The Lords of Anavar (27 page)

"I think Gerrand kept more knowledge to himself," said Lars Vokas.

"I fear you are correct. For whatever reason Gerrand kept his secrets, it is causing more problems now. Perhaps he didn't trust Tyman Stile, but surely, some of us should have been informed. We might have walked past some of the most important information that Gerrand could need, yet know it not."

She turned her attention to Kisle Ber once more. "Look at him. He's smiling."

"He hears her," said Lars Vokas, jumping to his feet. "She contacted him."

"Do not startle him. Let's approach slowly."

It appeared that Kisle Ber would not have noticed them if they came at a full gallop. His eyes were closed and his mouth moved, forming silent words. Whether it was the words the Princess sent him or his response, they did not know. They set wards around the soldier so no external harm could come to him. He stood for nearly an hour, and then collapsed on the ground. Lars Vokas and Zae Pol dragged him back to the camp.

"He's a lot heavier than he looks," said Lars Vokas.

"Very muscular. High density in muscles."

"Ah, yes. You are quite familiar with soldiers' muscles I believe."

"That is enough, Lars. I appreciate the attempt at humor, but not the subject."

"Just trying to lighten the mood."

"I know," said Zae Pol. "It is depressing to watch the world crumble around us and not know what to do."

Lars Vokas found no words to reply.

They dragged him to the campsite and laid him down on his blanket. He did not seem to be in any distress and Zae Pol placed a damp cloth to his lips.

"I believe we should try to find Gerrand. He is somewhere in Curesia, we know. We might be able to trace him by the method he follows us. Don't shake your head, Lars. It is possible."

"Yes, but Macelan may also sense our attempt. He seemed to be able to anticipate our movement. Perhaps he listened to Gerrand's sorcery."

"I cannot fault that logic. Then we must search on foot. Are you up to it?"

"What else can I do?"

"You are getting as grouchy as Gerrand, but not as old."

"Thank you for that. What about Kisle Ber? We can't carry him."

"No indeed. Let us allow him another hour, and then we shall wake him and go."

"Is he only sleeping? Or are we up against another spell?"

"No spell. I checked. He is exhausted. The strain of the Princess' spell drained him. He will be fine."

An hour later Kisle Ber awoke after only a mild shake from Zae Pol. His eyes were dark and far away, but they focused quickly. He seemed refreshed.

"I know where she is."

"We are going to find Gerrand," said Zae Pol. "We are going to Curesia."

"So am I. She is in Jespin. Alicae showed me where she is imprisoned. A black stone building with ruby red windows."

"Sounds like Petyr Wolk's estate. You never saw it before?" asked Zae Pol.

"No. I was never invited."

"You will see it now," said Lars Vokas.

"Yet we must find Gerrand, too," said Zae Pol. "In any event, we cannot march straight to Wolk's house. He will have watchers everywhere. We must move discreetly."

"Agreed," replied Kisle Ber. "I feel the compulsion to go to her. We will be able to wind our path and I will still know where she is."

"Excellent. Let us depart. I need to be doing something instead of waiting."

"That doesn't sound like the Lars Vokas I know," said Zae Pol.

"Times change."

Within a short time, they had stuck their camp and were walking briskly toward Curesia. Kisle Ber walked with anticipation of finding Princess Alicae and ending the gnawing pain inside him. It was his only thought. Zae Pol needed to watch for their safety as Kisle Ber marched heedless on to his goal.

They walked silently and swiftly as Kisle Ber nearly ran westward. Twice they had to move off the road into the woods to allow traders to pass. Zae Pol did not want them to be recognized.

"We must wait," she whispered to Kisle Ber.

"I know, but I can't. I shall worry a hole in the ground."

Kisle Ber was able to wait without much fidgeting and they continued on their course without discovery.

Thrice more they moved off the road to allow others to pass and the last time they felt the urge to move quickly. Concealed in the shadows of the trees they watched a small force ride past them, and then suddenly stop. A rider came near to them. It was Bors Taria, the nobleman from Wierland.

"Come out, I know you are there."

"It's the wisest choice," said Alec Endria, pale and stiff upon his horse.

"Yes, come join your comrade. I am escorting him to see Petyr Wolk. Will that work with your schedule?" Bors Taria grinned into the shadows.

