The Hordes of Chanakra (Knights of Aerioch) (14 page)

"Find a what?"

"A place of power," Shillond said. "Such places increase magical power, an effect similar to that provided by firestones only linked to a place rather than an object."

Shillond paused for a moment, then continued, "When events at a place have a strong tie to the realm of demons, whether for good or ill, a bridge exists at that spot.  The bridge allows magicians to more easily draw power to work magic."

"If you say so," Kreg said. "Is there any real chance of finding one?"

"Some," Shillond said. "Many great events have occurred in Schah's distant past.  Such things tend to form places of power.  Strangely enough, Schah has never produced wizards so they remain untapped.  Or did"

"What do we need to find one of those places of power?"

"Good fortune."

"And if we're not lucky?"

Shillond shrugged. "Then we walk the rest of the way and it takes months and the war may long be over before we return to Aerioch."

Kreg thought for a moment. "What can we do to increase the odds?  Can we choose a route that will take us near likely sites?"

"An excellent idea," Shillond said.

"Yeah," Kreg said. "So how come every time I get a good idea, my head hurts?"

"Are you?..." Shillond reached for him.

Kreg brushed Shillond's questing hand aside. "No, it's just a headache.  All considered I'm lucky not to have worse.  You were saying?"

Shillond picked up a twig and began to sketch in the dirt. "There are three likely sites near the direct route between here and Aerioch."

He pointed at a spot on the rough map. "We are here.  The first is about a day's march away.  A holy man died there, martyred many years ago."

He pointed further up the map. "A great battle was fought here.  Ordinary battles rarely create places of power and then only weak ones but it's still worth checking."

Finally he pointed at the jagged lines representing the Topaz hills, the easternmost extension of the Amber Mountains. "Somewhere in here another battle was fought.  This one, however, involved an army of holy men and wizards against an army of the demonically possessed.  Of the three it is our most likely site."

"Good enough," Kreg said.  He nodded toward the cave mouth. "How's Kaila?"

"She will probably sleep the rest of the day," Shillond said. "The aftereffects of the compulsion will leave her weak for a while.  To the good, she is young and healthy and will recover quickly.

"I'm glad," Kreg put all the relief he felt into his voice. "We'll need her."

"We'll leave at nightfall," Shillond said. "We should use the time between now and then to gather what provisions we can."

Kreg nodded.  They had a long journey ahead of them.

#

Toward evening Kaila started to moan, then to toss and turn.

"Shillond, no!" she shouted and sprang to her feet, coming upright in a low crouch but still nearly cracking her head on the cave ceiling.

"Kaila?" Shillond hastened to her side. "Are you well?"

"Had a dream," she said, "wherein I strove to cause great harm to you and Kreg."

"You were under a compulsion," Shillond's face was grave, "only broken last evening."

"Speak you sooth?" Kaila's face twisted as she tried to remember. "Aye.  It begins to come clear.  I... " Her scowl deepened. "Shillond, it was not you I was meant to slay."

Shillond nodded. "I'd wondered about that.  Why set up such an elaborate scheme when they already had me in their power?"

"Maybe backup against escape," Kreg said. "After all, we were on our way out when Kaila showed up."

"Kreg, do you believe for one instant we would have gotten out of that dungeon alive if that had not been their intent?"

Kreg bit back a retort.  The poor fastening of his chains, the lack of guards during their escape, these were nearly irrelevant next to Kaila showing up with keys and their weapons but were all part of a pattern.  A moment later, he said, "Not really, no."

"So?" Shillond turned back to Kaila.

"I was--" She hugged herself, looking for a moment like a frightened child.  Kreg found himself wanting to put his arms around her, to comfort her, and to protect her.  He knew how silly the idea was.  Anything that frightened Kaila would not even slow down for him. "I was to kill the King!" She let her arms drop to her sides. "My mind was not my own.  I fought, but could not break free." She licked her lips. "I strove...I strove to warn you, to act such that you would know and would stop me.  I tried..."

"Easy, Kaila." Shillond reached out to take her hand, guiding her to sit on the floor. "I know you tried.  You succeeded too."

"Aye." Kaila stared at the floor between her knees. "But once I believed, once I knew I had succeeded, then the power that controlled my acts also knew.  Having failed to send me to slay the King, it sought instead to slay you."

Shillond laughed softly. "And failed in that too.  It seems the Chanakran might have put a more competent compulsion on you."

