Black Kerthon's Doom (19 page)

"He is not where I can find him easily. I have tried all the rooms that I have been in personally, but I did not perceive any trace of Kaell or his magic. I must have a diagram of the palace, and then I might be able to solve this problem."

"Good, Mulane will get one for you."

Pause.

"I believe Kaell has one as well."

"What?"

"He made some reference to all the passageways in the palace having some architectural significance."

"But how did he find one?"

"You did allow us broad freedom in our research. The old library holds many forgotten treasures."

"But will his map have passages not listed on ours?" asked the High King, rising suddenly.

"I must remind you, sire," said Bayernal. "You will heal, but you must rest. Another fight such as the one you have endured too soon shall prove very costly."

"I hear you," said Michak. "Do not worry, I shall be careful."

Bayernal appeared doubtful but left the room.

"I want Kaell dead," stated the High King. "And I want to know why you went to all this trouble of plotting with him if you are not interested in the throne. You have much to answer for and your behavior makes me wonder if you haven't been sipping your own potions."

"Wasn't any trouble," said Prosty. "Just a means to complete my quest."

"I don't understand."

"I know." He smiled to himself.

"Do not mislead me, Prosty. I will not hesitate to kill you if I think you have no further use to me."

"I understand. It is not my intention to be of no use. My goal has always been the quest of Kerthon's books of magic. I needed to research your histories and I couldn't do that if Kaell had gained control. I tried to moderate his efforts."

"I see."

"He wanted to kill you outright."

"You drugged me," said Michak.

"You are alive."

"This isn't the end of this discussion. You have much to answer for. There may have been a chance you would've been granted access to my library had you but asked."

"Doubtful if you knew what I am looking for. If you had it you wouldn't have allowed me to take it."

"You didn't find what you were looking for, then? Makes all this trouble you caused rather pointless."

Prosty nodded.

Ransal did not recognize where he was. The only light was a candle and it reflected off the cobwebs which hung from the ceiling and cast a disquieting shadow on his new tutor. The ceiling was low and the wood beams grey with dust. On the walls were portraits of royalty that Ransal could not recognize and the ornate furniture was of an earlier age.

Kaell had been speaking about power and duty but Ransal heard little of what was said. He had been shocked to see Kaell as his host when he regained consciousness and realized they were somewhere deep within the walls of the palace. Ransal believed that he had explored every inch of the palace but this chamber was new to him. He doubted his father knew this place existed.

"You are not listening to me," Kaell snapped.

"I am sorry. I am not reconciled to this situation."

"You must listen to me! Without my assistance, you will never be High King. Never! Your father has no faith in you and he will not be able to resist the rebels and their assassins. He no longer listens to me. The rebels have placed spies in the palace staff and even advisors close to your father. Remember Parean? He is in the dungeon. A dangerous man. I have tried to turn him towards the proper path but there are flickers of danger behind his eyes. In the final analysis, I fear he will follow Gareth's command. The Empire is in grave danger and your father does nothing. If you do not learn how to defend your inheritance, you will be just another footnote in the history books. Gareth will be High King and you shall be dead and your father shall go to his grave lamenting the fate that snatched Mantan from him instead of thanking the fate that kept you near him."

"I don't want to hear your words anymore." His eyes darted around the room.

"You must. You must face reality. It is part of growing up. You do want to grow up to be High King?"

"Of course." He tried to jump up and run but Kaell pushed him down. Kaell winced from the pain in his shoulder and he knew it had begun to bleed again.

"Of course," Kaell repeated softly. "I am your only friend. You must trust me." Trust me, trust me. He cast a small spell and Ransal froze in place, then slowly relaxed, and listened to Kaell's voice. Kaell smiled at the nodding head of the next High King.

"I felt something," said Prosty, tilting his head as if listening. "Faint, though. Not a large spell."

"Can you pinpoint it?"

"Difficult, but not impossible."

"Where?"

