The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1) (8 page)

Hal turned to Elizabeth.

"Lockwell was right. Eslenda will burn with Edward as king. I have been reluctant to think about it, now I must act as the king and decide like a king and rule like a king. But first, I must get to Far Greening and solidify our power base."

"I am with you, Hal. I will do all I can to help you become the king Eslenda needs."

"Thank you, dear. This will change me, you know. I may become a different person by the time I'm done. Harder and colder. I saw it in my father. It's one of the reasons I was reluctant to become king, but now I must think of Eslenda."

"I know. We will follow that journey together."

"You give me strength."

"Kerreth! The Turucks have long departed from these parts," said Darkin Rost. The old Turuck spat the sand from his mouth. His rubbed his mahogany fingers over his teeth, rubbing away the grit. "Northward, I would guess. They left nothing of value behind."

"Where are they heading?" asked Gorm Talos. His dark green clothes hugged his lean frame. He was one of few Daerlan old enough to have graying hair although he was younger than the ageless Navir.

"I cannot guess," said Darkin Rost. He dug in a fire pit with his dagger. "I left my people behind a long time ago. They were no longer happy with their lot in life, but leaving their desert home would not be their choice. I believe Tag Makk no longer controls his own thoughts."

"The Menaloch?" asked Kerreth Veralier.

"I believe so. Dvorak, do you agree?"

"Ah, yes," said the fat mage, Dvorak Annis. "The Menaloch's taint is on this land. I can smell it and I can even taste it, foul that it is. I'll need some wine to purge the lingering bitterness." He began to search in his pack. "When we meet up with Blackthorne and Loric, I am sure they will agree with my assessment."

"Good," said Kerreth Veralier. "The Menaloch is our quarry and this time it will not elude us. We know its goal and how it travels."

"You sound like my brother," said Gorm Talos. "Just before the Menaloch killed him."

"I do not underestimate our foe," said Kerreth Veralier. "But I am determined to end its existence. You may be right; I should not get ahead of myself. This will be a long chase I fear. Tag Makk's army is very large and even our luck may not suffice against such odds."

"The Menaloch was one of the Jungeguds," said Gorm. "What can we do against it?"

"It is no longer a god, just the essence left behind when Cothos destroyed it. It is powerful, but not as powerful as it once was."

"It was strong enough to chase the Daerlan from Arda!" said Gorm. "Navir wants us to hunt it for him, but where is he? He is no longer king of the Daerlan and wanders Landermass sticking his nose in other people's business. He cannot call this Daerlan business; he left the Daerlan centuries ago."

"We follow you, Kerreth," said Moria Albalen. Her lithe shape approached from the shadows. Muted Daerlan features gave her a feral appearance. "You do not fail us."

"Don't give him a big head," said Taina Talos. "He needs to be able to find his brain in there."

"You are always so supportive, Taina," said Kerreth. "I wonder why that is."

"Love perhaps?" offered Moria.

"That is long dead history," said Taina. "It was centuries ago, there is no spark now. Why do you ask about that so often?"

"I wondered if Kerreth was my father," said Moria. She smiled at Kerreth and squeezed his arm.

"I told you before, Kerreth is not your father," said Taina.

"Never that clearly. Why won't you tell me who is my father, mother?"

"Lack of sense," said Gorm Talos. "Taina's decisions have always been questionable, and I should know, she's my niece. I witnessed most of her bad ones."

"Besides," said Dvorak Annis. "If Kerreth was your father you'd have some resemblance to him and you're far too beautiful for that. No sign of bowing in the legs, no tusks."

"You are ever the master of tact," said Gorm Talos. "It's not Kerreth's fault he's so plain. In fact, it might be what attracted Taina to him in the first place."

Taina Talos walked away from the conversation and began to sing to herself. Gorm covered his ears, shaking his head.

"Only Daerlan who can't carry a tune," he muttered.

Moria watched her mother ignore them. She sighed and sat in the dirt next to Darkin Rost. Kerreth patted her shoulder. She gripped his hand.

