“Antoinette!” Aelic yelled. “Snap out of it!”
Kearn slashed again, and the strike would have taken Antoinette’s head but for Fury and Aelic’s lightning reflexes. The sound of the clash brought Antoinette around, but she was off balance. Kearn’s next strike came at her side. She guarded, but Kearn’s blade slid off her sword and cracked the armor on her thigh. She fell and Kearn raised his blade high, intending to drive it into her as she lay on the ground.
Fury again came to Antoinette’s rescue. Aelic used both hands and wheeled his blade at his enemy’s. Kearn’s stabbing thrust was knocked wide and the point stabbed into the dirt near Antoinette’s shoulder. Kearn growled and drove a fist into Aelic’s jaw. Aelic staggered and fell to the ground next to Antoinette. They both rolled, stood, and raised their swords.
At that moment a black-shafted arrow whistled by and stuck deep into the mortar of the Guild. Then there was a gurgling scream, and one of the Paragor Knights fell from his steed. Antoinette and Aelic smiled, for they saw the Yewland Braves sprinting down the last few flights of stairs, firing as they ran. Two more Paragor Knights fell. Kearn saw this too, and he turned to run. Aelic seized the opportunity and charged forward with Fury. He struck with a heavy blow aimed right between Kearn’s shoulder blades.
“Noooo!” Antoinette screamed. She lunged between Aelic and Kearn and batted Fury away. Kearn turned and looked at her. His eyes flashed red, and then he strode quickly away. In a moment, he was on his horse and gone.
“Antoinette, have you lost your mind?” Aelic asked. “I could have felled him, put an end to one of Paragor’s chief warlords!”
Before Antoinette could answer, a group of Paragor Knights stormed around the corner of the Guild and attacked. There were five of them, reckless, swinging at them in a blind rage. Two went for Aelic, leaving the other three for Antoinette. She thought immediately of her first test and the urchin. Kaliam was right. The Paragor Knights will take any advantage. They will not fight fair. Focus on your objective, he had said. Antoinette ducked the slashing blade of the first, leaped over the sweeping blade of the second, batted away the wild stroke of the third. And then she evened the odds. She slashed her sword upward with both hands, forcing the third knight’s blade high. Then, with lightning speed, she slashed beneath his shoulder where there was no protection, no armor. The knight screamed, and his sword arm fell limp at his side. Antoinette swept her blade next behind his knees, and he crumpled to the ground. The second warrior fell next to him, thanks to a devastating stroke from Aelic.
The first knight was more skilled. He turned and came at Antoinette with a series of rapid thrusts and slashes. Antoinette backed up slowly, blocking with short compact strokes and watching his approach. When at last he paused, Antoinette unleashed her kakari-geiko attack. Her sword in continuous motion, she rained down blows upon him until he lost his balance and dropped his guard. It was all the advantage she needed. Her blade put a dent in the Paragor Knight’s helmet, and he staggered backward. Aelic finished him off with a thrust into his side.
Just as quickly as the battle began, it ended. Many of the Paragor Knights had been slain. But more had escaped, including Kearn—and Aelic was not happy about it.
“Why did you block my attack, Antoinette?” he yelled at her. “You heard what he said. He is close to Paragor himself! Why?”
“That’s him,” Antoinette answered. “Don’t you see? I had to save him!”
“What?” Aelic squinted at her.
“It’s Robby’s Glimpse!” Antoinette cried. “I had to save him!”
“They were fortunate to escape,” said Queen Illaria. She had gathered her advisers and highest-ranking braves. They sat with the twelve around a massive diamond-shaped table in the castle’s largest hall. Their voices echoed slightly in the cavernous room. A great fire crackled on the hearth behind the Queen. Antoinette had her Book of Alleble open on her lap. She stared at Robby’s picture.
“It was not fortune that saved them,” said Aelic. “One of your servants forewarned them. They called him Old Toby. They had already mounted most of their steeds when we arrived.”
“Toby!” the Queen exclaimed. “I ought to have known! He seemed far too interested in my plans concerning the Paragor Knights. I wonder what his price was!”
“For whatever he was paid in gold, he has paid an even dearer price,” said Kaliam. “His body was found among the slain.”
