Adventurers Wanted, Book 4: Sands of Nezza (24 page)

“I came because my friend Skeld sent me a message, asking for my help,” said Alex, nodding at Skeld. “It was lucky chance that I found Rallian in the tower above the dungeons because I was not looking for him. Having heard something of Magnus before I arrived in Karmus, I thought it best not to leave Rallian behind.”

“Lucky for us all, then,” said Talbot.

“I know what some of you are thinking,” said Rallian, looking at Talbot and then around at the others in the room. “I myself had doubts and fears when I first learned that Master Taylor was a wizard. I have heard the same stories as you all have, and my only experience with magic was with the evil Magnus. But I will tell you all freely that I know Master Taylor is true and good. Twice he has saved me from evil, and I would trust him with my life at any time.”

“Well spoken, my lord,” said Talbot. “We can see your trust and have heard your tale. Now we should rest and consider all that we have both seen and heard.”

Rallian bowed slightly to Talbot, accepting his words. Talbot smiled at the honor and then said good night and left the room.

Servants arrived to lead Alex and his companions to the rooms that had been prepared for them. Rallian and Alex each had a room to themselves, while the others were settled two to a room. Alex thanked the servant that led him to his own room, and then he closed the door and made his way to bed.

Alex was up before sunrise the next morning, and he easily found his way to a garden that was planted on the castle’s eastern side. He walked between the blooming flowers, pondering the future. Once Rallian made his claim on the kingdom, war was certain. Perhaps the war would be short, but Lazar would not give up without a fight.

“You wake early,” Annalynn said, startling Alex out of his thoughts. “You walk as one who is deeply troubled, but you seem too young to know such troubles.”

“I know many things,” said Alex. “Including the troubles of men.”

“And do you know what the people of Talbas think of you?” Annalynn asked, a slight hint of fear and perhaps a challenge in her voice.

Alex smiled, even though Annalynn’s directness was surprising.

“They fear me. Magic has always been something dark to them, so they are afraid.”

“It is more than fear,” Annalynn said. “They think you have enchanted Rallian and will use him for your own purposes.”

“And what do you think?” Alex asked.

“I do not know,” Annalynn answered. “I know nothing of magic, only that the stories seem larger than reality would allow.”

“Magic can be a powerful thing,” said Alex. “Even in this land, where it is mostly forgotten.”

“So you claim,” said Annalynn, a tone of disbelief in her voice.

“You do not believe in magic, then?” Alex asked.

“I believe what I have seen, not what old women say they’ve heard,” answered Annalynn defiantly.

“And you would see some magic before you believe in it,” said Alex.

“If you are what you claim to be—if you are a true wizard—prove it,” said Annalynn.

“What proof do you ask? What magic could I perform to convince you of what I am?”

“Call back my mother so I can talk with her again,” said Annalynn without hesitation.

“Your mother is beyond the wall,” said Alex, surprised by Annalynn’s request. “No spell of magic can bring back the dead. At most I could call back a shadow of your mother, but it would be dangerous to do so.”

“Dangerous to whom?” Annalynn asked.

“To you
and
to me,” said Alex. “The living are in the world of light, the dead in the world of shadows. The two worlds should not be mixed.”

“Real wizards would not be concerned with danger,” said Annalynn, but her voice sounded unsure.

“Real wizards know better than to mix the living and the dead,” said Alex. “Real wizards do not willingly harm others or take unneeded risks. Once, not long ago, I faced a wizard that was not afraid of mixing the dead with the living. I was forced to destroy him so the living and the dead could both be free.”

“So you say,” answered Annalynn, turning to go.

“A moment,” said Alex, seeing how unhappy and troubled Annalynn was. “Perhaps a little magic would help you to believe.”

As Annalynn turned around, Alex bent down and picked up a rock off the ground. He held the rock tightly in his hand, focusing on the image he could see in Annalynn’s mind. For a moment there was no noise at all, no wind, no birds, nothing. The moment passed, and Alex held out his hand to Annalynn. The rock was no longer a rock but a perfect cameo of Annalynn’s mother, white on a deep blue background.

