Steel and Sorrow (33 page)

“Markus? Markus, my boy, where are you?” whispered Olasi, stirring in his sleep.

Ermail shushed her husband and stroked his face again until he settled down.

The mood of the room grew even more somber.

“I apologize, My Queen,” said Arine softly. “My Grandmother is just upset. This is so hard on her . . . on all of us.”

“No. There is no need to apologize. She would know her son better than I would. However, I probably will not stay here as long as you. I’d be surprised if Conroy didn’t wish to speak with me himself.”

It’s the least the traitorous devil could do.

* * *

Kroke made a sharp left and spotted a guardsman with his back to them. He closed the distance in three quick strides, cupped his hand over the man’s mouth and plunged his knife into the guard’s back, angled it upward and pierced his heart in one motion. Kroke eased the lifeless figure to the ground.

He listened for a moment and heard nothing along the quiet corridor. He whispered over his shoulder and Niken came into view, followed by Geran still carrying the unconscious captain over his shoulder.

“How much farther?” asked Kroke.

“Based on what the last set of guards said, they should be just around the next turn on the right,” said Niken.

Kroke led the way. He unsheathed another blade, holding two. It had taken everything he had not to search for his knives after their escape, knowing that each moment they wasted heightened their chances of being caught before locating Elyse. As luck would have it, they took a wrong turn and found two soldiers arguing over which of his blades to keep and which to sell.

He had made quick work of them with the sword he had taken from the guard he killed to escape. Securing his knives back had instantly comforted him, their weight reassuring. In the short amount of time since escaping their cells, Kroke had killed six men while moving up two levels within the dungeon.

Kroke peered around the next corner. Two guardsmen stood further down the hallway, outside of a large oaken door. There would be little chance for him to sneak up on them given the distance. Moonlight from a barred window also illuminated the corridor much more thoroughly than the torches lining the walls.

No shadows to take advantage of either. A throw is too risky. Just hope to surprise them in a rush. Need to make it quick though. Who knows how long before someone starts to discover the bodies we left behind.

He turned to Niken and gestured to the keys he held. He signaled with his hands that he wanted the man to follow him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to kill the guards without some sort of racket. They had to get the queen out before others came to investigate.

He sprinted around the corridor. Within a few steps both guardsmen turned, far more alert than the others he had killed. In that brief moment of surprise, Kroke took advantage of their widening eyes and flung his arm at the closest guardsman. His blade found its target and sunk into the man’s left eye.

One down.

The guard behind him screamed, his face taking on both a look of horror and anger. “Prisoner escape!” he shouted, readying his sword.

The guardsman’s raw emotions influenced his attacks and he swung violently in wide slashing motions. Kroke calmly stepped to his right to avoid the first blow and then ducked under the one that followed. The guardsman came back around with a high backswing and Kroke stabbed his dagger into the man’s armpit. He finished the job quickly.

Niken was already working at the door’s lock, trying several of the keys on the ring stolen from the jailor. Dozens of voices from behind the oaken door had come to life. Worried questions and sobs echoed off the walls.

They probably think we’re here to kill them too.

“Quiet,” hissed Kroke as he looked into the room through a small window at the top of the door.

“Show some respect and be mindful of who you’re talking to,” said Geran from behind. “The duke’s family is in there along with the queen.”

“I don’t care who’s in that cell. We don’t need to be making any more noise than we already have.”

“Kroke? Is that you?” came a soft voice.

He saw Elyse push herself from behind several of the people within the large cell who had shielded her. The sight of her caught his breath.

“Finally,” said Niken after the key turned.

Elyse ran forward. “Thank the One Above. It is you,” she said as the door swung open.

She wrapped her arms around him in a brief hug—much to the surprise of all parties based on several audible gasps. Kroke tensed. It seemed Elyse cared little for the reactions of others as she pulled away. “Can you get us out of here?”

Kroke blinked, thankful for an excuse to turn away from her gaze. He looked at Niken. “You know the way, right?”

“Yes, but it will be tricky to get through the palace once we get to the next level.”