“Boldoak?” said the Queen.
“It was not one of our braves,” said the deep-voiced knight. “He was hewn with an axe cruelly from behind. That is not the way of a Yewland warrior.”
“Nor was this deed done by one of my knights,” said Kaliam. “It is my guess that Toby outlived his usefulness to his masters. That is the way of Paragor and his ilk.”
“I fear that all of Yewland will be in mourning for the Ancient One after Baldergrim arrives,” said Queen Illaria. “To think that we allowed Paragor free passage on the Forest Road and our other wooded paths! Alas, that I did not foresee this end. Paragor will pay for his treachery.”
“Paragor may indeed attempt to return by the Forest Road,” said Sir Tobias. “He has a formidable army.”
“If he does,” said the Queen, “he will find the forest choked with thorns, and few of his soldiers will ever emerge from the trees.”
“There is something that troubles me,” said Kaliam, “and I would advise caution, Queen Illaria, should Paragor’s troops return this way. When Paragor slew the Ancient One, he took something from inside his great trunk.”
The Queen leaned forward. “What is this thing? And what threat does it hold?”
“I do not know anything as certain,” he replied. “Nock’s reading of the Ancient One’s rings fills me with a creeping dread. The rings record that King Eliam hid something within its trunk when The Realm was very young. It was something that no one, especially not Paragor, was meant to find. I can only conclude that it is a relic of horrible power. Paragor went to great lengths to get it. And now that he has it, there is no telling what he will do.”
Nock suddenly sat up very straight. “With this thing,” Nock said, “do you think Paragor will have the power to raise the Seven Sleepers?”
“Seven Sleepers!” Boldoak bellowed. Nervous conversation buzzed among the Yewland commanders gathered there. “That is fearsome even to the stout among us! Nock, why do you dredge that thought before us?”
“We found the Sepulcher,” Nock replied.
“It is real then?” whispered the Queen, and she slumped in her chair.
“We found it, by chance or by design, we do not know,” Nock explained. “But the Sleepers stir, and the great blackwood trees that keep them in the depths are perishing. There is a foul menacing power at work there, and great packs of wolvin roam the forest at will.”
“This is grievous news,” said the Queen, “if Paragor could release such a nightmare upon us! Kaliam, what do you propose we do? Do we launch an assault on Paragor’s forces? They muster at Baen-Edge.”
“Nay, to fly into that unfriendly place without first knowing your peril would be a reckless venture!” Kaliam said. “Instead, alert all of your forces and make ready for war. If Paragor does return by the Forest Road, I fear you will need every shaft and blade in Yewland to defeat him. And even then, it may not be enough.”
“There is wisdom in what you say,” Queen Illaria replied. “Yewland will prepare for war. But what of you and your team? Will you at least go to Baen-Edge to track the enemy’s movements?”
“No, there is still the matter of the imposter, Count Eogan,” he replied. Antoinette looked up sharply. “We must pursue him to Acacia. By your leave, Queen Illaria, I would take twelve of Yewland’s fastest dragon steeds for my team. We will fly to Acacia and see what Count Eogan has to say to real servants of Alleble!”
“But Kaliam!” Antoinette objected. “The enemy and whatever it is that he stole from the tree are in Baen-Edge. We can’t just let them go!”<
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“We must first capture the imposter,” Kaliam said. “That still is our charge.”
“But they’ll get away!” she pleaded, looking down at Robby’s picture. “He’ll get away.”
Kaliam glared at her. Lady Merewen caught Antoinette’s eyes and motioned for her to be quiet.
“We must remember the objective, Antoinette,” Kaliam said with finality. “Once we have the imposter, we will return to Alleble. King Eliam must be informed of all this, and we must learn the nature of this thing that Paragor has stolen.”
“Your Majesty, Queen Illaria,” Sir Gabriel said, standing. “We have discussed much, but we have not yet determined the standing of the allegiance between our two kingdoms. Have you not heard enough to soften your stance toward your true friends?”
“Baldergrim has not yet returned from the Blackwood,” said Queen Illaria. “But I have always found Sir Nock to be trustworthy. And the confrontation in Kismet confirms what you claimed about Paragor’s plans.” The Queen stood and paced in front of the fireplace.
