When Dragons Rage

45

For the barest of innocent moments, Princess Alexia’s heart leaped when she first looked upon fair Caledo. The city of white stone rose from the snowy plains as if it had been crafted from the snows itself. Eight towers soared above the points of the octagonal city walls, each stout, each sheathed in alabaster flesh. Within the walls stood four more towers, each sleek and softly curved, with high arching bridges linking them. Beyond the city, Lake Calessa lay covered in ice and deep snow.

From the crest of the hills to the east of the city, only two elements spoiled the snowy vision. The first was the pair of black stones set near the eastern gate. Alexia had heard of Murosan mages meeting to duel at these stones, but she’d somehow relegated such tales to the realm of fancies. Yet here they stood, tall and imposing. Their stark contrast with the city itself, both in color and angularity, made them seem jarring and menacing. Alexia read them less as a sign of Muroso’s strength than foreshadowing of Chytrine’s onslaught.

The second divergent element was more reassuring. Bright banners of red and blue, green and yellow, purple and gold hung from tower windows. Pennants, long and bright, waved and snapped from tower tops.

Alexia reined back and studied the city, and the empty expanse leading up to it. She forced herself to memorize every detail: the city’s majesty, its gentle strength and its unmarred walls. She noted the lack of carrion birds, and drank in the peace of the lakeshore city.

Snow crunched beneath the hooves of Crow’s horse as he rode up beside her. “It is breathtaking.”

She smiled and nodded. “I fear, given what will come, it will only be in our memories that Caledo lives.”

Crow sighed out a plume of vapor. “Win or lose, Chytrine’s invasion will reshape the world.”

Alyx nodded slowly. She’d seen that in Bokagul, where the shock of the invasion had stirred the populace. The urZrethi had thought themselves invulnerable in their mountain fastness, but that illusion had been shattered forever. And while a debate still raged within that nation as to how many troops they should send to help, there was indeed resolution to act. Already small units were patrolling the mountains and heading toward Sarengul to warn others. Alyx felt certain that the Boka would send warriors to help defend Caledo since it had been Princess Sayce who had brought all of them to Bokagul.

I just have to hope they will get here in time.

The urZrethi had been generous in showing their thanks to Kerrigan and the others for their assistance in turning back the invasion. While the ability to shift shape had obviated the need for the urZrethi to use weapons and armor, their metalsmiths were quite adept at fashioning the same. Alexia had been given a thick-bladed sword with a reinforced forte and slightly curved blade of incredible lightness. The steel, which had an exquisite swirl pattern worked through it, was flexible, yet held an edge that was sharp enough to split a floating feather.

The Murosan troops and the Freemen had all been given light suits of mail that they said weighed less than silk. UrZrethi smiths fashioned new bladestars for Resolute, which he accepted with only a minor grumble. The others he’d been willing to leave behind; these he would have to collect. But, despite his protest, it was quite clear he was pleased. Peri had been given a winged helm light enough for her to wear in flight, Crow a sheaf of arrows with steel broadheads that would, it was said, pierce a dragon’s scales. And, along with a light coat of mail, Will received beaten gold bracers, each set with a sapphire as long as his thumb.

Princess Sayce, Kerrigan, and Bok, however, received unique gifts. The Murosan princess was given a silver mask to replace the one that she’d worn when shot. The left side had been set with amethyst in memory of the purple bruise she’d worn. Despite riding into the cold, Sayce had chosen to wear it, and there was no denying it enhanced her beauty.

The urZrethi honored Kerrigan by presenting him with a wand made of a single long crystal circled at each end with a ring of gold that was set with a dozen gems. When he used it, various of the gems glowed, and their hues shot through the wand, threading themselves through any visible spell. Alexia had no idea what the significance of that was, but Kerrigan seemed delighted, so she took that as a very good sign.

Bok received the most peculiar gift of all. His presence had caused trouble for the urZrethi. They would have preferred not to notice him at all, but the fact that he had dragged Sayce clear during the battle could not be ignored. After much deliberation, the word “bok” had been removed from his name. In effect they accepted him back into their society, but everyone did seem to breathe a sigh of relief when he evidenced no desire to remain in Bokagul and instead accompanied Kerrigan northwest toward the Murosan capital.

The journey from Bokagul to Caledo had taken six days through foothills and valleys. The blizzards let up during their trip, but the snow that remained had made it tough going. Occasionally they met urZrethi patrols, and once ran across the aftermath of an urZrethi ambush of some Aurolani deserters, but otherwise they passed without seeing much of interest and not being seen themselves.

