Darius was rested, as ready as he’d ever be to face Klavon. Prydon had made sure of that, insisting that they rest adequately each night. He had also eaten well. Prydon was quite competent in his selection and preparation of food. Both contributed to Darius’s strength after his time in the Valley of Wizards.
His emotional state was also stronger. Prydon’s companionship and support over the past days helped Darius come to terms with what transpired in the valley, and with that acceptance came a resigned confidence.
“So, how do we approach?” asked Darius.
The question was one they discussed many times as they traveled, but a definite answer eluded them. The thought of flight was mentioned, but again, the element of surprise would be lost. The only option they devised was for Darius to hike the hillside alone. Prydon would attract too much attention. Once the battle began, Prydon would join him, taking on the astaroth, Fraenir.
But they still had no idea how to maximize their element of surprise. When Darius reached the castle, he would need to enter undetected. But how?
“I know a secret path into the castle,” whispered a voice from behind them.
Darius started, and Prydon glared at a young woman who stood only feet away.
Sira grinned. “You see, I have been sneaking in there for years.”
“Sira,” stated Prydon.
Sira’s mouth fell open in a surprised grin. “You know of me? I’m surprised. Did he tell you that I saved his life?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, but—”
“Oh, really?” Sira turned to Prydon and folded her arms. “He was trying to get through a trap set by Klavon, and I saved him. He would have been pounded into the ground if I hadn’t shown up.”
“I saw it,” said Prydon.
“You saw it? So you know I saved his life. And I would have saved him again when the thieves attacked but you showed up.” She loosened her arms and looked at Darius. “So why’d you leave?”
Prydon stared at her, his eyes narrowing. “What business do you have here?”
“No business. Just thought I’d help…again. I know he’s here to fight Klavon, and I want to help.”
“Help?” asked Darius. “Why?”
“Same reason as before.” Sira sat on a rock and crossed her legs. “Look. Klavon is no favorite of mine. I’ve been trying to find a way to help my people for ages. When you showed up, I figured…I help you…you help me…and then you left. Oh, and may I add that you don’t seem such the bumbling idiot as before.”
“I’m not,” said Darius flatly.
“Then let me help you help me. It’s that simple.”
“And why would you know a secret path into the castle?” asked Prydon suspiciously.
“My family needs food. Have you seen the weather here? Yes, we get rain, but the sun rarely shows its face. Things don’t grow well in the dark.”
Darius, in sincere confusion, asked. “Why would Klavon, if he’s so powerful, have a secret path into his castle?”
“You really don’t get sorcerers, do you? They’re all so suspicious. He built several hidden paths in the mountains so, should he ever be attacked—and by attacked I mean by many wizards at once—he could make his escape. You know, the whole wizard thing about live to fight another day and all.” Sira casually pushed a few strands of hair from her face.
“Really?” asked Darius, his hopes raised by the prospect of a hidden path.
Prydon interrupted and asked, “May I speak with you, in private?”
“That’s fine,” said Sira. “I’ll just be over here.” She hopped off the rock and walked several yards away to a thick log and sat once again.
When Sira was adequately out of earshot, Prydon spoke. “I don’t trust her, Darius.”
“Why? She’s only helped.”
“Or she’s trying to trick you,” said Prydon. “She may have actually come to you in Alara’s village, as we discussed before.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” said Darius.
“Why not?”
“Because she hasn’t mentioned it at all, which she would have. ‘Yay, you showed up to help me after all!’ or something like that. Besides, what alternative do I have?” asked Darius.
“If she is working with Klavon, then this could be a trap,” said Prydon, shaking his head.
“Well, if she was working with Klavon, then that means he already knows we are here and would have already attacked, right?” asked Darius.
Prydon appeared less than convinced. “Perhaps.”
“Look. We’ve already spoken about the potential for detection as I climb this mountain, not to mention how difficult it would be as I attempt to approach the castle once I get up there. This way, I’m certain not to be discovered ahead of time.”
