Sons of Evil: Book 1 Book of Dread (7 page)

*

Hours later Adrianna was at
the door of a small farmhouse while the brothers waited along the cart path
that served as a road to the place. The rail-thin man who answered regarded her
with mingled pleasure and apprehension, and even as he invited her in for the
night he couldn’t help looking right and left to be sure no one was watching. She
declined the invitation while pointing out her traveling companions, and asked
only that they be allowed to spend the night in the barn, and promised they’d
be off in the morning.

The man’s eyes grew large at
this request. “The barn!” he exclaimed. “The wife’d never forgive me if I let
you sleep there. Here, we’ll give these young gentlemen our bed.”

“Nonsense,” Adrianna said. “That
won’t do at all. The barn is more than we’ve had on this journey so far, and
better than what we’ll have going on, I’d wager. We’ll stay there, by your
leave, with thanks.”

“You’re welcome here, always,
as you know. But the barn…”

She laid a hand gently on his
arm. “The barn. If you’d bring a light…”

He studied her face a moment,
and then his shoulders sagged as he gave up the argument for lost. He went
inside and was swiftly back with a lantern, and guided the travelers to a
decent-sized barn where they could make beds of hay for the night. His eyes
darted to and fro, at first on and off the brothers more than anything else,
and then, apparently convinced they had no ill intent, to the surrounding
countryside.

They no sooner had started to
settle in than he and his wife appeared with a large tray of food and a pitcher
of ale. His wife was as thin as he, and in the yellow glow of the lantern their
sallow countenances were highlighted with shadows that emphasized their gaunt
appearances. It was obvious the food they presented was not simply from their
excess.

“You are too generous,”
Adrianna said.

“No, no,” said the wife. “You’ve
blessed us with your help many times. It is the least we can offer, especially
if you won’t take a bed in the house.” Here she cast a hard look at her
husband, who threw his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

“Don’t blame Carlyn,” Adrianna
said with a smile. “He insisted on the same thing, but I won’t hear of it.”

The farmer’s wife put her
hands on her hips, looking from Adrianna to her husband with a scowl that
indicated she was considering accusing both of them of lying to her. Finally
she relented. “If you need anything, please let us know.”

“Certainly.”

The couple went back to the
house, arguing in whispers all the way.

*

They slept well and longer
than they should, the hay and the barn roof all the more comfortable after days
of hard marching and sleeping in the open. Although they hadn’t taken a third
of the food they had been given the night before, they found a new tray waiting
for them along with cool, fresh water. After they had eaten, Adrianna said, “I
believe we’ll be able to reach my friend by nightfall, and there we’ll either
tell all or part company. We should be off, but I want to have a few words with
our hosts before we leave. I won’t be long.”

Darius’ knowing smile
followed her out the door.

“What?” Luke asked after she
had gone.

“She’s giving us time alone so
we can talk about what we want to do without worrying she might hear.”

“Oh,” said Luke. He took a
small apple, polished it on his shirt, then tucked it into his pocket. “So,
what do you think?”

“I think she’s had us in her
power once and could again anytime she wanted to. She could have taken the book
back at the tavern if she chose to do so.”

“And she did deliver us from
those thieves.”

“True enough.” He pondered for
a moment. “I suppose I trust her as much as can be expected in these times. But
did you see the way the farmer acted?”

“Yeah. Adrianna’s clearly
helped them out before, based on what his wife said, but he seemed frightened. Uneasy.
Not sure if she scares him, what with her abilities, or the thought of being
seen with her does.”

Darius nodded. “That’s how I
saw it, too. The only thing we have to offer right now is information on the
book, which we’ll need to give her, and this mysterious friend of hers. After
that…”

“We might be unnecessary,”
Luke finished. “You don’t really think it’ll come to that.”

“No,” Darius replied. “But if
the book can be opened, depending on what’s in it…” He shook his head. “I don’t
see we really have any choice but to go on.”

“We don’t, if we want the book
opened. And we need to do that if we hope to help Sasha.”

