"If you strike," Xith said, regarding the clawed hand raised to his throat, "know that our arrangement is void. Moreover, if you do not kill me with that single blow, know that I will kill you. Know also that the boy's powers pale in comparison to my own and that my memory is as long as time itself. One day I will return to Under-Earth. It is in your hands whether I make my life's last work the siege of Ril Akh Arr or other matters…"
Deftly Erravane swept back her hand. "This is far from over." She said it evilly. She was hiding something and apparently Xith knew it.
"If you have designs on Prince William, think again. I need him alive," Xith told her.
"So do I," hissed Erravane.
"It is over, Erravane!" Xith grabbed Erravane's throat with a mystical force that Adrina couldn't see but knew was there. Erravane's beasts raced to her aid but crashed against an invisible barrier. Viciously they attacked the unseen wall but couldn't break through.
"Do not dismiss me," hissed Erravane despite the pressure of the phantom's grasp on her throat. A dozen more Wolmerrelle emerged from the shadows and suddenly the woods were full of long wailing cries. "You kill me and you will never leave the forest alive."
Xith pointed his finger at one of Erravane's beasts. He lowered the magic wall for an instant as a line of fire raced from his hand and engulfed the beast.
Adrina gasped. She realized the source of Xith's mysterious powers. "Forbidden magic," she whispered.
Erravane screamed a tortured wail, which matched the dying Wolmerrelle's. Her face twisted and contorted as she sought to change shapes, but no matter what she did, she couldn't break free of the phantom's grasp.
A figure emerged from the shadows. Deep blue eyes looked in Adrina's direction momentarily, and then suddenly the figure was moving with inhuman speed among the pack of Wolmerrelle. "Seth," whispered Adrina. The still figure whose head Adrina held answered, Yes, and there was evident relief in the tone.
Xith matched Seth's blows one for one with stinging magical flames and the Wolmerrelle fell all around them. Eyes bulging, Erravane clawed at the air. Before Emel and Prince Valam could gain their feet and join the fray, she cried out, "Enough, enough. Stop!"
Mid-blow Seth stopped, drew up to his full height and cast a sidelong glance at Erravane. The remaining Wolmerrelle made no move to attack him. Dumbfounded, Emel and Valam looked to Xith.
"It is over," Xith said. "If you leave here alive, Erravane, it will be up to you." Erravane hissed but ceased to struggle against the unseen phantom. Xith turned to Adrina then, "Ease your fears Princess, those creatures cannot break through."
Xith then turned to Seth. "You are bleeding."
It is only a scratch, Seth returned.
"As superficial as that single scratch may seem, it could kill you if not cleaned properly. Untreated, it will fester like nothing you've ever seen." He paused, and then turned back to Adrina, "I must apologize for waiting so long, but I had to be sure—"
"What of our deal?" interrupted Erravane, "You promised I'd go free."
"I made no such promise, though you did promise to return to Ril Akh Arr and meddle no longer in affairs that do not concern you or your kind."
Adrina broke her trancelike gaze on Xith. She looked once more to pitiful Erravane, and then beckoned to Seth. "Sit beside me," she said, "let me clean your wound."
Xith smiled fondly at Adrina, as if remembering a thing from the past before he turned back to Erravane who had begun to howl.
"Let me go," Erravane hissed, "You have what you wanted."
Xith forced the phantom's grip. "Answer this question with care, your life depends on it. When will William meet King Jarom?"
"I do not know… You must let me go."
"She lies," Emel said. "Adrina and I overheard her speaking to Prince William. His commanders will join him at his camp tomorrow."
Erravane cringed and cowered away from Xith's stare. She began babbling. "His army is ready to march. The encampments are spread out all along the northern edge of the forest. William awaits the arrival of King Jarom's army before he strikes. King Jarom's advanced guard has already struck against Quashan'; they laid siege to the city days ago."
"Where is Jarom's army now?" questioned Xith. "Where is King Jarom?"
"Quashan', but the bulk of his army has just entered the southern edge of the Vangar. Even with the paths cut by William's pathforgers, days will pass before they arrive."
