Dark One Rising(154)

“I hope she’s alright.”

Alek reached across and touched Kevaan on the shoulder. “She’ll be fine. Sol is an adept sorcerer and from what I felt from Tomaz, I know she will be safe. They will train her with everything she needs to take down Fallon and his army.”

“How did this happen? How did we lose control of our kingdom so easily?”

“Security. Things have been peaceful among our realms for millennia. We were secure in that fact and dropped our guard.”

“No longer. If we don’t stop Fallon before his troops move across the entire kingdom we’ll be destroyed. Maybe time is what matters. Maybe you should go back now. I’ll take the men. I will be safe with them.”

Alek glanced at the other men and smiled. “I don’t doubt the strength or their adequate training, but I won’t feel secure until I see you escorted safely myself. I and these men are not enough of a cortege for a king, but, under the circumstances, it’ll have to be. I won’t lose you, my friend.”

“I learned long ago not to argue with you. You’re as stubborn as Melenthia.”

Alek smiled at that. “I take that as a compliment. Let’s get you home before you have no home to get to.”

“Here, here.”

When they reached the Valley of Echoes, they changed course slightly and found a place to stop for the night. Once the sun was barely above the horizon, they set out again. They traveled all day and stopped only to refill their water bladders and water the horses. They ate on the road and slept little. It took three weeks to reach Charbonneau, and except for a small skirmish of bandits on the outskirts of the city, their travel was uneventful. Fallon’s troops seemed to be holing up for awhile to prepare for war. With a throne to sit on, Alek was not surprised that Fallon was taking his time now, and suspected that he felt confident enough that he wouldn’t lose his place in the immediate future. He was arrogantly enjoying the victory, if only for a while.

Alek stayed only one night in Kevaan’s estate, enough to sleep a little and refill his supplies. The men who had escorted them would stay with Kevaan and offer added assistance. Kevaan was not happy with Alek’s solo departure, and at night, but did not argue with his friend. Alek had been a Bounty Hunter way too long for Kevaan to question his decisions. Alek had been traveling this kingdom for almost two decades and knew the back roads and the woods better than anyone. He would blend in, disappear, move through the kingdom like a ghost, unseen, unnoticed.

Kevaan took a few minutes to say his farewells to his oldest friend and wished him a safe and speedy journey. He knew the next time they saw each other it would be in the heat of battle, and it saddened him, but knew neither could change it. They embraced, and Alek mounted his new destrier. “Is there anything I should tell your sister?”

“Only that I love her.”

He nodded to his friend and turned his mount to exit under the gate and out onto the road. Kevaan said a silent prayer as he watched Alek ride away, then went into the house to eat and sleep. Tomorrow the real work would begin.





CHAPTER 35


Brogan and his party dismounted in the outer bailey of the Keep a couple of hours before dark. The gray sky had been threatening rain all day, and although there were a few spatterings here and there, the sky had not yet opened up. The gray clouds were heavy and hid the sun, causing the cold to settle in. He was afraid the darkness was finally upon them.

He was anxious to get some warm food and some blood warming ale, and he was looking forward to greeting his king again. He was very happy to be down from that mountain, with its narrow switchbacks and precarious ledges. He wanted to kiss the solid flat earth of the bailey, but thought it better to remain stalwart.

A page from the guard tower led the tired and dirty men from the bailey into the castle to Dain’s war room. When the door opened and the page entered, Dain was bent over some maps and papers strewn everywhere across the large table. There were two other men in the room with him, men who Brogan didn’t know.

Dain looked over his shoulder at the new company and turned to greet them. He approached Brogan first, sticking out his hand for him to shake. Brogan took it, then bowed to him.

Dain brushed the gesture off. “There will be none of that formality here, my friend. Welcome home.” They embraced.

“It’s good to be back. I can’t tell you how glad I am to be on level ground again. And those tunnels inside the mountain…” He shivered. “I’ll take the open air of the sea if you please.”

Dain laughed and looked at the men joining him. Brogan introduced them. “This is Bort Waldron, my very knowledgeable guide and his man, Baird. If not for them, I would be wandering around that God forsaken mountain still, or dead.”