“You won’t make it and you’re liable to get the queen killed in the process,” said an old woman in the back.

“We’ll make it,” said Kroke.

The woman leaned forward and saw the bodies of the guardsmen on the floor. “No doubt you have skill, but you aren’t invincible.”

“Then what do you suggest?” asked Kroke, tired of the woman already. “We’re wasting time.”

“There’s a back way out of the dungeons that only a few know about. If we make it there, we should be able to escape into the countryside.”

“Then quickly tell us. More guards could come at any moment.”

“I’ll have to show you. Someone will need to help me with my husband,” she said gesturing to the body that lay next to her.

Kroke shook his head. “No. You aren’t coming with us. None of you are.”

Cries of protest erupted and Elyse grabbed Kroke by the arm. “What are you talking about? These people must come with us. That is Duke Olasi and his wife Ermail,” she said pointing to the prone old man and the woman next to him. “The rest are his family.”

“I’m supposed to protect you. You are this country’s ruler. Everyone else is expendable.”

Elyse removed her arm and gave him a chilly look. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

Niken cleared his throat. “Perhaps I wouldn’t have been so blunt, Your Majesty, but Kroke is right. You are our priority. We can always come back to help the others.”

“No,” said Elyse, stepping back again. “We must take them with us. Markus is not a calm man and if I escape, he may take his anger out on them.”

Kroke grit his teeth. “We have no time for this. I’m not about to get us killed so we can drag along this bunch.”

Elyse glanced over at Niken, obviously seeking support. The guard continued to back Kroke. “Your Majesty, he’s right. We must go.”

Distant shouts echoed, raising the sense of urgency. Elyse folded her arms and glared at Kroke. He swore at everyone in the room and yet she didn’t flinch.

He raised a dagger at the old woman Elyse called Ermail. “You, get out here and tell us where to go.” He pointed at a few of the younger men. “Take the old man.” He gestured to the rest of them. “You will all do as I say when I say it, or I’ll cut your blasted throats myself. This is your only chance.” He looked back to Elyse. “Satisfied?”

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly. “Yes.”

Kroke felt a tug in his chest, only angering him more. “Fine.” He brushed past Niken. “You follow the old woman and take point.”

“Where are you going?” he asked.

Shouts and clomping footsteps rose in volume from the corridors they took earlier. “To buy you some time. Now quit wasting it.”

He paused for a second, waiting for Elyse to call out to him, but Niken and Geran had already rushed her out of view.

Nothing. Just like my family. I do the work that no one has the nerve to do.

His fingers itched, and his head pounded in anger.

He almost felt sorry for the men clamoring toward him as he rounded another turn.

He was in one of those moods.

* * *

After traversing the dark corridors and winding stairs, going up one level and down four, they finally neared the end. According to Ermail, the back exit to the dungeons would be just another hundred feet ahead.

Elyse felt a lump in her throat as she looked over her shoulder. The view was the same as it had been only seconds before. A long line of Olasi’s family followed her with Geran covering their rear. The captain of her guard had regained consciousness and Olasi’s youngest son helped him along.

And still no sign of Kroke.

She wondered if she had made a poor decision. She knew at the time that leaving Olasi’s family behind would have made it easier for her to escape with Kroke. However, she couldn’t just leave them to chance.

Ermail and Elyse trailed close behind. A faint bit of light shone brightly from around a bend and Niken doused his torch. The surprise caused several of the men and women to gasp before Ermail shushed them in a harsh manner.

Niken looked back to Elyse. “Stay here, Your Majesty. The exit should be just beyond this turn, but I want to make sure it isn’t guarded. Lady Ermail said that though the exit isn’t well known, Markus is aware of it.”

He inched along one wall, sword in hand. Elyse’s eyes began to adjust and she watched him look around the side. He slid back toward them.

“Well?” Elyse whispered.

“Six men,” said Niken. He gestured for Geran to come forward.

“Can the two of you take them?”

“Of course, my queen,” said Niken, trying to sound confident. Elyse heard the doubt in his voice. “We’ll surprise them in a rush.”

