Meuric (30 page)

XLV

Petros gazed out of the window from one of the front rooms of the Travelers' Inn, feeling a lot more comfortable now he was once again fully armed and armoured. From his vantage point he could see Rabi'a's War Band Commander quickly stomp his way across the open ground from Theirn's home and official office of power, like a man set on a mission. He watched him slow his pace all of a sudden to come to a complete stop, as his eyes searched to the west. He continued on having not found what he was searching for. The Knight Captain wondered if Rainier had felt the same sudden presence as he had; an unexpected manifestation of incredible power, specifically one of dark energy. A second presence touched him then before he could investigate further.

We are with you, Petros. Meuric and I are coming to you. We have much to discuss.

The voice had belonged to Radha, Knight Protector of Kel'akh. The original plan was to meet with her in the Open Folly between Gab'ee and the free Kel'akh territories. To have her leave her guardianship and travel to lands outside her remit on pain of death, implied that something major must have happened. He feared all of a sudden for those all left behind at Wardens Keep, especially for Laban and Zuleika, the two people he loved most in the world. And then there was Meuric… He knew that twice now the former Knight Protector had saved the boy from death. Was there to be a third time shortly? Was that why he was coming?

Rainier was almost at the Travelers' Inn now and so Petros left the spartan decorated room and walked out onto the hallway coming to a rest where he had a clear view of the entranceway. He nodded to his team of troopers whom he had placed as added protection. Three of them were downstairs and two were up on the same level as he. The doors were opened by the Rabi'a guards positioned at the entrance and in strode Rainier, his face dark and troubled. He nodded to his men, acknowledging their brisk salutes.

“Commander,” called Petros from the balcony. “Up here.”

Theirn looked to the sound of his voice. He found the Knight Captain leaning against the railings of the upper floor, looking down and watching him intently. The area on the ground floor was open-plan, as was the case with all of the Travelers' Inns. Unless a private room had been reserved this was where customers dining out would eat and drink, and on occasion, fight.

Petros watched him scan the area noting that three of his troopers sat at different tables, their backs against a wall and all facing the door. Other tables and chairs remained empty and set exactly where they should be, except for where the Roz'eli soldiers had tipped them over when dragging the Jay'keb family and their retinue outside. The Innkeeper could be heard moving around in the back rooms out of sight, trying to get his home and business back in order.

Rainier bounded up the stairs two at a time and stepped before Petros, openly examining him. Though he wore the clothes of a Kel'akh warrior and carried foreign weaponry which implied that he was an imported hireling, there was something in his manner that suggested he was anything but. He looked more like a professional soldier. Petros could tell that was what he was thinking.

The Knight Captain's skin was dark and his eyes were a deep shade of brown. He was slightly heavier set and shorter than the men in Kel'akh, though it was obvious that his build was powerful. His armour was of toughened leather and appeared to be of excellent quality. The weapons that he carried were all of E'del design. A kopis sword of his homeland sat sheathed at his waist. A heavy dagger sat on the opposite side. A small tied bag was also tied to his waist and Rainier recognised this to be a sling along with a number of stones. His doru spear and hoplon shield had been set down to lean against the railings. A leather helm rested under his arm.

Petros understood that to look at him was to see someone who exuded professionalism. He was strong and proud, powerfully built with a serious disposition and at ease with commanding. He had been a Knight Captain for many years now, a veteran campaigner of hundreds of battles, wars, skirmishes and all things military. He was comfortable with who he was, confident in his ability to lead and a formidable warrior.

Petros looked at the War Band Commander and instantly recognised a kindred spirit. A man who took his authority seriously, thought about the welfare of the people below him constantly, but always remembered that the mission came first.

With the boy Abram some distance away the magick from the Cup-of-Plenty once again filled his soul and he revelled in it deeply. The moment he realised that his abilities were gone, when in the close proximity of Abram, had frightened him almost beyond words. He took a breath.

