The Lion's Crown (The Emberlyn Chronicles Book 1), page 14
So far, no more attackers had approached her and Owen. She knew what this meant: they had recognized them as the weakest of the party. Once they killed Faric and the knights, they would take the two of them captive. Penny brought the knife blade up toward Owen’s neck. His eyes were still closed, and she was glad of that. He wouldn’t see what she was about to do.
She looked up at Faric one last time, hoping to see him slay all his enemies in a flurry of motion, but his back was bowed, and he was panting heavily.
“Now, Penny,” she heard Sir William say between grunts as he held back the Dourosh as best he could. “We’re finished.”
As he spoke the words, the ravine was bathed in a white light. She had to turn away from it, and when she looked back, dozens of men in silver armor were descending upon the Dourosh, moving with the same kind of speed Faric had displayed.
Almost before she knew what was happening, all the Dourosh nearest them were on the ground, slain. Silver armor shone all around her as their rescuers spread out, striking down the fleeing enemy.
Penny realized her blade was still at Owen’s throat, and she dropped it as her stomach heaved. She vomited onto the ground next to her then leaned heavily against her brother, sobbing.
“Penny?” Owen asked. “Sad?”
She could not answer him. She felt a hand on her shoulder but shrugged it away. It returned, and she looked up at Sir William. “It’s over, Penny. We’ve been saved.”
Owen was squirming, and she let him get up. William helped her to her feet, and she wiped her eyes as he held her lightly around the waist, making sure she wouldn’t collapse. The silver-armored men were standing around them in a loose circle. As her vision cleared, she realized that some of them were women. This strange detail brought her back to the present moment, and she looked around to see that Faric and Sir Stephen were also still alive.
Faric approached one of the soldiers. By the gold trim on his armor, she decided he was their commander. They spoke for a moment in a language she could not understand before Faric turned back toward them and nodded. “It is still not safe here. We march through the night and do not stop until daylight. It will be safer to rest then. We will reach the city of Lanion in three days.”
“One moment,” Sir William said. He bent down and retrieved Penny’s knife. She pushed it away as he tried to hand it to her, but he pressed it back into her palm. “Nothing was done that you must be ashamed of,” he whispered. “You showed more bravery than some knights I’ve known.”
She took the knife, and as she held it, William wiped the blade clean with a cloth he’d pulled from his belt. It seemed an almost intimate act, and his closeness made her chest tighten. She slid the knife back into its sheath and took a few deep breaths. “I’m all right now,” she said.
William smiled at her. “We’re ready, Faric,” he said. “Lead the way.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Lanion
They marched west, toward the mountains they had seen when they’d first entered the valley. They eventually came to a river, and a question to Faric confirmed that it was the same one that had its source at the fountain where they’d spent the night. Both Penny and Sir William had many more questions for Faric, but he deflected most of them, saying that it was now up to Queen Anneli to tell them what they wanted to know. They couldn’t even get him to tell them how the soldiers had found them so quickly.
Over the next three days, Penny estimated that she slept no more than ten hours altogether. They made camp to sleep in the mornings but were back on their feet well before noon. Any breaks they had lasted fifteen minutes at the most.
They made steady progress toward the mountains, climbing higher and higher, and finally reached a pass between two of the peaks. It went south through the mountains, and at its entrance stood a watchtower. The soldiers inside let them pass without challenge, and once they were past it, they stepped onto a wide paved road. Behind the tower was a stable, and twenty horses were brought out as the captain and Faric began shouting orders.
There were only enough horses for a third of the silver-armored soldiers, and Penny felt a wave of relief when she realized that some of the horses were for her, Owen and the knights. They left most of the soldiers behind to walk as they rode into the pass with Faric, the captain and fourteen of his men.
Sir William was leading Owen’s horse, leaving Penny free to control her mount. She took the horse close to the side of the wide road and looked up at the sheer wall of stone. She was certain it had been carved, but long ago. It was worn and crumbling in places. Still, those walls extended as far as she could see. While there may have been a natural pass here at one time, this road had been cut through the mountains. It was flat and straight, and the paving stones themselves were well maintained. She didn’t see any wheel ruts like those in the older sections of the Peat Road. She’d been to Reevesby once and had seen how the stone slabs, as hard as they were, could be worn away over time. These stones were clearly old, but they were worn evenly, keeping the road smooth.
In the afternoon, the road began to descend, and ahead she could see that the carven stone wall angled to the right. They reached the turn near sunset, and as they rounded the corner and once again faced west, she let out an audible gasp. A stone wall stretched across the end of the pass, but an open gate stood at its center, giving them a glimpse of what was beyond. Laid out before them was a gleaming city of white marble. The river, which they had lost sight of as they’d entered the mountains, snaked in from their left and cut the city in two. The road they were on continued down the right bank of the river, and where the river curved back toward the left was a palace larger than anything she could have ever imagined.
“Granisle,” she said to William. “Is it like that?”
William shook his head. “Granisle Castle would fit inside that palace four times over.”