Shillond's wit seemed thin to Kreg but Kaila smiled at the sally. "I remember naught else until awakening to find Kreg imperiled.  I entered the contest and we twain did turn the tide."

"And it couldn't have happened at a better time too."  Kreg handed her a stick on which he had spitted half a rabbit and some tubers. "Better eat.  We'll be leaving shortly.  We're going home."

He saw hope and longing brighten her eyes, as quickly suppressed. "But we have a mission.  As knight I am sworn to die before leaving such unfinished."

"We have finished," Shillond said. "I have solved the riddle."

"Then the war is won?" Kaila clasped her hands in front of her so quickly the movement was almost a clap.

The amused twinkle was back in Shillond's eyes. "Not just yet, but we have done all we can here.  Now, eat so we can leave."

Kaila ate with hearty appetite, her ordeal under the compulsion apparently forgotten.

"I've managed to recover six of my arrows after last night's fight," Kreg said. "These, plus Kaila's twenty are all we have.  Then there are our swords and Shillond's magic.  I think we'll get to the battle lines and from there back to Norveth."

"Bah!" Kaila tossed her head at the thought. "Fear not for us.  Fear rather for whatever evil may dare to face us."

Their packs were gone.  Shillond had made pouches from the remains of their cloaks, which Kreg filled with the provisions they had been able to forage.  These they fastened to their belts.  Kreg and Kaila divided their remaining arrows between them.  Kaila took one from her quiver and handed it to Kreg.

"What's this for?"

"'Tis the height of misfortune to begin a journey with thirteen of anything for after the twelve Gods and Goddesses, there is Baaltor whose number is thirteen."

Kreg started to shake his head at the superstition, then caught himself.  Considering all he had seen he realized that here, what he thought of as superstitions could be anything but.  He took the arrow and tucked it into his quiver.  Somehow, he felt an unseen weight lifting.

CHAPTER EIGHT

One of the moons peeked over the horizon as Kreg, Shillond, and Kaila began their journey.  In the dim light the land around them appeared even more desolate than it had by day.  Stands of scrub brush, dyed gray-black by the moonlight, dotted the broken terrain and cast waving shadows that either hid ankle-catching holes or pretended to be hollows.

Kaila stopped and pointed at an angle to their path. "We must go this way."

"Kaila?" Shillond said.

Kaila rubbed her forehead with the heel of her right hand. "It is hard to remember.  They said that it would take time, much time, were we to walk back to Aerioch, nor could the three of us take ship.  The wizard, he laughed and said that all was well, that I would guide you and that you would take us to the king.  He spoke as if it would be a swift journey.  I do not understand."

Shillond looked at Kreg. "I believe I do."

"One of those places of power you mentioned?" Kreg said.

Shillond nodded. "It seems we need not search for one after all."

"It could be a trap."

"Could be?" Shillond said. "It almost certainly is.  The compulsion is broken, but traces will linger for a time."

"What is this talk of a place of power?" Kaila said. "I have heard you speak of such things before, but I know not how it may bear on our current plight."

Softly, Shillond told her about how he could use a place of power to return to his workshop in Norveth.

"So we have a choice," Shillond said at last, "we may go where we know there is a place of power, but which may also be a trap, or we may continue as we were and hope we can find another place of power.  Kaila?  How say you?"

"I am tired, Father," Kaila said, "not of the body but tired nonetheless.  I would be home by the swiftest route.  But the wizard has walked through my head with armored boots and I trust not my own judgment."

"Kreg?"

"If it's important we get back with news of where these changeling armies come from, then I think we have no choice," Kreg said. "We'll just have to make sure that if it is a trap, we don't get caught in it."

#

The first hint of pre-dawn was just graying the eastern horizon when Shillond raised his hand to signal a halt.  They had been paralleling Kaila's directions, avoiding the most direct path, but not straying too far from it either.  Shillond hoped that this would let them avoid any traps set to catch them on the way to the place of power.

"We are close," Shillond breathed almost inaudibly when Kreg and Kaila had huddled close and crouched low in the shadows of a hill. "The place of power is just ahead."

"One of us should take a look," Kreg whispered, just as softly.

"I wi..." Kaila's voice, at its normal volume, rang for that instant and Shillond held up a warding hand.

"I will go," Kaila said more softly.

"I think not," Shillond said, "no one doubts either your courage or your strength, but neither will aid us in this, I think.  This task will rely more on guile.  I will go."

