Sword of Light (25 page)

“Why?”  Dominic asked softly.

“Many years ago, my father was an officer in the army.”  Moshanna said.  “This was in the time when the queen’s father was still king.  The king had four siblings, two sisters and two brothers.  The king’s youngest brother served in the army in the same command as my father.  Over time, they became friends, despite the fact that my father was a commoner.  During a battle with the demons and their followers, my father saved the prince’s life when his unit was overrun.  My father rushed his men in, battling their way through the demons’ followers to the prince, and pulled him out.  When they returned to the capital, the prince persuaded the king to make my father a noble.  While he was a minor noble, his closeness with the prince made him popular at court.”

“He continued his close friendship with the prince throughout his life.  The prince married late in life and I was four when his daughter, Sharin, was born.  Over the years, our families stayed close and I was in many ways like an older brother to Sharin.  When I turned seventeen, I joined the army, following in my father’s footsteps.  I had been stationed in the remote reaches of the country for several years before I was transferred back to the capital.  When I did return, I found Sharin to be a woman grown, beautiful and gracious.  We renewed our friendship, but over time it became something more.  Our feelings deepened and we found ourselves in love, something neither of us had anticipated.  We kept it secret, for she was part of the royal family, bound up in the politics of court, which made our love problematic to say the least.”

Moshanna paused, his eyes far away, and then continued.  “By this time, the old king had died and the queen was new upon her throne.  The nobles jockeyed amongst themselves, each house trying to get close to the queen to gain advantage.  Darrius Oceansong, the eldest son from one of the most powerful houses, took an interest in Sharin.  She was a grand prize for any house that she married into as she a cousin to the queen, with royal blood, though not in the line of succession.  Darrius was a few years older than me, with a reputation as a skilled swordsman, though he was also known for his ambition, as well as his cruelty.”  He sighed.  “Somehow, he found out about Sharin and I.”

“It was during a public audience with the queen when he asked her for Sharin’s hand.  He was looking at me when he spoke the words, a smile on his face, and I realized then that he knew.  Before the queen could respond, my passion overcame me and I challenged him, proclaiming my love of Sharin and my desire to wed her.”  He looked over at Dominic, face now grim.  “I claimed that my honor was at stake.  Matters of honor among the noble families are settled through duels to the death.  We both pledged before the queen to meet in combat, with the victor gaining the right to ask for Sharin’s hand.  While his reputation with the sword would have stopped any other, I was not going to surrender my love.  The queen accepted my challenge and bound us to meet in three days time to settle our dispute.”

“The night before the duel, as I was saying my prayers in the Temple, Sharin came to me.  She told me that her confidants had found out that, if I were to triumph, Darrius’ family would move to avenge his death by killing me and my parents, as well as my younger sister and her family.  Crying and clinging to me, she begged me to flee, despite my honor, to save my life.  She told me that she could not bear to be the reason for my death.  She said she would rather endure being Darrius’ wife, knowing I was alive, than see me taken from this world.  I tried to reason with her, telling her I was unafraid, but, inside, I was also torn by the threat to my parents and sister.”

Moshanna sadly shook his head.  “So, in the end, I gave way to her wishes and fled.  I knew that I would be attainted as a traitor when I did not present myself at the arena, so I took a horse and rode away from the capital.  Due to my shame, I choose not to see my parents, but Sharin told me that she would inform them of the true reason why I left.  I rode to the Gray Ridges, losing myself in the mountains.  I made my way over the passes, with no real direction or purpose.  I was near the Keep when I encountered Tomaris, who was returning from one of his quests.  He invited me into the Keep, listened to my story and offered me a place within his Guard.  That was nearly ten years ago.”

“Ten years?”  Dominic asked.  “How did Riverborn recognize you after all this time?”

“All soldiers are given descriptions of those deemed traitors, especially those that betrayed the queen.”  Moshanna said.  “It is considered a great honor to return a traitor to face the queen’s justice.  Due to the circumstances of my betrayal, it is likely that my description is near the top of any traitor’s list.”

“So why didn’t you stay behind?”  Dominic demanded.  “Surely, we could have found someone else to lead us through Aletonia.”

