The Vitalis Chronicles: Tomb of the Relequim (46 page)

Ardin realized they were still holding hands. He took his back as soon as he did, an uncomfortable weight settling in his stomach. He reached for the necklace under his armor, pressing it into his chest gently through the leather.

She turned to say something, but the doors swung open and Crag walked in. He was followed by two portly young men in floppy hats and tiny aprons. They were covered with grease stains and flour and looked every bit like cooks as Ardin could imagine.

“
My apologies, Highness.” Crag the Steward bowed as he ushered the pudgy men forward. They each deposited large platters covered in meats and bread and cheese. There were even apples around
the edge of one plate. One of them produced a pineapple from somewhere. It made Ardin's mouth water to see it. “We were unprepared for your arrival. I hope you find this to your liking.”

“
It is most appreciated, Crag.”

The two cooks smiled to hear it. The one with the bushy mustache looked almost like he might try to say something before the other tugged at his sleeve. Crag, however, nodded curtly and walked back out the way he had come. The two cooks scurried after him, though one returned quickly with a flagon of wine and two cups.

The food was every bit as good as Ardin imagined it to be. After nine days of stale bread and gritty water, some meat and wine were beyond welcome treats. He couldn't help but grin as he ate. But the uncomfortable feeling in his gut remained. He found his appetite curbed by it.

Rain was looking at him, he realized. Watching him eat.

“
What?” he finally asked as he took a long sip of the thick wine. He laughed uncomfortably. “What is it? Do I have something on my face?”

“
Ardin... I don't know how to say this.”

“
You're not kicking me out already are you?” He smiled, but his gut was churning. She was about to say something he was certain he didn't want to hear.

“
There's obviously something special about you, Ardin. Lots of things.”

Yep, he didn't want to hear this.

“
But there's more to it than that, I think.” She looked down at her food as she spoke. “Ardin, when I was just a girl, I was betrothed to marry Branston, did you know that? But when my father died,
and I saw Branston for what he had become, I pleaded with my brother to end the betrothal. And perhaps that has to do with his treason in the end.”

Oh God,
Ardin thought.
Really don't like where this is going.

“
I wanted to be free, Ardin. To choose who I would love. Who I would marry.”

Ardin realized he was shaking as the cup in his hand clattered on the table. He released it and put his hands to work wiping his face with a cloth. He hoped it would buy him some time.

“
I don't know much in the end, Ardin. And I don't know what the future holds. Let alone if there will be a future. There has always been a lot of pressure on me to marry. In fact, there are old laws that would require I do so within the year. I didn't think I could bear it.”

The room was spinning as Ardin's head swam through an endless sea of things he should not say. How on the round, rocky earth was he supposed to respond to this?

She put a hand gently over his as she leaned closer. “I don't know what to expect from you. I don't know if I can expect anything. But I wanted you to know... I just want you to know that I... I respect you.” She looked back up at him as she said it.

Those deep crystal blue eyes were searching his for their answer. He wondered if they would find one. “I respect you, Ardin. I fear you. But most of all... I...”

The doors swung open and she sat back up abruptly. She was obviously shaken as the moment was broken. “What is it?”

A tall thick man with a full beard strode into the room. He wore a thick black belt over a simple gray surcoat. A long, light gray cloak flowed off of his shoulders from a chain made to look like small stones. “Your Highness.” He touched two fingers to his forehead as his gaze shifted between the two of them. “My name is Frost, commander of the Stone Pass. I'm sorry to have missed your arrival, m'lady, and even more to disrupt your meal, but we've received a raven. I thought you should be told.”

“
A raven?” She gingerly dabbed her lips with a napkin as she smoothed her own proverbial feathers. “No one uses ravens to send messages.”

“
Ilthuln still uses ravens. They're hardier birds than pigeons for the high altitudes, but I think it's more because that old fool is so stuck in his ways.”

“
What of it,” she said, impatience punctuating each syllable. “The news I mean. Please, we've
had a long journey and could use some rest before we continue on.”

“
Of course m'lady. In fact, I don't believe it to be of much concern. If it is I'm sure your brother has received word as well and will deal wi–”

“
What. News.”

A thick one, this commander
, Ardin thought.
But bless him for it.

“
Ilthuln sends word that a Shade has arrived at the Mouth.”

Ardin sat up straight at that.

“
A Shade?” Rain was confused. “Why would they send word of that? Was there nothing else?”

“
It's an immediate response, your Highness. When one of the forbidden arrives unannounced, ravens are sent to alert the Vale. In the past we would have closed off the pass to prevent any escape, but now the gates render the practice pointless.”

“
A Shade,” Ardin spoke up. “As in a Shadow Warrior?”

“
Yes, that's right.”

“
And Ilthuln is the doorstep to the Gates, right?” His heart was racing again.

“
That's correct... I'm sorry, who is this, your Highness?”

“
I have to get there.” Ardin stood. “Now.”

“
Ardin,” Rain put a hand on his elbow. “Wait...”

“
This is why I was sent here, Rain.

“
You think that's what Tristram was talking about? A Shade?”

“
I'm certain of it.”

