Venom and Song (34 page)

Five seconds later, Regis slid the crates into position, and the two Elves lunged up on them and sprang toward the enemy.

SLAM! THUD!

The towering warrior in front had leaped over the rolling barrel and swung his shield like a bat. He smacked Nelly out of the air, and she landed in a heap by one of the crates.

Graceful and lithe as she was, Regis could not do any harm to the smaller Gwar. He rotated his body outside of her fist strike and blocked her knee upstroke with his own well-muscled leg. Then he spun Regis inside his iron arms and held a dagger blade to her throat. “Peace, Elf,” he whispered urgently. “I am one of your kindred.”

“I ain't seen moves like that for a long time,” said the larger one. “That's Vexbane. Good thing I'm pretty fair at Vexbane my own self.”

Nelly sat up groggily and tried to shake the cobwebs out of her mind. She thought sure she'd heard that voice before.
Wait! There's only one Elf I know who likes to use that odd human dialect
. “Merrick?” she called out. “Merrick Evershield?”

“Yes, ma'am,” he replied. “But I prefer Charlie.”

The large warrior strode over to Nelly and offered his thick hand. Speechless and gawking like a child at a parade, Nelly took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. “I don't believe it,” she said. “Charlie?” She brushed her fingers along the dark skin of his cheek and stared into his violet eyes. “We thought we'd lost you. When you didn't come through the portal . . . we thought . . . ah, Charlie, it's so good to see you, even dressed as a Gwar!” She threw a clumsy hug around his neck.

“Wisp got me good,” he said, patting her awkwardly on the back. “Stabbed me in the gut and left me for dead. Fortunately for me, some of our folk were still on that side. Like Orli here.”

The smaller Elf holding Regis said, “Yes, my group of Sentinels came a little late to the party in Scotland. A snowstorm in Austria, you understand.”

“Um, can you let me go now?” asked Regis, squirming.

“My apologies, darling,” said Orli. He released her and sheathed his dagger.

Mr. Charlie took a step backward and said, “You know, I was beginning to wonder if somethin' happened to Grimwarden in Allyra. Figured for sure he'd have found the portal by now.”

Nelly shook her head. “By now? We only just learned there was an open portal,” she said. “But, Charlie, how did you know we'd be here?”

“Didn't. Been watching this portal. Figured we'd find a way back through it or someone would come over with orders for us, unless—”

“We made it back, Charlie—with all the lords.”

“Why are you here then?”

“We are trying to get to Autumn and Johnny's house in upstate New York.”

“Where is here, anyway?” asked Regis.

“Canada,” said Orli. “Northern Quebec actually.”

“That explains the cold.”

“Why do you need to get back to the Briarmans' place?” asked Charlie.

“Before they knew who and what they were, Johnny and Autumn found a map, hid it in their room. A map of Vesper Crag.”

“Vesper Crag?” Charlie echoed. “Well, if that don't beat all. The Spider King's probably none too happy about that.”

“Still,” said Orli, “what good's a map of Vesper Crag? It's not very likely that we'll be invad—”

“We're planning an invasion,” said Regis. “You've been away for a long time. The lords are training under Grimwarden and Goldarrow. We have amassed an army three times the size of anything we had in the past. And we've developed new weapons as well.”

“Truly?” replied Orli. The other Elven warriors behind them buzzed with excitement.

“Yes. But we haven't much time to locate the map and return to Allyra.”

“If memory serves,” said Nelly, quietly, “Quebec is just over the St. Lawrence River from northern New York, right?”

“If by ‘just over' you mean seven hundred miles, then yes,” said Charlie. “We're deep in the wilderness up here.”

“We've got to get that map,” said Regis.

“There I can help,” said Charlie. “We've got a little seaplane stashed away in a cove on a lake . . . two-mile hike east of here.”

“Gassed up and ready to go,” said Orli, nodding to Nelly.

“Take us there,” said Nelly.

“That might not be so easy,” said Charlie. “Muster is nearly over.”

“Muster?”

“Asp Bloodthorne, the Drefid commander here, assembles the strength of his army every day at dusk. Once he releases them from the muster . . . well, this place'll be flooded with ten thousand Gwar.”

“Ten thousand?” Nelly gasped.

“And that does not count the legions on patrol or on training missions,” said Orli.

“Just what are they doing here?” asked Nelly.

“I think you can guess,” said Charlie. “But there is much more we can share. It'll have to wait. The horns haven't sounded, but it won't be long.”

“Lead the way,” said Nelly.

They went back the way Nelly and Regis had come.

“Here!” yelled Orli as he passed a wickedly curved short sword to Nelly and one to Regis. “You might need these.”

The nine Elves hurtled down the passage, looking for the next branch. But not ten yards from them, an endless line of marching Gwar crossed their path.

“Down here!” beckoned Charlie as he diverted into a narrow opening on their left.

Praying they hadn't been seen, the Elves followed. It was an access way, not meant for much travel. In fact, some industrious Gwar had decided to use it for storage.

Nelly tripped over a crate and would have sprawled if it weren't for Orli's swift assistance. The ribbon of passage curled this way and that, up and down, and finally there was a light at the end.

Charlie went through first, but stopped as the others barreled through behind him. They'd entered a chamber teeming with no less than forty Gwar, a kind of mess hall.

Charlie nodded and motioned to the other Elves to follow. There was another door in the back right of the chamber. If they could just get through without— “Wait!” commanded the Gwar leader. “I don't think I've seen your tribe mark. Come round, let your heads breathe so I can see your mark. Maybe I'll put you in for a commendation.”

Charlie stood very still. Inside his helmet, he shut his eyes tight. He'd hoped to avoid confrontation, hoped to avoid notice. But now there were few options. “Looks like it's time to kick the hornet's nest,” he muttered.

