The Exodus Sagas: Book IV - Of Moons and Myth (15 page)

Alexei stared at the vulture on his mantle. Its eyes suddenly came alive and glowed an eerie orange. Its head turned toward the lord of Southwind Keep.

“I would say that was rather believable, Lord T’vellon. I would have thought for sure you had just turned traitor.” Hithins shook his feathers after such a long time frozen in place and hidden deep with arcane magicks from his mistress.

“As far as Johnas is concerened, I have. You are certain of this, that the academy will arrive undetected and be able to defend Southwind?” Alexei paced.

“Aelaine sent me to Vallakazz to arrange it all. Professor Middir is en route with the other professors, the ninth years, and the eighth year students.
That would be just over forty from Lazlette Academy, m’lord.” Hithins craned his neck in confidence.

“Forty wizards against thousands of hardened troll and ogre brigades does not sound too reassuring, vulture.”

“They have not a chance, not to worry. The trolls and ogre I mean, you underestimate the Lazlette Semanarium Arcanum m’lord. No finer college or arcane faculty---“

“I need to know that my city and my keep, this flag and what it stands for, are safe in your hands.” Alexei pointed toward the flag of Chazzrynn in the corner of the room.

“They are Lord T’vell
on. I promise upon my last tail
feathers.”

“Very well. I am leaving fifty knights, same in archers, and the city militia of Elcram to you and yours. The rest are awaiting my orders
in Silverbridge
, anxiously I might add.
They are all wondering by now why I posted them there.
” Alexei walked out of his study and made down the spiraling stairs.

“They expect you to charge in, save the king and country, as your father would.
This deception will give you an advantage and also our king an unexpected ally on the field
, if you arrive in time
.
Despite what you may think, my mistress admires that in you
, the bravery you have inside
.” Hithins landed on Alexei’s shoulder and kept talking in his refined manner.

“Aelaine Lazlette curses the ground I walk upon.”

“That is not so, she simply is reminded of her lost husband by you, it is a wound she never healed from.
And, from what I recall, you carry a striking resemblance.
”

“Nor have I healed,
Hithins.
Arlinne T’vellon was my father as much as her once husband. And now I have lost my twin sister as well. Besides loyalty, there is not much left for me.”

“Then hold onto that as you would your sword. Know no fear, and save our kingdom and king once more, Lord T’Vellon. I shall see you upon your return.” Hithins flapped his wings as Alexei mounted his steed.

“I shall, and give my deepest gratitude to those of Vallakazz when they arrive. Long live Chazzrynn and Southwind.” Alexei drew his blade and saluted the vulture that was now in charge of his lands and people, at least until Middir and the students came.

“Long live King Mikhail and house Salganat.” Hithins bowed.

Alexei paused, besides leaving a bonded vulture of Aelaine Lazlette in charge of Southwind, he was concerned about the plan, the messages arriving in time, and the secrecy of it all.

“Hithins, you are sure that the king will know, that Aelaine will inform him in time, of our charge? That their middle should part enough for a line of twenty horse and the same on the three other fronts and---“

“M’lord, my mind is like a steel trap. Your words will be carried to her, then from her to the king, without error.” The vulture flapped his wings to stop the doubting queries.

“And you are sure that one of mine, Liogan Andellis and
that elf,
Lavress Tilaniun
, are going to rescue the prince? Just the two of them?”

“That is what I was told, but Liogan is no longer one of yours. He was knighted by Mikhail for saving his life. Lord Alexei, you must not delay.”

“Alden guard over you
Hithins, do not fail me.” Alexei sighed, feeling to much was left to chance and out of his control, there were too many enemies and too many fronts to fight. He kicked his steed and charged out the north gate. His mind raced from ogre and his late father, to his late sister and Johnas Valhera, then to his king and the battle ahead. Leaving his home behind, the lord of Southwind charged toward Silverbridge and his awaiting knights.

“
God speed you
safe
lord T’Vellon, and do not fail Chazzrynn
.” Hithins whispered it
quietly.

A knight of Southwind, young and fresh, walked down into the courtyard with a rolled parchment in his hand. It was small, had a few simple orders upon it as normal, and was in his lords handwriting with his seal. Yet as simple and normal as it appeared, the knight was perplexed. He walked up to the railing, looked at the white vulture, then to the writ, and then back to the vulture.

“
What
? You have never served a beautiful white feathered scavenger bird before? Rabbits, I like
striped
rabbits for dinner but please leave them uncooked. Do inform me when the reinforcements arrive from Vallakazz, other than that, prepare the defenses as you would if the west were about to explode wi
th ogre and troll numbers unheard of
.” Hithins flared his eyes orange and nodded to the young knight.

“
What in Aldens name is…who are…is this…?”

“Hithins, I suppose
Lord Hithins
for now will do. And
yes
, we will need lots of prayer, and
yes
, this is for real my young knight. Your name?”

“Perrius, Perrius Alvander. I..I..well..” Perrius
squinted, looked at the writ again and furrowed his brow.
His lord must have gone insane, but it said this vulture was in command.

“Sir Perrius
, I need to know every inch and every weakness of your keep. You shall have the honor of being my squire, for now, so work on your stuttering issue.” Hithins flapped and landed upon the left shoulder of the young orphan knight of house Alvander.

