Knights: Book 03 - The Heart of Shadows (19 page)

Timlin's
eyes narrowed, his hand settling on the hilt of his Flayer. "I'm growing
weary of being called a slave and a puppet."

"You
reek of the Deep Shadow," said Trenton, sniffing the air disdainfully.
"Yes, I have many doubts about this alliance."

"I
have many doubts as well," said Taris, sighing. "After all, how can
we be sure of anything these days? Regardless, I think it's the best option.
The Sacred Laws permit this alliance--if we consider it to be part of the
planned duel. And we've already agreed to it and are bound by honor to see it
through."

"Hey,
I'm not entirely sold on it either," Timlin muttered. "But we did
agree to it, Trenton, and that's that."

"I
will have my duel," said Ulmason, "as we agreed."

"Then
let us begin the hunt tomorrow," said Taris, "at dawn."

"I
just hope we don't become the
hunted
," said Jace.

Chapter
10:
 
The
Eye of Dreams

Tension
was high in Blombalk Fortress that night. Lannon and his friends were placed
under very heavy guard, with six Knights--including at least one from the
Divine Shield--staying close to them at all times. Dremlock's warriors hunkered
down in a circle of tents and slept with their armor on (those who actually
allowed themselves a bit of sleep), and the Legion Soldiers gave that circle a
wide berth as they walked back and forth across the grounds.

 
It was a cold, snowy night, and the Squires
stayed inside their tent and focused on keeping warm. Everyone was able to
relax except Jerret, who kept getting up to pace about in the small space and
annoy the others.

"I
don't like this situation at all," Jerret said, his hand on his broadsword
hilt. "We're sure to be attacked in our sleep."

"Relax,"
said Lannon. "There is no reason the Blood Legion would attack us. We
struck a deal with them, remember?"

"The
Blood Legion has no honor," said Jerret. "We can't trust them to keep
their word. We sit here like fools, surrounded by a sea of enemies."

"Enemies
who would perish in white fire," said Prince Vannas, "if they dared
attack us." The prince lay on his back on the floor, the pouch containing
the White Flamestone resting atop his chest. "You worry too much,
Jerret."

"And
you have too much confidence in that stone," said Jerret. "Look what
happened beneath Elder Oak, when you were nearly crushed by a Wolf."

"That
was just bad luck," said Vannas. "It won't happen again."

"
Anything
can happen," said Jerret. "Haven't you figured that out yet? All it
takes is for you to lose your grip on the Flamestone and that advantage is
gone. Sorry, Prince Vannas, but I'm not counting on your shiny gem for
protection. I'll rely on my wits and my sword instead, thank you."

"Good
plan, Jerret," said Lothrin, from where he lay beneath his quilt.
"For once, you're speaking words of wisdom."

Jerret
drew his sword. "I'm going to step outside and scout around a bit. I'll
stay close to the tent, though."

Galvia
patted the floor next to her. "Sit down, Jerret. We're under heavy guard,
remember? And you're making me tired just watching you pace."

Jerret
hesitated, then sheathed his sword. He slumped down next to her. "But you
agree with me, right? There is going to be bloodshed tonight."

"I
hope not," said Galvia, sighing. "I don't have my strength back yet.
It pains me to even walk around, let alone attempt combat."

"Don't
worry," said Jerret. "You've got me to look after you."

Galvia
smiled. "True enough."

Lannon
sat apart from the others, wanting to be alone. He kept thinking of what the
Eye had revealed about Timlin, and the last of his hope was draining away.
Timlin truly was a monster--worse than Vorden, for Timlin wasn't wearing the
Hand of Tharnin, a device that could be removed. Rather, Timlin's very soul had
been made foul and there was simply nothing left of who he'd once been. Timlin
would never surrender or change his ways. He would haunt Dremlock until the
Divine Knights put an end to him.

"You
look sad, my friend," said Lothrin. "What troubles you?"

Lannon
hesitated, then revealed what was on his mind.

"I'm
sorry, Lannon," said Aldreya. "I don't have the Eye of Divinity, but
I knew the truth before you did. Unlike Vorden, Timlin willingly betrayed
Dremlock. He is beyond hope."

"No
one is beyond hope," said Lothrin. "There is always a chance for
redemption."

"Not
for Timlin Woodmaster," said Vannas. "His heart is rotten."

