Lachlei (29 page)

CHAPTER Sixty-One

Kieran watched as the woman who called herself Lachlei walked down the path that led from the Council Hall to the Great Hall. Already, the city was steeped in shadows as the sun had dipped behind the mountains. It felt as though it was an ominous portent. Something was wrong.

This was not Lachlei. This was not the woman whom he had fought against in one-on-one combat for the crown. This was not the woman who spared his life. The woman he spoke with now was arrogant and aloof, something he had never seen in Lachlei. Nor had the war changed her
—
Lachlei had fought for Lochalan in battle before. Even when Lachlei had lost Fialan, she had not acted like this.

Now, the one who claimed she was Lachlei had brushed aside Rhyn’s death as if it had been a non-event. In the past, Lachlei had not spoken of Rhyn in Council, and although Kieran knew little of the North Marches
Chi’lan
, Kieran knew that Lachlei had been close to Rhyn. He had seen Rhyn by her side at the coronation and in the Great Hall. She had even appointed Rhyn one of her commanders.

Kieran tried to summon the Sight, but to little avail. Like most
Eleion
gifted with the Sight, the visions came unbidden and in flashes. Now he saw nothing, but he trusted his instincts as a warrior. Those instincts told him that whoever this was, it was not Lachlei.

But who could he trust? Certainly not Laewynd, even if he had originally been against giving Lachlei the army. Kellachan was with the
Chi’lan
army — assuming he was even alive. The other Council members were dubious at best. Perhaps Moira could be trusted, but she was as political as the others.

“Is something wrong, Kieran?” Laewynd’s voice came from behind.

Kieran turned around. “I just spoke to Lachlei,” he said. “She’s behaving oddly.”

 Laewynd seemed to scrutinize Kieran’s features. “Perhaps she is weary from the battle.”

“Perhaps,” Kieran agreed, but even to his ears, he sounded unconvinced.

Laewynd smiled slightly. “Is there a problem?”

“I don’t know.”

“Perhaps you should accompany Lachlei with her troops.” He paused. “For the Council.”

Kieran nodded. “For the Council,” he said.

“You will leave tomorrow before sunrise,” Laewynd said. “I suggest you get some rest.”

*****

It was late when Wynne awoke from a dream. The older
Laddel
woman, who had been Lachlei’s nanny, threw her robe on and slid from bed. Seldom did she have Wyrd-dreams, but when she did, she heeded them. This one had been especially vivid.

The vision was disturbing. Troops were coming
—
Silren
and
Eltar
troops from the north along with Undead and demons. They had taken Caer Lochvaren and put all to the sword. Wynne shuddered as she recalled the dream. It was clearly a warning
—
but how much time did she have?

She had heard Lachlei had returned to Caer Lochvaren, but Wynne had not seen her. It was odd that Lachlei would not see her own son. Perhaps Lachlei was preoccupied. Or perhaps the battle was going poorly. Her mind drifted to Rhyn. She sensed that the enigmatic
Chi’lan
would do all within his power to stop that from happening. But maybe that would not be enough. The demons and the Undead suggested the old enemy of the
Lochvaur
and
Laddel
had entered this world again: Areyn Sehduk.

Haellsil began crying in the other room. Wynne changed the baby, picked him up, and gently rocked him to sleep in her arms. His blue infant eyes had changed to silver now and he gazed at her with an intensity that she had also seen in Fialan. Haellsil had lost his father and would most likely lose his mother. And now, with the Wyrd-dream, Wynne suspected they were all in peril.

She put the baby back in his cradle and quietly left. Opening up the door to the main hall, she nodded to one of the few
Chi’lan
left to guard them both. They were sitting around the table playing a game of dice. On seeing her, they rose.

“Lady Wynne,” spoke Kerri. Kerri was a younger
Chi’lan
with very little experience.

Wynne smiled. “
Chi’lan
, I will be out for a few hours. Can you summon someone to watch over the young prince while I’m gone?”

“Certainly, Wynne,” Kerri said and paused, seeing the
Laddel
woman’s concern in her eyes. “Is something wrong?”

Wynne shook her head. “I don’t know, but I’m about to find out. I will return in a few hours.”

