The Sleeping King (86 page)

“That? It is but a nick.”

She rolled her eyes. Warriors were all the same. They yelled to the heaven about a cut on their finger but totally ignored the gaping wounds in their sides. Exasperated, she glared up at him. “Fast or slow?”

“Just hit me,” he bit out, bracing for the burn of fast healing. She blasted the magic into his side and he absorbed it without comment or even flinching. Clearly, he'd been battle healed before.

“What will you do with me and my friends?” she ventured to ask.

“As I said I would. I shall take you back to Dupree to the governor.”

She kept her face neutral, as the man was watching her entirely too closely for comfort. Caution was called for around this one.

“Come,” he said harshly. “I have more men down over this way. My lions were hit hard.”

She followed Krugar around in the woods for what seemed like hours. Gradually, the shape of the day's earlier battle became clear to her. Krugar, his most senior battle leaders, and a powerful battle mage appeared to have joined forces and struck at the heart of the Boki forces. It looked as if the orcs had been taken by surprise by the bold move. Once the Boki had scattered into small parties, they' been easier to pick off.

“Who was your caster?” she asked Krugar as casually as she could.

“Who else? Only Aurelius could do what you have seen this evening.”

Why on Urth would the solinari help the governor's forces? Was it because of his fealty oath, or was it subterfuge? Or was it nothing more than enlightened self-interest? Gawaine's warning to be extremely careful who she trusted rang in her ears.

She was surprised when she and Krugar returned to camp to see that tents had been erected, and it appeared that the soldiers planned to stay here for a few days. “Does the governor entrench, then?” she blurted.

Krugar's face might as well have been made of stone as he answered, “The governor's already well on his way back to Dupree. I stay to mop up. To collect any stray soldiers who might have gotten separated from the main force. And then to march the wounded back to Dupree at a pace they can maintain.”

Stray soldiers, huh? More like deserters attempting to flee conscripted service in the governor's army.

*   *   *

Will's frustration was boundless as, true to his word, Krugar stayed in the Forest of Thorns for two more days, rounding up soldiers and skirmishing here and there with Boki. But for the most part, the orcs seemed satisfied to retreat deeper within their forests until the intruders left.

Eben was beside himself at being forced to leave this area. He was sure they would lose the trail of Kendrick's kidnapper and never find it again. Will tried to reassure the jann under his breath without Krugar's men overhearing, but he had to be circumspect in what he said. Eben was not appeased in the least.

For her part, Sha'Li seemed more frantic even than Eben. Whether it was captivity that made her so panicked, or the prospect of facing Anton, Will could not tell. But he half-expected her to chew off one of her arms like a wild animal and make an escape if they were out here much longer.

The third morning dawned, and Will was almost relieved to wake to Krugar's troops efficiently breaking camp. He had to give the man credit. His personal cadre was well trained and disciplined.
A fine fighting unit, curse it.

The long march back to Dupree was slow going. The weather had gone rainy and cold and the paths were slick with mud. Raina was able to heal most of the wounded to a state where they could walk readily enough, but she could not stop the soaking rains.

Even at their leisurely pace, it took a little less than half as long to go back to Dupree as it had taken to get there. Amazing how roads and no need for stealth sped a journey along. Will had almost forgotten what it was like to openly walk in a wagon rut without diving for cover at every approaching stranger.

They reached Dupree on the fourth day of their march a bit before midday. Krugar ordered his men to tighten the prisoners' rope bindings and lash them together to hinder any shenanigans. Will cursed under his breath. The soldier was too thorough for his own good.

They passed without challenge through the main city gate—a huge, ornate affair with massive portcullises and thick wooden doors to bar the way.

As they entered the city, Will looked around in shock. Broken barrels and ruined wagons littered the streets. Storefronts were shuttered over even though it was nearly midday, and sullen-looking locals hurried on their way, throwing dirty looks at Krugar's uniformed men. The city looked worse than it had the morning after the last riots.

“What is he up to, now?” Krugar muttered from close behind Will.

