King Of The North (Book 3) (14 page)

He reached into his tunic to extract the key. It was a cube made of an unknown material, carved with mathematical symbols and coated in gold. Upon its top were two tiny winged creatures whose wings served as the opening mechanism. He squeezed the wings together, sliding them apart again, and let the box open onto his flattened palm. It shifted its shape, becoming a crescent. The symbols rearranged themselves into a formula that Faleen recognized but did not understand.

Hesitantly, he dropped down into the hole and stood before the portal. Upon its pedestal, was a depression shaped like the key he held in his hand. It was lined with purple gems that glittered much like the orb itself, and a clip in which to place the key. Faleen swam toward it, holding the key out in front of him. As he reached the orb, he felt its energy strengthen with the key's presence. The feeling was unbearable. The energy surged through him, tingling his flesh and purging his head of all thought.

He mindlessly placed the crescent in the hole, feeling it click into place, and pushed himself back. The orb began to pulsate before his eyes. He could feel its vibrations quicken and saw the shimmering grow brighter until he could no longer gaze upon it.

Suddenly, the orb exploded outward. Faleen opened his eyes to look, seeing the spherical pieces of what looked like glass quickly float away from the center. A dark hole opened up in its depths, swirling faster and faster and growing larger and larger. Faleen did not bother to try and escape. It was useless. He would never get back to the surface in time.

A second burst of energy propelled him backward, and he went to blackness as his body was ripped apart by the impact. The portal was now fully open, and the darkness came through.

The Devourer had come.

Chapter Eleven

The Knights of
The Dragon soared high in the sky above, riding comfortably atop the Priests of Drakkar. Eamon sat atop Erenoth, gazing down at the forest as they passed overhead. As he looked to his Knights, he found them riding confidently, with the exception of Wrothgaar, who lay face down with his eyes trained on the scaly skin of his dragon's neck.

Eamon chuckled, drawing an oddly stiff glance from the Northman. Angen, who was clearly enjoying Wrothgaar's plight, guided his mount closer, feigning a collision. Wrothgaar squeezed his arms and legs tighter, groaning.

"What's the matter?" Eamon asked, calling over the high altitude wind.

Wrothgaar slowly looked up, shooting Angen a scowl, and turned to Eamon. "I don't care much for flying."

Angen laughed loudly, drifting away from the Northman to return to his place in the formation. "You'll be alright," he called. "It's not the fall that kills you anyway!"

Eamon grinned, turning back to the view below. The tower of Southwatch was a short ways ahead, jutting above the trees like a gleaming black dagger. There lay the portal which would take them to Hybras, and Traegus the Wise. He knew the time to see the Lich was growing close, but the first order of business was to order the troops toward Faerbane.

"Erenoth," he called. "Take us to Gaellos."

The High Priest nodded his draconian head, speaking to Eamon with his silent language.

Shall we leave you there?

"Yes," Eamon replied. "We will plot the route that Ulrich and the soldiers will take. Then we will ride for Southwatch. In the meantime, you and the priests will seek out Khalid. Bring him to us."

Understood, my Lord.

Erenoth relayed the message to his priests with a roar. The priests nodded their understanding, and the group adjusted their path toward Gaellos.

"Where are we going?" Brynn asked over the howling wind.

"Gaellos," Eamon replied. "I want to order the troops to Faerbane. We will ride back to Southwatch. Erenoth will seek out Khalid."

Brynn nodded solemnly, still apprehensive about meeting Khalid. The man had been responsible for the attack on Taryn, and the annihilation of the Mordumarc. Though Khalid was now a priest of The Dragon, and thus his peer, Brynn could not put that fact out of his mind. Fergis had been the only real father he had ever known. And if not for Khalid and his army, including the Defiler, Fergis and his cavalry would still be alive.

Eamon sensed Brynn's feelings, but knew the Knight would accept Khalid. Nevertheless, he gave his friend an encouraging smile. "Erenoth has only good things to say about him," he shouted. "And remember, Erenoth himself wasn't always a priest."

Brynn grinned, knowing full well the rumors surrounding Erenoth's past. He would give Khalid the same respect he gave Erenoth. That was the honorable thing to do, and Brynn was an honorable man.

He was, however, fully expecting a solid punch to the face in return.

