The Vlakan King (Book 3) (22 page)

By late-afternoon Davan's shirt was soaked with sweat. The Men worked hard but were not abused by Freibane's foreman. Jarius stumbled around still dazed by the blow to his head. He seemed to regain his senses by nightfall. They were locked in a cellar with several other 'volunteer' workmen.

"Are you better?" asked Davan. They sat on the far side of the room and whispered to each other. Some of the other Men spoke softly.

"I'm not sure," said Jarius.

"Just as well they stopped you from demonstrating your magic. Freibane would never let you go. Do you realize how important Freibane would be in this area if he had a sorcerer at his command? No one could gainsay him."

"He couldn't keep me," said Jarius. "I'd escape."

"Shh. Keep your voice down. One of these men in here with us might sell news of you for their freedom. Can you fight using your magic? You might have to kill people to free yourself. Could you do that?"

Jarius did not look at Davan. He could not fight like Blackthorne or Brevin. He knew very little of how to control his magic. Davan was right.

"No. No one trained me in fighting."

"They said no?"

"I never asked anyone."

"Jarius, you had the greatest sorcerers in Landermass around you all your life and you never asked to be trained?"

"My mother didn't think it was necessary."

"I mean no offense, but Wynne didn't seem to care about anything the Talos Company was doing."

"She is bitter. I am tired. It will be a long day tomorrow."

They worked hard for three more days and Jarius seemed to benefit from the labor. His mood improved and he spoke with Davan about living in Toraba and peppered Davan with questions about running an inn.

"I've been practicing," whispered Jarius that night.

"Practicing what?"

"You know what I mean. I think I can get us out of here soon."

"Just like that?"

"Yes. I can do it. We will need to move fast but I can create a diversion and we can free the rest of these fellows to add to the confusion."

"What will you do?"

"I will set the stable on fire."

"That's halfway across the compound."

"Yes and they won't expect us to be escaping. I will wait until after midnight; so most of Freibane's men will be asleep. We will be moving fast once the commotion starts. Give me three or four more days to practice."

The next day they worked steady and welcomed the brief rainstorm that swept across the land. Davan spoke with the other workers when the guards were resting.

"How long have you been here?" asked Davan.

"Two months," replied Taslot, an older man with hard lean muscles on his olive arms and shoulders.

"Will Freibane release us as he said he would?"

The man laughed. "See that man, six over? He's been here over a year. Freibane had him working on the stables when he first got here. And the man next to him has spent 6 months here. The redhead has been here 5 months working on various jobs. Freibane won't let free labor go. He's the law around here. This isn't anyone's kingdom, just freemen and small cities. No one will force him to release us and he won't do it himself. We will work until we drop."

"Truly?"

"Yes. And I'm sorry for you and your friend because of your youth. This will be your world for the rest of your lives."

"Where are you from?" asked Davan.

"Curesia. I had a farm near Jespin but after my wife died, I lost the will to work it. I thought I would travel the world a bit and did a bit of work here and there for food and shelter. I did all right until I came to this part of Anavar and had the misfortune to meet Freibane's men. I guess this is where I'm staying. What about you boy? Where are you from?"

"Penarol. My folks own an inn. Guess I'm here by accident. My father was traveling and we were trying to catch up with him."

"Bad luck, son. Well, best remember the good times. Keep them close and you'll get through."

For the rest of that day and the next Davan filled his thoughts with images of home. His parents and his sister Tera spoke to him as if he were there still cleaning the tables and tapping the kegs. At night his legs didn't ache so much and his back wasn't as stiff. He could keep going.

When Cothos created the Zidar the balance changed. The Altenguds had not considered creating sentient beings of their own. Dwallond began the work that would produce the Daerlan and Pellaton created the Wierlun to protect her forests. Javon created the Men but did not set his own magic within them unlike his brethren. The Jungeguds took notice of these new beings wandering Landermass but most lacked the power and skill for the task. The Jungegud Moruga was powerful and hated Dwallond who bonded with Lothiena in the making of the Daerlan. Moruga lusted after Lothiena and after much labor created the Celaeri in the hope of impressing her and winning her for himself. The Celaeri were a fair race, pale blue skin, copper eyes and in many ways equal to the Daerlan. But deep in their hearts the darkness of Moruga lurked and over time the Celaeri were twisted into the hateful beings legend now remembers.