A young soldier, a boy really, ran up to them about halfway across the city toward the governor's residence. “Captain Krugar, sir. Tidings. A Black Ship has been sighted entering the harbor.”

Will jolted.
A Black Ship? As in a magically enhanced, Imperial Navy juggernaut vessel designed to weather the dangers of the Abyssmal Sea?
He'd heard talk of the ships around the fire of a winter eve. But never had he expected to come close to one. If only there was a way to see it—

Krugar snapped, “To the harbor, men!”

The formation turned right at the next intersection and headed downhill. The seaweed tang of salt water became strong in Will's nose. Excitement leaped in his chest. The crowds grew thicker as they neared the port, and Krugar's men had to shout and elbow people aside to make way for their formation.

Will was shocked when the troops did not stop at the end of the pier but marched right down the broad wooden dock to the very end. From here he had an unobstructed view of the mighty ship. It was indeed inky black all over. Its black sails were furled, neatly wrapped in rope, and yet it proceeded smartly toward them.

Sha'Li muttered, “Water elementals propel them, it is said.”

“Silence,” Krugar ordered absently, his attention entirely on the vessel as he peered through a long metal tube with a curved glass at each end.

Will jolted as a familiar voice spoke from behind him.
Selea
. “Who comes?”

Will's head swiveled, and he was not surprised to see Guildmaster Aurelius beside the nulvari. But Will
was
surprised—and elated—to see Landsgrave Hyland with the two elves.

Will would have cried out to Hyland, told him of Kendrick's capture, but Krugar had explicitly ordered the prisoners to be silent. And talk among the man's troops was that disobedience was met with swift death. And besides, Hyland moved over to Raina's side as Will watched, and the two had a quick, murmured conversation that put a deeply worried look on the landsgrave's face. Eben fell to his knees when he spied the landsgrave until a soldier hauled him roughly to his feet.

Krugar frowned. “I see Captain Kodo at the wheel. The colors of an Imperial noble also fly on the mainmast. An avarian symbol, I think.”

“Syreena Wingblade, perhaps?” Selea commented. “She is quite the celebrity at court. She rose from slave through the ranks to achieve noble officer's rank.”

Will noted that Krugar flinched slightly at the reference to noble officers. Had he run amok of one in Koth and been exiled down here? It would explain why he seemed such a fish out of water in the colonies.

The ship's progress was painfully slow as it spent the next quarter hour creeping forward at a snail's pace toward the pier. Time enough for Raina to sidle over to Will and murmur, “Be at ease. Hyland promises to get you all freed. And then he and his men will take us back to find Kendrick.”

“Thanks be,” Will muttered back.

“After that, you and I can move on to our other pressing project. Hyland thinks he can help somewhat with that.”

Excellent.
Will was without ideas as to how to find Bloodroot's original tree, other than it must stand somewhere in the Forest of Thorns, one of hundreds or thousands of Bloodthorn trees growing in that sprawling region.

Raina eased away, no doubt so Krugar would not spot them whispering, and Will was left to ponder how much longer he had to live before Bloodroot's poison took him. This detour to Dupree had cost him precious time that Rosana had paid dearly for and which he could ill afford to waste.

The Black Ship finally drew up alongside the pier and a bevy of sailors leaped ashore in unison, casting the mooring lines and knotting them with precision worthy of an acrobatic circus. The sailors lined up, standing smartly at attention as the gangplank was brought forth and extended toward the pier.

A furor behind Will made him glance away from the spectacle and over his shoulder. He swore under his breath. Anton was coming. His banner bobbed drunkenly through the crowd, and a phalanx of the Haelan legion shouted and cuffed aside locals. Someone fell off the dock and there was a commotion as the unfortunate fellow was fished out of the water. But Anton never slowed. He merely barged forward until he drew up beside Krugar. Will started at the smell of strong spirits and something sickly sweet clinging to the governor. Perfume to cover the other odors, mayhap.

“Ahh, Krugar. Everything cleaned up?” Anton demanded. He looked wrung out. As if he'd not slept in a long time.

