The Calling (Book 7 of The Blood & Brotherhood Saga) (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) (18 page)

“So I suppose I will see to my duties as king, but what will you do to occupy your time?”

“Oh, I imagine I can find something to keep me busy.”

“I can’t wait to tell Zorbin that you came back.”

“No!” she replied. “Don’t do that.”

“What? Why not?” Garret questioned, confused.

“Because, love, people will not understand. This is our gift from the gods. People don’t just come back. Besides, look at me. No one will recognize me at all.”

Garret could see the logic in her words. She had been smarter than him from day one so it was no surprise that her intelligence remained.

“Then what do we do? I don’t want to hide you from the world. I want to have you with me where you belong.”

“Me too, but we have to think. We don’t want people causing an issue over this, or worse, thinking you crazy. If no one is going to recognize me, then how about I just pretend I’m not me?” she asked, pulling a lock of auburn hair away from her freckled cheek.

“So just pretend I’ve found a new lover and future queen? And you’ll pretend to meet people you already know?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect. I’ll pick a different name and you can begin to introduce me to everyone and I’ll just pretend to be ignorant.”

“If you think that it’s best, I think it will work,” Garret agreed. “Now I suppose we’ll have to figure out what to call you.”

“I like Anna. I’ve always liked the name and had thought to name a daughter that if ever I had one.”

“Anna it is then.” Garret smiled. The plan was actually really good so long as Linaya could play the part. He personally couldn’t imagine her being ignorant to anything, but nonetheless, it was a way for them to be together without raising any alarm. “So what now?”

“I think you should go about your duties for a week or two. After all, you’re still mourning Linaya. You wouldn’t want to disrespect her by finding a new lover too readily.”

Garret simply nodded. Again she was right. He couldn’t just appear with a new woman as a king to a realm. People would think him flighty or unable to rule on his own. They would wait and introduce her slowly.

“When I do begin to introduce you to people, where will we say I met you? Where will we say you are from? How old are you? There is a lot of questions we might be asked.”

“We’ll say I’m from Traiven and came to Valdadore for protection against the invasion. We can tell people we met upon the wall while defending the city. The rest just leave up to me. I will have a lot of time on my hands these next few weeks and will figure out my whole story.”

“Okay, beautiful. I’m happy you came back.”

“No one is happier than I to be here by your side, my love,” Anna replied.

Garret stood and dressed, peeking over his shoulder regularly to reassure himself she was really there, and to remind himself of her new features. It would take a little while to adjust to the many changes she had undergone, but they had all the time in the world. Climbing back atop the bed he kissed her hard one more time before rising and turning to stride out the door. He couldn’t help but feel good about the day and actually looked forward to seeing Zorbin and Ashton. Nothing could go wrong on such a day. He was truly blessed by the gods.

* * * * *

Zorbin arrived in the throne room of the palace just after sunrise, having spent the entire night on the king’s orders to prepare to send envoys all over the kingdom for the third time in a year. Waiting on Garret to appear, he unbraided and braided his beard back again, trying to remain patient for a friend that had been through a lot and needed his support and guidance. He wondered briefly if the king would even arrive, so lost and distraught was the man of late, though his worries were short-lived.

Striding into the room as if arriving on a magical rainbow that had been injected into his ass, Garret actually appeared happy as he smiled in Zorbin’s direction before plopping himself down upon the throne sideways as if a child. Kicking his legs up over one arm and leaning back over the other, Garret made himself comfortable before turning his attention back to Zorbin.

“How do you fare, Zorbin Ironfist?” Garret asked, oddly jovially.

“I fare very well, my king. Is there something that I should know that happened between yesterday and today?”

“No. Why do you ask?” Garret goaded him.

“You know very well why I ask, Garret. Now out with whatever it is that has made you in a better mood.”

“Don’t get all cranky on me, Zorbin, Can’t you see I’m feeling especially well?”

“Arrgh. Stop toying with me, and tell me what has changed.”

“I’ve come to terms with what I have lost, Zorbin. That is what has changed. I have duties to uphold, and a future to look forward to. Is that not reason enough to smile?”

