Riyria Revelations #04 - The Emerald Storm Michael J Sullivan

The five of them bought fresh cooked fish from dock vendors and ate on the pier. They listened to the shanty tunes spilling out of the taverns and smelled the pungent fishy reek of the harbor. By the time Wyatt returned to the ship, he was red-faced angry.

They are going through with the venting! They refused to listen to anything I said,

he shouted,

trotting up the quay.

What about the invasion?

Hadrian asked.

Didn

t you tell them about that?

They didn

t believe me! Even Livet Glim, the port controller

and we were once mates! I shared a

bunk with him for two years and the bloody bastard refuses to

as he puts it

Turn the entire port on its

ear because one person thinks there might be an attack.

He says they haven

t heard anything from

any other ships, and they won

t do a thing unless the armada is confirmed by other captains.

It will be too late by then.

I tried to tell them that, but they went on about how theyhad to regulate the pressure on the full moon. I went to every official in the city, but no one would listen. After a while I think they became suspicious thatI was up to something and I stopped when they threatened to lock me up. I

m sorry.

Maybe if we all went?

Wyatt shook his head.

It won

t do any good. Can you believe this? After all we

ve been through, we

get here and it won

t change a single thing. Unless

He looked directly at Hadrian.

Unless what?

Poe asked.

Hadrian sighed and looked at Royce who nodded.

What am I missing?

Poe asked.

Drumindor was built by dwarves thousands of years ago,

Hadrian explained.

Those huge towers

are packed with stone gears and hundreds of switches and levers. The Tur Del Fur Port Authority only knows what a handful of them actually does. They know how to vent the pressure and blow the spouts, and that

s about it.

We know how to shut it off,

Royce said.

Shut it off?

Poe asked.

How do you shut off a volcano?

Not the volcano, the system,

Hadrian went on.

There

s a master switch that locks the whole gearing

system. Once dropped, the fortress doesn

t build pressure anymore, the volcano just vents itself. It won

t be able to stop the invasion, but it won

t explode either.

How does that help?

If nothing else, it will prevent the instant destrucon of this city. When the black sails appear people might have time to evacuate, maybe even put up a defense. Once the system is shut down Royce and I can crawl through the portals to find out what Merrick did. If we can get it fixed in time, we can raise the master switch and barbeque an armada of very surprised goblins.

Can we help?

Banner asked.

Not this time,

Hadrian told him.

Can you four handle this ship alone?

Wyatt nodded.

It will be tough with no topmen but we

ll work something out.

Good, then you get out of here before the fleet comes in. You were a good assistant Poe, stick with Wyatt and you

ll be a captain one day. This one we have to do alone.

***

Legend held that dwarves existed centuries before man walked the face of the world. Back in an age when they and the elves fought for supremacy of Elan, dwarves were a powerful and honorable nation governed by their own kings with their own laws and traditions. It was a golden age of great feats, wondrous achievements, and marvelous heroes. Then the elves won the war.

The strength of the dwarves was shattered forever and the emergence of men destroyed what remained. Although never enslaved like the remnants of the elves, men distrusted and shunned the sons of Drome. Fearful of a unified dwarven kingdom, humans forced the dwarves out of their homeland of Delgos into a shadowy existence of nomadic persecution. Despite their skills in crafts, humans scattered them whenever they gathered in groups too large for comfort. For their own survival, dwarves learned to hide. Those that could adopted human ways and attempted to fit in.

Their culture obliterated by centuries of careful erasure, little survived of their former glory except what stone could tell. Few dwarves, and even less humans, possessed the imagination to recall a day when they ruled half the world

unless, like Royce and Hadrian, they were staring up at Drumindor.

The light of the setting sun bathed the granite rock, making it shine like silver. Sheer walls towered hundreds of feet, rising out of the bedrock of the burning mountain

s back. The twin towers stood

joined by the thin line of what appeared from that distance to be a wafer thin bridge. The tops of the towers smoldered quietly, leaking thin plumes of dark smoke out of every vent, creating a thin gray cloud that hovered overhead. Up close the scope and mammoth size was breathtaking.

They had one night and the following day to accomplish the same magic trick they had performed eight years earlier. It was dark by the time they purchased the necessary supplies, slipped through the city of Tur Del Fur, and hiked up into the countryside, following goat paths into the foothills that eventually led to the base of the great fortress itself.

Is this where it was?

Royce asked, stopping and studying the base of the tower.

How should I know?

Hadrian replied as his eyes coursed up the length of the south tower. Up close, it blocked everything else out, a solid wall of black rising against the light of the moon.

I can

never understand why such small people build such gigantic things.

Maybe they

re compensating,

Royce said, dropping several lengths of rope.

Damn it, Royce. It

s been eight years since we did this. I was in better shape then. I was younger and, if I recall, I vowed I would never do it again.

That

s why you shouldn

t make vows. The moment you do, fate starts conspiring to shove them down your throat.

Hadrian sighed, staring upward.

That

s one tall tower.

And if the dwarves were still here maintaining it, it would be impregnable. Lucky for us, they

ve let

it rot. You should be happy

the last eight years will only have eroded it further. It should be easier.

s granite, Royce. Granite doesn

t erode much in eight years.

Royce said nothing as he continued to lay oils of rope, checking the knots in the harnesses, and slipping on his hand-claws.

Do you recall that I nearly fell last time?

Hadrian asked.

So, don

t step there this time.

Do you remember what the nice lady in the jungle village told you? One light will go out?

We either climb this, or let the place blow. We let the place blow and Merrick wins. Merrick wins, he gets away and you never find Degan Gaunt.

I never thought you cared all that much if I ever found Gaunt.

Hadrian looked up at the tower

again.

At least notthat much.

Honestly? I don

t care at all. This whole quest of yours is stupid. So you find Gaunt

then what? You

follow him around being his bodyguard for the rest of your life? What if he

s like Ballentyne?

Wouldn

t that be fun? Granted, it will be exciting, as I

m sure anyone with a sword will want to kill

him, but who cares? There

s no reward, no point to it. You feel guilt

I kinda get that. You ran out on

your father and you can

t say you

re sorry anymore. So for that, you

ll spend your life following this

guy around being his butler? You

re better than that.

I think there was a compliment in there somewhere

so thanks. But if you

re not doing this to help me

find Gaunt, why are you?

Royce paused and from a bag he drew out Wesley

s hat. He must have fetched it down before they

left the ship.

He stuck his neck out for me three times. The last one got him killed. There

s no way

this fortress is blowing up.

***

Even in the dark, Royce found hand and footholds that Hadrian could never have spotted in the full light of day. Like a spider, he scaled the side of the tower until he came to the base of the first niche.

There, he set his first anchor and dropped a rope to Hadrian. By the time Hadrian reached the foothold of that niche, Royce was already nailing in the next pin and sending down another coil.

They continued this way, finding minute edges where several thousand years of erosion revealed the maker

s seams in the rock. Centuries-old crevices and cracks allowed Royce to climb what was once slick, smooth stone.

Two hours later, the trees below appeared like tiny bushes and the cold, wintry winds buffeted them like barn swallows. They were only a third of the way up.

s time,

Royce shouted over the howl of the wind. He anchored a pin, tied a rope to it, and climbed back down.

Hadrian groaned.

I hate this part!

Sorry buddy, nothing I can do about it, the niches are all over that way.

Royce gestured across to

where the vertical grooves cut into the rock on the far side of a deep crevasse.

Royce tied the rope to his harness and linked himself to Hadrian.

Now, just watch me,

Royce told him and, taking hold of the rope, he sprinted across the stone face.

Reaching the edge of the crevasse, he leapt swinging out like a clock

s pendulum. He cleared the gap

by what looked like only a few inches. On the far side, he clung to the stone, dangling like a bug on a twig. He slowly pulled himself up and drove another pin. Then, after tying off the rope, waved to Hadrian.

