Dwarven Ruby (43 page)

“He is the man I was talking about,” Sheri said to Kendal. “I should have known that he was special.”

“How could you have known?” asked Kendal. “In fact, how do you know?”

“Not only was his name Arik,” grinned Sheri, “but his breastplate bears the symbol of Alcea. The same dragon that adorns those banners is emblazoned upon his breastplate.”

“And only a true warrior could have held off the Targa army as he did,” nodded Kendal. “So what she says is the truth.”

“Yes,” nodded Sheri. “And he was as generous as his father and his grandmother. No longer will our people starve.”

“So you support the monarchy then?” asked Kendal.

Sheri grinned at Kendal. She raised her arm and shouted, “Long live Prince Arik!”

Sheri kept shouting and soon the entire crowd was shouting with her. Queen Marta gazed at the shouting crowd, but she focused on Sheri.

“I would like to speak with that lass,” she said softly to Oscar.

“Then she shall have an audience with the queen,” smiled Oscar as he kissed his mother on the cheek and disappeared into the library.

* * *

Sydar sat watching Arik spar with Wylan. Alex walked over and sat next to him.

“The lads fight well,” Sydar remarked. “Did you teach them?”

“I taught Arik,” nodded Alex. “He has been teaching Wylan mostly. Both of them have good skills, but Wylan needs more instruction and practice. He has not been with us very long.”

“Wylan would do better than most in the army already,” commented Sydar. “Arik’s skill is amazing. Even in a spar you can see that he becomes one with his weapon. He will be a king that soldiers will follow anywhere.”

“He is going to have to be that and more,” frowned Alex. “There will be a tremendous amount of blood shed in the coming times. Arik will have to be strong to survive it.”

“I would like to follow him,” remarked Sydar.

“What of Darin and Daevo?” asked Alex. “They need you, too.”

“They need someone,” nodded Sydar. “I doubt it is me though. They need a father and a mother. Don’t get me wrong, Alex. I would never shun my obligation to the boys, but they deserve better than what I can offer them.”

“What happened to their father?” Alex asked.

“He was a Targa soldier,” frowned Sydar. “He was a good man. As things go in Tagaret, he was killed in the Contest of Power. He had the misfortune of guarding the wrong noble. That city has destroyed everything I ever cared for. I yearn for someone like Arik to set it straight. He will make a fine king.”

“You could bring the boys back to Tagaret,” suggested Alex. “You could find yourself a wife and settle down.”

“I suspect that is what I will do,” nodded Sydar.

“Well, we should reach Tor tomorrow,” sighed Alex. “At the pass you will be on your own. Do you feel good about this?”

“I do,” nodded Sydar. “I am indebted to you for saving me in Miram. I will get the boys back to Tagaret. At least I will be able to aid in the defense of the city when the time comes.”

“That time is fast approaching,” nodded Alex. “Keep your blade sharp.”

The road was wide enough for two wagons to pass each other, but it was overgrown with weeds that were brown and stunted. A few recent wagon wheel tracks marred what would otherwise resemble a long abandoned road. On each side of the road the forest was thick, although the trees showed signs of thirst, as most of the trees in the world now did.

Arik gazed towards the horizon as he led the small group along the road. Off in the distance, the Boulder Mountains rose magnificently and disappeared into the haze of the Darkness. One particular section of the mountains appeared darker than the others, and Arik was peering at it when Alex rode up alongside him.

“That is the castle of Tor,” Alex remarked.

“What is?” responded Arik as he scanned the horizon again.

“The black part of the mountains,” pointed Alex. “Right in the center of the trail.”

“That is a castle?” gasped Arik as he focused again on the dark section of the mountains. “You must be looking at something other than what I am. I see a dark spot in the mountain range.”

“I understand,” nodded Alex. “I felt the same way when I first saw it. It is so massive that it is easy to think it is part of the mountains. It blocks the Tor Pass. I have heard that there are thousands of stairs that must be climbed to reach the top.”

“You have never been in it?” questioned Arik.

“No,” replied Alex. “The people do not trust outsiders. Besides, I have never been one to leave myself open to examination by strangers. I chose to climb the mountains instead of using the pass the last time I was through here. That was many years ago.”