“
Yes bird, uhh, I mean, yes talking vulture…this is…”
Perrius
stared at the orange eyes, entranced, confused, and in shock
.

Fwap
!

The wing smacked him in the face.

“Snap out of it son, we have not much time!”

“Yes, yes Lord Hithins, right away!”

“
Better
.”

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Garret held the cloth to Rosana’s forehead, recited the prayers quietly, and placed his other hand on her swollen womb. He saw the blood in the bedsheets, small
spot
as it was, yet undeniable that the baby had turned.

“
God this hurts,
make it stop!” The former queen of Harlaheim squirmed and tugged her shoulder length curls that used to drape to her knees. She bit her hand, then realized she was holding father Garrets hand
,
and had left teeth marks by his thumb.

“Biting me will likely do little. Your baby has turned Rosana, two months earlier than he should, his head faces down now.”
He rubbed his hand and smiled.

“I am so sorry, so sorry,
ahhhh, it hurts
!”

“Do not apologize, no man can know the pain you are in now.
Here, drink this, and lay on your side slowly. Keep breathing, deep and slo
w.
Good.”
Garret rubbed his brow
then gave the herbal concoction of roots and stems s
t
eeped in hot water and honey to Rosana.

She drank it, winced, then drank the rest down despite the bittersweet taste. “What does that mean, the baby
has turned
, what do I do?
And how do you know it is a boy?
”

Garret wiped her brow again, wringing the cloth out with fresh cool water, then
replacing it on her flush cheek
. “It means that your child is preparing to arrive. You have another two months before that is supp
osed to
occur. There is nothing you can do, it is Aldens will.
I feel Gods will often, he told me you would have a son, just not this soon.
”

“I am not ready, it is too early
, I have not a name nor a home, I am on the road
,
in a carriage in this damnable heat,
oh father, help me---“

“I will be here, calm yourself Rosana. I have delivered children many times. The most impor
tant thing is to remain calm,
keep eating
,
and
to take in
water, do not lose your strength. We will get through this fine, Alden watch
es
over us.” Garret handed her some water and rubbed the cloth across her neck and face some more to soak up the sweat.
He was nervous, concerned, but he tried not to let it show.

Sir Leonard and Sir Karai took a fast knee and
bowed as they entered the ten
t, two dwarves with clanking platemail
and
braided
red beards followed them in. The knights wer
e clean shaven from chin to head
, armbands of the feathered cross over black battle tunics of leather
,
still with the crown and rose of Harlaheim. The two dwarves
, Drodunn Anduvann and Brunnwik the High Hammer,
nodded to father Garret, heads also shaved, hammer and moons symbols of Vundren polished and in their hands as they stood next to Rosana.

“
How is she father
?” Sir Leonard whispered to the esteemed young priest and scholar of the Aldane.

“
The baby has turned, it will be early. We need to find a place, a city, somewhere in which she can remain still for a time to deliver. Travel in this heat is not advisable in her condition
.” Garret whispered back to Leonard as the stocky dwarven priests looked up to him and then to Rosana.

“Freemoore be
three days, Evermont the same. Not sure if your lord will wantin’ to be stoppin’ anywhere for long though.
” Brunnwik whispered as well, smiling to Rosana, then took a deep breath in the warm tent.

“Where is Cristoff? Where is Kaya?
Ahhh
…the pain….
oooohhh, ahhh
!” Rosana squirmed again, shooting a pleading glance to Garret
and the knights
.

“My queen, Lord Bradswellen is with Marshall Tannek and Dalliunn, the lewirja. They are scouting ahead with a small platoon of men. Lady Kaya I have not seen this morn.” Sir Karai bowed.

“She could not o’ gone far though, she be the one all beat up bad, right?” Drodunn came closer to Rosana, grabbed the cloth, and took over the comforting duties.

“
Aye, heard she fell from a cliff or som
e
thin’ she did. She likely won’t be regular again after that, I see her limpin’ abouts all over.” Brunnwik piped in, now next to the pregnant noblewoman as
well, it was their turn to care for
Rosana and give father Garret some rest.

“I have been praying for her r
ecovery and using Aldens grace
of healing for three weeks now, there are no visible injuries left. Yet she seems to still have pain and lack of motion---“

The knights, the dwarves, even Rosana in pain as she was, turned to look as Kaya walked in the tent through the back flaps. She had a shortblade on her hip, tight black leather fitted with chain links, a dagger on her other side, and was barefoot. She looked up in early morning, expectin
g to see Rosana sleeping or under
Garrret
s care,
who would
then
be occupied. Her slate blue eyes stared back at Karai, Leonard, Drodunn, Brunnwik, Garret, and Rosana.

“Seems she don’t need more healing then.” Drodunn raised his eyebrows.

“I would say no, it seems Lady Kaya moves just fine.
” Leonard nodded to the woman who had but rested and limped the last three weeks since
he had found her near dead below
the cliffs.

“Why are you armed, miss Kaya, if I may ask?” Sir Karai placed his hand slowly onto the hilt of his rapier, he noticed Leonard doing the same.
Something was not right, he felt it.

“Kaya?” Rosana, turning in slow difficult motions, positioned her
self more comfortable and faced her recent companion
in agony
,
who now stood fine it seemed.

Her hand slid down slow to the shortblade at her side, instinct and reflex without thought, then she unbuckled the belt holding the sheath and set it on her bed in the tent.