First Comes The One Who Wanders (55 page)

"You'll be back to take your place at the head of the crafters," replied Gregory. "Your destiny is not yet completed."

"What is my destiny, but to fight and die? I'm a warrior. This is all I've ever been."

"There is more to you than that, Joshuas. Perhaps it's time you discovered that fact."

Joshuas couldn’t think of what more he had to offer, but he wasn’t going to question Gregory’s insight. He was renowned for his ability to see into people. Joshuas didn’t think he had much time to discover what more there was within him. But if he did somehow survive, he would take time to try and discover it. "I'll keep that in mind, Gregory. I’ll go look to the food."

Gregory bowed and disappeared back into the tunnel. Joshuas emerged from the building they were using to shelter their work from prying eyes and went in search of food.

The officer in charge of the food was one of Captain Ferras’ hand-picked men and he wasn’t inclined to spare more food for the crafters. It wasn’t until Duke Cheran arrived and heard Joshuas’ request for food that the officer reluctantly allocated more food for the spent crafters.

Once more, Joshuas questioned the wisdom of Ferras being one of the leaders of the diversion. Could they trust him to look after everyone’s interests? Or would he only be concerned with his own? If someone betrayed them at this point all would be lost.

Joshuas found his group of crafters, eating and preparing for battle. Jerome had been the leader of Peran’s squad. Joshuas could think of no one he could trust more to stand fast in battle. He knew Singen only from his time in Kyris, but he'd proved himself to be a fierce warrior and a loyal Sky crafter. He'd been in Greyan’s forces in the Crafter Wars, but in a different part of Preterlandis than Joshuas. Cadric, Traven, Stephan, and Marcus had been with him in the wars. They all had a mutual respect for each other’s ability and the added benefit of shared training. The last six were unknown and unproven. Joshuas had assigned each of the crafters he knew with one of the others. They all had battle experience. That would have to be enough.

"What word, Joshuas?" asked Singen. "When do you think we'll be going?"

"In the morning, unless something goes wrong," replied Joshuas.

"What do you think would go wrong, my friend?" asked Jerome.

"Someone could betray us," said Joshuas, confessing his fear.

"That would make our attempts to get the people out safely, suicide," said Cedric.

"Murder was more the word I had in mind," snarled Joshuas. "If someone betrays us, they would be sure to secure their own escape."

Jerome’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Joshuas. "I think you're worried unnecessarily. Our friend wouldn't do what you're suggesting."

"But if he does," argued Joshuas. "What is our plan?"

"We'd already be outside the gates before they acted," offered Traven. "So, we'd have to react from there."

"The people would be trapped in the grove or in the tunnel," added Marcus. "Somehow, we'd need to protect them."

"We're outside the gate, between the gate and the grove. There are our twelve to their thousands," Joshuas set up the scenario. "So it's magic. There will be other crafters in the grove who'd also react, hopefully. But we couldn’t count on them."

"You have something in mind, my friend," said Jerome. "Out with it."

Joshuas carefully laid out the plan he’d been hatching since he'd left the allotment center. His fellow crafters listened carefully, their faces growing grim as he continued.

"It would work," agreed Jerome, "though in all likelihood we'd all die."

"In all likelihood, if we're betrayed, we'll all die anyway. This plan is only for that contingency."

"I can see why Greyan set you as his right hand," chuckled Cadric. "You're very persuasive. I, for one, am for the idea, should the need arise. Otherwise, we go, we fight, and use our magic when necessary to distract the dark crafters attention from the grove."

"Agreed," the others added their support to the proposal.

"Be prepared to ride at first light," said Joshuas, relieved they'd been open to his idea. With all of them uniting, they might even survive, despite Jerome’s assertion to the contrary. Finding his temporary quarters, Joshuas lay down and tried to get a few hours rest. He would need all his strength when morning came.

Waking about an hour before dawn, he ate his meager daily rations then went to check on the progress of the tunnel. He arrived in time to see them break through the surface into the grove. There was room in the tunnel for four abreast. It would take a long time for all the people to file out, four at a time. Joshuas had to wonder how many they would save before Jayram and his forces figured out what they were doing.