Hearing his sister’s name
brought a rueful smile to Darius’ lips. “I hope she’s okay.”

“Do you think we’ll ever see
her again?”

Darius shrugged. “I’d like to
hope so. But even if everything we do goes as well as we dare dream, she may be
beyond our reach. I’ll just assume she’s found a new life somewhere, and that
she’s happy. All we’re trying to do is give her that chance.”

Luke stood and helped his
brother to his feet. “Well then, what are we waiting for,” he said in a deep,
booming voice, announcing he was ready to slay the dragon, win the princess,
and maybe even save the world. “Let’s get to it!”

Darius shook his head and
laughed, still amazed at his brother’s ability to change from serious to
playful in an instant. “Lead on, oh great one,” he said.

With his head held high and
his chest puffed out, Luke did so.

*

Landri could feel the rage
welling up within him, a building pressure that had only one possible release. He
let a small, high-pitched noise out of his throat, a strangled scream. His
breath came in ragged, hard gasps.

He looked again, too
dumbfounded to stop himself from the fruitless effort. Empty. The book was
gone. He knocked the table over and let out a shout of fury.

They would be aware by now, he
knew. The guards would be eying one another, wondering what to do, whether
their king was in mortal danger or simply raving about some petty problem. Vaguely
he thought he needed to be careful, but he pushed the notion aside. He was
king, and they feared him. They would not come unless he called for them.

Panic seized him. Without the
book… It was too frightening to consider. He started to turn the room upside
down, expecting with each flung-open drawer or tossed item of clothing that the
book would turn up. Maybe he had just hidden it in a different spot some night
as he sat drinking in his room and the alcohol started to lull him to sleep. Maybe—

He emptied the last drawer,
looked under the bed, then stripped it to the mattress. Nothing. The book was
gone.

He fingered the key, assuring
himself he still had it. He was sure there had never been a copy made. Going to
the fallen table, he studied it, trying to calm himself so he could think. There
appeared to be no damage, no sign that someone had gotten to the book by
breaking through some other way. He had misplaced it, or someone had managed to
use his key.

Landri’s fevered mind would
not allow him to systematically work his way back in time to consider the
possibilities, and since he had struck his head, his memory had been poor. He
did not take out the book often, and when he did he almost never used it. He
simply reassured himself that it was there, and took comfort against some
failure or other mishap with the knowledge that the book was his alone. He
couldn’t recall the last time he held the book while sober, but drunk was
another story. And he was quite free in his use of spirits. Frustrated, he felt
the black rage building again and a choked snarl escaped him.

“Are you well, my king?”

Landri’s insides tightened at
the sound of that voice. Only one person in all Longvale would dare enter his
bedchamber unbidden. He turned to eye his top advisor with a weak attempt at
composure. “Well enough, although with some of the servants I have here, it’s a
wonder I’m sane at all.”

Kaelesh stepped gracefully
toward Landri, moving with ease around the assorted items strewn about the
room. “Have you misplaced something? It appears you’re having trouble locating
a particular item.” Kaelesh was a handsome man, tall and polished. He rarely
smiled, but when he did, as he was now, there was something to the look that
always made Landri uneasy.

“Yes. A trifle really. A shirt
that was a favorite of mine.”

Kaelesh’s eyebrows went up a
fraction of an inch. “Oh. I was unaware you had such an attachment to any of
your garments. Should I have it searched for? Perhaps it is being laundered.”

Landri waved dismissively. “Unnecessary.
It’ll turn up.”

Kaelesh gave a small bow, his
eyes subtly scanning the room. “As you wish, my liege.”

Landri could feel Kaelesh’s
piercing gaze when it gripped him and as it probed the room. He fought a
terrible urge to look at the overturned table, to see whether the secret compartment
was open and visible. Almost as hard to resist was the impulse to order Kaelesh
out immediately. That would only reinforce the belief that Landri was hiding
something.

“Do you need anything at all?”

“No, thank you,” Landri said
with a forced smile. “I’ll be fine.”

