Alutar: The Great Demon (76 page)

Colonel Taerin nodded and bowed before exiting the room. He first notified General Hartz and then General Brennus as he had been ordered to do. Remembering the lord’s request, he ran outside to notify General Forshire. He found the general by the old barracks. The A Corps was standing in formation, and the general stood apart from them talking to Colonel Donil.

“Lord Kimner is meeting with Emperor Jaar,” Colonel Taerin announced. “Your presence has been requested in the throne room for the meeting.”

“How much time do we have?” asked Clint.

“I am not sure,” replied Colonel Taerin. “Jaar and Kyrga were in a meeting. They will attend when that meeting is ended.”

Clint nodded. “Did you have any luck finding the body?”

“No,” answered the colonel. “I have searched everywhere in the palace. I do not believe a body exists.”

“It exists,” Clint said with assurance. “I want my men inside the palace, Taerin. Can you arrange it?”

Colonel Taerin raised an eyebrow. “Why? Bringing two thousand men into the palace will cause a lot of questions to be asked. Can this wait a day or two until I can arrange something?”

“It cannot wait even an hour,” Clint answered. “Tell the guards that they have run out of food. Arrange a large dining hall for them, but see that they are allowed inside.”

“There is something that you are not telling me,” Colonel Taerin replied in an accusing tone. Clint remained silent and the colonel sighed. “I will see what I can do while the meeting with Lord Kimner is going on. Perhaps that will provide enough of a distraction.”

“No, Taerin,” Clint countered. “You will be in the throne room for that meeting.”

“I do not understand,” frowned the colonel. “What do you know about Lord Kimner’s intentions, and why should I be there?”

“The false emperor is about to be unmasked,” declared Clint. “It is imperative for you to see this for yourself, and the A Corps must be inside the palace to defend you.”

“Lord Kimner knows about me?” he gasped.

“No,” General Forshire said calmly. “I have not told him your secret, but there is no telling what words might come out of the black-cloak’s mouth when he is revealed. We also do not know how Kyrga and Brennus will react. There could be a wholesale slaughter inside the palace, and I will not let you be harmed by it. The A Corps will begin entering the palace in five minutes. You have that long to think of a reason for them to do so. Come. Walk with me to the rear doors.”

“You already knew about this meeting?” Colonel Taerin asked as they walked towards the palace.

“I was involved in planning it,” replied Clint. “I hope you understand that a lot of people are taking tremendous risks to avoid killing the emperor before he is exposed as a fraud. We are doing this to prove to you that our intentions toward Barouk are the intentions of allies, not enemies. It would be far safer to simply assassinate him.”

“As if you could,” frowned Colonel Taerin. “He is always under guard.”

Clint halted and stared at the colonel. The colonel stopped with a confused look on his face.

“Did you think it was possible to sneak into Jaar’s room when Kyrga’s guards were holding him captive?” asked Clint. “I stood in your father’s bedroom more than once while Kyrga had him locked up. Getting in there now would be a whole lot easier. I do not think you appreciate what might happen today. Kyrga will use the army of Brennus to seize control of the empire. Some of the 3
^rd
Corps will probably stand alongside Kyrga rather than General Hartz. Forget the Alceans outside your walls, Taerin. You may lose the empire today to your own countrymen. If that happens, Alcea will have no choice but to destroy what is left.”

Taerin’s eyes grew wide with understanding. “I am sorry,” he apologized. “I thought the problems would only arise after I was revealed, but I can see now that is not true. Kyrga could seize control and merely wait for me to expose myself. Then the true usurper can have me killed and step out of hiding. Are your people any closer to learning who he is?”

“We know who he is,” nodded Clint. “It is Lord Kommoron, but we cannot find him. We have searched his house in the city and his mansion in the Sanctum. He has disappeared.”

Colonel Taerin nodded, and the two officers began walking again. When they reached the rear doors to the palace, they halted.

“I have authorized the A Corps to enter the palace today,” Colonel Taerin said to the guards. “When they arrive, direct them to the large dining hall near the throne room.”

“Aren’t there thousands of them?” asked the guard. “I will have to get authorization from Grand General Kyrga.”

