Soul of Skulls (Book 6) (43 page)

And before the Old Demon found a way into Cythraul Urdvul. Mazael suspected his father planned to use Lucan to enter Cythraul Urdvul, though he could not image how.

Gerald nodded. “That is why we came to the Grim Marches, Mazael.” He looked at his wife and sons. “Rachel and Aldane and Belifane will be safe here, as will the rest of our families. The Grim Marches have known nothing but war since the Malrags came, and I hate to ask it of you. But…”

“You shall have my help,” said Mazael. “The Lord of the Grim Marches will ride to the aid of the Lord of Knightcastle.”

Gerald flinched. “But I’m not…”

“You are,” said Mazael. “Like it or not, Gerald. Your brothers are dead, and your father has turned to madness. Lord Malden is no longer fit to rule. That means you are the rightful Lord of Knightcastle and liege lord of Knightreach. If your people are to be saved from Lucan and the runedead, you shall have to save them.”

Gerald nodded. Once, Mazael knew, such a burden would have been too much for the younger man. And Gerald had never expected to become the Lord of Knightcastle. But the years had hardened him, and Gerald would do what was necessary to save his people.

“Then the Lord of Knightcastle,” he said, “is pleased to accept your aid, my lord Mazael.”

“Good,” said Mazael, thinking. “You.” He pointed at a tall, handsome man in the blue and silver surcoat of the Justiciar Order. “You’re Aidan Tormaud? The Justiciar commander that helped Gerald escape?”

He saw a flicker of pain pass over Molly’s face. She had been in love with Nicholas Tormaud, Aidan’s younger brother, until the Old Demon and Corvad had murdered him. Now she was betrothed to Riothamus, but Mazael suspected the old pain would never quite leave her.

“Aye, my lord,” said Aidan.

“I suspect you are the highest-ranking Justiciar officer who hasn’t followed Caldarus into his lunacy, Sir Commander,” said Mazael. “Which means you are now the commander of the Justiciar Order.”

Aidan’s mouth fell open. “But…”

“Not all the Justiciar officers and knights will follow Caldarus,” said Mazael, “and we need every man. Someone has to lead them.”

Aidan swallowed, and gave a sharp nod. 

“My lords and knights,” said Mazael, raising his voice, “we have plans to make. Rufus! Get Master Cramton, and have rooms found for our guests. We will have a feast tonight, and then a council of war.” 

Rufus bowed again and ran to fetch Mazael’s seneschal. Pages hurried forward to take the lords’ and knights’ horses. Mazael stepped closer to Rachel, Romaria at his side, while Riothamus and Molly spoke in low voices.

“This is your second son?” said Mazael, looking at the child in Rachel’s arms.

For the first time she smiled. “He is. Belifane.”

Mazael looked at Gerald. “Named for your brother.”

“Aye,” said Gerald. “My brother Belifane was slain fighting in the Grim Marches twenty years ago. I suppose it is a peculiar twist of history that I should bring my son Belifane to the Grim Marches to keep him safe.” 

Mazael felt a touch on his arm.

He turned and saw Romaria staring up at the sky. 

“What is it?” said Mazael. Her half-human, half-Elderborn heritage had given her keen senses, and he knew to trust them.

“Skythain,” said Romaria, and Mazael saw the black speck against the blue sky. “I think he’s going to land in the courtyard.”

The skythains usually landed their griffin mounts in an enclosed field outside of Cravenlock Town, a half-mile from the castle. The scent of the griffins terrified horses, and the beasts sometimes stole pigs and sheep when their riders’ attention was elsewhere. 

Only urgent news would bring a skythain directly to the castle. 

The black speck grew larger, circling towards the courtyard.

“Father, look!” said Aldane, his voice full of delight. A murmur of alarm went through the lords from Knightreach, and Mazael remembered that they had never seen a griffin before. “A griffin!”

“Gods,” said Gerald, reaching for his sword. “Is that…”

“Hold!” said Mazael, his voice cutting through the noise. “The Tervingi scouts ride griffins.”

The griffin circled lower, its white wings spread, its golden-furred limbs tucked close to its body. A man in leather sat on a saddle atop the beast’s back, his reins looped through the griffin’s razor-edged beak.

Gerald shook his head. “I thought griffins were only a story.”

Molly snorted. “Wait until you see a mammoth, Lord Gerald.”

“Mammoth?” said several of the lords. 

The griffin landed at the base of the keep, downwind from the stables. Mazael recognized the lean, sunburned man in the saddle as Toric son of Torvmund. Toric had been a skythain in the service of the hrould Athanaric, and after Athanaric’s death, had become a headman in his own right. 

“Toric!” said Mazael. “What news?”

“Ill news, hrould,” said Toric. “There is a party of horsemen upon the road,” he glanced at the nobles from Knightreach, “and I see they have arrived.”