Leaving the tunnel, he went in search of Brenth. The young leader was busy getting his leaders ready for the trip. His plan was sound. He had fighters liberally interspersed with civilians. If the need arose, they'd fight. Joshuas sighed silently. Who were they fooling? The need would come. They'd have to fight. It always came down to fighting for survival.

Patting Brenth on the shoulder, Joshuas went in search of Adrian and Gerran Ferras. He found Adrian in the stables inspecting his gear. "The tunnel's ready, so are the crafters. Brenth is handing out last details."

"We'll begin at first light," said Adrian. "It will be an honor to die fighting for the last of the Jovanulum."

"The songs they'll sing about us," agreed Joshuas. "There will be some left to sing songs of the heroes of light."

"Yes, I have faith that's true," said Adrian, placing the last of his gear in a neat pile.

"Where is Gerran?" asked Joshuas, looking around for the Captain.

"I haven’t seen him for some time," said Adrian. "I assume he's getting some needed rest. He's been relentless in getting our soldiers prepared."

Joshuas felt a wave of uneasiness wash over him. He didn’t like being in the dark about what Gerran Ferras was doing. He spent a few minutes more with the Duke then went searching for the Captain.

It was a big city, with many people seeking shelter within its walls. It was conceivable, thought Joshuas, that he could have just missed the Captain. But the thought didn’t give him any comfort. He wanted to be wrong about Gerran. It would be a relief to know Adrian was correct about his second in command. With very little time left before they were to go and face the enemy, he climbed the steps to the watchtower and looked out to see if he could find the Captain among the sea of enemies.

Joshuas held his position in formation before the gates, his crafters in pairs behind him. Adrian was mounted, ready to lead his men into battle. Gerran sat beside him. Adrian wore the colors of the house of Cheran. Gerran wore the blue and gray of the Ferras clan. Joshuas wore the blue and white of the Sky crafters underneath his cloak, which was pinned at the throat with his identifying insignia.

Brenth had started moving people into the tunnel at dawn and resolutely waited for the signal from the crafters to begin the ascent into the grove and across the road to the path that led into the Drakmoth Mountains. They wouldn’t stop until they reached the first fortification in the Drakmoth Mountains, Drakmoth Gate. The crafters led by Kyle had taken their position in the grove, after the tunnel had been completed. They also stood waiting for the signal to begin.

Joshuas had stayed in the watchtower until the sun had begun to lighten the sky. He’d even risked a few mind probes to see if any of the enemy knew of their plan. He hadn’t found Gerran and everything seemed to be as it should be among the enemy. So why couldn’t he shake the feeling they were going to be betrayed? He glanced at Adrian and Gerran again. Adrian was pale and resolute, knowing in all likelihood he rode to his death. Gerran was also resolute, but less worried than his leader. Joshuas swallowed hard. Quickly he probed Gerran’s thoughts, risking the magic.

"Be prepared for the alternate plan," he told his men, staring at Gerran. They all looked in the Captain’s direction. Joshuas felt their thoughts touch Gerran’s and watched their faces pale. Jerome’s hand went to his sword.

"We must stop this before it's too late," said Marcus.

"It's already too late," replied Jerome. "But that traitor will pay. That I promise."

Joshuas nudged his horse closer to Adrian and spoke in his ear. Adrian cast a glance in Gerran’s direction and looked as though he would protest what Joshuas was telling him. But looking at the crafters behind Joshuas, he could disbelieve no longer. Joshuas quickly told him the alternate plan the crafters had concocted. Adrian nodded tight-lipped and looked straight ahead to the gate. Joshuas could feel his anger and his sorrow. So it begins again, he told himself, hardening his heart against all the tragedy that was poised, ready to come.

"Guard," Adrian yelled to the gatekeeper. "Open the gate."

The wheel and chain rattled noisily as did the sheaths of the soldiers readying their weapons. When there was enough room to pass under, Adrian gave the signal to attack.