"I think I should be the one to go," Kreg said. "It's not that I'm any good at sneaking around, but if I get caught, you two still have a chance to escape and get back to Aerioch."

"You are noble, Kreg, but I think unwise," Shillond said. "My magic can conceal me better if I am alone."

Kreg shook his head. "Shillond, you are the one of us that absolutely has to get back to Aerioch.  We can't risk you."

"Then I should be the one to go," Kaila said, "for despite my father's lack of faith in his own daughter, many are the times I have served as scout for the King's armies."

"Are we going to stand here arguing until they come find us?" Kreg said. "Kaila, if only one of us has to return to Norveth, I think the King will find you of greater use than me."

Kaila paused for a long moment then sighed. "Aye.  It pains me to say it, but aye."

"Then it's settled," Kreg said. "I go."

Shillond nodded.  After a long pause, Kaila nodded as well.

"Move slowly," Kaila told Kreg. "Pause before setting foot to the ground to feel for and avoid any branches that might break and make a sound.  Hold in the shadow as much as possible and crouch low to the ground.  Have especial care crossing ridges where your shape can reveal you.  Patience and care will see you through.  Haste will reveal you."

"I understand," Kreg said.

Kaila placed a hand on his shoulder. "We shall conceal ourselves in yonder hollow. If you are unable to return before break of day, find a place to conceal yourself and return after nightfall." She squeezed his shoulder and let her hand drop to her side. "Take no chances, my friend.  Return to us safely."

"Do my best," Kreg said.

#

Despite the chill in the pre-dawn air, Kreg was sweating by the time he returned to the small hollow where Kaila and Shillond had concealed themselves.  They had crawled into a clump of bushes and cut several heavy boughs from the inside.  Those boughs they had then propped from inside to make the clump appear denser than it was.

"Just over the ridge, there is a patch of stony ground," Kreg said once they had replaced the concealing boughs. "I thought it was unguarded at first, but then I saw a man crouching in the shadow of a large stone.  He was well hidden by his cloak in the shadow.  With that as a clue, I was able to see six more.  I can't guarantee that I saw everyone.  I did not see the wizard."

"He has to be here somewhere," Shillond said. "Since they expect me to be here, there has to be a wizard to defend against my magic."

"How long will it take to use your spell of apportation when we're there?"

"I merely need to speak the spell, a mere four words."

"Then our course is simple," Kaila said. "We strike swiftly, slay any in our way, and come to the place where you can cast your spell."

"And arrive back in Aerioch filled with arrows, Kaila?" Shillond shook his head. "Once again, I think guile is what we will need."

Kreg rubbed at his chin. "'When the enemy comes, welcome him.  When he goes, send him on his way'."

"What strange council is this?" Kaila asked.

"It is an expression in the Way of Yielding,'" Kreg said. "They want to find us.  So let's let them find us.  Shillond, can your magic make me look like you, at least from a distance?"

"That is simple enough."

"Then here's what I have in mind."

#

Kreg found it odd to look up at Kaila.  Shillond had sworn that his spell only affected appearance, leaving Kreg's true size and shape unchanged, but something about it changed his perspective as well.  It was as if he were truly Shillond's height.  It had taken him some time to adjust to the different perspective, to be able to walk and run without stumbling, and his plan required that he be able to run.

Neither the spell nor adjusting to the different perspective had been the most difficult part of their preparations, however.  The most difficult part had been convincing Kaila to turn and run from an enemy when the time came.

The Schahi had no horses here.  Kreg's plan relied on that.  Kreg had seen no horses when he scouted the area and horses would be hard to hide in this terrain.  If they had them--and they probably did--they were not ready to hand.  Men wearing armor but without horses they could immediately mount--that was the key.  Neither Kreg nor Kaila wore armor and they had left their weapons with Shillond--another point on which Kaila had required considerable convincing.

Kreg and Kaila darted from shadow to shadow in the light of the smaller of the two moons.  When they came within sight of the place Kreg had seen a man hiding the night before, he paused and peered intently into the shadow.  He could just see the outline of a man, whether the same or another, hiding within it.  He avoided looking toward the small hilltop from which he had surveyed the scene the night before.  Shillond would have reached the spot or he would not.  Either way Kreg could not wait any more.

Crouching in his own shadow, Kreg moved forward just enough so that moonlight fell on his side and arm.  He pointed at the man in the rock's shadow.