“There are around two thousand of them,” replied Colonel Taerin, “Grand General Kyrga is in a meeting with Emperor Jaar. You will allow them entry on my authorization alone, as this matter cannot wait for the meeting to end. These men are to be given a healthy last meal, and I will not see it messed up by petty bureaucratic rules.”

“A last meal, Colonel?” asked the guard.

Colonel Taerin sighed and nodded. “They are going out to battle the elves tonight. Be glad that you are not joining them.”

The guard swallowed hard and nodded. “I will see that they are directed to the dining hall,” he promised.

General Forshire and Colonel Taerin entered the palace and made their way to the throne room. When they entered the throne room, they saw Lord Kimner sitting in his special chair a dozen paces in front of the empty throne. His well-armed attendant stood directly behind the chair, and Lord and Lady Zachary stood to one side of the chair. Off to the right, General Hartz and General Brennus stood talking quietly. General Forshire led Colonel Taerin towards the generals.

“General Hartz,” greeted General Forshire. “May I have a word?”

“Certainly, Forshire,” replied General Hartz.

“So you are Forshire?” asked General Brennus. “I don’t think we have met. You command the misfits, don’t you?”

“I guess you were not yet a general at the time of the celebration,” Clint replied with a wry smile, “or I would have remembered you. I look forward to getting to know you better, Brennus. If you will excuse us for a moment?”

General Hartz stepped away from General Brennus, and Clint spoke softly to him.

“You wanted proof of my words,” Clint whispered. “You are about to see it. Others are about to see it as well. I hope you are prepared.”

General Hartz’s eyes enlarged, and he stared at Clint for several moments before speaking. He reached into a pouch and withdrew a piece of paper and handed it to Colonel Taerin.

“See that these units are made ready,” he ordered. “The unit commanders are to wait outside this room for my orders.”

Clint shook his head as a door behind the throne opened. “The colonel stays here,” he said softly to General Hartz. “The proof is about to be shown.”

General Hartz frowned as the colonel refused to take the piece of paper. He looked at Clint pleadingly, but the Alcean Ranger merely shook his head as four guards entered through the door behind the throne. The guards were followed by Grand General Kyrga and then Emperor Jaar. The emperor sat in the throne, and Kyrga stood behind him off to one side. The four guards split up with two of them taking up posts on each side of the raised platform. The main doors to the throne room were closed and guards took up position outside them.

“Welcome to the Imperial Palace, Lord Kimner,” the emperor said, his voice sufficiently loud to be heard by all. “I understand that you have thoughts regarding our current situation. I would be pleased to hear them.”

“I have received some intelligence reports that I think your generals might find interesting,” Lord Kimner replied. “Allow me to share what I can.”

The emperor nodded his approval and Lord Kimner began to accurately state the size of the forces allied against the Baroukans. There were interruptions and pleas for clarification as the old lord regurgitated the information that Zack had supplied him, but Kalina heard none of the conversation. She concentrated on Emperor Jaar as she covertly erected shields. The mage holding the Reflecting Pool spell did not seem to detect the shields, and Kalina frowned. She had to provoke the black-cloak into casting a spell, even if it was merely a shield around himself. She suddenly realized the reason he had not detected the shields. He could not even sense vibrations without using magic. Kalina decided to up the ante.

While raising her hand to scratch her forehead, Kalina let fly a tiny projectile. The projectile soared across the room unseen and hit the emperor in the shoulder. He twitched as it hit, but the pain was no more than a mosquito bite. Still, the emperor recognized the attack for what it was. He immediately lost interest in the conversation as his eyes began scanning the people in the room. Kalina could sense his frustration as the emperor passed over each face a second time. Finally, Emperor Jaar rose to his feet.

“I have heard enough,” he declared as he signaled for his guards. “Lord Kimner, I will leave my generals to listen to your words. Thank you for coming.”

The guards flanked the emperor, and Kalina felt the situation getting out of hand. She spoke quickly.

“You are not even shielded, Emperor,” she said loudly. “Do you really think you can just walk out of this meeting?”

The emperor whirled and pointed at Kalina. “Seize her!” he shouted.

The guards rushed to obey, but they ran headlong into an invisible physical shield. The emperor ran to the door behind the throne and tried to open it, but it would not budge. He turned around, fear evident in his face. Kalina raised her arm and pointed her finger at the emperor. To most in the room, it appeared as if she were merely pointing at the emperor, but to the black-cloak it appeared as if she were about to cast an offensive spell. In fear for his life, Zycara cast a shield around himself for protection. The façade of Emperor Jaar immediately dissolved showing the true nature of the black-cloak.