They passed through the gate, and Penny turned her attention to the people walking along the road. Like Faric and the soldiers, they all had horns above their temples. Some of them were little more than knobs while others were curved and pointed. Some of the longer horns were capped in silver or gold, and still others had been painted in bright colors.
Above all, she was struck by the great beauty of the people. She saw no signs of disease, no pock-marked skin, no twisted backs, no warts or boils. Even the horns were beautiful in their own way, she decided.
Aside from that, they seemed completely normal. There were street vendors with their customers, craftsmen at work inside their shops, people eating meals inside taverns, playing games, talking and laughing.
But the interest was not all on her side; their party drew attention from the people of Lanion as well. They spoke to one another in their strange tongue as she, Owen and the knights passed. More than once she saw someone point then gesture toward the horns on their head.
The silver-armored soldiers were positioned to keep the people at a distance, but no one approached as they made their way toward the palace. When they finally reached the palace gates, they were let in as easily as they’d been let past the watchtower at the entrance to the pass. They were expected.
Penny tried to take in every detail of her surroundings as they dismounted and were led into the palace itself. They entered a cavernous, pillared chamber. Every wall and pillar was carved with pictures and symbols, and Penny had to be gently prodded along by Sir William as she slowed to gaze up at them. From what she could see, she decided that the carvings told stories, perhaps of these people’s ancestors.
Finally, they were brought to a halt in front of a large doorway at the end of the vaulted gallery. Faric said something to the captain, and he and his soldiers turned and walked back across the great hall.
“Through this door,” Faric said, “Queen Anneli awaits. You are to bow when you enter.”
He pushed open the doors, and before lowering her eyes, Penny got a glimpse of a circular chamber. At one end was a throne, and seated upon it was a woman who could only be the queen. She looked to be around forty years old, but her eyes hinted at wisdom well beyond those years. Her horns were not knobby like Faric’s but pointed. Ornate, vine-like carvings ran along them, and Penny wondered if this was a mark of her office; none of the other people she’d seen had carved horns.
Owen remained standing, grinning, in spite of Penny’s best efforts to get him to bow.
“It’s quite all right,” Anneli said, standing. Her tight, emerald-colored dress pooled near her feet as she rose up from the throne.
Faric walked up to the queen, dropped to a knee and took her hand in his. He kissed the ring on her finger. “Your Majesty. Thank you for saving our lives.” He introduced Penny and the others then stood waiting as the queen studied their faces.
Anneli nodded and gestured toward a side door. “Come. We will be more comfortable there.”
She began walking, and Penny wondered how she kept herself from tripping on her dress. She moved as effortlessly as the rest of them as she led them into a small room where ten padded chairs were arranged in a circle around a low table. On the table were trays of fresh food and crystal pitchers of what looked like wine.
“You must be hungry,” she said. “Please, eat and drink your fill.”
Penny, Owen and the knights descended upon the food, but Faric ate sparingly as the queen looked on. After a few minutes, he wiped his mouth and looked up at her. “You sent your palace guard to save us… it must have cost you a great deal.”
“It did. But I could not risk these people falling into the hands of the Dourosh.”
Sir William looked at her questioningly. “What did it cost you?”
“You no doubt saw that flash of light before the palace guard arrived,” Faric answered.
“I thought it was a distraction; I have heard of powders that ignite in such a way.”
“My guard arrived through the light,” Anneli said. “But the magic capable of sending people from one place to another in the blink of an eye is exceedingly rare.” She looked at Faric. “You are correct about the cost. The crystal shattered after I cast the spell. I cannot use it again.”
“Crystal?” Sir Stephen asked. “I’m afraid we don’t understand.”
Faric frowned at the queen. “I have not explained much to them. I… I felt it best to leave it to you. I did not want to speak out of turn.”
Anneli smiled. “Very well.” She looked at Sir Stephen. “The Great Forest is infused with magic. Some can draw on it to a certain extent, but it requires a person with a special affinity to perform truly extraordinary feats. There has not been a person such as that since the time of King Lanioc himself. After the betrayal of Dourok, Lanioc set about capturing useful spells inside of crystals. For two thousand years we have used those crystals sparingly, only when absolutely necessary, for once they are spent, they cannot be replenished. I feared the crystal which sent my soldiers to you was nearly depleted, and I was correct.”
“But those crystals have helped ensure our victory over the Dourosh time and time again,” Faric said. “Without Lanioc’s foresight, we might have fallen centuries ago.”
“And how did you know that we needed help?” asked Penny.
“Remote sight is not that difficult even for people with a low affinity for magic, providing one intimately knows the person one wishes to see.” She looked at Faric and smiled. “It is an exhausting spell, however.”
Sir William was cradling a wine goblet, gazing into the purple liquid. “We thank you for sparing our lives, but… does this mean we are to end up like him?” He looked up at Owen.
Anneli frowned. “Did Faric explain that?”
“He did.”
“Yes,” Anneli said. “If you leave the Great Forest with your intellect intact, Dourok will seek you out with his mind. My people are more resistant to his corruption, and those of us who are the most resilient help protect those who might be swayed. But the minds of your people are weak. Not through any fault of your own, simply through the caprices of nature.” She touched one of her horns. “Some believe these have something to do with it.”