Wynne left the
Chi’lan
and hurried out of the main hall. The skies were overcast and threatened snow. As she approached the main gate, she hesitated. It had been a long time since she had invoked the
Laddel
blood-magic, but she knew if she did not, lives might be lost. She slid unnoticed out of the main gate and continued past the shops and the second gate. The lower town was teeming with
Lochvaur
soldiers preparing for the march that lay ahead.

With so much chaos, no one noticed as the lone
Laddel
woman slipped out the lower gate and into the night. The air was cold and her breath rose as frosty steam. She glanced back once and then focused on her power. Wynne felt the characteristic twist in her stomach, and when she opened her eyes she knew she had changed.

No one noticed the small gray wolf as she padded into the night.

CHAPTER Sixty-Two

Fialan stared across the plains and his heart sank. In the distance, he could see the walls and keep of Caer Lochvaren glisten in the last of Sowelu’s rays. He turned to Lochvaur, who sat on his mount, grim-faced. “They won’t have a chance against us, will they?”

Lochvaur said nothing. There was really nothing to be said. The line of
Braesan
warriors stretched across the Darkling Plain like an impenetrable wall. The
Lochvaur
warriors would die at the hands of their ancestors.

“Maybe you can tell Rhyn’athel?” Fialan said.

Lochvaur shook his head. “Areyn Sehduk knows Rhyn’athel has entered the war. Areyn has focused his entire power on blocking me and shielding the
Braesan
from Rhyn’athel. His shield is impenetrable.”

“Is that possible?” Fialan asked. “I thought Rhyn’athel was more powerful.”

Lochvaur turned his baleful gaze at Fialan. “He is, Fialan, but Areyn is close to his match. The Nine Worlds are a universe of opposites, my friend. For every Rhyn’athel, there is an Areyn Sehduk. Such is the way of the Web of Wyrd. If Areyn were gone, another would take his place. The Wyrd strives for balance.”

“But Areyn has grown in power.”

“He has, but so has my father.” Lochvaur sighed. “If there was one mistake my father made, it was giving Areyn the dead. Areyn uses us to fuel his fight against Rhyn’athel.”

“But he doesn’t use you?”

Lochvaur smiled grimly. “He can’t. I’m too powerful, and I’d destroy him.”

“What do we do?” Fialan asked. “Imdyr will bring my army and we will destroy them. Damn Laewynd! I never trusted him. I wish I had told Lachlei my fears.”

“What’s done can’t be undone,” Lochvaur said. “But there may be other players in this the Wyrd has yet to reveal.”

Fialan glanced at Lochvaur, but the godling’s face remained expressionless. “Other players? Have you seen something in the Wyrd?”

Lochvaur smiled slightly. “Perhaps I have.”

*****

It was still dark when Kieran and Imdyr/Lachlei led the
Lochvaur
army out of Caer Lochvaren. Thirty thousand strong, they marched eastward toward the Darkling Plain into the glow of the rising sun. Once or twice, Kieran spied a small wolf or coyote following their army. It flitted through the grasses, barely noticed by anyone. Other than the wolf, there was no living creature for miles around.

“Where are we going?” Kieran asked, turning to Imdyr/Lachlei.

Odd
, he thought. Even the magpies and camp-robber birds that normally followed a large army were absent. The sky was overcast, and a cold wind came from the north.

Imdyr/Lachlei smiled as she reined her horse. “We’ll be meeting up with our own warriors,” she said.

Kieran shivered slightly as he gazed on Imdyr/Lachlei. His suspicions were slowly being confirmed
—
whoever this was, she was not Lachlei. Her carriage was wrong for the
Lochvaur
queen, and he noted that she held the reins in her right hand. While Lachlei was typically ambidextrous, Lachlei held the reins with her left hand to have her right hand free for her sword. “Who are you?” Kieran demanded.

Imdyr/Lachlei hesitated. “What do you mean, Kieran?”

“I’m tired of this charade!” he snapped, drawing his sword. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re not Lachlei!”

“What are you saying, Kieran?” a
Lochvaur
commander named Rivalan spoke. He glanced at Imdyr/Lachlei. “Have you lost your mind? Of course, she’s Lachlei!”