There was absolutely nothing interesting in the sky to the north that Ceor could see. Yet, Titus, the metallic dragon, stared intensely in that direction, unwavering and silent. Ceor stared as well, occasionally checking the dragon's gaze to ensure he was indeed looking in precisely the right direction.

All he could see was the darkening sky.

"What are you staring at?" Ulrich asked from behind him. Ceor jumped a little, turning to the Jarl in surprise.

"I'm not sure, Jarl," he said, turning back to the sky. "And he's not talking."

Ulrich looked at Ceor, who was watching the sky, and then to Titus, who appeared to be staring a little lower. "The dragon is watching the trees in the distance," he remarked. "Not the sky. There is something there that he senses."

Ceor then pointed up as he saw a group of dots approaching in the sky. "Are you sure?" he asked. "That looks like a group of dragons to me."

"I can see them," Ulrich replied. "But the dragon is definitely looking at something on the ground in the distance."

Suddenly, Titus shot up into the sky, and with a single flap of his metallic wings, was gone. Ulrich and Ceor looked at each other in confusion. Ulrich shrugged. "Well, I guess we'll never know."

The sound of running came from the south, and both men turned to a guard approaching hurriedly. It was one of the rebel Jindala, now a scout, rushing to report.

"Ceor," he called. "Strangers approaching from the south. They appear to be natives."

"The King is present," Ceor said.

The Jindala man stopped, nodding in respect to Ulrich. "Forgive me, friend," he apologized. "But the two are approaching quickly."

"Two?" Ulrich asked.

"Yes, I believe they are the thieves who fought with us earlier, but I am not certain."

"Thank you, soldier," Ulrich said. "Carry on."

"It could be Adder and his partner," Ceor said as the guard left. "I sent him on an errand near Argan."

"I don't trust that one," Ulrich said. "I don't trust anyone who steals."

Ceor laughed. "He's a smart fellow, though. I think he's a good tracker."

It was then that two figures appeared out of the mist. Ceor immediately recognized Adder, and the female that accompanied him would be Jhayla. Adder appeared to be injured.

"Well met, Adder," Ceor said. "What news?"

"What happened to your shoulder?" Ulrich interjected.

"A royal pain," Adder joked, drawing stares from both Northman. "But that's another story altogether."

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Ulrich asked.

"The bodies in the forest were indeed those of Kuros and his Rangers," Adder began. "But the second company were decoys. They were the bodies of civilians: men, women, and children. Not Falgrin's company."

"Then what became of Falgrin's men?" Ceor asked.

"We killed them," Adder explained. "They turned, it seems. They were serving Queen Maebh's son, Eogan."

"What?" Ulrich winced. "Queen Maebh has no children."

"Indeed she does," Adder said. "I met him, and fought with him near Faillaigh. He referred to himself as The Prince, then we fought. Took a bit of a slice to the shoulder, but I landed a good one."

"Split his face right open," Jhayla added. "He'll be fairly conspicuous from now on."

"How do you know he was telling the truth about his identity?" Ulrich asked.

"We confirmed it with a mercenary who was once his sword master."

"This is grave news," Ulrich said. "If this Eogan has the same ancestry as Eamon, then he may have similar abilities or strengths. Tell me, how were his skills with a sword?"

"He is definitely skilled," Adder replied. "I got lucky with a back swing, I think. Though my skills are nothing to scoff at."

"So I've seen," Ulrich said, receiving an agreeable nod from Ceor, who, grudgingly, couldn't deny Adder's fighting skills.

"Very well," Ulrich said, finally. "Good work. Eamon should be informed."

Adder nodded. "I have to report back to the guild," he said. "I will return when I am finished."

"You should let Erenoth take a look at that shoulder before you scrap again," Ulrich said. "You won't be much use with one arm."

"He's not much use with two arms," Jhayla said, chuckling. She grabbed Adder, dragging him away. Ulrich and Ceor watched them go, admiring the manner in which Jhayla carried herself.

"I like her," Ceor said.

"Yes," Ulrich replied. "She's a...good fighter."

Ceor chuckled, slapping Ulrich on the back. "She could pass for one of us," he joked. "If she wasn't so short."

The Knights of
The Dragon landed among the gathered soldiers who had been watching them approach. Ulrich and Ceor went to meet them, seeing that Adder was still around and appeared to be anxious to speak to one of them.

Ceor was in awe of the dragons, and stared at them with his mouth open. He was partially paralyzed by fear, as he had never seen a real dragon before, but partially by the splendor and majesty of their appearance. Ulrich chuckled at his friend.

