The throng of shiggreth seemed endless until suddenly he broke through and found himself standing in a small clearing in the forest. Penny and Ruth stood in the center of it, next to a crippled horse. At a glance it appeared the poor beast had stepped into a shallow concealed trench, breaking both of its forelegs. Beyond the two women were more of the undead, and looking to the sides he could see them there as well… they were completely surrounded.
This is bad, really, really bad, he thought to himself. He reached the two women in seconds and wordlessly the three of them formed a triangle, each of them facing outward. Ruth had already cut Penny’s bonds and given her a sword to use. Apparently she knew enough about the shiggreth to realize their personal issues were no longer the priority.
Dorian estimated their enemy numbered at least a couple of hundred strong, which wasn’t encouraging. “I get the feeling this wasn’t part of your plan,” he said loudly over his shoulder.
“No,” Ruth answered, “it appears to be a deliberate ambush though.”
“They’ve never shown signs of being able to plan ahead like this before,” Penny interjected.
“According to the histories they were just as intelligent as men,” Ruth replied. “At least that’s what my teacher said,” she added.
“Who was your teacher?” Penny asked.
“Cyhan,” was Ruth’s reply.
“That explains a few things,” muttered Dorian, but he had barely finished speaking before the shiggreth closed in on them. None of them had time to talk after that.
The battle, if it could be called such, was short and bitter. In the open, surrounded by foes and with plenty of room Dorian wished he had the great sword he had talked to Mort about. It would have been the perfect situation for such a weapon. Instead he made do with his long sword, though he had no shield or dagger to complement it.
Of the three of them he was the only one protected from their foes weakening touch. Despite their best efforts Penny and Ruth were overcome almost immediately. He saw them dragging Ruth away while she struggled uselessly, her sword cutting flesh that could not feel its bite. Penny grew faint after being touched several times and collapsed to the ground. She might have been drawn away as well, but for the fact that he stood over her, cutting away arms and legs as they reached for her.
Standing alone he fought for an unknown time. It certainly seemed like an eternity. Despite their numbers they could not drag him down, as they once had, though they mobbed him in droves. Hands gripped his arms and legs yet he moved anyway, dragging them along as he hewed their fellows into pieces. Cutting and cursing he fought under the weight of their numbers until at the last he felt Penny dragged from beneath him as his own legs were lifted up.
He fought on, though he knew he had already failed. She was dead already and his best friend’s child with her. Tears appeared in his eyes and he wept with sorrow and rage even as the mob bore him up. The sun and sky seemed to mock his tragedy as the countless numbers of his foes tried to strip the armor from his limbs. His struggle went on hopelessly and it was a long time before the trees were cloaked in silence again.
Chapter 19
It took me several jumps to get my entire entourage to my house in Albamarl. I took Sir Harold and my honor guard first before bringing Lady Rose on the final trip. Including Harold I had ten men with me, all of them armed and well acquainted with battle. Unlike most of the nobility in Albamarl I had a large number of veteran warriors now, men who had already faced death once and were ready to do so again.
Dorian and Harold had spent an excessive amount of time worrying over which men to send with me and I had no doubts that some of them were being considered for eventual induction into the Knights of Stone.
Marc took a long look at Sir Harold, resplendent in his enchanted plate, and the other armed and armored men that had come with me. “You’ve decided to invade the capital?” he asked.
I laughed. “Not yet, I think the king can be trusted to hold to his end of the agreement.”
“Ten men won’t be enough if he doesn’t, not even with that one,” he replied, pointing to Harold. “Where did you get that armor?”
“I’ll explain that later, for now suffice to say that Sir Harold here is much more of a threat than he appears,” I said.
“Glad to make your acquaintance my lord,” Harold said politely with a small bow in Marcus’ direction.
Marc gave him his full attention, “I’m not a lord anymore. I surrendered those rights already. Still I am happy to have met you as well, though we were not properly introduced.” He gave me a pointed stare as he said that last part. “If you’re going to start knighting people you need to learn better etiquette Mort,” he added for my benefit.
“Actually, since you ‘surrendered your rights’ as you put it, he isn’t required to introduce anyone to you,” Rose informed him with a wicked smile.
Marc winced visibly, “Ouch Rose! I see you haven’t lost your sharp wit.” He waved us all down the corridor toward the stairs leading to the first floor. “Would you like some wine? I took the trouble of restocking Mort’s cellar while I’ve been here.”
I gave him a sharp glance.
“Don’t worry I haven’t been over doing it. Our promise still stands,” he reassured me quietly.
Several minutes later we were all seated in the front parlor on the ground floor, sipping at our wine. I tried to have the honor guard join us but Harold explained that would only make them more uncomfortable. Instead he set them the task of figuring out their sleeping arrangements in the guest bedrooms.
“We’ve had a lot of excitement here since you left,” Marc began.
“It’s only been two weeks, I wouldn’t think a shut in would see much in that period of time,” I commented with a grin.
He gave me a somber look, “It wasn’t necessarily good excitement if you take my meaning.”
“How about we stop talking and you fill us in,” I answered.
Lady Rose snorted with suppressed laughter at that but she held her tongue and we let Marc give us the news. “The Baron of Arundel has been executed,” Marc said bluntly. I gaped but Rose leaned over and put her hand over my mouth before I could speak. I unconsciously noted that she smelled pleasantly of lavender.
Marc continued, “Two weeks ago, immediately after you met with the king, he announced that the Baron had entered the royal palace and attempted to assassinate him during a personal meeting. Apparently this was Baron Arundel’s reaction to being notified that he would be stripped of his lands for his cowardly behavior during the recent war with Gododdin.”
“That’s bullshit!” I exclaimed.
Rose looked at me crossly, “Would you just let him finish?”
I closed my mouth and Marc looked back and forth between us a few times, trying not to smile. Finally he went on, “He was apprehended red handed inside the palace. According to his majesty he slew four priests, one of each of the various churches, before then attempting to take the king’s life. Several guards stopped him and by their accounts the blood and violence in and near the king’s chambers was something remarkable to behold. I’m sure you wouldn’t know anything about that would you Mordecai?”
“You know damn well what happened in there, I told you myself,” I said.
Rose broke in, “Don’t goad him Marcus. What else happened?”
“Poor Sheldon was taken into custody, clapped in irons and the next day he was marched to the gallows. He was kept bound and gagged and was hanged without preamble, pretext, or even being allowed last words,” he said smugly. “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer fellow if you ask me.”
Sheldon was the baron’s first name as I recalled from our brief and unpleasant meetings half a year ago. “But he was a lord!” I protested. “Isn’t there some sort of rule about executing nobility?” I didn’t bother bringing up the matter of his actual innocence. I had been in the circles of the powerful long enough to know that guilt or innocence were tools of convenience for those in control.