Out and around Alyx and Crow galloped a company of Sayce’s Lancers. One of them had bound the Murosan Princess’ personal pennant to the tip of his lance and carried it upright as he rode toward the city. Because she had learned of it in the Communion, Alexia had been able to say nothing about Sayce’s father being displeased by her mission to the south. Sayce’s dispatching of the squad to announce her arrival—along with that of the Norrington—might well blunt her father’s reaction.

Alyx urged her horse forward again and down the last hill in the wake of the Lancers. “How long do you suppose it will be before the Aurolani arrive and lay siege to the city?”

Crow shook his head. “There’s no real way of telling, but the signs suggest sooner rather than later. For Chytrine to have sent forces into Bokagul, she’s probably already neutralized Sarengul. That secures her flank and pressures Scrainwood. She can take all the time she wants to conquer Muroso. She has any of a dozen ways to expand south from there, and that’s well before summer, when the true campaigning will take place.”

The princess had hoped Crow would see some flaw in her analysis, but the simple fact was that Chytrine was isolating countries and taking them one at a time. No single country could stand against the full might of her army and its dragonels. As the Aurolani forces moved south, they did venture into lands with higher populations, but that just meant there would be more refugees to send streaming south.

Alyx shook her head. “As beautiful as this city is, it is wholly unsuited to holding off Chytrine. The dragonels were made to shatter walls like that. Those towers will topple under her assaults. The Murosans are known for being valiant, but standing against her is foolishness.”

“We can hope King Bowmar will be more reasonable than his daughter, but I doubt it.” Crow shifted his shoulders. “There are things we can do to slow Chytrine down, however. And for now, buying more time is a victory.”

Even before the detachment of Lancers reached the city, the eastern gate opened and a larger troop of horsemen rode out to greet them. The two groups—the smaller in red, and the larger in blue—met and mingled for a moment, then the bulk of the larger group rode east toward Alexia and the others. The Lancers continued with an escort back into the city.

Princess Sayce came riding up on Alexia’s left, giving her a view of a silver profile. “This is not likely to be good. My brother is at the head of the riders. Let me handle this.”

The slight tremor in Sayce’s voice amused Alyx. “As you wish.”

Snow splashed up from hooves, then flew apart in the breeze as the riders approached. One man, tall and lean, bundled in furs against the cold, moved out in front. The breeze caught the hood of his cloak, billowing it out, then blowing it back. Long brown hair streamed back from his head. The mask he wore was as large as the one Sayce had worn, but instead of red, or even the blue of his unit, it was black.

As black as the magestones marking the city gate.

The man reined back, slowing his horse to a walk. He raised a gloved hand in greeting. “Welcome, travelers. I am Prince Murfin, of the Murosan royal house. You would be Alexia of Okrannel?”

Alyx nodded, rather surprised that he’d not addressed his sister. “I am. This is Kedyn’s Crow. You know Princess Sayce.”

“Indeed. It is a pleasure to meet you both.” Murfin did not even glance at Sayce, who had gone very still and quiet. “My father, King Bowmar, offers you his hospitality and his thanks at returning a wayward daughter to her home.”

Before Alyx could offer any sort of reply, Will rode up. “More like she’s the one who’s bringing us here, not the other way around.”

The prince smiled, almost as if he had been expecting such a comment. “And you would be the Norrington.”

“Until someone better comes along.” Will urged his horse forward until he partially eclipsed Murfin’s view of his sister. “I’ve brought with me a company of Oriosan Freemen to fight for Caledo.”

“Your contribution is most welcome. They can join the other Oriosans here. We’re grateful for your help.” The prince broadened his smile for a moment. “It is a great honor to have you all here, and things have been prepared for you in Caledo. Captain Twynham here will conduct you to the city and your lodgings. Once you have had a chance to rest, my father would like to welcome you all.”

Alyx nodded. “We will await his pleasure.”

“Splendid.” Murfin glanced at Sayce. “Sister, attend me on my return.”

She nodded and started her horse forward. Will moved to accompany her, but she laid her right hand on his left arm. “No, Will, just go with the others.”

“But…” Will looked from her to her brother and back again. “You shouldn’t ride into trouble alone.”

“That thought will be all the accompaniment I need.” She leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. “From the moment I left, I knew what this would be like. I will see you soon enough.”

With a touch of her heels to her horse’s flanks, she started off and raced a bit past her brother. He set off, cloak flying, and caught up with her. Neither slowed, but neither did she try to elude him. Alyx thought she even might have heard laughter on the wind, but she couldn’t be certain.

The King’s Heavy Horse spread out along the column with a blond man, Captain Twynham, leading the way back into the city. He didn’t say much, but rode tall and proudly in the saddle. Alyx and Crow followed him several paces back, with Will falling in behind her and Kerrigan coming up beside him.