“Then with your leave, I’ll
entertain Generals Blaston and Calest until you are ready to hear their
reports.”

“Ah,” Landri said, trying to
brighten. “I was unaware they had arrived.”

“Just in. I had come to
announce them to you.”

“Very good. Tell them I will
arrive shortly.”

Kaelesh gave one last bow and
left.

Once the bedroom door was
safely closed, Landri righted the bedside table, then closed and locked the
secret compartment. He looked from where the table had lain to where Kaelesh had
stood, and convinced himself his secret was still safe.

He went to meet with his
generals, ordering the guards to have his room cleaned up before he returned.

The half-eaten apple in
Adrianna’s hand had been that way for so long it had started to turn brown. She
looked from Darius to Luke, then back again, wondering if their sincere
expressions would crack, and they’d soon be laughing at their little joke. It
quickly grew apparent that they had meant every word of the tale they had just
told her. “So the book is King Landri’s…” She let the words trail off, wanting
to say more but still unsure what the book was or how much she should share
with these young men.

“It was,” Darius said, no
doubt in his voice. “My sister’s word is good enough for me. She’s not prone to
tall tales.”

“It’s obvious to me that
you’re being truthful,” said Adrianna. “The question is, can we unravel the
mystery?”

“We’ve told you what we know,
as promised,” said Luke. “Now, do you think this friend of yours can help?”

Adrianna shrugged. “Hard to
say. But it’s the right next step.” She looked at the apple, frowned, and
tossed it aside. “We’ve got a few hours before us yet, but we should make it in
time for dinner.” She winked, then said to Luke, “Not that it’ll be much. He
tends to live a bit frugally, but he’ll share what he has.”

Luke picked up his pack. “Lead
on.”

*

They reached the hamlet of
Taswold several hours later, and Adrianna inquired after her friend at a few
local establishments. Her first few attempts were met with what she was sure
was feigned ignorance of who the man was. Finally a patron in the Foaming
Flagon, who had caught her eye as the bartender turned her away with a shrug
and a shake of his head, met her in the alley beside the tavern.

He hunched low as if that
would keep him from being spotted talking to her. “Your friend gets himself in
trouble, foolishly most would say,” the man told her.

“What kind of trouble?”

“Not hiding his beliefs, if
you know what I mean. I got no problem with what he believes, mind you, it’s
just everyone knows you’re better off keeping that to yourself these days.”

“I understand,” said Adrianna.
“Do you know where they’ve taken him?”

“Krangstand, I’ve heard.”

She sighed. “Again.”

The man’s eyebrows went up. “I’ve
not heard of many going to Krangstand more than once. Usually those that go in
don’t come out again.”

“My friend’s quite resilient,”
Adrianna said with a smile. “This would be at least his third go round.”

“Then he’s a bigger magnet for
trouble than I thought, and just as lucky. Perhaps the locals are wise to keep
their tongues where he’s concerned.”

“No doubt,” said Adrianna. “And
all the more do I thank you for talking to me.” She pressed a coin into his
palm and waited a few moments while he wandered off.

Darius and Luke had loitered
outside the tavern’s entrance, trying to look innocuous and ignoring the
challenging looks the townsfolk occasionally cast their way. The expression on
Adrianna’s face when she returned gave them no more pleasure.

“What’s wrong?” Darius asked.

“Not here,” she said. “We’ll
talk once we’re away.”

They covered a few miles
before Adrianna told them what she had learned. The news made Darius stop in
his tracks.

“Krangstand?” he said with a
scowl. “Is that where you’re taking us now?”

“I don’t see that we have any
other choice,” she stated.

“I do. One would be
not
going.”

“Fine. Enjoy your locked
book.”

“Look, I want to know what’s
in the book more than you’ll ever understand. But showing it to someone in
Krangstand is crazy.”

Adrianna folded her arms and
regarded him placidly.

Luke cleared his throat to
break the stalemate. “Sorry to butt in, but would either of you mind telling me
what or where Krangstand is?”

“It’s a prison,” Adrianna
said.