If Hadrian missed the jump, he would slip into the crevasse where he would end up dangling helplessly, assuming the rope held him. The force of the fall could easily pop out the holding pin, or even snap the rope. He took a deep breath of cold air, steadied himself, and began to run. On the far side, Royce leaned out for him. He reached the edge and jumped. The wind whistled past his face, blurring his vision as tears streaked back across his cheeks. He struck the far side just short of the landing, bashing his head hard enough to see stars. He tasted blood and wondered if he had lost his front teeth even as his fingertips lost their tenuous hold and he began to fall. Royce tried to grab him, but was too late. Hadrian fell.

He dropped about three inches.>

Hadrian dangled from the rope Royce had the forethought to anchor the moment his partner had landed. Hadrian groaned in pain while wiping blood from his face.

See,

Royce shouted in his ear,

that wentmuch better than last time!

Hadrian declined comment knowing the look on his face said it all.

They continued scaling upward, working within the relative shelter of the vertical three-sided chimneys. They were too high now for Hadrian to see anything except the tiny lights of the port city. Everything else below was darkness. They rested for a time in the semi-sheltered niche, then climbed upward again.

Higher and higher Royce led the way. Hadrian

s hands were sore from gripping the rope and burned

from the few times he slipped. His legs, exhausted and weak, quivered dangerously. The wind was brutal. Gusting in an eddy caused by the chimney they followed, it pushed outward like an invisible hand trying to knock them off. The sun came up and Hadrian was nearing the end of his endurance when they finally reached the bridge. They were slightly more than two-thirds of the way, but thankfully they did not need to reach the top.

What appeared from the ground to be a thin bridge was actually forty-feet in thickness. They scrambled over the edge, hauled up their ropes, ducked into a sheltered archway, and sat in the shadows catching their breath.

d like to see Derning scalethat ,

Royce said, looking down.

I don

t think anyone but you could manage it,

Hadrian replied.

Nor is there anyone crazy enough to

try.

Dozens of men guarded the great gates at the base of the tower, but no one was on the bridge. It was thought impossible for intruders to start at the top, and the cold wind kept the workers inside.

Royce gave the tall slender stone doors a push.

Locked?

Hadrian asked.

Royce nodded.

Let

s hope they haven

t changed the combination.

Hadrian chuckled.

Took you eighteen hours last time, right after you told me,

this will only take a

minute.

Remind me again why I brought you?

Royce asked, fanning his hands out across the embossed face of the doors.

Ah, here it is.

Royce placed his fingers carefully and pushed. A hundred tons of solid stone glided inward as if on a cushion of air, rotating open without a sound. Inside, an enormous cathedral ceiling vaulted hundreds of feet above them. Shafts of morning sunshine entered through distant skylights built into the dome overhead, revealing a complex world of bridges, balconies, archways, and a labyrinth of gears. Some gears lay flat, while others stood upright. Some were as small as a copper coin, and then there were those that were several stories tall and thicker than a house. A few rotated constantly, driven by steam created from the volcanically superheated seawater. The majority of the gears, particularly the big ones, remained motionless, waiting. Aside from the mechanisms, nothing else moved. The only sound was the regular, ratcheting rhythm and the whirl of the great machine.

Royce scanned the interior.

Nobody home,

he said at length.

Wasn

t last time either. I

m surprised they haven

t tightened security up more.

Oh, yeah, a single break-in after centuries is something to schedule your guards around.

They

ll be kicking themselves tomorrow.

They found the stairs

short shallow steps built for little feet, that they took two and three at a time.

Ducking under low archways, Hadrian nearly had to crawl through the entrance to the Big Room.

This was a name Hadrian gave it the last time they visited. The room itself was huge, but the name came from the master gear. It stood on edge and what they could see was as high as a castle tower, but most of its bulk sunk beneath the floor and through a wall, leaving only a quarter of the gear visible. Its edge was crenellated like the merlons on a castle battlement, only larger

much. It meshed

with two other gears, which connected to a dozen more that joined the dwarven puzzle.

The lock was at the top right?

Royce asked.

Think so

yeah, Gravis was up there when we found him, right?

Okay, I

ll handle this. Keep an eye out.

Royce leapt up to one of the smaller gears and walked up the teeth like a staircase. He jumped from one to the next until he reached the master gear. It was harder to climb, since the teeth were huge, but for Royce this was no problem. He was soon out of sight and a few minutes later a loud stone upon stone sound echoed as a giant post of rock descend from the ceiling, settling in the valley between two teeth, locking the great gear.

When Royce returned he was grinning happily.

d love to see the look on Merrick

s face when this place doesn

t blow. Even if the Ghazel take the

city, he

ll be scratching his head for months. There

s no way he can know about this master switch.

Gravis only knew because it was his ancestor that designed the place.

And we only know because we caught him in the act.

Hadrian thought a moment.

Do you think

Merrick might be nearby, waiting for the fireworks?

Royce sighed.

Of course not. If it were me, I wouldn

t be within a hundred miles of this explosion. I

don

t even want to be here now. Don

t worry, I know him. The fact that this mountain doesn

t explode

will drive him nuts. All we have to do is drop the right hints to the wrong people and you won

t have

to look for him

ll find us. Now come on, let

s see if we can find what is blocking the vents so we

can put this back in place and cook some goblins.

Chapter 22

Going Home

Archibald Ballentyne stared out the window of the Great Hall. It looked cold. Brown grass, blowing dead leaves, clouds that looked heavy and full of snow, and geese that flew away before a veil of gray all reminded him the seasons and changed. Wintertide was less than two months away.

He kicked the stone of the wall with his boot. It made a muffled thud and sent a pain up his leg making him wince.

Why do I have to think of that? Why do I always have to think of that?

Behind him, Saldur, Ethelred, and Biddings debated something, but he was not listening. He did not care anymore. Maybe he should leave. Maybe he should take a small retinue and just go home to Chadwick and the sanctity of his Gray Tower. The place would be a wreck by now and he could busy himself with repairing the damage the servants caused in his absence. Bruce was likely dipping into his brandy store and the tax collectors would be behind in their duties. It would feel nice to be home for the holiday. He could invite a few friends and his sister over for

he stopped and

considered kicking the wall again, but it hurt enough last time. He decided against it.

Sleeping in a tent this time of year would be miserable. Besides, what would the regents say?

Moreover, what would they do in his absence? They treated him badly enough when he was here, how much worse would they conspire against him if he left?

He did not really want to be home. Ballentyne Castle was a lonely place, all the more horrid in winter. He used to dream of how all that would change when he married, when he had a beautiful wife and children. He used to fantasize about Alenda Lanaklin. She was a pretty thing. He often imagined taking the hand of the King Armand

s daughter, Princess Beatrice. She was certainly

appealing. He even spent many a summer evening watching the milkmaids in the field and contemplating the possibility of snatching one from her lowly existence to be the new Lady Ballentyne. How grateful she would be, how dutiful, how easily controlled. That was all before he came to Aquesta

before he met her.

Even sleep gave him no solace as he dreamed about Modina now. He danced with her and it was their own wedding day. He despised wp. Archibald did not even care about the title anymore. He would give up the idea of being emperor if he could have her. He even considered that he would give up being earl

but she was marrying

Ethelred!

He refused to look at the regent. The blackguard cared nothing for her. How could he be so cold as to force a girl to marry him just for the political benefit? The man was a blackguard.

Archie

Archie!

Ethelred was calling him.

He cringed at the sound of the name he hated and turned from the window with a scowl.

Archie, you need to talk to your man Breckton.