"It seems to be in the east wing but it wasn't clear. Something was blocking it and it didn't last long."

"I don't know of any hiding place suitable in the east wing," said Michak. "Perhaps it is a hidden passage after all."

"It does appear to be the case."

"Pinpoint it." He turned to a guard. "Fetch Mulane and send him after us. Come, Prosty. Let's put an end to your rival and former partner." He grabbed Prosty by the arm and pushed him ahead of him.

"Your father is plotting to kill you," Kaell's voice droned. "He feels the threat to his rule. You are better suited to be High King than he is and he fears you. He would rather kill you than step from his throne a few years early. He will rule past his prime and the Empire shall fail. He fears you, he will kill you."

When Ransal woke up he was in his bed and he wasn't sure if Kaell had been a dream. But he was positive that he had no friends in the palace. He never had any friends his own age and he realized the men who had claimed to be his friends did so because of his father. He would repay them all.

There was a soft tap on his door.

He did not answer and the door opened noiselessly. It was Chraset. Ransal almost relaxed when he saw his old friend but he was still bitter toward his father.

"What do you want?" He turned toward the wall.

"Such manners are not becoming the next High King."

"I shall never be High King, Father couldn't stand it."

"Oh and where does this mood arise from? These are stronger words than you have spoken before. What has dropped your father in your eyes?"

"Look around you, Chraset. He does not care for me. He wanted Mantan to succeed him, not me. He won't let me be High King."

"He only has to die, and then you shall be High King." Chraset was surprised at how angry Ransal was. He was usually more deliberate.

"He'll kill me first."

"Don't give him the chance." Chraset had said it. Now it was Ransal's move. For good or ill, this was the time. All the long planning has come to this. It was ironic that in this instance, the goals of Kaell and Gareth were the same.

Ransal looked at the gardener. The man was tall and expressionless and his words were without emotion. Chraset had a good position and earned high pay from his extra duties. He had no obvious gain to be made if Michak died. Besides, Chraset had just saved the High King's life. But he had been so helpful with Mantan. He was quite possibly, Ransal's only friend.

"What do you suggest?"

"I have a poison which cannot be traced. I have no business in the High King's presence without a summons but you can see him at any time. Just pour a small amount into his wine and you shall be High King."

"I don't know. Seems too cold-blooded."

"A High King must be cold-blooded. There is no other way to rule."

"I cannot kill my father."

"Ask him how he came to the throne." He paused and watched Ransal. "Besides, you have just said he will kill you. If you hesitate, he surely will kill you. An High King cannot be indecisive. You weren't indecisive about Mantan. Here, I'll leave the poison on the table. The rest is up to you, your Highness."

Chraset closed the door as quietly as he opened it and Ransal felt drowsy and wondered if he had been dreaming again, but no, there was the vial on the table. The poison that would make him High King. Perhaps he should test it. A little in someone drink. Prosty, Mulane, Bayernal! Bayernal would be perfect. He would be the only one who might know what it was. With him out of the way there would be no risk.

He tried to find Bayernal but was not successful. He stopped at his father's suite and found it unlocked and unguarded, which was unusual. He wondered if Chraset had a hand in the ease of entry. Ransal moved quickly, found a decanter near the bed, and emptied the contents of the vial into the decanter. There was no one in the corridor and he crept back to his room, heedless of the slender shadow watching him.

"This wall appears to be the closest to where the spell came from. It was so small that I can't pick up any trace of it now."

"All the same," said Mulane. "We will start here."

"Won't the noise send him off and running?"

"I've posted guards in every conceivable spot. We have your friend in a tight place."

"He's no friend of mine."

"So you say. Still, I will place a guard with you to keep you out of danger while we work. It's only a formality of course."

"Of course," said Prosty. He stood aside next to a tall Calendian soldier who did not return his smile. Prosty closed his eyes and tried to search beyond the wall. He had to move slowly and by the time, he had completed the sweep there was no one there. But there were articles that held the aura of Kaell. "He's been in there, but he's gone."

