The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1) (17 page)

Quink listened at the throne room every spare moment, but heard little else of importance. He did not find any other rooms that Edward used that had places to listen. He could only listen at the throne room.

After he finished eating, he slowly made his way back to the throne room to listen once more.

Edward's voice filled the room. He seemed to be talking to himself. Quink smiled. The fool Edward made it so easy. Quink listened for a while. Edward seemed to be explaining something to his dead father.

"Father, you were growing weak. You did not rule as you once did. Your subjects whispered behind your back. It was time for a change to keep Eslenda strong."

Quink moaned into the reed.

"Murderer…"

"No! Father, don't call me that."

"My flesh and blood…."

"I am king now! Be at rest. You are dead!!!"

"I will haunt you until I am avenged."

"Father.."

"You will never sleep again…."

Quink put the reed down and moved away. Edward's pleas continued for several minutes but faded away into sobs when his father no longer answered. Quink felt hungry again. There would be more fresh muffins soon. He hurried to the lower levels.

Later, Quink sat in the great hall, nursing a bottle of wine. Edward peeked in, saw Quink and left again. Several minutes later Edward returned with Lord Tucker. They sat on the far side of the room and food was brought to them.

"Quink," said Tucker. "Have you seen anyone sneaking around the castle?"

"Sneaking?" came Quink's slurred response.

"Someone who doesn't belong here. Perhaps someone of Hal's?"

"Ah, I understand. No, Lord Tucker, I have only seen subjects of King Edward's."

"Very good. Keep an eye out. I suspect not all of Hal's people have left the castle. I want you to report to me if you see any of them. Especially the wizard, Lockwell."

"Lockwell? He's a traitor?" asked Quink.

"The fire looks suspicious. I think it had a magical beginning. Stone doesn't burn as a rule."

"Lockwell? If he sees me he'll turn me into a toad."

"Be careful then. Anyway, who would notice the difference?" Tucker laughed and even Edward smiled. Tucker turned back to Edward.

"Rest assured, Sire. I will find the 'ghosts' that torment you. I have found some clues and shall lay traps."

"Good, good. Your reassurances are welcome."

They spoke more but their words were soft. Quink tried to hear but his efforts would have been obvious if he tried harder. He contented himself with the single word or phrase that reached his ears. At least he knew Tucker was actively trying to catch him. He would be very careful. He did not know if Tucker had found the tunnels or was laying his traps in the rooms where the voice of the ghost had been heard. Quink still felt confident that he held the advantage.

Later that day envoys came from Masina asking to speak with Edward. Quink positioned himself at his listening post and watched through the peephole.

"Hail, King Edward," said the leader of the Masina envoy. He was a tall grey bearded man, dressed in brown trousers and a bright red shirt. Quink had not seen the like before.

"Be welcome," said Edward.

"We greet you in the friendship of our two nations. We congratulate you on your new kingship. May it be evergreen. We have brought gifts from King Kennis to you." The gifts were brought forward and set at Edward's feet.

"We also bring ill tidings, I fear. The Turucks have crossed the water from Anavar and are ravaging Masina. We cannot hold them back without your help. Both our kingdoms have supported each in need. Will you send soldiers to aid us?"

"Alas, good ambassador, your news is ill-timed. Eslenda is in the turmoil of civil war. To the north, the traitors build their forces and wait for my attention to be drawn elsewhere. For me to aid Masina now would be the perfect opportunity for them to attack Riverdowns. I must have the traitors in chains before I can release my soldiers to aid Masina. I am sorry, there is no other way. Our strength is limited."

"But your Highness. Masina will fall without your aid and soon. Will you allow us to perish without raising a hand?"

"I will raise my hand and strike you for that tone of voice. I shall not be insulted in my own hall. Send him back to Masina, or anywhere else he wishes to go. We have Eslenda business to conduct."

Another man stepped forward and threw back his hood. A slender man of an age with Edward, he looked directly at the king. He wore a gold circlet and many rings.

"I am Prince Kal of Masina. My father sent me to persuade you to help us. You cannot throw us aside. If we fall, the Turucks will come here."

"Prince Kal. What a surprise but untimely. You have wasted your time journeying here. I have nothing to offer Masina. I must contain my rebels before I can consider sending you aid."

