Elf Lords: 02 - Last of the Elf Lords (3 page)

Landis ducked a swinging sword meant to sever his head. He used the opportunity to pull his boot dagger, a sharp ten-inch black blade. With a sword in his right hand and a dagger in his left, Landis parried the newcomer’s blade, pushing it high enough to provide an opening to thrust his dagger into the man’s side. The blade slid between the ribs, puncturing the bounty hunter’s right lung. As he dropped his arm in an involuntary reaction, Landis stabbed him in the throat, pulling the sword free and spinning about to find his next opponent in one flowing motion.

Landis found himself face to face with his father. Both men looked about, seeing the seventh—and final—bounty hunter fleeing for the exit. “Oh no, you don’t!” Jaylen yelled, dropping one of his swords to the floor as he reached for a throwing knife. With a movement almost too fast for the eye to follow, Jaylen sent the knife end-over-end through the tavern, striking the running man between the shoulder blades. The man stumbled and fell onto the floor.

“We should be leaving now.” Jaylen said, almost too calmly.

“You think?” Landis asked.

None of the frightened spectators moved from their positions as the pair made their way out of the tavern, stopping only long enough for Jaylen to retrieve his three throwing knives before they ran outside into the darkened street. Both of them could hear the sound of running footsteps and voices, announcing the swift approach of guards, or others, who had been called to arms by the bloody ruckus going on inside of Hobgoblins Haven.

“Get on that horse.” Jaylen pointed to one of two Delindean mares tied to the post outside of the tavern. Landis swung into the saddle as his father did the same on the other horse. In seconds they were riding towards the forest, leaving the footmen far behind.

Hearing the sound of hoof beats behind them, Jaylen looked back to see four horsemen riding after them. “We’ve got company!”

Landis kicked his horse to keep up with his father. “Once we get out of town turn left on the first path and go in about fifty yards.”

“Why?” Jaylen yelled over the sound of the horses’ hooves.

“That’s where I hid my bow and quiver. We can take care of our pursuers at the same time.”

Two sword-wielding men stood on the street waiting for their approach. Whether the men were extremely brave or incredibly stupid, their actions were fruitless as the two riders urged their horses onward, trampling both of the guards in the street without slowing down.

After crossing the city boundary, Landis took the lead. Turning his horse, he measured the distance through the trees, thankful for his elven night-vision that made seeing in the dark easier than what their pursuers could manage. He leaped from the horse, landing gracefully onto the hard ground and rushing into the brush. A moment later he reappeared, holding an ivory colored bow and a quiver of arrows slung across his back. With an arrow already notched, Landis raised the bow, taking aim into the darkness. He released the arrow and had replaced it with another just in time to hear voices cry out in alarm. Landis could see the men clearly now and fired his second arrow. Two horses were now missing their riders. The two remaining men decided quickly that the odds were no longer in their favor and turned their horses, shouting words of surrender as they raced back towards town.

Landis mounted his horse. Looking to his father he said, “I do not believe that I have thanked you yet.”

“Don’t mention it, son,” Jaylen waved him off, “Let’s just get the abyss out of here before they return with more men.”

“What brings you to Chio?” Landis asked as they kicked their horses into a run.

“Why else would I be in the armpit of the Westland? You. Word has got out that you might be going to Birhirm, and there are more people looking for you now than ever before. So, using intelligence gathered from Eric’s
Network,
I came looking for you in case you needed help. It looks like I arrived just in time.”

“Why would there be more people after me now?” Landis was confused.

Jaylen looked at his son in the darkness. “You have not heard?”

“Heard what?”

“Someone kidnapped Petra and Jordan’s daughter; and the only witness claims that it was your son.”

“My son?” Landis replied in disbelief.

“That is apparently who the kidnapper claimed to be. And the description the princess’ maidservant gave made him a dead ringer for you. She even said that he had one green and one brown eye.”

Landis stared at his father, trying to comprehend what he was hearing. “I have no son.”

“The facts do not matter, Landis. Once word got out, half of the Westland now believes that you and your
son
kidnapped Megan.”

“Petra and Jordan will be here any minute now.” Eric answered as he picked up a piece of fruit. Landis thought that Eric resembled the former King of Birhirm in both appearance and his manner of revealing nothing more than necessary.

The door on the opposite end from where Eric had entered opened, causing all three men to look that way as a palace guard walked in, intending to announce the arrival of the Queen of Alexon and her party.

“There is no need for announcements.” Petra said as she pushed past the guard. Landis looked at the beautiful blonde Queen, remembering at once the brief relationship they had shared so many years ago when the then sixteen-year-old princess was on the verge of becoming the High Queen of the Westland. He felt a pang of guilt at the memories. Petra’s long blonde hair nearly reached her waist, several inches longer than Landis remembered it. The thirty-four-year-old queen was striking in appearance, even though her eyes were weary and it was obvious that she was worried.

“Oh, Landis!” Petra called, rushing to the half-elf to embrace him. “They took Megan.”