What

s wrong with him now?

s refusing to take my orders. He insists he serves only you. You need to set him straight on the lay of things. We can

t have knights whose allegiance is strictly to their lords. They have to recognize the supremacy of the empire and the chain of command.

Seems to me that

s what he is doing, observing the chain of command.

Yes, yes, but it is more than that. He

s becoming obstinate. I

m going to be the emperor in a couple

of months and I can

t have my best general requiring that I get your permission to give him an order.

ll speak with him,

Archibald said miserably, mostly just so he could stop listening to Ethelred

voice. If the old bastard was not such an accomplished soldier, he would seriously consider challenging him, but Ethelred had fought in dozens of battles, while Archibald had only engaged in practice duels with blunt tipped swords. Even if he wanted to commit suicide, he certainly would not give Ethelred the satisfaction of killing him.

What about Modina?

Ethelred asked.

At the sound of the name, Archibald focused back on the conversation.

Will she be ready?

Yes, I think so,

Saldur replied.

Amilia has been doing wonders with her.

Amilia?

Ethelred tapped his forehead.

Isn

t she the maid you promoted to Imperial Secretary?

Yes,

Saldur said,

and I

ve been thinking that after the wedding, I want to keep her on.

ll have no use for herafter the wedding.

I know, but I think I could use her elsewhere. She

s proven herself to be both intelligent and

resourceful.

Do whatever you like with her, I certainly don

Queens always have need of secretaries even when they have husbands,

Archibald interrupted.

understand you

re going to assume total control of the empire, but she

ll still need an assistant.

Ethelred looked at Saldur with a puzzled expression.

He doesn

t know?

Know what?

Archibald asked.

Saldur shook his head.

I felt the fewer that knew the better.

After the wedding,

Ethelred told Archibald,

once I am crowned emperor, I

m afraid Modina will

have an unfortunate accident

a fatal accident.

***

s all arranged,

Nimbus reported. Arista paced the room and Modina sat alone on the bed.

I got the

uniform to him, and tonight the farmer will smuggle Hilfred into the gate just before sunset in the hay cart.

Will they check that?

Arista asked pausing in her journey across the room.

Not anymore, not since they called off the witch hunt. Things are business as usual again. They know the farmer. He

s in and out every third day of the week.

Arista nodded, and resumed her pacing.

The same wagon will cart you all out at dawn. You will go out through the city gates. There will be three horses waiting at the crossroads for you with food, water, blankets, and extra clothing.

Thank you, Nimbus.

Arista hugged the beanpole of a man, bringing a blush to his cheeks.

Are you sure this will work?

Modina asked.

I don

t see why not,

Arista said.

ll do just what I did last time. I

ll become

and Hilfred will be a

fourth floor guard. You

re sure you took the right uniform?

Nimbus nodded.

ll order the guard to open the entrance to the prison. We

ll grab Gaunt, and leave. I will instruct the

seret to remain on duty and tell no one. Believing I

m Saldur, no one will know he

s gone for hours,

maybe even days.

I still don

t understand.

Modina looked puzzled.

Amilia said there was no prison in the tower and

that all the cells were empty.

There is a secret door in the floor. A very cleverly hidden door, sealed with a gemlock.

What

s a gemlock?

A precious stone cut to produce a specific vibration that when held near the door trips the lock open. I used a magical variation on my tower door back home and the church used a far more sophisticated version to seal the main entrance to Gutaria Prison. They are doing the same thing here, and the key is the emerald in the pommel of the sword the Seret Knight wears.

So, you will make your escape tonight?

the empress asked.

Arista nodded. The empress looked down, a sadness creeping into her eyes.

What

s wrong?

Arista

asked.

Nothing. I

m just going to miss you.

***

Arista

s stomach twisted as she looked out the window and watched the sun set.Am I being foolish?

Her plan had always been to merely locate Gaunt, not break him out. Now that she knew exactly where he was, she could return home and have Alric send Royce and Hadrian to rescue him. Only that was before

before she found Hilfred, before she was reunited with Thrace, and before she knew she could impersonate Saldur. It seemed like such an easy thing to do that leaving without Gaunt seemed an unnecessary risk. The smoke verified he still lived, but would he be alive several weeks from now?

She was alone with Modina. They had not said a word to each other for hours. Something was troubling the empress

something more than usual. Modina was stubborn, and no force could move her once she decided on a course. Apparently, the course she decided on was not to talk.

The gate opened and the hay cart entered.

Arista watched intently. Nothing seemed amiss, no guards, no shouting, just a thick pile of hay and a slow walking donkey pulling it. The farmer, an elderly man, parked the cart by the stables, unhitched his donkey, hitched it to a new cart, and led the animal out again. Staring at the cart, she could not help herself. The plan had been to wait until just before dawn, but she could not leave Hilfred lying there. She managed to restrain herself only until she saw the harvest moon begin to rise, then she stood.

s time,

she said.

Modina lifted her head.

Arista walked to the middle of the room and knelt.

Arista I

Modina began hesitantly.

What is it?

Nothing

Good luck.

Arista got up and crossed the room to hug her tightly.

Good luck to you too.

The empress shook her head.

You keep all of it

m not going to be needing any.

***

Arista traveled down the stairs, disguised as Regent Saldur, wondering what Modina had almost said. The excitement of the night, however, kept her thoughts jumping from one thing to the next.

She discovered she could remain in her disguise for a long time. It broke when she slept, but it would last beyond what she would need that night. This gave her greater confidence. Although she was still concerned about bumping into the real Saldur, the thought of seeing Hilfred again was overwhelming.

Her heart leapt just thinking about traveling home to Melengar with Hilfred once more at her side.

It had been a long and tiring road and she wanted to be home. She wanted to see Alric and Julian, and to sleep in her own bed. She vowed she would treat Melissa better and planned to give her maid a new dfor Wintertide. Arista was occupied in a long list of Wintertide presents for everyone when she stepped outside. The broad face of the harvest moon illuminated the inner ward, allowing her to see as clear as if it were a cloudy day. The courtyard was empty as she crept to the wagon.

Hilfred!

she whispered. There was no response, no movement in the hay.

Hilfred.

She shook the

wagon.

s me, Arista.

She waited.

Her heart skipped a beat when the hay moved.

Princess?

it said hesitantly.

Yes, it

s me. Just follow.

She led him into the stables and to the last stall, which was vacant.

need to wait here until it is nearly dawn.

Hilfred stared at her dubiously, keeping a distance.

How

he began but faltered.

I thought Nimbus explained I would appear like this?

He did.

Hilfred

s eyes traveled up and down her figure, a look on his face as if he had just tasted something awful.

The rumors are true,

she admitted,

at least the ones about using magic.

ve known that, but your hair, your face, your voice.

He shook his head.

s perfect. How do I know

you

re not the real Saldur?

Arista closed her eyes, and in an instant Saldur disappeared and the Princess of Melengar returned.

Hilfred stumbled backward until he hit the wall of the stall. His eyes wide and his mouth open.

Itis me,

she assured him. Arista took a step forward and watched him flinch. It hurt her to see this, more than she would have expected.

You need to trust me,

she told him.

How can I? How can I be certain it

s really you, when you trade skins so easily?

Ask me a question that will satisfy you.

Hilfred hesitated.

Ask me, Hilfred.

I have been with you daily since I was a very young man. Give me the names of the first three women I fell in love with and the name of the one I lost because of the scars on my face.

She smiled and felt her face blush.

Arista, Arista, Arista, and no one.

He smiled. She did not wait for him. She knew he would never presume upon her to take such a step on his own. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. She could feel the sudden shock in the tightening of his muscles, but he did not pull away. His body relaxed slowly and his arms surrounded her. He squeezed so that her cheek pressed against his, her chin resting on his shoulder.

Maribor help me if you really are Saldur,

Hilfred whispered in her ear.