“And if it is a trap?” asked Prydon.
Darius stared up at the castle above. “I really don’t see any other choice. I have to trust her.”
“Are you sure your judgment isn’t being clouded by her beauty?” asked Prydon.
Darius’s eyes widened at the blunt statement. “Uh…no…of course not.”
Prydon raised a brow.
“I mean she’s pretty and all, but…don’t you think I’ve learned anything in this time? This is too important to let something as ridiculous as beauty interfere.”
Prydon remained silent.
“I just can’t see it as a trap. Why would she have helped me before? Klavon could have easily disposed of me when I first came here. You, more than anyone, are aware of that. If she were in league with him, why would she have saved me?”
“Klavon is not always easily understood. I have no answer for that, but if you are determined, I do recommend caution.”
“Wait,” said Darius, and then he spoke out to Sira. “Sira, do you even know my name?”
“Well, of course I do,” she said. “It’s…it’s…You know. Maybe I don’t…weird, huh? So what is it?”
Darius turned back to Prydon. “In my dream, she knew my name. She had heard you say it during the battle.”
“Has it not occurred to you that she could be lying to you?” asked Prydon.
Darius shook his head. “Perhaps, but as I said, I don’t have a choice, and I’ll be careful. You just be ready when the battle begins.”
Prydon glanced at the girl. She sat, twirling her white hair with her fingers and staring off into the distance.
“When it begins?” Prydon asked. “No. I’ll come with you.”
“All right, Sira. We’re ready to go.”
“Great. This way—um…”
Darius paused, not sure of why she was hesitating. Then it struck him. “Oh, Darius,” he said, seeing no reason to keep his name from her any longer.
“Nice name,” she said and walked away.
Darius and Prydon followed Sira a short distance until they reached a small cave in the side of the mountain. It was bordered by bushes and a thick outcropping of rock and vines—it would have been impossible to see if they had not known it was there.
“Think you could help out here?” Sira picked up two small torches and held them out to Prydon.
“You always carry around torches?” asked Darius.
Sira raised an eyebrow, and her lips tilted as she rolled her eyes. “I told you,” she said, motioning a small pile of torches stashed off to one side of the opening, “I sneak up there from time to time, and—unlike others I have met—I am always prepared.” She looked back at Prydon.
Prydon obliged, and with a short burst of flames, the torches lit.
“Thanks,” she said and disappeared behind the small opening.
Darius could see the glow from inside and followed. Prydon stayed close behind, and as they progressed, it became suddenly apparent that Prydon was at a disadvantage for space.
When the path became even smaller, Sira stopped. “I’m afraid your friend will have to wait here.”
Darius looked at Prydon. “Same as before. I’ll signal you.”
; “I don’t like this, Darius,” said Prydon.
Darius looked at the tight path. “Me neither, but it’s the best option we have.”
Prydon lowered his head until it was very close to Darius’s face. “I encourage you to reconsider.”
“I’ll watch out for him,” added Sira. “I promise. He’ll be fine.”
Prydon shot an icy glare at Sira, and Darius smiled softly.
“Prydon, I’ll be fine. I’m not so foolish as I was before. Trust me.”
“I do trust you.” Prydon stressed his reference to Darius as he continued to glare at Sira.
“Well, that’s not very kind of you,” she snapped. “I’m only trying to help. And even though I have my own selfish intentions here, it’s in his best interest, too.”
“I’ll be fine.” Darius touched Prydon’s face and smiled again.
Prydon turned his eyes to Darius. “Be wary. Be alert. I will wait as we have already discussed.”
Darius nodded and smiled. With a last glance backwards, he vanished from his friend’s site.
The path wound about this way and that. When they reached a fork, Sira headed toward the right. Darius picked up a rock and discreetly scratched a small arrow into the cave. He didn’t know why, but it seemed the thing to do. Each time they came to a fork, he did the same.