“Your orders have been executed, sir.”

“Good thing you're back. Cursed peasants in this city need a lesson. Unruly whoresons one and all.”

As if on cue, a brawl of some kind broke out a ways down the dock. It grew until several dozen people were involved. With a low curse, Krugar dispatched a number of his men to go break it up.

Anton noticed the line of bound prisoners and demanded, “Who have you brought me, Krugar?”

“My men caught them skulking around in the forest just after you left.”

Anton turned to them and examined them more closely. When he got to Will, he commented, “You're the lad with Dragon's Roar…,” his voice trailed off.

“What is it, my lord?” Krugar asked.

“I know him.” Anton strode over to peer directly into Will's face.

Horror flooded through Will. This could not be happening! If Anton killed him or worse, he would not finish his father's quest. The people and land would not be freed. All would be lost.

“You have the look of your father about you,” Anton accused. His voice rose in growing outrage. He spit, “You're De'Vir's spawn. I will have you cut down where you stand—”

Just then the gangplank thudded to the pier, distracting Anton from his threats. Will sagged in his ropes. He had to get away from here before the governor followed through on his threat. But how? Will was well and truly caught in the Empire's net. He pulled frantically at his bindings, but to no avail.

A tall, imposing man in a crisp naval-style uniform strode down the wooden bridge. He was followed closely by a smaller figure, also in an Imperial officer's uniform. The second figure was a woman, and furthermore, her entire head was covered in soft, white feathers. Will stared. An avarian!

He'd never seen one before. The mix of human and bird was actually quite attractive. As the woman neared, he saw her neck was graceful, her eyes bright and dark. Her gaze darted about with bird-like interest, taking in the fight down the pier, which seemed to be spreading rather than winding down.

“What is going on, Governor?” the tall naval officer demanded.

Anton bowed slightly. “Greetings and welcome to Dupree, Captain Kodo. That is nothing. Merely a bit of unrest among the locals. I shall crush it before the day is out and order shall be restored.”

“Why is order lost in the first place?” Kodo demanded coldly. “Are the rumors at court true, then?”

“I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about,” Anton blustered.

Kodo looked around the pier, spying Hyland and the two elves, and nodded in their direction. “Guildmaster Aurelius. Master Selea, Landsgrave Hyland.”

They all bowed courteously, and Aurelius spoke for them all, saying, “At your service, my lord.”

“Report on the condition of the city,” Kodo ordered him tersely.

Aurelius replied, “The riots of the past two days seem to have abated for today, at least. Forced conscriptions into the Haelan legion have commenced, along with collection of the new taxes to finance expansion of the governor's armed forces.”

“What's this?” Kodo demanded. “The Emperor has not authorized an increase in your legion beyond the prescribed levels.”

Anton held out his hands. “Captain, I can explain. The Boki are acting up again. I have reason to believe the cursed greenskins are about to invade Dupree. I merely look to the defense of the Empire's holdings.”

Hyland snorted from behind the governor, and Kodo was quick to turn on him. “Landsgrave Hyland, have you something to say?”

“If you wish, my lord.”

“What say you of the greenskins? Is the governor correct?”

“Oh, aye, he's entirely correct. They are furious that the governor invaded their territories and slaughtered as many of them as he could find. I have no doubt they plan revenge for his unprovoked incursion into their lands.”

“It is not like that—” Anton started hotly.

Kodo cut him off with a deadly look that effectively silenced the governor. Will literally felt the chill rolling off the ship's captain.

“Who are these prisoners of yours, Krugar?” Kodo snapped.

“I've lately come from the Forest of Thorns with the wounded troops. I caught these miscreants roaming around in the woods up there. They claim to have lost a friend of theirs, but I do not believe their story.”

Kodo looked over them and zeroed in on Raina. “Does this one impersonate a White Heart member, then? She seems far too young for the colors.”

Krugar answered grimly, “Oh, no. She's definitely White Heart. I've seen her do the healing … and gotten the complaints over it from my men.”