“Many years I ruled over a Yewland I thought divided by allegiance to your King. Count Eogan simply confirmed my private resentment, and I had an excuse to make Yewland independent once more. It was folly.”
Sir Gabriel went to the Queen. “King Eliam does not wish to rob you of your position,” he said. “Nor does he seek to force Yewland’s allegiance. He asks for your trust, that you might willingly join Alleble to rid The Realm of fear and injustice. Queen Illaria, you and every Glimpse in Yewland are precious to King Eliam. Will you not honor our allegiance of old?”
The Queen reached into the folds of her gown and withdrew a long rolled parchment. “Here is my answer,” she said and threw the parchment into the fireplace. “Never again, under my rule, will the alliance between Yewland and Alleble be shaken!”
“Kaliam, you shall have twelve dragons,” said the Queen. “The swift White Wyrms, as are used only by my palace guards. In the morning, they will bear you to Acacia like a western wind! But tonight, while we await Baldergrim’s return, stay and enjoy the hospitality of Yewland!”
Mallik turned to Nock and whispered, “The drink made from Golden Tear . . . I do not suppose we could come by any of that now, could we? I am weary and in need of refreshment.”
“Yes, hammer-meister,” the Queen said. “There will be Golden Tear to drink—an extra large goblet for you.”
Mallik looked at Nock with eyebrows raised.
“Queen Illaria always did have the ears of a fox,” he whispered.
“Yes, Nock, I have,” said the Queen, and she grinned. “Now, go. Refresh yourselves. Be ready for a glad gathering. And not only that, but a merry feast as well!”
“Did someone mention food?” bellowed Sir Rogan.
“Yes, I believe I could eat an entire roasted blackhorne myself,” added Farix.
And for the first time since the knights from Alleble had arrived in Yewland, Queen Illaria smiled out of gladness. “Hearty knights,” she said, “I will see to it personally that the table is set for an army—though in truth it may only be for a few that feed like an army!”
The meeting was over. Much had been decided, and it seemed a weight had been lifted from the shoulders of the twelve.
“Come,” said Lady Merewen. “I will show you to our chamber. There you may bathe before we are summoned to the meal.”
Not even the idea of a much-needed bath could cheer Antoinette. She stood, clutching her Book of Alleble, and absently followed Lady Merewen.
In a few hours, a feast in the grandest sense was served—all the more satisfying when compared to the meager provisions the twelve had eaten during their long journey.
Yet Antoinette only picked at her food. She wanted to be loyal to the twelve, but she had promised Aidan to try to find Robby’s Glimpse and then do what she could to convince him to turn to King Eliam. Now she had found Robby’s Glimpse, Kearn, and he served at the side of Paragor himself. Even now he was returning to his evil master. Antoinette shook her head. She wanted to keep her promise to Aidan, but how could she without defying Kaliam’s orders?
31
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Aelic approached Antoinette on one of the more secluded balconies off the banquet hall. “What are you doing out here in the dark?” he asked.
“It’s not really dark when your eyes get used to it,” Antoinette replied. “Besides, the moon peeks out from the clouds every so often. It’s really quite beautiful. Have you seen it?”
As if on cue, the clouds parted and a little moonlight fell upon the balcony. “Yes, very pretty.” Aelic frowned. “I know you did not leave the feast to come gaze upon the moon.”
“I needed to think,” she said.
“And you could not think inside where it is warm and festive?”
“Are you kidding?” Antoinette asked. “With Mallik, Sir Rogan, and Boldoak having a belching contest, who could think in there?”
Aelic laughed. “I suppose you’re right, m’lady. Still, there are many dark tasks ahead of us in the coming days. Why not be merry for just one night?”
Antoinette turned her back to Aelic and watched a carriage glide over the cable across the gulf from the castle to a platform. “I promised Aidan,” she said.
“What? What did you—” Aelic squinted at her. “Oh, now I understand. This is about Kearn. Is it not?”
Antoinette nodded. “Aidan is counting on me! You said yourself that if King Eliam wanted me to reach Robby’s Glimpse, I would find him. And now I have.”
