The Eternal Darkness (14 page)

…

Using the back of his hand that held his sword, Hessel wiped away the tears that rolled from his eyes.  Smoke was everywhere as all of the wooden structures in the fort were burning.  Even as soldiers attempted to douse the fires, more flaming arrows came flying over the walls, raking men and wood alike.

His archers were trying to drive the raiders back, but he could not concentrate his fire as the entire fort was surrounded.  The enemy must have scaled the rugged cliffs under the cover of darkness and fog.  He knew that the situation was hopeless, but since escape was not possible, they would fight to the end. 

He had no illusions regarding reinforcements.  He had seen two of the messengers fall to raider arrows and did not know of the fate of the third.  Even if one had gotten away, this battle would be over long before any help could arrive.

Crouching behind the stone wall above the gate, he hazarded a glance towards the sea.  He jerked his head back just in time as several arrows shattered against the stone where his head had been.  Having established a beachhead, more raiders were offloading from their ships.

He was trying to think of some action that could give him an advantage when a sudden wave of black fire swept over the wall, knocking those exposed off the wall and back into the fort, screaming as they burned.  Terror seized his heart and froze his body, but Hessel fought through it and forced himself to look again, but he already knew the answer.

Striding through the raiders were dozens of demons, some with shapes and sizes he had never seen before.  The demons kept sending their dark power against the fort, forcing the defenders back as the raiders ran forward with a battering ram.  Without any clerics to oppose the demons, Hessel knew that the end was almost on them

He pushed his body into motion, running along the wall and down the stairs.  “Prepare for the enemy to breach the gates!” he cried out.  He placed himself directly in front of the gate, sword ready.  The other soldiers formed ranks behind him as the first boom of the ram hitting the gate sounded. “We will make them pay for every inch of our land they seek to take!” he shouted.  The hopelessness of the situation made him strangely relaxed, as his fears fell away.  “I will see you all in the halls of the One!”

The repeated pounding on the gate began to have effect.  Hessel heard the gate hinges squeal as they began to pull free of the stone.  After a few more hits, he tightened his grip on his sword and gritted his teeth as, with the crash of metal, stone and wood, the gate collapsed.

“For Sanduas!” he shouted and charged into the mass of raiders that surged into the fort.  His sword was like a feather in his hand as he hacked and hewed his way forward.  He sensed his men join him, their battle cries and screams filling the air.  Their attack took the raiders by surprise and they began to push them back.

For a moment, it seemed that they would succeed in driving them out.  Hessel let out a manic laugh as the raiders fell back.  As he turned to rally his men, demon fire streaked though the ruined gate, striking his soldiers.  Their screams overwhelmed everything else.

He started forward as the first demon entered the fort, a man-like creature with red skin.  Raising his sword, he charged the demon, trying to close the distance and strike a blow for all those who had died.  His last sight was of the demon smiling as it raised a hand, and then he felt his body wrapped in searing agony until everything faded away as death took him.

C
HAPTER
E
IGHT

Keria slowly walked along the hallway near her private offices, the sound of her shoes striking the stone floor echoing down the corridor.  She was in a mental fog, distracted by her problems.  She failed to acknowledge most of the servants who bowed and curtsied as she passed.  When she realized what she was doing, she grimaced.  She had always tried to treat the workers in the palace with kindness and respect.

She was tired and frustrated by the constant demand of the nobles on her time, bringing her issues to decide, much of which they should be able to settle without her intervention. Part of her wanted to simply order everyone out of her presence so she could just have some peace and quiet.  But she still had to tread lightly with the nobles, which added to her frustration level. 

Most of that frustration stemmed from the departure of Jonas.  She had come to depend on his presence and counsel, as well as his intimate knowledge of palace politics.  In many ways, she was still a neophyte in dealing with the rancorous discourse and political intrigue.  She had grown up in the palace, but her father had shielded her from most of the machinations of the nobles.  While he had done that out of love, the result had left her relatively unskilled in discerning a noble’s true purpose.