From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass.

"What is the plan?" asked Merie. "How long are we to stay here? If Lockwell was trying to kidnap us where can we be safe? Can he use magic to search for us? I don't intend to spend weeks in this cave."

"I am not sure," said Raeind. "There was something out there a little while ago, larger than a deer."

"Lockwell?"

"No. I don't think it had anything to do with him."

"What do you think it was?" asked Krysta. "An animal?"

"That would be my guess. It moved like a predator so I do not want us to rush out there until I am sure it is gone."

"I don't believe you," said Merie. "You have never explained exactly what is going on. Krysta may be infatuated with you but I am not."

"Merie!"

"I mean to hurt your feelings, Krysta, but Raeind is keeping something from us and we cannot trust him until he explains. What is going on Raeind? There is something more than Lockwell to this. The wizard appears in the castle at will so why couldn't he have kidnapped Krysta at any time? Your appearance as a rescuer in the nick of time is suspicious."

"Merie! Raeind is on our side. He has been protecting us from Lockwell. No one else could do it."

"I want to hear it from his mouth. We are both princesses. He could be kidnapping us himself for ransom, or sell us into slavery. Well?"

Raeind smiled and sighed. He sat down in front of the girls.

"My name is Raeind Arayr as you know. The Arayr family is an old one, tracing back to Mauran de Arayr."

"The sorcerer?" said Merie.

"Yes. It is rumored that he ascended to a god and watches over the land like a steward. Whether or not that is true, our family has taken on the responsibility of protecting the land and its people. No matter what how our lives unfold, we step in to help others when we can."

"How does this concern Krysta?" asked Merie.

"I have been keeping an eye on Krysta all her life."

"What? Why?"

"You have a special heritage Krysta."

"Like you?" asked Merie. "Is she part Zidar too?"

"Ah, you know where the Arayr's come from. Krysta has no Zidar blood that I know of. Her heritage is Man and Celaeri."

"The Celaeri started a war in Cresida last year," said Merie. "I thought they were like Daerlans."

"Daerlans? I'm no Daerlan," said Krysta.

"They are an elder race," said Raeind. "And they have a unique appearance and their longevity could be compared to the Daerlan and their kin the Turucks in that manner, however, the Celaeri are very different."

"But I am human," said Krysta.

"Mostly you are. But the blood of the Celaeri is in your veins. It is the relationship of your Celaeri blood to Man blood that is unique. The existence of the Celaeri is tied to special stones that were used when Moruga created them. To return to our world in the flesh the Celaeri must use the stones covered in blood to trigger a spell. The blood must be Men and Celaeri and the ratio must be precise. I do not know what the ratio is but there are a few people walking across Landermass whose blood is suitable for the spell. It is your blood that Lockwell wants for the spell to bring back the Celaeri out of the shadow world once more."

"Me? Are there any others?"

"A few, and they probably have agents looking for them too. There are other people protecting them."

"Do they kidnap them too?" asked Merie still distrustful.

Raeind looked hard at her. "If they must. And their stubborn friends too, if the situation calls for it."

"Why was I necessary?" asked Merie. "I have only human blood."

"You are Krysta's friend. We will not be returning to Dael for some time. It isn't proper for a young lady to travel alone with a stranger. So you will be her chaperone and companion."

"You could have picked a servant or merchant to be the chaperone. Why me? You have unusual ideas for a kidnapper."

"Have you met many kidnappers Princess Merie?" asked Raeind. "Get your things together. We will travel north for several days to the home of a hermit."

"A hermit? Your friends sound powerful," said Merie. "I guess your family isn't what it once was."

Raeind said nothing and left the cave. Krysta stood in front of Merie.

"Merie. Why are you so rude?" asked Krysta.

