The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1) (31 page)

The trapdoor closed tightly and the dim glow of the lanterns soon brightened their faces.

"I escaped Riverdowns in a dirty tunnel and now Far Greening," said Elizabeth. "I should be the Queen of Tunnels, not Eslenda."

"There may not be an Eslenda soon," said D'siderin. "Meaning no disrespect."

"None taken, good D'siderin. Lead on, Talen. Take us from this land of death."

The tunnels sloped downward and were very damp. Talen led them quickly and confidently. Several other passages opened but Talen ignored them and kept to a westerly direction. The tunnel ended fifty yards beyond the western wall of the castle in a rocky field where no houses stood. Talen peered through the opening and turned back to his companions.

"No Turucks in sight and there are no shadows on this field. I can't tell how far to the Turuck lines we are. We may just have to make a break for it. Run west. I will lead them south."

Before they could protest, Talen was gone.

"Damn," said Elizabeth. "No time to argue, let's use his sacrifice wisely." She led them out of their cover running west. Mary followed and D'siderin brought up the rear. They ran hard. D'siderin spared a glance in the direction Talen had run and saw the arrow that killed the boy. It caught Talen in the throat; the boy fell without a sound. D'siderin clenched his jaw and ran faster.

The hum of arrows chased them across the fields. D'siderin's lungs ached as he fell behind the women. He had no weapon or he would have stopped to fight. He was too old to run but he had to protect the women. He was aware of movement around him as figures came out of the forest racing past him to intercept the Turucks. He did not care who they were, he lived long enough to know help often came unlooked for and he would not stop to inquire. He kept running.

Hands reached for him as he reached the shelter of the trees. He was pulled to safety under the shadow of a huge blue person with wings spread wide. He wisely kept silent other than the wheezing of his old lungs. He saw Mary and Elizabeth not far away protected by a girl and the Nunari, Ank Rak. He heard noises of battle that swiftly silenced. His guard motioned for him to get to his feet and follow her. His senses came back enough that he was able to determine the creature was female, but he had never seen the blue people of Anethe.

"D'siderin, are you well?" asked Mary.

"I am not sure, but I am not injured."

"We must leave this place quickly," said Elberra. "We do not have the numbers to fight all the Turucks. There will be time to talk after we cross the river."

There were horses waiting for them and D'siderin and the royal ladies rode while the Daerlan soldiers ran alongside. All the others had horses and nothing delayed their crossing and they made camp after another 2 miles of riding. D'siderin, Mary and Elizabeth were given water and food while the young woman called Teresa waited on them.

"I am Kerreth Veralier and we are the Talos Company. Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and D'siderin, please accept our meager fare and company. We will find a safe place for you before we return to the battle."

"Talos Company? I didn't know you were real," said D'siderin. "My father told me tales of you."

"We are real, D'siderin, are you?" asked Kerreth.

"I don't know what you mean?"

"Many lifetimes ago Mauran de Aryar rode with us, before he went on to fame at Nantitet. He told me many stories of my homeland of Cothos including the last three Zidar of the old city."

"I see," said D'siderin. "You wish to know if I am that D'siderin that Mauran knew."

"I do."

D'siderin looked at the faces around, human, Daerlan, half bloods and then he noticed the sorcerer.

"Blackthorne!" cried D'siderin.

"Ah, your memory has not dimmed over the years, grandfather. I welcome you to our company. I had long thought that I would never know surprise again, but I am surprised. Your death had long been rumored."

"He is your grandfather?" asked Kerreth.

"Yes," said Blackthorne. "And he is the same D'siderin that Mauran knew. He is part Zidar, part Celaeri, not Masine. We continue to gather resources against the Menaloch."

D'siderin looked at Mary.

"I did not wish this. I only wanted to be an artist and forget my past. It seems old sinners never escape the stains on their souls."

"Actually it is quite nice to find someone older than we are," said Taina. "There is too few who have tread the paths we have seen."

"What do you recall of your talents?" asked Blackthorne.

"Very little. I made an effort to forget those things centuries ago."

"Pity," said Blackthorne.

"Kerreth!" Hobart and Loric returned dirty and bloodied.