Two weeks had passed since Jonas announced his departure and slipped out of the city with Dominic.  He had only told her that it was Temple business that required his personal attention and would not discuss where he was heading or why.  That had frustrated her as well, but as he was outside of her control, she could only accept his word and wish him well.

He had left Brother Trence as acting Chief Cleric.  Jonas had mentioned his concern about possible follow-on attacks by the demons, so Brother Trence, as the head of the clerics in the army, was the best person to leave in charge.  “He is strong in his power and has faced demons before,” Jonas told her.  “I have full faith in his abilities to protect the people and guide you in my absence.”

While Trence was serious and capable in fighting demons, his time in the army had not prepared him for the combat of politics.  He meant well, but it was clear that he was not comfortable in giving her advice on palace issues.

The other part of her frustration was that Marcus was not here.  After dealing with the nobles all day, she yearned to lose herself in his arms, to simply be Keria the person and not the queen.  The effect of his absence was like a physical pain to her.  He was her rock and foundation.  When he was near, she felt she could face anything.

He had been gone for the last week, traveling to the nearby army garrisons to inspect their readiness with Commander Reiden, the commander of the army.  Reiden had requested that Keria go, to show the soldiers the appreciation of the crown, but the nobles had resisted it, Lord Genela being the loudest.  In the end, she sent Marcus as Prince of the Realm to accompany Reiden.

With Marcus gone, she found herself unexpectedly and increasingly turning to Norlan for advice.  He was at the palace every day, escorting Cherise as she came to serve as a lady in waiting.  She took him up on his offer to be available to her, as she needed.  Even though she already respected him, Keria found his open and honest ways endearing and comforting.  When they were alone, she had told him to speak freely and he had done so, treating her in many ways as a concerned father would for his daughter. 

Given his personal access to her, the nobles had begun maneuvering, trying to befriend him and get him to advocate for their position.  Despite all of the gold she knew he was being offered, he remained loyal to her and politely rejected their propositions.  He was cautious when dealing with the nobles, always telling them that he would think on it, never outright rebuffing their entries.  He had encouraged her to do the same as well.  Between getting to know him better and his obvious personal concern for her well being, she now understood Marcus’ respect for him and his opinion.

It is fun to see him confound the nobles
, she thought, smiling slightly.  They simply could not understand why he turned down their gold and refused to capitalize on his relationship with her.  If they were in his place, they would use that access to their full advantage.  He was the talk of the palace, with both the court and the servants gossiping.

Caught up in her thoughts, she was surprised and jumped when a young man suddenly stepped out of a side door into the hall.  He was tall and lean, with short brown hair and a neatly trimmed mustache.  He was good-looking, with a twinkle in his soft brown eyes and an easy smile on his lips.  He was dressed in palace livery, but walked with a noticeable limp.

“I’m sorry if I startled you, Majesty,” he said smoothly as he bowed to her. 

“It was nothing, Lord Gilam,” she replied, calming herself.  “I was not paying attention.  What can I do for you?”

Gilam was Genela’s son.  He had been born with a deformed foot, which gave him the limp.  Attempts to heal the deformity had no success.  Since the foot and limp prevented him from joining the army or Royal Guard as most nobles’ sons did, Genela had secured him a position within the palace staff.  He was now the deputy Chamberlin, second to Lord Wendel.  He had fled when Lord Marcellas displaced Genela in her father’s favor, but returned after the palace was secure.

Keria had known him since she was a young girl.  He had always been pleasant and courteous to her, treating her with respect.  Despite her problems with his father, she liked him, though she had heard rumors that he liked his wine and was too free with his hands with the female servants.  When she asked, Lord Wendel had assured her that he was keeping a watch on Gilam’s activities while in the palace.

“I came to find you to let you know that Prince Marcus has returned,” he told her.  “His party just arrived at the palace and he asked that I inform you that he will meet with you as soon as he has cleaned up.”

Relief spread through her body at those words.  “Thank you, Lord Gilam,” she said, unable to keep the smile off of her face.  “Please have some food sent to my quarters.”