“But Antoinette, the fate of Robby’s Glimpse is out of our hands,” Aelic said. “Kearn has gone to Baen-Edge!”
“But we’ve got to do something!”
“Perhaps, m’lady,” said Aelic. He moved forward to stand next to her at the balcony rail. “But it is not King Eliam’s will for you to do anything about it now. Has it even occurred to you that once we return to Alleble, we may be sent out again—maybe to Baen-Edge—with an army?”
“But it could be too late by then!” Antoinette replied. “What if Paragor’s forces return on the Forest Road? Kearn could be killed, and Robby would be lost!”
“That is true,” Aelic replied. “And I sincerely hope that such a thing does not happen. My twin in your realm would be heartbroken—just as I have been heartbroken to see some of my friends in Mithegard and Clarion choose the wrong side.” Antoinette looked away, avoiding his stare. She hadn’t realized that Aelic too had seen friends join Paragor.
“But that does not change the fact that King Eliam has called you to be a part of this team on this mission. It is not his will for you to—”
“How do you know what King Eliam’s will is for me?!” Antoinette asked, turning her back to him. “Did he tell you?”
Aelic ran his hands through his dark hair. “Nay, the King did not come to me personally. He did not have to. We were both chosen by the King to travel to Yewland and restore the alliance.”
“And we’ve done that!” Antoinette spun around.
“But we have not captured the imposter,” Aelic replied. “You heard Kaliam. We need to go to Acacia. That is our mission. Can you not see that?”
“Yes, I know what Kaliam said.” Antoinette shook her head. “And he’s a great leader, but I just can’t sit here and do nothing.”
Antoinette and Aelic stood in silence at the balcony rail. Antoinette’s feelings were a train wreck. In truth, she had already decided what she was going to do long before Aelic came to the balcony. She had just hoped that Aelic would be more sympathetic. Now, she didn’t know what to do. Should she still ask him? Would he give her away?
A bank of very dark clouds smothered the moon, and Antoinette stood in the shadows and trembled. “Come with me,” she said quietly.
“What?” Aelic backed away from the rail.
“To Baen-Edge,” she replied, staring at Aelic with pleading eyes. “Tobias let me look at one of his maps while I was at the feast. It’s not that far. Wi
th two of the dragons Queen Illaria has provided, we could get there quickly—and maybe meet the others in Acacia later.”
Aelic was speechless for a moment. His eyes narrowed, and he said, “And suppose we do what you suggest and we find Kearn in Baen-Edge, what then? Will you just command him to follow King Eliam? Do you think it will be that easy? There are four legions of enemy soldiers there—Paragor himself is there!”
“I don’t know,” she replied angrily, wishing she had not asked Aelic to join her. “I haven’t really thought that far . . . maybe we can take him prisoner.”
“You are right, m’lady,” Aelic said. “You have not thought this through. I would go with you into the belly of a dragon—if I believed that King Eliam willed it to be so. I owe you my life, but, Antoinette, this is madness. To defy Kaliam’s orders, to refuse to attempt the mission for which King Eliam has chosen us—that I cannot do.”
Antoinette’s shoulders fell. She had thought that Aelic would refuse, but hearing him say it still crushed her. They stared at each other for a long moment before Aelic turned to leave the balcony. “Aelic, wait,” she said. “You won’t—”
“I will not tell Kaliam,” he replied. “Not tonight. I will wait and see what the morning brings. I am still hopeful that you will search your heart during the night and change your mind. But if the dawn finds you not among us, I will tell Kaliam everything.”
Antoinette slowly closed her chamber door. Lady Merewen had not stirred for a long time, but still Antoinette did not want to risk waking her. She crept up the torchlit hall, padding barefoot on the cold stone floor. She passed Kaliam’s chamber, Tal and Sir Oswyn’s, the others’. But when she walked by the room where Aelic, Nock, and Mallik slept, she felt the tugging of guilt. Well, she did search her heart, she rationalized. But she had promised Aidan, and she refused to go back on her word.
Her first stop was a small anteroom near the balcony. She had left her boots there and stashed some waterskins, as well as food she had pilfered from the feast. She sat on a bench and looked into the satchel. Cheese, dried meat, a little bread—it was all there. She tugged on her boots and was off.