"You have no Zidar blood," said Kerreth. "I would not fail to notice that. In some ways, perhaps it is better you are not my daughter." He smiled at her. Kerreth stood just well over six feet tall and had large pale blue eyes. While not appearing fit the heavily muscled man was quite strong and agile and favored two identical swords; identical except for a blue gem in the hilt of his right one and a red gem in the hilt of the left one. His love of ale contributed to his soft mid-section and a wider girth than he needed. The chiseled looks of Loric were not Kerreth Veralier's, but he was content in who he was. He did have tusks protruding from his lower jaw and that added to his fierce appearance. Moria smiled back at him.

"Kerreth!" said Gorm. "No distractions now. Think with your brain, not your..oh, I can't believe you said that."

"I wish you would mind your own business, Great Uncle," said Moria. "Ancient revered one."

"Don't start that!"

"You did ask for it," said Taina.

"Am I alone here?" asked Gorm. "Am I defenseless?"

"We are all alone here," said Darkin sourly.

"Do you need help against women?" asked Hobart Hufflen. "That isn't what you said yesterday."

"Hobart! Stay out of this!" said Gorm.

"What did you say, uncle?" asked Taina.

"Yes, please elucidate," said Elberra Turan as she towered over Gorm. Her wings stirred up sand behind her.

"That's enough," said Kerreth. "We need to decide our next move."

The ladies moved away from Gorm, murmuring at him too low for Kerreth to hear. He knew they were a disciplined group and their verbal sparring helped break the tension of their missions. He witnessed it for thousands of years and it was as comfortable as a new pair of wool socks after a long trek in the wide world. No matter what the hardships he knew they would pull through and succeed. The Talos Company boasted of results no other could and therefore commanded the best contracts in terms of pay and task. They had no peer.

Kerreth Veralier, Captain of the Talos Company, led a small band of mercenaries specializing in rescues and in this situation, assassination. The Talos Company had been operating for thousands of years, founded by Altair Talos and his brother Gorm. Aside from the casual human or two, the membership through the years boasted long-lived creatures such as Daerlan, Zidar, Tuors, Anethean and those blessed with magic to extend their life. It was a practical requirement to keep the membership constant. Mortals die so rapidly and Kerreth could not determine how many generations of mortals had passed since he joined the Talos Company. Dvorak Annis was a mortal whose lifetime should have passed eons ago but for his magic. He was a mage of no distinction in a particular subject, but a student of all magic. He specialized in healing, deception and food. He spent all his spare time in the local inns sampling their wares. Blackthorne was a powerful sorcerer of wide repute, but did not share his knowledge with any body of magicians, not even with Dvorak Annis. What he knew he kept to himself.

Kerreth Veralier's heritage was part human, part Zidar, and the long life of that magical race sustained him nearly three millennia. The rest of the company consisted of Taina Talos, Gorm's niece, an Daerlan; Elberra Turan, an Anethean, blue skinned and winged; Taina's daughter, Moria Albalen, half human half Daerlan; Hobart Hufflen, a Tuor a tiny version of an Daerlan; Loric, a Man with Celaeri blood - the Celaeri long vanished into the shadow of history and Navir, former King of the Daerlan.

Loric and Blackthorne had scouted ahead while the others paid closer attention to the items the Turucks left behind. Most Turuck settlements were tent cities, able to pack up and move quickly. The Talos Company found many such sites, but were no closer to their quarry.

Several months ago, Navir had come to them with an offer from the Daerlan King Faelir, to pay handsomely for the destruction of the Menaloch. It was a creature that had thwarted Navir when he was king of the Daerlan ten thousand years ago and forced Navir to lead his people from their home of Arda on the continent of Anavar to their current home of Liannest on Amloth, across the sea. Navir did not want to discuss it, only delivered the offer and left the company to return to Amloth. His cryptic warnings about the powers of the Menaloch did little to dismay his colleagues. They were more intrigued and determined to find out about this creature that bettered Navir.

"Do you want to push on?" asked Darkin Rost. "Night falls fast and sandstorms often accompany the darkness."

"No, we will shelter here. Find a suitable place."

"There was a cave twenty yards to the east. For preserving food. Should suit us for the night."

"What about Loric and Blackthorne?" said Moria Albalen.

"They are coming," said Dvorak Annis. "Blackthorne was listening for me. I called them back."

"Good," said Kerreth. "Let's get the supplies down that cave before the sand storm finds us."