"Yes,"
said Lannon, "his heart
is
rotten. And there is no hope for him. I
suppose he is better off dead. And now I realize there was no hope for Vorden,
either. The Deep Shadow is too strong. Once it claims someone, they're lost
forever. At least Thrake was put out of his misery."

"That
doesn't sound like you, Lannon," said Jerret, a flash of pain in his eyes
at the mention of Thrake's name. "You never give up on anyone. What made
you so cynical all of a sudden?"

"I
guess I've been a fool," said Lannon. "I should have listened to the
Knights. They warned me about the Deep Shadow."

"Don't
surrender your optimism, Lannon," said Lothrin. "It is actually your
greatest weapon against the Deep Shadow."

"I
doubt it," said Lannon. "My optimism hasn't done any good at all. The
Eye of Divinity is my greatest weapon, and it can't save anyone from the Deep
Shadow. I think it's time I faced up to reality." He knew he sounded
bitter, but he couldn't help himself. He was sad and weary of his burdens.

Jace
wandered in and sat down. He had a loaf of bread in one hand and an ale jug in
the other. "Greetings, Squires. Taris asked me to check on you and see if
you needed anything."

"When
are we going to be attacked?" asked Jerret.

"Good
question," said Jace, his mouth full of bread. He took a large swig of ale
and then wiped his chin with his sleeve. "The greatest concern now for
Dremlock and the Legion is tracking down and slaying this Specter. Attacking us
in the dead of night would gain our foes nothing, and would cost them
much."

"What
is so dangerous about this Specter?" asked Vannas.

Jace
raised his eyebrows and leaned toward Vannas, his huge shadow blocking out the
lantern light. "Are you speaking in jest, oh prince? A Specter is one of
the most powerful creatures in existence--equal to that Dragon that caused so
much trouble at Dorok's Hand."

"But
I slew the Dragon," said Vannas, with a yawn.

"With
some favorable luck, yes," said Jace. "But a Specter is more elusive.
You will not have an easy time locking onto that target."

"Lannon
can hold the creature with the Eye of Divinity," said Vannas, "and I
will blast it with white fire. End of story."

Jace
sighed. "Well, I believe things could turn out differently. I believe the
death toll could be considerable, if we're not careful. We're facing a creature
that is as swift as the wind, as fleeting as a shadow--that can kill with its
very gaze. If we can corner it, we have a chance. Otherwise..."

Jace
went on talking for a while, telling about one of his adventures in which he'd
encountered a creature he thought was a Tharnin Specter (turned out it wasn't).
Lannon's mind wandered, and he lay down and pulled his quilt over him. He was
still thinking of Timlin--of the evil he'd glimpsed. He wished he hadn't used
the Eye on Timlin. He felt he would have been better off not knowing the truth.
Lannon also found himself wondering if Jerret was right and their camp would
soon be attacked. Maybe Blombalk Fortress was destined to be stained by blood
yet again. And beyond all that lurked the Specter and its potential to cause
death on a mass scale.

Lannon
wanted only to sleep away his troubles, but in spite of his mental exhaustion,
his heart still smoldered with anger toward the Deep Shadow that seemed to be
the source of all his misery. In response to that anger, something stirred
within him, and the barriers between reality and the dream world began to
crumble away. Moments later, the darkness took Lannon's mind.

***

Lannon
awoke in the middle of the night, when Jace was gone and the other Squires were
asleep (except for Jerret, who was sitting up with his broadsword across his
lap). But it only took a moment for Lannon to realize he wasn't awake in the
normal sense. He seemed to be dreaming--floating above his body. He noted how
peaceful his face looked in the soft lantern glow, giving no hint to the
troubles that haunted his mind. He felt detached from everything around him. He
could see things but could affect nothing.

This
was the Eye of Dreams. Some complex mechanism had been activated within Lannon,
allowing him to separate from his body and become a hidden observer. He had no
idea how long it would last or where it would lead him. He wondered if he
should simply try to return to his body and sleep. Yet he suspected no harm
could come to him in this form. The Eye of Dreams was like a ghost, able to
pass through solid objects and travel anywhere.

Excited
at the prospect of unlimited freedom, Lannon floated through the tent wall and
out into the snowy night. The wind blew swirling flakes right through him and
the cold had no effect on him. He was warm and comfortable and beyond the reach
of nature.

Six
guards, including Shennen, stood by the tent talking to each other. Lannon
approached them but they looked right through him. They had no clue he was
there watching their every move. Lannon's excitement grew. He was completely
invisible and could go anywhere he chose. But where did he want to go? He
decided he should spy on the Blood Legion.