She laughed softly and wondered if it was the first time she had done so since Emery died.

Chapter 23

The Harvest Moon

Royce and Hadrian began investigating the spouts, the giant tunnels bored out of the rock through which molten lava would blast on its way to the sea. There were dozens, each one aiming in different directions, their access to the mountain

s core sealed off by gear controlled portals. They

climbed the interior until they reached the opening and the sky.

The sun was up and the sight below forced Hadrian

s stomach into his mouth. They were well above

the bridge level. The world looked very small and very far away. Tur Del Fur was a small cluster of petite buildings crouched in the elbow of a little cove. Beyond it rose mountains that looked like little hills. Directly below, the sea appeared like a puddle with tiny flashes of white that took Hadrian a moment to realize were the crests of waves. What he thought might be insects were gulls circling far below.

None of the spouts were blocked, none of the portals tampered with.

Maybe it

s in the other tower?

Hadrian asked after they climbed out of the last tunnel.

Royce shook his head.

Even if that one is blocked, the pressure will vent here. Both have to be closed. It

s not the spouts or the portals, it

s something else

something we

ve oerlooked

something that

can seal all the exits at once to make the mountain boil over. It has to be another master switch, one that locks all the portals closed.

How are we going to find that? Do you see how many gears are in here? And it could be any one.

We should have brought Magnus.

Sure, with him it would be easy to find

in a year or two. Look at this place!

Royce gestured at the

breadth of the tower, where the sun

s light pierced through skylights spraying the tangled riddle of a million stone gears. Some spun, some whirled, some barely moved, and everywhere were levers.

Like arrows peppering a battlefield, stone arms protruded. Just as the gears came in various sizes, so too did the levers

some tiny and others the size of tree trunks.

s a wonder they ever learned how to

vent the core.

Exactly,

Hadrian said.

No one knows what most of this stuff does anymore. The Port Authority leaves it alone for fear they might destroy the world or something, right? So, whatever Merrick did, it

s a sure bet the folks in charge here don

t know anything about it. It has to be a lever that hasn

been moved in centuries, maybe even thousands of years. It might show signs of recent movement, right?

Maybe.

So, we just need to find it.

Royce stared at him.

What?

We only have a few hours left, and you

re talking about looking for a displaced grain of sand on a beach.

I know, and when you come up with something better we

ll try it. Until then, let

s at least look.

Hours passed and still they found nothing. Adding to the dilemma was the interior of Drumindor itself, which was a maze of corridors, archways, and bridges. Often they could see where they wanted to go but did not know how to get there. When they arrived, they discovered it was not what they expected and had to backtrack. Luck remained on their side, however, as they saw precious few people. They spotted only a handful of workers and even fewer guards, all of them were easily avoided. The sunshine passing through the skylights shone with the brilliance of midday, then passed to evening, and they still had not found their goal.

Finally, they headed for the bottom of the tower.

It was their last resort as the Drumindor defensive garrison fortified the first three floors.

Approximately forty soldiers guarded the base, and they had a reputation for their harsh treatment of intruders. Still, whatever Merrick did, he most likely did to the mechanism that controlled the lava

s release. Descending yet another winding staircase, they paused in a sheltered alcove just outside a large chamber. Peering in, they saw it was similar to an interior courtyard, or a theater, with four gallery balconies ringing it with pillared archways stacked one upon another.

There.

Royce pointed to an opening in the room below that radiated a yellow glow.

It has to be in

there.

They crept down the stairs to the bottom. Elaborate square-cut designs of inlaid bronze and quartz lined the tiled floor. It picked up the glow coming from the open doorway on the far side. The air warmed dramatically as hot gusts of sulfur-laced air blew in their faces.

This has to be it,

Royce whispered.

They looked up at the stacked galleries of arched openings circling the walls above them and slowly, carefully, stepped forward together, crossing the shimmering tile, heading for the glowing doorway.

Halt!

The command echoed through the chamber the moment they reached the center of the room.

Lie face down, arms and legs spread.

They hesitated.

Twenty archers appeared, moving out from behind the pillars of the galleries, with stretched bows aimed down on Royce and Hadrian from three sides. Pikemen entered the hall in an orderly march, boot heels clicking on the tile. They spread out forming two lines. A dozen more armored men issued down the side corridor from the second stry gallery and proceeded in two-by-two formation to the bottom of the stairs fanning out to block any retreat back the way they had come.

Now, lay on your bellies, or we will cut you down where you stand.

re not here to cause trouble, we

re here

Hadrian

s words were cut short as an arrow hissed

through the air and glinted off the stone less than a foot from them.

Now!

the voice shouted.

They laid down.

The moment they did, troops from in front and behind entered, pinning them and stripping them of their weapons.

You have to listen to us. There

s an invasion coming

ve heard all about your phantom armada, Mister Blackwater, and you can give up that charade.

s real! They will be here tonight, and if you don

t fix the tower, all of Delgos will be taken!

Bind them!

They brought forth chains, tongs, and a brazier. Smiths arrived and went to work hammering manacles onto their wrists and legs.

Listen to me!

Hadrian shouted.

At least check the pressure release controls, see if something is wrong.

There was no reply except the smith

s hammer pounding the manacles closed.

What is the harm in checking?

Hadrian went on.

If I am wrong, what does it matter? If I am right

and you don

t even look, you

re sealing the fate of the Delgos Republic. Just humor me, if nothing else it will shut me up.

Slitting your throat will do that too,

the voice said.

But I will send a worker if you two come

quietly without resistance.

Hadrian was not certain what kind of resistance he expected them to give as the smith finished attaching another chain to his legs, but nodded anyway.

He gave the order, and the guards pulled them to their feet. It was hard navigating stairs with hobbled legs and Hadrian nearly fell more than once, but soon they reached the bottom of the fortress and the main gate.

The gigantic doors of stone soundlessly swept open. Outside the late afternoon sun revealed a contingent of port soldiers waiting. The commander of the fortress guard stepped forward and spoke quietly with the Port Authority Captain for some time.

You don

t think these guys are always waiting out here, do you?

Hadrian whispered to Royce.

been set up, haven

t we?

It didn

t tip you off when they called you by name?

Merrick?

Who else.

That

s a bit farfetched. How could he possibly expect us to be here. We didn

t even know we would

be here. He can

t be that smart.

He is.

A runner appeared trotting up from the bottom of the tower and reported to the commander with a sharp salute.

Well?

the fortress commander asked.

The runner shook his head.

There is no problem with the pressure release control

everything

checked out fine.

Take them away,

the commander ordered.

***

The Tur Del Fur City Prison and Workhouse sat back, hidden on a hillside away from the dock, the shops, and the trades. It appeared as little more than a large, stone box at the end of Avan Boulevard with few windows and a spiked iron fence. Hadrian and Royce both knew it by reputation. Most offenders typically died within the first week due to execution, suicide, or brutality. The magistrate

role was merely to determine the manner of execution. Parole was not an option. Only those known to be serious threats came here. Petty thieves, drunks, and malcontents went to the more popular and lenient Portside Jail. For those in Tur Del Fur Prison, this was the end of the road, literally as well as figuratively.

Royce and Hadrian hung by their wrists with their ankles chained to the wall of cell number three, where they had spent the last few hours. The room was smaller than those in Calis. There was no window, stool, nor pot

not even straw. It was a sml, stone closet with a single metal door. The only light came from the gap between the door and the frame.

You

re awfully quiet,

Hadrian said to the darkness.

m trying to figure this out,

Royce replied.

Figure it out?

Hadrian laughed even though his arms and wrists burned like fire from the metal cutting into his skin.

re hanging chained to a wall waiting execution, Royce. There

s not that

much to it.

Notthat . I want to know why we didn

t find anything wrong with the spouts.