"I expected that," said Mulane. "We will search his lair and uncover his passages so they will not be useful to him again. The main objective is to force him out into our hands."

"Although he's not a great wizard he is potent enough to get by a few guards."

"We shall see. I trained these men myself," Mulane said coolly. He stepped toward Prosty. The memory of his imprisonment was crisp.

"Restrain yourselves," said Michak. "We need both of you to complete the task at hand. We must find him soon. Horeth has not reported any success in the search for Gareth. Horeth might still be north of Rhath for all the information I receive. We must have some information. I do not want to be caught unprepared by any rebels who have survived the attack."

"Nantitet is a long way on foot for the rebels," said Mulane. "But it can be done."

"Have you seen Didran?" asked the High King.

"Not for a while," said Mulane. "His men are on the other side of the palace."

"I sent for him. Where is he?"

The wall had been chipped enough to allow the soldiers to begin to squirm through to the interior. Torches were passed through and Mulane followed. He stuck his face out of the hole. The dusty passage was a maze of cobwebs and his men brushed them aside as they walked. There were definite footprints ahead of his men. Two sets; one smaller than the other. One booted like Kaell's, the other a sandal such as the High King wore. Mulane frowned.

"We will head south. The passage seems to go on for some distance. This place shall be guarded and we shall see you on the other end."

"Good," said Michak. "Come Prosty. We shall see what Mulane flushes out. Keep alert. I do not want that wizard attacking us with our guard down. I have seen the power the two of you wield and I do not relish the consequences."

"Kaell! You shouldn't be here. The High King is turning the palace upside down looking for you. Even my men are searching for you." The slender man with the pockmarked face smiled at the wizard. He had a large ring of keys at his waist and a long knife in his hands that he pulled across the whetting stone.

"I know that, Didran. But what better place to hide than the High King's own dungeon. I'll use the one next to Parean. I wish to talk with him."

"Risky. He doesn't trust you and if wind of your predicament reaches him, he may start shouting."

"Then you will have to silence him. I do not want to take chances, but sometimes the choice is not available."

There was a clang as the door shut and it echoed through the dungeon. Then a low chuckle began and Didran heard the hiss of the hot coals. And he cringed as Parean cried out.

The sun was hot and he followed Scithers without a word. He did not know why but he had to follow the sorcerer. Something was not right but there were no words for him to describe it as if part of his mind had been wiped clean. Terrible voices cried in his head, rending his thoughts and spinning his balance. A bony hand grabbed him and steadied him. He was lost within himself; a stranger to himself. The screams of Kerthon burned his eyes.

He did not know when Scithers joined him. He had been walking southward, in the hope of rejoining Gareth when the pale face of the black wraith appeared in front of him and Macelan followed. He did not know why but he had no choice. The grinning skull of Scithers led him on. Macelan tried to ask questions, tried to joke, tried to make a noise of any kind. When he opened his mouth, all he could do was squawk in a dry pinched voice. Scithers turned and smiled, pulling back all the chalky skin on his skull. Macelan kept silent after that.

The dark man led him over the rolling hills south to Nantitet.

The rebels came to the last hill before the Elihu River east of Rhath. There had been no sight of soldiers and Gareth was troubled from the uncharacteristic absence of patrols.

"They must be expecting us. This is usually a heavily patrolled area."

"You worry too much," said Daura.

"They always patrol here. I do not understand what they are doing if it doesn't mean an ambush."

"We just might have given them the slip," said Brice.

"They would not expect us to get this far," added Daura.

"No," said Gareth. "They are always prepared for any situation. They would not let us escape easily. Horeth would have alternate plans to capture us."

"There is something wrong," said Neheva. She was looking down the hill. "I will go and investigate. Everyone stay put." She moved off to the east.

"What do you think she's up to?" asked Mira.