Kieran pointed his blade at her throat. “Are you?” he demanded. “Your game’s up, sorceress! I know the queen of the
Lochvaur
, and you’re not her!”

Imdyr laughed. “Very good, Kieran,” she said, resuming her form as an
Eltar
. The
Lochvaur
soldiers gasped. “But it’s too late for you.”

Kieran raised his sword to strike her, but she vanished in the wind. Rivalan stared. “What does this mean?” he asked.

Kieran frowned. “It means we’ve been led out of Caer Lochvaren and have left the city defenseless…”

Rivalan turned to speak, but his mouth hung open in shock. Arrows rained down onto the
Lochvaur
troops. Before he could shout his orders for retreat, an arrow penetrated his gorget and he fell. His last vision was of a hundred thousand
Braesan
charging towards them.

*****

Cara reined her horse and looked down at the
Braesan
as they charged towards the
Lochvaur
army. She rode beside Conlan at the head of the
Elesil
army. The king of the
Elesil
looked grim as they watched the charge. Cara glanced at the
Elesil
troops. Forty thousand strong, but they could not possibly withstand the
Braesan’s
full might. She compared the two armies.

“Gods,” Haukel exclaimed, “Cara, there must be…”

Cara raised her hand for silence. Haukel glanced at her, but did not continue. He did not have to. Cara knew what he was thinking. The same thoughts were on Conlan’s face as well. A hundred thousand
Braesan
were more than the
Elesil
expected. Even with the
Lochvaur
army, they were still outnumbered.

“What do we do, Commander?” Haukel asked at length.

Cara stared at the army as it advanced. “We’re outnumbered, but with the
Lochvaur
, we might be able to trap Areyn’s army between the two.”

“If the
Lochvaur
don’t turn on us,” Conlan said.

“Do you have any better ideas?” Cara asked.

Conlan shook his head. “The Wyrd shows me nothing.”

Cara smiled grimly. “I don’t see anything either. I wish Ni’yah were here.”

“The wolf-god?” Conlan asked. “That old trickster? Why wish him here?”

Cara made no reply. Instead, she gazed at the army. “Trickster,” she murmured. “That’s it, Conlan.”

Conlan considered her. “What?”

“We trick them. Make the
Braesan
think we’re bigger than we are,” Cara said. “You know any illusions?”

“Battle illusions? Some, but they’re not very good.”

“Mine aren’t either, but maybe together…”

Conlan smiled, comprehending her plan. “Do you think we could do it?”

Cara shrugged. “It’s better than nothing.”

CHAPTER Sixty-Three

“To me! To me!” Kieran shouted. The old
Chi’lan
warrior brandished his sword to rally the troops in the confusion that followed. Although most were not
Chi’lan
, they were still trained soldiers and quickly sought order in the battle’s confusion.

The enemy looked like
Lochvaur
, but Kieran had never seen soldiers such as these. They were deathly pale and their silver eyes glowed with a red cast. Nor did they wear the red and gold colors of Rhyn’athel, but the black and red of Areyn Sehduk. Yet they fought like
Chi’lan
, and when killed their bodies disintegrated on the wind.

It’s like they’re not alive,
Kieran thought. He cleaved through several before his horse was taken from under him. Forced to fight on foot, Kieran led the retreat.

A battle-horn rang out. Kieran saw several of the
Braesan
make a charge. Two of the Undead warriors stood out. One was a great warrior who rode through the
Lochvaur
army, swinging a great Sword of Power. The other was Fialan.

Kieran stared. “Fialan?” he gasped. He parried a blow from a
Braesan
and turned to see the dead
Lochvaur
king ride towards him. “My king?”

Fialan reined his horse; pain twisting his features. “Kieran!” he spoke through locked teeth. “Get the
Lochvaur
out of here!”

“How? How can this be you?”

A powerful force snapped Fialan’s head around and his eyes glowed red as he looked on Kieran. “I am dead. We are all dead
—
all
Braesan
. Areyn controls us now.”