Annalynn’s hand trembled as she reached out to take the cameo. She looked stunned and unsure as she lifted it from Alex’s hand. It seemed that she could not speak, but then she found her voice.

“How . . . how did you know? How did you know what she looked like?”

“I did not,” said Alex. “I was the maker, but the image came from you.”

Annalynn looked at him as if she wanted to ask another question, but her voice failed her once more.

“Go now,” said Alex. “The day brings many things, and already the lords of Talbas are stirring.”

Annalynn smiled weakly, and then she ran from the garden clutching the gift he had given her. It was a small thing, but Alex thought that it was needed. Annalynn would be more believing, and perhaps not so quick to judge what a true wizard would and would not do.

Stonebill swept through the garden and landed on Alex’s shoulder.

“Where have you been?” Alex asked.

“Looking, listening,” said Stonebill. “Rallian will make his claim today, I think, and Talbot and his sons will support his claim.”

“One small kingdom among many,” said Alex, walking toward the castle. “But it’s a start.”

Alex met Virgil and his company on their way to breakfast and happily went with them. Rallian and Talbot were not in the great hall, so Colesum sat in his father’s chair, presiding over the meal. After they had eaten, Colesum told Virgil that his father had prepared payment for the company and had granted Colesum the honor of overseeing the payment in his father’s place.

“You should come with us,” Virgil said to Alex as they stood to leave. “Half of the payment is yours, as we all agreed.”

“I have no place in this bargain,” said Alex. “We will settle later. Besides, you and your company have other things to discuss. You must decide what path you will take, now that your adventure is complete.”

“But—” Virgil began but stopped. “As you wish.”

Alex left the castle, returning to the garden where he could think. He wandered for a time, trying to relax his mind, but his thoughts always returned to his questions. What now? What next? Who will join Rallian and who will fight against him? What will the Brotherhood do once Rallian makes his claim? Would they interfere at all, or wait and see how the other kingdoms reacted before acting themselves? It was a puzzle with too many missing pieces, and it annoyed him the more he thought about it.

At midday, a servant approached him nervously, asking him to join Talbot and Rallian in the great hall. Alex had known that this request was coming, and he tried to force his own questions out of his mind. Answers would come with time, and his worrying would not make the answers come any sooner.

The great hall was filled with all the nobles of Talbas, some of whom Alex guessed must have arrived just that morning. Rallian was sitting at the high table next to Talbot, and he looked happy but nervous. Alex found a place to stand at the back of the great hall.

“My lords,” said Talbot, rising from his seat and speaking loudly. “My lords, hear me. The day that we have all hoped for has arrived.”

The crowd grew silent, and all eyes turned toward Rallian.

“Prince Rallian has asked to address you,” Talbot said. “He wishes to speak on a matter that is close to all of us.”

Rallian rose from his seat and bowed respectfully to Talbot, then turned to face the waiting crowd. Alex could see expectant and excited looks on most of the faces, and worried looks on a few.

“My lords of the north,” said Rallian, looking around the room. “After much thought and long hours of discussion with the noble Lord Talbot, I have something to tell you. As you all know, Nezza has been without a true king for many years. We have all suffered because of this, though some have suffered more than others. Many men have made claims, but none have worn the crown. Now I, Rallian of Karmus, prince of the noble line, make my claim. I offer myself to you, as your king, your protector, and your servant.”

“How say you men of the north?” Talbot called out once Rallian had finished speaking.

“Hail, King Rallian!” a thousand voices answered, shaking the dust from the rafters of the great hall. “Hail the true king of Nezza!”

Alex was shocked by this vocal show of support for Rallian’s claim. He had expected Talbot to support Rallian, but he’d thought that most of the nobles would need persuading of one kind or another. It appeared that all the nobles of Talbas were firmly behind Rallian, and Alex watched as each of the lords in turn swore his loyalty to Rallian as king of Nezza.