“This is my sister Lady Rachel, her husband Lord Gerald of Knightcastle, and their sworn men,” said Mazael. “Their arrival is hardly ill news.”

Toric shook his head. “It is their pursuers that concern me.”

“Pursuers?” said Gerald. “We were not…”

“Runedead,” said Toric. “Over a thousand strong, and of a sort I have not seen before. The sigils upon their brows blaze with crimson fire, not green.”

“Crimson fire?” said Gerald. “Caraster’s runedead had symbols of crimson fire on their foreheads.”

“And Caraster’s runedead belong to Lucan now,” said Mazael.

“Gods, Mazael,” said Gerald. “They followed us here. I’m sorry. We…”

Mazael lifted a hand. “Do not blame yourself. Even if you were slain, we would have had to face Lucan’s runedead eventually.” He looked back at Toric. “Where are they?”

“Four miles west of here, hrould,” said Toric, “heading east upon the road. They are making for the castle, and ignoring anyone in their path.”

“Good,” said Mazael. If the runedead were focused upon Gerald and his men, they would not hurt anyone else. Perhaps he could use that to their advantage.

“How did they even find us?” said Rachel.

“It would not be a hard guess,” said Gerald, “to realize that we would go to Mazael for help.”

“An awakened runedead must be leading them,” said Riothamus. “The runedead are usually mindless, even if they retained the skills they possessed in life, but I suspect Lucan gave an awakened runedead command of this group and set it to follow you. An awakened runedead, bound to Lucan’s control, would chase you to the ends of the earth.”

“I will ride out and draw it away from you,” said Gerald, and Rachel grabbed his arm.

“No, you will not,” said Mazael, thinking.

“Are your walls warded, my lord?” said Adalar. “If the runedead become immaterial, they could enter unhindered.”

“Indeed,” said Sir Wesson. “We lost many castles that way in the first hours of the Great Rising.”

Mazael nodded. “Timothy and Riothamus warded them well. Toric! How long until the runedead arrive?”

“No more than an hour, hrould,” said Toric. 

“Very well,” said Mazael. He pointed at some of the pages attending the lords. “You and you. Find Sir Hagen Bridgebane and Earnachar son of Balnachar and tell them to gather every man they can muster. My lord Gerald, Sir Commander Aidan, gather your men and ride with us.”

Gerald nodded. “We came for your help, and you shall have ours.”

“Good,” said Mazael, turning. “Guardian. Daughter. We shall need your aid as well.”

Riothamus nodded. “You have it.”

“Why, Father,” said Molly. “You do know how I love a good fight before dinner.”

She was joking, but not entirely. He saw the eager glint in her gray eyes. He knew she felt a fire in her blood, an eagerness for battle, for combat, for the death of foes.

For he felt the same thing in his Demonsouled blood, and he had struggled to contain that rage for years. The arrival of the runedead brought a peculiar sort of relief. Here was a foe he could fight without reservation, without mercy. 

He had sworn to defend the folk of the Grim Marches and the Tervingi nation, and he would not suffer the runedead upon his land.

“Come,” Mazael said. “We will ride as soon as you are ready.”

Follow this link to continue reading the final book in the DEMONSOULED series, 
Soul of Swords
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Glossary of Characters

ADALAR GREATHEART - Lord of Castle Dominus and a vassal of Malden Roland. Once the squire of Mazael Cravenlock, and known for his valor and skill with a sword. 

ADELAIDE STORMSEA – The bastard daughter of Lord Alberon of Castle Stormsea. Competent and determined, only her efforts keep Lord Alberon’s household from falling into chaos.

AEGIDIA - Once the Guardian of the Tervingi, the teacher of Riothamus, and the mother of Ragnachar. Betrayed and murdered by Ragnachar at Stone Tower. 

AGANTYR – High King of the Aegonar and the anointed of Sepharivaim. 

AGRAVAIN RAINIER - Lord of Tumblestone and a vassal of Malden Roland. A skilled battle commander. 

AIDAN TORMAUD - A Commander in the Justiciar Order. Less rigid than many knights of the Order, and frequently at odds with Grand Master Caldarus. 

ALDANE ROLAND – The eldest son of Gerald and Rachel Roland. Now three years old. 

ALBERON STORMSEA – Lord of Castle Stormsea, and a vassal of Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion. Known for his petulant and morose nature. 

AMALRIC GALBRAITH - A son of the Old Demon, and half-brother to Mazael Cravenlock. Formerly the Grand Master of the Dominiar Order, and killed by Mazael and Adalar Greatheart at the Battle of Tumblestone. 

ARNULF, SON OF KAERWULF – Headman and swordthain of the Tervingi nation. Steady and unflappable in combat. A loyal follower of Mazael Cravenlock.

