Dark One Rising(75)

He decided that he would go for a ride and cool off. It all of a sudden seemed hot and sticky in the room. He knew it was only the thoughts of her that were whetting his appetite, but losing control within the walls of the castle with all of Randor’s staff watching was dangerous to his cause. He wanted trust and loyalty, not suspicion. Taking a chambermaid for the night would only arouse questions that he didn’t want. A ride into town for a quick, rough tumble in bed would let him get by for a while longer. If he didn’t find Melenthia soon, his urges would turn into frustration, and he couldn’t be sure of what he would do. He had to play this how his master bade him to or it would not play out in his favor. He had to trust the Dark One. Soon, there would be time to celebrate victory.





CHAPTER 17


Brogan and his group of men traveled the main road out of Tarun toward the Danstrom Mountains. The guide he hired said the ride would be about two days to the base of the mountains, then another three up to the dwarf city of Yarden. It was not that far up, but the going was tough, steep and rugged, and getting to it wasn’t easy. Brogan had made sure that the group he hired were used to the rough terrain of the outdoors and who were in good enough shape to make the climb. There would still be some snow lingering in patches where there was no light, and it was a difficult and dangerous climb. Once getting to the city, they’d have to gain entrance inside, and that would prove just as tough. He hoped that the message Dain had given him would convince them to open the gates. The dwarves were a suspicious lot and always assumed everyone was after the treasures that were hidden deep inside the mountain.

The men packed light, just enough food and water to make the trip. They would eat only cold rations and make a fire only at night to keep them warm in the still cold nights in the high altitude. The horses would be able to make the trek up the mountain, but there were places too dangerous, and they would have to dismount and lead them up.

Brogan was lulled by the clip-clop of the horses hooves on the road, and he let his mind wander. He was going into unknown territory. Oh, men had been up the mountain pass many times, but no one intentionally went to Yarden. Most of the time they skirted around the city and went down the pass on the other side. The dwarves were gruff and didn’t take too kindly to unexpected visitors. And the storms that ran through in the high reaches of the mountain range were a death sentence for any man unlucky enough to get caught at the top. It was not a pleasure trip to be sure and if he didn’t feel he had a debt to pay, he wouldn’t be going either.

He looked at the men around him. Most of them were grizzled, tough sailors and retired warriors who had seen a lot in their lives. Some of them had volunteered for the money, a few of them just longed for another adventure. Any adventure. Brogan had only agreed because he owed Dain for saving his meager life, but maybe somewhere deep he felt things stirring that he couldn’t explain. Preparing the entire kingdom for what might be coming was a bold move, and he would support the king in any way he could. Going to bring a message to the dwarves was only the beginning of his loyalty. Dain was a good king, although perhaps a bit immature still, but the qualities were there and Brogan knew that when the time came Dain would prove himself. He knew that ages from now, people would remember King Dainard Llewelyn Grayson as a king for the people, a king for all ages.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by a voice behind him. He shifted his weight and turned sideways in the saddle to look where the men were pointing. There was a dark cloud heading toward them, but it wasn’t an ordinary cloud; like rain or snow, it was low to the ground, almost like fog, but darker. You couldn’t see through it. He didn’t think it was from the many horses and riders of an army, but looking again, the way it moved gave him pause that perhaps he was wrong. The horses started to stamp and neigh, and Brogan fought to keep his horse from bolting. Whatever was coming was spooking them, too.

Brogan finally got control of his steed and rode toward the back of the group, pulling in next to the rear guard. The guard had stopped and had his horse pointed to where they had just come.

“Something is moving this way. If we’re here when it reaches us, we’ll be in the middle of it, whatever it is.”

Brogan nodded. He rode forward again, to the very front of the train, and pulled his mount in beside the leader. “Something is coming our way, and fast. What does it look like to you, Bort?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s an army, at least not an army of men. The cloud is too big and too dark to be made by horses.”

“Giants?”