“What's that you say?” asked the Gwar.

Charlie ignored the question, turned, and approached the Gwar. The other Elves were ready to follow Charlie's lead. He stood now directly in front of the Gwar. He began to remove his helmet. “A commendation?” Charlie asked. “Do you think?”

“Perhaps,” said the Gwar, watching with keen interest. “You captured spies . . . and you know how Asp feels about ELVES.”

Charlie whipped off his helmet and slammed it into the Gwar's forehead. Charlie had his shield up in a flash, raised it horizontally, and beheaded the enemy in one swift motion. Then with a roar, he lowered his shield and barreled into a group of Gwar, knocking them down like bowling pins.

Orli sprang into action next. He removed an odd Y-shaped blade from his belt and flung it at a Gwar near the back of the chamber.

Outnumbered four to one, the Elves quickly evened the odds. The battle was over in minutes. Dead Gwar littered the chamber. Two Elves had perished as well.

“We have to go,” Charlie said.

“Must we leave our friends here, among the Gwar?” asked Orli.

Charlie's posture sagged. “We have no choice. They will slow our escape.”

The seven remaining Elves raced through the door at the back of the chamber. Their path of escape was full of twists and turns, sudden blocks, and hasty detours. But they avoided conflict and seemed to be making progress, when Charlie stopped them and said, “I thought that last turn was wrong. Orli, I think we've gone underground by a level or two.”

“Yes, yes, I think you're right. We don't want to be down here.”

“Why?” asked Regis.

“They breed the spiders down here . . . and do worse things.” Orli pointed to a dim, wavering light some sixty yards ahead. “Come, Charlie, I have spent more time in this place. Follow me.” Swiftly, they escaped the mountain and fled into the night.

21
Conflict of Interest

“CHANGE OF plans,” Grimwarden started off. He paced in the formal dining hall as the Seven sat around the board, along with Goldarrow, Claris, Mumthers, and Alwynn. The team had just finished dinner, and Grimwarden asked them all to remain, even insisting that Mumthers be seated—a habit she never entertained. “As you can imagine, Alwynn's presence is unexpected, and far more than a simple inspection of our progress. It would seem that unforeseen events have initiated a move among part of the council of elders to take you”—he indicated the lords—“from Whitehall prematurely, and by force if necessary.”

“You mean they want us to march with them on Vesper Crag?” Autumn asked, remembering the tumultuous council meeting so many months before.

“Why not wait a little longer?” questioned Tommy.

“The Spider King attacked Nightwish Caverns,” Alwynn interjected. An audible gasp went up around the table. “However, the Elves of Allyra have won a formidable victory, albeit costly.”

“Costly in lives?” asked Kiri Lee.

“Materials,” Grimwarden corrected. “Layadine, the valuable extract of the Nightwish flower, is lethal to Warspiders.”

“Spiders of any kind, really,” said Alwynn.

“The stuff you used back in school to kill that one spider!” Tommy pointed to Goldarrow.

“The same,” she replied.

“The elders made the decision to use the powder during the siege,” continued Grimwarden.

“So we won! Good choice!” Johnny pumped his fist. “Sweet!”

“Except that they extinguished nearly our entire supply.” Grimwarden let the ramifications settle over them.

Tommy raised his hand, still not comfortable with his place as royalty. Grimwarden shook his head and Tommy spoke up. “Why is that so bad? Can't we just make more?”

Alwynn answered this question. “Tommy, the process of extracting and making it suitable for use is a highly dangerous process, one that requires great skill, and one other invaluable commodity.”

“What's that?” he asked.

“Time.”

“Oh. Like how much?”

“Three hundred years, on average.”

“Three hun—!”

“Time that we do not have,” Grimwarden interrupted.

“So”—Jimmy sat up a little in his chair—“are we ready? I mean, aren't we close to being done with the Vexbane training?”

“Close?” Grimwarden eyed him. “Perhaps. Finished? No. But I fear we may never have that luxury. As I see it, our only choice is to get you all as far away from here as possible, and complete what little training I can manage in a different location. The council is right: we do need to raze Vesper Crag, and you are essential to that process. No one would argue that. But there is still much you need to learn.” Grimwarden looked to Elle for her support. Surely, she felt the same. “But this brings up a greater matter. Vesper Crag itself.”

Alwynn spoke next. “The elders, while bent on securing you as an invaluable asset to war, have no formal battle plan. We are councilmen— politicians at best—not warriors. And while Travin has surely won us a great victory with his planning, he is no Grimwarden. Our battle strategy lies here in this room, among all of you.”

“Us?” mouthed Jimmy, trying to hide his astonishment. “Attack Vesper Crag?”
And I canna' control my gift yet,
Jimmy worried. They knew how to swing a sword, knew how to slay an opponent in two moves. But plan an entire invasion?

“We must produce a battle plan,” Grimwarden said, placing his hands on the table and leaning forward. He looked at each of them, taking his time. “And I need each of you to contribute. While you have little experience on the battlefield, you are the royal Seven Elven Lords, and you know more than you think you do. Each of you carries answers to clues that must be answered—keys to unlocking doors to the battle. The time is coming when we will unleash the full power of Berinfell upon Vesper Crag. But not here. Not now. We must focus our attention on keeping you safe,” he motioned to the lords.

“One thing I do know,” he went on, “I will not surrender the Seven to a council of elders bent on taking Vesper Crag at any cost. Win we shall, but not before Ellos grants us divine wisdom to proceed. And not before we have exercised discretion.” He looked to Claris and Mumthers. “You are to return to Nightwish; Mumthers, Claris will be your escort.” Mumthers dipped her head respectfully. “Alwynn, Elle, and I will stay here to intercept the council and buy as much time as we can for the rest of you.”