“I cannot imagine man building something so large,” Arik stated. “It must have taken forever.”

“I am sure that there is a good story about the building of the castle that needs telling,” commented Alex. “The hard part of our journey will be getting into that castle.”

“You mean getting out of it,” frowned Arik.

“Get off the trail!” warned Prince Midge as he dove down out of the sky. “Get into the forest!”

Alex and Arik both raised their arms to signal the rest of the party. They turned and dashed into the woods on the right hand side of the road. Alex turned around as soon as he had entered the forest. He scanned the road to make sure that all of the Rangers had made it to safety. He heard the rush of the wind as the tops of the trees shook slightly. He watched with wide-open eyes as the dragon swooped down and swept along the road in search of its prey. The dragon let out a screech of frustration as it soared up over the trees again. A shower of dead leaves cascaded down onto Alex as the dragon circled overhead.

“What was that?” Wylan gasped.

“The colors are wrong,” mused Tanya, “but it looks like the beast on Arik’s chest. Its body should be green, not orange.”

“Quiet,” ordered Alex as he felt the presence of the dragon overhead.

Alex peered up as another shower of dead leaves rained down upon the group. He blocked the falling debris with his hand as he gazed upward. Suddenly he saw the trees being pushed apart, and a large orange body appeared between the tops of the trees.

“Flee!” shouted Alex. “Stay in the forest. Head for Tor.”

Alex hesitated for a moment as he watched the rest of the party flee. He looked around frantically for Jenneva and Sydar, but he could not find them.

They went the other way when we left the road.

Alex looked across the wide road and saw Sydar watching him. Jenneva was in the distance behind him. He signaled orders to Sydar as more debris fell from above as the dragon climbed down the trees.

Thank you, Kaz. What would I do without you?

You would get tired walking.
Kaz snorted musically.

Alex smiled nervously as he directed Kaz to catch up with the others. The dragon screeched once again as Alex rode out of sight. Alex caught up to Arik, Wylan, and Tanya. Moments later he felt the wind disturbing the treetops overhead.

“It is following us,” Alex said softly to the others.

Arik merely nodded and continued to set a steady pace as they wove through the trees towards the city. Alex stayed at the rear of the column and concentrated on the noises overhead. A little while later, Arik spooked a small herd of deer. The deer bounded away from the humans and gathered near the edge of the road. Alex halted. He waited until he saw the orange body through the tops of the trees, and then he moved slowly and cautiously towards the deer. He smiled inwardly as the debris rained down upon him once again. When he got fairly close to the deer, he spoke softly.

“A little further, substitute prey,” Alex said aloud.

The deer looked up at the sound of his voice. After a moment’s hesitation the small herd of deer bounded onto the road. Swiftly the dragon descended. Before the deer could gain the shelter of the forest, the dragon’s claws sunk into the flesh of the largest buck and soared along the road before climbing into the sky with its meal. Alex hurried through the forest to catch up with the rest of the Rangers.

An hour later, Arik halted at the edge of the forest. Alex waited at the edge of the road while Jenneva and Sydar raced across. They joined the others where the forest stopped and the city of Tor began. Alex gazed out at the strange city. The buildings were all constructed of stone. Covered archways stretched between buildings and across streets.

“People never have to walk in the open,” commented Tanya. “Even crossing the street can be done under a roof.”

“I wouldn’t want to cross the street with those beasts flying overhead,” remarked Wylan. “Why don’t they just move somewhere else?”

“You can see the castle clearly now,” declared Arik as he pointed to the massive black stone structure towering over the top of the buildings. It is as tall as a mountain.”

“They use the same methods in the castle that they use in town,” noted Sydar. “Even the crenels are covered over with stone. The merlons are shaped like wings.”

“They have adapted to the flight of the dragons,” nodded Jenneva.

“But the castle was not built to guard against dragons,” mused Alex. “It was built to control the pass. Let’s enter the city and see if we can find a way to get invited to the castle.”