The unseen hand lifted Erravane off her feet. Xith asked, "William doesn't know this?"
"He knows only what I see fit to tell him."
Momentarily, Adrina saw surprise or perhaps glee cross Xith's face. Xith said, "The games end, Erravane. I would sooner cut out your tongue than listen to you speak. If you lie about King Jarom, I will kill you now and be done with it."
"He is an overzealous man who thinks he cannot lose. My beasts took great pleasure in harrying his soldiers… They are truly afraid of these forests now."
Xith seemed pleased with the answer. "You are free to go, Erravane. Know that I make no empty promises. If ever I see you again, I will kill you, and more… Return to Under-Earth for it is there that you belong, and not here."
The expression in Erravane's eyes as the unseen hand released her, matched that which had been in Xith's eyes moments earlier. Adrina and the others watched as Erravane and her beasts slipped away into the shadows. They took with them their fallen, leaving no trace of their presence.
As Adrina had finished cleaning his wound, Seth now saw to Galan's needs. He held a water bag to Galan's lips and she drank heavily from it.
Emel spoke first, voicing the thoughts also on Adrina's mind. "Do you really believe Erravane will do as you asked? I don't trust her."
Neither do I, sent Seth.
"Though eventually she will keep her promise, Erravane is hardly one to be taken at her word. She is strong willed and wants what it is she came for, this I am counting on." Xith turned to Galan and Seth, "Can she walk unaided?"
Brother Galan is weak from thirst and hunger…
Valam, who had been quietly regarding Galan's lithe figure, said, "I will carry her." Adrina had never seen such a look in her brother's eyes. Valam was smitten by Galan's angelic beauty, or so it appeared.
"Good, good," Xith said.
Adrina turned to Xith. "I must ask," she said. "Where have you been these many past days? Where is Father Jacob?"
"Know that this way matters have turned out better than they otherwise would have. I had very important matters to attend to, and I am truly sorry if you felt I abandoned you when you needed me the most."
Adrina persisted. "What of Father Jacob?"
"Jacob is well, but surely irritated," Xith said.
Adrina tried to speak again but Xith silenced her. "We must address other matters, gather round and listen closely." Xith said, waiting until everyone was listening. "You know the entirety of the second most powerful army in all the lands marches north and that Quashan' is under siege. What you do not know is that we have little more than this day and the next to set matters straight… We must first find Vilmos, and then—Adrina, Valam and Emel—you must sneak out of Vangar Forest, past William's army. You must return with help or all will be lost…"
"You want me to what?" screamed the galley's captain above the sound of pacekeeper's drums.
"I want you to continue up river," said Keeper Martin.
"Captain Adylton," said the galley's captain, "you claim to be a fisher's son, bring some sense to your companion."
Captain Adylton had been watching the rise and fall of the sweeps as they stroked the water and it took him a moment to respond. "If any of your ships are damaged, we'll pay you double its worth in gold from the King's treasury."
"Night is nigh at hand," complained the captain.
"Triple," said Adylton.
The ship captain still seemed hesitant.
Captain Adylton said, "Plus a year's wages for lost revenues during rebuilding."
"Lanterns!" shouted the galley captain, "Bow, starboard, port. Close watch! Drummer, mid beat! Relay the orders to the rest of the fleet!"
Keeper Martin nodded approval. He and Captain Adylton moved away from the helm so their voices wouldn't be within earshot of the galley's captain. With the noise of the drums, the grunts of the rowers and the splash of the sweeps, they didn't have to go far.
Keeper Martin said, "You learn the ways of free traders quickly."
"I didn't say I'd never bargained with free traders before my friend, what I said was I disliked free traders. I suppose there are worse ills in the world than a hunger for gold."
"Well said," returned Keeper Martin, "but how much is it going to cost to convince him to continue when one of his precious ships really hits bottom?"
Captain Adylton frowned. "Do you believe the river still so shallow, even with the recent rains?"
"If the Trollbridge was safely traversable at any time during the year, an enterprising captain, perhaps even our ship's captain, would have been sailing it long ago, and there would be ports up and down—"
"—I get the point," Captain Adylton said, shifting his stance as the boat swayed. "We will pray then that none of his ships run aground." Captain Adylton tried to change the topic of the conversation. "Did this Keeper Q'yer of yours receive your message yet?"