“Why?” he thought to himself, but he brushed it off to nerves and Prydon’s words of caution.
When light shown at the end of their path, Darius emerged behind the castle in a small clearing, sheltered from view by massive trees.
“We’re here,” said Sira.
A rustling sound in some nearby bushes caused Darius to draw his sword.
“Don’t worry about that,” snickered Sira. “It’s just my…pet.”
A massive creature jumped from the bushes—a cat! It lunged, knocking Darius’s sword from his hands. Before Darius could get to his feet, a silken net was thrown over him, and all his energy was sapped.
Sira laughed. “You are way too trusting, you know. Prydon is much wiser than you. Good thing he couldn’t fit in our tunnel. Of course, we planned it that way all along.” The beast, a catlike creature, sauntered up and purred as it rubbed against her.
Darius’s initial shock dissipated. “What are you doing? And why?”
“Isn’t it apparent?” she smiled. “You really aren’t that bright are you. But my master does require your presence.”
“No!” Darius yelled, but the net pulsed as he attempted to move. It was as if the net drained him, leaving him with no energy, no strength, and soon no will. His mind began to fill with a foggy haze, and he fainted.
When he awoke, he was strapped to a table, turned up on end so he was in a standing position. The cold around him was accented by the room of heavy stone. A rat scurried along the edge of one wall and vanished into a small crack at the base. Water dripped along another wall and pooled in a sunken ledge before overrunning into a grate in the floor.
Darius’s weapons were gone—no surprise there. His muscles ached. There was no way to determine how long he’d been bound, but he was sure Prydon would be suspect at this point. He tried to speak a few words to release his bindings, but his lips seemed to be as bound as his hands. He slowed his breathing and closed his eyes. Thinking the words should do it.
He concentrated; the leather straps did not budge.
“Don’t bother, my son. No magic can be used in this room.” The sorcerer appeared from a dark corner and walked to a small table. He poured a glass of what appeared to be water. “Yes, your assumption is correct. I am Klavon.” Klavon leaned casually against the table and took a sip from the glass. “So here’s the deal. I want to talk to you. That’s all, talk. So I’m going to give you a serum that will release your vocal cords. But,” he emphasized, “you must behave yourself. Is that understood?”
Darius clenched his teeth and scowled at Klavon.
“You don’t trust me? Now why would that be? Fine. I’ll show you that the serum is not toxic. I have no desire to kill you.” Klavon picked up a vial of blue liquid from the table and took a sip, opening his mouth so that Darius could see the substance on his tongue. “See. Nothing. So, do we have a deal? You will behave?”
Darius had no intention of behaving nor did he trust Klavon. He answered by tightening his lips.
“Really, now. You wouldn’t want me to force it upon you, would you? And I can assume you will not behave. So what to do?” Klavon paced back and forth in front of Darius, all the while starring at him with one brow raised and a humorous twist on his lips. “You leave me no choice. Yes, I will probably regret this, but we must talk.”
Klavon approached Darius and grabbed his jaw, squeezing the back with pressure Darius could not fight. His lips parted only enough for Klavon to force the contents of the vial into his mouth. Darius spat, blowing a blue slime across Klavon’s face, and Klavon responded with a backhand across Darius’s cheek.
Darius grinned as Klavon backed away, wiping the mixture from his skin with the cuff of his robe. His eyes blazed with a fire that reminded Darius of the crimson rain that fell when the book was lost, but Darius remained defiant, and as his vocal cords loosened, he laughed out loud.
“You son of a…. No! I will not say such things of your mother.” Klavon stormed out of the room, leaving Darius hanging with only the company of the rat.
Laughter had worked; he cleared his throat and tried to speak. His voice returned, sure enough, but he had no idea how long it would take the blue liquid to kill him.
The door squeaked open, and Sira entered.
“You really are an idiot, you know,” she said, tossing her white hair over her shoulder.
Her pet was at her side, and she stroked its head.