“
Boy.” The commander named Frost smiled as if humoring a slow child. “There is no way a lone Shade can pass the Mouth. And even if he manages to get to the bridge, the Guardians will roll his head into the abyss before he can lift a finger.”

“
Not this one.” Ardin was already moving around the table. “Not him. He'll do it; he can manage it if no one else can. I have to go, it's why I'm here.”

“
Ardin–”

“
Rain!” He turned on her. “If I don't leave now this could all be for nothing! We didn't come this far to let him through.”

“
Ok,” she said as she stood slowly. “Let me change, we'll ride out imme–”

“
No,” he said leaving no room to argue. “You have to warn your brother. You have to tell him everything. The army to the east, the invasion of the Contin... Veria. You have to tell him that the Relequim is returning. Otherwise, how is he to know what's happened?”

“
I'll send word with a rider,” she said as tears crept into her eyes. “I can help you, Ardin.”

“
I'm sorry, Rain.” He walked back over to her and took her hands. She needed this, he could tell. Of what little he knew about women, he hoped he was right in this. “This is one place you can't follow me. Not even Cid could join me in this. It's too dangerous, and your brother needs to hear it from you, from someone who has seen everything. He'll know what to do.”

She tried to lean in and hug him, but he turned to look at the commander.

“
Do you have fresh horses?”

“
Yes, one should get you there just fine.”

“
How far is it?” Ardin let her hands go and walked towards Frost.

“
Two leagues from the end of Albentine. I'll send a guard with you to ensure they let you through
the gate at the village. They can mount you on a fresh palfrey as well. But there are no guarantees
you'll be admitted when you reach Ilthuln.”

Ardin Vitalis and Commander Frost walked out of the room, making their plans as they went. Rain was left standing at the table in the broad hall of her dead father. Forgotten. Alone. Ever alone...

T
HIRTY

C
ID THE
C
LEAVER,
C
APTAIN OF THE
O
LD
G
UARD, FELT ILL AT EASE TO SAY THE LEAST
.
He had let his sworn charge leave his care. Though he had come close enough to dying already, Cid wasn't sure he deserved the duty. He was now in the company of twenty men who had been trying to kill each other only a night before. And among them he felt certain there remained a traitor. But he couldn't voice those fears. For all the authority he may have been given, he was left totally alone.

The wounded among them made their trip south painfully slow. He kept scouts out circling them at all hours, but there was no further sign of the Woads. The monsters were brutal. Far stronger than he remembered them being. He hoped they hadn't descended on the fleeing camp.

After two days of travel south, they made it out of the barren wastes. That morning he sent four scouts ahead. They needed to know where the former slaves and their protectors had gone. They needed direction. It only took another day for them to report back. The camp had turned back, they were headed east. The scout reporting hadn't been able to get close enough to make contact for fear of the things he had seen pursuing them.

They made as much haste as they could, setting a path that would get them ahead of the travelers if at all possible. As for what had been chasing them, the scouts couldn't say. But one was convinced they were armored and on two legs. Whatever they were, Cid wasn't looking forward to the certainty of encountering them.

On the fifth day they could see a huge cloud of dust being kicked up over the horizon. It was good news in that it meant the people were still alive. But the fact that he could see it from this far made his throat twist. So could anyone else that was looking for them.

Cid ordered the wounded under the care of five healthy men. He took the remaining nine and rode as quickly as he could to head off the retreating masses. He tried to leave the destriers among them behind, the huge warhorses already lagging in the long journey, but the coursers were showing signs of exhaustion as well.

It took them until well into the day before they made their first sighting of the fugitives. They were making their way through a particularly flat stretch of plain. The grasses grew tall here, and trees dotted the landscape sparsely. They were nearly fifty miles from the coast.

He looked to the west to see if he could get eyes on what they were running from, but so far there was nothing. The fact that he couldn't see whatever it was bothered him more than a little. His mare was soaked and beginning to froth. He hoped she could make it the last two miles without trouble.

He kicked his heels and they made their way down into the plains. They were quickly intercepted by outriders who had spotted them coming.

“
We thought you'd be long gone by now, my lord.” The man stood in the saddle as if hoping to see more riders come over the hills in the distance. “Are you so few?”

“
We left half of our strength behind. Our wounded should catch up come nightfall if you'd be so kind as to fetch 'em. I need to speak with whoever's in charge.”

“
That would be the Greatbow, sir. If you'll follow me I'll take you there now.” The man gave orders for the patrol to collect the wounded and then sidled up next to Cid. They continued on at a trot.

“
Why've you turned east?”

“
Our scouts stumbled upon an ambush waiting for us on the path back to the West.” The man
looked young to Cid, possibly twenty-five at most. “Thankfully they tipped their hand, our men got out unharmed. We decided then that we were done for if we pressed on. They knew our mind too well. So we make for the coast.”

“
Interestin' plan,” Cid picked his words carefully. “What's the reasonin' behind it?”

“
I couldn't say, sir. I'm sorry.” The soldier gave him a sidelong glance before looking on ahead.
“It seems we're wandering farther from safety and deeper into the trap to me. But what do I know?”

“
What do any of us know,” Cid ceded with a nod.

If Donovan was coming, this was looking like a providential turn of events. If he wasn't... Cid didn't want to think about what would happen if he wasn't.