“Not likely. You’ll probably get killed running out there where they have the advantage and are able to surround you.”

The volume of Kroke’s voice caused her to jump. Someone tried to quiet him, but they stopped quickly when the mercenary glared. Olasi’s family cleared a path for him. She gasped as he came into focus. His eyes held a crazed look. Splatters of dark blood covered him.

Her hand went to her mouth.

He frowned, shook his head, and brushed past her. A loud whistle came from his mouth and bounced off the stone walls.

“Are you crazy?” asked Geran. “They’ll hear you.”

“That’s the idea,” said Kroke over his shoulder. “I work better in tight spaces.” He called out louder. “Hey, anybody out there?”

Men in armor rushed forward. Kroke pushed back Niken who had come up beside him. He growled. “Stay out of my way.”

Elyse had watched people fight for their lives before, but she had never seen anything like the graceful brutality that Kroke inflicted on Markus’s men. Quick, efficient, and lacking in compassion, he sliced, stabbed, and gorged while spitting half-heard curses at each of them. Several of Olasi’s family took the One Above’s name in vain at the shock. Arine turned away and threw up. Elyse stared.

She shuddered as Kroke raked his knife across the last soldier’s face, cutting into the man’s mouth and through both cheeks. The man choked on his own bloody screams as Kroke’s other blade pierced his gut. Kroke stood there for a moment seething, seemingly angry about something Elyse could not understand.

“There were seven, not six,” he finally said.

No one could find a voice to reply. Kroke bent over and wiped his blades on a dead man’s cloak. He stood and started walking. As he rounded the corner, he called out. “Let’s go.”

Elyse swallowed and followed after him.

Chapter 24

Yanasi felt Rygar’s stare as she swayed in the saddle, her eyes cast down at the dirt path trailing behind her.

“You did the right thing, Yanasi. You left her with good people and the money we gave them will ensure they don’t face any hard times in the next few years,” said Rygar.

She sighed. “I know.”

“Then why are you in such a miserable mood?”

She looked up and squinted into the sun. “You’re going to think this sounds stupid, but I wanted to keep her.”

Rygar’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. Her mother wanted me to make sure her daughter was cared for, but all it feels like I did was abandon her instead.”

“Don’t say that. You had to leave her with that family. What other option did you have?”

Yanasi shrugged. “Raise her myself.”

“An army’s no place for a kid.”

“It was for me.”

Rygar shook his head. “You were eight, not a newborn. That’s a big difference. Besides, you obviously agree with me on some level.”

“I just didn’t imagine it would be so hard to let her go after only a few days with her.”

Rygar reached over his mount and squeezed Yanasi’s hand.

* * *

“I’m worried that we’re pushing too hard,” said Krytien. The mages words broke the steady monotony of hooves clomping, feet stomping, and armor clanging.

“We are pushing too hard,” said Kaz in an even tone. “We need to take Bronn before he brings up other forces. We’ve talked about this before.”

“I know, but the long days aren’t doing our men any favors.”

“We spent a full day seeing to our wounded. Now, we’re just trying to catch up. Bronn is the one setting the pace.”

“A day isn’t much to get one’s thoughts together after the bloodbath we fought.”

“That’s why it’s better to keep moving. I don’t want the men to think on what they’ve been through. I want them angry at being tired and sore, angry from homesickness, and angry at me for pushing them. Let them take their frustration out on Bronn. They can dwell on what they’ve been through afterward.”

Krytien grunted. “Do you think Jeldor is maintaining the same pace?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he was marching his men harder just so he could try the impossible and meet back up with us before we engage Bronn.”

The mage chuckled. “They do have a special hatred for one another.” He paused. “It was the right call sending him after Tomalt. He’s liable to think more clearly against a foe he doesn’t hold a personal vendetta against.”

“That was my thought. Let’s hope he doesn’t make me regret splitting our forces.”

Rygar came into view, galloping down the road, riding high in the saddle. Kaz called a stop and sent word to his captains to be on alert. A few moments later, the scout reached them.