Because there

s a million levers and switches in there and we were looking for just one?

I don

t think so. When we got to the bridge what was it you said? You said you didn

t think anyone

except I could scale that fortress. I think you

re right. I know Merrick couldn

t. He

s a genius, not an

elf. I always outdid him when it came to anything physical.

So?

So, a thought has been nagging me since they brought us here. How could Merrick get into Drumindor to sabotage it?

He figured another way in.

We spent weeks trying to do that, remember?

Maybe he bribed someone on the inside, or maybe he paid someone to break in.

Who?

Royce thought a minute.

This is too important to trust to someone whomight be able to do it

he would need someone heknew could do it.

But how do you know someone can do something until they

ve actually

Hadrian stopped himself as

the realization hit.

Oh, that

s not good.

Throughout this whole thing we

ve been following two letters, both written by Merrick. The first we thought was intercepted and delivered to Alric, but what if it wasintentionally sent to him?

Everyone knows we work for Melengar.

Which led us to theEmerald Storm ,

Hadrian said.

Right. Where we got the next letter

the one to be delivered to that crazy Tenkin in the jungle, and it just happened to mention that Drumindor was set to blow.

m not liking where this is heading,

Hadrian muttered.

And what if Merrick knew about the master gear?

That

s impossible. Gravis is dead. Crushed, as I recall, under one of those big gears.

Yes. Heis dead, but Lord Byron isn

t. He probably boasted about how he saved Drumindor by hiring two no account thieves.

It still seems too perfect,

Hadrian tried to convince himself.

In retrospect sure, it sounds like the

pieces fall into place, but there are too many things that could have gone wrong along the way.

Right. That

s why he had someone on board theStorm making sure it all worked

Derning. Did you

see the way he took off the moment we hit dock? He knew what was coming and wanted to get away.

I should have let you kill him.

Silence.

You

re nodding, aren

t you?

I didn

t say a word.

Bastard,

Hadrian grumbled.

You know the worst thing?

ve got a pretty long list ofbad things right now, and I

m not sure which one I would put on top. So,

ll bite.

We did exactly what Merrickcouldn

t do himself. He used us to disarm Drumindor.

So, he never sabotaged anything. That would explain why Gile laughed when I told him Drumindor was going to explode. He knew it wasn

t. Merrick promised he would have it intact. Merrick

s a

bloody genius.

I think I mentioned that, once or twice.

So, now what?

Hadrian asked.

Now, nothing. He

s beaten us. He

s sitting somewhere with a warm cup of cider smiling smugly with his feet up on the pile of money he

s just been paid.

We have to warn them to re-engage the master gear.

Go ahead.

Hadrian began shouting until the little observation door opened flooding the cell with light.

We need to speak to someone. It

s important.

What is it?

We realized the mistake we made. We were tricked. You need to tell the commander at Drumindor that we locked the master gear. We can show him where it is and how to release it.

You two never stop, do you? I

m not sure if you

re really saboteurs or just plain nuts. One thing

s for

certain, we

re going to find out how you got in, and then we

re going to kill you.

The observation door closed casting them back into darkness.

That worked out really well,

Royce pointed out.

Feel better now?

Bastard,

Hadrian repeated.

Chapter 24

The Escape

Arista stayed in the corner of the stable, wrapped in Hilfred

s arms most of the night. He stroked her

hair, and from time to time without any particular reason, kissed her passionately. It felt safe and lying there, Arista realized two things. First, she was certain she could be content remaining in his arms forever. And Second, she was not in love with Hilfred.

He was a good friend, a piece of home she missed so dearly that she drank him in with a desert-born thirst, but something was missing. She thought it strange she came to this conclusion while in his arms. Yet she knew it with perfect clarity. She did not love Hilfred and she had not loved Emery.

Hilfred was the big brother she had grown up with, and Emery she had barely known. She was not even certain what love was, what it should feel like, or if it existed at all.

Noblewomen rarely knew the men they married before their wedding day. Perhaps they grew to love their husbands in time, or merely grew to believe they did. At least she knew Hilfred loved her.

He loved enough for both of them. She could feel it radiating off him like warmth from smoldering coals. He deserved happiness after so long, after so much sacrifice; she would make it up to him.

She would return to Melengar and marry him. She would make him Archduke Reuben Hilfred. She laughed softly at the thought.

What?

I just remembered your first name is Reuben.

Hilfred laughed then pointed to his face.

I look like this, and you

re making fun of myname ?

She took his face in her hands.

I wish you wouldn

t do that. I think you

re beautiful.

He kissed her again.

Periodically, Hilfred would peek out at the sky and check the position of the moon. Eventually he returned and said,

s time.

She nodded and once more Arista transformed into the morose visage of the Regent Saldur.

I still can

t believe it,

Hilfred told her.

I know. I

m really starting to get the hang of this. Care to kiss me again?

she asked, and laughed at

his expression.

Now remember, don

t do anything. The idea is to just walk in, and walk out. No fighting, understand?

Hilfred nodded.

They stepped out of the stable. As they did, Arista looked up at Modina

s window. It was dark, but

she was certain she saw her figure sitting framed within it. Once again, she recalled her final words and regretted not asking her to come. Maybe she would have refused, but now that it was too late.

She wished she had at least asked.

Nipper came out of the kitchens, yawning and carrying two empty water buckets. He stopped short, surprised to see them.

She ignored him and headed directly to the tower.

Just as before, the Seret Knight stood at attention in the center of the room, his face hidden, his shoulders back, the jeweled sword at his side.

I am going to see Degan Gaunt. Open up.

The guard drew his sword.

There was a brief moment of terror when Arista

s heart pounded so loudly she thought the seret

might hear. She glanced at Hilfred and saw him flinch, his hand approaching his own weapon. Then the knight bent on one knee and lightly tapped the stone floor with the pommel. Immediately, the stones slid awrevealing a stair curving into the darkness.

Shall I come with you, Your Grace?

Arista considered this. She had no idea what was down there. It could be one cell or a maze of corridors. It might take her a long time to discover where Gaunt was. Just outside, she heard Nipper filling his buckets; the castle was already waking up.

Yes, of course. Lead the way.

As you wish, Your Grace.

The knight pulled a torch from the wall and descended the steps.

It was dark inside. The stair was narrow and oppressive. Ahead, she could hear the sounds of faint weeping. The same heavy stones that made up the base of the tower formed the dungeon. Here however, decorations adorned the walls. Nothing recognizable, merely abstract designs carved everywhere. Arista felt she had seen them before, not these exactly, but similar ones.

Then she felt it.

Like the snap of a twig, or the crack of an egg, a tremor passed through her body

a sudden

disconcerting break.

She looked down. The old man

s hands were gone. Revealed in the flickering torchlight she was seeing her own fingers, her own sleeves.

With his back turned, the knight continued to escort them. As he reached the bottom of the stairs he began to turn saying,

Your Grace, I

Before he was fully around, Hilfred shoved her aside.

He drew his sword just as the knight

s eyes widened. Driving his blade at the man

s chest. The black

armor turned the tip. It skipped off, penetrating the gap between the chest plate and the right pauldron, piercing the man

s shoulder.

The knight cried out.

Hilfred withdrew his sword. The knight staggered backward, struggling to draw his own. Hilfred swung at the knight

s neck. Blood exploded, spraying both of them. The seret made no further noise as he crumpled and fell.

What happened?

Hilfred asked picking up the torch.

The walls,

she said, touching the chiseled symbols,

They have runes on them like in Gutaria Prison.

I can

t do magic in here. Do you think anyone heard that?

m sure the kid fetching water did,

he said.

Will he do anything?

I don

t know. We should close the door,

Arista said, picking up the sword with the emerald and looking up the long staircase at the patch of light at the top. What they covered so casually minutes ago now appeared so far

so dangerous.

ll do it. You find Gaunt.