“I suppose,” Zorbin admitted, feeling that his friend still toyed with him.

“Linaya is gone and I can finally accept it.”

“And your brother?”

“Still a treacherous bastard that needs to be run to ground and slaughtered,” Garret smiled.

“Very well, my king.”

“So, my good friend, tell me just what duties need my attention the most and together we will see to it that these tasks get completed.

Zorbin was at a loss for words. Overnight, seemingly by magic, the king had improved a thousand times over. His mood and demeanor had changed, and now, for the first time in weeks, he was ready to turn his attention back to what mattered. Sure, he still wanted his brother dead, but Zorbin would accept an improvement any way he could get it.

“Aye. There is much we need to do. Although our defenses are being repaired as quickly as possible, there is talk that perhaps we should incorporate upgrades as well.”

“Sounds good. Tell the masons to go ahead.”

“Okay,” Zorbin said, thinking it too easy.

“Those put in charge of demolishing the burned buildings within the city and hauling away the remains are asking for the use of imperial steeds to pull their carts and wagons.”

“See it done. What else?” Garret said, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

“The unicorns have escaped their pen again and we fear they may be abducted by leprechauns.”

“I’m not ignoring you, Zorbin. Can we get back to real business?”

“I… Um… As you wish my king.” Zorbin was impressed. Garret was back, sense of humor and all. Things were finally looking up for the kingdom.

Turning his attention back to the king and putting on a serious face, Zorbin was caught by surprise for the second time that morning when the large doors to the throne room were thrown wide, admitting Ashton followed by a small contingent of soldiers and white robed healers.

“Ashton, it is good to see you this morning,” Garret greeted.

“It is good to see you as well, my king. And better to see your mood improved.”

“Thank you, Ashton. Zorbin and I were just sorting out some details regarding the repairs of Valdadore.”

“That is most important, my king. Would you prefer we come back at a later time?” Ashton asked, his shoulders slumping and head falling as if his pride were suddenly injured.

“Of course not, old friend. Let’s see what you have brought with you this glorious morning.”

Zorbin watched as Ashton approached, waving for those who accompanied him to stay behind. The man was false. Something in his demeanor, in his voice, set Zorbin’s hair on edge. Although he had no reason to, he hated the man.

“I have done as you wished, Garret. I have put our resources to the task and have brought you the results thereof.”

“In the form of a large blanket that thrashes around?” Garret smiled.

“Not exactly,” Ashton said with a grin that made Zorbin want to feed him his own teeth.

Watching as Ashton waved his hand like some street performer, those who accompanied the healer pulled the great swathe of fabric aside to reveal something wholly hideous in its nature and sickening to behold. There, upon a contraption of crudely formed steel and cable, stood stretched the childlike form of one of the pups that just yesterday they had brought to the city to protect and raise. Here, now, one was chained into some sort of machine against its will, and pulled in all directions by cables locked and strapped to its appendages. It was inhumane to say the least, akin to torture, and here the boy stood with a sickening grin on his face.

Before Zorbin even knew what he was doing, his fist smashed into the mouth of the young healer who reeled back spewing blood and teeth, screaming through his gurgles something intelligible. With a concussive boom, the king exploded from his throne, coming to stand between the dwarf and healer, reaching out to clutch the both of them.

“What is the meaning of this, Zorbin?” Garret demanded.

“What do you mean, my king? Look what this twisted deviant has done to those you have sworn to protect!”

“He has done no more than I have ordered,” Garret said, a firm tone in his voice. “If we are to utilize these beasts, we need them ready to fight. I have charged Ashton with getting them ready.”

“So you allow him to resort to torture?” Zorbin demanded.

“I allow him to do his duty as he sees fit, just as I allow you to do yours.”

Zorbin didn’t dare press further. It was obvious he was getting nowhere. The king’s mind was made up already.

Lowering his head and raising his hands, Zorbin stepped back from the confrontation.

“Apologies, my king. I would have thought you appalled at such an abuse of innocent life.”

“I would be, were it innocent,” Garret reassured him. “Now, Ashton. If I may apologize for Zorbin, can you repair your wounds and explain to me exactly what I’m looking at?”

