The Exodus Sagas: Book IV - Of Moons and Myth (60 page)

“My gratitude for allowing us in your realm, Arylius Diravas.” Lord Cristoff shook his hand, forearm to forearm, and saluted his chest in Harlian fashion.

Arylius smiled, as their hands touched, he felt it. His devotion and training in elven meditation was far advanced. After four hundred years, he could tell things with simple contact from most living things. His eyes closed, then opened slowly.

“
Lord
, says my cousin and your former title, far
behind
to the east.
Friend
and brave warrior whispers the sky,
as
to who you are. Yet,
father,
protector
,
and
king
, say
the stars upon our
m
eeting
, Cristoff
Bradswellen the Third
. Blessings of Siril upon you.”

Cristoff just stared, then nodded, he did not know what to say. He tried to make the gesture he saw the elves doing, with the folded hands and opening them to the sky. Instead, after feeling slightly embarrassed for his hesitation, he made the symbol of the feathered cross upon his chest, and circled it.

“May Alden shine his light from heaven, upon us both, my elven friend.”

“
Come, brave Harlian and mighty
dwarf, let me show you the sword
Loestiri
and hallowed Tintasarn. Then we shall inspect your Kaki Mountains and see if there is a way through to your heroes.” Arylius, high priest of Siril, led the first strangers in over two thousand years, into the lost elven city.

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His eyes remained fixated, unblinking, with one knee upon the golden carpet that led from the grand double doors all the way to the thrones. The one on the left had never been filled, as low king Symond had never married. Jardayne tried not to shift his weight too much, yet after the hard ride from Freemoore to Evermont, his body ached for rest.
His fast ride had not been in time, for word spreads faster than hooves in the realm of politics.

The only saving grace he had was that Lassado of Eisel Ine was here. Otherwise, he may have been
imprisoned
and stripped of title already.
The men and knights, even the city and her people, they all had heard that Armondeen and Evermont, Rohne and Jardayne, had had bitter words. Rumors of war, threats of attack, and movements of forces could be heard whispering on every street corner.

“Five days, Knight General Jardayne of Highmont, five days!” Symond let his small circlet of crown fall off the back of his bald head and slide behind his back on
to the seat of
the throne. He cared not. “I have been here, with but three knights, to organize all that the High King of Shanador has ordered from each of us!
And you ordered Sir Codaius to the west? Your disloyalty is appalling!
”

“Please forgive me sire, I thought to meet you on your usual route, near Freemoore, and escort---“

“Lies! You took those fugitives, the ones causing all the commotion on the continent, and sought their glory rather than that of your sworn low king!” Symond stood and pointed his finger at his highest officer.

“No, it was not that way, sire. I do not lie, I swear it was----“

“They receive the royal treatment of my castles, the escort of my bravest men, and you leave our city with
just Anders, Valonne, and Naghen to protect it
?
! Fool of a knight, and poor leadership indeed have you shown me here.” The hand of the old man to his right, gently resting upon his shoulder, helped him set back down in his throne.

“Sire, my king, please forgive me. I thought it in Shanador’s best interest to see these heroes to Freemoore, then things changed.” Jardayne had not looked up once since it began.

“Aye, things have changed. The heroes you thought best to honor and protect, have left to their western treasure hunt. They are trespassing upon Armondi soil, and everyone is aware of it, Jardayne.” Symond rubbed his head and tight gray beard, then reached for his goblet of wine and drank. “And they are aware of the support Evermont has shown. Imagine when I must explain this to the High King.”

“My liege, those lands are far more than a piece of Armondi territory.” Lassado, old and frazzled of hair and beard, waved his hands when he spoke. His purple tattered robes had designs of script that glowed and flashed for no apparent reason, and his sky blue eyes had an awkward constant glare, as if he did not ever blink. “You know the history there. Altestan,
when Armondeen broke from Shanador
, gave those lands to them
to hold cursed
. Should we honor the orders of Altestan, from two thousand years past, and be
wary of Armondeen? I think not.”

“Powerful as you may be
in the arcane realm
, Lassado, those decisions and opinions are not yours to take part in. The High King, the council of low kings and knights are---“ Symond was cut off.

“Horse shit, sire. Fresh steaming Shanadorian horse shit. Smell it? I do.” Lassado tapped his staff and flies buzzed out from it, as did a strange odor.

“Mind your words, wizard. Master of Eisel Ine or not, I am the low king of Evermont.”

“
Elected, like all the others. Elected to serve the ideals and honor of your people.
And I am here as your counsel. Though you did not request it, I am here nonetheless. Those lost kingdoms to the west, three cities, mythical places, are not belonging to Armondeen except by parchment written by long dead enemies. If someone wants them free, I say more power to them.” Lassado grinned to Jardayne, seeing that he was raising his head up slightly to view the conversation he was hearing.

“And to what end, old relative? War with Armondeen, perhaps Altestan? Those five are now spoken of in every kingdom.
Seekers of Mooncrest
I heard,
slayers of Altestani warships
they say, destined
to
whatever and whatnot. From Chazzrynn to Kivanis, Caberra to Shanador, even Harlaheim and Willborne speak of them or want them dead. I have not the power to start a war, with anyone. I speak not for all of Shanador, damn it!” Symond pounded his fist on the throne.