“Not just a prison,” said
Darius. “A place for the worst criminals in Longvale. Murderers, traitors, and
worse. The king has never been shy about executions, but those he wishes held
for life go there.”

Luke turned to Adrianna. “So
this is the sort of person you want us to risk our necks with? I have to agree
with Darius, much as it pains me. Sounds crazy.”

“Darius, your description of
the place is true enough, but much has changed over the last decade. You’d be
surprised at the ‘enemies’ the king and his minions have locked up. The man I seek
is named Silas, and he is as far from being a murderer or a traitor as anyone I
know. Let me ask the two of you something. If we’re caught with the book, do
you think the king would consider us criminals? Possible execute us, or put us
in one of his prisons?”

Their silence was answer
enough.

She nodded. “You’re wise to
hold your tongues. There is a reason you travel as you do, and watch what you
say and who you say it to. You’re both as guilty as Silas, probably more so. I’m
sure he has no stolen property that belongs to the king himself.”

Seeing a protest rising in
both the brothers, she held up a hand. “And I am an accomplice now, and equally
a criminal in the eyes of the king and the law. Silas will be, too, once we
show him the book. He will aid us if he can.”

Darius blew out a frustrated
breath. “I still don’t like the idea of showing the book to a prisoner in
Krangstand, whether he’s a friend or not.”

Adrianna shook her head. “And
we won’t. Think. If we walk up to the prison gates and ask to be admitted, they
would certainly search us. We can’t take the book in.”

“Then how can we—” Darius
shook his head. “You can’t be serious.”

“We’re going to break him
out,” Luke stated. “I don’t suppose you want to tell us how we’re going to do
that.”

The left corner of Adrianna’s
mouth curled up ever so slightly. “I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”

*

Two days later they stood
looking at Krangstand through the gloom of a steady summer rain. The lead-gray
clouds were only a shade darker than the walls of the prison, an old castle
atop a rock outcropping that was ideally suited to its new purpose. The only
way in or out was a long, winding path that was easily visible from the
castle-prison. Sheer-faced rock that promised death to any who fell formed the
other three sides of Krangstand’s base. Lightning flashed in the distance and
framed Krangstand for just an instant, the sharp metal spears that had been
added as a further barrier atop the already high walls suddenly stark and
forbidding.

“I’ll go on from here,”
Adrianna said. “Stay out of sight.”

“I’m coming with you,” Darius
told her.

“We’ve already talked about
this. The book—”

“The book can stay with Luke.”

“Hey!” Luke protested. He was
stopped by a piercing look from his brother.

“Look,” said Darius. “If we do
this, we’ll have cast our lot with this Silas. We’ll be on the run together,
like it or not. I want to meet him first. You’ve already said you can get in to
visit. It’s the getting out that’s tricky. I might be able to help.”

Adrianna
hesitated. “Maybe. You understand if you go along, you really will be
considered an outlaw. The guards will have seen your face.”

Darius nodded. “It’s too late
to turn back on that account. As long as we have the book, we’re all wanted.
And besides, my leave is up, so I’ve forsaken my duty to king and kingdom and
my life is forfeit. I decided days ago that I wasn’t going back, that I’d see
this through, whatever the cost.”

After holding his gaze for a
long moment and seeing his unflinching look, Adrianna finally relented. “Okay,”
she said. “Just keep quiet and follow my lead.” She pointed to his sword and
added, “Leave that here.”

“Great,” said Luke
sarcastically as Darius handed him his sword and pack. “I’ll just sit here and
wait.”

Darius patted him on the back.
“Good. I knew we could count on you.”

Luke let out a low growl and
gave a mock slash with the sword as his companions headed off.

It took nearly fifteen minutes
to traverse the path to Krangstand’s main gate. Not only did the road double
back on itself as it climbed, it was covered in many areas by loose rock that
would have made the going slow even without the rain. By the time they arrived
at the top Darius was so out of breath that Adrianna’s admonition that he keep
quiet seemed rather pointless.