Zorbin watched the healer nod, opening his mouth to respond as a crimson torrent spewed from his lips staining his pearly white gown. It served the twisted bastard right and Zorbin thought it would be fun to let the healer replace his teeth just to walk up and bash them down his throat once more. Instead, he simply stood his ground to hear what filth escaped the healer’s mouth. It took little time for the robed man to repair the damage to himself and when he did, instead of turning to the king, Ashton turned to face Zorbin.

“My apologies if this offends your weak constitution,” Ashton said with a mocking smile. “I know it was not your intent to offend the king and myself. I forgive you this offence, Zorbin Ironfist.”

Zorbin couldn’t even make himself nod in acknowledgement. Instead, he simply looked on in silence, hoping the wolf child would break free from his bindings and eat the white robed moron where he stood.

“Now, my king. Let me explain what it is we have done. As is evident, I was correct and my colleague is able to increase the speed at which they age, though she is limited. It took all of her ability yesterday to get this specimen to this point, though I expect with daily use, she will grow stronger. There are some issues, however, that such rapid aging will cause to arise.”

“And those are?” Garret asked, looking on intently.

“They don’t learn. A child learns as they grow, but in this process we are basically creating soldiers with the minds of infants. Of course it also means they don’t know how to walk, fight, or anything else really.”

“So they don’t know about fear or death?” Garret asked.

“No. Like any baby or even young child, they are likely to walk into fire if left unattended.”

“Could we not use this lack of fear to our advantage?”

“I suppose we could, if trained properly,” Aston concluded, making Zorbin want to spit at something.

“And what of this contraption?” Garret asked.

“As you see, its legs can touch the ground, allowing it to move the thing about the room in an effort to teach it to walk like a man. The cables are attached to its limbs on one end and guided through pulleys to here,” Ashton said, pointing at the creature’s back. “Then this opposite end is attached to a weight, helping the creature to grow strong and increase coordination.”

“And that above its head?” Garret asked.

“By specific movements such as jumping, walking or swinging its arms in an arc-like motion, the pendulum here triggers the arm to slowly lower. When it reaches the beast’s face, it is rewarded with food.”

“So it is encouraged to move and grow stronger simply by feeding it?”

“Precisely, my king.”

“It is brilliant, Ashton. I want you and your colleagues to continue as fast as you are able. Is this as big as they will get?”

“No, it is about half way to adulthood. We expect they will be about the size of average men with longer appendages and a wider chest of course.”

“Good. See that it is done and enough of these things built to properly develop their muscles and such. You have done very well.”

Zorbin couldn’t believe his eyes or ears. Perhaps the king was not restored. His mood was improved, that much was obvious, but he had been changed by recent events. The old Garret would have never subscribed to such evils. Somehow his perception of right and wrong had been altered. Zorbin could only hope that he would see the error of his ways just as he had somehow miraculously recovered from the loss of Linaya. It was said that time could heal all wounds. All Zorbin could hope was that this new change was a wound that was not yet healed.

* * * * *

Anna climbed from the bed and traipsed down the hall devoid of all of her clothing. It was nice to be out in the open air again. Spending weeks in the crypts listening to the king’s pathetic version of insanity had almost been too much. The fact that her plan was actually working was amazing. She had thought it might, but never had she imagined his mind so far gone that he would just accept whatever she told him as the truth. It was too easy. Now all she needed to do was gain some more strength. She had been feeding for months, growing her power with every victim, though she wasn’t stupid about it. Never did she leave a victim behind that would rise again within the city, though had done so in months past, though only far from Valdadore. Those subjects of her creation fed her a steady stream of power, though not stupidly so. She had taught them not to leave others of their kind behind. Instead she fed just as she had trained her progeny, drinking in the blood and power of her victims, before ripping out their hearts. The only difference being during the battle for Valdadore. There, she had been able to feed at will without fear of being discovered, with the princess and prince raising whole armies of her kind and all. Who was to notice? Now it was back to being careful once again. Soon, she would be able to abide the light of the sun, but not quite yet. Until that time, she needed only keep the king at bay and feed until her power increased.