Lannon
floated into the Soldier Barracks and found all but a few of the Legion
Soldiers asleep. He entered the Council Barracks and saw that Timlin was asleep
and under heavy guard. He could see the aura of the Deep Shadow around Timlin.
The Eye of Dreams revealed it as a purple glow. But the aura was troubled and
shifting, as if uncertain of its destiny. Lannon saw that Timlin was not
hopeless after all, because there were powers greater even than the Deep
Shadow. Timlin was on a collision course with a strange destiny of some sort.
Lannon could not tell if that destiny would lead him to a good or bad end,
because the future was murky.

Aside
from the new revelation about Timlin, there was nothing interesting going on
and Lannon quickly grew bored of spying. He floated back out onto the fortress
grounds. He gazed up at the sky, through a barrage of large snowflakes. He
wondered if he could travel to the clouds--to the moon even, if he so desired.
He rose into the air, higher and higher into the swirling snow, but suddenly
the feeling of motion stopped. He realized he was still floating just above the
ground.

Traveling
to the moon was apparently impossible, but Lannon thought he might be able to
travel anywhere in the world. But the Eye of Dreams was not something Lannon
could control for very long, and he suddenly found himself being pulled through
time and space against his will.

***

The
Eye of Dreams first took Lannon to Dremlock Kingdom, where a meeting of the
remaining High Council members was taking place in Dremlock Hall. Their faces
were tense as they sat at a long table. An Orange Squire was busy keeping them
supplied with water, ale, and snacks. The fireplace was roaring and several
lanterns lit the hall, revealing the huge paintings of famous Knights. The
Crest of Dremlock was displayed on two of the walls--the three strange crystals
that represented Dremlock's god, one in purple and white (the Riding Crest) and
one in black and silver (the Kingdom Crest).

Lannon
could not feel the heat from the fireplace or smell the incense that burned on
the tables. All he could do was watch what was taking place. He wondered if
this was how ghosts existed--completely detached from everything yet still able
to be an observer. He was slightly apprehensive at first, wondering if the Knights
would somehow catch a glimpse of him and demand to know why he was spying on
them. But he soon realized they had no clue he was present.

Cordus
Landsaver looked exhausted, his eyes bloodshot as he squinted at a map in front
of him. Lannon hovered beside the Lord Knight and gazed down at the map. It
showed the continent of Gallamerth in detail, including all of its kingdoms,
with many places marked with red ink. Lannon marveled that even the great
Cordus Landsaver had no idea that Lannon was positioned right next to him. The
spying potential of the Eye of Dreams was astounding. Lannon suffered no guilt
over spying on the Lord Knight, because he felt he'd been brought here for a
good reason and that something important was about to be revealed.

"So
Brothlor Kingdom has surrendered to Bellis," said Cordus, rubbing his
forehead. "The last of the Six Guardian Kingdoms is now an extension of
Bellis." The Lord Knight wore his magnificent, shining breastplate that
displayed the original Crest of Dremlock--the three great towers. His unkempt
black hair and beard held grey streaks that seemed new to Lannon. He was still
an imposing figure, with his fierce blue eyes and muscular body--but he seemed
diminished somehow, terribly burdened by stress. Lannon didn't like what he saw
at all, and he wished he were at Dremlock in the flesh.

"So
what is left?" asked Krissana Windsword. "The Six Guardian Kingdoms
have fallen. That leaves only the barbarian kingdoms of the coasts, along with
Borenthia, East Hammer Haven, and Dremlock. When will Bellis ride to our
gates?"

"I
would guess quite soon," said Barlow Whitesword. He was a short and stocky
man, balding and clean shaven. He was the Lord of the Brown Knights and always
wore his armor and shield when out and about. He was simple and not extremely
intelligent in matters beyond combat and strategy, but he knew the Sacred Laws
of Dremlock to the letter and he was stubborn in adhering to them.

"It
is not likely that Bellis will ride against Borenthia," said Vesselin
Hopebringer, the ancient Lord of the White Knights. He smoothed out his long
white beard with a wrinkled, trembling hand. "The Birlotes are still too
strong to be conquered easily. It would take decades of warfare. And the
Birlotes keep to themselves, so Bellis can simply ignore them for now. East
Hammer Haven is heavily defended as well, and the Grey Dwarves also keep to
themselves. I would say Dremlock is certain to be the next target. The time has
come to act."