“So how long until I die?” Darius asked, spitting the words at her much as he had the contents of the vial at Klavon.
“Die? You’re not going to die. As much as you’d like to believe, my master has no desire to kill you,” she said.
“Really? Then what does he want?” Darius asked.
“He wants only to talk to you.”
Darius rolled his eyes. “So he destroys Brandor only with the intention of talking to me? Couldn’t he have chosen a less destructive way to accomplish that?”
“Now, Darius, you do epitomize idiocy. Honestly, I can’t see what he sees in you. Nevertheless, would you have willingly come to talk to him?”
Darius returned to clenching his jaws.
“I thought not. Now, be a good boy and let my master speak to you. All right?”
Darius tried to freeze her with an icy stare. It didn’t work.
“That’s a good boy.” Sira walked over and patted Darius on his head.
He snapped at her hand, and her pet lunged and growled, his bare teeth a little too close to Darius’s mid-section, and Darius tried to flatten himself against the wood behind his back.
Sira laughed. “Maybe it’s the spunk. But he will have to do something about your stupidity. One so senseless will not survive in his realm—favor or not.”
Darius closed his mouth. Speaking to her was of no use. It never was, and he wondered why he’d ever trusted her. Funny. She didn’t seem as beautiful.
The door shut behind Sira, and Darius was once again left alone.
It was hours before Klavon returned. His expression again housed that initial arrogance Darius observed when they’d first met, but before Darius would allow Klavon to become comfortable with his advantage, he spoke.
“Your face looked better with a shade of blue. So what do you want?” Darius asked.
Klavon ignored Darius’s attempt and poured himself another glass of what Darius no long assumed was water. “Remember the battle you experienced, against a young sorcerer?”
Darius’s eye shot wide. So he and Prydon had been correct. He quickly regained control of his expressions, but Klavon grinned. He knew that Darius understood.
“My boy, that was a test. I wanted to give you the
chance to show me your abilities, to first determine your worth to me. And I must say you performed quite well.”
“So one of your servants attacked that village just to lure me there.”
Klavon laughed. “Not one of my servants. That was me—a younger and somewhat altered me, but me nonetheless. And your intentions have always been to come here. No, it was no lure. It was, as I said, a test.”
“But I defeated him,” said Darius.
“No. He…I left willingly,” stated Klavon.
“Willingly? No, you couldn’t defeat me! So now you are going to finish what you couldn’t do there? I guess you want to murder me just like you did my father!” Darius could feel heat in the tips of his ears.
“Your father?” responded Klavon coldly, his face remaining controlled. “I did not murder your father.”
“I saw it! You can not lie to me!” Flashes of his father death filled his mind, and the expression on Klavon’s face when he impaled Thyre was as clear as if a thick fog had lifted from his eyes.
“Well, I must admit that I am responsible for your father’s death, but it was in self-defense. It was he or I. A sad reality really, but reality nonetheless.”
“Self-defense? You call an all out invasion of his village self-defense?”
“Let’s not get caught up in semantics.” Klavon waved his hand as if brushing away the topic of discussion. “Now down to my reason for detaining you. I want you to join me here, you and your mother.”
Darius stared at Klavon, and for a moment he was completely speechless. “Are you insane?” He shook his head, and as Klavon’s words finally sunk in, he added. “You are completely crazy, you know.” Darius was almost on the brink of bursting into uncontrollable laughter at the idea.
“No. I am quite serious. You see, your mother and I—”
Darius screamed, “Never, and I mean never, include my mother in any conjunction with you!”
Klavon smiled. “You can deny the truth if you wish, but it does not change the fact that your mother and I have a history together, a very…intimate history.”
Darius wrenched at his bindings. Klavon continued to ramble as he thrashed about. His wrists hurt, and a small trickle of blood ran down his hand, bringing life to the crimson that was already there.
“…take you as my son and your mother as my wife.”