"Shall I call you by name? Zae Pol? Lars Vokas? Kisle Ber?"

There was no answer. Bors Taria stomped his feet.

"Of course, you recognize Bors Taria; I should have guessed. But Bors Taria is no longer. I am Macelan the Great and I command you to attend me."

Almost immediately, Zae Pol and Kisle Ber walked onto the road, followed closely by Lars Vokas.

"I understand what you go through," said Alec Endria. "Who has the strength to resist?"

"Gerrand," said Zae Pol through her teeth.

"We shall see," said Macelan. He laughed. "In fact, I am anxious to see just what Gerrand has thought up to stop me. Come, we travel together and witness the ending of this carnival my apprentice created." He grinned at them as his soldiers herded them forward.

They felt the compulsion vanish as they were surrounded, forcing them to walk under their own power before the company.

"How are you Alec?" asked Zae Pol.

"Could be worse, but I'm not sure how. I am the only survivor from the castle."

"The only one?" said Zae Pol.

"If you want a true accounting," said Macelan. "I can tell you. Doad Bess is dead. I believe Faeya Ryr is still with Gerrand."

"What about Artus?" asked Lars Vokas.

"He is alive," said Alec Endria. "He escaped from Petyr Wolk."

"He was allowed to escape," said Macelan. "Actually, I wasn't there in body, only spirit and could do nothing after Wolk lost. But I didn't want your gallant son to know that so I convinced him that he was free. Mark my words; your son will never be free of me."

Macelan's soldiers kept the prisoners separate and did not allow them to speak to each other. The Mages could feel the crackle of sorcery about them and knew that Macelan was ready for whatever they may try. They walked at a brisk pace although they stopped frequently to rest. They met no one on the road and each village they passed through seemed deserted and made Macelan chuckle.

"They know I have returned! All flee before my presence. Gerrand stirred up fear in everyone, as I knew he would. Tyman Stile was a useful pawn because Gerrand would never suspect him of such cleverness. Failure to adapt was always Gerrand's biggest fault."

"Is not overconfidence yours?" asked Zae Pol.

"A very sharp tongue is your fault. Perhaps I shall pull it out. But you have a point. That is why you accompany me. Gerrand could not blindly attack me while you are present. He is far too much concerned with people and the like. Ah, this shall be sweet." He chuckled and slapped his leg.

Macelan seemed to be taking an indirect route to Jespin and they camped for the night in a hollow a good distance from the road.

"No fires. We shall not give away our position. Wolk does not know we are coming and neither does Gerrand. They shall be occupied with each other."

"I thought Wolk was in your command," said Alec Endria.

"Oh, he is, to a point. You must lead sorcerers around by the nose and allow them to make the decisions you want them to. If you force them to obey, they shall always rebel in some way. This way everything goes by my plan."

"Just another pawn?"

"Yes. Wolk and Gerrand are pawns. One to bring me back to this world and the other to prepare the world for my coming. By now, Gerrand has convinced the world that my power was supreme, unassailable and beyond the understanding of the Mage Council. Of course, that raises him in everyone's view too. For his powers are nearly as great as mine. Did he say that? Or at least implied it? Even when he first apprenticed to me he craved that recognition. By now, he should have convinced everyone that even his power couldn't defeat me. Then he hopes to defeat me against all odds and become an immortal hero in the eyes of Anavar. His vanity will fail him once more."

"What was Gerrand like? In the early days." asked Zae Pol.

Macelan looked at her and shook his head.

"I will not speak of those days. They were happy days and they were no shadows on our hearts. Those memories twist the blade all the more."

"Can you remove the shadow?"

Macelan didn't answer. He walked out of the camp and did not return until dawn. They broke camp immediately.

Macelan did not speak to them or allow them to speak among themselves. It became a hot sweaty journey without breaks until their lunch in the early afternoon. Lars Vokas had difficulty eating because his breath was so short. Again, Macelan pushed them onward determined to walk their defiance and questions out of them.

Indeed, at the next break they were too exhausted to speak even to themselves. The raw breaths were loud and painful. Zae Pol leaned against Kisle Ber to keep from falling into the dust. Her lungs ached. Macelan ignored them the rest of the trek until they neared their destination.