“As you wish, Majesty,” he replied as he bowed again.  He turned and headed back through the door he had entered.

Keria walked as fast as she could without appearing to look as if she was hurrying.  She crossed the palace, ignoring the various nobles that called to her.  She went up the stairs to the living quarters, nodding to the guards at the entrance, and followed a hallway to Marcus’ door.  She knocked briefly and, unable to wait to see him, went inside.

She pulled up short, her heart stopping for a moment, face going red.  Marcus, hearing the door, had turned to face her.  He was standing shirtless in the middle of the room, dressed only in his pants and boots, his lean torso exposed, a surprised look on his handsome face.  She had interrupted him in the process of undressing.

He reached over to the small chair where his shirt was draped across the back and retrieved it.  His shield, armor and weapons where piled neatly on the floor next to the chair.  The circlet of gold that she had made for him to honor his position was on a nearby table.  He pulled his shirt on and came over to her.

“I’ve missed you, Keria,” he said softly as he gently stroked her face with his fingers, then leaned in and kissed her.  He put his arms around her and pulled her close.  She wrapped her arms around him and returned the embrace.  She reveled in the feel of him holding her close, feeling so secure in his arms.  Suddenly content, she rested her head against his chest, feeling it rise and fall with his breath.  He smelled of steel, sweat and horses, but she did not care. 

“I’ve missed you too, Marcus,” she whispered into his chest.  “If not for Norlan’s presence, I think I would have gone mad.”

They held each other for a while, and then Marcus pulled back.  He had an amused look on his face as he lifted his arm and sniffed.  Scrunching his nose, he smiled and said, “I am surprised you can endure being so close.  Let me bathe and change into some clean clothes, then you can tell me about everything that has happened.”

“I love you no matter how badly you smell,” she said with a little laugh.  “And Marcus, you do smell.”

He laughed, and then leaned in and kissed her again.  She did not want it to end, but he pulled away.  “Where shall I meet you once I am cleaned up?” he asked lightly, his fingers warm against her face as he looked lovingly into her eyes.

“I have asked for food to be delivered to my quarters,” she said happily, “so join me there.”

“I will be there shortly,” he said as he walked her to the hallway.  With a final kiss at the door, she headed for her room as he went back inside.

Keria felt as if she was floating on air, her cares seemingly vanished, as she made her way to her rooms.  She nodded to the two Guardsmen who were stationed at the door.  After what had happened to her father, Helgrant had insisted that her room be guarded at all times, so no one could slip in unnoticed.  She had overruled him when he had strongly suggested that she have personal guards whenever she left her rooms.  She told him that she did not want to feel like a prisoner while in the palace and there were always Guardsmen stationed throughout the palace, so she would be safe enough.  She also noted that she had personal guards close by whenever she left the grounds.

The servants came in with plates of food, as well as cups of water and wine.  She took a cup of wine and went over to the couch near the windows.  She was sitting there, humming happily to herself, when Marcus arrived.  He was dressed in a clean white shirt and black pants, his hair still damp.  He picked up a cup from the tray and joined her.  He sat next to her and put his arm over her shoulders.  They leaned back into the couch, both getting comfortable.  She delighted in his presence and touch.

“So tell me all that happened while I was away,” he said quietly, nuzzling at her neck.

“Later,” she replied, turning to kiss him.  She did not want to think about anything but him for now.

Just as they were getting passionate, the sound of sharp voices outside the room interrupted them.  Marcus frowned as he pulled away and stood, moving towards the door.  Keria straightened and picked up her crown from where it had fallen on the couch, setting it back on her head.

Commander Helgrant came into the room, a serious expression on his face.  “I apologize for barging in on you, Majesty,” he said with a short bow.  “Urgent and disturbing news has come.  Lord Genela has had the messenger taken to the throne room and the court awaits you.”  He looked at Marcus, a hint of sympathy in his eyes.  “It is news that you will need to hear as well, my prince.”