No. I won

t leave your side. There could be more guards. Forget the door, we

ll find him together

and get out of here.

He took her left hand and pulled her along. Her right hand held onto the sword.

The hallways were narrow stone corridors without any light, except what came from the torch they held. The ceiling arched to a peak not more than a foot above Arista

s head, forcing Hilfred to stoop.

Wooden doors began appearing on either side, so short they looked more like livestock gates.

Gaunt!

Hilfred yelled.

Degan Gaunt!

Arista shouted.

They ran down the darkened passageways pounding on doors calling his name and peering inside.

The hallway ended at a T-intersection. With only one torch, there was no option to spilt up even if Hilfred could be convinced. They turned right and pressed on finding more doors.

Degan Gaunt!

Stop!

Arista stopped suddenly.

Wha

Shush!

Very faintly

Here!

They trotted down the next corridor, but reached a dead end.

This place is a maze,

Arista said.

They ran back, and took another turn. They called again.

Here! I

m here!

Came the reply, louder now.

Running once more they again met a solid wall. They retraced their steps, found another corridor that appeared to go in the right direction and followed it as far as the hallway allowed.

Degan!

she cried.

Over here!

It was coming from the last door in the block.

en they reached it, Arista bent down and held up the torch. In the tiny grated window, she saw a pair of eyes. She grabbed the door handle and pulled

locked. She tried the gemstone but nothing

happened.

Damn it!

she cried.

The guard, he must have the key. Oh, how could I be so stupid? I should have searched him before we ran off.

Hilfred hammered the wooden door with his sword. The hard oak, nearly as solid as stone, gave up only sliver size chips.

ll never get the door open this way. Your sword isn

t doing anything! We have to go back for the

keys.

Hilfred continued to strike the door.

ll be back, Degan!

Arista said, before starting back down the hall carrying the torch.

Arista!

Hilfred shouted, as he chased after her.

They rounded the corridors, turning left then right and then

Arista, my dear! What a surprise,

Saldur greeted her as they nearly ran into the regent.

Around him were five Seret Knights with swords drawn and torches held high.

Hilfred pushed Arista back.

Run!

he told her.

Saldur laughed.

There is nowhere to run to, dear boy. You

re both quite trapped.

Saldur, his hair loose and wild, wore a white linen nightgown over which he had pulled a red silk robe that he was still in the midst of tying about his waist.

You

ve been very clever, Arista, but you

always been a clever girl, haven

t you? Always poking your nose into places you shouldn

And you Hilfred, reunited with your princess once more, I see. It is a wonderfully gallant gesture to defend her with your life, but it is also futile, and where is the honor in futility? There is no other exit from this dungeon. These men are Seret Knights, highly skilled, brutally trained soldiers who will kill you if you resist.

Saldur took the torch from the lead seret, who now also drew a dagger.

You have wasted half your

life protecting this foolish girl, whose stupidity and rash choices have dragged you through torment and fire. Put down your sword and back away.

Hilfred checked his grip and planted his feet.

When I was fifteen, you told me I would die if I tried to save her. That night I ran into an inferno of smoke and flame. If I didn

t listen to you then, what makes you think I will now?

Saldur sighed.

Don

t make them kill you.

Hilfred stood his ground.

Stop, please. I beg you!

Arista shouted.

Sauly, I

ll do anything you ask. Please, just let him go.

Persuade him to put down his sword and I will.

Hilfred

Not even if you order me to,

his voice grave.

There is no power in Elan capable of making me walk

away from you

not now, not ever again.

Hilfred

she whispered as tears fell.

He glanced at her. In that moment of inattention, the seret saw an opening and slashed. Hilfred dodged.

Swords clashed.

NO!

Arista cried.

Hilfred swung for the throat again, but the knight ducked. Hilfred

s blade struck the wall kicking up

sparks and the knight stabbed him in the side. Hilfred gasped and staggered but managed to lunge and thrust his sword at the knight

s chest. Again the point of the blade deflected off the black armor, but this time he was not fortunate enough to connect.

Arista watched as a second knight lunged, driving his sword through Hilfred

s stomach. The sword

pierced his body, pushing out the back of his tunic.

No! NO!

she screamed, falling against the wall as her knees threatened to buckle.

With blood spilling from his lips, Hilfred struggled to raise his sword again. The foremost knight brought his own blade down severing Hilfred

s arm at the elbow in a burst of warm blood that

splashed across her face.

Hilfred collapsed to his knees. His body hitched.

Aris

he sputtered.

Oh, Hilfred

Arista whispered er eyes burned.

The knights stood over him. One raised his sword.

ARISTA!

he cried.

The knight

s sword came down.

Arista collapsed as if the blade pierced them both. She slumped against the wall sliding to the floor.

She could not speak. She could not breathe. Her eyes locked on the dead body of Hilfred as a warm wetness crept between her fingers.

Hilfred,

she mouthed the word. She had no breath left to speak it.

Saldur sighed.

Get him out of here.

What about her?

They went through so much trouble to get in, let

s find her a nice permanent room.

Chapter 25

Invasion

What do you think is going to happen?

Hadrian asked Royce as they sat in the dark.

The fleet will come in, there will be no pressure to fire the spouts, and the Ghazel will land without opposition and slaughter everyone. Eventually they

ll reach here, break in and butcher us.

No,

Hadrian said, shaking his head.

See, that

s where you

re wrong. The Ghazel will eat us alive and

they

ll take their time savoring every moment. Trust me.

They hung in silence.

What time do you think it is?

Hadrian asked.

Close to sunset. It was pretty late when they brought us in.

Silence.

They could hear the random movements of guards on the other side of the door, muffled conversation, the slide of a chair, occasional laughter.

Why does this always happen?

Royce asked.

Why are we always hanging on a wall waiting to die

by slow vivisection? I just want to point out that this was your idea

again.

ve been waiting for that. But I believe I told you not to come.

Hadrian shifted in his chains and

sighed.

I don

t suppose there

s much chance of a beautiful princess coming in here and saving us again.

That card

s been dealt.

I wish I had met Gaunt,

Hadrian said at length.

It would have been nice to actually meet the man,

you know? My whole life was fated to protect this guy and I never even saw him.

They were quiet for a time then Royce pursed his lips and made ahmm sound.

What?

Huh? Oh

nothing.

You

re thinking something, what is it?

Just interesting that you thought Arista was beautiful.

Don

t you?

She

s okay.

You

re blinded by Gwen.

Hadrian heard Royce sigh. There was a silence then he said,

She already named our children. Elias

if we had a boy

or was it Sterling, I forget

and Mercedes if a girl. She even took up knitting and made me a scarf.

For what it

s worth, I

m sorry I dragged you into this.

She wanted me to go, remember? She said I had to protect you. I had to save your life.

Hadrian looked over at him.

Good job.

Chairs moved in the outer office, footsteps, a door banged, agitated voices. Hadrian caught snippets of the conversation.

black sails

a dark cloud on the ocean

No, someone else

A chair turned over and hit the floor. More hurried footsteps. Silence.

Sounds like the fleet is in.

Hadrian waited watching the door to their cell.

They left us for dead,

didn

t they? We told them this would happen. We came all this way to try and save them. You

d think

they

d have the decency to let us out when they saw we were right.

Probably think we

re behind it. We

re lucky they didn

t just kill us.

Not sure that

s lucky. A nice quick decapitation is kind of appealing right now.

How long do you think before the Ba Ran find us?

Royce asked.

You in a hurry?

Yeah, actually. If I have to be eaten, I would sort of like to get it over with.

Hadrian heard the sound of breaking glass.

Ah, we that didn

t take long, did it?