“Areyn
—
Areyn Sehduk?” Kieran stared. Another
Braesan
attacked, and Kieran was forced to retreat. If this were true, he wondered, how could they escape? They were not far from the
Elesil
lands
—
perhaps they could head deeper into the Darkling Plain and lose the Undead in its rolling hills. He grasped the reins of a riderless horse as it ran past him and swung into the saddle. At that moment, another battle-horn rang across the fields.

Kieran looked towards the east and a large army appeared. But even as he hoped it might be the
Chi’lan
, he fell into despair. The warriors who charged wore the blue and silver of the
Silren
and
Elesil
. The army was huge
—
a hundred thousand warriors or more
—
standing amid an ethereal mist that swirled around them. The battle-horns rang in earnest now and the
Braesan
paused.

Kieran stared and his heart sank. “Rhyn’athel,” he muttered. “May I die well.”

*****

Areyn gazed hungrily at the open gates of Caer Lochvaren. A few thousand soldiers were all that was left. He would feed tonight; relish in the final deaths of the
Lochvaur
. When they had destroyed Caer Lochvaren and razed it to the ground, he would turn on the
Chi’lan
and
Laddel
army and feed from them. And there would be nothing
Rhyn’athel
could do to stop him.

His
Braesan
would finish the
Lochvaur
army. Imdyr was gathering his
Eltar
army. He would then turn on the other
Eleion
and eventually the
Ansgar
, finally destroying Rhyn’athel’s hold on
Elren
.

What do you want us to do, my lord?
Flayer asked.
They are unprotected.

Areyn considered the arch-demon in amusement. “Raze the city. Put everyone to the sword.” He paused. “But bring me Laewynd. Alive.”

*****

Wynne fled as quickly as her wolf legs could carry her. She did not stay to see the
Lochvaur’s
army obliteration nor did she pause until she entered Caer Lochvaren. Heedless of the guards who tried to stop her from entering in wolf form, she fled through the lower town and halted only when she entered an alleyway near the merchant shops. Wynne waited as the soldiers ran past and transmuted into her
Laddel
form. She continued past the main gates and into the great hall. The few
Chi’lan
who had stayed behind to guard Lachlei’s son were drinking and playing games.

“Wynne!” Kerri said, spying the
Laddel
woman. “Where have you been?”

“We have no time,” Wynne said. “The army is being destroyed as we speak. Caer Lochvaren is defenseless
—
we must leave now!”

Another
Chi’lan
named Tragar laughed. “Wynne, what do you mean?”

“We must leave now!” Wynne said, pushing by them and entering Lachlei’s quarters to pick up Haellsil and some items.

Kerri followed her inside. “Why? I heard Lachlei was with our troops.”

Wynne whirled around. “That was not Lachlei. It was a shapeshifter
—
an
Eltar
sorceress who serves Areyn Sehduk.”

Kerri stared at Wynne. “Are you insane? Of course that was Lachlei.”

Suddenly an explosion threw them to the ground. Wynne clutched Haellsil desperately to prevent him from falling. The infant began crying.

“What in the gods’ names?” Kerri exclaimed.

Tragar threw open the door. “We’re under attack!”

“Attack?” Kerri gasped and glanced at Wynne who nodded.

“We won’t be able to win this. There’s a secret passage that leads out of the city,” Wynne said. “Without the army, Caer Lochvaren is indefensible.”

Kerri nodded. “Do you know the way?”

“I do,” Wynne said. “Gather the
Chi’lan
and anyone else you can find and follow me.”

*****

“What is going on?” Laewynd demanded as the demons dragged him before Areyn.

Areyn smiled condescendingly. He wondered how blind Laewynd actually was to the true nature of what held him. The demons had assumed
Silren
bodies
—
the guise was incomplete, and even a
Lochvaur
without a drop of god’s blood in his veins would have seen it.

But Laewynd was blinded by greed. Areyn had seen this before in many men and used their desires to twist them to his own end. At last, the death god would taste the High Council’s blood.

“You promised!” he whined. “You promised I’d be king over Caer Lochvaren.”

“And so you are,” Areyn said. “You are king over all you survey.” He laughed.