The doors of Krangstand were
of heavy oak, the thick timbers held together by wide metal bands. They stood
nearly twenty feet high, and by all appearances would open only with great
effort, and slowly. In addition to this, a portcullis of heavy iron had been
added, such that even when open the wooden door itself did not provide full
access to the prison.

Darius finally found his
breath and asked, “Should we knock?”

“No need,” Adrianna said. She
pointed to one of the crenulations in the battlements above, and Darius saw the
head of an arrow there, aimed in their direction.

“I’ve come to visit a
prisoner,” Adrianna called in the general direction of the archer.

“By whose leave?” he asked.

“My own,” she answered.

“Which prisoner?”

“Silas, of Tasvold.”

There was a pause, then another
voice joined that of the archer in a short, whispered conversation. The new
voice answered. “That one’s trouble. I’m not sure he should be receiving any
visitors.”

“I have the password,”
Adrianna said.

“That’s well, but he’s a
problem, that one. It may take a special password.”

“I’m willing to speak it.”

Darius turned to Adrianna with
a questioning look. She silently waved his concern away.

The inner door slowly ground
open, only wide enough for one guard to show himself and for his friends to
show their weapons. He eyed Adrianna and Darius with open contempt, then said,
“You’d better not waste my time.”

“I wouldn’t think of it,”
Adrianna answered. From beneath her cloak she produced a small bag, held it up
for the man to see, then slid it through the bars of the portcullis.

He snatched it quickly, loosed
the drawstring, and reached inside. His fingers danced and everyone could hear
the unmistakable sound of gold coins clinking against one another. “Hmpf,” he
said. “Enough for a short visit, but just barely. Only ’cause I’m in a good
mood.”

This brought barely stifled
laughter from the other guards. He turned on them and shouted, “Shut your noise
and open the gate! And be thankful I don’t give the lot of you waste bucket
duty.”

This threat spurred the others
to quick action, and the portcullis soon was drawn upward by heavy chains. The
man backed up, gave a mock bow, and said, “Welcome to Krangstand.”

In its former life Krangstand
was anything but gloomy, with large windows and open, airy rooms. But it had
been reshaped for this new purpose, the windows replaced with stone and the
inside now all halls and cells. Only the diffuse light of dirty lanterns lit
the halls, and the cells for the most part were dark.

Many of the cells were empty,
their doors slightly ajar so the guards could tell which were occupied and
which were not. “Most of ’em are in the yard,” the guard explained. “Except for
the hard cases and those that don’t ever get to leave their little homes.”

This last comment naturally
caused Adrianna and Darius to study the occupied cells with a bit more vigor. Their
eyes were rarely met, as those inside were broken of spirit if not body. Most
of the prisoners lay or sat listlessly, although now and then one paced a cell,
mumbling incoherently, and twice an inmate charged the bars of their pen at the
sight of outsiders with pleas for help and protestations of innocence. These
prisoners the guard swatted at in passing.

Finally they came to a door
which the guard unlocked and pulled open. “Give a wave to the tower when you’re
done and you’ll be let back in.” He pointed a finger first at Darius, then at
Adrianna. “No funny stuff, or you’ll be filled with arrows.” In case they
somehow missed the obvious meaning of the comment, he added a throat-slashing
gesture for good measure.

The yard was the central
courtyard of Krangstand, open to the sky above but surrounded by high walls on
every side. Guards paced atop these, each armed with bows that could be used on
the prisoners below if needed. A tower loomed another thirty feet above the
wall, which gave views not only of the courtyard, but also the entire area
around Krangstand as well. Around thirty prisoners milled about, talking or
exercising, and they were not all men. Apparently some of the worst criminals in
Longvale were women and children as well. Darius’ eyes were drawn to a
frighteningly thin child, a girl of no more than eight years, who wore such a
hollow look on her pale skin that one might argue that she had seen a ghost, or
perhaps even was one. All the words Adrianna had used to tell Darius how things
had changed, how Silas being here did not mean he was a criminal or someone to
be feared, were unnecessary once he laid eyes on this child. How could this
small child possibly be a threat to the king or to Longvale?