"Hobart, you were instructed to look and not engage the Turucks," said Kerreth.

"Not my choice. Loric's blood was up and he attacked them. Nearly three dozen! I am lucky to be here, but no one worries about me."

"Loric, what is the problem?" cried Kerreth.

"The Turucks broke the castle defenses. I thought I could sneak up and thin their lines a bit."

"Did you?"

"Yes."

"But then scores of Turucks rushed us," said Hobart. "Loric, something in your head controls your nifty sword work but I'm not sure it's your brain."

"Don't be a spoilsport," said Loric. "You wanted to stretch your legs a bit."

"Argh!"

"Okay, the castle has fallen," said Kerreth. "Are they concerned with the river?"

"Didn't appear to be," said Hobart.

"Good, let's make haste on the trail. It runs close to the river and we may be seen, but we'll chance it."

The Turuck main advance was halted. Hal's soldiers kept them in the valley and Cane directed sorties into the columns of Turucks. The discipline of Hal's troops withstood the charges of the Turucks who were hampered by the uphill battle. Hal's archers rained volley after volley upon the unprotected Turuck infantry. Finally, the Turucks pulled back several hundred yards and began to set their camp as the sky lightened. Hal's exhausted soldiers cheered.

"What a night!" exclaimed Hal.

"You need to rest," said Plucker. "Tomorrow will be no shorter."

"Aye," said Hal. "You have the right of it, John."

"I sent word to the captains to be especially alert. We can do no more than make our wounded comfortable. They are too many of them and we would nigh clear the battlefield of our fighters if we allotted soldiers to take the wounded to Far Greening."

"Yes, although it troubles me to leave the wounded untended in the elements."

"Your compassion for your men is known, Sire. They are soldiers and they understand the risks of the battlefield."

"Thank you, Sir John. I intend to be worthy of their devotion."

Hal watched Howard Cane and Richard Cane talking near a campfire. Richard's tone was angry but the words weren't clear. Richard gestured with his hands and Howard shook his head. Their discussion continued for several minutes, and then Richard stood up, kicked a rock hard and nodded his head. He walked into the dawn light. Hal thought for a moment, and then decided the court intrigue would have to wait. An army of Turucks waited for the sun to set. Hal contemplated attacking when the sun was high, but the sun wouldn't kill the Turucks, not the living ones, just make them uncomfortable. But the Shadow Runners would not be able to show themselves and that alone was worth the chance. His eyes looked out over the valley. The Turucks still outnumbered them plus there were the Turuck troops that skirted around to the west and even now surround Far Greening. The castle might fall while he fought in the valley, but his options were few. It was a huge task to grasp. He wished for a moment that James was here to help him, but Hal let that thought drop. He was King, not James. Hal must lead his soldiers and his people. Their problems were his problems and he opened his arms to hold them to his body. He would be King Henry II and Prince Hal would be lost to memory.

Hal sat in the sun, finding such relaxation as he could. His muscles ached and the bruise on his hip was bothersome. Plucker would have the guards at full alert so the Turucks could not surprise them. Hal's sword was drawn and his hand lay upon it even while he rested. A stray thought slipped in his mind, wondering when he would get to clean his sword again.

His mind snapped to attention when he held footfalls approach him.

"Sire?"

"Yes, Sir Howard?" Hal did not open his eyes showing his trust for Cane.

"I beg to suggest to your highness to move boldly against the Turucks. I do not see victory sword to sword," said Cane.

"I told you James will bring back a weapon for us."

"Will he be here by nightfall? I do not believe we will see the next dawn."

Hal sat up and looked at Cane.

"What do you suggest? Tricks and conceits? That seems to be your expertise, Sir Howard."

"As you say, sire."