As Eamon dismounted, he went straight for the Jarl, grasping his hand.

"Ulrich, my friend," he said. "It is time to move."

"Finally," the Northman said. "The men were getting restless."

"I greatly appreciate their patience," Eamon said. "And I am glad they are all still here."

"What are your plans?"

"March them east to the valley just west of Faerbane," Eamon said. "It should take you a few days. By the time you arrive, we should be on our way."

"Where are you going?" Ulrich asked.

"We are going to Southwatch to meet with Traegus the Wise," Eamon explained. "He has told me that he has an item that may assist us in this battle. The priests here will be seeking out Khalid and his priests."

"So you will be riding to Southwatch, then?"

"Yes," Eamon replied. "We will need horses."

Ulrich nodded. "Ceor," Ulrich addressed his Captain. "Have Angus' men gather seven horses for Eamon and his Knights."

Ceor said nothing, but left to seek out Angus. Ulrich turned back to Eamon. "We still have not heard or seen these darkling, or the Enkhatar."

"They are around," Eamon replied. "I can feel them. I fear the Enkhatar are in hiding and waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

Eamon shook his head. "I am not sure," he replied. "But I feel The Dragon's distress."

"Then we must all worry."

Adder approached Daryth solemnly, happy to see his childhood friend, but reluctant to be the bearer of bad news. Daryth smiled when he saw him, then, when he noticed Adder's expression, became concerned.

"Fordran," he said.

"Hello, Daryth," Adder replied, closing the gap and greeting the Knight with the hand signal of the Thieves' Guild. "It's good to see you, my friend."

"Likewise," Daryth replied, glancing and smiling at Jhayla. "But why the grim face? What has happened?"

"I got some information from my scouts a few days ago," Adder began. "They thought they had located Falgrin's missing company of Rangers in the forest near Argan. Many Rangers were hanging in the trees, and the forest floor was littered with the corpses of another company. Kuros' company."

Daryth gritted his teeth as a lump rose in his throat. "Kuros?" he stammered.

"He's dead," Adder said. "He and his whole company."

Daryth shook his head in disbelief. The lump continued to rise in his throat as his anger built. "Who did this?" he hissed.

"It was Falgrin and his men," Adder replied. "The bodies hanging in the trees were decoys, placed there by Falgrin's men at the command of Eogan, son of Queen Maebh. Falgrin and his company turned."

"Eogan?" Daryth repeated. "Does Eamon know this?"

"I believe Ulrich is telling him now."

"Where are Falgrin and his company now?"

"Dead," Jhayla said. "We killed them all. I had the pleasure of ending that scoundrel's life."

"But," Adder continued, "I do not believe it was Falgrin who killed Kuros. His head was removed after death with a heavy weapon, possibly a claymore. Rangers do not carry such weapons. It is likely that this Prince Eogan killed him."

Daryth was lost in thought. Not at the loss of Kuros, but deep in thought on how to proceed. Adder could tell.

"What is the next move?" the thief asked.

"Gather fifty of the best thieves in the guild," Daryth suggested. "Those that are good trackers, silent hunters, and woodsmen. The Rangers need to be reformed. I will get approval from Eamon."

Adder nodded. "Very well, my friend," he said. "I am yours to command."

"Split them up," Daryth added. "I want each of you to command a faction. You will report directly to me."

Adder and Jhayla nodded, disappearing into the crowd. Daryth went to join Eamon and the other Knights.

"From the time I was a child," Eamon said, "I knew there was another with the blood of
The Dragon. I never realized it was a cousin."

"Adder says he is a very skilled swordsman," Ulrich said. "He is a force to be reckoned with."

"We will deal with him when the time comes," Eamon said. "For now, march the men East. We will go to Southwatch, then return when we can."

Ulrich turned to address the army, issuing the command to pack up at the top of his lungs. Eamon turned to Daryth, who had approached him during his conversation with the Northman.

"Eamon," Daryth said. "Kuros is dead. As is Falgrin. All of the Rangers have been wiped out. I have ordered Adder and Jhayla to assemble the best thieves from the guild to rebuild them."

"Good," Eamon replied. "You will have full command of them when they are assembled. I trust you will make Kuros proud. And, my friend, I am sorry for your loss. I know how much Kuros meant to you."