Laewynd shuddered. “That
Eltar
bitch…”

“Has done my bidding,” Areyn said. “As you will serve me one last time.”

The roar of demon flame drowned out Laewynd’s screams.

*****

Flames engulfed Caer Lochvaren as the demons descended on the
Lochvaur
city. The
Silren
rode through the gates, slaughtering anyone who dared oppose them. Demons attacked from above.

“There’s a portal that leads into the mountains!” Wynne shouted above the roar. People were following her and the few
Chi’lan
guard, hoping to escape the slaughter as the fire swept across the buildings.

Wynne held Haellsil close to her. They had made their way through the back alleys to where the keep stood. “Tragar, there is a passage which leads from the keep to a cave within the mountains.”

“To me! To me!” Kerri shouted as another volley of fire rained down and she saw people flee in panic. “Gods! We’ve got to get people out of here!”

Wynne shook her head. “
Chi’lan
, the city is already lost.”

“I don’t believe that,” said Tragar. “Kerri, Garhan, you take Wynne and Lachlei’s son to the passage. Zars, Niels, and I will round up whoever we can.” He led the other two
Chi’lan
warriors away.

Kerri’s grim expression told Wynne that she did not believe they would see Tragar or the others again.

“I’m sorry, Kerri,” Wynne said. “I only wish I had found out in time.”

Kerri paused as they entered the keep. People pressed around them as Kerri threw open the doors to the keep. “It’s all right. If he can find a way to get out, he will. Tragar is
Chi’lan
.”

Tragar was Chi’lan, but even a Chi’lan would not survive,
Wynne thought darkly as the crowd jostled her towards the escape tunnel. She said nothing of her thoughts, instead winding her way down the stairs that were carved from the native stone. It was slick with moss, and Wynne held Haellsil close as she stepped downward. One fall and she was likely to never stand up again with the throng pushing around her.

Darkness swallowed them. Wynne could feel the panic rise within her until her eyes adjusted. She felt a firm hand and looked to see Kerri pulling her along. “Come on, Wynne, we’ll be out of here soon.”

The sound of the battle became muffled and then
—
nothing. The silence was eerie. All Wynne could hear were the ragged breaths of those around them.
How far?
she wondered.

“There’s a door!” came a voice. Wynne could barely discern oaken doors ahead. She watched as several warriors pulled the bar away from the doors. They pushed, and a crack of light streamed in. The crowd surged and shoved the doors open. Wynne nearly stumbled as the throng forced her out and into the blinding light of morning. She nearly wept to see the red rays of Sowelu as it crested the mountains and feel the cold mountain air. They stood amid the pines as more
Lochvaur
left the tunnel.

“You’re all right,” said Kerri. Wynne touched her face and realized she was weeping. Haellsil began crying.

Wynne picked up a skin of milk she had brought. “I’m all right,” she said. Though where they would go, she had no idea.

*****

Lachlei reined her horse and gazed into the valley where, just beyond, lay the shining walls of Caer Lochvaren. She turned to Rhyn and smiled. “Gods, Rhyn, it’ll be good to be behind Caer Lochvaren’s walls again.”

Rhyn returned the smile, but he was not as certain. Something was nagging him, even though his connection to the Wyrd seemingly showed everything to be all right. Something was wrong, but he could not place what it was.

Telek met his gaze.
What do you suspect?
His wolf eyes mirrored his concern.

I don’t know,
Rhyn said. Areyn’s power was growing, but how he was not sure. They continued riding into the valley, apparently unchallenged.

The valley was actually a series of hills that led to the plain which Caer Lochvaren overlooked. The approach was concealed
—
if one did not know that the city was there, it could be easily missed.

Even as they rode, tension began to mount. Rhyn said nothing, but continued to reach out with his senses, trying to discern something wrong. He felt Areyn’s shields and found them impenetrable.
Was that even possible?
he wondered.

It was when they climbed the hill that overlooked the valley into Caer Lochvaren that both Lachlei and Rhyn reined their horses in disbelief. Smoke rose over what had been Caer Lochvaren. The gates were ripped asunder and the walls laid low.

“By Rhyn’athel’s sword!” gasped Lachlei. “Areyn has been here!”