coaches?” He pointed toward the rear of the massive army.
Dax looked down and asked Kahshect for another pass. Royal coaches? There were three large coaches, each drawn by a team of six horses. Judging from their size and the mounted contingent keeping close company, they were big enough to carry at least a half-dozen people each. From overhead it was difficult to see for sure, but the coaches appeared to be well-trimmed with ornamental brightwork. Yes, it looked as if Emperor Darjazen might have come to conquer in his own name this time. He saw Renshau nod in agreement after Kahshect relayed the thought.
The other thing Dax desperately needed to see was how close Markadamous and the Ugori troops were. Treyhorn had found them more than a week ago shortly before the wedding well up into the foothills of the Kakaras Crags, but Markadamous had assured her they would leave their baggage train and “ride like the black wolves of the underworld are at our heels.” Dax knew the man would do just that, but just how quickly could they arrive?
They flew north, leaving the Tharans to continue their march. At the Ostdell River, they made camp for the night. The next day they flew east and followed the river road for a goodly time until they finally spotted the Ugori force. Dax was impressed. The Ugori had cleared through the Chammanie Valley and were well into West Landly—but they still had a long way to Tazzelton.
“There’s Markadamous,” Kahshect said.
“Where?”
“Riding about a quarter back from the front. Large gap in front. Smaller at the back. Two riders on his left and one on his right.”
In a moment Dax saw where the dragon meant. Yes, it looked like Markadamous from the air. “Can you get his attention?” Dax asked. “I don’t want to spook his force, but I want to talk to him. We could meet in that clearing ahead.”
Kahshect banked sharply away from the drakon, and Dax watched as the dragon quartered over the Ugori. Several riders noticed, then a wave of faces turned upward. Dax saw Markadamous look up and in a moment spot the drakon with riders. Dax pointed ahead to the side, and Kahshect made a point of looping up over the trees toward the clearing. The drakon followed, and in a moment, they were on the ground.