"I cannot accept that answer, King Edward. My people will die."

"I will not help you at this time. Perhaps in a month."

"It will be too late!" shouted Prince Kal.

Edward shrugged his shoulders and reached for his wine.

"If you cannot help me, perhaps Hal can." Prince Kal turned to leave.

"Impudence! Guards arrest that man and his entourage. They plot with Hal, the traitor and murderer, to overthrow me. Put them in the dungeons. Prince Kal needs time to consider his words before speaking to his betters."

The guards roughly hauled them away.

"This is war!" shouted Prince Kal.

"So be it. The Turucks will destroy your kingdom before you can send an army against me. My war will be with the six of you. Take them from my sight!"

Edward was alone with Tucker. Quink felt bold and he murmured softly.

"Edward…"

"Did you hear it?" asked Edward.

"Yes, I did," said Tucker. "This charade is about to end. Brock! Get your men in here!"

Several soldiers with hammers entered the room.

"Take down the wall!" cried Tucker, pointing at Quink's wall. "One at each end and one in the middle. Let's catch our ghost."

The men moved quickly to the walls and began pounding with their hammers. Stone chunks fell away at once. The noise was deafened and Quink hurried away with his hands covering his ears. Within minutes, they had broken through to the tunnel.

"You were right, Lord Tucker. There is a passage here."

Tucker looked at Edward who smiled with relief.

They opened up a doorway and Tucker went in. He found the reed and signaled Edward.

"I am going to make ghostly noises, now. Edward…..oohhhhh!"

"That was it! How was it done?"

"A thin reed stretched around the wall. I merely had to make some sound into it. No doubt the traitor watched from behind this wall until you were alone and spoke into it."

"I want the person found who has been using it. I have not slept well lately, and with his head on a spike, I shall sleep deeply."

Quink rushed past his hiding place and continued to the kitchen. At least they would not catch him in the tunnel. He heard the shouts and curses as more was exposed in the wall. He hurried where he could to limit the attention drawn to him. He kept to the back staircases and crept back to Lockwell's chambers where he rested against the door.

Several minutes later his heart started racing again. He heard voices, loud and angry float up to his hiding place. He could not move anywhere, the only choice he had was down right into their hands. He was trapped! Why had he come this way? He would wait to see if any were brave enough to risk checking Lockwell's chambers.

"Find the Fool!" shouted Tucker. "It's the Fool we want. I found his bell staff in the tunnel near scraps of bread and rolls. The cook said someone always stole the fresh bread. Some of the servants thought it was a ghost. It was Quink. We found a door leading to the kitchens."

"Excellent," said Edward who had regained his bluster. "I want that little man roasting by nightfall. Have you checked the north tower?"

"Just Lockwell's Chamber up there. Should we check it? What traps may be waiting for us?"

"Good point, Tucker. Cannot take chances. Send two men up there while everyone stays back."

Tucker called out orders.

Quink's heart began to pound again. He bit his lip and opened the door to Lockwell's chambers, thankful that it moved silently and closed it behind him.

"In trouble are you?" asked Lockwell.

Quink stifled a scream and fell to the floor.

"You seem surprised to see me," said Lockwell.

"I…I.."

"Take your time."

"They're coming here - searching for me."

"Ah, naught worse than that? Here stand by me and no one will see you." Quink stumbled over to the wizard who caught him with surprisingly strong hands. "Quiet now."

The door opened, revealing two pale faces of the guards. One entered and looked around quickly even as the room became darker.

"Let's go! No one's here."

"It's getting darker."

"You triggered a curse!"

"I did not - run!"

A large black cloud streamed out behind them chasing them down the stairs to Tucker and Edward. The men fell to the floor at their king's feet.

"No one there, Sire."

"I see," said Edward. He glanced involuntarily at the black cloud dissipating overhead. "Well, continue the search elsewhere. Tucker, post a watch here. I want to know if anyone leaves or enters that room."

"Have you been here all the time?" asked Quink after his pulse slowed.

"Mostly. I have enjoyed your messages and your methods. You have made quite an enemy in Edward. Plucker was right to include you. You have erased any doubts I may have about your worthiness. The Ghost of Eslenda, ha! Edward should be ridiculed for that alone.