They took the first few encampments they encountered by surprise and made quick work of dispatching them. But once they were in the middle of the enemy, a cry went out among the Dredracians and they began to run into organized resistance. Very quickly, the small diversion force was in the thick of a one-sided battle. Gerran Ferras took his men and broke to the right, cutting down men as they circumvented the greater part of the charging enemy. It was clear to Joshuas, he was doing his best to keep his men and himself safe, sacrificing the others in the process. Joshuas gave the signal and his crafters broke off and headed in the direction of the grove. The crafters there had already begun obscuring the road with fog. There didn’t appear to be any dark crafters in the enemy’s outer ranks and Joshuas gave a small prayer of thanks as he hacked his way through the dark creatures toward the grove. It appeared the dark leaders didn’t feel they needed to waste any crafters on this small group of resistance fighters. When they were within a hundred yards of the grove, they turned abruptly. One by one the crafters peeled off and stopped in position, each about a half-mile distant from the next. Joshuas was the last to reach his position, the farthest from the grove. He was covered in dark blood from the goblins, orcs, and trolls he’d hacked attempting to reach his designated spot. He came to a stop and began to chant. At first, it seemed he was chanting alone. But after a few moments, he felt the power as the others joined in his song.

The words to this spell were old, as old as the Crafter Wars and even older. As far as Joshuas knew, this spell hadn’t been spoken since the Crafter Wars. As they chanted, the earth began to shake. He could only hope Adrian had obeyed his hurried warning to retreat when he saw them break away. If not, his men would suffer the consequences, too.

The twelve crafters continued to chant. Joshuas could feel darts of power trying to get through to them, but they were protected by the spell. The Dredracians began to scatter in fear as the shaking grew worse. As they chanted, a rift began to form in the plain. Dark soldiers screamed as they fell into the crevasse, unable to scrabble up the steep sides to escape. Soon another rift appeared and then another. Still, the crafters chanted.

Marcus was the first to fall, but still they chanted. More and more soldiers disappeared from the plain. Cadric soon followed Marcus. Joshuas worried they wouldn’t finish before they all fell from exhaustion. They fell one by one, until only he and Jerome remained. Only then did Joshuas change the spell. As the last of his energy failed him, he heard the satisfying snap of the rifts closing over their enemy.

Adrian signaled his men to stay behind Gerran. His captain seemed unaware or uncaring that he was forging ahead alone. When Joshuas and his crafters broke off toward the grove, Adrian gave his men the silent signal to retreat. He could see the surprise on their faces as he turned and headed back toward the city, but they were well trained and obeyed his command, all but Gerran and his loyal followers. Adrian didn’t try to call them back. He watched them ride on, anger in his heart and then he turned his head toward their new goal. The gatekeeper was surprised at their quick return, but managed to raise the gates in time to receive them. A few of the enemy began to follow, but they hacked them down as they rode. The earth was already beginning to shake as they made the gates of the city.

"Leave it open," Adrian yelled at the keeper. Once inside, he quickly reassembled the men into formation. Standing in his stirrups he yelled over the din. The men soon quieted so he could be heard. "As soon as the crafters have finished," he yelled. "We ride again. This time when we go, we don’t come back until the enemy is gone or we're dead." The men cheered, the horses stomped impatiently, and the earth opened up before their eyes. Joshuas and his men were wreaking havoc on the plain before them. Never before had Adrian seen such magic. Never before had he seen such destruction. When the earth stopped rumbling and ripping itself apart, then snapped together over the screaming enemy, he sat dumbstruck at the devastation. His aide touched his shoulder. "Sire? What would you have us do?"

Adrian could see the Dredracians running in all directions, with no one left to lead them. There were still more than they could overcome, but that wasn’t going to be a concern today. "Go help protect the people as they move into the mountains," he told his soldiers. He led the men out onto the ruined plain between the grove and the Dredracians and together they began to fight off any who moved toward the people leaving Kyris.