The darkness had descended rapidly and the Turucks seemed to move with it. The Eslendian soldiers were prepared for the attack but just barely. Their lines folded back but did not break. Still, they could not stop many more charges by the Turucks. Plucker soon found himself locking swords with the enemy. The Turuck soldier was overmatched against the huge man and died. Plucker heard a cry and turned to look to the hilltop where Hal and Cane observed the battle. He saw silhouetted figures locked in a struggle and Hal stumbled. Cane raised his sword and struck Hal's chest. Plucker cried out in rage and threw his next opponent to the turf as he tried to get back to his king. But Cane's men surrounded the hilltop and the Turucks broke through the lines. Hal's soldiers scamper northward, running for their lives. In the chaos Plucker saw the huge figure of Tag Makk moving through the ranks. The great war hammer of the Warlord crushes helms with each blow and those who are able, run from his approach. Tag Makk sees Hal's standard and changes his direction to head for it, swinging the hammer as he plows through skirmishes, Eslendian and Turuck. Plucker tries to move forward to intercept Tag Makk, but is struck on his helmet and spins senseless to the ground.

Cane sent messages to all the captains in Hal's name to make their choice: surrender or quit the field and flee for their lives. He sat on a rock with his sword writing his wife's name in the dirt.

Grawlin rode up to Cane.

"What's the meaning of these messages?"

"We are pulling back. We must live to fight another day. The Turucks will gladly fight us to the last man, but I aim for us to survive. Go to my castle and warn my wife to pack and flee northward."

"Where's King Hal?"

"I do not know and I am worried. I have sent runners to look for him but none have returned. I only command because someone must. Eslenda must survive in some form, if only in the memories of fugitives. Take up to thirty men with you Grawlin and God's speed."

"Thank you, sir. And God's speed to you."

I'll need more than that, thought Cane.

He walked to the tent, opened the flap and stared at the bloody figure lying before him. He then pulled Hal's standard out of the earth and flung it to the ground in the light of the campfire. The Turucks roared and followed Tag Makk to where Cane stood.

"Eslenda, the things we do for you," Cane muttered.

Tag Makk reached the hilltop, Shadow Runners flanking him. Cane collapsed to his knees, his endurance exhausted.

"I have killed King Hal for you, lord. You have conquered Eslenda."

"You could have saved much trouble by telling me of your plans, Howard Cane," said Tag Makk. "Trust is a commodity I do not part with easily. Plucker, is this Hal that lies dead here?"

The big man hobbled forward, a bloody bandage wrapped loosely around his forehead. Plucker looks closely at the corpse and then looks up to Cane. Cane's eyes flicker to Plucker's eyes, but only for a heartbeat. Plucker turns the face of the corpse to him. After a moment, he says, "it is Hal."

"Excellent," said Tag Makk. "Cane, gather your men and return to your castle. You are to remain there until you are recalled. Is that understood?"

"Yes, lord." Cane could not remove his gaze from the bloody hammer in Tag Makk's hand. He knew he was so near to feeling its impact, his breathing constricted.

"You will be accompanied by a dozen of my Shadow Runners. They have their instructions; do not try to subvert them. Be gone!"

"You are a faithless bastard!" shouted Plucker to Cane. "Betrayer!" He started forward quickly, surprising Cane who fell backward, but two Shadow Runners held Plucker back.

"Calm yourself, my friend," said Tag Makk. "Do not let the faults of those inferior to you anger yourself. He cannot help himself. You have witnessed this behavior all your life, why is it upsetting now?"

"I guess I hoped things would be different when your army invaded-that the nobles would band together to defeat you. But I was wrong. These men are still slaves to petty greed and self-preservation. None care about Eslenda."

"Yes. It is disheartening. I felt the way you did, until I met my master. Would you like to touch the idol?"

"Not yet," said Plucker, hastily. "I am not ready for the touch of the Menaloch."

Plucker sat in the dirt, staring at nothing. He ignored all commotion around him. Someone walked up to him and stopped.

"You mourn for your kingdom," said Salie. "Is the battle really over?"

"For me it is," said Plucker.

"But not for others?" asked Salie.

"Some have fled to fight another day. As if it would make a difference."

"What if it would make a difference?"

"What are you saying, Turuck?"

"I can free you to gather your people to resist Tag Makk."

"He's your leader."

"Yes, he is the leader of the Turuck people but he is a slave to the Menaloch and we Turucks have strayed from the path of our fathers. We are no longer Turucks. The Menaloch is perverting us. Something must be done to put an end to the madness."

Plucker stiffly got to his feet. Salie did not help him. He turned in silence and walked off; Plucker followed him. Salie led Plucker to the outer lines.