"You will remain here, out of sight, until I have need of you. I shall give Wolk and Gerrand quite a shock." He motioned for them to sit under a tree with low branches to help conceal them. Six of his soldiers stood guard. Macelan wove a sparkling fence around them, which vanished after a moment.

"That shall keep you close. My men will remain just in case one of you becomes inspired."

He turned and briskly walked away.

"What do we do now?" asked Kisle Ber.

"We wait," said Zae Pol.

"Not necessarily," said Alec Endria. "I believe I'm feeling some inspiration."

"Remember the guards."

"Oh, I do. They are part of my inspired thinking. Give me a few more minutes to puzzle out the details. I think you might appreciate my surprise."

They passed the hour in silence.

"I can still feel her," said Kisle Ber. "Directly where Macelan went. Was that really Macelan? I have a hard time believing it."

"So do I," said Lars Vokas. "And I have known Gerrand for years. Can I believe in one and not the other? They are tied together throughout the history of Anavar."

"You must believe in both I fear," said Zae Pol. "However, your point is taken. Do we believe in the truth as Gerrand has told us, or as Macelan hints, that the truth is somewhere between Macelan's view of the world and Gerrand's. Has Gerrand led us down the wrong path for his own ends?"

"Yesterday, my answer would have been no," said Lars Vokas. "Could it be as he said? That Gerrand wants to defeat him alone?"

"I cannot believe that Gerrand needs the glory. For what?"

"To impress Faeya Ryr?"

"Are you blind? She has already fallen for the old man. I believe there is some truth to Macelan's words but I also believe Gerrand has good reason for what he is doing. But don't.."

"What is it?"

"I was about to say - don't ask me what it is."

"Then we are no farther than we were."

Suddenly, the guards shouted and ran toward them.

"Where is Endria?" cried the nearest guard. They looked about but only Kisle Ber stood with the circle with them. Alec Endria had vanished.

"It is your job to watch us," snapped Zae Pol. "Blame not your failure upon us."

"We will kill you!"

"You? We are Mages. You shall have no chance. We shall smite you where you stand."

"You can't get beyond the barrier," said the nearest guard. "Endria must be invisible. Ha! A trick that did not work."

"Did it not?" asked Alec Endria who appeared behind the guard. The man turned and shouted as Alec Endria grabbed his hand and threw the man into the magic barrier. The barrier flashed and the man vanished. Then the barrier dissipated. Alec Endria vanished as well. The other guards fled at the release of the Mages.

"Alec!" cried Zae Pol.

"I am here," said Alec Endria, appearing behind her, tired but smiling.

"How did you get beyond the barrier?"

"I didn't. But my spell did. I have more magic than I've been recognized for by the Council. Much like my son. Gerrand supported our studies on our own. In this case it paid off."

"You sent an image of yourself with a physical presence?"

"Surprise!" said Alec Endria. "Not as hard as you might think, but tiring."

"Where did you learn that? Gerrand?"

"Indirectly. I learned it from my son."

"Artus knows such things?" asked Lars Vokas.

"Gerrand has groomed my son to take over for him, and I begin to feel proud. For a long while, I was jealous of my own son. I wanted to be Gerrand's heir. He made the better choice I think."

"How much do you know about Gerrand that the council does not?"

"That is a question that deserves an answer, yet the time we have does not allow for it. Let's just say that if you trace a branch of my family back you find a man disowned by his mother - Gerrand's sister."

"You are descended from Gerrand?"

"An eye opener to say the least," said Kisle Ber.

"Yes, there is much responsibility in such a relationship and it has not always been pleasant. Until I found out, none of my family knew, and Artus still doesn't. Gerrand must, but he never speaks of it."

"Hasn't suited his plans yet," said Zae Pol.

"Cold. True, but cold."

"I would think Tyman Stile must have suspected," said Zae Pol.

"No, it wouldn't have occurred to him. He never appreciated Artus or me," said Alec Endria.

They followed the path taken by Macelan; Alec Endria led with Kisle Ber right behind. The tug of the Princess overpowered the soldier. Alec Endria did not allow them to proceed without caution for they couldn't know if Macelan expected them to escape or not. They were pawns in the hands of two masters and struggled with their choices not knowing if they were following the strategy of either sorcerer.