Darius wished his hearing was lost, muffled, even drowned by the piercing shriek of the fiery beast that gave him the curse that brought him here. Staring at the ground, Darius hissed. “I will never stay here with you, and my mother would rather die!”
Klavon laughed, but all Darius could hear was an echo of evil in his head. Then silence fell. Klavon was gone.
Darius woke to Sira tending his wrist. “You really should take better care of yourself.”
“Go away!” Darius yelled.
“It’s only a scratch. You’ll live.” Sira sat down on the table, her pet curled up on the floor beneath her.
“Does that thing ever leave your side?” asked Darius.
“Never,” she said matter-of-factly, twirling her hair senselessly between her fingers. “Don’t you remember? I mentioned him when I talked with you at that village…the one Klavon attacked?” Sira stopped twisting her hair—it fell perfectly straight next to her slender face—and sat still. “So why didn’t you take my advice? Why did you return to your precious valley?”
Darius said nothing, silently chiding himself for being so foolish. How could he not have known it was her? How could he have thought it was only a dream?
“It won’t help you, you know,” she said. “In fact, given that hint of red, I’d say it was a mistake. But I guess that’s better for Klavon anyway.”
“Why are you here?” asked Darius. His breathing was forced, and he knew Sira could see his annoyance and that she took extreme pleasure in it.
Sira made no reply, but a satisfied smile settled on her lips.
“Are you here to gloat? You do seem to enjoy that quite a bit. You know, some may say that’s a flaw, a weakness, reveling in the misfortunes of others.” Darius’s gaze locked on her face, hoping to see some hint that he had, even in some small way, annoyed her as well.
“Nope,” she replied. To his frustration, his comments appeared to have no affect on her.
As uncomfortable as it was, Darius maintained his stare, but she said nothing. “So why are you here?”
Sira shrugged. “To clean up that blood before it stains our floor.”
Darius frowned. “Why do you lie like that?”
“Fine,” she said, with a tone that could only be interpreted as a false sense of surrender. “I admit that this floor couldn’t be in much worse shape, but you must admit that adding blood to the filth would only serve to worsen the condition. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Darius closed his eyes. Talking to Sira was giving him a headache. After several minutes, he opened his eyes. Sira was still there.
“What do you want?” he screamed.
“Nothing more,” she laughed, and she hopped off the table and opened the door. Before she closed it behind her, she added, “Always nice to see you angry.”
The door shut before Darius could retort. That was fine with him. He had nothing he wanted to say to her anyway.
In a short time, Klavon returned.
“Well, there is no shortage of visits around here, even if the company is somewhat limited.” Darius tilted his head, challenging Klavon as best he could, given his current situation.
“Witty. I like that. But now I shall await your answer.” Klavon leaned against the table.
“Answer to what?” asked Darius.
“To whether or not you will allow me to take you in as my son,” said Klavon. “Did you hear nothing of what I said earlier?”
“You were joking, right?” Darius asked. When he received nothing more than a raised brow from Klavon, he added. “I’m my father’s son! What would ever make you think I could possibly be with you?”
Klavon paused. “Your crystal. It has a hint of crimson, does it not?”
“It’s this stupid curse of yours, a curse I will in time overcome.” Darius ground his teeth.
“That curse, as you call it, is merely an affirmation of your bond with me. But none of this matters. You will soon discover that your place is indeed here. And your mother—”
“Never! My mother has nothing to do with any of this!”
“Your mother has everything to do with this! She was never intended for your father. She and I should have been together.”
“I highly doubt that!” snapped Darius.
Klavon ignored him. “But I will forgive her. I have even decided to take her son as my own.”
“I highly doubt that, too,” said Darius.
“Doubt what you will,” said Klavon, “but you will not be able to deny the truth when you are gently encouraged. You and your mother will be here with me, and willingly so.”
Klavon opened the door and stepped out, but before the door shut behind him, Darius laughed. “Not in my lifetime.”
The door shut with a click, and Darius glared at the closed door.
Chapter Thirty-two
Brandor