Ahead of him, the man stood up.  Kreg sprang to his feet and waved his arm, as if throwing something at the man.

The man screamed and erupted in flame.

Kreg started forward but other men stepped from their own places of concealment.  Kreg made another throwing gesture but this time only a faint glow appeared around the target.

"It's a trap!" Kreg called to Kaila. "Run!"

Kaila hesitated.

"Run!" Kreg said again, and set action to words.

They ran.  Kreg glanced over his shoulder to see other men pursuing them.  Now he only had to make sure that the wizard was among those pursuing.

At the last point where Kreg knew he was still visible from the hilltop, he turned and once more made the throwing gesture and once more his target was faintly and for an instant limned in a dim glow.

Unencumbered, Kreg and Kaila soon outdistanced their pursuers.  It would not be long before mounted men would come to join the search, but they had bought themselves a little time.

They doubled back and joined Shillond at the top of the hill.  The plan had worked better than they had hoped.  No one had remained in the valley below.  The first spell had apparently convinced all the men, whether true men or demon changelings, to remain with the protection of the wizard.

"They will return soon," Shillond said. "We must make haste."

Kreg and Kaila followed Shillond down the hillside.

"Come close," Shillond said when they had reached the valley. "Join hands with me while I cast the spell."

When they had complied, Shillond spoke in a voice too low for Kreg to understand.  He felt a sharp wrenching, like being turned inside out, although not an unpleasant feeling at all.  A heartbeat later the three of them stood in Shillond's workshop.

Kreg sagged with relief. "Can the wizard follow us?"

"My workroom is shielded.  Only I, and those I bring with me, may enter it this way."

The workshop was unnaturally quiet.  No sound at all pierced its walls or the single door from the city outside.  Small windows, set high in the walls, illuminated the shop.  Shelves filled with books and scrolls lined the walls while scattered tables held jars, bowls, flasks and other apparatus.

“We had best see to the city,” Kaila said.

#

Kreg drew a deep breath and nodded.  At Shillond’s gesture, he opened the room’s door.

Kreg stepped from the workshop into chaos.  On the street, men and women ran to and fro, screaming.  In the west he could see the glow of burning buildings, reflected from clouds of black smoke that billowed up to nearly blot out the sky.

To Kreg's left Kaila grabbed one of the fleeing figures. "What befalls?"

"A krayt," the man squeaked. "It destroys the town."

Kaila released him and turned to Kreg. "Come, Kreg.  Rest must wait.  There is work we must be about." She turned back to face in the door. "Father, 'twould be best an' you remain here.  The spells you would need to slay such a beast would destroy all of Norveth."

"I'm afraid you're right, Kaila," Shillond said. "Yet even the destruction of Norveth is less important than finding the answer to the changeling spell."

"Let's go," Kreg said. "Who knows how many people are dying while we're standing here talking?"

Kaila plowed her way through the fleeing, panicky crowd with Kreg following in her wake.  They did not need long to reach the source of the pandemonium.  A long, serpentine reptile crawled through the streets of Norveth.  Huge wings flapped on the back of the creature, fanning to furious heat the holocaust that raged about it.

The beast was more than forty feet long.  When it reared back, its head stretched a full fifteen feet above the stone roadway.  Large gray scales covered most of the krayt's body.  The underparts were yellow-white.  Smaller scales covered the legs, neck, and tail.  Its translucent wings gleamed redly in the glow of firelight.  Kreg's attention focused on the beast's six-inch teeth and foot long claws.  As Kreg watched, it blew a stream of fire from its mouth and another building exploded into flame.

"A dragon!" Kreg hauled up short, just in time to avoid running into Kaila.

"Nay," Kaila said over her shoulder. "True dragons are found only far to the east.  Yon beast is not intelligent and cannot fly.  Its wings allow it to run faster than the swiftest courser for all its bulk."

"I don't think it matters all that much right now," Kreg said. "What do we do now?"

"While I draw yon beast's attention," Kaila drew her sword, "dart you in from behind and smite back of the head.  The scales are weaker there and mayhap you can thus slay it.  If that fail, remain on the one side, while I bide on the other.  The krayt is a stupid beast and we may thus keep it confused and may yet prevail."

Kreg shook his head. "Just backwards, Kaila.  I'll draw his attention and you lop off the head.  You're stronger and better with the sword and I'm more expendable."

"I grant you the first two, but not the third." Kaila considered for a moment, a short moment. "Aye.  We will do as you say."