Royce muttered miserably.

Footsteps shuffled in the outer room, a pause then the steps started again, coming closer. There were sounds of a struggle and a muffled cry. Hadrian braced himself, and watched the door as it opened. What stood in the doorway shocked him.

You boys ready to go?

Derning asked.

What areyou doing here?

They both said in unison.

Would you prefer me to leave?

Derning smiled. Noticing the riveted manacles, he grimaced.

Thorough buggers, aren

t they? Hang on. I saw some tools out here.

Royce and Hadrian looked at each other bewildered.

Okay, so he

s not a beautiful princess. But it works for me.

There was some slamming, an

Ah-hah!

Then Derning returned with a hammer and a chisel.

The Ghazel fleet arrived and Drumindor isn

t working, but it didn

t blow up either, so I guess we

have you to thank for that,

Derning told them as he went to work on the manacle pins.

Don

t mention it. And I

m not just saying that. I really mean

don

t mention it,

Hadrian said with a

wince.

Now, half the folks

the smart half

are running, the others are going to try to fight. That means we don

t have much time to get out of here. I have horses and provisions waiting just outside town. We

take the mountain road north. I

ll ride with you as far as Maranon and then I

ll be going my own way.

But I still don

t get why you are here.

Royce said as Derning finished with one of the metal

bracelets.

Don

t you work for Merrick?

Merrick Marius?

Derning laughed.

That

s funny. Grady and I were convinced you two worked for Marius.

Derning finished cracking open the manacles on Royce then turned to Hadrian.

We work

for Cornelius DeLur. Imagine my surprise yesterday when I checked in and found out you worked for Melengar. DeLur got a big kick out that. The old fat man has a sick sense of humor sometimes.

m confused. Why were you on theStorm ?

When the Diamond found that message from Merrick, Cosmos thought it important enough to relay to daddy, and Cornelius sent us. Grady and I started as sailors and are still well-known on the Sharon. We were so sure Royce killed Drew, which is why we thought you two were mixed up with Merrick. We thought it had something to do with that horn comment that Drew made.

Defoe

I mean Bernie killed him,

Royce said simply.

Yeah, we figured that out. And, of course, that horn thing had nothing to do with Merrick. That was all Thranic

s group. When we heard you had been arrested, it wasn

t too hard to find ya.

He finished freeing Hadrian who rubbed his wrists.

Come on, most of your gear is out here.

He pulled Alverstone out of his belt and handed it to

Royce.

Took this off one of the guards. I think he thought it was pretty.

Outside of their cell, the tiny jail office was empty except for two guards, one looked dead, but the other might have just been unconscious. They found their possessions in a series of boxes set aside in a room filled with all manner of impounded items.

Outside, dawn rose and people were running with bundles in their arms. Mothers held crying children to their breasts. Men struggled to push overfilled carts uphill. Down in the harbor they could see a forest of dark masts. Drumindor stood a mute witness to the sacking of the city.

Derning led them up refugee-choked streets. Fights broke out. Roads were blocked and finally Derning resorted to the roofs. They scaled balconies and leapt alleys, trotting across the clay-tiled housetops until they cleared the congestion. They dropped back to the street and were soon at the city

s eastern gate. Hundreds of people were rushing by with carts and donkeys, women and children mostly, traveling with boys and old men.

Derning stood just outside the gates looking worried. He wistled and a bird call answered in response. He led them off the road and up an embankment.

Sorry, Jacob,

said a spindly youth, emerging with four horses.

I figured it was best to wait out of

sight. If anyone saw me with these, I wouldn

t keep them for long.

From the crest of the hill, they could see the bay far below. Smoke rose thickly from the buildings closest to the water.

We weren

t able to stop it,

Derning said, looking at the refugees fleeing the city,

but between you

defusing the explosion and my reporting to Cornelius so he could raise the alarm, it looks like we saved a lot of lives.

They mounted up and Hadrian took one last look at Tur Del Fur as the flames began to blow with the morning sea breeze and swept through the streets below.

Chapter 26

Payment

Merrick entered the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace of Aquesta. Servants were hanging Wintertide decorations, which should have given the room a festive feel, but to Merrick it was still just a dreary chamber with too much stone and too little sunlight. He never cared for Aquesta and regretted that it would be the capital of the New Empire

the empire whose security he had ensured.

He would have preferred Colnora. At least it had glass streetlamps.

Ah! Merrick,

Ethelred greeted him. The regents, Earl Ballentyne, and the chancellor were all gathered around the great table.

Or should I call you Lord Marius?

You should indeed,

Merrick replied.

You bring good news then?

The best, Your Lordship

Delgos has fallen.

Excellent!

Ethelred applauded.

Merrick reached the table and pulled off his gloves one finger at a time.

The Ghazel invaded Tur

Del Fur five days ago, meeting only a weak resistance. They took Drumindor and burned much of the port city.

And the Nationalist Army?

Ethelred asked sitting down comfortably in his chair with a smile stretching across his broad face.

As expected, the army packed up and went south the moment they heard. Most have family in Delgos. You can retake Ratibor at will. You won

t even need the army, a few hundred men will do.

Breckton can turn his attention north to Melengar and begin plans for the spring invasion of Trent.

Excellent! Excellent!

Ethelred cheered. Saldur and the chancellor joined in his applause, granting each other smiles of relief and pleasure.

What happens when the Ghazel finish with Delgos and decide to march north?

The Earl of

Chadwick asked. Seated at the far end of the table, he did not appear to share his companion

gaiety.

m told there

s quite a lot of them and hear they

re fearsome fighters. If they can destroy

Delgos, what assurance do we have they won

t attack us?

I am certain the Nationalists will halt their ambitions in the short term, milord,

Merrick replied.

But

even if not, we face no threat from the Ba Ran Ghazel. They are a superstitious lot and expect some sort of world ending catastrophe to beset them shortly. They want Drumindor as a refuge, not as a base for launching attacks. This will buy the time you need to take Melengar, Trent, and possibly even western Calis. By then, the empire will be supreme and the Nationalists a memory. The remaining residents of Delgos, those once independent merchant barons, will beg for imperial intervention against the Ghazel and eagerly submit to your absolute rule. The empire of old will be reforged.

The earl scowled and sat back down.

You are indeed a marvel and deserving of your new title and station, Lord Marius.

Since you already have Gaunt, and Esrahaddon is dead, I believe that finishes my employment obligations.

For now,

Ethelred told him.

I won

t let a man of your talents get away that easily. Now that I have found you, I want you in my court and I will make it worth your loyalty.

Actally, I already spoke with His Grace about the position of Magistrate of Colnora.

Magistrate, eh? Want your own city, do you? I like the idea. Think you can keep the Diamond under your thumb? I suppose you could

certainly, why not? Consider it done, Lord Magistrate, but I insist you do not take your post until after Wintertide. I want you here for the festivities.

Ethelred is getting married and crowned emperor,

Saldur explained.

The Patriarch will be coming

to perform the ceremony himself and, if that

s not enough, we will be burning a famous witch.

I would not miss it.

Excellent!

Ethelred grinned.

I trust accommodations in the city are to your liking? If not, tell the chamberlain and he

ll find a more suitable estate.

The house is perfect. You are too kind, My Lord.

I still don

t see why you don

t simply stay in the palace.

It is easier for me to do business if I am not seen here too frequently. And now, if you

ll forgive me I

must

You aren

t leaving?

Ethelred asked disappointed.

You just got here. With news like this, we have to

celebrate. Don

t doom me to merrymaking with the likes of an old cleric and a melancholy earl. I

call for wines and beef. We

ll get some entertainment, music, dancers, and women. How do you like your women, Marius? Thin or plump, light or dark, saucy or docile? I assure you, the lord chamberlain can fill any order.