“We have not been formally introduced,” said the Knight Captain. He held out his arm. “I am Petros of E'del.”

Rainier took the arm. They grasped wrist-to-wrist. “Well met, Petros.”

“Well met, Rainier.”

Petros's mind filtered unbidden back to his vulnerability. It was not that he had almost died in the village. Over the decades he had almost been killed on countless occasions and he knew that one day his luck would run out. He had understood that when he took up the post originally as a Knight Protector that he would never die of old age. Even with all the abilities and skills that they possessed, they still died in battle and usually quite violently. It was just that he felt so weak and powerless without the use of his Gifts. It was a totally foreign experience and one he hoped never to repeat again. But that was what scared him the most. As long as he had to protect the boy he knew that it was going to happen again and again. And when it came down to it Petros wondered just how effective he would be when having to fight for the child without the aid of his Gifts? Not very effective at all, he decided, judging by the ease of capture by the Rabi'a War Band.

He looked down onto the ground level, his mind searching for a distraction. The swordsmen Iacchus and Jabez had been set down there with the mage Nathan positioned in the middle. There was little point in keeping the Kel'akh man of magick upstairs where his magick would not work when too close to Abram. Upstairs, it was the archers Gabija and Kaan who guarded the landings.

Petros looked at the War Band Commander. He had to admit he was impressed by the man and his men. Although Rainier gave off an air of calm and determination the Knight Captain could see the War Band Commander's inner turmoil. He understood totally the position he was in and the protectiveness he felt towards the townsfolk.

“We need to discuss what happens next, my Lord,” said Rainier. “I have my people to think of.”

“I am no Lord,” stated Petros.

Rainier smiled. “I thought…” He shook his head. “Never mind. What are your plans now?”

“We need to leave here as soon as possible,” Petros admitted. “But first there is a friend of yours waiting for you.” He indicated to a nondescript door halfway down the corridor.

“The boy is in there?” The Knight Captain nodded. Rainier looked hesitantly at the door. “I have heard stories from some of my people.”

“Probably all true,” laughed Petros.

The War Band Commander balked before boldly stepping towards the room indicated. The Knight Captain followed closely behind and before he had even neared the room all magick left his body. Rainier stopped and looked back with a serene but quizzical look on his face.

Petros nodded. “It is the boy. It is the power he exudes.”

Rainier opened the door pausing only for a moment at the sound of a familiar voice. Petros led the way. Inside they found the powerful dark warrior Anan standing by the window gazing out. He nodded to acknowledge the two warriors' arrival. The Nan'cho Oak Seer Ulrich stood in the middle of the room, hands clasped behind his back, neither moving nor speaking. He took no notice of the Knight Captain's or Rainier's approach. Before the prēost stood the boy Abram, who stood equally still and just as silent. They simply stared into each other's eyes. A muted silence seemed to have befallen the room. To make any unnecessary noise would have felt inappropriate.

Confused but realising that something mystical was clearly happening, Petros quietly closed the door as the War Band Commander immediately made his way to the corner of the room where a young man sat on a stool. Older than Xavier, there was no mistaking the family resemblance of the blonde hair, piercing blue eyes and broad shoulders. Wyeth stood on seeing his father. Petros watched in silence as father and son hugged each other fiercely.

Rainier whispered, “It is so good to see you again.” Wyeth embraced his father tighter at the words. Rainier then asked, “How did you get in? I ordered the village closed to all. I cannot believe that someone let you in without notifying me.”

“We did not come that way, father.” Wyeth blushed and stepped back. He gave a nervous laugh which he muffled as best he could. “The land let us through.”

“What?” asked Rainier, incredulous. “What do you mean?”

Again Wyeth gave another uncertain laugh. “We had stopped outside the village some way back. Ulrich said a blessing then asked the earth to give us passage.” The young man shook his head in disbelief. “The ground opened up and we stepped into a tunnel. We stood on two flat boulders and the opening behind us closed. It was pitch-black, father, and I do not mind admitting that I have never been so scared in all my life.