Arik nodded and led the group out of the forest. His eyes scanned the skies overhead as they proceeded across the open field. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the cleared area around the town was an invitation for the dragons to feast on visitors. Seeing scorch marks on the stone of the closest buildings did little to ease his fears. He quickened the pace and led the group into a covered alley between two buildings.

“Find an inn,” suggested Alex. “We can have a meal while we try to find out who rules here.”

Arik nodded and led the way down the alley. He frowned when the alley reached the next street. It suddenly struck him that not a single person was visible. He looked left and right for the signs of an inn, but saw nothing to indicate one. He hurried across the open street and continued down the covered alley on the other side.

Halfway to the next street was an intersection of another alley. Arik heard a horse whinny and peered down the intersecting alleyway. He could not see anything but the stone walls of the buildings. He turned to the right and proceeded along the new alleyway. The smell of stables grew stronger and soon Arik found what he was looking for. He looked at the small sign above the doorway opposite the stables and smiled.

“Will the Dragon’s Breath Inn do?” Arik asked rhetorically as he dismounted and led Chaco into the stables.

The rest of the party followed. Alex was the first to emerge and approach the back door to the inn. He cautiously opened the door and led the group inside. He could hear talking and laughing coming from the common room and walked towards it. Only about a dozen men occupied the common room. The room fell silent as the Rangers filed in. Everyone glared at the newcomers as Alex stood next to an empty table and indicated that the Rangers should sit. Alex took the end seat after the others were seated. The innkeeper approached warily.

“I don’t recall seeing your faces before,” greeted the gloomy innkeeper as the rest of the locals stared. “We don’t have any rooms.”

“Perhaps your memory is not as good as it was in the old days,” smiled Alex. “We just want a meal.”

Confusion was apparent on the old man’s face as he stared at Alex. The innkeeper hesitated for a long moment before nodding.

“You’ll pay first,” demanded the innkeeper.

“Of course,” smiled Alex as he slid a gold coin across the table.

The old man scooped up the coin and walked away. Soft murmurs ran through the locals watching the newcomers. Finally, a large barrel-chested man rose and approached the table. He stood glaring down at Alex.

“Hapit doesn’t seem to remember your face,” growled the large man. “I don’t recall it either. I think you should leave.”

“Hapit is getting old,” retorted Alex. “As for leaving, I think after we are refreshed with a meal, we shall. Would you care to join us, friend?”

“I ain’t your friend,” snarled the man. “If Hapit is your friend, you can just leave the gold coin with him as a present. We don’t welcome your kind in Tor.”

“My kind?” echoed Alex softly. “And what kind is that?”

“I am in no mood for word games,” spat the man as his meaty hand reached for Alex’s neck. “King Devon spoke about you spies coming here to learn our secrets.”

Alex grabbed the man’s wrist as he sprang off the bench. He bent the wrist back and forced it downward until the man was bent over. The man’s friends began to rise and come to his assistance when two Lanoirian stars slammed into the table that they sat at.

“I happen to be in Tor to speak with King Devon,” Alex stated loudly. “I really don’t want to have to complain to him about his amateur welcoming committee. Why don’t you gents enjoy your ale?”

Alex pushed the large man backwards and smoothly drew his sword. The man stumbled into the next table and glared at Alex while holding his wrist.

“You talk big with only a bunch of children at your back,” the large man spat as he looked to his friends for help.

Arik and Tanya rose on one side of the table and drew their swords. Sydar and Wylan soon followed their lead on the other side of the table. The large man’s friends reseated themselves. Alex held his sword menacingly in one hand as he walked to the large man’s table. He picked up the two Lanoirian Stars and dropped a gold coin on the table.

“Enjoy some ale on us, friend,” smiled Alex as he backed away to his own table. “Save your fight for those that deserve it. We mean no harm to you.”

The large man looked pleadingly towards his friends. They pointedly ignored him and stared at their mugs of ale. The large man growled and stormed out of the inn. Alex sheathed his sword and sat down. The other Rangers followed his lead and sat down. Alex slid the Stars back to Arik and Tanya.

“You have an interesting way of finding out information,” Tanya whispered.

“I think we will be seeing that man again,” frowned Alex.