“There is the real person portraying Emperor Jaar,” Kalina announced loudly, her finger pointing at the black-cloak.

Gasps filled the air as the truth was revealed. Even Grand General Kyrga was taken aback, having never been informed of the substitution. Zycara knew that his game was up unless he could eliminate everyone in the room. His first fireball was directed at Kalina, but it impacted her magical shield and disappeared. Clint stepped backwards, away from the rest of the people in the room. He roused Peanut and instructed the fairy to alert the A Corps.

As Kalina and Zycara began exchanging magical projectiles, the room erupted in a frenzy of activity. Garth quickly rolled Lord Kimner to a corner to protect him. General Brennus raced towards the main doors, and General Hartz attempted to head him off. Grand General Kyrga raced to a pull cord and sounded an alarm. Colonel Taerin stood silent, staring at the man who had portrayed his father. Clint raced across the floor and dragged the heir to a corner of the room. Zack pulled a throwing knife from his belt and hurled it across the room, directly over the throne where he knew no physical shield existed. The knife slammed into Zycara’s throat, and the black-cloak slid to the floor. Kalina dropped her shields as Garth and Clint raced towards the four guards who were scrambling to their feet.

“Drop your weapons and you will not be hurt,” Garth shouted.

General Brennus reached the main doors and pulled them open, but he did not get the chance to exit the throne room. K’san bowled the general over as he stormed into the room. Feragyna was right behind him. The head of the black-cloaks raised his arm and pointed at General Hartz who was running towards him. A powerful blast lifted the general off the floor and threw him away. K’san’s arm rose and pointed at Kalina. Before she could erect her shields again, the demonkin’s blast sent her flying across the room. She smashed into a wall and fell to the floor. Garth and Clint immediately forgot about the guards. They both reversed course, separating from each other. The guards started after them. Zack threw two throwing knives at the guards chasing Garth. Both guards fell to the floor, and Zack reached for some more knives. He never retrieved them. K’san’s next blast sent Zack flying across the room.

Feragyna’s next spell was aimed at Clint. Sensing the danger, the Ranger dove to the floor, the bolt of magical power flying over him. Colonel Taerin raced out of the corner, his sword held high. He ran towards the guards pursuing Clint, but General Hartz reached him first. The general tackled the colonel, their bodies sliding across the floor. Unexpectedly, two arrows flew into the room, killing the two remaining guards. K’san turned to see the men of the A Corps attacking from behind. Both of his arms rose and a massive blast of power surged from his fists. Men of the A Corps were thrown away from the doorway, their bodies sliding across the floor of the palace in a tangled heap of arms and legs. As K’san prepared another burst of power for the soldiers storming the room, Garth shoved his sword into the side of the demonkin.

Feragyna saw General Hartz and Colonel Taerin sliding across the floor and his arm rose to finish them off. Unexpectedly, a powerful blast picked him up and slammed him against the wall. He quickly erected a magical shield and turned to see Kalina approaching him, streams of fire spewing from each hand. The attack was so intense that his shields began to visibly glow. He raised his own hands and shot balls of blue ice towards his attacker. As Kalina’s flames hit the balls of ice, both spells became ineffective, a stalemate of sorts. While continuing her fiery attack, Kalina glanced around the room. She noted that the wall decorations included numerous shields, swords, and busts. She smiled inwardly as she levitated the items and hurled them at the black-cloak. Feragyna quickly erected a physical shield as he saw the items flying towards him. Kalina had expected as much. She allowed the shields and swords to bounce off his protective shield, but sent short bursts of power into each of the marble busts before they hit, exploding them into thousands of stone shards. The resulting shards struck Feragyna’s physical shield, and he was forced to push more power into maintaining it. As he did so, Kalina’s flames advanced towards him, quickly overcoming his balls of ice. Within seconds, Feragyna’s shields were glowing again. The black-cloak leader began to sweat as the heat of his glowing shields began to warm the air around him. He dropped his offensive spells and put all of his power into his shields. Feragyna’s eyes widened in fear as he realized that he could not overpower the woman before him.