Will grumbled in a low voice. “I’m not sure I like the look of that Murfin.”

Kerrigan kept his voice soft. “You caught it, then?”

“Caught what, Ker?”

“The spell.” The Vilwanese mage shifted in the saddle. “I almost didn’t. Murosan magick has a different feel to it, but he cast a spell on the lot of us when he came up.”

Crow turned. “When?”

“When he raised his hand in greeting. Takes a tricky man to say one thing, but cast another.”

Crow frowned. “What kind of spell?”

“Just a moment.” Kerrigan closed his eyes, raised his right hand from the saddlehorn, and wove his fingers through an odd little pattern of movements. “I am not wholly certain, but it could have been some diagnostic spell.”

Alyx raised an eyebrow. “Checking to see if his sister was hurt?”

Kerrigan’s eyes popped open again. “That could be it, yes.”

She laughed. “Definitely sinister.”

“I still don’t like it.” Will snorted. “He wasn’t friendly to her at all. They should be thanking her.”

Crow winked. “Don’t assume they are angry. Being worried would be enough.”

“Well, if they do anything to her, I’ll…”

“What will you do, Will?”

The thief sighed in response to Crow’s question. “No fair asking me to make good on empty threats. I just hope she’ll be okay.”

“I’m sure she will.” Crow faced forward again, but Alyx still caught the full force of his smile. “Your friend will be fine, you’ll see, Will.”

Captain Twynham led the main company into the city and on up to the central quartet of towers. The easternmost pair comprised one building, the palace, while the other two were used by the Caledo Academy of Magicks and the Guilds Tower, in which most of the nation’s guilds had offices. Once he’d taken them through the palace gate, they turned left and approached the South Tower. Attendants took their horses to the stables there, while body servants emerged to conduct the travelers to their own accommodations.

Alyx and Crow parted company quickly, as he went to see to the billeting of the rest of the company. She bid him a silent farewell, then followed a middle-aged woman with rosy cheeks up a spiral staircase to the small suite of rooms they had been given. The sitting room faced east, with the sleeping alcove off to the left, complete with a huge four-poster bed thick with quilts. To the right lay a toilet and bathing area. A folding screen decorated with painted wooden panels showing scenes from a hunt would allow privacy in that area.

A slender woman not quite as tall as Alexia was standing in the room as they entered. The servingwoman gasped and immediately dropped to one knee. “Begging your pardon, Highness, I didn’t know.”

The woman shook her head. “It is no matter, Meg. Leave us for a moment. Perhaps Princess Alexia would like you to fetch some food?”

Alyx caught a note of familiarity in the voice. “I’m not hungry at the moment.”

“Very well, then.” The woman’s features were sharper than Sayce’s, but close enough that the familial resemblance could not be ignored. She waited for the servant to depart before smiling. “Greetings, Princess Alexia. I am Dayley. I feel as if we have met before.”

Alyx nodded, knowing full well that this was the woman she had met in the Communion. “So nice to make it a reality.”

The Okrans princess offered Dayley her hand, and was met with a firm, warm grip. They shook hands, pumping each other’s arms three times, but before they could release, something odd happened. Alyx felt herself shifting—there was no other word for it—as if moving into the Communion. Despite that feeling, she remained there, in the South Tower with Dayley.

But they were not alone.

Off to the east appeared a beautiful woman with snowy white hair and a soft innocence to her features and expression. Her eyes immediately caught Alexia’s attention because, despite her being semitransparent, they glittered silver. Her mouth moved and Alexia caught pieces of words. “… Kesh, here things… victorious… casualties…” There was more, but the volume waxed and waned, with the words sometimes coming slowly and other times squeaking quickly.

When their hands parted, the vision vanished.

Both women looked at each other, then held hands again, but it did not come back.

Dayley frowned. “You saw it, of course. What was it?”

Alyx shook her head. “I don’t know.”

She shivered and Dayley caught it in her grip. “Something, Alexia. What is it?”

The Okrans princess frowned. “‘Kesh’ has to refer to Nefrai-kesh, Chytrine’s general. Was she communicating with him? Warning him? Something like that?”

Dayley nodded, letting her hand slip from Alexia’s. “Logical, but it was something else that made you shiver. What?”

Alyx shifted her shoulders uneasily. “In Meredo, Will saw someone, someone he said saved him from dying. She could have been the person he described.”

“Someone in league with Nefrai-kesh saved the Norrington?”

“So it would appear.”

Dayley sighed heavily. “I don’t know what to make of that, if it is welcome news or not. If the gods are merciful, perhaps we have a chance to figure it out.”