"The message entered Keeper Q'yer's dreams as I sent it, that is the way of the message. What I don't know is if he understood it, though we will surely find out soon enough."
One of the sailors called out, "White waters ahead!"
Keeper Q'yer and Captain Adylton raced to the bow.
Father Jacob eyed the grizzled commander who stood beside him. Reflecting the light of the new day, his green eyes shone with an uncanny luster. There was naked rage on his face, he was gritting his teeth and his hand on Jacob's shoulder was trying to crush bone.
His tone grim, Captain Mikhal said, "A costly attack at dawn it will be, but we must strike now. I cannot bare the sight of this."
Jacob peered out from his hiding place amidst the trees. From his vantage point, he saw most of Quashan' and the amassed army. The emblems on the enemy banners at this distance were hardly identifiable, though the colors were. They were not green and gold, but blue and black, the colors of King Jarom and the Kingdom of Vostok. Jacob bowed his head wearily, but didn't respond.
The two stood there for a time, staring down at the army poised to strike the city as they obviously had in previous days. Quashan's walls were battered. The east wall, which they had the best view of, had large sections missing from its upper bulwarks. Thin trails of black smoke were streaming from the southern part of the city and a section of the nearby wall was charred.
Captain Mikhal turned and started to walk away. Father Jacob stopped him. "I too am nearly at the end of my patience. For days I have done nothing but wait, and while I grow tired of waiting, I made a promise to an old friend that I would wait when it seemed we must attack and he in turn made a promise to me."
"There are exceptions to any promise, and this is surely one, unless this friend of yours is His Royal Majesty or My Lord Prince."
Father Jacob looked directly at the captain. "Who he is is not important, that I trust him and would give my life for his is important. No, we must wait."
Captain Mikhal hissed and cursed in a low voice. He pointed, then spoke, "Look… Ridesman. Lancers. Hundreds."
"White and red," Jacob said quietly.
Captain Mikhal regarded Jacob. "It cannot be, it doesn't make sense."
Jacob sighed and bowed his head wearily. "Prince William's advance guard, his army comes."
"But, the Alliance?" asked the captain.
Father Jacob said, "The Alliance died with King Charles."
Captain Mikhal's nostrils flared. "That is as impossible as—"
"—an order sealed with King Andrew's seal rousing the whole of Quashan' garrison to Imtal being false?"
Before Captain Mikhal could respond, Father Jacob explained the last thing he had been holding back from the garrison commander. He spoke quickly and directly, telling Captain Mikhal a thing that he himself had not wanted to believe until he saw it with his own eyes. "The Kingdom of Vostok and the Kingdom of Sever are united in their cause against Great Kingdom."
"If the Alliance is broken, what of Zapad and Yug? King Peter and King Alexas are marionettes and King Jarom is the puppeteer."
"We must give thanks to Mother-Earth and her divine providence," returned Father Jacob.
"Even the Stygian Palisades have passes, and there are certainly enough ships in the Far South…" Seeming to realize what he was saying, Captain Mikhal's voice trailed off.
Suddenly the call of dozens of trumpets broke the air.
Captain Mikhal's face was livid as he said, "They're preparing an assault. The time to strike is now while they muster. Nothing you say will make me change my mind. Nothing."
Father Jacob tried to bring reason to the stubborn captain. "Who will you serve by charging to your deaths? You must trust in—"
"—I've little faith, Father Jacob, I must confess this, for if you are going to tell me that I must trust in Great Father, you'll find me lacking."
Father Jacob raised a silencing hand. "I have faith for the both of us. I was about to say that you must trust in me."
Jacob paused and took a deep breath. He was about to speak when more trumpet calls broke the silence.
"The attack begins," said Captain Mikhal, his hand, returned to Jacob's shoulder, was again trying to crush bone. "My hand yearns for the hilt of my blade, can you know what it does to me to see this?"
Jacob winced. "Yes, I do know."
"We strike," Captain Mikhal said, "we strike."