The edges of the storm reached them by the time the supplies were safely underground. The howling wind rose and the tapping of sand on the rocks filled their ears. They moved farther down the cave, only Hobart remained near the entrance watching for Blackthorne and Loric. The wind shifted and sand pelted into the cave. Hobart curled up into a tiny ball and watched. The others turned their backs to the entrance.

"They better get here quick," said Taina. "I'm for blocking the entrance now."

"Patience," said Kerreth. "Should only be a short while more."

"Here they are," said Hobart.

Two shapes entered the cave and helped Hobart block the entrance. They shook the sand from them and joined the others.

"No sign of the Turucks," said Loric. "Nothing as far north as we could see. They attacked Penarol City, but look to be gone now."

"I get no sense of them. I believe they have crossed the water," said Blackthorne.

"The sea?" asked Kerreth.

Blackthorne nodded.

"What is between us and the sea?"

"Penarol City," said Darkin Rost. "A free city and a trade hub. I do not like to speculate what happened when Tag Makk arrived."

"Destroyed?" asked Moria.

"They left ruins at every town so far. I do not believe they would spare the Penarols."

The storm roared over them and its noise drowned all sound. Blackthorne illuminated the cave with a faint green light. Each of them sat still, lost in their own thoughts. Elberra Turan shifted uncomfortably, her wings folded tightly around her. Moria patted her shoulder and smiled in the green light. Elberra's pointed teeth were bared in an Anethean smile. The storm raged on.

"Why do Men live in the desert?" asked Elberra. "How can they live?"

"The people who live in the desert keep moving, they don't settle in one spot," said Darkin Rost. "They trade for their supplies. There are many things in the desert that cannot be found anywhere else, such as unique minerals, plants, animals and so the desert people hunt for those items and bring them out of the desert to the cities."

"Penarol City is outside the desert?"

"Yes. It is a port city; very wealthy, much trade. It has been years since I visited and it will be good to see it again, I hope. But I know it is a foolish hope. Tag Makk will bring its pride down and if he was not in a hurry, I will be saddened to see the city now."

"Much of what we have seen troubles me," said Taina Talos. "Turucks have ever been war-like but seldom did they leave their territory. What is the Menaloch doing?"

"It has ever hated Daerlan," said Gorm. "I cannot remember the histories, but before you were born the Menaloch fought with Daerlan in Arda and Navir led them across the sea to Amloth."

"I remember that too," said Taina. "Navir should have told me more, but he was in a fey mood when he brought the contract. I have never seen him so."

"Nor I," said Kerreth. "I wonder if King Faelir even knows of our contract."

"You think Navir is acting on his own?" asked Gorm. "No one speaks for the King."

"Navir was king, once, and for thousands of years," said Kerreth. "Perhaps he thinks his authority still stands. I know King Faelir defers much to him. Navir may be obsessed with the Menaloch."

"Obsessed or not," said Moria. "The Menaloch is sending the Turucks to invade Amloth. We have more reason to carry out our mission. Masina has a small army. Eslenda has a larger one but would they be ready for such a war?"

"As soon as the storm ends, we will go directly to Penarol City. We must catch Tag Makk or more cities will be laid waste. It is our responsibility to end this terror. Do we agree?"

"Aye," said Gorm.

"Aye," said the others.

"This will prove to be our most difficult task yet," said Blackthorne.

"You have a vision?" asked Dvorak Annis.

"Not a clear vision, a foreboding and its icy grip are upon me. It has never failed to warn me of danger."

"Yes, we know," murmured Taina. "You often remind us."

"Then be reminded," said Blackthorne. "Do not denigrate my talent."

"Gods forbid," said Moria. "When do you let us?"

"Kerreth, must you allow this attack upon my person?"

"Blackthorne, if you cannot endure the teasing without anger after all these years, how can I stop them from attacking? Only you can cease the darts they throw at you. Now, if you would all be silent, I will nap before we start out."

The storm still howled as they quieted.

"Sleep, I even like the sound of the word," said Loric.

"A little less words," said Blackthorne.

"Put a lid on it," said Kerreth.

"Shall I sing a lullaby?" asked Taina.

"NO!" came the chorus.