“Perhaps we could stay, then,” Penny said. “We could remain here under your protection.”
Anneli furrowed her brow. “It’s not possible. The ward surrounding the Great Forest keeps the Dourosh inside. You will be safer if you are returned to your homes. Even if you remained here in the city of Lanion, there is a chance the Dourosh would find some way to get to you; they have infiltrated the city before. No, we cannot take the risk, not with the enemy as active as they have been of late.”
Penny looked at her brother. “So when… when will you do that to us?”
Anneli sighed. “There is no great hurry. You will be escorted out, but first we must make sure the path is safe. That will give you a chance to rest and come to terms with it. If you like, I can temporarily reverse the spell on your brother and give you some time with him.”
Penny’s eyes grew wet. “Faric said you could do that. And it would make him normal again? I could speak to him?”
“Yes. If you like.”
Penny nodded.
“Very well,” said Anneli. “I am sorry for this. Everything has been done to prevent your people from entering the Great Forest, but nothing is infallible.”
“We knew there would be risks when we entered,” said Sir William. “We thank you for your kindness thus far.”
Anneli stood. “It is my pleasure. Stay here and eat as long as you like.” She held her hand out to Faric, who took it and also stood. “Come, brother. We have much to discuss.”
Penny met Sir William’s eyes as the two departed. “They are brother and sister?” she said after they had gone.
“It would seem so.”
“Would that not make him a prince? Why would a prince live in the wilderness keeping watch for the Dourosh?”
“Their ways are not our ways.” He reached over and put his hand on hers. “I’m certain we will learn more in the time that is allowed us. For now, let us eat and rest. Let’s rebuild our strength so we can appreciate the splendors of this great city. Even though I cannot take what I learn back to the king, I want to know all I can before our minds are enfeebled.”
“No sense for diplomacy,” Sir Stephen grumbled. “Would we treat them the same way?”
“If horned men came out from the Hobswood,” Sir William said, frowning, “I can assure you our welcome would be much less hospitable. But we still might have some opportunity to change the queen’s mind. Let’s remain pleasant guests so as not to squander that chance should it arise.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Braedok’s Battle
Their meal did not last long. There was a commotion in the throne room, and they rushed out of the side chamber to find Queen Anneli, Faric and the captain of the royal guard speaking in excited tones.
“Your Majesty,” said Sir William, “may we be of service?”
“No… but you may observe if you wish. Come.”
She turned the other way. There was a second side chamber off the throne room, opposite the one where they’d been eating, and they followed her inside. One wall had a niche carved into it, and hanging from the ceiling of this niche were twenty or more crystals like the one that had been in Faric’s hideaway. One of the crystals was spinning and casting its red light.
“That means Dourosh are near?” Penny asked.
Queen Anneli shook her head. “Not near here. This is called a sentinel crystal. It is paired with another somewhere in the Great Forest, as are all of these. From here I can monitor the general movements of the Dourosh.”
Faric leaned forward. “This crystal… it’s the one carried by General Braedok!”
Anneli reached out and brushed her finger against it. “Yes.” She turned to the other wall, which held a mirror of polished metal. “He may be under attack. I must see what’s happening.”
The queen focused her attention on the mirror, and a shiver went down Penny’s spine. The queen was going to cast the remote sight spell she’d mentioned. She was going to see real magic.
Her shoulders slumped when the queen didn’t do anything remarkable. She only stood with her eyes closed, one hand held toward the mirror. But the mirror was changing. The reflection of the room was being replaced by cloudy images. The clouds dissipated, and they were looking at a handsome man in armor even finer than the captain’s. He held a sword aloft, and his head was turned to one side as he yelled an order to his men.
Penny, William and Sir Stephen let out sighs of amazement. The queen rotated her hand slightly, and the scene shifted, as though they were walking around the general. Behind him was a half-made camp, still just visible in the dying sunlight. A line of soldiers next came into view, then another. Racing up a slope toward them was a horde of Dourosh.
Penny watched in horror as the much larger force clashed with the general’s men, but her heartbeat slowed as she saw that the soldiers were far more skilled than their enemy and began striking them down, suffering few casualties themselves.
“Their main advantage is in numbers,” the queen said, as though reading Penny’s thoughts. “They breed at a remarkable rate, and I believe Dourok has found some spell to unnaturally hasten that process. Even when they are born, the Dourosh seem to mature quickly. They are sent into the field as soon as they can wield a weapon.”
“Why not wipe the devils out?” Sir Stephen asked.
“You think we have not tried?” Faric said. “Every generation has tried. But as long as Dourok himself remains alive, hidden, we cannot end this war.”
The queen let out a breath, and they turned their attention back to the mirror. Another wave of Dourosh had burst from the woods on General Braedok’s left flank. A fresh line of his soldiers appeared in the frame, supporting the flank and driving the enemy back into the woods. The sunlight was almost gone now, and Anneli made a gesture with her hands which somehow brightened the scene they were watching.