Alas, My Lord, I have some remaining business to which I must attend.

Ethelred frowned.

Very well, but you must show up for Wintertide. I insist.

Of course, My Lord.

Merrick left while the imperial rulers exchanged congratulatory accolades. Outside, a new carriage awaited, complete with four white horses and a uniformed driver. On the seat rested the package from the city constable. Merrick had offered brandy in trade and the constable leapt at the opportunity. A bottle of fine liquor in return for the worthless remnants of the defunct witch-hunt was the sort of good fortune that the sheriff was unaccustomed to receiving. Unwrapping it, Merrick ran his fingers over the shimmering material of the robe.

The carriage traveled up The Hill and turned on Heath Street, one of the more affluent neighborhoods in the city. The homes, though not terribly large, were tasteful and elegant. A servant waited dutifully to remove his cloak and boots while another stood by with a warm cup of cider.

Merrick never drank wine, ale, or spirits and was amused to see this accommodation taken into account. He sat in the drawing room surrounded by burgundy furnishings and dark wood paneling sipping his drink while listening to the pop of the fireplace.

A knock sounded at the door. He nearly rose to answer, when he spotted one of his new servants trotting to the foyer.

Where is she, Merrick?

he heard an angry voice shout.

A moment later, the valet led two men into the drawing room.

Please have a seat, both of you.

Merrick reclined in his soft chair, warming his hands with his cup.

Would either of you care for a drink before we conduct business? My servants can bring you whatever you like, but I must say the cider is especially good.

I said, where is she?

Relax, Mister Deminthal, your daughter is fine and I

ll bring her down shortly. You fulfilled your

end of the bargain brilliantly and I always honor my commitments. I merely wish to go over a few details. Only a formality I assure you. First, let me congratulate you, Wyatt. May I call you Wyatt?

You

ve done an excellent job. Poe

s report gave you extremely high marks.

He tells me you were instrumental in getting Royce and Hadrian on board, and even after the unexpected sinking of theEmerald Storm , your quick thinking saved the ship

s orders and the

mission. I

m especially impressed with how you won over Royce

s trust

no small feat

I might. But you

must be a very convincing fellow as demonstrated by how you persuaded the Port Authority that Royce and Hadrian were in Tur Del Fur to destroy Drumindor. I

m convinced it is only by your skill

and intelligence that the operation was such a wonderful success.

Merrick took a sip from his cider and sat back with a grin.

I have just one question. Do you know

where Royce and Hadrian are now?

Dead. By the Ghazel or the Tur Del Fur officials, whoever got them first.

Hmm, I doubt that. Royce is not easy to kill. He has gotten out of much more difficult situations before. I would say he leads a charmed life, but I know all too well what kind of life he

s lived. Still,

I wouldn

t even trust Death to bind him long.

I want my daughter

now

Wyatt said quietly through clenched teeth.

Of course, of course. Mister Poe, would you be so kind as to run up and bring her down, third door on the left.

Merrick handed him a key.

Seriously Wyatt, you are a very capable man. I could use you.

Do you think Iliked doing this? How many hundreds of people are dead because of me?

Don

t think of it that way. Think of it as a job, an assignment, which you performed with panache. I don

t see talent such as yours often and I could find other use of your skills. Join with me and you

be well compensated. I am working on another project now, for an even more lucrative employer and I am in a position to make a great many good things happen for you. You and your daughter can live like landed gentry. How would you like your own estate?

You kidnapped my daughter. The only business I

m interested in doing with you

is arranging your

death.

Don

t be so dramatic. Ah, see, here she is now. Safe and sound.

Poe escorted a little girl down the steps. Around ten years old, her light-brown hair was tied in a bow, and she wore an elegantly tailored blue dress with fine leather shoes.

Daddy!

she shouted.

Wyatt rushed over, throwing his arms around her.

Did they hurt you, honey?

No, I

m okay. They bought me this pretty dress and got me these shoes! And we played games.

That

s good, honey.

Turning to Merrick, Wyatt asked,

What about Elden?

s fine, still in Colnora, waiting for you I presume. Wyatt, you really need to consider my offer, if for no other reason than your own safety.

Wyatt spun on him.

I did your job! You sat there, and told me I did itbrilliantly! Why are you still threatening us?

Merrick looked at the girl.

Poe, take Allie in the kitchen. I think there are some cookies she might like.

Wyatt held her to him.

Don

t worry, she

ll be right back.

Do you like cookies?

Poe asked her. The little girl grinned bobbing her head. She looked up at her father.

Wyatt nodded.

s okay, go ahead. Hurry back, honey.

Poe and Allie left the room hand in hand.

m not threatening you. As I already said, I

m very pleased with your skills. I am merely trying to protect you. Consider for a moment, what if Royce is not dead? He

ll put two and two together, if he

hasn

t already. You should be afraid of what he

ll do to you

and your daughter. Royce will probably

kill Allie first and make you watch.

s not like that.

Merrick released a small chuckle.

Oh, sir, you have no idea what Royce is like. I will grant you his association with Hadrian Blackwater has tempered him greatly. Twelve years with that idealistic dreamer has made him practically human, but Iknow him. I know what lurks beneath. I have seen things that make even my hardened heart shudder. Get his anger up and you

ll unleash a demon that

no one can control. Believe me, he islike that and so much more. Nothing isbeyond him.

Allie returned with a handful of sugar cookies. Taking her handtt headed for the door. He paused at the threshold and looked back.

Merrick, if what you say about Royce is true, then shouldn

tyou be

the one who

s afraid?

Wyatt walked out closing the door behind him.

Merrick sipped his cider again, but it had gone cold.

Books in the Riyria

Revelations

The Crown Conspiracy

Avempartha

Nyphron Rising

The Emerald Storm

Wintertide*

Percepliquis*

*Forthcoming

The Riyria Revelations

If you enjoyed this novel, you will be happy to learn that The Emerald Storm is the fourth in a six book series entitled the Riyria Revelations. This saga is neither a string of sequels nor a lengthy work unnaturally divided. Instead, the Riyria Revelations was conceived as a single epic tale told through six individual episodes. While a book may hint at building mysteries or thickening plots, these threads are not essential to reach a satisfying conclusion to the current episode

which has its own beginning, middle, and end.

Eschewing the recent trends in fantasy toward the lengthy, gritty, and dark, the Riyria Revelations brings the genre back to its roots. Avoiding unnecessarily complicated language and world building for its own sake; this series is a distillation of the best elements of traditional fantasy

great

characters, a complex plot, humor, and drama all in appropriate measures.

While written for an adult audience the Riyria Revelations lacks sex, graphic violence, and profanity making it appropriate for readers thirteen and older.

About the Author

Born in Detroit Michigan, Michael J. Sullivan has raised in Novi. He has also lived in Vermont, North Carolina and Virginia. He worked as a commercial artist and illustrator, founding his own advertising agency in 1996, which he closed in 2005 to pursue writing full-time. His first published novel The Crown Conspiracy was released in October 2008. He currently resides in Fairfax, Virginia with his wife and three children.

Awards for Riyria Books

2009 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist

2008 ReaderViews Literary Award Finalist

2007 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist

Fantasy Sites Recognition

Named one of the Notable Fantasy Books of 2009

Fantasy Book Critic

Named one of the top 5 Fantasy Books of 2009

Dark Wolf

s Fantasy Reviews

Named a Notable Indie of 2008

Fantasy Book Critic

Websites

Author

s Homepage: www.michaelsullivan-author.com

Author

s Blog: www.riyria.blogspot.com

Social Networking Groups

www.goodreads.com/group/show/10550

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26847461609v www.shelfari.com/groups/30879/about

Contact

Twitter: twitter.com/author_sullivan

Email: michael.sullivan.dc@gmail.com