"I am not infatuated with him. I see things a bit clearer than you. Perhaps your grandfather doted a bit too much on you. The world is a harsher place than you believe it to be."

"I've known him all my life. He's just said he's been watching over me. How can you doubt him?"

"How can you believe him?"

"I think you are the one with an inaccurate view of the world. When Jahnn becomes King are you to be married off to some noble twice your age? Did I guess right? No wonder you are bitter. Grandfather promised that wouldn't happen to me. Neither Grandfather nor his advisors will tell me whom to marry. And by next month I am old enough to rule without a regent. I will make my own decisions."

"Good," snapped Merie. She walked out of the cave in search of Raeind.

Raeind did not ask about the angry exchange in the cave hoping it would pass while they traveled. He chose a deer trail that began ten miles north of Dael leading into the hills. He wanted to stay north of Danole when they turned east. But first he wanted to see Salie the Hermit who lived some fifty miles from Dael. If the princesses kept to their bickering it would be a very long trek. He hoped Lockwell had not set any skilled woodsmen on their trail.

They made good time on the trail and as long as the birds sang Raeind did not fear what lay ahead of them. He wasn't sure if what he sensed outside the cave was a Vlakan or not, but he had been warned not to engage one. He was not a trained fighter although he was handy with a sword.

The trail led onto rough terrain and the princesses could not maintain Raeind's pace. A wisp of smoke rose from beyond the next hill. A stone hut was built against the base of a cliff and a figure sat near the fire pit cooking two trout. The dark man looked up at the newcomers and smiled. He stood and greeted them. His clothes were patched with precise stitching and symmetrical patterns. His long grey beard was braided and the end of it dyed green. He wore a necklace of bear claws and his toothy smile contrasted his dark tanned skin. He rushed forward and hugged Raeind.

"Raeind, my old friend," said Salie. "It has been long since we spoke. Who are your young friends?"

"Hello Salie. Krysta and Merie accompany me. We decided that it was time to leave Dael and see the world."

"Ah, I have done that myself. Welcome ladies. I have supper nearly ready. Rest here from your worries."

"Are you a Turuck?" asked Merie.

"Well, not as polite as you look I see," grinned Salie. "Yes, I am a Turuck. I left my people at the end of the Tag Makk reign. I no longer wanted to be a Turuck if war and death were all we believed. I found my way here and have enjoyed this forestland very much. A very peaceful place although visitors still find me which is unusual because my home is on the road to nowhere."

"You live here by yourself?" asked Krysta. "Isn't it lonely?"

"Young lady, a Turuck is much the same as a Daerlan. I am far older than I look. I may still be here long after you have aged and gone to your grave. The amount of my life that I have lived here is but a small part of my life; perhaps a quarter hour of your lifespan. So no, I am not lonely."

"Salie, I need to keep Krysta out of the hands of Lockwell."

"Ah the old wizard is still around?"

"Yes. I fear he is trying to bring back the Celaeri again."

"Why does he keep trying?" asked Merie.

"Power," said Raeind. "Although the Celaeri talk of killing all Men they never did the menial tasks themselves. They always had Men for slaves. I believe Lockwell sees himself as the master of the slaves for the Celaeri."

"Ha, I wouldn't trust them to reward me if I were him," said Salie. "Once Lockwell's task of summoning the Celaeri is complete he will die."

"Most probable, however, they were defeated last time. If Lockwell had been killed who would have brought them back? Jerue Adan is dead and Ioane Adan was never predictable. Lockwell is as likely to be the king of the Celaeri as executed."

"Good point, Raeind. Now, how can I help you and the ladies?"

"We need to find a safe place. Lockwell came and went at whim in Dael. He would be looking for us to go to Eslenda to the protection of King Hal. Going to Cresida seems foolish since that's where the Celaeri would be. We cannot go back to Dael."

"Well, this is no sanctuary if Lockwell gets word you came this direction. I have very little skill with magic; hiding I can do, but fighting a wizard no. If he sends footpads I can still wield a blade."

"No. He would be more apt to send a Vlakan after us. I think there was one outside our camp a few nights ago."

"A Vlakan? It didn't attack?"