“Tomaris insisted that I needed to go, so here I am.”  Moshanna replied.  “I was concerned that I would be a liability on this mission, but he dismissed that.  I told him that I thought he was making a grave mistake, but I swore myself to him when he gave me a place in his Guard, so I obeyed his wishes.”

“What will happen to you when we arrive at the capital?”  Dominic inquired.  “I cannot see a good end to this.”

“As Riverborn said, I will be taken before the queen.”  Moshanna said, shrugging his shoulders.  “It will be up to her, but the headsman is the likely outcome.”

“I will see if I can reason with her.”  Dominic said.  “I am known to her, so she may listen.”

“We’ll see.”  Moshanna said, looking resigned.

The next morning, with the sun still below the horizon, they left the fortress and began the ride to the capital.  The merchant and his man were bound hand and foot and placed in the wagon bed, with one of Riverborn’s soldiers driving the wagon.  Dominic rode up near Riverborn, with Moshanna and Taric right behind them.  There were two soldiers riding ahead of Dominic as the advance guard and four soldiers riding behind the wagon.

“How far to the capital, Sergeant?”  Dominic asked as they rode.

“We will make it across the valley by early afternoon and should be able to navigate the coastal hills before dark.”  Riverborn replied.  “Danelias is on the other side of the hills.”

The valley, dotted with farms and animal ranches, rolled by as they rode east.  The weather was mild, with scattered white clouds drifting overhead.  By mid-morning, a greenish smudge grew on the horizon as they drew closer to the costal hills.  When they arrived at the hills, Dominic saw that they were small, similar to the hills west of Sanduas, though they were covered in a green grass with only a few trees dotting the land.  As they rode through the hills, the hint of salt air began to grow more prominent.  With the sun at their backs, low in the western horizon, they crossed the last ridge.

Down the slope of the hill, Danelias, the capital, spread out in front of them.  The city was built along the shoreline of the Outer Ocean.  It had wide streets the crisscrossed the city, with stone buildings built along their paths.  Dominic noticed that the buildings were more crowded near the water, with larger buildings to the north.  He also spotted the palace, built on a rise to the north, overlooking the rest of the city.  It had delicate spires rising from the corners of the wall that surrounded it, the building itself made of a light-colored stone that caught the light of the setting sun.  Near the center of the city was a large arena, its oval shape standing out from the rest of the buildings.  To the south, he saw another large building that was built near the water, surrounded by a green garden.

“What is that building, Sergeant?”  Dominic asked, pointing.

“That is the Temple, my lord.”  He replied.

Dominic nodded and returned to studying the city.  It was hemmed in to the north and south where the hills ran into the ocean, the sides facing the sea worn down into shear cliffs.  There was a natural breakwater to the north, where a rocky outcropping jutted south.  A man-made breakwater was build, extending from the southern hills north to create a large harbor.  Two large stone towers were built at the ends of the breakwaters, serving as lighthouses and defensive positions at the harbor opening.  In the harbor, Dominic saw at least a dozen sailing vessels and three large wooden ships that looked like warships.

The city itself was protected by a large stone wall that ran from the northern cliff, curving towards the hills, then back to the southern cliff.  The road they were on ran towards the main gates.  Strong battlements and an open field that prevented any enemy from advancing unseen protected the gates themselves.

They continued on, riding through the gates.  In the open courtyard beyond the gates, a soldier on horseback halted them.  He was a middle-aged man, tall and slim, with a dark complexion and jet-black hair.  He was dressed in a similar fashion as Riverborn’s soldiers, but his armor was finer, with a golden stripe on the left shoulder of his breastplate.  Riverborn gave him a salute, which was returned.

“Where are you going, Sergeant?”  The soldier demanded.  “Who are these foreigners?”

“I am bringing the traitor Deepwood to the palace to face the queen’s wrath, Captain.”  Riverborn stated, pointing at Moshanna.  “This is Dominic of Sanduas and Brother Taric.  They are companions of Deepwood and have pledged themselves to him.  The two in the back of the wagon are accused by Lord Dominic to be followers of the demons.  I was bringing them to face the queen as well.”

“I will send a rider to inform the queen.”  The soldier said.  He beckoned over another soldier on horseback and sent him riding off towards the palace.   The officer turned back to them.  “You have brought much honor upon yourself, Sergeant.  Have your men wait here.  I will have my soldiers provide an escort to the palace.”