“Ulrich told me not to worry though. From all around us approached hundreds of tiny insects giving off their natural light. I could see again and could tell that the tunnel ran on for some distance ahead of us. Ulrich laughed at my obvious discomfort then told me to hold tight to his hand. As soon as I grabbed it the boulders started to move forward at a rapid pace. After a while they stopped and began moving in an upward direction. The ground above us opened up and we found ourselves just outside the rear to the Travelers' Inn. As soon as we stepped off the rocks the land closed up as if the hole had never been there.

“Without a word Ulrich then made his way up to this room and I followed. The guards let us in on seeing us. Apparently the boy had told them of our coming.” Wyeth shivered and looked apologetic. “I need to get a bath, father. I don't think Ulrich was affected but as we travelled underground insects and mud kept dropping down my back and into my hair.” He shivered again. “I will see you later.” He clasped his father's shoulders and hurried out of the room.

Rainier smiled as his son speedily left. Quietly he closed the latch on the door after his son, again attempting to minimise any noise. He stood next to Petros before turning his attention first to the boy and then the Oak Seer. He folded his arms and casually leaned against the wall waiting. Even for an immortal such as the Knight Captain the two stared at each other for what seemed to be an age. A sudden thought occurred to him then.

Even without the use of his Gifts, Petros could feel the energy in the room and know that an incantation was taking place. He could feel the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck rise in response to the energy that saturated such a confined space. And yet for a child such as Abram, who had the power to subdue all forms of magick simply by his very presence, his narrations alone still had the ability to flourish. Now he understood the danger that Abram posed. Certainly to his enemies, possibly to the world. What a mighty weapon he would
wield against all who professed magick. It was no wonder that he was both sought after and feared. Finally Ulrich and boy moved and spoke.

Ulrich bowed. “May the land guard you.”

Abram bowed. “May He Who Is All Things answer your blessings.”

The boy smiled sheepishly then moved off to a side door that led to an adjoining room. It contained only a small single window and another door on the opposite side which led to another large adjoining bedroom. The annexe was just large enough to hold a single pallet bed and a torch by which to light the room. Petros had personally checked and secured the rooms earlier and with guards now posted outside they were safe as they could be. Rainier watched the boy go without saying a word. Through the doorway they could see Jemima, the boy's mother, sitting on a bed. Zahara was kneeling next to her. The boy paused before his mother. Petros watched as Jemima smiled at her son, though it seemed strained.

Then her eyes met those of the War Band Commander. The Knight Captain could feel the attraction between the two as if it were something tangible. Jemima's mouth moved ever so slightly as if she was about to speak, then seemed to reconsider. The door slowly closed, as if by magick. Ulrich leapt forward suddenly, without any warning, and grabbed Rainier, catching him totally by surprise.

“Let go, you big oaf,” snarled the War Band Commander. “You are breaking my ribs.” The Oak Seer promptly dropped him. “I see that you have not lost any of your strength.”

“You know our ways,” said Ulrich. “Warrior first; everything else is secondary. The rule also applies to Kel'akh Oak Seers, you know.”

“Well met, old friend,” said Rainier, smiling. “It must be about two seasons since we have last seen each other. There is so much that we need to discuss but the immediate situation calls for us to be focused solely on that.”

As if on cue Ysolt burst into the room. “He finally talked,” she said, addressing the War Band Commander.

Ulrich was about to speak when Rainier silenced him with a look. “Who was it?”

Ysolt explained, “He answers only to that Senator Tacitus, who in turns answers only to a figure known as the Dark Druid and a wicce by the name of Mailís.”

“The Dark Druid does not exist,” guffawed Ulrich. “A tale to scare those in the world of magick.”

“But he does,” put in Petros. “The people that I represent have already met him on two occasions. On that second occasion, a member of our organisation died. No easy task I must add.”

“But getting captured is?” ridiculed Ysolt.