“My lord?” said a servant as Alex turned to leave the hall. “King Rallian asks that you join him in the council chamber.”

“As the king wishes,” said Alex.

Alex followed the servant out of the great hall and into a smaller room. Virgil and his company were already there, waiting for Rallian and the lords of Talbas. Alex nodded to them as he entered, but he did not speak. Rallian soon appeared with Talbot and several of the other nobles.

“Now to plan,” said Rallian, a serious look on his face. “Lazar will not have been idle since my escape, and I fear he will attack before we are prepared to meet him.”

“I’ve already sent messengers to Lords Caftan and Shelnor,” said Talbot. “Theirs are the closest kingdoms.”

“Will they join us?” Rallian asked.

“Yes,” Talbot answered without hesitation. “Lords Caftan and Shelnor joined with me in hiring the adventurers who rescued you.”

“Very well,” said Rallian. “I will remember their kindness.”

Rallian paused for a moment and then turned to Alex. “Master Taylor, you have led me from the dungeons, and your plans have always been for the best. Can you advise me on what to do now that my claim as king has been made?”

“Assemble your army,” said Alex. “March south to meet Lazar’s forces before they can reach these northern lands.”

“Open warfare, then,” said Rallian, looking pained by the idea.

“Lazar will not surrender to you,” Alex pointed out. “His troops may not love him, but they know no other master. If you meet them in force and declare yourself, perhaps they will join with you. At the very least, you must not allow them to destroy the lands that are loyal to you.”

“Your wisdom is sound,” said Talbot. “And if we can hold Lazar’s forces in place, or drive them back, other kingdoms may choose to join us.”

“All of the lords of Nezza should be given the chance to join you without war,” said Alex. “Some may join gladly, others reluctantly. Some may choose to join Lazar or remain uncommitted. You will do well to remember which lords do what, and reward them or punish them accordingly.”

“How soon can the army be gathered and move south?” Rallian asked Talbot.

“We can leave from Talbas in two days’ time,” answered Talbot. “Two thousand warriors will march with us. A thousand more are already in Dunnmara. Once word goes out, the entire army will gather wherever you command. We should be at full strength in a week or ten days.”

“Dunnmara holds the main roads from the south and east,” said Rallian thoughtfully. “Send word for the army to gather at Dunnmara.”

“Lord Talbot, how large is the army?” Alex asked.

“No fewer than ten thousand men from Talbas and the lands I control,” said Talbot. “I should think we will be closer to twelve thousand before the ten days are over. Caftan and Shelnor will bring at least seven thousand men each from their kingdoms as well.”

“What are you thinking, my friend?” Rallian asked.

“That Lazar will not attack Lord Talbot’s lands first,” said Alex. “He knows that Lord Talbot has a large army at his command, so he may seek to destroy the smaller kingdoms that support Lord Talbot, and you, King Rallian.”

“That is true,” said Talbot. “Lazar has never risked open war here in the north. Both Caftan’s and Shelnor’s kingdoms are closer and easier for him to get to. He could attack them sooner and not have to haul his supplies over the mountains.”

“Yes,” agreed Rallian, considering this new information. “Send word to Caftan and Shelnor to gather their armies at the gap of Luthan. It is the most likely place for Lazar to enter either of their lands. We will meet them there. If Lazar is there ahead of us, we will cross the mountains and come up behind him. If not, we will join forces and march on Karmus from there.”

“A cunning plan,” said Talbot. “It shall be as you command.” He bowed and then left the room.

“Now, for other matters,” said Rallian, looking at Virgil and his company. “My friends, what will you do now that your adventure has found success?”

“King Rallian,” said Virgil, approaching Rallian and bowing. “I speak for my company, and we have decided on our course. We will serve you until your throne is secure. Only when that is done will our adventure have found its true success.”