Landis wrapped his arms around the queen to comfort her; quickly breaking the embrace when he saw Jordan entering the room. The sixteen-year-old squire that Landis remembered had grown into a handsome and muscular man who was now Petra’s husband and Prince Regent of Alexon.

Following Jordan was Trevor Kahn. Landis observed that former knight-turned-mercenary, who had replaced his father as Sword-Master of Alexon, looked nearly the same as he had two decades ago.

“Jordan, Trevor.” Landis greeted the two men as he pulled away from Petra.

“Perhaps we should get started.” Eric decided, motioning for everyone to take a seat.

“What exactly is going on?” Landis asked.

“Allow me to explain,” Eric began, “Princess Megan was kidnapped by someone claiming to be your son. The men captured Megan’s carriage on the road to Shoal, killing her entire escort of Knights of Alexon. Only her maidservant survived.”

“If you call it surviving; she may never be normal again.” Petra said.

“She is alive, but only because they left her that way so she could tell the world who it was that kidnapped Megan,” Eric continued, “the bastards raped and brutalized her so badly that she may never fully recover.”

Petra began crying, both out of sympathy for the young woman and fear that Megan might be in danger of the same fate.

“I had nothing to do with it.” Landis insisted.

Petra looked him in the eyes, “You do not think that I believed for a moment you are responsible, do you?”

Landis felt foolish for saying anything. These people had trusted him before. Petra had gone so far as to give him the Sword of Alexon—using the claim that he had stolen it—when they had last been together so that he could use it to stop the danger they faced. Landis had ruined that sword in the process, making his return to Alexon impossible. No, if these people believed that he had any part in the princess’ kidnapping then he would not be sitting amongst them. Instead he would be in interrogation somewhere.

“Why would anyone want to pretend to be my son?” He asked. “I am not the most popular person in these parts.”

“Even worse now that so many suspect you of being involved in Megan’s kidnapping.” Eric agreed, “We are trying to put an end to those rumors, but you know how hard that can be.

“But whoever it is, he wanted to get your attention. I had the
Network
locate you and sent word to bring you back here, both for your own safety, and to see if you could help us.”

“Then who is responsible for taking Megan?” Landis asked.

Eric shook his head, “Fingers are pointing everywhere. We have received tips that she was taken by the Emperor of Roole as a hostage to prevent Alexon from getting involved in the double rebellion that he is fighting. The Queen received a letter from one of the rebel groups claiming that they can rescue the Princess, if Alexon will side with them and join the war against the Empire.”

“It is possible that one of the rebel factions kidnapped her in order to make us believe that the Empire has her.” Jordan suggested.

Eric continued, “All reports seemed to indicate that the princess’ kidnapping has something to do with the rebellion in the Eastland. There had been no other ransom demands until yesterday when I—not Petra—received this scroll. It was addressed to you.” He slid a rolled up parchment across the table to Landis.

Landis unrolled the document.

Father

Bring the Sword of Alexon to The Minotaur’s

Tavern in Cathaar, or else your daughter will

meet a fate worse than death.

Your Son,

Trian

Landis laid the message down on the table, “What the abyss is the meaning of this? I have no son or daughter!”

Petra spoke softly, “You do have a daughter.”

Landis gave the Queen a hardened stare, “What do you mean?”

Everyone in the room other than Landis and Jaylen knew what Petra was about to share with the half-elf; still, the secret she had rarely given voice to was hard to communicate with the man she had once loved, “Megan is your daughter, Landis. I learned that I was pregnant the same day you left Alexon. I did not want you to know because I was afraid that you would feel forced to return.”

“I am a grandfather!” Jaylen exclaimed, “I wish that you would have at least told me.”

Landis was flabbergasted. He tore his eyes away from Petra, unable to fathom that he was the true father of the seventeen-year-old Princess. Looking back to the scroll he said, “I have never heard of anyone named Trian.”

“I have received word from the Eastland as to who Trian is only a few minutes before you arrived.” Eric stated, “Apparently there is a half-elf warlord in one of the rebel factions in Roole who goes by the name of Trian. Whoever he really is, he is claiming to be your son, and he wants the Sword of Alexon. We believe that he is the person who kidnapped the princess, although there is some difficulty with that, as he was seen by one of my agents in the Eastland two days after the kidnapping.”

“There is no way that he could have traveled that distance so quickly.” Jaylen surmised.

“Why would he want the sword?” Landis asked, “The blade was ruined when it was stuck in the Gate of the Dragon. Besides, I don’t have it.”

“You don’t have it?” Petra asked in alarm.

“No, I gave it to Weslocke to keep for me until I returned. I just never got around to coming back.”

Eric called for the guards outside the door. When they entered, he ordered, “Go get Weslocke Blademender and bring him here at once. Tell him to bring the Sword of Alexon with him.”

Eric looked to Landis, “The blade may be damaged, but chances are that no one other than you and Weslocke know that. Besides, it is likely that it is the white pearl on the sword that they are after. How familiar are you with what is going on in Roole?”