"But now we have another problem. The Turucks are coming and Edward will not be able to hold them back. I don't think they will be frightened to search my quarters and we would be found."

"Can we escape?" asked Quink.

"Escape? We could, but that is not our purpose. We are here to work against our enemies. We do not want them to wander unheeded in our land."

"Won't Edward fight?"

"Fight? The Turucks will roll over his soldiers as they did to Masina. This beast is vulnerable only at the head. Kill Tag Makk and then our soldiers can fight."

"Are you sure you want me for this?" asked Quink softly. "I run from Edward's soldiers. Tag Makk is a creature that I cannot face."

"Yes, I know," said Lockwell. "Yet, you will have a part to play in his downfall. Success in war is to place the soldiers where their strengths may be brought to bear. That is why you are with me. Now, pay attention. There is much we must discuss before the Turucks take control of the castle."

"There is something you should know; Edward has imprisoned Prince Kal of Masina."

"He is here?"

"King Kennis sent him for help and to keep him out of the Turuck's hands. I think King Kennis expected to die and needed the prince to survive for the future of Masina."

"He is right. A king must stand with his people even as the darkness washes over them. It is a great loss. Kennis had great appreciation for art and music. He left his mark on Masina culture."

"We must rescue him," said Quink.

"Kennis? No, he is beyond our aid."

"No, Prince Kal."

"Oh, we shall, we shall. I am thinking on it already. So Edward has found all your tunnels?"

"I believe so. It was Tucker and his men. It was fun while it lasted."

"Oh, it is not over yet, Quink. There are more tunnels you have not found and there is where you shall keep Prince Kal safe. I believe you will also find the Turucks to be superstitious as well as Edward. Long may your ghost haunt this castle. Come, let us move quickly and remove Prince Kal from his plight before the Turucks come and we must keep to our tunnels."

He smiled grimly at Quink and patted the little man's head.

"Let us rid King Hal's castle of vermin."

"That I can do," smiled Quink.

Masina lies over a short mountain range to the east of Eslenda. It is a country built on trade and its culture. The kings of Masina have fostered a thriving artistic industry. The Masine artists exported their tapestries, pottery and sculptures across the Inner Sea to Anavar and have brought great prestige to their kingdom. Artists have risen to ranks of noblemen and the Guilds wield much influence in the Masine marketplaces. A class of people have risen who appreciate the less tangible parts of life and even their army transformed into a company that teach the finer rules of swordplay and chivalry.

In the past disagreements with Eslenda led to minor skirmishes but in these days the Masine soldiers would not fight with the bloodlust of their forefathers. It would be a battle of skill and dexterity, of finesse and strategy. In short, Masina no longer clung to the old notion of war. The discipline of War was elevated to Art.

The Masina soldiers waited as the sun set. As the shadows crept forward the soldiers became agitated. They could not see into the darkness but they sensed their enemy was there. One soldier shot an arrow into the shadows rolling up the hillside. They heard a muffled cry and then a black arrow rose from the shadows and struck the Masine archer in the throat. The sun set and shapes appeared out of the darkness running at full speed. The cries of the Turucks filled the air.

Duke Berna saw his soldiers hit the oncoming line of the Turucks and the slaughter began. The concussion of the battle shook the ground. The clang of steel filled the air, cries and screams followed soon after. His men fought valiant but the crushing onslaught overwhelmed them. The Masine soldiers were trained for tactical methods utilizing their sword skill. The brute force of the endless numbers of Turucks was a disaster for which they were not prepared. Each time they stopped the Turucks, from behind the first line of Turucks another surge roared up and overwhelmed them. The battle cries of the Turucks filled the air and the thuds of the heavy war hammers endless. The Turucks already routed Duke Gilber's division and Berna could see Gilber's head on the pike even at this distance. Berna felt his age; he was a generation older than Duke Gilber and King Kennis held him back until the last resort. Let the young lions fight the battle. Berna sensed the odds of victory decrease with each surge of the Turuck army. If they failed to hold the Turucks here, Masina would fall. No help came from Eslenda. Berna knew of Edward and from what he knew, he guessed Eslenda would never send help to Masina. Masina would topple and Eslenda would fall next and Berna would be glad of Edward's fall although Berna would not live to see it.