ATARANUR - The alias adopted by Lucan Mandragon while in disguise at Knightcastle. A High Elderborn title meaning "Lord of Gifts."

BARTH - An assassin of the Skulls, skilled in infiltration.  

BELIFANE ROLAND – The youngest son of Gerald and Rachel Roland, now a year and a half old. Named for Gerald’s elder brother, slain in battle against Lord Richard Mandragon of the Grim Marches. 

CALDARUS - The Grand Master of the Justiciar Order of knights. Famed for his ruthlessness and his single-minded advancement of the Justiciars' wealth and power. 

CARASTER – A renegade wizard and rebel. Caraster has gained control of large numbers of runedead, and leads them in a crusade to rid the world of nobles, wealthy merchants, and priests. 

CIRCAN - A wizard in Lord Malden's service. 

CORVAD – Son of Mazael Cravenlock and twin brother of Molly Cravenlock. Killed by Mazael in the throne chamber of Arylkrad. 

CRAMTON - Formerly the innkeeper of Cravenlock Town, rescued from an unjust execution at the hands of Lord Mitor Cravenlock by Mazael Cravenlock. Now serves as Mazael's seneschal. 

EARNACHAR SON OF BALNACHAR – A headman of the Tervingi nation. Once a loyal supporter of the hrould Ragnachar, but now a grudging follower of Mazael Cravenlock. 

EDGAR TALLBARTH – A knight of Greycoast, in service to Lord Alberon Stormsea of Castle Stormsea. A capable scout and skirmisher, skills acquired during his checkered past of stealing cattle from his neighbors. 

ELISE – A maid in service to Rachel Roland of Knightcastle. 

ETHRINGA DAUGHTER OF JORDANIC – A holdmistress of the Tervingi nation, respected and influential among the other holdmistresses. Known for her sharp tongue. 

EVERARD CHALSAIN - Prince of Barellion, and the liege lord of Greycoast. 

GAITH KALBORN – The knight of Morsen Village, and a San-keth proselyte. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during Corvad’s attack upon the village. 

GARAIN ROLAND - Once Lord Malden's eldest son and the heir to Knightcastle. Murdered by the San-keth during the Malden's war against the Dominiar Order, making Tobias Roland the heir to Knightcastle. 

GERALD ROLAND – The youngest son of Lord Malden Roland of Knightcastle. With his brother Tobias, tasked with leading the war against the rebel Caraster. 

HAGEN BRIDGEBANE – The armsmaster of Castle Cravenlock, and one of Mazael’s loyal vassals. Known for his utter lack of humor. 

HARBINGER - A rebel of Knightreach and a follower of Caraster. 

HIRAM STORMCREST – Liege lord of the Stormvales, and lord of Castle Stormcrest. Generally ignored by his nominal vassals. 

HUGH CHALSAIN – A knight and the youngest son of Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion. Reckless and bold, and widely regarded as the best jouster and horseman of Greycoast. Also famed for his romantic conquests. 

LADY OF BLADES - A powerful spirit creature, and ruler of a domain within the spirit world. 

LUCAN MANDRAGON – A wizard of terrible power, and the architect of the catastrophic Great Rising. Bearer of the Glamdaigyr and the Banurdem. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during the Great Rising, and now an undead revenant. 

KORVAGER – The High Priest of Sepharivaim among the Aegonar, second only to the Heralds and the High King himself. A powerful wizard, and ruthless even by the standards of the Aegonar. 

MALAVOST – A renegade wizard who tried to murder Aldane Belifane, using his blood to open the Door of Souls. Killed by Rachel Cravenlock Roland in the High Elderborn Temple atop Mount Tynagis. 

MALDEN ROLAND - Lord of Knightcastle, husband to Rhea Roland, and father of Tobias and Gerald. An old man, and only a few weeks away from death. 

MAURUS – A master wizard in service to Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion. Currently traveling with Sir Hugh Chalsain. 

MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK – Lord of Castle Cravenlock, liege lord of the Grim Marches, and the hrould of the Tervingi nation. The son of the Old Demon, and one of the most capable warriors, skilled commanders, and powerful Demonsouled now living. 

MITOR CRAVENLOCK - The older brother of Mazael Cravenlock and Rachel Cravenlock Roland. Allied with the San-keth and rebelled against Richard Mandragon, but killed by the San-keth after his defeat. 

MOLLY CRAVENLOCK – Mazael Cravenlock’s daughter and heir to Castle Cravenlock. A powerful Demonsouled. Raised as an assassin by the Skulls, Barellion’s feared brotherhood of paid killers. Called “the Lady of the Shadows” by the Tervingi for her Demonsouled-granted ability to travel instantaneously through the shadows. The lover and betrothed of Riothamus. 