“Who says you need that power? To do what is right, to help others, to assist unseen? Armondeen has an army, your scouts said they saw it, heading there now. Four legions or more, and what can Evermont do?” Lassado tapped his staff again, this time a rainbow sparkled into the air ever so faintly.

Jardayne had never heard anyone speak to the low king, any king, in the way he was hearing right now. He thought it best to remain silent, respectful, and keep his head down.

“Nothing. I had to send three legions of cavalry to the capital, to Acelinne. They retained five of my knights as well. The council is sending a force to Kivanis, to Rugeness
and the northern cities
specifically, as they think Altestan will make a landing there. The Shields of Shanador and thirty thousand soldiers will occupy their ports, and watch the Soltaic Ocean for years to come.
Evermont can do nothing, we can spare not a man.” Symond drank more wine, fought his dwindling anger, and rested back in his throne.

“Please sire, I beg of you. Strip me of title if you must, but I gave my word, I swore on the Shield of Shanador, that I would return. Alone, if no forces could be offered.” Knight General Jardayne stood, without permission, and made the sign of the feathered cross across his chest.

“You have met these trav
elers, both the five companions
and the exiled refugees from Harlaheim, yes?” Lassado smiled.

“Yes, master Lassado, I have.”

“They inspired to you greater honor? Or is it the thrill of adventure, the boredom of your position, and something different that excites you, Jardayne?”

“Sire, I felt it when they arrived, I saw it in the Misathi Mountains. There was a feeling when they were here, and a terrible one when they left to turn west. I cannot say what it is. But, when I met Lord Cristoff Bradswellen, and he stood with me,
for me in fact
, against Prince Rohne and his forces in Freemoore, it was there again. I have to go
my king
, I know it in my heart. Please forgive me.” Jardayne took his sash of the Shanadorian stallion, with the Evermont
five stars engraved into it, and let the golden green cloth of honor
and title
fall to the floor.
“I cannot let those people, those brave souls, face the legions of Armondeen alone, not when I can be of service. They have perhaps less than a legion of soldiers, against at least four we have confirmed that head for the ruins from Vin Armon. Harron’s past betrayals asid
e, you know he does not ride with such a force unless he plans to kill. I resign my title and position as Knight General of Evermont, as I must leave you, and help them.”

“
You would not dare
.” Symond was shocked.
“You swore your loyalty
to me
, to
Evermont!
And to
Shanador!
”

“I know Harron Vir Magaste, I know his knights, and I know Armondeen. And I know what they will do, should they find those five that seek a forgotten glory. Title or not,
your blessing or no, I must go
my king. I will never forgive myself if I do not.” Jardayne knelt once more.

“Then you go alone, stripped of title, never to return to---“

“Hold your wine bucket shut, Symond. Jardayne here may have arrived
before you
, if my memory serves correct.” Lassado waved his hand and
twinkling lights danced in the air.

“No, he did not, he arrived after.” Symond corrected.

“Be that as it may,
it is possible that he left with soldiers
before you came
,
on what he thought was courageous, an act of valor and honor, yes?”

“I am not following. You are mad indeed, Lassado.” Symond glared up to the old man.

“So he came and took what he thought he needed, a small force, and
left before he knew of your orders from High King Borgaine. True?
” Lassado waved his hand again, more sparkles.

“No, are you speaking fiction or fact? And why the sparkles?”

“Damn spell never works.
How have you survived as a low king for this long with your he
a
d so thick of useless rock?”

“I beg your pardon? This coming from a man who forgot his last name?”

“That was low, even for you.
Anyway, how many men am I worth, five hundred?” The old mage shook his head
, staring at his fingers as if they were behaving poorly
.

“At least, why?” Low king Symond furrowed his brow.

“Do you honor this man, your knight general here, enough to allow him to follow his passion and word for a time?” Lassado stared as his fingernails sparkled, he tried to shake it off, it would not fade.

“Yes, positions and titles aside, I would do all I could for Sir Jardayne. That is not the point, Lassado.”

“It is the point, Symond.
I believe
he left with as many cavalry as were here
, carrying
no banners
of Evermont nor Shanador, to assist as he thought best against the tyranny of Armondi threats. In his absence,
believing you would return with many forces and the city left well protected
, I will stay and guard your city with a watchful arcane eye,
personally
.”
Lassad
o smiled wide, his eyes beaming with something mystical, much like his fingertips.

“And when word reaches the High King and the council in Acelinne?” Symond looked to the crazed master of
magic.

“I will handle that, myself.”

Symond sighed deep, then stood. He watched Jardayne raise his head and stand with him. The low king walked forward, bent down and picked up the knight general’s sash. He turned his back and walked to his throne, setting the sash upon it
,
gently.

“Sir Jardayne of Highmont, you are placed on temporary leave from your title and duties. If memory serves me, you left on your honor, with our remaining five hundred cavalry. You went
north
west, to retrieve Sir Codaius of Norninne, who was escorting and assisting a foreign noble
,
on a noble cause.” Symond kept his back turned to his bravest knight. “This meeting, this conversation, never took place. Before I turn around and sit on my throne, you had better make it so. Alden watch over you.”

“Well spoken, sire. I could not have said it better.” Lassado grinned and winked at Symond, then reached down and handed him his crown.

“Thank you, your majesty.” Jardayne did not bow nor kneel to the backs
of Lassado of Eisel Ine nor his
low king of Evermont.
He turned to march out of the castle, in disbelief that he was not in prison.