“Welcome, Lord Dominic.”  The man said, nodding his head.  “I am Captain Renral Stoneworth.  I have heard the stories of your endless pursuit of the demons.  It will be my honor to escort you to the queen.”

“Thank you, Captain Stoneworth.”  Dominic replied.  He gestured towards the palace.  “Should we continue?”

“Of course, Demonhunter.”  Stoneworth said.  He called over his men, having them form up around the small party while Riverborn’s soldiers went over to a nearby building.  Once he was satisfied, they started up the road that led to the palace.

The sun had set by then and the torchlighters were out, moving to and from the lampposts that lined the road.  They received some curious looks from the people in the streets as they rode past, but they seemed fairly uninterested for the most part.  The palace grew larger as they rode closer, the lights of the watch torches flaring into the darkening sky.

They were several blocks from the palace when a party of twenty armored men on horseback suddenly rode out of the side streets and blocked their way.  Stoneworth halted his men, then rode slightly forward of the group.

“Move aside!”  He ordered.  “You are interfering with the passage of the queen’s soldiers.”

A man rode from the crowd, dressed in fine dark clothes, a shining breastplate visible under the cloak the hung from his shoulders.  He was tall and rangy, his dark face ruggedly handsome.  He had a haughty look on his face as he faced Stoneworth, his hand resting on his swordhilt.  Out of the corner of his eye, Dominic saw Moshanna stiffen, his face going flat.

“I am Lord Darrius, Captain.”  The man said, his eyes on Moshanna.  “My men will deal with this traitor and his companions.”  He called mockingly over to Moshanna.  “I will have your head before the night ends, Deepwood.

“With all due respect, Lord Darrius, this is a matter for the queen.”  Stoneworth stated, sitting stiffly in his saddle, though he looked worried.  “You may accompany us to the palace, but I have given my word to the Demonhunter to take him to the queen.”

“You are on dangerous ground here, Captain.”  Darrius said, turning his gaze to Stoneworth.  “If you do not release the traitor to me, I will be forced to take steps to retain my honor.”  He gripped his sword, its meaning not lost on Stoneworth.

“I will not release him to you here, Lord Darrius.”  Stoneworth said, swallowing hard, as he drew his own sword.  “Defensive positions!”  He called to his solders, who drew their own swords and spread out to surround the party.  He continued to face Darrius.  “Only by the queen’s command will I turn him over to you.”

Darrius laughed as he signaled his men.  They drew their weapons and began to move forward.  Dominic motioned Taric to stay behind him as he drew his own sword.  Moshanna’s sword was already in his hand, his eyes fixed on Darrius.

Before the battle could be joined, a new sound intruded.  Out of the night came the rhythmic beat of men marching in unison and the faint echo of jingling metal.  From behind Darrius’ men, a large group of soldiers appeared in the street from the direction of the palace, moving at a near-run in ordered rows, their long spears held at the ready.

They were led by a very large man, his head shaved bald, dressed in a heavy breastplate, with armor covering his arms, and leather pants with close knit steel rings above his dark leather boots.  There were four golden stripes on his breastplate and a large war hammer in his hands.

Without pausing, he shouldered his way through Darrius’ men while his men began to form a ring around them.  He strode over to where Darrius was sitting on his horse.

“What madness is this, Lord Darrius?”  The man said, his voice deep and commanding.  “You know better than to interfere with the queen’s soldiers.”

Anger twisted Darrius’ face, but his voice was suddenly cautious when he addressed the man.  “It is a matter of personal honor, Commander Farrious.  The traitor Deepwood insulted my honor and that demands retribution.”

“It is the queen’s place to determine that, my lord.”  Farrious stated bluntly.  He gestured towards Darrius’ soldiers.  “Dismiss your men and accompany me to the palace or I will order them dispersed.”  At that, Farrious’ soldiers leveled their spears at Darrius’ men, with at least two spears aimed at each one.

Darrius looked around, his frustration clear on his face.  He seemed to be considering resistance, but instead called over to his men.  “Lower your weapons and return to the barracks.  I will go to the palace and speak with the queen.”  With a last baleful look at Moshanna, he turned his horse and rode towards the palace, Farrious’ soldiers making a path for him.