MOREBETH GALBRAITH - A daughter of the Old Demon, and half-sister to Mazael Cravenlock. Seduced Mazael, and attempted to turn him into the Destroyer, the prophesied Demonsouled who will destroy the kingdoms of men. Killed by Mazael and Lucan Mandragon at Knightcastle. 

NICHOLAS RANDERLY - Lord of Knightport. Young, and newly come to his position, as his father and older brothers were slain in the Great Rising. 

PHILIP MONTIGARD – A Travian knight, now in service to Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion. Currently traveling with Sir Hugh Chalsain. 

RACHEL CRAVENLOCK ROLAND – The younger sister of Lord Mazael Cravenlock, and the wife of Sir Gerald Roland. Mother of Aldane and Belifane. Once a San-keth proselyte, but since repented. 

RAGNACHAR SON OF NO ONE – Once a powerful hrould of the Tervingi nation. A son of the Old Demon, and at his bidding led the Tervingi over the Great Mountains to the Grim Marches. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock outside the walls of Sword Town. 

RANDUR MAENDRAG – The most powerful high lord of Old Dracaryl, and using knowledge obtained from the Old Demon, the creator of the Glamdaigyr, the Banurdem, and the Wraithaldr. The creator of the Great Rising, and transformed into a revenant in the great spell’s failure. Later destroyed by Lucan Mandragon using the Glamdaigyr, who then claimed Randur’s knowledge and powers. 

RHEA ROLAND – Wife of Lord Malden Roland, and mother of Tobias and Gerald Roland. Dignified and respected, and indifferent to her husband’s frequent infidelities. 

RIOTHAMUS SON OF RIGOTHARIC – The Guardian of the Tervingi nation, their defender from supernatural threats, and wielder of the ancient Staff of the Guardian. The lover and betrothed of Molly Cravenlock. 

ROBERT HIGHGATE - The Lord of Castle Highgate, and one of the most powerful lords of the Grim Marches. A skilled commander. 

RODRIC CHALSAIN – The eldest son of Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion, and heir to the throne of Greycoast and Barellion. Not overly fond of his brothers. 

ROMARIA GREENSHIELD CRAVENLOCK – Wife of Mazael Cravenlock. Half Elderborn, giving her the ability to change her shape to that of a great black wolf. A skilled hunter, archer, and tracker.

ROSALA - A serving maid at the Knights' Inn of Barellion, and a member of the assassins' brotherhood known as the Skulls.  

RUFUS HIGHGATE - The eldest son of Lord Robert Highgate. Serves as Mazael's squire. 

RYNTALD - An earl of the Aegonar and a trusted advisor to High King Agantyr. Known for his cunning in battle. 

SKALATAN – Archpriest of the San-keth, known for both his great age and brilliant intellect. The other San-keth clerics consider him both mad and heterodox, yet fear to cross his tremendous magical power. 

SKHATH - San-keth cleric who masqueraded as the human knight Sir Albron Eastwater. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during Mitor Cravenlock's rebellion against Richard Mandragon. 

SOUTHER – The First Dagger and leader of the Skulls, the assassins’ brotherhood of Barellion. One of the most feared men in the city. 

STRAGANIS - San-keth archpriest of great power. Betrayed and killed by Amalric Galbraith during the Dominiars' war against Malden Roland. 

SYKHANA – A San-keth changeling, and the abductor of Aldane Roland from Knightcastle. Betrayed and murdered by Malavost at Deepforest Keep. 

SZEGAN – High priest of the San-keth temple hidden beneath Morsen Village. Slain during Corvad’s attack upon that village. 

TANCRED STILLWATER - Lord of Stillwater and a vassal of Lord Malden Roland. Known for his skill as a quartermaster.

TERVINGAR - The semi-legendary founder of the Tervingi nation, who led the enslaved Tervingi to their freedom after escaping from their Dark Elderborn masters. Revered among the Tervingi, and held up as an exemplar of valor and strength. 

THOMAS – A serving man in service to Lord Malden Roland.

TIMOTHY DEBLANC – Court wizard of Mazael Cravenlock. 

TOBIAS ROLAND – The eldest surviving son of Lord Malden Roland, and the heir to Knightcastle. With his brother Gerald, charged with leading the war against the rebel Caraster. 

THE OLD DEMON – The eldest and most powerful of the Demonsouled, and the father of Mazael Cravenlock, Morebeth Galbraith, Ragnachar, Amalric Galbraith, and the grandfather of Molly Cravenlock and Corvad. A wizard of unsurpassed might and a manipulator of great skill and cunning. 

ULTORIN – The last Grand Master of the Dominiar Order, and commander of the Malrag invasion of the Grim Marches. Corrupted by a bloodsword forged by Amalric Galbraith. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during the siege of Deepforest Keep.